says are ‘working very hard’ to secure their transfer targets this summer but stopped short of providing an update on the club’s pursuit of .
The Argentine coach is eager to bring in a new midfielder before the season starts, particularly with N’Golo Kante, Mateo Kovacic, and Ruben Loftus-Cheek all having left the club.
Caicedo has been identified as the ideal partner for record signing Enzo Fernandez but from Chelsea worth £70million for the Ecuadorian.
Despite that setback, Pochettino insists the club’s recruitment team are still working hard to bring in new faces and he is pleased with the business they have done so far.
Asked if he can provide any insight on the rejected bid for Caicedo, Pochettino said at a press conference in North Carolina on Tuesday: ‘Well I think all the teams are working very hard to try to earn what we want.
‘I’m not going to talk about specific names because I think the most important [thing] is the players that we have.
‘But I think, like us, many, many clubs are working in the process to sign the players that can improve all these teams. But I’m not going to talk about the specific name because I think it’s not respectful to talk.’
Asked if he is pleased with how quickly the squad has been streamlined, Pochettino continued: ‘Of course, I think yes we are still working in the process to build the squad, to finish the squad.
‘We are working really, really hard. We have a very young squad also, but I think the players are showing all the commitment and they are working so well.
‘All we can say is that we are so happy with the way they are working, but of course still we need to work during this pre-season to build a really strong squad first and then to evolve in the way that we want to play and then to apply all the concepts and what we expect from them.’
Pochettino also sent a message of support to centre-back Wesley Fofana after the Frenchman , though is hopeful he will still play a part this season.
‘It’s really sad, really bad news. We feel all so sad. All we can do is help him,’ said the former PSG and Tottenham boss. ‘We know it’s a tough injury but we hope he can be as soon as possible with the team.
‘We need to keep going. The competition is there, in one month we start, it doesn’t wait for anyone and we need to be ready to compete.’
Asked if Fofana will return in time to play this coming season, Pochettino replied: ‘I hope yes. You have all of the information that this is difficult. He is evolving in a different way but hopefully his recovery goes very well.’
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