Tottenham are set for a squad clear out this transfer window with five players already departing at the end of their contracts, opening up some numbers for first-team players to switch to.
Destiny Udogie, Micky Van De Ven and Guglielmo Vicario were three of the most popular players to walk through the doors of Hotspur Way for the first time last season, however, almost all the players were forced to choose from a small body of high shirt numbers.
There are however rumours of Tottenham selling many players this summer. Many first-team players have been returning to pre-season training at Hotspur Way this week, and some of them may have the chance to pick up recently vacated numbers.
Some players who have their eyes on potentially departing players, such as Hojbjerg’s number 5, may imitate the actions of James Maddison last pre-season who donned a placeholder number, 71, before picking up Harry Kane’s number 10 shirt as the striker left for Bayern Munich.
A glaringly obvious free number is Hugo Lloris’ number one shirt. After being Tottenham’s goalkeeper for almost every single game last campaign, Vicario would be the expectant taker of the number.
However, when speaking to Football.London, the Italian explained ‘thirteen is my favourite number’ and he was delighted when it was free upon his arrival with the ‘keeper suggesting he’ll keep the number as it’s the one he took when he first signed.
Micky Van De Ven may also be another recent signing seeking to drop his number in order to reflect his starting eleven status. However, like Vicario was with 13, Van De Ven was drawn towards the number 37 due to it being the favourite number of a childhood friend who passed away.
It would be a big move for a defender especially, but any player or signing to choose to take the number 26 which hasn’t been officially retired, although no player has worn it since the great Ledley King.
Destiny Udogie is another player who could decide to drop his number to a more expected choice for a left-back with the 21-year-old currently wearing number 38, but if Sergio Reguilon does depart, as expected, Udogie will be able to pull on the number three shirt. (AS)
One option that is off the market after a player has left is number 14, formerly of Ivan Perisic, which has been picked already by 18-year-old signing, Archie Gray.
The youngster has decided to undertake the responsibility of wearing the shirt that both David Ginola and Luka Modric wore whilst at Spurs. No pressure then.
Lucas Bergvall has officially been a Tottenham player for a matter of days now but also hasn’t had his squad number announced, suggesting he, like Maddison did, may have his eye on a number of a potentially departing player.
The current state of play means that only numbers one and two are available in the first eleven, following that are numbers 19, 25 and 28 which were all worn by players who recently left after the expiry of their deal.
Spurs Web Opinion
It feels as though with the EUROs, last season has hardly ended, and the new one is starting up already.
Shirt numbers, new signings and rumours are all part and parcel of the pre-season excitement as we get to see how Ange Postecoglou will mould his squad for his second season at Tottenham.
Personally, I like to see player keep their original squad numbers or ones that hold a meaning for them such as Phil Foden wearing number 47 and Alexander-Arnold wearing number 66.
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