The Boy Hotspur

Martin Lipton is the chief sports reporter for The Sun and one of the few old-school journalists still covering Spurs, and so his voice carries far greater gravitas than the run-of-the-mill mob that infest the modern era of reporting. He’s mature, informed, and understands football. Lipton’s piece about the perilous state of Tottenham makes tough reading, but not a word is out of place.

Spurs could realistically get relegated from the Premier League this season, though it’s still considered unlikely by most statistical models. Tottenham has been in abysmal form: winless in the Premier League in 2026 and there’s the stark reality of zero wins from their games this calendar year, including a heavy 4-1 loss to Arsenal in the recent North London derby.

They’ve won only 2 of their last 18 league matches overall. Thomas Frank was sacked in February after poor results (including a home loss to Newcastle), with Igor Tudor appointed as the new manager, but the immediate impact hasn’t turned things around yet.

Injuries have plagued the squad, contributing to the slump.

Lipton called the first team squad an Invertebrates XI, which feels true, especially when one notes the mindless shouting of Vicario, and the appalling losses of possession from the likes of Xavi Simons, against the Gunners.

The relationship between the board and the fans, never that great, is now fractured beyond repair. That is despite last week’s welcome freeze on ticket prices and extension of reduced costs for younger supporters.

Arsenal obliterated Spurs, who now look on at the once-admired ENIC, and the gloss has well and truly come off the multipurpose stadium operation.

The fan ire stems from perceptions that ENIC prioritises financial stability and profit over on-pitch ambition and success. Fans point to chronic underinvestment in the squad (e.g., low wages relative to revenue, reactive rather than proactive transfers, and a “sell-to-buy” or penny-pinching approach), which they blame for the club’s current poor form and serious relegation threat.

Years of appalling recruitment, leaving Tudor to work with the worst toolbox the club has offered in more than a decade.

Many describe the club as mismanaged for decades, with ENIC accused of treating Tottenham as a business asset rather than a football club with winning aspirations. Phrases like “sucking the life out of our club,” “greed,” and “lack of ambition” appear frequently in fan discussions.

Betting markets have shifted dramatically: Spurs’ relegation probability is now around 16-18%, and Supercomputer models (like Opta) put the chance lower, around 3-4.5%, but it’s been creeping up after recent defeats. Media and analysts describe it as a genuine relegation battle now, with Spurs in the mix alongside Forest, West Ham, and Leeds.

Fans are no longer asking, with a sense of worry, “if” Spurs could be relegated. They are wondering “how” the spiralling club can avoid it.

Many outlets call it a “very real possibility” or even warn of “catastrophic” financial consequences if it happens (massive revenue drop, player exits, etc.), given Spurs’ status as a historically big club that hasn’t been relegated since the 1970s and never in the Premier League era.

One senses that ENIC may step up its search to find a buyer while they still have something worth selling.

The North London Derby is one of the season’s key fixtures, and the rivalry between Spurs and Arsenal truly is like no other. For Tottenham, the fixture has taken on a rather sinister turn as this term, the Lilywhites could be relegated.

Arsenal are sitting top of the table with a strong record (17 wins, 7 draws, 3 losses so far), holding a significant lead, while Tottenham are struggling mid-table (around 16th, with a poor recent form like LDDLL) and starting life under new interim manager Igor Tudor after a recent coaching change, as Thomas Frank who most people felt was a decent appointment, flat lined.

Troy Deeney, in his column for The Sun ahead of today’s clash, has pulled no punches:

“Tottenham are in denial, they are not a serious club and their mentality is all wrong for their relegation fight.

There will be players and staff pointing fingers or pretending nothing is quite as bad as it really is. But it is not realistic.

They were in denial when they finished 17th last year and have not moved on from it.

The former Premier League ace has a point.

The messaging that came out of Tottenham last season was dishonest. Yes, we won the Europa League trophy, that isn’t up for debate. However, the context was key. Avoiding relegation by one place, despite some abysmal domestic form, came with 22 losses, many at home. This was not just a club record, but one for the Premier League, which usually relegated sides that rack up as many defeats.

Some fans actually chanted that we were Champions of Europe, which was equally dishonest.

Deeney questions the mentality of the modern Spurs side:

I never played with a single footballer whose dream was to play for Spurs or would have thought they had ‘made it’ by reaching that club.

I played with some who moved from Tottenham who always said it was a great place to work, but there was no winning mentality.

This is damning stuff, backed up by a series of results that don’t appeal to anyone other than our opponents.

Spurs fans have been delighting in booing and basically treating the club as badly as the players have. The atmosphere at the stadium has frequently been toxic.

Arsenal are clear favourites for today, buoyed by their dominant recent derby form (e.g., thrashing Spurs 4-1 in the reverse fixture earlier this season in November 2025) and overall strong season, despite some recent draws causing a slight wobble in their title chase.

Spurs are under pressure in a must-not-lose scenario at home, but face an uphill battle given injuries, form, and the managerial transition.

It’s time to get serious.

Quite straightforwardly, Spurs can absolutely win today’s North London derby against Arsenal—it’s football, and derbies are notoriously unpredictable, especially with the stakes and emotions involved.

The match is happening today, on Sunday, February 22, 2026, at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the Premier League. Kick-off is at 4:30 pm GMT.

As ever, the current context is everything: Arsenal are topping the league table (or very close to it), described as “Premier League leaders” or “wobbling” recently, with their lead cut.

They’ve been in strong form overall (e.g., W17 D7 L3 in one snapshot), and betting odds heavily favour them (around -179 to win, meaning they’re strong favourites).

Tottenham are struggling badly in the mid-to-lower table (16th in some views, with a poor record like W7 D8 L11 and recent form LDDLL). They’re in a relegation scrap or at a very high risk of being in one, and this is Igor Tudor’s first game in charge after a managerial change, adding uncertainty but also potential for a new-manager bounce. It is this bounce that the clubs’ owners are praying for.

Derby dynamics often level the playing field: home advantage at Spurs’ stadium, a passionate crowd, and Arsenal’s occasional vulnerability in big away games or when momentum dips can open the door. Spurs have pulled off upsets in past derbies despite being underdogs.

The home crowd is worth dwelling on. In recent poor games, the practice of booing and jeering has become commonplace, and unless Tottenham back their boys today, there could be trouble in store. Sure, the players have a job to do, but this injury-ravaged side needs its supporters

That said, realistically, the data points to Arsenal as the more likely winners (Opta supercomputer simulations have them at around a 60% chance). But Spurs can win if they capitalise on set pieces, counter-attacks, home energy, or if Arsenal have an off day

Darwin Nunez has been linked with a return to the Premier League in recent weeks, and Tottenham Hotspur could be a potential destination.

According to a report from TEAMtalk, they have held talks with intermediaries regarding a move for 26 year old striker. Nunez is currently out of favour at Al-Hilal after the arrival of Karim Benzema. He cannot play in the Saudi Arabian League due to the strict foreign player quota, and he is desperate to leave.

Darwin Nunez keen on a move

The player earns £400,000 a week at the Saudi Arabian club, but he is prepared to take a major pay cut in order to return to Europe. It will be interesting to see if Tottenham is willing to provide him with an exit route. They need more quality in the attacking unit, and the South American could compete with Dominic Solanke for the starting spot.

Nunez is a complete forward who will create opportunities and find the back of the net. He has shown his quality with Liverpool and Benfica in the past. Even though he’s not a prolific goal scorer, he will add a new dimension to the Tottenham attack with his hard-working style, ability to take on defenders and movement. Jurgen Klopp once claimed that Nunez has “quality coming out of his ears”.

Nunez will look to get his career back on track

The 26-year-old is at the peak of his powers, and he will be desperate to compete at the highest level. His hunger to succeed will be a huge bonus for Tottenham. Nunez scored 40 goals and picked up 26 assists in 143 matches with Liverpool.

Nunez knows the Premier League well, and he could make an immediate impact as well. He helped Liverpool win the title last season, and his winning experience could be invaluable for Tottenham as well. Given his situation at the Saudi Arabian club, it is fair to assume he could be available for a reasonable price.

It remains to be seen whether Tottenham can get the deal done.

The idea that the ‘clever’ Tottenham empire would collapse was once deemed unthinkable. Now, it looks like a viable option. This quote from The Telegraph is worrying, to put it mildly. Just how close Spurs are to spiralling into oblivion is anyone’s guess.

“There has been no explanation from the club or acknowledgement of the domestic performance concerns from the club,” said a source. “Instead, their messaging was focused on the Europa League, which is not the tier of competition global sponsors expect from a so-called ‘elite club’.”

Who is the sponsor?

Telegraph Sport knows the identity of the well-known company, but contract confidentiality has prevented it from being named at this time. The deal is thought to have been worth millions to Spurs over a number of years.

These significant challenges with their sponsors are primarily due to the club’s poor on-pitch performance in the 2025-26 Premier League season. As of mid-February 2026, Spurs sit in 16th place, just five points above the relegation zone, with a real threat of dropping to the Championship and missing out on European competition.

Sponsors are concerned about the prospect of relegation, which could trigger termination or renegotiation clauses in contracts, creating a “massive financial hole” in the club’s balance sheet. Even without relegation, missing European qualification (especially Champions League) means forfeiting tens of millions in performance bonuses and reduced appeal.

Tottenham have never secured a naming-rights sponsor for their £1 billion Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (opened in 2019), and the chances of landing one are damaged by the current instability.

While the front-of-shirt deal with AIA continues until the end of the 2026-27 season, the overall commercial outlook is negative due to these factors. Recent reports highlight that the financial hit to sponsorship revenue could reach tens of millions even if the club stays up, with relegation described as potentially “catastrophic.”

If the Lewis Family has rainy day money, now might be the time to reach for it.

Tottenham Hotspur are interested in signing the Borussia Dortmund midfielder Felix Nmecha.

The 25-year-old has performed well for the German club and has attracted the attention of the North London club. The former Manchester City Academy graduate is a ‘homegrown’ player, and Tottenham are hoping to secure his signature, as per Fussball Daten.

They believe that the ‘physically robust’ midfielder could be the ideal acquisition for them.

The player is likely to cost around €55 million (£48m), and moving to the Premier League would see him earn around €9 million per season.

Tottenham could use someone like Felix Nmecha

It is no secret that Spurs need more quality in the middle of the park, and it remains to be seen whether they are prepared to pay up for the German. The asking price is substantial, but the player has the quality to justify the investment. He has the physicality and technical attributes for English football, and he could help Spurs improve.

Nmecha has 5 goals and 3 assists to his name this season. He will add creativity, physicality, defensive cover and drive in the middle of the park. He is the ideal box-to-box midfielder, and Tottenham need someone with his skill set.

Nmecha could improve further

The player is still only 25, and he could improve with coaching and experience. Regular football in England could help him improve further and fulfil his potential. He could prove to be a star for Tottenham in the coming seasons.

The opportunity to play in the Premier League will be exciting for the German. He will look into England and prove himself in the Premier League. The former Manchester City Academy graduate might feel that he has unfinished business in English football.

Michael Carrick has been appointed as the internet manager at Manchester United, and he has impressed during his time at Old Trafford so far.

According to a report from former Tottenham scout Mick Brown, the Tottenham hierarchy is impressed with Carrick and is considering him for the manager role. It will be interesting to see if they decide to make a move for the 44-year-old in the summer.

Manchester United are likely to bring in a different manager at the end of the season, and Carrick could find himself out of a job soon. Despite him impressing as interim boss, Manchester United might opt for a proven leader.

Meanwhile, Tottenham have appointed Igor Tudor as the temporary solution until the end of the season. They are likely to bring in a permanent option in the summer. It remains to be seen whether they decide to bring the former tree back to the club.

Tottenham impressed with Michael Carrick

“Tottenham are keeping tabs on Michael Carrick,” Brown told Football Insider.

“He’s obviously got connections at the club after his time there as a player, the same as he does at Man United, so he’ll be on their radar if he is available.

“They’ve been impressed by the job he’s done at United in the short time he’s had.”

Carrick could be tempted

The opportunity to manage Spurs will be exciting for the 44-year-old. They are one of the country’s biggest clubs, and they have an exciting project. Even though they have underperformed this season, they have quality players, and Carrick might be able to get the best out of them. It will be interesting to see how the situation develops.

The 44-year-old knows the club well, and he is admired by the fan base. He might be able to settle in quickly and galvanise the team.

Tottenham Hotspur are keeping tabs on the Juventus defender, Lloyd Kelly, and they could look to make a move for him in the summer.

The 27-year-old has done quite well at the Italian club, and his value has more than doubled since joining them. According to journalist Mirko Di Natale, the player will cost around €40-50 million in the summer.

Spurs could use Lloyd Kelly

It will be interesting to see if Tottenham are prepared to make a move for him. They need more quality and depth in the defensive unit, and signing the versatile defender would be ideal. He can play as a central defender or a full back. He could be the ideal utility man for Tottenham. Luciano Spalletti has described him as “a complete player”.

However, the asking price could complicate matters. Tottenham need to improve multiple areas of the squad, and spending €50 million on Kelly could be difficult. In addition, they are currently 16th in the league table, and they are likely to miss out on Champions League revenue next season. It will be interesting to see if they can afford the defender.

Kelly to replace Romero?

Meanwhile, Cristian Romero has been linked with a move away from the club. He is likely to leave if Tottenham fail to secure Champions League qualification. He is one of the best defenders in the world, and he will look to compete at the highest level.

Spurs will need to replace him properly, and Kelly could be a useful acquisition. It remains to be seen how the situation develops. The Italian outfit will not want to lose them easily, and any club hoping to secure his signature will have to pay a premium.

Tottenham Hotspur are interested in signing Real Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger and have already initiated discussions to do so.

The 32-year-old will be out of contract at the end of the season, and they are hoping to secure his services on a bargain. He has the qualities and experience to help them improve, and he has played in the Premier League before.

Spurs need a leader like Rudiger

Rudiger has been a serial winner throughout his career, and his winning experience could be an invaluable addition to the Tottenham dressing room. He has won the Champions League and La Liga with Real Madrid. Prior to that, he won the UEFA Europa League, UEFA Champions League and the FA Cup during his time at Chelsea.

Spurs need players like him in the dressing room. It will be interesting to see if they can convince him to join the club.

According to a report from CaughtOffside, West Ham and Crystal Palace are interested in the German defender as well. There is no doubt that he is a quality player and could prove an excellent acquisition for all three clubs. It will be interesting to see what the player decides.

Can Spurs sign Antonio Rudiger?

The German is highly rated across Europe, and his teammates have previously claimed that he is “playing at a world-class level”. Even though he is in his 30s, he has the quality to make an immediate impact in the Premier League and improve Spurs in the short term. If Cristian Romero leaves the club in the summer, they will need a quality defender and a leader. The German Internation could be ideal for them.

Tottenham should do everything in their power to convince the player to join the club.

Mauricio Pochettino could still return to Tottenham Hotspur, and it’s one of the most popular permutations being discussed right now.

Igor Tudor as interim head coach until the end of the current season (which runs through spring/summer 2026). The club appears to be treating this as a short-term fix while planning for a permanent appointment in the summer, after the 2026 FIFA World Cup concludes.

Multiple reports indicate that Pochettino is the “clear favourite,” “consensus candidate,” or even “100% likely” in the eyes of some observers, including former Spurs manager Tim Sherwood.

“We know who is coming in the summer – it will be Pochettino, 100 per cent. I do not think the club will be brave enough to turn to anyone else. There are other options out there but the pressure on another man getting that job and losing two games and then the crowd saying ‘you had a chance to bring Poch back’ – it is impossible for them to look elsewhere.”

The Spurs board is reportedly working to finalise an agreement with him for a permanent role starting post-World Cup. The Mirror say that a deal is taking shape.

Pochettino is currently the head coach of the United States men’s national team (USMNT), a role he took on in 2024. His contract with US Soccer expires after the 2026 World Cup (co-hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico), so he would become available in July 2026 or shortly thereafter. He has repeatedly spoken positively about his time at Tottenham (2014–2019), calling it the “most special” place in his heart, expressing a desire to return to the Premier League, and even saying he dreams of winning the league and Champions League—goals he associates strongly with Spurs. He has not ruled out a return and has kept the door open in interviews.

Our View

Tottenham might consider other candidates (e.g., Roberto De Zerbi has been mentioned), but Pochettino’s popularity with fans and his past success (Champions League final, consistent top-four finishes) make him the standout sentimental and practical option.

In our view, Tim Sherwood has nailed it.