Tottenham boss Andre Villas-Boas is keen to keep Andros Townsend and Danny Rose rather than send them out on loan again this season.
The pair both impressed during their spells at Queens Park Rangers and Sunderland respectively last term and are seen as useful members of the squad.
Townsend spent just four months at Loftus Road but was named the club’s Player of the Year by supporters following their relegation from the Premier League.
Villas-Boas wants more strength in depth and sees Townsend (above) as providing good back-up for England international Aaron Lennon, who has suffered with various injury problems in the past.
Rose also looks to have a future at White Hart Lane having spent the whole campaign at Sunderland.
Paolo di Canio wants to sign Rose on a permanent basis after his impressive season at the Stadium of Light. Rose, 22, has also been linked with a move to Liverpool and Stoke.
But with Villas-Boas prepared to listen to offers for left-back Benoit Assou-Ekotto, Rose is expected to get more first-team football with Spurs this season.
Meanwhile, Jermain Defoe is looking forward to kicking off Tottenham’s pre-season campaign.
Spurs face Swindon tonight and Colchester on Friday before heading to Hong Kong for the Barclays Asia Trophy.
The England striker said: “Those teams will give everything, they will work hard, they were all back earlier than us and they will be ready.
“They will be fit and that will be a test for us. That will help us get fit ourselves.
“They will want to beat us and every game at this level you want to win, there are no friendlies, even in training.”
