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Mauricio Pochettino says big fees show Premier League clubs are desperate to improve

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Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino believes clubs spending big money on new players are desperate to improve

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino believes some Premier League clubs have shown their desperation in the transfer market this summer by spending huge fees on new recruits.

Manchester United broke the world transfer record earlier this week with the £89m acquisition of Paul Pogba from Juventus, taking their total spend for the summer past the £140m mark.

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Manchester City have also joined their neighbours in spending big this summer, laying out close to £150m on eight new recruits.

Spurs, in comparison to the Manchester clubs, have been relatively quiet in the transfer market, signing just two players ahead of the 2016/17 season - midfielder Victor Wanyama and forward Vincent Janssen for a combined £28m.

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - AUGUST 08:  (EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE) Paul Pogba of Manchester United poses after signing for the club at Aon Training Complex on August 8
Image: Manchester United broke the world transfer record to sign Paul Pogba from Juventus

But Pochettino is convinced the big spending from rival clubs is just a sign of their unhappiness of the standard of their current crop of players.

"That shows when you spend a lot of money it is because you are not happy with your squad or your players and you are desperate to improve your squad," he said.

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"I am very happy with my players, I think it is very difficult to find better players than we have."

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Despite this, Pochettino admitted his openness to signing another two players before the close of the summer transfer window, but insisted any potential new recruits would need to improve the existing squad.

A portrait of Manchester City's new signing John Stones at the Etihad Stadium
Image: Manchester City also spent big, signing John Stones for a fee that could rise to £50m

He added: "We are open to adding one or two players or maybe no one. But if we have the possibility to sign a player that can improve us, we are very open."

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