5 Tottenham stars who could be sold in January
LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 25 : Christian Eriksen of Tottenham Hotspur during the UEFA Europa League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Fiorentina at White Hart Lane on February 25, 2016 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images)
Could Christian Eriksen really leave Tottenham in January?
It’s natural for Tottenham fans to assume the Spurs roster is complete after a tumultuous summer transfer window. That’s far from a certainty though. The January transfer window should bring even more roster transition to White Hart Lane.
Much of that focus will deservedly focus on who Tottenham might sign in the Winter window. In case you’re only interested in stars Spurs might sign, check out my piece from earlier this week.
In this piece, I’ll explore the Tottenham players who might be leaving the club in January. For the most part that means backups with little chance to crack Mauricio Pochettino’s starting XI. It could also mean a high-profile name or two that struggle to live up to their full potential during the start of the Premier League campaign.
There’s a lot of football to be played between now and January, but it’s not too early to discuss who Pochettino might choose to sell. Read on to discover the five most likely Tottenham players to be sold once the transfer window reopens.
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JULY 29: Tom Carroll of Tottenham Hotspur controls the ball during 2016 International Champions Cup Australia match between Tottenham Hotspur and Atletico de Madrid at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on July 29, 2016 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)
5. Tom Carroll
If I’m completely honest, I’m surprised Tom Carroll is still with Tottenham. I thought it was highly probable that he’d be granted a move away from the club this summer.
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Despite heavy interest from several smaller Premier League clubs, he’s still a Spurs player. I wouldn’t bet on seeing him in any meaningful action this year. He’s likely to be limited to lesser Cup ties.
That means he’s a solid candidate to be sold in January. If Harry Winks and Josh Onomah continue to progress, he’s going to become quite expendable very fast. That doesn’t even begin to account for the possible emergence of someone like Marcus Edwards.
January will be time for Carroll to seek regular first team football elsewhere. He’s got the ability to be a Premier League regular, just not with Tottenham. Be advised fellow Spurs fans, you’ve only got a few months left to fawn all over the slight English midfielder.
LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 06: Kieran Trippier of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Watford at White Hart Lane on February 6, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)
4. Kieran Trippier
Some Tottenham fans were surprised to see Trippier hold off DeAndre Yedlin to remain Pochettino’s second choice at right back this summer. I was always confident he could hold off the young American, but do have significant questions about his long-term viability for Spurs.
He is a quality Premier League player, but doesn’t fit stylistically with Pochettino’s vision for the club. His real strength is whipping devastating crosses into the box. Unfortunately, he lacks the athleticism to cover both ends of the pitch well enough for the manager’s liking.
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It’s pretty easy to foresee Trippier getting anxious about his lack of playing time. He isn’t going to unseat Kyle Walker unless there’s a significant injury involved. No one could blame him if he wanted to secure a move to earn first team football again.
A club like Burnley would happily take him back. He’s well-suited to play as a right back in a more conventional system that wouldn’t highlight his lack of top-end speed. He may become a Premier League starter again in January if Spurs can find a better backup for Walker.
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JULY 29: Son Heung-min of Tottenham Hotspur controls the ball during 2016 International Champions Cup Australia match between Tottenham Hotspur and Atletico de Madrid at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on July 29, 2016 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)
3. Son Heung-Min
The South Korean attacker is another player who was heavily linked to a move away from Spurs this summer. In particular, Wolfsburg was keen on providing him a return to the Bundesliga.
As it stands, Son stands to be one of the largest beneficiaries of all of Tottenham’s summer sales. The departure of players like Nacer Chadli, Clinton N’Jie and Ryan Mason leave him as Pochettino’s top offensive substitute off the bench.
He’ll need to produce significant results in that role if he wants to stay with the club long-term. He’s proven that he can score goals in the Bundesliga which means Tottenham will always have the option to sell him for a significant fee. If the club identifies a significant need elsewhere, they’ll be tempted to sell Son to fund the purchase.
If Son can provide Tottenham scoring punch off the bench, that discussion will become moot. The pressures of Champions League football will necessitate a larger Spurs squad with credible options off the bench. Son’s going to get every opportunity to earn his keep. If he doesn’t provide goals though, he’ll be off in January.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – AUGUST 13: Michel Vorm of Tottenham Hotspur in action during the Premier League match between Everton and Tottenham Hotspur at Goodison Park on August 13, 2016 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Chris Brunskill/Getty Images)
2. Michel Vorm
As well as Michel Vorm has played in relief of Hugo Lloris this season, his place at Tottenham is still far from guaranteed. There’s a reason Pochettino went out and brought Pau Lopez in on loan this summer.
That reason is that he’s clearly looking for Lloris’ long-term successor. He doesn’t want the Frenchman to leave White Hart Lane anytime soon, but he can’t play forever. Poch wants a credible option to take over for Lloris when the time comes.
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If Lopez shows well in training, it’s going to make Vorm expendable. He’s also at the right age to command a solid transfer fee if he leaves the club. Someone like Celtic might make Spurs an offer they can’t refuse for their second choice keeper.
In a strange way, Vorm’s solid showing in relief of Lloris early this year likely means he’ll leave the club soon. He’s just too talented and experienced to remain a backup with Spurs for the rest of his career.
LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 10 : Christian Eriksen of Tottenham Hotspur during the Barclays Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United at White Hart Lane on April 10, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images)
1. Christian Eriksen
At the moment, parting company with Eriksen seems like a crazy idea for Tottenham. He’s the club’s only true number ten, and he’s probably their classiest offensive player as well. Why then could he be leaving in January?
Two reasons. First, he still hasn’t inked a contract extension with the club. While many expect him to put pen to paper once he returns from International Break, it hasn’t happened yet. If for some reason he doesn’t sign a new Tottenham contract before January, the club might sell him before his transfer value really takes a nosedive.
The second reason is that Eriksen might not be exactly what Pochettino wants in the middle of his attack. He isn’t the sort of dynamic athlete that the Spurs boss likes to employ elsewhere on the pitch. It’s at least possible that Spurs could look to provide Pochettino a player that fits his high pressing style as a replacement for the classy Dane.
I don’t think Eriksen is going anywhere, but the chances of him being sold in January are a lot higher than the average Tottenham fan might think. It’s a huge few months for Tottenham’s classy attacking midfielder.