Tottenham Hotspur coach Les Ferdinand has disputed reports that Technical Director Franco Baldini had sanctioned the transfers in place of the sacked Andre Villas-Boas. Ferdinand has revealed Villas-Boas gave Baldini his consent to spend a reported £100million in the transfer window, with many of the signings coming in for criticism so far this season
"Most of the signings were perhaps suggestions to him, but he agreed to those suggestions," Ferdinand told US podcast Beyond the Pitch.
"The bottom line is he agreed to all of those signings. It wasn't a case that the players were brought in and he was told 'You have to make a team of these players', because if you're a manager and that happens, you're destined for the sack.
"From speaking to AVB, I understand he was happy that the players came to the club."
Ferdinand believes that Villas-Boas was informed by the board that UEFA Champions League qualification was a requirement.
"We lost Gareth Bale and spent over £100m pounds. When you spend that kind of money you forget the fact that they need to settle in.
"Most players that come into the Premier League need about six months to a year for them to settle in - six months if they hit the ground running.
"But in all honesty, the management and the people above were all saying that qualifying for the Champions League was a minimum."
