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Tottenham Hotspur manager Roberto De Zerbi may already be on collision course with the club over a player he wants at the club next season.

Tottenham picked up a vital 1-0 win against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday as Joao Palhinha's late goal proved to be the difference between the two sides.

With Nottingham Forest thrashing Sunderland 5-0 at the Stadium of Light on Friday night, and West Ham United securing a late win of their own against Everton on Saturday afternoon, it was crucial that De Zerbi and Spurs also picked up three points.

The Italian manager will hope that the north London outfit's first Premier League victory since December will give them some confidence and momentum, and they need it with four games left to play.

Tottenham remain two points from safety and a further five points behind Forest, who must feel like they are a couple of points away from preserving their top-flight status for another season.

Those three results over the weekend have suggested that it might need more than 40 points to survive this season, but nevertheless Spurs' recruitment team have been busily making transfer plans off the pitch to boost them for the 2026-27 campaign.

De Zerbi Wants Estupinan at Tottenham

According to MilanLive, De Zerbi has set his sights on bringing AC Milan left-back Pervis Estupinan to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this summer.

The Ecuador international has found himself as back-up to youngster Davide Bartesaghi in recent weeks, but there was surprise when he wasn't given the nod to start ahead of the Italian against Juventus at San Siro on Sunday night.

The report claims that he is now expected to leave AC in the summer, with De Zerbi said to be eyeing a reunion with the 28-year-old having worked with him previously at Brighton and Hove Albion.

De Zerbi is said to like Estupinan's attacking threat on the left-hand side, with the report suggesting Tottenham could bring him back to England for anything around the €17m (£14.7m) fee Milan paid for him last summer.

Tottenham Have Already Agreed Robertson Deal

It's unclear how much say De Zerbi has had in it given the deal nearly happened in January, but Tottenham have a verbal agreement with Andy Robertson for him to join from Liverpool in the summer on a free transfer - if they stay up.

While there is no doubting the Scotland international's ability and experience given what he has achieved at Anfield, it would be an early concern in his reign if he preferred to sign Estupinan instead.

It's hard to argue that signing a Premier League and Champions League winner on a free isn't great business from Spurs, but they also can't have both.

De Zerbi has become well known as a demanding manager and you do have to wonder if he might push to sign Estupinan instead of Robertson should he keep the club in the Premier League.

What is clear is that Tottenham need to keep the Italian happy during this new project, given he has already committed his future to the club even if they go down to the Championship.

Tottenham have already agreed a couple of new deals ahead of the summer window that are contingent on the Lilywhites being a Premier League team next season. But now they are being linked with one if they are relegated to the Championship.

Spurs have agreed terms on a deal to sign Andy Robertson from Liverpool this summer, with the Scot out of contract at Anfield. There is also an agreement in principle for Tottenham to sign Marcos Senesi from Bournemouth, with his contract on the south coast also expiring.

They would both arrive at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on free transfers and would be very sensible bits of business, with Roberto De Zerbi looking to bolster his backline, particularly given it is likely Cristian Romero will depart the club.

Tottenham Transfer Plans Already Being Made

Spurs are in the bottom three in the Premier League with just four games of the season left to play, two points adrift of West Ham United.

It looks like a straight shoot out between the two London clubs to see who survives and who goes down, with Forest five points above the drop zone and Leeds United six points above the cut mark.

If Tottenham do get relegated, contingency plans are already being made, it seems.

James Tavernier has emerged as a potential signing if the club are in the Championship next season. The 34-year-old was announced as leaving Rangers last week. In a statement he said that "this isn't the end just yet" with plans to continue his career away from Glasgow.

Tavernier said: "This club has been a huge part of my life and my family's over the past 11 years. It's given me so much, both on and off the pitch, and from the moment I arrived I've always tried to give everything I had to represent it in the right way.

"To have had the honour of being made captain of this club since 2018 is something I will always be incredibly proud of. Leading this team out, wearing the armband and being trusted in that role has meant more to me that I can properly put into words."

Spurs Face Competition To Sign Tavernier

Tavernier's leadership qualities and experience, according to Teamtalk, are seen as key things that De Zerbi will be looking for if he needs to win promotion back to the Premier League and the defender has been earmarked as a potential signing as a result.

Spurs will face competition from Wolves to sign him, with the Midlands outfit also looking to make changes to their squad as they prepare for life in the Championship.

Spurs take on Aston Villa next Sunday, having picked up their first win of 2026 in beating Wolves at Molineux on Saturday. They then face Leeds United and Everton on the final day, with a rearranged fixture against Chelsea to be slotted into the calendar now too folowing the Blues' progression to the FA Cup final.

The weekend's Premier League action may not have changed much at the bottom of the table, but there was a twist in the relegation battle with what happened elsewhere.

After Nottingham Forest's incredible 5-0 win over Sunderland on Friday night, West Ham and Tottenham also followed it up with victories of their own, albeit both coming late on.

The Hammers scored a 92nd minute winner against Everton to claim all three points, with Joao Palhinha striking in the 82nd minute to give Spurs victory over already relegated Wolves - their first win in 2026.

It means there remain five points between Forest in 16th and Spurs in 18th with four games of the season to play.

Fixture Scheduling Could Play A Massive Role

Tottenham may have a major disadvantage now in the final few weeks of the campaign after what happened in the FA Cup.

Chelsea's victory over Leeds United means the Blues have another fixture to add to their schedule and that will take place on Saturday, May 16. Chelsea were due to play London rivals Spurs in the Premier League on May 17, so that fixture has been postponed.

The game will have to be rearranged for a midweek slot, with the biggest likelihood of it moving to Tuesday, May 19 or Wednesday, May 20 - the final week of the campaign.

Doing that would be a disaster for Tottenham as it would hand Forest and West Ham the chance to steal a march on Spurs in the relegation battle, with their games on May 17 still going ahead as planned. The two teams would be able to lay down a marker and put the pressure on Tottenham in the battle to avoid the drop.

Getting to that stage of the season, if things to remain as they are in the Premier League standings between now and then, Forest would know a win against Manchester United that day would make them mathematically safe, while victory for West Ham over Newcastle would leave Spurs five points adrift of safety with two games to play.

The fixture could, of course, be rearranged for the next couple of weeks and Tottenham must do everything in their power to make that happen.

If they can agree a date with Chelsea and the Premier League to play the fixture in the midweek slot of the week of May 4 or May 11, Spurs would be able to turn the tables on Forest and the Hammers by getting a fixture out of the way and potential points on the board while the other two relegation rivals get games in hand.

​​​​​​​Chelsea Will Want to Help Relegate Tottenham

That would be a huge benefit to Spurs, but, given their rivalry with the Lilywhites, might not be something Chelsea are willing to agree to. And, given they have very little to play for in the Premier League, with only Europa League football really up for grabs for this this season, sticking the boot into Tottenham may well be seen as a positive in west London.

Chelsea played a pivotal role in stopping Tottenham winning the Premier League title in 2016 when Eden Hazard got the equaliser from 2-0 down to hand Leicester City the crown. Could history be repeating itself at the bottom of the table now?

Spurs know that even if they win all of their remaining matches they could still go down, with their Premier League fate no longer in their own hands.

Alan Shearer has issued a fresh prediction on the Premier League relegation battle after Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United and Nottingham Forest all won this weekend.

Tottenham and West Ham began their matches on Saturday knowing they needed to win after Nottingham Forest thrashed Sunderland 5-0 at the Stadium of Light on Friday night, to move onto 39 points.

Leeds United looked to have secured their spot in next season's Premier League after their 2-2 draw with Bournemouth last week, reaching the magic 40-point mark as a result.

However, after Tottenham, West Ham and Forest all won on Friday and Saturday, they are now six points above the bottom three with four matches left to play and no mathematically safe.

Daniel Farke's men will look to finish the job when they host already-relegated Burnley next, especially considering they face West Ham away on the final day of the season.

Meanwhile, Nuno Espirito Santo's Forest side were boosted by their late winner against Everton, which stopped them slipping into the drop zone, after Joao Palhinha's 82nd-minute winner for Spurs against rock-bottom Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux.

Shearer Picks Who Will Stay Up: Tottenham or West Ham

Following the latest set of results, it has kept things interesting at the bottom of the Premier League table.

Tottenham's first win under Roberto De Zerbi - and their first in the league since December 2028 - will give them a huge boost, but it came at a price as they lost Xavi Simons to an ACL injury that is likely to keep him on the sidelines until 2027.

Spurs are on 34 points with four games left to play, two points behind West Ham and five adrift of Forest, with the potential for a high points tally being needed for survival looking more and more likely.

Asked by Lineker on the latest Rest is Football episode who he thinks will stay up after Forest pulled away from the bottom three, Shearer said:

"I think West Ham might stay up. I still think, I mean, Tottenham had a couple of injuries as well yesterday, didn't they? [Dominic] Solanke went off injured. [Xavi] Simons went off injured."

What Do Their Run-Ins Look Like?

As things stand, you probably have to look at this still being between either West Ham or Tottenham.

It would be no surprise to see Leeds beat Burnley on Friday and if they do, it should be enough to preserve their Premier League status for another season.

Forest probably need another win to guarantee their survival, and alongside their Europa League semi-final two-legged tie with Aston Villa, they also face Chelsea, Newcastle, Manchester United and Bournemouth in England's top tier.

West Ham's next four are against Brentford, who have drawn five consecutive games in the Premier League, before they host title-chasing Arsenal on May 10th.

While that fixture is daunting on paper, the Irons have beaten Arsenal in three of their last six matches against each other.

The Hammers then face Newcastle away and Leeds at home in their final two.

Finally, Tottenham will look to build on their first league win of 2026 when they travel to Champions League chasing Aston Villa, before home matches against Leeds and Everton on the final day were due to be sandwiched by a trip to Chelsea.

The game against the Blues will be rearranged, however, after their London rivals reached the FA Cup final.

Tottenham could now have the perfect chance to sign one of their previous targets as they close in on their new sporting director.

Spurs will already be preparing for the summer transfer window, despite their major focus being on staying in the Premier League over the coming weeks.

The North London club will likely be planning with the hope that they remain in England's top flight, which will be a huge boost when it comes to attracting certain targets.

Tottenham are already getting their ducks in a row behind the scenes, with Sebastian Kehl emerging as a leading candidate to become a director at Spurs.

Tottenham Can Sign ‘World-Class’ Target

With Tottenham closing in on their new director, they could look to raid Kehl’s' former club for potential reinforcements ahead of the summer transfer window.

He only left Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund a few months ago, and it could be an opportunity for Tottenham to revisit one of their January targets.

Spurs made contact to sign Karim Adeyemi during the January window, but a move failed to materialise before the end of the market.

With Kehl potentially arriving through the door, it could be the perfect time for Tottenham to make another move, with their potential new director fully understanding the requirements to secure his signature.

Whether the German international wants a move to the Premier League remains to be seen, but he hasn't been a guaranteed starter for Dortmund this season.

Adeyemi a Mathys Tel Upgrade

Adeyemi’s versatility could make him an incredibly useful option for Tottenham next season.

The 24-year-old is capable of playing all across the front three, whether that be out wide, in the number 10 position, or through the middle as a centre forward.

The German attacker would be an upgrade on a host of Tottenham's attackers, including Mathys Tel, who operates in similar positions.

Adeyemi, described as 'world-class', is one of the quickest players in world football and Roberto De Zerbi could do with someone of his profile to fully implement his system.

With his contract expiring next summer and Tottenham potentially bringing Kehl to the club, it could be an ideal time to sign Adeyemi.

Tottenham are reportedly interested in making a move to sign one Manchester United star if they avoid relegation from the Premier League this season.

With Roberto De Zerbi's side battling to remain in England's top flight, currently sitting in the bottom three, with just a few weeks remaining of the season

A win over Wolves on Saturday boosted their chances of survival, but unfortunately for them, West Ham also secured three points against Everton.

Avoiding the drop will be crucial for the north London club for multiple reasons, especially in the transfer market.

Tottenham are going to struggle to attract the profile of player they are usually targeting if they are plying their trade in the Championship next season.

Tottenham Plotting Man Utd Transfer

According to a report from Spanish outlet Sport, Tottenham are one of the sides showing an interest in signing Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford in the Summer transfer window.

Barcelona have an agreement to sign the England international for a £26 million fee following his loan spell, but there is no guarantee they will decide to sign him on a permanent basis.

Spurs have now entered the race to secure his signature, but it relies on them avoiding relegation from the Premier League this campaign.

Tottenham's interest in Rashford, who reportedly earns £300,000-a-week, is described as genuine, and they could look to take advantage of Barcelona weighing up a decision.

Rashford Might be Aiming Higher

Unfortunately for Tottenham, Rashford might be aiming a little higher in the summer transfer window if he doesn't complete a move to Barcelona.

The United loanee has flourished on loan in Spain this season, so a move to a Champions League club feels a little more likely.

Tottenham won't be competing in any European competitions next season, which could damage their chances of winning the race to secure a Rashford signature.

Spurs are likely to struggle in general to attract high-profile targets even if they manage to avoid the drop to the Championship.

Rashford's wages could also be a problem for Tottenham, as they are going to have to be careful with finances due to having no Europe.

Tottenham Hotspur claimed their first win of 2026 against Wolves on Saturday afternoon, but remain two points adrift of safety in their battle against relegation.

Roberto De Zerbi's side claimed their first win of his tenure at Molineux thanks to substitute Joao Palhinha's late goal, moving them up to 34 points from 34 games in the Premier League. But West Ham scored a 93rd-minute winner over Everton, maintaining their advantage in the race against the drop with just four games remaining of the campaign.

But while Spurs will be somewhat happy about their victory on the day, the team are likely to now be without star man Xavi Simons for the remainder of the season, and potentially may never see him in their shirt again.

Xavi Simons Suffers Serious Knee Injury

During the second half as Spurs pushed for a breakthrough, Netherlands international Xavi went down clutching his knee and screaming in agony after his foot jarred in the turf while he tried to cross the ball in.

Simons was visibly in pain, crying on the touchline before eventually being stretchered off the pitch and replaced. Early suggestions online are that he may have suffered an ACL injury, which would not only rule him out of the rest of the season and the World Cup, but also likely the majority of next season too.

His influence in the attacking midfield role has been instrumental for Spurs in recent weeks, and it's evident that he actually cares about the cause too, given his reaction to Brighton's late equaliser last weekend.

But he now can't help them to try and avoid relegation, and without him there is a huge issue on who the team can rely upon in that creative role, considering how little they have been able to score this season.

Xavi's Spurs Career is Surely Over

Tottenham's Premier League status is hanging by a thread currently, but with Simons now potentially facing a lengthy period out, it could well be the final time he ever plays for the club and under manager De Zerbi.

Relegation would mean the club need to get his hefty wages off their books, but finding a new club for him while he deals with a long-term injury will be incredibly difficult to do. But for a player with such a big reputation, it's almost impossible to consider the reality that he may be playing in the second tier once he returns to fitness.

If the worst scenario is confirmed and he has suffered an ACL injury, alongside Spurs getting relegated, then his career at the club is most likely over.

Aston Villa are battling Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United in the race to sign Manchester City goalkeeper James Trafford this summer, according to The Times.

The West Midlands side are among a host of Premier League clubs keeping close tabs on the former Burnley keeper, who has struggled for regular opportunities under Pep Guardiola this season.

Since joining City for an initial £27m last summer, Trafford has made only 14 appearances across all competitions, keeping seven clean sheets and conceding 10 goals.

The 23-year-old helped City win the Carabao Cup final against Arsenal last month and is expected to start in Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final against Southampton.

Aston Villa Eyeing James Trafford

According to The Times, Villa are monitoring Trafford as a potential replacement for Emiliano Martinez, if he decides to call time on his six-year spell in the West Midlands.

The Argentina international was the subject of interest from Manchester United this summer, but ended up staying as the Red Devils welcomed Senne Lammens instead.

Newcastle, meanwhile, have maintained an interest in Trafford since last summer. The 23-year-old is believed to be at the top of their wishlist, as they are prioritising the signing of a new goalkeeper.

Tottenham are also keeping tabs on the England international amid doubts over Guglielmo Vicario’s future at the club.

The Italian goalkeeper is likely to be on the move this summer and is believed to be attracting interest from Serie A leaders Inter Milan.

Trafford developed in Manchester City’s academy before leaving the club permanently in 2023 to join Burnley.

The ‘world-class’ 23-year-old claimed the Championship Golden Glove last season after keeping 29 clean sheets and conceding just 16 goals in 45 appearances.

Aston Villa Monitoring Bayern Midfielder

Aston Villa are believed to be among a host of European clubs closely monitoring Bayern Munich rising star Noel Aseko.

The West Midlands side, along with AS Roma, Eintracht Frankfurt and Brighton, are interested in the Germany U21 international, who is spending the season on loan at Hannover.

According to reports in Germany, Bayern are believed to be open to selling the defensive midfielder after the season for a fee in the region of €10-12m (£8.7m-£10.4m).

Villa are said to be closely monitoring the 20-year-old ahead of the transfer window, although Serie A side Roma appear to be showing the strongest interest at present.

With Tottenham struggling near the foot of the Premier League table, a host of their players will be considering departures in the summer transfer window.

Roberto De Zerbi's side currently sit inside the relegation zone, with just five games remaining in the Premier League.

As a result of their struggles in England's top flight, we could see a number of players heading through the exit door, even if they remain in the Premier League.

Spurs have just five games remaining to try to climb out of the relegation zone, to even stand a chance of keeping some of their key stars.

Tottenham Star Tells Club He Wants to Leave

According to a report from Team Talk, Tottenham have failed to make any progress in negotiations over a new contract for Micky van de Ven.

The Dutch defender has informed the club that he wishes to depart in the summer transfer window, making it clear that he doesn't intend on sticking around regardless of what league they are playing in next season.

A host of clubs are showing an interest in Van de Ven ahead of the summer, including sides from the Premier League in Manchester United and Liverpool.

The pacey centre-back, described as a 'future Tottenham captain' by former Spurs defender Michael Dawson, is believed to be a fan of De Zerbi but that doesn't change the fact that he wants to move on later this year.

It's been a dismal season for Tottenham, and it could potentially get worse with a host of their key players looking to leave the club.

Tottenham Need a Huge Reset

After such a dismal few years, Tottenham need a huge reset in the summer transfer window.

The squad needs a complete overhaul, especially if they want to fully implement De Zerbi's style of football, which could mean a number of players depart and even more come through the door.

Spurs could also do with some major behind-the-scenes changes, and it appears they are closing in on the appointment of a new sporting director.

According to reports earlier this week, former Borussia Dortmund director Sebastian Kehl is now the leading candidate to join Tottenham.

Tottenham have reportedly placed five players on their transfer list ahead of the summer transfer window, but there are three more they need to send through the exit door.

It looks set to be a busy summer window when it comes to sales after such a disappointing few years in the Premier League.

Spurs finished in 17th position last season under Ange Postecoglou, but they've shown no signs of improvement this term, currently sitting in 18th place.

Relegation is a serious possibility for the north London club, which could lead to a big fire sale in the summer transfer window.

Tottenham Place 5 Players on Transfer List

According to a report from Romania Journal, there are five players who Tottenham consider surplus to requirements ahead of the summer transfer window.

Firstly, Joao Palhinha and Randal Kolo Muani could be allowed to return to their respective clubs in the summer, with the duo on loan from Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain, respectively.

The Spurs duo have struggled for consistency since arriving in north London, and signing them on permanent deals wouldn't make a lot of sense.

Radu Dragusin is also likely to head through the exit door, while Pape Matar Sarr, perhaps surprisingly, is another name on the transfer list.

Finally, Ben Davies looks set to depart following the expiration of his contract in the summer.

First up, Tottenham should be looking to add striker Dominic Solanke to the list. Spurs need a huge reset, and the English forward hasn't lived up to his £65m price tag.

Even when fit, Solanke has struggled this season, while he's not been available even nearly enough.

Another Spurs should be looking to move on is Guglielmo Vicario. The Italian goalkeeper, who signed for £17m, is possibly enduring his worst season for the club, and Tottenham need to upgrade in this position.

Finally, Yves Bissouma should be sold when the window opens. The midfielder has barely featured this season for various reasons and after costing £35m, Spurs will have expected more.

That's £117m of signings Spurs need to try and flog, but they'll struggle to make that money back.