Football FanCast

Tottenham Hotspur are now in close contact to sign a £35m forward, who is being targeted by a number of the Premier League's top clubs and Atletico Madrid.

Spurs make approach to sign "electric" forward

Tottenham's 3-1 defeat against Crystal Palace consigned them to their fifth defeat on the spin in the Premier League, and they are now sitting dangerously close to the relegation zone, just one point clear of London rivals West Ham United with nine games left to play.

In fairness, injuries haven't helped the north Londoners' cause, with Mohammed Kudus missing the last nine Premier League games due to a hamstring issue, after making a promising start, with the Ghanaian registering two goals and six assists in 19 matches.

Kudus' absence coincides with a very concerning run of seven losses and two defeats in nine games, which suggests additional strength in depth is required in wide areas, and a former Aston Villa winger has now emerged as a target.

That is according to a report from Fussballdaten, which states Tottenham are now in close contact to sign Al-Ittihad star Moussa Diaby, and there is a feeling the Saudi club could be willing to cash-in for a fee of around €40m (£35m) this summer.

Diaby wants to return to Europe, and there is certainly no shortage of potential suitors waiting in the wings, with Chelsea, Liverpool and Newcastle United also being named as interested parties, alongside Borussia Dortmund and upcoming Champions League opponents Atletico Madrid.

The Frenchman is the Spanish side's top target, but ENIC are looking to foil their plans, and there are indications he could be an exciting addition to the squad...

"Artist" Diaby is Premier League proven

Importantly, the ex-Villa star has already proven himself in the Premier League, chipping in with a very impressive six goals and ten assists for Unai Emery's side during the 2023-24 campaign, and he has since gone on to impress in Saudi Arabia.

The 26-year-old has six assists to his name in the Saudi Pro League this season, which is the most of any Al-Ittihad player, having created a whopping 44 chances, exactly double the amount of nearest-rival Steven Bergwijn.

Lauded as an "artist" by Statman Dave, the right-winger could be a quality signing for Tottenham, but it could be difficult to win the race for his signature, given their current plight.

Avoiding relegation and going as far as possible in the Champions League is all Spurs have left to play for, and they have their work cut out, with a trip to Diaby's rival suitors, Atletico Madrid, coming up on Tuesday night.

Three games, three wretched defeats for Igor Tudor as manager of Tottenham Hotspur.

If you think a loss in his first match against Arsenal was bad, then think again. The match against Crystal Palace just a few days ago was arguably even worse.

Spurs took the lead through Dominic Solanke but Micky van de Ven's moment of madness saw him sent off, plunging Spurs into even deeper relegation trouble.

The fact that the word relegation is being used around the Lilywhites is remarkable. It feels like a nightmare, but it's very much a reality.

So, will the Lewis family and Co make yet another change in the dugout? Time will tell.

The latest on Spurs' hunt for a new manager

When Spurs decided to leave hiring a permanent manager until the summer, it looked like a smart decision on paper, particularly when you consider that some of their primary targets are unattainable until after the World Cup.

However, at the time they sacked Thomas Frank, it's unlikely they really thought they'd be in a relegation battle.

Well, three losses on the bounce have plunged Tudor's side into deeper bother and it would take a miracle to turn around this situation.

Would a change of manager help? Quite possibly. After that defeat to Palace, it was revealed that the Lilywhites were strongly considering a move for Robbie Keane who is currently managing Ferencvaros in Hungary.

While the Irishman would likely be another interim move, there continues to be chatter about who Frank's permanent successor may be.

Mauricio Pochettino continues to be touted and according to GIVEMESPORT, the Argentine is interested in heading back to north London. However, he has duties with the USA at their home World Cup to fulfil before he even considers moving elsewhere.

According to the Telegraph, the Lewis family have started exploring their options, with talks reportedly held with another manager. That happens to be Italian Roberto De Zerbi.

They report that 'plans for a summer appointment have been set in motion', and have held discussions with De Zerbi's camp about coming to Spurs on the proviso that they stay in the Premier League.

Why De Zerbi could be Spurs' own Mikel Arteta

There would be something romantic about either Keane or Pochettino returning to Spurs over the summer, but in De Zerbi, they'd be getting themselves an upgrade, certainly on the former.

Pochettino worked wonders at Tottenham, famously taking them to a Champions League final and would surely be the number one choice among all supporters.

Keane, however, does boast an impressive CV early into his managerial career. He has won league titles with both Ferencvaros and Maccabi Tel Aviv in Israel.

However, he is not De Zerbi, someone with a track record of overperforming with Brighton in the Premier League and most recently with Marseille in Ligue 1, where for a period of time they were challenging for the league crown.

De Zerbi lost his job in France just a few weeks ago after a series of damaging results left his position untenable, falling out with the squad and fans.

He's fiery, much in the same way former Spurs boss Antonio Conte is, but his style differs from your typical Italian coach. Instead, he's more like Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta, favouring possession and a high-intensity press.

In fact, De Zerbi is so much like Arteta that the Spaniard chose Marseille as the destination for Ethan Nwaneri's loan, recognising the former Brighton boss as the man to get the most out of Arsenal's exciting young player.

It also says it all that both De Zerbi and Arteta have been seen as two of the frontrunners to replace Guardiola once he finally leaves Manchester City behind.

But, what makes them so alike? Well, they're both supremely tactical coaches. While some in the game are more of a man manager, the two bosses in question prefer more of a hands-on approach.

They like to create numerical superiority in key areas, have similarly structured passing lanes, while both managers want their teams to press high and recover the ball quickly to spring an attack.

What is arguably most alike is the way they build from the back. From goal kicks, De Zerbi places his double pivot deep in an attempt to draw the opposition high up the pitch. This allows his side to play short, encouraging the opposition to press. Very regularly, the ball is worked to the outside to the full-backs, who hug a spot on the touchline.

The goalkeeper then acts as a third centre-back in possession, offering another passing option. That's identical to how Arsenal operate, with David Raya very comfortable in possession, manoeuvring the ball between the likes of William Saliba and Gabriel.

De Zerbi also loves dominating possession, much like Arteta. The theory is that if you have the ball, your opposition cannot score. At Sassuolo, his team recorded the highest possession share in Serie A in 2020/21, outlining that very fact.

Unfortunately for Spurs, it's incredibly unlikely that De Zerbi would join mid-season but he'd be a fabulous appointment come the summer if they stay in the division.

Tottenham have a key decision to make in regard to the future of Igor Tudor as Spurs slip perilously close to the relegation zone, and a surprise name has entered the fray.

Tottenham consider Igor Tudor future amid disastrous run

Tudor has been handed the Atletico Madrid game, but do not mistake that for job security.

Tottenham sources confirmed on Friday that their beleaguered Croatian interim would take the press conference ahead of Tuesday's Champions League last-16 first leg in the Spanish capital.

For a man whose position was so precarious 24 hours earlier that Sam Wallace at The Telegraph was reporting the club were actively considering a second managerial change inside a month, that is about as much of a reprieve as it sounds — which is to say, not much of one at all.

What happens after Atletico remains anybody's guess if the Lilywhites don't arrest this alarming slide.

The numbers are damning: three games in charge, three defeats, nine goals conceded, one point above the relegation zone.

Fans streaming out at half-time of Thursday's 3-1 home defeat to Crystal Palace, songs about the sack ringing around what they now call the New White Hart Lane, and reports of a dressing room that has already grown restless under Tudor's harsh, uncompromising methods.

Micky van de Ven saw red. Palace ran riot, and in the directors' box, former Juventus football director Cristiano Giuntoli — the man who hired Tudor at the Italian club last March — was watching from the stands.

The Telegraph's reporting made clear that Spurs are aware of the situation's gravity. Their hierarchy, led by chief executive Vinai Venkatesham and sporting director Johan Lange, have been left to weigh up a decision they know will be scrutinised from all angles.

Do you sack an interim manager after just three games and compound the chaos further? Or do you persist with a man whose squad appears to have already tuned him out, while the fixtures keep coming thick and fast?

Those fixtures, it must be said, are absolutely punishing.

After Atlético, it is Liverpool at Anfield next Sunday, then the European return leg on March 18, then the relegation six-pointer at home to Nottingham Forest on March 22. There is barely a moment to breathe, let alone rebuild.

And so, inevitably, the names are beginning to swirl.

Ferencvaros boss and ex-Spurs striker Robbie Keane is believed to be among the contenders to replace Tudor if the north Londoners decide to part company, while it is believed that talks have already been held over Roberto De Zerbi.

Italian sports paper Tuttosport, who have been following the car crash with considerable interest given Tudor's time in Serie A, report today of more names on their radar.

Sean Dyche one of the 'hottest names' to replace Tudor at Tottenham

As per their information, one of the 'hottest names' to replace Tudor is none other than Sean Dyche — the former Nottingham Forest, Everton, Burnley and Watford boss.

Dyche is a no-nonsense Englishman from Kettering who built his reputation the hard way.

He spent 10 years at Burnley, taking them up from the Championship and establishing them as a genuine top-flight presence on a shoestring budget.

Organised, hard to beat, fiercely competitive — his Burnley sides were not pretty, but they were effective.

He also had a stint at Watford, and kept Everton up against the odds in 2022/23 before being sacked midway through the following season when results turned.

"They are extremely solid," said Thomas Frank about Dyche during his time at Everton.

"I know they had a tough start where they lost their first four games; one defeat in their past seven says everything about them.

"Sean is a fantastic coach and manager. He always makes his team very difficult to play against. They are physical, intensive in pressing, they have pace on transitions, are very good on set-pieces, and they play behind you."

His record suggests a man built for exactly this kind of crisis — a firefighter in the truest sense.

And that is precisely the problem at Spurs.

Tudor was sold to them as that type. So was Frank, in a different way.

What Tottenham actually need is someone who can build something sustainable — and Dyche, for all his qualities, has never convincingly been that man at the highest level.

He was also sacked by Forest earlier this season, despite his pretty decent win percentage.

If Spurs do turn to the 54-year-old, it would truly summarise the dire state of the club right now.

Tottenham are a club in dire turmoil, and the prospect of relegation means they inevitably face crucial stars jumping ship this summer.

Spurs in grave danger after lifeless Crystal Palace defeat

There are bad nights in football, and then there are nights like Thursday.

Tottenham, a club with a billion-pound stadium and revenues that rank them among the richest in Europe, were at home to Crystal Palace needing a win to arrest a slide that has turned uncomfortable into genuinely alarming. They got one, for about four minutes.

Dominic Solanke put Spurs ahead in the 34th, and for a brief moment, the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium dared to believe their run of 10 of Premier League games without a victory — a new club record — might finally come to an end.

Then Micky van de Ven hauled back Ismaila Sarr inside the penalty area and referee Andrew Madley showed the red card without hesitation.

Sarr converted the penalty, and Jorgen Strand Larsen added a second in the carnage that followed.

Sarr then grabbed a third before the break, tucking the ball under a helpless Guglielmo Vicario. Three goals in 13 minutes, and by half-time, fans were streaming towards the exits.

The second half offered some Spurs resistance but no goals and no way back.

A fifth consecutive defeat, with the north Londoners now going 11 matches without a league win for the first time since before World War Two.

They also remain one point above the relegation zone, with Liverpool at Anfield next in the league, and Atlético Madrid in the Champions League sandwiched in between.

It is hard to imagine a more brutal fixture run for a side this short of confidence and this light on defensive cover, with van de Ven now banned to boot.

Igor Tudor, three weeks into the job and yet to win a Premier League match, insisted he saw something he liked in what remained of his depleted ten men.

"After this game I believe more than before, maybe that sounds strange, but I saw something in the team," he said.

Perhaps, but the numbers are stark — nine goals conceded in Tudor's three games in charge, zero league wins in 2026, and a club that last played second-tier football in 1977 now staring down that very prospect with nine matches remaining.

Reports in the build up to kick off suggested that Tudor could be sacked if he failed to beat Palace, with former Tottenham striker Robbie Keane a 'dark horse' for the job, but it looks as if Spurs are sticking with the Croatian for now.

And now comes news that the crisis could cost them one of their best players, regardless of how it ends.

Tottenham star Micky van de Ven 'unhappy' and wants to leave

Indeed, as per Football Insider transfer correspondent Pete O'Rourke, van de Ven is 'unhappy' at Spurs and has his sights set on a summer exit.

The "key" Dutchman, who had been acting as captain in Romero's absence, is under contract until 2029 — but talks over a new deal have stalled, and the 24-year-old is no longer pushing to commit his future to the club.

Barcelona and Liverpool are among those monitoring his situation. The interest is hardly a surprise given his ability, but the timing adds another layer of misery to an already desperate picture at Spurs.

"He's not rushing into signing any new contract at Tottenham and has delayed contract talks," O'Rourke said.

"That might open the door for clubs to make offers for him this summer, and I'm sure Spurs are well aware of that."

Romero is widely expected to leave too, meaning Tottenham could lose both first-choice centre-backs in the same window — whether they are in the Premier League or not.

The walls appear to be closing in, and perhaps the only thing that can stop it is a remarkable resurgence from now until May.

Tottenham Hotspur are now in danger of losing a young star, with Barcelona already in talks with his agent about a move away from North London this summer.

O'Hara rips into "terrible" Tottenham

Despite Tottenham's position prior to this week's action, the thought of relegation still seemed a tad light-hearted. They were still too big to go down, right? After defeat against Crystal Palace in a game which saw some supporters call it quits, however, this is no laughing matter in North London.

If results fail to go their way next weekend and Tottenham lose at Anfield, they will be in the relegation zone with eight games left to play. In the space of six years, the Lilywhites have gone from a Champions League final to a potential place in the Championship. It has been a catastrophic downfall.

TalkSPORT's Jamie O'Hara didn't hold back at full-time, either - saying: "This team is terrible. The players are terrible. They’re Championship players. They’re Championship players.

"Pape Sarr is a Championship player. Conor Gallagher. How he played for Atletico Madrid, I’ll never know. He’s been awful. He’s been absolutely awful.

"Souza, who is this kid? He looks like he’s got two left feet. Honestly, it’s embarrassing. Seriously, the team is absolutely awful."

Rumours are already arriving about Igor Tudor's future. The interim boss is yet to inspire a turnaround, despite his own personal belief that he saw enough to spark a survival charge against Crystal Palace.

If Spurs relieve the Croatian of his duties so early into his tenure, then it is former striker Robbie Keane who is leading the race to replace him.

Meanwhile, with relegation a realistic possibility, Tottenham could be set to lose one of their best young stars this summer.

Barcelona open talks to sign Vuskovic

As reported by Sky Germany, Barcelona have now opened talks with Luka Vuskovic and his camp about a summer move to the Nou Camp. The defender is yet to play a single minute for Tottenham, having spent the majority of his time on loan.

It's on loan at Hamburg that he has done enough to attract the interest of Barcelona, though. The Catalan giants are looking to add a defensive reinforcement and have turned the way of a player who could have a lucky escape from potential Championship football.

Dubbed an "absolute monster in the making" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Vuskovic has dominated in the Bundesliga this season. It would be a major disappointment if Spurs let such a talented player go before he even featured in North London.

Unlike the Lilywhites, however, the future is bright for the 19-year-old defender.

Tottenham appear resigned to sticking with under-fire interim boss Igor Tudor, but who knows how long that will last if Spurs continue like this, with The Telegraph reporting another managerial change is possible before the end of 2025/2026.

Tottenham make Igor Tudor decision as Spurs pressure mounts

Indeed, the consensus is that Tudor is staying, for now.

That much was reported today, with the club apparently making clear the Croatian will take his pre-match press conference ahead of Tuesday's Champions League last-16 first leg at Atlético Madrid.

No second sacking in a month. Not yet, anyway.

But given Tudor has lost all three of his Premier League matches in charge, conceding nine goals in the process, and given that Thursday's 3-1 home collapse against Crystal Palace has left Spurs still just one point above the bottom three, the word "yet" carries real weight.

Reports emerged on Thursday that the hierarchy at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium are already questioning whether Tudor can be the answer.

Meanwhile, The Telegraph have reported today that the club are genuinely considering their options for a second managerial change after Thomas Frank, with March 22's home clash against fellow relegation candidates Nottingham Forest viewed internally as a potential natural break point if results don't improve.

Spurs chiefs have apparently looked at appointing their second manager in a month, even if they're giving Tudor a bit more time as things stand.

A week ago, the Atlético Madrid Champions League tie felt exciting. Now it feels like an inconvenience Spurs can barely afford to think about.

Meanwhile, the summer managerial picture grows more crowded by the day.

Mauricio Pochettino remains the sentimental favourite and the leading candidate, with reports indicating he is open to a return even if the unthinkable happens and Spurs drop into the Championship, though the financial implications of that would be enormous.

Roberto De Zerbi, a free agent since leaving Marseille, is the other name at the top of the list, admired by senior figures at the club for his attacking, ball-dominant football.

Robbie Keane, currently winning titles with Ferencvaros in Hungary, has also been firmly in the conversation, with GiveMeSport reporting he is very much a name "to watch."

However, as further reported by The Telegraph again, an update has in fact come to light on De Zerbi.

Tottenham hold talks over appointing Roberto De Zerbi amid Igor Tudor doubt

As per their information, Tottenham have already held talks over appointing De Zerbi as their next permanent manager — a sign that planning for the summer has begun even as the club fights for its Premier League life.

The Italian left Marseille by mutual consent in February and has been out of work since, making him an immediately available option.

His attacking philosophy — high energy, possession-based, front-foot football — is everything Spurs have failed to produce under Tudor, and everything that excites the club's hierarchy on paper.

The problem, of course, is Man United.

De Zerbi, who Pep Guardiola called 'one of the most influential managers of the last 20 years', is understood to be keen on the Old Trafford job, and United have him firmly in their sights too. Spurs are not the only ones at the table.

There is also the small matter of what division Tottenham will be playing in next season.

De Zerbi spent two years building something at Brighton before stepping up to Marseille. A move to a Championship club, however romantic the notion of saving Spurs might be, feels unlikely to appeal.

If Tudor keeps them up, De Zerbi becomes a serious conversation. If he doesn't, that conversation is probably over before it starts.

Tottenham Hotspur have less than three months to save their season and their position in the Premier League, something which has never truly been threatened since the competition's inception.

Even last year, when Spurs languished to a 17th-place finish under Ange Postecoglou, the gulf between them and the bottom three was too great to really worry the supporters, whose focus was pinned on the Europa League.

To have plummeted into a bona fide relegation dogfight after sacking Ange and replacing him with Thomas Frank, fired last month, beggars belief, and the 16th-place strugglers know they need to turn things around quickly.

Crystal Palace come to N17 on Thursday evening, and interim boss Igor Tudor simply has to snap the ten-game winless run in the Premier League. To achieve that, he might want to axe Xavi Simons.

Why Tudor should drop Xavi Simons

Tudor's first game in charge was a sobering defeat to top-of-the-table Arsenal, but the subsequent loss at Fulham was inexcusable, so limp and unorganised were the travelling Lilywhites.

Simons was right at the core of the sorry defeat. Hooked on the hour mark, unable to offer anything meaningful by way of attack and guilty of failing to close Alex Iwobi down for the Fulham midfielder's crisp strike, it wasn't a good day at the office for the Netherlands international.

Tottenham were jubilant when they signed Simons, 22, from RB Leipzig for a £52m fee last summer, securing one of Europe's most coveted young playmakers, wanted by Chelsea and a host more.

But he's largely disappointed in the Premier League, shot-shy and apt to crumble in tough situations, of which there have been many down N17 this year.

Simons' natural quality and sparkle on the ball have been sucked into a vacuum by Tottenham's steep decline. It wouldn't be fair to suggest he's a helpless victim, though, with too many performances passing the Dutchman by.

He's been ineffective in this sinking ship, but someone else showed on Sunday afternoon that they deserve some more minutes in his stead.

Tudor could drop Simons for Spurs' own Henry

Tactically and structurally, much has gone wrong at Tottenham this season. Time is also running out, and with Simons unable to provide Tudor's side with a solution, perhaps the boss should drop him for Mathys Tel, who impressed during his cameo at Craven Cottage.

Tel, 20, has endured a tough time at Tottenham, making his loan move permanent for around £30m last summer only for Frank to replace Ange and opt against giving him a big part to play.

Indeed, Tel has twice been exluded from the Londoners' European squad this season, and while he's imperfect, he's a natural-born goalscorer with dynamic and athletic movement which gives his side something different - and they certainly need something different over the next few months.

Praised for his "Thierry Henry-like" finishing in the area by one-time Spurs star Jermain Defoe, Tel's incisiveness could be exactly that Tudor and the club need over the next few months.

Whether the Croatian coach - who has left a lot to be desired so far - can harness that potential remains to be seen, but taking Simons out of the firing line and unleashing a more impactful attacker in Tel to flank Dominic Solanke might be the perfect way to counter the spreading rot that threatens to consume this huge football club.

This would create a new talking point regarding the decision to withdraw a playmaker from a side desperately struggling for creativity, but a stable and well-balanced system could provide a creative system that's greater than the sum of its parts.

In that, Tel's direct attacking style could be perfect for Tudor's side, though this all emphasises exactly how deep this crisis has become.

Tottenham are reportedly considering what would be a brutal Igor Tudor call ahead of their showdown with Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Thursday.

Spurs battling relegation after disastrous Premier League season

Tudor arrived at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in February as the club's second manager of a catastrophic campaign, handed the interim reins after Thomas Frank was shown the door following just eight months in the job.

The Croatian was brought in to provide an immediate shot in the arm and arrest a slide that had seen Spurs go 10 Premier League games without a win in 2026. It has not gone to plan so far.

Tudor arrived at N17 with a fearsome reputation as a firefighter who has rescued previous campaigns of multiple Serie A clubs, including Lazio and Juventus.

However, under the tactician, things have got worse rather than better.

A 4-1 thumping at Arsenal was as embarrassing as it sounds, and a 2-1 defeat to Fulham did nothing to suggest the new man had any kind of answers.

The performances have been listless, the defending alarming, and the goals have dried up at exactly the wrong end of the season.

Spurs currently sit just four points above the relegation zone with games running out. A club that won the Europa League less than a year ago under Ange Postecoglou are now in a genuine fight for their top-flight survival.

The contrast is staggering.

The problems run deeper, with Fabio Paratici, who returned from a lengthy FIFA ban in October only to leave for Fiorentina in February, barely having time to make an impact before walking out the door.

Reports suggest Tottenham are eyeing up Dougie Freedman and Chelsea's Paul Winstanley as replacements for Paratici, and the new co-sporting director will have a big say on their next permanent manager.

Against all of this backdrop and real turmoil in north London, Thursday's home clash with Crystal Palace has taken on enormous significance — and not just in terms of the table.

Tottenham considering brutal Igor Tudor decision ahead of Crystal Palace

According to a report from Match Day Central on X, formerly Twitter, Tudor's position may depend entirely on what happens against Palace.

The club's board are apparently alarmed by the performances since his appointment and that patience is wearing thin at a rapid rate.

Tudor was installed with the clear expectation that he would turn results around quickly. That has not happened.

A win on Thursday, the report suggests, could buy him more time. Anything short of three points, and the club may decide that another change is necessary — even with the chaos that would inevitably bring.

It would be an extraordinary situation even by Spurs' recent standards. Sacking a third manager in 12 months with just 10 games to go, while simultaneously battling relegation and hunting for a permanent appointment, would be the kind of chaos that the club cannot afford — financially or by reputation.

Palace are no pushovers either.

Oliver Glasner's side have won three of their last six games in all competitions and gave Man United a good game last time out, so they'll arrive at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with some confidence.

Former Tottenham player and manager Ossie Ardiles has called for togetherness to ensure his old club get out of “big, big trouble” in the Premier League.

Tottenham in "big trouble" - Ardiles

Spurs’ top-flight status is under grave threat for the first time in three decades after a 2-1 loss at Fulham on Sunday left them only four points above the relegation zone.

A run of two wins in 19 matches and a record-equalling period of 10 matches without a victory has sent the fanbase into a state of frenzy about whether or not injury-hit Tottenham have enough in their current squad to stop the slide.

Ahead of Thursday’s visit of Crystal Palace, two-time FA Cup winner Ardiles told the Press Association: “Our job, everybody at the club, my job and the job of everybody in Tottenham is to go behind the team.

“We are OK right now but we could be in big, big trouble. So, everybody has to be together to achieve what we want to achieve.

“Survive this season and then we’ll see what happens next.”

Ardiles discussed Tottenham’s precarious situation during a milestone occasion for his old team-mate Micky Hazard, who alongside his sister Michelle is behind the mental health charity Legend On The Bench.

The Hazards were able to unveil the 100th park bench by Legend On The Bench last Thursday at Water Gardens in Harlow with several Spurs greats like Ardiles in attendance.

Former England goalkeeper Pat Jennings and former Tottenham captain Gary Mabbutt were also present for a landmark occasion for the charity, which was set up after Hazard’s nephew Jay committed suicide in 2019.

“Yes, it is a wonderful, wonderful achievement. I was with him when he started to do this and he started very small, but it is amazing how it has grown,” Ardiles reflected.

“Micky is the driving force. I come, take pictures and talk a lot of rubbish, but the proper job and the hard work is all down to him.

“His goal was quite small but it grew and grew and he works harder and harder. Now we are where we are right now. It’s an incredible achievement.”

Tottenham complain to Premier League after Vicario incident

On the topic of mental health, the Premier League have received backlash over a bizarre video posted in the aftermath of Spurs' defeat at Fulham, in which they mocked a poorly taken free-kick by Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario.

The video, which has now been deleted, joked it was “just how the play was drawn up” and added the caption “whoops” over a clip of the Italian sending a Spurs set piece directly out of play for a goal kick.

Alasdair Gold, speaking on Talking Tottenham, has revealed Spurs have complained to the league over their actions: “From what I understand, Spurs got in touch with the Premier League at various levels and made it very clear how poor that was from them.

“Something that is meant to be the voice of the league, the league should not be mocking its own teams, very odd.”

You can view the clip below at the 42:00 mark...

Tottenham's hunt for a new permanent manager is poised to begin this summer, and Spurs will ideally still be in the Premier League by that point.

Spurs identify new manager targets amid disastrous campaign

The north Londoners are in crisis, and the search for a permanent manager could get messy.

Igor Tudor is still propping up the dugout at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on an interim basis, having been handed the reins after Thomas Frank was shown the door in February following just eight months in the job.

The numbers under Frank were grim — a win rate barely scraping past a quarter of his games — but Tudor has done nothing to inspire confidence since taking over.

The club that won the Europa League less than a year ago under Ange Postecoglou are now fighting to stay in the top flight. It is one of the most extraordinary collapses English football has seen in recent memory.

Off the pitch, the chaos is equally striking.

Fabio Paratici departed in February after returning from his lengthy FIFA ban only to leave for Fiorentina three months later, taking a pointed dig at Spurs on his way out. The club are without a permanent co-sporting director, without a permanent manager, and without any clear identity.

Reports suggest Tottenham are stepping up their pursuit of a new director and have identified Dougie Freedman as one of many options, but their managerial situation could take more time to resolve.

Mauricio Pochettino remains the number one target, and the returning hero narrative would certainly land well with supporters who have never stopped adoring him, with the Argentine said to be keen on the idea.

Andoni Iraola, widely admired for his work at Bournemouth, had been mentioned as a candidate, but there are growing signs that Iraola may actually sign a new contract at the Vitality Stadium and continue building what he has started on the south coast.

Roberto De Zerbi is among the main contenders to take over at Spurs, as per Fabrizio Romano, while some media sources even moot the possibility of a move for Arsenal legend Cesc Fàbregas.

Borussia Dortmund desperate to stop Niko Kovač from joining Tottenham

Which brings us to Niko Kovač.

Tottenham have already made contact with the 54-year-old Borussia Dortmund boss as they cast their net wide across Europe, as per reports from Germany.

The Croatian has made no secret of his desire to manage in the Premier League, and with his Dortmund contract entering its final year in the summer, the timing looks interesting on paper.

However, there is a significant obstacle.

According to Football Insider's Pete O'Rourke, Dortmund have no intention of making things easy.

Despite the pressure Kovac has faced from supporters following their Champions League elimination at the hands of Atalanta — a result that triggered what German outlet Bild describes as a serious financial fallout worth nearly £10million — the club hierarchy retains strong faith in their manager.

Indeed, it is believed Dortmund are prepared to do everything in their power to keep him.

That puts Spurs in a difficult position, with Dortmund desperate not to let the title-winning former Bayern Munich boss make a move to N17.

They want Kovac, Dortmund are determined not to let him go, and their first-choice target in Pochettino is far from a done deal. Another summer of uncertainty beckons.