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Despite multiple disaster classes in important games, including a tragic red card vs. Crystal Palace that may cost Tottenham Hotspur the Premier League, center back Micky van de Ven is one of the most coveted players on the summer 2026 transfer market. La Liga rivals Real Madrid and Barcelona are lining up to bid for the Dutchman this year, but he is not the only Spurs talent top clubs want to steal away.

The biggest gem, by far, is Luka Vuskovic. Just 18 years of age, the Hamburg center back is having a season for the ages, and the shouts of him being a Sergio Ramos regen by Spurs fans during the preseason may have actually been an understatement rather than an overstatement.

A Bundesliga Player of the Season candidate after the Bayern Munich duo of Harry Kane and Michael Olise, Vuskovic has even played himself onto Bayern's radar, though he appears to be more interested in staying in northern Germany for one more year of seasoning.

Barcelona, others want Luka Vuskovic

Well, Spurs supporters worst fear is that he will never make it back to the N17 because of all the interest from Bayern in him, and now those fears are being accelerated by another one of European football's biggest clubs - and an even bigger club, if you ask Robert Lewandowski.

According to a report from Sky Sports Germany's Florian Plettenberg, via Spurs Global, Barcelona have added Luka Vuskovic to Micky van de Ven in their search for a world class center back. Plettenberg says that Barca have already begun initial talks with Vuskovic's camp, further adding that other top European clubs are after the Hambrug sensation.

With Tottenham closer and closer to relegation after their brutal loss to rivals Crystal Palace, the sad reality of Vuskovic leaving early to a bigger club is starting to sink in. Vuskovic was so good this season, and the worst part of all this is that even when Spurs get a young gem right, they are so futile as an organization that they will not get to truly benefit from him. It is a story as old as time, dating back to when Luka Modric and Gareth Bale were stolen away by Real Madrid before their peaks.

What makes the Vuskovic situation even worse is that Tottenham may not even get to enjoy a big transfer fee as they did with Bale, as Vuskovic is not yet at peak value and Spurs may not have any leverage at all if they are indeed relegated.

With a 3-1 loss to Crystal Palace and an implosion at the stroke of half time after psuedo captain Micky van de Ven's abhorrent sending off, Tottenham Hotspur truly are on the brink of relegation like never before. And though the relegation would come without Daniel Levy as the club's CEO, the notion purported by many fans that Levy would have saved them from relegation could not be further from the truth.

Because as much as the ills of Tottenham right now are owed to the incompetent duo of Vinai Venkatesham and Johan Lange, this relegation would very much have Levy's paw prints all over it. Just because Levy is not in charge right now at this moment of crisis does not mean his actions of the past several years that led up to this point are all of a sudden erased or attributed to someone else.

The current malaise of Tottenham Hotspur can very much be attributed to the culture and the actions of Levy that have been built up over the years, and while some level of evil shrewdness may have been holding the tatters of Spurs together they were 17th last season - only kept alive by the historic ineptitude of the trio of newcomers from the EFL Championship.

Daniel Levy is as responsible as anyone for this

And now, as evidenced by their latest losses in the London derbies, Tottenham themselves are as incompetent as any club in European football. The mentality of this team is weak, the underperformance is historic, and the way Levy has set them up to fail is almost a middle finger on the way out of his exit at the start of the 2025/26 campaign.

Levy should not be praised by the Tottenham faithful or remembered fondly, because while even Mr. Levy had his positive traits, keeping Spurs competitive was not necessarily one of them. That credit is owed to the players who came before, especially titans of the sport like Son Heung-min and Harry Kane.

There were very few reasons for Tottenham Hotspur fans to be happy after their brutal 3-1 loss to Crystal Palace, fueled by yet another disastrous performance by Micky van de Ven - a man who has done a lot to destroy his reputation with the arm band around him. But young center midfielder Archie Gray was the one thing resembling a silver lining in defeat.

Though he is just 19 years old, Gray showed a mentality far beyond that of his teammates, who have frustrated the fan base with their egos and thin skin this season. Gray was the one guy running hard and fighting to keep Tottenham afloat, and though he did get an assist in back to back losses, once again, his contributions were not enough for Spurs to turn the tide.

Even so, Tottenham fans appreciate Gray's resolve greatly. Many of his teammates could stand to learn from him, and juxtaposed to what Van de Ven did against Crystal Palace, Gray certainly looked more like captain's material than either the Dutchman or even the (too harshly) criticized real captain, Cristian Romero.

Archie Gray was doubted by Tottenham fans

So often this season, Gray has been disrespected by the managers, even played out of position in these two games against Fulham and Crystal Palace. But Gray never complains or lets his head down. Instead, he grinds harder than anyone else in the team and focuses on what he can do to help Spurs win and make his teammates look good, even as they routinely fail him in return.

What makes all this even more remarkable is that many of his own fans at Tottenham have slagged him off this season, criticizing him and openly wondering why clubs as big as Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, and Real Madrid are all lining up with transfer interest in the 19 year old.

Well, if by now those same Spurs supporters do not value Gray, then there is no hope for them, because Gray has proven them to be quite foolish for their critiques. There are indeed a lot of overrated players at Tottenham and characters who do not deserve to hold the weight of this jersey, but Gray is absolutely not one of those expendable parts.

Gray has the mentality of a future superstar, and if the elite clubs in European football and even his new teammates like Xavi Simons can see it, then those fans who did not were always going to be proven horribly wrong.

Like Tottenham Hotspur's season, star centr back Micky van de Ven began the 2025/26 campaign so brightly, even scoring a Puskas quality solo goal. But as the season has gone on, Van de Ven has devolved into one of the club's biggest problems, and it is baffling that Real Madrid and Barcelona are both rumored to be driving hard after such a mistake prone player.

Tottenham have been the biggest underachievers in world football this season with a squad of players who have either recently played for top European clubs or are, like Van de Ven, linked to top clubs. And yet, here they are, barely treading water in the Premier League relegation fight and now coming off a 3-1 drubbing at the hands of another mid table London rival in Crystal Palace.

This was a must win game for Spurs, and though the Lilywhites were up 1-0 in the first half, they immediately collapsed after Van de Ven's insane red card, pulling down Ismaila Sarr in childish fashion. Tottenham were immediately doomed, surrending three goals at the cusp of half time and unable to get back into the game.

Micky van de Ven is no mentality monster

Van de Ven has almost doomed Spurs to relegation, though his moment of madness was far from his first error in relief of Cristian Romero as the leader of the back line and the club's captain. No player in recent memory has disgraced the captaincy honor for Spurs quite like Van de Ven, who was already a monumental flop at the weekend in the atrocious loss to Fulham.

In one moment, he became even worse against Crystal Palace with this red. All season long, Van de Ven has alienated himself to supporters, screaming at them after tough losses or blatantly ignoring them or even his manager when things do not go his way.

He is more petulant child than growing young leader, and clubs like Real Madrid and Barcelona built on mentality monsters at center back during their peak achievements like Carles Puyol, Sergio Ramos, Pepe, Fernando Hierro, and Rafa Marquez should want nothing to do with this guy,

Tottenham Hotspur knew they were facing a must win proposition against rivals Crystal Palace on Thursday night after back to back losses to rivals Arsenal and Fulham, and they had just watched Nottingham Forest draw Manchester City while West Ham defeated those same Cottagers the night before to put themselves a point away in the Premier League relegation fight.

And instead of fighting back, Tottenham imploded, never recovering from a brutal Micky van de Ven red card. Here are four players who proved during Spurs 3-1 loss to Crystal Palace that they do not belong at this great club.

ST Randal Kolo Muani

The most obvious name to include, Randal Kolo Muani is a hired gun who used up all his bullets in a desperate attempt to prove to his actual employers PSG that he wasn't a monumental waste of money on their part.

Despite the fact that Tottenham were shopping Kolo Muani in the winter transfer window after the overrated French striker basically gave up on the team openly by not even pretending to try during games, Spurs supporters were optimistic that Igor Tudor, who coached him effectively at Juventus, could get the most out of him.

Nope. Kolo Muani was as bad as he has ever been against Crystal Palace, and you can just tell that he does not give two pennies about Tottenham Hotspur.

CB Micky van de Ven

And neither does Micky van de Ven. It was a joke to see VDV wearing the captain's arm band against Crystal Palace, and he made the honor look like a joke, too, with a horrendous red card against Crystal Palace that proves every negative thing the press says about Cristian Romero actually holds true for this guy.

Van de Ven's attitude is getting Spurs relegated, and it is baffling to think a player with his character believes he is the next great Real Madrid center back. Sergio Ramos, Pepe, and Fernando Hierro would turn this guy into orange juice pulp.

CM Conor Gallagher

Conor Gallagher is in the running for the worst Tottenham signing of all time. He was a bad idea at the time, and he is only getting worse and worse with each passing game. You would have been forgiven for forgetting that he was subbed into the match after VDV's red card, and it is no coinincidence that Spurs imploded upon his introduction into the match.

GK Guglielmo Vicario

Out of all the players on this list, Guglielmo Vicario was the least bad against Crystal Palace, but that's like handing out an award to the healthiest fast food restaurant. Tottenham fans rightfully booed Vicario for another game in which he failed to do anything of value between the sticks, and there is no way he is still starting in goal for Spurs next season.

It's games like this that show you who really belongs at the club, and after Tottenham Hotspur were demolished 3-1 by Crystal Palace in a must win game, it's patently obvious that there are number of big names who do not deserve to wear this prestigious badge.

Micky van de Ven may have dreams of grandeur at European football's biggest clubs, but with the arm band around him after Cristian Romero's terrible red card, Van de Ven committed an even less forgiveable red card. And after Van de Ven was sent off for an embarrassing pullback at the end of the first half, the entire game fell apart for Spurs, who gave up three goals in a flurry to go down 3-1 in mere minutes.

Van de Ven put them in a hole they could not recover from, and days after a disaster class against Fulham in which he, once again, disrespected his own fans, the young Dutch defender sealed the fact that he will never, ever be a leader for this team - and if he thinks Real Madrid or Barcelona will want that kind of character in their dressing room, he is sorely mistaken.

Micky van de Ven lost the game for Tottenham

Meanwhile, young center midfielder Archie Gray was one of the few players to distinguish themselves positively, and after assisting late against Fulham over the weekend, the teenage sensation added another assist to his ledger to initially give Spurs a lead that did not last long at all, thanks to Van de Ven's pig headedness.

Gray was everything Van de Ven was not. Whereas Van de Ven was selfish and ill disciplined, Gray always thought about the others. He put his teammates first and worked his socks off, making no excuses and never crying nor let his head drop, which is an example many of his more veteran teammates need to follow.

You can see why the two ultimate mentality monster teams in world football, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, want to sign Archie Gray so badly. He may not be rated by some people in his own country and even his own club fan base, but all those with a footballing brain can see that the former Leeds United prospect has that someting special.

Gray did not get to fully enjoy playing in his preferred position, and yet he was still an effective player for Tottenham on a night when, once again, nothing seemed to go right for the Lilywhites. Whereas Van de Ven lost the game for Spurs, Gray never wilted. These are the characters and young leaders Tottenham need.

Are Tottenham Hotspur actually going to get relegated? Given that they were missing ten senior first-team figures for Sunday's 2-1 defeat at Craven Cottage, new manager Igor Tudor has very limited options from which to choose, although that is not the case in goal. So, he should consider leaving out Guglielmo Vicario and giving Antonín Kinský an opportunity, something predecessor Thomas Frank never did.

Ahead of Thursday night's clash with Crystal Palace, the pressure was cranked up on Spurs just that little bit more. That's because the night before, West Ham United won 1-0 at Fulham. In the meantime, Nottingham Forest came from behind twice to draw 2-2 with Manchester City which, worse still for Spurs supporters, massively helped Arsenal's title aspirations.

At the bottom, Tottenham are now just one point clear of both West Ham and Forest, meaning they could find themselves in the bottom three by the time they kick off at Anfield on 15 March. To avoid this fate, the Lilywhites must beat Crystal Palace at home on Thursday night and, ahead of this massive clash, Tudor should consider a bold decision in goal.

Guglielmo Vicario has slowly withered away at Tottenham

Replacing Hugo Lloris as Tottenham's first-choice goalkeeper was never going to be easy, given that the French World Cup winner made 447 appearances for the club, only eight men have more. To fill this role, Ange Postecoglou chose Guglielmo Vicario and, three seasons into the Italian's time in North London, he is still yet to look convincing.

Note: Statistics via FBref & SofaScore.

In the Premier League this season, Vicario has faced the third-most shots, but ranks fourth-bottom in terms of save percentage, above only Bernd Leno, Sam Johnstone and Lucas Perri.

Overall, Vicario's statistics are generally pretty middling if not alarming; only Emi Martínez and Nick Pope have been responsible for more errors leading to a goal, while the fact he ranks fourth in terms of runs out underlines Spurs' chaotic back-line. In short, the 29-year-old is simply not a calming presence nor a commanding figure, so does Antonín Kinský deserve an opportunity?

The Czech international arrived last January as Spurs searched far and wide for someone better than Fraser Forster. The 22-year-old made ten appearances last season, before being sidelined upon Vicario's return from injury, and has seen just two outings this time round, both in the EFL Cup against Doncaster and Newcastle.

Ahead of October's visit to St James' Park, there was some talk among Spurs supporters that Kinský could displace Vicario, only for a less-than-convincing display on Tyneside to quieten that chatter. Nevertheless, as Tudor searches for any solutions to Spurs' slide towards oblivion, he needs to change something, and the goalkeeper is a rare spot he does have a choice to make, so why not give Kinský a chance?

Tottenham have no idea how to win games of football, but they'd ought to ditch their amnesia when Crystal Palace come to town on Thursday night.

Igor Tudor's arrival hasn't yet had the desired effect, with the Croatian overseeing back-to-back defeats at the start of his tenure. Still, Palace's visit presents a big opportunity for this broken squad.

I maintain the belief that merely one win could make all the difference. Our winless run dates back to the end of December, and the threat of relegation is real. Victory on Thursday, no matter how it arrives, could alleviate such fears.

Tudor isn't expected to welcome any players back midweek, with Spurs poised for another extended break until they're next in Premier League action as a result of the upcoming FA Cup slate.

Here's how the Lilywhites could line up against the Eagles.

Tottenham predicted lineup vs. Crystal Palace (3-4-1-2)

Goalkeeper & Defenders

Guglielmo Vicario (GK)—Statistically, Vicario has been one of the worst goalkeepers in the Premier League this season. The glory days of 2023/24 feel like a lifetime ago. Still, he remains our No. 1.

Kevin Danso (CB)—Danso played just a few minutes on Sunday against Fulham but should be ready for a return to the starting lineup on Thursday.

Radu Drăgușin (CB)—Assuming Tudor sticks with a back three (perhaps unwisely), Drăgușin will likely remain at the heart of it. Hopefully, this is the Romanian's final appearance in lilywhite.

Micky van de Ven (CB)—Van de Ven has struggled in Cristian Romero's absence as of late, with the Dutchman among those who don't seem up for the fight. Let's hope we see something different midweek.

Midfielders

Pedro Porro (RWB)—Porro's return didn't pay immediate dividends, but the Spaniard tends to enjoy his outings against Palace. The Spaniard offers this team some much-needed technical quality out wide.

Yves Bissouma (CM)—I'm not sure what direction Tudor will turn in midfield, but Bissouma has started both of the games overseen by the Croatian.

Pape Matar Sarr (CM)—Sarr was pretty good in the second half on Sunday, and he should be included over Conor Gallagher if Tudor is picking between the two. Gallagher hasn't settled at all since joining the club in January.

João Souza (LWB)—Tudor spoke positively of the young Brazilian ahead of Thursday's game, and I think his inclusion is necessary from a tactical perspective.

Forwards

Xavi Simons (AM)—After a poor couple of showings, Tottenham need the very best of their creative Dutchman against the stubborn Eagles. The away side are set to dig in, and moments of attacking inspiration must be supplied by the Puma boots of Xavi.

Dominic Solanke (ST)—Toss-up between Solanke and Randal Kolo Muani, for me. Either could find themselves in Tudor's frontline after both struggled to have an influence at Craven Cottage.

Tottenham Hotspur still have a chance to move up to 15th in the Premier League table with a win over Crystal Palace on Thursday night, but now their next London derby matchup is an even bigger must win for manager Igor Tudor and his men after they watched not only Nottingham Forest share the spoils 2-2 with title challengers Manchester City but also watched West Ham get a big win.

Thanks to a goal from left winger Crysencio Summerville and an assist from Jarrod Bowen - both of whom have been linked in transfer rumors to Tottenham - the Hammers prevailed 1-0 against London rivals Fulham. You know, the same Cottagers that made mince meat out of Spurs yet again this past Premier League weekend in 2-1 fashion.

The draw from Forest and the win from Nuno Espirito Santo's West Ham now mean that Spurs are a measly one point ahead of these two sides in the relegation battle. Spurs are 16th in the league table with 29 points while Forest and West Ham both have 28 points (with Forest just above the drop zone by virtue of goal difference).

Tottenham could have signed Crysencio Summerville

Now, Spurs are still ahead of these two, but they cannot afford to lose their breathing space by dropping any points against the Eagles on Thursday night. All the pressure is on Tudor and the team in this reunion with Europa League hero Brennan Johnson.

As if watching West Ham and Nottingham Forest get big results were not enough, the Hammers added another blow to Tottenham Hotspur by having Summerville be the one to score the winning goal for them in the game.

Summerville was sensational all around, registering six combined dribbles completed and fouls drawn in a great progressive and creative performance in addition to the goal. The young Dutch left winger has been a real positive since signing over from the EFL Championship last season, and he could very well continue to shape this relegation race.

Having just lost 4-1 and 2-1 to London rivals Arsenal and Fulham, Tottenham Hotspur are facing what is seen widely by the fan base as a must win matchup on Thursday against another local rival in Crystal Palace. Complicating things, though, will be the absence of a key defensive player in Djed Spence, who would have been the projected starting left back with Destiny Udogie himself still injured yet again.

Spence was a late scratch from the lineup on Sunday in the eventual 2-1 loss to the Cottagers, as he has been dealing with a calf injury. Although many Tottenham fans would readily start the young Souza over him at the natural left back position, Tottenham manager Igor Tudor baffingly didn't even start his 19 year old winter transfer with Spence out, instead opting to play Archie Gray out of position there.

In his latest injury update on the squad before Tottenham Hotspur take on Crystal Palace, Tudor confirmed that Spence will not be playing against the Eagles. He is expected to return against Atletico Madrid and Ademola Lookman when Spurs open up their Champions League Round of 16 tie. Via Spurs Global, Tudor specifically said that he hopes Spence will be able to play then. He also refused to give updates on Dejan Kulusevski and Udogie.

Djed Spence is out vs. Crystal Palace

Spence has been a bit of a disappointment this season, though he's had his moments, including once on the left wing. He is a decent defensive player and can pass as a right back, but as a right footed left back, he has been an outright disaster. Spence struggles to progress the ball or support the forwards, so his absence may actually be a blessing in disguise because it should force Souza to play.

Tudor cannot possibly make the mistake of starting someone who isn't a left back at left back for a second game in a row, especially after seeing how well Souza performed at the position when he came on in the second half to give Fulham some life.