Roberto De Zerbi wants Joao Palhinha to stay at Tottenham Hotspur beyond the 2025/26 campaign.
It's understandable, of course, with Palhinha among the Italian coach's best performers over the past several weeks, a commanding midfield enforcer who enables the creativity and expansiveness of those around him.
Palhinha is 30 years old, but he knows the Premier League like the back of his hand, and the youthful nature of Tottenham's relegation-threatened squad suggests that his experience could be imperative in steadying the ship next year, should Spurs avoid relegation.
It's not just experience that Tottenham need, but creativity too. Invention on the ball has been decidedly lacking throughout the season, and while De Zerbi has guided the Lilywhites back into the win column, Xavi Simons' ACL injury has complicated the battle against relegation.
What happens next re Xavi Simons
Simons has suffered throughout the season, but his goal against Brighton last month was evidence that this is a talented playmaker who may yet grow into a superstar in the Premier League.
However, his presence will be keenly felt over these next few weeks, even with balance restored. No Spurs player has created more big chances or assisted more goals this year than the Dutchman, who can play out wide or as a number ten.
Conor Gallagher was written off as a flop only weeks ago, but he is resurgent under new management, his all-action style shining now that he is buttressed by a robust deep-lying pair.
He's doing a job in his teammates absence, but Tottenham need a difference-maker, and De Zerbi may need to call upon the academy.
Spurs already have a Simons replacement
Tottenham are stabilising, but they still suffer from a distinct lack of sparkle and snap in attacking areas. De Zerbi's new-look midfield is industrious, but an ace card ahead of them could prove the difference in fighting away the pull relegation.
Expected Goals (xG) is a metric designed to measure the probability of a shot resulting in a goal.
Simons will not play a part for some time, but given the sheer volume of absentees for the London club, maybe it's finally time to give Tynan Thompson a shot at the Premier League.
Hailed as a part of Tottenham's "special generation" of youth talent by scout Jack Kulig, Thompson has been touted for a role in Spurs' injury-hit squad over the past several months, though he is yet to make his bow for the first team.
Nonetheless, this is a prolific and fleet-footed winger who has the potential to rival the likes of Max Dowman and Rio Ngumoha; he has evidenced this by scoring seven goals and providing two assists across just seven matches in the UEFA Youth League this season.
The 16-year-old Dowman is the talk of the town this season, so impressive for title-challenging Arsenal, but Thompson just needs an opportunity to showcase his pace and directness to put his own name on the map.
Palhinha and Bentancur and Gallagher have synergised Tottenham, sparking new life into their build-up play, but Thompson could bring pace and directness out wide, especially now that Dominic Solanke is back in the medical room, drawing Richarlison to the front of the ship.
Thompson, who is only 18, was mooted by correspondent Alasdair Gold as a potential option for the Londoners for their match against Aston Villa, that emphatic win, and while he did not make the bench, PA Media's George Sessions has continued the narrative and suggested that Thompson is a shrewd option to replace Simons.
Youthful and inexperienced, yes. However, Thompson is the real deal, and while he would be something of a wildcard, maybe a touch of unpredictability and verve could help propel Tottenham higher up the table, toward safety.