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Tottenham Hotspur are involved in a fierce relegation battle with London neighbours West Ham United, but they have been boosted by the fact that one player wants to stay regardless of if they survive or not, according to GIVEMESPORT senior correspondent Ben Jacobs.

Tottenham knew they had to react to West Ham's 3-0 defeat to Brentford on Saturday with a positive result away at Aston Villa on Sunday, and Roberto De Zerbi and his players delivered with a 2-1 win against Unai Emery's much-changed side.

Tottenham moved out of the relegation zone as a result and on to 37 points, with the Irons a point further back in 18th position with three games to go.

Nottingham Forest and Leeds United had looked set to be involved in the battle to avoid dropping to the Championship too a few weeks ago, but fine runs of form for both mean they lie on 42 and 43 points respectively, and are surely both now safe.

Tottenham host Leeds in their next match on Monday night, with West Ham welcoming Champions League finalists and Premier League title-chasing Arsenal to the London Stadium 24 hours before.

Joao Palhinha Producing Heroic Tottenham Displays

Expectations were high when Tottenham signed Joao Palhinha on a season-long loan deal, with an option to buy, from Bayern Munich last summer.

While the 30-year-old had struggled to make a big impact for the Bundesliga giants, he had established himself as one of the best in his position in the Premier League for Fulham previously.

The Portugal international started off positively but, like many of his new Spurs teammates, his form dropped off of a cliff and he often saw younger players like Archie Gray selected ahead of him in the XI.

The midfielder has bounced back and after three substitute appearances under De Zerbi, and a crucial winning goal against Wolves, the Portuguese was selected in the XI for the visit to Villa Park.

He didn't let his Italian manager down either, with a fully committed display that even saw him celebrating winning challenges and free-kicks.

Joao Palhinha Wants to Stay at Tottenham

It's been a roller-coaster season for Palhinha with Spurs likely to have changed their mind more than once about signing the player on a permanent basis this summer.

What is clear is that, according to GIVEMESPORT senior correspondent Ben Jacobs, the player is keen to stay even if the club does go down to the Championship.

Speaking to GMS about the situation, the journalist said:

"Joao Palhinha has kind of come full circle. So it's very difficult to predict. In the first few months, Tottenham were adamant they were going to trigger the option to buy because he started really well, then it tapered off, and it was trending towards not signing him permanently.

"Now in these last few games and under De Zerbi the mood has shifted again. What I can tell you with Palhinha is, if it's up to the player, he wants to stay, and that will likely also be the case, even if Tottenham go down, because Palhinha's move to Tottenham was about returning to England. It was about being in London.

"There's family reasons why he wants to stay too. So Tottenham can feel very in control of that situation, because Palhinha doesn't, I'm told, fall into the category of a player that will just want to jump ship."

A twist has emerged over the future of Tottenham Hotspur defender Micky van de Ven ahead of the summer transfer window, according to GIVEMESPORT senior correspondent Ben Jacobs.

Tottenham have boosted their chances of staying in the Premier League in recent weeks under Roberto De Zerbi, after taking seven points from the last nine available in the top flight.

Successive away victories against Wolverhampton Wanderers and Aston Villa have dragged Spurs out of the relegation zone, but it still looks to be a head-to-head battle between themselves and West Ham United to see who suffers relegation to the Championship.

Nottingham Forest's win at Chelsea on Monday means they are now six points clear of the drop zone with three games to go, with Vitor Pereira's men registering their third straight victory at Stamford Bridge.

Tottenham are one point above their London neighbours, and host Leeds United on Monday night after West Ham welcome title-chasing Arsenal to the London Stadium on Sunday.

The fight could go down to the wire, but the north London outfit are in a much better position than they were even prior to last weekend's fixtures.

Van de Ven Has Been Linked With Tottenham Exit

TEAMtalk reported last month that Van de Ven had told Tottenham he wanted to leave regardless of relegation, but GMS understands that isn't the case at all.

Issuing a new update on the future of the Netherlands international, Jacobs told GIVEMESPORT that the 25-year-old is actually ready to commit his future to Spurs if they preserve their Premier League status.

He said: "You have a profile like Micky Van de ven that Spurs really want to fight to keep if they go down. That's going to be very difficult, but I tell you something, if Tottenham stay up, my information is that Micky Van de Ven is extremely open signing a new deal.

"Now he's very happy with Roberto De Zerbi as manager, and De Zerbi coming in has enhanced the chances of Tottenham staying up, that Van de Ven signs a new deal, and [Cristian] Romero still goes."

Reports also emerged this week that Manchester United would be ready to pay £60m to sign Van de Ven in the summer if he was available.

Huge Boost for Tottenham

Many Tottenham supporters would have accepted that it was likely Van de Ven would be on his way if Spurs went down to the Championship, and potentially even if they stayed up, given they will know his desire to be playing Champions League football at this stage of his career.

But it would be a huge boost for De Zerbi and the club if Van de Ven was willing to not only stay next season if Premier League football is on the menu again, but also commit his future to the north London outfit.

Like many of his teammates, the Dutchman hasn't been at his best for much of the season, but there is no doubting the quality the speedy centre-back has when he is at his best.

Van de Ven has the ability to play a big part in Tottenham's resurgence under De Zerbi, but first he needs to play his part in helping them remain in the top flight.

Tottenham are finally showing signs of life in the relegation battle, with Roberto De Zerbi landing back-to-back wins to give his side a fighting chance of Premier League survival.

Long gone are the excuses and complaining, a wave of sorrow has been replaced with spirit and belief that simply wasn't there before the Italian coach's arrival.

There are still three games to navigate through, but should Spurs survive them, then it will be time for those at the top to thank De Zerbi for saving them by backing him in the market.

This season, above all else, has shown that plenty of work is needed to get the Tottenham squad up to scratch, and there is one opportunity to back the manager that cannot be missed.

Tottenham must negotiate Joao Palhinha return

Joao Palhinha has had a mixed loan spell for Tottenham, but he has shown exactly what he can offer the side in the last few games under De Zerbi.

The 30-year-old showed an ability to cover plenty of ground, tackling anything and everything around him, winning the ball back to start the next phase of attack for Spurs against Aston Villa.

While he is certainly limited in some respects, particularly when it comes to setting the tempo with the ball or playing the penetrative passes that the forwards need to latch onto, there are some key elements in his game that will be useful to the side moving forward.

If De Zerbi can continue to limit those weaknesses and highlight his strengths, then it is a no-brainer to bring the Portuguese international in on a permanent deal this summer.

There is a £21.5million clause in the loan deal that Tottenham could trigger to confirm the signing, but there is an opportunity for the hierarchy to show some negotiating prowess.

Recent reports have claimed that Bayern Munich are keen to move Palhinha on permanently this summer, which gives Spurs a chance to discuss the terms of a deal, without paying the full value of the clause.

That may allow the club to seal the midfielder, while freeing funds elsewhere to make clear improvements to the current squad in the right places.

One of those areas may well be the midfield alongside Palhinha, if he joins, adding a player who is comfortable on the ball and capable of maximising his strengths.

What Roberto De Zerbi thinks of Joao Palhinha

Palhinha has shown De Zerbi one key trait that he loves during his short time at the club so far: passion. The midfielder has embodied the early change seen in the team under the new head coach, while contributing to some important goals along the way.

The Tottenham boss admitted that he enjoyed seeing the midfielder, alongside others in the team, celebrating small wins on the pitch, such as tackles.

Speaking about Palhinha's celebration moment against Aston Villa, De Zerbi told the press: "Yeah, I love Palhinha like this (grabs his shirt and pulls it).

When asked if he told the players to celebrate like that, he clarified: "No, no, they have not to follow me in this, but if I saw one player like passionate, I become crazy!"

That reflection from the touchline onto the pitch shows unity in the early weeks of a new coach, a full buy-in on the direction that he wants to take the club in.

While there will certainly need to be some improvement in certain areas, bringing Palhinha back to Tottenham for a potential cut-price deal makes total sense.

There is likely to be lots of upheaval in the playing squad at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this summer.

New head coach Roberto De Zerbi has not had much of a chance to put his own stamp on the side, having only arrived at the club on the final day of March and given one simple task: to save the club from relegation to the Championship.

Spurs have picked up seven points from his four games in charge and won back-to-back games for the first time since the opening two weeks of the season, moving themselves out of the bottom three as a result.

Tottenham have already agreed two transfers this summer

With three games of the season to go, Spurs' fate is now back in their own hands.

If De Zerbi keeps the club in the Premier League, he will have a busy summer of planning and making changes, with Tottenham already having agreements in principle to sign free agents Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi from Liverpool and Bournemouth respectively.

There will be outgoings too, with a number of high-profile players having already been linked with an exit. Rumours swirl around centre-back duo Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven, while No.1 Guglielmo Vicario has been heavily tipped to depart N17.

And now it has been suggsted that a player De Zerbi has not even seen yet could be on the way out.

Luka Vuskovic arrived at Tottenham in 2025, having signed a deal from Hajduk Split in 2023 when he was just 16 years old. He has yet to play a first team game though, having been sent out on loan to Hamburg at the start of the season.

He did play a role in pre-season under Thomas Frank, but was shipped out to get first team experience in one of Europe's big five leagues and he has shone for the Bundesliga outfit, earning rave reviews.

Short-term Spurs boss Igor Tudor described Vuskovic as a "force of nature" and a "generational talent" with Hamburg teammate Jonas Meffert saying: "Luka is unbelievable. I always want to say he's a world star already, but he's still so young. We are just grateful he is with us this year."

De Zerbi will be keen to see him in the flesh and see what he can do at just 19 years old, but the Italian may face a fight to keep hold of him.

Hamburg want to keep him, while a number of other high-profile clubs have also shown an interest and now one of Eruope's big guns have stepped in.

Barcelona make move to sign Tottenham youngster

According to reports, Barcelona have made contact with Vuskovic's representatives over a potential summer transfer to the Camp Nou, which would be made easier if Spurs are relegated from the Premier League.

The Croatian has a contract in north London until 2030, however, meaning Spurs have a great deal of power when it comes to negotiations with other clubs over a transfer.

Vuskovic is represented by super agent Pini Zahavi, who said in March: "I can’t comment at this time. The player still belongs to Hamburg and is completely focused there.

“I can provide updates in exactly two months.”

Tottenham Hotspur are eyeing a £50m deal to sign Sunderland star Robin Roefs this summer as Roberto De Zerbi's first signing, according to Football Insider.

The north London club are battling against relegation with three games remaining in the campaign, with their 2-1 win over Aston Villa taking them out of the drop zone and above West Ham by one point.

But even if the club stay in the Premier League, there are expected to be major changes on the pitch during the upcoming transfer window, and Spurs have now identified one star who they want to bring in to help rebuild the squad as a result.

Tottenham Eyeing £50m Roefs Deal

Roefs, described as 'elite', has been a revelation for Sunderland this season after arriving in the summer for £11.5m, keeping nine clean sheets in 32 appearances to help the team into 12th place in the table.

The Dutch star has now emerged as a target for a number of clubs as a result, and Spurs are ready to enter the race for his signature if they are able to cement their place in the top flight for the 2026/27 campaign.

Spurs are expecting Guglielmo Vicario to depart, with the Italian having a full agreement in place to join Inter Milan, while Antonin Kinsky is also likely to move on in the summer after a disappointing season as the back-up stopper.

Roefs has emerged as a target, with Sunderland expected to demand around £50m for the 23-year-old, who they feel could go on to become their long-term first-choice goalkeeper. Spurs are planning to splash the cash if they stay in the Premier League to ensure they don't have a repeat next season.

Tottenham Need to Be Smart With Cash

Tottenham are a club in crisis right now, but they will be hopeful that if De Zerbi is capable of navigating them away from the Championship, then it could be the start of a new era for the team.

Vicario and Kinsky are likely to move on, and a deal for a player like Roefs who clearly has a high ceiling but also a tonne of experience despite his age would be ideal - not to mention the fact that he is also Premier League proven.

£50m is steep, undoubtedly, but they need to get the players in to save them wherever they can, and Roefs would tick a lot of boxes.

Tottenham have already lined up two transfers for the summer - neither of which will cost them any money.

An agreement is in place with Andy Robertson to arrive at the club when his contract expires at Liverpool, while an agreement is also in place in principle with Bournemouth defender Marcos Senesi once his contract at the Vitality Stadium expires.

Two free transfers are very sensible signings for Spurs, although they both rely on Tottenham being a Premier League club next season - something which was given a huge boost at the weekend by their second consecutive win, against Aston Villa, and West Ham's 3-0 defeat to Brentford.

Tottenham Owners Will Give Roberto De Zerbi Money To Spend In The Summer

If they stay up, Roberto De Zerbi is likely to be given something of a warchest to spend on transfers to transform the Tottenham squad too, as back-to-back finishes towards the bottom of the Premier League table will not be tolerated much longer.

And their first big-money move may now be a no-brainer, having looked anything but just a few weeks ago.

Spurs signed Randal Kolo Muani on loan from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer to much fanfare, with Juventus keen to re-sign the frontman on another oan deal given his success in Serie A last season.

A deal could not be worked out, however, and Spurs pounced to add to their front line.

Kolo Muani has flattered to deceive for much of the season, however, often looking like the player he is - on loan from anotehr club with no attachment nor desire to endear himself to his loan club's fans.

Kolo Muani was disappointing under Thomas Frank and then, with a manager that knows him well in Igor Tudor coming in as interim boss after the Dane was sacked, continued to underwhelm in more surprising circumstances.

Any thought of making his season-long loan move permanent would have been seen as laughable.

But while one performance does not make a transfer decision, what happened on Sunday may just have made a smidgen of difference when it comes to Spurs' summer plans.

Randal Kolo Muani Was A Real Threat Against Aston Villa

Kolo Muani finally came to the fore for Spurs in their exceptional win over Aston Villa, turning in a superb performance on the right-hand side, described as "brilliant" on TNT Sports' coverage of the match by co-commentator Lucy Ward.

The Frenchman hassled and harried the Villa defence, pressing high up the pitch like his manager had asked and making driving runs and generally giving Ian Maatsen a torrid time. He linked up play brilliantly and showed the commitment the Spurs supporters have been desperate to see, not just from him, but the entire first team squad. His display earned him high-fives from all of the supporters in the front row as he made his way off the pitch, too.

He won 11 duels on the day - more than any other player on the pitch - and went on six dribbles, being successful with four of them - again more than any other player on the pitch. He sent two crosses into the box, both of which found their targets, enjoying a 77% pass success rate.

He was a constant menace and a constant threat, something we have not been able to say about the 27-year-old at all this season. PSG are reportedly demanding a fee of €30million (£27million) to sell the forward this summer and if he finishes the season as strongly as his Villa performance, Spurs may well be justified in completing a deal.

Manchester United are ready to allocate £60m of their summer transfer budget to sign a Tottenham 'speed machine', according to the Boy Hotspur.

Man United secured their return to the Champions League for the first time since the 2023-24 season as they beat Liverpool 3-2 at Old Trafford on Sunday.

The Red Devils raced into an early 2-0 lead but suffered a scare early in the second half as the visitors brought the scoreline level after two mistakes in possession by Amad Diallo and Senne Lammens.

On the week he committed his long-term future to United, Kobbie Mainoo popped up with the winner to send the Old Trafford into raptures, and make the club the favourites to end the campaign in third position in the Premier League table.

INEOS now have two big decisions to make in the next weeks, deciding who their next permanent manager is going to be, and finalising their summer transfer wishlist.

GIVEMESPORT sources revealed on Monday that Michael Carrick is optimistic of being given the job on a permanent basis after a stunning run of form in 2026 under his caretaker charge, although he will undergo a formal interview process.

Man United View Micky Van de Ven as 'Ideal' Signing

It is no secret that Manchester United are prioritising strengthening in central midfield this summer, with at least two new faces expected to come in to replace Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte.

The former will leave Old Trafford when his contract expires at the end of the season, while Fabrizio Romano claims that the latter is '95%' likely to join his South American compatriot through the exit door.

United are also looking at left wingers with Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers and AC Milan's Rafael Leao just two names linked in recent weeks.

The Red Devils must decide if they go for a centre-back too, with the Boy Hotspur claiming that they are ready to pay £55-60m to bring Tottenham star Van de Ven to Old Trafford.

They are said to see the Dutchman as the 'ideal' addition to their backline, with the likes of Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martinez struggling with injury issues during the 2025-26 season.

Van de Ven Will Demand Big Contract at Next Club

The same report says that the fact the Dutchman's contract doesn't expire until 2029 leaves Tottenham in a strong negotiating position, and they could demand up to £60m for his signature.

Spurs remain in danger of slipping into the Championship with it looking like it will be either them or West Ham who will be relegated.

It's unclear if the centre-back has a relegation release clause, but TBH claim that he is expected to demand £200,000-a-week at his next club, a rise on his current wage which is worth around £100,000-120,000-a-week at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

United are considered the 'strongest' contender, but they could face competition from Liverpool, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, who are all said to be monitoring the 25-year-old's situation in north London.

Tottenham have finally turned a corner this season, with Roberto De Zerbi's plan coming to fruition at just the right time.

After unluckily losing to Sunderland 1-0 at the Stadium of Light, Spurs were slightly unlucky again a week later when Georginio Rutter's last-gasp goal denied them all three points against Brighton & Hove Albion.

A hard-fought 1-0 win over Wolves ensured Tottenham finally picked up their first win of 2026 last week and they followed that up with their first back-to-back victories since the first two games of the 2025/26 season with a terrific 2-1 win away at Aston Villa - a result which saw them climb out of the relegation zone in the Premier League.

Six Tottenham Players Were On Top Form Against Aston Villa

Now their destiny is back in their own hands, no longer relying on other teams to drop points to save them from relegation to the Championship.

De Zerbi has given a number of players a new lease of life, with Conor Gallagher and Rodrigo Bentancur particularly impressive in the win over Villa on Sunday.

They were not the only ones, however. Joao Palhinha was superb in the two in midfield alongside Bentancur - a partnership that was often derided by fans when Thomas Frank utilised the pair of them. Pedro Porro was at his imperious best defensively and in an attacking sense, while Richarlison ran his heart out and got the all-important second goal while Randal Kolo Muani finally showed Spurs fans the quality they have been waiting to see all season.

But while there are undoubtedly many plus points, as Spurs look to fend off relegation to the Championship, there are those who have been pushed to the side under De Zerbi and one of those players can feel very harshly treated.

For much of a desperately disappointing season, Archie Gray was the standout Tottenham player, always giving 100%, always standing up to be counted and showing the more senior players at the club what they should be doing.

He is a hugely talented footballer and everyone has been able to see why Spurs splashed out £40million to sign him from Leeds United in 2024.

Archie Gray Has Found Minutes Hard To Come By Under De Zerbi

But after starting the defeat to Sunderland, playing 62 minutes under De Zerbi, he was only on the bench against Brighton, playing the final 33 minutes of the contest. He was on the bench for the wins of Wolves and Villa too, but was an unused substitute in both.

For a player who was central to what Spurs were doing to be cast aside seems very harsh indeed, but you cannot question the decisions De Zerbi has made since he has arrived at the club. And Gray's time will come...again.

De Zerbi has appeared to favour the energy, the pressing, tackling, intensity and passion of Gallagher and Palhinha and the positioning and middle man pivot presence of Bentancur over Gray so far.

That is entirely understandable. Tottenham have needed results and quickly. If Spurs do stave off relegation and remain a Premier League club, Gray will undoubtedly be given his chance under the Italian and could well be a key player with his ball-playing ability and his willlingness to show for the ball and break the lines with his passing.

For now he has to remain patient and remember the impact he has already made at such a young age.

Tottenham only need two points from their remaining three games to avoid relegation from the Premier League. At least that's the view of Alan Shearer, who has suggested Spurs are now favourites to avoid the drop after their impressive win over Aston Villa on Sunday.

Spurs moved out of the Premier League bottom three thanks to a 2-1 win over the Villans at Villa Park, coupled with the boost they received of nearest relegation rivals West Ham losing 3-0 away at Brentford on Saturday afternoon.

Roberto De Zerbi's side were brilliant against the Champions League-chasing Villa, recording back-to-back wins for the first time since the first two games of the season.

Final Few Fixtures Give Tottenham The Edge

The results mean Spurs are now one point above the Hammers in 17th place in the table with three games of the 2025/26 season to play.

The two teams head into what could be a pivotal weekend next weekend, with West Ham taking on league leaders and title-chasing Arsenal at the London Stadium on Sunday afternoon, before Tottenham play host to Leeds United in N17.

If the Hammers lose and Spurs win, the Lilywhites would move four points clear with only two games left to play - which would be a monumental shift, but there are sure to be more twists and turns to come in the relegation battle.

And Shearer believes that a win against Leeds next week will probably be enough to save Spurs from relegation.

Speaking on the Rest Is Football podcast, the former Newcastle United striker analysed the fixtures and thinks the Hammers will only pick up three points against Leeds on the final day, which may be too late.

He said: "That's a big, tough weekend for West Ham, after being beaten quite convincingly, and then having to sit through that Tottenham game and watch how good Tottenham were. And I think with West Ham, with their games coming up, their next two are Arsenal at home and Newcastle away, I think I'm right in saying and they finish with Leeds.

Shearer Fears For West Ham In Relegation Battle

"I think there's probably three points there for West Ham over the next three games. So it's been a terrible weekend for West

Ham.

"The best chance of getting three points, I think, is that last home game. Whether that's going to be enough or not, I don't know, but it's tough for them now."

Tottenham have a one-point advantage and are ten goals better off when it comes to goal difference too, which is effectively another point on the board.

Shearer does not think that the Hammers will get anything from games against Arsenal and Newcastle, so if Tottenham can pick up three points against Leeds, according to Shearer, they would be safe.

Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United and Nottingham Forest are involved in a fierce Premier League relegation battle, with Gary Lineker issuing his verdict on who the 'favourites' are to stay up.

The Tottenham, West Ham and Nottingham Forest battle took another twist over the weekend as Nuno Espirito Santo's Irons were comprehensively beaten 3-0 by Brentford on Saturday, leaving Spurs knowing that a win would be enough to take them out of the drop zone when they travelled to Aston Villa on Sunday.

Unai Emery made seven changes to his team following the Europa League semi-final tie against Forest on Thursday night, and the hosts were poor as Roberto De Zerbi recorded his second successive win as the north Londoners ran out comfortable 2-1 winners.

Forest moved five points clear of the relegation zone with their 5-0 thrashing of Sunderland 10 days ago, but now that gap is down to just three ahead of their trip to Chelsea on Monday night.

It is looking increasingly likely that it may take more than 40 points for survival this season, which means Forest may need one win from their final four games to stave off the threat of relegation to the Championship.

Lineker: Tottenham 'Favourites' to Survive

Ahead of Nottingham Forest's clash with Chelsea on Monday night, West Ham are in 18th position with 36 points, Tottenham are a place above on 37 points, with the Tricky Trees in 16th on 39 points.

Crystal Palace and Leeds come next on 43 points, which should be more than enough to keep both in the Premier League for another season.

Speaking on the latest Rest is Football podcast, Gary Lineker went through the remaining fixtures of Tottenham and West Ham and named the former as the 'favourites' to stay up, while acknowledging Forest aren't completely out of trouble yet.

The presenter said: "Let's have the fixtures. West Ham, I mean, Arsenal at home, as tough as he gets. Newcastle away, they should get three points [he joked]. Well, Newcastle, you know, finally got a win, and Leeds at home. Leeds are probably safe, not quite mathematically yet.

"And then Spurs' fixtures, Leeds at home... big game. Well, they're all big now, Chelsea away, and then Everton at home on the last day of the season. Both Everton and Chelsea are most likely to be chasing some kind of European football, so not easy either.

"But yes, you would look at those and think Spurs having a point advantage as well are probably favourites to stay up now."

More Twists and Turns to Come

While it is easy to look at the fixtures and make predictions, you can't help but feel there are more twists and turns to come in this relegation fight.

Firstly, West Ham actually have a half-decent record against Arsenal in recent years despite the fact they are going for the Premier League title, while Newcastle have shown their vulnerabilities in recent months despite the win against Brighton on Saturday.

Chelsea away will be a tough one for Tottenham, with the Blues surely being keen to send their London neighbours down to the Championship, while Leeds have been impressive and David Moyes knows how to get results.

Forest also may have a Europa League final to focus on if they beat Aston Villa on Thursday, which could be distracting during the run-in.

It's going to be exciting and tense, but Tottenham have certainly given themselves a huge boost with seven points from the possible nine available.