I must confess, I have never understood slamming ITK's. They are either providing information which they have received in good faith or otherwise from those closer to the backroom machinations that they are, or they are spreading crap. Usually the latter is obvious, the former much harder to prove or disprove. Either way, it is to be taken with a grain of salt and, I, for one, find them interesting, entertaining, provocative, depressing etc.
Based on years of posts, certain ITK'shave earned their reputations. Are they ever going to get them all right? Nope, not any more possible than Daniel Levy or any other Chairman getting every deal they want. Last I checked there were Chairmen, Boards, Shareholders, Scouts, Agents, Players, Wives, Girlfriends (sometimes wives and girlfriends together),family, friends, fans all throwing weight on the scale. Deals are not easy and the majority (that is the reality) never get completed. That is all just the way it is.
To the credit of the ITK's and the reputable media, the Spurs targets since June have been Lo Celso, Ndombele, Clarke, Sessegnon. Two are done, a third seemingly almost there. Can anyone say we were not genuinely in for them all?
Another reality is that real ITK's get information they are allowed to share and info that they are not. This is how someone who is actually an ITK keeps getting info. Info that gets out at the wrong time can mess up a deal. Information that is "off the record" is just that. Just as with reporters, they need to protect their sources, and the info. They all, no doubt, try to confirm the information through a third and fourth source, but until they do, there's no way in Hades it may be released unless they want the tap shut off.
So, I for one, am appreciative of the ITK's and have no problem increasing my sodium input during Transfer Window Time. I only get excited when something comes out of the Blue that I like or I see it on BBC or the Spurs Website. Today, there were two out of the blue moments. Coutinho loan possibility, then Juventus accepting Spurs Dybala offer. Since all along there was a belief that Lo Celso was actually number 2 on the list, it was always a wonder who number 1 was. Now we know. Coutinho was number 1 for the Eriksen position. Cool. If we get it done, incredible. Dybala was more fantasy, but seems like we have a willing partner (FFP can be a real problem). So, all in all, day filled with entertainment that may well lead to possibilities not many of us will have seen coming. What's next, a Thursday medical for Bale?