Inside Futbol

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Fixture: Sunderland vs Tottenham Hotspur

Competition: Premier League

Kick-off: 14:00 UK time

Roberto De Zerbi has picked his Tottenham lineup vs Sunderland for this afternoon’s Premier League clash at the Stadium of Light.

Spurs have turned to De Zerbi in a bid to avoid being relegated from the Premier League this season and today’s game is his first in charge of the north London side.

He has been clear that he does not want to change too much, with an awareness of the limited amount of games Tottenham have to save themselves.

De Zerbi does think he has inherited a team packed full of quality, but the Italian will need to hit the ground running.

To that end, the Tottenham boss has admitted he wants to see passion and spirit from his side at Sunderland today.

Spurs may be able to use an element of surprise, with Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris clear he does not quite know what to expect.

The earlier meeting between the two teams this season, at Tottenham, resulted in a 1-1 draw.

Sunderland’s form has been mixed of late, but they do head into the clash on the back of a big derby win over Newcastle United.

Antonin Kinsky is in goal in the Tottenham lineup vs Sunderland today, while at the back De Zerbi goes with Pedro Porro, Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven and Destiny Udogie.

Midfield, a key area that Tottenham will be looking to control today in the north east, sees De Zerbi select Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall and Conor Gallagher, while Richarlison, Dominic Solanke and Randal Kolo Muani lead the attack.

De Zerbi may well need to shake up his Tottenham lineup vs Sunderland at some point and his options off the bench to do that include Mathys Tel and Xavi Simons.

Tottenham Hotspur Lineup vs Sunderland

Kinsky, Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie, Gray, Bergvall, Gallagher, Richarlison, Solanke, Kolo Muani

Substitutes: Austin, Dragusin, Danso, Palhinha, Simons, Bissouma, Tel, Spence, Sarr

New Tottenham Hotspur boss Roberto De Zerbi has told Conor Gallagher that he wants to see him get back to his Chelsea form, while delighting in the amount of quality he has in the squad.

Spurs are currently in a relegation battle with West Ham United, Nottingham Forest and Leeds United and have dropped inside the bottom three.

Tottenham recently managed to convince De Zerbi to take over, after showing Igor Tudor the door, and now the man who was sacked by Marseille earlier this season must turn things around.

De Zerbi managed to catch the eye during his time as Brighton boss, though the Seagulls dealt with his departure smoothly and have kept performance levels high.

Spurs have only seven games left to play until the end of the season and will travel to the Stadium of Light to face Sunderland on Sunday, as they continue their battle for Premier League survival.

De Zerbi believes he has inherited a squad packed full of quality and revealed that he sees stars such as Cristian Romero, Pedro Porro, Dominic Solanke and Micky van de Ven as key men.

The Italian manager also talked up the young talents he has at his disposal in the shape of Lucas Bergvall, Archie Gray, Mathys Tel and Xavi Simons.

Competition Appearances Premier League 145 La Liga 51 Championship 45 FA Cup 12 EFL Cup 10 Conor Gallagher’s top competitions by appearances

The Italian made special mention of a player Tottenham signed in the winter transfer window in the shape of Gallagher and wants to see him get back to the form he displayed at Chelsea.

De Zerbi said at a press conference (12:05): “In the last period I watch a lot of games, especially of Tottenham and yes, one thing is to watch the game at home and a different thing is to work with them on the pitch.

“We have very big players, young players [Lucas] Bergvall, Archie Gray, Mathys Tel, Xavi Simons, but anyway we have older players that are important like [Micky] van de Ven. Van de Ven is a crucial player for me, like [Cristian] Romero, like [Pedro] Porro, like [Dominic] Solanke.

“I want to see again the same Gallagher I loved in [his] Chelsea time.

“I think I am lucky because I have a big confidence in my players and their qualities, and for me, my target is to help them play well, to enjoy the ball, because their characteristics are very clear for me.”

Gallagher arrived at Spurs from Atletico Madrid in the 2026 January transfer window after spending just 17 months in Spain, due to lack of game time under manager Diego Simeone.

The 26-year-old has only featured in nine games since his arrival and is yet to score a goal for the Lilywhites.

Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris has admitted he is unsure what to expect from De Zerbi’s Spurs.

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Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris has identified the key factor for the Black Cats as they prepare to face an unfamiliar Tottenham Hotspur side under new manager Roberto De Zerbi, stressing that real-time adaptation from his players will be decisive.

Le Bris and his side have enjoyed a standout campaign in the top flight since their promotion, collecting eleven wins and moving on to 43 points, leaving them with no concern of an immediate return to the Championship.

Tottenham, by contrast, are enduring a difficult season, sitting just a point above West Ham United, who occupy 18th place in the table.

Following the sacking of Thomas Frank in February, Igor Tudor was appointed but failed to deliver a win in his five league games in charge, leading to his dismissal last month.

The north London club’s third managerial appointment of the campaign has come in the form of De Zerbi, who last managed Brighton in the Premier League in the 2022/23 season, guiding them to European qualification for the first time in the club’s history.

However, Simon Jordan has insisted that it is not an elite appointment, while Richard Keys has also criticised the move and questioned the Italian’s credentials.

The 46-year-old is set to take charge of his first match as Spurs boss on Sunday against the Black Cats, who arrive buoyed by a derby-day high after beating Newcastle United 2-1 on their own turf in the Tyne and Wear derby.

Played/Managed Italy Romania Ukraine England France Countries Roberto De Zerbi has played or managed in

With the meeting set to be the Italian’s first game in charge of the Lilywhites, Le Bris highlighted the difficulty of preparation given there is virtually no material available to analyse under De Zerbi’s tenure so far.

He explained that while De Zerbi’s broader stylistic traits and individual player profiles remain familiar, the lack of new reference points makes it difficult to pinpoint clear patterns in and out of possession ahead of the fixture.

As a result, he emphasised that the contest is likely to hinge on his side’s capacity to adapt and respond in real time, rather than lean on extensive pre-match scouting material.

The Sunderland boss said at a press conference (14:02): “It’s not easy to prepare because we don’t have games to analyse from Tottenham, but we know the style of play, we know the players, so we can try to connect both and identify some patterns, out of possession and in possession, to help the players if it happens on the pitch.

“You will have some references to manage opportunities and problems, but probably the main ability of the squad will be the adaptation in real time, which I think is one of the most important in football.

“So you have your knowledge, you have your references in possession and out of possession, and if you are prepared, maybe you can identify patterns before, but in this case it won’t be possible

“So it’s about the ability to react and adapt, and I think it will be really interesting.”

Pape Matar Sarr, who picked up an injury while on international duty, was spotted training with the squad and is expected to feature in De Zerbi’s plans on Sunday.

Spurs are still searching for their first win of the calendar year, with the former Marseille coach under pressure to deliver quickly if they are to drive away from danger.

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Former Rangers striker Gordon Dalziel believes that Tottenham Hotspur loanee Mikey Moore is going to play a big part if the Glasgow side are going to win the Scottish Premiership title.

Joining from Tottenham on loan in the summer, Moore did not enjoy a particularly good start to his Rangers career under then boss Russell Martin.

Former striker Ross McCormack namechecked Moore among others, who were part of what he saw as shocking recruitment at Ibrox.

As then manager Martin persisted with his decision to pick Moore ahead of others, Andy Halliday even suggested that a pre-agreed amount of game time with Tottenham could be the cause.

However, there has been a remarkable turnaround since, with Danny Rohl being able to bring about the best out of the 18-year-old.

In 27 Scottish Premiership games, Moore has been able to find the back of the net six times from down the flanks.

Former Hibernian attacker Tam McManus has acknowledged the transformation, insisting that Moore has really grown in stature and confidence.

Booked against Minute Ludogorets 61st Celtic 63rd Hearts 90th Mikey Moore’s bookings this season

Dalziel, while describing the change, said on Clyde 1 Superscoreboard (31.42): “Incredible turnaround.

“When he first came on the scene, you were thinking – “oh here we go, another wonder kid, up from a top English Premier League team. Won’t cut it’.

“He has been absolutely brilliant for Rangers, probably the most important player just now, a game changer, match-winner.

“He has been brilliant for Rangers so far.

“You can see the lad is now playing with that sort of freedom, confidence, the fans love him, everything about it.”

Dalziel noted that improved performances have led some to push Moore’s potential price tag even further upwards, while he does feel that if Rangers are to win the league then the Spurs man is going to have a big part to play in it.

“And he has certainly shown why they were going on about someone saying, ‘the young kid already is worth 10m quid.’ I am not saying that. That is what a coach was on about.

“But he has been really, really a top player for Rangers in recent what months, you would say.

“He is going to play a big, big part if Rangers are going to win this title.“

What Tottenham have planned for Moore remains to be seen and could largely depend on what division they are playing their football in next season.

Rangers do not have an option to buy Moore and will need to sit at the table with Tottenham if they wish to keep hold of him beyond the end of the campaign.

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Paris Saint-Germain striker Randal Kolo Muani, currently on loan at Tottenham Hotspur, is confident of a return to Juventus and has already communicated his intentions to the Bianconeri and former team-mates in Italy.

After being linked with the French forward last winter and ultimately missing out to Juventus, Tottenham finally secured their target on a season-long loan in the summer.

The Lilywhites had to fend off strong competition to land Kolo Muani, with Aston Villa, Manchester United, Newcastle United, and even former club Juventus all circling for his signature.

The France international ended last season on loan with the Old Lady, who were impressed by his attacking qualities and keen to bring him back to Turin, but they failed to reach an agreement with Les Parisiens despite submitting a bid before the campaign began.

In January, the Lilywhites were approached by the Italian giants for the 27-year-old, but Tottenham stood firm amid an injury-hit squad, forcing the Old Lady to regroup and plot another move in the summer.

According to Italian daily Tuttosport, the World Cup finalist is confident of securing a return to Juventus and ‘has made this clear’ to the Italian club, along with informing his old team-mates.

Juventus have yet to secure Champions League qualification, currently sitting fifth in Serie A just outside the qualifying spots, though that appears to be no deterrent for Kolo Muani.

This season has not unfolded for Kolo Muani as planned in north London, despite earning praise from two former top-flight stars, one highlighting his high ceiling and another insisting he has the qualities to succeed at Tottenham.

Having only made his debut in October, the French attacker has featured 23 times in the league for the north London side, registering just one goal and one assist.

He has enjoyed far greater success in the Champions League, registering six goal contributions in nine outings, though Spurs’ campaign came to an end in the round of 16 following last month’s defeat to Atletico Madrid.

Kolo Muani has two years remaining on his PSG contract and the French giants will be keen to recoup as much value as possible for the 27-year-old, even if his stint in London may temper his market price.

Whether Tottenham will look to make a move to retain the forward in the summer window remains to be seen, but it appears his sights are firmly set on a return to Turin.

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Tottenham Hotspur boss Roberto De Zerbi has explained his surprising decision to add just two fresh faces to the backroom staff at Spurs and not as many as he usually brings with him.

The north Londoners are currently wedged in a relegation battle as they sit 17th in the league table, only a point above 18th-positioned West Ham United.

Spurs have appointed ex-Brighton manager De Zerbi to keep them safe, as they are desperate to keep hold of their Premier League status.

One former Premier League star urged Tottenham to look beyond the Italian boss due to his temperament issues, but now it is all on De Zerbi to guide the north Londoners to safety.

Former Spurs star Jamie O’Hara has advised the 46-year-old to focus on organisation to get the team over the line.

De Zerbi has brought in Marcattilio Marcattilii, and Marcello Quinto as first team staff to help him for the rest of the campaign, instead of the six-to-seven-man team that he usually brings in with him.

The Italian boss has made it clear that he does not have much time to implement his ideas with a set of new coaching staff, as he insisted that he does not want to confuse the players with complicated instructions.

Game Competition Sunderland (A) Premier League Brighton (H) Premier League Wolves (A) Premier League Roberto De Zerbi’s first three games

The ex-Seagulls boss wants his players to play with courage, and he wants them to fight, stressing that he wants the Tottenham stars to fight for their pride.

“It is totally different, this situation, because we have no time to work like in Brighton time, or Marseille or any other place I have been [at]”, De Zerbi told a press conference (14:08) when he was asked about why he has brought in only two people on his coaching staff.

“I don’t want to put confusion inside of the players.

“They have to be with a clear plan of the game and not too much instruction and not too much to think – they have to run where the ball is.

“They have to play with courage, with personality, and they have to fight.

“My demand [from the players] is to show the right spirit.”

One Spurs legend hit back at the De Zerbi critics and wants to see the Italian take the north London team to the heights they hit under Mauricio Pochettino.

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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.