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Tottenham Hotspur remain at risk of relegation, and that may be what Manor Solomon needs to have a future in North London.

Spurs secured their first win of the year against Wolves last time out, but the likelihood is that they will need another four of them if they are to stay in the Premier League.

West Ham sit two points above the Lilywhites, having played the same number of games, with former Spurs boss Nuno Espirito Santo having done a fine job to get them in form.

Relegation would have some severe consequences for Tottenham, not just from a financial point of view but also in terms of the sheer amount of player turnover it would bring.

But if Tottenham were to be relegated from the Premier League, Solomon may have a chance to rekindle his future.

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Manor Solomon could be Tottenham’s unlikely saviour

Again, this is the very worst-case scenario, but Tottenham simply have to have plans in place on the chance that it does come to fruition.

Most of the first team would leave upon relegation, though Solomon could be one of them who returns, having spent the season out on loan.

And if that were to happen, Roberto De Zerbi would have a Championship cheat code at his disposal, especially if taking his season with Leeds into account.

Solomon registered 22 goal involvements for the Whites in the Championship last season, while also having created 67 chances.

The latter actually placed him among the top five per cent of attackers in the division, showcasing the quality he has to offer at that level in the final third.

Only 2.5 per cent of wingers completed more dribbles than him, while only five per cent of them recorded a better success rate.

What is Solomon’s contract situation?

The forward is currently on loan at Fiorentina, and the Italian outfit does have the option to buy him permanently this summer.

Should they opt to, Spurs will largely be helpless.

However, Solomon still has two years left on his contract with Tottenham, meaning he may still have a future here if that clause does not get triggered.

But with just two goals in the Serie A this season, there are doubts as to whether they will look to keep him at the club.

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Antonin Kinsky isn’t going to let his infamous night in Madrid define his Tottenham Hotspur career, as he’s proven in a brave Sky Sports interview.

The 23-year-old goalkeeper endured one of the worst 17 minutes any shot-stopper could hope to experience on 10 March.

Multiple errors leading to goals saw him and Tottenham ship three to Atletico Madrid inside the opening 15 minutes of their Champions League round-of-16 tie.

Then-Spurs boss Igor Tudor went back on his decision to start Kinsky after just 17 minutes, sealing his humiliation by being substituted for Guglielmo Vicario.

That night could’ve easily been his final match for Tottenham, but the Czech has shown remarkable resilience and maturity to ensure that’s not been the case.

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What has Antonin Kinsky said about Atletico Madrid display?

Kinsky understandably came in for heavy criticism for that night in Madrid, but Tudor also took a lot of heat for not only his decision to start him, but to then give him the cold shoulder as he dragged the youngster off.

It was a failure on his part in regards to the duty of care managers have to protect their own players, especially a young goalkeeper like Kinsky in that moment.

So many young shot-stoppers would’ve let a night like that derail their confidence, but Kinsky has proven he’s no average player in this regard.

Kinsky was excellent against Wolves last time out, keeping a clean sheet in the 1-0 win at Molineux, whilst making two saves, preventing 0.60 goals, four recoveries and completing 79 per cent of his passes, per FotMob.

If that performance didn’t show he’s got the minerals to be Tottenham’s long-term answer in between the sticks, then his recent interview with Sky Sports News via X certainly does.

Speaking in this interview, which to even sit down and talk about that night not long after it happened speaks volumes of his character, Kinsky discussed his recollection of the game.

“(It wasn’t) a debut in the Champions League that I was dreaming of,” Kinsky said.

“After the game, yeah, I was sad that this happened. I was confused I think. Angry with myself.

“Upon me, it was just to keep going and make sure that when the next opportunity comes, I will be ready again.”

What has Roberto De Zerbi said about Kinsky?

With Vicario out injured, Roberto De Zerbi has put his faith in Kinsky over Brandon Austin to start in goal over the last few games.

His aforementioned display against Wolves has proven that to be wise decision by the Lilywhites boss, and Kinsky has honoured his own self-imposed standard about being ready for the next opportunity.

Speaking in an interview via Tottenham’s club website, De Zerbi waxed lyrical about Kinsky, clearly showing that he is his number one moving forward.

“He deserves this day, because he played very well, especially today,” said De Zerbi.

“He was crucial for the result. He deserves everything, because he’s a good guy, he’s a good goalkeeper, and especially after Madrid, he deserves a day like today.”

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Chris Sutton is asking a lot of Roberto De Zerbi as he outlines what is needed for Tottenham Hotspur to stay in the Premier League.

The Lilywhites are in real danger of going down, with them being two points within the relegation zone. Additionally, West Ham look to be climbing uphill, while Tottenham have just won their first game of 2026.

Promising signs have been seen under the Italian, but injuries have since plagued and threatened any positivity seeping in.

The Italian will know the importance of the task ahead of him, and he will be up for the challenge.

However, ahead of Tottenham’s run in, Sutton has suggested Spurs must achieve a feat they do not often do.

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What has Chris Sutton predicted for Aston Villa vs Tottenham?

Sutton stated via his BBC predictions: “Tottenham probably need to win three of their last four games to stay up.”

The pundit later went on to play down Spurs’ win against Wolves, saying that he is “not sure it has given them any momentum”.

In the end, the former Premier League striker has predicted a 2-1 win for Aston Villa, but his prediction of needing a 75 per cent win rate until the end of the season is asking quite a lot of the Lilywhites.

Since the 2013-2014 season, Tottenham have only managed a 75 per cent win rate in their final four games of a season on four occasions.

It gives them just a 25 per cent success percentage in that regard, suggesting manager De Zerbi has plenty to do to buck this trend.

Spurs’ fixtures are by no means easy either. After facing Villa, they come up against Chelsea, Leeds and Everton.

De Zerbi also often struggles against Unai Emery, setting yet another obstacle for Tottenham.

How did Tottenham fare in reverse fixtures this season?

When it comes to whether Tottenham can muster up three wins from their final four games, looking back at the earlier season results does not provide some hope about their chances.

Although they did lose to Aston Villa and Chelsea, they also defeated both Everton and Leeds in the reverse fixtures.

If De Zerbi can just turn one of those negative results on its head and then complete league doubles over the Elland Road and Hill Dickinson sides, then that should see the Lilywhites stay in the top flight.

Nonetheless, based on Spurs’ history in the Premier League run-in, there is a lot of pressure on the Italian manager.

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Joao Palhinha could be the difference for Tottenham Hotspur ahead of their clash with Aston Villa.

Each of the next four games is a cup final for Tottenham, who will know of the potential repercussions should they lose even one of them.

They remain two points from safety, and a defeat against Villa could see that gap widen to five points depending on results elsewhere.

Unai Emery’s side still have work to do to ensure their spot in the Champions League next season, and to do that, they will look to make use of the strengths that have got them in their current position

And for Tottenham, Palhinha, who scored the winner against Wolves, may hold the answer to preventing it.

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Tottenham midfield could be crucial to victory

Villa have several players who can cause problems for any team on their day, though Morgan Rogers is certainly up there as the most dangerous.

The 23-year-old has 14 goal involvements in the Premier League this season, with the majority of them having come through the middle, which is where Villa pose the most threat.

Emery’s side have created 36.9% of their chances through the middle of the pitch, which is the fourth-highest in the top flight this season, albeit with Tottenham not far behind them in fifth.

And for Tottenham, the lack of control they have had in the centre of the pitch will be a concern when taking that into account, but Palhinha’s inclusion could change that.

As showcased by his 98 tackles this season, which places him among the top 2.5 per cent of Premier League midfielders, he has what it takes to break play down and prevent the threat from getting too close to Tottenham’s goal.

Aston Villa vs Tottenham result predicted by supercomputer

Given the gap between the two sides in the table, it will come as no surprise to learn that the hosts are favourites for Sunday’s game.

Via Opta, Emery’s side have a 61.5 per cent chance of victory, while Spurs have just an 18.2 per cent likelihood of taking all three points.

Of all the teams in action this weekend, only Burnley and Fulham have a lower chance of victory.

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Glenn Hoddle says he and fellow Tottenham Hotspur legend Osvaldo Ardiles offered to lead Spurs towards the end of Igor Tudor’s ill-fated reign.

Tottenham began the season with Thomas Frank, and after a bright start to the Dane’s tenure, it seemed like it might have been the right call to move on from Ange Postecoglou.

However, Spurs’ fortunes took a turn for the worse as 2025 progressed, and in February 2026, Frank was sacked. The less said about Tudor’s tenure, the better.

The north London team fell to a 3-0 loss to relegation rivals Nottingham Forest in late March, prompting the Tottenham hierarchy to eventually part ways with the Croatian, before turning to Roberto De Zerbi.

Before the Italian was hired, Hoddle says he approached Tottenham about being interim boss. But without wanting to disrespect a club icon, it is not hard to see why they turned him down.

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Glenn Hoddle felt he could unite Tottenham again

Tudor failed to win any of his Premier League matches in charge of Tottenham as they slumped towards the relegation zone.

A number of ex-Spurs players and managers put their hat in the ring to guide them to safety but De Zerbi was favoured.

Even though Hoddle hasn’t been in management for 20 years, he still felt capable of doing a job at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

But, despite reaching out, the Spurs’ hierarchy wanted to go in a different direction.

He said on talkSPORT: “They never came to us. We did [offer to manage Spurs], Ossie [Ardiles] and myself, after the Forest game, we felt there was a real problem there. Ossie and I made it clear that we would go in there if they wanted us to go in there with probably a younger legend as well.

“It felt at that time, at the end of the game, Tudor was in as the manager, but to lose 3-0 against a team down at the bottom – with you at home – was a bad sign.

“It looked to me as if it needed some love, like it needed some people to go in there and unite the fans, with the owners, with the team, and that is why we said we would do it. They said they were looking elsewhere, so that was fine by me.

“I don’t care who, I’m a Spurs man through and through since eight years of age, so as long as they’ve got the right man in. De Zerbi has gone in, and everyone’s got to unite and get together, but they’ve got a real task on their hands, haven’t they? I just want them to stay up, whether I was involved or I wasn’t.”

Glenn Hoddle is not Martin O’Neill

Hoddle was Tottenham’s manager between April 2001 and September 2003. In that stretch, he won 41 of his 104 matches in charge.

His next and final job was at Wolves between December 2004 and July 2006, where he had a win percentage of 35.53.

Why would Tottenham go for someone who has been out of the game for two decades over one of the most highly-regarded managers in Europe?

Martin O’Neill has done well in his latest interim stint at Celtic, but he was out of work for six years, not 20. And, he is arguably in the best team in the division.

It is much easier to take over at a side with the best players in the league compared to one fighting for survival.

Ergo, De Zerbi was a safer bet than Hoddle, but Tottenham may still get relegated, regardless.

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Tottenham Hotspur have only generated £258.3million in player sales over the last six full seasons.

Among a host of problems in terms of how Tottenham have been ran off the pitch in recent times, player recruitment has been one of the biggest.

Exemplified by Spurs’ current Premier League table predicament, consistently filling the playing squad with top talent and replacing star players has proven a real challenge.

It’s not that money hasn’t been invested regarding transfers, rather, how it’s been spent has been the issue.

So, with Tottenham in a worrying financial position which will only become even more so if relegation happens, this summer has to be a turning point for the Lilywhites’ recruitment strategy.

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How much is Tottenham’s transfer spend over last six seasons?

Tottenham’s transfer mistakes have really been evident this season, with sporting director Johan Lange in particular receiving a significant amount of criticism for his role in player recruitment.

This season’s winter transfer window saw Lange and other recruitment chiefs fail to cover themselves in glory, as precious little of what the team was crying out for was added.

Nothing was done to address the misfiring forward line, Conor Gallagher hasn’t been a hit in midfield, whilst the arrival of teenage left-back Souza was never going to provide an instant aid in defence, respectfully.

That’s been a short-term mistake for Spurs this term, but as detailed in a report by The Athletic, there has been a much longer and wider problem in N17 when it comes to generating revenue via transfers.

Indeed, the smartest and most well-run football clubs are routinely able to turn profits on players, or at the very least recoup the transfer fees they paid for them.

However, as evidenced in the aforementioned report from The Athletic, that’s not what Tottenham have been doing, in fact, they haven’t even come close to operating in this way.

It’s stated in that report that over the last six full seasons (2019-20 to 2024-25), Tottenham have spent an eye-watering £979.7m on signing new players.

However, over that same period, Spurs have only been able to bring in £258.3m through player sales, including the £100m deal that sent Harry Kane to Bayern Munich in the summer of 2023.

That means that Tottenham have a £721.4m difference between transfer fees spent and sales made over the last six full seasons, which is not a sustainable business model at all.

Tottenham have got worse with transfer management

It doesn’t stop there for Tottenham either, as the report also highlights just how much worse Spurs have become in this vital component to the running a successful football club.

The Athletic’s report also reveals that in the six full seasons to the end of the 2018-19 campaign, Spurs splashed out £412.3m on new signings.

However, they were also able to generate significant income through the sales of players such as Gareth Bale and Kyle Walker respectively.

As a result, their net spend over that time period was just £68.4m, which is a number that 23 English sides exceeded.

So, if these figures aren’t the wake-up call to those in positions of power inside Tottenham that they have to find a new transfer philosophy from this summer onwards, then perhaps Spurs will never learn.

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Tottenham ahead of Arsenal as FIFA consider new rule that could change everything in North London

Tottenham Hotspur are faring better than most Premier League sides when it comes to playing young English talent in the Premier League this season.

As per The Athletic, FIFA is considering a proposal that would mandate all clubs to have at least one homegrown player from the under-20 or under-21 category on the pitch at all times.

A consultation process for the proposed obligation is gaining support and is set to be submitted to the FIFA Council in the next year.

Currently, the Premier League’s rules say a club’s squad must have no more than 17 players who are not homegrown in their maximum 25-player roster. That leaves up to eight slots available for those that fit that criteria.

As Tottenham try to stay in the Premier League, figures show they are one of the best in the division for giving young English talent a go.

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Archie Gray leading the way for Tottenham

According to The Athletic, Newcastle United are top of the pile for handing out first-team minutes to English under-21 players, with Manchester City and Manchester United rounding off the top three.

Tottenham, who sit 18th in the Premier League and are two points from safety, sit sixth in this English talent table, comfortably ahead of London rivals Chelsea, West Ham, and Arsenal. Much of that is down to Archie Gray, mind.

The former Leeds United man makes up the vast majority of Tottenham’s Premier League game time, but after him, nobody seems close to making a first-team breakthrough.

That is likely to change if Tottenham fail to stave off relegation to the Championship, with Spurs expected to rely on youth if that comes to pass.

So, if FIFA implemented this change, Tottenham would be fine. However, the likes of Leeds United and Aston Villa would likely have to blood an English academy talent.

The former also have another Gray in their pipeline with 17-year-old striker Harry Gray.

Ultimately, though, while Tottenham are in the top six for this niche area, they are in the bottom three in the Premier League.

Tottenham look to experience over youth

Gray is one of the few Tottenham players to come out of this season with any credit but currently, the 20-year-old is struggling for game time under Roberto De Zerbi.

The utility player was trusted heavily by Thomas Frank and Igor Tudor.

But the Italian has opted to play the likes of Yves Bissouma and Rodrigo Bentancur of late as they try to stave off relegation to the Championship.

Indeed, Gray was an unused substitute against Wolves in their 1-0 win at Molineux. The youngster will hope to play against Aston Villa on Sunday but it remains to be seen if that will happen.

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Mathys Tel could be given one final chance at Tottenham Hotspur following the heartbreaking news of Xavi Simons’ season-ending injury.

Roberto De Zerbi brought Tel on for the second half against Wolves, as the winger replaced his French compatriot Randal Kolo Muani, helping Spurs earn their first win of 2026.

Tel has split opinions of the Lilywhites’ fanbase, but one thing everybody agrees on is his potential.

Another player who could reach unfathomable heights at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is Simons, but his season is now over, as the Dutchman will have to watch his teammates’ fight to keep the club in the Premier League.

However, with Simons now out, De Zerbi may turn to Tel for the run-in, and there would be no better time for the winger to show his true potential.

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These stats show there is hope with Mathys Tel

It’s already been suggested that Tottenham can’t wait around for Tel to develop, especially this season, meaning they shouldn’t force him to play.

But De Zerbi looks like he will be left without a choice following an injury to Simons, as Dominic Solanke may now also be sidelined for Spurs.

As seen in the table above, Tel had a 6.5 FotMob rating for his 45-minute appearance against Wolves, and had a 33 per cent dribble success.

He attempted nine dribbles in total, completing three, but looked to be the only player in a Tottenham shirt willing to create chances.

He has played 27 times in the league this season, and has an overall pass success of 76.4 per cent, with three goals to his name.

The problem Tel has, among others, is his off-the-ball work, and he has only won 42 per cent of his duels, which needs to be improved in these final few games.

Failing to do so may result in him being sold this summer, regardless of what division Spurs are in.

What position could Tel play?

Tottenham’s next game is Aston Villa on the road, and it provides a huge chance for Tel to stake his claim in the starting eleven and even become an unexpected hero.

De Zerbi will be given a new challenge without Solanke and Simons, as rumours of Kolo Muani being injured have been dismissed this week.

The Tottenham boss can either stick with his current 4-2-3-1 formation, or change to something with two number nine’s.

Tel has the ability to play as a striker, but ideally, he should be played on the left flank, his natural position.

It would be no surprise to see Kolo Muani start on the right with Tel on the left and Richarlison in the middle.

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Mason Melia has been trusted with training with Tottenham Hotspur‘s first team amid their injury woes in the Premier League.

Tottenham finally ended their barren run of 15 Premier League games without a win when they squeaked out a 1-0 victory over Wolves on Saturday.

However, it may have been a pyrrhic victory as they lost Xavi Simons and Dominic Solanke to injury, as Roberto De Zerbi‘s list of options grows thin.

The Italian has been known to trust academy players and other youngsters in past managerial roles, particularly at Brighton between 2022 and 2024.

Now, he may call upon Tottenham’s youth ahead of their trip to Aston Villa on Sunday, with 18-year-old Melia being involved in the first-team setup again.

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Mason Melia gets chance to shine

The Republic of Ireland youngster joined Tottenham in January from Irish side St Patrick’s Athletic, but he is yet to make his senior debut.

After arriving for a record transfer for the League of Ireland, at £1.6million, his progress was waylaid by a back injury, which has limited him to just a handful of appearances for Spurs’ under-21s.

Melia, who has also struggled with a chest infection, scored within three minutes of coming off the bench for Tottenham against West Ham on his Premier League 2 debut.

The teenager is said to be considered one of Ireland’s most promising up-and-comers, with Tottenham tying him down to a deal until 2031 despite interest from sides in the Premier League and across Europe.

After training with De Zerbi’s first team earlier in April, Football London’s Alasdair Gold says Melia is being put through his paces alongside the club’s biggest stars.

He adds that Melia has taken part in training due to Tottenham being low on attacking numbers, with the likes of him, James Wilson, and Luca Williams-Barnett hoping to be involved in the matchday squad for Villa.

Bad news keeps coming for Tottenham

Since De Zerbi’s arrival, Tottenham have lost captain Cristian Romero and winger Mohammed Kudus for the rest of the season due to injury.

The Italian is without the likes of James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, Destiny Udogie and more as Tottenham try and save their season.

They still sit in 18th in the Premier League, two points adrift of West Ham with four games to go. Now to have lost Simons and Solanke as well will be very hard to take for De Zerbi.

Staying up is a hard enough challenge without having nearly 10 players out injured. Spurs face a mountain to climb to survive as they aim to stave off relegation for the first time since 1977.

It says it all that Melia could be an option off the bench, but it also gives him the chance to become a hero overnight in North London.

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Djed Spence has not solidified himself among Roberto De Zerbi’s squad at Tottenham Hotspur in the early stages of the Italian’s reign.

Spence has found himself on the bench twice in the first three games of De Zerbi’s tenure, with one of those as an unused substitute.

He has become a bit of an outcast based on his previous appearances this season, starting just 33 per cent of games compared to an overall seasonal total of 65 per cent.

The 25-year-old has been behind Destiny Udogie in the pecking order, but recent injuries have given him a chance to return. Udogie is set to come back soon, which could threaten his position once more.

However, when Spence lined up for Tottenham against Wolves, there were some signs that he could adapt and become what Spurs need.

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Djed Spence showed small signs of life against Wolves

This season, Spence has had a bigger hand in goals conceded for Tottenham than he has in helping create them up the pitch.

The defender has yet to register a goal or an assist in all competitions, and with Spurs needing wins, that is a total that De Zerbi will take notice of.

Despite operating in the final third often for Spurs, Spence has created just four big chances this season for Tottenham and averages 0.4 key passes per game.

They are statistics of an inefficient attacking fullback, and Spence is unlikely to grab De Zerbi’s attention much due to those qualities.

Spence was handed a chance to show De Zerbi something different against Wolves, and while he was not at his best, he lived up to that tag.

At Molineux, Spence outperformed his average dribbles per match by quite a distance. Over the season, he averaged 1.2 successful dribbles, but against Wolves, he completed four out of six attempts as per Sofascore.

Of course, it was against the worst team in the Premier League, but nonetheless it was a promising sign that he can show bravery and carry the ball up the pitch.

Additionally, no player progressed the ball up the pitch through carries more than Spence with 96.2 metres.

Overall, these are qualities that Tottenham have been crying out for, but with Destiny Udogie poised to return, it will signal whether it was enough to impress De Zerbi based on his team selection.

Djed Spence could be key to unlocking Aston Villa

Aston Villa concede plenty of chances on their left side, and Spence could be a key member in continuing that trend.

As it stands, Lucas Bergvall or Mathys Tel are primed for that position, and no matter who starts, if Spence can build an understanding, Spurs could punish Emery’s side.

Timing of overlaps, the left-winger moving inside to create space and simple passing combos could unlock the Aston Villa defence.

Tottenham need to find answers quickly in the relegation battle, and Spence could be the unlikely hero.

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