As Tottenham fight relegation, five stars could force summer exits from a club whose grand project has crumbled into chaos.
Tottenham Hotspur’s season has turned into a nightmare, with the club staring down the barrel of relegation after a UEFA Europa League win just last year. Fans who celebrated that trophy now watch their team limp along in 16th place, just four points from disaster after 27 games and 29 points on the board.
Even survival won’t hide the mess, as the project has stalled, with the latest setback coming against Fulham this weekend. Managers come and go, and big talents may well be ready to jump ship. The Hard Tackle lists five players who are prime contenders to leave Tottenham to get away from the mess at the North London club.
The downfall of Spurs’ ambitions
What a difference a year makes for Tottenham. Ange Postecoglou delivered UEFA Europa League glory by beating Manchester United 1-0 in the final, sparking hopes of a new era with silverware after 17 barren years. While they have reached the Champions League round of 16 this term, Premier League form collapsed with just two wins from their last 18 outings.
Thomas Frank arrived in summer 2025 full of promise, but his spell ended in sack on February 11 following a 2-1 home loss to Newcastle United. Igor Tudor stepped in as interim boss until season’s end, calling it his toughest job yet after a 4-1 derby drubbing by Arsenal stretched the winless run to nine games.
Home woes sum it up, as Tottenham have managed only two victories at home, including thrashings by Arsenal and Newcastle United, with 41 goals shipped and 37 scored overall. No European football looms even if they scrape survival, killing the “project” Postecoglou started, and Frank tried to build.
Relegation would seal mass exits, but five stars—Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Archie Gray, Xavi Simons, and Lucas Bergvall—bring elite quality that demands bigger stages. Their departures look highly likely as suitors circle.
Cristian Romero: The captain ready to bolt
Cristian Romero stands as Tottenham’s rock at the back, a leader who chipped in with four league goals this season despite the chaos. The Argentine international thrives on aggression, winning tackles and driving forward with the ball, proving his class for club and country; Argentina’s World Cup winner knows trophy-winning football.
Yet frustration boils over; Romero is not pleased with how the club have been working both on and off the pitch. Recent reports say he is set to leave this summer, valued at €60-70 million, with Real Madrid leading the chase for his defensive steel to fix their backline woes. At 27, peak years call for Champions League hunts, not survival scraps. Atletico Madrid lurk too, but Real Madrid offer the glamour he craves.
Losing him guts the defence already leaking 1.52 goals per game through Guglielmo Vicario’s errors and midfield gaps. Romero’s exit feels inevitable; Tottenham cannot match what the giants provide.
Micky van de Ven: Speed demon on the move
Micky van de Ven pairs with Cristian Romero as Spurs’ defensive hope. One of Europe’s fastest, the Dutchman covers ground to snuff out counters and build attacks. Since arriving from VfL Wolfsburg in 2023, the 24-year-old has shown composure on the ball and recovery speed that fits high-pressing systems, even amid injuries.
But with Tottenham’s project in ruins and renewal talks now stalled, he seems ready to depart. Liverpool consider him an ideal fit for their high line, potentially cashing in Joe Gomez; Manchester United could make a move for him if they manage to secure Champions League football.
He could replace Harry Maguire at Old Trafford. Meanwhile, Real Madrid are also in the mix for his signature. Spurs demand £100 million for his potential, but without European football and the project going nowhere, van de Ven could push for a move to a bigger club. The Dutch defender deserves stages where his speed wins titles.
Archie Gray: Wonderkid too good for the mess
Archie Gray, the 19-year-old from Leeds, embodies Tottenham’s youth promise with versatility. Midfield maestro or right-back, he can do it all, especially after being likened to Toni Kroos for his vision and passing. The youngster shines in build-up play and defensive duties, making him a utility gem who has adapted seamlessly despite the team’s turmoil.
Real Madrid are keen on his signature as they seek more depth in midfield; they are ready to pay Tottenham’s €60 million tag amid their need for young legs. Bayern Munich scouts are also watching closely, drawn to his Premier League-proven talent at a club rebuilding from the bottom.
Gray’s potential screams big-club development; Spurs’ relegation flirtation makes staying a risk to his trajectory. At his age, stalling in mid-table (or worse) wastes gifts; expect him to force a move for regular minutes at giants chasing silverware.
Xavi Simons: Creative spark seeking fire
Xavi Simons brings flair to Tottenham’s midfield, his dribbling, goals, and assists lighting up games when fit. The Dutch attacker’s vision slices defences, adding the spark Spurs lack in their goal-shy attack.
His agent’s comments on a failed Chelsea move last summer hint at openness to Premier League stays, but Tottenham’s woes dim the appeal. With the club 16th and Igor Tudor firefighting, Simons may eye a project with trajectory, like returning to PSG orbit or Bayern Munich links from past rumours.
He is too dynamic for survival mode; the summer may bring bids from clubs promising UEFA Champions League and trophies, forcing his hand even without relegation. While Tottenham forked out a big fee to land him last summer, they will struggle to keep hold of him.
Lucas Bergvall: Young talent with big ambitions
Lucas Bergvall, the promising Swedish midfielder, offers box-to-box energy and technique beyond his years, impressing in cameos with passing range and work rate. At Tottenham since 2024, he is a player who’s outgrown the current limbo.
Chelsea have received a boost in their chase as he could push for a move away without European football. The Blues value his potential as a deep-lying playmaker or wide threat for their youth-focused project. With Tottenham’s form, Bergvall will seek minutes at bigger clubs, not bench-warming in no-man’s-land.
Premier League giants like Arsenal or Manchester United could well join; his exit fits the pattern of talents fleeing a stalled ship. The Red Devils certainly need more quality in midfield, while the Gunners could also be in the market for another midfielder with Christian Norgaard expected to be on the move.
Why these exits spell overhaul time
This quintet forms Tottenham’s spine. Their combined quality, except Simons, delivered last season’s UEFA Europa triumph, but 29 points from 27 games expose the rot: leaky defence, toothless attack, managerial carousel from Ange Postecoglou’s departure to Thomas Frank’s sack to Igor Tudor’s interim grit.
Relegation makes departures certain. Survival? No Europe still kills appeal; Cristian Romero’s rants, Micky van de Ven’s held contract talks show unrest. Suitors like Real Madrid (Romero, Gray, van de Ven), Liverpool, Manchester United, and Chelsea align with their ambitions for trophies and growth.
Spurs face a reckoning. Tudor preaches daily grind, but the summer will demand radical chang; sell high, reinvest wisely or watch the giant slumber on. Fans deserve better than “Spursy” shame; these five jumping ship underlines the urgency. Without bold moves, 2025/26 could become the season that broke the North Londoners.