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Tottenham plan to accept new Cristian Romero offer after ‘disgrace’ vs Nottingham Forest

Tottenham Hotspur are prepared to let Cristian Romero leave ahead of the summer window and have been left raging by his recent performances.

Romero returned to the starting XI against Forest following his lengthy suspension, but has been labelled a “disgrace” for his attitude and application towards the game.

Spurs’ captain did little the stem the tide of an eventual Forest victory and looked off the pace, including moments of laziness which could have cost his side.

Former Tottenham scout Mick Brown told Football Insider that the club are now prepared to let him leave regardless of whether they remain in the Premier League.

There is a growing feeling that a mass overhaul could be on the cards in a busy transfer window for Tottenham, with the 27-year-old high on their list of sales.

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Tottenham prepare to accept new Cristian Romero offers

Brown told Football Insider last month that Romero is edging towards leaving Tottenham with interest from the likes of Atletico Madrid having lingered from last year.

The centre-back has made public outbursts against the club in recent months, combined with some poor performances, and has done little to aid their situation.

In the wake of their 3-0 defeat to Forest, which now has them just one place above the relegation zone, there is a growing feeling he will be moved on.

“Cristian Romero is becoming a real concern for Tottenham,” Brown told Football Insider.

“People can talk about him and his qualities which are clear, and in a good side he can look top-class, but there are issues with his character which are a problem.

“He’s liable to blow a fuse, make a silly challenge and get sent off, or go wandering and leave his responsibilities at the back.

“In the game against Forest, I thought he looked lazy and like it was all beneath him, and that’s the last thing you need from your captain in this situation.

“At one stage, he lost the ball high up the pitch, Forest counter attacked and he was nowhere to be seen, it was only after the ball had been cleared he came jogging back. It was a disgrace.

“Tottenham have a choice now, will they be prepared to let him go or not? I would suggest, from what I’ve heard, they’re going to be ready to let him go.

“He’s done very little to aid their situation, he looks like he would rather be elsewhere, and if that is the case then Tottenham would be better off letting him go.”

Tottenham make plans to replace Romero

Tottenham’s precarious league position means they are expecting to lose big-name players this summer regardless of whether they get relegated.

Romero and his defensive partner Micky van de Ven have been the most heavily tipped for a move away with interest growing from clubs across Europe.

As a result, Football Insider revealed on 23 February that Tottenham are planning to replace Romero and Van de Ven and have begun assessing their options.

Spurs are set to miss out on European qualification after a second consecutive lowly league finish, but hope they can still attract new players to the club.

They will likely be forced to enter the transfer market in search of replacements for their centre-back duo, but are preparing for all eventualities.

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Pape Sarr was one of the few Tottenham Hotspur players to walk away from Sunday’s defeat to Nottingham Forest with any reason to keep his head up.

The Lilywhites were battered 3-0 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium by the fellow relegation contenders, with Igor Jesus, Morgan Gibbs-White and Taiwo Awonyi on the scoresheet.

Tottenham fans had paraded in the streets to welcome the coach before the game, but they were left aghast by their team’s failure to show up on the pitch.

The defeat has left the North London club 17th, with just one point separating them from West Ham and the relegation zone.

Tottenham’s form had improved briefly before Sunday, but Igor Tudor’s team have been brutally slammed back down to Earth.

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Pape Sarr sets the example vs Nottingham Forest

Football Insider exclusively revealed on Sunday that Tottenham may sack Tudor in the coming days, with the international break seen as a chance to make a final change.

And it is easy to see why, after Sunday’s defeat, which saw the Lilywhites completely fail to turn up, with the exception of Sarr.

The 23-year-old played with some pride – a rarity for Tottenham this season – and he did not stop running throughout the 90 minutes.

Sarr completed all three of the dribbles he attempted and made six passes into the final third, although his three shots were blocked.

But his best work came defensively, with the midfielder winning the majority of his duels, making three tackles and three recoveries.

The Senegal international would ultimately have nothing to show for his performance, but he played with far more heart than the rest of his teammates.

Mathys Tel tried to make things happen

Mathys Tel was Tottenham’s most dangerous player against Nottingham Forest, making it even more of a blow when he limped off in the second half.

The winger created two chances and hit the crossbar himself with a brilliant strike from outside the box.

Tottenham looked completely devoid of creativity at times on Sunday, but Tel constantly looked to provide a spark of inspiration.

The Lilywhites will hope that both the 20-year-old and Sarr will be back after the international break, with the pair set to be key to any hopes of survival.

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Igor Tudor is ‘finished’ at Tottenham as sack decision now imminent

Igor Tudor is “finished” at Tottenham Hotspur as the club continue to spiral towards relegation following his miserable seven-game tenure.

A 3-0 defeat at home against Nottingham Forest last time out means Spurs have dropped to 17th in the Premier League table, just one point above the drop zone.

West Ham’s defeat against Aston Villa has provided some immediate respite in terms of their league position, but there is now a feeling something has to change.

Former Spurs scout Mick Brown exclusively told Football Insider that there is “no way back” for the boss after failing to get anything out of such an important game.

The threat of relegation is now looming for Spurs ahead of a crucial run of fixtures, and Tottenham could look for a new manager to steer them away from trouble.

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Tottenham accelerate plans to sack Igor Tudor

Football Insider revealed on 22 March that Tottenham are accelerating plans to sack Tudor following the humiliating defeat against Nottingham Forest.

The international break is seen as the ideal opportunity to bring in a replacement ahead of Spurs next league game against Sunderland on 12 April.

There is now a growing expectation that a new boss will be in charge for that game with Spurs growing increasingly desperate in their battle against relegation.

“It’s come crashing back down to earth for Tottenham,” Brown told Football Insider.

“I thought they’d beat Forest going into this, they’d shown some positive signs and they knew it was a must-win, but they didn’t ever get going.

“There’s no way back for Tudor now, he’s finished at Tottenham after that.

“They’re going to have to make a decision soon because it’s becoming a desperate situation and they need somebody who can come in and keep them up.

“West Ham losing against Villa meant the situation wasn’t as bad as it could have been, but they’re one point above the relegation zone and not improving.

“The Forest game was a must-win, and to come out of that with a 3-0 loss, I don’t see any way any manager could keep his job after that.”

Who will be the next Tottenham manager?

Tottenham’s next manager plans may have been derailed by their precarious league position, having originally hoped to appoint a new boss in the summer.

Tudor was brought in to replace Thomas Frank on an interim basis and allow them time to search for their next permanent boss, but time is now running out.

Former Everton CEO Keith Wyness told Football Insider on 19 March that Robert De Zerbi is the favourite for Tottenham given his Premier League experience.

However, there are doubts about whether he would be prepared to step in while they remain locked in a relegation battle with just seven games to go.

Instead, they may be forced to turn to another short-term option with the likes of Harry Redknapp, Glenn Hoddle and Tim Sherwood having put themselves forward.

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Tottenham vs Nottingham Forest: Archie Gray and Ibrahim Sangare deserved sanctions in ‘unusual’ incident

Archie Gray and Ibrahim Sangare both deserved yellow cards after a clash between the Tottenham Hotspur and Nottingham Forest stars.

That is according to former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee, Keith Hackett, who exclusively told Football Insider that Michael Oliver missed two cautions in North London on Sunday, 22 March.

The incident might have had further repercussions on the game, with Forest’s No.6 later going into the referee’s notebook for a foul on Cristian Romero, and it continues to be one that divides opinion.

Igor Tudor’s side fell to another defeat, thanks to goals from Igor Jesus, Morgan Gibbs-White and Taiwo Awoniyi. Despite the team’s relegation fears, the referee remained a major talking point.

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Michael Oliver misses sanctions for Tottenham and Nottingham Forest duo

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former referee said: “That’s a better view than I had before. It’s an interesting one. I still stick with the view that Sangare’s challenge was borderline reckless.

“But in addition to that, Archie Gray also came sliding in, totally out of control. It’s unusual, but because we have the replay, we can judge that both players deserved a yellow card.

“This is the clarity that is available to VAR. When you look at these challenges with a more measured eye, there’s no doubt that Gray is reckless, and likewise with Sangare.

“I can understand the referee’s view, and VAR are still unable to come in. Both players have committed reckless challenges, so both should have been cautioned.”

What else did the referee miss in North London?

As well as missing sanctions for Gray and Sangare, Oliver made a couple of other blatant errors.

Quite early on, Ola Aina attempted to clear the ball, only to make contact with Pape Sarr inside the penalty area, but the referee didn’t award the penalty, likely because the player tried to stay on his feet.

Hackett has previously complained about Premier League clubs time-wasting this season, and there was more of that in North London, as Forest did everything to keep hold of the ball.

Oliver could have easily intervened with more yellow cards, but the Lilywhites were left frustrated during their 3-0 defeat, which leaves them one point above the relegation zone.

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Tottenham: Supercomputer updates Premier League relegation prediction after defeat vs Nottingham Forest

Tottenham Hotspur’s chances of being relegated from the Premier League have been boosted after Sunday’s stunning collapse.

The Lilywhites were battered 3-0 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium by fellow relegation contenders Nottingham Forest, in what could be a defining moment for the season.

Igor Jesus and Morgan Gibbs-White scored either side of half-time, before Taiwo Awonyi wrapped up the points in the final minutes.

Igor Tudor’s side had looked to have stepped it up a gear over the past week, when they drew to Liverpool at Anfield and beat Atletico Madrid in the second leg of their Champions League last 16 tie.

But any uptick in Tottenham’s form was thrown out of the window on Sunday, with the threat of relegation alive now more than ever.

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Supercomputer predicts narrow survival for Tottenham

Football Insider exclusively revealed on Sunday that Tottenham may sack Tudor in the international break, with the gap between games seen as the perfect opportunity to make a change.

The interim manager has failed to produce a Premier League win since his arrival in February, and looks to be incapable of motivating his players.

In fairness to him, however, his squad looks beyond help at times.

Tottenham should have been pumped up when they were welcomed by the fans with flares and celebrations in the streets on Sunday, yet they looked shell-shocked once they had stepped onto the pitch.

The day’s only saving grace was that West Ham were beaten at Aston Villa, meaning it is only Nottingham Forest that have climbed two points ahead.

Opta‘s supercomputer has now handed Tottenham an increased 23.33 per cent chance of going down this season, while Nottingham Forest’s win has seen their chances of the drop fall to 11.60 per cent.

West Ham remain the overwhelming favourite to join Burnley and Wolves in the Championship next season, with the supercomputer predicting a 58.75 per cent chance of it.

Who have Tottenham still got to play?

Tottenham’s final seven games are undoubtedly some of the biggest in the club’s recent history.

The fixture list has not given them an easy ride, with trips to Sunderland, Villa and Chelsea still to come.

Wolves will not be an easy opponent at Molineux given their recent form, either, and Everton, who arrive on the final day, boast an impressive record away from home.

Should it be Tudor to lead Tottenham into the final seven, he will fancy games against Brighton and Leeds United at home.

But the fact of the matter is that Sunday’s game proved that the Lilywhites are not too good for any opponent right now, and it will take something special to keep them up.

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Mathys Tel has found himself in the firing line at Tottenham Hotspur yet again after their 3-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest on Sunday.

Goals from Igor Jesus, Morgan Gibbs-White and Taiwo Awoniyi handed the Reds a much-needed victory, as Spurs were unable to rise to the challenge of a crucial clash at the bottom end of the table.

It was a story of collective errors from the Lilywhites once again as they succumbed to a fourth consecutive home defeat in the Premier League, but Tel has been singled out for Forest’s second goal.

The Frenchman failed to react as Callum Hudson-Odoi cut the ball back into the Spurs box, allowing an easy finish for Gibbs-White, and it was a moment that Danny Murphy was quick to pick apart on Match of the Day.

Tottenham’s defeat to Forest could be huge in the context of their season as they dropped points to a direct relegation rival, while Tel was among a number of players who were to blame for the visitors’ goals.

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Mathys Tel ‘switches off’ to allow Morgan Gibbs-White to score

Tel has faced his fair share of criticism in North London this season, with previous manager Thomas Frank initially opting to leave him out of the squad for the league phase of the Champions League.

However, the forward has bounced back under Igor Tudor, and his performances have been deemed worthy of starts in each of their last four games in all competitions.

The 20-year-old was a thorn in the visitors’ side in the first half on Sunday, when he threatened to create an opening for Spurs to capitalise upon.

Tottenham quickly saw the game get away from them after Jesus’ opener on the stroke of half-time, and the second goal from Gibbs-White shortly after the hour mark was a catalogue of errors from Spurs.

Nevertheless, Murphy picked out Tel as a key culprit as part of his Match of the Day analysis, as the youngster failed to pick up Gibbs-White as Hudson-Odoi pulled the ball back across goal.

“Gibbs-White is a good player, and look at the space he’s in, it’s absolutely ridiculous,” the 49-year-old said.

“(Cristian) Romero comes out, what’s he coming out for? There’s a big gap in the middle of the defence, (Pape) Sarr drops in. Sarr has to cover Romero; Gibbs-White is free as a bird.

“It’s a great ball in from Hudson Odoi, and Tel, I don’t know what he’s doing. He’s switching off, he’s not helped his mate.”

Mathys Tel Tottenham exit highly likely this summer

Football Insider revealed back in January that Tottenham wanted to block Tel leaving the club in the middle of the season, if he made any efforts to try and engineer a move elsewhere.

The starlet endured a tumultuous relationship with Frank, leading him to be consistently linked with a move elsewhere in the early months of the season.

Like many players in the Tottenham squad, his future will be hugely uncertain heading into the summer, especially if the North Londoners are relegated at the end of the campaign.

Tel has looked like a player who wants to get away for several months now, and it is surely highly likely that he gets his move this summer, because the club won’t have any desire to stand in his way after the way this season has played out.

It is in Tottenham’s interest to try and overhaul their squad regardless of which division they find themselves in for next season, and if Tel wants to move, they surely wouldn’t go to the same extremes to keep him this time.

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Tottenham Hotspur suffered a hugely damaging defeat as they were beaten 3-0 at home by relegation rivals Nottingham Forest on Sunday.

Igor Jesus put the visitors ahead with a header shortly before the half-time interval, before second-half strikes from Morgan Gibbs-White and Taiwo Awoniyi sealed the three points for the Reds.

Spurs had begun the game on the front foot, but quickly went back into their shell after conceding from a corner for Jesus’ opener.

The Brazilian frontman found himself all alone in the middle of the box, and Danny Murphy has made it clear that the blame lies at Djed Spence’s door.

Tottenham’s latest defeat has left them two points behind Nottingham Forest and just one point clear of the relegation zone, with criticism flowing towards the players once again.

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Danny Murphy staggered by Djed Spence marking

Spence has been a key figure for Tottenham this season, as he has provided a reliable option in both the right-back and left-back positions.

He started on the right against Forest on Sunday, but it was a moment from a dead-ball situation that ultimately saw him found wanting during the first half.

Tottenham saw all their early pressure undone by Jesus’ goal in the 45th minute, and it was Spence who allowed the 25-year-old to walk freely inside the box.

The England international lost sight of his man as Neco Williams delivered the ball into the box, and it left him with the chance to plant an easy header back across goal and into the far corner.

Murphy was keen to dig out the defender for his lapse in concentration on Match of the Day, and he outlined that he was responsible for the moment that changed the course of the game.

“They gave Forest the first goal, and we’ve seen it so many times from Tottenham,” the ex-Liverpool midfielder said during his analysis.

“It’s about small details in games. This is the set play. Djed Spence, do your job. Where is he?

“Jesus is free as a bird, that was when the game changed, that was when their confidence drained.”

Tottenham have already identified Spence upgrade

Tottenham are chasing a move for Maxi Araujo this summer, as they bid to find a player who can act as a more reliable option than Spence has for them this term.

The former Forest man has been criticised by the fanbase for the lack of consistency that he has shown, with many deeming him to be somewhat arrogant in terms of his ability.

They could be about to see him replaced this summer, with the Lilywhites among a number of clubs who are queuing up for the chance to sign the Sporting CP defender ahead of next season.

However, any plans to add new faces of that calibre to the squad will surely depend on Tottenham’s ability to preserve their Premier League status at the end of the campaign.

The blow they received on Sunday was softened a little by West Ham’s defeat away at Aston Villa, but it is still clear that they are firmly in trouble.

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Igor Tudor: Tottenham accelerate plan to appoint new manager after Nottingham Forest defeat

Tottenham Hotspur see the upcoming international break as the “perfect opportunity” to sack Igor Tudor amid building pressure, sources have told Football Insider.

Spurs’ huge 3-0 defeat against Nottingham Forest means the manager’s position may now be untenable despite what was a growing sense of optimism before the game.

A draw against Liverpool followed by a win against Atletico Madrid in the last week had inspired hope of a revival, but they have now dropped to 17th place in the Premier League.

As I revealed on the latest edition Football Insider’s Transfer Insider podcast, sources say a defeat in the crucial game against Forest will likely force Spurs into a decision.

Despite having hoped that he would be the man to see them through until the end of the season, Tottenham could be forced into a new appointment earlier than expected.

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Igor Tudor facing Tottenham sack after Nottingham Forest defeat

Football Insider revealed on 20 March that Tudor is one game away from being sacked despite their recent turn of form given their desperate situation.

Just one point now separates them from West Ham in the relegation zone after the Hammers lost to Aston Villa, but are edging closer to the bottom three.

Tudor’s nightmare reign as Spurs manager could now be called to an early end during the international break, which would given them time to find a replacement.

Speaking on the Transfer Insider podcast, I explained: “It was a must win for both teams probably, or maybe it was a must not lose when you look at it.

“For Tudor right now, it’s game by game for him and Tottenham. The speculation over his future isn’t going to go away.

“Things didn’t go well for Tudor and Tottenham on Sunday, so that pressure will just ramp up even more.

“Obviously now you have an international break, it would be the perfect opportunity and give time for Spurs to make a change if they wanted.

“A win for Tottenham would have been huge for them and moved them further clear of Forest but after a defeat and we’re be back to the starting point again.

“The fans might not be happy and obviously then that builds its own pressure. The outcome of the Forest game will have a huge bearing on this future.”

Who could become the next Tottenham manager?

Despite having planned for Tudor to see them out until the end of the season, Tottenham’s precarious league position could force them into an early change.

As a result, they may have to accelerate the arrival of a new manager, with a number of names being mentioned including the likes of Harry Redknapp and Glenn Hoddle.

Former Everton CEO Keith Wyness told Football Insider on 19 March that De Zerbi is the favourite for Tottenham given his Premier League experience.

Whether he would be willing to arrive during an ongoing relegation battle remains to be seen, with initial expectations that they could move for him in the summer instead.

Talks are already believed to be taking place with multiple candidates, although a decision will not be made until their Premier League status is secure.

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Nottingham Forest moved closer to Premier League safety with a huge 3-0 victory over relegation rivals Tottenham on Sunday.

Igor Jesus’s header from a corner broke the deadlock on the stroke of half-time despite a positive first 45 minutes from the hosts.

Neco Williams had a big chance minutes into the second half to double their lead, but Guglielmo Vicario reacted well to keep out his header.

Morgan Gibbs-White did manage to double their advantage when he latched onto Callum Hudson-Odoi’s cross, and Vicario was unable to keep his low effort out, before substitute Taiwo Awoniyi sealed the three points in the 87th minute.

Nottingham Forest’s survival chances have significantly improved with all three points, with Vitor Pereira earning his first Premier League win in charge of the club.

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Igor Jesus ends Premier League goal drought

Jesus forced Vicario into a stretching save, which won the corner from which he opened the scoring past the Italian goalkeeper.

It was only Jesus’ third Premier League goal of the season, and first since January, with the 25-year-old handed a timely confidence boost.

Chris Wood watched on from the sidelines, with the striker nearing a return to action to further boost Pereira’s squad for the final seven games of the season.

Murillo proves Nottingham Forest worth

Sources have told Football Insider that Murillo could be of interest to the likes of Liverpool in the summer transfer window, and it was easy to tell why against Spurs.

The 23-year-old starred defensively, winning all his ground duels, whilst making eight clearances to keep Spurs out.

Murillo and his back four restricted Spurs to just three shots on target throughout the match, as they never looked in danger of losing their lead in the second half.

Nottingham Forest player ratings against Tottenham

Substitutes

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Keith Hackett has insisted that Tottenham Hotspur should not have been awarded a penalty during their 3-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest after Cristian Romero went to ground.

It was another dire defeat for Spurs in the Premier League as Forest leapfrogged the club, taking them down to 17th.

As a result, the pressure on Igor Tudor is now massive, as he lost what could be a key fixture in the battle for survival.

However, the game could have easily gone differently, with plenty of contentious decisions going against the North London club.

One was a big penalty shout late in the first half, with Hackett agreeing with Michael Oliver’s decision in the awful Tottenham defeat.

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Keith Hackett: Cristian Romero went down too easily for Tottenham penalty claim

Shortly after Forest’s opener, Spurs felt that they should have had a penalty.

After a shot cannoned off Forest’s bar, Romero rose to try and direct a headed shot on target.

However, the Tottenham captain quickly went to ground, with Nico Williams seemingly pushing the defender to ground.

While the hosts claimed that this was enough for a penalty, Oliver waved away their protests, with VAR later confirming the on-field decision as correct.

When examining the footage, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, Hackett was quick to agree with this decision.

He said: “The Spurs player goes to ground too easily, looking to win a penalty kick.

“The match officials have called this correctly.”

Has time run out for Igor Tudor?

Before the match, Football Insider revealed that Tudor had one game to save his job, with this coming against Nottingham Forest.

However, the match against the East Midlands side could not have gone any worse, with Spurs being completely played off the park in the second half to condemn them to a terrible defeat.

As a result, relegation looks more likely than even, with the club now down to 17th, one point off the relegation zone.

With tricky fixtures on the horizon, it is hard to see Tudor picking up his first Premier League win anytime soon.

However, it remains to be seen if Tottenham decide to stick with their interim manager, with the international break perhaps being the ideal time to make a quick change.

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