The current 2019-20 campaign has been anything but smooth sailing for Tottenham Hotspur. Mauricio Pochettino was shown the door just a few months after guiding the team to their first-ever Champions League final.
Jose Mourinho was brought in to take over and since then, Spurs have experienced mixed fortunes. Currently, they are eighth in the league table, having amassed 41 points from 29 games.
When the Premier League resumes, Spurs would be keen to cut down the gap between themselves and Chelsea, who occupy the final Champions League qualification spot, having racked up 48 points.
Next season will be Mourinho’s first full campaign in charge, and given the Portuguese tactician’s track record, we bet he will make plenty of changes in personnel. While some players will be signed, some others will be shown the door.
With that said, here are three players who could end up leaving Tottenham at the end of the season:
#3 Tanguy Ndombele
It might be surprising to see Tottenham’s record signing Tanguy Ndombele’s name on this list, but bear with us for a minute and we’ll explain why.
The Frenchman joined Spurs last summer in a record-breaking £65 million deal from Lyon but since then, he’s had a torrid time in north London. Jose Mourinho has openly criticised Ndombele’s desire and output on many occasions.
The 23-year-old midfielder has struggled with niggling injuries since moving to the Premier League, and he’s played just 27 matches this season, scoring two goals and providing four assists in the process.
As per recent reports, Barcelona are interested in Ndombele, but the Catalan giants are willing to include defenders Nelson Semedo and Samuel Umtiti in any potential deal, rather than offering cash.
While still an unlikely scenario, we could see Ndombele look for a potential exit, or maybe a loan move away from Tottenham, if Mourinho continues to lambast him in public.
#2 Juan Foyth
The Argentine right-back arrived at Tottenham under the watchful eyes of compatriot Mauricio Pochettino, but now that he’s gone, Juan Foyth has struggled for playing time under Jose Mourinho.
The 22-year-old joined Spurs in 2017 but has since made only 30 appearances across all competitions, with seven of them coming this season.
Both Serge Aurier and Japhet Tanganga have moved ahead of Foyth in the pecking order, which means a move away from Tottenham could be on the cards for the youngster.
As per The Athletic’s Charlie Eccleshare, a couple of Spanish clubs as well as Serie A giants AC Milan would be keen to have him within their ranks.
Only a couple of days ago, Juan Foyth’s agent hinted that the player could actually look for a move away if he can’t find regular playing time at Tottenham. However, given his age and profile, Spurs shouldn’t let him leave on a permanent basis.
#1 Jan Vertonghen
The man most likely to leave the Tottenham Hotspur in the summer is centre-back Jan Vertonghen. He is out of contract in June and would be available on a free transfer to any potential suitors.
Since joining from Ajax in 2012, the Belgian has been everpresent at the heart of Spurs’ defence. This season too, Vertonghen has played 26 matches across all competitions, even chipping in with two goals.
A proven performer in one of the most competitive leagues in the world, Vertonghen himself talked about leaving Spurs in a recent interview.
“I’m free, of course, and many clubs don’t have the money to do transfers. Transfer-free players like me are even more coveted in the coronavirus crisis,” said the 33-year-old defender.
Jan Vertonghen
His quotes do make sense, and especially in the current climate, a player of Vertonghen’s calibre would be a really tempting prospect for any team.
All stats courtesy: Transfermarkt.co.in
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