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Tottenham Hotspur’s battle to avoid an unthinkable relegation has sparked serious concern, with Jermain Defoe now fearing the worst if results do not quickly improve.

Unfortunately for Tottenham Hotspur, relegation is now a very real prospect with nine games left to play in the Premier League.

Spurs find themselves in 16th place in the table, and their 3-1 defeat against Crystal Palace on Thursday night saw their four-point lead over 18th-placed West Ham United cut to just a single point.

It is now crucial for Tottenham to start picking up wins, especially with their relegation rivals showing far better form and fighting spirit.

Defoe fears relegation for Tottenham

Former Spurs forward Jermain Defoe has now admitted relegation would be catastrophic for Tottenham.

Speaking to SunSport, Defoe explained how damaging relegation would be for a club of Tottenham’s stature before outlining the different pressures players face when battling at the wrong end of the table.

“It would be catastrophic, to be fair, if the club got relegated. “A massive club like Tottenham – you look at the infrastructure and everything that comes about.

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“I have been in both situations. Of course, the pressure of trying to win the league or finish in the top four is a lot of pressure.

“But I do feel like it is maybe a different type of pressure [at the bottom] when you have maybe not experienced something like this before. It is going to be tough.”

Defoe was also asked whether the current Spurs squad have the hunger and fight required for a relegation battle, and he insisted the players must find it quickly if results do not improve.

“The players have got that. If they did not have that, they would not have achieved what they have in terms of being young kids and growing up to play at this level.

“You need a little bit of fight about you – and if you have not got it, you are going to have to find it because it is going to be difficult.

“The reality is you are in a relegation fight. If you do not win football matches, and teams in and around you start winning, then you are in trouble.”

Champions League form offers contrast to Premier League struggles

Spurs might be struggling badly for form in the Premier League, but in Europe they have produced far stronger performances.

They finished fourth in the league phase and will travel to Atletico Madrid next week for the first leg of their last-16 tie.

Defoe also highlighted the stark contrast between Tottenham’s European campaign and their domestic struggles, while pointing to injuries as a major factor behind their difficult season.

“It is like one extreme to another. The Champions League is obviously so big for the football club. But at the same time, I would love to stand here and say Tottenham are not in a relegation fight – but they are.

“The club has not experienced this before. These players have probably never experienced this before. There are some top players there.

“All the injuries they have had this season… it is key to get some of those back from now to the end of the season. Hopefully, they can help this team win games.

“But it is going to be difficult. When I look at the West Ham performances, they have improved so much under Nuno.

“They have got a little bit of fight, a little bit of spirit and momentum. Leeds are the same, Forest are the same.”

Tottenham Hotspur face a daunting Champions League trip to Atletico Madrid, and Igor Tudor has several major decisions to make as Spurs prepare for the first leg in Spain. Let’s take a look at our predicted Tottenham XI.

Igor Tudor will be hoping that playing in a new competition can spark his Tottenham side into life, given their Premier League struggles, with attention now turning to the Champions League.

However, in Europe and at this stage of the competition, securing a victory is never easy, given the quality of opposition.

Spurs take on Spanish side Atletico Madrid on Tuesday in the round of 16 of the Champions League at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium.

It is the first of two legs, and Spurs will hope to keep things tight before welcoming Atleti to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Tudor has a few big calls to make ahead of this encounter, and we have attempted to predict how the Croat might line up.

Dominic Solanke and Cristian Romero expected to start

Goalkeeper – Guglielmo Vicario: The Italian is yet to keep a clean sheet under Igor Tudor, having conceded nine goals in his last three outings. There were rumours before the Crystal Palace game that Vicario could have been dropped, but he started. It remains to be seen if that remains the case here.

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Right-back – Pedro Porro: The Spaniard was deployed as a centre-back on Thursday night, but we expect him to be used in his preferred wing-back role on the right.

Centre-back – Kevin Danso: The defender completed a full ninety minutes for the first time since his return from injury. We expect Igor Tudor to set up with a back three, which should see Danso start.

Centre-back – Micky van de Ven: The Dutchman let his side down with his sending-off against Crystal Palace, but the suspension does not affect the Champions League, so he should start here.

Centre-back – Cristian Romero: He has completed his Premier League suspension, and this encounter will serve as his first appearance since the Manchester United sending-off and his first game under Igor Tudor. It is a big game, and we expect the Spurs boss to get him up to speed quickly.

Left-back – Djed Spence: He has missed the last two games because of injury, but Igor Tudor stated Spence will be back for this tie, so he should start on the left.

Pivot midfielder – Joao Palhinha: Spurs will be looking to keep things tight in midfield since they are away from home, which should see Palhinha start.

Centre midfielder – Conor Gallagher: It will be his first return to his former side since his move in January. The Englishman has experience playing in these sorts of games, which should give him an edge over the rest of Spurs’ midfielders.

Centre midfielder – Archie Gray: The teenager has shown plenty of fight and spirit in a Tottenham shirt in recent weeks while playing out of position. This time, however, we expect him to be used in midfield.

Number ten – Xavi Simons: The Dutchman was handed a rest against Crystal Palace, but we expect him to return to the starting XI here.

Striker – Dominic Solanke: He found his scoring boots against Crystal Palace with a striker’s finish. Igor Tudor will be hoping for more of the same in Spain on Tuesday.

Liverpool defender Andrew Robertson has addressed speculation linking him to a move away from Anfield, shedding light on discussions during the winter transfer window.

Reports from the winter window suggested Tottenham Hotspur were keen to secure the services of Liverpool full-back Andrew Robertson.

Interest in the Scotsman rose following Ben Davies’ injury, which left Tottenham short of options on the left side of the defence.

Liverpool themselves were reportedly open to letting Robertson go, with a modest fee said to have been set as the asking price.

However, the full-back remained at Anfield, with reports claiming the club’s inability to secure a replacement prevented a sale.

Robertson admits talks were held with Tottenham

Andrew Robertson has now shared what really happened during the winter transfer window that prevented a move to interested clubs, including Spurs.

Speaking in an interview relayed by the Mirror, the Liverpool defender addressed the discussions that took place and explained why he ultimately chose to remain at Anfield.

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“There was obviously interest there – there were discussions had with both sets of clubs,” Robertson said.

“But the decision was that I wanted to stay. We stayed at Liverpool and that was the decision made.

“I was never not committed. I have been committed to Liverpool for the last eight and a half or nine years now and I will be committed until I am no longer needed. That has always been my mindset. This club has given me everything and I have given this club everything.

“It has been a fantastic relationship, so hopefully that continues and obviously January happened, but it is now gone. Now we move forward and, like I said, my focus never came off trying to help the lads on the pitch and in training.

“Whatever was happening behind the scenes happened, and all I can say is that I kept focusing on football.”

Spurs-linked Andrew Robertson hints at Liverpool contract decision

Robertson also hinted at the prospect of extending his stay at Anfield beyond this summer, having previously been linked with several options as he weighs up his future.

Discussing the situation, Robertson explained that conversations about his future remain private between him and Liverpool.

He continued: “I have always said that the talks will stay between me and the club. I do not think it will get played out in public. It is not one of them. I have got an amazing relationship with Richard Hughes and with Mike Gordon and Michael Edwards.

“I have had a good relationship with these people and these people brought me to the football club. They have helped make me who I am, so in that respect we have had a fantastic relationship. I think out of respect to them, and they have respected me, the conversations will be in-house.

“When a decision is made, and we are getting to the point where I only have three months left on my contract, it will be announced to you guys.”

Tottenham Hotspur’s struggles on the pitch could soon create serious problems off it, with one key player attracting interest from a Premier League side should Spurs suffer the unthinkable this season.

Tottenham Hotspur’s struggles on the pitch could lead to even worse outcomes off it heading into the summer transfer window.

There is no denying that, should Spurs go down, they will struggle to keep some of their better players, especially with sides across Europe and the Premier League circling.

Despite the poor form, a few players have impressed for Tottenham, including Dominic Solanke, who has managed five goals in 14 appearances since returning from a six-month injury absence in January.

Dominic Solanke emerges as Newcastle United transfer target

The Daily Mail have reported that Dominic Solanke is emerging as a potential summer target for Newcastle United.

The Magpies currently have several options up front with Yoane Wissa and Nick Woltemade, but that will not prevent Eddie Howe’s men from making a move for the Englishman.

It is explained that Newcastle are facing a summer of change and is assessing potential additions at striker, with Will Osula wanted by several clubs, including Crystal Palace and Aston Villa.

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Spurs keen to keep Solanke despite growing transfer interest

Spurs, on the other hand, are said to be keen on keeping Solanke in north London even if they go down this season.

However, that will be difficult for the Lilywhites to achieve, as the striker is expected to be in demand this summer.

Atletico Madrid have received a major boost for the clash at home against Tottenham in the Champions League round of 16.

The return of Champions League action is not likely to excite Spurs fans too much, given that the spectre of relegation is now hanging over the club.

In fact, when asked about the Champions League draw last week, Tudor insisted that every league game Tottenham have left is a ‘final’, which perhaps shows where his focus is.

However, it is no doubt a huge occasion for Spurs to be returning to the Metropolitano Stadium, where they lost the Champions League final in 2019.

Key Atletico Madrid star fit for Tottenham clash

It is being reported by AS that Atletico are expected to be boosted by the return of one of their key men for the clash against the Lilywhites.

Midfielder Pablo Barrios, who has been out of action for a month with a thigh problem, has recovered well, and tests have confirmed that he is ready to return to competitive action.

Barrios, who has been a key fixture in the middle of the park for Diego Simeone’s men this term, is expected to train with the team following their weekend clash against Real Sociedad.

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The 22-year-old will have just one training session with his teammates before the Champions League first leg, but AS are confident that he will be named in Atletico’s starting eleven against Tottenham.

Spurs have made Igor Tudor decision ahead of Atletico clash

Igor Tudor may have walked into the Tottenham job less than three weeks ago, but he is already a man under pressure.

He has been unable to get a response from this depleted Spurs squad so far, with the Lilywhites turning in poor performances in three back-to-back London derbies.

However, it has been claimed by journalist Tom Barclay that Tudor will take the pre-match press conference on Monday ahead of the first leg against Atletico.

That suggests that the North Londoners have no intention of sacking the Croat before the clash in the Spanish capital.

Opta have revealed how likely Tottenham Hotspur are to go down this season as they continue to get closer to the drop zone.

Even until a few weeks ago, one could have been mistaken for an extreme alarmist for suggesting that Tottenham could go down this season.

However, the latest rounds of results in the Premier League have left Spurs just one point off the drop zone and it is now clear to everyone that relegation is now more than just a distinct possibility for the Lilywhites.

Tottenham’s 3-1 loss to Crystal Palace has extended their winless run in the Premier League to 11 matches, and Spurs fans are now wondering where the club’s next win is going to come from.

Tottenham are still highly likely to avoid relegation

However, the predictions of Opta’s Supercomputer should give Tottenham fans some hope ahead of their final nine league games of the season.

Even though Spurs’ form shows few signs of improving, the data analysis platform suggests the North Londoners only have a 16.1 per cent chance of actually going down.

In contrast, Nottingham Forest have been given a 26.8 per cent chance of being relegated, while West Ham have been given a 49.5 per cent chance of finishing in the bottom three.

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How many points do Spurs need to secure their Premier League status?

According to Opta’s calculations, 38 points are expected to be enough for clubs to avoid going down to the Championship.

That means that Tottenham have to find three more wins from somewhere in their next nine fixtures, which may be a hard ask, given the team’s current trajectory.

Joe Hart was not a fan of what one senior Tottenham Hotspur man did during the club’s 3-1 loss to Crystal Palace.

Tottenham fell to yet another home defeat on Thursday, this time to a struggling Palace side, mainly thanks to Micky van de Ven’s red card in the first half.

The game was as good as done at half-time despite Spurs taking the lead, with the Eagles scoring three late goals at the end of the half.

An incident which happened in the second period caught the attention of a former Tottenham player, who felt it was indicative of what we have seen from the Spurs squad all campaign.

Pedro Porro failed to set an example for his Tottenham teammates

Pedro Porro was replaced by Xavi Simons in the 74th minute as the home side tried to throw caution to the wind.

The Spaniard was not too pleased when he came off, and Hart has accused the right-back of losing his head and lacking the control that was expected of a senior man.

The former Tottenham goalkeeper told TNT Sports: “He has smashed everything on the bench. He gave the fourth official a real earful. It was a real head loss.”

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“He’s obviously an emotional character; you can’t put it on. There’s fire that runs through him, and that’s probably when he gets the best out of himself. But you’ve got to also control that. He’s such an important player for Tottenham, and he has to set an example in these difficult times.

Hart accuses the Spurs players of making emotional decisions

The pundit suggested that Porro’s outburst was in line with the erratic behaviour we have seen from the Tottenham squad all season.

He suggested that there has been too much chaos at Tottenham, with the club lacking the kind of characters who can calm down their teammates.

Hart added: “It’s one thing that surprised me under Thomas Frank, that it has seemed like chaos ensues all the time. Emotional decisions are being made all over the pitch. You do need players like that in your squad, but the best squads have the best balance.

“They’re able to check each other when someone is losing it. You need someone in the team able to give you a slap and say, ‘calm down, we’ve got big moments ahead, it’s not about you’.”

One Tottenham Hotspur fan group have revealed their plans to voice their discontent with the club’s hierarchy as relegation from the Premier League continues to become an increasingly likely possibility for the club.

Hardly anyone would have seen coming what has transpired at Spurs this season, especially after the club broke their trophy drought last summer by winning the Europa League.

Spurs fans would have hoped that the club would build on the foundation of that trophy success, but instead they find themselves at the risk of being relegated for the first time in 48 years.

Several pundits have said that Tottenham are in major trouble of going down, and one fan group is clear about who is responsible for the current mess.

Protests for Nottingham Forest and Brighton planned

The fan group ‘Change for Tottenham’ has now planned protests ahead of the club’s home clashes against Nottingham Forest and Brighton.

They have pointed the finger at ENIC and their false promises, and suggested that it is time for the supporters to raise their voices against the club’s owners.

They wrote on X: “Tottenham are now in serious danger and the direction of this club cannot continue without challenge. Both the Nottingham Forest and Brighton protests must be massive! Forest will include a post-match stadium protest inside the stadium. Now the whole fanbase must stand up.”

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You can find the full details of the protests in the document attached to the tweet below:

Can protests be counterproductive for Spurs amidst a relegation fight?

One can certainly understand why Tottenham fans want to raise their voice against the club’s hierarchy, as being involved in a relegation battle is simply not acceptable for a club with the resources that the Lilywhites have.

However, now that the Spurs find themselves in the midst of a battle for survival, fans have simply had enough of the direction of which the club is being run.

The only objective from now until the end of the season has to be Premier League survival, and to achieve that, everyone at Tottenham, including the fans, needs to band together, as will likely be the case at West Ham and Nottingham Forest.

Igor Tudor is off to a disastrous start at Tottenham Hotspur, which could mean the club have to search for another new manager in the coming weeks.

Everything is a mess at Tottenham Hotspur and the appointment of Igor Tudor has only appeared to have made things worse.

The Croatian has lost his opening three matches and there are no signs this pattern will change. After all, what hope is there for a team who lose at home to Crystal Palace?

If Tudor does suffer a premature exit, Spurs will need to appoint another interim pretty much immediately, so here are three potential candidates.

Sean Dyche could be the manager to save Tottenham from relegation

Despite winning 10 out of 25 games, Sean Dyche was fired by Nottingham Forest and he has been quite outspoken about why it was the wrong decision.

Dyche certainly sounds like a man who would be happy to get straight back into the game and an opportunity to relgate his former team is surely too glorious to turn down.

The Englishman has often managed to do fairly well on limited resources, meaning he could end up being successful if he was handed the Spurs job.

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Ultimately, Dyche knows the Premier League well and he is the type of commanding character who could take some of the team’s egotistical players down a peg or two.

Ryan Mason would never pass up a chance to manage Tottenham

Spurs will want a very quick appointment if Tudor goes and Ryan Mason has already shown in the past that he will show no reluctance if he gets the phone call from the North Londoners.

Lots of fans joke about Mason, which is understandable considering how many times he has had to step up to the manager role at Spurs. However, he has actually done a decent job whenever he has been called on.

The ex-Tottenham midfielder might not have done brilliantly, but it increased his experience as the main man in the dugout.

Once upon a time, Spurs appointed Mason as their manager directly before a cup final, so bringing him in during a relegation fight is not a crazy suggestion.

Harry Redknapp could be given one last dance at Spurs

Interstingly, Celtic hired Martin O’Neill on an interim basis, despite the fact he had not been a manager for multiple years. Despite this, he did very well and was brought back again after the Scottish side sacked his replacement – a European manager who never smiled and played a back three. Does that sound familiar?

Well Tottenham could do something similar by bringing back Harry Redknapp, a man who has already said he would have taken the interim position, had it been offered to him.

Redknapp did well at Spurs and only got sacked after finishing fifth, because those were the standards back then. Therefore, he understands the magnitude of the club and where they ought to be.

The veteran boss has a proven track record and the personality which could get through to the Tottenham dressing room when all else has failed. If Redknapp was given the rest of the season before a Mauricio Pochettino appointment in the summer, that would be pretty nostalgic for a lot of Spurs fans who grew up watching those teams.

Tottenham Hotspur are in danger of having their young starlet poached by one of the biggest clubs in Europe.

Tottenham are already in danger of losing both Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero, both of whom are wanted by some of the biggest clubs in Europe.

Replacing either of the pair will be extremely difficult for Spurs, and the Lilywhites would have hoped that Luka Vuskovic could fill the hole after an impressive breakthrough season in Germany.

Many have tipped Vuskovic for a big role at Tottenham next season, but a European club is now trying to spoil the North London club’s plans.

Luka Vuskovic is a wanted man

Vuskovic has already been linked with some of the biggest clubs in the world, and it has now emerged that one La Liga giant is ready to push ahead with a move for the youngster.

This is according to Sky Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg, who revealed that Barcelona are ‘closely monitoring’ the Tottenham defender.

He reveals that the Catalan giants have already had ‘initial talks’ over a move for Vuskovic, but Hamburg are continuing to push to extend his loan spell at the club.

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Plettenberg wrote on X: “FC Barcelona are closely monitoring Luka Vuskovic and have added him to their shortlist for the summer. Hansi Flick appreciates him. Initial talks have already taken place. Hamburger SV are pushing for a second loan. Tottenham’s clear plan is to bring the 19 y/o gem back in the summer.”

Two other European clubs also want to land Vuskovic

We have seen reports from Germany suggesting that Bayern Munich are planning to test the waters for Vuskovic in the summer transfer window.

Sources from Spain have claimed that Real Madrid are prepared to go all out for the Spurs teenager, with Los Blancos keen on rejuvenating their backline this summer.