Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino still chasing West Brom striker Saido Berahino

Tottenham are still chasing the signing of Saido Berahino

MAURICIO POCHETTINO has remained tight-lipped over his plans to make another bid for West Brom's Saido Berahino, but insists the Baggies do have "a lot of good players."

 

The Tottenham boss is desperate for a second centre forward to support Harry Kane and Albion are bracing themselves for further bids.

It will take Berahino’s transfer saga into a second window after the 22-year-old vowed to go on strike after West Brom chairman Jeremy Peace turned down two offers from White Hart Lane.

Now Pochettino is ready for another month of wrangling after cryptically describing Berahino's attributes when asked about his ideal frontman.

“I’m very happy with my squad but always in every position you can improve,” the former Southampton manager said. “We never speak in public about another club’s player. We need to show respect. But of course we are interested in different players – that is our job.

 

“I recognise they other than Harry Kane we do not have a specific striker. So maybe we work to try to find such a player we can add in the next transfer window or in the summer to try to help the team.

“We are trying to follow players now, but it is very difficult. What is most important is that we do not rock the balance of the team. It is important we find someone who is very specific.

“You know, for me, always you want that you find a striker that scores a lot of goals and who has good physical condition, good characteristics, can press, work hard and a nice guy, too.”

West Brom director of football administration Richard Garlick has conceded that interest in Berahino is likely to continue in January.

 

Pochettino admitted Harry Kane is Tottenham's only specific striker

“We can't stop people if they want to bid, that is up to them," he said. "The jungle drums are not sounding.

"There is always going to be speculation in the press but we have not had any discussions or been approached. The club's position remains unchanged. He is not a player who we have identified as one we want to move on."

Tottenham travel to the Hawthorns tomorrow but Pochettino is not losing any sleep over facing Berahino.

“You can’t be more worried about some players because of rumours or what happened in the summer,” he said. “It is impossible to be in that player’s mind. In football you need to have big motivation in every game.

“We are very focused on our team and we know the way we want to play. West Brom have a lot of good players.”