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Tottenham Hotspur have been handed a huge boost in their pursuit of signing an experienced Premier League midfielder this summer.

The summer transfer window is not long away, and reports indicate that Tottenham and Roberto De Zerbi have already discussed possible transfer targets.

The Italian will first have to ensure that the Lilywhites remain in the Premier League, and that is no easy challenge, given that Spurs are winless in the league this calendar year and are just a point above the drop zone.

Spurs have received a positive update regarding a midfielder that they are allegedly exploring a move for this summer.

Man United are ready to sell Tottenham target Manuel Ugarte

It was reported on Tuesday by Fabrizio Romano that Tottenham are one of the clubs circling over Manuel Ugarte, whose future at Old Trafford is in doubt.

This has now been backed up by TEAMtalk, who say that Spurs are eyeing a summer rebuild and have set their sights on the Uruguay international.

It is revealed that Michael Carrick rates Ugarte highly and has enjoyed working with the midfielder, but the player is now ‘seriously considering his options’ due to concerns over a lack of game time in Manchester.

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The outlet claims that there is a willingness for United to sanction a sale for a player they paid £50m to land two years ago, with the Red Devils keen on reworking their midfield this summer.

Champions League club are favourites to beat Spurs to Ugarte

TEAMtalk say that Tottenham will face plenty of competition for the 24-year-old, who is admired by Juventus, and also on the radars of Aston Villa and Newcastle United.

Additionally, Galatasaray came close to landing Ugarte during the January window, and their interest in the midfielder has not gone away since.

In fact, the publication adds that despite the Man United man garnering ‘widespread attention’, a switch to the Turkish giants is viewed as the ‘most likely outcome’ for the former PSG star this summer.

Tottenham Hotspur have been doing well commercially over recent years, but we analyse how their commercial revenue compares to the other big Premier League clubs.

A week ago, Tottenham published the financial results for the year ending 30 June 2025, which showed that the club’s total revenue had increased to £565.3m.

That represents a 7 per cent increase compared to their total income of £528.2m the previous year, but concerningly, their Loss after Tax has increased to £94.7m.

Additionally, the club’s Profit from Operations (EBITDA) decreased to £112.3m, which is down 22 per cent compared to the £144.9m the previous year.

Tottenham’s commercial revenues continue to grow but they have ground to make up

Swiss Ramble have now revealed that Tottenham’s commercial revenue increased 22 per cent from £255m to £277m for the year ending June 2025.

This growth has primarily been driven by the increase in sponsorship revenue from £144.5m to £160.0m, while the revenue from merchandising also went up by a few million.

It is explained that Tottenham Hotspur’s growth in commercial operations has been aided by their move into their new stadium, with the stadium’s multi-use features allowing the club to use it beyond just matches.

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The Lilywhites’ commercial revenue has increased by £94m in the last three years, which represents a 51 per cent increase, with only their North London rivals, Arsenal, seeing their revenue grow by a bigger figure in that period (£121m).

Tottenham’s total commercial revenue of £277m last season was the fourth highest in the Premier League, with Spurs leapfrogging both Arsenal and Chelsea.

Only Manchester City (£340m), Manchester United (£333m) and Liverpool (£323m) earned more than Tottenham through commercial agreements last season.

Why Spurs’ reliance on commercial revenue leaves them in a susceptible position

Swiss Ramble say that Tottenham’s commercial revenue represented 49 per cent of the club’s total revenue last season, which is the third highest percentage of any Premier League club behind Manchester City and Man United.

This is a real worry for Spurs as they stand on the brink of the relegation zone with seven games left to play.

Roberto De Zerbi is already drawing praise from those who have worked under him, with one former player, Artem Bondarenko, offering insight into what Tottenham supporters can expect.

For Tottenham Hotspur, attention now turns back to the Premier League following a three-week break, after a disappointing 3-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest in a crucial relegation six-pointer.

However, up next is a trip to the Stadium of Light, where Spurs will take on newly promoted Sunderland in what will be Roberto De Zerbi’s first game as Tottenham manager.

Spurs will be hoping De Zerbi can secure victory on his debut as they look to boost their chances of Premier League survival, with just seven games remaining.

Tottenham boss Roberto De Zerbi backed by Artem Bondarenko

The new Tottenham manager has already started work with his group of players ahead of the Sunderland clash, and it is understood that many Spurs stars have enjoyed training under De Zerbi.

The Italian’s focus is to get his message and principles across, as his side has limited time to turn their league fortunes around.

De Zerbi is, of course, no stranger to management, having taken charge of several clubs across Europe, including Shakhtar Donetsk.

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The Italian made a strong impression during his time in Ukraine, and now Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Artem Bondarenko has opened up on working under him, while backing him to succeed at Tottenham.

Speaking to Flashscore about De Zerbi’s influence early in his career, Bondarenko said: “He was a maestro for me. I had just arrived in the first team and, I must admit, if he did not teach me everything, he taught me almost everything! I am convinced that even now that he is at Tottenham, he will do very well, for me, he is one of the best coaches in the world.”

Spurs set to benefit from Roberto De Zerbi’s methods

De Zerbi did not stay long in Ukraine and had to depart after 30 matches with Shakhtar due to matters off the pitch.

However, in that short spell with the Ukrainian side, he managed to win 20 of his 30 matches, drawing five and losing five.

That period was also enough time for De Zerbi to teach Bondarenko elements that have since improved the left-sided midfielder’s game.

Speaking again to Flashscore, Bondarenko explained how De Zerbi helped develop his technical ability and overall approach in training.

He said, when asked about what he learned from his former boss: “(Laughs) In many things, he showed me, first and foremost, how to hit the ball with my left foot and, every time, he made me learn something new. I was dazzled by his methods, not only by the way he approached me. He was wonderful. He taught me so much.”

In training with Tottenham thus far, De Zerbi has been seen focusing on individuals, passing on instructions as he aims to improve their abilities.

The hope now is that their efforts will translate into results when they face Sunderland, as Spurs look to climb the Premier League table.

A close look at Tottenham’s financial statement reveals something very interesting regarding Daniel Levy, who left his role as chairman last summer.

Levy remained as Tottenham chairman for 24 years, and in that time, he built the club into a financial powerhouse off the pitch, although that did not reflect in the silverware won on the pitch.

The former Spurs chairman owns 29.88 per cent share in ENIC, the company which, in turn, holds 86.91 per cent of Tottenham.

Some pundits have suggested that Levy’s exit is the cause for Spurs’ struggles this season, but Tottenham fans will not like what has now been revealed about the 64-year-old.

Tottenham paid a big sum to Daniel Levy last year and will do so again

Swiss Ramble have now taken a look at Tottenham’s financial statement for the year ending June 2025, and has pointed out that Levy’s remuneration went up last season.

The pay off to the Spurs chairman went up from £3.7m to £5.8m, which means that the former Tottenham executive has been paid nearly £56m over the last 16 years.

It is revealed that Levy’s remuneration last season was once again comfortably the highest of any chairman across the Premier League, with Brighton’s Paul Barber in second place, only receiving £2.7m.

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It is suggested that this season’s accounts could also reflect a sizable sum paid to the former Spurs chairman as a ‘golden goodbye’ after his departure last September

Additionally, Tottenham’s accounts last season show that an additional £6.6m compensation was paid for a director’s loss of office, which Swiss Ramble suggest could have been paid to Donna-Maria Cullen, who stepped down from the Spurs board last June.

Levy allegedly considered suing the Lewis family

It was reported by Bloomberg at the start of last week that Levy has considered suing the Lewis family after being thrown out of the club he helped build.

The outlet claimed that the former Tottenham chairman believes he owns more of ENIC than 29.88 per cent to reflect the work he has done over the last two and a half decades.

Alasdair Gold has predicted what is likely to happen with Luka Vuskovic this summer as the Tottenham Hotspur defender continues to be heavily linked with a move away from N17.

Vuskovic has reportedly emerged as the target for Bayern Munich, while it has also been revealed that Barcelona and Liverpool have are considering a move for the Tottenham youngster.

The growing interest in the 19-year-old is not surprising, given the astounding numbers that the Spurs man is putting up on loan at Hamburg this season.

It has been revealed that Tottenham are worried Vuskovic could leave this summer without making a single appearance for them, as the Croat’s list of admirers continues to grow.

Alasdair Gold claims Luka Vuskovic is likely to be a regular starter at Tottenham next season

Thankfully, the youngster assuaged Spurs fans’ fears regarding a summer exit a few days ago, with Vuskovic confirming that he will be a Tottenham player next season.

One would expect that to be impacted by whether Spurs stay in the Premier League, but Football.London’s Alasdair Gold has now made a confident assertion about the defender.

Gold asserts that if Tottenham do avoid relegation, Vuskovic is ‘likely to be a regular starter for Spurs’ under Roberto De Zerbi next season.

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The Spurs centre-back continues to receive rave reviews in Bundesliga this season, and the new Tottenham boss will be tasked with the job of moulding him into a finished product who can handle the pace and rigours of English football.

Can Vuskovic mitigate Spurs’ potential losses at the back?

One of the reasons Gold might be saying what he is is due to the fact that Cristian Romero’s and Micky van de Ven’s futures at Tottenham are in doubt.

In fact, Romero’s dad has even leaked that his son’s contract has a release clause of around £53m, which is not something that the North London club’s hierarchy would have appreciated.

With the Argentine potentially on his way out, Tottenham fans will be hoping that Vuskovic is ready to slot straight into their backline, although the youngster may have a steep learning curve in the Premier League.

Tottenham’s wage bill has grown over the last few years, but the data clearly points to a major issue when it comes to the salaries paid by the North London club.

Tottenham are still fighting to secure its Premier League status, and part of the reason why relegation would be devastating for the club is due to their high costs, including player salaries.

According to reports, Daniel Levy inserted a relegation clause in every Tottenham player’s contract, which will see many of their salaries cut down by as much as 50 per cent if the club goes down.

However, despite this failsafe, experts believe that Spurs would be forced to cash in on many of their players if they go down, as their wage bill would have to be cut considerably.

Tottenham’s wages are still low compared to their Premier League rivals

Swiss Ramble reveal Spurs’ wage bill has grown by 15 per cent to £256m in the financial year ending June 2025, which is the highest in the club’s history.

Overall, Tottenham’s wage bill has grown by £47m (22 per cent) in the last three years. While that may sound impressive, their growth is outpaced by that of Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City, whose wage bills have gone up by £135m, £62m and £55m respectively, in the same period.

Overall, the Lilywhites’ current wage bill is the seventh highest in the Premier League, behind the other five members of the ‘big six’ as well as Aston Villa (£268m), while Newcastle United are not too far behind the Lilywhites in eighth place (£243m).

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Tottenham’s wage bill pales in comparison to Liverpool (£428m) and Manchester City (£408m), Chelsea (£353m), Arsenal (£347m) and Manchester United (£313m).

Spurs owners ready to remove wage cap

Swiss Ramble reveals that while Tottenham’s wages-to-turnover ratio has increased from 42 per cent to 45 per cent, that remains the lowest figure across the Premier League.

How much do Tottenham players earn per week?

It was reported by The Guardian back in February that the Lewis family is ready to rip up Spurs’ self-imposed wage cap in the summer.

The report claimed that Tottenham’s owners acknowledge that the club has underinvested in players’ salaries for years, and are ready to change that this summer as they eye a major overhaul of their squad.

Tottenham Hotspur face a defining weekend in their relegation battle, but a fresh injury blow to Mohammed Kudus has handed Roberto De Zerbi yet another problem to solve before a ball is even kicked. We have now identified five different ways the new Spurs boss could look to fill the void left by Kudus.

The Premier League is set to return this weekend, with Tottenham Hotspur’s relegation rivals West Ham United the ones to kick things off.

The Hammers are set to take on last-placed Wolves on Friday night, with a victory at the London Stadium set to send Spurs into the bottom three before they kick a ball.

However, this gameweek still provides Tottenham with a golden opportunity in their fight to avoid relegation.

While they might start the gameweek in 18th place, a victory in their game against Sunderland, alongside defeats for both Nottingham Forest and Leeds United, could well see Tottenham leapfrog both sides and end the week in 15th place.

Forest face Aston Villa in fourth, while Leeds are set to take on Manchester United in third – two difficult games for Spurs’ relegation rivals.

But the last time Tottenham found themselves in a position to pile pressure on their relegation rivals, they crumbled, losing 3-0 to Forest last time out, and that is something De Zerbi will be looking to avoid this week.

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Unfortunately for the new Spurs boss, he has been handed a major injury blow ahead of the Sunderland clash, with Mohammed Kudus reported to have picked up an injury that will require surgery.

That is certainly a big blow for Tottenham, who have missed Kudus’ creativity and dribbling during his absence. But with everything still to play for, De Zerbi must find a solution, and five different options could now be considered to fill the void.

Tottenham could move Mathys Tel to right wing role

One solution the Tottenham manager might consider is turning to Mathys Tel, who is capable of filling in on both flanks and through the centre of the attack.

Such versatility could allow Spurs to cover the right wing in the absence of Kudus while maintaining attacking balance.

Should Tel move over to the right, Xavi Simons could shift to the left to offer width in attack on that flank.

This would allow De Zerbi to maintain his 4-2-3-1 shape while preserving the threat on both wings.

Randal Kolo Muani – positional record

Spurs could deploy Randal Kolo Muani wide right

Another option would be for De Zerbi to deploy Randal Kolo Muani on the right as a direct replacement for Kudus. The on-loan Frenchman is capable in that role, and Spurs have used him there already this season.

However, in those games, he has looked underwhelming, which raises the question of whether De Zerbi will use him out wide when he is most dangerous centrally.

Still, with positional fluidity now common, Muani could feature nominally on the right while drifting into central areas, with Tottenham’s right-back instead providing width against Sunderland.

Randal Kolo Muani – positional record

Tottenham full-backs could provide width on the right

While injuries have hit other areas, the full-back positions remain relatively stable and could provide a solution.

With Destiny Udogie fit, he is likely to hold down the left-back spot given his ability to overlap and invert when needed.

That could leave Djed Spence available to be deployed higher up on the right. Thomas Frank has already used Spence in a similar role this season, and while the full-backs may not always push high, they can provide width as Spurs look to stretch play.

Pedro Porro is another option, offering a similar attacking threat from wide areas.

Spurs could use Richarlison in flexible attacking role

Like Muani, Richarlison is another option De Zerbi can turn to as he looks to fill the Kudus void. The Brazilian has featured out wide on 48 occasions, scoring 10 goals and registering five assists so far in his career, making him a decent option on the right.

But the Brazilian could also be used as a second striker behind the number nine, offering a different dynamic. During De Zerbi’s time at Brighton, Joao Pedro often operated in a similar role behind the striker, and that approach could be replicated here.

A potential setup could see Tel on the right, Simons on the left, and Richarlison behind Dominic Solanke.

Richarlison – positional record

Tottenham could turn to Souza as an emergency right midfield option

Another option would be to turn to Souza to provide cover on the right against Sunderland.

Despite making the leap from Brazil to the Premier League in the winter window, the full-back has featured a few times and has barely put a foot wrong.

In fact, despite being a left-back by trade, Igor Tudor used Souza as a right midfielder against Liverpool.

He delivered a solid display, and for that reason, it would not be a surprise if De Zerbi turned to him again in the absence of Kudus.

We take a closer look at how Tottenham Hotspur’s matchday revenue compares to the biggest clubs in the Premier League and across Europe.

Tottenham being in a relegation battle has understandably dominated the headlines, and that is partly down to the kind of resources that the Lilywhites have at their disposal.

Spurs remain one of five clubs to have never been relegated from the Premier League, with the club lasting going down to the second tier 48 years ago.

It has been widely reported that Tottenham’s finances will take a substantial hit if the club goes down, and the North Londoners certainly have a lot to lose.

How Tottenham’s matchday earnings compare to their Premier League rivals

According to a report in Swiss Ramble, the opening of the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium has put Spurs among the big boys in terms of matchday revenue.

The report reveals that Spurs earned £126m in matchday revenue in 2024-25, which is the third highest in the Premier League.

Only Manchester United, who earned £160m, and the Lilywhites’ North London rivals, Arsenal (£154m), earned more than Tottenham on matchdays last season.

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Spurs’ figures saw them climb to the seventh highest in Europe, although they are a fair way behind the two highest, Real Madrid (£196m) and Barcelona (£176m).

Tottenham Hotspur Stadium has been a game-changer for Spurs

Swiss Ramble explain that the growth in Tottenham’s matchday revenue has been substantial since the club left White Hart Lane and moved to their new 62,850-capacity home ground in 2019.

Tottenham had the third-highest average attendance in the Premier League last season (62,127), and additionally, the venue can also host a range of non-footballing events, which further boost the club’s coffers.

It is revealed that Spurs have seen their matchday revenue grow by £81m since 2019, with the next highest increases in that time period being at Arsenal (£54m) and Man United (£49m).

Following Mohammed Kudus’ latest injury setback, which will rule him out of the weekend clash against Sunderland, we have attempted to predict how Roberto De Zerbi’s Tottenham XI could line up on Sunday afternoon in the Premier League.

At least nine Tottenham Hotspur players are a doubt for Sunday’s encounter with Sunderland this weekend because of injuries.

Mohammed Kudus had a slim chance of featuring on the right wing for Roberto De Zerbi’s men after returning to training earlier this week, but Kudus has now picked up another injury, which could rule him out for the season.

It remains to be seen exactly how long the winger will be out for after this latest setback, with eyes set to be fixed on De Zerbi’s press conference on Friday. However, it doesn’t look good when the World Cup is mentioned as a doubt.

The new Tottenham boss will now have to find a solution to the latest Kudus injury, and we have now attempted to predict how Spurs might line up on Sunday afternoon against Sunderland.

Tottenham predicted XI vs Sunderland as Mohammed Kudus misses out

Goalkeeper – Antonin Kinsky: This matchup might come a bit too soon for Guglielmo Vicario, who is still recovering from hernia surgery. As such, Kinsky should start in goal for De Zerbi’s first match in charge.

Right-back – Pedro Porro: Under Igor Tudor, Porro has been deployed as a right midfielder, a wing-back and even a right winger, as the Croat often opted for a three-at-the-back setup. However, that should change this weekend, as we expect Porro to feature as a right-back in a four-at-the-back system under De Zerbi.

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Centre-back – Cristian Romero: The Argentine is one of five players we believe will be crucial if De Zerbi is to get a win on his debut. However, that depends on whether Romero carries his impressive form from international duty into this clash. If he does, then Tottenham’s chances will be greatly improved.

Centre-back – Micky van de Ven: We do not expect any changes here, especially with van de Ven fit. The Dutchman is expected to partner with Romero.

Left-back – Destiny Udogie: De Zerbi has the option of Djed Spence for the left-back slot, but we expect him to go with Udogie here, given how much freedom and creativity are afforded to the full-backs in his system. Udogie, being left-footed, will allow for more attacking balance.

Centre midfielder – Archie Gray: This position in the Tottenham XI almost picks itself, given the form Archie Gray is in. We expect him to be one of the two in the pivot.

Centre midfielder – Lucas Bergvall: The Swede, who declared himself fit during the international break while away with his country, could return to the midfield alongside Gray to provide much-needed energy against Sunderland.

Attacking midfielder – Xavi Simons: The Dutchman remains one of the most creative players in the Tottenham squad and one we believe De Zerbi will look to get the most out of. We expect him to feature on Sunday because of the tactical flexibility he offers.

Left winger – Richarlison: In the absence of Kudus, we suspect that De Zerbi might turn to Richarlison to offer width against Sunderland. However, with Simons starting, there are further options, as the Dutchman could rotate with Richarlison depending on the game state. Simons could also be shifted to the left and Tel to the right, while Richarlison could function as a second striker behind Solanke.

Striker – Dominic Solanke: In De Zerbi’s system, where attacking will be a key feature, we expect chances to be created regularly, and Solanke must be on hand to finish them.

Tottenham Hotspur fans have voiced their frustrations after Mohammed Kudus suffered a major injury setback following his return to training, amid the club’s relegation battle.

With seven games left in the Premier League and Tottenham Hotspur embroiled in a relegation scrap, the focus in the coming weeks is to pick up more points than their relegation rivals.

Spurs have since turned to Roberto De Zerbi to help guide them to safety following disappointing spells under Thomas Frank and Igor Tudor.

The former Brighton manager has since begun work on the training pitches and received significant boosts on the injury front, with Mathys Tel and Mohammed Kudus returning ahead of his debut against Sunderland.

Kudus has been one of Tottenham’s most creative players this season, ranking highly on the charts for chances created and dribbles completed. But since his three-month absence, Spurs’ form has taken a big hit.

Tottenham winger Mohammed Kudus suffers fresh injury setback

Journalist Tom Barclay has now revealed that Kudus has suffered a major setback on the injury front, just as he looked set to feature at the weekend against Sunderland. It is claimed that the fresh injury blow will require surgery if the Ghanaian international is to rectify the issue.

There has been no official confirmation from Tottenham as yet, nor has a timeline for his absence been announced. However, De Zerbi is set to address the media on Friday and should provide more clarity on Kudus’ situation.

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The latest update has sparked a strong reaction from Tottenham fans, who have been left frustrated by the report on the club’s winger. Taking to social media, one fan wrote: “Haha funny one, April fools was last week 😬😬😬”, while another added: “NO FU**ING WAY”.

Others also voiced their concerns, with one stating: “How are our medical team still in a job? Oh my god”, while another wrote: “Our chances of staying up has taken a fatal hit. A miracle is our last hope.”

Further reactions followed, with one fan saying: “We going down”, another adding: “SACK THE MEDICAL TEAM 😭🤦‍♂️”, while others commented: “We are doomed” and “Yeah, we’re getting relegated”.

A final supporter added: “I swear down the football gods are trying their best to send us down wtf is our luck this season I just want whatever is going to happen to happen now this season needs to end 😩”.

Spurs forced to find solutions after Mohammed Kudus blow

De Zerbi will now have to get creative as he searches for a solution to the latest setback, assuming he had plans to throw Kudus straight back into the mix.

While that would have been unlikely, Spurs could still field a fairly strong side when they travel to Sunderland on Sunday.

We could well see De Zerbi turn to Richarlison to cover on the right in the absence of a natural winger, or he could opt for a fluid setup where both Simons and Richarlison play but alternate positions depending on the game state.

The Italian could also opt to move Simons out to the left, while playing Tel as the right winger against the Black Cats.

There is no denying that this is a big blow for Spurs, as it seemed there was light at the end of the tunnel, only for another setback to arrive.