Inside Futbol

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Dutch journalist Leo Driessen has suggested the Netherlands national team should take Burnley attacker Zian Flemming to the World Cup after Tottenham Hotspur star Xavi Simons’ devastating injury.

Ronald Koeman’s side have lost a key creative spark ahead of the World Cup this summer in the shape of Spurs’ Simons.

The recently turned 23-year-old has ruptured his ACL after picking up an injury at Wolves, with one former Tottenham star slamming Spurs’ medical staff for how they dealt with the blow.

Now Simons is looking at a long period out of action and will miss the World Cup.

All eyes are on how the Netherlands deal with the blow and Dutch journalist Driessen has stressed that Koeman should take Burnley’s Flemming to North America for the upcoming summer World Cup.

He suggested that if the Oranje are looking for a number 9, the 27-year-old Clarets star could be considered an option for the national team.

“You could also bring in another player from England, if you are looking for a striker anyway: Zian Flemming”, Driessen said on Dutch programme Voetbalpraat (via FCUpdate).

Another Dutch journalist, Willem Vissers, pointed out that the ex-Millwall man’s ten goals are very impressive for Scott Parker’s side this term, given Burnley’s very defensive approach.

Club played for Ajax Zwolle NEC Nijmegen Fortuna Sittard Millwall Burnley Clubs Zian Flemming has played for

The experienced journalist pointed out that Flemming would be a very different addition to Koeman’s arsenal, stressing that he has the most goals for a Dutchman abroad, alongside Aston Villa loanee Donyell Malen, who has been brilliant at Roma, and has been hailed by a Dutch legend.

“He played at Millwall for a few years, then you do fall off the radar a bit; that wasn’t even in the top flight of England.

“Now promoted with Burnley, yes, but back at the bottom.

“Ten goals are very impressive, but in a team that always plays defensively.

“Very different from the Dutch national team.

“But after Donyell Malen, he is the one with the most goals abroad”, Vissers added.

Flemming has scored nine Premier League goals in only 17 starts for the Clarets this term, a shining light in a poor Burnley side.

The 27-year-old physically strong attacker is yet to be called up for the Oranje and would no doubt relish the chance to make the Netherlands World Cup squad.

Now it remains to be seen whether Flemming will be considered an option by Koeman after Simons’ injury, or if he will consider other creative options.

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Fiorentina are still weighing up the futures of Jack Harrison of Leeds United and Manor Solomon of Tottenham Hotspur, with the pair considered important for La Viola’s system, but concerns over inconsistency.

In January, the Tuscan club moved to bolster their wings amid a looming relegation battle, turning to England to bring in Harrison from Leeds and Solomon from Spurs on loan deals through to the end of the season.

The Spurs loanee had spent the first half of the campaign at Villarreal, where he made eleven appearances, scoring once but struggling to secure regular minutes.

He made an immediate impression after arriving, with it emerging in February that La Viola had already earmarked funds to make the move permanent following a run of nine straight league appearances and two goals.

However, a thigh injury ruled the 26-year-old out for the entirety of March, raising concerns within Fiorentina over triggering the €7m option to sign him permanently from Tottenham.

Leeds wide-man Harrison arrived after a forgettable first half of the season at Elland Road, where he saw limited minutes under Daniel Farke, but has settled quickly in Tuscany, embracing his new surroundings while making his mark on the pitch.

Under Paolo Vanoli, whom the 29-year-old has likened to Marcelo Bielsa, Harrison has racked up 19 appearances and four goal contributions, playing a key role in La Viola’s Conference League knockout run, which ended at the quarter-final stage against Crystal Palace.

Loanee On loan from Daniele Rugani Juventus Marco Brescianini Atalanta Jack Harrison Leeds United Manor Solomon Tottenham Hotspur Giovanni Fabbian Bologna Fiorentina’s loan stars

According to Italian daily La Nazione (via Firenzeviola), ‘doubts remain’ over whether to trigger the options to retain Harrison and Solomon, with inconsistent performances shaping Fiorentina’s current stance.

When the duo arrived in Florence, La Viola were mired in a relegation scrap, but a run of just one defeat in their last eleven league outings since early February has lifted them to 15th in the standings, a turnaround Solomon had predicted upon his arrival.

The two loanees have also earned praise from teammate Roberto Piccoli, who credited them with adding valuable depth to Fiorentina’s attacking ranks.

Fiorentina do consider the pair to be valuable when it comes to the systems they like to play, but that may not be enough to keep them.

Harrison remains under contract with Leeds United until 2028, with the Tuscan side holding a €6m option to secure him permanently, while the Israeli winger is also tied to Tottenham Hotspur until 2028.

With just four games remaining in the season, Fiorentina face a looming decision on whether to make their loan signings permanent, with the final call set to hinge on both financial considerations and on-pitch output.

Now sitting nine points clear of the drop and with their Serie A status all but secured, attention turns to the summer, where the futures of both attackers remain uncertain as alternative options are also explored.

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Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Joao Palhinha is wanted by Turkish giants Besiktas, who have ‘initiated moves’ to take him to Istanbul in the summer transfer window.

The 30-year-old joined Spurs on loan last summer from Bayern Munich after falling out of Vincent Kompany’s plans in Germany.

Palhinha has made 40 appearances for Spurs, scoring six goals and registering three assists, one of the highest tallies in an underperforming Spurs side.

Although Palhinha was a reliable starter under previous managers Thomas Frank and Igor Tudor, he has yet to start under Roberto De Zerbi, coming off the bench in all three matches under him.

He still proved crucial on Saturday against Wolves at Molineux, coming on as a substitute in the 62nd minute to score the only goal of the match, sealing the first win of the De Zerbi tenure and Spurs’ first victory of the year.

Despite the win, Tottenham remain in the relegation zone, two points behind West Ham United in 17th, and with only four matches to go, their top-flight status is in serious danger.

Tottenham would like to keep hold of Palhinha, but are not keen on meeting the €25m option to buy they negotiated with Bayern Munich and want to push the price down.

Game Competition Gaziantep (A) Super Lig Konyaspor (N) Turkish Cup Trabzonspor (H) Super Lig Rizespor (A) Super Lig Besiktas’ remaining games

Bayern Munich are not planning to reintegrate him into their squad, with their midfield options already substantial, such as Joshua Kimmich and Aleksandar Pavlovic.

Now Besiktas are looking to scoop up Palhinha and have ‘initiated moves’ to line up a deal, according to Turkish daily Sabah (via A Spor).

The Black Eagles also have Eric Martel and Ibrahim Sangare on their shortlist as options for the defensive midfield role, with the latter’s club Nottingham Forest facing relegation worries in the Premier League, presenting another situation the Turkish giants could capitalise on.

Spurs’ final league position is expected to be decisive in determining whether a deal for Palhinha becomes feasible, as Besiktas look to take advantage of the uncertainty surrounding his situation.

In the event of relegation, the Lilywhites could be forced to part ways with Palhinha and convincing him to play in the Championship would be a major challenge.

Even if that were to happen, the financial implications would present another obstacle, potentially opening the door further for Besiktas to step in.

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Former Tottenham Hotspur star Jamie O’Hara has slammed the handling of Xavi Simons’ injury, labelling the response from Spurs’ medical staff an ‘all time shambles’.

The 23-year-old suffered a rupture of his anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during the Premier League clash against Wolves on Saturday at Molineux.

Spurs have confirmed that Simons will undergo surgery in the coming weeks before beginning his rehabilitation programme with the club’s medical team after suffering a cruciate knee ligament injury.

Following the setback, it has also been confirmed that the Dutch attacker will miss the remainder of the season, with his World Cup hopes also over.

O’Hara has now taken aim at the handling of the situation, questioning the judgement of the medical staff, with the use of ice spray in such circumstances falling well below expected professional standards in his view.

O’Hara wrote on X: “Medical staff putting ice spray on a ruptured ACL is all time shambles.”

Simons, who joined from RB Leipzig last summer, has endured a mixed campaign, registering only seven goal involvements from 28 Premier League appearances, drawing criticism from Rafael van der Vaart.

Injured player Injury Xavi Simons ACL Wilson Odobert ACL Mohammed Kudus Thigh Dejan Kulusevski Knee Cristian Romero Knee Ben Davies Ankle Guglielmo Vicario Groin Destiny Udogie Muscle Pape Matar Sarr Shoulder Dominic Solanke Thigh Current Spurs injuries

However, his recent displays had shown signs of improvement, particularly against Brighton & Hove Albion, where he found the net and provided an assist to help his side earn a point.

The injury has arrived at a crucial phase in the season for Roberto De Zerbi’s side, who remain in the relegation zone in 18th place, two points adrift of safety.

Meanwhile, Simons was not the only player to suffer an injury against the Old Gold, with Dominic Solanke also forced off after pulling up with a muscle problem, adding to an already lengthy list of key absentees.

Spurs’ victory over Wolves, their first of the year, could provide much-needed momentum, though injuries to Simons and other key players represent a major setback ahead of the decisive run-in.

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Mansfield Town boss Nigel Clough has praised Tottenham Hotspur talent George Abbott for his impact at Field Mill, insisting he impressed despite being repeatedly hampered by injury setbacks.

Abbott joined the Stags on loan in the winter window until the end of the season after spending the first half of the campaign with Wycombe Wanderers, with his parent club kept informed on his game-time management at Mansfield.

The 20-year-old Tottenham graduate has made eleven appearances under Clough, registering a goal and an assist, and has spoken of his satisfaction while stressing his aim of staying fit amid an injury-hit season.

Before the switch, the Chairboys had already seen his quality, with the defensive midfielder making 15 appearances in League One, also contributing a goal and an assist, and earning praise from a team-mate who lauded the Spurs academy product’s ability.

However, despite hopes of staying fit through to the end of the campaign, his season across both third-tier spells has been blighted by injury, with absences in November and January, and he is now set to miss the remainder of the campaign after a season-ending injury in early April.

Clough reflected on the youngster’s injury-ravaged year, contrasting it with the strong campaign he enjoyed at Notts County last season.

He also noted that Abbott arrived at Field Mill carrying a knock after earlier problems at Wycombe, but had initially begun to find his rhythm again before the latest setback brought his progress to a halt.

The 60-year-old described it as bad luck, adding that, nevertheless, the 20-year-old performed very well during his time under him.

Clough said at a press conference (4:07): “Yes, he’s had an injury-hit season, unusual in some ways because he had such a great season at Notts County last season.

“And then he went to Wycombe, a couple of injuries there, came to us injured but then seemed to just get going again, and then he’s had this setback.

“So it’s just bad luck for him, but I thought he did very, very well in the time he was with us.”

Last season, Abbott registered 44 appearances for Notts County, contributing seven assists and six goals, a return that drew praise from a former EFL star who tipped the youngster as one to keep an eye on.

Having already made his debut for Spurs three years ago, it remains to be seen whether he will be handed an opportunity to stake his claim in the first team during pre-season this summer.

Tottenham have placed their faith in Roberto De Zerbi in a bid to drag their season clear of danger, with the club still mired in the relegation zone and four games left to play, while Abbott’s future will be reviewed once their fate for next season is sealed.

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Tottenham Hotspur are facing more competition for Gabriel Sara, who is one of the ‘exotic’ targets for Serie A giants Napoli.

The north Londoners finally got their first win of the calendar year on Saturday as they edged out Wolves 1-0 at Molineux courtesy of a late Joao Palhinha goal.

Roberto De Zerbi claimed before the match that the Spurs stars believe in him and they did deliver a much-needed three points at the weekend.

Even though West Ham United’s win against Everton did not let Spurs come out of the relegation zone, it did boost confidence in north London about their survival prospects

Despite not knowing what division they will be playing in next season, Tottenham’s recruitment team are continuing to prepare for the summer and are eyeing targets.

Three Galatasaray stars are on their radar for the upcoming window and former Norwich City midfielder Sara is one of them.

Tottenham have also been made aware that they would need to pay a ‘substantial’ fee for the Brazilian, who is now attracting from more clubs as the season is edging closer to its conclusion.

Former PL star Billy Gilmour Scott McTominay Romelu Lukaku Kevin De Bruyne Rasmus Hojlund Frank Anguissa Former PL players at Napoli

According to Italian daily Il Mattino, Italian giants Napoli have an eye on Sara, who they see as more of an ‘exotic’ target for the summer window.

The Serie A giants are keen on revitalising their engine room next term and feel that the Galatasaray star could be an option for that.

Last month, Spurs watched the Brazil international in action as they stepped up their interest in him even more.

Galatasaray will be in next season’s Champions League, while Napoli are sitting second in the Serie A table, which would see them play in the elite European competition next season as well.

Last month, Sara made his Brazil debut, and if he is able to showcase his quality for the Selecao, more clubs could enter the race for him.

Sara has eleven goal contributions in 40 games across all competitions this season to his name in Turkey and his performances for the Cimbom have gained significant traction in the past few months.

Spurs now face the prospect of having to fight Napoli for Sara if they do make a move to bring him back to England in the summer.

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Tottenham Hotspur out-on-loan talent Will Lankshear has admitted that playing in the Championship has been ‘absolute blessing’ for him this season.

The Welwyn Garden City-born attacking talent kicked off his youth football with north London giants Arsenal, who he left in 2021.

Fellow London club Brentford, wanted to snap Lankhsear up back in 2022 when he was at Sheffield United, but Spurs paid £2m to sign him for their academy.

Back in 2024, the young striker made his debut for Spurs in the Europa League and has six senior appearances under his belt for the north Londoners.

Lankshear outlined the benefits of playing with the first team, but was loaned out to Championship side Oxford United last summer for regular game time.

The England Under-21 international has had an impressive loan spell at Oxford, whose relegation to League One has now been confirmed.

The 21-year-old hitman has scored 12 times and provided four assists in 46 games across all competitions, proving to be a key cog at the Yellows.

Lankshear apologised to the Oxford fans that he could not do more to keep them safe, expressing his emotions at seeing Matt Bloomfield’s side go down.

“For me, I would say I’m sorry for not doing more”, the Spurs loanee said on BBC Radio Oxford after the U’s defeated Sheffield Wednesday at the weekend.

“But it’s such a beautiful club and it makes me emotional even talking about it.”

However, the 21-year-old stressed that it was an ‘absolute blessing’ for him to play in the Championship, and he promised to give his all against Millwall on Saturday, in the final game of the regular Championship campaign.

“Every time I step onto the pitch in the Championship, it’s an absolute blessing.

“I never believed I’d be here.

“I’ll go into the last game and give it my absolute all to see off the season”, he added.

One ex-Championship forward hailed the Tottenham talent’s maturity at the U’s and he will go back to Tottenham following a successful loan, even if it ended on a sour note.

If Tottenham cannot avoid relegation, Roberto De Zerbi could consider Lankshear to be an option given his experience of playing in the Championship this term.

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Former Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp is of the belief that Roberto De Zerbi would earn hero status if he can haul the Lilywhites clear of their current plight amid an injury-ravaged campaign.

Spurs find themselves in the Premier League relegation zone after 34 matchdays, with just 34 points on the board and only eight wins all season.

Their first victory since December, secured at Molineux against Wolves on Saturday, has left them two points adrift of West Ham United in 17th, with four matches left to preserve their top-flight status.

De Zerbi opened his spell in charge with a defeat and a draw, and while the Italian secured three points against the Old Gold, it came at a cost as injuries to Xavi Simons and Dominic Solanke dealt an immediate blow, with the former ruled out for the season.

Those setbacks compound an already mounting injury crisis at Spurs, where attacking options Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison are still waiting to make their first appearances of the campaign for the north London side.

Redknapp weighed in on the situation, warning that the absences of Simons and Solanke could be felt, particularly if the English striker’s problem proves long term.

He acknowledged the injuries as a setback, but stressed that, given the squad’s quality, Tottenham should not find themselves in such a position and ought to cope with the adversity.

Club managed Bournemouth West Ham Portsmouth Southampton Tottenham Hotspur QPR Birmingham City Clubs Harry Redknapp has managed

The 79-year-old also pointed to what he sees as a disappointing season overall, adding that De Zerbi has stepped into a difficult scenario and now faces the challenge of steadying the side, with the battle ahead likely to go down to the wire.

Redknapp said on talkSPORT (0:49): “Yes, I mean Solanke looked like he got, whether it’s a hamstring or what I’m not sure, but you know they’ll miss him as well, Tottenham for sure.

“That would be a blow to them, but I don’t know, they still shouldn’t, even with that squad, it’s been a horrendous season for them, hasn’t it, really?

“And he’s come in now to try and pick up the pieces, the manager.

“He’s got a hard job on his hands, really, but if he could pull it off, he’d be a hero, but it’s going to be a tight one.”

Doubts persist over whether the 46-year-old can reverse the London club’s slide, with a former Premier League figure highlighting their vulnerability and Simon Jordan also casting the Italian manager as short of an elite appointment.

On Friday night, fellow relegation rivals Nottingham Forest delivered a commanding 5-0 win, boosting their survival push, with one star likening the pressure to international duty.

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Tottenham Hotspur target Elia Caprile has emerged as an alternative to Spurs shot-stopper Guglielmo Vicario for Inter Milan.

Vicario has been a mainstay for Spurs since his €20m signing in 2023 on a five-year deal, notwithstanding time spent out of the squad through injury.

This season too, the Italian has been a constant between the sticks until recently, when he picked up a hernia injury, allowing Antonin Kinsky another chance to step in after his ill-fated Champions League outing.

There is expected to be change in the goalkeeping position at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the summer, with Vicario widely expected to depart.

Inter Milan, looking to replace Yann Sommer, whose contract expires in the summer, drew a shortlist that had Vicario higher placed to Aston Villa’s Emi Martinez due to his lower wages.

It emerged in February that Vicario was amenable to a move back to Italy, as he ‘reiterated his availability’ for Inter, while Spurs were also open to sanctioning a move if an interested party could cough up €25m to €30m.

Inter Milan sporting director Piero Ausilio then travelled to north London to ‘lay the groundwork’ over a potential transfer for Vicario back in March.

Legendary Italian goalkeeper Gianluca Pagliuca has cautioned that ‘there are better options in the market for the Nerazzurri’, and Inter Milan seem to have paid heed to that advice now, looking beyond just Vicario.

It has now emerged that Elia Caprile of Cagliari has emerged as an alternative to Vicario, according to Italian outlet Tutto Mercato Web, though the Spurs man does remain the number 1 target.

Caprile, formerly of Leeds United, has had scouts from Aston Villa and Tottenham watching him this season.

Five years junior to Vicario, Caprile is seen as value for money, commanding a similar fee, and his career is also on the upward trajectory, with strong performances for Cagliari leading to a call-up to the national side.

Interestingly, Caprile replaced Vicario at Empoli in 2023, receiving the blessings of the senior man.

If Inter Milan have an alternative to Vicario then it could well bolster their negotiating position with Spurs, making them not dependent on the goalkeeper.

In an ideal world for Spurs, it could be history repeating itself with Caprile replacing Vicario for a second time, and the fee received from one man put to the other, while Roberto De Zerbi prepares for a Premier League campaign having avoided relegation.

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Fixture: Wolves vs Tottenham Hotspur

Competition: Premier League

Kick-off: 15:00 UK time

Roberto De Zerbi has picked his Tottenham lineup vs Wolves for this afternoon’s Premier League meeting at Molineux – match preview here.

With Nottingham Forest crushing Sunderland on Friday night, the battle to avoid finishing 18th may well now just be down to between Tottenham and West Ham.

On paper, the clash at Wolves today is Tottenham’s easiest match of the run-in and there will be massive questions to answer if they do not take all three points.

De Zerbi is encouraged by how his players are responding to his demands and feels total buy-in from the Tottenham squad.

Following disgusting online racist abuse of Kevin Danso after the Brighton game, De Zerbi took time to hail the centre-back and admit he has been hugely impressed with him.

De Zerbi will have to do without Tottenham defender Destiny Udogie, who picked up a muscle injury against Brighton, while Pape Matar Sarr and Guglielmo Vicario remain out.

Wolves have often proven to be a tough nut for Tottenham to crack in recent meetings and they last came out on top against the Old Gold in 2022.

Rob Edwards’ men have been relegated and it is unclear if that will bring extra freedom to play, or a dialling down of effort in a bid to avoid unnecessary injury.

Antonin Kinsky is in goal in the Tottenham lineup vs Wolves this afternoon, while at the back De Zerbi picks Pedro Porro, Kevin Danso, Micky van de Ven and Djed Spence.

In the key midfield battle, Tottenham go with Rodrigo Bentancur, Conor Gallagher and Yves Bissouma, while Xavi Simons will look to create for Randal Kolo Muani and Dominic Solanke.

If De Zerbi needs to make changes to his Tottenham lineup vs Wolves at any point then he has options off the bench that include Mathys Tel and Archie Gray.

Tottenham Hotspur Lineup vs Wolves

Kinsky, Porro, Danso, Van de Ven, Spence, Bentancur, Gallagher, Bissouma, Simons, Kolo Muani, Solanke

Substitutes: Austin, Dragusin, Palhinha, Richarlison, Maddison, Tel, Gray, Bergvall, Souza