The managerial adventure seems to be coming to an end for Tottenham Hotspur with Antonio Conte the likely next boss, meaning players can once again become the focus. We know there are some Spurs who are core to the team and some other players who want to or need to leave. However, between those core players and the proverbial deadwood, there are a handful of players for the next coach to decide on.
Players with uncertain Tottenham futures
Several factors are at play as the transfer window approaches. A player’s age and contract are always vital as are their ability and their desire to play at the club. As Mourinho spoke about it needed to be a marriage between player, coach, and club to make it work for each individual.
There are clearly some players in the side, like Heung-Min Son and Harry Kane, that are simply good enough to be part of the team regardless of coach or system. Then some other players like Sergio Reguilon or Pierre Hojbjerg are like a big part of the future.
However, just beyond those core players are some contributors who maybe would be better off contributing somewhere else at this point in their career. Here are five Tottenham Hotspur players where the new coach is going to have a big say on if the player remains at N17 or moves on in the market.
Uncertain Tottenham future 1 – Erik Lamela
Erik Lamela‘s entire career could be summed up in his performance in the second Arsenal match. On early as an injury replacement, Lamela scored one of the best rabona goals anyone will see anywhere. Then Erik proceeded to get two yellow cards and receive his first red card as a Lilywhite.
More than the red card itself, it is the idea that just when Lamela was making something good happen, something else derailed things and he was suddenly again unavailable. Across eight seasons, Lamela has made 257 appearances for Tottenham, about 32 per season. That sounds like a lot, but the Spurs play 38 league games before any other competitions.
For example, despite 35 appearances this past season, Lamela only played 21% of the available Premier League minutes. It is the lack of availability, not a footballing ability that really has hampered Lamela who is rumored to potentially be headed back to Italy.
Now with an Italian coach coming in, is it possible Lamela’s run does not finish at Tottenham? With only 1 year left on his deal, the new staff will want to decide quickly if they want to cash in now or add another year to Lamela’s current agreement.
Uncertain Tottenham future 2 – Lucas Moura
There is no doubting Lucas Moura’s place in Tottenham history, his three goals against Ajax will live on for a long time. There is also no doubting Moura’s effort for the club, making 157 appearances in just 2.5 seasons. Finally, there is no doubting Moura’s versatility. In his 50 appearances for the club this past season Lucas Moura appearance in six different positions.
What there is doubt about, however, is Lucas Moura’s future role in this team. This past season, Moura was best in a #10 role, positioned behind Harry Kane. However, the competition for the second striker/attacking center midfield position is stiff. Further, while Moura can drive the ball and really put a defense off-balance, his ability to pick out a pass in the final third needs some work.
Moura has not excelled out on the wings under either Pochettino or Mourinho but Conte uses his wide men quite differently and is able to get a lot from them. The question moving forward that must be answered is what is Moura’s best position to help the team or is it playing elsewhere?
Uncertain Tottenham future 3 – Eric Dier
Eric Dier seemed to have a renaissance of sorts at first under Jose Mourinho. Clearly, the shared language of Portuguese as well as a previous admiration for Dier put him in the good graces of Jose Mourinho. Dier made that pay off at times during the season but also fell victim to some bad luck and some dumb play.
Dier came to Tottenham as a fullback way back when but lacks the pace to play on the outside. He moved inside and even played in the midfield but his ball movement is just not quite quick enough. Now the question is, should he really stay at back or move back to the midfield, and should either move be as a Tottenham Hotspur.
Dier is good in the community and is a long-standing Lilywhite but that really does not mean much when you need to rebuild a team. Eric is an excellent, vocal leader but then sometimes fails to lead by example doing the little things like clearing a ball. Conte is going to have to decide quickly just how many mistakes he can stand and where Dier gets to make them.
Uncertain Tottenham future 4 – Harry Winks
Harry Winks used to be a real fan favorite as a homegrown kid from the local area. I say used to because his play over the last couple of seasons has really cost him some of his faithful followers. Ridiculously simple mistakes and giveaways hampered his season and made him the scapegoat of a couple of bad results.
If you talk for too long about Winks, inevitably things go back to that night he had in Madrid, years ago, before he injured his ankle. In truth, outside of that match, I have a really hard time remember a match – even against lesser opponents – where Winks ran the show. He can be neat and tidy but he is not going to dominate anyone and Tottenham needs that.
If Christian Eriksen was not initially strong enough for the Conte midfield, you have to really doubt Winks is either. With hopes of being a full-time player in his heart, it is probably time for Harry Winks to move on but ultimately up to the next coach to decide. After playing only 30 times for less than 2,000 minutes Winks needs more and so does Tottenham.
Uncertain future 5 – Tanguy Ndombele
Tanguy Ndombele is undoubtedly a talented footballer. His ability to hold the ball, put the opposition off-balance, and then do something amazing with the ball is incredible. Despite all his skill and ability, however, it is debatable where Ndombele really fits on a football pitch.
Tanguy does not provide enough zip and directness to really excel as an attacking midfielder. Ndombele also lacks the engine and stamina to really be a force in the deep midfield. Maybe Tanguy needs to be one of the outside midfielders but he does most of his best work in the middle.
The bottom line is it is hard to say where and how Tanguy really fits into the squad. The team is not built around him and the question Conte needs to determine is should it be. Are Ndombele and his superior skills enough to be a cornerstone of the Italian’s system? If he is, then the Frenchman is going to stay, if Content does not see Ndombele as the main cog in his engine, then Tanguy probably needs to go, and preferably out of the country.
Ultimately, there are going to be a lot of decisions that need to be made by the new staff. Chief among them is keep Harry Kane. However, after those big Kane conversations occur, the management needs to quickly get down to the business of making decisions about who stays and who goes moving forward, starting with those that could go either way.