Football London

Tottenham Hotspur could be relegated from the Premier League this season if they don't start winning games

Tottenham Hotspur cannot afford to drop any points during the end-of-season run-in they want to stay in the Premier League. The Lilywhites are in grave danger of being relegated from the English top-flight, with just a point separating them from West Ham in the drop zone.

Despite losing to Nottingham Forest just before the international break, Spurs were fortunate not to drop into the bottom three. Had West Ham beaten Aston Villa, Tottenham would've spent the next three weeks in the relegation places.

Unfortunately for the Lilywhites, only two of their last seven games of the campaign will be against teams also in danger of going down. Spurs are first set to face Wolves, who are rock bottom of the Premier League and 13 points from safety, in April, before playing Leeds United, who are four points adrift of the drop zone, in May.

When Igor Tudor locks horns with Vitor Pereira and Daniel Farke, respectively, Tottenham will have the chance to take points from rival opposition and make up some much-needed ground. That said, four of the remaining seven games are against teams in the top half of the table, so there's very little margin for error.

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With that being said, football.london has calculated how many points Tottenham will need to avoid relegation from the English top-flight.

Tottenham cruise to safety

Last season, Tottenham won the relegation battle without breaking a sweat. The Lilywhites cruised to safety, finishing 17th with 38 points. Despite a disastrous domestic campaign, they won the Europa League and qualified for the Champions League.

Fight for top-flight status reaches new low

In 2023/24, the fight for survival in the English top-flight wasn't particularly competitive either. Nottingham Forest only had to win two of their last five games to escape the drop; both of which were away to Burnley and Sheffield United, who finished 19th and 20th, respectively.

Everton go toe-to-toe in relegation battle

In 2022/23, the battle was a little more competitive, with just two points separating Everton and Leicester City on the brink of relegation. Even Nottingham Forest, who ended the season in 16th with 38 points, were in danger of going down at one stage.

The Foxes went toe-to-toe with the Toffees at the end of the campaign, matching each of their last three results: one win, one draw, and one defeat. Had Everton not beaten Brighton and Leicester not lost to Fulham on matchday 35, the fight for survival would've been even closer!

Tottenham sucked into toughest battle to date

As it stands, Tottenham have 30 points on the board. In previous years, the Lilywhites would've only needed a couple of wins and maybe a draw from their last seven games to ensure they stay in the Premier League.

But this season, with only four points separating Leeds United in 15th from West Ham in 18th, sandwiching Forest and Tottenham, there's very little margin for error. Unfortunately for Spurs, their relegation rivals are in better form, having each won more points in the last five games.

So, in order to stay in the English top-flight this term, Igor Tudor's side may need to end the campaign with as many as 40 points. That would require Tottenham to win three and draw one, allowing for some wriggle room.

The Tottenham Hotspur captain has been linked yet again with a move to Spain during a difficult season at the Premier League club

Cristian Romero does not have a release clause in his Tottenham contract that allows him to join La Liga's big clubs, football.london understands.

The Spurs captain signed a bumper new contract last summer to ward off interest from Atletico Madrid but there have been reports in Spain in recent days that the deal, which lasts until 2029, includes a €60million release clause for Atletico as well as fellow La Liga giants Real Madrid and Barcelona.

However, football.london understands that no such clause exists within Romero's contract and therefore any side looking to sign the 27-year-old centre-back this summer would be required to offer whatever price tag Spurs, who currently sit 17th in the Premier League, place on the skipper at the time.

There have also been suggestions that the Argentine had a gentlemen's agreement with former Spurs chairman Daniel Levy that he could depart for a top La Liga side if they made a major bid, but that that agreement left the building with Levy's departure last year.

Some inside Tottenham have played down suggestions of Levy making unsigned gentleman's agreements around multi-million pound contracts, although it's worth noting that Gareth Bale spoke publicly of such a one with the former chairman with regard to joining a foreign club in 2013 rather than a Premier League one.

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There were also claims of Luka Modric and Harry Kane having had similar gentlemen's agreements about their planned departures from the north London club.

Romero, who signed for Spurs from Atalanta in 2021, faces the immediate task of trying to save Spurs from the drop in the Premier League but he has signalled his desire to play in Spain at some point in his career.

"La Liga is the one [league] left to play in. I would love to, to tell you the truth," Romero told Argentinean media outlet TyC Sports before signing his lucrative new deal with Spurs last year. "I would love to play there because it's the league I'm missing."

Luka Vuskovic is set to return to Tottenham Hotspur this summer following the conclusion of his loan with Hamburger SV

Speculation over Luka Vuskovic's future will be rife over the coming months. But the truth is, there are so many different variables that will dictate where he'll be playing his football next season.

Not only that but a decision may not be reached until the back end of summer ahead of the new season because the talented teenager is heading to the World Cup with Croatia.

Firstly, Tottenham do not even know what division they will be playing their football in next season. They also do not know who will be in the dugout, leading the side.

Until those two details are clarified, it is hard to gauge whether Spurs will push to keep Vuskovic next season following his excellent loan spell with HSV.

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He has scored five goals in 24 Bundesliga appearances from the back and has received rave reviews in Germany where he is being tipped for a huge future in the game.

You can't help but feel he was easily good enough to play for Tottenham this season and he would have strengthened their squad, alongside Mikey Moore, as Spurs continue to fight their way towards survival.

Nonetheless, Vuskovic has received regular football this term and it's clear his German loan spell has benefitted his development. It will stand him in great stead for returning to Tottenham a better player.

Spurs effectively have three options. They can keep Vuskovic and play him, send him out on loan again or sell him permanently. All three avenues appear realistic at this moment in time.

Vuskovic would like to play top-flight football and it's difficult to envisage him being keen on playing in the Championship when he's just starred in one of Europe's top-five domestic leagues.

He is also commanding interest from Spanish giants Barcelona, who have held dialogue with his agent Pini Zahavi over a potential summer transfer deal.

Another club which would like to sign him, Hamburg, could only finance another loan and part of their pitch is pairing Vuskovic with his brother, Mario, who is due to complete his doping ban later this year.

But in all honesty, Vuskovic is sure to have more attractive offers, as a number of clubs including Liverpool, Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen, RB Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund have all been linked with his signature. Barcelona's interest appears more concrete at this stage, however.

If Tottenham were to sell Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven at the end of the season, Vuskovic is the natural heir to the throne.]

Tottenham star Dejan Kulusevski has not played this season and was spotted limping when making an appearance at Sweden's training camp but has now moved to allay new fears

Tottenham star Dejan Kulusevski has revealed he has been under the knife again to resolve a problem with his knee. Concerns were raised after the Sweden international was spotted limping earlier this week, but Kulusevski has declared the problem is nothing to worry about.

The former Juventus ace explained that he had undergone a procedure to remove some material from the area. "Just to clarify things," he posted on his Instagram story.

"I'm limping because I had a small intervention in the knee 2 weeks ago. Went in and took out what was not supposed to be there.

"Knee is great now. Thanks for all the support. God is the greatest. Always."

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Kulusevski has not played this season after undergoing patella surgery last May. The 25-year-old is working tirelessly to return before the end of the season but the complex nature of his injury means that is not certain.

The Sweden international turned up to his nation's camp this week ahead of their World Cup play-off semi-final against Ukraine to provide his support. Graham Potter offered a brief update on his progress ahead of that.

"Dejan is making progress but not as quickly as we would have liked," he said.

"Dejan is in Spain so I think he will come here and meet us. It will be nice to see him. At the stage he is in his rehab, it is okay for him," Potter told Swedish media outlet Aftonbladet.

"For others it is more difficult because they are at a stage in their rehab where it means it is more difficult to be on the pitch. But Dejan will come by and it will be fantastic."

Kulusevski's knee specialist has been reported to be based in Barcelona. It has been suggested the star has visited doctor Ramon Cugat.

The Spurs star recorded 10 goals and 11 assists in all competitions last season as he formed a crucial part of Ange Postecoglou's side that earned Europa League glory in Bilbao, though he did not play in the final win over Manchester United.

A number of Spurs stars will soon hope to be back in action with a lengthy break until the Premier League's return. Guglielmo Vicario underwent his hernia surgery on Monday and hopes to be back within the next month.

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly in talks with a new manager amid their struggles in the Premier League, with conversations said to have taken place with Adi Hutter

Tottenham have already held talks with Adi Hutter about becoming their next manager, according to reports in France. Igor Tudor's position at the club appears uncertain, having won just one game since being appointed.

The Lilywhites' 3-0 hammering by Nottingham Forest put Tudor's future in the spotlight once again following a promising win over Atletico Madrid. Spurs sit 17th in the Premier League and are just one point clear of rivals West Ham in the relegation zone.

Tudor was informed following the defeat to Forest that his father, Mario, had passed away. Bruno Saltor, the Croatian's assistant, took on his media duties.

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Tottenham will be sensitive to his situation, but football.london understands there is a growing belief that a mutual agreement over an exit is the most likely eventuality now. The 47-year-old would then able to focus on family matters, while Spurs focus their attention on the huge pressures of a relegation battle.

Contacts have been established with Adi Hütter. According to our information, Tottenham have already begun discussions with Adi Hütter, Monaco's manager between 2023 and 2025, regarding a possible successor, although no agreement has yet been finalised.

L'Equipe reports that Hutter has been contacted and discussions with the former Monaco boss are underway. The Austrian was in charge of the Ligue 1 club from 2023 until been given his marching orders late last year.

No agreement has been finalised for the 56-year-old, who also has no Premier League experience. Hutter is not alone in being linked to the job, however.

Roberto De Zerbi has been linked with a move to north London, while it is possible that Marco Rose or Edin Terzic are considered once again after being looked at before Tudor was appointed.

Former boss Mauricio Pochettino has also been touted, but the ex-Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain coach is unlikely to be available immediately. The Argentine is in charge of the United States until after World Cup.

Pochettino has recently spoken about his love for the Premier League, however. “I miss the football scene in England. I love the country, its culture, the football culture,” Pochettino told L’Equipe.

“For anyone with a competitive spirit who wants to measure themselves against others and test their limits, it's the ideal place. Here, you have to give your best constantly.”

Tottenham do not play again until April 12 when they make the trip to the Stadium of Light to face Sunderland. They have not tasted victory in the Premier League this year and last defeated Crystal Palace in December.

Tottenham sit just one point above the Premier League relegation zone following a 3-0 home loss against Nottingham Forest on Sunday

Alan Shearer has said that Tottenham are in a ‘mess’ – with or without Igor Tudor – as the club faces a decision over the interim manager’s future.

Tudor joined Spurs on a deal until the end of the season in February. But the team have failed to win any of his five Premier League games in charge and have crashed out of the Champions League.

A draw against Liverpool and a win on the night in the second leg of their Champions League clash against Atletico Madrid raised hope that Spurs were starting to turn things around.

But that was dashed on Sunday when they fell to a 3-0 home defeat against relegation rivals Nottingham Forest. The result leaves Tottenham just one point clear of the bottom three.

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It has also raised the heat on Tudor, with reports suggesting he could face the sack. Tottenham will be cautious of making a hasty decision with the manager dealing with the death of his father over the weekend.

Shearer has refused to blame Tudor for the ‘mess’ that Spurs find themselves in. He also highlighted the big improvement needed if the team are to beat off relegation at the end of the season.

Speaking to Betfair, the former striker said: “It was really poor at the weekend again for Spurs. I watched the whole game and the alarming thing for Spurs is being beaten 3-0 by a team who you're scrapping with yourselves, particularly at home.

“And again, where was the response? Forest scored late on in the first half, and you're thinking, OK, what have you got?

“Give us something in reply, and the second half was even worse. You can feel the edginess, and I get that. I understand that. But defensively, they're just all over the place, and that's more important than anything, particularly at any level of football.

“You can't defend like that, like they did. The lack of energy or drive to stop balls coming into the box is one thing, and then the lack of fighting and scraping when people are in and around the box. There wasn’t anyone anywhere near Morgan Gibbs-White before his goal. The alarming thing for Spurs is how are they going to keep a clean sheet? They're just a mess defensively."

Shearer made clear: “It's not Igor Tudor’s fault, but obviously, he's picked up one point from five games, but the club was a mess before he got there.

“You're not going to be put in his situation without the club being in a mess. As tough as it is, he hasn't been able to have an impact on the squad and on the Football Club. Now, clearly, he's going through a terrible, horrible time off the pitch in terms of the death of his father. It's an impossible time for him and Spurs are in a deep mess.”

The international break and the FA Cup quarter-finals mean that there will be a bit of time before Tottenham are back in action. They will look to kick-start their fight for survival when they travel to take on Sunderland on Sunday, April 12 (2pm kick-off).

Tottenham attacking midfielder Dejan Kulusevski is spending some time with the Sweden national team during the international break

Dejan Kulusevski was with the Swedish national team on Wednesday ahead of their crunch World Cup play-off semi-final against Ukraine.

The Tottenham attacker has yet to play this season after undergoing patella surgery last May, however, he is keen to support his nation as they look to clinch a ticket to North America.

According to Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet, Kulusevski was limping as he walked on the training pitch, which will concern Spurs.

'Deki' did not issue a direct update on his fitness but he did share a message ahead of Thursday's big game in Valencia, telling reporters: "There will be a win, that's my comment."

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Kulusevski is working tirelessly to return before the end of the season but that is by no means guaranteed because of the complex injury.

He is said to have spoken to Graham Potter, who is also without Liverpool striker Alexander Isak versus Ukraine, on the training field on Wednesday.

Potter revealed earlier this week that Kulusevski would be visiting the group as he was already spending time in Spain.

The former West Ham, Chelsea and Brighton boss said: "Dejan is in Spain so I think he will come here and meet us. It will be nice to see him. At the stage he is in his rehab, it is okay for him.

"For others it is more difficult because they are at a stage in their rehab where it means it is more difficult to be on the pitch. But Dejan will come by and it will be fantastic."

Spurs interim boss Igor Tudor made it clear he could not provide a fresh update on Kulusevski ahead of the 3-0 Premier League defeat to Nottingham Forest, though there's hope James Maddison could be back before the end of the campaign.

The 25-year-old registered 10 goals and 11 assists in all competitions last season and was an integral part of Ange Postecoglou's side that fired the club to Europa League glory in Bilbao, even though he did not play in the final.

There have been unconfirmed suggestions over the past few months that Kulusevski has visited world-renowned Barcelona-based doctor Ramon Cugat, who specialises in knee injuries.

Thomas Frank revealed that Kulusevski received an injection in December and that Tottenham were waiting to see how he responded to the treatment. Updates have been few and far between since then.

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly looking to replace Igor Tudor and the fourth head coach change in a year could have an impact for Arsenal

Igor Tudor is reportedly on the verge of being replaced at Tottenham Hotspur after an damaging defeat at home to fellow strugglers Nottingham Forest. What the impact of this decision, and their replacement, can have on Arsenal might seem, from first glance, meagre, but football.london is going to dig into the ramifications.

Out of the race for the European places, out of the League Cup, out of the FA Cup and out of the Champions League. The only thing left for Spurs is to try and keep their Premier League status, while their north London rivals, the Gunners, aim to win the entire division.

Adi Hutter is the name currently doing the rounds and looks a potential candidate to replace Tudor, should the Croatian leave his post. football.london reported this week that there is a growing belief among some inside Spurs that a mutual parting of the ways with Tudor is the likeliest scenario, but it is a delicate situation after the 47-year-old was informed that his father Mario had passed away immediately after the Forest defeat.

Should Tudor indeed depart in the coming days, what could a fourth head coach change in a year at Tottenham mean for Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal side? football.london takes a look below...

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The title race

Arsenal have already thanked their bitter rivals for their help in the title race this season. Not only did they manage to put eight goals past them in two matches, securing six points once again, but Thomas Frank managed to even steal points away from Manchester City before he was sacked.

The only relegation-threatened side City still have to play following back-to-back draws with Nottingham Forest and West Ham United is Burnley. Spurs are currently ten points ahead of Scott Parker’s side giving the Northwest club little hope of survival.

However, should a change in coach fail to improve Tottenham’s form and Burnley manage to secure a few wins before they host Man City on April 26, it will keep motivation high for The Clarets. Fingers crossed!

They couldn’t, could they?

The idea of Tottenham genuinely being relegated seems too far-fetched to be real, and yet as each week passes, that reality continues to grow. The defeat to Forest convinced many that Spurs could indeed be taking their state-of-the-art stadium into the second tier.

A sacking of an interim coach will definitely have an impact; we just do not know yet what that impact will be. It could worsen their plight or improve it, but for Arsenal, there will certainly be some split in the fan base.

Some will argue they would miss the North London Derby, especially considering just how easy it has become for the Gunners, claiming nine wins from the last 11 meetings. However, being the bitterest of rivals, naturally, others will relish seeing such a monumental collapse and eventual relegation.

The real race

Certainly, the biggest advantage any team has in the respective races to claim a title, secure European qualification, or maintain their Premier League status is Arsenal right now. The best battle from an entertainment factor is not at either end of the division, and instead Arsenal fans have enjoyed from a distance watching Liverpool, Aston Villa, Manchester United and Chelsea do their best to allow the likes of Brentford, Fulham and Everton a chance at stealing into the top spots before the season ends.

Whereas nine points separate the Gunners and Manchester City, the same difference is present between third-place United and eighth-place Everton. Spurs can have a say in keeping Arsenal supporters engaged in the other two battles with games against Brighton, Villa, Chelsea and Everton still to come, which in some ways highlights just how tricky their run-in remains in picking up points.

Former Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi continues to be linked with the Tottenham Hotspur job - and has now had a change of heart in a new update

Roberto De Zerbi is reportedly prepared to step in and rescue Tottenham from the drop if he is handed the opportunity to take the reins. Spurs are facing the very real prospect of Championship football next season following a calamitous Premier League campaign, sitting just one point above the relegation zone and without a single league victory in 2026.

Igor Tudor was appointed as Thomas Frank's temporary replacement in February until the season's conclusion. Yet the Croatian has been unable to arrest the decline, with reports suggesting he could be dismissed early.

De Zerbi, who departed Marseille last month, has swiftly emerged as one of the frontrunners to succeed Tudor should he be relieved of his duties.

Recent reports indicated that De Zerbi had no desire to return to management until at least the beginning of next season, with the Italian said to be eager for a break from football, as had been his intention upon leaving Marseille.

However, the i now claims that he would be willing to 'get his hands dirty' and accept the Tottenham position should he receive an approach from the club.

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According to those reports, Spurs are giving 'serious thought' to parting ways with Tudor before the campaign concludes, with De Zerbi apparently prepared to shoulder the responsibility of steering them to safety.

Tudor is currently dealing with the bereavement of his father, and Tottenham will be conscious of affording him the necessary time and space, though it is suggested that developments regarding his future could still unfold rapidly.

De Zerbi, meanwhile, is reportedly eager to make a return to the Premier League, where he enjoyed considerable success during his spell at Brighton between 2022 and 2024.

Mauricio Pochettino and Andoni Iraola are understood to have been earmarked as further potential candidates, though neither would be available before the summer at the earliest.

Several former players and managers have thrown their names into the hat, amongst them Harry Redknapp and Tim Sherwood.

Nevertheless, reports suggest Tottenham would be seeking a more contemporary candidate should Tudor be dismissed in the coming days.

It is also understood that Tudor could depart by mutual consent rather than facing the sack, given the personal difficulties he is currently navigating.

How events will unfold at Tottenham during the international break remains to be seen, with club hierarchy believed to be deliberating over some significant decisions as they look to stave off the unthinkable prospect of dropping down to the Championship.

Ange Postecoglou has been speaking about Tottenham's current crisis during a frank interview with Melbourne-based radio station SEN 1116

Ange Postecoglou insists his connection with Tottenham will last forever - and he has also backed his former employers to survive the dreaded drop to the Championship.

Speaking to Melbourne-based radio station SEN 1116, the Aussie acknowledged that Spurs are "in a hell of a fight" to keep their head above water in the Premier League.

But he feels they have enough quality in their ranks to preserve their top-flight status, explaining when asked how he feels about Tottenham's ongoing struggles: “Not great, I still have a really strong attachment to the club.

“It was two years and they were by no means easy years, but we invested a lot into them. Second last game we won a European trophy which was an incredible high.

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“The connection there will be there forever. To watch them struggle has not been easy and it’s not the way I thought it would go. They’re in a hell of a fight, relegation is massive for any club but for Tottenham, it’s a pretty big deal.

“They have some fighting to do and they have the quality to get out. They need a circuit-breaker for sure.”

Postecoglou was brutally relieved of his duties by Daniel Levy last summer after guiding Tottenham to Europa League glory in Bilbao, ending the club's gruelling 17-year wait for silverware.

He was back in work with Nottingham Forest, another relegation contender, in September but was sacked just 39 days later after eight matches without a win in all competitions.

The 60-year-old admits he watched his two former sides do battle on Sunday, on TV, as ruthless Forest ran out 3-0 winners at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to leapfrog their relegation rivals.

He continued: “I did watch it – I’m still very much invested – particularly in Spurs because of the players and some of the staff there.

“We had two years together, you always have that attachment. If you had have told me in May last year that this would be the scenario of watching two teams I have managed in the last calendar year I would have said ‘no that’s beyond the realms of possibility’.

"I tuned in and I watched. It was an uncomfortable watch, I didn’t enjoy it that’s for sure."

Postecoglou also made it clear he would prefer to wait until the summer, when he would receive the chance to oversee a full pre-season, to step back into work.

That said, he is chomping at the bit for his next challenge and feels he has unfinished business in the Premier League.