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Tottenham Hotspur’s Marcos Senesi has been called up to Argentina’s World Cup squad.

Senesi has replaced Marseille’s Leonardo Balerdi in a like-for-like centre-back swap in Lionel Scaloni’s squad.

Tottenham only announced the 29-year-old’s arrival on Wednesday, with the defender signing a four-year contract. He will officially join Spurs on July 1, when his Bournemouth contract expires.

Senesi has only been capped three times for Argentina since making his debut in 2022, shortly before he joined Bournemouth from Dutch side Feyenoord. His last national team appearance came in the home friendly against Mauritania in March.

Senesi was included in Scaloni’s 55-man preliminary squad which was announced on May 11, but was cut from the finalised 26-player selection made at the end of the month.

However, he has been called-up after Marseille’s Balerdi, 27, suffered a muscle injury in the soleus of his right leg.

Balerdi had been included as one the centre-backs ahead of Senesi, as well as Manchester United’s Lisandro Martinez, Benfica’s Nicolas Otamendi, his Marseille team-mate Facundo Medina and Cristian Romero of Spurs.

Argentina begin their World Cup when they face Algeria on June 16. They then play Austria on June 22 and Jordan on June 27. Scaloni’s side beat Honduras 2-0 and Iceland 3-0 in their pre-tournament friendlies.

In a not-too-distant alternate reality, Tottenham Hotspur renewing Yves Bissouma’s contract would surely feel like a no-brainer.

At 29, there is, in theory, still plenty to come from the Mali captain. At his best, he is undoubtedly a European- and international-level talent, capable of running games from the base of midfield in a manner no Spurs player can, other than perhaps a fit and firing Rodrigo Bentancur. He was instrumental in the Europa League final against Manchester United just over a year ago, winning seven duels and four tackles as he dominated the midfield battle for 90 minutes.

He also seems a strong stylistic fit under Roberto De Zerbi. It was telling that the Italian started him ahead of Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall against Brighton & Hove Albion and Wolverhampton Wanderers, after he had recovered from a muscle injury that had kept him out for two weeks.

When match-fit and in rhythm, Bissouma can take over matches with and without the ball, displaying the physical and athletic qualities to complement natural gifts in possession. Players with those capabilities, at his age, are not typically discarded for nothing.

But as De Zerbi addressed the media for the final time after keeping Spurs in the Premier League with a final-day 1-0 win over Everton, he parted with an instructive message.

“We have 10, 11, 12 good enough players, especially people,” he said, in response to a question on whether he’d like on-loan midfielder Joao Palhinha to sign for the club permanently. “Then we have to complete the squad with first-level players, because we struggle too much. I suffer a lot, but I think the fans, the board, the players, they suffer too much.”

After two of the worst league seasons in their history, Tottenham can no longer put up with unreliability, and Bissouma, having had many chances to do so, could not get out of his own way in north London. So, for the same reasons why Spurs want Palhinha to stay, Bissouma had to go. Signed for £25million from Brighton in 2022, Bissouma is walking away from the club for nothing when his contract expires on June 30.

Few supporters will have any qualms. Tottenham had the option to trigger a one-year contract extension to keep him at the club or attempt to attract a fee for his services, but were surely put off by their efforts to push a sale through last season. Bissouma was strongly linked with a move to Turkish club Fenerbahce after the English summer transfer window closed in 2025, but an untimely injury put paid to Tottenham’s desire to offload him.

Now, having made just 23 league starts across the past two seasons for a struggling side, Bissouma represents a distressed asset who would demand a small fee, hardly worth the hassle of keeping him around.

Bissouma did not find himself in this situation due to a major or alarming drop-off in form — though he struggled to replicate his performance level from Brighton at Spurs, save for an impressive start to life under Ange Postecoglou in 2023-24 — but due to a reputation that now precedes him off the pitch. Questions about how Bissouma conducts himself away from football have long hung over the midfielder.

At Tottenham, frustrations around his conduct characterised the back end of his four-year stay. In 2024, videos circulated on social media of Bissouma inhaling nitrous oxide, a class-C controlled drug under UK law, for which he was handed a one-match ban by the club at the start of the 2024-25 season.

After Spurs attempted to offload him in the following summer, they were forced into another internal investigation after an image leaked of Bissouma inhaling nitrous oxide from a balloon again. In an interview with The Sun, Bissouma said his actions were a response to a break-in at his family home, which triggered feelings of “fear, panic, depression and paranoia”.

Bissouma did not play again under Thomas Frank, who had removed him from the matchday squad for the Super Cup tie against Paris Saint-Germain due to lateness earlier in pre-season.

And his persistent tardiness was not just a bugbear for staff, but, according to dressing room sources who prefer to remain anonymous to protect relationships, fellow team-mates. Dressing room leaders had frequent chats with Bissouma at several junctures during his time at Spurs, stressing the importance of punctuality and professionalism, but efforts were often futile.

Ultimately, he leaves Tottenham as a “what-could-have-been”, with all the talent to consistently achieve at the top level, but without the steely determination to match.

As for what’s next for Bissouma, it’s hard to say. Perhaps a club from another top-five league will stumble across a highlight reel on YouTube or Wyscout, become enamoured of his obvious physical and technical gifts, and take another chance, dreaming of him realising his potential. Or maybe his difficulty in staying away from the headlines and back pages will put them off. Whatever follows Spurs, it’s up to him whether he’ll make it a success.

As for Tottenham, it’s a player and person out the door that De Zerbi did not trust, and an important step to rebuilding the squad with the aim of re-establishing the club as a European contender.

Tottenham Hotspur will have 10 players competing at this summer’s World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico. That figure could increase if Marcos Senesi, who will join Spurs on a four-year deal when his contract with Bournemouth expires at the end of June, is a late addition to Argentina’s squad following an injury to Leonardo Balerdi. Spurs have also made two offers for Brighton’s Jan Paul van Hecke but are yet to agree a fee for the defender, who is part of the Netherlands squad for the tournament.

Some of Tottenham’s players are due to face each other during the competition. Pedro Porro and Rodrigo Bentancur could feature for Spain and Uruguay respectively in an exciting climax to Group H on June 27.

There are lots of other Spurs storylines to keep an eye on. The Athletic has picked out the best ones.

A taste of Robertson’s leadership

Spurs confirmed the signing of Andy Robertson last week but he will not officially join them until his contract with Liverpool expires at the end of this month. For the next few weeks, the defender will be focused on captaining Scotland at their first World Cup since 1998.

Robertson only started 11 games in the Premier League last season but he is crucial to Scotland. The 32-year-old started all of their qualifying games and assisted Scott McTominay’s late winner against Belarus.

One of the reasons Spurs signed Robertson, and initially tried to make the deal happen in January, is his leadership skills. The left-back has already given a good example of that before a ball has even been kicked in this tournament. He wrote a letter and gave a gift to every single member of Scotland’s squad before their opening game against Haiti.

Robertson also has the perfect opportunity to show Spurs fans that he is still a quality player in group stage games against Morocco and Brazil, in which he will relish the challenge of battling with Real Madrid’s Brahim Diaz and Barcelona winger Raphinha respectively.

A proper look at Vuskovic

The secret is out when it comes to Luka Vuskovic. The centre-back scored six goals in 28 appearances for Hamburg last season, including towering headers and clever backheel flicks. He has also shown an aptitude for crunching tackles and elegantly dribbling his way out of trouble.

The teenager held his own against Harry Kane in a 2-2 draw with Bayern Munich earlier this year and will be reunited with the former Spurs striker in Croatia’s opening game against England. Vuskovic will be teaming up with ex-Spurs midfielder Luka Modric to bring England down in a repeat of the 2018 World Cup semi-final.

This tournament will be the biggest test yet of Vuskovic’s ability. He has started four of Croatia’s last five games in all competitions, including their warm-up friendly against Belgium at the beginning of June. Spurs want to sign Van Hecke but head coach Roberto De Zerbi would find it difficult to ignore and overlook Vuskovic if he excels for Croatia.

Danso vs Messi

Austria are making their first appearance at a World Cup in 28 years and they face the daunting prospect of taking on the holders Argentina in their second group game. Kevin Danso is not guaranteed to start at centre-back because head coach Ralf Rangnick alternates between him, captain David Alaba and Phillip Lienhart. If Danso is named on the bench, he can still expect to be involved at some point in Austria’s efforts to limit the influence of Lionel Messi.

Argentina powered through the South American qualifying group, finishing top after taking 38 points from 18 games. They scored 31 goals and only conceded 10 times. Avoiding defeat against the world champions could be key to Austria progressing to the next round.

Messi is not the only man Danso needs to stop. The majority of Danso’s game time for Spurs has come when first-choice centre-back Cristian Romero has been injured or suspended. This will be one of the rare occasions where they share the pitch together and it will be fascinating to see who emerges on top. There is a strong chance we will even see them marking each other at set pieces.

A chance for Sarr and Bergvall to prove themselves

Lucas Bergvall was the breakout star of Tottenham’s 2024-25 season while Pape Matar Sarr was Thomas Frank’s favourite pupil for a brief period. Yet both have barely played over the last six months. Bergvall underwent ankle surgery in January which forced him to miss 10 games and Sarr struggled with a shoulder problem. They both regained fitness towards the end of the season but fell behind Joao Palhinha, Conor Gallagher and Bentancur in the pecking order. The World Cup offers Sarr and Bergvall an opportunity to restore their confidence.

Sarr made one appearance at this year’s Africa Cup of Nations in Senegal’s final group game when qualification for the knockout stage had already been secured. He is probably the fifth-choice central midfielder behind Idrissa Gueye, Pape Gueye, Habib Diarra and Lamine Camara. He faces extra competition from Bayern Munich’s 18-year-old wildcard Bara Sapoko Ndiaye. Sarr turns 24 in September and a couple of positive cameos could be exactly what he needs to prove to De Zerbi he deserves more opportunities. It could also raise interest in him from other clubs.

Bergvall is part of a talented Sweden squad led by former Brighton & Hove Albion, Chelsea and West Ham United head coach Graham Potter. The 20-year-old will probably have to settle for a place on the bench but he has featured in six of their last eight games (he missed two fixtures through concussion). Bergvall has been used in a variety of midfield positions during his two-year spell in north London and it will be interesting to see where Potter plays him.

Bergvall could come up against at least one, if not two, of his Spurs team-mates in Sweden’s final group stage game against the Netherlands…

Van Hecke and Van de Ven in the same defence

Throughout the second half of the 2010s, Spurs had a rugged but composed defensive partnership of two Belgian internationals in Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld. If things go to plan, they could have a Dutch duo at the heart of their defence next season. Spurs have been interested in Van Hecke for a long time and are trying to secure his services before the Netherlands’ first World Cup game against Japan on Sunday.

Injuries to Jurrien Timber and Matthijs de Ligt mean Van Hecke will probably line up at centre-back with Virgil van Dijk and Spurs’ vice-captain Micky van de Ven will start at left-back. Van Hecke’s passing range is excellent, just like Romero’s, while Van de Ven’s ability to surge forward with the ball is unique amongst centre-backs. The problem with the Romero and Van de Ven partnership is that they have not played alongside each other consistently over the last two seasons due to injuries and suspension. Van Hecke would hopefully be a calmer presence and push Van de Ven to new heights.

Xavi Simons should be the third member of Spurs’ Dutch contingent, but in April he suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury in his right knee, ruling him out of the World Cup.

Will Spence and Porro be first-choice?

Djed Spence is not Tottenham’s first-choice left-back but he has a good chance of playing regularly for England during this tournament. Head coach Thomas Tuchel has been full of praise for the 25-year-old’s ability in one-v-one situations. If England progress deep into the tournament, Spence might be preferred to Nico O’Reilly and Tino Livramento.

Spence demonstrated in August’s Super Cup against Paris Saint-Germain that he relishes taking on the world’s best wingers as he superbly handled former Rennes team-mate Desire Doue, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Achraf Hakimi. There are question marks over Spence’s delivery in the final third but he assisted Kane’s winner in England’s friendly against New Zealand.

Porro has a great opportunity to establish himself as Spain’s right-back. Dani Carvajal has been in control of the position for nearly a decade but was left out of the squad. Atletico Madrid’s Marcos Llorente can play there but Spain’s head coach Luis de la Fuente might prefer his energy in central midfield to complement Rodri, Pedri or Fabian Ruiz.

A third successive World Cup winner…?

At the 2018 World Cup, Hugo Lloris lifted the trophy with France despite making an error which directly led to Mario Mandzukic scoring for Croatia in the final. Four years later, Lloris was back on the biggest stage. But France couldn’t retain the trophy and Lloris had to watch team-mate Romero celebrating after Argentina won a wild game via a penalty shootout.

Romero started six of Argentina’s games at that tournament. He forged a solid partnership with Nicolas Otamendi which will be revived for this edition unless head coach Lionel Scaloni opts for Manchester United’s Lisandro Martinez instead.

Argentina will be one of the favourites to win this World Cup but other members of Spurs’ squad will believe they could be victorious at MetLife Stadium on July 19. Porro was not part of the squad when Spain won the European Championship two years ago but many of the same players have been called up again.

Spence is making his major tournament debut for an England side who reached the semi-finals and quarter-finals under former boss Gareth Southgate. Senegal have arguably been the strongest African side over the last five years and have a lot of quality options. The Netherlands’ attack is weaker than their biggest rivals but they boast one of the best defences.

It is time to find out who will follow in Lloris and Romero’s footsteps.

Tottenham Hotspur just about survived in the Premier League under Roberto De Zerbi, but if they are to thrive, there has to be an overhaul of the playing squad, and Marcos Senesi certainly fits the bill.

Following hot on the heels of Liverpool’s Andy Robertson, whose own move to north London was confirmed last week, Senesi will become Tottenham’s second signing of the summer upon the expiry of his contract with Bournemouth on July 1.

After an outstanding season on the South Coast, helping Bournemouth to a sixth-placed finish and qualification for the Europa League, the 29-year-old was highly coveted around the Premier League and Europe as a free agent. Tottenham’s ability to jump ahead of the competition, despite their worst season since the 1970s, reflects well on their standing and prestige, as well as the hierarchy’s ability to secure a prized talent in a testing market.

It’s a deal Tottenham were working on while their future was up in the air. The Athletic reported that Spurs were leading the race to sign Senesi in mid-April, while they were sitting two points adrift of West Ham United in 18th place, having identified him as a summer target well before De Zerbi joined Spurs on March 31. But given how Senesi plays and De Zerbi’s preference for a free-flowing, possession-based style, it appears a very good match.

Senesi was a mainstay under Andoni Iraola last season, after being reduced to a squad role the previous term due to the signing and emergence of Dean Huijsen, who moved to Real Madrid last summer. And despite the loss of Milos Kerkez and Illia Zabarnyi, who left for Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain, respectively, in the same summer as Huijsen departed, Bournemouth remained resolute, and perhaps even improved in building play through the thirds. For that, Senesi was arguably the main contributor.

The Argentinian averaged 14.2 passes into the attacking third per 90 minutes last season, the highest among centre-backs playing in Europe’s top-five leagues, and also led the way for successful long passes. And while Iraola’s system meant he often went long to push the opposition line back, he frequently demonstrated an elite-level ability to wrap passes into midfielders and forwards on the ground.

Here’s one example of Senesi finding striker Enes Unal through a small gap with an accurate zipped pass along the floor, leading to one of the five assists he recorded in 37 league matches last term.

Had Eli Junior Kroupi timed his run better, this would have been another.

He drops a beautifully curled pass through and behind Aston Villa’s defensive line and into the path of Kroupi, who finishes smartly over Emiliano Martinez, but the Frenchman was called offside.

With Cristian Romero’s future up in the air, Tottenham may not otherwise have a central defender with the vision and ability to find team-mates in tight spaces and change the tempo of the attack, so Senesi’s ball-playing qualities could prove integral to De Zerbi’s efforts to develop their progression through the thirds.

As the graphic below demonstrates, Senesi looks to play through the middle of the pitch and fizz passes into attacking players at various angles, something Tottenham sorely lacked at an elite level from the defensive line last season when Romero was injured or suspended.

But he’s not a player whose only instinct is to get rid of the ball; he dribbles through pressure as well as he passes through it.

Here’s an example of Senesi winning an aerial duel, before carrying the ball out of his team’s penalty box and earning a free-kick.

And perhaps his most impressive assist of the season, evading a challenge before dribbling through the Leeds United midfield and sliding a perfect pass into Kroupi’s stride, who scores the opening goal of their 2-2 draw in April.

Senesi often found himself around the halfway line at Bournemouth last season, and whether it was a tactical direction by Iraola to step up and follow markers into midfield or a natural eagerness to win the ball higher up the pitch on first contact, it suited his game well.

Senesi is not the most physically imposing central defender and does not have a sharp turn of pace, so he was occasionally exposed by quicker forwards who beat the Argentinian to the ball and span behind him, but given Van de Ven’s tendency to sweep and let his partner provide the initial pressure, their defensive inclinations appear to be compatible.

There are still question marks about Senesi alongside Van de Ven, though. Like Spurs’ vice-captain, Senesi is a left-footed centre-back who prefers to play on the left side of central defence, which, considering De Zerbi has labelled Van de Ven the best left-sided centre-back in the Premier League, does not bode well for Senesi’s integration into the starting line-up.

The simple solution is to move Senesi to the right, but that’s not so straightforward. Senesi’s standout qualities are in possession, and playing from the right side would naturally require him to use his weaker foot more often, potentially leaving him open as an effective trigger for the opposition press. It would also eliminate the passing angles from the left side, which often led to the first crucial pass in Bournemouth’s attack.

With there being a chance Romero departs this summer, Tottenham are already in the market for a right-footed centre-back, having made two bids for Brighton’s Jan Paul van Hecke. Spurs also have Kevin Danso, Radu Dragusin and Luka Vuskovic as senior defenders on their books.

To squeeze Senesi into the starting line-up, De Zerbi may be prompted into a system change.

Left-back was a problem position for much of last season at Tottenham due to Destiny Udogie’s patchy injury record, leaving Djed Spence to fill in slightly awkwardly as a right-footed alternative. Andy Robertson will join Senesi in north London when his Liverpool contract expires, strengthening Spurs’ depth chart in that position, but his form has been inconsistent for multiple seasons at Anfield, and he may not be in the physical condition, aged 32, to play every week.

Perhaps, then, it makes sense to play Van de Ven, who has played as a more traditional left-back for the Netherlands, as a left-sided defender in a three, allowing him to make the most of his carrying ability without losing his important recovery pace.

It’s a system Pep Guardiola often used at Manchester City (though it was rarely recorded that way), allowing one of his full-backs, typically Nico O’Reilly last term, to push ahead and provide build-up and final-third contributions from the wing or central areas. Pedro Porro, who was used similarly in De Zerbi’s final weeks, would be an ideal candidate to do that from the right.

But whatever combination De Zerbi chooses, Senesi appears to be a perfect candidate to execute the coach’s plan. After an embarrassing couple of league seasons, it marks the start of Tottenham acting like a serious European contender again.

Tottenham Hotspur have completed the signing of Bournemouth defender Marcos Senesi on a free transfer.

As The Athletic reported last month, Senesi has signed a four-year deal with the north London club after his contract and will officially join on July 1 when his Bournemouth terms expire.

“From the first moment, the club has shown why they want me and how much they want me to be a part of what they are building,” Senesi said, via the club website. “It’s exciting and something I can’t wait to be involved in.”

The Athletic reported in April that Roberto De Zerbi’s side were leading contenders for his signature, subject to maintaining their Premier League status, and had entered into advanced talks with the Argentinian.

Spurs avoided relegation from the Premier League on the final day of the campaign, beating Everton 1-0 to ensure they finished two points above West Ham United in 18th.

Senesi, 29, played in all but one of Bournemouth’s Premier League games this season, as Andoni Iraola’s side qualified for Europa League for the first time in their history. Iraola, however, confirmed he was leaving at the end of the 2025-26 campaign in April.

Senesi joined Bournemouth in 2022 and made 128 appearances across the four seasons, registering six goals and ten assists.

He played in two friendlies for Argentina over the course of the 2025-26 campaign and was named in Lionel Scaloni’s long list for the World Cup, but did not make the final squad for this summer’s tournament.

Spurs are also in pole position to add Andy Robertson to their back line on a free transfer when the left-back’s Liverpool contract expires, also aided by their Premier League survival.

What does this mean for Cristian Romero and others?

Senesi’s arrival means that Spurs will have six senior centre-backs if you include Luka Vuskovic, who spent the 2025-26 season on loan with Hamburg in Germany.

Senesi will provide cover and competition for Micky van de Ven on the left side of defence. Van de Ven’s biggest strengths are his remarkable recovery speed and powerful surging runs, whereas Senesi is excellent at playing line-breaking passes. Head coach Roberto De Zerbi can pick and choose which profile is best depending on the opposition, or pair them together.

Spurs have struggled with injuries over the last few years and it makes sense to have a natural alternative to Van de Ven, but they do not need six centre-backs — especially after failing to qualify for European competition next season.

The Athletic reported at the beginning of June that there is a strong chance captain Cristian Romero will be sold this summer. The Argentina international has criticised the club’s hierarchy in social media posts on multiple occasions and has missed lots of games for Spurs since he joined them in 2021 due to injuries and suspensions. There is also uncertainty over the future of Radu Dragusin but Kevin Danso stood out with his solid performances at the end of the season.

There have been discussions about Vuskovic signing a new contract with Spurs but he will wait until after the World Cup before deciding his next steps.

In an open letter to supporters on Monday, non-executive chairman Peter Charrington pledged to build a squad “with the right blend of experience, youth and leadership.” Charrington added that “we will invest across multiple transfer windows to rebuild, balance and strengthen, with this summer representing an important first step in that work.”

It is going to take a long time for the supporters to trust Charrington, chief executive officer Vinai Venkatesham and sporting director Johan Lange again after a dreadful season but signing Senesi suggests things are heading in the right direction.

‘Senesi could prove crucial to De Zerbi system’

Analysis by tactics writer Anantaajith Raghuraman

Senesi’s biggest strength is his ability to progress play with accurate long passes. No player with 900 or more minutes managed more than his 14.2 passes into the attacking third per 90 in the Premier League in 2025-26.

The 29-year-old rarely takes the risk-averse option, an attribute Spurs will value after struggling to move the ball quickly between the thirds in 2025-26. Senesi’s comfort under pressure before passing could prove crucial for De Zerbi’s press-baiting system to work.

His composure in possession is matched by aggression without it. In Andoni Iraola’s man-marking system, Senesi was front-footed and never afraid to follow centre-forwards all over the pitch, which is beneficial to counter pressing but can be manipulated by good teams. He is strong in the air, winning 48 per cent of his aerial duels, and is a good anticipator of crosses too.

Given he arrives on a free transfer, Spurs stand to gain plenty of value from Senesi’s attributes with and without the ball.

Do Spurs have money to spend this summer?

Tottenham do not need to worry too much about financial rules, at least. Tottenham’s overall wages-to-revenue ratio was just 45 per cent in the 2024-25 season and has consistently been one of the lowest figures in the Premier League. Their overall wages and transfer fee amortisation to revenue ratio for the same period was 70 per cent combined. Under squad cost ratio (SCR) rules, you can remove the wages of non-playing staff and include player sale profits, so the actual figure would be even lower.

Spurs’ failure to qualify for Europe means they are only required to be at 85 per cent for SCR instead of UEFA’s limit of 70 per cent. Put it all together, and Spurs have no real regulatory worries, but then that’s been true for a while.

Instead, as previously detailed by The Athletic, Spurs’ recent concerns have been cash-based. Big operating costs (which are excluded from SCR calculations) and hefty transfer debts have seen the club’s liquidity tighten, and ENIC has been required to depart from the first 20 years of its ownership by starting to inject significant sums. Spurs’ transfer debt at the end of June 2025 was £243million, and a further £159m (net) was spent last summer, though the Johnson sale reduced that for the season.

Rules are little worry, but without recouping money on sales, Spurs would need to lean on extra funding to spend big — especially now the roughly £74million they made in Champions League prize money this season won’t be repeated.

Signed for £73million ($89m) in the summer of 2021 and weekly wages of around £200k — it’s fair to say Jadon Sancho has not exactly provided value for money for Manchester United.

From June 30, though, he will be a free agent after United’s retained list was confirmed, with the former England winger, who spent last season on loan at Aston Villa, joined by Casemiro and Tyrell Malacia.

Yves Bissouma, who Tottenham Hotspur signed for £25million from Brighton & Hove Albion in 2022, is another player bought at vast cost who is now looking for future employment.

June 30 is when contracts expire, as clubs reveal players set to leave and those in talks to renew expiring deals, with academy player releases also disclosed.

This article will be updated as and when further announcements come.

Manchester United

Sancho and defender Tyrell Malacia, both 26, join Casemiro, the 34-year-old signed from Real Madrid for £60 million in 2022, on the way out of Old Trafford.

Sancho’s last appearance for United came in the Community Shield in August 2024, where he missed from the spot in United’s penalty shootout defeat to Manchester City.

Centre back Dermot Mee, a 23-year-old academy graduate, has been offered a new contract, while Sonny Aljofree, James Bailey and Malachi Sharpe depart.

Everton

Senegal midfielder Idrissa Gana Gueye is in talks over a new deal, with the 36-year-old’s contract expiring. Everton had confirmed the departure of 37-year-old club captain Seamus Coleman, after 17 years at the club. Under-21 academy players Jacob Beaumont-Clark, Kingsford Boakye, Roman Dixon, Bradley Moonan, Francis Okoronkwo, Tyler Onyango and Reece Welch will also depart.

Tottenham Hotspur

Mali midfielder Bissouma, 29, will leave after four years – having only made 11 Premier League appearances this season. Tottenham also confirmed 33-year-old left back Ben Davies had signed a one-year deal to extend his 12-year stay in north London.

Youngsters Pele Arganese-McDermott, Tyrell Ashcroft, Leo Black, Dante Cassanova, Matthew Craig and Calum Logan have been let go.

Liverpool

Liverpool have confirmed that Ibrahima Konate, 27, Mohamed Salah, 33, and Andy Robertson, 32, are departing, with the latter’s move to Tottenham announced last week.

Defender Rhys Williams, 25, will leave Anfield, along with youth players Kareem Ahmed, Emmanuel Airoboma, James Balagizi, DJ Bernard, Oakley Cannonier, Josh Davidson, Terence Miles and Jacob Poytress.

Leeds United

French goalkeeper Illan Meslier, who joined Leeds in August 2019, will leave after the 26-year-old lost his place to Welshman Karl Darlow and summer signing Lucas Perri this season. Darlow remains in discussion over a renewal, along with fellow goalkeeper Alex Cairns and defender Sam Byram.

Academy quartet Connor Douglas, Devon Brockie, Lewis Pirie and Marley Wilson will be released, with a new deal offered to Darryl Ombang.

Chelsea

Chelsea have announced no first-team departures, with 21-year-old academy player Richard Olise — the brother of Bayern Munich winger Michael — leaving alongside Brodi Hughes, Jimi Tauriainen and Sam Rak-Sakyi. Striker Ronnie Stutter moves to a month-to-month contract.

Nottingham Forest

Goalkeeping duo Angus Gunn, 30, and Stefan Ortega, 33, will depart along with Ivorian defender Willy Boly, who is ending his four-year stay at the City Ground after his £2.25million move from Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Forest, unsurprisingly, confirmed they will not activate the €40million (£34.7m) buy option for on-loan 6ft 7in striker Lorenzo Lucca, who returns to Napoli having appeared nine times and scoring just once. Academy players Esapa Osong, Ben Hammond, Alfie Bradshaw, Danny Anisjko, Shae Cahill, Cormac Daly and Owen Grainger also leave.

Bournemouth

Veteran goalkeeper Fraser Forster, 38, and defender Marcos Senesi, 29, have both been offered contract extensions, but as The Athletic reported, Senesi is in talks with Tottenham.

Youngsters Noa Bouti, Zhaviah Campbell, Ashley Clarke, James Davies, Hayden McGhan, Ollie Morgan, Koby Mottoh, Malachi Ogunleye, Charlie Osborne and Benjamin Purches will depart.

Fulham

Along with losing manager Marco Silva this summer, last season’s second-top scorer Raul Jimenez has been released and is returning to Wolverhampton Wanderers.

As reported by The Athletic, Wales winger Harry Wilson — last season’s top scorer — could join them but Fulham have tabled a contract offer to keep him.

Steven Benda, Devan Tanton, Bradley De Jesus, Ollie Gofford, Charlie Robinson, Joseph Walters, Tom Wingate, Callum Cliff, Marcell Hall, Ruban Khan, Oliver Mayer, Harley Plate and Quinn Schutter will leave alongside Jimenez.

Crystal Palace

The UEFA Europa Conference League winners are in discussions with 35-year-old right back Nathaniel Clyne and 29-year-old midfielder Daichi Kamada about their futures, as the club close in on appointing Lens head coach Pierre Sage.

Youngsters Asher Agbinone, Rylan Brownlie, Matteo Dashi, Craig Farquhar, Jake Grante, Jackson Izquierdo, Zach Marsh, David Obou, Aziz Ouedraogo, Dylan Reid, Kaden Rodney, Jemiah Umolu, Jack Mason, Joshua Muwana, Zack Henry, Stuart Oduro and Harry Whitworth will be let go.

Arsenal

The Premier League champions have announced a swathe of youth players will depart at the end of the month. Sam Chapman, Harrison Dudziak, Seb Ferdinand, Cam’ron Ismail, Will Lannin-Sweet, Josh Nichols, Samuel Onyekachukwu and Alexéi Rojas Fedorushchenko to leave. Aleksander Marciniak and Joshua Ogunnaike have been offered new deals.

Newcastle United

Left-back Matt Targett is leaving after spending last season on loan at Championship play-off finalists Middlesbrough — he totalled just 47 appearances during his four years on Tyneside. Goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale’s loan from Southampton will expire, as fellow shot stoppers John Ruddy and Max Thompson leave, with 34-year-old Mark Gillespie staying on for another season.

Coventry City

Midfielder Jamie Allen, who played 25 times for Frank Lampard’s side in their march to the Championship title, will be among seven first-team departures with Brad Collins, Conrad Ambursley, Charlie Finney, Jack James, Greg Sandiford Junior and Kai Yearn.

Loanees Carl Rushworth, Romain Esse and Yang Min-hyeok have returned to their parent clubs.

Ipswich Town

Conor Chaplin’s five-year stay at Portman Road will end this summer, after the 29-year-old spent last season on loan at Championship side Portsmouth.

Hull City

The Championship playoff winners will release 22-year-old midfielder Harry Vaughan, who spent this season on loan at Irish side Bohemians, and have extended 24-year-old goalkeeper Harvey Cartwright’s contract for another season. Loanees Toby Collyer, Joe Gelhardt, Amir Hadziahmetovic, Yu Hirakawa, Lewis Koumas and John Lundstram will all depart, with seven youth players also leaving.

Brentford

Keith Andrews’ side have announced their academy departures, as Marley Tavaziva, Gregory Asemokhai, Max McKnight, Kyrie Pierre, Michael McSorley and Staitham Bowen and Yerime Ouattara. The first-team departures are still to come.

Sunderland

With European football secured for the first time in 45 years, four first-team players, including former captain Dan Neil, 24, are departing the Stadium of Light.

Neil made more than 200 appearances for the club, but spent the second half of this season on loan at Ipswich Town, who he helped to promotion back to the Premier League.

Full-backs Dennis Cirkin, 24, and Niall Huggins, 25, plus former Aston Villa and Chelsea winger Bertrand Traore, who spent the season at Wearside, will depart.

Sunderland remain in discussions with Dutch defender Lutsharel Geertruida over a new deal.

Under-21 players Oliver Bainbridge, Marshall Burke, Dan Cameron, Thomas Lavery, Elias Lenz, Ethan Moore, Adam Richardson, Rhys Walsh, Jake Waters, Ivan Struk and George Bell will leave this summer.

Andy Robertson has completed his move to Tottenham Hotspur as a free agent following his departure from Liverpool.

The Athletic reported in the Transfer DealSheet on June 2 that Spurs were progressing with a deal for the left-back.

Robertson, 32, confirmed in April he would be departing Liverpool in the summer upon the expiration of his contract, with Spurs swiftly taking pole position to sign him if they retained their status as a Premier League club.

Spurs confirmed their Premier League survival on the final day of the season with a 1-0 victory over Everton.

“Andy is someone I’ve admired for a number of years and he will bring outstanding technical qualities, experience, leadership and mentality to our team,” said Spurs head coach Roberto De Zerbi.

“He is a proven winner at the highest level over a long period and is someone who can be a big player for us, both on and off the pitch.”

Tottenham had been working on a deal to sign Robertson in January, having initially identified him as a target for the summer before bringing forward their pursuit to strengthen the squad under then-head coach Thomas Frank. However, Liverpool subsequently decided that they were not willing to sanction the left-back’s departure during the season.

Robertson signed for Liverpool in 2017 from Hull City and made 378 appearances for the club, recording 14 goals and 69 assists. He won the Champions League, the Premier League on two occasions, the FA Cup, and two Carabao Cups during his nine seasons at the club.

The Scotland captain spent much of his Liverpool career as the first-choice left-back, but during the 2025-26 campaign he was predominantly utilised as a backup behind Milos Kerkez, who signed last summer from Bournemouth. Robertson made 36 appearances in all competitions during his final season at the club but started just 11 Premier League games.

A welcome addition for Spurs

Analysis by Tottenham Hotspur correspondent Jay Harris

Spurs tried to sign Robertson from Liverpool in January and will be pleased to finally complete the deal. Over the last two seasons, first-choice left-back Destiny Udogie has struggled with hamstring and knee injuries.

Djed Spence has provided cover for Udogie but prefers to play on the right side of defence. Robertson’s arrival means Spurs now have two experienced natural left-backs to pick from along with 19-year-old Souza.

Tottenham’s priority in this transfer window is to add more depth to their defensive options, although The Athletic reported earlier this week there is a strong chance they will sell their captain Cristian Romero. Spurs are set to sign Marcos Senesi from Bournemouth on a four-year contract and have submitted a bid for Brighton & Hove Albion’s centre-back Jan Paul van Hecke. Providing Roverto De Zerbi with more options will hopefully help to prevent the injury issues they experienced this season.

There is another added bonus for Spurs with Robertson. The 32-year-old is an experienced player who will captain Scotland at this summer’s World Cup. Spurs’ dressing room has lacked leadership and Robertson should be the perfect role model.

Robertson is a Liverpool legend

Analysis by Liverpool correspondent Andy Jones

On the pitch, he has embodied the spirit and desire of every supporter, possessing a passion and desire that allowed fans to live vicariously through him. He has been the heart and soul, never giving less than 110 per cent.

His lung-bursting, never-ending press against Manchester City in the 4-3 victory in January 2018 will forever be spoken about and replayed. So too will be how he got under Lionel Messi’s skin during the 4-0 victory over Barcelona in the Champions League semi-final second leg in 2019.

After a slow start following his arrival, he seized his opportunity and developed into an integral member of Liverpool’s starting XI. He has been a tenacious defender and an energetic presence, carrying the humility and commitment of a player who has exceeded every expectation during his career.“Andy Robertson, in my eyes, is the best left-back in the world,” his former manager Klopp said back in 2021.

Alongside Trent Alexander-Arnold, Robertson redefined the full-back position in an attacking sense. The dynamic duo became creative forces during the peak of the Klopp era at Anfield.

Former Tottenham Hotspur executive chairman Daniel Levy has agreed to sell the majority of his stake in the club, according to a press release sent out on behalf of the purchasing company Eight Sports Capital Limited.

Levy spent 24 years running Spurs on a day-to-day basis until he was removed from his position in September by the majority shareholders, the Lewis family.

The Lewis family now own 70.12 per cent of ENIC, Tottenham’s parent company, and the remaining 29.88 per cent is owned by Levy through family trusts. In total, ENIC’s stake in Spurs is 87.62 per cent and the rest of the club is owned by minority shareholders. Levy is selling a 24.99 per cent stake in ENIC to Eight Sports Capital Limited, a company registered in the British Virgin Islands.

“We are delighted to have signed this agreement to acquire a significant stake in ENIC,” a spokesperson for Eight Sports Capital Limited said in a press release from Sodali & Co. “We look forward to working with the club’s shareholders, management, staff, players and fans to support Tottenham Hotspur’s continued growth and success.”

Neither Tottenham nor Levy has confirmed the news. The Athletic has approached both for comment.

Spurs’ executive leadership team has been completely transformed in the last 12 months and it is now led by non-executive chairman Peter Charrington alongside chief executive officer Vinai Venkatesham.

In an open letter to supporters last month, Charrington said that “last September, we recognised that something seismic had to change at Spurs” and that the Lewis family “authorised a full reset”. Charrington went on to add that “as part of that process we discovered some uncomfortable truths” and “football success had not been driving our decisions”.

A few days later, the Lewis family released their own statement and said: “We are not selling the club. We are all in. We are investing in it. You will see more of this in the coming months.” It remains to be seen if the dynamic will change following Eight Sports Capital’s purchase of Levy’s stake.

Spurs finished 17th in the Premier League this season and narrowly avoided relegation. They appointed Roberto De Zerbi as their new head coach in March on a five-year contract after previously parting company with Thomas Frank and Igor Tudor. Spurs reached the last 16 of the Champions League but will not be competing in Europe next season.

Tottenham Hotspur have made an offer to sign defender Jan Paul van Hecke from Brighton & Hove Albion.

The proposal for the 25-year-old fell short of Brighton’s valuation, but talks continue.

Van Hecke is close to Tottenham head coach Roberto De Zerbi from their time working together at Brighton from 2022 to 2024.

In April, Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler said he expected to talk to Van Hecke about his future, with the Dutchman’s contract expiring in June 2027. The Athletic reported earlier this week that Van Hecke had so far shown no interest in extending his deal and was one of three Brighton players, alongside compatriot Bart Verbruggen and midfielder Carlos Baleba, that are candidates for a big sale this summer.

Van Hecke has been named in the Netherlands squad for the 2026 World Cup and played 87 minutes of Wednesday’s 1-0 friendly defeat by Algeria in Rotterdam. He has been capped 11 times by his country.

The centre-back first joined Brighton in 2020 from Dutch side NAC Breda and has had loan spells at Heerenveen and Blackburn Rovers before beginning to establish himself in the Brighton first team in the 2022-23 season. He has made 131 appearances for Brighton, with 106 of those coming in the Premier League.

Last season, Van Hecke was a mainstay in Fabian Hurzeler’s back four, starting 36 Premier League games and missing only two due to injury.

Tottenham Hotspur have a huge rebuilding job to do.

They have burned through four head coaches in 12 months and narrowly avoided relegation. Roberto De Zerbi has had a positive impact since he joined in March despite inheriting an injury crisis after the final-day win over Everton that Spurs only have “10, 11, 12 players good enough to stay”.

The squad is unbalanced and The Athletic reported earlier this week that signing a new left winger and central midfielder are high on the priority list. There is a lot of uncertainty around the futures of Guglielmo Vicario and Richarlison while there is a strong chance captain Cristian Romero will leave.

There are nearly 30 senior players with highly-rated academy graduates and talented prospects returning from loan moves.

Spurs are expected to sign Marcos Senesi and Andy Robertson, but they have been left out of the breakdown below because those deals have not been completed. Randal Kolo Muani has been omitted following the expiry of his loan deal, but Joao Palhinha is included because Spurs are discussing signing him permanently from Bayern Munich.

Here, The Athletic breaks down the state of Tottenham’s squad and what should happen next.

Goalkeepers

Guglielmo Vicario

Age: 29

Contract expires: 2028

It has been a difficult season for the Italy international. Vicario produced a couple of impressive performances but was booed by supporters for an awful mistake in November’s damaging 2-0 defeat to Fulham. The 29-year-old then underwent a hernia operation in March. Antonin Kinsky seized the opportunity and showed he might be a better fit for De Zerbi’s plans. Vicario has two years left on his contract, so it could be tempting to sell him this summer before his value starts to drop.

Antonin Kinsky

Age: 23

Contract expires: 2031

Kinsky bounced back superbly from a nightmare performance against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League to become a key player for Spurs in their relegation fight. The 23-year-old started their last seven games and made some crucial saves. After beating Everton, Kinsky said the hardest period of the season was “six months on the bench.” He deserves to start next season as the first-choice goalkeeper.

Brandon Austin

Age: 27

Contract expires: 2029

The academy graduate did not make a single appearance in the 2025-26 campaign. Austin has been important over the last few years to help Spurs fulfil their homegrown player quota for UEFA competitions but they are not in Europe next season. He signed a contract in May 2024 which still has three years left to run.

Defenders

Ben Davies

Age: 33

Contract expires: 2026

Davies has been an incredible servant for Spurs over the last 11 years but the expected arrivals of Robertson and Senesi will increase competition. It might be the right time for the Wales international to leave when his contract expires. If he does depart, it is a shame he did not end on a high as his last appearance was in January’s 2-1 defeat to West Ham United.

Jun’ai Byfield

Age: 17

Contract expires: N/A

Talented defender made his senior debut this season with a half-hour cameo against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League. Byfield signed his first professional contract in December, a few days after turning 17. Spurs need to decide whether he should stay with the under-21s and challenge for the first team, or head out on loan.

Radu Dragusin

Age: 24

Contract expires: 2030

Dragusin missed the first half of the season due to an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury and found opportunities limited when he returned. Cristian Romero and Kevin Danso are ahead of him in the pecking order at right-sided centre-back. The Athletic reported earlier this week that Spurs will replace Romero if he leaves and Brighton & Hove Albion defender Jan Paul van Hecke, who previously worked with De Zerbi, is on their list of targets. Vuskovic could be integrated into the squad after an impressive season on loan with German side Hamburg. It looks like Spurs will be overstocked with centre-backs and, as a result, Dragusin could be sold.

Kevin Danso

Age: 27

Contract expires: 2030

Danso has established himself as a reliable defender. He might not possess the same silky passing range as Romero but he never causes any drama. Danso should be an important squad member going forward.

Ashley Phillips

Age: 20

Contract expires: 2028

Phillips has spent the last two seasons on loan with Stoke City and even captained them in March’s 3-3 draw with Ipswich Town. Spurs have so many centre-backs that the best option might be to sell the 20-year-old as his contract expires in 2028. It would be a shame, though, as he has never been given a chance to show his quality since moving to north London from Blackburn Rovers in August 2023.

Pedro Porro

Age: 26

Contract expires: 2028

Porro’s contract expires in 2028, so it is vital Spurs secure his long-term future as soon as possible. The right-back created 53 chances this season, which is more than any other Spurs player and significantly higher than second-placed Xavi Simons (34). Spurs face a challenge to keep the Spain international as Real Madrid are interested in signing him. Madrid’s top target at right-back is Inter’s Denzel Dumfries but Porro and Ivan Fresneda are the other options being considered.

Cristian Romero

Age: 28

Contract expires: 2029

The centre-back signed a new contract last year that runs until 2029 but has been critical of the club’s hierarchy in social media posts on multiple occasions and his form has been mixed. The Argentina international has only played more than 30 league games in a single season once for Spurs since he joined them in 2021 due to a combination of injuries and suspension. It might be best for everyone to mutually agree to part ways.

Souza

Age: 19

Contract expires: N/A

De Zerbi is a huge fan of Brazilian defender Souza, who turns 20 later this month. Souza joined Spurs from Santos in January and made four appearances. The full-back’s game time will be limited by Udogie and Robertson next season, so the smartest option would be to send him on loan.

Djed Spence

Age: 25

Contract expires: N/A

Spence’s form dipped last season but, on his day, he is one of the best full-backs in the Premier League in one-v-one defending situations — something which England head coach Thomas Tuchel has publicly acknowledged. Spence signed a new long-term contract in August 2025. If, as expected, Spurs complete the signing of Robertson from Liverpool, it means the versatile Spence can focus on challenging Porro to be first-choice right-back.

Kota Takai

Age: 21

Contract expires: 2030

The Japan international struggled with a foot injury after he joined Spurs last summer. A temporary move to Borussia Monchengladbach was supposed to give the centre-back regular game time but he only made eight appearances with just three of them starts. The 21-year-old would probably benefit from another loan due to the competition in defence.

Destiny Udogie

Age: 23

Contract expires: 2030

The Italy international makes a huge difference to this team when he is available but has struggled with knee and hamstring injuries. It will be interesting to see how his body handles a season without European football.

Micky van de Ven

Age: 25

Contract expires: 2029

Van de Ven overcame the hamstring problems which impacted his first two years in north London to make 45 appearances this season. The Netherlands international endured a mixed campaign and the nadir came when he was sent off in March’s 3-1 defeat to Crystal Palace. He started reminding everybody of his quality following De Zerbi’s appointment. Van de Ven has a great relationship with his new head coach, who has praised him as the “best left-sided centre-back” in the division. The 25-year-old’s contract expires in 2029 and discussions are expected about tying him down to a new deal.

Luka Vuskovic

Age: 19

Contract expires: 2030

Vuskovic caught the attention of clubs across Europe with his impressive performances for Hamburg. There have been discussions about the 19-year-old signing a new contract with Spurs but he will wait until after the World Cup before deciding. Hamburg would be very interested in him returning on loan, but currently don’t see it as a possibility.

Midfielders

Rodrigo Bentancur

Age: 28

Contract expires: N/A

It is no coincidence that Spurs failed to win a game while Rodrigo Bentancur was recovering from a hamstring injury. The Uruguay international made an immediate impact when he returned and helped Spurs to win 11 points out of a possible 18 from their last six games. The 28-year-old signed a new long-term contract in October. Spurs want to sign a progressive central midfielder this summer and they could form a solid partnership with Bentancur.

Lucas Bergvall

Age: 20

Contract expires: 2031

Bergvall’s rapid development was one of the highlights of the 2024-25 season but things have not been so smooth over the last 10 months. Bergvall missed eight games following ankle surgery and was reduced to a bit-part role under De Zerbi after starting his first match in charge against Sunderland.

He made 23 appearances but only started 11 times for a total of 966 minutes. Bergvall will be hoping to play regularly for Sweden at this summer’s World Cup and use it to boost his confidence ahead of pre-season. The 20-year-old is contracted at Spurs until 2031 but The Athletic reported in February that he was the subject of interest from Aston Villa and Chelsea in the winter transfer window.

Yves Bissouma

Age: 29

Contract expires: 2026

Bissouma’s season started badly when then head coach Thomas Frank left him out of the UEFA Super Cup squad for persistent timekeeping issues. The Mali international missed a chunk of the season through injury and only made 11 appearances. Bissouma never lived up to the hype in north London and the expiration of his contract in June is the right time to move on.

Conor Gallagher

Age: 26

Contract expires: N/A

It took longer than expected for Gallagher to flourish at Spurs after joining from Atletico Madrid in January but his stunning long-range goal in May’s victory over Aston Villa represented a turning point. Gallagher has been honest in public about the underwhelming start to his Spurs career but is full of praise for De Zerbi for improving his mood and performances. Gallagher is a hard-working, energetic midfielder in the prime of his career who just needs to be surrounded by the right players to balance his strengths and weaknesses.

Archie Gray

Age: 20

Contract expires: 2030

Gray has proven his value to Spurs over and over again since he joined them from Leeds United in July 2024. The England Under-21 international has played every position in defence and holding midfield. Gray was used sparingly by De Zerbi at the end of the season, but he will hope to settle into a specific role under the Italian.

Dejan Kulusevski

Age: 26

Contract expires: 2028

It is a huge shame Kulusevski missed the entire season with a knee injury. Capable of playing centrally or on the right wing, the Sweden international was exceptional at the start of the 2024-25 season but lost his sparkle due to fatigue. The most important thing is making sure Kulusevski has fully recovered from his patella (kneecap) injury before he is thrown back into action. Hopefully, the 26-year-old will be ready for pre-season and can have a huge impact under De Zerbi. Crucially, Kulusevski still has two years left on his contract so he is under no pressure to rush back to earn a new deal.

James Maddison

Age: 29

Contract expires: 2028

Maddison’s impact on the squad was clear to see in the final three games of the season. The midfielder’s return from an ACL injury galvanised his team-mates and the supporters. There are two years remaining on his contract and he should be an important part of De Zerbi’s plans. Maddison’s behaviour in the last few weeks of the campaign, travelling to away games despite being unfit just so he could support the squad, suggests he could be the perfect candidate to replace Romero as captain if the defender leaves.

Joao Palhinha

Age: 30

Loan

Palhinha’s loan move from Bayern Munich contained an option to make the deal permanent for €30million. De Zerbi said he wants to keep the central midfielder “100 per cent.” Palhinha described his relationship with Spurs as “like a marriage” and “I would really like to be here and I enjoy it a lot this season with this club, even having a tough season.” Spurs have not triggered the option yet but are working on a deal.

Pape Matar Sarr

Age: 23

Contract expires: 2030

Sarr was Frank’s star pupil at the beginning of the season but his form tailed off. The midfielder has been with Spurs for four seasons and it feels like his development has stalled over the last two years. The Senegal international turns 24 in September and his contract does not expire until 2030. However, a tough decision needs to be made about whether he can reach the next level at Spurs or if he should make way for a new signing.

Xavi Simons

Age: 23

Contract expires: 2030

It took time for Xavi to settle at Spurs, which is partially because he arrived so late last summer. He only scored two goals in the league but constantly tried to make things happen with inventive passes and slaloming runs. It is a huge shame he suffered an ACL injury in April and it is unlikely he will play again in 2026. When the Netherlands international is fully fit again, he could flourish as a No 10 under De Zerbi.

Luca Williams-Barnett

Age: 17

Contract expires: N/A

Williams-Barnett falls into the same category as his academy team-mate Byfield. Spurs have to work out the best development plan for the attacking midfielder who made his senior debut in a Carabao Cup tie against Doncaster Rovers a few days before turning 17.

Forwards

Mohammed Kudus

Age: 25

Contract expires: 2031

Kudus finished the season with five assists, the joint-highest in the squad along with Xavi, despite only playing 19 games. The Ghana international picked up a hamstring injury in January and then suffered a setback in April, which meant he did not play a single game under Igor Tudor or De Zerbi. The issue has forced him to miss the World Cup too. De Zerbi will be praying Kudus is fit for the start of next season so he can reclaim his position as the first-choice right winger. Nobody else comes close to matching the 25-year-old’s quality in one-v-one situations.

Wilson Odobert

Age: 21

Contract expires: 2029

Odobert has endured a rotten time with injuries. The France Under-21 international’s debut season was ruined by a recurring hamstring issue and then he suffered an ACL injury in February. Frank prioritised Odobert’s development over Mathys Tel and was repaid with two assists and zero goals in 24 appearances. It is unlikely Odobert will be fit for the start of the season but he could return before the end of 2026.

Richarlison

Age: 29

Contract expires: 2027

Richarlison was Tottenham’s top goalscorer (11) in the league this season but he has never looked like the right fit up front. The 29-year-old only has 12 months left on his contract. Spurs need to tie him down to a new deal or sell him in this window to prevent him from leaving for free next summer.

Dane Scarlett

Age: 22

Contract expires: 2027

Scarlett was once the great hope of Tottenham’s academy but he has struggled to live up to his potential in multiple loans. He scored just once in 13 appearances for Hibernian in the second half of the season. Scarlett probably needs to find a permanent home to reignite his career.

Dominic Solanke

Age: 28

Contract expires: 2030

Solanke missed the bulk of the first half of the season with an ankle injury and struggled to make an impact when he returned. He scored twice in February’s draw against Manchester City which turned out to be the highlight of his campaign. The 28-year-old picked up a muscle injury in April’s victory against Wolves and then suffered the added blow of being overlooked for England’s World Cup squad. Solanke is a fantastic, unique striker and the aim for Spurs next season is to keep him fully fit.

Mathys Tel

Age: 21

Contract expires: 2031

Tel played regularly under Tudor and De Zerbi but that was mainly due to other attacking players being injured. There have been a few bright moments and his attitude has been exemplary when the commitment of more experienced players has been called into question. However, one of Spurs’ priorities this summer is to sign a quality left winger, which could mean Tel is back on the bench next season.

Will Lankshear

Age: 21

Contract expires: 2029

Lankshear seized his opportunity on loan with Oxford United. He scored 11 goals in 44 Championship appearances and was named their Young Player of the Season. The forward faces a tricky decision over whether to stay at Spurs and risk not playing a lot, or seize on the momentum from his spell with Oxford and move to a different club.

Yang Min-hyeok

Age: 20

Contract expires: 2030

Started the season in the Championship on loan with Portsmouth and scored three goals before moving to eventual title-winners Coventry City in January. The move backfired as he only made three appearances under Frank Lampard and was left out of the matchday squad on multiple occasions. It seems unlikely he will be ready to challenge for a place in De Zerbi’s squad and might need another temporary spell away.

Mikey Moore

Age: 18

Contract expires: N/A

A loan spell with Rangers has done wonders for his confidence and shown he can perform under intense pressure. Supporters are desperate for Moore to succeed and now could be the right time to break into the squad with so many forwards struggling with injury.