The Spurs News

Victor Osimhen is hoping to avoid Liverpool in the Champions League Round of 16, meaning Tottenham Hotspur are his preferred opponents.

Tottenham Hotspur will face either Atletico Madrid or Galatasaray in the Champions League knockout stage in March.

🤔 Which team would you rather Tottenham face in the Champions League R16?

Galatasaray or Atletico Madrid

The North London club will learn which team they will face on Friday, with the draw set to take place in Nyom, Switzerland, at 11:00 GMT.

Ahead of the draw, Osimhen has been discussing his preferred opponent for the Round of 16, and it appears Spurs are his choice.

Victor Osimhen wants to avoid Liverpool in the Champions League

Victor Osimhen suggests that Tottenham are his preferred opponent for the Champions League Round of 16, ahead of Liverpool.

Osimhen produced a Man of the Match performance against Juventus to help Galatasaray reach the knockout stage of the competition.

Igor Tudor’s side already reached the next stage after finishing fourth during the group stage phase and are rewarded by having the second leg at home.

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When asked which team he would rather face in the Round of 16, Osimhen told CBS Sports: “To be honest with you, meeting Liverpool is going to be like some sort of revenge.

“But I think anyone we meet now, but I wouldn’t say who I want, but I would like to escape Liverpool, but if they come, we are going to dig it out, but it’s not going to be easy.

🔮 How far will Tottenham advance in the Champions League this season?

“This is the Champions League, no team is easy, and we can see how well Bodo/Glimt are doing at the moment, so if you try to win, you have to play the big dogs.

“I think if we meet Liverpool, we haven’t played at Anfield. If we get them, it is going to be an amazing game, but we are up to the task, and it will not be easy.”

Galatasaray have shown that in Istanbul, it is a very hostile place to go, and either Spurs or Liverpool will be in for a very tricky tie.

Last season, an Ange Postecoglou Spurs side were beaten 3-2 away at Galatasaray, with Osimhen netting twice at RAMS Park.

Former Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Brad Friedel believes Harry Redknapp would have already pulled Micky van de Ven from the side if he had ignored his instructions.

Van de Ven has become a staple in the Tottenham backline since he was signed in 2023 from Bundesliga outfit Wolfsburg, but he is looking increasingly unhappy in north London.

The Dutchman wore the armband for Spurs in Igor Tudor’s first game in charge at the weekend, which saw the defender come under scrutiny for ignoring the interim manager.

Relegation could absolutely decimate this squad! 😫

Who do you think would be the first out of the door in the summer?

Friedel admits he wanted to see Redknapp become the Spurs boss for the remainder of the season as he would not stand for incidents like Van de Ven’s on Sunday.

Why Harry Redknapp would drop Micky van de Ven from Tottenham’s starting XI

Ian Wright has criticised Van de Ven for ignoring Tudor during the North London Derby at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Friedel shared Wright’s frustrations as he told TalkSPORT how Redknapp would not stand for that type of attitude at Spurs.

How many points will Tottenham take from their next four Premier League matches?

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“Somebody asked me what was needed [at Spurs] and I said bring in somebody like a Harry Redknapp,” said the American.

“If Van de Ven ignores him, just for a month or so, it could be a different name, it’s like what Celtic did with Martin O’Neill, if someone ignores him that player would not be in the matchday squad next time.

“The worst thing for a player is not playing.”

Tudor was left frustrated with Van de Ven for blatantly ignoring his instructions to push the defence further up the field.

The issue Tudor now has is that he is not able to punish the Dutchman due to Tottenham’s injury crisis.

Relegation for Tottenham Hotspur would mean a mass exodus of players; however, for some at the club, it would actually be a great chance to break into the team.

Tottenham could be forced into a £300m fire sale if they are relegated, but it would also give several youngsters a chance to break into the team.

Which Tottenham star would dominate if they are relegated to Championship? 🫣

Hotspur Way has several exciting young talents emerging right now, and being in the Championship would at least give these players chances to play for Spurs.

The North London club must face up to the possibility of relegation and will need to start contingency planning in case they do end up in the Championship.

Mikey Moore

Mikey Moore is undoubtedly the first name on the list of players who would dominate life in the Championship, given how well he is doing in Scotland.

Moore is enjoying a brilliant loan at Rangers, and the 18-year-old continues to prove that he is one of Spurs’ most promising talents.

Whether Spurs are in the Premier League or the Championship, the winger is likely to play some role for Tottenham next season.

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There has rarely been a pathway for youngsters in N17, but being in the second tier of English football would force that to change.

Luca Williams-Barnett

Just behind Moore on the list of top Tottenham academy talents is Luca Williams-Barnett, who has been dominating youth football this season.

The 17-year-old has 16 goals and eight assists for Spurs’ youth teams this term and certainly looks ready for the Championship.

Williams-Barnett can play both number ten and left wing, which would make him a very useful player for Spurs’ squad.

He and Moore are two of the most exciting attacking talents the club have ever produced, and it will be great to see a clear pathway emerge for both.

Jun’ai Byfield

Jun’ai Byfield has already proved why he is a player ready to play for Tottenham, having debuted in the Champions League this campaign.

Despite just turning 17 in December, the youngster has already captained England under-17 and is part of the first-team set-up.

Finish the sentence: Tottenham’s most promising youngster is _____________

Archie Gray

Archie Gray is probably one of just a few players who would remain at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the event of relegation.

Over the weekend, Gray really struggled against Arsenal and perhaps proved that another season in the Championship would be good for him.

Being in the Championship would almost certainly mean he would be used in midfield, unlike now, where he is used as a utility player.

Tynan Thompson

Tynan Thompson is another exciting teenage talent in Spurs’ ranks and someone who should be getting regular minutes in the Championship.

Williams-Barnett’s immense performances have perhaps overshadowed his own talent, but he is certainly a player worth knowing about.

The 17-year-old has 11 goals and six assists in 19 games for the academy this season, and also got an assist for the first team during pre-season.

Right now, relegation is not even worth contemplating, but the thought of a proper rebuild with top young talents could be beneficial.

Ian Wright has been left baffled by Micky van de Ven’s reaction to Igor Tudor’s instructions during Tottenham Hotspur’s loss to Arsenal.

Tudor could not have started off life in north London with a worse result, but Tottenham are going to have to move on quickly from their derby humiliation.

The Croatian manager needs his squad, which has been decimated by injuries, to buy into his tactics as they are currently sleepwalking towards relegation.

Roy Keane is convinced Spurs will avoid relegation, but the Lilywhites are now nine Premier League games deep without securing a win.

Relegation could absolutely decimate this squad! 😫

Who do you think would be the first out of the door in the summer?

And there is a big issue brewing at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium that Wright noticed involving Tudor and some of his players.

Ian Wright shocked by Micky van de Ven snubbing Tottenham boss Igor Tudor

After seeing his instructions completely ignored, Tudor was left furious with Van de Ven, who should have been setting the example as the captain.

This was an incident that Wright could not believe when he saw it for himself.

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How many points will Tottenham take from their next four Premier League matches?

“Can I say something. I saw Igor Tudor trying to speak to Micky van de Ven and he blanked him” Wright said on the Stick to Football podcast.

“Totally blanked him. That says to me that they’ve completely checked out already. This guy’s [Tudor] new and he’s asking them to push up and he just stays there. That doesn’t look good.”

When Wright claimed the Spurs players have checked out, Gary Neville could be heard in the background saying: “That’s harsh.”

Carlton Cole thinks Spurs must sell Van de Ven on the back of the incident involving his interim manager during the North London Derby.

The Dutchman has been of huge importance to Spurs over recent years, but more is expected of him and especially when he’s wearing the captain’s armband.

Tottenham need Micky van de Ven to lead by example

Sunday was not a good look for Van de Ven, who has been brilliant in a Tottenham shirt since he was signed from Wolfsburg.

Suggesting that he needs to be sold is a step too far, but his actions could be that of a player who is growing increasingly frustrated by Tottenham’s struggles.

Cristian Romero has publicly criticised Tottenham’s hierarchy following the underwhelming January transfer window.

Van de Ven may well be making his feelings known whilst out there on the pitch, but Spurs cannot afford to have players down tools with just 11 games left to save their Premier League status.

Roy Keane is not falling for Tottenham Hotspur being ‘too good’ to be relegated this season as he has shared his prediction for the remainder of the season.

Igor Tudor could not have asked for a more difficult start at the weekend with a North London Derby that only showcased the issues in N17.

Heading into this weekend’s game away to Fulham, Tottenham are sitting just four points above 18th-placed West Ham United.

Only 11 games remain for Tudor to get a tune out of his new side, with relegation to the Championship becoming a real possibility at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

How many points will Tottenham take from their next four Premier League matches?

Having watched Spurs in action on Sunday, Keane has admitted the narrative of Spurs being too big to go down cannot be fallen for anymore.

Roy Keane says Tottenham aren’t too big to be relegated anymore

Spurs remain without a win in the Premier League in 2026, with Paul Scholes suggesting Tottenham should have appointed Sam Allardyce.

These are becoming desperate times for the Lilywhites, but Keane does believe that Spurs will find it in them to survive the drop.

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“It was a tough first start for him. I still think they’ll be ok, but I’m not falling for them being too good to go down,” Keane said on the Stick to Football podcast.

“I do think they’ll find a bit more than Forest and West Ham. It’s as simple as that.”

Wayne Rooney is also convinced Tottenham will avoid relegation, but it is damning for Spurs to even find themselves in the conversation.

Although Tottenham finished 17th last season, the Lilywhites were never really at that big of a threat of being relegated.

This season is a completely different story.

Tottenham could quickly ease the pressure

Having not won a league game this year, it will certainly be easier said than done, but putting two wins together against Fulham and Crystal Palace over the next week really could pull Spurs out of trouble.

Nicky Butt has urged Tudor to get his players all on side for what could become a real relegation scrap over the coming weeks.

YES or NO: Will Tottenham be relegated this season? 👀

It is games at Craven Cottage and against Palace that Spurs simply have to be eyeing as three points from each game.

With some big games against Liverpool, Chelsea and Aston Villa coming up, Tottenham are going to need to put points on the board where they can.

Igor Tudor has been handed a big boost at Tottenham through Kevin Danso and particularly Pedro Porro’s return to training.

The duo returned to training at Hotspur Way on Wednesday following respective injuries that have kept Porro and Danso out for weeks.

Tottenham have lost three of the four Premier League games missed by Danso, with Dragusin recently being called up to the starting XI.

Next up for the Lilywhites is a trip to Craven Cottage, with Tudor in search of his first three points as the interim manager.

HIGHER or LOWER: Should Spurs’ odds of being relegated from the Premier League be bigger than just 4.2%?

Porro’s return to the fold will likely cause a change in the starting XI this weekend after Archie Gray filled in at right-wing-back in the North London Derby.

Tottenham handed double injury boost ahead of Fulham

According to Alasdair Gold, both Porro and Danso were spotted in Wednesday’s first-team training session at Hotspur Way.

Although Cristian Romero remains unavailable for the game on Sunday through suspension, this marks a considerable boost for Spurs defensively.

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How many points will Tottenham take from their next four Premier League matches?

Tudor was forced to play two midfielders in defensive roles at the weekend, with Gray and Joao Palhinha both seeing their versatility utilised.

Tottenham have had issues for a number of seasons now through their first-choice starting XI being disrupted through injuries.

However, seeing Porro potentially return to availability will mark a considerable boost given Tudor’s formation change in N17.

Porro’s form has been questioned this season, but seeing him return to a more attack-minded role could help the Spaniard get back to his very best.

Pedro Porro will mark considerable upgrade on Archie Gray

Gray’s future at Tottenham will lie in midfield, with the youngster enduring a difficult afternoon on Sunday against Arsenal.

The 19-year-old did not register a single tackle against the Gunners, and his attacking numbers of no completed dribbles or crosses highlight his struggles.

Porro’s own defensive displays have left a lot to be desired, but the Spaniard is known for his ability to return goal contributions.

Gareth Bale has praised Porro over recent months and Spurs will certainly need him to provide an outlet in attack.

Spurs landed just two of their attempted 11 crosses at the weekend, with Porro’s delivery sorely missed by the respective strikers.

With Mohamed Kudus’ contributions removed from the side, Porro could provide Dominic Solanke with the service he needs to thrive again.

Given how bad the 2025/26 campaign has been for Tottenham, fans can be forgiven for dreaming of an emotional return for Mauricio Pochettino in the summer.

Recently, Tottenham parted with Thomas Frank after eight months in charge, with the club languishing in 16th place in the Premier League table when he departed.

Igor Tudor is the man tasked with overseeing things on an interim basis, but it feels as though he’s only ever going to be in charge for the final dozen games of the Premier League season.

Which Tottenham player do you think is most likely to leave if the club are relegated?

The Croatian will have the sole remit of keeping the club in the top-flight and being competitive in the knockout stages of the Champions League.

Next season needs to be different, though and for Tottenham, they know that the next managerial appointment needs to be right, with Pochettino the man wanted by a lot of the fan base.

It’s not clear what to believe when it comes to the managerial links involving Tottenham ahead of the summer transfer window.

Lots of managers will be linked with such a high-profile position, and it remains to be seen who the club turns to.

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Pochettino could well be on the club’s shortlist, but Alan Brazil has now cleared up what he’s heard about any potential interest from Spurs.

He said on TalkSPORT: “I’m told categorically that Poch, who we thought may be coming back after the World Cup, no phone call, no nothing, no contact.”

Tottenham need to tread carefully over Pochettino appointment

It’s no surprise that, as Tottenham fans, the good times are being pined for, but the club must be careful not to get too misty-eyed.

Pochettino did brilliantly with Tottenham the first time around and led the group to a Champions League final where they were beaten by Liverpool in Madrid.

However, managerial appointments are never quite as good the second time around, and perhaps Tottenham would be wise to move forward instead.

A club like Tottenham should be going out and approaching managers with vast potential, and perhaps Oliver Glasner or Marco Silva would be better appointments.

There is an awful lot of water under the bridge when it comes to Spurs and Pochettino, and as a result, we are just not overly sure it’s a wise appointment.

Tottenham Hotspur remain without a Premier League win in 2026, but Nicky Butt believes Igor Tudor can turn things around with some ‘crazy’ team bonding exercises.

Tudor has landed in north London with the task of saving Tottenham from falling even further and into the Championship.

Losing against Arsenal was not the start the 47-year-old manager would have been hoping for in N17, with 11 cup finals now lying ahead of him in the Premier League.

Les Ferdinand did notice some improvements in Tottenham under their interim manager.

However, morale is at an all-time low at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and the Lilywhites need to find an answer quickly.

HIGHER or LOWER: Should Spurs’ odds of being relegated from the Premier League be bigger than just 4.2%?

The former Manchester United midfielder, Butt, believes Tudor could get a tune out of Spurs, but he needs to get his players up for the fight through team bonding activities.

Nicky Butt urges Igor Tudor to improve Tottenham’s morale ahead of relegation scrap

Wayne Rooney still believes Tottenham will avoid relegation, but the Lilywhites are not trending in the right direction.

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Spurs have gone their last three Premier League games without picking up a single point, with relegation becoming a real threat.

How many points will Tottenham take from their next four Premier League matches?

Speaking on The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast, Butt shared his belief that team bonding could actually save Spurs from the drop.

“It sounds crazy, this, but go and take them for a little trip away and get the camaraderie back together and get them wanting to play together, wanting to run through brick walls for each other,” he said.

“I just don’t see that manager doing that. I see that manager getting them on the coaching pitch – which they have to do, don’t get me wrong – but first and foremost, you’ve got to galvanise that changing room and get them all together.”

The concern Butt has stems from Tudor’s initial comments following his appointment, where he said he’s at Spurs to do a job not to enjoy his stint in north London.

However, Tudor has already been ignored by Micky van de Ven, which must highlight the demand for something to drastically change at Hotspur Way.

Tottenham must hark back to morale from Europa League triumph

It is clear to see that this season has drained everyone around the club, but Spurs cannot languish in their frustrations with relegation staring them in the face.

Less that 12 months ago, there was hundreds of thousands of Spurs fans celebrating the club’s Europa League triumph, which feels like a distant memory now.

The players must hark back to the togetherness they had on the back of that night in Bilbao.

Even players like James Maddison, who is currently out injured, will have a big role to play behind the scenes at Hotspur Way.

Only 11 games remain and Spurs need to find something within themselves to prevent what would be the biggest relegation upset in Premier League history.

Johan Lange rejected the chance to sign Ademola Lookman for just £34 million in January, and now the winger could eliminate Tottenham from the Champions League.

Tottenham Hotspur will face either Atletico Madrid or one of Galatasaray and Juventus in the Champions League round of 16 in March.

TRUE or FALSE: Ademola Lookman was a HUGE miss for Tottenham in January…

Spurs will soon learn their opponent and route in the Champions League following the conclusion of the qualifying round in the competition.

Facing Diego Simeone’s team would be a very tricky challenge, and with Lookman in red-hot form, he could really make them pay for turning him down.

Ademola Lookman could face Tottenham in the Champions League Round of 16

Ademola Lookman could now come back to haunt Johan Lange and Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League Round of 16.

Spurs versus Atletico is a very likely Champions League knockout tie, and the winger could show them what they missed out on.

Tom Barclay claims that Tottenham were offered Lookman several times last summer and January, but they opted against signing him.

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For £34m, it felt like a real bargain deal for Atleti, who have really enjoyed having the Nigerian international starring for them.

The 28-year-old has wasted little time impressing in the Spanish capital with seven goal involvements in seven matches under Simeone.

Venkatesham and Lange are highly unpopular among the Tottenham fans…😡

Should Spurs sack them at the end of the season?

Lookman would have been an ideal fit for Spurs’ European squad too, given the fact he is homegrown, having come through Charlton’s academy.

Spurs have been looking at Lookman for years, and now their decision not to sign him in January is proving to be rather costly.

Tottenham’s injuries highlight need for Ademola Lookman

Meanwhile, Tottenham’s current injury list further highlights the need for an attacker like Lookman.

Spurs were without 12 players for the North London derby and were forced to play without a natural left winger.

Wilson Odobert could be sidelined until 2027 after suffering an ACL injury; meanwhile, Mohammed Kudus and Dejan Kulusevski are also wingers who are unavailable.

Lookman would have offered real experience, having previously played in the Premier League and Champions League.

All in all, considering the team’s defences and the price, it just feels like a very bad move from Spurs not to sign him.

Conor Gallagher leaped at the opportunity to join Tottenham Hotspur in January and his £200k-per-week salary leaves little wonder behind his return to London.

Tottenham’s strict wage structure is well-known and has held the club back from continuing their progression from the days of Mauricio Pochettino.

The Lilywhites have never been a club that would break their wage structure to bring in a game-changing signing despite having the PSR headroom to do so.

Having signed Gallagher from Atletico Madrid for around £35m in January, The Guardian have now revealed the midfielder to be earning £200k-per-week in N17.

What GRADE would you give Conor Gallagher’s signing at Spurs?

That figure makes Gallagher Tottenham’s highest-earning player and asks the question of who is actually steering the ship at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Conor Gallagher’s salary highlights the Lewis family’s lost control at Tottenham

In the North London Derby at the weekend, Gallagher was hooked off by Igor Tudor shortly after the hour mark.

How many points will Tottenham take from their next four Premier League matches?

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It has not been a convincing start from the 26-year-old midfielder, who has started all six Premier League games since making his move.

Gallagher’s considerable pay packet is viewed as a turning point by those at the top of the club, with more big signings expected in the summer on the basis that Spurs avoid the drop.

The Lewis family are rightfully coming under scrutiny for the way the club is being run, with Vinai Venkatesham and Johan Lange steering the club towards relegation.

Wayne Rooney criticised Gallagher’s Spurs debut, with the midfielder still yet to really demonstrate what he is going to provide this Spurs side.

Tottenham absolutely must break their wage structure if they have any hope of getting back to the club they were just a couple of years ago.

However, for the Lilywhites to start this fresh outlook by signing Gallagher up to such a significant salary just sums up the poor judgement calls being made at board level.

Where Tottenham’s highest-earners rank after Conor Gallagher’s arrival

Gallagher’s staggering weekly wage has now set the precedent for any future Spurs signings and even potential contract renewals.

Although there may be doubts over his future, Spurs want to sign Micky van de Ven to a new deal, but his demands will only have increased on the back of Gallagher’s salary reveal.

There has to be a feeling that with every step forward, Tottenham take two steps back.

Bringing in players on a new wage structure should only benefit the club, but the board still has to be selective about which players they award the big wages to.

Of course, this all relies on Spurs dragging themselves out of the mess they find themselves in amongst the relegation battle.