Amid Ange Postecoglou’s calls for serious change, Tottenham will wave goodbye to a plethora of senior stars including £60m man Richarlison, though one under-fire midfielder is set to be retained, according to a report.
Three successive defeats have all but ended Tottenham’s chances of qualifying for next season’s Champions League. What had initially looked like a wildly positive campaign for Spurs has run aground down the stretch.
Ahead of a tricky trip to Anfield on Sunday, manager Ange Postecoglou did not pull his punches when calling for major change to the playing personnel at his disposal.
“I’ve got to change this squad,” said Postecoglou. “I have to because I’ve got to build a squad I think can play our football.
“For that to happen, there has to be exits.”
The Spurs boss later added: “We need change. Change has to happen.
“You can’t want to alter your course, quite dramatically for this club because we went down a certain direction and now we’re pivoting to a whole different direction, and expect the same people are going to be on that. It’s just not going to happen.
“We’ve had two windows and we’ve had some development of players, for sure, but when I say we’ve still got a long way to go, that’s what I’m talking about.”
He concluded: “It’s not for the want of trying. It’s just that we’re going to play a certain way, we’re going to train a certain way, we’re going to have a certain mindset and that’s not for everyone.
“And the same way, whether it’s Liverpool or Arsenal, if you look at the beginning of their journeys, by the time they win the competition or have success, the team’s almost unrecognisable.”
Major Spurs clear-out sanctioned
Daniel Levy, the owner of Spurs, will heed his manager’s advice, and a spectacular summer window is now anticipated.
As they actually said, Tottenham “would listen to bids for a range of players,” including the signing of Richardson for £60 million.
Although he is not the most technically talented player and wastes possession in front of goal, the Brazilian never fails to put in effort.
This season, Postecoglou “would prefer to buy a new out-and-out striker,” according to the Telegraph, citing Son Heung-min’s frequent deployment out of position up front.
Tottenham are reportedly open to selling Richarlison, rather than keeping him as a backup or using him on the wings.
The Saudi Pro League has made Richarlison a top priority because they see the Brazilian as a possible “marquee signing.” A previous Telegraph piece clarified why, pointing out that the player’s age of 26 is a significant influence.
In fact, older players nearing the conclusion of their careers have made up the great majority of significant purchases in the SPL thus far. Theoretically, Richarlison is just now coming of age.
But Richarlison is by no means the only senior Spurs star who’ll be let go if suitable offers are received.
Emerson, Hojbjerg can go; Bissouma spared
Emerson Royal, the right-back, and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, the midfielder, were mentioned as potential targets for elimination.
The likes of Djed Spence, Joe Rodon, Japhet Tanganga, Sergio Reguilon, Tanguy Ndombele, Giovani Lo Celso, and Bryan Gil are free to choose new teams, according to reports elsewhere, despite not being listed in the article.
But according to the Telegraph, Yves Bissouma, a midfielder who is now under criticism, is expected to be kept on.
The 27-year-old had a strong start to the season, but since the start of the year, things have not been easy.
According to the source, Yves Bissouma, a midfield player, would not be among those who are effectively available for sale this summer. However, if the midfielder were to get a good proposal, the club would have to make a decision.
Regarding newcomers, the Telegraph identified six players that Tottenham is keeping an eye on.
Defenders Lloyd Kelly and Tosin Adarabioyo, midfielders Conor Gallagher and Amadou Onana, and wingers Samuel Iling-Junior and Raphinha are among players Spurs are keeping an eye on. Postecoglou, as previously mentioned, also wants a new striker.
There’s also the choice of whether to exercise Timo Werner’s around £15 million buyout option.
