Tottenham's relegation to the Championship is becoming a reality. A mass exodus of star players is also coming into view.
Tottenham barely beat bottom-of-the-table Wolverhampton 1-0 on the 25th in the 34th round of the Premier League. In the 40th minute of the first half, Dominic Solanke was injured and Richarlison was brought on. In the 37th minute of the second half, Palinha scored the winning goal after receiving a pass from Richarlison to save the team.
But there is still a long way to go. Tottenham are 8 wins, 10 draws and 16 losses, with 34 points, in 18th place in the relegation zone. They are still two points behind 17th-place West Ham (36 points). Tottenham have four matches remaining: Aston Villa (May 4), Leeds (May 12), Chelsea (May 17) and Everton (May 25).
If Tottenham are relegated, star players are expected to leave the team in succession. The first to move will be those on high wages. Richarlison, who was signed as a key attacker, has already been the subject of steady transfer rumors. Considering his underwhelming performance and high weekly wage structure, the club will find a sale inevitable. Randal Kolo Muani, who is on loan, is also likely to leave the team without a permanent transfer.
The problem does not end there. If relegation becomes reality, keeping "key assets" will be nearly impossible. Goalkeeper Guilherme Vickario is already a player being watched by several top-tier clubs. If Premier League clubs fighting to stay up seek to strengthen their goalkeeping, his name could be the first to come up.
There is a high possibility of a chain movement both in attack and defense. Even players regarded as the club's future assets are not exempt. The young talents of relegated teams are often the focus of big clubs because they are available at a "low price."
In that case Tottenham would be completely reorganized into a different team. The club would have to clear its high-cost structure and rebuild a squad suitable for the English Championship (EFL). In this process, young players such as Luka Vušković, who return after finishing a loan, could become central figures.
Yang Min-hyeok, who was loaned out to the Championship, is not even rumored to be considered a key player at Tottenham even if they are relegated to the Championship.
Ultimately, whether they are relegated will determine the team's future. Manager Roberto De Zerbi must prevent Tottenham's relegation at all costs. If he fails in that mission, Tottenham will face changes beyond a simple drop to the second tier, to the level of a "team disbandment."
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