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Tottenham are running out of leaders at the worst possible time, and with injuries stripping the squad bare, Roberto De Zerbi may now be forced into bold decisions as he looks for a new voice to guide Spurs through their final six games. We have now identified five players he could turn to as Tottenham captain.

A lot has been said about what Tottenham Hotspur need to do if they are to avoid the drop this season. There have been calls for the players to show more fight, while questions have been asked about the leaders in this group, who have often failed to step up to the challenge.

Cristian Romero, Guglielmo Vicario, Micky van de Ven, Ben Davies and James Maddison are members of the Spurs leadership group, but they have barely done anything to prevent this season’s slump.

In the defence of a few, however, like Maddison and Davies, injuries have hindered their ability to help on the pitch, but for the rest, they simply have not been good enough.

Romero, the club captain, is now sidelined for the rest of the season, joining Vicario, Davies and Maddison, leaving Spurs to turn to other players in the final stretch of the campaign.

We have now identified five players Roberto De Zerbi could turn to as Tottenham captain for the final six games of the Premier League season.

Micky van de Ven can naturally step into Spurs captain role

With van de Ven, it is the natural move to turn to him to lead the group in the absence of many other leaders.

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He is currently part of the leadership group, which has been decimated by injuries, making him the next to pull on the armband for the remainder of the season.

It is not unfamiliar territory for the Dutchman, who has captained this Tottenham side several times already this campaign in the absence of Romero.

In fact, in the last game against Sunderland, he took the armband when the Argentine went off injured, so it makes sense for Roberto De Zerbi to turn to him for the final stretch of the season.

Pedro Porro offers leadership through example for Spurs

While not part of the leadership team, Pedro Porro is one of the few others who count as a leader within this Tottenham side.

In the game against Sunderland, he showed a desire to lead by example as he looked to force the issue in the final third when nothing was working for Spurs.

He is also one of the few who has spoken in these trying times for the club. Porro revealed that he knows how it feels to be a fan of Tottenham and expressed a desire to improve things on the pitch.

This season, the Spaniard has pulled on the armband once, and if De Zerbi is looking for a fresh voice, he remains an option.

Archie Gray could emerge as a surprise Tottenham captain choice

Archie Gray is another player De Zerbi could turn to, even if he is one of the youngest in this Tottenham side.

The Englishman represents a player who leads by example, as he remains one of the more consistent performers for Spurs this season.

He has stepped up in midfield, showing a willingness to take responsibility in his play, never shy to demand the ball.

At times this season, Gray has even spoken like a leader, calling on his teammates to step up as they look to beat the drop.

Making him captain – or giving him a leadership role – will be welcomed by many fans who have praised Gray’s performances and see him as a future Spurs captain.

Solanke even stated that Archie has become one of the leaders in the Tottenham dressing room, highlighting how much of an influence he is becoming.

We do believe Gray’s performances this season could see him reach the same feat Lucas Bergvall managed last term.

Conor Gallagher brings the captaincy experience Tottenham need

The signing of Conor Gallagher was seen as one where Tottenham brought in a player with a wealth of experience.

When you look at his CV, it is hard to argue against that, given the amount of football he has played at the top level for sides fighting at different levels, including teams gunning for Champions League places and sides battling relegation.

Gallagher also has experience as a captain, having worn the armband for Chelsea at times when former Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino was in charge.

That exposure to leadership makes him a good fit for Spurs in this difficult moment. He was also at West Brom at one point in his career, where they fought to stay in the division, and such experience could come in handy as a leader at Tottenham.

Rodrigo Bentancur’s return could boost Tottenham’s leadership

Rodrigo Bentancur has only just returned to first-team training after three months out with injury and is set to be a big part of the final run of games.

Many Spurs fans believe Bentancur could be crucial, as he brings calmness and composure in midfield, particularly with his press resistance – something that has been lacking in his absence.

Not only are his on-field qualities needed, but his return could also bring leadership to this squad, given his experience at both club and international level.

Tottenham Hotspur supporters are once again preparing to play their part ahead of a crucial home clash, with plans in place to create a powerful atmosphere in the Brighton game despite a recent pre-match coach meet setback.

Tottenham Hotspur fans are doing all they can to back their side during what is a difficult period for the club, who have now slipped into the Premier League’s bottom three for the first time this season following a dismal winless run in 2026.

In Spurs’ last home game against Nottingham Forest, thousands of Lilywhites supporters came out to greet their team in a pre-match coach meet, to spur them on in their relegation six-pointer.

Sadly, however, those efforts did not bring about the desired results, as Tottenham fell to a 3-0 defeat against Forest – a match that ultimately led to the parting of ways with interim boss Igor Tudor.

Tottenham fans plan atmosphere boost vs Brighton despite coach meet setback

Following their 1-0 defeat to Sunderland last weekend, Tottenham are now set to return to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this gameweek, where they will host Brighton and Hove Albion, with Spurs supporters once again planning to offer unwavering backing to their side.

A pre-match coach meet was again planned, but Roberto De Zerbi’s plans ahead of the Brighton game have seen those arrangements scuppered.

However, that in itself is not going to deter a committed group of fans who are looking to play their part in their club’s relegation battle.

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Taking to the social media platform X, THFC Flags announced plans to create a rocking atmosphere at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

In their post, they outlined their intention to organise a visual show of support inside the ground and urged fans to play their part.

Their tweet read: “This Saturday against Brighton we will have a sea of flags – with one on every fan’s seat. The players need our support more than ever and we wanted to create a visual show of support. We also urge all fans to wear white.

“We will have the larger flags out too. If you would like one, please let us know and we will place the flag under your seat – you will also keep it under your chair during game play and can wave it at half time as the players emerge from the tunnel again.”

Spurs boss Roberto De Zerbi praises Tottenham fans’ support

Roberto De Zerbi has had nothing but kind words for the Tottenham supporters since he joined the club, appreciating their backing during a difficult period.

However, his players must now match the energy of the fans by getting points on the board with six games left to play this season.

Speaking about the impact of the fans and their continued support, De Zerbi highlighted how they have consistently backed the team and stressed the need for the players to respond.

He said: “The Tottenham Hotspur fans have helped the players every time, every game. I know what they did before the last Tottenham game. Now is a different moment and we have to give something more for them because they deserve it and we want to play in Premier League next season.”

Tottenham Hotspur’s clash with Brighton and Hove Albion is fast approaching, and all eyes will now turn to Roberto De Zerbi’s pre-match press conference, where several key questions are expected to be addressed.

Tottenham Hotspur’s encounter with Brighton and Hove Albion is now only a few hours away, with the two sides set to lock horns at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in what will be Roberto De Zerbi’s home debut as Spurs boss.

Tottenham simply need to secure a victory if they are to keep their hopes of survival alive, but doing so against the most in-form side in the league at the moment is a big ask.

Regardless, preparation for the crucial encounter has since begun, with first-team training already having taken place at Hotspur Way.

Next on the agenda is a pre-match press conference where De Zerbi will face the media and answer several questions regarding his side, and we have now identified three that many Spurs fans will be eager to get an answer to.

Will Tottenham welcome Rodrigo Bentancur back to the squad?

No doubt, one question that will be on the minds of many Tottenham fans is whether Rodrigo Bentancur will make the matchday squad on Saturday.

The Uruguayan has missed the last three months because of a hamstring injury but returned to first-team training this week ahead of the Brighton encounter.

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Many Spurs fans have reacted positively to Bentancur’s return, seeing it as a boost for the Lilywhites, who could do with some composure in midfield.

However, what Tottenham fans will not want is another setback, with the Uruguayan so close to a return. We expect to learn more from De Zerbi about the midfielder’s chances of featuring on Saturday.

Spurs goalkeeper situation: Guglielmo Vicario or Antonin Kinsky to start?

While the likes of James Maddison and Rodrigo Bentancur were spotted in training in the last couple of days, Guglielmo Vicario was nowhere to be seen.

We do know that Vicario – who has played through pain for most of the season – is recovering from hernia surgery, which is why he was absent from last week’s game.

In the Italian’s absence, Kinsky was in goal and did put in a solid display against Sunderland, not putting a foot wrong, but it remains to be seen if he continues this weekend.

If Vicario has returned to training, we will expect De Zerbi to provide an update on that and whether he is likely to start in goal for Spurs.

When could James Maddison actually return for Tottenham?

As mentioned earlier, James Maddison remains among those to have returned to first-team training with the Tottenham squad this week.

Of course, this is not the first time Maddison has been involved in training outdoors, as the midfielder shared an update on his return a few weeks back.

However, with more appearances alongside the first-team squad, there is a feeling that a return is not too far away.

We already revealed that, despite several first-team training appearances, Maddison still remains a long way away from featuring.

But that may not be the case, which makes it important for De Zerbi to provide more clarity on the Englishman’s return.

A familiar name could be set for a Premier League return, with former Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho now emerging as a leading contender for a high-profile job.

Given Tottenham Hotspur’s knack for hiring and firing managers, it is no surprise that a few of their former bosses have gone on to manage other clubs in the Premier League.

Ange Postecoglou’s departure after his Europa League triumph last season made him the 15th to be axed by the famously ruthless Daniel Levy in his 20-plus years as Spurs chairman.

Unsurprisingly, in less than a year, two more managers have been added to that list, with Thomas Frank, Postecoglou’s successor, axed earlier this season, while Frank’s successor, Igor Tudor, followed suit after both failed to make an impact in N17.

Ex-Tottenham Jose Mourinho emerges for Newcastle job after Eddie Howe struggles

TalkSport is now reporting that yet another former Tottenham manager could become a Premier League boss at a different club next season.

It is claimed that Jose Mourinho has emerged as a “genuine contender” for a sensational return to the Premier League, with the former Spurs manager reportedly identified as the leading candidate to replace Eddie Howe at Newcastle United.

Howe has had an impressive spell at Tyneside, but a poor run of form this season, which has left the Magpies in 14th, has led the club’s hierarchy to consider a change ahead of next season, with Mourinho earmarked as their preferred target.

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However, nothing is certain, as Mourinho is also a contender for the Portugal job should Roberto Martinez step down from the role following the World Cup.

Should Mourinho return to the Premier League, he will become the seventh manager to have been sacked by Spurs and then gone on to manage another team in the Premier League.

Spurs exits continue to shape Premier League managerial landscape

That number could increase further by next season, as it is understood that Thomas Frank could also return to management following his departure from Spurs.

The former Brentford manager is understood to be on the radar of Crystal Palace, who see him as the ideal replacement for Oliver Glasner, who is set to depart this summer.

Tottenham Hotspur are plotting a move for an exciting Serie A star, but the Lilywhites could face competition from Arsenal and Man City.

There are expected to be big changes to the Tottenham squad even if the club stay in the Premier League, with Spurs plotting an ambitious rebuilding of their squad this summer.

Several senior Tottenham stars are expected to exit Hotspur Way this summer ahead of Roberto De Zerbi’s first full season in charge.

The Lilywhites have reportedly set their sights on an Italy international, who has come on leaps and bounds this season, but two other Premier League giants have now also entered the race.

Arsenal and Manchester City keen on landing Tottenham target Marco Palestra

It has been claimed by some sources previously that Spurs view Marco Palestra as a long-term replacement for Pedro Porro, and it was revealed just last week that Tottenham have scouted the Atalanta man extensively this season.

The Lilywhites have allegedly been won over by the 21-year-old’s performances on loan at Cagliari this season, but Gazzetta dello Sport have now claimed that they are not the only Premier League side eyeing the youngster.

The report reveals that Manchester City and Arsenal have both entered the race for Palestra, with the two Premier League rivals ready to battle it out for the Italy international.

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It is said that the player is expected to leave the New Balance Arena this summer, and that intermediaries have long been at work to find a new club for the defender.

Atalanta set Palestra price but send message to Serie A clubs

Gazzetta reveal that Juventus were the first to make a move for the right-back, and they were followed by both Inter Milan and AC Milan.

However, Atlanta have not entertained approaches from their domestic rivals for Palestra, who is said to be valued at €40m (£34.7m), which is seen as an affordable fee for Premier League clubs.

The outlet claims that the Serie A trio are now regretting not moving for the Italy international sooner, with the executive of one club even telling the publication: “We should have made a move in January, like in the good old days. Now it’s too late.”

Tottenham Hotspur will not like the latest transfer updates regarding James Trafford after the Lilywhites stepped up their interest in the Manchester City goalkeeper.

Guglielmo Vicario’s three-year spell at Tottenham is expected to come to an end this summer, with the Spurs number one having held talks with Inter Milan regarding a summer transfer.

Spurs Web has relayed a number of reports over recent weeks suggesting that the Lilywhites have identified Trafford as their next number one.

It has widely been reported that Spurs face competition from Newcastle and Aston Villa for Trafford, but the race for the Englishman may be about to get a lot harder for Roberto De Zerbi’s men.

Chelsea ready to challenge Tottenham for James Trafford

Fichajes have now backed up Tottenham’s interest in the Man City goalkeeper, but they reveal that the club may also have to see off competition from their London rivals to land their target.

The outlet claims that Chelsea are keen on making a change in goal, with Robert Sanchez’s time at Stamford Bridge about to come to an end this summer.

It is claimed that the Blues hierarchy has identified Trafford as ‘the ideal candidate’ to take over as their new number one from the Spaniard.

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The West Loindon club view the England international as a ‘very strategic investment’ as they look to make big changes to their squad ahead of next season.

Spurs have been warned about Trafford pursuit amidst relegation battle

It has been claimed over recent weeks that Trafford is willing to move to Spurs if they guarantee him the number one role, even though the Lilywhites find themselves in a relegation battle at the moment.

However, journalist Pete O’Rourke warned a few days ago that Tottenham would struggle to land the Man City man if they go down.

Tottenham Hotspur are plotting a move to sign Maxi Araujo this summer, and a new update has revealed what Sporting Lisbon’s stance is on the left-back.

The summer transfer window is drawing closer, but Tottenham’s primary focus for the moment is on ensuring their Premier League survival.

However, the club have started making tentative plans for the upcoming transfer window, which will be Roberto De Zerbi’s first in charge of the club.

It has been widely reported over the last week that Tottenham are eyeing a summer move for Sporting Lisbon star Maxi Araujo, as they look to strengthen at left-back.

In fact, Spurs have regularly made scouting trips to Portugal to watch the Sporting left-back, but their pursuit of the 26-year-old may be about to get a lot harder.

Sporting Lisbon working on new contract for Tottenham target Maxi Araujo

According to a report in Record (as relayed by Sport Witness), amidst the growing interest in the Uruguay international, Sporting have started working on renewing the player’s contract.

Even though Araujo’s current deal runs until 2029, the Portuguese club want to extend it and are prepared to offer the defender a pay rise.

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They are doing this in an attempt to stay one step ahead of the left-back’s suitors, as they look to ward off interest in the player.

The outlet backs up what other sources have said over recent weeks by naming Spurs and Chelsea as the two Premier League clubs showing the keenest interest in the Sporting star.

Araujo’s asking price revealed after left-back hinted at next destination

Record say that the interest in the 26-year-old is not restricted to the Premier League, with Juventus, AC Milan and Atletico Madrid also tracking the player.

The outlet claims that while Araujo has a release clause of €80m (£69m) in his contract, the expectation is that offers above €40m (£34.5m) would need to be made to open the door to the negotiations.

Tottenham Hotspur have just received some good news regarding Evan Ndicka after signalling an interest in a summer deal for the AS Roma star.

An increasing number of reports indicate that Cristian Romero is expected to part ways with Tottenham even if the club remain in the Premier League.

Additionally, Micky van de Ven’s future at Spurs is also in doubt, which may be why Lilywhites are already identifying possible centre-back targets ahead of the summer window.

It has emerged over recent weeks that Tottenham are considering a move for Evan Ndicka, and the Lilywhites’ pursuit of the 26-year-old has now been boosted.

Roma may be forced to cash in on Tottenham target Evan Ndicka

TuttoMercatoWeb now report that Roma have to make at least one major sale by June 30, as per their agreement with UEFA.

This is because the club need to register a big capital gain in their accounts in order to comply with the financial regulations and to avoid being banned from European competitions.

It is revealed that the Giallorossi are now assessing what kind of offers may arrive for their prized assets within the next two and a half months, with Ndicka identified as a potential option for a sale.

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This is because the Serie A side signed the defender on a free transfer in 2023, and the proceeds from his sale would thus go down as pure profit in their accounts.

It is asserted that Roma are expected to demand 30m-€35m (£26m-£30.4m) for the former Eintracht Frankfurt man.

Spurs face competition from Premier League rivals for Ndicka

While the centre-back being up for sale is good news for the Lilywhites, they are not expected to have a free run at him.

Reports from Italy suggested a couple of weeks ago that Man United are set to leapfrog Tottenham in the race for Ndicka’s signature.

Liverpool legend Dirk Kuyt has explained how close he came to signing for Tottenham Hotspur and has revealed the conversations he had with Daniel Levy.

Kuyt arrived at Anfield from Feyenoord in 2006 in a €18m (£15.6m) deal and went on to spend six years at Anfield, playing 285 times, netting 75 goals and registering 40 assists across all competitions for the Reds.

Although the Dutchman arrived at the club as a striker, he was turned into a right-winger by Rafa Benitez, becoming an indispensable part of the Liverpool set-up under the Spaniard.

While Kuyt was never among the most feared attackers in the Premier League, he was widely recognised as a workhorse and a tactically astute player, and he also went onto win over 100 caps for the Netherlands.

Dirk Kuyt reveals deadline day conversation with former Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy

It turns out that thing could have been very different for the Dutchman, who has revealed that he was the subject of an approach from Spurs a year before his switch to Anfield.

Kuyt revealed that Daniel Levy wanted to sign him on deadline day in the summer of 2005, but admitted that he did not want to make life difficult for Feyenoord by leaving so late.

The former Liverpool man told 1908: “I could have gone to Spurs on the final day, but I didn’t want to do that to Feyenoord.”

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Expanding on his conversation with Leyy back then, Kuyt said: “I told him at the time: ‘I don’t want to do that to Feyenoord on the final day of the transfer window.’ At that point, you do find yourself thinking: ‘Will that opportunity ever come around again?’ But a year later, Liverpool came calling.”

Kuyt’s statement once again exposes Levy’s main shortcoming at Spurs

It is no secret that Levy was a big fan of deadline day deals, and he often waited until the last moment to make big plays in the transfer window.

The logic of the strategy was understandable, as it means that players are potentially available at a lower price, with clubs getting desperate to sell before deadline day.

However, the issue was that Tottenham often had no time to move for alternatives and ended up empty-handed, which potentially prevented them from taking the extra step to compete for silverware.

Gianluca Di Marzio has made a big claim about the future of Tottenham midfielder Lucas Bergvall, who is rumoured to be on the radar of several top clubs ahead of the summer window.

It has been reported that big clubs around Europe are circling over Tottenham’s best players, as the club teeters on the edge of relegation to the Championship.

One of the players of interest to various clubs is Lucas Bergvall. According to reports, Aston Villa and Chelsea had enquiries for the midfielder knocked back by Spurs in January, but the midfielder is expected to be a wanted man again this summer.

It has been reported over recent weeks that Liverpool could also enter the race for the Tottenham midfielder during the summer transfer window.

Gianluca Di Marzio claims Fabio Paratici could look to raid Tottenham for Lucas Bergvall

Di Marzio has now revealed that sorting out the 20-year-old’s future is not Tottenham’s priority at the moment, with the club focused on avoiding relegation.

However, he suggested that Fiorentina could become a viable option for Bergvall this summer after Fabio Paratici joined as the Serie A club’s Head of Football in February.

When asked if the midfielder is likely to leave Spurs this summer, Di Marzio said (via Fotboll Direkt): “To be honest, Roberto De Zerbi and Tottenham are currently only focused on staying in the Premier League.

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“They are not listening to offers, and they have not even decided which players they want to keep or sell. If I were to name a club that I think could potentially sign Lucas Bergvall if Tottenham were to let him leave, I think Fiorentina is an option.

“Their director Fabio Paratici likes young players, and especially Bergvall. So, they could try to sign him if his future does not lie in Tottenham. If he is on the market, Fiorentina will try.”

Bergvall is not pushing to leave Spurs for now

Tottenham have been warned they would have a hard time hanging onto Bergvall, who is thought to be valued at around £57m ahead of the summer window.

Journalist Pete O’Rourke suggested previously that the Sweden international is happy at Tottenham and is not pushing for a move just yet.

However, one wonders if the 20-year-old’s stance will change if Roberto De Zerbi fails to keep the club in the Premier League.