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Tottenham Hotspur have not won a single game in the 2026/27 Premier League season, and they are struggling badly to find the back of the net. Despite signing three new forwards and spending close to 400 million pounds on new players this past summer, Spurs are dead last in the league table and no better off than they were last season despite playing significantly better football under Roberto De Zerbi this year.

As Spurs get ready to face Manchester United, it's become clear that they just don't have the difference-makers that the other big teams in the Premier League do. Even though Manchester United have been far from impressive themselves and are 12th in the league table after finishing a resurgent third under Michael Carrick last season, former Celtic and Blackburn striker Chris Sutton's prediction for the game highlights the key difference between these two clubs.

Tottenham don't have a decisive player like Bruno Fernandes

Sutton is picking Man United to beat Tottenham 2-1, and his key focus is on the fact that Man United have a player in reigning Premier League Player of the Season Bruno Fernandes who can provide that bit of magic. He said, via Chris Cowlin, "Everything tells me that Carrick's side should probably take the three points because Tottenham are so flaky at the moment, but I am just not sure about United either. Spurs are bottom of the table for a reason - they have been terrible so far - but United got away with one in their draw against Fulham before the break. I am not sure much will have changed for either team since then, so it is hard to make a case for anyone to win this, but I am going with Bruno Fernandes to settle it with a bit of magic."

That really drives home probably the biggest problem Tottenham Hotspur have, and everyone around the club knows it. You just don't replace two generational talents at a club like Harry Kane and Son Heung-min, both of whom have real arguments on their own for being the greatest Spur of all time, that easily, and when you don't even come close to replacing them, this is what happens.

Tottenham finally have a good team and structure in place, but now they don't have the superstar players in the attack who can score and win games on their own. They don't have a single decisive player. For all the money they spent on Dominic Solanke, Richarlison, Omar Marmoush, Mohammed Kudus, and Savio, none of those players are decisive. Solanke is terrible, Richarlison isn't even in the squad but was subpar anyway, Marmoush hasn't been a factor in the Premier League, Savio is a great dribbler but not a top scorer or assister, and Kudus is in the same bracket as Savio. Meanwhile, Man United have a guy who can get 10 goals and 20 assists per season in Fernandes. That's a huge deciding factor indeed.

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Mathys Tel deserves a bigger role for Tottenham against Manchester United

Tottenham Hotspur are scouting Greek striker Vangelis Pavlidis amid his fantastic form at Benfica, according to a report, though they are not frontrunners for his capture.

Pavlidis made his name at AZ in the Netherlands, hitting 80 goals in 137 games for the club to earn an €18million switch to Benfica in July 2024. Since then, he has notched 74 goals and 22 assists in 123 matches for the Portuguese giants.

Pavlidis is currently in the form of his life, as he has already managed 14 goals and three assists in just 13 appearances for Benfica this term.

Tottenham were linked with the 27-year-old in June, and such speculation has now resurfaced.

CaughtOffside claim Spurs are ‘eyeing’ a transfer for Pavlidis, as they have been ‘scouting him extensively’ in recent months.

Spurs have made the January signing of a new centre-forward a ‘top priority’, and Pavlidis is emerging as a leading target after impressing their scouts.

READ: Top ten Premier League market value increases of the season features England quartet

The report adds that Barcelona, Aston Villa, Fulham, AC Milan and Juventus are all keeping tabs on him, too.

The report goes on to explain why Barca can be considered frontrunners.

‘Pavlidis is understood to be open to a move to the Premier League, but I’m also told that Barcelona could be viewed as a really tempting option for him,’ it reads.

Barca replaced Robert Lewandowski with Gabriel Jesus over the summer after missing out on No 1 target Julian Alvarez.

However, they could soon kickstart a deal for a more efficient striker than Jesus, and that is where Pavlidis may come in.

Tottenham target Pavlidis to cost big money

Pavlidis’ contract with Benfica runs until June 2029, and it includes a huge €100m (£85m) release clause. That puts Marco Silva’s side in a very strong negotiating position.

Benfica are determined to keep the 61-cap international in January, meaning Spurs and Barca may have to wait until next summer to engineer a deal.

Roberto De Zerbi asked Spurs to sign a new No 9 over the summer as he does not trust Richarlison, while Dominic Solanke has struggled with injuries.

Spurs missed out on Bournemouth’s Eli Junior Kroupi but managed to snare Omar Marmoush. The latter has joined Spurs on a loan-to-buy deal worth £60m.

Richarlison is poised to leave Spurs in January after being left out of their Premier League squad.

Pavlidis, in contrast, is seemingly being eyed by De Zerbi to compete with the likes of Marmoush and Solanke.

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Tottenham Hotspur are exploring a move for Espanyol striker Roberto Fernandez as Roberto De Zerbi looks to strengthen his attacking options ahead of the January transfer window.

According to TEAMtalk, Spurs have stepped up their interest in the 24-year-old after being impressed by his performances in La Liga this season. The Spanish forward has scored six goals in seven league appearances, earned his first senior international call-up, and attracted interest from several clubs.

Roberto Fernandez attracts Tottenham interest

Tottenham want a reliable goalscorer to help address their attacking concerns, and Fernandez has emerged as a potential solution. The north London club have been monitoring his development since last season, but his impressive start to the current campaign has accelerated their interest.

The Espanyol striker has shown he can make a difference in the final third, combining physical strength with intelligent movement and a natural instinct for finding the back of the net. His performances have also earned him recognition from Spain manager Luis de la fuente, further enhancing his reputation.

However, Tottenham could face competition for his signature, with German clubs also reportedly keeping tabs on the forward. Spurs will need to assess their options carefully before deciding whether to formalise their interest in the coming months.

Fernandez could solve Tottenham’s goalscoring problems

Fernandez’s recent form makes him an intriguing option for De Zerbi, who is looking to build a more effective attacking unit. His ability to lead the line and occupy opposition defenders could add a different dimension to Tottenham’s attack.

The 24-year-old scored seven goals last season, but his recent performances suggest he is becoming a more consistent goal threat. His growing confidence and international breakthrough have strengthened the case for a move to a bigger club.

Nevertheless, completing a deal will not be straightforward. Espanyol are unlikely to welcome the departure of one of their most important players, particularly given his growing influence on the team.

It remains to be seen whether Tottenham will make a concrete offer in January, but Fernandez is certainly a name worth monitoring as Spurs consider their attacking reinforcements.

Tottenham Hotspur have not won a single game in the 2026/27 Premier League season thus far, and while there have been clear improvements in terms of how Spurs are actually playing, football is a results based business. And with so much money tied up in new players and so much money on the line if Spurs do not make it to European football again - or, worse yet, get relegated this time after last season's close call - manager Roberto De Zerbi does not have as long of a leash as he might think.

There is no true pressure under De Zerbi's feet right now, but, again, after not winning in five games despite nearly 400 million pounds spent on the exact players De Zerbi wanted - and so he has nobody to blame but himself for the deficiencies in the squad, to be frank - there will come a point where Tottenham have to start thinking about drastic measures if things don't improve.

Roberto De Zerbi can't get embarrassed by Man United

Speaking ahead of Tottenham's big clash against Manchester United on Matchday 6 of the Premier League season, legendary Newcastle United and Blackburn Rovers striker Alan Shearer put it succinctly on De Zerbi's status. He thinks that if Tottenham don't turn up at all against the Red Devils and get blown out by another struggling giant, then it's time for the heat to be turned up from under Roberto De Zerbi's seat.

Shearer said, via Chris Cowlin, "De Zerbi did a great job, didn't he, last year, in keeping them up in the style that he did and clearly, as part of that, he got the contract he wanted and he got them spending a fortune on players that he wanted and demanded because he had huge power and in a huge position of strength, but he needs to get results now. I guess he'll be the first to tell you that he'll need to get results and he needs to get them quickly. It really depends on the manner of the results as to what action the Spurs board might potentially take in the near future, as at the moment it's not okay. No one wants to lose games, but I guess it's the manner and how you lose them or your manner how you don't win them, which is the standout. There have been little glimpses of improvement and we will have to see what reaction they get at the weekend, but he'll know and everyone else knows that he needs a result. He can't afford to play Man United and be beaten 2 or 3-0, that's for sure."

As always, Alan Shearer is on the money, even if it is uncomfortable to hear. After De Zerbi saved Spurs from relegation and with the caliber of players he brought in like Sandro Tonali and Savio this summer, Tottenham fans don't want to see him go. He has brought charisma and much better football to the table. But he isn't winning. If Spurs get embarrassed by Manchester United this weekend, things could start to get ugly for him.

Tottenham Hotspur have been the most injury ravaged team in European football over the last few seasons, and even with Roberto De Zerbi and a new medical staff taking things more cautiously than ever, the hits still keep coming for the Lilywhites. And as everyone feared, a couple of more key players went down over the September and October international break in star center back duo Jan Paul van Hecke and Micky van de Ven for the Dutch national team.

Van de Ven's hand injury seemed innocent enough, with a player stepping on him, and the injury seemed to be more precautionary than anything else. Van Hecke's was a bit more concerning, as he tweaked a muscle during a game, tried to practice after that, and then pulled up and left the pitch after just seven minutes into the training session.

The good news is that both players are available, per Roberto De Zerbi. He confirmed that news to reporters ahead of Tottenham's huge Matchday 6 fixture against another struggling giant in Manchester United, via Hotspur Lane, "They are available to play. Micky played four games, around 90 minutes each. JP played three games. The difference is this. Yesterday, JP's wife gave birth to twins. We have to take the emotional impact of this into consideration, but both are available to play."

Micky van de Ven is ready to go

So it sounds like Tottenham Hotspur fans can 100 percent expect Micky van de Ven out there against Manchester United, and while Jan Paul van Hecke should play on the grounds of health, it sounds like Roberto De Zerbi is seriously thinking of giving Van Hecke extra rest after the minor injury so that he can be with his family.

Roberto De Zerbi has said that Tottenham Hotspur centre-back duo Micky van de Ven and Jan Paul van Hecke should both be available to start Saturday’s Premier League clash with Manchester United, while it has emerged that James Maddison suffered a small setback in training.

Spurs remain without a win in the Premier League this season and sit bottom of the table heading into the game at Old Trafford, with United boss Michael Carrick also under pressure after an indifferent start to the campaign for the Red Devils.

While Maddison is still on the road to recovery, after missing the majority of last season in his recovery from an ACL, De Zerbi claims that the playmaker could miss some minutes over the coming weeks after suffering a slight setback during the international break.

Speaking during his press conference on Friday, De Zerbi said: “He’s available but he lost three/four days at the end of last week and start of this. James is a special player for us. Gallagher is playing well in the No.10 role. We’re both frustrated because James wants to be on the pitch.

“Not a big injury and tomorrow he can play but the Premier League is tough and you need to be fit and in the right condition to run and fight.

“He is working well and this is the way. The way is to complete 3/4/5 weeks in a row without feeling pain and problems and then he’s a normal player.”

Double Dutch delight for De Zerbi

While Van de Ven and Van Hecke suffered knocks on international duty, De Zerbi has now clarified their situations.

The Italian added: “They are available to play. Micky played four games, 90 minutes and JP just three games.

“The difference is this. JP yesterday, his wife had twins and emotional aspect we have to consider but he’s available.”

Should Van Hecke not be considered good to go then Tosin Adarabioyo is expected to be given the nod as the right-sided centre-back, given that he offers better balance than the left-sided Marcos Senesi.

Dejan Kulusevski, who is still recovering from his long-term injury, will travel with the squad in a support role in a much-needed boost for both the player and the club. De Zerbi revealed: “He is working well. Tomorrow he comes with us for support.

“He is working very well and I think he is an example for everyone. Forget the player but the example of how he reacts to the injury, the character he showed this time was an example and reference to everyone.”

De Zerbi was, however, reluctant to put a timeline on the Swedish winger’s return to first-team action.

He added: “I don’t know, it’s not just my responsibility, we are working together with the medical staff. They are working very well with him, they have done special work. We have to analyse week by week.”

Two players who remain sidelined for the Old Trafford trip are Pedro Porro and Mykhailo Mudryk, with the former pushing to return against Coventry City a week on Monday.

Tottenham Hotspur have not seen Dejan Kulusevski out there on a football pitch in about 18 months, and this prolonged injury saga has gone from being desperate to a beautiful one. Because whereas Kulu's injury once seemed mysterios and even career threatening, the Swedish international has been back on the pitch over the past couple of months and inching closer towards a return.

Both Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi and Swedish national team manager Graham Potter have been toeing the line of optimism perfectly, careful not to thrust too much onto Kulu and also cautious about tempering expectations for a player coming off a serious injury when he is past the age of 25.

But the positive signs are too much to ignore, and Tottenham fans now have another one to keep in mind. Because according to a report from Matt Barlow of the Daily Mail, Dejan Kulusevski has quietly hit another big milestone.

Dejan Kulusevski may only be a month away

After returning to the pitch to jog, playing with the ball at his feet, taking shots, and then practicing with his teammates, Kulusevski is now playing in 11 on 11 matches in training. Now, Kulu isn't training in scrimmages with the first team just yet, but he did reportedly participate in a scrimmage at Tottenham Hotspur with the youth players. Per Barlow, Kulusevski was against some U18 and U21 players in an 11 on 11 over the September and October international break, putting him even closer to a potential Tottenham return.

Kulusevski 100 percent isn't coming back for the Manchester United game this weekend, and even the rivalry match against Chelsea later this month is probably too soon for him. He could possibly be named in the squad to be around his teammates, which is a strategy Roberto De Zerbi pulled with James Maddison at the end of the 2025/26 season so that the veteran could be in the mix as he returend from an ACL tear, but playing is a stretch.

That being said, November now looks like a legitimate target date for Kulusevski. Because if he is in scrimmages now, even against the youth team, that speaks to the progress in his recovery and means he is really just a few tweaks and assurances away from being able to play in actual games and get his feet and fitness under him slowly but surely. A major return is in the air for Tottenham.

Tottenham Hotspur got off the goal-scoring schneid before the international break, but they still lost that game 3-2 to Aston Villa and only scored with the game already well out of reach at 3-0. And worse yet, not a single Spurs forward scored those goals, and even accounting for the game against Liverpool, no Spurs attacking player has scored a goal this season against a Premier League level opponent in six games.

Roberto De Zerbi tried to utilize Dominic Solanke as the No. 9 with Omar Marmoush playing on the left wing in the hopes that bringing in a more traditional striker than Marmoush, who is more of a support striker, would change things. But Solanke was beyond atrocious and legitimately looked like the worst player on the entire team; so that plan is unlikely to be repeated or be otherwise benefiical to Tottenham.

And in truth, outside of a brief purple patch in the middle of the 2025/26 season following a return from a prolonged foot injury, Solanke has been blatantly bad in a Tottenham uniform, looking every bit a transfer bust since his record 65 million pound purchase from Bournemouth after a fluke 19 goal season in 2023/24.

Mathys Tel lost his starting job earlier this season

Marmoush will continue to be the main option at center forward with Savio and Mohammed Kudus flanking him, but De Zerbi has this unwritten rule in his head that his wingers have to be inverted. And if he wants an inverted left winger and an inverted right winger, then Savio is going to have play on the right in conjunction with Kudus while either Mathys Tel or Omar Marmoush plays on the left.

Tel was the main starting left winger when the season began, but De Zerbi was forced to remove him after a string of poor performances. At least, unlike Solanke, Tel could beat his man and carry threat, but his end product was shocking, including his chance creation.

And that might mean that if Tel comes back into the starting lineup, his best position would be as a center forward and not a left winger. Tel seems to be a more ideal left wing prospect who can cut inside and score, but his weaknesses are the sort of creativity and decision making a winger needs to have.

A lot of Tel's best games in the Premier League for Tottenham, including last season when he netted key goals against Leeds and Manchester United, were as a striker. He loves to shoot, he has great instincts, and he knows how to create shooting opportunities for himself on and off the ball. Even if the best starting trio for Spurs is some form of Marmoush, Savio, or Kudus, Tel has to at least be in play to replace Solanke as the main backup No. 9 De Zerbi goes to - or even the starter with Marmoush shifting to the left wing. He clearly is not a worse striker or scorer than Big Dom.

Today's best reads

Mathys Tel deserves a bigger role for Tottenham against Manchester United

Mohammed Kudus needs to take over Tottenham's attack against Manchester United

Will Lankshear is a reminder of another Tottenham problem Roberto De Zerbi must solve

Man Utd vs. Tottenham: Predicted starting 11 as Spurs target huge win on the road

The best possible Tottenham starting 11 with Dejan Kulusevski

Alongside Mathys Tel, Luca Williams-Barnett was arguably the best overall player of the Tottenham Hotspur preseason and certainly their biggest breakout story. But despite serious issues with creating chances and continued injury issues for James Maddison, who has yet to start a game since his torn ACL in 2025 after dislocating his shoulder on Matchday 1, LWB has not received a Premier League start and only got a few minutes off the bench early in the season in the League Cup vs. Charlton Athletic.

Already, Williams-Barnett is the subject of transfer interest. Like Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray, LWB is the latest gem midfielder at Tottenham to get overtures from major clubs around European football, with Sky Sports Germany's Florian Plettenberg adding fuel to the fire with a latest report indicating that Chelsea, Manchester United, Borussia Dortmund, and still others in the Premier League and Bundesliga are keeping a watchful eye on the 18 year old midfielder.

Roberto De Zerbi has spoken about the possibility of Williams-Barnett getting minutes this season even before the campaign started, but now Tottenham are starting to realize that they are going to have to get serious about making sure LWB is integrated into the team. They have lost too many young prospects before they actually had a chance to shine at the club, with Luka Vuskovic, Troy Parrott, and Will Lankshear all shining in the 2026/27 season moreso than current players in the squad while Spurs still sit winless after five Premier League fixtures.

Luca Williams-Barnett can already help Tottenham

Luca Wiliams-Barnett is the exact kind of player who can benefit Tottenham by playing meaningful minutes. Even though he is only a teenager, the talented midfielder has a courage about him on the ball that is difficult to teach, and the preseason showed he is clearly skilled enough to play for Tottenham since he was standing out above his peers, including some of the veteran players on the club.

Tottenham are missing that bit of quality on the ball in terms of dribbling in the midfield, and they are definitely missing a creative spark. That will return once James Maddison is healthy, and when Xavi Simons and Wilson Odobert return from injuries, maybe a loan move for LWB becomes in play in the winter.

But right now, LWB is one of the best attacking midfielders available, and maybe the transfer rumors are the kick in the pants that Johan Lange and Roberto De Zerbi need to make LWB a priority.

Sir Alex Ferguson famously quipped "lads, it's Tottenham", yet such derision didn't stop the great Manchester United manager from poaching our finest talent.

There's a food chain to be adhered to, and Man Utd, as competitively irrelevant as they've been for much of the past 15 years, remain one of the sport's grandest institutions. They're England's answer to Barcelona and Real Madrid.

Once upon a time, when the Red Devils knocked, it was a different knock. The Premier League's dominant force could attract anyone they liked, but not all of Spurs' finest wound up at Old Trafford. Fergie didn't get his own way all the time, missing out on the likes of Luka Modrić and Gareth Bale.

It may come as somewhat of a surprise that only nine (male) footballers have represented both clubs since the Premier League's inauguration in '92. While some enjoyed stellar careers in red and Lilywhite, others struggled to make a name for themself.

Here's a list of every player to play for Tottenham and Man Utd.

Teddy Sheringham

Fun fact: one of my best friends was named after Teddy Sheringham. With a Spurs-supporting mum, and Manchester United-leaning dad, it was the perfect compromise.

Sheringham remains much-loved in north London and Manchester; such was the lack of animosity surrounding his departure to Old Trafford in 1997. He'd spent half a decade with Spurs, through some dire periods at the start of the Premier League era, and went on to win the lot with the Red Devils.

Many will remember his contribution to Man Utd's treble-winning success in 1998/99, when he scored the stoppage-time equaliser against Bayern Munich that set up Ole Gunnar Solksjær’s scarcely believeable winner moments later.

After conquering all in Manchester, Sheringham returned to Spurs for a couple of years in 2001, notching a pair of double-digit scoring seasons in the league.

Louis Saha

Louis Saha arrived at Tottenham during the fateful winter transfer window of 2012. Harry Redknapp's Lilywhites were playing with the verve and swagger of potential title contenders, but Daniel Levy opted against adequately backing the manager.

And thus, only the veteran Frenchman arrived alongside Ryan Nelsen. Saha was useful enough for six months but over the hilt. He scored four times in 12 appearances.

His best form on English soil arrived at Fulham, convincing United to spend £12.4m on him midway through the 2003/04 campaign. Saha started brightly at Old Trafford, and could've been something quite special for Fergie's side if he wasn't dogged by injuries.

Michael Carrick

The man Roberto De Zerbi will be up against on the touchline this weekend. Carrick returned to Old Trafford on an interim basis earlier this year and inspired Man Utd to a third-place Premier League finish and a return to the Champions League.

He enjoyed a lengthy playing career with the club, spanning more than a decade. Carrick was the unsung hero of dominant United outfits, having impressed at the start of his Premier League career with West Ham United and Spurs.

Carrick ended his Red Devils career with 464 appearances and a bucketload of silverware. Ferguson described him in 2014 as "the best English player in the game".

Dimitar Berbatov

Okay, this one stung. Sheringham and even Carrick were before my time, but Dimitar Berbatov dominates the bulk of my formative memories of this football club. I'll never forget speaking to my dad after we beat Reading in a 10-goal thriller, and him describing the Bulgarian's majesty that day.

Berbatov scored four to down the Royals, the third of which was one of his great forgotten finishes in Lilywhite. It typified his impishness.

You ask a Spurs fan of a certain generation about Berbatov and all they do is purr. We hadn't seen such grace and elegance down the Lane since David Ginola. That's why it hurt so much when Man Utd swooped in 2008.

He scored more than 50 times for the Red Devils, producing some otherworldly performances, albeit infrequently. Still, he wasn't cherished quite like he was in N17.

Frazier Campbell

It's hard for me to be so gushing about Frazier Campbell, who made 26 appearances for the two clubs combined and never delivered upon his early-career promise.

If you're ever involved in some trivia and need to pluck out a one-cap England man, Campbell's your guy.

Zeki Fryers

Blimey, it gets worse.

I can't say I remember anything at all about Zeki Fryers' 16 outings in Lilywhite. All I know is that Ferguson didn't like the nature of our agreement with Standard Liege, but the Scot needn't have worried.

Fryers would barely find his feet in the English Football League, and is still plying his trade... in the third tier of Swedish football. Bet his quality of life is decent, at least.

Christian Eriksen

Ah, here he is. While Berbatov helped me fall in love with this godforesaken club, it was the Christian Eriksen era that returned the most joy.

Eriksen was part of the 'Gareth Bale 7' that famously flopped in north London, with Eriksen—and to a lesser extent Erik Lamela and Nacer Chadli—the standout anomaly.

The Dane was the creative hub of Mauricio Pochettino's Spurs, having quickly endeared himself to supporters during a troubled 2013/14 campaign after Bale's exit. Eriksen grew from strength to strength in north London and eventually developed into one of Europe's finest playmakers.

He returned to the Premier League with Brentford in January 2022, then joined Man Utd a few months later after starring in west London. In the twilight of his career, Eriksen, who suffered a cardiac arrest at Euro 2020, was a little different. He dropped deeper in midfield and sought to orchestrate, allowing his brain to do much of the work.

Sergio Reguilón

The Spanish left-back was utterly chaotic and actually quite good for a while. I maintain that Sergio Reguilón been a hit hadn't José Mourinho's reign altered off the back of West Ham's comeback from 3-0 down at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

After that we were a slog to watch, and Reguilón, who offered so much energy down the left, suffered. Antonio Conte wasn't convinced by him, signing Ivan Perišić to play wing-back in the summer of 2022, and Reguilón subsequently embarked on several loan spells, including a forgettable stint with Man Utd in 2023/24.

Martin Dúbravka

The veteran goalkeeper was Man Utd's back-up for a brief period, and he's performing the same role for Spurs after joining in the summer.

Martin Dúbravka has only signed a one-year contract, so he might be out the door in 2027.