Tottenham boss Antonio Conte faces critical decisions on four players after his side fell to a shock defeat at Middlesbrough on Tuesday evening. Josh Coburn’s extra-time winner sent Spurs packing, removing any feint hopes of silverware this season. With the Italian outspoken about his concerns, Express Sport analyses four players who could be on the brink:
Matt Doherty
The Irishman began with Wolves in the Premier League, stuck with them as they tumbled down to League One, and rode the wave as they came all the way back up again.
A perfect fit in their system, Doherty shone under Nuno Espirito Santo, prompting Spurs to pull the trigger in 2020.
The 30-year-old bagged his first Tottenham goal against Leeds at the weekend, and while he can fill in on either flank, his lacklustre performances have left fans underwhelmed on the whole.
Doherty was hauled off after starting Tuesday’s FA Cup tie, and if Conte is serious about facilitating an exit as was rumoured in January, the club may need to lower their demands.
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Emerson Royal
Having signed as recently as summer deadline day, putting Royal in the shop window would be an embarrassing admission of defeat for Spurs.
They shelled out £26million to bring him in from Barcelona, and just one season later, they are likely to take a significant financial hit if they opt to cash in.
Royal’s lack of sharpness has fallen short of what Conte demands from wing-backs, and his spot in the side may have been put under greater pressure if the squad boasted healthier competition.
With the Italian’s three-back formation placing plenty of emphasis on wing-backs to fly forward and back, the 23-year-old could encounter the same problem as Sessegnon and Doherty, in that only the best is good enough.
Ben Davies
A left-back by trade, Davies has been deployed on the left side of a back three since Conte’s appointment in November.
While his transition has not been a total disaster, not many see the 5ft 11in Welshman as Spurs’ long-term defensive solution.
Having returned from injury, Cristian Romero seems to have set the standard at the back for the Lilywhites, and Conte is likely to seek out talent that can forge worthy partnerships with the Argentine.
It remains to be seen whether new centre-back recruits are sounded out in the summer, and whether Davies’ time at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium will end as a result.
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