Football London

Tottenham have been plagued by injuries this season but a number of players could be back in contention to play under the club's next manager in the relegation battle

Tottenham are once again in the hunt for a new head coach after they parted ways with Igor Tudor, and whoever takes over will be keen to have a healthy squad at their disposal. That may be a difficult task given the scale of Spurs' issues.

Bruno Saltor will watch over the team first as the international break continues, but Tottenham plan to have a new face in charge by the time their international stars return. They will then have seven matches to ensure that Spurs avoid the drop to the Championship.

Wilson Odobert and Dejan Kulusevski are not set to be available for the battle. Odobert ruptured his ACL in February and is not expected back until near the end of 2026.

Kulusevski is on his way back from persistent knee trouble and revealed that he'd once again been under the knife. The Sweden international is not anticipated to return until the end of the season.

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There is slightly more hope for James Maddison. The playmaker is already undertaking some ball work and sprinting but is currently slated to return on the final day of the season on May 24.

Likewise, Ben Davies' return is uncertain after he broke his ankle earlier this season. Yves Bissouma's availability is also far from sure after he was absent from the squad against Forest.

There will be some more immediate reinforcements by the time Tottenham face Sunderland in April. Mathys Tel, Mohammed Kudus and Rodrigo Bentancur are all in a race for fitness for that clash.

Tel left the field earlier in defeat to Nottingham Forest and withdrew from international duty with the French under-21s due to a groin injury. Spurs will be hopeful of his return, given the promise he has shown recently.

Bentancur and Kudus have made good progress. Before his exit, Tudor suggested that both could soon play some part in training with the squad before the club's next fixture.

Tudor said: “We have these three big weeks after the game on Sunday. “[Kudus will return for] probably some part of things with the squad, maybe in ten days?

"I'm not sure, we need to check, but he is progressing very well, already with the ball.

“We hope the medical staff will make us some nice surprise. It will be very, very, very important to have them.”

Guglielmo Vicario has gone under the knife, missing the international break and is due to miss the clash with Sunderland. The Italian goalkeeper's minor surgery on a hernia was timed to minimise disruption, and he should be back by the following week, however.

I know Mauricio had a very good relationship with Daniel Levy. Mauricio is very, very smart and his staff are very smart. I think that would need to be a longer conversation with the new board.

There are two things here. One, Mauricio is the type of individual who has already committed to the World Cup with the United States this summer. He's going to put all of his energy and effort into that. He's not going to have an eye on something else while trying to navigate a team through the World Cup.

Obstacle number two is that, just because of his love for Tottenham and how well he did when he was last there, this is a completely different Tottenham. So he'd have to meet with the board, like what he hears, and make sure he and the staff can be successful there. I don't think that's a simple fix.

If it is Pochettino, that has to wait. We have international fixture dates at the end of March, and then April, May, June, you're going to be in the World Cup. Mauricio is not going to be doing any press conferences, any contract talks, anything while all of that's going on. That's how he operates.

Tottenham are expected to appoint a new manager in the next few days, and Liverpool icon Steven Gerrard has already made his recommendation

Steven Gerrard has suggested Roberto De Zerbi would be an ideal managerial addition for Tottenham following the departure of interim manager Igor Tudor. The club confirmed they had mutually agreed to part ways with Tudor after a difficult spell, with the Croatian winning just one of the seven games he oversaw.

Several names have already been linked with the vacancy, but the bookmakers' favourite is De Zerbi, who left Marseille in February. It's understood the Italian has held private talks with Spurs chiefs and may even be open to taking charge before the end of the season.

This would mark a U‑turn from his previously reported stance of preferring to take charge at the end of the season. The Italian is currently priced as the frontrunner with Bet365, while Mauricio Pochettino sits as the second favourite.

However, a reunion with Pochettino appears unlikely in the short term, as he is set to lead the United States at this summer's World Cup. Gerrard, meanwhile, has already made his thoughts clear on De Zerbi, who coached Brighton between 2022 and 2024.

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Following Ethan Nwaneri's loan move to Marseille from Arsenal, Gerrard suggested that working under De Zerbi can only help develop young players - something that would be hugely beneficial for Spurs given the number of emerging talents in their squad.

Spurs view Lucas Bergvall, Archie Gray, Mathys Tel, Pape Matar Sarr, Destiny Udogie, Xavi Simons, Souza and Wilson Odobert as promising talents, and have spent a combined £193million on them, according to Transfer Markt.

Using Nwaneri as an example, Gerrard told TNT Sports: "I think Mikel Arteta has been extremely clever here because he's sending him to De Zerbi as well, who has got a track record for improving players, and he will give him the time and education and development and he’ll get more game time playing for Marseille.

"If he gets, samples the league, samples the experiences, it’s not going to do him any harm. He's a top talent, and now he’s got to go and get experience and this will be great for him for the future.

"Give him different experiences, go and test him in France. Test him around Europe and hopefully in six months or if he extends it then he comes back with more games under his belt and more experience and he's a better player.

"But without a doubt, De Zerbi will make him a better player."

Nwaner's time with De Zerbi, however, was short‑lived, with the Italian leaving the French side after 18 months in charge. But it didn't take long for the youngster to speak highly of the coach.

"Roberto De Zerbi is also one of the best coaches in the world," he said.

Tottenham have parted company with their third head coach in the past nine months as they look for someone to save them from relegation

The Tottenham Hotspur Supporters' Trust have had their say on the confirmation that Igor Tudor has left the relegation-threatened club.

It has been a delicate situation at Spurs this week with Tudor having found out after the 3-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest that his father Mario had died. The 47-year-old interim head coach flew back to Croatia for the funeral this week as Tottenham had to decide what came next with the club 17th in the Premier League table and just a point above the drop zone.

football.london reported on Tuesday that there was a growing belief inside the club that a mutual parting of the ways with Tudor was the likeliest scenario with the 47-year-old then able to focus on family matters, and Spurs on the huge pressures of what lies ahead.

That came to pass on Sunday with confirmation of the Croatian's departure after a winless spell of 45 days at the helm.

The Tottenham Hotspur Supporters' Trust then released their own comment on social media regarding Tudor's departure.

"With thanks to Igor and his team for their efforts, and wishing him and his family time to come to terms with their loss," it read. "In a season of bad calls, let’s hope we now see a wise choice for the remainder of the campaign.

"Someone who understands the club and is up to the task in front of them: retaining our Premier League status. Someone we can all be proud of and who can bring some much needed success and enjoyment to our long suffering fanbase."

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football.london understands that Spurs CEO Vinai Venkatesham and sporting director Johan Lange are looking to have a new head coach in place in time for when the players are back from international duty, giving them all 10 days to work together ahead of the Premier League game at Sunderland. Coach Bruno Saltor has remained and will lead training for those handful of Tottenham players at Hotspur Way at the moment.

The club's statement on Tudor's exit had read: "We can confirm that it has been mutually agreed for head coach Igor Tudor to leave the club with immediate effect. Tomislav Rogic and Riccardo Ragnacci have also left their respective roles of Goalkeeping Coach and Physical Coach.

"We thank Igor, Tomislav and Riccardo for their efforts during the past six weeks, in which they worked tirelessly. We also acknowledge the bereavement that Igor has recently suffered and send our support to him and his family at this difficult time. An update on a new head coach will be provided in due course."

Football London takes a look at the odds on who will take over from Igor Tudor at Tottenham after his recent departure

Roberto De Zerbi is the favourite to be named the next Tottenham Hotspur manager. Igor Tudor left his role as interim manager of the north Londoners one week after the 3-0 home defeat to Nottingham Forest.

De Zerbi, who left Marseille in February, is the bookies choice to become the next Spurs manager. It's understood the Italian has held private talks with Spurs chiefs and may even be willing to takeover the team this season; a U-turn on his previously reported position of preferring to take charge at the end of the season.

Tottenham are perilously close to the relegation zone with Tudor leaving the club in 17th position, one point above 18th placed West Ham United. As the club ponder their next decision, Football.London takes a look at who the bookies believes could take charge.

According to Bet365, De Zerbi is the favourite to walk into the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. He is currently priced at 7/4.

Meanwhile, an emotional reunion with Mauricio Pochettino is currently listed at 4/1, but any potential return for the Argentine would take place after the World Cup, where he will be guiding hosts the USA.

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Relegation battling specialist and former Burnley manager Sean Dyche, who is 8/1 to be appointed by the club. Former Monaco and Borussia Monchengladbach manager Adi Hutter is also odds of 8/1.

The Austrian manager is also ranked slightly ahead of former Spurs manager Harry Redknapp, who has repeatedly thrown his hat into the ring by publicly saying how much he would relish taking charge of Tottenham again, 14 years after he left the club.

Below is the list of potential bosses who could takeover in the eyes of Bet365 (odds correct at the time of publishing):

Roberto De Zerbi 7/4

Mauricio Pochettino 4/1

Sean Dyche 8/1

Adi Hutter 8/1

Harry Redknapp 10/1

Marco Silva 12/1

Robbie Keane 12/1

Thiago Motta 12/1

Oliver Glasner 16/1

Marco Rose 20/1

When Tottenham confirmed Tudor's departure for the club, they released an official statement on their social media pages. It said: "We can confirm that it has been mutually agreed for Head Coach Igor Tudor to leave the Club with immediate effect.

"Tomislav Rogic and Riccardo Ragnacci have also left their respective roles of Goalkeeping Coach and Physical Coach. We thank Igor, Tomislav and Riccardo for their efforts during the past six weeks, in which they worked tirelessly.

"We also acknowledge the bereavement that Igor has recently suffered and send our support to him and his family at this difficult time. An update on a new Head Coach will be provided in due course."

Tottenham have a difficult run-in to bring an end to a nightmare campaign. After the international break, they must travel to Sunderland on April 12, host Brighton on April 18 and then travel to Wolverhampton Wanderers on April 25.

The final four matches of the campaign are also tough, as they travel to Aston Villa, host Leeds United, travel to Chelsea and then finish the campaign with a home match against Everton.

I know Mauricio had a very good relationship with Daniel Levy. Mauricio is very, very smart and his staff are very smart. I think that would need to be a longer conversation with the new board.

There are two things here. One, Mauricio is the type of individual who has already committed to the World Cup with the United States this summer. He's going to put all of his energy and effort into that. He's not going to have an eye on something else while trying to navigate a team through the World Cup.

Obstacle number two is that, just because of his love for Tottenham and how well he did when he was last there, this is a completely different Tottenham. So he'd have to meet with the board, like what he hears, and make sure he and the staff can be successful there. I don't think that's a simple fix.

If it is Pochettino, that has to wait. We have international fixture dates at the end of March, and then April, May, June, you're going to be in the World Cup. Mauricio is not going to be doing any press conferences, any contract talks, anything while all of that's going on. That's how he operates.

It's time for our international break tradition of rating all of the Tottenham players for the season so far and it has been a difficult one in N17

What a difference four months makes as Tottenham have tumbled down the Premier League table and their players' performances have dropped alarmingly.

football.london always rates the Spurs players for their efforts so far during each pause in the fixtures and it says a lot that the last time we did this during the previous international break in November, the north London club were third in the Premier League table. Under Thomas Frank they were unbeaten in the Champions League and through to the fourth round of the Carabao Cup while the FA Cup had not yet begun.

Four months on and Frank is gone, Tottenham are 17th in the table and just a point above the drop zone while they have exited the Champions League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup. In short it's been an utter disaster of a campaign and Spurs face the very real danger of relegation to the Championship.

While Frank played his part and his replacement Igor Tudor has not won a match in the Premier League yet, while the hierarchy are also under fire, the players must also take their share of the blame for this stinker of a season because they have not win a match in the league since December.

We're going to rate all of the players who have played 90 minutes or more, with no appearances yet for Dejan Kulusevksi or James Maddison. We'll discuss youngsters like Calum Olusesi, Luca Williams-Barnett, Jun'ai Byfield and James Roswell but not rate them.

Here are our Spurs player ratings for the season so far, and yes we're using half marks to help us out. As usual we're rating the players against their own expectations for this season rather than against each other.

Guglielmo Vicario

Vicario has played more minutes than anyone else, appearing in 43 matches, and we now know he has been struggling with a hernia problem for months. The Italian has struggled at times, particularly with his kicking, but he's also made some huge saves. It's worth noting though that Vicario has been left so exposed and only Burnley's Martin Dubravka and Bournemouth's Dorde Petrovic have faced more shots on target in the Premier League than Vicario's 131. However, the Italy international ranks 21st among the 23 goalkeepers used in the league this season for his save percentage with just 63.4 per cent. Vicario is expected to miss very little time after his surgery last week so we'll know just how much difference him being full fit makes. 5.5

Antonin Kinsky

Unfortunately, only one of the Czech keeper's three matches this season will be remembered and that's the 17 minutes in Madrid after the two Carabao Cup appearances, the second of which he had also made a mess of with Newcastle's second goal. It was a disaster in the Champions League unfortunately, there's no getting away from it, and the 23-year-old will need to bounce back from it. 2

Pedro Porro

The Spaniard has played the third most minutes of the season among the squad, contributing six assists and that first leg goal at Atletico. His defending though has not be great at times, particularly with one-vs-one performances against a string of wingers. He gets more stick than he deserves though for the rest of his game and he certainly cares about the club, but his displays have been such a mixed bag. 5.5

Djed Spence

It started well with his penitentiary stocked full of wingers but as the months wore on Spence seemed to get himself locked behind his own bars. He's a better one-vs-one defender than Porro, but his concentration and tracking back can be hit and miss as a frustrated Thomas Tuchel found on Friday night. Unlike his Spanish counterpart, Spence contributes very little going forward with wayward crossing, not helped by having little confidence in his left foot. No assists or goals in his 38 appearances so far this season. 5.5

Destiny Udogie

The Italian has had a season obliterated by injuries to his knee and hamstring. He's played in just 14 of the club's 31 Premier League games, getting the one assist. Hopefully like last season he has a strong end to the campaign. 4.5

Souza

The Brazilian just about sneaks into the rating category as he's played 144 minutes across four appearances. He was bright at Liverpool in an unexpected right wing role, albeit only touching the ball nine times at Anfield. Very lightweight and needs plenty of adaptation with not much to go on yet, but there are high hopes for the teenager. 5

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Cristian Romero

The new Tottenham captain led by example at the start of the season, fresh from that new contract, and has a remarkable 10 goal involvements as a centre-back in 31 matches with huge performances at Newcastle and in Europe particularly. However, leading by example fizzled out with four suspensions this season and his play has become erratic, with his lacklustre defending against Forest spotted by everyone. If he doesn't grab hold of this Spurs team then he will have a relegation to his name alongside all of those international trophies and the Europa League. 6.5

Micky van de Ven

Again it started so well as the Dutchman added goals to his game - seven of them - and as importantly availability, as he's played more minutes (3,313) than any other outfield Spurs player. By his own admission though, his levels have dropped and he's looked all over the place in some games in recent months. Getting taken off at half-time in the defeat to Forest, while it was a poor decision, summed up recent months for Van de Ven. 6.5

Jun'ai Byfield

A big season for the 17-year-old as he made his Champions League and Premier League debuts and did not look out of place at all. Some back issues caused by growing pains have meant a pause to proceedings but this season has been a big one for Byfield. N/A

Kevin Danso

The Austria international has been called up 29 times this season around a toe injury last month and he's battled away for the team and put in some strong performances. He also had those powerful long throws. Danso has been a very able back-up to Romero and Van de Ven and he's pushed his claims to start over them at times. Some might not like that he's getting the same rating as those two players, but remember this is about expectations for this season rather than comparing players. No current senior player at Spurs has as high a points per game total this season than Danso (1.45). 6.5

James Rowswell

A Premier League debut for the big 19-year-old and he did well in his couple of minutes on the pitch at Anfield, helping slow down a last-gasp Liverpool break. He will be hoping for further chances. N/A

Radu Dragusin

Back in action in December after his ACL injury and the Romanian has made nine appearances since. He still looks mostly like a player trying to regain his sharpness after so long out which is understandable. 4.5

Joao Palhinha

Started the season like a freight train and one of the bargains of the summer transfer window, with important strikes at Manchester City, against Wolves and that acrobatic effort against Doncaster in particular. Since then it hasn't quite worked out for the 30-year-old as he started to lose his starting spot, then had to fill in at centre-back before getting concussed in Madrid. Still though, the Portuguese has notched five goals and three assists for a defensive midfielder and it still feels like he could have a part to play in the remainder of the campaign. 6.5

Rodrigo Bentancur

Another one to get a new contract, the Uruguayan was inconsistent before his serious hamstring injury in January. At times, he was key with his composure on the ball, at other times that composure vanished and he put Spurs in trouble. Another long injury-enforced rest for him in recent months and he needs to come back fighting for Tottenham and to be sharp for the World Cup. 5

Lucas Bergvall

Another season of development and ankle injury frustration for the young Swede, who started off playing in a more advanced number 10 role than he was last season. He's contributed one goal and four assists, while also forcing the Villarreal own goal that ended up being the winner that night. It's easy to forget Bergvall is still only 20 because he's played 73 times already for the club. Back after a two-month lay-off and he needs to regain his sharpness to contribute in the run-in. 6

Pape Matar Sarr

A mixed season for the Senegal international with two goals and three assists from the midfield and some energetic all-action displays, but also some underwhelming performances. Missed the middle chunk of the season due to the Africa Cup of Nations and it's been a stop-start campaign for the 23-year-old. 5.5

Archie Gray

One of the positive lights of Tottenham's troubled season. Gray, who only stopped being a teenager this month, has already hit 78 appearances for the club and he's played here, there and everywhere for the team. He's had to drive on more experienced team-mates in numerous matches from whatever part of the pitch he's been in and has contributed two goals and three assists, the same as Sarr but with more impact across the pitch. Yes, he's been caught out at times in unnatural positions like left-back, but Gray will be the future of this club's midfield for years to come, if they can keep him. 7

Calum Olusesi

A very composed Premier League debut and then first Champions League outing which only begged the question why the 19-year-old wasn't trusted before. N/A

Yves Bissouma

Back in from the cold and a knee injury before playing eight Premier League matches only to then return to the land of injury with a muscle problem. Little moments but nothing much on display to scream that he has to play. 4

Conor Gallagher

Gallagher has made 11 appearances for Spurs since arriving in January and there's no getting away from the fact that he's been a huge disappointment so far. Whether that's fitting into a struggling team, playing on the right wing on a couple of occasions or just trying to get back up to speed with the Premier League, the 26-year-old has not justified his arrival yet. His best moment was the run and cross for Solanke's scorpion kick goal against City, which technically was behind the striker, but he just hasn't really shown anything yet. 3

Xavi Simons

The Dutchman has not been helped by having two head coaches who have not seemed to truly trust him. Yet Tottenham need Xavi on the pitch to create because his stats in that department are far ahead of the rest. He should have more than his four goals and five assists but it's not the worst return for a 22-year-old in his first months in a new league and country, and in a poor team, with the natural inconsistency his situation brings. There's much more to come from Xavi. Hopefully Spurs get to see it. 6.5

Wilson Odobert

We may not see Odobert until 2027 after his ACL injury and that came in a season when the 21-year-old looked to be finding his feet at the club with two goals and three assists, two of them coming against Dortmund in the Champions League. Some promising games but he now has a long time out ahead to deal with. 6

Mohammed Kudus

Spurs' player of the season until he was run into the ground and then injured in January. Kudus had racked up six assists and three goals from 26 matches and there felt more to come. So much strength and trickery although he had started to run into dead ends as the team began to give the ball to him at all times. If the 25-year-old had been fit in recent months though, Tottenham would not be in the position they find themselves now. Hopefully he can find his sharpness quickly when he returns in the coming weeks. 7.5

Brennan Johnson

Last season's top scorer, Johnson had three goals and an assist before he was told he was surplus to Frank's plans. He managed that without particularly being in good form when he got minutes here and there. Another who probably would have scored the goals to get Spurs away from this mess had he not been sold when he was. Strange fact for you - no senior player at Spurs has as high a points per game total than Johnson (1.50) while he was at the north London club this season which perhaps says it all. 5

Luca Williams-Barnett

A bright debut from the bench for the 17-year-old against Doncaster and he's the only Tottenham player to have tasted 100% success from their first team appearances, albeit just the one. N/A

Mathys Tel

The 20-year-old always gives his all and has been a rare attacking threat for Spurs down the wing in recent weeks. He should have more than his three goals and one assist, albeit he hasn't had many minutes in which to do so. The Frenchman's age shows sometimes with his decision-making in key moments but he's a fighter and a dribbler, both of which attributes Tottenham need. Has shown real mental strength with the decisions twice going against him in the Champions League squad. 5.5

Dominic Solanke

That ankle injury wiped out so much of his season and he's still trying to find his sharpness. Six goals in 15 Premier League and Champions League games, including scoring in three successive games in the latter competition. He will want more in the final two months of the season and his bright England display against Uruguay earned him the chance to stay with Tuchel's squad and should boost his confidence for the run-in. Yet this is nowhere near the season Solanke expected after getting 24 goal involvements last time out. 5.5

Dane Scarlett

Five appearances for Scarlett totalling 35 minutes of action before he headed up and over the border to Hibernian. N/A

Randal Kolo Muani

There are two versions of Kolo Muani. There's the one in the Champions League with four goals and two assists in nine games and the Premier League edition with just one goal and assist which only came in the past five games despite 23 appearances in the competition. The Frenchman blows hot and cold and can look lethal one moment and disinterested the next. 6

Richarlison

Igor Tudor has a number of player injury concerns in an incredibly pivotal part of the season for Tottenham Hotspur, as the Lilywhites find themselves caught up in a troublesome relegation battle

Igor Tudor will need his best players available for selection when Tottenham Hotspur return to Premier League action in the coming weeks, should the club hope to avoid relegation.

The Lilywhites are just one point clear of the drop zone at the time of writing, perched in 17th with seven wins, nine draws and a mammoth 15 losses to show for their efforts in 2025/26. And with just seven matches remaining in the season and with West Ham breathing down the neck of Spurs, Tudor doesn't have the benefit of time nor space to turn the tide in north London.

The Croatian has failed to see a single victory in his first five Premier League matches in charge of Tottenham, suffering crushing losses to Arsenal, Fulham, Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest, while holding Liverpool to a draw.

Spurs also crashed out of the Champions League this month following a 7-5 aggregate loss to Atletico Madrid over two legs, despite winning their reverse encounter at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium 3-2.

With a tough match against a resurgent Sunderland awaiting them at the Stadium of Light come Sunday, April 12, football.london breaks down the ideal starting XI that Tudor should look to deploy in his final seven games of the season - fitness allowing...

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GK - Guglielmo Vicario

First-choice goalkeeper, Guglielmo Vicario, handed Spurs a major blow ahead of the international break, when it was announced that he would undergo surgery on a hernia and could face up to a month out of action as a result.

Despite being ruled out fresh off the back of surgery, Vicario was spotted at Italy's training camp ahead of their World Cup qualifier against Northern Ireland earlier this week - albeit, in a showing of solitude rather than holding any hopes of playing.

The outlook for the next couple of weeks with regards to goalkeeping looks incredibly bleak for Spurs, especially considering second-choice shot-stopper Antonin Kinsky was subbed off just moments into the club's initial Champions League clash with Atleti earlier this month after a series of high-profile errors.

However, should Vicario's recovery go well, there should be nothing stopping the 29-year-old from returning to the field toward the latter stages of Tottenham's make or break campaign.

RB - Pedro Porro

With a no-nonsense attitude and solid on the right-hand side of defence, Pedro Porro is exactly what Spurs need amidst their current relegation battle. The 26-year-old is also one of the club's more experienced heads, which will prove invaluable in holding the team together thick and thin.

Given the Spaniard was briefly sidelined earlier this year with a hamstring injury, however, Tudor may be wise to manage his minutes to prevent a similar issue in a vital run of games.

CB - Cristian Romero

Club captain and leader, Cristian Romero should be one of the first names on Tudor's team sheet throughout April and May. The Argentine is strong in the tackle, and incredibly reliable when he is able to keep a cool head.

Romero will need to toe the line incredibly carefully in the coming weeks, especially given how thin Spurs are across the board. With eight yellow cards and two reds to his name this season, neither he nor Tottenham can afford a silly sending off on the 27-year-old's part in their final seven games.

CB - Micky van de Ven

A burning beacon in an otherwise lacklustre team this season, Micky van de Ven has impressed in the heart of the Spurs defence with his blistering pace and quality game management. A touch on the inexperienced side at just 24, the Dutchman's best partner is undoubtedly Romero - making for an incredibly tough backline to break down when together.

LB - Djed Spence

Equally as impressive going forward as he is seated in the backline, Djed Spence offers Spurs an air of versatility in terms of transitional football. However, Tudor may have to be wary that the 24-year-old doesn't veer too far forward, allowing Spurs to be caught out on the counter.

CM - Archie Gray

One of the club's most consistently impressive players this season despite their poor run of form, Archie Gray has proven time and time again that he can hang with the best of the best in the Premier League at just 20. Speaking about the talent earlier this month, Tudor said: "He's playing continually in the right way, in a good way.

"It's a mix of quality, physically and mentally, to always make the right choices, be humble, and have the legs to do so."

CM - Rodrigo Bentancur

Another leader on the pitch for the Lilywhites, Rodrigo Bentancur also has to be starting each and every game for his club in the coming months. Largely thought of as a defensive-midfidler, the Uruguayan has learned to adapt to a more box-to-box role as of recent, and has come in clutch on occasion when most needed.

Currently sidelined with a thigh injury, it remains to be seen if the 28-year-old will be available for selection for next month's trip to Wearside.

CAM - Xavi Simons

With just one goal and four assists to his name this season, Xavi Simons has failed to make much of a mark in north London. That's not to say that the attacking-midfielder hasn't shown flashes of brilliance, however.

While a fully fit James Maddison would be the obvious choice here, the Englishman has not played in almost a year as a result of an ACL injury, and doesn't look likely to return before season's end.

RW - Mohammed Kudus

Mohammed Kudus has also been recovering from a thigh injury of his own as of recent, in a major blow to Spurs' attack. The 25-year-old has two goals and six assists to his name in a struggling side this season, despite playing for a total of just 773 Premier League minutes.

Should Kudus be fit to return against Sunderland, his selection is a no-brainer; his trickery and pace a headache for any defensive line.

LW - Mathys Tel

While he is far from a finished product at just 20, Mathys Tel has also shown signs of superstardom across the attacking line. When deployed side-by-side with Kudus, the Dutchman could certainly prove problematic against any opposition in the English top flight.

Tudor will have to hope the player is fit after the international break.

CF - Richarlison

While Dominic Solanke's three Premier League goals this season may have been good enough to earn him an England call-up under Thomas Tuchel, Richarlison is the obvious choice to lead the line for the Lilywhites. The Brazilian has managed three times as many goals as Solanke this season, and is a constant danger in and around the box.

Service for the 28-year-old could make all the difference.

Tottenham's new kits for next season have started to emerge online and one has received a mixed reaction from the club's supporters

Tottenham Hotspur might not know what division they will be playing in next season but that has not stopped the club's 2026/27 Nike kits from starting their annual leak online.

Every season images begin to emerge on social media and across the internet ahead of the following campaign with concept designs and eventually full photos of the new shirts that the players and many of the supporters will be sporting. In Spurs' case, with seven games to go of this season, it remains unclear whether the shirts will bear a Premier League or Championship logo on their sleeve.

Spurs signed their deal with Nike back in 2017 and extended it the following year to a 15-year contract which will last until at least 2033, meaning it is one of the longest football club deals in the sportswear giant's history. Reports back at the time suggested the agreement was worth around £30million a season for the north London side, although what effect any potential relegation has on that lucrative sponsorship deal and many others remains to be seen.

In recent days, images of the new navy blue away shirt that Spurs will wear from this summer onwards turned up online and it is far removed from this season's plain black affair. Kit website Footy Headlines had published images of what they claim are "the first official images of Tottenham's new 26-27 away kit, featuring a bold and somewhat crazy pattern on the front".

There are colours galore worked into this new kit's eye-catching design with "a vibrant and chaotic pattern with diagonal, jagged lines in neon pink, purple, and orange over an Obsidian (navy blue) base", according to the Nike details. The kit has a rounded neck with no collar.

The leaked images of the kit have drawn a mixed reaction from Tottenham supporters, as the new kits always do, with some liking the bold colours and others thinking they are too much and everyone wondering what division the club will be wearing it in.

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It will be the final season that AIA will appear as Spurs' shirt sponsors before switching to become their training wear sponsor instead. All of the logos on the new top, including the Nike Swoosh and Tottenham logo, as well as that AIA lettering, will all appear in white on it.

The colour diagonal design also appears on the lower portion of the back of the shirt with the top left plain for the numbers and names to be printed upon without clashing.

Images are yet to emerge of the club's new Nike home and third kits for next season. However, it is believed that the home one will continue to use Spurs' usual white and navy colours. So far only guesses have been made about the collar and design based on the other Nike kits set to come out.

The same goes for the third kit although Footy Headlines claim it will primarily feature "Psychic Purple, with New Orchid and White accents, marking a return to purple tones seen in previous kits". A leaked 'lifestyle third jersey' has given an idea of how the colours will look although again how much of the colours will be used and the collar remain unclear.

The home kit is normally available not too long after the end of the season while the third kit is usually released early in the new campaign.

It's possible Man City are given a huge points deduction if they are found guilty of breaching FFP rules between 2009 and 2018, with Arsenal and Tottenham watching on

Man City could face a hefty points deduction if they are found to have breached the Premier League's Financial Fair Play rules - and it could have a huge impact on both Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur.

City allegedly breached the FFP rules more than 100 times between the 2009/10 and 2017/18 seasons, with 115 charges brought against the club by the league in 2023. A hearing into the charges took place at the end of 2024 and a ruling could come any day now. City deny the charges against them.

One of the possible punishments Pep Guardiola's side face if they are found guilty of the alleged breaches is a points deduction, with football finance specialist Kieran Maguire stating earlier this year that a points deduction could be in the 40 to 60 point range.

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Speaking on The Overlap in February, Maguire said: "If we take a look at precedence, we have had Everton and Nottingham Forest with six and four-point deductions for a single offence covering a three-year period. The accusations against Manchester City cover a nine-year period, so it is far bigger.

"The numbers involved, we are not certain about, but they are likely to be quite significant. I think you have to add a zero to what we've seen in terms of Forest and Everton, so somewhere between a 40 and 60-point deduction would be, on merit to be consistent with what we've seen with other decisions, would make a lot of logic.”

If City are found guilty of the alleged breaches in the coming days or weeks, it is possible they are given a points deduction to come into effect immediately. This is what happened to Nottingham Forest in March 2024 and Everton in November 2023.

If this is the case, this would impact both the title race and the battle for relegation. City are currently nine points behind leaders Arsenal at the top of the Premier League, but do have a game in hand and will face the Gunners at Etihad Stadium in April. It's possible the gap between the two teams is cut to three points if City were to win those two games.

But if Guardiola's side are handed a points deduction, this would end their title challenge and Arsenal would most probably run away with the league, with third place Manchester United 15 points behind the north Londoners.

Depending on the severity of the points deduction, it could also have an impact on Tottenham and their chances of staying in the Premier League. Spurs are currently 17th with 30 points, just one point above the relegation zone.

With City on 61 points, if they are handed a points deduction of 40 points, they would slip to 18th and push West Ham out of the bottom three, with Spurs moving up to 16th. A points deduction of 60 points, as per Maguire's opinion, would leave City on one point and at the bottom of the English top flight.

Arsenal and Tottenham have just seven games of the league season to play but where they finish could seriously be impacted by any judgement on Man City's 115 FFP charges case. The wait continues, but perhaps now with just more invested parties than ever before.