Spurs are willing to listen to offers for established trio as Andre Villas-Boas steps up his mass overhaul of the team Harry Redknapp built.
Rafael van der Vaart and Lennon
The senior trio, who were all key figures in the Spurs team that finished fourth in the Premier League last season under Harry Redknapp, are set to be the latest casualties of the Villas-Boas revolution.
The Portuguese has decided to completely refurbish the team that Redknapp built as he seeks to lower the average age of the squad and introduce greater dynamism in the spine of the team.
Van der Vaart will be allowed to leave this week if cash-strapped Hamburg, the Dutchman’s former club, can meet Spurs’ £9million valuation before Friday’s deadline.
Spurs will also, more surprisingly, listen to offers for Lennon and Parker. It is understood that Villas-Boas shares Redknapp’s doubts about Lennon’s ability to consistently deliver the goods and does not see a long-term role for Parker in central midfield.
The £5.5m 2011 deadline day buy from West Ham started all four of England’s matches at Euro 2012 but is likely to have slipped down the pecking order when he returns in October after undergoing surgery on his right Achilles.
It is unlikely Lennon or Parker, given his injury, will be sold by Friday night’s deadline but they are set to be off-loaded at the first realistic opportunity, which could even be in January.
The revelation of Villas-Boas’ plans comes after he sanctioned the sales of established duo Michael Dawson and Brad Friedel, while fringe players such as Jermaine Jenas, David Bentley, Heurelho Gomes and Giovanni dos Santos have all been told they are surplus to requirements.
Spurs are looking to re-invest the money from the £33m sale of Luka Modric to Real Madrid to build a squad that can challenge for the top four.
They could complete a deal to sign Fulham midfielder Moussa Dembele on Wednesday after meeting the release clause in the Belgian midfielder’s contract, with the 25-year-old undergoing the first part of a medical on Tuesday night.
Tottenham are also closing in on a £12m deal for Hugo Lloris after Lyon granted permission for the goalkeeper to discuss personal terms with the Londoners.
The club’s £15m move for Shakhtar Donetsk attacker Willian has stalled, however, while CSKA midfielder Alan Dzagoev is considered too expensive.
Villas-Boas remains in the hunt for Joao Moutinho, his countryman who he regards as the ideal replacement for Modric, and still wants a centre-forward after the club failed in their latest £18m pursuit of Leandro Damiao from Internacional.
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