Spurs could sell 12 players this summer - report

Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino is planning to release up to 12 players from his squad as they begin their first full season at their new ground. Kieran Trippier is first in line to leave after an underwhelming 2018-19. Serge Aurier, Erik Lamela and Moussa Sissoko could leave too, according to the Express. There are also concerns for Vincent Janssen, Fernando Llorente, Georges-Kevin Nkoudou, Christian Eriksen, Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen.

Paper Round’s view: Reading that list, only Christian Eriksen is in his prime with years of his career at the top remaining. Most of the rest are cluttering up the squad and could raise funds for improvement, except for Vertonghen and Alderweireld, who have been brilliant for Spurs but are coming into the last couple of years of their peaks.

The Star reports that Manchester United have called off their proposed bid for Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale. The 29-year-old Wales international wants wages of £450,000 a week which is too rich for Ed Woodward, forcing the club to look at other targets. Woodward will look at younger alternatives such as Callum Hudson-Odoi, Jadon Sancho and Declan Rice, and will sell Alexis Sanchez if they can.

Paper Round’s view: If Woodword manages to avoid signing a shiny, overpriced footballer, then that represents progress of a sort. The key thing for United, though, is to sign some defenders who are capable of defending. Sancho and Hudson-Odoi would do nothing to solve the continued presence of Chris Smalling and Phil Jones.

Barcelona chief Josep Bartomeu is planning for life without Lionel Messi, reports the Mirror. The Argentine playmaker is 31 and the club know they will have to replace him. Bartomeu said: "Maybe in three, four or five years, Leo Messi will say: 'Ok, I am going to stop playing football.' So we are preparing our club for the future, for the time post-Leo, because we would like to still be the top club at that time."

Paper Round’s view: Messi could go on for a couple of years yet. Indeed, as his rival Cristiano Ronaldo has shown, it is possible to reach 34 and remain one of the very best players in European football. The transfer plans at Barcelona do seem to be focusing on reducing the average age of the squad, with players like Ousmane Dembele and Frenkie De Jong capable of playing for a decade or longer for the Spanish champions.

Newcastle boss Rafael Benitez is prepared to sign a new deal at St James’ Park, but only if his demands are met. The Spanish manager denied that he is planning a move to French football, and The Sun claims that he will stay if he is given a larger transfer budget, and control over who he signs.

Paper Round’s view: Benitez has proved his worth to Newcastle over three seasons, and he has earned the right to demand more control. He does not have a perfect record over his career, but he has shown that he is capable of overachieving on a budget, and that there is plenty of room for improvement in the Newcastle squad. Mike Ashley might even find it easier to sell a more successful club that one permanently teetering on the edge of a crisis, too.