Tottenham must keep these five players no matter the outcome of this season – everyone else can leave

Tottenham Hotspur are going to need a squad refresh this summer – but they have been told there are five players who simply must stay.

Spurs are still facing a potential relegation from the Premier League heading into the final two games of the season.

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An unprecedented drop down to the Championship would have a colossal impact on the club’s finances, which would end up forcing them to make plenty of player sales to recoup some cash.

And even if they manage to stay up at the expense of West Ham, a huge turnover of the squad is expected to happen.

Certain stars are expected to leave for European football, including Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven, while others will eye fresh challenges.

However, many fans, including those on the panel of the latest episode of talkSPORT’s Inside Spurs, won’t be too bothered about players departing the club, no matter what happens.

Host Abbi Summers ignited a debate over what could happen at Tottenham over the coming months if they stay up or go down.

And it led to guests and sports journalists, Dean Scoggins and Jake Sanders of The Sun, discussing who they would be happy to let go.

“Romero has got to go, nothing to do with his ability, but it feels like the obvious moment where he’s got to cut ties,” Scoggins said.

“Van de Ven, I’m a little bit unsure of. [Pedro] Porro, wouldn’t be against selling him, [Djed] Spence, wouldn’t be against selling him.”

Scoggins then went on to add: “We obviously need loads at the top end of the pitch. We’ve got [Xavi] Simons out for months, [Mohammed] Kudus has undergone surgery…[Dominic] Solanke’s not good enough.

“We need a lot, we need a whole new front line.”

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Summers quickly interjected to say she wouldn’t mind changing the entire line-up, stating: “We basically need a whole new team.”

And Sanders agreed with that statement, before going to pick out the only players in the squad that he’d want to stay put.

Spurs’ five must-keep players

“If we’re talking staying up or going down, then my only must keeps are [Destiny] Udogie, [Lucas] Bergvall, [Archie] Gray, [James] Maddison and [Dejan] Kulusevski,” he explained.

“Xavi Simons is out for ages and maybe Mathys Tel (could stay)…send [Randal] Kolo Muani back, I can see the [Joao] Palhinha argument if we stay up and it’s [Roberto] De Zerbi (in charge), as he’ll use him.

“[Conor] Gallagher will stick around. But I can’t make a sound argument for Porro, I feel like he’s too weak defensively.

“Spence, I don’t think it fits with De Zerbi at all… I think De Zerbi would want [Yves] Bissouma over [Pape Matar] Sarr.”

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Sanders named Maddison as one of the very small number he wants to remain at the club this summer, with the England international returning from an ACL injury on Monday night.

The 29-year-old spent nine months recovering on the sidelines this season, but he’ll hope to be back full fit next term.

Kulusevski remains in a similar boat, having been out of action for over a year and fading away from the spotlight this campaign.

However, the Swede’s return will be very welcome for Tottenham, especially if he stays at the club in the Championship.

As for Sanders picks of Udogie, Gray and Bergvall, the trio of young stars could become important during Spurs’ expected reset.

Udogie has played 18 times in the Premier League this season, with Gray and Bergvall both appearing 23 times each.

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