The first major task for Ange Postecoglou as the new Tottenham Hotspur head coach will be to greatly reduce a bloated squad in order to shape it into the one he needs.
It's clear that the squad cobbled together for Antonio Conte and the previous Spurs managers is not fit for purpose for the 57-year-old Australian's 4-3-3 system which requires attack-minded midfielders in front of a pivot, inverted full-backs and a central striker role that requires plenty of running.
The lack of European fixtures also means there is little need for Postecoglou to have a squad of more than 25 players, supplemented by academy talent, so with a need to bring in various new players in this summer transfer window to fit Postecoglou's system, decisions must be made on a large number of the current squad in the weeks ahead.
The Australian, who popped in to Hotspur Way for the first time on Friday - taking a temporary break in his well-earned holiday, may well make some unexpected decisions when he sees certain players in training next month, but here are our predictions for those he will keep, sell or loan out.
Hugo Lloris
The Spurs skipper has publicly said he wants to leave for a new challenge if the club will let him. Despite having a year left on his contract he only played 25 Premier League games last time out and struggled at times on the pitch with injury and this was not the swansong he would have wanted. It feels though like the right time for the Frenchman to be allowed to leave after 11 years of service. This is a 'sell' but it might end up being a 'release' as an agreement to get his wages of the books. SELL
Fraser Forster
The 35-year-old proved to be the best of last summer's transfer dealings, which is a damning indictment of the window when your free back-up goalkeeper has been the best signing. That's no reflection on Forster though as he made 20 appearances across all competitions and kept six clean sheets and proved to be a more than able deputy in Lloris' absence. He might not have the speed to be a keeper in Postecoglou's system but he's decent with his feet and as an experienced back-up to a new goalkeeper he's definitely worth keeping around. KEEP
READ MORE: Ange Postecoglou will not talk to Tottenham players much as unique coaching methods revealed
Emerson Royal
The Brazilian turned his season around after that reckless red card at Arsenal and the crowd cheering when he was taken off against Leeds. With his fitness levels and ability to motor up and down the pitch, as well as step inside on occasions, he should fit in well as an inverted Postecoglou right-back. KEEP
Pedro Porro
The decision to be made over Porro is whether he can become a Premier League right-back or whether his future lies in a more advanced winger role. He ended up with three goals and three assists in 15 Premier League matches, making it 14 assists and six goals in all this season for Tottenham and Sporting. His £40million deal goes through next month and there's something to build on for Postecoglou. KEEP
Djed Spence
At just 22 and with a contract until 2027, Spurs will be hoping that Postecoglou has a good long look at Spence, 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
Eric Dier
Dier's season started well. He was in fine form, scored twice, earned an England recall and had Conte calling him one of the Premier League's best defenders. However, everything then took a turn for the worse and despite the occasional good game Dier put in a series of poor displays and became the fans' figurehead as the central figure in a back three that conceded 63 Premier League goals. It was later revealed he had been carrying an ever-worsening groin injury since the World Cup. Dier does have the ability on the ball to work as a Postecoglou centre-back but there will be big question marks over whether he has the pace to make the high line work. If he does stay then it may be in a rotation role rather than as a more certain starter as other centre-backs will arrive in the transfer window. KEEP
Clement Lenglet
Some mixed performances across the season, but overall Lenglet has been a solid presence on and off the pitch. Bearing in mind it was his first season in the Premier League, he adapted well and ousted Dier in the season's final weeks. If he's only a mooted £10million buy this summer then you could do a lot worse for a squad purchase and he has the technical qualities to handle the Postecoglou system. KEEP
Davinson Sanchez
Another player who had a tough season and became a target for the Tottenham fans. He does have the pace to play in Postecoglou's high line but would likely struggle with the quick passing required from the centre-backs to rapidly recycle the ball up the pitch. He, like Dier, also only has a year left on his contract and centre-back is an area Spurs are looking to bring in new faces in. SELL
Joe Rodon
Joe Rodon is one of those who might impress Postecoglou as he has some of the characteristics required for his system, but for his own sake he needs a move to go and play regularly somewhere. The Wales international has two years left on his contract at Spurs and there is interest from a couple of teams in the Premier League and on the continent. SELL
Cristian Romero
On a personal level, Romero will always be able to say he won the World Cup during this season but at club level he's got nowhere near the standard he is capable of. He needs to improve and will enjoy playing in Postecoglou's system which has the centre-back squeezing up into midfield at times. KEEP
Japhet Tanganga
A move to AC Milan looked close last summer but Spurs never ended up agreeing to the transfer. Tanganga needs a move and regular football. He appeared just four times in the Premier League this season and understandably never looked sharp. SELL
Ben Davies
The Welshman is another who gets turned on by the supporters when things go against Spurs but the reality is that he's been one of the side's more consistent performers. Every Spurs manager has loved Davies and Postecoglou could well appreciate his mentality and versatility. He might not have the pace but his fitness will lend himself to the inverted full-back role in the Australian's system and he can provide cover for the central defenders. KEEP
Sergio Reguilon
Reguilon only made 10 appearances in total on loan for Atletico Madrid due to injuries and illness in what was a nightmare season for the player. 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
Ryan Sessegnon
Conte had high hopes for Sessegnon and the 22-year-old started the campaign well, with two goals and an assist, before beginning to struggle and once again a hamstring injury took a chunk out of his season and eventually ended it. He is still so young but has been severely restricted by those injuries in recent years. With two years left on his deal and Udogie's arrival, Spurs could well be tempted to loan Sessegnon out, as they did to Hoffenheim a couple of years ago, to build up his confidence and potentially his value. His repeated hamstring injuries could put some teams off a permanent deal at this stage. LOAN
Destiny Udogie
Udogie 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 and you can imagine Postecoglou relishing in helping him develop. KEEP
Ivan Perisic
Perisic took a little while to warm up but the experienced Croatian started to rack up the assists, with 12 eventually in 44 appearances - a number from set pieces - and his first and only goal for the club came at Southampton. The problem has been his defending and the speed of the Premier League left him exposed in a number of matches, particularly away from home this season. It's difficult to see him fitting into Postecoglou's side with the speed required. Like Lloris, it may end up that he is released rather than sold. SELL
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg
The Dane, who was nominated for the Premier League's Player of the Month for September, improved his offensive contribution with five goals and seven assists including the goal that sent Tottenham into the Champions League last 16 as group winners. As Spurs wobbled though so did Hojbjerg at times and he didn't look the same without Rodrigo Bentancur alongside him. Postecoglou's midfield three contains a number six who acts as the pivot and two box-to-box players who take it in turns to support the centre-forward. We'll learn pretty quickly which role Hojbjerg can fit or not and Bentancur's injury makes it difficult for most of the midfielders to leave in the first half of the season. KEEP
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
Oliver Skipp
Skipp took full advantage of Spurs' midfield injuries and started every Premier League match after Bentancur's injury in February. He ended up making 31 appearances and scored his first goal with that rocket against Chelsea. The 22-year-old is the kind of player that Postecoglou will love working with due to his engine and technical ability and he's expected within the club to become a future captain. However, it may be that once Bentancur returns during the season the England U21 international, depending on the injury situation, could need a January loan to ensure he gets the amount of minutes he needs now to continue his development. KEEP THEN LOAN
Harry Winks
Harry Winks missed the first half of the season having required ankle surgery but played almost every minute for a struggling Sampdoria side from the turn of the year. The 27-year-old'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
Pape Matar Sarr
The young Senegal international got 14 appearances in the second half of the season, not enough really, but he showed plenty of promise for what's to come. A work in progress but lots of potential, particularly in those box-to-box midfield slots in Postecoglou's central trio. KEEP
Yves Bissouma
Bissouma showed towards the end of the season how he can look in the right system and he has the ability to fit into any of the three midfield roles in Postecoglou's system. It hopefully will be a big year for him. KEEP
Tanguy Ndombele
Plenty of people would love to see a Tanguy Ndombele renaissance at Spurs as would the club who spent so much money to bring him in from Lyon four years ago. He would fit those roles in the Postecoglou midfield but would need very high energy levels to do so. 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. SELL
Rodrigo Bentancur
Bentancur will be an important player for Postecoglou when he returns and is fully fit and he has the ability to play in any of those midfield roles. KEEP
Giovani Lo Celso
Lo Celso remains a talent and his ability to play in a midfield three or in a front three could well give Postecoglou pause for thought but with two years left on his contract and interest in his services 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
Lucas Moura
The Brazilian will no longer be a Tottenham player when his contract expires this month so that's one decision already made. CONTRACT EXPIRES
Dejan Kulusevski
Just 22-years-old and with tons of potential and goals and assists to his name in his first 18 months, even with a tougher second season of adaptation, Kulusevski could be a huge player in Postecoglou's system. It will suit him and Son down to the ground. Spurs fully expect to take up the permanent option on his loan deal from Juventus and have used him prominently on their summer tour promotional material and even made him one of the first five names you can get on the back of next season's new shirt in their online club shop. KEEP
Bryan Gil
Gil has clearly got plenty of ability and showed glimpses that he can adapt to the Premier League but 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. Postecoglou will take a long look at the Europa League winner before deciding whether to loan him out, potentially in January, unless Spurs get an offer they cannot refuse. KEEP THEN LOAN
Alfie Devine
Devine got a couple of minutes in the FA Cup as reward for his patience this season. Postecoglou will likely have a good look at the talented teenager in pre-season but the 18-year-old needs a loan move next season to get regular first team football under his belt. LOAN
Richarlison
Richarlison needs to justify his £60million arrival from Everton and he fits the centre-forward role in Postecoglou's system better than the winger roles, as they often remain high and wide while cutting in at times. KEEP
Arnaut Danjuma
Another one that appears to have been decided already as Spurs are reportedly not taking up the option to make his loan from Villarreal permanent. CONTRACT EXPIRES
Troy Parrott
Troy Parrott made 34 appearances at Preston but the 21-year-old Republic of Ireland international didn't get 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 to give him longer to develop. LOAN
Son Heung-min
The Postecoglou system should see Son unleashed again as he can roam down the left as high as he wants without needing to track back as much. The Australian's idea of defending from the front means the attackers will press high up the pitch rather than in their own half and that should leave the South Korean in the right areas to do what he does best. KEEP
Dane Scarlett
Postecoglou will have a long look at Scarlett this 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. LOAN
Harry Kane
There's a certain irony that the one man who Postecoglou will have to adapt his system most to fit is the club's best player. The centre-forward role in the Australian's system is constantly and often thanklessly running and pressing while also being able to pop up in the right place to finish the moves. It's no coincidence that Kane's had three near injury-clear seasons when he's had less of that to do. You would also be mad to lose Kane's ability to suddenly drop slightly and create so the new Spurs head coach will have to find a way to adapt his system to cater for that, if as expected the club try to keep the striker this season. Having Kane in a free-flowing attacking side actually creating chance after chance for him is also a very exciting prospect. KEEP
What do you think of the Postecoglou appointment? Have your say below!
READ NEXT:
