EXCLUSIVE: Joey Barton praises Tottenham’s transfer model amid ‘unsustainable’ Premier League spending

Tottenham Hotspur have been praised for their oft-criticised transfer model by Joey Barton, who believes they are one of the only clubs to be thinking long-term in the era of ‘unsustainable’ Premier League spending.

Spurs have still not signed a single player this summer, but have sales totalling almost £60m - mostly from the move of Kyle Walker to Manchester City.

Mauricio Pochettino went so far as to use youngster Kyle Walker-Peters as Walker’s replacement in their Premier League opener on Sunday, with the 20-year-old putting in an assured display that saw him named man of the match.

Fans have hit out at Chairman Daniel Levy for his frugal approach to the transfer market - especially while rival clubs complete multi-million pound deals for numerous players - but Barton understands Levy’s decision.

Speaking as co-host on Kick Off, Barton said: “This is an unsustainable business model. We are living in a very irrational time - certainly when it comes to players’ wages and transfers.

“I would have to concur with them [Spurs] - I do believe we are.

“So they are taking a long-term view that: ‘we can’t pay these players long-term. At some point the bubble will burst and we’ll be left in a very, very financially secure position’.

“But who knows when it’s going to burst?

“Usually in these bull markets - which I think football is in the midst of - when they do burst they usually come crashing to the ground.

“There will be certain clubs who will be able to absorb that because of the wealthy benefactors, but I think the sides that are playing with fire - as Leeds United have shown in the past on a lesser scale - you can very quickly when the tide comes out find out who’s got trunks on and who hasn’t.

“I think Daniel Levy is trying to maintain Spurs’ trunks. They are going to, hopefully, be sitting in the position where everyone around them has lost their heads.”