Guehi signs, Romero and Son exit – Tottenham predicted XI for 1st 25/26 match
Tottenham stars Cristian Romero and Son Heung-min could be major departures this summer, as a struggling Spurs side overhauls for the new campaign under a likely new boss.
Tottenham began the season full of optimism, having finished fifth last year, narrowly missing out on Champions League football to Aston Villa, what has followed this year has been a total regression, with the on-pitch football miserable to watch, whilst off-the-pitch rumours of Ange Postecoglou’s imminent departure continuously haunt the ex-Celtic boss.
With Spurs set to miss out on Champions League football, barring a Europa League triumph, chairman Daniel Levy may turn to Fulham boss Marco Silva, or Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola in an attempt to arrest their slide down the Premier League table.
Accompanying the uncertainty of who will be sat in the dugout next season, is the troubling issue of Romero and Son’s futures at the club.
The South Korean icon has been one of Spurs’ most loyal servants down the years, but the former Bayer Leverkusen winger has lost a step, and Tottenham are yet to show the same loyalty to their talisman, with his contract expiring next summer.
Meanwhile, Romero has interest from Real Madrid, and when Los Blancos come calling, few can resist the urges of the 15-time Champions League winners.
With the reset button needing a thumping after a season most Spurs fans will want to forget, changes this summer are a near-certainty.
Here’s how Football Insider predicts Tottenham will line up for their first match of the 2025/26 Premier League season.
Tyler Dibling to replace Heung-Min Son while Marc Guehi makes the switch from Crystal Palace
Guglielmo Vicario
They say absence makes the heart grow fonder, and Vicario’s time spent on the side-lines had Spurs fans yearning for their Italian shot-stopper. During his 12-game mid-season absence in the Premier League, Tottenham won twice, and kept two clean-sheets. One against an at-the-time out-of-form Brentford side, and the other against Southampton. The Italian international is in no danger of losing his spot to Antonin Kinsky.
Pedro Porro
It’s hard to look past Djed Spence in his current form, but look past him we will, as a fully-fit Porro is one of the most complete right-backs in the Premier League. The only defenders to have registered more assists than the Spaniard this season are Real Madrid bound Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Fulham’s Antonee Robinson. Bags of energy, feisty defending and has the occasional belter in his locker, the former Man City right-back is one of the best in the business.
Marc Guehi
Oozing with class and composure, Guehi was a target for Tottenham in January. It’s fair to say Romero and the Crystal Palace captain are two contrasting defenders, but if the Argentinean is headed for sunny Spain, Guehi is the perfect replacement in North London, thanks to his tough-tackling, and brilliant distribution. Spurs will have to move quickly, the England international has interest from Newcastle and Liverpool. The former Chelsea man has spent his whole career in London, barring a loan stint in Wales as a youngster, giving Spurs the upper-hand in the race for the 24-year-old.
Micky van de Ven
Just 23-years-old, there will be question marks over Van de Ven’s injury record going into next season. The Dutch international has only managed 10 Premier League games this term. That being said, the former Wolfsburg man is truly an elite defender, with pace to burn, and smart decision making to go with it. Liverpool are interested in Van de Ven but Daniel Levy surely wont sell both their starting centre-backs, even if they get offered a big sack of cash…right?
Destiny Udogie
Another casualty of this season’s injury epidemic that has swept through Tottenham. It feels like some people have forgotten just how good the Italian was last year, nailing down that left-back position as his own, popping up in the right place during attacks, and shutting down some of the best right-wingers in the league. Spence is yet again left out, through no fault of his own, Udogie is just that good.
Archie Gray returns to natural central-midfield role
Archie Gray
Please, please, can we just see Archie Gray get a run of games in central-midfield. Signed from Leeds for £30million [BBC Sport], the youngster, turned season pro, has featured at left-back, right-back and centre-back, and has been brilliant. But the older brother of prodigy Harry Gray is destined to be an England regular, if whoever is in charge in North London plays the 19-year-old in midfield next year.
Lucas Bergvall
Watching Bergvall play, you can see why Tottenham are so hot on the young Swedish midfielder, until he does something absolutely inexplicable. His own-goal against AZ Alkmaar in the first-leg of their Europa League match-up was unfortunate, his gaffe in the second-leg was downright baffling. If he can just sharpen up a little, avoid the silly mistakes, add a little bit more in terms of end product, Spurs will have one of the best Premier League midfielders on their books. Easier said than done, next season will be a true test for him.
Tottenham snap up Adam Wharton to build young and talented midfield
Adam Wharton
Crystal Palace’s midfielder went to the Euros last summer, but was forced to assume to role of bench-warmer as his teammates made it to the final. There is no doubting the 21-year-old’s class, and his ability to do the scrappy defensive work, whilst commanding the midfield, has Man City interested in Wharton. Pete O’Rourke told Football Insider exclusively Tottenham are interested in Wharton, and Spurs could steal a march on the Sky Blues by enticing him to join Guehi in North London. Scrap that. Tottenham should do everything in their power to sign the former Blackburn man, he would be the perfect addition in Spurs’ midfield.
Dejan Kulusevski
Kulusevski has quietly put in his best season in goals scored, and assisted this year, getting double-digits in both in all competitions. Consistently brilliant on the right, it’s a no-brainer that Spurs will have the former Juventus man starting on the first day of next season. His weaving runs give defenders nightmares, and with a bit of time, the Sweden international will form a devastating partnership with Dominic Solanke.
Dominic Solanke
It’s fair to say this season has been a tough one for the 27-year-old. Injuries have slowed his start to life in North London, and his output has suffered. That said, Solanke has made it clear with his goal-scoring prior to the Euros he wants to be in the England set-up. Ignored by Gareth Southgate despite 19 Premier League goals, the former Bournemouth man is primed and ready to give Thomas Tuchel a selection headache ahead of next year’s World Cup.
Tyler Dibling
Southampton are sinking without a trace, and their best players will look to jump ship in the summer transfer window. However, Dibling will be a tough target for Spurs to prize away from the South Coast. A stint with Chelsea as a youth-teamer was the 19-year-old’s most difficult period in football, and he loves the club he’s spent all but a year at since he was a kid. If the Saints are looking to cash-in, Spurs need to push and shove their way to the front of the queue. Mick Brown told Football Insider exclusively Tottenham are plotting to move for Dibling at the end of the season. There has been no sign of Son signing a new contract with Spurs, putting added pressure on getting in a replacement in the summer. But if there was ever a youngster ready to take the reigns, its the talented maestro plying his trade at St Mary’s currently.
A Tottenham side without Son Heung-min? Blasphemous, surely? Perhaps. But with the South Korean showing signs of slowing down, Spurs need to pick up the pace in finding his replacement. With these additions, and a little clarity on who’s actually going to take charge next season, the North London club will be all set for another charge towards the peak of the Premier League.