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The relegation fight in the Premier League took a major twist just before the March international break as the walls start closing in on one of the biggest clubs in England: Tottenham Hotspur.

Direct relegation rivals Nottingham Forest traveled to north London and destroyed Tottenham 3–0 on Sunday, overtaking them in the standings and putting the reigning Europa League champions on the brink of disaster.

Tottenham haven’t won in the league since December and have lost six of their last seven. There’s no other way around it, the ‘Big Six’ club’s form screams relegation.

Things could’ve been much worse for Spurs, though, but West Ham United also endured a painful defeat at the hands of Aston Villa and Nuno Espírito Santo’s side still occupy the third relegation place as things stand, one point behind Tottenham.

Leeds United would’ve liked to collect all three points, but a draw at home against Brentford saw them go four points clear of the relegation zone, getting a little breathing room from both Spurs and West Ham.

The stage is set for a dramatic conclusion of the relegation battle on the other side of the international break, one that could easily go until the final day. Here are how the next five Premier League games look for those fighting to survive.

Tottenham, Leeds, Nottingham Forest, West Ham’s Next Five Premier League Matches

Tottenham will make the trip north to face Sunderland after the international break, a mighty task for Spurs given the Black Cats are dreaming of European competitions after defeating bitter rivals Newcastle United. Brighton & Hove Albion will visit north London the following weekend before Spurs finish the month with a must-win trip to bottom of the league Wolverhampton Wanderers.

May begins with a daunting trip to Aston Villa, before Spurs welcome Leeds United in a clash that could have massive ramifications in the fight for survival.

A rivalry match against Manchester United is up next for Leeds. Then, a trip to face Bournemouth in late April is sandwiched by home games against Championship-bound Wolves and Burnley, two favorable matches the Peacocks could capitalize on to exit the relegation fight by the time their aforementioned visit to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium comes around.

Nottingham Forest will look to build on their thumping win against Spurs when Aston Villa and Burnley visit the City Ground after the break. Yet Forest also have business to attend to in Europe, with their Europa League quarterfinal tie against Porto also taking place between those two league matches.

Away days against Sunderland and Chelsea as the calendar turns to May won’t be easy for Vítor Pereira’s side, regardless of how inconsistent the pair of opponents have been in 2026. Then comes a home bout against the slumping Newcastle during the second weekend of May.

West Ham will like their chances at home against Wolves after the break and a victory there could boost morale for the Hammers ahead of winnable matches away at Crystal Palace and home against an Everton side led by former boss David Moyes.

It’s critical that West Ham secure a couple of positive results in their next three games, since May begins with a visit to European hopefuls Brentford and a home bout against Premier League title-chasing Arsenal.

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Draws all around mean it’s as you were in the fight for Premier League survival, although two teams will be particularly content with their weekend’s work.

Leeds United and Nottingham Forest may view their respective stalemates with Crystal Palace and Fulham as opportunities missed, even if the former suffered through the entire second half at Selhurst Park with 10 men.

On the contrary, West Ham United once again fought admirably to secure a result against the title-chasing Manchester City, while Tottenham Hotspur reminded their supporters what the concept of hope feels like. Richarlison, Everton’s savior four years ago, isn’t going to let the Lilywhites succumb to a humiliating relegation, their first in almost 50 years.

It’s going to be a battle until the very last, with four teams scrapping to avoid one fatal position.

Here are how the next five Premier League games look for those fighting to survive.

Tottenham, Leeds, Nottingham Forest, West Ham’s Next Five Premier League Matches

Tottenham’s point at Liverpool means they have momentum on their side for what has to be regarded as their most significant fixture since the Europa League final. Nottingham Forest’s visit to north London next Sunday is a bona fide relegation six-pointer.

The second leg of Spurs’ Champions League round of 16 tie with Atlético Madrid arrives before Forest’s visit, but their main goal on Wednesday night, given that they’re 5–2 down, must be ensuring that everyone escapes the contest unscathed. They were without as many as 13 players at Anfield.

Leeds are at home to surprise European hopefuls Brentford next Saturday night, while West Ham visit the slumping Aston Villa.

The international break offers respite for the final push, with Spurs starting April away at Sunderland. A once-daunting trip now doesn’t look quite so intimidating, given the Black Cats’ poor run of form, especially at home. Brighton & Hove Albion visit N17 the following week before Tudor’s men take on resurgent bottom dwellers Wolverhampton Wanderers.

May begins with a trip to Villa Park.

A five-game winless run in the top flight means Leeds, so improved since Christmas, haven’t escaped the dogfight. However, upcoming home games against Wolves and Burnley present Daniel Farke’s side with a great opportunity to secure six points and veer towards safety. They also travel to Manchester United and mid-table Bournemouth in April.

Forest have back-to-back home games after the break, with Aston Villa and Burnley traveling to the City Ground. They’re then up in Sunderland to conclude April before visiting Champions League hopefuls Chelsea.

West Ham are also in west London on the first weekend of May, but they’re at Brentford. Before that, the Hammers will back themselves in all three of their April outings. A trip to Crystal Palace is sandwiched between the visits of Wolves and Everton. The latter have been a nuisance on the road this season, mind, and David Moyes would love to get one over his former employers.

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Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur are renowned for staging chaotic, breathless affairs and the latest installment of the fixture comes at Anfield on Sunday.

The last three Premier League meetings on Merseyside have finished 4–3, 4–2 and 5–1, with the latter clinching Liverpool the Premier League title last season. The sides played out a 6–3 last term, too, while Spurs finished up with nine men in December’s defeat in north London.

Both clubs are eager to bounce back from disappointing midweek defeats in the Champions League. Liverpool slumped to an underwhelming 1–0 loss at Galatasaray but Spurs one-upped their misery later that evening as they slumped to a humiliating 5–2 defeat at Atlético Madrid—goalkeeper Antonín Kinský substituted after just 17 minutes following two seismic errors.

Such mistakes epitomize a dismal season that has only reached new lows since Igor Tudor took charge. Appointed as a firefighter in Tottenham’s surprise relegation fight, the club have lost four straight and conceded 14 times under the Croatian.

Liverpool have their own assignment as they search for Champions League qualification, with a top-five finish likely still enough to reach Europe’s premier competition despite the struggles of English sides in Europe this week. The Reds will be favorites on Sunday but have seldom enjoyed comfortable afternoons in the Premier League this term.

Liverpool vs. Tottenham Score Prediction

Liverpool to Pile More Misery on Spurs

Tottenham enter Sunday’s fixture at their lowest ebb in decades. The Lilywhites are perilously close to relegation, without a Premier League victory since the turn of the year and in abysmal form heading to one of their least favorite venues.

Tudor’s position is already in jeopardy and defeat on Merseyside could prove the final nail in the coffin. Based on recent results, an abundance of injuries and their truly dismal defensive record, they’re expected to lose yet again.

Liverpool have been wildly inconsistent this season and their recent form has been pretty dire, too, but they still boast far more quality and confidence than their visitors. With the aid of home advantage, the Reds should clinch three precious points—even if it isn’t entirely convincing.

Tottenham’s Anfield woes: The bad news for Spurs is they haven’t won at Anfield since 2011. They have lost 12 of their last 16 trips to the stadium and have conceded an alarming 17 across the past four visits.

Spurs injury issues: Fitness problems have derailed Tottenham’s season and continue to kill any hopes of a swift turnaround in fortunes. Micky van de Ven is certain to be suspended for the weekend and could join up to 12 other first-teamers on the absentee list. Tudor’s squad is being pushed to its limits.

Liverpool’s set-piece strengths: An improvement in their attacking set pieces has helped Liverpool paper over cracks in their misfiring forward line. Spurs, and in particular goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, rarely convince from corners and free kicks, with Slot’s side potentially taking advantage at Anfield.

Prediction: Liverpool 2–1 Tottenham

Liverpool Predicted Lineup vs. Tottenham

Liverpool are still sweating on the fitness of Alisson after he missed the trip to Istanbul on Tuesday. Slot has revealed he’s “hopeful” of the Brazilian’s return between the sticks but there is a chance Giorgi Mamardashvili is tasked with starting once more.

Federico Cheisa also didn’t make the journey to Türkiye due to illness and while Slot expects him to make his comeback this weekend, he admitted it’s not guaranteed.

Four players who are confirmed to miss out are Alexander Isak, Wataru Endo, Giovanni Leoni and Conor Bradley, all of whom are still recovering from long-term injuries.

There could be changes at full back from defeat at Galatasaray, Joe Gomez and Milos Kerkez possibly relegated to the bench, while Slot has a challenge on his hands to fix an underperforming attacking unit.

Liverpool predicted lineup vs. Tottenham (4-2-3-1): Mamardashvili; Frimpong, Konaté, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Szoboszlai; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Ekitiké.

Tottenham Predicted Lineup vs. Liverpool

Tottenham are inundated with injuries across their squad, with long-term issues for James Maddison, Mohammed Kudus and Dejan Kulusevski killing their ability to create chances. The absence of Wilson Odobert, Lucas Bergvall, Yves Bissouma and Rodrigo Bentancur further limits Tudor’s options in midfield and forward areas.

Defensive ailments are causing problems for Tottenham as well. Destiny Udogie and Ben Davies are on the sidelines alongside the suspended Van de Ven, while Cristian Romero and João Palhinha are both missing after a sickening clash of heads at Atléti.

Vicario is certain to return between the sticks after the Kinský experiment dramatically backfired in Spain, while Conor Gallagher could come back into the starting XI after illness.

The skeleton crew will take to the field on Merseyside.

Tottenham predicted lineup vs. Liverpool (3-4-2-1): Vicario; Porro, Danso, Drăgușin; Gray, Gallagher, Sarr, Spence; Simons, Richarlison; Solanke.

What Time Does Liverpool vs. Tottenham Kick Off?

Location: Liverpool, England

Stadium: Anfield

Date: Sunday, March 15

Kick-off Time: 4:30 p.m. GMT / 12:30 p.m. ET / 9:30 a.m. PT

Referee: Chris Kavanagh

VAR: John Brooks

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Liverpool return to Premier League action on Sunday afternoon looking to make amends for Tuesday night’s glum European loss.

Relegation-threatened Tottenham Hotspur are Liverpool’s rebound opponents after a dismal defeat in their Champions League round of 16 first leg with Galatasaray, the Reds succumbing to a 1–0 scoreline in Istanbul for the second time this season.

One eye will be on the return leg on Wednesday but Liverpool must first overcome struggling Spurs, who themselves were utterly humiliated in a 5–2 loss at Atlético Madrid midweek. Arne Slot’s side need victory to strengthen their push for Champions League qualification.

Liverpool Sweating on Alisson Fitness

Alisson, seemingly the world’s most injury-prone goalkeeper, was missing for the loss at RAMS Park and remains a doubt heading into the weekend. Slot has revealed he’s “hopeful” of the Brazilian’s return, but a late fitness test is required to determine his availability.

Federico Chiesa was another midweek absentee, the Italian missing through illness rather than injury, and he’s expected to make his comeback against Spurs—although he will only be used from the bench if he makes the squad.

Long-term absentees Alexander Isak, Wataru Endo, Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni continue their recoveries, too.

Slot has decisions to make elsewhere due to poor performances and the need for rotation ahead of the second leg. Mohamed Salah, who was substituted after an hour in Türkiye following another dreadful showing, is no longer certain of his starting berth, while the likes of Alexis Mac Allister, Joe Gomez and Milos Kerkez could be rested.

⚠️ Key absentees, doubts: Alisson, Alexander Isak, Conor Bradley, Wataru Endo, Giovanni Leoni, Federico Chiesa.

🔢 Predicted formation: 4-2-3-1

Liverpool Predicted Lineup vs. Tottenham (4-2-3-1)

GK: Giorgi Mamardashvili—Alisson’s deputy produced some important stops to prevent Galatasaray from extending their advantage and may be called upon again this weekend.

RB: Jeremie Frimpong—Something needs to change down Liverpool’s right wing, which looked stale and predictable midweek. Frimpong could displace Joe Gomez at right back to provide some much-needed energy.

CB: Ibrahima Konaté—After an improved spell, Konaté reverted to his early season form on Tuesday. Fortunate not to single-handedly gift Galatasaray a second—spared by a questionable offside call—the Frenchman needs to up his levels against ex-Liverpool striker Dominic Solanke.

CB: Virgil van Dijk—Van Dijk started his 29th consecutive fixture in Istanbul, the longest run of any outfield player at Liverpool since stalwart Jamie Carragher’s 33-match streak from December 2009 to May 2010.

LB: Andy Robertson—After an excellent FA Cup showing at Molineux, Robertson was relegated to the bench in place of Milos Kerkez midweek. The roles could be reversed against Spurs.

DM: Ryan Gravenberch—Seldom afforded a rest due to Liverpool’s poor squad planning, Gravenberch will likely be forced to start all three matches before the March international break.

DM: Dominik Szoboszlai—Mac Allister looked absolutely shattered in Istanbul and deserves to be preserved ahead of the second leg. Szoboszlai could sink into the double pivot to cover.

RW: Mohamed Salah—In fear of another public outburst, Slot could well start Salah again this weekend. A recent flurry of goal contributions cannot mask consistently desperate displays down Liverpool’s right.

AM: Florian Wirtz—After a rusty performance on Tuesday, Wirtz could return to his preferred central role against Spurs. The German can really hurt an abysmal Tottenham defense from the No.10 position.

LW: Cody Gakpo—Rio Ngumoha should start against Spurs based solely on form, but Gakpo appears destined to return at left wing. More is needed from the Dutchman with Ngumoha sparkling in every appearance.

ST: Hugo Ekitiké—Ekitiké scored in Liverpool’s victory at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium back in December and will be seeking to torment a leaky defense without the suspended Micky van de Ven.

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Igor Tudor has reportedly lost respect from some sections of the Tottenham Hotspur dressing room for his treatment of the club’s goalkeepers yet is still expected to be in position for Sunday’s daunting Premier League trip to Liverpool.

Spurs teetered into what center back Micky van de Ven worryingly described as “doomsday scenario” after a 5–2 mauling at the hands of Atlético Madrid consigned the club to their first ever sequence of six straight defeats. Tudor has overseen the past four of those since replacing Thomas Frank but the prospect of the Croatian coach seeing out a contract which lasts until the end of the season has come under immense scrutiny.

Before a ball had even been kicked in Tottenham’s Champions League clash with Atlético on Tuesday night, Tudor had already “shocked” some members of his squad by dropping first-choice goalkeeper, Guglielmo Vicario, according to The Times.

Antonin Kinsky rapidly undermined the decision to hand him his Champions League debut with a ruinous opening quarter of an hour. The Czech youngster shipped three goals, two of which were a consequence of his own kicking blunders, before getting hooked in the 17th minute.

Tudor’s refusal to even acknowledge Kinsky upon his substitution is also thought to have been questioned by his teammates. The goalkeeper is expected to go in search of a Spurs departure this summer.

The exit door at Tottenham will surely be used by Tudor in the near future. However, multiple reports claim that no decision is planned—just yet.

Tudor to ‘Fight on’ at Tottenham for At Least One More Game

Despite the mounting pressure and dwindling faith from his playing staff, Tudor is set to “fight on” for Spurs against Liverpool at Anfield this Sunday, per The Guardian. Yet, that report is far from optimistic about the manager’s chances of still being in the dugout for the almighty relegation six-pointer against Nottingham Forest one week later.

Tottenham CEO Vinai Venkatesham opened up a dialogue with Tudor and his staff on Wednesday morning and is expected to leave the self-styled firefighter in the burning building for Friday’s prematch media duties at the very least, according to the Daily Mail.

Rather than any sign of encouragement, this stay of execution is simply the consequence of a lack of alternatives.

Tudor’s arrival came with a number of caveats yet he hardly beat out a swollen pool of obvious talent. While the likes of Roberto De Zerbi and Xabi Alonso appear out of reach for a side currently one point above the relegation zone, they have been left to consider a jumbled medley of candidates. Sean Dyche, freshly fired by Nottingham Forest, is the leading favorite to replace Tudor.

Harry Redknapp revealed this week that he has received no contact from Tottenham’s board but he did have a half-hour phone call with former executive chairman Daniel Levy.

The controversial figure was “marched out” of his position of influence at the start of the season yet still retains more than 29% of the club’s shares. According to Redknapp, the 79-year-old whose last job in management was in 2017 (his last Premier League posting came two years before that), he would have been Levy’s pick as Spurs boss.

“He did say to me, ‘Look, if I was there now, I would definitely, and I’m not just saying it, I would bring you back into it to the end of the season.’ So it would have been interesting,” Redknapp told talkSPORT.

In-Fighting Within the Tottenham Squad—Report

Beyond the figure limply flailing his arms around in the technical area, there is reportedly a sense of ill-will which exists between certain Spurs players.

This in-fighting has been sparked by accusations that some players are “not motivated” to battle Tottenham to safety. The Athletic sensationally claim that one unnamed individual has already let it be known that he “is not too concerned” by the threat of relegation as his future lies at a different club.

It’s little surprise for players in these dire situations to harbor selfish ambitions, but the willingness to let such a stance be public knowledge shows quite how toxic it has become behind the scenes.

“Every­thing that could go wrong went wrong,” Van de Ven fretted at the final whistle on Tuesday, his phone permanently switched off to avoid the waves of social media backlash washing the team’s way. “For our goalkeeper it’s terrible as well. You don’t wish that on ­anyone.

“It’s just really tough, and now we have an important match this weekend I won’t be able to play in because I’m suspended. It’s a really terrible period. It’s really, really awful.”

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Atlético Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur meet in a competitive fixture for the first time since 1963 on Tuesday night, as their Champions League round of 16 tie gets underway.

While UEFA’s format changes are likely to facilitate more repeat fixtures during the latter stages of competitions, there’s no denying the novelty that surrounds this clash.

The Jekyll and Hyde-like Spurs are sliding towards their first top-flight relegation in almost 50 years, with Igor Tudor’s side, yet to win a Premier League game in 2026, just a point clear of the drop zone. However, as was the case last year, their European excursions have offered some respite from the domestic misery.

The now-departed Thomas Frank guided the Lilywhites to fourth in the league phase table, but their impressive continental campaign to date wasn’t exactly rewarded.

While any opponent would currently represent stiff opposition for this Tottenham team, taking on Diego Simeone’s Atléti is a particularly tough draw, despite the La Liga side’s inconsistency this season.

Los Rojiblancos have bewildered just as much as they’ve dazzled this season, requiring a playoff victory over Club Brugge to reach this stage. Tuesday’s hosts sit third in La Liga and have been cut adrift from the traditional top two.

Atlético Madrid vs. Tottenham Score Prediction

Spurs to Keep Themselves in Tie

As bad as Tottenham has been this season, it’s found another gear under the lights in Europe. This group of players, seemingly uninterested in any domestic exploits, finds something deep within once the iconic anthem bellows out ahead of kick-off.

They don’t evolve into 2010–11 Barcelona, or anything of the sort, but we shouldn’t expect the same team that’s looked so broken in recent weeks to manifest in Madrid on Tuesday night.

Still, taking on Simeone’s Atléti on its own patch is seldom an easy task, and it’s unlikely that the Argentinian will allow any hints of complacency to permeate through his squad over the two legs.

Tottenham may be beaten (again), but it’ll be content with merely being in the tie, given its excellent home record in Europe.

Spurs resilience in Europe: Spurs were productive during the league phase, losing just once—to holders Paris Saint-Germain. While Frank has departed and Tudor is winless at the helm, the Lilywhites, dating back to the start of last season, have proven that they can stand up and be counted on European nights. They won’t be overawed by the occasion.

Free-scoring Atléti: This is not the stubborn Atléti team of years past. Simeone‘s side is a dynamic unit that’s blown plenty of opponents away this season at home, including Barcelona and Real Madrid. They’ve scored at least three times in four of their previous six games.

In-form Alexander Sørloth: Antoine Griezmann remains a handy contributor, while Julián Alvarez is a deadly sharpshooter, but Sørloth is the man Spurs need to contain on Tuesday. He bagged a hat-trick in the previous round, and has scored six five times in his past five appearances.

Prediction: Atlético Madrid 2–1 Tottenham

Atlético Madrid Predicted Lineup vs. Tottenham

It’s a case of one in, one out for the hosts in midfield. While Pablo Barrios is expected to return to Simeone’s squad midweek after a spell out, Atléti has lost Rodrigo Mendoza to an ankle sprain.

Barrios is unlikely to come straight back into the starting lineup right away, with ex-Tottenham transfer target Johnny Cardoso set to partner veteran Koke.

Julián Alvarez will come back in and pair with the in-form Alexander Sørloth in attack, and Atléti has also been boosted by Antoine Griezmann’s decision to remain in Madrid until the end of the season amid Major League Soccer interest.

Atlético Madrid predicted lineup vs. Atlético Madrid vs. Tottenham (4-4-2): Oblak; Llorente, Pubill, Hancko, Ruggeri; Simeone, Koke, Cardoso, Lookman; Alvarez, Sørloth.

Tottenham Predicted Lineup vs. Atlético Madrid

An injury crisis has undoubtedly contributed to Tottenham’s woeful run of form, but, for the first time, Tudor will have Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven available on Tuesday night.

Both will appear in the manager’s preferred back three, with Kevin Danso likely to complete a drastically improved backline, on paper.

There are more issues in attack, with Mohammed Kudus, Wilson Odobert, James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski among the players Spurs won’t have available for both legs. Midfielders Lucas Bergvall and Rodrigo Bentancur could return after the international break.

Djed Spence is a doubt with a calf injury, Radu Drăgușin is dealing with a knock, but Destiny Udogie could be back for the second leg in north London.

Tottenham predicted lineup vs. Atlético Madrid (3-4-2-1): Vicario; Danso, Romero, Van de Ven; Porro, Palhinha, Gallagher, Spence; Simons, Tel; Solanke.

What Time Does Atlético Madrid vs. Tottenham Kick Off?

Location: Madrid, Spain

Stadium: Riyadh Air Metropolitano

Date: Tuesday, March 10

Kick-off Time: 4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT / 8 p.m. GMT

Referee: Serdar Gözübüyük (NED)

VAR: Pol van Boekel (NED)

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Tottenham Hotspur are taking shots from all corners amid their current woes, with former Premier League manager Neil Warnock among the latest to have a dig.

The 77-year-old has just taken on his 21st managerial role in the sixth tier of English football with Torquay United on a caretaker basis, having had a brief stint on the south coast back in 1993.

His remarkable managerial career dates back to 1980 at Gainsborough Trinity, and he would later enjoy spells in the big time, having earned a record eighth promotion with Cardiff City in 2018.

The charismatic, quick-witted Warnock spent just a small percentage of his almost 50-year career on the touchline in the top-flight, and his latest stint at Torquay means he’ll be able to add to his record-breaking haul of 1,626 professional games managed in English football.

Never shy of self-belief, Warnock, speaking to The Guardian, joked, even after a 3–0 defeat to Ebbsfleet United, that instead of spending what will surely be his final managerial post in the National League South, he should’ve been offered the chance to get Spurs out of the mire.

“They should have took me at Tottenham, shouldn’t they?”

Igor Tudor Already on the Brink at Spurs

Warnock, of course, was not really a viable option for Spurs, despite the Englishman’s reputation as an excellent man-manager. He proved that he’s "still got it" at Huddersfield Town as recently as 2023, saving the Terriers from Championship relegation.

His track record in the Premier League is considerably less impressive, it must be said.

Nevertheless, instead of opting for a modern Warnock equivalent in Sean Dyche after parting ways with Thomas Frank last month, Tottenham went left-field by targeting a recommendation of former sporting director Fabio Paratici.

Igor Tudor has previously held impressive short-term posts at Udinese, Lazio, Hellas Verona and Marseille, and also oversaw an immediate improvement of fortunes at Juventus after Thiago Motta’s sacking last March.

Spurs hoped that, despite his Premier League inexperience, Tudor would be the fresh face capable of igniting a resurgence amid shock relegation fears. They had a five-point buffer upon his interim appointment, but are now just one point clear of the drop zone after three successive defeats.

With trips to Atlético Madrid and Liverpool upcoming, The Telegraph are among the media outlets to speculate Tudor won’t be around much longer. If the club do pull the plug, the question will be whether Spurs go for another interim, likely someone with a close association to the club, or Frank’s long-term successor.

Out-of-work Roberto De Zerbi has been mooted, but many supporters are holding out for Mauricio Pochettino, who won’t be available until after the World Cup due to his commitments with the USMNT.

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Tottenham Hotspur’s world is crumbling down, and they’re at risk of having their emerging superstar of a center back ripped away by Barcelona.

With first-team opportunities unlikely to fall Luka Vušković’s way in north London after his move from Hajduk Split was made official last year, the club opted to send the highly-regarded teenage defender on loan to newly-promoted Bundesliga side Hamburg for the 2025–26 campaign.

The young Croatian has since become as one of the revelations of the season in Germany, immediately garnering fan favorite status at the Volksparkstadion thanks to his standout defending and knack for pulling off the spectacular in the opposition’s box.

Vušković’s success has occurred while Tottenham have suffered mightily, at risk of falling into the second tier of English football for the first time since 1977. Should that scenario play out, they almost certainly won’t have Vušković’s any longer, given that Europe’s elite are already starting to circle.

Barcelona Set Sights on Tottenham Loanee

Barcelona are set to prioritize the signing of a new center back this summer, and Vušković is reportedly at the top of their wishlist.

According to Sky Sport Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, Barça have already held talks with the 19-year-old’s representatives over a potential move.

The teenager is yet to kick a ball for Tottenham in a competitive fixture, after the club fended off the continent’s best to strike a deal with the then-16-year-old in 2023. Vušković was excellent in preseason and has performed like one of Europe’s premier young defenders in the Bundesliga.

While Vušković admired the project that was once proposed by Spurs and doesn’t have any regrets over choosing the north London club, the defender said in an interview with FlashScore earlier this year that he dreams of one day playing in Spain.

“To be honest, it wasn’t the Premier League I really wanted. I wasn’t thinking about playing in England,” he said.

“I was always only thinking about the Croatian league and Hajduk [Split], but of the European leagues, Spain was somehow the closest to me, and now the German league—it’s a really great league. One day I’d love to play in Spain, that’s it.”

Those comments undoubtedly would’ve pricked a few ears in Catalonia, with Barça smitten by Vušković and in need of an alternative option at the heart of their defence after opting against signing an Iñigo Martínez replacement last summer.

Vušković’s comfort on the left side of defense means he could operate as Pau Cubarsí’s long-term partner, although some may fear that the Croatian’s sub-optimal recovery speed would be exposed in Hansi Flick’s high-octane and aggressive framework.

Tottenham’s Inevitable Center Back Dilemma

Tottenham’s sole focus right now is staying in the Premier League. They’re now just a point above the relegation zone, and certainly don’t have momentum on their side.

Even if they survive, Spurs risk losing Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven this summer. That, of course, would open the door for Vušković to emerge as the leading man of Tottenham’s defense.

However, clubs around Europe will undoubtedly test Spurs’ resolve with regard to their 19-year-old defensive sensation, who may be tempted to escape a messy situation in north London.

“I don’t know if Tottenham only see him as a future player or if they would be open to a transfer if they received a suitable offer,” Vušković’s father, Danijel, told Croatian outlet Sportske Novosti amid the current uncertainty.

However, instead of listening to offers for the teenager, Spurs, in desperate need of a culture shift, should rebuild with Vušković as one of the protagonists.

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Paul Winstanley is among a number of possible candidates Tottenham Hotspur are considering as they step up their search for a new sporting director, according to reports.

Following the departure of Thomas Frank, Spurs are looking for a long-term successor to replace the Dane, with Igor Tudor appointed on an interim basis until the end of the season as they look to ensure they avoid relegation from the Premier League.

The north London club saw Fabio Paratici depart for Fiorentina earlier this year, with current sporting director Johan Lange under-fire for Spurs' recruitment.

Now as reported by the Daily Telegraph, several names on Spurs' potential shortlist have started to emerge and it includes Chelsea's current co-sporting director, Paul Winstanley.

It's suggested checks have begun to have been made as Spurs begin plans for next season, with the idea that their next appointment has an influence on the identity of the club's next permanent head coach.

Winstanley currently shares the position with Laurence Stewart at Stamford Bridge. The pair were recently rewarded with contract extensions until 2031, so should Spurs make a concrete move, it will not be easy to prise him away from west to north London.

However, it's reported Winstanley is not expected to leave Chelsea should Spurs advance their interest.

Despite Chelsea's Club World Cup triumph last summer, Winstanley and other members of the hierarchy have come under scrutiny for the club's recruitment model which focuses on talented, highly-rated youngsters.

After joining Chelsea in November 2022, it's never been a quiet day in the recruitment department, with the likes of Cole Palmer, Moises Caicedo, Estevao Willian, Joao Pedro and Alejandro Garnacho arriving in recent seasons.

Chelsea will be hoping to re-qualify for next season's Champions League to allow them to compete for a bigger pool of players in this summer's transfer market.

The club are looking to strengthen in multiple areas, including in midfield and the attack. Many departures are likely as they enter the market with a different head coach to last summer following Liam Rosenior's arrival to succeed Enzo Maresca.

Arsenal centre back Gabriel Magalhães posted a triumphant picture of himself basking in the glory of Sunday’s 4–1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur and made a point of tagging Spurs striker Richarlison.

A matter of hours after recording Arsenal’s largest ever Premier League victory away to their north London rivals, Gabriel was in a boisterous mood. The Gunners had come into the derby with their title credentials under scrutiny thanks in no small part to the Brazilian’s error which presented Wolverhampton Wanderers with their equaliser last week.

Mikel Arteta’s table toppers were nervy for large swathes of the first half on Sunday. Gabriel was one of several players who cheaply ceded possession when faced with Tottenham’s reinvigorated press during the opening exchanges and the centre back could do nothing to stop Randal Kolo Muani rapidly cancelling out Eberechi Eze’s opener.

Viktor Gyökeres fired Arsenal back in front within two minutes of the restart to pave the way for what turned into a comfortable 4–1 win. Gabriel certainly appeared to enjoy it.

Several of the defender’s teammates delivered supportive comments beneath the post which showed the towering figure triumphantly holding up a four of hearts card, one for each goal his teammates scored in N17. The most mischievous aspect of the post was the nod to Richarlison.

The Spurs striker is a Brazilian compatriot of Gabriel’s but there appears to be no love lost in that pairing. Richarlison was a late substitute on the weekend, but still found time to tangle with Gabriel on the pitch before receiving a digital taunt. This was merely the latest chapter in the simmering social media feud between the two.

Gabriel vs. Richarlison in the Digital Age

Battles between Tottenham strikers and Arsenal centre backs used to be exclusively reserved for derby days. There may have been an occasional barb in the press which was pinned up on the dressing room wall, but in the modern social media age there are ample avenues for petty jibes.

Gabriel missed the reverse fixture between these sides through injury. Despite his stunning goal , Richarlison would find himself on the end of another 4–1 loss and a seemingly unnecessary taunt from his compatriot.

Shortly after the final whistle, Gabriel posted a picture of himself wearing the match shirt of hat-trick scorer Eze along with the midfielder’s Player of the Match award. Despite being nowhere to be seen, Richarlison was tagged.

This was likely a delayed response to the virtual tête-à -tête the pair played out during last summer’s pre-season friendly between the two north London rivals.

Spurs emerged victorious in the stifling heat of Hong Kong last July and Richarlison took his opportunity. The Brazilian forward shook off a glaring close-range miss to post an image of himself clutching two trophies, the Player of the Match award and the pre-season title Tottenham had won by claiming glory in the first-ever north London derby hosted outside the United Kingdom.

Gabriel did not let the issue lie. Arsenal’s prolific centre back swiftly responded with a picture of the three Premier League Player of the Match trophies which he had won against Spurs over the previous two seasons.

Gabriel Taunt Backfires

Lined up in front of Gabriel on Arsenal’s team coach across north London on Sunday evening was an assortment of items from a vending machine and the Player of the Match trophy. As many onlookers were quick to point out, Gabriel did not receive that award on the weekend.

Gyökeres justifiably claimed that particular gong following a two-goal haul which Arteta hailed as his best performance in an Arsenal shirt. Gabriel, by contrast, had a rather less comfortable evening.

The proud defender was part of the first Premier League backline to concede a goal from Tottenham’s misfiring forward Kolo Muani who perhaps should have had a second. With Arsenal only 2–1 up in the second half, the French Spurs forward swatted another crisp finish beyond David Raya only to be denied by the referee’s whistle. According to a lenient Peter Bankes, Kolo Muani had fouled Gabriel to get his shot away.

There were definitely two hands on the defender’s back but whether the minimal contact genuinely forced the 6'3" centre back flopping to the turf is subjective.

It was a particularly galling decision for Spurs fans who watched Hugo Ekitiké apply even more force on Cristian Romero yet still escape with a goal when Liverpool travelled to Tottenham in December.

Not that Gabriel would have much cared.

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