He looked like Bale on Sunday: De Zerbi has no business selling £21m Spurs star

When it rains, it pours, and it’s certainly been lashing it down at Tottenham Hotspur this season.

But, just as the British weather shifts to scorching heat, Roberto De Zerbi‘s Spurs side emerge from that storm with their Premier League status intact – barely.

The baking sun might signal the beginning of a summer break that is probably in the best interests of everyone affiliated with Tottenham, so draining has the 2025/26 season been, but the powers that be cannot allow this to happen again, with a 17th-place finish – their second successive finish on the right side of the dreaded dotted line – evidence of unforgiveable failings at board level, seeping down to the playing field.

Tottenham had fallen by the wayside this season – but they have now picked themselves back up, and De Zerbi is getting a clearer picture of who to build around next year.

The Spurs players De Zerbi needs to build around

The likes of Randal Kolo Muani and Cristian Romero and Yves Bissouma all need to be part of a clearout this summer, with Tottenham not only bringing quality into the squad but fresh mentalities too.

Antonin Kinsky has surely secured his place in the Lilywhites line-up this season, while hopes of retaining Micky van de Ven ride on potential suitors turning their nose at his £90m price tag.

De Zerbi has also expressed his admiration for on-loan midfielder Joao Palhinha; the tough-tackling enforcer will surely be needed next season, a big-moments player with

However, he’s not the only big-game star who has really grown into their skin under the Italian gaffer’s wing. Another has emerged as a talisman in the same vein as Gareth Bale – and, no, he’s not a forward.

Spurs must not sell their new Gareth Bale

Bale is one of Tottenham’s greatest-ever players, transitioning from an uncertain full-back into a devastating winger, tearing defences to shreds across the continent.

He might not be cut from the same cloth, but on Sunday, Pedro Porro’s all-action performance against Everton just gave us a glimpse of that talismanic quality, refusing to be beaten and working tirelessly to get forward and make things happen in the final third.

He also won seven duels and four tackles, instrumental as he interchanged with Djed Spence down a hodgepodge right flank.

Liverpool have been named among the interested parties this season, with the Spaniard supposedly available for a cut-price £21m fee, but the truth is that he will be needed next season, bringing flair and determination that mirrors that of Bale.

Porro is obviously not as good an attacker as Bale was in his heyday, but in the current Spurs economy, he is undoubtedly emerging as one of De Zerbi’s most effective offensive outlets.

Even as Tottenham have fought against relegation, Porro has maintained an impressive creative flow, creating 1.6 chances per game. His seasonal heatmap outlines a willingness to get forward and influence attacking play.

This full-back has one of the most expansive skillsets around, and as he flew in with tackles and protected Spurs’ goal against Everton’s attempts to break through, he also showcased his creative skills, creating three chances and whipping six crosses into the penalty area.

Journalist Jack Pitt-Brooke noted that he was “much-improved for Spurs in the final few weeks of the season“, emerging as a talisman at the right time for De Zerbi.

He’s not a forward, but the Spain international demonstrated why he has been called up for the World Cup in North America, and why his playmaking and willingness to run into attacking areas could bear dividends for Tottenham next season.

Bale started off as a left-back, and while Porro doesn’t look like he will be starring as a free-scoring winger next season, his focal performance when Tottenham needed him most gave credence to online views that he is “Bale reincarnated”, a tongue-in-cheek remark over his ability to rifle strikes into the back of the net after powerful surges forward.