Tottenham have one of the most exciting teams in the Premier League and one of the most exciting in Europe.
Last season they boasted the best attack and best defence. But after finishing second there is clearly room for improvement.
Spurs need to bring in some quality, but they also need to move on some players who aren’t contributing enough towards helping the team take the next step towards the glory of major silverware.
Here are 5 players Spurs should cut loose this summer.
Moussa Sissoko
In my humble opinion Moussa Sissoko is the best player in world football unable to do anything of value.
He is excellent at running very fast down the wing looking like an unstoppable force, but when it comes to passing, crossing, shooting or doing basically anything a footballer is supposed to do, he is generally found wanting.
Since his deadline day £30 million switch from Newcastle last summer he has been abject failure. He has been admirably consistent in contributing nothing to the team, failing to score a single goal across 1490 minutes of action for Tottenham.
Indeed, when Daniel Levy forked out £30 million for him it was assumed that Mike Ashley was throwing a party and if Levy can offload Sissoko this summer for anything around the £25 million mark, he will likely be having a party of his own.
It is not often that Levy is outmanoeuvred in the transfer market, but this is one of the few occasions and the club should cut their losses and move on swiftly.
Vincent Janssen
Janssen has unfortunately looked abysmal at Spurs, scoring just 6 goals, four of which were penalties.
For most of the season it felt like his Tottenham career was resting solely on his ability to put those penalties away.
Everyone understood that Tottenham wanted a striker who could primarily act as understudy to Kane, allowing him to rest through the season, but who could also complement their talisman on the pitch, giving the team a different dimension up front.
After missing out on Michy Batshuayi, Spurs were hoping that their cheaper alternative Vincent Janssen could do both. Very quickly though, it became clear that he could do neither.
After a couple of failed attempts Pochettino gave up on playing the two together while Son and Alli were favoured up front when Kane was out injured.
Janssen clearly lacks the technical ability and intelligence to play in this Tottenham side and they should move him on to make space for a more suitable striker. Spurs should have also learned their lesson that when it comes to strikers, you tend to get what you pay for.
Kyle Walker
Tottenham are a better team with Kyle Walker.
He has proven himself to be the best right back in the Premier League over the past couple of seasons and if they are able to keep him, they should. He is in his prime and will be very difficult to replace, irrespective of the fee they get for him.
However, rumours have persisted all summer that he wants a move, apparently in search of a bigger contract. Man City have been linked with a move, as have Bayern, while Juventus could also be tempted with Dani Alves’ right back spot being vacated. Barcelona too could be interested if they are unable to secure Bellerin from Arsenal.
As one of the premier right backs in world football Walker will have no shortage of suitors and Spurs will be handsomely compensated for him so if his mind is made up to leave, they should let him.
Trippier has proven himself a capable replacement and ultimately the most important thing to Tottenham has to be the team’s unity.
There is nothing worse than having an unhappy player hanging around the first team, or even the reserves or under 21s, as it brings a cloud upon the whole club.
However, if the opportunity arises to get Walker back on board they should take it because when Tottenham asks itself can we get a better right back? The answer is probably not.
Erik Lamela
One of the famous crew of misfits who came in to replace Bale, Lamela has shown himself to be a decent player capable of moments of brilliance but who is generally underwhelming.
It is a shame that the beginning of last season saw his most impressive and purposeful performances before injury and personal issues derailed his season.
Lamela is not an awful player, but he has never settled and Spurs could certainly bring in players who contribute more on the left of midfield than Lamela has during his 4 years at White Hart Lane.
As such they should take the opportunity this summer to move him on and replace him with someone fresh, exciting and fit.
Pau Lopez
Tottenham signed Lopez on loan from Espanyol last year as their 3rd choice goalkeeper.
It was a strange decision with Lloris and Vorm both fit and as a result Lopez didn’t make a single first team appearance.
Spurs can apparently sign him permanently for £2 million, but they would be best suited letting him return to Espanyol.
Firstly, with two quality keepers already on the books there is no point in spending money on the transfer fee and wages. Secondly, should Spurs consider Lopez a good prospect for the future they will likely be able to sign him for free next year when his contract has concluded.
What’s more, Vorm’s contract will also be up so Spurs will be in a position to choose who they want their back up keeper to be without having to waste money on an overqualified 3rd choice keeper, who won’t even play.
Written by Scott Pope
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