Hotspur HQ

When Tottenham Hotspur opened the new year and, thus, a new transfer window, they had to know that the players at their disposal were not adequate and that the threat of relegation from the Premier League was something to keep in the back of their minds.

But by a combination of hubris and incompetence, Spurs signed just one player of experience in the winter transfer window, overpaying to bring in Conor Gallagher, whom Atletico Madrid had been desperate to sell on a permanent basis for years. Spurs broke their wage structure for a mediocre player jettisoned by Chelsea, spending more money than Aston Villa would have to sign Gallagher from the Rojiblancos. And if they had their way, they would have also brought in Andrew Robertson in a similarly poor decision.

Tottenham are teetering on the brink now, and while the issues at the club were already set before the winter transfer window began, that period of time has to be looked back on as an even bigger disaster with where Spurs are now. And the best word to describe that winter window is "unbecoming", because it was the moment where Spurs passed up on their chance to salvage their season and went full on into doomsday. That window should be an "unbecoming" one for Johan Lange and Vinai Venkatesham, whose futures at Spurs must be non existent now, regardless of whether Spurs stay up.

Johan Lange messed it all up in January

So much went wrong in that window. Not only did Spurs sign the wrong player in Conor Gallagher, but Johan Lange famously did not bring in anyone else to upgrade this thin and injury ravaged squad because he did not want to panic buy. Well, who is panicking now that his job is on the very line?

It's not just the fact that Tottenham Hotspur somehow got worse at the forward positions after the transfer window rather than better, but beyond the players they did or didn't sign, the biggest screw up of the winter window was in the manager's chair.

At that time, Spurs could have fired Thomas Frank. They should have. Doing so may have spared points in the table for Tottenham, who could have hired Roberto De Zerbi all the way back in February rather than waiting until the spring to do so, and they may not be in this mess right now.

As Ademola Lookman shines for Atletico Madrid and Tottenham's forwards - the ones left standing - continue to struggle to score, Tottenham fans look back even more at January as a huge missed opportunity and the "unbecoming" moment where Spurs truly unraveled into a descent into the rest of England's relegation fodder.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Roberto De Zerbi has given the fans hope of survival with a draw against Brighton and a win over Wolves in their last two matchups, but things will get a lot more difficult for the Lilywhites both this weekend against former top four rivals Aston Villa and even the following weekend against Leeds United, who have nearly scrambled themselves to safety.

Spurs are mostly forging forward with the veteran players in the squad, and young Mathys Tel has been one of the biggest casualties of that, despite being the team's best attacking player over the past couple of months. Though, of course, given the state of the competition, that isn't necessarily saying much.

Still, Tel's importance to Tottenham was pretty evident even last weekend, as he came off the bench and changed he game, winning the corner that led to the crucial goal to push Spurs to a three points that, had they not obtained them would have meant almost sure fire relegation at this point.

Mathys Tel is a solution

The fight Tel has is beyond what his attacking teammates are offering, and though Dominic Solanke was not actually a big help these last several games, the injury to the striker takes a mainstay of the early Roberto De Zerbi early out of the Tottenham Hotspur starting XI.

Though De Zerbi may prefer the experience of the veteran players, Mathys Tel is his best option. And though Tel primarly plays as a left winger, some of his most decisive performances this season, including against the very same Leeds, have been as a left sided forward in a two striker system.

Richarlison is the far superior option to Randal Kolo Muani and also meshes better with Tel, especially from what Spurs fans have seen this season. For De Zerbi, with Xavi SImons injured, Solanke out, and no right winger in the squad, shifting Tel back into the starting lineup and utilizing a two striker formation, which will be even more dangerous once James Maddison returns to be the No. 10, is the obvious conclusion here.

Tel has to start. Tottenham fans have been screaming that fact to three managers now, and if Tel's key play against Wolves wasn't an indication, then maybe the entirety of the season's data that De Zerbi has to reflect on will be. It's do or die for Spurs at this point, and with De Zerbi showing he is not married to one way of playing or one idea in order to survive, then, perhaps, he should make that same decision with Tel and play him despite his youth.

While obviously any time is a great time for a player and leader of the caliber of James Maddison to return to the fold, Tottenham Hotspur are especially desperate for the English attacking midfielder to make his return to the starting lineup after Xavi Simons tore his ACL at the worst possible time - as if there were ever an opportune time for a player to tear an ACL.

Maddison tore his ACL at the end of the 2024/25 season, unable to participate in the Europa League Final triumph over Manchester United. But the playmaker extraordinaire was very much a part of that historic triumph, fulfilling a successful season in a Spurs shirt after years of credibility in the English top flight with darlings Leicester City.

Now, Maddison is working his way back from injury and very close to formally returning. He was in the squad as early on as the Brighton fixture, and it may only be a game or two until Roberto De Zerbi reintegrates Maddison into the action.

James Maddison is a 10 only

Even with Simons leaving the lineup, how Maddison fits become an interesting point of discussion. Before the injury to Xavi Simons, the Dutchman was actually playing as a left winger with Conor Gallagher in somewhat of a defensive 10 role, Yves Bissouma and Rodrigo Bentancur lined up behind him in midfield.

James Maddison is obviously, then, not a like for like change for Simons. He does not have the same explosiveness or agility to play on the wings. So the 10 position is his. Then, does Mathys Tel become the new left winger? Does Roberto De Zerbi go for a more formal two striker system again with Richarlison and Randal Kolo Muani in light of Dominic Solanke's own injury?

How about two No. 10's? Conor Gallagher and Maddison next to each other with Maddison playing off the left so he can cut inside and score? Now, four midfielders woud narrow the formation too much, so coud Spurs instead roll with three and have a solitary deep mid? Rodrigo Bentancur to build the play up? Or is that skimping too much on defense? But then if Joao Palhinha is the solitary defensive midfielder, then Spurs are screwed when building it out of the back.

The best bet for Spurs may, then, be a diamond. Maddison in the 10, Gallagher and Bissouma staying as 8's with Bentancur as a deep lying "playmaker" and then Richy and Kolo Muani up top. Or how about Tel on the left and Richy on the right? Tel is the better of the two Frenchmen, after all, and will actually fight for the team.

See, Roberto De Zerbi has to juggle with the impressive but less versatile Maddison comign back to pull the strings in the attacking midfield. And it's anyone's guess as to which of these decisions and pushes and pulls he chooses.

Although the 2025/26 Premier League season is far from over for Tottenham Hotspur with literally everything left to play for in the relegation battle, regardless of whether or not Spurs stay up, the campaign can only be described as an utter embarrassment that reflects upon just how far the standard has fallen at the club. Or rather, maybe the standard they were setting was already in the gutter after the dismissal of Mauricio Pochettino, with only the sheer brilliance of Premier League legends Son Heung-min and Harry Kane shrouding the totality of their ineptitude.

Tottenham have managed to hit a nadir this season, and sitting 18th placed in the Premier League, they are under the very real threat of relegation to the EFL Championship despite the recent splash hire of Roberto De Zerbi - a move, unfortunately, that is likely too little, too late.

But again, regardless of the ultimate outcome of the 2025/26 season, Spurs have been shameful this season, and there needs to be consequences. And the first move, therefore, of the summer 2026 transfer window has to be getting Johan Lange and Vinai Venkatesham out the door as quickly as possible. If anyone competent will even have the Spurs job at this point, that individual needs to come in as soon as possible so that Spurs can get moving on an actual productive summer transfer window.

Tottenham must clean house

Whenever a team is coming off a season as horrendous as this one - and, in all honesty, Spurs were also horrible in 2024/25 despite the Europa League triumph papering over all that - they are at a critical crossroads in terms of the overall health of their organization. And in this critical period, Spurs must act swiftly, lest the festering infection that has already rotted out the squad turns them into a full on corpse in the Schalke or Bordeaux mold.

Lange and Venkatesham have proven inept in ways that are so profound, even the Tottenham Hotspur faithful are wondering if they regret losing Daniel Levy. Because whereas Levy was greedy, he was not incompetent; his problem is that his goal was raising that sweet private equity dough. Meanwhile, Vinai and Lange are so grossly incompetent, that it is impossible to ascertain what their actual goal or vision is, with Spurs fans even questioning sabotage on the part of the former Arsenal man. And these guys have to go, because if they don't, they will make the same mistakes that they have already been repeating - and a relegated Spurs may not even make it out of the Championship.

Dominic Solanke has scored just three goals in 15 Premier League games this season. However, having a player such as Alex Scott behind him would boost his productivity.

The Tottenham Hotspur striker has lacked service this campaign with several top midfielders out, and new signings such as Conor Gallagher not performing.

Solanke has been unlucky with injuries this season; an ankle injury kept him out from August until January. He also recently had to limp off in the first half against Wolverhampton Wanderers with a knee problem. It is still not known when he will return to action.

Tottenham's roster has been decimated by injuries this season. Xavi Simons will miss the rest of the season. James Maddison has not played this campaign yet. Whilst Mohammed Kudus, Wilson Odobert, Pape Matar Sarr, Destiny Udogie, Ben Davies, Cristian Romero, and Guglielmo Vicario are all also out.

Missing these players has contributed to the predicament that Spurs are currently in. They are currently in the bottom three with a real chance of an unprecedented relegation. The Spurs board must also take blame for their managerial appointments; Thomas Frank did not work out, Igor Tudor failed drastically, and Roberto De Zerbi has inherited a difficult situation.

Would Alex Scott come to Tottenham Hotspur?

If Tottenham are to be relegated to the Championship, then there is no chance that Scott would join. His AFC Bournemouth side is currently seventh in the Premier League and has a real chance of qualifying for Europe this season.

There is uncertainty at Bournemouth with their manager, Andoni Iraola, already announcing that he will leave the club at the end of the season. The Cherries already lost Antoine Semenyo to Manchester City in January, and more of their top players could depart this summer.

If Tottenham stay up, then signing Scott could be a possibility. Despite enduring a very poor season, Spurs are still one of the biggest clubs in the country with one of the best stadiums and training grounds.

At Bournemouth, Scott is used to playing in front of 11,000 supporters. The capacity of the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is nearly 63,000. Therefore, it would be no surprise if Scott were to be tempted by the move to North London.

Spurs also have De Zerbi contracted until 2031, so they have potential if they stay in the Premier League. The Italian did a very good job at Brighton & Hove Albion, getting them into Europe, which followed a stint at Marseille. He has the credentials to get Spurs back to the upper echelons of English soccer.

Cristian Romero is done for the rest of the season, joining a laundry list of Tottenham Hotspur stars who can no longer aid the club in their efforts to avoid relegation from the Premier League. Mohammed Kudus, Dejan Kulusevski, and Xavi Simons are the others, while James Maddison is still working his way back from a torn ACL.

But there is one more top player at Tottenham who was supposed to write himself in the books as a nailed on, world class player this season who is actually healthy. Romero's center back partner Micky van de Ven is the best player remaining on the team who has not been struck down by injury, yet Spurs supporters won't see him as one of the best on the grounds of how poor his form has been this season.

No single player has been as disappointing during the heat of the relegation battle these last couple of months than Van de Ven. His inconsistency, ill discipline, and genuine regression in play, though he was honestly not as great as some fans hyped him up last season, have been hallmarks of Spurs overall struggles as a squad in 2025/26.

Micky van de Ven has been poor this season

With the season ending on May 24 against Everton, the Tottenham Hotspur defender has exactly one month left to rewrite the narrative of his 2025/26 season - one that will be measured both by his own efforts in these final, crucial games, as well as Spurs overall performance as a team and ability to avoid relegation to the EFL Championship.

Calling Micky van de Ven's current campaign anything other than a humiliation would be all too complimentary of his work this season. He has been more of a mistake machine than anything else, badly exposing his own lack of progression on the mental aspects of the game and an overreliance on speed and athleticism.

It is surprising, then, that Van de Ven continues to be linked with clubs as ballyhooed as Liverpool, Barcelona, and even the mighty Real Madrid in the summer transfer window. Imagine a Real Madrid side already mired in ego and dysfunction being interested in a player who just cost his team relegation - and a club as big as the very Spurs side that gave them Luka Modric and Gareth Bale, no less.

Van de Ven has that riding on his resume. The last thing the young Dutch center back wants is to be forever known as one of the chief architects of Spurs demise in 2025/26. The clock is ticking.

Conor Gallagher only joined Tottenham Hotspur from Atlético Madrid in January, but his future at the North London club is already uncertain.

It was seen as a bit of a coup for Tottenham to sign Gallagher, as he was a good player for Atlético in La Liga. Chelsea fans were also sad to see him go, as he was their captain and someone who had come through the ranks at the club.

Gallagher has joined Tottenham at a bad time, as they are under a real threat of being relegated to the Championship. Spurs are currently 18th in the Premier League, which is the final relegation place. They are just two points behind West Ham United, and it looks like a straight shootout between the two London clubs for who goes down.

The midfielder has played 14 times for Spurs, without scoring, but did make an assist in a 2-2 draw with Manchester City. Tottenham fans were not proud of that result, as it did a favor to their North London rivals Arsenal in the title race. Gallagher also featured in Spurs 7-5 aggregate defeat to his former club Atlético in the Champions League.

Where could Conor Gallagher go next?

Gallagher has been heavily criticized for his performances, and his future will be uncertain even if Spurs stay in the Premier League. If Tottenham go down, then he will likely be sold, as will many of the club's high earners.

He has been linked with Everton, which could be a good fit for Gallagher. However, it would mean the player moving his family away from London again. However, he has played for English clubs outside of the capital in the past, with loan moves to Swansea City and West Bromwich Albion.

David Moyes already tried to get Jack Grealish's career back on track with Everton, and he could do the same for another England player in Gallagher. Gallagher has lost his place in the Three Lions roster due to his poor form this season. He last featured for Thomas Tuchel's side in a 3-1 defeat to Senegal in June of last year.

Spurs fans have never taken to Gallagher, as he is so associated with Chelsea. He is from a family of Blues supporters, and the rivalry between them and Tottenham has become fierce. It has not helped that Gallagher is struggling in a team that is in a relegation fight.

There is no margin for error left for Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League relegation fight. Even after defeating Wolves 1-0 last weekend to pick up their first win in 15 straight league fixtures, Spurs remain one of the three teams slated for relegation to the EFL Championship.

Lately, a potential hero has emerged for Spurs under new manager Roberto De Zerbi in the form of Rodrigo Bentancur, who has seemed to be reborn again since returning from a hamstring injury. Bentancur has looked sharper and even more confident than he did earlier this season, becoming a fixture in the starting lineup, even at the expense of young gem Archie Gray.

De Zerbi is favoring the veteran players and continuity as a formula to getting out of the Premier League dugout, but Spurs supporters will be rightfully leery here. Not just because Dominic Solanke had his own purple patch post injury return, only to fade back into obscurity soon after, but also because Bentancur himself has had uneven months this season.

Rodrigo Bentancur is being braver

Rodrigo Bentancur was never a brave player for Juventus, and those bad habits were an issue in the first half of the 2025/26 Premier League season. Even back then, Thomas Frank was forced to bench Benta for Archie Gray, unable to believe in the veteran player's consistency.

So Tottenham Hotspur's Premier League survival hopes rest on the shoulders of Bentancur being able to avoid regressing into being that same player who avoids the ball, passes sideways, and gets run over by even the most mediocre teams in the league - teams whom Tottenham would, at this point, pray to trade places with now that there are mere matches left in the campaign.

Bentancur, at his best, is a quality midfielder who can lead by example, make smart passes, and cover adequately for the defense. He has shown these traits in the draw with Brighton and the win over Wolves, which is why Roberto De Zerbi will continue to lean on the Uruguayan with a Serie A pedigree.

At his worst, though, Bentancur is a liability and not at all a better option than Gray, let alone even someone like Joao Palhinah who offers more rugged defending. If Bentancur keeps this form up, he can be an impetus for saving Spurs. If he is to fall off at any point into the player we saw in the first half of the season, then Spurs are royally screwed.

Tottenham are back in action on Sunday when they face an Aston Villa side battling to secure Champions League football. Spurs are bidding to stay in the Premier League, still two points from safety, even after last weekend's win over Wolves, and they need a big result or two from games like this one.

Roberto De Zerbi is not helped by a number of injuries in his squad, though, with yet another season of injuries aplenty at Tottenham, and this is going to be a big task in the Midlands. Ahead of the game, we have rounded up the early injury news ahead of the game, just jeep in mind that Villa do play on Thursday night in Europe.

Boubacar Kamara - Out

Kamara is out for the season with a knee injury.

Amadou Onana - Doubt

Onana has been battling a knee issue of his own, but he could return.

Alysson Franco - Out

Alysson is getting closer as he rehabs an injury, but he will not be back yet.

Xavi Simons - Out

Simons is out for the season, the World Cup and a chunk of next season after it was confirmed: "Xavi has ruptured the Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) in his right knee. Xavi will undergo surgery in the coming weeks and, following that, will then begin his rehabilitation with our medical team."

Destiny Udogie - Doubt

De Zerbi said before last week's game: "Destiny has a problem and can't play tomorrow. So, it's not a big problem. I hope Destiny will be available next week at Villa Park. It's a muscular injury, not so important. He didn't play for a long time, and it can happen at the beginning..."

Pape Matar Sarr - Doubt

Sarr sat out last weekend with a shoulder injury. It's hoped he can return here.

Dominic Solanke - Out

Solanke has a hamstring issue, and even if it does not prove to be serious, it's extremely unlikely he will be involved this weekend.

Wilson Odobert - Out

Odobert is out for the season, having suffered a serious knee injury. He will be targeting a return some time next winter.

Dejan Kulusevski - Out

It was hoped Kulusevski could return before the end of the season, but we now know he will not. De Zerbi has confirmed: "I'm sorry for him because he was one of my perfect players. He is a very specific player for me, like Kudus, like Romero. I hope for him that he can play in the World Cup because for a player [it] is the best period of their career. I don't know the situation very well."

Cristian Romero - Out

Romero is going to miss the rest of the season with a knee injury. De Zerbi said: "First of all, Romero loves Tottenham. People have to know he's suffering for this injury, suffering because he can't play for us again this season. He's a great captain for us. We have to be positive."

Ben Davies - Out

Davies is working towards a return from his ankle surgery, but it seems he is unlikely to return until some time in May.

Guglielmo Vicario - Doubt

Vicario returned to training on Monday and will be hoping he can return to the pitch this weekend, but he may be held aside until fully fit.

Mohammed Kudus - Out

Kudus remains out, and it looks as though he will now be out for the season after a setback. De Zerbi said recently: "He had returned to team training during the past week. However, he will now require further specialist review and, potentially, surgery. We will provide any relevant further updates in due course."

One Tottenham star is remaining committed to the cause despite talk he could leave the club. Spurs are in a mess currently, still in the relegation zone and two points from safety with time running out.

With relegation still a strong possibility, a number of players are already being linked with an exit, but Radu Dragusin's agent has suggested that there is nothing on the table for his client at this stage.

The next few weeks are going to be monumental for Tottenham, who will be buoyed, entering this final run, by their first win under Roberto De Zerbi, which came against Wolves over the weekend.

The downside was that West Ham and and Nottingham Forest also won, so Spurs' hope of making up ground turned into simply keeping pace.

Nevertheless, Tottenham have kept themselves in the race, and they know they need to focus on taking care of their own business and win games if they are going to have a chance.

And it will be interesting to see if Dragusin gets an improved role, with the defender, who returned from a serious knee injury in December, having only played a single minute of game time under De Zerbi so far.

Radu Dragusin just downplayed Tottenham's concern with Radu Dragusin

Dragusin was left on the bench for three of the last four, and he has to be frustrated with his game time, especially with Cristian Romero absent through injury.

But according to his agent, Florin Manea, talk of a return to Italy for Dragusin is very premature and, at this stage, unfounded.

“Radu didn’t ask me for anything,” he insisted to Digi Sport. "I said we won’t talk until the end of the championship; he’s focused on saving Tottenham. I also talked to him last night, we have time, no one is rushing us for now. If someone calls me, you’ll realise I’m talking, but I haven’t been contacted, I’m telling you the truth.”

“As I said, his priority now is saving Tottenham. I haven’t talked to Fiorentina, Juventus or even Tottenham. I’ll arrive in England next week, I’ll meet with Radu and we’ll see,”

Dragusin has never really proved himself at Tottenham, producing disastrous performances aplenty last season, when playing at centre-back under Ange Postecoglou. To his credit, the Romanian has produced some better displays this season. However, he still hasn't looked like the player Tottenham thought he was when they committed £21.5million plus add-ons to signing him from Genoa in the winter of 2024.