Tottenham Hotspur have identified the key players in their squad that they definitely want to hang onto amidst what could be a busy summer at Hotspur Way.
Spurs are not even assured of their Premier League status for next season, which means they cannot yet finalise their plans for the summer window.
However, reports indicate that Tottenham are ready to undertake an ambitious rebuilding of their squad if they do avoid relegation.
That is certainly long overdue, particularly given the club’s inability to get more players through the door in January.
Nine Tottenham players are not for sale this summer
A major rebuild would not just entail a high number of signings, but would also require a lot of exits, given that Tottenham’s squad size is already bloated.
According to The Telegraph, Spurs have already identified nine first-team players who they would ideally like to keep at the club.
Those are Micky van de Ven, Dominic Solanke, Conor Gallagher, Mohammed Kudus, Xavi Simons, Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall, James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski, who are all seen as valuable players who can contribute in the upcoming seasons.
However, the outlet does point out that there have been suggestions that Van de Ven could be open to exiting the club.
Why Spurs may struggle to keep hold of Van de Ven
One can understand why the Lilywhites want to keep hold of the Dutchman, as his unique attributes make him irreplaceable.
However, Van de Ven has halted talks with Tottenham over a new contract, as he assesses his options ahead of the summer window.
Some sources have even suggested that Van de Ven has already had his head turned by Real Madrid and Barcelona, both of whom are keen on securing his services.