Tottenham's new manager will have a lot of decisions to make when it comes to the club's 11 returning loan players this summer.
Acting head coach Ryan Mason said before the Premier League season came to a close that one of the next manager's biggest tasks was to make decisions on the large number of players returning from loan this summer. In all, 11 Spurs players were sent out on loan across England, Spain, Italy and France - a mixture of record signings, others who were not wanted by Antonio Conte and younger players for the future who needed to get away and develop.
While the new manager could well hand a second chance to some who were otherwise expected to head out the door, football.london has taken a look at which loan players will be kept, loaned back out or sold and it's worth taking into account the fewer amount of fixtures without European competition next season.
READ MORE: Ange Postecoglou could hand Daniel Levy the solution to his constant Tottenham manager mistake
Let's start with those in Italy:
Destiny Udogie
Destiny Udogie has started almost every match for Udinese this season and is being tipped to make a major splash in the Premier League. The 20-year-old has played as a wing-back for the Serie A side but is expected to develop equally well as a left-back as his defending continues to improve.
His team-mate Lazar Samardzic told The Italian Football Podcast this week: "Udogie is the best left back in Serie A for me. He can do everything. I think he will be an important player for Tottenham next year. He is an amazing player." KEEP
Harry Winks
Harry Winks missed the first half of the season having required ankle surgery but the England international played almost every minute for a struggling Sampdoria side from the turn of the year.
The 27-year-old midfielder's time at Spurs is probably coming to a close as he approaches the final year of his contract and the academy product shouldn't have much difficulty in finding a new club thanks to his consistency in Serie A in 2023 amid a difficult situation at the financially-hit Genoa-based club. SELL
Tanguy Ndombele
Plenty of people would love to see a Tanguy Ndombele renaissance at Spurs, not least this reporter and probably the club who spent so much money to bring him in from Lyon four years ago.
There's always going to be the belief that someone can unlock his undoubted talents in the right system but with just two years left on his contract the likelihood is that Tottenham will look to get whatever they can for the Frenchman after two loan spells away from north London.
Ndombele returns to the club a Serie A winner, having played in almost every game for Napoli, albeit mostly from the bench. SELL
Bryan Gil
Bryan Gil is a difficult one. He's clearly got plenty of ability and showed glimpses that he can adapt to the Premier League with his displays when Antonio Conte had nobody else he could put in front of the young Spaniard.
Yet it has also felt like the 22-year-old's heart is back in his homeland and his quotes on returning on loan to Sevilla only further endorsed that. He also needs to continue to strengthen his body for the rigours of the English game if he is to stay.
Gil will return to Tottenham a Europa League winner and with three years left on his contract the new manager could well take a good long look at him before deciding whether to loan him out unless Spurs get an offer they cannot refuse. LOAN
Giovani Lo Celso
Giovani Lo Celso has been on loan at Villarreal all season although he lost four months around the World Cup to a serious hamstring injury, meaning he missed out on playing a part as Argentina lifted the trophy in Qatar.
However, his performances on the whole in La Liga in the 28 games around that injury has shown just why his former boss Unai Emery is keen to take him to Aston Villa and Villarreal would like to keep him, with reports of player swaps in order to secure him permanently.
The 27-year-old remains a talent and his ability to play in a midfield three or in a front three could well give the next Spurs boss pause for thought but with two years left on Lo Celso's contract you would think that now is the point the club look to cash in on a player who cost them more than £50m in total. SELL
Sergio Reguilon
Sergio Reguilon has only made 10 appearances in total for Atletico Madrid due to injuries and illness in what has been a nightmare season for the player since leaving Tottenham on loan.
A switch to a back four could give him a fresh chance at Spurs but with Destiny Udogie's arrival he's unlikely to be a first choice and with two years left on his contract, it's likely the club will look to get some money for him with either a sale or loan with an option to buy. SELL
Djed Spence
Djed Spence has returned to Tottenham from Rennes after picking up a knee injury and Rennes technical director Florian Maurice confirmed that the French club would not be looking to extend the loans of either him or Joe Rodon.
At just 22 and with a contract until 2027, Spurs will be hoping that the next manager has good long look at him, but with Pedro Porro and Emerson Royal also at the club it will be tough for Spence to get game time unless the decision is made to push the Spaniard into more of an advanced winger role. The fewer fixtures next season could see Spence get another loan move to help him develop. LOAN
Joe Rodon
Joe Rodon might impress the next manager but the likelihood is, for his own sake, that he gets a move to go and play regularly somewhere. The 25-year-old got 21 games under his belt at Rennes but in the second half of the season the coach Bruno Genesio preferred to use permanent players rather than loan ones.
The Wales international has two years left on his contract at Spurs and it seems like the time for both parties to go their separate ways. SELL
Troy Parrott
Troy Parrott got plenty of minutes to his name at Preston this season with 34 appearances around a knee injury in October that kept him out until mid-January.
The 21-year-old Republic of Ireland international hasn't got the goals he would have liked, with just four to his name at the Championship side, and he needs to add those to his game first before he's likely to get a real look in at Spurs.
With two years left on his contract, Spurs may well decide on another loan move for the young Irishman to give him another chance to develop. LOAN
Dane Scarlett
The next manager will have a long look at Dane Scarlett in the summer because it's a time to decide whether he remains and learns with game time in the cup competitions or the 19-year-old is given another loan season to continue to develop, but the club must make the right choice over his club to ensure regular starts.
The England U20 international, who has a contract until 2026, had a mixed loan experience at League One Portsmouth with a decent first half of the campaign under Danny Cowley, with six goals and two assists in all, only for John Mousinho to take the helm and barely play him. LOAN
Harvey White
Harvey White spent the second half of the season on loan at Derby in League One and got 15 appearances to his name. He turns 22 early next season and with just 12 months left on his contract, although the club are understood to have offered him a new deal, Spurs could listen to offers for him. White may well not see a way through at the club with the amount of midfielders in the squad. SELL
Who is your Spurs player of the season? Have your say by voting below!
READ NEXT:
- New Tottenham 2023/24 Nike home and away kits: Latest news, images and release date
Spurs given green light to bring back a piece of history outside Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
- Fabio Paratici - The man who can no longer tell Daniel Levy what to do at Tottenham
- Tottenham in Romaine Mundle contract race with first team promotion after Herbie James transfer
Tottenham complete transfer for talented young defender and striker signs new deal with the club