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One of Tottenham Hotspur’s relegation rivals have suffered a setback, potentially handing the Lilywhites a big chance to close the gap when they travel to Wolves tomorrow.

Opta’s Supercomputer now considers Tottenham huge favourites to go down, but the race for survival is still far from over, with Spurs sitting just two points behind West Ham, with 15 points still left to play for.

Opta have suggested that the Hammers are the only side that the Lilywhites are likely to catch, with Nottingham Forest handed just a 4.3 per cent chance of being relegated.

That is understandable given that Forest have moved five points clear of Spurs after picking up seven points from their last nine on offer, but the Midlands side will feel they still need at least one or two more wins to be assured of safety.

Boost for Tottenham as Nottingham Forest will be without their best player for Sunderland clash

Forest have already lost Callum Hudson-Odoi for the rest of the season due to a quadriceps injury, and GiveMeSport have now revealed that another of their key players has sustained an injury.

Vitor Pereira’s side travel to the Stadium of Light to face Sunderland this evening, and it has now been revealed that Murillo has been ruled out of the clash.

The Brazilian, who has been one of the club’s best players this season, was forced off during the first half of the 4-1 win against Burnley last Sunday.

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It has now been confirmed that Murillo has suffered an unidentified muscle injury and will not make the trip to the Stadium of Light.

A Sunderland win this evening will significantly boost Spurs’ survival chances

If the Black Cats win this evening, Tottenham will go into the clash at Molineux Stadium knowing that they could move within two points of Forest.

That will turn the race to avoid relegation from a two-horse race into a three-horse one, which will significantly boost the Lilywhites’ chances of staying in the Premier League.

Tottenham Hotspur could see their hopes of Premier League survival significantly boosted this weekend as the historical record of the clash between West Ham and Everton suggests a difficult afternoon awaits the Hammers in East London.

Tottenham Hotspur will certainly have to rely on help from elsewhere in their fight to avoid relegation this season, with five games left to be played.

Spurs are in the bottom three of the Premier League table and are two points adrift of safety, with West Ham United occupying 17th place.

The Hammers could have opened up a bigger gap this gameweek, but their 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace saw them pass up the opportunity to go four points clear of the relegation zone.

That leaves Tottenham with some hope heading into matchweek 34, as a victory over Wolves could see Spurs leave the bottom three, but only if West Ham fails to win against Everton.

Tottenham’s survival hopes are boosted as West Ham United face a difficult Everton record

A look at the record between West Ham and Everton in the Premier League could well leave the Lilywhites quietly optimistic about their chances.

That is because Nuno’s men have won just three of their last 17 Premier League home games against Everton, along with five draws and nine losses.

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However, it is not all gloom for the Hammers, as the recent meetings between the two sides have seen Nuno’s men unbeaten.

Nonetheless, Everton’s record remains impressive, as they have won more Premier League games against West Ham both overall (29) and away from home (13) than they have against any other opponent in the competition.

Roberto De Zerbi must ensure Spurs capitalise on any West Ham dropped points

Spurs Web has attempted to predict how the relegation battle will unfold for the remainder of the season, and for this particular gameweek, we have forecast a draw between Everton and West Ham United.

Should the Hammers indeed drop points in this fixture, Tottenham must be prepared to capitalise if they are to leapfrog their rivals and move toward safety.

However, while Spurs supporters might fancy their chances of doing so against an already relegated Wolves side, the recent head-to-head record between Tottenham and Wolves suggests that the North London club could still struggle to secure a result.

The Premier League’s key match incident (KMI) panel delivered a frustrating verdict on a key refereeing decision in Tottenham’s 1-0 loss away to Sunderland.

In the 63rd minute of the match between Spurs and Sunderland earlier this month, Black Cats striker Bryan Brobbey was competing for a long ball with Spurs defender Cristian Romero.

Romero used his body to shield the ball from Brobbey, but a two-handed push from the Netherlands attacker resulted in the Spurs centre-back colliding with his goalkeeper, Antonin Kinsky, seriously injuring both.

The collision resulted in a partial knee ligament tear, which ended Romero’s Premier League season while putting his World Cup campaign with Argentina in serious doubt.

Too little too late for Tottenham after KMI panel announcement

To add insult to injury, the Premier League’s KMI panel, an advisory body made up of three former players and a representative from the PGMOL and the Premier League each, have now ruled that Bryan Brobbey should have been awarded a yellow card for his push on Romero (BBC).

Brobbey, who was already on a yellow for an earlier altercation with Pedro Porro, would have been sent off if the correct decision had been made on the pitch according to the KMI.

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In a 3:2 vote, the panel ruled that the referee Rob Jones made a serious mistake during the match in not booking the Dutch forward again.

Spurs went on to lose the game 1-0, a loss which only deepened their relegation crisis, while a sending off for Brobbey would have forced the Black Cats to play the last 30 minutes of the match down to 10 men.

Even more worryingly, this is only another in a series of refereeing mistakes and controversial decisions made by referees this season.

Is refereeing getting worse? Spurs fans may think so

According to rulings made by the KMI, Rob Jones has been at fault for multiple errors during games and has one of the worst records in terms of failing to award a second yellow card. Jones is responsible for five of the 12 mistakes made this season in failing to give a second booking during a match.

This marks yet another referring error with serious consequences made by Premier League referees and highlights the ever-worsening refereeing standards in England’s top division.

Spurs fans will vividly remember their frustration when three completely contradictory rulings on fouls in the box were made in Tottenham’s matches.

Goals against Spurs were given in their clashes against Fulham and Liverpool, despite the goals following a push on Spurs’ defenders. Most famously, Randal Kolo Muani’s North London Derby goal was ruled out for his incredibly soft push on Gabriel.

With multiple rounds of the Premier League still left, we have already seen more refereeing errors than over the course of last season entirely (58 errors as of end of March, to 44 last year).

Roberto De Zerbi has leapt to the defence of Kevin Danso after a difficult moment against Brighton, making his stance clear as Tottenham Hotspur continue their fight for survival.

The Premier League table could have looked very different for Tottenham Hotspur had they seen out their 2-1 lead against Brighton and Hove Albion last weekend.

It was a much-improved performance from Spurs, arguably their best this year, as they looked sharper in attack and solid defensively, restricting Brighton to an xG of 0.82.

However, a lapse in concentration from Kevin Danso gave Brighton a late opportunity to pull the game back, and they took their chance when Georginio Rutter struck late.

Tottenham Kevin Danso backed by Roberto De Zerbi after incident

That draw did Tottenham little good as they remained in the bottom three of the Premier League table with five games to play.

Spurs now remain two points adrift of safety, but there is hope they can leave the drop zone this week if they beat Wolves and West Ham United fail to beat Everton.

Unfortunately, Danso’s mistake from last weekend led to racist abuse from a small number of individuals. There is no room for racism in football or at Spurs, and De Zerbi made that stance clear in his latest press conference, telling football.london: “I was very annoyed by the racist insults towards Kevin, but he has to be calm and I am proud of him.

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“He played a fantastic game. Not a good game but a fantastic game. I do not consider one mistake. He will be here next season because he is a good guy, a very good player and every one of us is lucky to work with him.”

Spurs rely on Kevin Danso as defensive injuries continue

Danso has been a reliable performer for Tottenham, often delivering consistent displays whenever he is called upon at the back.

In the game against Brighton, it was more of the same from the Austrian, whose underlying numbers remained solid:

Roberto De Zerbi has delivered the latest on Guglielmo Vicario’s fitness, with Tottenham Hotspur continuing to battle through an injury-hit period at a crucial stage of the season.

Since Roberto De Zerbi took charge of Tottenham Hotspur, the Spurs boss has had to contend with several injuries.

Mohammed Kudus was the first to suffer a setback, one that requires surgery and rules him out for the rest of the season, before Cristian Romero followed suit in the same week.

Destiny Udogie has now become the latest to join the treatment room, having picked up a muscular injury in training, leaving Spurs without six players heading into the game against Wolves.

With several players picking up injuries, Spurs, however, will be hoping to welcome a few back. According to the latest injury timeline, Guglielmo Vicario looked set for a return this week.

The Spurs number one went under the knife during the last international break, undergoing surgery on his hernia, which has kept him out for over a month.

The Tottenham boss has now provided an update on the Italian ahead of the Wolves game, revealing that he will not be available.

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He told football.london: “He is not available for tomorrow. I hope he can start with me from Monday.

“Antonin is playing very well. I hope Vicario can come back in the best physical condition because he is a very important player for us.”

Spurs face goalkeeping decision as Guglielmo Vicario recovers

Of course, Vicario is an important player for Tottenham as he brings leadership to a backline that has already lost its captain in Cristian Romero.

However, questions remain about the Italian’s technical ability with the ball at his feet, which has been far from convincing this season.

Antonin Kinsky, on the other hand, has looked more comfortable in possession, and his composure allows those around him to play out from pressure more easily.

A German football expert has revealed how Tottenham fans should be feeling after the Lilywhites made Sebastian Kehl their top target for the sporting director role.

Reports indicate that Spurs have held talks with Sebastian Kehl over their sporting director role after the German parted ways with Borussia Dortmund.

Sky Sports Germany’s Florian Plettenberg revealed earlier this week that the German director had become Tottenham’s top target for the sporting director role.

He explained that Spurs’ plan is to partner Kehl with their existing sporting director, Johan Lange, to rebuild their squad this summer.

The Athletic have now backed up every word of what Plettenberg reported regarding the Lilywhites’ pursuit of the 46-year-old director.

The outlet also spoke to German football expert Seb Stafford-Bloor on Kehl’s time at Dortmund, with the journalist explaining that the 46-year-old has mixed results at the Bundesliga club.

Stafford-Bloor said: “Kehl’s four years at Dortmund were difficult. The period marked a significant shift away from their traditional recruitment strategy, with the focus moving towards mid-career players and away from the elite, younger prospects with which the club was more often associated. They wanted to become more emotionally stable and less dependent on volatile young careers.

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“The results were mixed. Dortmund came extremely close to winning the Bundesliga in 2023, losing out to Bayern Munich on the season’s final day. They also reached the Champions League final in 2024, losing 2-0 to Real Madrid at Wembley. However, there has been a lack of coaching stability, with Dortmund employing four head coaches (Marco Rose, Edin Terzic, Nuri Sahin and Niko Kovac) across Kehl’s four years, and supporters have frequently bemoaned the club’s transfer policy and a perceived loss of technical identity.

“There have been some significant recruiting misses. Dortmund came close to signing Rayan Cherki in January 2025, only to fail in a late bid. In addition, moves this season for Jobe Bellingham and Yan Couto are yet to pay off. At the same time, Kehl has moved quite well through the market: the signing of wing-back Daniel Svensson, initially on loan last season, has proven extremely smart and big money purchases of Serhou Guirassy, Felix Nmecha and Nico Schlotterbeck have all been relative successes.”

Kehl was working under difficult circumstances at Dortmund

However, Stafford-Bloor explained that the former German international was working in a difficult environment at Westfalenstadion at a time of upheaval at the club.

The journalist suggested that his exit from Dortmund following four years as the sporting director was partly political.

He added: “The wider context matters, too. Kehl was sporting director at Dortmund during a period of significant political upheaval. In 2024, Lars Ricken, formerly the club’s head of academy, was promoted into a newly created sporting CEO role, in preparation for the departure of Hans-Joachim Watzke, who had been CEO since 2006. It was a role that Kehl wanted, but which he was overlooked for.

“The resulting dynamic between him and Ricken was tricky. Externally, it was never quite clear who held ultimate authority for recruitment, and while the club always denied that there was any friction between the two, stories about the relationship were regularly published in the German media. Kehl’s departure from Dortmund, while abrupt, had long felt politically inevitable, even if no fair assessment of his role can ever be truly binary.”

Roberto De Zerbi has now provided a fresh injury update on Tottenham midfielder Dejan Kulusevski who has been out since May 2025.

Tottenham Hotspur will have to secure their Premier League status this season without several of their key players available to help them.

At the moment, at least six Spurs players are expected to miss out on Saturday against Wolves because of injuries.

Several members of the club’s leadership group are out, with Cristian Romero, James Maddison and Guglielmo Vicario all sidelined.

Destiny Udogie is also now set to be out after picking up a muscular injury since Spurs last took to the field against Brighton.

While James Maddison is set to miss out against Wolves, Roberto De Zerbi has confirmed that Maddison will be on the bench to serve as a confidence boost to his teammates.

The Spurs boss has also provided an update on another of his long-term absentees, Dejan Kulusevski.

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The Swede has been out since May last year and is yet to kick a ball this season, having not played under any of Tottenham’s last three managers.

Speaking about Kulusevski’s situation, De Zerbi told football.london that he feels for the player and hopes he can return soon.

He said: “I am sorry for him because he is one of my perfect players. He is a very specific player for me like Kudus, like Romero but I hope for him he can play in the World Cup because the World Cup for a player is a moment. It is the best period of their career, but I do not know the situation very well.”

Kulusevski seems unlikely to play for Spurs this season

Tottenham fans have voiced concern over how long Dejan Kulusevski has been out, with many questioning whether the Swede will play again this season.

De Zerbi’s press conference has provided a degree of hope regarding the fitness of the versatile midfielder, who could return in the summer for the World Cup. But it appears we can kiss the prospect of Deki playing in the Premier League this season goodbye.

However, things could look very different when he does return as Spurs continue their fight for safety. Should they go down, the Swede could return with them in the Championship.

Roberto De Zerbi has offered the latest on James Maddison ahead of a crucial weekend for Tottenham Hotspur, with fitness concerns once again casting doubt over a key figure as the run-in intensifies.

Tottenham Hotspur are set to return to Premier League action this weekend as they prepare to take on relegated Wolves.

The last time the two sides met, Spurs were held to a 1-1 draw at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, needing to come from behind to earn a point thanks to a late Joao Palhinha strike.

This time, though, a draw will do little for Tottenham’s chances as they sit in the bottom three of the Premier League table with just five games to go.

A victory, however, will see Spurs leave the drop zone and leapfrog West Ham United into 17th place if the Hammers fail to secure a win against Everton.

Roberto De Zerbi has now provided an update on his injured Tottenham Hotspur man, James Maddison.

Spurs Web reported before De Zerbi’s press conference that five Spurs players are expected to miss out on this weekend’s game.

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James Maddison was among those flagged, despite returning to the matchday squad against Brighton, where he was an unused substitute.

Speaking about the midfielder’s fitness and availability, De Zerbi explained that Maddison is still not ready to return fully, telling football.london: “No he is not available [to play] yet. Especially in this week, he felt pain but not so important pain.

“Tomorrow he will come on the bench because he is important whether he plays or not. Better he plays but as a leader and a guy, I want to see in my dressing room nice people, positive people.”

Spurs need leadership as James Maddison absence continues

Spurs could do with more leaders in the coming weeks as they battle to stay in the Premier League for the rest of the season

James Maddison is one such voice who can spur the side on, even when he is not on the pitch for Tottenham.

The Englishman will, however, have to bide his time on the sidelines as he continues to recover from his ACL injury, which will likely keep him out until next season.

Roberto De Zerbi has now provided an injury update on his Tottenham Hotspur squad ahead of their Premier League match with Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday afternoon.

Wolverhampton Wanderers have now been officially relegated from the Premier League following the draw between West Ham United and Crystal Palace on Monday night.

Rob Edwards’ side, who had shown some upturn in form in recent weeks, grabbing two wins in their last five, saw their fate sealed after a poor run in their last three outings, where they were winless.

Tottenham Hotspur will now be desperate to avoid a similar outcome this campaign as they sit in the bottom three with five games left before the 2025-26 season comes to an end.

Up next is a clash between the two sides this weekend. Wolves will take to the field for the first time since their relegation was confirmed, while Spurs will be looking to secure their first win in 2026 as they fight for survival.

With the game crucial for Tottenham, Roberto De Zerbi will be keen to have as many players fit and ready as possible.

He has been handed a boost, with Rodrigo Bentancur and Yves Bissouma featuring against Brighton and Hove Albion without picking up injuries, and both should be in contention for Saturday’s game.

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James Maddison also made a surprising return to the bench last time out as an unused substitute, although it remains to be seen if he is fit enough to feature before the end of the season.

Meanwhile, Guglielmo Vicario’s situation remains unclear as he continues to recover from the hernia surgery he underwent during the international break, while Xavi Simons has declared himself fit after the knock he picked up against Brighton and will be available.

However, Wilson Odobert, Ben Davies, Dejan Kulusevski, Cristian Romero and Mohammed Kudus all remain unavailable ahead of this clash. Destiny Udogie was also a doubt heading into the game.

Roberto De Zerbi has now addressed the official Tottenham channels and provided an update on several of his injured players.

Speaking to Football London about his squad, De Zerbi said: “Destiny has a [muscular] problem. I think he can’t play tomorrow, but he played on Saturday and played a great first half, second half as well but the first was great. We have Spence, Souza is available to come with us. It’s not a big problem, I hope Udogie could be back for next week at Villa Park.”

He added: “I have a big opinion of Destiny and he is a crucial player for us. We are lucky because we can play with Djed Spence, another important player and another very good guy.”

Tottenham have taken a significant step forward in their pursuit of Marcos Senesi, although one key condition could yet determine whether the deal is completed.

Tottenham Hotspur’s interest in Marcos Senesi is nothing new, with reports over the last few months linking Spurs with the Bournemouth centre-back.

Spurs Web relayed a few weeks ago that Tottenham had moved into pole position to sign the soon-to-be free agent, who is not short of options.

The likes of Barcelona and Juventus have been in the race, but a new report has shown there is a fresh development in the centre-back’s future.

Tottenham reach Marcos Senesi agreement ahead of summer transfer

A new report from Florian Plettenberg now states that Tottenham and Marcos Senesi have reached an agreement in principle.

The Bournemouth centre-back has been impressive this season, with the Cherries having played 33 games and the defender providing five assists.

It is explained that the 28-year-old top centre-back has given his commitment to join Spurs on a free transfer in the summer.

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However, there is a clause, as the move is only expected to go through if Tottenham stay in the Premier League; nothing has been signed yet.

Tottenham also have a verbal agreement to sign Andy Robertson if the club remain in the Premier League.

Spurs survival push now crucial to transfer plans

Spurs will now continue their fight to stay in the Premier League as they remain in the bottom three with five games to go this season.

Tottenham’s next encounter is against Wolves, who are already relegated, and they have a big chance of leaving the bottom three with a victory.

However, they will be hoping their relegation rivals slip up in their own fixtures, with Spurs relying on favours elsewhere as they battle to preserve their Premier League status for the remainder of the season.