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The latest Spurs injury news and expected return dates ahead of their crunch Premier League clash with Chelsea.

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Tottenham Hotspur head into Tuesday night’s match against Chelsea knowing that a win will mathematically guarantee them Premier League football for another season and offer some relief at the end of a dire season – but Roberto De Zerbi’s preparations for a massive match have once again been hampered by injury issues.

The Spurs head coach is likely to be sweating once again over the fitness of Dominic Solanke and first-choice goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, who are among eight first-team players expected to be out or doubts for the game at Stamford Bridge. There will also be speculation about whether James Maddison might start after coming off the bench against Leeds to mark his comeback from a ruptured ACL.

With kick-off for what could prove to be a decisive match fast approaching, we’ve collected all of the latest Spurs injury news below along with the absent players’ likely return dates when available.

Will Dominic Solanke & Guglielmo Vicario be fit to face Chelsea?

Striker Dominic Solanke’s season has been badly affected by injuries from start to finish, and he has missed the recent games against Aston Villa and Leeds with a hamstring injury – but ahead of last week’s match, De Zerbi told the media that he had “hope” that Solanke would be back in time to face Chelsea - who will not, incidentally, be managed by incoming head coach Xabi Alonso, with the Spaniard taking the reins in July.

The Italian also said that Solanke was “improving very quickly,” although it has yet to be confirmed that the 28-year-old was able to return to full training by the end of last week as had been hoped.

Solanke is likely to face a late fitness test on Monday evening to determine his availability, but there is a strong chance that he is back in the squad and able to feature in some capacity. If the Chelsea game does come too soon, he should be ready to play against Everton on the final day of the season.

First-choice goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, meanwhile, is also a doubt as he continues his heavily-delayed recovery from hernia surgery. He has returned to training for the first time since March, but his exact condition and match readiness remains unclear.

With back-up Anton Kinský in fine form, there is no guarantee that Vicario would retake his place between the sticks even if the Italian does return in time for Tuesday night’s game at Stamford Bridge.

James Maddison latest with six out for Spurs

The best news Spurs supporters have received over the last few weeks (save perhaps for news of West Ham’s 3-1 defeat to Newcastle on Sunday) was that attacking midfielder James Maddison is once again available after missing nearly the entirety of the 2025/26 season with an ACL injury.

The England international came off the bench towards the end of the 1-1 draw with Leeds, playing his first football since last August, and looked sharp – and there will no doubt be calls for him to start against Chelsea given the lack of creative quality in midfield as it stands.

De Zerbi has not yet given any indications as to whether Maddison will be able to play for a longer period of time after his cameo last week, but has told the media that he hopes the 29-year-old would play a “crucial” role in the run-in. A start against Chelsea seems unlikely, but an extended second-half appearance could be on the cards.

Some Spurs fans have also wondered about the odds that Cristian Romero might play again this season after he was seen in the Spurs dugout last week, free from his leg brace and running down the touchline in celebration after Mathys Tel’s goal – but all indications are that the Argentine will not recover from his knee injury in time to be involved again before the end of the season, and that he still faces a race against time to be fit for his country’s opening fixture of the World Cup on Algeria on 17 June.

Joining Romero on the touchline are Mohammed Kudus (quadriceps) and Dejan Kulusevski (knee), both of whom will hopefully return during pre-season – the long-injured Swedish winger is now back with the club to continue his seemingly endless rehab – along with Wilson Odobert and Xavi Simons (both ACL). Odobert will be targeting a winter return, with Simons likely out until February 2027, although it is too early for specific target dates to be set. Ben Davies (ankle) is also out, with no indications that he will play again before his contract expires in June.

Will new Chelsea head coach Xabi Alonso take charge before the end of the season? And will he have control over transfers?

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After weeks of speculation, Chelsea have formally announced their new head coach: Xabi Alonso, the former Real Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen manager, will take over in the wake of Liam Rosenior’s sacking.

Alonso was among the world’s most in-demand coaches, his reputation largely unaffected by a disappointingly brief spell in the Spanish capital which saw him sacked after less than eight months in charge of a chaotic Real Madrid side. Chelsea appear to have achieved something of a coup in appointing a coach who was also strongly linked with a return to Liverpool, the club he represented with distinction as a player. But when does Alonso start his reign at Stamford Bridge?

Will Xabi Alonso manage Chelsea vs Spurs?

While Chelsea have confirmed that Alonso will be their new permanent head coach, he isn’t set to take over immediately – instead, current interim coach Calum McFarlane will continue to take charge for the final two matches of the Premier League season.

That means that Alonso won’t be on the touchline for the midweek match at home to Tottenham Hotspur, nor against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on the final day of the season this coming Sunday.

Instead, the Spaniard will officially start his tenure as Chelsea head coach on 1 July, a date which will mark the beginning of a four-year contract. Alonso’s first game in charge is currently scheduled to take place in Sydney, against A-League outfit Western Syndey Wanderers on 31 July in a pre-season friendly.

Alonso’s arrival coincides with the end of a frustrating campaign which started with considerable promise before descending into chaos following the departure of Enzo Maresca. The Italian’s successor, Rosenior, lasted just 23 games, with the club sinking out of the race for Champions League qualification after he took charge.

Chelsea now face an uphill battle to qualify for European football of any form – ahead of the match against relegation-threatened Spurs, the club lie in 10th position, three points below Brentford, the team who currently occupy eighth place, which would make them the lowest-placed team in continental competition next season. Alonso will be wholly reliant on McFarlane’s efforts to ensure that he is managing the Blues in Europe during his first campaign as head coach.

Will Alonso have control over transfers at Chelsea?

When stories about negotiations to bring Alonso to Stamford Bridge first surfaced, there had been some reports which suggested that he might be given the title of manager, implying direct control over recruitment and transfers as well as training and tactical decisions – but Alonso has, instead, been named as head coach.

While that would typically mean that incoming and outgoing transfers were handled by a separate recruitment team, The Evening Standard report that sources state that Alonso will have a higher degree of control over the club’s dealings that his predecessors, although precisely how much control he might have remains unclear.

Alonso has not yet given an introductory press conference at which such questions might be addressed, and didn’t provide any information about the specifics of his role behind the scenes in a brief statement provided after the announcement of his new job.

"Chelsea is one of the biggest clubs in world football and it fills me with immense pride to become manager of this great club," Alonso said.

"From my conversations with the ownership group and sporting leadership, it is clear we share the same ambition. We want to build a team capable of competing consistently at the highest level and fighting for trophies.

"There is great talent in the squad and huge potential at this football club and it will be my great honour to lead it. Now the focus is on hard work, building the right culture and winning trophies."

A look at the players Spurs need to sell this summer - even if they avoid relegation from the Premier League.

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Whatever division Tottenham Hotspur find themselves in next season, it’s fair to assume that their squad will look rather different. Even if they avoid the drop, they have too many underperforming players (and too many wanted by other sides) to avoid a major rebuild over the course of the summer transfer window.

Some players could leave whether Spurs want them to or not, such as centre-backs Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven, but there are others in the squad who are more of a drain on the wage bill than a benefit to the team’s chances of getting back to their best – so we’ve picked out five players that Spurs should actively shop around in the coming months if they want to improve.

Mathys Tel

Tel arrived in North London with plenty of (perfectly justified) hype, having demonstrated himself to be an immense talent in the Bundesliga with Bayern Munich – but has failed to live up to either his billing or his £30m price tag. It may be best for Spurs to find a buyer while he still commands a substantial fee.

There are certainly moments when Tel has looked like the potential world-beater he was sold as when he first arrived, but he gets lost in games too often, makes too many questionable decisions and a return of four goals in 29 Premier League appearances hasn’t really cut the mustard. If Spurs can get their money back for a player who was actively pushing for a loan move away back in January, they might be wise to take that deal.

He’ll still have his suitors as it stands and may well be worth more than his wages one day, but Spurs need immediate results more than they need future potential and his sale would help them to spend more over the summer.

Radu Dragusin

In truth, the Romanian centre-back didn’t really look good enough for the Premier League even before an ACL injury sidelined him for much of the past year – this is a player who doesn’t quite do anything well enough for the top level of the game.

There appears to be interest from Serie A, with Inter Milan and AS Roma among a number of Italian teams tentatively linked with a bid, and if that interest crystalises into a firm offer then it’s hard to imagine that Spurs will turn it down – it’s worth noting that some reports suggested that a loan-to-buy deal had been agreed with Roma in January before it collapsed.

There are no particular indications that Roberto De Zerbi holds Drăgușin in much higher regard than his predecessors, and even if Romero and Van de Ven were to leave it’s hard to imagine Spurs working too hard to hold on to a player who has simply struggled to make the grade in England.

Guglielmo Vicario

Vicario made a promising start to his Spurs career but has been somewhat subpar over the last two seasons – not necessarily a remarkably bad goalkeeper, but one who makes too many mistakes, struggles too much with high balls and set pieces, and whose distribution isn’t quite strong enough to mark him down as the long-term answer at the back.

He’s a solid shot stopper, by any standards, but there’s more to being a goalkeeper and Vicario ends up being too close to the middle of the pack to justify working too keep him on board – especially when he seems to be angling for a transfer anyway.

Several Italian sides have been linked with a move to bring him back to his home country and there are plenty of signs to suggest that he’ll get his wish to go back to Serie A. Spurs are likely to go shopping for a new number one in a couple of months’ time, and that may not be such a bad thing. They can do better.

Manor Solomon

The Israeli winger never really broke into the first-team with any kind of conviction after he was signed from Shakhtar Donetsk back in 2023 and has spent the entirety of the last two years out on loan, most recently with Fiorentina. It’s probably high time that Spurs find him a permanent home.

Fiorentina do have a purchase option worth a reported £8.7m in their loan deal, which offers a likely and perhaps probable solution, but there have been few reports definitively stating that they will trigger it – Solomon has started eight league games since joining La Viola, scoring twice and playing reasonably well, so it seems plausible that it’s a move which will be made permanent.

Should Fiorentina decide to leave him be, however, Spurs will be back in the hunt for a buyer. His £60,000 per week wages aren’t too extortionate for the kind of teams who could offer him a home, so hopefully it’s a situation that will be resolved satisfactorily before the end of the window.

Pape Matar Sarr

Of the five players we’ve picked out, selling Sarr is certainly the least urgent. He’s still 23, still has time to blossom into the all-action player that he promised to be when he first arrived at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and still has an impressive work ethic to back his natural ability up. The problem is that he simply hasn’t levelled up as swiftly as might have been hoped.

Sarr certainly puts the hard yards in but there’s a worry that he’s turning into a jack of all trades and master of none. Neither his defensive work nor his passing game have stood out and he’s endured a rather mediocre season in which he’s started just 13 Premier League games. There’s a growing sensation that Spurs simply have better midfielders, and with Conor Gallagher, Rodrigo Bentancur, Lucas Bergvall and perhaps João Palhinha on the books for next season (relegation notwithstanding) it’s hard to say that Spurs really need the Senegalese midfielder.

Turkish sides Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe have both come up as potential suitors on the rumour mill, so there could well be willing buyers – and if Spurs could get a substantial sum, then selling him to raise the funds required to strengthen other parts of the squad makes rather a lot of sense.

Spurs & Fulham are both alleged to be interested in a dazzling young Brazilian with a gift for dribbling - but who will win the race when the transfer window opens?

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While Tottenham Hotspur may not yet know which division they’ll be playing in next season, their scouts have still been busy – and they seem to have spent some time in South America watching a gifted young winger who’s creating plenty of excitement in the Brazilian top flight.

They aren’t alone. Reports suggest that both Spurs and Fulham are keen on Coritiba winger Lucas Ronier, a 21-year-old whose dazzling dribbling displays have also attracted interest from Saudi Arabia – but just how good is Lucas Ronier, and what will it take to bring him to Europe this summer?

Lucas Ronier – the fleet-footed Brazilian wanted by Spurs & Fulham

Lucas Ronier is already in his third season as a regular starter for Coritiba but the 2026 Brasileirão campaign is his first in the top flight – his seven goals in all competitions last year helped to earn his team promotion as Série B champions, and now he’s getting to showcase his skills on a bigger stage.

The jump up has hurt his end product somewhat – in 15 league games so far he’s managed two assists and just one goal – but his lightning-fast feet have impressed nonetheless. The youngster has a gift for dribbling which will inevitably earn him a big move sooner or later.

A naturally left-footed winger who typically looks to come inside from the right but who is also comfortable on his weaker foot, Lucas Ronier’s standout trait is undoubtedly his ball control and his breathtakingly fast feet. A superb ball-carrier who can turn defenders inside out and who is just as comfortable cutting in as he is speeding round full-backs on the outside, he’s already proven to be a severe headache for defenders in Brazil’s top tier.

Short at around 5’5”, he knows how to use his low centre of gravity to turn quickly, often in a flurry of stepovers that can dazzle defenders – and draw a considerable number of fouls.

He’s also a very willing runner and effective in a high press, forcing an encouraging number of high turnovers and making a consistent nuisance of himself off the ball – while his work rate in training has also drawn praise in Brazil.

His end product needs to be polished and both his finishing and final ball need to improve before he’d be ready for the Premier League, but his preternatural technique seems to have attracted Spurs and Fulham’s interest nonetheless. According to Sport Witness, both sides are monitoring the winger’s progress ahead of potential bids.

Lucas Ronier would likely start life in England as a developmental prospect rather than an immediate starter, but he has the raw skillset and physical traits to thrive – but will either side make a move when the transfer window opens?

Will Spurs or Fulham bid for Lucas Ronier this summer?

Sport Witness’ report stops short of suggesting that negotiations are inevitable, but if either Spurs or Fulham do want to make a move they may be compelled to do it soon – they aren’t the only teams keen on Lucas Ronier.

Saudi Pro League side Neom allegedly saw a bid of £9.4m rejected in 2024 and he continues to be a subject of interest – likely with a rather higher price tag this time around. The player himself was said to be more interested in a move to Europe, however, which could give his Premier League suitors an edge.

All we can say with confidence is that any bid for Lucas Ronier would have to exceed eight figures, although the price may not spiral to unaffordable levels – the player has just 18 months left on his contract, which will encourage Coritiba to listen to offers sooner rather than later.

His club’s form may also be a factor. After a strong start (which included a 2-0 win away to Corinthians in which Lucas Ronier scored) Coritiba have struggled in recent weeks, picking up just one win in their last nine matches. They are in mid-table as it stands, but should they be sliding towards the relegation zone by the time the transfer window opens, they may be incentivised to work hard to keep hold of perhaps their most naturally gifted player.

It’s not clear just how big the battle for Lucas Ronier’s signature might be – whether Spurs and Fulham will have a clear path to a deal, or whether other sides will be in the mix as well. Certainly, with his talent, it’s hard to imagine that other European sides haven’t been paying attention too. If he does move to the Premier League this summer, it should be fun to watch.

The latest Premier League transfer news including Spurs, Man United, Aston Villa and more

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A mere six weeks now stand between us and the summer transfer window’s grand opening. Six weeks for sporting directors to get their transfer lists primed and polished. Six weeks for players to put themselves in the shop window in hope of a big summer move. And six weeks for transfer news titan Fabrizio Romano to fully defrost himself, oils his joints and get ready for action.

We begin today’s rumours round-up at Tottenham, where Spurs are positively giddy after winning two Premier League matches on the trot. They stormed past a second string Aston Villa side who exuded an unquestionable ‘let’s not waste our precious time on a game so insignificant when the Europa League semi-final second-leg is next week’ vibe.

But credit to Spurs, they got the job done, and now Premier League survival is back in their hands. With that would come a significantly more appealing transfer window than if they were to be relegated, and their latest target is said to be Brighton defender Jan Paul van Hecke, according to Team Talk.

The report says that Spurs won’t be put off by interest from Liverpool and everyone’s favourite luxury circus troupe, Chelsea, and are ready to make their move for the 25-year-old if they stay up. He’s previously been said to be valued at around £50m, and manager Roberto De Zerbi’s time managing him at Brighton could well work in Tottenham’s favour.

The 3AM Verdict: Spurs are going to have a serious squad overhaul, regardless of whether they’re relegated or not. We know they’re likely to sign Marcos Senesi on a free transfer from Bournemouth, which would leave some funds to land Van Hecke. Signing them both may well be necessary, with both Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven potentially leaving the club this summer.

Premier League trio keen on Kalulu

Next up, we’re off to Turin, where Juventus star Pierre Kalulu is said to have drawn significant interest from several Premier League sides. Caught Offside say that Liverpool are monitoring the 25-year-old closely, and consider him to be one of their “top defensive targets” heading into the summer window.

Aston Villa and Manchester United are also both namechecked as potential suitors, but Juventus are said to be unwilling to sell the centre-back, and view him as an integral part of the side going forward. What follows next is a bit of a classic from this outlet - you’ll never believe it, but their sources reckon Juventus are willing to sell him for the right price.

The 3AM Verdict: This does feel like one of those stories where a club are perhaps putting the word out there that they’re looking to cash in on a player - to the tune of around £35m, according to the report. Pure speculation on our part, of course. He’s a top player, so the Premier League interest makes sense, but the idea that Juve are desperate to keep him doesn’t pass muster with us.

Leeds United hold the key to Aston Villa transfer hopes

They say that the submission of AI queries uses millions of litres of water per day, as cooling systems frantically try to soothe the relentlessly whirring servers whose sole purpose is to let Barbara from Montrose know whether it’s a good idea to do cheese on toast with blowtorch, or provide Clive from Toulouse with a bombproof list of reasons that could excuse him from his loathed uncle’s second wedding.

A similar strain was put on the internet at large at around this time last year, when approximately 1.2 million articles were written on then soon-to-be free agent Jonathan David. Every elite club in Europe was seemingly after the Canadian forward, and football fans across the globe were transfixed by the saga concerning who would sign the free agent bargain of the century. Forget Brat Summer - this was our David Spring.

He ended up at Juventus, promptly flopped, and now they’re looking to get rid of him. Aston Villa are said to be after him, but Football Insider claim they’ll only be in luck if Leeds United can’t sign Juve’s Lois Openda. Basically, the former Serie A serial winners don’t want to lose both players, given that striker Dusan Vlahovic looks to be heading out the door too.

The 3AM Verdict: Now Leeds have all but avoided relegation, they’ll be ready to spend big this summer. They could well nab Openda on a loan-to-buy deal, which would probably dash Villa’s hopes of bagging David. Plot twist: why don’t the Villans save themselves a few million quid and sign free agent Vlahovic instead? We just might have another transfer saga on our hands...

The latest Tottenham team news, injury update and predicted XI ahead of their Premier League clash with Aston Villa

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Tottenham have just four matches of the 2025/26 Premier League season left to go, and remain locked in an enthralling battle with Nottingham Forest, West Ham and Leeds United, as all four clubs look to avoid finishing in 18th place and getting relegated to the Championship.

As things stand, Roberto De Zerbi’s side are in the dreaded 18th spot, two points behind West Ham. They still have to face Aston Villa, Leeds, Chelsea and Everton, and their fate could well remain undecided until the final day of the season. They’re taking it one game at a time, with Sunday’s clash against the Villans their most pressing concern just now.

Spurs may take a crumb of comfort from the fact that Villa underwent a gruelling midweek Europa League semi-final with Nottingham Forest, and may have half an eye on overturning the 1-0 deficit next week. Forest themselves travel to face an improved Chelsea, which could be a tough encounter, while the Hammers must contend with a tricky trip to Brentford.

Ahead of Sunday’s crucial encounter at Villa Park, we’ve rounded up the latest Spurs team and injury news, as well as predicting De Zerbi’s most likely starting XI.

Tottenham team news and injury latest

Despite the morale-boosting 1-0 win over Wolves last weekend, Spurs couldn’t escape the game without a double injury blow - as both Xavi Simons and Dominic Solanke suffered injuries. The former will miss the rest of the season and indeed the 2026 World Cup with a ruptured ACL, while the latter suffered a grade two hamstring injury.

While Solanke could be out for two weeks - that’s best case scenario, worst case it will be eight - it looks like Spurs may have some luck when it comes to goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, who could finally be back in the squad after recovering from hernia surgery. He’s widely expected to leave the club this summer, with Serie A giants Inter favourites to sign him.

Destiny Udogie’s current injury status is unclear. He missed the Wolves game with a muscular injury, and De Zerbi didn’t give too much insight into whether it would be a severe enough ailment to keep him out of the trip to Villa Park. Randal Kolo Muani looks set to be part of the squad, despite rumours suggesting he had a hamstring injury doing the round earlier this week.

James Maddison, who has missed the entire so far with an ACL injury, was named in the squad again last weekend, and could potentially be given some minutes from the bench against Unai Emery’s side as he looks to rebuild his match fitness. Mohammed Kudus, Cristian Romero, Wilson Odobert and Ben Davies have all be ruled out until the end of the season.

Spurs predicted XI to play Aston Villa

While Vicario may be available for selection again, De Zerbi may opt to stick with Antoine Kinsky, so as not to throw the Italy international straight back in the deep end. Pedro Porro looks set to make his 31st Premier League appearance of the season at right-back, while Micky van de Ven and Kevin Danso will pair up in the centre of defence.

De Zerbi was cautious in his comments on Udogie, and may well opt not to risk him this week and start Djed Spence at left-back instead. In the central midfield roles, Rodrigo Bentancur looks set to start, and could be partnered by Yves Bissouma as Spurs look for some solidity in the middle of the park against the Villans.

An attacking midfield three could be deployed with Mathys Tel coming in on the left flank, Kolo Muani on the right, and Swedish gem Lucas Bergvall playing in behind the striker. With Solanke out, it looks like £60m Brazil international Richarlison - one of eight players we believe could leave the club this summer - will be given the nod to lead the line.

Tottenham predicted XI vs Aston Villa: Kinsky; Porro, Van de Ven, Danso, Spence; Bissouma, Bentancur.

The latest Spurs team news and injury updates ahead of a vital match against Aston Villa.

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Tottenham Hotspur may have eked out a much-needed win at Wolves over the weekend, but those three points came at a cost – with both Dominic Solanke and Xavi Simons leaving the field with injuries which could derail Roberto De Zerbi’s plans for the rest of the relegation battle.

Solanke and Simons are now among a list of 10 first-team players who are either out or doubts for a challenging trip to Aston Villa on Sunday which also includes Destiny Udogie, Pape Matar Sarr and first-choice goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario.

With kick-off on the horizon, we’ve collected all of the latest Spurs injury news and updates ahead of a crucial Premier League match, along with the stricken players’ expected return dates when available.

How bad are the injuries to Xavi Simons and Dominic Solanke?

The greatest cause for concern after the Wolves match centred on Xavi Simons, who was stretchered off just after the hour mark with what appeared to be a serious injury – and so it has proven, following confirmation that the Dutchman has ruptured his ACL.

Simons, who described himself as “heartbroken” in a social media post, is now not expected to play again until 2027, ruling him out of the World Cup. He will undergo surgery in the coming weeks before beginning what will likely prove to be a very lengthy period of rehabilitation.

While the injury which forced Dominic Solanke off five minutes before half-time does not appear to be quite so serious, the striker could also be set for another spell on the sidelines. Having pulled up when chasing down a loose ball, Solanke appeared to be holding his knee and underwent treatment on the pitch before the decision was made to replace him with Richarlison.

Speaking after the match, De Zerbi told the media that Solanke had “suffered a muscular injury... It’s not a big problem, I don’t know how many games we will lose him.” No further prognosis is available at the time of publication, and the former Bournemouth man is expected to undergo tests over the course of the week. As it stands, he is a significant doubt for the Aston Villa game.

Udogie, Sarr and Vicario among Spurs doubts for Aston Villa showdown

Among several players who could also be absent for the away game at Aston Villa next weekend are Destiny Udogie, who missed out against Wolves with an undisclosed muscular injury which De Zerbi said was “not a big problem” – the Spurs head coach added that he expected his compatriot to be fit to face Aston Villa.

First-choice goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario is expected to return to full training from the start of this week after hernia surgery, and could reclaim his starting spot between the sticks. It’s not yet clear whether he might be joined in training by Pape Matar Sarr, who wasn’t involved last week due to a shoulder injury. He stands a chance of facing Aston Villa, but the likelihood of that remains uncertain. There is also an outside chance that Ben Davies makes the matchday squad as he continues his recovery from ankle surgery.

Spurs still have several long-term injury victims, although James Maddison’s return to the bench for the Wolves game suggests that one name, at least, is off that list even as Simons sadly joins it: Mohammed Kudus (thigh), Cristian Romero and Dejan Kulusevski (both knee) are all expected to be out until the start of next season, while Wilson Odobert (ACL) is targeting a return in the winter.

Spurs have five matches to avoid relegation and maintain their Premier League status

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There are just 450 minutes of football left for Tottenham to avoid the unthinkable - relegation to the Championship for the first time since 1977. A truly torrid Premier League campaign has seen the north London side go through three managers in a matter of months, with none of them able to break the side’s grim - even grimmer than that leaked kit - streak of dismal results.

For Roberto De Zerbi’s newly inherited team, it’s now a simple matter of treating their remaining games as five cup finals. They’ll not only need to pick up plenty of points, but also hope that either Nottingham Forest or West Ham fail to do so, with both clubs currently ahead of the Lilywhites in the safe haven above the relegation zone.

Next up, it’s a trip to Wolverhampton Wanderers, whose drop down to the Championship was finally confirmed earlier this week. While on paper it should be an easy win for Tottenham, the freedom a side can play with once their fate is decided can’t be underestimated, and it’s worth noting the side defeated Premier League champions Liverpool at Molineux just last month.

Ahead of Saturday afternoon’s crunch clash in the West Midlands, we take a look at the starting XI De Zerbi could field against the Old Gold:

Spurs predicted line-up vs Wolves: goalkeeper and defence

GK - Antonin Kinsky: Tottenham are still waiting for first-choice goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario to return, after he had hernia surgery during the last international break. Kinsky has filled in in the meantime, and could well keep the gloves for another week as Spurs will be cautious not to rush Vicario back too hastily.

RB - Pedro Porro: Despite being renowned for his crossing ability, the ex-Sporting CP right-back has only managed two Premier League assists this season. However, he scored a crucial goal in Spurs’ 2-2 draw with Brighton last weekend, and will be looking to carve open the vulnerable Wolves defence with some trademark bombing runs down the right flank on Saturday.

CB - Micky van de Ven: The rapid Netherlands international is among a host of Spurs players who could leave the club this summer. He’s been part of a defence who’ve struggled hugely this season, and will need to step up as stand-in skipper to drag his side away from danger over the coming weeks.

CB - Kevin Danso: With Cristian Romero out for the rest of the campaign with a knee injury, Danso will once again partner Van de Ven at the back. He’s played over 1000 Premier League minutes for Spurs this season, and will play a key role in Austria’s World Cup campaign this summer.

LB - Destiny Udogie: His season has been plagued by both knee and hamstring injuries, but he’s now fit, firing, and ready for the run-in. He looks to be De Zerbi’s left-back of choice over Djed Spence, and is expected to start once more against Wolves.

Spurs predicted XI vs Wolves: midfield and attack

CM - Conor Gallagher: The tireless midfielder has struggled to make the desired impact following his January move from Atletico Madrid, but could cause carnage against a lacklustre Wolves engine room this weekend. He’ll likely be part of a midfield three, as De Zerbi looks to line up plenty of passing options in the centre of the park.

CM - Rodrigo Bentancur: Having made an encouraging comeback in his first match since January last weekend, the Uruguay international will look to press on at Molineux. He’s another Spurs player with half an eye on building fitness for the World Cup, with his side set to take on Saudi Arabia, Cape Verde and Spain in Group H.

CM - Archie Gray: Given Wolves’ defensive vulnerabilities and must-win nature of the game, Gray could well be brought in for Pape Matar Sarr. Having largely been farmed out at right-back under previous managers, the ex-Leeds United wonderkid looks set to finally be given the chance to shine in his favoured position - one where he can showcase his creative talent.

AMR - Randal Kolo Muani: With Mohammed Kudus out for the rest of the season after sustaining a serious thigh injury, it’s a toss up between Kolo Muani and Mathys Tel on the right wing. The former could be given the nod here again, with the latter only being handed half-hour appearances from the bench under De Zerbi so far.

AML - Xavi Simons: After scoring a stunning goal and providing an assist against Brighton, Simons will be one of the first names of the teamsheet to face Wolves. The Netherlands international, who also bagged a brace in Spurs’ 3-2 win over Atletico Madrid last month, will be looking to add to his modest goal tally of five for the season so far.

ST - Dominic Solanke: The ex-Bournemouth striker will be leading the line for Tottenham once again this weekend. Like half the team, he’s missed a large chunk of the season through injury, and will now be looking to end his run of four matches without scoring a goal.

The latest transfer stories from the Premier League - including the latest on Chelsea, Spurs, Liverpool, Crystal Palace and more

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Rejoice! The weekend is finally upon us. Premier League football is back on the menu, with the title race, relegation battle and relentless scrum for European places set to take centre stage over the next couple of days. Top of the bill is Manchester City vs Arsenal - a titanic title race tussle that will go a long way to deciding who lifts the trophy next month.

There’s further intrigue elsewhere, as Nottingham Forest and Burnley face off in a box office brawl at the bottom of the table, with Tottenham also grappling for survival when they host Brighton. On top of that, Everton and Liverpool compete in the Merseyside Derby, while Chelsea and Manchester United go head-to-head at Stamford Bridge.

Now, shuffle your way blearily through to the kitchen, prepare a cafetière of piping hot coffee and get those oranges squeezed. We took the liberty of, rather thoughtfully, rustling up a whole box crammed full to the brim with freshly-baked transfer rumours. Load up your plate and dig in:

Liverpool plot ‘club record’ bid for Wharton

A rather cheeky headline from Team Talk brings news of Liverpool and a potential ‘club record’ bid for Crystal Palace gem Adam Wharton. A fee that’s exceeds the £125m Liverpool paid for Alexander Isak? Surely not? No, upon closer inspection, that would be Crystal Palace’s record sale being broken, rather than the Reds’ record purchase.

The story goes on to suggest that Liverpool could be ready to hand over a fee in the region of £70m to sign the England international, who has gathered attention from across the Premier League after establishing himself as one of the most promising young midfielders in the division.

It’s claimed that both Alexis Mac Allister and Curtis Jones could leave Anfield this summer, opening up a gaping chasm in midfield that will need to be filled. Liverpool are apparently “carrying out extensive background work” on Wharton, but could face competition from Arsenal and Chelsea to seal the deal.

The 3AM Verdict: Liverpool spent an obscene amount of money last summer, but with a few sales they could well go big again once the transfer window opens. At 22, the world is Wharton’s oyster, and he’d be an ideal candidate to bring some much needed control back to the Reds’ midfield.

Tottenham could beat Chelsea and others to free agent coup

Next up on our whistle-stop tour, we’re sprinting over to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, where word has reached us of a potential transfer coup. Much like the infamous Jonathan David transfer saga of 2025, Bournemouth’s Marcos Senesi is the latest player approaching the end of his contract to attract some serious free agent transfer buzz.

The Athletic report that Tottenham have bulldozed the way to the front of the queue of those keen to sign the Argentina international, upon the expiry of his contract in July. Of course, the deal going through all depends on Spurs avoiding the drop down to the Championship - an existential crisis the club look set to be embroiled in for several more weeks.

It is said that doubt of both Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven’s respective futures at the club could see Tottenham spring into action, should they avoid the drop, with both players heavily linked with moves away regardless of how Spurs’ troubled season ends.

The 3AM Verdict: Tottenham are doing the right thing in pitching themselves to Senesi early on, as competition for his signature will be fierce. Considering that they’re also looking to get Liverpool’s Andy Robertson on a free transfer, Spurs could strengthen their defence considerably this summer without spending a penny in doing so. Smart business, if they can actually stay up to get the deals done.

Aston Villa join race for Bayern Munich gem Aseko

Round things off, we’re hot-footing it over to Bavaria, where a Bayern Munich youngster is the subject of increasing interest from a number of Premier League sides. According to Sky Germany, Aston Villa are ready to join the race to sign 20-year-old gem Noel Aseko, who is currently out on loan at second tier German side Hannover 96.

West Ham and Brighton are also credited with an interest in the Germany U21 international, but the three Premier League sides could all potentially miss out on the young talent, as Roma are said to have already made contact with Bayern over a potential summer move for the highly-rated defensive midfielder.

The 3AM Verdict: We struggled to find an image of Aseko that wasn’t him either sitting glumly on the bench or in training, which tells you all you need to know about how much of a chance he’s had at Bayern in the early stages of his career. The club could apparently let him go for less than £9m, which is a bit of a bargain in this day and age. Villa could do with boosting their midfield numbers, and at that price, it’s certainly worth a punt.

Spurs injury news update as Roberto De Zerbi's side prepare to face Brighton this weekend

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Tottenham are a matter of weeks away from learning their fate - can they hang on to their Premier League status, or will they be plunged into the Championship? Six games stand between Roberto De Zerbi’s side and the end of the season, with their latest clash coming in the form of a home fixture against Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday evening.

Injuries have played a major part in Spurs’ struggles for the past couple of campaigns, with hamstring issues in particular becoming a hallmark of the turbulent Ange Postecoglu era. It’s been the same story this season, with the Premier League injury table proving to be the only one Tottenham are capable of riding high in.

Ahead of Saturday, here is the latest injury news concerning Tottenham’s squad:

Tottenham injury news latest: goalkeeper and defence

Guglielmo Vicario (hernia) - The Italian goalkeeper had surgery on a hernia during the international break, and was unable to return in time to face Sunderland last weekend. He wasn’t spotted in training with Spurs earlier this week, but there’s still a decent chance he could be back in time for Saturday. He’s among a host of players we expect to leave Tottenham this summer. Estimated return date: 18th April vs Brighton.

Ben Davies (ankle) - No change here, with the Wales international unlikely to play for the club again after breaking his ankle against West Ham United back in January. If all goes well, he could potentially get a cameo appearance from the bench on the final day of the season, but given that the relegation battle could be decided then, that seems unlikely. Estimated return date: N/A

Cristian Romero (knee) - Spurs’ season went from bad to worse last weekend, with their defeat to Sunderland made even more troubling by the hammer-blow of losing skipper Romero for the rest of the season. It’s understood that he suffered a high-grade medial cruciate ligament partial tear, after colliding with goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky. Estimated return date: next season.

Tottenham injury news latest: midfield and attack

Dejan Kulusevski (knee) - It’s been 340 days since the Sweden international last played for Tottenham, and we’re still no closer to knowing when he’ll be back. He has, however, made it clear that he plans to play for his country in the World Cup this summer, which suggests he could get some game time before the Premier League campaign ends. Estimated return date: late season.

Wilson Odobert (knee) - He’s been out since February with an ACL injury and will play no further part in Spurs’ season. The 21-year-old has made over fifty appearances since joining from Burnley back in 2024, scoring five goals. Notably, he bagged a brace in Tottenham’s 3-1 Europa League quarter-final against AZ Alkmaar. Estimated return date: Autumn 2026.

James Maddison (knee) - It’s been a deeply frustrating season for Tottenham’s set-piece magician, who’s missed the entire campaign with an ACL injury. He’s stepped up his recovery considerably in recent weeks, but given the severity of his issue, the chances of the club rushing him back to play a part in the run-in are remote. Estimated return date: pre-season.

Rodrigo Bentancur (hamstring) - At last, some positive news. The Uruguayan midfielder is finally back in training, after suffering a hamstring injury against Bournemouth back in January. While he’s unlikely to start against the Seagulls on Saturday, he could well be named among the substitutes. Estimated return date: 18th April vs Brighton.

Mohammed Kudus (quad) - The Ghana international may have to have surgery after suffering a setback in his recovery from a quad injury. If so, he won’t play again this season, and may even miss out on the World Cup . Bad news for Spurs but better news for England, who won’t have to deal with both Kudus and Antoine Semenyo in the World Cup clash this summer. Estimated return date: pre-season.