Football London

Tottenham face a crunch set of nine games in the Premier League which will decide their future and some players just have to be involved

Tottenham's Premier League future hangs in the balance and they will need their players to step up but who should Igor Tudor turn to?

Spurs are sitting precariously in 16th place in the table, just a point above the drop zone with Nottingham Forest and West Ham breathing down their necks. Tudor takes his team to Anfield next weekend after Tuesday night's Champions League game in Madrid, while West Ham host Manchester City and Forest welcome Fulham, who beat Spurs and lost to the Hammers in back-to-back matches at Craven Cottage.

Tudor, if he keeps his job with an upturn in results, will need to turn to certain Spurs players who will give him everything and have the quality to get the north London club out of their dangerous situation. The Croatian made a boat analogy in midweek after the defeat to Crystal Palace about what needs to happen with his players.

"I will tell you now maybe it will sound strange but I believe more after this game than I believed before," he said. "I saw something. I need to choose the right guys because the boat is going in the direction that I want to go and needs to go and who is in the boat can stay.

"Otherwise they can leave the boat. So when the other players will come back and choosing the right [players] I’m sure we will have a good team and the victories will come back. It’s not easy to accept the moment where we are now but it is how it is."

Here are five players who we reckon need to remain in the boat in order for Tottenham to grab the points they need.

Archie Gray

It's seems crazy to have a 19-year-old on a list of players who will be crucial to a relegation fight, but Archie Gray has been one of Spurs' leading lights in the recent dark times. Only Bournemouth’s Junior Kroupi has more goal involvements as a teenager in the Premier League this season than Gray's four. The Tottenham youngster has been mostly playing in defence as well in recent times.

It's more than that though. The former Leeds teenager knows how to scrap, has got the energy and the quality to make things happen, as shown by his assist for Dominic Solanke on Thursday night against Crystal Palace.

Xavi Simons said in a recent interview that Gray was the best player in Spurs training, had been the player who has surprised him the most since arriving and that he will become a top midfielder.

Of course the youngster is going to get exposed if played out of position as a left-back and he will make the odd mistake because he's so young, but Tottenham need to get him in the centre of the pitch. He will always looks to drive them on and never give up, qualities they desperately need right now in a squad that doesn't always look that bothered.

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Cristian Romero

This one is pretty simple. The Tottenham captain needs to play and he needs to be available. Cristian Romero is Spurs' best player and he will bring the aggression required for the upcoming fight. He's also a key attacking player with 10 goal involvements in his 28 matches this season.

The World Cup winner has a debt to repay his team-mates as he returns from his fourth suspension of the season. A fifth looms, bringing with it a two-game suspension if he gets two more bookings in his next three Premier League matches before his eight previous ones are wiped out.

That just cannot happen for Romero is too important to this team to miss any more matches this season.

Mathys Tel

It's a similar case for Mathys Tel as it is with Gray, in that he's raw but brings more than so many others.. Tel made only his seventh Premier League start of the season in the defeat in midweek.

The 20-year-old just brings an unpredictability to Spurs' attacking play which they don't have otherwise and he also delivers good corners and set pieces.

The Frenchman is very raw and can make odd decisions on the ball on occasions, as he did in the build-up to Palace's second goal on Thursday, but he creates more going forward than most of the other fit Spurs attackers put together.

Tel has made an impact whenever he's played and he's earned more game time in the weeks ahead.

Richarlison

Spurs need to get the Brazilian fit enough to play 90 minutes and last games because Richarlison is a battler with experience of getting teams out of relegation trouble.

He's also Tottenham's top scorer with nine goals and a tally of 12 goal involvements in all across 34 matches, the only player to have more than Romero's 10.

Richarlison will also want to prove that he should be Brazil's main man at the World Cup this summer so there's plenty to drive him on in the weeks ahead.

A key returnee

It's certainly no secret that Spurs need some of their big injured players back. There are so many players who would be starting matches week in, week out currently sat in the treatment room.

There's Destiny Udogie, who provides real width and a natural left-footer at left-back but the Italian just can't get a run of games together. He did towards the end of last season and was pivotal in the Europa League run. Spurs need a similar run of appearances out of him.

Lucas Bergvall is edging closer to a return from his ankle problem and will bring youthful energy and skill to the midfield while Rodrigo Bentancur will bring calmness on the ball when he returns from his hamstring injury next month.

Then there are the big three creators who Spurs have missed desperately to take some of the pressure of Xavi as he continues to adapt to a new league and style.

Mohammed Kudus had 10 goal involvements before his injury in January and the summer sign would be a huge addition back into the team. The Ghana international was due to return after the upcoming international break.

Then there are Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison, who will need time to get sharp when they eventually return to first team training from their different long term knee injures. If Spurs can get one or both of them back and sharp for the final flurry of games then that could transform their attack just in time.

Tottenham Hotspur are battling relegation from the Premier League and Lincoln City fans had a new chant at Spurs' expense

Tottenham Hotspur were the subject of a chant made by sections of Lincoln City fans amid their current risk of being relegated. Spurs are currently in 16th place in the Premier League table and just one point above the drop zone.

Igor Tudor was appointed as Tottenham’s caretaker manager last month on a deal that runs until the end of the season, but has lost all three matches in charge in north London so far.

That form has led to increased speculation about Tudor’s future at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with reports suggesting his future at Spurs is in doubt.

There are just nine Premier League matches left to play this season, with Tottenham back in top-flight action next weekend when they travel to face reigning champions Liverpool.

With Tottenham not in action this weekend due to the FA Cup taking centre stage, there were still matches taking place across the EFL, including in Cardiff.

Saturday saw Lincoln City claim a 2-0 win away at League One title rivals Cardiff City, which saw the club climb above the Bluebirds to the top of the third-tier standings.

Lincoln now have a 10-point cushion in the automatic promotion places, with a game in hand, and look the overwhelming favourites to be promoted to the Championship for next season.

As a result, there is a possibility that Lincoln and Tottenham could be in the same league next season, if Spurs do get relegated from the Premier League.

This possibility was not lost on sections of Lincoln fans, who poked fun at Tottenham with their celebrations after the win over Cardiff.

A video emerged on social media of Lincoln’s away fans in the Cardiff City Stadium after the home supporters had left, and began a chant at the expense of Tottenham.

"Tottenham away, ole, ole,” was chanted by sections of Lincoln fans.

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Tudor is expected to remain in charge of Tottenham for the Champions League last-16 tie against Atletico Madrid on Tuesday night, and the Spurs caretaker boss gave his verdict on the current situation at the club after the defeat to Crystal Palace in midweek.

“I don't want to speak about the club. I want to be positive,” Tudor said on Thursday after the defeat to Palace.

“I cannot tell the guys nothing in the end after this game. They gave everything. Unfortunately, we pay every detail. We pay every detail.

“If we can say that red card is a detail, there is always something to say. With all the problems we have now, missing the defenders today, missing the full-backs, these are the problems we already know. I don't want to speak about that, but we need to stay together now.

“I always repeat the same things, but it is how it is. Believing and growing. Do not make mistakes. This is the key in the end of football. Stay there, don't make mistakes. One goal, you always score. Two goals, you can score, but it's important to not make mistakes in football.

“Unfortunately, now, in this moment, we pay everything, but in return, I believe, we change everything. Still nine games to play. Still nine games to play.”

Igor Tudor is battling to preserve Tottenham's Premier League status and he needs to find a way to get a tune out of Spurs' underperforming squad including key players Cuti Romero and Micky van de Ven

Dominic Solanke revealed Tottenham's shellshocked stars "had a little chat" after Thursday's harrowing defeat to Crystal Palace.

A "little chat" won't quite cut it following another wretched home catastrophe that leaves Spurs hovering nervously just one point above the Premier League drop zone.

Solanke said: "We obviously need to realise the position that we're in. We know it's been so difficult this season with the injuries etc, but we can't change that now. So, us players on the pitch have to take the responsibility and ultimately change that as soon as possible."

The England international marksman is absolutely right but if Tottenham's fractured dressing room has yet to realise the severity of the situation, the Europa League winners are facing a whopping £250million loss in potential revenue if they're relegated to the Championship - they likely never will.

Statistically, this is as bad as it's ever been for Spurs in the Premier League era and they have not gone 11 straight matches without a top-flight victory since 1975.

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Tottenham are playing like a team of individuals who believe they are personally too good to play in the EFL next season but the club's dejected fanbase deserves so much better.

In fairness to Solanke, he looks primed to lead the charge to survival alongside versatile teenage braveheart Archie Gray.

The centre-forward's credible return of five goals in 11 matches since returning from a long-term ankle injury has underlined both his value and the importance of keeping the striker fit.

Beyond that, interim boss Igor Tudor's questionable tactics, scattergun selections and brutal press-conference remarks have offered little hope he can spark a drastic upturn in form.

There is a sense he's merely relying on Tottenham's big-name characters to pull Spurs from the dirt but if this season is anything to go by, that seems a fruitless endeavour.

Captain Cuti Romero has just served his fourth separate suspension of the season and if he collects one more Premier League booking in any of Spurs' next four top-flight matches, he will serve another two-game ban for accumulating 10 yellow cards.

Defensive partner Micky van de Ven will miss the trip to Liverpool following his midweek dismissal against Palace and goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario looks a bag of nerves every time he takes to the field.

The two other experienced senior players in Thomas Frank's five-man leadership group, James Maddison and Ben Davies, are sidelined through injury.

During a pre-match flash interview with SPURSPLAY, Tudor urged his troops to "play with their brains" and "protect the goal."

Frankly they did neither, though there is still something to be said about the tone of the Croatian's messaging ahead of a must-win home fixture versus an Eagles side that had only recorded three victories from their past 18 matches in all competitions.

Tudor is obviously not solely responsible for this staggering decline but the clock is now ticking and Tottenham's very own Mr Fix It must now take it upon himself to find solutions as the unthinkable is now very much possible.

EXCLUSIVE: Relegated Tottenham player fires warning to club with Harry Kane theory

EXCLUSIVE: Former Tottenham player Micky Stead has opened up on experiencing the club's last relegation from the top-flight as the current side look to avoid the same fate

Few can offer a first-hand account of Tottenham Hotspur's last relegation from the top-flight. Not since the late 1970s have Spurs played in English football's second tier.

But just like the 1976/77 campaign - Tottenham are facing the drop. Spurs finished rock bottom of the old First Division that season - two points from safety.

And now, 49 years later, Thursday's 3-1 defeat to Crystal Palace leaves the north London club facing another unthinkable relegation. A so-called Premier League 'big six' club, the ninth-richest on the planet, are now staring down the prospect of falling into the EFL Championship. It would have been unimaginable when club legend Harry Kane was firing in goal after goal or when they reached the Champions League final under Mauricio Pochettino in 2019.

Micky Stead is one former player who featured for the last relegated Spurs team - a side which included stars such as Glenn Hoddle, Pat Jennings and Peter Taylor. Just 20 years old at the time, he made eight appearances in that fateful season.

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Now a cab driver, he speaks exclusively to football.london on what a relegation at Tottenham looked like.

"I wasn't good enough to play in that Spurs team, perhaps that's the answer," he admitted. "When you go and tell me you're a young lad, you need to play a few games, and I wasn't good enough to hold my place down.

"I'd say for me to play, Spurs must have been struggling. That's a fair assessment, I reckon.

"I was trying to do the best for Tottenham, and experience-wise, we had quite a lot of experience in that team, and I don't think we should have gone down, actually.

"But when you're going through a hard time, it's difficult to get the breaks, so everything breaks against you.

"Look at Liverpool this season. They go to Wolves on a bit of a bad run and they get beat. But then look at West Ham. They've had a few good results, and all of a sudden they look like they could get out of it."

Relegation for any team is a sucker-punch. For Stead, that reality transformed how he felt on the pitch.

The 69-year-old said: "You feel sick to your stomach, I tell you. If you make a mistake, you're absolutely sick.

"No matter how your teammates try and help you out and tell you 'don't worry,' and 'keep going', you're absolutely gutted.

"You're a young boy, playing in that team. If you're playing with a lot of confidence, you're a better player than when you ain't.

"You can see that even in really top-class players. Once they get affected by a bit of pressure and they're not confident, they're not the same."

Stead also offers his view on how Kane's departure to Bayern Munich in 2023 signalled the current team's dramatic decline.

"I'm gutted for them really," he said. "The players will be disappointed. Everyone's disappointed.

"I don't think we've had the vision to grow the club. We've got everything. We've got the stadium, we've got the training facilities, we've got the scouting but you look at what happened with Harry Kane.

"He's gone to Germany, and this is his third season there. Why couldn't Spurs keep him? Because he wanted to win something, so he must have known.

"He's scoring goals for fun there and could have been doing that in the Premier League. It's just a lot of changes at Spurs."

The Croatian has endured a torrid time since taking over as Spurs manager, but he's no stranger to discord amongst a squad

Tottenham Hotspur boss Igor Tudor faced disarray and player unrest at former club Marseille that left five players banished from training.

Spurs' season hit a dramatic new low on Thursday night when they were beaten 3-1 by Crystal Palace at home, leaving them teetering on the edge of the relegation places. Tudor has failed to alleviate any of the pressure in north London after Spurs parted ways with Thomas Frank in February following a run of poor results.

The Croatian has lost all three of his matches in charge so far and his torrid experience somewhat echoes the doomed spell he endured in France between 2022 and 2023. Despite leading Marseille to third in Ligue 1, Tudor, 47, left the club 12 months after joining them, citing "tiredness."

His time at the Velodrome was marked by discord and infighting. It was perhaps destined to end in tears. The Marseille squad were thought to be fond of former boss Jorge Sampaoli, who left due to the club's transfer policy.

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Upon arriving in France, there was every indication that the squad were immediately unhappy with Tudor's appointment, with palpable tension rumoured between the coach and his players amid an intense pre-season.

What followed was nothing short of full-blown chaos. Brazilian midfielder Gerson was thought to have had a heated exchange with Tudor and was removed from training.

French full-back Jordan Amavi was then dropped from the first team squad entirely after an argument with Tudor on the same day. Turkish winger Cengiz Under also disagreed with his head coach, but wasn't believed to have been given his marching orders from the sessions.

Former Arsenal defender Nuno Tavares was also given the boot from a training session. Senegal striker Bamba Dieng was reportedly axed too, but the reasons for that are unclear.

Another ex-Gunner, Matteo Guendouzi, clashed with Tudor and also felt his manager's wrath. Guendouzi allegedly had a "lively altercation" with Tudor during the team's 2-0 pre-season defeat to AC Milan. It resulted in the Frenchman heading off the pitch for a shower, packing his belongings and not coming out for the second half.

Speaking on his penchant for discipline, Tudor said: “In my football, there is a feature, you have to run. And if you don’t… If I see one player that doesn’t run in training, I’ll say it once, twice and then on the third time of asking, I’ll intervene."

Discussing a player, who was later revealed to be Tavares, Tudor claimed the international was not making “necessary efforts" as the reason for ostracising the current Lazio star.

Tudor's rocky tenure also took a surreal turn after former Italian international, Mauro Camoranesi, lasted just a week as assistant coach, despite Tudor introducing him to his players as his “right arm."

After Tudor departed for Lazio, where he lasted three months, Marseille president Pablo Longaria told Calciomercato: “I wouldn’t wish what Igor suffered on my worst enemy.

“He found himself at a club where everyone was against him, from the inside and outside. Many people organised themselves to increase the tension against him. People were asking for Jorge Sampaoli to return, while others wanted to give power to the players.

“There were requests to fan groups to oust the coach. When I returned to Marseille, I felt that pre-season was like the 37th matchday of the championship, you had to play your life. It’s not normal.”

Following the defeat to Palace, Tudor's comments suggested he is ready to act on those Spurs players who don't quickly acquiesce to his methods, harking back to his strict regime in France. "I will tell you now, maybe it will sound strange, but I believe more after this game than I believed before," said Tudor.

"I saw something. I need to choose the right guys because the boat is going in the direction that I want to go, and needs to go, and who is in the boat can stay. Otherwise they can leave the boat."

It doesn't get any easier for Spurs next week. They travel first to Atletico Madrid for the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie, and then head to Liverpool in the league.

Former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has been linked with a return to management amid claims that he could leave his role as Red Bull’s global head of soccer

Jurgen Klopp is not in negotiations with Real Madrid amid links linking him with Tottenham Hotspur. Klopp stepped down as Liverpool manager in the summer of 2024, after almost nine years in charge, to take a break from management.

The German has since become the global head of soccer for the Red Bull Group. However, there have been claims in recent weeks that he is keen to return to management.

Los Blancos have been mentioned as a possible destination in recent weeks following Xabi Alonso’s departure in January. While Tottenham have also been linked as they continue to search for a long-term successor to Thomas Frank.

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But responding to the recent speculation, Klopp’s agent, Marc Kosicke, told 365Scores, relayed by Abola: "Jurgen Klopp is very happy with his current role at Red Bull, and what is being said about negotiations to coach Real Madrid are just rumours for now."

Kosicke also specifically denied reports that Klopp could go into international management ahead of the World Cup. He said: "There's no need to answer questions about things that are just rumours. Nobody has contacted us at this time."

The German won the Champions League and Premier League at Liverpool, and his close bond with the club prompted him to state he would never coach another English side.

"What I know definitely – I will never, ever manage a different club in England than Liverpool, 100%," Klopp said when announcing he would step down as Liverpool boss. "That's not possible. My love for this club, my respect for the people, is too big.

"I couldn't. I couldn't for a second think about it. There's no chance. This is part of my life, we are part of the family, we feel home here. There's no chance to do that. But all the rest, will I ever work again? Of course, I know myself, I cannot just sit around.

"I will find something else maybe to do. But I will not manage a club or a country at least for a year, that's not possible, I cannot do that and I don't want to. That's all."

A report published by Salzburger Nachrichten last month claimed that Klopp’s position was no longer secure at Red Bull, and the company would not stand in his way if he wished to return to management.

But responding to those claims, Mintzlaf told The Athletic: "That's complete nonsense and totally unfounded. On the contrary: We are extremely satisfied with Jurgen Klopp’s work.

"He invests a great deal, is in constant communication with our coaches and sporting directors, and is sustainably developing our Red Bull football philosophy.

"We are convinced that he is the right man for the job. That’s where we are focusing all our energy and attention."

Former Brighton and Marseille boss Roberto De Zerbi has been linked with replacing Igor Tudor as Tottenham Hotspur manager

Roberto De Zerbi continues to be linked with the manager’s job at Tottenham Hotspur, and his past comments hint an appointment could be possible. Spurs are currently battling to avoid relegation from the Premier League, but do have a Champions League last-16 tie against Atletico Madrid on the horizon.

Igor Tudor was appointed by Tottenham as the club’s interim manager until the end of the season, but has lost all three matches in charge in north London in the Premier League.

This run of form leaves Spurs in 16th place in the top-flight standings and just one point above the relegation zone.

As a result, there has been speculation surrounding Tudor’s future at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, despite the club only confirming his appointment last month.

De Zerbi’s name was mentioned in the report in The Telegraph, which claimed that Tudor’s future at Tottenham is in doubt, with the former Brighton boss mentioned as a potential successor.

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The 46-year-old has been out of work since leaving Marseille earlier this year, and was heavily linked with the vacant Tottenham role before Tudor was appointed.

The report claims that De Zerbi is a contender to be Tottenham manager from the summer, but only if the club remains in the Premier League and avoids relegation.

It was after De Zerbi left Brighton almost two years ago that he outlined his feelings on returning to a Premier League, with Manchester United also linked with a potential appointment in the past.

"There isn't any club – no one offered [anything]. At the moment, nothing," De Zerbi told Match of the Day at the end of the 2023/24 season.

"I hope to work in the Premier League again. I don't know where or when. But it was an honour to work in the Premier League."

This is not the only time that De Zerbi has addressed his future and rumours that Tottenham could be a destination, with the manager opening up on the speculation during his time at Brighton.

"I have a long contract and I am happy to work here [Brighton],” De Zerbi said during his time on the south coast.

"I'm enjoying working with these players, and I'm pleased with their performance. I cannot ask for more from them.

“We have a dream, and we know very well [that can] write a new history for the club. For us, that is very important and a very nice challenge."

Tottenham's teenage central defender Luka Vuskovic has starred on loan in Germany with Hamburger SV this season

Tottenham defender Luka Vuskovic is continuing to make headlines in Germany following an excellent loan spell in the Bundesliga with Hamburg.

Much has been said about the Croatia international in recent weeks as he's reportedly attracting transfer interest from European heavyweights Barcelona and Bayern Munich, respectively.

Now Vuskovic has added another string to his bow after scoring a penalty in this afternoon's Bundesliga fixture away to Wolfsburg.

The 19-year-old's goalscoring ability is certainly nothing new; he struck seven times on loan at Westerlo in Belgium last season and also scored three times in 14 appearances for Polish outfit Radomiak Radom.

But what's remarkable is that Vuskovic has now written a piece of history, becoming the first teenager to score a penalty for Hamburg in some 55 years.

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It's his fifth goal of the season in the Bundesliga which is why HSV are so desperate to keep him at the club on loan for another season.

Interestingly, the German side won another penalty in the second half but this time Jean-Luc Dompe stepped up from 12-yards, ahead of Vuskovic, and also slotted home.

Vuskovic has already outlined his desire to play alongside his brother Mario, who will be available again from November following the conclusion of his doping ban.

Last week, following the 1-0 home defeat against Bayer Leverkusen, Vuskovic threw his boots in anger at the substitutes' bench.

He later received praise from HSV head coach Merlin Polzin, who felt the player's fury highlighted his winning mentality.

Whatever happens between now and the end of the campaign, including in north London as Spurs battle to beat the drop, Vuskovic is set to return to Tottenham in the summer.

That's because Hamburg do not have a permanent transfer option, so even if they decide to try and re-sign the Croat on loan, they will have to negotiate with Tottenham.

There's already a sense he may have offers too as a number of clubs are monitoring his progress closely.

Though there are also doubts over Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven's long-term Tottenham futures, so Spurs might opt to keep Vuskovic if either of those players depart the club.

More pressingly, Igor Tudor's side do not even know what division they will be playing in next season, so they are unlikely to rush into any decision over Vuskovic's future.

He is also set to represent the Croatia national team at this summer's World Cup finals which will help him build even more experience.

It's time for a brand new episode of Talking Tottenham with our Spurs correspondents Alasdair Gold and Ryan Taylor as they discuss the club's problems

The threat of relegation hangs over Tottenham but it's not just about what it means for the players on the pitch.

Spurs currently sit just a point above the Premier League drop zone after results elsewhere went against them this week before their own defeat at home against Crystal Palace on Thursday night. Igor Tudor has been tasked with keeping the north London club up but has thus far lost all three of his opening games, all of them derbies.

Relegation would be disastrous for Tottenham with a reported £250million in lost revenue if they go down and many staff inside the club, across various departments, are fearing for their jobs with mass cutbacks expected if the Lilywhites were to drop into the Championship.

Much has been made of the wage reduction clauses built into many of the first team players' contracts in case of relegation, with most of them up to 50 per cent. However, what might have been overlooked within that is that many of the Spurs' younger players, including those put on loan, are also believed to have such clauses in their professional deals, meaning they will see their wages slashed if the north London outfit were to drop out of the Premier League.

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Our Tottenham correspondents Alasdair Gold and Ryan Taylor spoke about just how devastating relegation would be for the club and those within it and what needs to happen for Spurs to avoid it in the latest episode of their podcast Talking Tottenham.

Tottenham Hotspur sit one point clear of the bottom three as Premier League relegation pressure ramps up

Tottenham Hotspur are interested in appointing former Crystal Palace supremo Dougie Freedman as their new sporting director, according to reports.

Spurs have been searching for a replacement chief since Fabio Paratici left the club in January. BBC Sport has reported that Freedman is a person of interest in their hierarchical restructure despite concerns over interim head coach Igor Tudor.

Thursday's 3-1 defeat to Crystal Palace left the North London club mired in relegation danfer after their city rivals came from behind to inflict a third-straight defeat on the Croatian. Dominic Solanke had given Spurs the lead but Mickey van de Ven's red card turned the encounter on its head as Palace netted three goals in the latter stages of the first-half to compound the misery.

OPINION

Freedman has been credited as the person behind the successful period at Selhurst Park that saw Michael Olise, Eberechi Eze, Marc Guehi and Adam Wharton make the move to south London. It has been said that he isn't the only option, however, with Paul Winstanley and Tiago Pinto on their radar.

Spurs sit one point clear of the bottom three as they stare down the barrel of their first relegation since 1977. West Ham United have turned around their fortunes under Nuno Espirito Santo with Crysencio Summerville's winner helping them move closer to safety with their 1-0 win over Fulham.

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Elliot Anderson salvaged a crucial point for Nottingham Forest which leaves them outside the relegation zone but both the Nottinghamshire side and the Hammers are breathing down Spurs' neck as both sides look up, while Tudor's side are looking over their shoulder following a run of 11 matches without a win.

The Telegraph has reported that former Brighton & Hove Albion manager Roberto De Zerbi is a possible option to be installed as manager at the end of the season.

It has been said that talks have been held about appointing the Italian if Spurs avoid relegation. However, their focus is now on Premier League survival with a difficult run to come, starting with a trip to Liverpool - the one match Van de Ven will serve a suspension for.

Amid the difficult run, the former Juventus head coach says his belief has increased following their display against Palace - despite fans steaming for the exits in the first-half.

He said: "I understand the fans, they wanted more. We also wanted more. The red card changed everything.

"It might sound strange, I believe more after this game than I believed before. I saw something.

"I need to choose the right guys because the boat is going in the direction that I need to go, and who is in the boat can stay, otherwise, [they] can leave the boat.

"When the other players come back, I'm sure we'll have a good team and come back. It's not easy to accept the moment we are in now."