Tottenham Hotspur fans had tears in their eyes when Heung-min Son departed at the end of the 2024/25 campaign. The South Korean forward certainly did, having left London after a decade of service with silverware finally under the belt.
It was the right decision, selling the veteran to Los Angeles FC for around £20m, but ENIC Group have failed in their efforts to replace the club legend, especially when considering Brennan Johnson was sold to Crystal Palace in January and not replaced.
Tottenham have been in the pits this season, but there is yet hope for the Lilywhites, who have a bright future, should they avoid relegation into the Championship.
After all, young winger Mikey Moore could grow into a first-class forward in the future, having gone from strength to strength out on loan with Rangers this term.
Why Mikey Moore is Spurs' future
Moore might only be 18, but he has shone for Rangers in Scotland this season after a difficult start. The flashy winger has signed off for the campaign now, having posted seven goals and four assists across 47 matches.
A tireless and tricky wide forward, Moore isn't the tallest, but his bouncing gait and core strength have seen him become an important player for a struggling Rangers side this season, and he will be welcomed back to N17 with open arms this summer.
He's already made his mark for Tottenham, featuring under Ange Postecoglou in the Europa League last season en route to the title. The teenager scored against Elfsborg and dazzled with forward-moving initiative and a fearlessness when on the ball.
However, Moore isn't the only exciting talent pushing for superstardom at Tottenham. De Zerbi actually has a young forward who many would consider to be even more talented than the prolific England U19 international.
He hasn't always fired on all cylinders, but this Postecoglou signing has the potential to grow into the club's next version of Son.
Why De Zerbi has found Spurs' new Son
Mathys Tel initially joined Tottenham on loan from Bayern Munich in January 2025, with the move becoming permanent the following summer for approximately £30m.
The French forward is versatile and sharp in front of goal, but it's probably fair to say that he has not lived up to the billing so far, considered a generational talent when looking to break through in Germany.
Still, the 21-year-old has scored seven goals and provided four assists for the London outfit, and at the most turbulent point of their modern history.
His capacity to play across the frontline is a rare thing, with that dynamism placing him in good stead to emerge as the club's new Son, especially when considering that presenter Ben Bowman has already hailed him for his "Defoe-esque" finishing.
Tel has long been touted as a potential successor to Son's vacant seat out on the left, and while he hasn't always hit the right notes in north London, there's no question that he is talented enough to develop into one of the Premier League's leading forwards.
Son, let's not forget, might be widely regarded as one of the deadliest finishers in Premier League history, but he didn't start off at that level. When the 33-year-old joined from Bayer Leverkusen for £22m in 2015, it took him a bit of time to adapt to the pace of the English game, starting 13 times in the league that first season, scoring four goals.
With four strikes from 11 starts himself this term, Tel certainly has more in the locker, and maybe he will take something from Son's book there, all the while emulating his former teammate in shifting between the left and a central berth as De Zerbi's frontman.