The Tottenham players who could benefit from Nuno Espirito Santo's appointment

Santo has signed a two-year deal
Santo has signed a two-year deal / Pool/Getty Images
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It's been 72 days, and though it felt a little more like 72 years, Tottenham have finally appointed a manager.

The arrival of Nuno Espirito Santo hasn't been met with universal acclaim, but someone is now in the dugout, and that's much better than hearing those people you find extremely dull make the same 'I've rejected the Tottenham job' joke day after day for two months. No, you didn't. You were not offered the Tottenham job. Stop being silly.

It might not be the most enthralling football experience, but there are a number of Spurs players who stand to profit from his appointment. We're 3-4-3 ultras now, get used to it!


1. Matt Doherty

Matt Doherty
An accurate representation of Doherty's debut season at Tottenham / Dan Mullan/Getty Images

Let's start off with an obvious one.

Doherty's first season at Tottenham didn't go particularly well. He was one of a number of players who suffered as a result of Jose Mourinho's lack of tactics. The former Chelsea boss would have pulled out the 'his body with my brain' quip if he hadn't used it a few years ago with Luke Shaw.

Thankfully, Nuno knows how to use Doherty. Serge Aurier is on the way out and Japhet Tanganga will likely be used as the back-up option, so for now the right wing-back spot is the Irishman's.

2. Ryan Sessegnon

Ryan Sessegnon
Sessegnon spent the season on loan at Hoffenheim developing a wicked beard / Daniel Kopatsch/Getty Images

Sessegnon's case at Tottenham is an interesting one.

He scored his first goal for the club in the Champions League against Bayern Munich but made just 12 appearances before being sent on loan to the Bundesliga with Hoffenheim.

17 starts last season will have done wonders for the 21-year-old's development, and hopefully he'll be kept in Spurs' squad as an alternative to Sergio Reguilon at left wing-back.

3. Joe Rodon

Joe Rodon
Rodon impressed at Euro 2020 / Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images

If you watched any of Rodon at Euro 2020, it'll probably have become apparent that he is definitely one of Tottenham's best centre-backs.

Last season saw Eric Dier and Davinson Sanchez given more game time than the Welshman - perhaps understandably given it was his first experience of the Premier League, but less understandably going off the aforementioned pair's consistent lust for chaos in defence.

Rodon wasn't perfect in his eight league starts but a season of more regular football should result in more consistent performances from the former Swansea centre-back.

4. Giovani Lo Celso

Giovani Lo Celso
Nuno's counter attacking style could benefit Lo Celso / James Williamson - AMA/Getty Images

Tottenham haven't quite unlocked the player they thought they were purchasing in Lo Celso following his brilliant season in La Liga with Real Betis, but that's not to say he hasn't impressed.

Injuries and constant rotation meant the 25-year-old only made 18 league appearances, last year earning more praise for his ratty midfield presence than any attacking flamboyancy.

However, Nuno's Wolves were at their best on the counterattack, where Lo Celso can thrive. Hopefully the Argentine can get a season free of injuries under his belt and start to increase his goal contributions.

5. Dele Alli

Dele Alli, Harry Kane - Soccer Player
Dele got back into the Tottenham team under Ryan Mason / Visionhaus/Getty Images

Right. Enough's enough. We want the old Dele back.

In truth, it's tough to know whether or not the England international will fit into Nuno's regular starting XI. There's Lo Celso, Tanguy Ndombele and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg who all play in central positions, so giving them all playing time is going to be a big ask.

Regardless, his minutes should shoot up from the 619 he got in the league last season, and hopefully he won't be the victim of some weird smear campaign from his new boss.


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