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Spurs Boss Mauricio Pochettino Puts Paid to 'Misconceptions' About Hard-Hitting Chairman Daniel Levy

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Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino has insisted that chairman Daniel Levy has not put in place any age restrictions - young or old - on Spurs' recruitment process.

Speaking to ESPN, the Lilywhites boss has explained that his chairman is open to bringing in players of a more senior age, as evidenced by this past August's deadline day signing of 32-year-old Spaniard Fernando Llorente from Swansea, for fee in the region of £14m.

Pochettino states: "From the beginning here, Daniel Levy has never said to me, 'We cannot sign players who are over 25.' Never. I promise you he's never said that."

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Llorente is set to lead this line for Tottenham on Wednesday night in their all-London Carabao Cup fourth round clash at Wembley with West Ham United, with talisman Harry Kane set to be rested having shown signs of fatigue at the weekend versus Liverpool. 

Whilst Spurs continue to pride themselves with the blooding of talent in N17 - with Kane being the pinnacle - there has been the investment of just three players the age of 25 of above, during Pochettino's tenure at the club.

The Argentine has previously bought only central defenders Federico Fazio and Toby Alderweireld, as well as midfielder Moussa Sissoko, all of whom could be classed as relative veterans at the club.

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Pochettino however is at pains to point out he is not restricted to having only a youthful squad, stating the right ingredient of experience is vital for any successful side, whilst admitting to being a tricky task finding the right individual to achieve it.

 "All we do is try to find a profile that will fit what we need for the club", said the Tottenham boss, "but he [Levy] has never said to me, 'That is the limit of the age -- we can or we cannot.'

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"It is important to analyse one thing: when you look at Harry Kane in the last few years, it is not easy to find the profile who can compete with him. It is not easy in the market to find a player who wants to come and do that, as everyone recognises him as one of the best strikers in the world and for a club like us it is not easy to find. That is why Llorente is perfect, and fits very well for us in our project."

Llorente was in the starting XI in Spurs' third round meeting with Barnsley last month, with the former Sevilla and Athletic Bilbao man yet to score for his new club in three appearances, a statistic the forward will be keen to remedy on Wednesday evening.