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Tottenham’s Kota Takai has returned to North London after suffering an unexpected misfortune while playing his football in Germany.

Despite joining Tottenham Hotspur last summer, Kota Takai is yet to make an appearance for the club, as he was injured for the first part of this season.

Takai then joined Borussia Mönchengladbach in January in hopes of building up his fitness after a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

However, the defender has only made three starts for the Bundesliga team and last month he encountered another problem, which is hindering his development.

Kota Takai returns to Tottenham with another injury

According to Rheinische Post (as relayed by Sport Witness), Takai missed training on Monday in preparation for a weekend clash against St Pauli.

This is because the 21-year-old suffered a strain, which has already caused him to be absent from matches against Union Berlin and Bayern Munich.

As a result, Takai has travelled back to London so Tottenham can conduct ‘further examinations’ on his problem.

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The German club’s manager Eugen Polanski said: “He [Takai] was running on Saturday. If he can’t train individually with the ball on the pitch today, it probably won’t be enough. But I’m happy to be proven wrong.”

This comes after Takai struggled during his opening Bundesliga games, but Mönchengladbach saw enough in training to want to keep him long-term.

Spurs do not have a good track record getting players up to speed

It is interesting that Takai is being seen to by the medical staff at Tottenham, considering how badly the club are performing in that area.

Spurs have been absolutely laden with injuries, many of which seem to last for a lot longer than the initial timelines given. Even if the Japanese youngster does get back to match fitness, it is certainly a concern to see how often he picks up injuries.

Harry Redknapp has revealed he recently spoke with former Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy, with the ex-Spurs boss sharing what was said during the conversation about the club’s current situation.

It is safe to say Tottenham Hotspur are in a crisis as they continue to struggle this season amid several changes made within the club.

The changes higher up at Spurs have been well documented, with a new chief executive arriving, Daniel Levy’s departure, and the two sporting director model that lasted for a while before Fabio Paratici’s exit.

On the pitch, changes were also made in the dugout despite Ange Postecoglou’s silverware exploits last season, with Thomas Frank taking charge before he was axed after eight months.

Igor Tudor now reigns, but his tenure has been just as bleak, with Tottenham losing all four of their matches under his tutelage.

Tottenham crisis: Harry Redknapp reveals Daniel Levy conversation

There are still cries for change as the so-called ninth richest club run the risk of losing everything, with Tottenham embroiled in a relegation scrap that has them just one point above 18th-placed West Ham United.

Harry Redknapp has now confirmed that he has spoken with former chairman Daniel Levy. Apparently, if it were in his hands, the ex-Tottenham supremo would turn to Redknapp to help the club through what is a dire situation.

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Speaking on talkSPORT, Redknapp explained how the conversation with Levy unfolded and how the unexpected call came about.

He said: “I got a phone call last week from Daniel, funnily enough.

“I think I spoke to him once since I left all that time ago, and I was in the car last week and suddenly the phone goes, it’s Daniel Levy.

“I thought ‘that’s strange’ and I was on the phone to him for about half hour, chatting to him and he was explaining what happened to him, and how he got marched out of there, which was really strange.”

Redknapp then said Levy suggested he would have brought him back to help Tottenham through the current situation.

He continued: “And he did say to me ‘If I was there now, and I’m not just saying it, I would bring you back in until the end of the season, Harry’ – so it would have been interesting.”

Jermain Defoe is ready to help Spurs’ relegation fight

Former Spurs striker Jermain Defoe also phoned in to the Breakfast Show to discuss Tottenham’s current plight.

When asked if he would want to be part of a potential rebuild should Spurs succumb to relegation, the 43-year-old said: “100%, obviously with the boss (Redknapp)!”

Redknapp then replied by joking about the idea of a reunion, adding on the same programme: “He’s my first signing! Do not hold your breath waiting for it to happen, J, because I do not think I will get the phone call, but if I did, I would bring him back for sure.”

A defender who has made 34 appearances for Tottenham Hotspur this season has now joined Destiny Udogie on the radar of Juventus.

It appears that several top clubs in Europe are sensing a market opportunity as Tottenham fight for Premier League survival.

It has been widely reported that both Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero face uncertain futures at Spurs, while it has also been claimed that Pedro Porro is in the sights of the European elite.

It has now emerged that another key member of Tottenham’s defensive line has also become a top summer target for a Champions League club.

Juventus eyeing summer move for Tottenham’s Djed Spence

According to a report in Gazzetta dello Sport, Djed Spence is now on the radar of Juventus.

The Bianconeri are expected to offload Andrea Cambiaso and might do the same with Pierre Kalulu, with a full-back high on their agenda, and they have turned their attention to the Tottenham man.

The Old Lady hierarchy sees Spence as a Champions League-proven player and value his versatility very highly.

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The report adds that the Lilywhites are expected to demand around €30m (£26m) for the 25-year-old even though he signed a new contract at N17 just last year.

Juventus are also fans of another Spurs full-back

Spence is not the only Tottenham full-back on Juve’s radar, with the Serie A club also being fans of the player currently competing with the England star for Spurs’ left-back spot.

It has emerged over recent days that the Bianconeri are preparing a significant offer for Destiny Udogie ahead of the summer window.

Mathys Tel has made some interesting comments about the style of football in the Premier League, as he continues to struggle to make his mark at Tottenham Hotspur.

Tel perhaps has good reason to feel hard done by this term, with the forward not being given a run in the side even when he has shown some good form.

The 20-year-old arrived from Bayern Munich with a lot of hype, but barring a few glimpses, Spurs fans are still waiting for the Frenchman to really make a big impact.

Some Tottenham supporters have demanded that Tel get more game time over the coming weeks as the Lilywhites fight to preserve their Premier League status.

Tottenham forward Mathys Tel admits the Premier League is ‘boring to watch’

It appears that the France Under-21 international is now too big a fan of the Premier League as a spectacle.

He suggested that the style of football can be boring and structured, with very little room for magicians to make something happen on the ball.

Speaking to podcaster Zack Nani, Tel said about the Premier League: “I’ll tell you the truth, yes, it’s not exciting. It’s boring to watch; it’s really just a clash between two teams with their own ideas.

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“There’s less spectacle, there’s no Vinícius pulling off a sombrero, dribbling past you, no Kylian [Mbappé] accelerating past you. Here, I’d say it’s more structured, maybe too much so, with clear ideas, all the set pieces, little details that can sometimes make the difference. But sometimes you think it might be too much.”

Tel admits he hates marking players for Spurs

Set pieces are arguably the only area where Tottenham improved considerably under Thomas Frank, with the Lilywhites being much more effective in both scoring from and conceding goals from corners and free-kicks.

However, Tel admitted that he hates being asked to mark inside the box, referring to it as a ‘zoo’.

The Spurs forward added: “I told the assistant coach in charge of set pieces: ‘Don’t put me on that marking job.’ Because it’s a zoo.

“We’re all bunched together, everyone’s pushing, knocking each other to the ground, holding onto each other. Forget it. The goalkeeper can no longer get out, he can no longer see.”

Pedro Porro has reacted to suggestions that his recent outburst in Tottenham vs Crystal Palace was directed at Igor Tudor.

The Tottenham players have looked like an extremely troubled bunch all season, as the pressure on the team has continued to grow with each poor performance.

The poor displays at home have often led to frustrations of the fans at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium boiling over, and we have even seen altercations between supporters and Spurs players.

There were also some controversial moments during Tottenham’s 3-1 loss to Crystal Palace last week, with one Spurs defender’s behaviour under the scanner.

Pedro Porro explains his outburst during Tottenham’s defeat to Crystal Palace

Porro has been accused of losing his head and throwing his toys out of the pram by Joe Hart after the Spaniard was agitated after being replaced in the second-half against the Eagles.

Hart suggested that he expects a calmer reaction from a senior player, but the Spurs full-back has insisted that his frustration was directed at his own performance and the result rather than at Igor Tudor.

When asked if his anger at being taken off was why he battered a chair on the bench, Porro responded (via Football.London): “It was my own reaction and I just want to make it clear it was not about the manager. I am a player who gives it all on the pitch, 200 per cent, and we never like losing.

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“It is just about that. So, just to end all the speculation that it was about the manager. It is a situation, we have never seen ourselves in this situation and it was just my reaction.”

Porro backs Tudor to get Spurs out of trouble

Reports indicate that Tottenham are already considering all their options regarding Tudor as they continue to drop towards the dreaded relegation zone.

Calls for Spurs to sack the Croatian continue to get louder, but the Spanish right-back has given his backing to the newcomer.

Tottenham Hotspur have been linked with a potential move for Sean Dyche and we now know how the former Nottingham Forest boss feels about the idea.

Tottenham Hotspur could soon be in search of a new manager if Igor Tudor fails to turn things around in the coming weeks.

A timeline has already been set for Tudor to prove himself or face the sack, with Spurs firmly in a relegation fight.

Should he depart, Tottenham are set to make another interim appointment before they assess their managerial situation in the summer.

Tottenham dealt Sean Dyche blow amid managerial uncertainty

A fair few names have been thrown into the mix as potential replacements for Igor Tudor, including Sean Dyche.

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The former Nottingham Forest boss is known as a relegation specialist and could well fit into the frame of what Spurs will be aiming to accomplish for the rest of the season. The 54-year-old could well bring some defensive solidity to this Tottenham side that has leaked goals all season.

The Independent are now reporting that Dyche is said to be reluctant to take on a short-term role, which is a huge blow for Spurs at the moment.

It is claimed there could also be complications with his settlement from Nottingham Forest, where he was sacked last month.

Spurs alternatives include Redknapp, Mason, and Sherwood

Dyche is far from the only manager Tottenham could turn to in their quest for survival over the coming days and weeks. The Lilywhites could well look to a few of their ex-players and managers who have openly expressed a desire to take the interim role.

Former assistant coach Ryan Mason has been linked with the Tottenham job, having been sacked by West Brom earlier this season. It is understood that Spurs are big fans, given the experience he has from previously working as a coach in north London.

One Tottenham Hotspur star is taking some big steps in an effort to fulfil his potential as he looks to bounce back from his recent minor setback.

It is hard to read too much into Tudor’s team selections and his tactical calls in his first few games as Spurs boss, given that the newcomer has been severely handicapped by injuries.

In fact, Tudor himself has said that the style of play and system is not a priority for Spurs right now, with the club’s only goal being to pick up points and secure their Premier League status.

One Spurs star who had been in fine form before the Croat’s arrival suddenly finds himself playing a reduced role, but that has not deterred his commitment to work even harder to make his mark.

Alasdair Gold reveals big steps Xavi Simons has taken at Tottenham

Xavi has been a marginal figure under Tudor and has not been used centrally when he has been handed opportunities.

Football.London’s Alasdair Gold has now shed light on how the former RB Leipzig man’s mindset and his desire to succeed as he looks to prove his worth to his new boss.

He reveals that those close to Xavi have shared that it was drilled into the attacking midfielder to be ambitious and never accept failure through his upbringing at Barcelona and PSG.

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Gold shares that the 22-year-old has hired his own data analyst, video analyst, strength and conditioning coach, personal trainer, and even a mindset coach, as he is desperate to keep him improving.

The journalist adds that Xavi has been spotted training at Hotspur Way on his days off and has worked hard to improve himself physically for the Premier League challenge.

Xavi needs to stand up for Spurs in final run-in

Given the players that Tottenham are currently missing, they are severely depleted in terms of creative quality in the final third.

Xavi is one of the only fit players who can create magic on the ball and fashion opportunities out of nothing.

Spurs may need three more wins to secure their Premier League status, and it is hard to see the Lilywhites getting those points unless the 22-year-old has a strong end to the campaign.

Tottenham Hotspur are facing a mounting injury crisis ahead of their trip to Anfield, with Igor Tudor potentially without a host of key players as Spurs prepare for a crucial Premier League fixture.

Tottenham Hotspur cannot afford to dwell too long on their 5-2 defeat at the hands of Atletico Madrid, as attention now turns to Premier League action this weekend.

Up next for Spurs is a daunting clash at Anfield, where they are set to face a wounded Liverpool side gunning for a Champions League spot.

The Reds suffered a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Wolves in their last Premier League encounter, before Galatasaray handed them another blow in their round of 16 Champions League first-leg tie.

The pressure is now on Igor Tudor, who will be keen to prove his critics wrong as he goes in search of his first win as Tottenham boss, hoping his fifth attempt will be the charm.

Tottenham injury news ahead of Liverpool clash

The Croat is well aware that if he is to get any result from this game, he will have to do so without several of his key players.

The likes of Wilson Odobert, James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski and Rodrigo Bentancur are all facing extended spells on the sidelines, with both Maddison and Odobert not expected to feature again this season.

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Ben Davies is also out, but fellow left-back Destiny Udogie and wide forward Mohammed Kudus could feature at some point this month. Lucas Bergvall could return in April.

Suspensions also do not help Tudor’s cause, as Micky van de Ven will be out of contention following his sending off against Crystal Palace.

The Spurs boss was also hit with two further knocks as Cristian Romero and Joao Palhinha clashed heads and are now at risk of missing Saturday’s game due to concussion protocols.

That could leave Tottenham without at least 12 players for this Premier League outing on Saturday.

Spurs receive Djed Spence boost before Anfield test

Tudor, however, is set to receive a small boost on the injury front as Djed Spence is now available for selection in the Premier League.

The full-back had been nursing a calf injury which kept him out briefly, but he returned during the midweek clash against Atletico Madrid and is almost certain to feature in the league this weekend.

The match against Liverpool is a crucial one for Spurs, who know that defeat at Anfield, combined with victories for West Ham United and Nottingham Forest, could see them drop to 18th place, given the gap between the sides is only a single point.

Just before Tottenham Hotspur lock horns with Atletico Madrid in the Champions League, Pedro Porro has reacted to the speculation linking Cristian Romero with a move to the La Liga side.

Speculation continues to run rife about Romero’s future, even though he only signed a new contract and became Spurs captain last summer.

The Argentine has publicly expressed his discontent with the Tottenham hierarchy’s decisions, and naturally, there have been suggestions that this could be his final year in North London.

Atletico Madrid are allegedly preparing to pounce on Romero if he becomes available in the summer, but his teammate has now stressed the 27-year-old’s importance to this Spurs side.

Pedro Porro hails Tottenham’s ‘leader’ Cristian Romero

The Spurs captain is set to start for the first time under Igor Tudor at the Metropolitano Stadium this evening, having served a four-match suspension in the Premier League.

Ahead of the clash in the Spanish capital, Porro has hailed the leadership qualities of Romero, suggesting that the centre-back is invaluable in big games such as this one.

When asked about his Tottenham teammate, Porro told Radio Marca: “He’s a leader in our dressing room, he’s our captain, I think he’s going to help us a lot and having his leadership in these kinds of games is essential. He helps us a lot and is a problem for our opponents.”

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Porro was then asked about whether Romero had discussed the possibility of joining Atleti last summer, and the right-back responded: “No, well… it’s true I saw a couple of things, but we didn’t actually discuss it with him. If we talked about everything that’s out there, we’d never finish (laughs).”

Porro may also end up in the Spanish capital this summer

Romero is not the only Tottenham star who could end up in Madrid this summer.

It has emerged over recent days that Porro himself could be targeted by Real Madrid, particularly if the Lilywhites get relegated this season.

The update, which came from Fichajes, suggested that Los Blancos are eyeing multiple raids of the North London club for discount deals if they fail to stay in the Premier League.

Tottenham Hotspur have identified the key players in their squad that they definitely want to hang onto amidst what could be a busy summer at Hotspur Way.

Spurs are not even assured of their Premier League status for next season, which means they cannot yet finalise their plans for the summer window.

However, reports indicate that Tottenham are ready to undertake an ambitious rebuilding of their squad if they do avoid relegation.

That is certainly long overdue, particularly given the club’s inability to get more players through the door in January.

Nine Tottenham players are not for sale this summer

A major rebuild would not just entail a high number of signings, but would also require a lot of exits, given that Tottenham’s squad size is already bloated.

According to The Telegraph, Spurs have already identified nine first-team players who they would ideally like to keep at the club.

Those are Micky van de Ven, Dominic Solanke, Conor Gallagher, Mohammed Kudus, Xavi Simons, Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall, James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski, who are all seen as valuable players who can contribute in the upcoming seasons.

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However, the outlet does point out that there have been suggestions that Van de Ven could be open to exiting the club.

Why Spurs may struggle to keep hold of Van de Ven

One can understand why the Lilywhites want to keep hold of the Dutchman, as his unique attributes make him irreplaceable.

However, Van de Ven has halted talks with Tottenham over a new contract, as he assesses his options ahead of the summer window.