5 Tottenham players with a point to prove in the 2024/25 season

5. James Maddison

This one feels a bit harsh, Maddison is the best player out of those that will be mentioned in this piece, but here is why. Firstly, Maddison was not included in the England Euros squad. Although the manager who left him out, Gareth Southgate, has left his post, the Spurs midfielder will be conscious of wanting to improve his game further and not be left out again.

The Euros squad was the first England squad he had been left out (that he was available for) since September of 2022, so it is clear Maddison knows what he has to do to be called up. There were plenty of critics of his form when he returned from injury last season, and there will be an expectation that after a summer off and a pre-season to recover, he hits the ground running in 24/25.

4. Rodrigo Bentancur

Rodri is a top footballer but has really struggled with injuries over the last 18 months, and it has really impacted his rhythm. He showed what a capable footballer he is when he initially came in under Conte for the second half of the 2021/22 season and was generally fairly consistent, to begin with in the 22/23 season, before his ACL in the defeat at Leicester in February of 2023, and the Uruguayan midfielder has found it hard to get in the groove since, whether it be with injuries or consistency, although you could argue they go hand in hand.

The main point he has to prove, beyond anything to do with him as a player, is that he can actually stay fit. Availability is the best ability as they say, and it is paramount that Bentancur can be called upon next season.

3. Brennan Johnson

There is still some serious skepticism over whether or not Johnson is good enough to be a starter for Spurs moving forward, with some fans already criticizing the 23-year-old for his performance in pre-season at Hearts. The nature of the beast is that no matter how young or raw you are when the club invests £47m in your signing, there are expectations to deliver, often unfair ones.

Johnson will have to try and prove himself to be good enough to be a regular starter for Spurs next season, especially after potential attacking reinforcements come in.

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2. Timo Werner

The German forward divides opinion - to say the least. Some fans see him as a useful squad player, risk-free, and someone who suits Ange's high-octane style of play. Others see him as nowhere near good enough, the cheap option and an indictment of the ambition, or lack thereof, under Levy and ENIC. Others are in the middle and are happy enough with the signing provided a left-winger is signed as well as him, not instead of.

Werner had some productive games last season, but lacked consistency and end product. It is a big year for the 28-year-old if he wants to enamor himself to the fans and make the club want to sign him beyond this season.

1. Yves Bissouma

This feels like the clear winner in terms of points to prove. Bissouma has high expectations because everybody knows how good he can be. We saw it at Brighton, we saw it at the beginning of last season. Hell, we saw it with his goal at QPR, even if it was only a friendly.

He has so many physical and technical traits that make him stand out amongst his peers yet he has been so wildly inconsistent. There is so much to work with, that Ange must pull his hair out when he does stuff like gets a second yellow for diving in the VAR era. With no AFCON this season, hopefully Bissouma will be able to have more rhythm throughout the season and can add some consistency that would make Spurs such a better team.

Sidenote: Richarlison would be on this list, but amid links to the Saudi Pro League, it felt best to do 5 players who will almost certainly be at the club next season, just in case.