How Tottenham must overhaul squad: Sell Bissouma, Richarlison and maybe Bentancur... but keep Son | OneFootball

There is likely to be more significant surgery on the Spurs squad in 2025

Tottenham begin 2025 in a rough spot, 11th in the table and with mounting scrutiny on Ange Postecoglou following a difficult run of results.

After an up-down 2024, there is likely to be more significant surgery on the squad in the summer, however, with the club set to continue rebuilding around young players, capable of playing fast-paced, attacking football.

Here, Standard Sport runs the rule over every player in Postecoglou's first-team squad and assessed who they should keep and who they should sell.

Guglielmo Vicario

Spurs have missed Vicario's leadership, shot-stopping and, particularly, composure with his feet since the Italian suffered a fractured foot in the 4-0 win over Manchester City in November.

A new goalkeeper is on the agenda for January or the summer but Vicario has firmly established himself as Postecoglou's No.1, even if there are some doubts about his ability to command his area at set-pieces. KEEP

Fraser Forster

The veteran has done a mixed job deputising for Vicario but his two mistakes playing out in the 4-3 win over Manchester United last month underlined that he is a poor fit for Postecoglou's approach.

Forster remains an experienced head in a young dressing room and a highly respected character, however, so Spurs might consider extending the 36-year-old's contract, which is up in the summer, even if they sign a new 'keeper. KEEP... BUT ONLY AS THIRD-CHOICE

Fraser Forster has done a mixed job deputising for Guglielmo Vicario

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Pedro Porro

The Spaniard has defied the doubters who questioned his ability to play in a back four and been up there with Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold as the best attacking right-back in the Premier League since Postecoglou's appointment.

He has appeared fatigued recently but remains one of Spurs' most important players when fit. KEEP

Djed Spence

Spence had to wait two-and-a-half years for a first Spurs start but wasted no time in making an impression, bagging eye-catching assists against Southampton and United last month, keeping his place for the subsequent games against Liverpool and Nottingham Forest.

His ability to play on both flanks makes him a useful squad player, although the 24-year-old has looked capable of being a starter in his brief appearances to date. KEEP

Destiny Udogie

Already one of the Premier League's best overlapping left-backs, Udogie is just 22 and has scope for further improvement.

A hamstring injury against Wolves last time out is a concern for Postecoglou and surely a consequence of too much football in the first half of the season.

Spence's emergence should ease the pressure on the Italian but Spurs need another left-back. KEEP

Ben Davies

Spurs' longest-serving player is valued by Postecoglou for his quiet leadership and professionalism.

His contract is up in the summer but Spurs have already indicated that they will trigger a one-year option to keep the 31-year-old at the club for a 12th season.

The Wales international offers valuable cover at left-back and centre-half, although you wonder how much he would play if Spurs are not in Europe next term. KEEP

Sergio Reguilon

Thrust into his first League appearance for Spurs since April 2022 after Udogie's injury against Wolves, Reguilon may have a small part to play in the weeks ahead.

But the Spaniard's contract is up in the summer and he is not part of the club's long-term plans, so any offers for him this month will be taken seriously. SELL

Cristian Romero

The Argentine is one of Spurs' most important players, a leader and a crucial cog in Postecoglou's system, particularly for his quality on the ball.

But he will have two years remaining on his contract in the summer, which means his future will soon become a talking point.

Much will depend on Romero's willingness to sign an extension but Spurs may have to listen to any significant offers for the Argentine, who has been linked with Real Madrid and recently appeared to criticise the club's hierarchy. KEEP... FOR NOW

Cristian Romero will have two years remaining on his contract in the summer

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Micky van de Ven

Though his hamstrings are a concern, Van de Ven remains a unique defender and one of Spurs' most important players.

His remarkable pace allows him to cover behind Postecoglou's high defensive line and the team sorely misses him when he's injured. KEEP

Radu Dragusin

The Romanian is just 22 and has not yet been at Spurs for a year.

But while he is physically imposing and plainly capable of playing at this level, Dragusin looks a strange fit for Postecoglou's approach given his technical limitations.

Short-term, he has an important role to play but it is easy to wonder about his suitability for a progressive, attacking team. KEEP

Archie Gray

Gray's performances while deputising at centre-half have been the biggest positive from Spurs' bleak mid-winter.

The 18-year-old is growing in stature with every game and looks set to have a huge future, be it at centre-half, full-back or in midfield. KEEP

Yves Bissouma

The Malian remains capable of having outstanding games but he has not been able to consistently return to the commanding form that briefly made him such an exciting player at the start of last season.

He is also yet to grow into the leader Postecoglou hoped he could be and was banned for the first game of this season by the club for an off-field transgression. SELL IN THE SUMMER

Yves Bissouma has struggled for consistency since joining Spurs

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Lucas Bergvall

There have been promising signs from the 18-year-old summer signing in recent weeks, including a handful of lively cameos and a solid display on his first Premier League start against Southampton.

He should be far better placed to show what he can do next season after a year acclimatising to Spurs and English football, although if Spurs add depth to the midfield, a loan at another Premier League club cannot be ruled out. KEEP OR LOAN

Rodrigo Bentancur

It has been a little difficult to judge Bentancur under Postecoglou because his rhythm has so often been disrupted by absences, most recently a seven-match domestic ban.

There were signs before his suspension that the Uruguayan was returning to his brilliant best after two injury-hit years but there remains a case that Spurs need a more commanding presence at No6.

If they sign one and Gray and Bergvall can act as cover, then Bentancur may start to feel expendable. JURY IS OUT

Pape Matar Sarr

Sarr has quietly been one of the success stories of Spurs' up-down season, establishing himself as one of Postecoglou's most reliable and effective players and frequently keeping James Maddison out of the side.

He has added a goal threat to his phenomenal work-rate and, at 22, should keep improving. KEEP

Dejan Kulusevski

Hands-down Spurs' player of the season so far, Kulusevski has been outstanding since switching to a central midfield role.

Possessing a remarkable engine and brilliant technique, the Swede increasingly feels like the lungs and the brain of Postecoglou's team.

A new contract should be on the agenda, while Spurs may have to rebuff interest from other clubs in the summer. KEEP

James Maddison

It has been a curious season for Maddison, who has scored eight goals in 14 Premier League starts but struggled to nail-down a place in Postecoglou's best XI.

At his most effective, the playmaker still feels like a crucial part of Spurs' system but is he consistent enough or capable of taking control of a game in difficult circumstances?

Spurs can hardly afford to lose Maddison - especially if Bergvall and Gray end up playing deeper - but equally he is still to prove that he is indispensable. JURY IS OUT

James Maddison has struggled to nail-down a place in Ange Postecoglou's best XI

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Wilson Odobert

Odobert's first season at Spurs has been wrecked by a hamstring injury which required surgery, so it has been impossible to judge the summer signing from Burnley.

The 20-year-old was signed as an option for both now and the future, however, and is likely to be a useful squad player when fit again. KEEP

Brennan Johnson

Spurs' most improved player after Kulusevski, Johnson has established himself as a consistent back-post scorer this season.

His durability - he was the only Spurs player to feature in every game of 2024 - is almost as important as his quality and the Wales international, 23, is only likely to get better. KEEP

Heung-min Son

It feels like an increasingly difficult campaign for the Spurs captain but Postecoglou has played down talk of a decline in the 32-year-old, comparing him to Mohamed Salah, who was subdued in the latter half of last season.

It now feels, though, like a big second half of the campaign for Son, who will be expected to up his game once his teammates start returning from injury and he has had a proper rest. KEEP

It feels like a big second half of the season for Heung-min Son

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Richarlison

The likeable Brazilian's injury woes have continued this season, restricting him to just one start so far.

He is due to return to action in the next week or so, but as it stands, Spurs cannot be expected to rely on Richarlison given his propensity to break down. SELL IN THE SUMMER

Timo Werner

Publicised criticised by Postecoglou after last month's draw with Rangers, Werner has been a bit-part player this season, struggling for game-time even during Spurs' recent injury crisis.

He is on loan from RB Leipzig until the end of the season and the chances of Spurs' exercising their option to sign the German winger permanently appear very remote. SEND BACK TO LEIPZIG

Mikey Moore

An illness has disrupted what looked set to be a breakthrough season for the 17-year-old winger, who created an enormous buzz with his brilliant performance against AZ Alkmaar in October.

He is set to return to full training this week and a big future lies ahead. KEEP

Dominic Solanke

The summer signing has been a success, chipping in with eight goals but, almost as importantly, leading the line with irrepressible energy.

He could and probably should be more of a goal-threat but Solanke can be expected to improve with more rest in the second half of the campaign and looks capable of being the club's focal point in attack for the foreseeable future. KEEP