Tottenham round-up: Barkley plans made; Espanyol goalkeeper returns to Spain; Southampton target defender

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino is planning on converting Everton attacking midfielder Ross Barkley into a more central role if he signs for the north London side, according to The Times.

It is understood that the 23-year-old has been identified as a long-term replacement for the impregnable Mousa Dembele, who has been struggling with injuries since the end of last season.

The Belgian powerhouse has two years left on his current contract and, although in the short-term his partnership with Victor Wanyama would continue, Barkley is deemed capable of being his successor.

And with Ronald Koeman – as per Sky Sports – conceding yesterday that Barkley will be leaving Merseyside during the transfer window, the door is open for Tottenham to pounce and sign him.

In other news, up-and-coming Espanyol goalkeeper Pau Lopez will not be returning to White Hart Lane next season following a season-long loan at Tottenham last year.

The 22-year-old joined the north London side last summer and, despite failing to budge the evergreen Hugo Lloris from his starting berth, Pochettino was largely impressed by his growing potential.

Speaking about his return home, Spanish news outlet AS quotes Lopez as saying: “I do not know where all this comes from, nobody has told me that [Espanyol] do not count on me and I will be here all season, no matter what.

“[In London] you are out of the comfort zone and that makes you evolve on a personal level, you also know a new league and a new way of training.

“I was in a team with incredible players and a coach to whom I am thankful for the experience.”

It is thought that Espanyol were keen on having Lopez back in their squad for pre-season due to an injury picked up by current number one Diego Lopez – meaning he could start against Sevilla on August 19.

Lastly, Premier League rivals Southampton could be set to pounce for Austrian defender Kevin Wimmer should Virgil van Dijk leave the club this summer, according to reports in the Daily Mail.

With Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea all sniffing around the talented Dutchman – as per reports in Sky Sports – there could be a need for personnel in the Southampton defence next year.

And it is believed that new boss Mauricio Pellegrino has lined up the out-of-favour Wimmer as a potential replacement, with the 24-year-old struggling for first-team opportunities in north London.

The report claims that, although boss Pochettino isn’t keen on selling any more players this summer window, an offer from Southampton in the region of £20million could be enough to force the switch.