There is the usual amount of speculation regrading transfer activity involving Tottenham for the next transfer window, some changes considered necessary, however taking a look at our squad some changes will be mandatory. After looking over our squad I found we have currently 39 players who may have ambitions to make the first team squad. Not forgetting the 25 man squad rule, several players including Gareth Bale and Giovani Dos Santos will no longer be considered under 21. So without change that leaves us with 32 players.
Let us assume there will be three additions in the summer, there needs to be ten players sold or sent out on loan. First things first here is the list of players who are still under 21 for these purposes:-
Walker, Caulker, Rose, Townsend, Parrett, Bostock, Mason and Obika. This list is not exhaustive as I am not as knowledgeable about our youth players as some.
I have put together a list of players I am almost certain will leave in the summer:-
Alnwick, Hutton, Naughton, Bentley, O'Hara, Dos Santos, Keane. Most of these players will leave fans divided but the facts are that they are surplus to requirements as all players are out on loan at the moment (apart from Hutton) and have made little impact this season. Alan Hutton has probably burnt his bridges with Redknapp this season and whose performances have failed to impress when it matters. Hence why I would say he is almost certain to go.
Those departures would take our squad down to 25 but still room will need to be made for any new additions. These are the players who I think we need to consider moving on for one reason or another.
Ledley King
King has been an excellent club captain, defender and leader, however injuries have limited him to only a handful of appearances this season and I don't expect an improvement on this in the future. We need four reliable central defenders in coming seasons. I am afraid King does not fall into that category.
Jonathan Woodgate
He shares the same injury problems as Ledley King. He is a quality player when fit but has not started a game for a year and a half and must consider his future.
Wilson Palacios
The Honduran came to Spurs when we were were struggling following the Ramos era. He gave us bite in central midfield and helped catapult Spurs up the table. His form since the discovery of his brothers body last year has been below his previous standards and has found it difficult to operate in a midfield blessed of talent and has fallen behind both Huddlestone and Sandro in the pecking order, He will probably be looking for a new start.
Jermaine Jenas
He is Tottenham's Marmite man. he is a player capable of so much but on so many occasions goes missing. In this squad he will only ever be a bit part player and May look for a new challenge.
Jake Livermore
Livermore may be an unfortunate casualty of the 25 man rule. He is no longer in the under 21 category so will either need to go out on loan for more experience or be sold as he will not likely challenge for a first team place at this stage.
Nico Kranjcar
I understand his frustration. There has been limited opportunities for him since the emergence of Bale. His problem is he is not an out and out winger nor can he be considered in the same role as Modric or Van Der Vaart. There are too many in front of him at the moment and will never be first choice. He is a luxury I wouldn't like us to lose but will respect his decision.
Roman Pavlyuchenko
Since he came to the club he has wanted to leave. On his day he can be an excellent finisher, however on most occasions you wouldn't even know he was on the pitch. He still has a communication problem, this has done Roman no favours as he still doesn't speak English well enough if at all. He is the most likely to make way for a new striker.
I would very much doubt that there will be 14 departures this summer but there would be room to do so. Overall we have a strong squad and I expect it to be a little stronger next season but not without some hard choices being made.
I expect Kyle Walker to compete with Corluka for the right back position and maybe Caulker could play a few games next season especially if Woodgate and King leave. As for incoming players, we definitely need a new strikerif not two who will get us 15-20 goals a season. I am not sure if we brought in two strikers where that would leave Van Der Vaart, Defoe and Crouch as surely one would be surplus to requirements.
We could also do with a back up left back as I wouldn't want Bale back there if Assou-Ekotto was injured. Furthermore an experienced central defender such as Gary Cahill, again I think maybe Bassong would then be surplus to requirements.
One other position that needs to be considered is goalkeeping. Gomes has looked shaky on a number of occasions this season and if a better keeper becomes available then we should consider a bid.
It will be a very interesting transfer window.
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