The early momentum and optimism that I held following the Ndombele transfer is quickly evaporating but there are several stories doing the rounds suggesting that Spurs will be able to offload a couple of players that have been deemed surplus to requirements and if those deals can be pushed through that may allow us to return for some of our key targets later in the summer.

Kieran Trippier - The rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain

Trippier has been the subject of transfer speculation for a little while and has been linked with a move to clubs in Germany, Italy and Spain. With the likelihood that Spurs would ask fellow Premier League sides to pay more for the right-backs services, his agents have clearly been boarding a few EasyJet flights and making several long-distance phone calls to clubs in Europe in order to secure Trippier's exit. It would appear that Atletico Madrid are the side which Trippier will be joining for a fee in the region of £20million.

There were rumours of an approach by the Spanish giants in the London Evening Standard and the story seems to be gathering momentum with a few more reputable sources now stating that Trippier will not be flying out to Singapore with the rest of the squad and instead is on his way to Madrid for a physical. Trippier is seen as a direct replacement for the experienced right-back Juanfran who left Atletico in the summer following the expiration of his contract. Given his defensive frailties, I'd be interested to see what Diego Simeone can get out of a player who recently lost his place in the England squad.

Personally, I'm a little sad to see Tripps leave, I do think he coped an unnecessary amount of flack for a couple of poor performances last year having otherwise been a solid player for Spurs. That being said **IF** this allows us to free up money and squad space to sign a better quality of player then it is positive. I don't believe that Spurs are likely to be on the lookout for another right-back with Serge Aurier, KWP, Juan Foyth and even Eric Dier capable of covering that position. A further limitation to Spurs transfer ambitions at RB or anywhere else could well be the need to meet the min. quota of homegrown talent in the squad. That to me suggests that KWP is likely to be given greater opportunities in the 1st team this year.

Chances of a deal being done: Good to Very Good

Danny Rose - A left-back by any other name

Elsewhere there are rumours that Danny Rose will also not be travelling with the squad to Asia and it was noticeable from the pictures that I have seen of Spurs first training session today that he wasn't involved. It's difficult to keep track of news and filter out fact from fiction but I've read reports that Rose is available for transfer this summer with others suggestings that the left-back has actually been offered a new contract. Spurs remain confident of completing the signing of Ryan Sessegnon who presumably would come in as a straight swap for Rose with Ben Davies already having committed his long-term future to the club.

Chances of a deal being done: Moderate

Toby Alderweireld - Please don't go!

Another player who is the subject of plenty of transfer speculation is Toby Alderweireld. The Belgian defender has a clause in his contract that states he can leave Spurs for £25million prior to 26th July (next Friday). Manchester United have long held an interest in the player who has been an absolute force at CB since joining the club but they now seem to be more focused on trying to acquire Harry Maguire from Leicester - more fool them! Some reports in Italy have also suggested that Roma are interested in TA and that a cash + player swap involving Nicolò Zaniolo is on the cards.

As I've mentioned before, I take any reported swap deal with a very sizable pinch of salt because they tend to be nigh on impossible to conclude. Furthermore, if as is reported, the primary stumbling block for Spurs securing a new contract with Alderweireld is money then I can't imagine that he's going to get more playing in Rome! Alderweireld was heavily featured within the pictures of Spurs training session today which suggests that he hasn't packed his bags just yet!

Chances of a deal being done: Moderate

Gareth Bale and Dani Alves - No country for old men

With genuine transfer news having dried up following the early signing of Ndombele it would appear that a large number of hacks and self-appointed ITKs have turned to just making up transfer rumours. Number 1 piece of rubbish floating by my newsfeed is that Gareth Bale is going to make a return to Spurs for around £50million. There is little to no chance of Spurs paying that amount of money for a 30-year-old and/or finding a way around the fact that he reportedly earns £600k a week at Real Madrid making this one a total non-starter.

Furthermore, a couple of the tabloids are suggesting that we are in for 36-year-old Dani Alves! The former Barcelona star has been sat around in his pipe and slippers plying his trade in the lesser French and Italian leagues for the last few seasons and the chances of us paying his sizeable wage demands to ponce around North London for a dozen games next year are slim to none!

Chances of deals being done: Very Low to Low