On a relatively dull transfer deadline day, the future of Emmanuel Adebayor was one of the most intriguing sub-plots. In the end the striker stayed at Tottenham Hotspur, but for a player seemingly sidelined, there was a sense of a lost opportunity for him to reignite his season.

In fact Adebayor, in the wake of a proposed move to West Ham United being blocked at the last minute by Daniel Levy, the Spurs chairman, said that he had been pleased to have been offered a route away from White Hart Lane as well as adding that he was also content to stay in north London.

Mauricio Pochettino, the Spurs head coach, revealed yesterday that the only player to knock on his door to ask for