Guardian journalist Gregg Bakowski has suggested that Tottenham should try and make PSG winger Angel Di Maria their first signing of the summer, with the new season kicking off with a trip to Newcastle in just six days’ time.
Spurs are the only English side to date not to make a single signing this summer. We knew that Levy and and Spurs were likely to be fairly inactive over this summer but the fact that Spurs have failed to wrap up a single deal thus far has left fans worried and frustrated ahead of the new domestic season.
A pre-season of mixed results has led to Pochettino admitting that additions need to be made to the squad before the summer transfer window slams shut at the end of August. However, it has been accepted that Spurs will not be joining the big spenders such as Manchester City and Chelsea this summer and splashing the cash.
Spurs have been linked with Ross Barkley for a large part of this summer in a rumour that will just not leave the back page. Everton are reportedly asking for £50m for the player who refused to sign a new deal and will be leaving Merseyside. However, it is believed that Everton have accepted they will not be getting the full asking price of £50m.
Turning our attention away from the Englishman, Guardian journalist Gregg Bakowski yesterday suggested that PSG winger Di Maria could prove to be a good piece of business for Spurs and Mauricio Pochettino when speaking on the Guardian’s weekly football podcast.
If PSG need to sell, would Di Maria be available for £30-35m? Would he fancy coming back to England? Two Argentinians, him and Pochettino. I think he’s the sort of player who would fit that system. Not particularly flashy, works hard when he can be bothered. It would seem a logical move. Maybe Pochettino would think he could motivate him. Di Maria was pretty motivated until whatever happened after that burglary at Manchester United and then last season and a bit he’s been poor. I think they’re obviously still interested in Ross Barkley and you look at that Tottenham team and you look at Ross Barkley and you think if they spent £50m on him would he even get into that team?
Would Di Maria be a good signing? I think yes. I certainly think he is a player that has more to offer than what we saw in his previous stint at Manchester United. He is clearly a talented player and would give Mauricio Pochettino yet another attacking option. I do think he would be a better signing than Ross Barkley.
However, I feel that the player himself wouldn’t be too keen on the move. It was well publicised when an attempted burglary took place in February 2015, leading to Di Maria putting his mansion on the market little over a month after the incident before moving to PSG that summer, which is mentioned by Bakowski. An event like that has a huge effect on somebody’s life and you get the feeling that he might not be keen on moving back to England. Furthermore, there is little or no evidence to suggest that PSG are willing to sell Di Maria for £30m or even if they are willing to sell at all.
Will Di Maria be a Tottenham player by the end of this transfer window?
