Sessegnon not in Fulham squad, fuelling Spurs transfer rumours with Pochettino growing confident of £25m transfer

TOTTENHAM fans hoped Ryan Sessegnon's absence from Fulham's opening Championship defeat signified his imminent switch to North London.

However, Cottagers boss Scott Parker insists the wing-back was simply injured.

Speculation has refused to go away despite Fulham's determination to keep the young English star.

Sun Sport revealed yesterday Spurs' confidence in getting a £25million deal over the line before Thursday's transfer deadline.

Sessegnon's Craven Cottage contract is up at the end of the season and he is understood to want to leave.

But his absence on Saturday was not necessarily an indication that the move is any closer.

The Championship club asserted that he the 19-year-old is suffering from a hamstring injury.

Parker told reporters after the game: "He is still coming back from a hamstring injury picked up in pre-season, he is still rehabbing and doing a bit of running now, that's why he's not featured."

Fulham certainly needed Sessegnon at Oakwell, their first game back in the second-tier ending in a 1-0 defeat to newly promoted Barnsley.

Luke Thomas hit the winner early on and the visitors' second-half rally failed to turn the game around.

As for Spurs, they hope to complete a couple of deals in the coming week.

As well as Sessegnon, Real Betis midfielder Giovani Lo Celso is high on their agenda.

And Manchester United target Bruno Fernandes has not been ruled out for a late snatch from Sporting Lisbon.