Tottenham's ideal 2026/27 squad - Rashford chance and £21m man joins De Zerbi rebuild
Tottenham Hotspur's squad could be hugely different next season if the club avoid Premier League relegation
Tottenham Hotspur face a string of major decisions in the summer transfer window, provided the club manage to secure Premier League survival. New boss Roberto De Zerbi may look to shake up his squad significantly to ensure Spurs don't find themselves embroiled in another relegation battle.
It has been a thoroughly miserable season for Tottenham, who claimed their first league victory since December only last weekend. The side sit two points from safety with four matches remaining to preserve their top-flight status.
Should Spurs accomplish their goal, De Zerbi will be eager to reshape his options. Here, Mirror Football takes a look at how a dream Spurs squad could line up for the 2026/27 Premier League campaign.
Goalkeepers
Guglielmo Vicario has been first choice since his arrival in 2023, but Spurs could be poised to ring the changes in goal. The 29-year-old is reportedly on Inter Milan's radar and De Zerbi may put his trust in another pair of hands.
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Antonin Kinsky has looked composed in his recent outings, recovering well from his major setback against Atletico Madrid earlier this term. The 23-year-old would be handed the opportunity to step up as number one should Vicario choose to depart.
The Daily Mail has linked Spurs with an interest in Freiburg and Germany U21 international Noah Atubolu, who could offer genuine competition for Kinsky. Meanwhile, Brandon Austin holds on to his place as third-choice goalkeeper.
Defenders
Securing Premier League survival would enable Spurs to retain key defensive figures such as Cristian Romero, Pedro Porro and Destiny Udogie. However, the club could look to cash in on Micky van de Ven, linked with both Liverpool and Manchester United, having fallen short of their seasonal targets and missed out on European football.
Offloading Van de Ven would create a gap in De Zerbi's team for Bournemouth defender Marcos Senesi, who is expected to become a free agent. The 28-year-old has emerged as a top target and securing top-flight status would be crucial in getting that deal over the line. Similarly, Andy Robertson could link up with De Zerbi's squad following his departure from Liverpool.
Young loanee Luka Vuskovic will return from Hamburg to provide defensive cover alongside Kevin Danso, while Radu Dragusin finds a move elsewhere. At full-back, Djed Spence offers an alternative option to Porro, while promising young left-back Souza will head out on loan following Robertson's arrival. Spurs maintaining their Premier League status would also see Ben Davies depart at the end of his contract this summer.
Midfielders
Avoiding relegation would pave the way for Joao Palhinha's loan move from Bayern Munich to be made permanent for around £21.7million. De Zerbi is already well-equipped in the middle of the park but is unlikely to sanction moves for the likes of Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall as part of his rebuilding project.
Pape Matar Sarr is reported to be in discussions over a switch to Fenerbahce and would be permitted to depart, while Yves Bissouma is approaching the final months of his contract. The Spurs manager will ideally be strengthened by the return of duo James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski following lengthy spells on the sidelines.
The pair will offer competition for Xavi Simons, who sustained his own injury setback at the weekend. Meanwhile, Rodrigo Bentancur and Conor Gallagher provide further options in the centre of the park.
Forwards
Spurs could be poised to make multiple alterations in attack following a frustrating season. Randal Kolo Muani is unlikely to stay beyond his loan spell while Richarlison and Mathys Tel have struggled to propel Spurs towards safety.
The club have been linked with a surprise swoop for Marcus Rashford should he be unable to secure a permanent transfer to Barcelona. The England international would establish himself on the left wing, with Wilson Odobert offering another alternative.
Spurs could retain their Premier League status at West Ham's expense, which would create an opportunity for De Zerbi to capture Hammers captain Jarrod Bowen in another statement signing. A fully fit Mohammad Kudus would have competition on the right wing.
Dominic Solanke would remain as the focal point in attack. However, Al-Hilal striker Marcos Leonardo may emerge as a fresh backup option after being linked with a switch to Spurs. The 22-year-old Brazilian previously played for Santos and Benfica before joining the Saudi Pro League side.
Spurs' 25-man squad: Kinsky, Atubolu, Austin; Porro, Spence, Romero, Sensei, Vuskovic, Danso, Robertson, Udogie; Palhinha, Bergvall, Gray, Gallagher, Bentancur, Simons, Maddison, Kulusevski; Bowen, Kudus, Rashford, Odobert; Leonardo, Solanke.