Mauricio Pochettino, the subject of some wild rumours of his departure from Spurs on Thursday, is going to be working with a much-reduced squad from next Tuesday if all this comes to pass. Having said that, his team selections so far this season suggest he may have had an inkling of what may be about to happen.
Christian Eriksen, the half-time Tottenham pinch-hitter? Paris Saint-Germain are calling. Jan Vertonghen, yet to play a match for Spurs this season. Off to Bayer Leverkusen is the word in Germany.
Should Eriksen take the Eurostar trip from London across la Manche it seems he will be joined by Ousmane Dembélé, the makeweight in Neymar’s prodigal return to Barcelona after two years down and out in Paris. By the way, that Neymar deal could be worth around €200m all things considered. Jean-Clair Todibo and Ivan Rakitic will also be part of the deal, but on loan initially as will Dembélé. Most of the deal will be paid out in cash with those players being shifted from one wage bill to the other on a temporary basis, with a view to permanent signings in the future.
Another player for the off from the new White Hart Lane could be Serge Aurier, another yet to get the Poch call this season. And another! Victor Wanyama, meanwhile, will be headed to Club Brugge.
Also leaving North London could be Nacho Monreal, whose six-year service at Arsenal would end with a move to Real Sociedad. Mohamed Elneny, a player Unai Emery does not appear to fancy much, looks headed to Besiktas.
Paul Pogba corner: it looks like he won’t be joining Real Madrid this summer after all. Instead, he will be not be signing a new Manchester United contract and will be shaking down Ed Woodward and the Glazers to leave as soon as possible as the phoney war begins once more. Over in Spain, Pogba is said to regret not putting enough effort into getting his move, an ironic stance perhaps in the eyes of many United fans.
With Chris Smalling swapping Stretford for the Eternal City of Rome, it looks like another member of that United glut of defenders, Matteo Darmian, is off back to Italy and Parma. Now, can Woodward and the Glazers find a home for Marcos Rojo?
Leicester are about to get shut of two unwanted wingers. Rachid Ghezzal and Fousseni Diabaté will be joining Olympiakos and Dijon respectively, both on loan initially.
