Tottenham tallied three goals in the first half, and Harry Kane and Son Heung-Min each added another in the second to dominate Bournemouth 5-0.
Harry Kane has told ESPN FC that Tottenham’s success so far this season has justified their lack of summer signings, and that the squad is strong enough to remain competitive at the top if January is also quiet.
Eric Dier said in August that Spurs were relishing the chance to “shut everyone up” who criticised the club’s failure to recruit a single player — and the north Londoners are now second in the Premier League table, having won their last two matches 6-2 and 5-0, while they are also in the Champions League round of 16 and the semifinals of the Carabao Cup.
While Tottenham have another opportunity to strengthen in the winter window, which opens in five days’ time, Pochettino suggested there will be little or no money to spend — but Kane is unconcerned.
“Sometimes if you can’t find the right player there’s no need to buy a player,” he said, following the Boxing Day victory over Bournemouth. “That’s obviously the gaffer’s philosophy and that was his thinking [in the summer]. He believed in the squad he had and we’re doing alright so far.
“We’ll see what happens in the January transfer window. If the gaffer wants to buy someone then I’m sure he will. If he doesn’t we’ll crack on and keep doing what we’re doing.
“We’re fit, we’re ready to go. This period where there’s lots of games, we seem to do well because we recover well and we do a lot outside the pitch as well.
“[Signings are] up to the manager. If a new face comes in then we’ll welcome him and make sure he trains hard, and he’ll obviously try to get into the team. If we don’t then we’ve got a big enough squad that we can rotate — players have been coming in and doing well. We’ll be ready either way.
“I feel we’ve got a very strong attack, a very strong team. Without the midfield and defence playing the way they do, we don’t score the goals. Everyone’s been playing very well and everyone’s got competition for places, which is great and what you need in a squad.”
Tottenham climbed above champions Manchester City on Boxing Day and are now the closest challengers to leaders Liverpool, lying six points behind Jurgen Klopp’s side.
“Obviously it’s great but there’s still half way to go and we know how much can change in that aspect,” Kane said. “A few months ago we were dead and buried apparently and not many teams were talking about us, so we know how much can change. There are so many games coming up it’s hard to look too far ahead.”
Tottenham’s 21-year-old right-back Kyle Walker-Peters impressed in his first top-flight start of the season on Wednesday, setting up all three of the first-half goals against Bournemouth.
He became the youngest player to provide three assists in a Premier League match since Jermaine Pennant in 2003.
“I didn’t know that, you’re the first to tell me,” Walker-Peters told ESPN FC. “I’m happy with the performance but I have to credit the people I gave the ball to.
“Our main focus [as full-backs] is to stop goals but it’s an added luxury if we can get assists and score goals. You’ve got to try to create as a full-back in this team, to get up and down the pitch.
“It’s just about being patient and, when my opportunity comes, putting in the best possible performance that I can. Then it’s down to the gaffer to pick the team.”
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