The end of the season approaches, and Ange Postecoglou has made it clear he needs to make mass changes to develop a squad that can compete at the top level. But who could be sold to make way for new signings?
Speaking to the press after last week’s defeat against Chelsea, Postecoglou insisted his squad was some way off being where he wants it to be, and spoke of the “change” he expects in the coming months (Guardian).
On the back of this, it has been suggested that up to 12 players are to be made available for transfer this summer, as Tottenham look to trim their bloated squad and clear out some of the deadwood at the club (Paul O’Keefe).
So, which players will be transfer listed, and who should definitely be on their way out of Spurs this summer?
Alfie Whiteman
Tottenham have an abundance of goalkeepers now, but such is the nature of the role that realistically, you only need a number one keeper and one or two backups. Guglielmo Vicario is firmly established as the first choice, with Fraser Forster as his deputy.
Since Forster’s injury, Brandon Austin has stepped up as second-choice, warming the bench for the last 11 games. Clearly, Alfie Whiteman is too far down the pecking order, and will never make a career for himself at Spurs. I expect Tottenham to release him on a free, as he has just a year left on his current contract.
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Potential sale value: Free transfer
Emerson Royal
He’s now been at the club for approaching three years, but Emerson Royal has rarely looked convincing in any position he plays. The Brazilian simply doesn’t have the attacking prowess to fulfil the inverted full-back role Postecoglou wants, and his defensive awareness is below par, too.
Reports have suggested Royal is very much available for transfer this summer, with a price tag of £20m on his head (Football Insider). Let’s be honest, that figure is only being matched by Saudi clubs, but there’s a very real possibility that an offer could come.
Potential value: £20m
Djed Spence
It’s a real shame things have never worked out for Spence at Spurs. It’s even more frustrating that he would probably be perfect for the inverted full-back role and would be a great rotation to have alongside Pedro Porro.
Unfortunately, something just isn’t right, and Spence is highly unlikely to get another chance in North London. He’s doing well at Genoa, though, and it is believed the Italians have a purchase option in place. Spurs will probably decide to cash in this summer, though they’ll make a loss on what they paid initially.
Potential value: £8m
Joe Rodon
The Welshman has been flying on loan at Leeds United this season and has finally had the chance to show what he is capable of. Despite playing at Championship level this year, it’s largely expected that Rodon will join a Premier League club in the summer.
It remains to be seen whether that is Leeds, who have made it clear they want to keep Rodon permanently. However, if they don’t get promoted via the play-offs, someone else will almost certainly swoop.
Potential value: £12m
Japhet Tanganga
The Spurs academy graduate showed plenty of promise early in his career, but injuries have really taken their toll and he now looks highly unlikely to have a future at his boyhood club. A torrid time in Germany in the first half of this season had Tanganga looking like a lost cause, but things have picked up of late since he joined Millwall.
There is a small chance Tottenham would keep hold of Tanganga for the sake of registering homegrown, club-trained players, but a sale is far more likely. Whether a Championship club can afford him, is another matter, and he may have to think about a move abroad.
Potential value: £4m
Ryan Sessegnon
Injury issues have hampered Sessegnon’s progress, to say the least. He’s still only 23-years-old and has so much potential, but the fact he returned for just one game this season and then got injured again for the rest of the campaign underscores just how serious his underlying issues are.
Tottenham need someone to provide cover for Destiny Udogie, and if Sessegnon was fully fit he could well be that guy. But, Tottenham cannot afford liabilities if they are to compete and that includes injury issues.
Potential value: £5m
Sergio Reguilon
The Spaniard has enhanced his reputation over the last year, with loan spells at Manchester United and Brentford proving Reguilon can most certainly perform in the Premier League. The only problem is, Brentford cannot afford his wages, so a permanent switch to the Bees is off the cards.
More likely, is that Reguilon will return to his native Spain. Still, he’s an international player, in his prime years, and has shown he is capable of playing at the top level, so he shouldn’t be short of offers.
Potential value: £15m
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg
Having been a regular starter under both Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte, it has been something of a shock to the system for Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg this season. Ange Postecoglou clearly prefers Pape Sarr, Rodrigo Bentancur, and Yves Bissouma in the middle, and there’s even talk of signing another central midfielder.
Hojbjerg has been fairly valuable off the bench this summer, but he’s just not right for this system. There’s no doubt he’s a good player, though, and he will almost certainly attract interest from big clubs in Europe.
Potential value: £25m
Giovani Lo Celso
We have seen glimpses of what Lo Celso is capable of this season, but injuries have once again held him back. The Argentine has struggled to find consistency, and has not been given enough minutes to keep him happy, either.
Lo Celso can flourish once again if he secures a move to Spain or Italy, and like many on this list, he’s a wanted man. His contract expires next year, but Tottenham should still be able to get a decent fee for such an accomplished and experienced playmaker.
Potential value: £20m
Tanguy Ndombele
Ndombele continues to fail everywhere he goes, and yet he continues to win league titles. He can now add a Turkish league medal to his Serie A win from last year, though one could argue the Frenchman deserves neither of them.
He’s barely played for Galatasaray this season, and the Turkish side don’t want to keep him. At this stage, and with his obscene wages, the only way Spurs are going to get rid of Ndombele is to give him away — even then, it’ll be a struggle.
Potential value: Free transfer
Bryan Gil
The decision to swap Erik Lamela and £21m for Bryan Gil continues to look like one of the worst transfer decisions in Tottenham’s history. The young Spaniard has never been given a proper chance at Spurs and is clearly not quite suited to the demands of the Premier League.
Having spent time on loan at Valencia and Sevilla over the last two seasons, Gil has shown he is more than capable of performing in La Liga, and we’d expect him to return there this summer.
Potential value: £10m
Manor Solomon
Signing Solomon on a free transfer last summer looked like a shrewd piece of business, and two assists in his first five games for Spurs appeared to prove as much. Sadly, the winger’s season ended in September, and his knee injury has shown no signs of improving.
There’s a good chance Postecoglou keeps hold of Solomon and gives him a chance to reset next season, but it wouldn’t be a surprise if Spurs decided to call it quits and try to make a quick profit here. Solomon is a solid player, but we can do better.
Potential value: £10m
Troy Parrott
The Irishman has impressed on loan at Excelsior Rotterdam this season, registering eight goals and four assists in the Eredivisie. He clearly has an eye for goal, and looks like he has reached a level of maturity to now be ready for regular first-team football.
Sadly, that just isn’t going to happen at Spurs. Parrott is 22 years old now, and will not want to sit on the fringes of Postecoglou’s squad. Another loan spell is a possibility, but it would surely be delaying the inevitable, so he may as well find a permanent new club this summer.
Potential value: £5m
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