What next for Gomes, Bentley and JJ?

For all the talk about players arriving, Just for once, I want to look at those hopefully departing.

Now I don't want to start by being critical of any player, but it seems obvious that none of Heurelho Gomes, David Bentley or Jermaine Jenas are in AVB's plans and when we consider they are probably costing in excess of half a million pounds in wages every month, the idea of moving them on, offers massive appeal, especially to Daniel Levy, I'm sure. Perhaps losing these players is key to funding an early arrival of Lewis Holtby, as that money is roughly what it would cost to bring him in early and pay his wages for the remainder of the season.

Recently we saw that Gomes was heading back to Brazil and hopes were raised that he would find himself a club and perhaps even be part of a deal to bring Leandro Damiao to White Hart Lane. Supposedly he has now returned and there remains interest from home and abroad, but as has always been the case, wages are the stumbling block for any move. In truth I don't see too many obvious Premiership clubs that he could step into as first choice, though perhaps Fulham or Southampton are potential destinations, however you feel that Tottenham might have to pay something to get him off their books, either in the short or long term to compensate him for a probable drop in wages.

David Bentley is out of contract in the summer, therefore he potentially represents a bargain for someone who is willing to take a chance of his ability being rekindled. Though David has had a terrible time at WHL, I believe there is a talented player in there, perhaps just waiting for the right move and I actually feel he is someone that would do well at several Premiership clubs, though have his days as winger ended? With so many clubs forfeiting wide me and looking at more creative central players, I wonder if David could actually do very well in a more central role for someone and may well relish the opportunity to prove himself now he is seemingly fit after a series of injuries. at 28 years old, you assume there is plenty of worth in signing him on a short term deal for someone.

The problem that Jermaine has is his constant struggles with injury. This continued on loan at Notts Forest and you can't really see too many clubs taking a serious punt on him in this window, but the catch twenty-two here is that without games, he can't prove his fitness, but who in their right minds would pay anything other than peanuts to sign a player that has struggled do badly with injuries over a long period. This is of course as much a problem for Spurs as it is the player. This makes me wonder if there is a logic in Spurs loaning him out to anyone that is willing to take him and paying all or at least the majority of his salary? Realistically he is miles down our pecking order of central midfielders and will remain a financial liability as long as he is under contract, but without being able to prove he can play every week, he could be in career limbo for the remainder of his contract, so surely giving him away in the short term may at least give him the opportunity to find fitness and hopefully another club.

As things stand, all three are in our twenty-five man squad, but with little or no chance of playing. I'm sure the frustration for Mr Levy is that we have over £30m worth of player, wasting away and with little or no chance to recoup anything but a fraction of what we paid, but is it better to simply cut our losses and the wage bill, though there is always the situation that players expect to retain their earnings for as long as possible and that makes it all the harder to off-load anyone, especially when it comes to relocating and uprooting families, though you hope that all three will see they need to look elsewhere to rejuvenate their careers and perhaps Spurs need to help things along, even if it costs money in the short term...

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