Sky Sports reporter Michael Bridge has told Give Me Sport that players Harry Winks, Gio Lo Celso, Sergio Reguilon and Tanguy Ndombele are being forced to watch the Tottenham first-team train, and then train by themselves.
The quartet were left behind by Spurs from this summer’s pre-season tour of South Korea. The club are actively looking to sell them. That is, after a spending spree that has easily eclipsed £100million – especially with Richarlison signing.
Yves Bissouma has come in, seeing Winks drop out of Antonio Conte’s midfield options. Ndombele and Lo Celso spent time out on loan last season and will be sold. Reguilon has been replaced by Ivan Perisic on the left flank.
Bridge says that after a recent visit to Tottenham’s training at Hotspur Way, he witnessed the four Spurs players watching first-team training. They were then forced to train by themselves, and not with Conte’s senior squad.
“I was at the training ground last Thursday. The first-team were training. You see them four on the edge of the pitch on the other side watching. Then they go and run with one of the fitness coaches.
“I don’t care how much money they’re on. It’s demoralising, I was demoralised for them. It was quite a hard watch, especially Winks, who’s been there from day one.” Bridge reported, in quotes published by Give Me Sport.
Bridge: Tottenham players forced to train by themselves
As Bridge says, it is sad – especially for a player like Winks that has given his all for the club. But it also speaks volumes about Conte. He knows what is needed, he knows what he wants, and he is ruthless.
He only wants to work with the players he believes can take Tottenham forward. For Ndombele and Lo Celso, this will have been expected. But for Winks and Reguilon, who played a part last term, it will be, as Bridge says, “demoralising”.
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