Forget Kolo Muani: De Zerbi Could Axe Underrated Tottenham Star

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We still do not know in which division Tottenham will be playing their football next season.

Spurs have had big chances to pick up vital points in recent weeks to all-but guarantee their survival in the Premier League.

Mathys Tel gave away a needless penalty against Leeds United at home to draw 1-1, having led 1-0 through the same player's wonder goal. Then, on Tuesday night, Spurs gifted Chelsea a second goal when 1-0 down at Stamford Bridge, and despite a Richarlison goal, it was too big a mountain to climb, losing 2-1.

Spurs could be safe from Premier League relegation already

The extra two points from the Leeds clash or a point against Chelsea would see them safe from the threat of relegation. Instead, they head into the final day of the 2025/26 campaign needing a result against Everton to stave off a first demotion since 1977.

The 2025/26 campaign has been an unmitigated disaster, with three different managers sitting in the dugout and Spurs set to finish in the bottom four of the table for the second season running.

New head coach Roberto De Zerbi has some big decisions to make in the summer, but first he needs to guide his team to a point or more in the final match of the season at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday.

A number of players will be departing N17 no matter what happens on the final day. Ben Davies and Yves Bissouma are both out of contract, while loanees Joao Palhinha and Randal Kolo Muani will head back to parent clubs Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain respectively. It remains to be seen if De Zerbi will make a move to sign either permanently, although Palhinha is the more likely to turn his loan move permanent, with fan feeling towards Kolo Muani not good at all, particularly after his horrendous showing against Chelsea.

GIVEMESPORT understands there is a general feeling that Guglielmo Vicario and Cristian Romero will be allowed to leave, should the right offers come in for them, but there is sure to be more upheaval in the playing squad too.

De Zerbi has been forced to use certain players more than he might have liked due to the club's awful injury record this season and one of those players who he has had to trust could be axed moving forward.

Danso has accepted his back-up role at Tottenham this season

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Kevin Danso has been a steady pair of hands to call upon in the absence of Romero and Micky van de Ven through injuries, not just this season but last, always putting in a solid display when called upon, rarely letting the team down - that mistake that cost Spurs three points against Brighton & Hove Albion apart.

However, while it is unlikely he will be moved on in the summer transfer window, his role in the side may once again diminish.

Danso accepted his role as back-up to Romero and van de Ven when he said: "That's part of being at a top club that's at the top of world football, like Spurs is. You have players in every position that are top, top quality.

"Micky and Cuti [Romero] are exactly that. I understand that and I'm very realistic. My role is to just play as best as possible, try and get in the team. If not, also understand that's part of football. I believe in myself. You've got competition, you've just got to deal with it the best you can."

With Romero likely to leave, Danso might expect to become first choice, although if Spurs stay in the top flight they have an agreement in place to sign Marcos Senesi from Bournemouth that might push him back down the pecking order.

And there is an argument that he should probably remain as a back-up defender anyway.

The game against Chelsea highlighted how he may not be suited to De Zerbi's football. So far it has been all about getting results to stay in the division, but come next season, if Spurs are a Premier League club, De Zerbi will want to fully put his stamp on the squad and get them playing his aggressive brand of attacking football from back to front.

Kevin Danso's stats show how good a defender he is

Danso had more touches (94) than any other player on the pitch on Tuesday night, but never really looked comfortable on the ball against the Blues, having to recover from poor touches a number of times. He was successful with 93% of his passes - mostly short to van de Ven or midfielders Palhinha and Bentancur - but only one of his long balls was successful.

He lost two of his six duels and interestingly only made one tackle in the 90 minutes.

The stats from Tuesday do not actually look too damning, but that is mainly from a defensive point of view and his presence and how he is perceived on the pitch makes you question whether or not he fits into De Zerbi's style of football.

The Italian is likely to adopt a high-risk, high-reward philosophy, asking his defenders to start attacks, but also be responsible for stopping the opposition from making any in-roads themselves.

Danso's numbers suggest he can do the latter comfortably, but whether the man whom former boss Thomas Frank described as "underrated" can adapt to deliver on the former, that is a non-negotiable of De Zerbi, remains to be seen.

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