As Antonio Conte focuses on strengthening Tottenham to make a run at a Champions League berth, there are six Tottenham players who will be looking over their shoulder, readying themselves for a January exit.
Conte delighted supporters recently when he confirmed that Harry Winks‘ status at Tottenham is safe, at least in the short term. The gaffer deems Winks reliable and has no intention of allowing him to pursue other options. The same cannot be said for the following players, all of whom find themselves on Conte’s chopping block.
6. Tanguy Ndombele
Tanguy Ndombele is not in Conte’s future plans. The Frenchman is sitting out in the cold, usually layered up on the bench waiting idly for his chance to influence proceedings. He’s been waiting a long time, and has obviously ensured his winter clothes are warm and resilient enough to withstand extensive periods of inactivity.
I covered Tanguy’s demise recently. Suffice to say, Ndombele is on Conte’s hit list.
5. Matt Doherty
Conte is in the market for a bonafide, established right wingback. Spurs require a wingback with a tried and tested end product. Speculation about Adama Traoré’s potential arrival has polarized opinion in Tottenham land. While Traoré provides incredible raw power and dribbling nous, he doesn’t fulfil the requirements of a well established, quintessential right wingback.
Regardless of who Tottenham bring in, Doherty’s days are numbered. The Irishman never really came to grips with life at Spurs, and simply isn’t good enough to continue his career in north London. You can’t fault his desire and devotion, but unfortunately those intangibles aren’t enough to provide a stay of execution. He hasn’t come close to replicating the form at former club Wolves that earned his move to north London.
4. Dele Alli
Opinion is divided about Dele Alli’s future, but if we’re honest with ourselves, it’s time to let Dele go. He enjoyed a strong bounce-back performance in the 2-2 draw with Liverpool, but fell way short of expectations during the follow-up encounter on the south coast against Southampton. In truth, Alli needs to go elsewhere to see if he still has what it takes at an elite level. While inconsistency has plagued the Englishman in recent years, his work ethic, desire and willingness to do the hard yards has also come into question.
Tottenham probably won’t let Dele leave without having a suitable replacement ready, but the time has finally ran out on his chance at redemption. He’s had ample time and numerous opportunities to convince multiple managers why he deserves to stay, but hasn’t done nearly enough to avoid being ushered out the back door. The best possible outcome for Spurs, after sourcing a quality replacement, is seeing Dele go out on loan, hoping a new lease on life revitalizes his sputtering career.
3. Steven Bergwijn
Like Dele, I feel it’s a case of too little to late for Steven Bergwijn. He scored one and assisted another in a sterling outing against West Ham in the Carabao Cup quarterfinal. The Dutchman was the main reason Spurs advanced to the semifinal. But, and it is a gargantuan, Kim Kardashian-size but, Bergwijn hasn’t done enough since arriving from PSV two years ago. In the simplest of terms, Bergwijn was brought to Tottenham to contribute offensively. Bergwijn started his Spurs career like a launched rocket, scoring famously against Manchester City in his debut. Like Season 2 of You, he’s been a letdown ever since.
A meagre, wretched return of four goals in 64 appearances since his dream debut has drained all faith in his ability to do what he was bought for. Purchased for over £25 million, Bergwijn has seen his value on the market dwindle to about £15. Time to recover whatever funds possible.
Bergwijn has also conceded that it is time to leave north London, with the Dutchman reportedly keen on pursuing options away from Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
2. Giovani Lo Celso
Gio, Gio, Gio, what in the world happened? Hampered by injury and unable to maintain a run in the first team, Lo Celso is, like Bergwijn, another failure to launch. He showed signs of promise and enjoyed some accomplished performances, but not enough to keep him from a potential date with the guillotine. Gio just returned from another injury absence and came in late off the bench against Watford on New Year’s Day.
His name was recently mentioned in a possible swap deal with Juventus for Dejan Kulusevski, but it remains to be seen whether Conte decides to give Lo Celso a prolonged chance at Spurs. The other looming question is whether other teams, thanks to a litany of injuries in recent years, are willing to fork out millions on a player who spends more time on the treatment table than on the pitch.
1. Joe Rodon
Joe Rodon is at the foot of Conte’s defensive pecking order and, thus, is also on the chopping block. The Welshman is below Japhet Tanganga, Eric Dier, Davinson Sanchez, Cristian Romero and Ben Davies in the pecking order and has barely seen a morsel of action since Conte’s arrival. He’s only played 54 total minutes, in a losing cause against Mura in that infamous European night, in the last two months.
Conte is also in the market to add another left-sided centre back, which further cements Rodon as a probable January departure. The only question remaining is whether Rodon will be sold or loaned.