Mauricio Pochettino has insisted that Tottenham Hotspur have taken a “brave decision” by not making a single signing in this summer’s transfer window.

Tottenham are the only professional side in England and the only team in the top five European leagues to have not recruited any new players in the off-season.

The lack of signings comes despite Pochettino, the Tottenham manager, saying in May that chairman Daniel Levy needed to be “brave and take risks” and “create a different idea” in order to challenge for titles.

Tottenham left it late before finally making a bid for Aston Villa midfielder Jack Grealish on Wednesday, and were unable to agree a fee with the Championship club before the window closed at 5pm yesterday.

Pochettino claimed that the club’s focus this summer has been to retain their best players, and the Tottenham manager also called on Danny Rose, Toby Alderweireld and Mousa Dembele to show their “full commitment” after being persistently linked with moves elsewhere.

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