Tottenham is expected to be ruthless in January, releasing six first-team players, including two who have started a combined 19 league games this season.
The Spurs’ season has been nothing short of a rollercoaster. They are comfortably inside the top four after winning nine of their 15 league games, but they have rarely dominated their opponents as a record of that caliber would suggest.
In the Champions League, Tottenham advanced to the final group match and had to come from behind away at Marseille to advance to the knockout stages.
Going behind has been a familiar foible this season. Although Antonio Conte’s side has at least shown they’re more than capable of fighting back as the match wears on.
Spurs have backed their enigmatic Italian boss in recent windows. And that is a trend that’s expected to continue moving forward. Indeed, a potential triple January raid was recently touted that’d include two more arrivals from Serie A.
But for Spurs to continue making wholesale additions, the fat in their squad must first be trimmed.
On that front, Spurs insider, John Wenham, has backed Fabio Paratici and co. to axe no fewer than six first-teamers in January.
Speaking to Football Insider, Wenham broke the six-strong list down into two categories – those already surplus to requirements and out on loan, and those in north London who aren’t fit for purpose.
“Any players that are on loan who have no future at the club need to go in January, [Giovani] Lo Celso for one,” Wenham told Football Insider.
“[Joe] Rodon, [Tanguy] Ndombele, they are the three who have no future. It’s just about finding permanent buyers for them.”
Tottenham loanees excelling away from north London
Lo Celso is currently on loan at Villarreal, while Rodon and Ndombele are at Rennes and Napoli respectively. All three loans are season-long affairs.
Villarreal is known to want to sign Lo Celso outright with the Argentine continuing to impress in Spain.
Rennes has the option to buy center-half Rodon who has made 14 appearances across all competitions in France.
Napoli, meanwhile, can sign Ndombele for €30m at the season’s end. And the Frenchman has proved a useful squad player for a side who lead Serie A by eight points.
All three could conceivably leave in 2023, though look likelier to do so in the summer, not January.
On the second trio of Wenham’s six-man list, the Tottenham insider named wing-backs Ryan Sessegnon, Matt Doherty, and Emerson Royal.
Sessegnon and Emerson in particular have featured heavily this season with 19 combined league starts to their names.
“Someone who you might think this is harsh, Ryan Sessegnon. You can talk about potential but he signed in 2019 and has not played under Poch, Mourinho, Mason, Nuno, and Conte.
“At what point does it stop being potential? I remember reports a while ago that we were going to offer him a new contract.
“It’s interesting that all of that talk has now gone away. He has a deal until 2024 so we have the decision to make there, I would move him on.
“He’s not at the level to play in a system where the ability for the wing-backs to offer you creativity is imperative.”
While Wenham raises some valid points, it’s important to remember any players sold will need to be replaced.
Tottenham aren’t a club with limitless funds and with superstars like James Maddison in their sights, they’ll have to make do with certain players currently in their squad – even if they’re not of the desired quality.
Leave a Reply