Spurs Transfer News: Soldado & Townsend Going Nowhere

By K.J. Stewart / August 27, 2014

ITV's website is reporting that new Tottenham Hotspur boss Mauricio Pochettino has said he has no plans to sell the in-demand duo of Roberto Soldado and Andros Townsend. Soldado is being linked to AC Milan as a potential replacement for new Liverpool signing Mario Balotelli, while Andros Townsend is said to be wanted by both Queens Park Rangers - who he had a loan spell with two seasons ago and who are managed by former Spurs boss Harry Redknapp - and Pochettino's former club Southampton - where he is being touted as a potential makeweight in Spurs' pursuit of Morgan Schneiderlin. Soldado is injured for tomorrow's Europa League qualifying round second leg tie at home to AEL Limassol and is not in the Spurs squad for the match. This has led some people to believe he actually isn't wanted, but Pochettino had this to say about the situation:

Soldado is here. I never talk about any player rumours. He is in my plans. For the future? Yes. Yes. We've only had two games in the Premier League and one in the Europa League. I believe in all the squad. It is important you know I can only pick eleven.

Regarding Andros Townsend, he didn't even make the squad for Spurs' home win against Queens Park Rangers last Sunday and, again, this has made some people think that he has been deemed surplus to requirements at White Hart Lane, but Pochettino will include him in the squad to face AEL Limassol and generally has other ideas about Townsend's predicament:

He is in my plans. It is impossible you play or have in the squad only eleven players - you need 24 or 25 players. I think we have to play a lot of games and it is possible you play tomorrow, then don't play in the next Premier League game, but the most important thing is understanding that we need to choose for the games. It is only eleven in each game, after that another three impact players come in. We have an unbelievable squad and my job is not only to put my philosophy in the club or on the pitch on how we need to play, but I need choice and that is my job.

Do you think Roberto Soldado and Andros Townsend have more to offer Spurs? Or should the duo be sold? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below. And please feel free to follow me on Twitter!