'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Since his arrival at the club, Mauricio Pochettino has crafted one of the Premier League's finest sides, a supreme joy to watch when at their best. Spurs had always been a neutral's favourite: under Harry Redknapp, for example, their team possessed world-class talents like Luka Modric and Gareth Bale and were one of the strongest attacking sides in the league.
Pochettino, however, has taken the club up another level, and Spurs has regularly challenged for the league title in the last few seasons, coming closer than they ever have in recent memory.
It also remains to be seen whether this is as high as their coach will be able to take them. The league is definitely over for this season, with Spurs trailing leaders Manchester City by a massive 20 points.
Given that their rivals are strengthening and improving greatly, spending vast amounts of their wealth, there's the unfortunate sense that Spurs has missed their best chance to win a first league title since 1961.
They've impressed against sides as excellent as Real Madrid and Juventus this season but inconsistency has plagued the team. It will be a big summer for the club, with Pochettino's own future still uncertain, and there is likely to be significant departures on the pitch. This list, then, considers 5 of their biggest players who are likely to leave in the near future.
#5 Danny Rose
This is an obvious choice for there was speculation that Rose would leave last summer, specifically to rivals Manchester United. That hasn't happened yet but it seems like only a matter of time.
Jose Mourinho clearly doesn't fancy Luke Shaw in Rose's position and his criticism has verged on bullying of the English youngster. Ashley Young has filled in competently at left back this season but a natural left-footer would be better suited and Rose would fit perfectly.
He's only played 6 times in the league this campaign - admittedly partly due to injury - but Spurs haven't missed him too dearly, and Ben Davies has grown into the role in his absence.
Kyle Walker and Danny Rose were amongst the best full-back pairings in Europe for numerous seasons but it feels like Walker's success since leaving for Manchester City has turned his former partner's head. A move to Manchester United would suit the player and the club in this instance.
#4 Dele Alli
Touted as one of the best young players in European football over the last two seasons, Alli's form has tailed off this campaign but he's still contributed 6 goals and 9 assists in the league. This is a very good return for any player and the criticism he has received merely speaks to the incredibly high standards he set at such a young age.
He will turn 22 in April and has his best years firmly ahead of him. Many say that he'd do well to remain at Spurs for a while yet and mature as a player - he possesses a naive and ruthless dirty streak that mires his overall play - but Real Madrid have recently made clear their interest in securing his services.
Given his age, Spurs would be looking for a huge fee for the Englishman and chairman Daniel Levy could be tempted by this knowledge. Alli's skill set would suit any top league in Europe and if his form can return to what it was last season, the playmaker could depart Spurs pretty soon.
#3 Toby Alderweireld
One half of perhaps the best central defensive pairing in Europe with Jan Vertonghen, Alderweireld is one of the strongest natural defenders in football currently. His calmness and control positively affect Spurs whenever he plays.
After being a virtual ever-present over the previous two seasons, the Belgian has managed only 10 league appearances so far this campaign, due to a hamstring injury, and Spurs have suffered without the solidity of their usual partnership in that position. Alderweireld is 29 now and has talked about moving elsewhere.
He has unfinished business, for example, in Spain, after he couldn't gain a regular place in Diego Simeone's title-winning side of 2013/2014. He could fit into any defence in Europe, and the player knows it, and it's more than likely that Vertonghen will be left without his partner from next season.
#2 Christian Eriksen
While Mesut Ozil and Kevin de Bruyne garner most of the media's attention, Eriksen has quietly grown into being one of the finest playmakers in Europe over the past few seasons. He's the player who makes their attack connect so well, linking sublimely with Harry Kane, Alli, and Son Heung-Min.
Incredibly the Dane is still only 26, despite being on the European front for years, and is operating at his peak. Luka Madrid has been one of the best midfielders in the world since joining Real Madrid from Spurs but the argument could be made that Eriksen is a better player now than when the little Croatian made that transfer.
Eriksen's talent demands trophies and this might elude him in London; with Real Madrid in transition, a move in Modric's footsteps doesn't seem that unlikely. He was tipped as being a future star when he first started playing in the Netherlands with Ajax and Eriksen finally looks like he's reaching the level his early years promised.
#1 Harry Kane
A certain choice for number one on this list, Kane has transformed himself this campaign: always a great Premier League goal scorer in recent seasons, he's exploded into a world-class attacker, an incredible fulcrum for his side.
In just 28 league appearances he has 24 goals, and he produced 7 goals in 7 games in the Champions League, proving he belonged at the highest level. Perhaps not since Luis Suarez almost dragged Liverpool to a spectacular league title win in 2014 has a team relied on a striker to this degree.
Kane's finishing ability has never been in question but his link-up play and passing range have been exquisite this season. Aged only 24, it's frightening to think that Kane still has his best years ahead of him.
The Englishman seems happy at Spurs and would like to stay and win trophies with the club, which will delight the fans, but the allure of trophies on a more guaranteed level elsewhere may just prove too tempting eventually.
Real Madrid were known admirers, with Karim Benzema woefully out of form and Cristiano Ronaldo ageing, Kane would be the perfect fit to lead their attack. Levy and Pochettino can take solace in the fact that it may take a world-record fee to take Kane away from the club, such is his talent, but if he keeps up his current form, it could happen as soon as next season.
