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The latest Spurs injury and team news as new manager Roberto De Zerbi prepares for his first match in charge

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Tottenham Hotspur will enter a crucial period of their 2025/26 Premier League campaign this week, with new manager Roberto De Zerbi and his newly inherited charges set to take on Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Sunday afternoon.

The ex-Brighton boss was named Spurs boss at the end of March, following a nightmarish interim spell from Igor Tudor. The ex-Juventus coach lasted a mere seven games after replacing Thomas Frank, winning just one of his matches in charge and plunging the north London outfit even deeper into the relegation battle.

As things stand, the Lilywhites are a mere point clear of the bottom three, with just 30 points accumulated from 31 matches. West Ham - currently below them in 18th - Nottingham Forest and Leeds United are the three other sides jostling to keep their heads above water, with Burnley and Wolves in 19th and 20th respectively most likely already condemned to the icy depths of the Championship.

Ahead of what’s promising to be a fascinating few weeks brimming with agonising twists and turns, Spurs remain in the unfortunate position of missing a number of key players going into the run-in. This is how De Zerbi’s squad is shaping up and the expected return dates of those injured, ahead of their weekend trip to the North East:

Spurs injury news update - goalkeepers and defence

Guglielmo Vicario (hernia): Tottenham’s number one was able to put the international break to good use - he had an operation on a hernia that he had been managing for several months. He is still recovering from the procedure, but could well make his return before the month is up.

The Italy international’s future at the club still remains uncertain, with rumours persisting for some time suggesting that Spurs may look for a new man between the sticks for next season.

Expected return date: April 25th

Ben Davies (ankle): The Spurs stalwart, now in his 12th season at the club, is currently out of action after having surgery on a broken ankle in early 2026.

Since then, there has been little in the way of information regarding his recovery, although he has been spotted at the ground supporting the team during his recovery.

With just seven matches of the season left to play, it now looks likely that he has played his last game for the club, with his current contract set to expire at the end of the season.

Expected return date: Unknown

Spurs injury news update - midfield and attack

Dejan Kulusevski (knee): He’s missed the entirety of the season so far, after suffering a serious knee injury in a match against Crystal Palace last May.

Last month, he underwent further surgical work on his existing injury, and was part of the Sweden squad that secured their place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup play-off victories over Ukraine and Poland respectively. His presence was merely for team morale, rather than playing in the fixtures.

Kulusevski has made it clear that he intends to play a key role for his country in the summer international tournament, and claimed his “knee is great now” following the latest surgical procedure.

Expected return date: Unknown - but his comments suggest he could feature before the end of the season

Wilson Odobert (anterior cruciate ligament): Another long-term absentee, Odobert hasn’t kicked a ball for the club since February.

Given the six to nine month expected recovery time for an anterior cruciate ligament tear, Spurs fans certainly won’t be seeing Odobert back in action this season. He’ll be targeting a comeback before the end of 2026.

Expected return date: Late November/December 2026

Rodrigo Bentancur (hamstring): The Uruguay international has been sidelined since January, after he was stretchered off the field in a match against Liverpool with a hamstring injury.

Like Kulusevski, he’ll be not only focusing on returning for Spurs, but also on participating in this summer’s World Cup.

As things stand, the 28-year-old will be aiming to feature for Spurs by late April, potentially against Wolves in the final match of the month. Failing that, he could get minutes against Aston Villa in early May.

Expected return date: 25th April

James Maddison (anterior cruciate ligament)

Oh, how Tottenham have missed the creative spark of the England international this season. It has been a long road to recovery for Maddison, who suffered his ACL injury in a pre-season fixture against Newcastle United.

Since then, he’s undergone surgery and is now at the tail end of his recovery period. He was among Spurs’ injured stars who were seen cheering on from the sidelines during the dismal 3-0 home defeat to Nottingham Forest before the international break.

Barring any late setbacks, he’ll be looking to make a comeback next month. His return would be most welcome ahead of the side’s crunch clash with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in mid-May.

Expected return date: 17th May

Yves Bissouma (muscular problem): Out since the middle of March, Bissouma’s injury is somewhat of a mystery, with the rather vague “problems with muscles” as specific as information regarding his ailment has been.

Expected return date: Unknown

Pape Matar Sarr (shoulder): A bit of a concern, this one. Injured on international duty, the Senegal star has not appeared in any footage from De Zerbi’s early training sessions as Spurs’ new manager.

It’s very much a ‘fingers crossed it’s nothing serious’ one for now, until the Tottenham boss provides a fresh injury update post-international break.

Expected return date: Unknown

Mathys Tel (thigh): He missed out on the international break with France’s U21 side as a precaution, after leaving the field in discomfort during Spurs’ aforementioned loss to Nottingham Forest.

The good news is that the injury doesn’t appear to be too concerning and he’s expected to feature in De Zerbi’s first game in charge against Sunderland. You’d expect Spurs to add further attacking competition for Tel in the squad this summer, with Fiorentina striker Moise Kean said to be among their top targets.

Expected return date: 12th April

A round-up of the latest Premier League transfer rumours - with news from Spurs, Arsenal, Sunderland, Liverpool and more...

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Once again, we’ve scoured the gossip columns for some of the biggest and juiciest new Premier League transfer rumours which you might have missed over the past 24 hours – and today, we start our morning round-up off with a tale involving old rivals Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal.

Sport Witness report that Spurs have joined several other sides in showing interest in AS Roma full-back Wesley, who is still “attracting attention” from top sides, with Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal both said to be “in the race.”

Spurs are said to have started “keeping an eye” on the 22-year-old, who could be in Brazil’s starting line-up for the World Cup off the back of an impressive season in Serie A. Most importantly for Tottenham’s chances of landing him, it’s said that Roma’s asking price isn’t putting them off.

The Giallorossi apparently want €60m (just over £52m) for Wesley, a price tag which is said to reflect their “reluctance” to let him leave – but if Roma miss out on Champions League football, as seems likely, then they may be forced to bow to financial pressure and sell. For a few sides, including Arsenal, that may be too much money, but Spurs are suggested to be happy to press ahead.

The 3AM Verdict: Sport Witness note that other sources have suggested a lower price tag, and Spurs will have a tough time convincing Wesley to sign for them over other sides if their potential rivals aren’t priced out of the race. They’ll have an even tougher time if they get relegated, of course. For what it’s worth, we’re rather sceptical of a flurry of recent stories suggesting new Spurs targets just days after Roberto De Zerbi’s appointment. We doubt that an inside track into the new regime has been established so quickly.

Sunderland prepared for ‘ transfer battle’ as they turn back to old target

Let’s stick with Sport Witness for our second story of the day, which also happens to involve AS Roma – but this time as a team that could rival Sunderland for the signing of a long-standing defensive target: Bologna centre-half Jhon Lucumí.

Sunderland remain “very interested” in the Colombian, who they tried and failed to sign last summer, but now Roma are “in the hunt” and see him as a likely replacement for Evan Ndicka should the Ivorian leave this summer, as has been widely rumoured.

Lucumí seems unlikely to sign a new contract offer at Bologna and is “increasing likely” to be on his way. He was also said to be “keen” to take up Sunderland’s offer at the time, although apparently he’s also expressed an interest in living in Rome…

The 3AM Verdict: We suspect Sunderland do still have at least some interest in Lucumí, who they pursued vigorously, if unsuccessfully, last summer. It’s very hard to say whether they could beat Roma in a straight race for his signature, however, and there can be very little confidence about where the Colombian might land this summer.

Bournemouth ‘weighing up’ summer bid for Fulham star

We’ll wrap today’s digest up with a story from Sports Boom which suggests that Bournemouth are “weighing up” a bid for Fulham wing-back Ryan Sessegnon as they search for reinforcements this summer.

Sessegnon’s deal technically expires this summer, although his current club have the option to extend it for another year, but now is the time for the Cottagers to sell if they want to make any money – and with the Cherries apparently identifying the 25-year-old as a “key target,” they may get their chance.

Sessegnon is said to be “open to testing himself” at a bigger team, but it’s not clear that Bournemouth would necessarily qualify. Fulham, for their part, are “reluctant” to part ways with the former Spurs man, too. There’s no word on how much they might demand if negotiations do open up.

The 3AM Verdict: A perfectly plausible but otherwise uncorroborated transfer rumour, so we’ll remain gently sceptical about it all until we see more. Bournemouth do likely need a new left-back this summer, however, and they can’t always sign a previous unheard-of wonderkid…

Spurs have been linked with a summer move for an attacking midfielder who’s appeared on the shortlists of several other Premier League sides.

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The Roberto De Zerbi era is officially underway at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, although the controversial Italian won’t take charge of a match until 12 April when Spurs head north to face Sunderland. But while his most urgent priority will be turning on-field performances around, reports suggest that he’s already looking ahead to the summer transfer window.

Given that he’s be handed a five-year contract, that perhaps isn’t surprising. He has a long-term to plan for beyond his current rescue mission. Reports from this week already suggest that he’s identified Juventus midfielder Manuel Locatelli as a potential target, but the Italy international isn’t the only name alleged to be on his list – with a former Aston Villa and Leeds target also said to be on De Zerbi’s radar…

Gabriel Sara reportedly added to Spurs shortlist for the summer

According to a story from Caught Offside, Spurs are hoping to position themselves to make a move for Galatasaray’s Gabriel Sara, a 26-year-old attacking midfielder who made his debut for Brazil over the course of the recent international break.

The report suggests that Spurs have already made initial contact to sound out Sara ahead of a prospective bid, with the player allegedly keen to move back to England, where he spent two seasons in the Championship with Norwich City before impressing enough to earn a move to Turkey.

Having registered a combined 27 goals and assists for the Canaries in the 2023/24 campaign, Sara has since scored eight goals and provided 13 more across the better part of two years in Turkey, playing in a fluid attacking role which has sees him work to exploit pockets of space around the edge of the penalty area on either side of the field.

Sara acts primarily as a creative force with Galatasaray, and a relatively limited return in terms of assists this season somewhat belies the quantity and quality of chances he creates – although he has only provided two league goals so far over the course of the current campaign, he is credited with 5.52 expected assists.

If Spurs are indeed interested in Sara, it would likely be to provide competition for Xavi Simons and James Maddison in the number 10 role should De Zerbi stick to the 4-2-3-1 formation for which the Spurs squad has been primarily designed – but Sara can also play in a slightly deeper playmaking role, providing an added degree of tactical flexibility.

Will Spurs move to sign Sara in the next transfer window?

In terms of the validity of the report, it’s difficult to work out just how likely any stories about De Zerbi’s desires in the transfer window are to be accurate given how little time has passed since his appointment. The reliability of any inside track sources may claim to have must be viewed as questionable as it stands.

Still, Sara is not necessarily an unrealistic target for Spurs to have. There has been Premier League interest before, with Aston Villa strongly linked in the past (although Caught Offside’s report claims that they have cooled on the Brazilian) while Leeds and Sunderland have also cropped up as a possible destination.

Caught Offside believe that Galatasaray’s asking price would be a relatively meaty €45m (just over £39m), but previous stories have suggested a slightly lower price point, with a figure in the €30m (£26m) touted when links to Sunderland and Leeds emerged shortly after the January transfer window.

Both of those sides were alleged to have made approaches for Sara over the winter only to be rebuffed, with Galatasaray unwilling to part ways with a regular stater mid-season – but the Turkish side are generally prepared to sell, not least as they’re a club who are always looking for ways to fund their next big splash in the market.

Sara will likely be obtainable if Spurs are keen, although without further corroboration it’s hard to assess how genuine their alleged interest may be – but he’s an intriguing player with a genuine creative touch, and if the price isn’t unreasonable and he fits De Zerbi’s intended scheme, it’s certainly a plausible story on paper. Unless, of course, Spurs get relegated. If that happens, they may have to adjust the height at which they aim in the coming transfer window.

A round-up of the latest Premier League transfer rumours - with news from Chelsea, Aston Villa, Spurs, Everton and more.

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Every morning, 3 Added Minutes scours the gossip columns to put together a round-up of the biggest (and strangest) new Premier League transfer rumours which you might have missed over the past 24 hours – and today, we kick off with a story involving each of Chelsea, Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur.

According to Sport Witness (taking some of their information from Swedish outlet Sportsbladet), Chelsea and Villa are among the sides who have Spurs midfielder Lucas Bergvall “on their radar” – and both even attempted to sign the youngster in January.

Apparently the two teams were “willing to pay” as much as £40m to secure Bergvall’s services, but Spurs rejected the offers at the time – but they remain “keen” on the 20-year-old and could make another move in the summer, especially if Spurs end up getting relegated.

It’s speculated that Spurs’ stance on Bergvall is “unlikely to have changed” but that a drop down to the Championship could “force their hand.” There’s no suggestion that either Chelsea or Villa have re-opened talks, nor any word on what kind of transfer fee might be enough to get a deal done.

The 3AM Verdict: This article is largely speculative, based on Sportsbladet’s assertion that Chelsea and Villa were both bidders in January. If that’s accurate, of course, then there’s no reason that the two wouldn’t still be interested in the summer, while Spurs will be forced to shed much of their squad if they end up going down. Survive, and we suspect they’ll hang on barring a particularly enormous offer.

Serie A star ‘in Tottenham’s sights’ as De Zerbi identifies first target

Roberto De Zerbi has barely been Spurs manager for five minutes, but that hasn’t stopped him from picking out his first summer transfer target, according to Calciomercato – they reckon that the new head coach has put Juventus midfielder Manuel Locatelli “in Tottenham’s sights” as he looks to rebuild his squad at the end of the season.

The 28-year-old Italy international is at the top of De Zerbi’s “wish list,” with Juventus potentially prepared to let Locatelli leave in order to balance the books. The Old Lady is struggling with her finances at the moment, and Locatelli only has two more years left on his contract, making this summer the best time to sell to get maximum value.

There’s no word on what that value might be, however, which is understandable given that there has been no chance for Spurs to open negotiations as yet – and nor is there any word on the player’s own thoughts about his future.

The 3AM Verdict: Although not stated in the article, it’s fair to assume that this a deal which could only take place if Spurs do beat the drop. Juventus do need to sell some players this summer, so any stories linking their players with a move away have to be viewed as plausible right now – but we’d need to see more corroboration of this story before we fully buy into it.

The Spurs home kit for the 2026/27 season appears to have been revealed online - and supporters don’t seem too impressed.

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The brand new Tottenham Hotspur home kit for the forthcoming 2026/27 season appears to have been ‘leaked’ online ahead of its official release later this year – and Spurs supporters don’t seem to be especially impressed by Nike’s work.

Footy Headlines claim to have obtained details of the new-look shirt that the club will wear next season and have provided a rendered image of the new kit, aptly describing it as a “no-nonsense” shirt. So how will the relegation-threatened side look as they line up after the summer, whichever division they end up in?

Brand new 2026/27 Tottenham Hotspur home kit leaked online

If the leaks are proven to be accurate then the new Spurs kit, a digital render of which can be viewed in the social media link above, certainly doesn’t bring much design flair to the table.

Plain white with a white collar, the only pops of colour across the kit come from thin dark blue lines running down the sides and at the end of the sleeves – although the main body of the kit does have a faint, white-grey two-tone pattern running diagonally across the strip.

The Nike and club logos are picked out in the same dark blue as the trim, while the sponsor’s logo is again bright red, with insurance provider AIA entering the final season of their existing sponsorship deal with the club.

The template is apparently identical to that used by Nike for England’s World Cup kits, which haven’t proven to be especially popular with supporters since their release in time for the March internationals – and judging by the initial reactions from Spurs fans, their new shirt may not have too many fans either.

Spurs fans react negatively to new home kit on social media

The initial response from Tottenham Hotspur fans online has been less than positive, with many criticising the rather basic new look – and a number describing Nike’s efforts as being “lazy” as they enter the tenth year of their manufacturing deal with the club.

“They don’t even try,” complained one supporter on social media, while another described Nike as “lazy” and “useless” – at least, they described it as such once the less salubrious language was edited out.

There certainly weren’t many warmer reviews to be found online in response to a shirt which lacks the detail of some of Nike’s previous shirt designs for Spurs, although this isn’t the first time that the manufacturer has gone for a very straight down the line look – their shirts for the 2017/18, 2018/19 and 2021/22 seasons all made little effort to jazz up the traditional white kit.

Few fans will really be too worried, of course, provided that those shirts are being worn in the Premier League next season. New head coach Roberto De Zerbi has just seven matches to turn a dire campaign around and stave off the threat of relegation to the Championship – and if that is averted, then there won’t be too many supporters who worry themselves about the strip that their side is wearing next August.

Latest Tottenham Hotspur injury news and return dates ahead of their trip to Sunderland.

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Tottenham Hotspur are embroiled in a relegation battle in the Premier League with seven fixtures left to play. They are sat in 17th place in the table and are only a point above the drop zone having lost 3-0 at home against fellow strugglers Nottingham Forest last time out.

Next up for Spurs is an away trip to the Stadium of Light this weekend to play Sunderland following the international break. They have a managerial vacancy to fill following Igor Tudor’s exit, but whoever takes charge this weekend (Roberto Di Zerbi is expected to be appointed in time) will have a host of fitness worries to concern themselves with. Here is a look at the latest Spurs injury news and return dates...

When is Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario available again?

Spurs goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario is expected to be available again at the end of April. He has had surgery to treat a hernia and is expected to sit out against Sunderland on Saturday. Antonin Kinsky or Brandon Austin will now get the opportunity play against the Black Cats.

On Vicario, the club shared this update last week: “The minor procedure has been timed to have as minimal an impact on our season as possible... Guglielmo will commence his rehab with our medical staff immediately, and it is hoped that he could return to action within the next month.”

Attacker Mathys Tel remains sidelined with a groin injury. It is hoped that he can return to the pitch at some point in April to boost their new head coach’s attacking options, but it remains unclear as it stands as to whether he might be involved in any capacity against Sunderland.

Spurs will also need to assess Mohammed Kudus and Rodrigo Bentancur over the coming days ahead of their trek to the North East. They have both been recovering from muscle injuries but are expected return to full training before Sunday’s match. Prior to his departure, Tudor said that both were “progressing well” as they worked to return to action after the international break - both could play at least some part.

Five more Spurs players who could be injured for the Sunderland match

Spurs midfielder Yves Bissouma missed out against Nottingham Forest in their last outing due to an undisclosed muscular problem. It remains to be seen whether he will be fit to face Sunderland. He will be checked this week but he remains a major doubt.

Ben Davies’ exact return date from his broken ankle earlier this remains unknown, although there had been reports that an April comeback was being targeted, whilst James Maddison continues to recover from his ACL injury. The latter may well feature before the end of this term, with Tudor previously stating that he hoped for a “nice surprise” as the playmaker progresses through his rehabilitation.

As for Wilson Odobert and Dejan Kulusevski, the duo are still on the road to recovery from their respective long-term injuries. Odobert is out until the winter following surgery on a serious knee injury, while the current indications are that Swedish winger Kulusevski will play no part in the 2025/26 campaign due to a persistent knee problem of his own.

All the latest Premier League transfer rumours - including Chelsea, Tottenham, Man United, and more...

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We begin this weekend’s latest set of transfer rumours at Stamford Bridge, where Chelsea interest has been registered in a Tottenham Hotspur wonderkid, as Spurs’ Premier League situation continues to worsen…

According to Caught Offside, the Blues are set to be in for 19-year-old centre-back Luka Vuskovic when he returns to Spurs this summer. The Croatia international has enjoyed a breakout season on loan at Hamburg in the Bundesliga and has seen his transfer value skyrocket, with several of Europe’s biggest clubs including Barcelona, Liverpool and Bayern Munich thought to be interested.

The report ‘confirmed’ that Chelsea are amongst those hoping to land the teenage defender this summer. The Blues have had struggles at the back at times this season and could complete a stunning move at the expense of their London rivals, though Spurs do not want to sell Vuskovic before he has even featured for the first team in north London and may value the starlet at as much as €100 million (£86m). Chelsea’s interest in the player is thought to be ‘the strongest’ at this stage but Spurs are yet to receive any formal approaches for a transfer.

The 3AM verdict: It is hard to make a case for such a highly-rated defender as Vuskovic remaining at Spurs next season, particularly if they are relegated. Even if they stay up, the player has never featured for their first team and will surely feel that he has more attractive options elsewhere.

For him to move to one of Spurs’ biggest rivals in Chelsea, though, would certainly raise eyebrows. Particularly if there are other clubs willing to meet Spurs’ asking price, it would make more sense for them to avoid any cross-London summer sales. We do not doubt that Chelsea are interested in the player, though, and he would fit in well with their current recruitment model – but we still view this move as unlikely.

Man Utd linked with massive £104m Real Madrid double deal

Meanwhile, at Old Trafford, Manchester United have been tipped for a stunning double swoop at the expense of La Liga giants Real Madrid this summer.

That is according to reports by Defensa Central in Spain, who claim that the duo of Eduardo Camavinga and Nico Paz could be the subject of an €120m (£104m) bid from Old Trafford as the Red Devils look to overhaul their midfield ahead of next season.

Attacking midfielder Paz is at Como at present but is expected to return to former club Real at the end of the season for his €9m buy-back clause, while the versatile Camavinga has struggled for game-time this term and has seen increasing speculation regarding his future at the Bernabeu as a result. The likes of Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal have also been linked with the 23-year-old midfielder.

The 3AM verdict: Even the report itself clarifies that this reported bid is merely speculative at present, and we must agree that it appears unlikely. Real Madrid will not be keen for Paz to depart the club so soon after completing his return to the Spanish capital, with the player likely to hope for a chance to feature for Los Blancos’ first team after initially coming through their academy.

Camavinga, however, is a different story. While we’re still leaning towards believing that he will stay put in Madrid, there is sure to be some truth behind the frequent reports that the Frenchman is a target for Premier League sides after seeing his role with Real diminish. For United to sign the two players in one double deal would certainly steal the headlines, that much is for sure.

Could a second managerial change of the season be set to take place at Tottenham Hotspur?

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Tottenham Hotspur are in desperate circumstances after Sunday saw the Lilywhites fall to a damaging 3-0 defeat at home to Nottingham Forest, which left Igor Tudor’s side just a point and a single place above the Premier League relegation zone with seven matches to play.

The defeat to one of their closest relegation rivals firmly put the spotlight back on interim head coach Tudor, who has seen one draw and four defeats from his five league fixtures since taking over from Thomas Frank. Safe to say, that the appointment has not worked as the Spurs hierarchy hoped it would, and reports are beginning to circulate that Tudor might not still be in the dugout by the end of the international break.

The three-week break from domestic action allows for the board to consider their options wisely, as the precarious position in which Spurs find themselves has become abundantly clear and their top-flight status is on the line.

Adi Hutter linked with Spurs job - he could be their only hope

According to reports by The Telegraph in the aftermath of Sunday’s defeat at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, it was stated that Spurs are considering appointing Adi Hütter amid a ‘contingency plan’ if they do opt to relieve Tudor of his duties in north London.

Former AS Monaco boss Hütter is currently out of work and available to take over to save the Lilywhites, who are in serious danger of relegation and must act fast if the board feel that Tudor is not the man to save them from the drop.

Formerly manager of Eintracht Frankfurt and Borussia Monchengladbach before his time at Monaco – where he managed former Spurs star Eric Dier – Hütter has top European pedigree and has been compared with England boss Thomas Tuchel in terms of his style of play. Further comparisons with the likes of Jurgen Klopp reflect the high-energy brand of football the Austrian would look to bring to the Premier League – and he could be just the man Spurs need to save them from the drop.

Spurs must act fast to bring in Hütter and save their season

Though eyebrows would undoubtedly be raised at the appointment by Spurs of a second firefighter manager without previous Premier League experience, it is important to consider both the options currently available and the players Spurs have at their disposal.

Appointing a traditional relegation specialist such as Sean Dyche might seem a good idea in principle, but the likelihood is that many of Tottenham’s high-profile players might not necessarily respond to his methods. Besides, playing a more pragmatic style of football has evidently not worked for them in any capacity this season.

Former Spurs men have also been touted with a return to the club. But Robbie Keane is unlikely to leave his role at Ferencváros for a temporary job amidst recent links with Celtic, and Harry Redknapp is 79, which carries its own risks after a long stretch out of the game. Meanwhile, Tim Sherwood’s ‘come get me’ pleas certainly raise eyebrows considering he has managed just one club since leaving Spurs 12 years ago.

There is not a plethora of options available at present, but Hütter might just be the man who could yet steer Spurs away from danger. His high-pressing, attacking style of play would suit the club’s players and allow them to make the most out of their forward talent, particularly if the likes of Mohammed Kudus and James Maddison return before the end of the season.

“I like for my teams to play aggressive football in a good way, to be proactive, with a clear idea of how to play,” Hutter said in 2023 when he was named Monaco boss. “This must go with the desire to have a conquering state of mind, to show character, when you lose the ball for example. It is important that everyone finds their place in this vision.”

While former Spurs ace Dier added last year: “Coach Adi Hütter's style at Monaco is similar to the aggressive play I performed at Bayern last year. I believe I showed my abilities well enough. I really like this style of play. Now I must prove that ability on the field.”

Spurs face a worrying task to survive in the top flight as the real risk of relegation to the Championship looms large. But if there is one man who can lead them to safety, it might just be Hütter.

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This morning’s latest set of transfer rumours fresh off the mill begins at Anfield, where Liverpool are believed to have stolen ahead of Chelsea in a major transfer race ahead of the summer window.

Caught Offside relay reports by Mark Brus for the Daily Briefing that Liverpool and Chelsea have both made contact with Real Madrid for a second time over the availability of Eduardo Camavinga this summer – with Liverpool said to be ‘ahead’ in the race.

Reporting states that the La Liga giants are ‘ready to listen to offers’ for the 23-year-old France international this summer, for as little as €50million (£43m). Liverpool have been keen on the midfielder for ‘some time’ and have already held two rounds of talks with the player’s entourage, though formal talks with Real Madrid are not yet believed to have taken place. Man United have also recently been linked.

A source told the Daily Briefing: “There’s the growing sense that Camavinga’s time at Real Madrid is coming towards its end. They’re not actively pushing him out, but privately they’re prepared to consider selling for the right price.”

“Liverpool and Chelsea are both working to establish themselves with those close to Camavinga,” a source explained. “For now, Liverpool have done slightly more work on this deal, but it will likely be an open race.”

The 3AM verdict: Real Madrid midfielders are often linked with moves to the Premier League, but it rarely comes to fruition. Camavinga has struggled for game-time this season, though, so the possibility of an exit may have increased in recent months.

Big-name players rarely leave the Bernabeu unless they need to, so it would likely take firm assurances of a key role at wherever Camavinga may end up next for a summer move to become a reality. We’ll need some further convincing before believing a Premier League move for the Frenchman is a reality, but the player’s current situation at Madrid makes this one to watch out for.

Man Utd target £55m Spurs swoop if Lilywhites suffer relegation

Meanwhile, Manchester United are the latest club considering a Tottenham Hotspur swoop if Spurs are relegated. As per Sportsboom, Archie Gray is thought to be a Red Devils target this summer and the Lilywhites golden boy could be available for £55m amid rival interest from Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.

The 20-year-old has been a shining light for Spurs this term, particularly in recent weeks as the performance levels of many of his team-mates have dropped, and it is likely that the former Leeds United youngster will be one of the first players targeted by big clubs across the continent if Spurs lose their Premier League status this term.

Reporting continues that Gray previously pledged his future to Spurs even if they are relegated, but this will not stop giants such as United from testing their resolve with big-money bids. Relegation could cost the Lilywhites £250m in revenue and so they will have no choice but to sell key assets in order to balance the books.

The 3AM verdict: Gray has proven his worth as one of the Premier League’s brightest young players in recent months and would be far too good for the Championship if Spurs are relegated – he was too good for the Championship before moving to Spurs for £40m aged just 18, after all. His words of loyalty may be one thing, but a big move may be on the horizon regardless of whether Spurs stay up.

United are searching for tenacious, hard-working but technically gifted midfield players as part of their rebuild and Gray would fit this mould perfectly. His ability to play across the back-line also gives him invaluable versatility. There could be a transfer battle for his signature, no doubt, and United could conceivably be right at the front of the queue if they secure Champions League football for next term.

Spurs could sign a superb defender from Serie A this summer - according to Football Manager.

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However Tottenham Hotspur’s season ends, there will be an awful lot of work to do this summer if they are to build a competitive side from the wreckage of the past year – and likely a lot of comings and goings in the transfer market.

Not only are there glaring weaknesses in several departments, but it seems increasingly likely that several key players (not least Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero) will push to leave North London. Tottenham’s transfer team may have their work cut out.

Figuring out just how they will do that work is a little trickier, with the gossip columns throwing new names up almost every day. So we decided to get a glimpse into the potential footballing future by turning to just about the most accurate simulation available to us, Football Manager 2026, to see who Spurs might invest in this summer – and how those moves will work out.

Serie A star will be Spurs’ best summer signing – according to Football Manager

Spurs didn’t actually go overboard in our save, having avoided relegation from the Premier League in a season rather less disastrous than the one taking place in front of our eyes – but still spent over £100m on new players as they look to beef up their squad.

A few of the new signings weren’t especially impactful. Juventus’ Edon Zhegrova managed just three goals in our simulated 2026/27 season, while highly-rated attacking midfielder Charles De Ketelaere was restricted to just 17 appearances by injuries – although he did manage seven goals in that time, suggesting that the £46.5m paid to Atalanta for his services was a very decent deal.

A couple of back-ups made up the numbers, but the most impressive signing seems to have been 28-year-old centre-back Sam Beukema, a Dutchman who came from Napoli in a deal worth £26m and immediately made an impact, starting 24 matches in the Premier League and proving himself to be a fine investment.

In the game, he took Romero’s place despite the fact that the Argentine actually stayed put, but his combination of physical power and positional discipline in the game would make him a fine replacement in the real world, too – and given that he’s being touted for a late call-up to the Dutch squad ahead of the World Cup, it might be that the in-game stats reflect reality quite well.

But could Beukema really move to Spurs in real life – and is Football Manager’s prediction for Spurs’ summer dealings, which resulted in a disappointing sixth-placed finish with a big gap between them and the top four, likely to bear any resemblance to the reality?

Could Spurs sign Sam Beukema this summer?

While Football Manager may have projected both Van de Ven and Romero to stay at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium over the course of the coming months, we strongly suspect that one or both will be on their way out – meaning that relatively affordable deals for proven defenders like Beukema could be precisely the kind of signings that Spurs try to make this summer.

There are no rumours currently linking Spurs with Beukema specifically (although Liverpool’s name cropped up on occasion in 2025), but he represents the right kind of profile – a good combination of experience and years left in the tank, strong and fast but also technically capable. Beukema is a genuine all-rounder in his position, a player who would fit into most managers’ systems without fuss.

Of course, the rest of Spur’s business dealings in Football Manager fail to align with the grim reality of just how bad this team have been. This is a world in which the team finished sixth two seasons in a row – arguably an underachievement compared to expectations, but streets ahead of where they are now. They are likely to be far more aggressive with their dealings in reality. Assuming they stay up…