• The Fighting Cock is a forum for fans of Tottenham Hotspur Football Club. Here you can discuss Spurs latest matches, our squad, tactics and any transfer news surrounding the club. Registration gives you access to all our forums (including 'Off Topic' discussion) and removes most of the adverts (you can remove them all via an account upgrade). You're here now, you might as well...

    Get involved!

Player Player Squad Registered 2025/26

Latest Spurs videos from Sky Sports

Spursidol

Spursidol

This thread is to monitor how the squad is shaping up

The Spurs squad at 8 June 2025

1 Players left since end of 2024/25 season - Forster, Whiteman, Regulon, Werner (all contracts/loans expire in June 2025).
2 Players in - None to date
3 Players on loan last season who might return not included
4. In summary, there are 2 players too many to fit into CL squad (eg Davies, Tel) but might fit into squad for PL and domestic cups.

Age at 1 September 2025 (in brackets)

GK's (3) - Vicario (28), Kinsky (22), Austin (26),
CB's (4) - Romero (27), Van de Ven (24), Dragusin (23) , Danso (25), Davies (32)
FB's (3) - Porro (25), Udogie (22), Spence (25),
CM;s (5) - Bissouma (28), Bentancur (27), Sarr (22), Bergvall (19), Gray (19),
AM's (2) - Maddison (28), Kulusevski (25)
FWDS (7) - Solanke (27), Johnson (24), Son (33), Richarlison (28), Odobert (20),
Moore (18), Scarlett (21), Tel (20)

Analysis By UEFA Classification (Note we can have 17 Overseas trained players plus 4 Association trained (so 21 in total) plus 4 Club trained and unlimited List B players. Note in 2026/27 Gray and Bergvall become List B players which eases situation)

Club trained (1) : Austin
Association Trained (6) Spence, Maddison, Johnson, Solanke, Gray, Davies
Overseas Trained (17) Vicario, Porro, Udogie, Romero, Van de Ven, Dragusin, Danso, Bissouma, Bentancur, Sarr, Kulusevski, Son, Richarlison, Kinsky, Bergvall, Odobert, Tel
List B (u21’s ) (2) Scarlett, Moore

Conclusion - 2 players too many to fit into CL squad

This is when player contracts expire :
2026Bentancur Gil Bissouma, Craig, Son, Davies
2027Romero Richarlison Devine , Scarlett, Moore, Keeley, Abbott
2028Porro Maddison Solomon Kulusevski Vicario Phillips, Spence, Ajayi, Akhamrich, Russell-Denny
2029Van de Ven, Veliz, Johnson, Austin, Donley, Gunter, Odobert, Lankshear,, Hall, Dorrington, Olusesi
2030Dragusin Vuskovic , Udogie , Sarr, Gray, Solanke, Yang, Danso
2031Kinsky, Melia, Bergvall








 
Last edited:
Spurs have a full squad to start with - so the aim has to be to improve the quality of the squad, in particular the first team

So we need to aim a few quality players - no point in aiming for more than say 5 incoming experienced players as we'll need to compromise on cost if we try to buy too many and not get the quality we want

I'd guess we might have £150m - £200m (including transfer fees from Solomon, Gill, Hojbjerg less paying the obligation to purchase Danso ) plus whatever we raise from selling any of the squad above.

IMO that means we need :
2 forwards (ideally a striker and wide forwared)
1 DM
1 CB
1 LB
 
Last edited:
We have a number of youngsters who are capable of joining the squad - those who are List B do not need to replace existing players but are additional to the squad. Increasing the size of the squad helps minimise the effect of injuries

Players Loaned out in 2024/25 who could play a part at Spurs 25/26
Ashley Phillips, Age 20 in June 2025, CB, Association Trained (CT 26/7) and u21
Luka Vuskovic, Age 18 in Feb 2025, CB, Overseas Trained and u21
Jamie Donley, Age 20 in Jan 2025, No 10, List B and u21
Alfie Devine, Age 21 in Aug 2025, DM/AM, (LW/RW for E youth), List B and u21
George Abbott, Age 20 in Aug 2025, DM/FB, List B and u21
Will Lankshear, Age 20 in April 2025, striker, List B and u21
Josh Keeley, Age 22 in May 2025, GK, Overseas Trained
 
Last edited:
Key questions are :

1 Whether Romero wants to leave if so he needs replacing with a top class CB

2 Whether Richarison can be moved on for a decent fee (eg to Everton) so we can upgrade his position in the squad
 
One area to look at - our Midfield :

CM's (5) - Bissouma, Bentancur, Sarr, Bergvall, Gray,
AM's (2) - Maddison, Kulusevski

Kulusevski has played a huge amount his season, and it caught up with him both in terms of a slight loss of form in 2nd half of the season and injuries, whilst Maddison picked up a few injuries over the season. But both contributed hugely in terms of goals and assists and creativity.

I'd suggesting adding depth with Jamie Donley, who as a List B player does not take up a squad place, and who has had a great season at L1 Orient, following a fantastic season in u21's after conversion from best striker in his E youth year to no 10. He took a few months to step up from u21's to L1, and its likely it would be same with Jamie so expect to see the best of Jamie from December onwards (similar to Luca Bergvall moving from Swedish League to PL)

In Central Midfield we currently have 5 midfielders, with Yves Bissouma sometimes looking very good, but more often too easily ineffective and has one year left on his contract. A DM such as Johnny Cardoso would go a long way to protecting our porous defence, and we should gladly take him.

Papa Matar Sarr is not a bad player at all, but his chief strength seems to be powerful running, and given Spurs are limited to 21 players (other than CT and List B), he could be replaced as a CM by Alfie Devine who does not take up a squad place, and is very versatile able to play as box to box, AM, DM and in E youth groups on either wing, as well as having a great engine.

If we felt the need for extra depth, and noting Archie Gray tending to play CB and RB more than CM so far and possibly looking better in those defensive roles than CM, we have the option of including George Abbott who had a fantastic season at L2 Notts County playing different midfield roles including DM and box to box, and in our u21's as a RB. Technically excellent, and winner of EFL goal of season for that reason, he has an excellent engine and very versatile. He might take a few months to adjust to PL but I've no doubt he could do it.

So that gives us :

CM's (5 or 6) - Cardoso (?), Bentancur, Bergvall, Gray, Devine (and maybe Abbott)
AM's (3) - Maddison, Kulusevski, Donley

And if we sell Bissouma and Sarr and buy Cardoso, no net spend, and likely a small profit whilst increasing our squad size which makes us less susceptible to injuries !
 
Another area to look at - our forwards, currently :

FWDS (7) :
CF - Solanke, Richarlison (CF/LW), Scarlett,
RW - Johnson, Odobert (LW/RW)
LW - Son, Richarlison (CF/LW), , Odobert (LW/RW) , Moore,

Son - My heart says he stays, my head says with CL we need to have a player who can play weekend and midweek, and sadly that's no longer him. Maybe its time for that difficult conversation to sell him to a less physically demanding club and league. He came from Bundesliga and maybe Bayern might want to reunite him with Kane ?
If Son goes, we can spend money to bring in a top class wing forward - right or left doesn't really bother me, preferably both, as we can make arguments for either side.

Richarlison I knew we had overpaid when we bought him, but sadly the real issue is that he's often injured and whilst a hard worker and presser in 3 years, he's had one purple patch of about 10 weeks when he scored every week, but other than that ... he's not.
So if Everton are willing to pay say £40m, we should take that and invest in an upgrade - preferably who could play striker as well as left or right wing too. Jonathan David would be a decent option, but there will be others who will be more ready to play and score than Mathys Tel.

That leaves :
Solanke - Hard working, hard pressing striker whose name is not Harry Kane.
Odobert - Shame he's been injured for much of the season, covers left and right wing
Johnson - He scores goals, maybe he can be coached to contribute more, we shall see.
Scarlett - Most strikers these days seem to be older at say 24 before regularly scoring in PL. So either Scarlett or Lankshear stays and needs ti get minutes whilst the other is loaned, possibly to a Belgium/Dutch/Portugese club to get minutes and goals as in Championship they don;t get many minutes
Moore - Mikey played a bit in 24/25 aged 17, and will play more (no puns !) in 25/26 aged 18 but probably no more than say 2,000 minutes (say 20 odd games out of 60 we might play) whilst his body physically develops before his real break through in 2026/27.

So two upgrades which will be expensive, and we are not going to raise more than say £60m from Son/Richarlison sales. But that should make squad a lot stronger than this year.
 
Spursidol said:
We have a number of youngsters who are capable of joining the squad - those who are List B do not need to replace existing players but are additional to the squad. Increasing the size of the squad helps minimise the effect of injuries

Players Loaned out in 2024/25 who could play a part at Spurs 25/26
Ashley Phillips, Age 20 in June 2025, CB, Association Trained (CT 26/7) and u21
Luka Vuskovic, Age 18 in Feb 2025, CB, Overseas Trained and u21
Jamie Donley, Age 20 in Jan 2025, No 10, List B and u21
Alfie Devine, Age 21 in Aug 2025, DM/AM, (LW/RW for E youth), List B and u21
George Abbott, Age 20 in Aug 2025, DM/FB, List B and u21
Will Lankshear, Age 20 in April 2025, striker, List B and u21
Josh Keeley, Age 22 in May 2025, GK, Overseas Trained
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

With Romero maybe off I can see Vuskovic as the guy to step up at least as cover for RCB and perhaps Donley to come in to cover Maddison.

I get the impression that Vuskovic, Donley and Moore will be our main young kids next season (excluding Bergvall and Gray obviously)

Shouldn't Dorrington be part of this list?

Devine, Abbott, Lankshear, Keeley and Philips I predict will be sold at some point.
 
Worth bearing in mind where our goals and assists have come from when we review our forwards and AM's. In 2024/25 most goal involvements came from :

24 (16 goals, 8 assists) Dominic Solanke
23 (11 goals, 12 assists) Heung Min Son
23 (12 goals, 11 assists) James Maddison
23 (10 goals, 13 assists) Dejan Kulusevski
22 (18 goals 4 assists) Brennan Johnson

after that, its quite a reduction coming to next most prolific players
13 (4 goals, 9 assists) Pedro Porro

So if Son leaves we need to make up his goal involvements from elsewhere - but the two forwards proposed as well as Jamie Donley coming into the squad should ensure, if anything we end with more goal involvements in 2025/26 than we achieved in 2025/25.
 
Spursidol said:
Spurs have a full squad to start with - so the aim has to be to improve the quality of the squad, in particular the first team

So we need to aim a few quality players - no point in aiming for more than say 5 incoming experienced players as we'll need to compromise on cost if we try to buy too many and not get the quality we want

I'd guess we might have £150m - £200m (including transfer fees from Solomon, Gill, Hojbjerg less paying the obligation to purchase Danso ) plus whatever we raise from selling any of the squad above.

IMO that means we need :
2 forwards (ideally a striker and wide forwared)
1 DM
1 CB
1 LB
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

I think we need a top wide forward in this Mbeumo type of class, additionally we need an elite CM, I am guessing Cordosa and Gomes come in for Bentancur and Bissouma but I think we need a out and out top draw CM.
 
Tomo said:
With Romero maybe off I can see Vuskovic as the guy to step up at least as cover for RCB and perhaps Donley to come in to cover Maddison.

I get the impression that Vuskovic, Donley and Moore will be our main young kids next season (excluding Bergvall and Gray obviously)
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

I think if Vuskovic comes into squad then we probably need to either sell Dragusin or have one of them not playing EL but playing PL and domestic cups only - as UEFA squad rules mean we can only have 21 places to cover 11 positions (excluding CT and List B) - and if Romero leaves I think we need to have a top class CB replacement.

I'd add Devine to your list of youngsters in squad, as well as one of Scarlett and Lankshear to provide striker cover (depending on the recruitment) - in 2024/25 we needed one of them due to Richarlison's often being unavailable injured to provide cover/rotation for Solanke and both scored a goal.
 
On paper this isn't a bad squad but if we are ruthless and if we accept Romero is probably off I can see the below in red gone

GK's (3) - Vicario, Kinsky, Austin,
CB's (4) - Romero, Van de Ven, Dragusin, Danso
FB's (3) - Porro, Udogie, Spence,
CM;s (5) - Bissouma, Bentancur, Sarr, Bergvall, Gray,
AM's (2) - Maddison, Kulusevski
FWDS (7) - Solanke, Johnson, Son, Richarlison, Odobert, Moore, Scarlett

Danso steps up in RCB with Vuskovic and Dragusin as back up, Donley to come in to cover Maddison.

I think we need:

LCB, LB, CM, DM, Wide Forward, Striker

Cordosa and Gomes are the obvious we have been linked with. I would like to think we can look at Eketete/Delap, Mbuemo and elite CM and a player who can cover the LCB/LB area. I would hope we can get something like the below in terms of main players.

GK's (3) - Vicario, Kinsky, Austin,
CB's (4) - Van de Ven, Dragusin, Danso, Vuskovic, New LCB
FB's (3) - Porro, Udogie, Spence, New LB
CM;s (5) - Cordosa, Gomes, Elite CM, Bergvall, Gray,
AM's (2) - Maddison, Kulusevski, Donley
FWDS (7) - Solanke, Johnson, Odobert, Moore, Delap/Eketete, Mbeumo
 
Spursidol said:
I think if Vuskovic comes into squad then we probably need to either sell Dragusin or have one of them not playing EL but playing PL and domestic cups only - as UEFA squad rules mean we can only have 21 places to cover 11 positions (excluding CT and List B) - and if Romero leaves I think we need to have a top class CB replacement.

I'd add Devine to your list of youngsters in squad, as well as one of Scarlett and Lankshear to provide striker cover (depending on the recruitment) - in 2024/25 we needed one of them due to Richarlison's often being unavailable injured to provide cover/rotation for Solanke and both scored a goal.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

Vuskovic was a huge steal, had all of Europe's top clubs after him and is already one of the Belgian leagues best players at such a young age, basically a Bergvall level kid. Not sure Dragusin can survive that.
 
Tomo said:
I think we need a top wide forward in this Mbeumo type of class, additionally we need an elite CM, I am guessing Cordosa and Gomes come in for Bentancur and Bissouma but I think we need a out and out top draw CM.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

Yes to the top wide forward (and likely two if both Son and Richarlison leave).

I think we probably retain Bentancur for his experience as Bergvall and Gray are young and we probably add Devine who has a good engine too as well as playing all types of midfield role.

I'm not convinced about Gomes as he's very slight - Tom Carroll vibes. Not sure we can afford a top CM if we need to replace/upgrade Son and Richarlison
 
Spursidol said:
Yes to the top wide forward (and likely two if both Son and Richarlison leave).

I think we probably retain Bentancur for his experience as Bergvall and Gray are young and we probably add Devine who has a good engine too as well as playing all types of midfield role.

I'm not convinced about Gomes as he's very slight - Tom Carroll vibes. Not sure we can afford a top CM if we need to replace/upgrade Son and Richarlison
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

Son is on big wages and I think we get £30-40m from Everton for Richarlison. With CL football I would expect the club (if it wants) could get at least 3 decent money transfers out and that's not including Romero who should get a decent fee as well.
 
Tomo said:
On paper this isn't a bad squad but if we are ruthless and if we accept Romero is probably off I can see the below in red gone

GK's (3) - Vicario, Kinsky, Austin,
CB's (4) - Romero, Van de Ven, Dragusin, Danso
FB's (3) - Porro, Udogie, Spence,
CM;s (5) - Bissouma, Bentancur, Sarr, Bergvall, Gray,
AM's (2) - Maddison, Kulusevski
FWDS (7) - Solanke, Johnson, Son, Richarlison, Odobert, Moore, Scarlett

Danso steps up in RCB with Vuskovic and Dragusin as back up, Donley to come in to cover Maddison.

I think we need:

LCB, LB, CM, DM, Wide Forward, Striker

Cordosa and Gomes are the obvious we have been linked with. I would like to think we can look at Eketete/Delap, Mbuemo and elite CM and a player who can cover the LCB/LB area. I would hope we can get something like the below in terms of main players.

GK's (3) - Vicario, Kinsky, Austin,
CB's (4) - Van de Ven, Dragusin, Danso, Vuskovic, New LCB
FB's (3) - Porro, Udogie, Spence, New LB
CM;s (5) - Cordosa, Gomes, Elite CM, Bergvall, Gray,
AM's (2) - Maddison, Kulusevski, Donley
FWDS (7) - Solanke, Johnson, Odobert, Moore, Delap/Eketete, Mbeumo
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

Not sure we have the budget for so many coming in without compromising on quality - remember that top forwards are expensive as is elite CM.

I think we might squeeze in 4 or 5 top players from budget this summer, getting £60m from Son/Richarlison and say £40m - £50m from Sarr/Bissouma (and buying Cordosa for £22m).
 
Tomo said:
Son is on big wages and I think we get £30-40m from Everton for Richarlison. With CL football I would expect the club (if it wants) could get at least 3 decent money transfers out and that's not including Romero who should get a decent fee as well.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

Agree Son's on big wages but I think any top forwards coming in will be on similar.

I think our money on players leaving might be Son(£20m), Richarlison (£40m,), Bissouma (£20m), Sarr (£25m) and Romero.

So £100m plus Romero ...... problem is the thick end of £100m can easily go on one top forward these days ! Hence needing to limit the numbers of top players we want in
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top