When the sixth goal went in, you can bet there was a sixth sense in Daniel Levy’s head that a culling is needed at Tottenham.
It has started with caretaker Cristian Stellini, the Italian handed his P45 on Monday evening. The real question is, where should it stop?
The 6-1 demolition at Newcastle on Sunday afternoon would have been the biggest eye-opener for anyone with a board seat at Spurs and, with Champions League football looking nigh-on impossible, everyone associated with the club will have to be at their action stations to get the club in fighting form again.
There was at least some fight in Thursday night’s comeback from two goals down to draw with Manchester United – a result that just about kept their Champions League ambitions alive with Ryan Mason now in charge – but it shouldn’t obscure the bigger picture.
This summer presents the chance to tear up the book and start again. Clear out the deadwood. Hire a new manager and give him time with a scattering of smart signings in the team’s weakest areas. His to-do list will likely run a few pages long ahead of a crucial pre-season.
With no manager in charge and a number of players facing uncertain futures, Levy will have some big decisions to make, including what to do with Harry Kane – whose contract is up in a year – and a group of defenders who look all over the place.
After the players were exposed in brutal fashion at St James’ Park, Mail Sport has assessed every senior player in Tottenham’s squad and made a judgment on whether they should stay, go – or if the jury’s still out.
Tottenham are facing a huge summer rebuild after being ripped apart 6-1 by Newcastle United
Spurs chairman Daniel Levy has some huge decisions to make this club as he bids to bring success back to the team
GOALKEEPERS
Hugo Lloris – SELL
The Frenchman has been a great and loyal servant to Spurs over the last 11 years and deserves a special place in the club’s history of honourable players, but it’s time to move on.
The 37-year-old cannot perform at the level expected of him anymore and Spurs fans have seen him beaten far too easily and make high-profile mistakes. He’s made four errors leading to goals this season – the most of any player in the league.
Was he really pulled off at half time last weekend because he was injured? It seems coincidental when the team were 5-0 down.
His contract is up in 2024 but it would be better to let the club captain go now to allow the club to find a keeper who can be No 1 for years to come.
Hugo Lloris has been a long and faithful servant to Spurs but it’s time for him to move on
Fraser Forster – KEEP
The former Celtic man has the experience to be a solid back-up keeper – but with Lloris’ injury problems this season he has been needed far more than was first anticipated when he joined.
He should stay and deputise for whoever replaces Lloris.
DEFENDERS
Pedro Porro – JURY’S OUT
Will Tottenham ever sign a right-back worth their salt? He cost £40m but Pedro Porro has looked totally off the mark since arriving from Sporting Lisbon in January.
Not since the departure of Kyle Walker in 2016 have Spurs had an option on the right they can depend on and after recycling through Kieran Trippier, Serge Aurier, Matt Doherty and Emerson Royal, they are still waiting for one who can deliver.
But after such an expensive outlay it’s likely he stays – plus his crossing ability makes him valuable and might mean he’s deployed further up the pitch under a new manager.
He helped his cause by scoring against United on Thursday night, not that that is his main job.
Pedro Porro looks like another expensive misfire at right-back but should get another chance
Emerson Royal – KEEP
Ask any fan about the Brazilian one year ago and they’d be scathing.
Certain players just don’t sit right with the Tottenham faithful and Emerson had irked the lot of them after a handful of questionable displays, but in the weeks prior to his injury, he looked to have turned a corner.
He’s shown improvements with his defending but could still be a lot better going forwards. If nothing else, a decent squad option to have.
Eric Dier – SELL
Patience has finally run out with the long-serving Dier it seems. He’s been with Spurs for nine years – going from centre-back, to right-back, to midfielder, then back to centre-back again.
Dier looks like a player suffering an identity crisis and in the last few years he has not looked strong enough in the heart of defence.
His decision-making has been questionable and he’s been too easily beaten, most recently by Marcus Rashford the other night in embarrassing fashion.
Davinson Sanchez – SELL
Being booed off the pitch was the last straw for the Colombian defender. His number looks up this summer.
It just hasn’t worked out for him in north London, despite looking really promising when he was signed by Mauricio Pochettino for £42m – then a club-record fee.
Sanchez has been all over the place lately and that was summed up by him being dropped after his horror show against Bournemouth this month. That he has made just six starts in the league this season – hardly any of which have been positively received – says it all.
Davinson Sanchez and Eric Dier have both been guilty of shambolic defensive displays
Japhet Tanganga – SELL
He’s played a total of 144 minutes in the Premier League this season – the last coming in a 4-1 defeat to Leicester in February. Not good enough.
Clement Lenglet – END LOAN
To make a loan spell permanent, you need to perform pretty exceptionally to convince the owners to fork out the fee.
Barcelona would reportedly want around £12m to let Spurs take him off their hands, and he’s not done well enough to sanction that kind of move.
Cristian Romero – KEEP
Heralded as one of the best defenders in the league when he was signed from Juventus in the summer of 2021, the Argentinian has split the fanbase with his combative but reckless performances.
That fighting spirit is so popular with supporters but he has been guilty of crossing the line and losing his focus at times this season. After winning the World Cup with Argentina and starring throughout Qatar, his quality is clear.
Perhaps with a better central defensive partner, he will start to flourish and put in the consistent and dogged displays he is renowned for.
Cristian Romero has split the fanbase with his reckless behaviour at times but he is still a quality defender – and could shine with a better partner
Ben Davies – KEEP
Normally one of Spurs’ most consistent players but was sidelined with a hamstring injury against Southampton last month.
He’s versatile, experienced and a good leader. One of the longest-serving players at Spurs and can play in a back three or centre-half. Spurs need players like him if they are to revamp their defence.
Ryan Sessegnon – SELL
Has offered little for Tottenham since he joined from Fulham in 2019. Doesn’t look convincing at either end of the pitch and hasn’t assisted a goal since last season.
Doesn’t look confident enough to take players on and he’s injury prone too.
Ivan Perisic – SELL
This looked like a smart signing last summer but his limitations in defence have been made crystal clear.
We all know his quality creatively after picking up 10 assists in all competitions, but his place in the team could come under scrutiny once the highly-rated Destiny Udogie comes in this summer.
Perisic was never really a left-back – or a left wing-back for that matter – so is he better further forward? But even then, he probably doesn’t get in the team over the likes of Son, Richarlison and Kulusevski.
He’s reported to be unhappy in London and is seeking a return to Italy, so at the age of 34 a parting of ways may be best.
Ivan Perisic is ageing and hasn’t shone in defence – it wouldn’t be surprising if he left the club
MIDFIELDERS
Oliver Skipp – KEEP
Is Skipp the best technical player Spurs have produced? No, far from it, but he’s a local boy who has come through the ranks and is one of the few players who understand what it means to wear the shirt with pride.
The 22-year-old rarely leaves anything on the pitch and is an example to any young player coming through the ranks. Whichever manager comes in needs players who will run through brick walls for him and that’s Skipp to a tee.
Pape Sarr – JURY’S OUT
Pulling him off in the first half during that Newcastle mauling was brutal, and he’ll struggle to come back from that. He didn’t do himself justice but he’s still a rough diamond that needs polishing.
The 20-year-old still has time on his side and it’s his first full season at the club, so he needs patience. He’s certainly shown flashes of quality at times but he might not get the chance to get a run of games under his belt.
Yves Bissouma – KEEP
Antonio Conte didn’t seem to rate him – reflected in his measly eight Premier League starts this season – while injuries have wiped out the rest of his season.
Spurs have been crying out for a tough tackling midfielder in the mold of Victor Wanyama, Scott Parker or Wilson Palacios. Bissouma could be that guy, but he just didn’t fit in Conte’s system.
He’s shown his pedigree at Brighton but hasn’t had the breaks this season. If he gets his fitness back in pre-season and earns the trust of the new manager, he could still become a key man for Spurs.
Yves Bissouma and Pape Sarr still have more to give at Spurs – but they need a run of games
Rodrigo Bentancur – KEEP
Tottenham’s best midfielder by a country mile. He was one of their most outstanding players this season before his agonising anterior cruciate ligament injury in February – having scored six goals and provided two assists.
He’s a great partner to Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg but they need a player in front of them who can link midfield to attack, and allow them to focus on screening the defence and then playing balls forward.
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg – KEEP
The Dane might have his doubters, but he’s been one of Tottenham’s better players in this campaign and is a vocal and aggressive presence in the middle of the park.
Not an indispensible player, but definitely one who can battle for competition in midfield should Spurs add more quality in the position.
He has five goals and seven assists in all competitions and his experience is something Tottenham can benefit from.
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg is a vocal and aggressive presence in midfield that Spurs need
FORWARDS
Dejan Kulusevski – BUY
The Swede hasn’t hit the heights he reached last season when he joined on loan from Juventus last January, when he made quite the impression by laying on eight assists and scoring five goals in just 18 starts. That’s more in a few months than he has the entirety of this season (two goals, six assists).
It’s easy forget he’s actually not Tottenham’s player. He signed on an 18-month loan and Spurs are obligated to buy him for £31m if he plays in 50 per cent of their Premier League games this season (over 45 minutes) and the team qualify for Champions League.
Neither of those criteria look likely to be met – after Kulusevski’s battles with injury – while Newcastle look to be favourites for the top four after their thumping win against Spurs on Sunday. But the 22-year-old still has plenty of years ahead of him and he’s become a fan favourite.
The player has the chance to play regularly at Spurs and taking him in permanently would be a smart investment.
Dejan Kulusevski has had a difficult season but Spurs should still add him on a permanent deal
Harry Kane – SELL
The biggest conundrum Daniel Levy will face this summer. Do you dig your heels in and keep the England skipper for one more year and then lose him next summer, or do you pull the trigger and rake in as much money as possible for him now?
I don’t envy whoever has to make that big call. But it’s inescapable – Kane will surely leave this summer or next summer. Why on earth would he sign a new contract with the team in utter disarray? He is a quality forward who deserves to play in a team that’s flourishing and competing for honours.
Spurs have lost high-profile players before when they were on the up. Kane’s loyalty to the club has never come under question as a boyhood fan, but he’s stressed he won’t stick around if the team are regressing, and that’s happening big time.
Levy is reportedly holding out for £100m if he is to let Kane go this summer – a steep price for a player who is turning 30 in July. But this is one of the best strikers in the world we are talking about. A man who has managed to score 26 goals in a team that have played negative defensive football all season.
If Spurs can get anywhere close to £100m, they should take it and use the funds towards their big rebuild. It will be a painful and costly move – especially if it strengthens Man United – but might allow the team to start the healing process and learn to cope without him.
Harry Kane’s future at Spurs looks bleak with his deal expiring next summer and Tottenham should cash in now before he leaves on a free
Son Heung-min – KEEP
He’s struggled this season for sure – but Son is a player who thrives when the team are flourishing and when he has a manager who puts their arm round his shoulder.
The South Korean star hasn’t had either this season and that’s why his form has fallen off a cliff. He’s still managed 10 goals and four assists in all competitions, but that’s far below what’s expected of last season’s top Premier League goalscorer.
He’s a fan favourite who seems to enjoy playing for the club and has a deal running until 2025. The club also know the commercial value of having Son on their books thanks to his incredible popularity in Asia and his home country.
Son Heung-min has struggled for form this season but he is a fan favourite and needs to recover after a loss of confidence
Richarlison – JURY’S OUT
If you signed a player for £60m and he didn’t score once in the league all season, how would you feel?
You can imagine Daniel Levy isn’t feeling so happy after seeing the return on his investment, yet the Brazilian has still managed to make an impact without scoring goals thanks to his off the ball work, aggression, tricks and tactical awareness.
On his day he’s a brilliant player but he’s struggled for game time and that will have hurt his pride. He’s missed great chances this season but has also had rotten luck.
Once the goals start rolling in he could make Spurs deadly in attack, particularly if the burden falls to him after Kane leaves.
More was expected from Richarlison after his £60m move – his failure to score is disappointing
Arnaut Danjuma – END LOAN
The man couldn’t buy game time at Spurs. Conte didn’t rate him, Stellini clearly doesn’t rate him. There’s no doubt he’s a talented player – he’s shown it at Villarreal in the last two years, but the question is – did Tottenham need him in the first place?
He rejected Everton – where he could very well have been playing every game and maybe be regretting his decision. After just 73 minutes in the Premier League, there’s unlikely to be any appetitite to make the move permanent, from either party.
LOANEES
Joe Rodon – SELL
Not good enough for a team challenging for Europe.
Harry Winks – SELL
The player himself admitted he may have to finally seek an exit. He won’t be a starter next season so it might be time to start forging a new path.
Giovani Lo Celso – SELL
Never looked like a good fit from the start and is hardly turning up trees at Villarreal.
Tanguy Ndombele – SELL
Has struggled for game time at Napoli. Nothing has changed to give the idea he could kickstart his career at Spurs.
There doesn’t appear to be any future for Tanguy Ndombele at Spurs after his unsuccessful loan at Napoli
Sergio Reguilon – SELL
Hasn’t started a game for Sevilla and has made just five appearances off the bench. It hasn’t worked out.
Djed Spence – JURY’S OUT
He’s still young and is getting a run of games at Rennes. If he impresses the new manager there could be a future for Spence – and fans like him.
Bryan Gil – KEEP
The man who is known as ‘little Cryuff’ has his admirers among Spurs fans – for those who have seen him perform the odd step over or turn of pace in a European game.
There is a tendency to overhype young players who come to the club but Gil is talented and there is potential there. He should get a chance to show what he can do in pre-season.