5 players who could leave Tottenham this summer

It could be a summer of change at Tottenham, as after their incredible 2018/19 season that saw them reach the Champions League final and also secure a place at Europe’s top table for 2019/20, it’s looking like Mauricio Pochettino’s squad could be in for a major overhaul.

Spurs haven’t signed a player since Lucas Moura joined from Paris St. Germain in January 2018, but they’ve recently been linked with a number of new signings, including Tanguy Ndombele, Giovani lo Celso and Ryan Sessegnon.

Those players won’t come cheaply though and despite having some cash in the coffers, it’s likely Tottenham will have to offload at least one or two squad members to be able to pay for their replacements.

And despite Spurs’ squad performing admirably over the last couple of seasons, the following 5 players could be on their way out of Tottenham this summer.

#1 Christian Eriksen

Danish playmaker Christian Eriksen is the big potential exit at Tottenham this summer. In all truth, Mauricio Pochettino probably wouldn’t want to lose him as he plays such a pivotal role in the Argentine’s side, scoring 8 goals and making 12 assists in the Premier League in 2018/19.

The problem, however, is that Eriksen is entering into the final year of his contract and doesn’t appear to be willing to sign a new one right now.

Eriksen has stated that it could be time for him to “try something new”, and that something new appears to be his way of angling for a move to Real Madrid or perhaps Barcelona, both of whom would be considered a “step up” from Tottenham.

There are two issues surrounding a potential move; firstly it all depends on whether one of those clubs actually want Eriksen – Real have been linked with a move, but haven’t outright made a bid yet and they’ve already spent a ton of money this summer on the likes of Eden Hazard and Luka Jovic.

Secondly, Tottenham would demand a hefty fee for the Dane – probably upwards of £100m – meaning a sale would bring in money to sign a top class replacement. And that demand might put off a potential suitor.

Eriksen has stated that he could be willing to sign a new deal at Spurs if his dream move doesn’t materialize, which would probably please Pochettino, but right now with no new contract signed the Dane’s future is very much up in the air.

#2 Toby Alderweireld

Toby Alderweireld has a £25m release clause in his contract

Like Eriksen, Belgian central defender Toby Alderweireld is not a player that Mauricio Pochettino would want to lose right now. A couple of hamstring injuries the last couple of seasons raised concerns over his future at the age of 30, but 2018/19 saw him back to his imperious best at the heart of the Spurs defence, and he made 34 appearances in the Premier League.

Tottenham may have the outstanding Jan Vertonghen and Davinson Sanchez in their squad, and Juan Foyth is ever-improving despite concerns over his reckless nature, but none of them are quite on the same level as Alderweireld. The problem though is that when the club extended his contract last season, it triggered a release clause of £25m for the player.

Alderweireld doesn’t appear to want to leave the club; he recently stated that he still sees himself as a Tottenham player in 2019/20 and even if another side makes that £25m bid, there’s no guarantee that the Belgian will go. He’s on £80k a week at Spurs and would likely only receive a small raise elsewhere anyway.

However, his age is what might play against him. Despite rumours that Alderweireld wants to see out his contract at Tottenham before moving back to Ajax, Spurs chairman Daniel Levy may decide it’s more pertinent to cash in on him now, while £25m can still be raised for him, rather than let him walk away for nothing.

For Pochettino a new long-term deal would probably be preferred, but Tottenham don’t like to hand long contracts out to aging players and at 30 with some serious injuries behind him, who knows how long Alderweireld has left at the top? To see him depart this summer would be disappointing to Spurs fans but could be likely too.

#3 Kieran Trippier

Kieran Trippier has struggled for form in 2018/19

Few players came away from the 2018 World Cup with their reputations soaring as much as Tottenham right-back Kieran Trippier. The England full-back scored a fantastic free-kick in the semi-finals against Croatia and was outstanding throughout the tournament, displaying a brilliant range of crosses from the right side and becoming a set-piece expert.

2018/19 wasn’t the brilliant follow-up season people were expecting, though. Trippier’s form largely fell off a cliff; the defensive side of his game appeared to regress and while he still showed flashes of his attacking ability, setting up 3 goals and scoring another free-kick against Fulham, he was hugely inconsistent in that area too.

A disastrous own goal against Chelsea in February summed up his season in a way, and it was no surprise – even to the player himself – that he was left out of England’s Nations League finals squad in June. So could Tottenham look to offload him this summer? Quite possibly. And despite his poor form, it appears he could have more than one suitor.

Italian giants Juventus and Napoli – as well as Manchester United – have been linked with a move for the right-back, and with a £25m fee in mind, it wouldn’t be a surprise at all if Spurs choose to cash in.

Trippier could well return to form in 2019/20, but if big clubs are willing to throw money at him, it might be a risk not worth taking for Daniel Levy and Mauricio Pochettino.

#4 Danny Rose

Danny Rose has recently spoken about a potential exit from Tottenham

England left-back Danny Rose appeared to have fallen out of favour with Mauricio Pochettino a couple of seasons ago and even mooted a potential move to one of the two Manchester clubs.

That never materialised though and this season Rose appeared to be back to his best form; he was outstanding in the Champions League victory against Ajax and was rewarded with a starting spot in the final.

That’s why it’s a little surprising that current reports suggest Spurs are willing to cash in and sell Rose in the summer, and why the player himself doesn’t seem surprised by the possibility either, outright stating that his future could lie away from the club due to Tottenham’s apparent policy of moving aging players out when the time is right.

Rose is 28 years old and still appears to be in his prime, but he turns 29 in July and Spurs have been linked with a younger left-back in the form of Fulham’s teenage sensation Ryan Sessegnon. Given that Ben Davies – Rose’s current rival for the left-back slot at Spurs – is three years younger, it wouldn’t be a shocker to see the England man sold.

Who could sign him? There have been rumours of Everton making a move, but sources have stated that Rose’s £80k-per-week wages could prove to be a stumbling block for any transfer. But French giants Paris St. Germain have also been linked – and could easily afford him – so watch this space.

#5 Victor Wanyama

Victor Wanyama has been a bit-part player this season at Tottenham

Kenyan midfielder Victor Wanyama is another man who could be on his way out of Tottenham this summer. Signed from Southampton in the summer of 2017 for a fee of £11m, Wanyama had a strong debut season at Spurs – who could forget that thunderbolt he scored in February 2018 against Liverpool? – but after suffering from knee injuries, 2018/19 proved to be fruitless for him.

The Kenyan appeared in just 13 Premier League games last season, with only 4 of those being starts, and when he did play, he appeared to be miles off the pace, particularly in Tottenham’s bigger games like their Champions League clashes with Ajax and their 1-0 league defeat to eventual champions Manchester City.

Given Tottenham’s links with Tanguy Ndombele and Giovani lo Celso, the form of Harry Winks and Moussa Sissoko and the rise of youngsters like Oliver Skipp and George Marsh, it would appear that a central midfielder with skills on the wane like Wanyama would be surplus to requirements for Mauricio Pochettino, and to see him sold wouldn’t be a shocker.

Currently there haven’t really been any sides linked with the Kenyan; that makes sense given his struggles, but he could still provide a lower-level Premier League team with some valuable skill and experience in the middle. Spurs may have to accept a loss on him, but to offload his wages and replace him with an upgrade would still be a good idea.