Ange Postecoglou desperately needs extra bodies to come into his Tottenham Hotspur squad in the coming week but there could also be some departures in the January transfer window.
The Spurs boss has struggled with squad unavailability this season with sometimes up to 10 players missing out for games through injury, illness or suspension. Postecoglou admitted this week that he and technical director Johan Lange will be pushing hard this week to bolster the numbers to give his overused core of players more rotation in the weeks ahead as the midweek games only pause for this week.
However, at both first team and development squad level players could still head out of the door for a variety of reasons. Here are seven potential Tottenham departures – technically eight – and whether we think they will actually make the move.
Timo Werner
The on-loan German has scored once for Spurs this season and recorded three assists but it’s been a difficult campaign for the 28-year-old.
Werner just hasn’t shown enough quality on a consistent basis when called upon and was singled out when Postecoglou said his performance at Rangers was “not acceptable”. The winger has played only 767 minutes of football this season, almost half of what 18-year-old Archie Gray has and even Rodrigo Bentancur, who missed seven games through suspension has played far more minutes.
Tottenham are looking at bolstering their attacking players this month and that could mean even less game time for the Champions League winner, but can Postecoglou afford to allow any of his forward options to leave?
Verdict: The main problem with a Werner exit is that RB Leipzig would have to agree to have him back and why would they right now with the cost involved? He might not be everyone’s cup of tea but Postecoglou probably can’t afford to lose an experienced attacker right now anyway.
Sergio Reguilon
This was a move that should have happened last summer with the Spaniard now in the final six months of his contract. Reguilon doesn’t particularly fit Postecoglou’s style and has only been used for 41 minutes of football this season – 40 of those coming on Sunday.
Spurs are looking at a potential new left-back arrival this month and Reguilon’s contract situation means the club would likely take any offer that arrives if he actually agrees to it. The power all lies with the former Real Madrid full-back rather than Tottenham.
Verdict: Will leave if an offer suits him.
Will Lankshear
football.london understands there has been a lot of interest in Lankshear, with some clubs looking to sign him permanently and many on loan, but Tottenham’s injury problems make it difficult right now to let him go.
The 19-year-old has had a big season in signing a new five-year contract, scoring his first goal for the club and making his Premier League debut, while picking up that red card at Galatasaray on the same night he opened his goalscoring account for the club.
Richarlison is on the way back now from his hamstring problem, but the Brazilian’s injury record makes it difficult for Tottenham to allow Lankshear to go out on loan right now even if he really could do with the minutes for his development.
Verdict: Sticking around unless Spurs sign a striker late in the window which might open the door ever so slightly for him.
Alfie Dorrington
Postecoglou just hasn’t turned to Dorrington this season, other than handing him 15 minutes or so against Southampton for his senior debut.
The 19-year-old is highly thought of at Spurs but has had a difficult campaign. He missed pre-season and the opening couple of months of the season after requiring hamstring surgery earlier this year. His game time has been sparse for the U21s, with just a handful of appearances for Wayne Burnett’s side.
If Postecoglou isn’t going to turn to him anyway, preferring the younger Gray, who is a midfielder, then any new defensive arrival should allow Dorrington a loan move if one arises.
Verdict: Much depends on any new arrival and Romero and Van de Ven’s returns from injury but a good loan move should really be taken up.
Tyrese Hall
It just hasn’t worked for the 19-year-old midfielder after being involved with the first team towards the end of last season. Hall struggled for pre-season minutes and hasn’t been involved with the first team during this campaign after falling down Postecoglou’s pecking order with 17-year-old Callum Olusesi taking his place as the academy midfielder of choice on the bench.
Jamie Donley and Josh Keeley
We’re including Donley and Keeley as a double because they’re both on loan at Leyton Orient and absolutely flying right now during a run of five wins and a draw in League One.
Donley took some time to get into the team but now has two goals and two assists in his past three matches and Keeley set a new club record this weekend by keeping seven clean sheets in a row in all competitions.
Matthew Craig
Craig has not started a match in League One since early October and after being left out of the past two Barnsley matchday squads, his manager Darrell Clarke admitted talks will take place over the 21-year-old’s next steps with reports that Tottenham could recall the midfielder and send him on another loan.
