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West Brom launch 'ambitious' enquiry to sign Tottenham Hotspur striker

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The Tottenham Hotspur forward had turned heads with an impressive loan spell in League One this term.

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West Brom have ‘lodged an enquiry’ to sign Tottenham Hotspur forward Jamie Donley this summer having missed out on the Championship play-offs this term.

Donley, who is currently finishing his season long loan spell at League One outfit Leyton Orient, is just 20 years old and has made four appearances for the Spurs first team. The forward signed a new contract with the club in 2024 to keep him at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium until 2029.

BirminghamWorld reports that the Baggies have already enquired over a potential transfer for the player in an ambitious early move - West Brom are currently without a manager, having sacked Tony Mowbray, with both Tottenham Hotspur and Leyton Orient’s 2024/25 seasons ongoing.

West Brom enquire over Jamie Donley

Spurs have two Premier League fixtures left and the small matter of a Europa League final to contest. The future of Ange Postecoglou is also under scrutiny with any transfers set to wait until a firm decision has been made on the manager of the football club.

Meanwhile, Leyton Orient are competing in the League One play-offs after an impressive season under Richie Wellens. The O’s travel to Stockport County this week with all to play for in the semi-final second leg after a 2-2 draw.

Donley has eight goals and 10 assists in League One this season and has earned plaudits over his 39 outings. It’s claimed that Spurs are willing to loan the player out again, with a temporary departure preferred over a permanent sale.

The Baggies are reported to see Donley as a player who can compete for a starting berth in a new-look attack with Grady Diangana and John Swift departing come the end of their contracts in June.

Spurs forward switches international allegiance

Donley switched his international allegiance from England to Northern Ireland earlier this year and made his debut for Michael O’Neill’s side in March. The forward has been part of both the England and Northern Ireland youth set-ups in the past.

Speaking after the switch, Northern Ireland boss O’Neill said: "We're delighted to get Jamie. He was part of the England under-age set-up, although he was born here in Antrim in Northern Ireland and his dad is from Antrim.

"We had conversations over the last three or four months. They were very positive and he's a player that I believe has a great international future. He's very much in the mould of Isaac Price, Shea Charles, Trai Hume, Callum Marshall, players of that age who have already made their mark on the senior international stage. We're excited to have him."

Speaking about his loan spell at Brisbane Road in March, Donley told BBC Radio London: "I want to play in these games. I want to show everyone what I can do.

"People say to go out and explore men's football instead of just playing under-21s football and now I'm at this stage, I'm glad I've gone and done that. I've obviously had the down moment in my career where I wasn't playing and getting in the squad but I've come out of the other side.

"Now I'm doing well - I'm playing lots of minutes and it's coming out as a successful loan for me. Coming from Tottenham, everyone expects you to be this amazing player and just to hit the ground running straight away but it's not that easy coming as my first loan into men's football. The gaffer always told me he knows the quality I have and it's just about showing that. Luckily, I've shown that over the last few months."

In other news, Tottenham star 'agrees' to summer transfer despite contract admission - and it's bad news for Leeds United.

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Tottenham star 'agrees' to summer transfer despite contract admission

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Tottenham could be offered the chance to bring in a nice profit this summer.

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Tottenham could be in for a pay day this summer as they look to remodel their squad. Spurs face an uncertain future after what has been a disastrous Premier League campaign.

Ange Postecoglou’s men lost again over the weekend, losing to Crystal Palace, and that defeat means they cannot surpass their worst-ever Premier League points total of 44, now having to win both of their remaining league games to even equal it. Fortunately for the North London club, they do have a Europa League final to look forward to on May 21, facing Manchester United for a shot at silverware and Champions League qualification.

It’s unclear where Postecoglou stands in terms of his job. The Australian’s position is clearly not safe given his and the team’s shortcomings this season, but he might be able to buy himself sufficient credit if he masterminds Tottenham’s first trophy win in 17 years.

Regardless of whether Postecoglou stays or goes, there is going to have to be significant investment in Tottenham’s squad this season, with the current crop clearly not good enough to compete for Europe. While injuries have played a big part, Spurs have not looked good enough even when at full strength, and the need for changes is obvious.

But Tottenham are going to have to keep the balance sheet healthy, and that might involve a handful of sales this summer. One possible sale involves a player who impressed while out on loan this season.

Manor Solomon played a big role in Leeds United’s promotion and Championship title win, even scoring the stoppage time winner that secured the title for the Whites. In all, the winger scored 10 and provided 13 assists in 41 games across all competitions.

Solomon has attracted plenty of attention on the back of his strong form, according to Sky Sports, with Leeds United also likely to be interested as they prepare for their first season back in the top flight. The report claims Marseille are showing serious interest, with Roberto De Zerbi said to be eyeing a deal.

The latest report claims the player’s entourage has agreed to a deal should the French club reach an agreement with Tottenham. It’s claimed Tottenham’s asking price is £16.8million, and that would be pure profit for Spurs should they get that fee. Solomon joined Spurs on a free transfer from Shakhtar Donetsk in 2023. The winger has only ever made five league appearances for Spurs, and it’s unclear whether he has a future at the club, something we are not likely to know until the summer.

Postecoglou may want to review Solomon’s progress during pre-season if he is still at the club, and another manager might have a completely different view. Although, if Marseille or any other club makes an early offer, the Tottenham higherups may move to agree a deal before then.

Speaking about his future to LeedsLive recently, Solomon said: “No, not yet. Honestly, I really don't know what's going to happen in the summer,” he candidly confesses.

“I still have three years left on my contract with Tottenham, so at the moment we really don't know. So far I've been always only focused on the season and what we want to achieve, and still we have an important game to go. And I think that after this game [vs Plymouth Argyle on Saturday], then we will start to think about my future. But so far, I've been only focused on the right now.”

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Is Postecoglou allowed to rest his whole Spurs team against Villa?

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Is Postecoglou allowed to rest his whole Spurs team against Villa? - LondonWorld
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Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou may be tempted to make mass changes against Aston Villa.

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Tottenham fans will already be counting down the days until the Europa League final on May 21, with their Premier League still proving disastrous. Spurs lost again over the weekend, this time against London rivals Crystal Palace, and they can no longer surpass their lowest-ever Premier League points tally of 44.

Ange Postecoglou’s men are currently on 38 points, so they can only equal that total, and they would have to win both of their remaining games. In truth, Spurs are very lucky that the bottom three haven’t put up much of a fight this season, given 38 points with two games remaining would usually leave a team needing at least one more win.

At this point, it’s no secret that all of Tottenham’s eggs are in the Europa League basket having reached the final. Spurs take on Manchester United in the Bilbao final on May 21, and not only can they end their 17-year trophy drought, but they can also qualify for next season’s Champions League at the same time. That would mean they find a way to achieve their pre-season goal despite likely having the worst Premier League season in their history.

There is one more Premier League game to play before that final, though, with Spurs back in action against Aston Villa on Friday night. The game was going to be played on Sunday, but with Manchester United playing on Friday night, the Premier League agreed it would only be fair for Spurs to play the same night and get the same period of rest.

Can Tottenham rest their whole team against Aston Villa?

Given there is nothing riding on the fixture, and with Tottenham having had a torrid time with injuries this season, it would be wise for Postecoglou to rest his key players during the Villa fixture, even if there is a question of keeping rhythm going into that final.

But in years gone by, we have seen the Premier League hand out fines to clubs for over-rotating their starting XIs. Blackpool were fined £25,000 for rotating 10 of their starting XI - ironically also against Aston Villa - during their time in the top flight.

The rule was established in a bid to make sure that there was a level playing field, in that, for example, the Tottenham team Aston Villa face is as strong as the Tottenham team another team had to play at a different stage of the season. But the rule was heavily debated at the time, given clubs are requested to submit a 25-man Premier League squad. If a club thinks all of those players are good enough to play in the Premier League, they should have the right to use all of those players how they see fit.

And after the conclusion of the 2010/11 season, the clubs agreed to modify the rules to allow for mass rotation. A spokesman for the Premier League said at the time: "The clubs voted at the last Premier League Annual General Meeting to modify the rule regarding clubs fielding full strength teams (E.20). From 2011/12 onwards the rule will allow any combination of players included in a club's 25-man squad list to be selected for a Premier League fixture.

"The 25-man squad rules do allow clubs to pick Under-21 players beyond those named in their squad list and, with this in mind, it was agreed by the clubs that it was appropriate for the rule to remain in place in order to ensure the integrity of the competition."

That means Tottenham can make significant changes, but they will have to use much of their 25-man squad, able to play under-23s team players but only within reason.

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Tottenham sign Premier League trio in dream XI if rumours are true

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Brentford are believed to be willing to listen to offers for their talisman with Tottenham Hotspur ears pricked by the news.

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Tottenham Hotspur were delivered a nasty reality check by Crystal Palace on Sunday afternoon with a 20th defeat of the Premier League season.

Eberechi Eze bagged a brace at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in another embarrassing day at the office for Ange Postecoglou and his men in front of a home crowd as the Eagles snatched all three points in a 2-0 win.

There is still the chance for a historic Europa League win this season but even that will not cover up what has been an underwhelming campaign in the capital. Spurs are expected to invest this summer and LondonWorld looks at what a dream starting XI could be if current rumours come true.

Tottenham Hotspur starting XI if transfer rumours prove true

Goalkeeper - Guglielmo Vicario

Defenders - Djed Spence, Marc Guehi, Micky Van de Ven, Archie Gray

Guglielmo Vicario is expected to hold down the number one spot next season and will be hoping to stay off the injury table during the 2024/25 campaign. Spurs did spend £12.5 million on Antonin Kinsky in January to deputise.

Archie Gray should see more time in a more natural position with Djed Spence impressing this year. GiveMeSport claim that Cristian Romero is pushing to leave north London in favour of La Liga and his replacement could be Crystal Palace and England star Marc Guehi, with ex Spurs man Paul Robinson saying that the defender will be top of the shopping list.

Spurs linked with Brentford talisman

Midfielders - Nico Paz, James Maddison, Angel Gomes

Angel Gomes is out of contract at Lille this summer and not expected to extend his deal. Spurs have been frontrunners to sign the midfielder for weeks, with the player supposedly rejecting West Ham, but there could be competition from elsewhere in Ligue 1.

Fichajes claims that Tottenham Hotspur could also move for Como attacking midfielder Nico Paz, but will have to rival Chelsea for that transfer. The former Real Madrid academy star is just 20 years old but impressing in the Serie A.

Wingers - Son Heung-min, James McAtee

Striker - Yoane Wissa

Tottenham Hotspur are competing with Nottingham Forest to sign the versatile James McAtee from Manchester City according to transfer specialist Graeme Bailey. The 22-year-old is in pursuit of more game time having struggled to break into the starting XI under Pep Guardiola.

Richarlison is linked with a return to former club Everton but Spurs could move for Brentford forward Yoane Wissa to provide competition for Dominic Solanke. That’s according to Sky Sports, with Brentford thought to be willing to listen to transfer offers for the talisman.

In other news, Tottenham must take action to avoid costly Man Utd transfer hijack - opinion.

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QPR can turn ex Spurs wonderkid into 'monster' by appointing this manager

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QPR can turn ex Spurs wonderkid into 'monster' by appointing this manager - opinion - LondonWorld
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Former Lyon boss Pierre Sage turned Rayan Cherki into a world beater and could perhaps do the same at QPR.

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QPR remain under a cloud of uncertainty since the end of the Championship season with head coach Marti Cifuentes on ‘gardening leave’ and questions over who will lead the team next season.

Cifuentes could still return to the role but that looks to be an increasingly unlikely situation as time goes on amid reports of a fall out with chief executive Christian Nourry. Several names have been touted as potential replacements for the Catalan coach, including former Lyon manager Pierre Sage.

The 46-year-old was sacked by the French outfit at the end of January having been handed the role on a permanent basis after first being appointed as interim boss in October 2023. Lyon were bottom of Ligue 1 when Sage stepped up to the plate and he oversaw a remarkable turnaround to help the club finish sixth and qualify for the Europa League. The team also reached the final of the Coupe de France, where they lost 2-1 to Paris Saint-Germain.

Pierre Sage frontrunner for QPR role

A poor run of results in January of this year, which included a cup exit against amateur side Bourgoin-Jallieu, led to Lyon owner John Textor giving Sage his marching orders. The manager was replaced by Paulo Fonseca.

Sage began his work at Lyon with the youth system and has earned a reputation for cultivating youth stars, none more so than attacking midfielder Rayan Cherki. The 21-year-old is a product of the Lyon youth academy and has flourished under Sage.

Cherki is known for his technical ability and for, as Breaking The Lines puts it, his ‘exceptional range of passing’. His awareness and vision is also praised, along with his ball carrying skills and versatility.

Speaking about the player’s development, Sage told The Athletic: “My project with him was to help him become the player he is, to become the player he can and should be.”

Recalling one away match at Toulouse last season, he added: “Toulouse were winning 2-1. I looked at him [on the bench] and I asked him, ‘Are you angry? Are you nervous?’. But not nervous when you can’t do anything, nervous to fight.

“He looked at me with the eyes of the tiger. I thought, ‘Maybe he’ll be good today’. He was crazy. It was the Cherki game. We won 3-2.”

Cherki almost left the club last summer but ended up extending his stay with a new contract, committing his future to the club until 2027. Sage said: “I told him when he came back, ‘Now this kind of thing, you have to put into the entire game. So you have to attack, you have to press with the team, you have to manage the balance between the two, but you have to stay the player you were’.

“We see the player he is now. I’m happy because every player can be at their best for three games, but Rayan is one of the best in every statistic in Europe. He has something really special.”

Rayan Cherki success story can inspire former Spurs man Kieran Morgan

The development of Cherki, who is now valued at £20 million according to ManchesterWorld, is certainly one Sage should be proud of. Should he get the QPR job, it’s perhaps of particular significance to youngster Kieran Morgan.

The 19-year-old was signed for the QPR Development Squad last summer after leaving the Tottenham Hotspur set up as a free agent. It didn’t take the midfielder long to be promoted to the senior side and Morgan went on to be a bright spark in an underwhelming campaign at Loftus Road, racking up 1,613 minutes of first team football.

The teenager certainly has a bright future and, with some early shared skills with Cherki, Sage could turn Morgan into a monster by implementing whatever progress plan he did with the Frenchman.

In other news, QPR and West Brom boost in pursuit of Tottenham coach Ryan Mason.

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Everton boss David Moyes accidentally dropped huge £40m Tottenham transfer clue

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Everton had been linked with a transfer swoop to bring Richarlison back to Merseyside from Tottenham Hotspur.

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Tottenham Hotspur striker Richarlison has emerged as a transfer target for Premier League rivals Everton in recent weeks but David Moyes may approach that move with caution.

The Brazilian arrived in north London from the Toffees for £60 million in 2022 but has never really taken off at Spurs. The Brazil international has struggled with injuries during his time at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, which could ultimately scupper a return to Everton.

Richarlison is still well loved by his former club and a homecoming would certainly go down well at the new Everton Stadium. LiverpoolWorld claim that the Tottenham Hotspur are ‘expected to allow’ the striker to leave in the summer transfer window with a £40 million fee touted.

Richarlison linked with Everton homecoming

The striker’s form in front of goal helped Everton fight off relegation in the 2021/22 season and Everton are known to be in the market for a goalscorer come the end of the season. Only the bottom three have scored fewer goals than the Toffees this season.

However, Moyes may take a more pragmatic approach and overlook the emotional bond between the club and Richarlison. LiverpoolWorld claim that ‘Everton are not in a position to take such a gamble on a player who has been plagued with fitness problems’. According to Transfermrkt, the 27-year-old has been on the treatment table on 10 separate occasions and missed a total of 58 matches.

Everton have not been helped by injuries to Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Armando Broja and Youssef Chermiti and Moyes has admitted that the club must sign more robust first team stars. While he has not outright commented on interest in Richarlison, the manager appeared to accidentally hint that the striker’s profile would not fit what he wants.

David Moyes drops Tottenham Hotspur transfer hint

Speaking ahead of the 2-2 draw with Ipswich Town, he said: “I think when we came in we've had 10 injuries, which has really worried me. We can't be bringing in players who are not going to be reliable and not going to be available so it's hugely important to the decision-making. Are we getting the value out of the players for the games they play?

“We need people to be available. There may be other reasons for it but at the moment those players need to show they can make themselves robust. For us to be successful, we need players fit and available.”

When leaving Goodison Park in 2022, Richarlison wrote an emotional goodbye to Everton, outlining his love for the club. The striker said: “It's very difficult to say goodbye to a place that has become my home; of fans who welcomed me not just as another player, but as if I were one of them, in the stands; and a club that treated me kindly and helped me develop my sense of community and empathy.

“No words and not all the love I have for this club is enough to thank you. We'll see you along the way. I love you Evertonians.”

In other news, Tottenham have helped boost Aston Villa's UCL hopes as ticket prices make mockery of Damian Vidagany fan concern.

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Tottenham vs Crystal Palace early injury news as 6 players ruled out

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A look the latest injury news surrounding Tottenham and Crystal Palace as the two sides prepare to face off in the Premier League.

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Tottenham and Crystal Palace face off in an all-London clash at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday. Both of these sides will already have an eye on their respective finals, with Spurs having booked a Europa League final spot by seeing off Bodo/Glimt on Thursday night.

Meanwhile, Palace have an FA Cup final date with Manchester City to look forward to. But the rest of the Premier League season must be played out, and in Tottenham’s case, they need an almost faultless final run-in to avoid setting a new record-low Premier League points tally. As for Palace, they are currently in in 12th and likely to remain there, five points ahead of 13th and five points behind 11th.

As the two London sides prepare to face off in North London, we have rounded up all the latest injury news surrounding both teams.

Chadi Riad - Out

Riad is out until towards the end of 2025 after an ACL rupture. Glasner said after the injury happened: “Chadi has ruptured his ACL, so we have lost [him] for the rest of the season and even longer. There was no impact, and Chadi as well, it was just a normal situation in training ' so it's really frustrating.” It has been a frustrating season for Riad, who has missed almost the entire season between two injuries.

Cheick Doucoure - Out

Doucoure will also be absent long-term with a knee injury. Glasner said: “After further assessments, Cheicky needs surgery on his knee, so we have lost [him] for the rest of the season. We hope [he] will return for pre-season.”

Lucas Bergvall - Out

Postecoglou has said recently: “With Lucas, it looks like the injury is significant enough to probably keep him out now for the rest of the season. He tweaked his ligaments in his ankle, so he is out.”

Heung-min Son - Out

Son still isn’t ready, and Tottenham are not likely to put him at risk now that they have booked a Europa League final spot. Postecoglou said ahead of the Bodo/Glimt game: “It’s disappointing for Sonny. He’s pushing hard. He has progressed, and there is a possibility of him getting some game time at the weekend, but he hasn’t trained with the team, yet. However, he is progressing. We’ll wait to see how he goes.”

James Maddison - Out

Maddison recently suffered a knee injury that will rule him out for the rest of the season. The Spurs boss said: “Madders from the first leg, so he's out. He'll miss the rest of this season and it’s disappointing for him. I'm disappointed for him because he's been a real catalyst for us. He'll miss out but that's been the story of our season.”

Radu Dragusin - Out

Dragusin is out for the rest of the season and likely a chunk of next term with an ACL injury. Postecoglou confirmed at the time: “Radu underwent surgery today following his ACL injury. That procedure has now been completed, and the centre-back will now commence with his recovery before beginning the rehab process.”

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Spurs must consider Postecoglou's hidden attribute before sack decision

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Tottenham must consider Ange Postecoglou’s biggest atribute before sacking him this summer.

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Tottenham must consider a key factor before deciding whether or not to sack Ange Postecoglou, and it’s a consideration they must make whether they win the Europa League or not. Spurs booked their place at the Bilbao final - where they will meet Manchester United on May 21 - on Thursday night by beating Bodo/Glimt 2-0 in their semi-final second leg.

The North London club were already halfway there, 3-1 up leading into the second leg, but playing on an artificial pitch in Northern Norway, they were still obliged to put on a professional display to finish the job. They did just that, and it was a sight to behold as the Spurs players engaged with their hardy travelling support.

Tottenham are now potentially just 90 minutes away from winning their first trophy in 17 years and securing Champions League qualification in the process. A Europa League title would provide a welcome distraction from what has been a disastrous Premier League campaign, one that looks likely to go down in the history books as the club’s lowest-ever Premier League points total.

Injuries have played a big part. Tottenham’s season was derailed by a seemingly never-ending run of injuries in the first half of the season, and even a little beyond that. Did Postecoglou’s training methods play a role in that? The players say no, while others will argue to the contrary.

The bigger question is whether Postecoglou should have found better answers to the crisis, unwilling the change his failing style of play even with the limited personnel he had at his disposal. The depth of Tottenham’s injury issues meant it would have been a near-impossible job to get this team to the European spots, but Postecoglou’s stubbornness may well have worsened the situation.

The Australian has struggled to turn things around in the league even after many of his players returned from injury, and he hasn’t maintained the best of relationships with the fans throughout what has been a truly forgettable league campaign for the club.

Postecoglou’s biggest attribute must be considered

Case closed? For some it may be, but there is a monumental factor that can’t be overlooked in all this, and while it’s connected to Tottenham’s Europa League run, it doesn’t involve winning the trophy. Some believe Postecoglou’s future should be tied to the team’s ability to take first prize in Bilbao, but Spurs would be smart to dig deeper.

You look at the players in these Europa League games and you see players still playing for their manager. In spite of all that has gone on this season, the players have continued to defend their boss and turn up in the competition they know could be his saving grace.

Even at the height of the chaos, back in January, Dejan Kulusevski said: "We had games when we showed perfect football. Football that not many teams can play in the world. We played beautiful games against (Manchester) United, against (Manchester) City, four-nil, so I think he is the right man," the 24-year-old winger said.

"We play for him. We want to win for him and, to be honest, we have similar ideas. I am very positive as a guy and I always want to play that football he wants. I have to fight for him because I believe in that football too. Yes, I think he's the right man."

Postecoglou has been reciprocal in his praise for his players, handing them all the credit after Thursday night’s big win. He told TNT Spors: "I couldn't be prouder of the lads, we knew it was a difficult place to come. We were well aware of their record and the pitch but we've grown in majority through this competition. They understood exactly what was required and that's why we won the game.

"We knew they'd have to come out more in the second half and that's where we hit them. We're used to adversity, we've used nearly every member of the squad, but it helps that we've got some players back and we've handled every knockout tie."

Now, players rarely call out their manager, but such passionate defences of them at times of crisis are not common. Just look at how top managers like Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte have lost their dressing rooms, even on much more successful runs, and how quickly those situations have deteriorated.

Little more could have gone wrong for Postecoglou and Tottenham this season, but the Australian, even with some of his pointed comments in the press, has kept his players fighting for him. That is a unique ability that is not shared by some of the best managers in world football. It’s a quality that could end Tottenham’s 17-year trophy drought, and it could be a sign that Spurs have the right man after all, at least in the long term.

Stick or twist? That’s a question the Tottenham board will have to answer this summer, but it should not depend on Europa League success. The Spurs board will have to dig deeper to make sure they are not discarding a diamond in the rough, and that involves considering all of Postecoglou’s attributes and flaws, some of which should carry a greater weight than others.

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What Tottenham winning Europa League would mean for UCL hopefuls

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Tottenham are hoping to win the Europa League and secure Champions League qualification in the process.

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Tottenham have secured a spot in the 2025 Europa League final in Bilbao, where they will meet Premier League rivals Manchester United. Both sides will be looking to salvage what has otherwise been a miserable season when they battle for a major European trophy on May 21, but the silverware is not the only reward on the line.

Crucially for both clubs, the winner of that game will secure Champions League qualification for next season, and that will be a much needed boost - financially and otherwise - for whoever wins, given they have fallen short of European qualification in the Premier League.

But what happens to the other Premier League qualification spots? Tottenham will reluctantly remember the time they were dumped out of the Champions League despite finishing fourth when Chelsea won the Champions League in 2012, but plenty has changed since then. In fact, not only has the Champions League changed, with more teams and a very different group stage system being employed these days, but qualification for the competition, and indeed the other European competitions, has also changed. Here we run you through what you need to know.

How does Tottenham winning the Europa League impact the Premier League’s European spots?

In short, it does not. If Tottenham or Manchester United win the Europa League this season, they will, of course, secure qualification for next season’s Champions League. But in either case, if the Europa League winners prove to be an English club, they will not take the place of a club that secures Champions League qualification through finishing in the Premier League’s top five.

That was the case in the past, but those days have past. Even this season, when the Premier League has five clubs in the Champions League due to securing a top two spot in the seasonal coefficient rankings, all five teams who finish in the top five will get their Champions League spot regardless of what happens elsewhere. That is good news for top five hopefuls Aston Villa, Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest, Manchester City and Chelsea.

Should Tottenham or Manchester United win the Europa League, there will be six English clubs in next season’s Champions League. That will be the first time that as many English clubs has played in the competition, which is no surprise given it was capped at four for many years.

As things stand, sixth and seventh place in the Premier League will lead to Europa League qualification, while eighth will secure Conference League qualification. The only way that can change is by Crystal Palace winning the FA Cup, with the Eagles set to play Manchester City in the final.

If that happens, the Europa League spot will go to sixth, Palace will take the other, and seventh will be a Conference League spot. Eighth would no longer be enough to qualify for the Conference League in that scenario. Should Chelsea win the Conference League, it would have no impact on the European places because they will qualify for at least the Europa League through the Premier League. In the case of the Blues coming out on top in that competition, the Europa League spot that comes from winning the Conference League would not be awarded to any club.

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Tottenham star makes honest admission over goal vs Bodo

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'It was' - Tottenham star makes honest admission over goal after securing Europa League final spot - LondonWorld
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One Tottenham star has made an honest admission after Thursday night’s Europa League semi-final second leg win over Bodo/Glimt.

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Tottenham defender Pedro Porro made an honest admission after he scored to help Tottenham to the Europa League final on Thursday night. Spurs overcame a challenging second leg against Bodo/Glimt having gone into the clash with a 3-1 lead.

Ange Postecoglou’s men had to protect their lead in the difficult atmosphere of Northern Norway and on an artificial pitch, but they stood up to the challenge to book an all-English Europa League final.

After a close first-half, Dominic Solanke prodded in the opener to all-but wrap up the tie, and six minutes later, in the 69th minute, Pedro Porro looped in what appeared to be a cross to find the net via the far post, catching out the goalkeeper who appeared instantly panicked as he spotted the flight of the ball.

Given the aesthetics of the goal, Porro could have been forgiven for claiming it was intentional, but he took the honest approach in his post-match interview, telling TNT Sports: "It was a cross.” He added: “We said before a clean sheet was the most important thing and we did that."

Tottenham are hoping to save their season by securing Champions League qualification by winning the Europa League, which would be a stellar achievement in its own right. Spurs are on track for a historically bad Premier League campaign, leaving Postecoglou fighting for his job.

It’s unclear whether winning the Europa League will save him, but he will now have a chance to deliver long-awaited silverware, with Tottenham up against Manchester United in the final in Bilbao on May 21. That will be a redemption fixture for both teams, with both having missed out on European qualification by some way this season.

Both teams have been able to put aside their league form to perform in Europe, and speaking to that ability, Tottenham boss Postecoglou said before Thursday night’s win: "Resilience is a very important commodity. Anyone who has success, in whatever field it is, has had to show resilience at some point. This notion that success is linear and it comes really easy, anyone who has had success in whatever field will know at some point they’ve had to deal with a lot of adversity.

“We’ve had to deal with a lot of adversity this year. Through that adversity they’ve never splintered or wavered belief in what we’re trying to do. We wouldn’t be sitting in this position if that wasn’t the case. It’s a testament to them. It helps in games like tomorrow because you’re going to have to deal with another challenge. If they can tap into the way they’ve dealt with every sort of stumble we’ve had this year, then they’ll find the strength they need to get the job done."

He added on the Europa League specifically: “Just the nature of the competition, knock-out competitions demand different things from you as a team. Particularly in knock-out scenarios, just in my experience. It naturally means that you have to be a little bit more focused, because every moment is important, every aspect of the game is important.

“So yes, it does mean that certain things, you have to be really clear-headed on, in terms of our approach. The boys have handled it really well so far in the knock-out stages, particularly in the second legs of every game, of understanding what needs to be done. Within the context of still wanting to play our football, still wanting to be aggressive, knowing what parameters we can play towards to get through.”

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