Tottenham have been truly awful in the Premier League again this season, and if their worst fears come true, it could leave them in real trouble.
So far this season, Thomas Frank has failed to impress, securing just 29 points in 25 matches. The Danes’ future is almost certainly up in the air.
However, the Lewis family has yet to pull the trigger on relieving the manager of his duties, as the odds of Frank’s potential successors continue to be slashed.
The results mean that Tottenham are in a relegation battle; that much is clear, as they are level with Leeds United and just six points above the drop zone.
And if that does happen, it could spell a big worry for the Lilywhites.
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Do Tottenham players have a relegation clause in their contracts?
Dropping down to the Championship would mean a major financial hit for the Londoners. The TV money alone in England’s second tier is far below what teams receive in the Premier League.
Spurs have been spending in the market like a top side in the league, even if the results are not showing it. That means large transfer fees, which, of course, bring big wages.
Often, teams that are expecting that the chance of going down is a possibility include a relegation clause that sees wages drop in order to combat the harsh financial realities that going down brings.
However, according to journalist Matt Law, these clauses are not thought to be included in the players’ contracts at N17.
As looks likely, if Spurs fail to qualify for Europe, that would see a drop in wages, as bonuses associated with that achievement would not be awarded.
However, it would not be enough to help quell the losses the club would face.
While many players would seek an exit away from Spurs in the event of relegation, it would not be a plausible or realistic expectation that the club could get rid of all of their high earners.
The overhaul would be massive and an extremely difficult task. It leaves the Lewis family in real trouble if the Lilywhites go down.
Who is most likely to leave Tottenham if relegated?
Cristian Romero has already been linked with a move away from North London, and with the Argentine being one of the club’s top earners, it would make sense for him to exit.
Additionally, James Maddison and Xavi Simons are both reported to have high wages, and with their qualities, they would never spend a season in the Championship.
Micky van de Ven is another who would attract interest, but in truth, most of Tottenham’s squad would likely be raided by Premier League and European rivals.
Not only would the financial hit be huge, but Spurs would also be faced with a huge rebuild, and that would further damage the books.
The Lilywhites could very well be doomed if they go down, but for now, nobody expects that.