KEY POINTS

  • Nabil Bentaleb will leave on loan while Pritchard will be allowed to go on a permanent basis.
  • Pochettino has strengthened his midfield ranks with Wanyama's capture from Southampton.

Tottenham Hotspur duo Alex Pritchard and Nabil Bentaleb are set for a move away from the club after Mauricio Pochettino made it clear to them that they are not part of his plans for the upcoming season. The midfield duo were omitted from the squad which travelled to Australia and Norway for their pre-season tour, which was a clear sign that they will be allowed to leave the club this summer.

The Mirror reports that Swansea City are keen on signing Pritchard but are waiting for Spurs to lower their valuation, which currently stands at £8m ($10.4m). The south Wales club were interested in signing the midfielder on loan in January this year, but were beaten to his signature by West Bromwich Albion.

The 23-year-old midfielder has failed to break into the Tottenham first-team following loan spells at Peterborough United, Swindon Town, Brentford and, last term, at West Brom and will be allowed to leave on a permanent basis. However, Spurs are likely to have to lower their valuation as it is unlikely a Premier League club will be willing to meet the north London club's valuation for a midfielder, who has no experience in the top-flight.

Bentaleb, on the other hand, is looking for a temporary move away from White Hart Lane, with Portuguese publication Record reporting that Tottenham are willing to send the midfielder on a season-long loan to Benfica. The 21-year-old Algeria international had an injury blighted campaign and just 11 appearances last season following his breakthrough in the 2014/15 campaign when he made 35 appearances in all competitions.

Nabil Bentaleb
Tottenham are open to letting Nabil Bentaleb leave on a season-long loan Getty

Pochettino has already strengthened his midfield with the signing of Victor Wanyama from Southampton and also has Eric Dier, Mousa Dembele and Ryan Mason to cover for the loss of Bentaleb. The quartet will be fighting for two slots available in the deep lying midfielder's role in the Argentine manager's preferred 4-2-3-1 formation.