A sight often witnessed in football, is of a young vibrant team being torn asunder by clubs that have extremely deep pockets is what threatens Tottenham Hotspur.
Led by one of the best managers in Europe, Mauricio Pochettino, Spurs have consistently finished in the top four of the Premier League, bettering heavyweights such as Liverpool and Manchester United while playing some truly exciting football in recent seasons.
However, they have precious little in terms of silverware to show for their efforts and in modern football, along with money, trophies are what matter most to footballers.
And with plenty of uncertainty surrounding the Lilywhites’ squad,The Statesman takes a look at the players who could be leaving for greener pastures this summer.
Kyle Walker
While Dani Alves seems to be making for Manchester City, Pep Guardiola reportedly wants Kyle Walker too as he looks to get his second season at the Etihad off to a flyer.
City are a team, without any disrespect to Tottenham, almost guaranteed to be contending for several titles and their summer spree has already seen them bolster their ranks and at 27, this could be Walker’s final ‘big’ move.
Since moving to Spurs in 2009, Walker has slowly but steadily blossomed into one of the league’s finest defenders, always bordering on the world-class tag but never quite consistent enough to be able to be placed in that top echelon.
The England international is said to favour a move to Manchester, where apart from a considerable increase in his wages, the fact that he will get to work with vaunted Guardiola is said to be too alluring.
Negotiations between the clubs are said to be underway and it is plausible that the right-back just might become the most expensive British defender of all time, if Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy has his way.
Transfer Possibility: High
Interested Clubs: Manchester City
Moussa Sissoko
It wouldn't be an understatement if Moussa Sissoko’s debut season with Spurs be called a nightmare, for club and player both.
The French midfielder made a £30 million switch in August 2016 but things went awry for the 27-year-old soon after and never got better.
The 6’2 Sissoko made just eight Premier League starts last season to represent a terrible return on the club’s hefty investment. Pochettino is said to be dissatisfied with his work-ethic in training and once you rub a manager like him the wrong way, it’s mighty hard to turn things around.
With Newcastle back in the top-flight, the Magpies have the financial power to lure their former midfielder back but Sissoko is said to favour a move back to Ligue 1 side Marseille, but it remains to be seen if Spurs will accept a cut-price deal for the Frenchman.
Transfer Possibility: High
Interested Clubs: Newcastle United, Marseille, West Ham United
Harry Kane
There are plenty of ifs and buts in any potential transfer entailing Tottenham’s golden boy, Harry Kane.
It’s no secret that both Manchester United and Chelsea are on the lookout for a goal-machine, but whether their rumoured No.1 targets (Alvaro Morata and Romelu Lukaku, respectively) prove to be elusive or not, could determine if Tottenham will have to brace for a bidding war or not.
While the club do not wish to sell their prized asset, a world-record bid could (Where have we seen that before?) weaken their resolve.
However, the Premier League’s Golden Boot winner is in a good place at Spurs and while United are on the up again, a move to the Red Devils or even reigning Premier League champions Chelsea now does not make sense from a pure footballing point of view.
Unless of course, a certain Spanish side come calling?
Transfer Possibility: Moderate
Interested Clubs: Manchester United, Chelsea, Real Madrid
Vincent Janssen
A flop is a harsh word to throw around, but it would be difficult to find another expression to describe Tottenham’s 23-year-old Dutch striker, Vincent Janssen.
A paltry return of just two Premier League goals, admittedly he was not starting, does not justify a £17 million fee for a striker. His only saving grace is his age as he has plenty of time to put his career back on track.
Unless Kane leaves, it is unlikely Janssen will get many starts, save for cup competitions as Pochettino does not favour a two-striker system.
Bundesliga side Borussia Monchengladbach, among others, are said to be interested and if Janssen wants to become the Netherland’s no.1 striker in the years to come, he will have to push for a move.
Transfer Possibility: High
Interested Clubs: Borussia Monchengladbach, Newcastle United, West Bromwich Albion
Dele Alli
Another prized asset of Spurs being courted by some of the finest clubs on the continent, the 21-year-old Alli deserves all the attention he is getting.
After an impressive breakthrough debut season in the 2015-16 campaign for Spurs, the English midfielder went even better last season by banging an seriously impressive 18 league goals (23 in all competitions).
While he has a tendency to be a bit naughty, his pros far outweighs the cons and he literally has the world at his feet.
As is the case with teammate Kane, it would not make sense for him to move to a Premier League side just yet, but with Real Madrid and Bayern Munich keen on replacing some of their ageing/outgoing stars with fresh blood, anything is possible.
Transfer Possibility: Moderate
Interested Clubs: Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Chelsea