Roberto De Zerbi will spend this week assessing his Tottenham squad as he decides which players remain part of his plans for the final seven Premier League matches of the season.
On current form, keeping Tottenham in the Premier League would represent a remarkable achievement. De Zerbi faces the daunting task of reversing a sharp decline in performances, particularly at home, where results have deteriorated badly. His challenge is made even greater by the improving form of the clubs around them, with Nottingham Forest and West Ham United both showing signs of momentum and picking up valuable results in recent weeks.
With relegation now a genuine possibility, we take a look at three Tottenham players who have not shown they are good enough for the Premier League and could be set to drop down a division, whether in Spurs colours or elsewhere.
Ben Davies
The Welsh centre-back appears to be nearing the end of his Tottenham career, with his contract due to expire this summer. Injuries have taken away the extra yard of pace that once made him dependable, and at 32 he no longer possesses the athleticism required to operate in a high defensive line.
Davies has started only two Premier League matches this season and has made just one appearance in both the FA Cup and Champions League. Those numbers underline why he cannot be considered a key part of either a Premier League rebuild or a potential Championship campaign next season.
Although his experience and professionalism still have value in the dressing room, Tottenham cannot continue to rely on players who are past their best if they are serious about climbing back up the table.
With no sign of a contract extension, Davies is likely to be searching for a new club this summer. A return to Wales, perhaps with Swansea City or Wrexham, could be the ideal next step.
Yves Bissouma
Yves Bissouma is another player Tottenham should consider moving on at the end of the season. When he arrived from Brighton for a big fee, there was hope he could become the dominant, energetic midfielder around which the team was built. Instead, his Spurs career has been marked by inconsistency and controversy.Â
The 29-year-old has shown flashes of quality, particularly early in the 2023/24 season, when carrying the ball and breaking up play, but those moments have been too rare. Too often he has struggled to influence games, while lapses in concentration and discipline have made him an unreliable presence in midfield.
For a side that needs greater control and intensity, Tottenham require a midfielder who can perform to a high level every week. Bissouma has not done that often enough. France seems to be a good option for the Malian to kickstart his career, but dropping down to the Championship is not inconceivable.
Dane Scarlett
Dane Scarlett has made 11 Premier League appearances, but has yet to produce a performance that suggests he is ready to make an impact at the top level. Despite his potential, he has not shown enough to prove he can consistently deliver in the Premier League.
He may also have reached the point where a permanent move away from Tottenham would benefit both parties, with his potential may have peaked at his current loan move with Hibernian. Once regarded as one of the club’s brightest academy prospects, the striker has struggled to make the breakthrough many expected at the club, neither making the impact in loan spells in the Championship and League One.
The Championship is calling for the striker at this stage of his career, and even if Tottenham are relegated, many supporters would have little confidence in him leading the line under the pressure of trying to fire the club back into the Premier League.