Inside Futbol

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Tottenham Hotspur have been handed a timely boost, with Pape Matar Sarr pictured back on the training pitch alongside the squad ahead of the clash with Sunderland, sporting what appeared to be a shoulder support.

The Senegalese midfielder linked up with his national side at the start of the month and featured in the first of two friendlies against Peru, as his nation ran out 2-0 winners.

Sarr was used sparingly, introduced only for the final 10 minutes of that encounter, but after reporting a shoulder knock, the 23-year-old sat out the second fixture against Gambia, which Senegal won 3-1.

The Lilywhites have been hit hard by injuries this season, with key attackers Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison yet to feature in the campaign for the London club.

Alongside them, club captain Ben Davies has been ruled out with a season-ending injury, remaining sidelined with Mohammed Kudus, whose expected April return has been thrown into doubt following a fresh setback.

Adding to their woes, Spurs have managed just seven wins from their 31 league outings, leaving them in a perilous position in 17th, only a point clear of the relegation zone.

Tottenham have already cycled through three managers this season, with Thomas Frank dismissed in February before Igor Tudor’s brief stint yielded no Premier League wins, ultimately leading to his departure.

Next up, the north London side travel to the Stadium of Light to play Sunderland, marking new appointment Roberto De Zerbi’s first game in charge.

With key figures missing in midfield, Yves Bissouma sidelined with a muscle issue and Rodrigo Bentancur out with a thigh problem, the Italian tactician will welcome the timely boost of the Senegal international.

In images shared by Tottenham Hotspur on X on Friday morning, the 23-year-old was back on the grass, sprinting ahead of Sunday’s fixture.

With just six games remaining to avoid the unthinkable for Tottenham Hotspur, relegation for the first time since 1977, a fit Sarr offers them a chance to remain competitive when they travel to Sunderland.

This season, he has made 22 Premier League appearances, registering two goals and three assists, while reportedly catching the eye of Turkish side Fenerbahce, whose interest emerged in January.

The former Metz star arrived at N17 in 2021 and has since become an important figure at the club, playing a pivotal role in last year’s Europa League final triumph while also earning praise from a former top-flight star, who was struck by his energy on the pitch.

With a contract running until 2030, it remains to be seen whether Sarr’s long-term future lies at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

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Tottenham Hotspur now face potential competition from Italian giants Juventus for Sporting Lisbon star Maxi Araujo, with Bianconeri scouts having ‘gathered new positive feedback’.

The 26-year-old Uruguay international has been on the books of Sporting Lisbon since 2024 and has played 83 matches for them, scoring ten goals from the back.

He played the entire 90 minutes of the Champions League match against Arsenal on Tuesday night, winning an impressive 77 per cent of the tackles he made and creating one chance.

The defender also made seven fouls during the 90 minutes, but successfully avoided getting booked.

Araujo recently played for Uruguay against England in a friendly at Wembley and that clash had scouts from Tottenham and Chelsea in the stands.

Tottenham did sign Souza from Brazilian outfit Santos in January and also have Djed Spence as yet another option in the left-back position.

However, they are attracted to Araujo, who can operate as a left-back or as a left-sided wing-back.

Club played for Country Montevideo Wanderers Uruguay Puebla Mexico Toluca Mexico Sporting Lisbon Portugal Clubs Maxi Araujo has played for

Tottenham now face further competition for the 26-year-old though and it comes from Italian giants Juventus.

Juventus scouts were also in attendance on Tuesday night and, according to Italian journalist Mirko Di Natale, they ‘gathered new positive feedback’ on Araujo.

Bianconeri talent spotters have now highlighted his performance and it now remains to be seen whether the Juventus board act on it.

Juventus’ involvement is bound to complicate matters as the Turin-based side have the ability to offer European football to the player.

Chelsea are the third club in the equation and have spending power along with the lure of Europe.

Tottenham are currently struggling to keep their head above the relegation zone with one former star worrying about the mental impact dropping into the drop zone would have on the players.

Former Premier League defender Frank Leboeuf has criticised the current crop of players, saying that they resemble street footballers who lack cohesion and appear unprepared to fight in the midst of a relegation battle.

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Tottenham Hotspur loanee Manor Solomon is nearing a return to action for Fiorentina, with ‘great optimism’ that the winger will be fit for the upcoming Conference League quarter-final clash against Crystal Palace.

The Israel international joined the Italian outfit on loan in January as he sought regular first-team football following a loan move to Villarreal.

Before Solomon’s move to Italy, his progress at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was severely hampered by a meniscus injury that limited him to just five appearances during the 2023/24 Premier League campaign.

The attacker arrived in Florence having spent the first half of the current season at Villarreal, where he struggled to secure a regular starting spot before cutting the loan short in search of more consistent playing time.

Since his January arrival, the forward has made nine appearances in Serie A and two in cup competitions, scoring in a 2-1 defeat against Napoli and a 2-2 draw with Torino.

The first leg of the Conference League tie is set to take place at Selhurst Park on Thursday, representing a significant opportunity for the Israel international to feature on English soil once again.

The 26-year-old has been sidelined with a muscular issue, but recent updates suggest the medical staff are confident in his recovery progress.

Team faced Polissya Zhytomyr Sigman Olomouc Rapid Vienna Mainz AEK Athens Dynamo Kyiv Lausanne Sport Jagiellonia Rakow Teams Fiorentina have faced in the Conference League so far

According to Italian daily Corriere dello Sport (via Firenzeviola.it), the medical team have been cautious with the rehabilitation of the winger to avoid any setbacks, and ‘there is great optimism’ that he will be available for the match against the Eagles.

The move to Tuscany includes an option to buy for approximately £9m should the Italian club wish to make the deal permanent.

The winger still has two years remaining on his contract at Tottenham, having joined the club on a free transfer in 2023 following the expiration of his deal at Shakhtar Donetsk.

Solomon has already made a positive early impression at Fiorentina and it has been suggested the club have set aside the money needed to keep him.

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Tottenham Hotspur attacker Will Lankshear believes that the Championship is getting better and better in terms of quality and feels Oxford United will need to give more if they are to survive.

Despite having Portsmouth at their mercy for much of the Easter Monday clash after they went down to ten men in the 17th minute, Oxford United were unable to beat them, only settling for a 2-2 draw.

The result did neither side any good as they both remain in deep trouble, with Oxford United in the drop zone, a point behind Portsmouth, who sit just outside it.

Tottenham’s Lankshear, who scored the second goal of the match for the away team, was left impressed with the fighting desire his team showed, not just against Portsmouth but against teams in their last eight games.

Expressing his feelings following the match, the Tottenham loanee told OUTV (3.02): “It is extremely good to see [us fight]. We know we have to.

“We come out here after every game and say that we have got the spirit, we have got the drive.

“But in this league, it is incredibly tough.”

Lankshear, who Tottenham will be looking to see experience tough challenges which make him grow during the course of the loan, believes that the Championship is only getting better.

“I think the league is going up in quality. We are going to need more. We are going to need more going into the next few games.

Club Years Tottenham Hotspur 2024- West Brom (loan) 2025 Oxford United (loan) 2025- Will Lankshear’s career history

“I think we have got that, we have got that ability.

“The past eight games, I think we have played really, really well.”

Lankshear does not want his team to give up on their attempts and continue the way they have been to secure survival, which he believes is well within their reach.

“Don’t think we deserve to be in the position that we are in.

“I don’t, because we have been very very good.

“So, let us just keep pushing, keep going and I am sure that the results will come. We will stay up.”

Still just 20, Lankshear has gone on to become an important starter for Matt Bloomfield’s team, scoring nine goals in 39 league matches.

The loan spell has already seen one former Championship star laud him for showing real maturity and the attacker will want to return to Tottenham having helped Oxford United to survive.

Lankshear will have a new Spurs boss to win over in the summer in the shape of Roberto De Zerbi.

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Tottenham Hotspur attacker Will Lankshear believes that the Championship is getting better and better in terms of quality and feels Oxford United will need to give more if they are to survive.

Despite having Portsmouth at their mercy for much of the Easter Monday clash after they went down to ten men in the 17th minute, Oxford United were unable to beat them, only settling for a 2-2 draw.

The result did neither side any good as they both remain in deep trouble, with Oxford United in the drop zone, a point behind Portsmouth, who sit just outside it.

Tottenham’s Lankshear, who scored the second goal of the match for the away team, was left impressed with the fighting desire his team showed, not just against Portsmouth but against teams in their last eight games.

Expressing his feelings following the match, the Tottenham loanee told OUTV (3.02): “It is extremely good to see [us fight]. We know we have to.

“We come out here after every game and say that we have got the spirit, we have got the drive.

“But in this league, it is incredibly tough.”

Lankshear, who Tottenham will be looking to see experience tough challenges which make him grow during the course of the loan, believes that the Championship is only getting better.

“I think the league is going up in quality. We are going to need more. We are going to need more going into the next few games.

Club Years Tottenham Hotspur 2024- West Brom (loan) 2025 Oxford United (loan) 2025- Will Lankshear’s career history

“I think we have got that, we have got that ability.

“The past eight games, I think we have played really, really well.”

Lankshear does not want his team to give up on their attempts and continue the way they have been to secure survival, which he believes is well within their reach.

“Don’t think we deserve to be in the position that we are in.

“I don’t, because we have been very very good.

“So, let us just keep pushing, keep going and I am sure that the results will come. We will stay up.”

Still just 20, Lankshear has gone on to become an important starter for Matt Bloomfield’s team, scoring nine goals in 39 league matches.

The loan spell has already seen one former Championship star laud him for showing real maturity and the attacker will want to return to Tottenham having helped Oxford United to survive.

Lankshear will have a new Spurs boss to win over in the summer in the shape of Roberto De Zerbi.

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Fiorentina sporting director Fabio Paratici has started his work on strengthening the Viola squad for next season and has turned his attention towards Tottenham Hotspur defender Radu Dragusin.

Dragusin knows Serie A well, having spent his senior entire career in Italy before leaving in 2024 for Tottenham.

The defender was hoping to establish himself in north London, but found others ahead of him in the pecking order, while he also suffered a cruciate ligament injury which meant a lengthy absence.

His agent was quick to insist on his return that Dragusin is stronger and faster than before, but getting regular game time at Tottenham when other centre-backs are fit has continued to be a challenge for the Romanian.

Dragusin had an admirer in Igor Tudor, but the Croatian is no longer Spurs boss.

Roma sporting director Frederic Massara pushed to sign Dragusin in January but nothing eventually materialised.

Interest from Italy remains strong, with Fiorentina also linked in January and continuing to track Dragusin closely.

Paratici knows Dragusin well and the Fiorentina sporting director ‘has begun his work’ ahead of a summer transfer window swoop, according to Italian outlet Tutto Mercato Web, with the Romania centre-back a target.

Premier League star On loan from Manor Solomon Tottenham Hotspur Jack Harrison Leeds United Fiorentina’s Premier League loan stars

The former Spurs sporting director has used his experience of English football already at Fiorentina to boost the Viola squad.

He spoke to Spurs to arrange a loan deal for winger Manor Solomon in the January transfer window.

He then did a deal with Leeds United to snap up another winger in the shape of Jack Harrison.

Fiorentina were at real risk of being relegated from Serie A once Paratici slotted in as sporting director.

They have though since risen out of the drop zone to sit 15th, with a five-point cushion over the bottom three.

Returning to Italian football could well be hugely tempting for Dragusin if he cannot secure regular game time at Tottenham.

The Romanian will now be focused on trying to impress new Spurs boss Roberto De Zerbi and earn his trust.

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RB Leipzig centre-back Castello Lukeba, who ‘charmed’ Premier League pair Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur last summer, ‘is on the market’ for a move this summer.

The 23-year-old defender came up through the ranks of Lyon’s academy and joined Leipzig in the 2023 summer transfer window, with the Bundesliga side having spotted his potential.

In three seasons with the German club, Lukeba has made 97 appearances in total and also helped them win the German Super Cup in 2023.

Lukeba was part of the France team which won the silver medal at the Summer Olympics in 2024 and was also in the France Under-21 squad at the European Under-21 Championship in 2025.

The defender was on the radar of both Chelsea and Manchester United in 2024 and Premier League interest in him has not gone away.

Last summer both Liverpool and Tottenham were said to be ‘charmed’ by Lukeba as they thought about bringing him to England.

Leipzig made sure to keep hold of the centre-back, however the situation may be different this summer.

According to German journalist Philipp Hinze, Die Roten Bullen are open to letting the defender go and he ‘is on the market’.

Competition Appearances Bundesliga 78 Ligue 1 58 Champions League 12 Castello Lukeba’s top competitions by appearances

He has a release clause set at €80m, but Leipzig will play ball for below that figure.

The Bundesliga club value Lukeba in the region of €65m to €70m and it is suggested that the Frenchman is ready for a new challenge in his career.

Liverpool missed out on Marc Guehi last summer and saw Giovanni Leoni suffer a serious injury, and although the Reds are signing Jeremy Jacquet, they could well want another centre-back.

The Anfield side will also be aware that Virgil van Dijk is due to turn 35 in the summer and will have just 12 months left on his deal.

Spurs are currently in a relegation battle and could be relegated to the Championship, and without Premier League football, it would be a huge challenge to bring in a player like Lukeba.

If they survive though there are sure to be big changes, with questions over the futures of Radu Dragusin and Cristian Romero, while Micky van de Ven has been linked with a move away.

At just 23 years old, Lukeba is sure to have scope to further improve and the idea of landing him is sure to be attractive for several Premier League sides.

He has also shown he is able to avoid going in the referee’s notebook consistently, having been booked just twice in the Bundesliga this season.

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Former Premier League manager Tony Pulis has warned that Tottenham Hotspur must ensure their recruitment strategy is aligned with Roberto De Zerbi if the club are to find success under the Italian.

Spurs recently announced De Zerbi as their new manager, with the Italian signing a five-year contract, following the departure of Igor Tudor.

The Lilywhites are currently facing relegation concerns, sitting 17th in the table and at genuine risk of dropping down into the Championship.

Many Spurs fans are delighted about the arrival of De Zerbi, but Simon Jordan has insisted the Italian is not yet a top boss and is more in the Marco Silva mould.

De Zerbi’s previous Premier League experience at Brighton & Hove Albion will be a boost, having led them to European qualification for the first time in their history during the 2022/23 campaign.

However, Richard Keys has claimed that current Seagulls boss Fabian Hurzeler has improved the side since taking over, raising questions about how impressive De Zerbi’s work was.

Pulis has pointed to the modern structure of football, where coaches are often handed players rather than having full control over signings, adding that disagreements with decision-makers and instability at board level can make it difficult for any manager to succeed without proper alignment behind the scenes.

Loanee On loan from Randal Kolo Muani Paris Saint-Germain Joao Palhinha Bayern Munich Tottenham Hotspur’s loan stars

He then suggested that, at Tottenham, a manager of De Zerbi’s standing would not have committed to a long-term deal without having some influence over recruitment, while also noting that with Spurs operating under a strict wage budget, their signings must be smart and resourceful and aligned with the boss’ needs.

Pulis wrote in his BBC Sport column: “Today’s managers and coaches are more or less given players to coach rather than choosing signings themselves.

“If you are the manager and you have real differences of opinion with the people making those decisions, or there are constant changes above you, then goodness knows how you can be successful, whoever you are.

“With that in mind, and also looking at where Spurs have gone wrong with some of their player recruitment in recent years, I cannot believe that a manager of Roberto De Zerbi’s standing would sign a five-year contract without him having some say on signings and the new players who will be coming into the club.

“With Spurs maintaining a strict wage budget, their recruitment must be smart and resourceful whatever division they are in, but it is also important it is in line with the coach’s needs and wishes.”

De Zerbi has already confirmed he will remain committed to Tottenham even if they are relegated, hinting at his understanding of the alignment with the club’s structure.

If they were to be relegated, it would represent a significant long-term setback, with the club likely needing to rebalance the squad while also facing major financial losses.

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Tottenham Hotspur legend Graham Roberts has hit back at critics suggesting Roberto De Zerbi does not stay in jobs long term by pointing towards the size of Spurs as a club.

Spurs have appointed De Zerbi as their manager following the departure of boss Igor Tudor, amid Richard Keys suggesting the Italian has got lucky to get the job.

The Italian manager has signed a contract until 2031, with his immediate priority being to keep the Lilywhites in the Premier League this season.

Tottenham are currently just one point above the relegation zone, sitting 17th in the league table with 30 points after 31 matches.

De Zerbi has built a reputation across Europe for his attacking philosophy, having managed clubs such as Sassuolo, Brighton & Hove Albion and Marseille.

However, he has not stayed in any job for too long, prompting questions over how his honeymoon at Tottenham will last.

Roberts has weighed in on the situation, stressing the importance of long-term commitment while pointing out that managing Tottenham represents a different level compared to De Zerbi’s previous roles, indicating he may be inclined to remain for a longer period.

The former defender also indicated that the Italian may not get another opportunity of this magnitude, underlining the scale of the job and suggesting he must use it as a chance to take the club back to the levels seen under Mauricio Pochettino.

English Spurs boss Reign Peter Shreeves 1991-1992 Gerry Francis 1994-1997 Glenn Hoddle 2001-2003 Harry Redknapp 2008-2012 Tim Sherwood 2013-2014 Tottenham’s last five English managers

Roberts wrote on X: “We also need the manager to commit and be with us for the long term and people saying from the outside that his not been at clubs long he has never managed a big as club as Spurs and might never again this is his chance to get us back to Poch days!”

De Zerbi’s previous experience in the Premier League with Brighton is expected to be a key asset, having managed the club from September 2022 until the end of the 2023/24 season.

Under De Zerbi, Brighton finished the 2022/23 campaign in sixth place, the club’s highest-ever league finish, and qualified for European competition for the first time in the club’s history.

During his tenure, they were one of the only three sides to both score and concede over 100 Premier League goals, alongside Tottenham and Chelsea.

The Italian manager’s last job was with Marseille, where he mutually agreed to part ways in February this year following a thrashing by Paris Saint-Germain.

Following the FA Cup weekend, De Zerbi’s first match in charge is set to be away at Sunderland on 12th April.

He will then take charge of his first home game at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium against his former side Brighton on 18th April.

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Tottenham Hotspur summer signing Xavi Simons is already attracting transfer interest, with Galatasaray ready for ‘first contact’ over a deal, amid Rafael van der Vaart saying he has done ‘nothing at all’ for Spurs.

The Amsterdam-born attacking talent attracted massive interest from his very early days and he spent nine years in Barcelona’s academy.

After the Catalan giants, Simons was on Paris Saint-Germain’s books for three seasons and left the Parisians after making eleven appearances for them.

Simons’ career trajectory, though, did not go as planned, as he returned to PSG after impressing at PSV Eindhoven, with the Ligue 1 giants triggering a minimal buy-back clause for him.

The Netherlands international showed his quality at RB Leipzig, and he almost joined Chelsea, but Spurs hijacked that move after missing out on their prime target Eberechi Eze, who joined Arsenal.

The north Londoners paid a hefty £51.8m to RB Leipzig, securing the 22-year-old on a deal until the summer of 2030.

Simons can play as a number 10 and out wide on either side, but he has not been able to make any significant impact at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

League played in Country Ligue 1 France Eredivisie Netherlands Bundesliga Germany Premier League England Leagues Xavi Simons has played in

One ex-Netherlands attacker claimed that the Premier League defenders quickly figured out how to stop him, stressing that he runs too much with the ball.

Former Spurs man Van der Vaart has also had his say and recently claimed Simons had done ‘nothing at all’ in north London.

The north London side are currently wedged in a relegation battle, and if they do go down, it is very hard to envisage Simons playing in the Championship, a prospect which has alarmed one Dutch journalist.

Now there is interest in the 22-year-old in the dying embers of the current season, as clubs plot their summer window business.

According to Turkish outlet Fanatik, the Tottenham attacker is now on Galatasaray’s radar and ‘first contact’ with Simons is expected to happen soon.

The Cimbom are looking to add a quality number 10 to their squad for next season and are in conversations with multiple ‘important’ players.

Galatasaray will likely have Champions League football to offer Simons and that could be a hugely attractive prospect for the Dutchman even if Tottenham survive.