Pochettino understands he may lose stars

Dec 15, 2017 - 5:00 PM Mauricio Pochettino accepts more Tottenham's stars may look to follow Kyle Walker's example by leaving the club to win trophies.

But Pochettino stressed Spurs sanction sales on their own terms, with Walker only allowed to join Manchester City for a hefty STG52million ($90m).

Walker has enjoyed a blistering start under Pep Guardiola.

City are 11 points clear at the top of the table ahead of Saturday's showdown with Tottenham and Walker has started all but two of their league games so far.

Tottenham, meanwhile, have made great strides in the last three years but are yet to win any silverware under Pochetttino, who admits some of his players may not want to wait for success.

"Exactly, that is the problem," Pochettino said.

"Maybe some players are not agreed in this plan and this strategy and of course they are right to complain, to talk and in the end to want to move or have another challenge for different reasons.

"We are all different and we all have different challenges, motivations, roles in our life. That is normal."

Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy has managed to commit nearly all of the club's key players to long-term contracts and Walker is the only big name to have departed under Pochettino.

"It's human nature that the players always want to improve and have different challenges and ideas," Pochettino said.

"But I am not worried because in the end it's always three parts in all the situations in football - the players, the club that owns the players, and if another club want some players, and in the end it's to be agreed on different things and try to make everyone happy with the decision."

Dele Alli is likely to be recalled after he was rested for Wednesday's win against Brighton but Victor Wanyama and Toby Alderweireld are still out with knee and hamstring injuries respectively.

Source: AAP