At a glance:
- Sebastian Bassong speaks exclusively to Read Tottenham
- Van de Ven and Gallagher could captain the club
- Cristian Romero likely to leave this summer
Tottenham could appoint a new club captain for the start of the 2026-27 campaign under Roberto De Zerbi as Cristian Romero’s future is uncertain.
Speaking exclusively to Read Tottenham, Sebastian Bassong feels the likes of Micky van de Ven and Conor Gallagher could be among the candidates to take over the reigns from the Argentine.
Romero is likely to leave Tottenham this summer amid interest from Atletico Madrid and Barcelona. He may have already played his last game for the club, having suffered an MCL injury in the 1-0 defeat against Sunderland last month.
And Bassong has explained why both Gallagher and Van de Ven fit the bill to wear the captain’s armband.
Van de Ven and Gallagher tipped to captain Tottenham
In Romero’s absence, Van de Ven has worn the armband in recent weeks. He hasn’t been at his brilliant best this season, but after De Zerbi’s arrival, there has been a marked improvement in his performances.
As for Gallagher, he endured a slow start to life in North London after joining from Atletico Madrid in January.
However, in recent weeks, he has quickly emerged as an indispensable asset for De Zerbi in an advanced No.10 role, with the likes of Rodrigo Bentancur, Joao Palhinha and Yves Bissouma operating behind him.
Speaking exclusively to Read Tottenham via freebets.com, the home of the best betting sites, Bassong feels the two aforementioned players have the right mentality to take over the reins from Romero.
“Van de Ven can be a good captain for the club as he sets the example. I know there were some issues earlier on in the season with fans, but he really sets the tone for defence.
“I also think Conor Gallagher can be a good captain, as his work ethic can really set an example for the team.
“He is super energetic, and in the centre of midfield, he can be a big influence. Gallagher has improved, I would say. He is super energetic and can run games from midfield and we have seen him have a very good game against Aston Villa; he also played well against Wolves.
“So I would say Gallagher has improved as we all expected an immediate change when he joined, but it didn’t happen under Tudor. But with De Zerbi, he has really impressed.
Van de Ven likely to be next Tottenham captain
Earlier today, we reported that Van de Ven is now open to staying at Tottenham as he is loving life under De Zerbi.
If he does stay beyond the summer, he will surely be up there to replace Romero as captain, assuming the Argentine does leave.
Read More: Exclusive: Sebastian Bassong on Romero and Van de Ven’s Tottenham futures amid Senesi agreement
We can see where Bassong is coming from when he suggested Gallagher. However, someone like Pedro Porro – who absolutely adores the club – could be above him in the pecking order as he is also a senior player in his own right.
All said and done, Tottenham have a few candidates at the moment and a clearer picture will emerge in the summer, when the futures of Romero and Van de Ven are sorted once and for all.
