Tottenham Hotspur are facing a leadership dilemma this summer as manager Roberto De Zerbi prepares to name a new captain following the expected departures of Cristian Romero and vice-captain Guglielmo Vicario before the new season begins.
Romero is understood to be closing in on a switch to Atletico Madrid, while Vicario is also tipped to leave north London, leaving De Zerbi with a significant gap in his squad's leadership structure. Last season was widely regarded as one lacking direction on the pitch, with Romero often falling short of the standards expected of a captain, picking up needless red cards and courting controversy through ill-judged social media posts.
Addressing that shortfall has become a priority for De Zerbi during the transfer window. The Italian coach has sanctioned the signings of Andy Robertson, Jan Paul van Hecke and Sandro Tonali, all experienced campaigners who are expected to bring greater maturity and composure to the dressing room, even if none of them is viewed as an obvious candidate to inherit the armband outright.
Among those already at the club, three names stand out as potential successors: Micky van de Ven, Pedro Porro and James Maddison.
Van de Ven, despite being just 25, was elevated into Thomas Frank's leadership group back in October and is regarded as one of the more vocal figures in the squad. However, his standing took a hit during a pivotal relegation battle against Crystal Palace in March, when he was sent off in a moment that exposed his tendency to turn inward under pressure rather than lead by example. That incident may give De Zerbi pause when weighing whether the Dutch defender possesses the maturity required for the role.
Porro, meanwhile, has emerged as a genuine contender after a string of impressive performances down the stretch last season. The Spaniard was instrumental in Spurs' successful fight to avoid relegation, epitomised by his collapse to the turf in sheer exhaustion and relief as the final whistle blew against Everton on the last day of the campaign. His importance to the club was further underlined in June when he signed a new five-year contract despite interest from other suitors. Porro has already sampled captaincy duties, having worn the armband on one occasion last term, and looks well placed to take on greater responsibility with Romero and Vicario potentially exiting.
Maddison represents a third option, having provided a lift to the squad simply through his return from injury in the closing weeks of last season. Though his on-field influence was limited by fitness issues, his mere presence coincided with Spurs picking up 11 points from their final six matches. Popular among teammates and respected as a character within the squad, Maddison ticks many of the boxes associated with captaincy. However, his history of injury setbacks, including a disrupted pre-season this summer, could count against him if De Zerbi wants assurance that his captain will be a consistent fixture in the side.
De Zerbi's past managerial choices offer some insight into his thinking. At both Brighton and Marseille, he opted to hand the armband to central defenders, with Lewis Dunk and Leonardo Balerdi respectively taking on the role. Yet his time at Sassuolo showed he is not averse to giving leadership duties to more attack-minded players, having previously trusted Domenico Berardi and Francesco Caputo with the captaincy.
With pre-season underway, De Zerbi is expected to make his decision in the coming weeks as Tottenham look to establish a clearer sense of leadership heading into the new campaign.
Based on reporting from Standard Sport.