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West Ham United have been handed a boost in their quest to avoid Premier League relegation at the expense of Tottenham Hotspur.

Tottenham sit just one point ahead of West Ham in 18th heading into the final seven league games of the season.

While this is a position that the Hammers are familiar with, it is uncharted territory for Spurs, with some of the North London club’s decisions, such as the appointment of Igor Tudor, reeking of panic.

The Tottenham hierarchy have now turned to Roberto De Zerbi to get them out of trouble, but their London rivals have now been handed a boost.

Key West Ham star could be fit for relegation battle with Tottenham

Crysencio Summerville, who has been one of West Ham’s best players this term, has been out of action for a month since picking up an injury in the FA Cup win over Brentford at the start of March.

According to West Ham Zone, Summerville is close to returning to action and even had a fitness test ahead of the Hammers’ FA Cup quarterfinal clash against Leeds on Sunday.

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The Dutchman played no part in the fixture as Leeds emerged winners on penalties, but the fact that he had a chance to be fit for the game suggests that he could be ready by the time his side takes on Wolves on Friday.

Ironically, Tottenham are said to be leading a six-way chase to poach Summerville this summer, but could it all be too late by then?

Jean-Clair Todibo also missed the clash against Leeds due to injury, while Lukasz Fabianski is a long-term absentee for the English side.

West Ham could pile the pressure on Spurs before their clash against Sunderland

With Nuno Espirito Santo’s men taking on bottom-of-the-table Wolves on Friday, they have a big opportunity to pile the pressure on Tottenham.

If West Ham do beat Wolves, Spurs will be in the bottom three for the first time this season when they take the field at the Stadium of Light.

That could either have the effect of really focusing the minds of the Tottenham players, or conversely, it could make them crumble, especially given the consistent struggles since the turn of the year.

Journalist Alex Crook has made a controversial claim about Cristian Romero and the developments regarding the Tottenham captain’s future over the last few days.

Romero has been the lightning rod for a lot of the criticism levelled at Tottenham Hotspur this season, with the Argentine failing to hit the heights that we know he is capable of.

The Spurs captain was labelled ‘lazy’ and a ‘disgrace’ after his performance against Nottingham Forest two weeks ago, which has left the club on the brink of the relegation zone.

Romero has promised Tottenham fans that he will give 200 per cent in the club’s final seven league matches, but the supporters will want to see him walk the talk.

Alex Crook believes Cristian Romero is part of the problem at Tottenham

Many have questioned the Tottenham man’s leadership credentials this season, given his antics both on and off the pitch.

Journalist Alex Crooki has now blasted Romero, not only suggesting that he is not fit to lead the side, but also opining that the World Cup winner is not good enough defensively.

Crook told talkSPORT: “I’ve been quite public in my views of ‘I think he’s part of the problem at Spurs’. If he’s the leader in the group, that doesn’t say much for the rest of them.

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“I don’t think he’s a particularly good defender for someone who has won the biggest prize in football [the 2022 World Cup]. And this sums up the attitude of certain players in that dressing room.”

Crook believes Roberto De Zerbi has to prioritise solving Romero problem

Just a couple of days ago, Romero’s father revealed that his son’s Tottenham contract contains a release clause and that Spurs would sell him for around $50-$70m (£37.8m-£53m) this summer.

Crook accused the Spurs star of getting his dad to deliberately leak the information and of creating a problem for De Zerbi.

When asked about his dad’s interview, the journalist said: “I don’t believe that his dad would have leaked that information without Romero’s say so.

“And it’s an issue that Roberto De Zerbi is going to have to tackle right from the off here. He’s not said it outright, but this is not dissimilar to why Chelsea have sanctioned Enzo Fernandez. He’s basically flirting and trying to get himself a move away via his dad.”

Tottenham Hotspur’s long wait for a Premier League victory has now reached a significant and worrying milestone, underlining just how far their season has unravelled.

The focus for Tottenham Hotspur and Robert De Zerbi this month is simple – turning around what has been a dreadful Premier League season thus far.

Spurs are currently in a full-on relegation scrap, and while their fate remains in their own hands, they must fight to keep it that way.

Next up is a trip to the Stadium of Light, with Tottenham taking to the pitch for the first time in three weeks for De Zerbi’s much-awaited debut.

Tottenham’s winless Premier League run hits 100 days

Many Spurs fans will be desperate to see their side secure a victory on Sunday, given how long it has been since Tottenham last won a game.

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A whopping 100 days have passed since fans of the Lilywhites celebrated a win in the Premier League, although Spurs have picked up a few wins in the Champions League during that time.

The last time Tottenham managed a victory in the Premier League was in their Boxing Day fixture against Crystal Palace, which took place on December 28.

Since then, Tottenham have endured a dismal run of five draws and eight defeats, picking up a meagre five points in that period, leaving them as the worst side in the division across that time.

Spurs struggles deepen as injuries and changes pile up

Still, a lot has happened in north London since Tottenham’s last victory in the Premier League. Several players have been sidelined in that timeframe, with at least 13 of Spurs’ key starters spending time on the treatment table.

The likes of Mohammed Kudus, Lucas Bergvall and Rodrigo Bentancur, who featured in the victory against Crystal Palace, picked up injuries in the weeks that followed. Bergvall has only just returned, while Kudus and Bentancur are still waiting.

Meanwhile, Dejan Kulusevski, who underwent surgery last year, has yet to kick a ball for Tottenham this campaign as he continues his rehabilitation.

There have also been several changes in the dugout for Tottenham. Thomas Frank, who oversaw the victory against Crystal Palace, has since been sacked after a poor run at Spurs and a falling out with fans.

Frank was replaced by Igor Tudor, who has also departed following the 3-0 defeat against Nottingham Forest in Spurs’ last league game.

Tottenham Hotspur head into a crucial clash with Sunderland, and the latest injury news could at least level the playing field for Roberto De Zerbi.

It is not long before Tottenham Hotspur take to the field in their first game under new coach Roberto De Zerbi.

The former Brighton manager will be hoping he can steady a sinking ship as Spurs battle to stay in the English top flight.

His first encounter is set to come up against an impressive Sunderland side, who have looked very much like a Premier League side despite securing promotion last season.

Sunderland injury blow could level the playing field for Tottenham

When the two sides last met under Thomas Frank, the encounter ended in a draw. However, with the gap between Tottenham and the relegation places standing at just one point, securing a victory is crucial for De Zerbi.

Tottenham might now have a slight boost ahead of their encounter with the Black Cats on Sunday, 12 April. That is because goalkeeper Robin Roefs and key centre-back Daniel Ballard are doubts for Sunday’s encounter.

A return date has been pencilled in for 12 April on Premier League Injuries, but there is a 50% chance that the pair will be back.

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Other sidelined players for the newly promoted side include Jocelin Ta Bi (ankle/foot injury), Romaine Mundle (thigh injury), Bertrand Isidore Traore (knee injury) and Nilson Angulo (other), who have all been ruled out.

Of course, Tottenham have injury issues of their own though…

Spurs must capitalise as relegation rivals loom large

The Sunderland clash on Sunday is a very crucial one for Tottenham, who could find themselves in the bottom three before a ball is kicked.

West Ham United start Gameweek 32 on Friday with a clash against bottom-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers, and should they manage to take all three points, they will leapfrog Spurs and move out of the relegation zone.

But if Tottenham manage a victory in their clash against Sunderland, and Nottingham Forest and Leeds United lose to Aston Villa and Manchester United respectively, the Lilywhites could end up in 15th place, even if they start the gameweek in the bottom three.

It will be vital for Spurs to make every advantage count.

Roberto De Zerbi’s arrival at Tottenham Hotspur could bring immediate and long-term change between the sticks in North London.

Many Tottenham Hotspur fans will be keen to get life under new boss Roberto De Zerbi underway, although some still have their reservations about the new manager.

However, more questions are expected to be directed at Roberto De Zerbi in his first pre-match press conference, which should offer greater insight into what life under his tenure will look like.

While off-field matters will take care of themselves, many supporters will be focused on performances on the pitch as Tottenham Hotspur continue their fight to avoid relegation.

How De Zerbi is likely to set up, and which players will be key to his system, are also key talking points that we have addressed this week.

But based on the Italian’s past decisions, a significant change between the sticks could be on the cards for Spurs.

Tottenham goalkeeper decision looms for Roberto De Zerbi

We already know that Tottenham have two goalkeepers with contrasting qualities and strengths. Guglielmo Vicario is an elite shot-stopper, while Antonin Kinsky represents a solid option with the ball at his feet (apart from against Atletico Madrid, apparently).

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The question of who will be between the sticks has also sparked debate, given De Zerbi’s demands and the contrasting styles of both goalkeepers.

We already know that for the Sunderland clash, Kinsky might be the one in goal, with Vicario still recovering from injury.

However, when both are fit, we could see an entirely different approach at Spurs. During De Zerbi’s time at Brighton, the Italian had two goalkeepers who shared minutes.

Bart Verbruggen and Jason Steele were De Zerbi’s shot-stoppers at the time, and both goalkeepers rotated 14 times in the 23-24 season. The manager himself even admitted that Verbruggen and Steele would get a 50-50 split of games.

Could we also see Vicario and Kinsky share minutes under the new boss?

Spurs may rethink long-term goalkeeper plans under De Zerbi

However, further investigation hints that it will be far from straightforward at Tottenham this season.

When De Zerbi was at Brighton, his two goalkeeping options were very similar in style, with both capable of playing out from the back. That could explain why the Italian opted to rotate as much as he did; regardless of who was in the sticks, his side would perform at almost a similar level.

At Tottenham, however, that is far from the case. Vicario has struggled with playing out and often opts to go long. Whether this is down to the coaches he has worked under this season is another question. Under Ange Postecoglou, who had a similar philosophy, the Italian struggled with his feet at times.

This does not just hint at a potential change this season, but could also give us a glimpse into what might happen in the future. The inability of either one of these goalkeepers could force a change between the sticks next season.

We already know Vicario is attracting interest from Inter Milan, and fresh reports claim that he has given a yes to the Italian side.

Should he be moved on, Spurs could then opt to sign a new goalkeeper, and if Kinsky goes out on loan, Tottenham might even need two.

In recent weeks, the profiles Tottenham have been linked with are goalkeepers capable of playing out from the back.

Tottenham Hotspur fans will not be filled with optimism after finding out which referee will take charge of their clash against Sunderland on Sunday.

The Roberto De Zerbi era at Spurs gets underway with a trip to the Stadium of Light this weekend.

It represents a difficult start to life in North London for De Zerbi, who is taking over a side that has yet to win a single league game this calendar year.

Tottenham could find themselves in the bottom three by the time they take to the field with West Ham hosting bottom-of-the-table Wolves on Friday.

Rob Jones will referee Tottenham’s clash against Sunderland

The Premier League have now announced that Rob Jones will officiate Sunday’s clash at the Stadium of Light, with Neil Davies and Nick Greenhalgh as his assistants.

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Tom Bramall will be the fourth official, while the VAR and Assistant VAR will be James Bell and Nick Hopton, respectively.

As per Transfermarkt, Jones has officiated 13 matches involving Spurs, out of which the Lilywhites have won just four matches and lost six, which does not make for encouraging reading. That makes for a win rate of just 30.7% ahead of what is a must-win game for the Lilywhites.

Jones has booked Tottenham players on 32 occasions during those 13 matches, but, on the plus side, he has never sent off a Spurs player.

What will De Zerbi’s game plan be at Sunderland?

De Zerbi has made it clear that he favours a possession-based, attacking style of football, but implementing that at a Tottenham side lacking in confidence may not be easy.

Pundits have suggested that the new Spurs boss may opt for a pragmatic approach against Sunderland, rather than asking his side to take risks.

Tottenham supporters will be eagerly waiting to see what starting line-up the Italian goes with and whether the Lilywhites take the game to the Black Cats.

Journalist Alasdair Gold has now revealed when Roberto De Zerbi’s first pre-match press conference as Tottenham boss is set to take place.

After a three-week break from Premier League football, gameweek 32 is set to return this Friday when West Ham United take on Wolverhampton Wanderers.

A victory for the relegation-threatened Hammers could see them leapfrog Tottenham Hotspur, who could then fall into the relegation zone before they face Sunderland on Sunday, April 12.

Such an outcome will only pile pressure on new manager Roberto De Zerbi, who has been tasked with helping Tottenham avoid relegation in the final seven games of the season.

Tottenham confirm Roberto De Zerbi press conference time before Sunderland clash

Tottenham fans have already been given a glimpse of what their new boss is like after club media showed behind-the-scenes footage of De Zerbi’s first training session.

The former Brighton manager has also conducted his first interview in Tottenham colours, where he provided an insight into what fans can expect under his guidance.

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Up next for De Zerbi, before he takes to the pitch against Sunderland, is his first pre-match press conference as Spurs boss.

Alasdair Gold has now confirmed that Roberto De Zerbi will hold his first press conference as Tottenham head coach on Friday at 1.30pm, where he will preview the Premier League game against Sunderland.

Spurs must respond as relegation threat grows under Roberto De Zerbi

Securing a win is absolutely crucial for the new Tottenham manager, as it will ease some of the tension around Spurs.

Victory against Sunderland could see Tottenham climb as high as 15th place, but only if Leeds United and Nottingham Forest lose their respective games.

Tottenham Hotspur could be stretched to their limits ahead of a crucial trip to Sunderland, with Roberto De Zerbi facing several key selection concerns.

Premier League football is set to return to our screens this weekend, with the gameweek kicking off as Spurs’ relegation rivals West Ham United take on Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Many Tottenham Hotspur fans will be hoping that the Hammers fail to secure victory in that encounter, as a win for Nuno’s men could see them leapfrog Spurs and move out of the relegation zone.

Regardless, Tottenham’s fate remains in their hands in the fight for survival, and should they win their clash with Sunderland later in the gameweek, they could go as high as 15th if results elsewhere go their way.

Mohammed Kudus remains a doubt for Sunderland clash

But De Zerbi will have to secure a victory without several key players on Sunday afternoon, when his side visits the Stadium of Light.

That is because a whopping eight players remain out of contention ahead of the Premier League fixture. While this is a much-improved number compared to the thirteen in past weeks, Spurs are still short of options.

As it stands, James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, Rodrigo Bentancur, Wilson Odobert, Ben Davies, Mohammed Kudus, Guglielmo Vicario, Pape Matar Sarr and Yves Bissouma are all out or doubts ahead of this fixture.

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Spurs still have attacking options

However, that number could still be reduced before Sunday. Kudus is currently a doubt, but there is a chance he returns before the Sunderland clash. Tudor hinted at Kudus’ return after the international break.

Vicario is out, but it might not be for an extended period as he continues his recovery from hernia surgery, which he underwent after the Nottingham Forest defeat.

Pape Matar Sarr represents the only Tottenham player to have returned with an injury from the international break, and it remains unclear how long he will be out for.

Regardless of the injuries, we do believe De Zerbi can still put out an attacking, exciting team in his first game as boss.

Tottenham Hotspur will be boosted by the return of key players over the coming weeks, as Roberto De Zerbi looks to get them out of relegation trouble.

The new Tottenham boss needs to get an instant response from the players as he only has seven league games to ensure that the Lilywhites avoid going down to the Championship.

De Zerbi will have had 10 full days to work with the Spurs squad ahead of the club’s trip to Sunderland, and it will be fascinating to see his preferred line-up and game plan at the Stadium of Light

According to reports, the Italian is set to receive a double injury boost ahead of his first game in charge of the North London club.

Two Tottenham stars could return against Sunderland and three more are close

The Standard reveal that even though Pape Sarr and Mathys Tel both pulled out of international duty due to injury, both players are expected to be available for Tottenham’s trip to Sunderland on April 12.

That will be a big boost to De Zerbi, who will undoubtedly be asked about the pair and the club’s other injured players in his first press conference as Spurs boss this week.

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The report claims that De Zerbi could be further boosted by the return of both Mohammed Kudus and Guglielmo Vicario for the Lilywhites’ clash against Brighton on April 18.

The publication predicts that Rodrigo Bentancur could also return to action sometime before the end of this month.

Senior Spurs man may have played his final game for the club

The Standard further explains that James Maddison, who suffered an ACL injury last summer, is only expected to return in June, while Wilson Odobert is not expected to be back until November of this year.

The report also says that Ben Davies is not expected to play again this season after breaking his ankle at West Ham, which means he is likely to have donned the Tottenham shirt for the last time.

Ray Parlour has made a big statement regarding the possibility of Frank Lampard one day ending up as Tottenham Hotspur’s head coach.

Tottenham have handed Roberto De Zerbi a five-year contract, with the Italian becoming the club’s third different head coach this season.

The Lilywhites hierarchy will be hoping that, unlike their two previous appointments, the Italian proves to be the right fit and can get the club back where they belong.

However, a former Arsenal man has now made a very interesting claim about the possibility of a Chelsea legend taking over at Spurs one day.

Ray Parlour claims Frank Lampard would have accepted Tottenham job

It was reported last summer that Frank Lampard was on Tottenham’s managerial shortlist at the time when the Lilywhites were looking for Ange Postecoglou’s successor.

After coming under plenty of criticism during his time in charge of Everton and Chelsea, Lampard has rebuilt his reputation this season at Coventry City, who are on course to win the Championship.

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Ray Parlour believes that the Chelsea legend would have jumped at the chance to leave the Championship table-toppers for Spurs if the North London club had come calling.

The former Arsenal man told Tottenham News: “It’s a job he (Lampard) couldn’t turn down. If someone went up to him and asked him to be the Tottenham manager, he’d have to take it. Even if they’re in a bit of dire straits at the moment.”

Parlour is not the first pundit to have this particular idea. Back in 2021, after a string of rejections and Nuno Espirito Santo’s arrival on the horizon, Trevor Sinclair urged Tottenham to sign Lampard.

At the time, the pundit said (TalkSPORT): “One that I don’t think has been mentioned much – and he does have connections to the club through his family – is Lampard.

“Harry Redknapp [Lampard’s uncle] has been manager of the football club, Jamie Redknapp [his cousin] has played there, he’s a London lad.

“He didn’t do much wrong at Chelsea. I think it’s a good fit. He did a good job, especially in the first season at Chelsea when they had the embargo, they just lost their best player.

“He went in there and steadied the ship, gave a lot of young players an opportunity. Tottenham have this unbelievable academy, surely you want to bring young players through like that?”

Sinclair added: “He still loves Chelsea, but he’ll be disappointed with the way that ended. He’ll want to go to a big club and prove his worth.”

Mauricio Pochettino is gutted that Spurs appointed Roberto De Zerbi

There have not been any suggestions in the media that Lampard was ever in consideration for the Tottenham job, but one man undoubtedly was – Mauricio Pochettino.

Reports suggest that Pochettino is ‘gutted’ that Spurs have decided to appoint De Zerbi, having eyed a return to N17 after the World Cup this summer.