Club must support Postecoglou this summer if they do decide to stick with him after Europa League triumph
Transfer wishes: Ange Postecoglou laid out what he wants from the summer window
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Ange Postecoglou was still in the dark about his future as Tottenham signed off a season of wild extremes with Sunday's 4-1 defeat to Brighton in a carnival atmosphere, but afterwards the head coach offered some clues as to what he wants from the club if he does remain in charge.
First up, Postecoglou could not have been clearer on the need to keep hold of vice-captain Cristian Romero, who has two years remaining on his contract, and has said he "would love" to play in La Liga, amid interest from Atletico Madrid.
The Argentine has blown hot and cold for Spurs and featured in just 26 games this term, largely due to injury, but he was pivotal to their Europa League triumph and named player of the match in the final.
Postecoglou believes the club should aim to tie down Romero long-term because there would be no replacing the 27-year-old.
"Romero is absolutely important to keep at this football club," said Postecoglou after a 22nd defeat of the league season, which felt secondary to another opportunity for supporters to celebrate Wednesday's historic victory in Bilbao.
"You just saw the way he’s been in the last [weeks] and he hasn’t been fully fit to be fair with his toe, but you’ve seen he’s a World Cup winner. He is a winner.
Ange Postecoglou has urged Tottenham to keep Cristian Romero this summer
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"You saw that in all the big games we’ve had and the lads certainly respect him very highly. He makes them walk a bit taller, so from my perspective it is a no-brainer that making sure players like him [stay], because if he goes, who do you replace him with?
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"There is not too many out there like him. It will be very important for the club to try and retain him, and retain him for the longer-term, I think."
Romero sat out the home defeat to Brighton, which confirmed a 17th-place finish for Spurs, and was not part of the squad's lap of appreciation after the match.
The question for the club might be whether they could afford to turn down a big money offer for the centre-half and risk him entering the final year of his contract if he is reluctant to sign a new deal.
For Romero, there is now the club's return to the Champions League to consider, while Postecoglou's future could be a factor in the defender's thinking. The pair are close and Romero pointedly took aim at the club, rather than the head coach, in a loaded interview after the 4-3 defeat to Chelsea back in December.
Postecoglou also used his final media briefing of the season, which was dominated by questions about his future, to call on the club to change transfer strategy by targeting experienced players in the market.
Spurs signed three teenagers in Lucas Bergvall, Archie Gray and Wilson Odobert in summer 2024, and another, Mathys Tel, joined on loan in January.
Luka Vuskovic, 18, will join the club this summer but, if Spurs are to compete on two fronts next season, Postecoglou believes they need players who have experience of playing at the highest level.
Spurs boss wants more experience in the squad next season
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"If we do some good business in the transfer market, obviously brings some experience in, I'm not talking about age, I'm talking about players who have played at this level and can help the team, then I've got no doubt we can make the impact we want," he said.
"Not just us but any club that gets into the Champions League, I think understands that. It's the most elite competition in Europe and it's a great demand.
"So I think every club that gets into the Champions League sees it as an opportunity to strengthen with experience is the right word, but players who have played at that level, who are going to be comfortable at that level, not players who are stepping up to that level. That's the difference.”
Postecoglou's calls for more experience are logical and would surely be echoed by any successor, but they add to the equation for chairman Daniel Levy, who will ultimately decide the head coach's future.
If Levy does not sack Postecoglou, then he will be under pressure to back him with new signings who can improve the squad, as well as keeping players favoured by the manager, such as Romero and perhaps Tel - who would cost Spurs around £45million if they take up their buy-option with Bayern Munich.
After beating Manchester United, Postecoglou admitted he had not enjoyed the full "faith and trust" of everyone at Spurs and said some people at the club had not agreed with his decision to go all out for the Europa League in late January.
But the manager cannot simply go his own way this summer; he will need the club onside in the market and when making tough calls over the future of various players.
Levy used his traditional end-of-season message to supports to say the club is determined to use their Europa League win as "springboard" for more success.
But in order to build on Bilbao, the club cannot simply stick with Postecoglou, they must also support his demands.
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