TEAMtalk

Ange Postecoglou had some hugely positive injury news for once as he revealed the return of three key Tottenham men for this weekend’s Premier League visit of Manchester United, while three more are also back in training.

Spurs have been devastated by injuries since early December, in what has been a hugely challenging period juggling Premier League, Europa League and domestic cup outings with depleted numbers.

However, it looks like things are on the up against United on Sunday, with Postecoglou giving an update on who could return at his pre-match press conference.

The under-pressure Tottenham boss revealed that Guglielmo Vicario, Destiny Udogie and James Maddison are fit to play a part against Ruben Amorim’s men, with all three primed to return to the starting XI.

Vicario looks certain to replace January signing Antonin Kinsky in goal after the talented young stopper’s recent high-profile errors, while Udogie could come straight at left-back in a move that sees the in-form Djed Spence switch back to his more natural right-back berth at the expense of Pedro Porro.

Maddison, meanwhile, could slot back in at the No.10 role, with Dejan Kulusevski on the right wing after a midweek free of any games that has allowed many of the over-worked Tottenham players to rest up.

Postecoglou also confirmed that wingers Brennan Johnson, Wilson Odobert and Timo Werner have all returned to training ahead of this week, although it’s not clear if any of them will potentially make the bench for Sunday’s clash.

Postecoglou also delivers key update on likes of Romero, Van de Ven

The Spurs boss also spoke about when the club expect to see the likes of Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Dom Solanke and Richarlison back on the pitch.

Speaking on Tottenham’s official X account, he added: “Micky, Cuti and Dom, again, we’re looking at the next two or three weeks for them. They’re going well.

“I guess with Micky, we decided to take a different strategy with him. We just want to make sure he’s absolutely right… talking to different people, he’s working with different medical teams and rehab staff to make sure he’s right. He’s working well and feeling good, which is a positive.

“Similar with Cuti. We’re just waiting… the healing in his quad is taking longer than we thought. He’s got one more scan to make sure it’s healed properly. Once we get that sign-off, we should be good to go.

“Richy, again, similar to Madders and Brennan, who had similar calf injuries, depending on how he recovers – Madders bounced back really quickly, it’s only been two and a bit weeks for him, Brennan’s been three weeks – we’re looking at the same time frame for Richy.”

Latest Tottenham news: Potential Iraola boost / Son slammed over captaincy role

Tottenham appear to have been given a boost to their hopes of landing Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola as Ange Postecoglou’s replacement, if they decide to pull the trigger on the under-pressure Australian coach.

The likes of Iraola, Thomas Frank, Edin Terzic, Kieran McKenna and former boss Mauricio Pochettino have all been linked with the role, while it’s been reported that the club are also keen on Inter chief Simone Inzaghi.

However, TBR Football has given an update on the first of those names, Iraola, and his stance on potentially quitting the south coast outfit.

Meanwhile, former Tottenham midfielder Jamie O’Hara has issued a damning verdict of Son Heung-min’s leadership qualities and called for him to be stripped of the captaincy straight away, a sentiment not shared by many of the club’s loyal supporters who have backed the South Korean.

Tottenham appear to have been given a boost to their hopes of landing a top replacement for Ange Postecoglou, if they decide to pull the trigger on the under-pressure Australian coach.

Spurs currently sit just 10 points above the relegation places in the Premier League after just one win in their last eight outings, while they also crashed out of both the Carabao Cup and FA Cup in the space of just four days last week.

Injuries have been used as a constant excuse for their struggles, which has certainly played its part, but Postecoglou has also refused to adapt his style of football when using inferior players and that has also played a part in Tottenham‘s woeful run of form.

And, while TT understands that the club remains behind the manager for now – as injured players start to return – they are also doing their due diligence on who could replace him.

The likes of Andoni Iraola , Thomas Frank, Edin Terzic, Kieran McKenna and former boss Mauricio Pochettino have all been linked with the role, while it’s been reported that the club are also keen on Inter chief Simone Inzaghi.

However, TBR Football has given an update on the first of those names, Bournemouth boss Iraola, and his stance on potentially quitting the south coast outfit.

They state the 42-year-old Spaniard has told the Cherries that he wants to wait before committing his future to them, amid the strong links to a switch to north London.

Iraola replaced Gary O’Neil as Bournemouth in what was a shock move back in 2023 and, although he got off to a slow start, he has since turned the Cherries into one of the most impressive teams in the Premier League.

Indeed, Iraola’s men currently sit seventh in the table in what has been a remarkable season so far and it’s clear all that good work has not gone unnoticed.

No talks yet but Bournemouth want Iraola stay

TBR Football adds that Bournemouth are keen to tie down Iraola to a new contract, but they have not yet opened talks with their highly-rated coach.

For his part, it’s noted that the former Rayo Vallecano coach has never been keen on signing long-term deals during his managerial career so far. Add in Tottenham’s interest and you can see why Bournemouth might be getting a little twitchy.

Indeed, it’s also claimed that Iraola was also a target for Manchester City before Pep Guardiola committed to a new deal, while he was also discussed by Liverpool’s hierarchy as they pondered a replacement for legendary coach Jurgen Klopp.

To that end, Bournemouth are determined to keep Iraola, with sources telling TBR Football that they are ‘confident’ that the Spaniard will commit to the Vitality Stadium.

As for Tottenham’s stance on appointing Iraola, our inside man Fraser Fletcher tells us that the Spaniard remains a key target the club if things continue to go downhill under Postecoglou.

Former Tottenham midfielder Jamie O’Hara has issued a damning verdict of Son Heung-min’s leadership qualities and called for him to be stripped of the captaincy straight away, a sentiment not shared by many of the club’s loyal supporters.

Spurs crashed out of both the Carabao Cup and FA Cup in the space of just four days and did so without much of a whimper, as Liverpool and Aston Villa dropped their hopes of silverware this season down to just the Europa League.

Yes, it’s common knowledge that injuries have played a massive part in Tottenham‘s struggles this season but O’Hara insists that Son is not helping by his failure to lead from the front.

Speaking ahead of Sunday’s big Premier League clash with Manchester United, O’Hara, who has also been heavily critical of the South Korean’s declining form on numerous occasions this season, told Grosvenor Sport: “When you look at Tottenham’s two recent games — Liverpool and Aston Villa in the cup—this was the moment to show that they could compete.

“Unfortunately, they’ve shown the complete opposite. There’s no fight, no heart, no desire, and certainly no leadership.

“For me, that lack of leadership comes from the manager and the captain. I hate to say it, but Son Heung-Min is not the right captain for this team anymore. He’s a fantastic player, an incredible servant to the club, but when it comes to pulling the team together in tough moments, he’s not the one to step up.

“A captain should be someone who can lead from the front, someone who can grab the team by the scruff of the neck and get the team out of a hole. Son isn’t that. It’s time to take the captaincy off him and give it to someone else.”

The 32-year-old’s levels have dropped this season, although his stats are hardly disastrous with 10 goals and assists in 33 total appearances. However, he does not have that same burst of speed or the clinical edge to his finishing he once had.

Tottenham fans hit back over Son slamming

Despite his struggles this term, Son maintains the support of a majority of Spurs fans for the incredible service has given the club since 2015.

The attacker has scored 172 goals and provided 92 assists in 441 games for Tottenham to earn legendary status and loyal fans will not forget that any time soon time soon.

Indeed, reacting after the Liverpool debacle and prior to the FA Cup loss to Villa, many of them jumped to the defence of Son.

Writing on reddit, user SSGPz said: “Our fans need to experience what really happens if Son’s off the pitch and not available. Some people don’t realize how valuable it is to have a player who maintained his health through this injury crisis.

“Him not finding goals are often from the setup Ange has and the lack of playing style knowledge from the fullback or the left mid attacker. When son holds the ball to the left, the fullbacks should not be running in towards the goal (bringing the defenders in front of Son preventing any good angles to shoot), instead they need to widen towards the corners, allowing son or any midfielders to use the open half space.

VegasLukeWarm added: “His stats arent even that bad. He cant run like he used to but hes played fine considering all the injuries

Meanwhile, 0dogg stated: So many “supporters” s******* on him…without considering he hasn’t been injured and continues to play every game without rest. Not to mention that mere inches over the past two seasons have been the difference between top-tier and “washed.”

Finally, Key-Performer1828 said: “It is my opinion but I think many of injured who are the so called best XI of spurs do not desire to play for this season any more. Instead, they’ll stay on the injury list, recover and preserve their form, and either come back for the next season or hoping to move to another club. Son is too naive to do that. He will run to the ground like a work horse until a serious injury, either out of his naive and stubborn personality, or due to his vain idea of loyalty and being an honorable captain.”

Latest Tottenham news: Spurs eye double Bundesliga deal / Defender return mooted

Spurs are reportedly keen to sign Bundesliga pair Hugo Larsson and Piero Hincapie this summer, although the pack of sides who want both is said to be growing.

Spurs have been keen on the signing of Hincapie for both of the past two years. They reportedly lodged a bid for him in 2024, and were back towards the head of the pack for him in 2024.

And, according to fresh reports, they are once again among the suitors for the Bayer Leverkusen defender, who is valued by his club at at least €70million (£58.3m/$73m).

But the Ecuadorian is not the only Bundesliga man on their radar, with Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder Larsson also courted by the north London outfit.

Meanwhile, Tottenham have again been backed to re-sign one of their former players in the summer, with his current club ‘resigned’ to losing their man.

Tottenham are reportedly keen to sign Bundesliga pair Hugo Larsson and Piero Hincapie, though the pack of sides who want both is growing.

Spurs have been keen on the signing of Hincapie for both of the past two years. They reportedly lodged a bid for him in 2024, and were back towards the head of the pack for him in 2024.

But they never signed him, and their defensive issues, largely due to injuries, have remained.

But according to fresh reports, they are once again among the suitors for the Bayer Leverkusen defender, who is valued by his club at at least €70million (£58.3m/$73m).

That said, interest in Hincapie is said to be ‘piling up’ so getting him through the door could be an issue for Tottenham.

The Ecuadorian is not the only Bundesliga man on their radar, with Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder Larsson also courted by the north London outfit.

It’s believed that ‘all top clubs’ want Larsson, and Spurs are among them, though the Bundesliga side have told the midfielder it would be best for him to stay, as he’s had some muscular issues and needs time to adapt before heading to a big side.

That said, Frankfurt know that ‘really big clubs’ want their midfielder, and in response they will ask for €50million (£41.6m/$52.2m).

TEAMtalk previously revealed that Arsenal and Liverpool are among the sides keen on Larsson.

Hincapie mistake to be fixed

Tottenham could see their failure to sign Hincapie in any of the last two years as a mistake. Since their initial interest, they have signed centre-backs Micky van de Ven, Radu Dragusin and Kevin Danso, as well as Archie Gray, who’s been forced to play there often.

Indeed, Spurs have struggled with injuries at the back, with Van de Ven, Dragusin and existing centre-back Cristian Romero all having long layoffs at times recently.

Hincapie has had no such injury problems, and has played 90 minutes in the majority of games this season.

That said, Spurs could have had a much better time of it at the back had they signed him, and could finally have some consistency there if they decide to.

Tottenham round-up: No way back for Pochettino

TEAMtalk is aware that former Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino is happy with the USMNT, and is hopeful of ensuring good fortune for his side.

There would be no way back for him at Spurs, anyway, as Ange Postecoglou has their full backing.

Meanwhile, the north Londoners are said to be ‘serious contenders’ for the signing of Leroy Sane.

And Tottenham have been tipped to re-sign former right-back Kyle Walker-Peters, who is out of contract at Southampton at the end of the season. The Saints are said to be resigned to the fact he will exit.

Mauricio Pochettino has been linked with a return to Tottenham amid growing pressure on Ange Postecoglou, who still has backing within the Spurs hierachy for now.

Sources close to Tottenham state there is an acceptance that Postecoglou has been dealt a very difficult hand with injuries to key players this season. The aim for now remains to review Postecoglou at the end of the season.

The situation at Spurs has led to several managers being linked with the Tottenham and Pochettino is among them, perhaps unsurprisingly given the success he had with the club from 2014 to 2019. The Argentinian became USA manager last year, following a difficult one-season spellat Chelsea.

TEAMtalk understands that Pochettino is enjoying life in America, and is keen to grow US soccer’s reputation ahead of their home World Cup in 2026, and leave a lasting legacy.

Sources say that he is enjoying working with not just the senior squad but being involved in the development of younger players as well.

Following his time with Chelsea, Pochettino is relishing the opportunity to manage on the international stage, even if he has kept in touch with Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy, who he enjoys a friendship with.

Ryan Mason could be appointed Tottenham boss as a stop-gap

This isn’t just any old job for Pochettino, it’s the chance to manage the US in a World Cup on home soil. The feeling from sources is that he is fully committed to the role, and could even stay beyond the tournament.

It’s no secret that Pochettino has stayed in regular contact with Levy since leaving Tottenham. However, the coach actually turned down the chance to rejoin Spurs in 2023 before Postecoglou was appointed. Levy didn’t need to ask him to an interview since it was clear Pochettino had other ambitions.

Pochettino won’t be leaving his role as US coach before the 2026 World Cup, so links with Spurs carry little substance.

Tottenham have always planned to have an end-of-season review of everything about the club, including Postecoglou, and results would have to nosedive significantly for Levy to bring this forwards.

Spurs currently sit 14th in the Premier League table, level on points with Everton and West Ham, who are below them in 15th and 16th on goal difference.

If Spurs did somehow make a mid-season change, which is not something they wish or plan to do, there is a good chance that Ryan Mason could take charge until the summer. Andoni Iraola would then be one name to look out for, having done a fantastic job at Bournemouth.

But Spurs aren’t actively seeking to replace Postecoglou yet. Quite the opposite. They want to back their manager, and links with other names are currently premature with any internal discussions over other managers more down to normal succession planning and nothing more at this stage.

DON’T MISS: Ranking all Premier League clubs by transfer net spend in 2025: Man Utd flying high, Liverpool near the bottom

Tottenham have again been backed to re-sign one of their former players in the summer, with his current club ‘resigned’ to losing their man.

It’s been another chastening season for Spurs, with the club languishing in 14th in the Premier League table and exiting both domestic cup competitions over the past seven days.

However, Tottenham could yet salvage their season and secure Champions League qualification by winning the Europa League.

Despite the club’s dismal form, Spurs remain one of the bookies’ favourites for that competition, with Champions League sides no longer dropping into the tournament for the knockout rounds.

Whether Spurs are in next year’s UCL will have a bearing on the calibre of player they sign next summer. But according to two separate reports, Spurs already have their eye on re-signing Kyle Walker-Peters.

The 27-year-old left Spurs for Southampton in a £12m deal back in 2025. Walker-Peters penned a five-year contract and hasn’t signed an extension since.

As such, the versatile full-back – who can play on either side – is primed to become a free agent at season’s end.

Walker-Peters rejected the chance to join Turkish giant Galatasaray in the winter window to ensure he has his pick of clubs in free agency come the summer.

TBR Football recently claimed Tottenham are ready to offer their former full-back a return to north London.

A fresh update from talkSPORT added weight to those claims when talking up a Walker-Peters reunion at Spurs.

And encouragingly for Tottenham, the report also stressed Southampton are ‘resigned’ to losing their right-back even if they miraculously avoid relegation.

The report stated: ‘Saints chiefs have already resigned themselves to the fact they have no chance of keeping the 27-year-old.’

London rivals West Ham and Fulham are reportedly ‘tracking’ the two-cap England international too. But it’s a return to Tottenham that could turn the player’s head.

Latest Tottenham news – Leroy Sane…

In other news, CaughtOffside claim Tottenham are one of two ‘serious contenders’ to snap up Leroy Sane, also via free agency.

The 29-year-old’s deal at Bayern Munich is up in the summer and per the report, the club’s attempts to iron out an extension have failed.

The left-footed Sane is now ‘highly likely’ to be on the move and Spurs along with Barcelona are considering a swoop.

But with Barca’s well-documented financial woes putting a dampener on their chances, Tottenham may have a free run at forging a deal.

Sane has added three Bundesliga titles to his trophy cabinet since joining Bayern and bagged 107 goal contributions (56 goals, 51 assists) in 202 appearances for the club.

At 29, Sane would not represent a long-term option for Spurs, though not having to pay a transfer fee would soften that blow.

Tottenham are ‘serious contenders’ to beat Barcelona to the signature of a veteran Germany international in a colossal coup for the club, according to a report.

Spurs left it late, though did provide Ange Postecoglou with the reinforcements he craved in the final stages of the winter window.

With Antonin Kinsky banked much earlier in the piece, Tottenham landed Kevin Danso and Mathys Tel – both via the loan route – before the window drew to a close.

Spurs have an option to buy Tel for roughly €55m/£45m. Danso’s deal contains an obligation to buy worth €25m/£20.8m.

As such, it’s entirely possible both players join the club outright in the summer and per the latest from CaughtOffside, Tel could be joined in north London by a teammate from Bayern Munich.

It’s claimed Spurs are one of two clubs – Barcelona being the other – showing serious interest in Leroy Sane.

The 29-year-old has remained an elite-level performer since the days of winning two Premier League titles with Manchester City.

He’s added three Bundesliga titles to his CV with Bayern and bagged 107 goal contributions (56 goals, 51 assists) in 202 appearances for the club. However, the expectation is he’ll embark on a new chapter next season.

The left-footer’s current contract in Munich is due to expire at the end of the current campaign. Per a prior update from Sky Germany, Bayern have attempted to thrash out a new deal, but were demanding Sane reduce his base salary.

And per the update from CaughtOffside, those talks have not borne fruit, with Bayern ‘all but giving up on keeping Sane.’ Accordingly, it’s stated the winger is now ‘highly likely’ to move on via free agency.

Tottenham could thus sign a proven and readymade winger without having to pay a transfer fee. What’s more, the other confirmed suitor, Barcelona, may not put up that strong of a fight.

The club’s financial strife is well-documented, with an inability to finance a move the reason why they didn’t act on their interest in Marcus Rashford last month.

Furthermore, Barcelona already possess two of world football’s finest wingers in Raphinha and Lamine Yamal.

The latter is already regarded as one of world football’s premier talents despite still being a teenager, while Raphinha is enjoying a Ballon d’Or-worthy year with 24 goals and 15 assists to his name in just 34 appearances this season.

If Barcelona do take a pass on Sane, Tottenham may have a free run at an ageing yet still highly effective forward who could make an instant impact in their final third.

Latest Tottenham news – Postecoglou replacement, Romero uproar and more…

➡️ Fabio Paratici primes perfect Postecoglou replacement as new name emerges on Tottenham radar

➡️ Tottenham fans in uproar over huge Cristian Romero contract update as Real Madrid links bubble up

➡️ Tottenham explode into race to sign £84m Arsenal attacking target in summer transfer coup

Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly joined north London rivals Arsenal and a host of other clubs in the race to sign a massive Borussia Dortmund attacking talent this summer.

Injury-hit Spurs managed to get three new players on board during the winter window although two of them, Kevin Danso and Mathys Tel, are only on loan with respective obligations and options to buy.

However, money was available to spend, as was evidenced by the failed £70million bid to sign Crystal Palace centre-back Marc Guehi. To that end, Tottenham are expected to be very active in the summer market – given all their glaring issues this season – whether it’s Ange Postecoglou still in charge or not.

And one player they are now being tipped to move for is £84m-rated Dortmund star Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, who has made a huge impression with the Bundesliga outfit this season and would smash their transfer record if they forked out anything like the sort of figure being mooted.

GiveMeSport reports that the Spurs have placed the England Under-21 international among the names at the top of their summer wish-list, although they are wary of a potential bidding war involving the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea.

The report adds that Tottenham have been given fresh optimism in their pursuit of a deal due to Dortmund struggling down in 11th in the Bundesliga table, although they do have one foot in the Champions League last 16 after a 3-0 win at Sporting in the first leg of their playoff clash – a game in which Gittens started.

In terms of his price tag, it’s unlikely that Dortmund will recoup his full exit clause, even though Gittens remains under contract until the summer of 2028, so any fee will still be a big one.

The 20-year-old, who is right-footed but can operate on both flanks, has scored an impressive 11 goals and added five assists in 31 games in competitions this term.

Gittens lined up as Son replacement

All but one of those appearances have come on the left wing, suggesting that Gittens is being targeted as Son Heung-Min’s long-term replacement in north London.

The South Korean has extended his stay for another season but looks a shadow of the player who once terrorised defences with his pace and movement.

Tottenham also have Wilson Odobert who can play off the left, while Tel is comfortable out wide or through the middle – although major doubts remain over whether the French attacker will agree to a permanent stay.

To that end, landing Gittens would be a major coup for a Tottenham side who are building a young, vibrant squad but just need their senior stars back as soon as possible to give Postecoglou the best chance of keeping his job and carrying on his project.

That starts with Sunday’s massive clash against Manchester United in north London, with Spurs able to leapfrog Ruben Amorim’s men in the table with a win.

Postecoglou’s men could also be boosted by the return of one of their key defenders for the game, with Destiny Udogie set to return to training on Wednesday after the players who featured at Villa were given two days off.

Former Tottenham sporting director Fabio Paratici is reportedly pushing for a current Serie A coach to take over from Ange Postecoglou, if Daniel Levy does decide to pull the trigger on the Australian’s time in north London.

The pressure is piling on Postecoglou after Spurs crashed out of two cup competitions in the space of just four days, while they continue to sit just 10 points above the relegation zone in the Premier League.

At this stage, it appears that only the club’s strong position in the Europa League, where they’ve already booked a knockout round spot, and the fact that key players could return from injury soon is keeping Postecoglou in a job.

However, another home defeat to a Manchester United side also struggling and just above them in the table on Sunday could end up being the final straw for the former Celtic boss.

As we’ve stated previously, the Tottenham board have plenty of sympathy for Postecoglou, given the unparalleled injury crisis at the club this term, and are desperate for him to turn things around.

That being said, they are also doing their due diligence on potential replacements and TT understands that Andoni Iraoli, Thomas Frank, Edin Terzic, Kieran McKenna are all in contention for the role – although a return for Mauricio Pochettino is less likely.

However, a new name has now entered the frame, with Inter Milan boss Simone Inzaghi also on their radar.

According to Inter Live, Paratici, who still has influence at Spurs, is pushing Inzaghi for the role – with the 48-year-old having established himself as one of Europe’s top coaches while at the San Siro.

The Italian tactician has led Inter to a Serie A title and also guided them to the Champions League final, proving his ability to compete at the elite level.

The report adds that Tottenham are believed to be prepared to offer Inzaghi a lucrative deal to try and lure him to north London. Additionally, he will then be heavily backed in the summer transfer window.

There is no mention of what sort of compensation Spurs would have to pay, but the fact that Inzaghi is under contract until 2027 means he will not come cheap.

Latest Tottenham news: Fans react to Romero new contract claims / Moore backed after harsh treatment

Tottenham fans have not reacted positively to the news that the club are ready to make Cristian Romero their top earner in order to fend off growing interest from Spanish giants Real Madrid.

The central defender has experienced just one season of Champions League football during his three-and-a-half years in north London but has also had his fair share of injury issues in that time.

Romero has been sidelined since early December with a thigh injury and, although he has been spotted back in Tottenham training, it appears that he is no closer to returning to action.

Despite that, TBR Football reports that Spurs are ready to make the 26-year-old their highest-paid player in a bid to keep him out of Real’s clutches.

Meanwhile, pundits appear to have criticised Ange Postecoglou over his handling of exciting Tottenham attacking talent Mikey Moore in recent outings after reacting to the FA Cup defeat at Aston Villa.

How low can they go? Tottenham when they sacked recent managers

Postecoglou currently has Tottenham sitting 14th in the Premier League table, which is significantly lower than they would expect to be. But how far down the table have they been when sacking other managers in their recent history?

Antonio Conte: 4th

Despite some early optimism, Conte never seemed the right fit for Tottenham when they were hoping for a progressive future. A mutual agreement was reached in March 2023 for the Italian tactician to step down after what had been an emotional season on and off the field for him.

Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy said the club had “a fight on [their] hands” to qualify for the Champions League, but they were actually in fourth place at the time of Conte’s exit.

Chaos was to come, though, with Spurs next sacking their acting head coach Cristian Stellini and placing Ryan Mason back in caretaker charge as they sank to an eighth-placed finish.

Nuno Espirito Santo: 9th

The search for a new permanent manager ahead of the 2021-22 season was a nightmarish one for Tottenham, who were turned down by several of their preferred candidates before deciding to go for ex-Wolves boss Nuno – someone they had originally ruled out of the running.

Nuno won the Premier League Manager of the Month award in August 2021, but Spurs’ form spiralled and he lasted only until the start of November before he was ousted for Conte.

Tottenham were ninth at the time of the switch, but Conte steered them back up to fourth by the end of the season.

To add insult to injury, Nuno is now working wonders back in the Premier League with Nottingham Forest – a club who weren’t even in the top flight in the season when he was in charge of Spurs.

Jose Mourinho: 7th

Mourinho has always made a big deal of the fact he was sacked by Spurs on the verge of a cup final, but it must have been their league form weighing on the club’s decision makers when they got rid of him in April 2021.

Tottenham were seventh in the table at the time – and that’s where they would finish as well, under the stewardship of caretaker boss Ryan Mason.

Mason’s first game in charge was the Carabao Cup final Mourinho had been looking forward to, which Tottenham lost to Manchester City to prolong their extended wait for silverware.

Mauricio Pochettino: 14th

The only manager to ever get Tottenham to a Champions League final, Pochettino had some credit in the bank for how he had inspired a resurgence in north London over his five-year reign. But it wasn’t enough to spare him from the sack when Tottenham found themselves languishing in the bottom half of the Premier League by November 2019.

“We were extremely reluctant to make this change. It is not a decision the board has taken lightly, nor in haste,” Levy said at the time. “Regrettably domestic results at the end of last season and beginning of this season have been extremely disappointing.

“It falls on the board to make the difficult decisions – this one made more so given the many memorable moments we have had with Mauricio and his coaching staff – but we do so in the club’s best interests.”

Replacement Mourinho ultimately led Tottenham to sixth in the final standings that season.

Tottenham fans have not reacted positively to the news that the club are ready to make Cristian Romero their top earner in order to fend off growing interest from Spanish giants Real Madrid.

The Argentina World Cup winner is currently under contract until the summer of 2027 but is attracting plenty of interest from the LaLiga outfit as they reportedly prepare a big-money summer bid for his services.

The central defender has experienced just one season of Champions League football during his three-and-a-half years in north London but has also had his fair share of injury issues in that time.

Indeed, Romero has been sidelined since early December with a thigh injury and, although he has been spotted back in Tottenham training, it appears that he is no closer to returning to action.

Despite that, TBR Football reports that Tottenham are ready to make the 26-year-old their highest-paid player in a bid to keep hold of him – although the report does not mention any actual numbers involved.

TBR states that Spurs remain hopeful that they can persuade Romero to sign a new long-term contract and that there has been communication between the player’s camp and the club.

Indeed, Tottenham are fully aware of Real’s desire to sign the former Juventus man as they look to upgrade an aging back line at The Santiago Bernabeu, with Arsenal’s William Saliba also a target.

Romero himself has already hinted at a Spurs exit after speaking out against the club’s hierarchy, suggesting that they were the ones responsible for the team’s struggles this season.

It’s also no secret that Tottenham are actively looking to sign another central defender this summer after Radu Dragusin’s long-term injury, despite the fact they brought in Kevin Danso in the winter window on a loan-to-buy deal.

Offers for both Marc Guehi and Maxime Esteve were both rejected on deadline day, while the club have also been linked with the likes of Dean Huijsen, Edmond Tapsoba, Jonathan Tah, Antonio Silva and Tomas Araujo.

Tottenham fans not all on board with Romero rumour

However, despite all the talk of a lucrative new deal for Romero, it appears that many Tottenham fans are not actually on board with the idea.

There is a strong argument that the defender performs far better for his country than his club, with Romero often caught out of position – even when he’s alongside the outstanding Micky van de Ven.

Reacting to the news on X, one fan said: “He has not earned it to be honest, I’d rather sell and buy another top-class defender who wants to play for us and not just his country.”

Another added: “Why would you make someone who’s missed a whole campaign’s worth of games in three and a half seasons your highest-paid player?”

Indeed, plenty of question marks are certainly being raised by the rumours of a new contract, with anorther fan stating: “Is this worth it? He has missed half a season for the past three seasons with injuries. Phenomenal player, deserving of being our highest earner and can lead us for the next five years for sure, but with all these injuries, I’m not sure.”

“I love Cuti so much but why would they try if he is determined to leave? Not to mention that he spent half of last season and this season injured! This club is being ridiculous, to be honest,” claimed another fan.

Another Spurs supporter commented: “No thanks. Never available, has never improved our defence, and like most Argentinians we’ve had, doesn’t care about our badge, just wants to be near Messi. Let him leave.”