Inside Futbol

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Tottenham Hotspur have been told ‘there will be no quick agreement’ with former Borussia Dortmund sporting director Sebastian Kehl.

The 46-year-old departed his post at the Ruhr giants recently with immediate effect and now he is in the market to join a new club, with the deal-maker expected to have a number of options.

Already there is interest in Kehl, with Hamburg having had him in their sights, while Wolfsburg are also keen to bring him on board.

Tottenham, who recently saw sporting director Fabio Paratici depart, are another potential destination for Kehl and they are interested.

However, according to German daily Bild, ‘there will be no quick agreement with Kehl’ for Tottenham.

It is suggested that it is ‘hard to imagine’ that the proposed set-up at Tottenham, with more than one sporting director, would suit the German.

While helping to rebuild a crumbling Spurs side may well appeal to Kehl, the sporting director would want to make sure the right environment was present before he takes his next post.

Club Years Hannover 1998-2000 Freiburg 2000-2001 Borussia Dortmund 2002-2015 Sebastian Kehl’s career history

Kehl was a legendary figure as a player at Dortmund and shone as part of Jurgen Klopp’s side at the club.

His spell as sporting director at Dortmund ran from the summer of 2022 through until earlier this month and came after a stint as the club’s head of first team football.

Kehl is qualified as a coach, having earned his coaching license up to UEFA’s A level, something which may make him well suited to leading the search for a new manager at Tottenham in the summer.

However, any new sporting director at Tottenham may well need to wait until the summer when the north London side know which league they will be operating in.

One former Tottenham star believes it is now 50-50 whether Spurs will avoid being relegated this season.

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Experienced manager Sam Allardyce believes that Tottenham Hotspur skipper Cristian Romero needs embarrassing due to his poor disciplinary record at the north London side.

Romero has had multiple disciplinary issues to deal with during his four-and-a-half year stay at Tottenham.

He has received two red cards this season, one a direct one against Manchester United in February and the other as a result of two yellow cards against Liverpool back in December.

Romero has also been booked ten times across all competitions this season and was warned by a former Premier League defender about how he should be behaving on the pitch.

The Argentine has been getting the backing of his managers, though, and boss Thomas Frank revealed in December that the 27-year-old was working on bringing coolness to his game.

Romero was recently unavailable for Spurs in Premier League games against Newcastle United, Arsenal, Fulham and Crystal Palace due to suspension.

Allardyce is unhappy with Romero’s disciplinary record and insists if he was the manager at Tottenham then the Argentine would not be getting sent off.

He stressed that he would constantly be on Romero’s back in training and would embarrass him in training to get him in line.

Premier League job Bolton Wanderers Newcastle United Blackburn Rovers West Ham United Sunderland Crystal Palace Everton West Brom Leeds United Sam Allardyce’s Premier League jobs

“They [Romero and Van de Ven] wouldn’t get sent off with me because I would be straight in their face”, Allardyce said on No Tippy Tappy Football (39.15).

“Romero, I would be the biggest pain in his a**.

“Because every day when he is in training and he goes on his a** I would go ‘Stay on your feet’ you idiot’.

“Now I am talking about embarrassing him because he needs embarrassing.

“I think he would be bothered if you are embarrassing him in front of the rest.

“I think sometimes you have to embarrass a player by saying, ‘What are you doing? Stay on your feet. I don’t want you to tackle. I am telling you what I want you to do, stay on your feet .’

“I’d say if you want to play you stay on your feet.”

Romero completed the full 90 minutes in Tottenham’s 3-0 drubbing at home by Nottingham Forest on Sunday and avoided going into the referee’s notebook.

If Tottenham now part ways with Igor Tudor, who has failed to lead them to a single Premier League win, Allardyce could potentially be in the conversation as an emergency appointment given his reputation as a survival expert.

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Darren Bent has admitted he is worried about what effect dropping into the bottom three, even temporarily, would have mentally on Tottenham Hotspur.

Nottingham Forest went to north London and blew Spurs away with a 3-0 Premier League win on Sunday which deepens relegation worries for Igor Tudor’s men.

Spurs had been looking at the game to start their climb up the table and away from danger, but they were clearly second best on the day.

The result leaves Tottenham sitting just a point above third from bottom West Ham and two points behind Nottingham Forest.

They now have seven league games left to save their Premier League status and avoid a disastrous drop into the Championship.

With West Ham in action before Tottenham play again, by the time Spurs take to the pitch again they may have dropped into the bottom three.

Bent is concerned for Tottenham if that was to happen as he believes that the Spurs players are less mentally well equipped to deal with it than their rivals.

The ex-striker is sure that the Tottenham players will never have mentally expected to be in a relegation battle.

Bent said on talkSPORT (22nd March, 16:14): “I do worry if Spurs drop into the bottom three, even if it’s for a game.

“Look at the teams that are down there, no disrespect to Burnley, they have been there before and they know what it takes in terms of trying to get out of there, that mentality.

“Forest have been down there, West Ham have been, relegated not too long ago.

“Spurs, it probably never crossed their mentality this season that they’d be in this position.

“They’ve got good players, but I just wonder if they have got the right kind of mentality for this type of fight.

“So far the signs of that are no.”

Former Premier League striker Neil Mellor recently revealed he can absolutely see Tottenham going down, comparing them unfavourably with Nottingham Forest, West Ham and Leeds United.

Spurs have another three home games this season, with Brighton, Leeds and Everton all due to visit north London.

Tottenham have lost 15 games so far this term, out of their 31 league fixtures, and conceded 50 goals.

Last season, Tottenham lost 22 games, but won eleven, while so far they have won just seven matches.

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Former Tottenham Hotspur striker Darren Bent has pointed the finger at Kevin Danso for Nottingham Forest‘s third goal against Spurs and dubbed his defending ‘weak’.

Spurs were looking to build on a positive display in the Champions League against Atletico Madrid when they welcomed Nottingham Forest to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the Premier League on Sunday.

Igor Tudor though oversaw another dismal display as Nottingham Forest grew into the game, dominated and ran out 3-0 winners.

Forest took the lead on the stroke of half-time through Igor Jesus, while Morgan Gibbs-White then added a second just after the hour mark.

Substitute Taiwo Awoniyi then added a third three minutes from time to pile more pain and pressure onto Tottenham.

Tudor picked Danso in the heart of defence for Spurs, leaving Radu Dragusin on the bench, and he completed the full 90 minutes.

Bent was not impressed with how Danso defended for Nottingham Forest’s third goal and dubbed it ‘weak’.

He said on talkSPORT (22nd March, 16:06): “Great pass from Nico Williams and for Taiwo Awoniyi, great finish.

“The defending there from Danso, weak, letting him get behind him, not getting his body across as well.

“For Nottingham Forest, wow, what a result that is.”

Bent believes that Tottenham have real problems when it comes to being able to defend and thinks they are too easy for sides to play against.

The ex-striker added: “Defensively that has been their problem. Can’t keep clean sheets, too easy to play against and awful at home.”

Tottenham now have the international break to lick their wounds and try to rally themselves to bounce back.

Xavi Simons impressed for Tottenham against Atletico Madrid and was lauded for his performance, but Tudor started with him on the bench against Nottingham Forest.

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Fixture: Tottenham Hotspur vs Nottingham Forest

Competition: Premier League

Kick-off: 14:15 UK time

Igor Tudor has picked his Tottenham lineup vs Nottingham Forest in what is a key Premier League clash in the battle for survival.

There were real questions over whether interim boss Tudor would keep his job until recently, with a draw away at Liverpool and a win over Atletico Madrid in the Champions League now seeming to have secured his job.

Tudor though knows that victory over Nottingham Forest today is needed and defeat would again spark debate over if he is the right man.

Spurs’ players though are playing for the Croatian for now in the view of one former striker and confidence will be high that Forest can be beaten.

Nottingham Forest arrive on the back of being taken to extra time in their Europa League tie against Midtjylland.

How much that might have tired out the Nottingham Forest players is open to question, but Tudor will hope it may have an effect at the margins.

Tottenham defender Kevin Danso also hopes to feel the benefits of playing at home today, with the Spurs star talking up the effect of the fans.

The earlier meeting between the two teams this season, in December, resulted in a 3-0 win for Nottingham Forest.

Guglielmo Vicario is in goal in the Tottenham lineup vs Nottingham Forest this afternoon, while at the back Tudor picks Pedro Porro, Cristian Romero, Kevin Danso, Micky van de Ven and Djed Spence.

In the engine room, Tudor will want to dominate and he selects Archie Gray and Pape Matar Sarr, while Mathys Tel, Richarlison and Dominic Solanke lead the attacking threat.

There are options for Tudor to call for to shake up his Tottenham lineup vs Nottingham Forest on the bench today and they include Souza and Xavi Simons.

Tottenham Hotspur Lineup vs Nottingham Forest

Vicario, Porro, Romero, Danso, Van de Ven, Spence, Gray, Sarr, Tel, Richarlison, Solanke

Substitutes: Kinsky, Dragusin, Palhinha, Simons, Udogie, Bergvall, Gallagher, Souza, Kolo Muani

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Flamengo are making a ‘strong attempt’ for Richarlison, as they bid to take the attacker from Tottenham Hotspur in the summer.

The Brazilian forward came to England nine years ago from Fluminense, who sold him to Watford, when they were a Premier League side.

He showed glimpses of his quality at the Hornets and Everton paid big for Richarlison, who impressed with 68-goal contributions for the Toffees in 152 games.

Richarlison arrived on Merseyside dubbed the best player currently not playing for a top six club.

The Brazilian impressed the then Toffees boss, Carlo Ancelotti, who lauded the forward’s ability to play anywhere up front.

Richarlison was rated so highly initially at Everton it was even claimed that the Merseyside club rejected a mammoth €100m bid from La Liga giants Barcelona.

Four years ago, Spurs paid a hefty £60m to the Toffees, and the Nova Venecia-born attacker claimed that he wanted to make history at the north London club.

While he has not hit the heights hoped for, Richarlison may feel he lived up to his words by helping Tottenham to win the Europa League.

Club played for Atletica Mineiro Fluminense Watford Everton Tottenham Hotspur Clubs Richarlison has played for

The Brazil attacker has clocked 126 matches so far for the Lilywhites in four years and is now attracting interest from his homeland.

According to Italian outlet Tutto Mercato Web, Brazilian Serie A giants Flamengo are making a genuine attempt for the 28-year-old.

Flamengo’s move for Richarlison is ‘a very real prospect’, though there is also suggested to be a fresh deal on the table at Spurs.

The 28-year-old could also renew his deal in north London, but that is very much dependent on Tottenham’s Premier League status by the end of the campaign.

Rcharlison’s current contract runs until the summer of 2027 and Flamengo are working to bring him to Brazil next summer.

Last summer, Vasco da Gama wanted to sign Richarlison, but that deal was deemed very difficult to do.

Now it remains to be seen if Richarlison will end his adventure in the Premier League in the summer after nine years, with Flamengo potentially an appealing prospect.

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Inter Milan’s sporting director Piero Ausilio has travelled to north London to ‘lay the groundwork’ in negotiations with Tottenham Hotspur over a potential move to bring Guglielmo Vicario back to Italy.

The 29-year-old has emerged as a target for the Nerazzurri, who are in the market for a new goalkeeper to succeed Yann Sommer at the end of the season, with the Spurs shot-stopper now firmly on their radar.

His age and reduced wage demands make him an appealing option, particularly when compared to Aston Villa’s Emi Martinez, who also attracted interest from the Italian giants during the January transfer window.

The Italy international arrived in north London in 2023 and has since made 167 appearances in a Spurs shirt, playing a pivotal role in the Lilywhite’s Europa League triumph last season, including a clean sheet in the final against Manchester United.

However, his form has dipped this season, drawing criticism from supporters and a former Premier League star, who pointed to a lack of competition in the goalkeeping department at N17 as a concern.

Even so, Inter Milan appear to be gaining momentum in their pursuit, with the Italian shot-stopper understood to be keen on a return to his homeland.

According to Italian outlet FcInter1908.it, Inter’s sporting director Piero Ausilio has already travelled to London to open talks between the two clubs as they step up their pursuit of the 29-year-old ahead of the summer window.

Goalkeeper Nationality Antonin Kinsky Czech Guglielmo Vicario Italian Brandon Austin American Tottenham’s first team goalkeepers

Vicario, who boasts prior Serie A experience from spells with Cagliari and Empoli, is seen as an ideal fit to take over between the sticks in Cristian Chivu’s side once the Swiss shot-stopper moves on.

Tottenham are also suggested to be open to a sale, provided they receive a fee in the region of €25m to €30m for the goalkeeper.

Spurs sit 16th in the Premier League and are fighting to preserve their top-flight status, placing significant trust in the Italian goalkeeper to hold firm between the posts.

That reliance was highlighted last week during a disastrous 15-minute Champions League cameo from second-choice goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky, who conceded three times against Atletico Madrid in the round of 16 before being substituted by new manager Igor Tudor.

Vicario remains under contract at Tottenham until the summer of 2028, and should a move to the San Siro materialise, Spurs would likely be compelled to enter the transfer market in search of an experienced replacement between the sticks.

Who they chase may well be dependent upon which division they are playing their football in next term.

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Former top flight star Alvin Martin has lauded Tottenham Hotspur playmaker Xavi Simons, who he believes has returned to a really high level and played with confidence against Atletico Madrid.

A summer signing from RB Leipzig, Simons has found himself lost in the crowd inside the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Along with Tottenham, Simons also runs the risk of becoming a Championship player at the end of the season, a prospect that has been dreaded by Dutch journalist Marcel van der Kraan.

Simons, though impressed along with his other team-mates on Wednesday night in the Champions League last 16 match against Atletico Madrid.

In the 3-2 second-leg win, Simons scored a brace, giving Martin reasons to praise him and deem him the man of the match.

While making a special mention of young midfielder Archie Gray, who Martin feels was fantastic throughout the 81 minutes he was on the pitch for, the former defender said on talkSPORT (18th March, 21:58): “There were two or three Spurs players that came to mind [for the man of the match].

“One of them didn’t finish the game, Gray, who I thought he was fantastic throughout. But I would give it to Simons.

Club played for Paris Saint-Germain PSV Eindhoven RB Leipzig Tottenham Hotspur Clubs Xavi Simons has played for

“He was the one who got himself a couple of goals, was always at the centre of what was good going forward.”

Martin believes that Simons has managed to return to a really high level for Tottenham and him playing with responsibility proved that.

“He really looked like his confidence has returned to a really high level.

“Tonight, you could see he led with the ball and took a lot of responsibility.”

Simons has earned the trust of his team-mates, one of whom is Gray himself.

The Leeds United academy graduate revealed that the Dutch international is a joy to play with and horrible to play against.

It now remains to be seen whether Simons can take his form into the Premier League and help Tottenham start to move away from the relegation zone.

They have an all-important match coming up against fellow relegation battlers Nottingham Forest on Sunday.

Forest are in Europa League action this evening and all eyes will be on how much Vitor Pereira rotates.

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Fiorentina sporting director Roberto Goretti has confirmed that Tottenham Hotspur loanee Manor Solomon is set to return to action following the international break.

Solomon moved from Shakhtar Donetsk to Tottenham in the summer of 2023, following an impressive Premier League loan spell with Fulham in which he scored five goals in 24 appearances for the Cottagers.

Despite claiming he understood what then-manager Ange Postecoglou required, he struggled to secure a regular spot in the squad and went on a series of loan spells, the latest taking him to Fiorentina this winter, marking his third loan stint since arriving at N17.

Arriving in January amid a relegation battle with La Viola sitting 18th, Solomon showed faith in the squad by insisting the club would avoid the drop, and Fiorentina have since built a four-point cushion above the bottom three.

The 26-year-old has been pivotal for I Gigliati, scoring twice in his five starts, with one Fiorentina forward praising the Spurs loanee’s impact.

In last month’s 1-0 victory over Pisa, Solomon suffered a thigh injury and has been sidelined for the past five matches.

There have been concerns over just how long the Tottenham man might be out for, but Goretti confirmed that the 26-year-old is completing his rehabilitation and will return to the squad after the international break.

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

The sporting director told DAZN (via Gonfialarete): “Solomon is finishing the rehabilitation process.

“We will have him back after the break.”

On Monday night, following an important 4-1 win against Cremonese at the Stadio Giovanni Zini in a crucial relegation showdown, Fiorentina moved up to 16th in the standings with 28 points.

Before the international break provides a brief pause, Fiorentina face a crucial week ahead, with the Conference League Round of 16 second-leg trip to Rakow and a top-of-the-table clash with Inter Milan at Stadio Artemio Franchi.

Solomon will be keen to regain full fitness and make an impact after the break, aiming to help Fiorentina remain in the top flight while bolstering his case for a permanent €10m move, a sum the club has already set aside to secure his transfer.

He will need to remain fit to convince Fiorentina to sign him and the deal would be a boost for Tottenham.

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Fixture: Liverpool vs Tottenham Hotspur

Competition: Premier League

Kick-off: 15th March, 16:30 UK time

Tottenham Hotspur travel to Liverpool this afternoon in a state of crisis and with open question marks over how much longer firefighter interim boss Igor Tudor will keep his job.

Liverpool’s less than impressive season took another turn for the worse when they were beaten 1-0 in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 tie by Turkish giants Galatasaray.

Despite dominating possession and having more touches inside the opposition box, they finished with an inferior xG, which will keep manager Arne Slot worried, heading into next week’s return match at Anfield.

Before that clash, though, they have another one to take care of against strugglers Tottenham on Sunday. The London-based side are in the worst possible situation possible and have been in a freefall.

Liverpool great Phil Thompson has urged the Reds to take advantage of Spurs’ fragility to make it even more horrible for them.

That prospect looks quite possible taking into account Tottenham’s recent record. The London-based side have not won a Premier League since 28th December when they came out 1-0 winners against Crystal Palace, a team they have since lost to.

They are currently on a six-game losing streak and the 5-2 defeat against Atletico Madrid on Tuesday was the worst of them all.

Tudor is still searching for his first win of the season and will hope that the match against Liverpool will allow him the opportunity to do so.

He has admitted the injury situation at the club is one he has never known before, but he must find a way; Micky van de Ven is suspended.

Victory at Anfield could be a big respite, giving the Croatian at least some time to get things back on track amidst intense talk about replacing him.

Liverpool are expected to go into the game full throttle, trying to exploit all the weakness areas in the Tottenham team. They know well that Tottenham are weak in defence and it is an area that they can exploit.

Predicted Lineups

Liverpool Tottenham Mamardashvili Vicario Gomez Porro Konate Danso Van Dijk Dragusin Kerkez Spence Mac Allister Gallagher Gravenberch Gray Salah Sarr Szoboszlai Simons Wirtz Richarlison Ekitike Solanke Predicted lineups

Recent Form (league)

Liverpool: LWWWL

Tottenham Hotspur: LLLLL

Key Men

Liverpool

Liverpool will be on the lookout to hurt the visiting team and for that to happen, their attacking players will have to take the responsibility.

In attack Hugo Ekitike could turn out to be the match winner. He has 16 goals for Liverpool already and is good at creating opportunities from a deeper position on the pitch.

An impressive 9.4 xG with as many as 133 touches inside the opposition box proves that Ekitike is not a striker to be taken lightly.

At the heart of midfield, Hungarian international Dominik Szoboszlai could also hold the key in a central midfielder role, with Florian Wirtz in front of him. The 25-year-old has completed 88 per cent of his passes this season for Liverpool, proving how good he can be.

Irrespective of Slot’s approach to the game, Szoboszlai can be the key factor, orchestrating play from the centre of the pitch and can even bring the two wingers into play with his through balls.

Tottenham Hotspur

A key to success for Tottenham will be their ability to defend. They have been dismal at the back and the 46 goals they have conceded this season is proof of that. Even Tudor’s inability to get the best out of the team has compiled to their misery.

With the two senior players Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven missing in action, Tudor will be forced to make at least two changes at the back and that could hurt them. A lot will depend on the two makeshift centre-backs Radu Dragusin and Kevin Danso.

They have both gone under the radar somewhat this season, but it is now time for them to step up and even raise their stacks ahead of the summer.

Dragusin has been linked with a move away from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and performances like those against Liverpool could help him get a summer move.

Tudor could resort to a four-man defence on the back of conceding five goals in the last match and the two full-backs on either sides of the two centre-backs can help.

Result Competition Tottenham 1-2 Liverpool Premier League Liverpool 5-1 Tottenham Premier League Liverpool 4-0 Tottenham EFL Cup Last three meetings

Match Prediction

Of late, Tottenham have simply not been able to get the results they would have liked and defence has played a key role in that. The problem with Tudor’s team is that they do not know how many goals will be enough to secure them a win.

Liverpool, on their part, do have their own weaknesses to take care of. Though they have been able to bring some sanity back of late, they still have the same problems Tottenham have. The transitional phase is far from over at Anfield and their inability to add new players in defence has hurt them.

But they should still have enough to get over the line against Tottenham. Even if Liverpool concede goals, they have better qualities in attack to make up for that.

It could eventually turn out to be yet another eventful afternoon for the visitors, who have started to lose the backing of their fans.

Empty away stands are definitely going to have a psychological effect on the players entrusted to do the job if the game turns and the fans depart early.

Inside Futbol Score Prediction

Liverpool 4-2 Tottenham Hotspur

Where To Watch?

Liverpool vs Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League will be shown live in the UK on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League channels with coverage starting from 16.00 UK time.