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On May 3, 2019, then-manager Mauricio Pochettino warned everyone involved with Tottenham Hotspur that a painful rebuild was necessary. It didn’t exactly happen, and now Spurs are going to be forced to do it in a transfer market that is expected to be bonkers and unpredictable.
Today, Dan Kilpatrick took a deep dive into what will be a very busy summer, including all the players that are expected to go or the club will hear offers for.
Serge Aurier, Matt Doherty, Eric Dier, Davinson Sanchez, Ben Davies, Moussa Sissoko, Harry Winks, Erik Lamela, Lucas Moura and captain Hugo Lloris are among the players who could move on.
In the current financial climate, Spurs will need to sell before they can buy so, together with Levy and technical director Steve Hitchen, the new manager faces a big ask to reshape the squad in a Covid-depressed market.
That’s a heck of a list...and that doesn’t include clubs pounding on Daniel Levy’s door for players like Son Heung-Min, Dele and Harry Kane. It’s not crazy to think at least one of them will not be in a Spurs kit next season, so let’s go down the list and we’ll discuss the potential of each player being here for the 21/22 season.
Serge Aurier
Contract End: 2022
Serge is 28 and has one year left on his deal. There have been plenty of reports that he wants to go back to France and it seems that PSG might be interested in bringing him back to the French capital. I would be stunned if he’s in London at the start of next season.
Prediction: Sold
Matt Doherty
Contract End: 2024
Doherty’s first season for Tottenham was not a great one, but some of it wasn’t his fault. He caught COVID and never seemed to be right when he returned. He also played in two systems that hindered his best style as an attacking fullback. With Aurier leaving, the only way Doherty is gone is if Spurs bring in two fullbacks or the club is ready to boost Japhet Tanganga to at least second-string.
Prediction: Stays
Eric Dier
Contract End: 2024
Eric Dier’s tenure at Tottenham has had a lot of peaks and valleys. On his best days, he’s a quality defender who is a good passer and has played defensive midfield well. On other days, he makes one or two fatal mistakes in a match that puts Spurs into awful positions. He’s 27 years old and while his value isn’t anywhere near the reported £50m Manchester United were ready to pay a couple years ago, this might be the best time to get cash for him.
Prediction: 50/50
Davinson Sanchez
Contract End: 2024
Sanchez is almost the same as Dier, minus the midfield ability. Great when he’s on, frustrating when he’s off. The difference is that Sanchez is 24 and can still turn it around. The question is whether or not it will be with Spurs. The defense this season was abysmal in the closing minutes of matches and Sanchez is certainly at fault for some of it. Spurs need an overhaul on the back line and it’s possible one or both of Dier and Sanchez leave if the right offer comes.
Prediction: 50/50
Ben Davies
Contract End: 2024
Davies has been out of action since April with a shin injury. Prior to that, he made 38 appearances across all competitions and put in 2900 minutes. While Davies isn’t a bad fullback, the problem is that he just doesn’t have great pace and seemed a step slower this season. The thing that helps Davies is that he can play CB if needed, especially in a back three like he has for Wales. I don’t think Ben will have much interest from other clubs unless an offer comes out of nowhere.
Prediction: Stays
Moussa Sissoko
Contract End: 2023
31 years old and on an obvious decline, Sissoko’s time at the club should be done. He still had over 2500 minutes of action this season but he was pretty poor most of the season and it’s time to find someone to take him off Spurs hands.
Prediction: Sold
Harry Winks
Contract End: 2024
The 25-year-old midfielder found himself on the bench or out of the squad more often than not by Jose Mourinho, only to be restored by caretaker Ryan Mason. The problem is that nothing has changed with Winks. He’s not a great defensive midfielder and his passing is average at best for a CM. With better players such as Giovani Lo Celso and Tanguy Ndombele on the roster, apart from homegrown depth there’s little reason to keep him, especially if the club want to bolster the midfield with a new signing. Someone will, and should, buy him.
Prediction: Sold
Erik Lamela
Contract End: 2022
I will forever love Erik Lamela and worship at his temple of sh*thousery, but this looks to be the summer where he moves on. A few Italian clubs are interested in bringing him back to Serie A and he seems willing to make the move. The last of the Bale Seven was here long enough to see the Welshman return and play with him. While he never turned out to be the Bale replacement everyone hoped for back in 2013, the Argentine has had an overall good run with Spurs. Excuse me while I cry for a moment...
Prediction: Sold
Lucas Moura
Contract End: 2024
Lucas Moura’s future is going to be decided by the new manager and how the market shakes out for attackers. Spurs could try and pluck some talent from France and Italy to replace the Brazillian, or they could give him one more year and attempt to sell him next summer. Lucas will forever be in Spurs lore for that night in Amsterdam, but this may be the best time to get some money for him and try to bring in younger talent.
Prediction: 50/50
Hugo Lloris
Contract End: 2022
This one could really hurt, but it has to be addressed. Hugo has one year left on his deal and rumors have said he wants to return to France. Mauricio Pochettino certainly wouldn’t hate bringing him to Paris and I expect to see at least one non-bat country report that suggests it’s in the works. The club captain has been fantastic and saved Spurs in numerous matches. Personally, I’d like to extend him and bring in a young keeper to be the understudy, but if this is it, Spurs will need to make a splash with a solid keeper so nothing is lost.
Prediction: More than likely sold.
That ends the list that Kilpatrick gave, but we’re adding to it just because of rumors, playing time, reports, etc. Let’s be honest: We know we’re going to hear transfer news regarding these three whether we like it or not.
Heung-Min Son
Contract End: 2023
Speaking of pain, selling Sonny might break every single writer’s heart. We love the man. He’s pure and good and even better on the pitch. He turns 29 this summer and bagged 22 goals and 17 assists in one of his best seasons for Spurs. The arguments to keep or sell him are sure to be a hot topic as there were loose links to Juventus and Madrid earlier in the year, though neither were nothing more than conjecture. If there is legitimate interest for a big offer, Son’s transfer fee could fund a couple of quality signings to help the rebuild.
Prediction: More than likely stays.
Dele Alli
Contract End: 2024
I think it’s safe to say that no one player had a more frustrating season for Tottenham Hotspur than Dele. Completely frozen out of the squad by Mourinho, it looked like Dele was going to push for any move away and seemed close to a loan deal back in January. That was scuttled. Eventually, Dele was restored by Mason and played ample minutes down the stretch run. His value has plummeted and there’s little reason for Spurs to sell him when his value is so low. Dele’s recent social media postings suggest a player who is eager to be reborn and terrorize clubs next season. If a hungry and healthy Dele is back for Spurs, watch out.
Prediction: Stays.
Harry Kane
Contract End: 2024
We’re already experiencing a deluge of transfer rumors that we’ve already filed away under “too batty for bat country” but we know serious links are coming. Watching social media over the last week, as well as the comments on the various articles written here, the fanbase is split on this one. Yes, Kane is arguably the best player to ever wear a Spurs kit. He doesn’t want to move to the continent because he wants the EPL goals record. He also wants silverware but that six-year contract he signed may very well be his undoing. Clubs are going to throw Brinks trucks full of cash at Borussia Dortmund for Erling Haaland, including Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea. Dortmund managed to claw their way back into the Top 4 in the Bundesliga and secure Champions League football, meaning they won’t have to sell Haaland if they don’t want to. Jadon Sancho is a different story, but Haaland may dictate this market. Spurs are still going to have clubs call, but the feeling around this is that Kane probably wants to leave but Levy holds the power. If Levy holds firm, Kane isn’t going anywhere.
Prediction: Stays.
This is arguably the most important summer in Tottenham’s recent history. Levy has to get the manager right and nail the market as best he can. Yes, we know that Spurs probably have to sell before they can buy but there’s a lot of deadwood to generate cash. Spurs aren’t broke by any stretch, but that stadium debt looms large. Getting fans back into the stadium for both football and non-football events will also generate further cash, but that hinges on the COVID-19 pandemic truly coming to an end, and that chapter is yet to be written.
The Harry Kane saga is going to be the one that garners all of the major headlines, but these predictions are just that: Predictions simply based on the squad, gut feeling, and a lot of conjecture. I’m interested to read what you all think happens and debate with each other.