Tottenham Hotspur could face a mass exodus of players should they drop into the Championship, but Dejan Kulusevski is set to stay at the club, according to Sky Sports journalist Gianluca Di Marzio.
Tottenham chiefs are hopeful that Roberto De Zerbi can keep the club in the Premier League, but the Italian got his reign off to the worst possible start as the north Londoners suffered a 1-0 defeat against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Sunday.
Lying two points from safety, the Italian now has six games left to ensure Spurs are playing top flight football again next season, starting against former club Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday evening.
The 46-year-old will have to do it without a number of senior players though, with captain Cristian Romero joining other teammates on the sidelines for the rest of the season after suffering a knee injury on Wearside.
Mohammed Kudus also looks set to miss the remainder of the campaign, alongside Kulusevki, who hasn't played a single minute all season for Tottenham as he himself recovers from a patella injury.
Di Marzio: Kulusevki 'Will Stay' at Tottenham
According to an interview with Sky journalist Di Marzio, via Football London, Kulusevski will 'definitely' be a Tottenham player next season, whichever division they find themselves in.
He added that De Zerbi will be desperate to keep hold of the Sweden international, due to his experience and personality.
The Italian reporter said: "I definitely think Kulusevski will stay at Tottenham, even if they leave. He is a good example for other players and De Zerbi likes him. He has the right mentality, so I think Kulusevski can become one of the most important players in their project, regardless of whether they play in the Premier League or the Championship."
"De Zerbi will really try to keep him. He loves players like him who have a strong identity and personality. He will definitely try to keep him."
Kulusevski Staying Would be a Shock
While some may point to Kulusevski's injury as a reason why he would stay at Tottenham in the Championship, it would still be a shock if he played for Spurs for a whole season in England's second tier.
Remember, prior to this injury, the 25-year-old was one of the north London club's best players and he has been a top and consistent performer in the Premier League and Serie A during his career, as well as in European competition.
Even though he is likely to go 12 months without playing competitive football, it is hard to believe that no top flight club in a major European league wouldn't take a punt on bringing Kulusevski in if they could.
He has proven time and time again to be a top-class performer in a white shirt, and he is still at an age where he can recover well from a serious injury like this one.
What is clear is that if Spurs do go down and Kulusevski does indeed stay, and depending on any other Tottenham player exits, he would be the best player in the Championship.