tottenhamhotspurnews.com

Tottenham are firmly in the battle to sign RC Lens goalkeeper Robin Risser this summer.

That’s according to TEAMtalk on Monday, who have confirmed that the Lilywhites hold an admiration for the shot-stopper, given their own goalkeeping situation.

Spurs will have to go against Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest for the 21-year-old’s signature, and it would be no surprise if he cost a hefty fee considering his performances this season.

Guglielmo Vicario has been linked with a move away from Tottenham in recent weeks, and Risser could be the Italian’s direct replacement in a couple of months.

Robin Risser’s stats in detail are very convincing

Vicario has come under fire for poor commanding of his area and other mislapses of concentration this campaign.

MORE SPURS STORIES

Add to the fact that Tottenham are facing the prospect of Premier League relegation, the goalkeeper will likely depart N17 this summer.

However, Risser is looking like an instant upgrade, if his statistics from this season are anything to go by.

As highlighted by Sofascore in the graphic above, the Frenchman is averaging a rating of 7.22, and leads the way in League 1 for clean sheets.

He stands at 6,4″ tall and boasts an incredible 75.3 per cent save percentage, and has prevented more than six goals so far this season.

This is where Guglielmo Vicario’s most likely destination is

There’s no hiding away from it, Vicario has been on a decline this season, and it’s a mystery as to where his form of the past has gone.

But the same could be said about multiple Spurs players, though, the Premier League just doesn’t seem to be the place for Vicario to play his football.

The 29-year-old is supposed to be at the peak of his game, but that’s not been the case this campaign. He keeps getting caught out on set-pieces and playing out from the back, and his errors have been inexcusable.

It would suit the goalkeeper to head back to his homeland of Italy, or any other European top-flight club, but the English game is not for him.

Archie Gray could be dropped when Tottenham travel to Fulham on Sunday.

Tottenham sit 16th in the Premier League, with 11 matches left to play, and relegation is a genuine possibility, so they have to make changes.

Tudor suffered a humiliating 4-1 defeat at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in his first game in charge at the hands of local rivals Arsenal, and he will be keen to bounce back from that.

That could lead to him dropping Gray, who failed to complete any of his four long ball attempts, and lost possession 16 times against the Gunners, per Sofascore.

What changes will Tottenham make for crucial Fulham game?

John Wenham believes that Pedro Porro and Kevin Danso will go straight back into the team when they visit the Cottagers, but cannot see a place for Gray.

MORE SPURS STORIES

“The Arsenal game was incredibly disappointing, but when you look at in the cold, hard light of day, playing Arsenal, who are flying this season, was a tough ask for Igor Tudor.

“The game against Fulham comes this weekend, we do have Pedro Porro and Kevin Danso back, I fully expect both of them to go straight into the starting line-up.

“I expect we will start at Craven Cottage with Guglielmo Vicario in goal, back three probably of Danso, Micky van de Ven and Radu Dragusin, albeit, he has not been very impressive, but as a natural centre-back, I think he will play.

“Then you have Porro at right-wing back, Spence as left-wing back, and in midfield, you have Conor Gallagher, Joao Palhinha moves back into his natural position, and maybe Xavi Simons.

“With a two up top this time, with Dominic Solanke and Randal Kolo Muani, who was the only positive from the Arsenal game, got a good goal, dispossessing Declan Rice and finishing well.”

Why Tottenham desperately need to win against Fulham

Tottenham need a win against the Cottagers, it is as simple as that.

The Lilywhites are just four points above the relegation zone, and that is a very precarious position to be in at this stage of the season.

Spurs have lost four of their last six, and drawn the other two, which has left them sitting 19th in the form table, with only bottom dwellers Wolves below them.

Tudor desperately needs to arrest that against Marco Silva’s side, otherwise they could be heading for the Championship.

Tottenham have to find a winning recipe under Igor Tudor, starting with Fulham on Sunday.

In what will be their second of three consecutive London derbies following their 4-1 defeat to Arsenal and Crystal Palace to come next Thursday, Tottenham take on Fulham this Sunday.

Tudor has been brought in to steady the ship after Thomas Frank’s departure, and sail Spurs into calmer Premier League seas and away from any threat of relegation to the Championship.

However, if he wasn’t aware of the challenge that’s befallen him prior to last Sunday’s North London derby, then the Croatian surely does now, as they’re going to have to earn their safety this term.

Why Igor Tudor has to start Dominic Solanke vs Fulham

Although, Tudor’s team selection hand was weakened against Arsenal due to Dominic Solanke being only fit enough for the bench, as he was suffering from a sore throat ahead of the game.

MORE SPURS STORIES

This was far from ideal, and whilst Randal Kolo Muani came into the side and scored Spurs’ only goal of the game, the Lilywhites’ cutting edge was blunted significantly.

However, with Solanke now back to full fitness ahead of Spurs’ trip to Craven Cottage on Sunday, Tudor now has a tough decision to make regarding who leads the line.

Does he stick with Kolo Muani or drop him for Solanke? Or, does he set up in a 3-5-2 and play the both of them in attack?

Well, Solanke surely has to feature in the starting XI one way or another, and that’s down to his exceptional goalscoring record against the Cottagers.

In eight career appearances against Fulham, Solanke has scored five times and registered two assists, which have come across his respective spells with Bournemouth and Tottenham respectively.

Three of those goals and the two assists have come in the Premier League, whilst he netted twice against them in the Championship during his time with the Cherries.

Solanke can capitalise on Fulham’s leaky defence

Sunday could very much see Solanke extend his scoring record against Fulham too, as Marco Silva’s side have really been struggling in defence recently.

Indeed, they haven’t kept a clean sheet in 11-straight games in all competitions, which dates back to their 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace on 1 January this year.

Solanke should be licking his lips at that reveal, and he needs to start making up for lost time this season too if he not only wants to help Tottenham escape relegation, but to give himself the best chance of making England’s World Cup team.

Therefore, all signs point towards Tudor being rewarded if he gives Solanke the nod on Sunday.

Igor Tudor will be desperate for his first win in charge of Tottenham when they travel to Craven Cottage to face Fulham on Sunday.

Spurs’ 4-1 loss to Arsenal at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last Sunday has left them four points above the relegation zone, with fans becoming increasingly concerned over their Premier League status for next season.

Although relegation may seem unthinkable, a loss to Fulham would not only deepen that fear, but it would also show that Tudor is definitely not having the desired impact that he craved.

With the clash against their London rivals looming, it is imperative that they learn from their mistakes and secure all three points on 1 March.

Fulham predicted as favourites vs Tottenham

Fulham come into the match off the back of an impressive 3-1 away win against Sunderland last Sunday, and Marco Silva has the fans believing they could make a push for the European places.

MORE SPURS STORIES

The Cottagers are currently 10th in the table, and they’ll fancy their chances against a Spurs side that is completely out of sorts.

According to Opta, Fulham are the comfortable favourites.

Tottenham are winless in their last nine Premier League matches, and 2026 has truly been a miserable year for the fans so far.

Only once have they gone 10 without victory, doing so between January and March 1994 under Osvaldo Ardiles.

If Spurs fail to win, not only would they match this 32-year record, but it would leave them in even more danger of being relegated.

After winning seven consecutive away league games against Fulham between 2010 and 2023, Spurs have also lost their last two matches at Craven Cottage by an aggregate score of 5-0.

Where will Tottenham’s remaining Premier League wins come from?

Tottenham are the only side in the Premier League without a victory in 2026 so far, which shows how far they have fallen in the last couple of years.

It’s only the fourth time they’ve gone through January and February without a league win, after doing so in 1935, 1994 and 1999.

Their last win in the competition was a 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace on 28 December, which will feel like such a long time ago.

However, they still have to play the likes of Palace, Leeds, Nottingham Forest and Brighton in N17, which is a huge boost for Tudor.

Four wins from their last 11 games should be enough to seal Premier League safety, and they definitely have a few matches where they should be able to compete.

And although they might not be favourites against Fulham, Spurs definitely have the quality to overcome an inconsistent side.

Tottenham’s potential relegation is a major concern, but it could open up a huge opportunity for several youngsters.

With 11 games to be played, Tottenham sit 16th in the Premier League table and just four points clear of West Ham in 18th.

Just as they were last season, Spurs are very much in the relegation conversation, with Igor Tudor the man tasked with getting them out of their current predicament.

Should those attempts fail, dropping into the Championship would have some severe repercussions for the club in general.

However, it would also open a clear pathway to the first team for sevceral up and coming prospects.

MORE SPURS STORIES

Reiss Russell-Denny could be a star in Championship

Tottenham haven’t shown a lot of faith in their youth talent over the last few seasons, but a drop into the Championship would almost force their hand.

And one of the players who could benefit the most from that would be Reiss Russell-Denny, who has been in fine form for Tottenham’s Under-21s this season.

The 19-year-old has three goals and six assists in 17 appearances across all competitions, and with 26 chances created in Premier League 2, his next step is to move to the senior environment.

Russell-Denny can play anywhere in midfield, but he is often at his best when playing in the 10 role in North London.

However, with the teenager averaging 1.19 tackles per game, he has also showcased his ability to do the defensive work off the ball.

Armend Muslika and Luca Williams-Barnett have shown why they are highly rated

Armend Muslika is a name that not many will be aware of, but in a few seasons’ time, he may well become a name that everyone recognises in North London.

And that is because the 16-year-old has nine goals and three assists for Tottenham’s Under-18s season, and similar to Russell-Denny, he can also play just about anywhere in midfield.

Muslika turns 17 in March, and based on his current rate of development, he could easily play in the EFL in the next 12 months, and the same can be said for Luca Williams-Barnett.

The latter has featured in Tottenham’s first teams quad on several occasions this season, albeit having made just one appearance.

That was in Spurs’ Carabao Cup victory against Doncaster earlier this year.

Williams-Barnett has seven goals and six assists for the Under-21s this season, as well as seven goals and two assists for the Under-19s.

His inclusion in the first team picture this season speaks volumes about how highly rated he is, and he would certainly be a regular if Spurs were to suffer relegation.

Inter Milan want to sign Pedro Porro from Tottenham in the summer.

Tottenham‘s current situation has led to a lot of unrest, with a report from Fichajes stating that Porro is the latest player to have expressed a desire to abandon the sinking ship this summer.

Juventus had been linked with a move for the Spaniard, with Inter Milan and Real Madrid also said to be in the race for his signature, all of whom are regulars in the Champions League.

Inter boss, Cristian Chivu, is said to have “declared himself a huge admirer” of the defender, who has been struggling for form in the Premier League over the last 12 months.

Porro is said to be keen on the idea of joining a club with the chance of winning domestic titles, and with Inter currently at the top of the Serie A table, a move there would represent his biggest opportunity.

MORE SPURS STORIES

How much will Tottenham demand for Pedro Porro transfer?

Porro has been a regular for Tottenham under several managers ever since he joined on a permanent deal back in January of 2023.

The Lilywhites paid a fee in the region of £40million to sign him from Sporting, having initially impressed on loan.

But now, Spurs are said to be looking for a fee in the region of £22m to sanction his exit in the summer, which is a showcase of his decline over the last 12 months.

Come the end of the current campaign, Porro will still have two years left on his deal at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

How Porro’s exit could have consequences for Archie Gray

Spurs have had some horrid luck with full-back injuries ever since Ange Postecoglou was in charge, and Porro is the latest to have been forced on the sideline.

But with Destiny Udogie injured as well, Djed Spence has been forced to cover for him, which has then, in turn, led to Archie Gray returning to the right side of defence.

The teenager has impressed there, but it’s blindingly obvious that his best position is in midfield, which is what he was signed as initially.

However, if Porro is to leave, it could see Gray resigned to playing there almost full-time again, which would do nothing but hamper his development and restrict his potential.

Igor Tudor may have already lost faith in Radu Dragusin as he looks ahead to Tottenham’s clash with Fulham on Sunday.

Spurs take on Fulham with the aim of securing all three points at Craven Cottage for the first time since 2023.

However, that looks implausible given the Lilywhites’ current form, as they are just four points clear of the relegation zone and winless in the Premier League since the turn of the year.

Tudor will have to make drastic changes to the team that lost 4-1 to Arsenal at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last Sunday, and with Kevin Danso now fit, Radu Dragusin could drop to the bench.

Kevin Danso replaces Radu Dragusin in three changes

Dragusin was bullied far too easily against Arsenal, and he opened himself up for criticism after failing to deal with Viktor Gyokeres.

MORE SPURS STORIES

The Romanian centre-back was linked with a move to Roma in the winter transfer window, although that move never materialised due to his lack of fitness.

Sunday’s performance showed exactly why he isn’t good enough to play for Spurs, and according to Sofascore, he won only 50 per cent of his ground duels against the Gunners.

Therefore, the returning Danso will likely take his place in the team to play alongside Joao Palhinha and Micky van de Ven.

Archie Gray will also drop out of the side for Pedro Porro, who could thrive in Tudor’s wing-back system.

And the final change could see Dominic Solanke come into the team for Pape Matar Sarr, with Conor Gallagher playing deeper in midfield and Randal Kolo Muani shifting out to the left wing.

Although Tottenham have been woeful defensively this season, Tudor has the players available to form an impressive front three.

Here’s why Dominic Solanke must start as Tottenham’s lone striker

Despite scoring against Arsenal, Kolo Muani should play out wide for Tottenham and allow Solanke to play through the middle.

With Porro now fit again, the English striker is more likely to benefit from his excellent crossing, and he has previous experience of scoring on a consistent basis in the Premier League.

Solanke’s two goals against Man City were phenomenal, with the first being assisted by Xavi Simons’ excellent through ball.

Alongside Kolo Muani, all three players can form an effective partnership in attack, but it all depends on whether Tudor wishes to use the French striker out wide.

If he does, then Spurs will have a much more fluid front line, and it could hugely benefit them in their fight to avoid relegation.

Tottenham have enquired about Borussia Dortmund boss Niko Kovac as they seek to appoint a permanent manager in the summer.

That is according to Bild, with the German publication stating that Tottenham have made contact with Dortmund about the Croatian’s availability.

The former Monaco boss has a contract with the German giants until 2027, but after their Champions League exit on Wednesday, speculation is mounting over his future.

The report adds that as a result of their play-off loss to Atalanta, with BVB losing 4-3 on aggregate after being 2-0 up after the first leg, Kovac’s side are set to miss out on around £9.6million in revenue.

That could have a knock-on effect on their ability to retain defender Nico Schlotterbeck, who has been linked with Liverpool. But other clubs have also reportedly turned their attention to Kovac, too.

MORE SPURS STORIES

Tottenham in competition with Premier League rivals for Niko Kovac

Bild claims that Tottenham, Manchester United and Chelsea have all shown interest in Kovac during the season and reached out to BVB.

Chelsea have since hired Liam Rosenior on a long-term deal, but the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium outfit and United are not in the same position.

Igor Tudor has been tasked with guiding Tottenham to Premier League safety for the rest of the season, while Michael Carrick is caretaker manager until the summer at Old Trafford.

The report adds that Kovac can see himself moving to England, which should please the likes of Tottenham and other potential suitors.

Kovac has done a stellar job at Dortmund so far, guiding them to second in the Bundesliga behind runaway leaders Bayern Munich this season.

During his time at Bayern, he was in charge for their Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal triumphs in 2019 before departing later that year. BVB are understood to want to retain him but an exit is not beyond the realms of possibility.

What are Igor Tudor’s chances of getting the Tottenham job?

Tudor was appointed until the end of the season following the sacking of head coach Thomas Frank on 11 February, less than eight months into his tenure.

The former Juventus boss was given a brutal reality check of the severity of their situation with a 4-1 drubbing at the hands of bitter rivals Arsenal on Sunday.

The result means Spurs are just four points above the relegation zone, with the Europa League holders languishing in 16th in the Premier League.

Tudor has issued a rallying cry to his new Tottenham squad in their bid to stay up but he has admitted this will be his toughest relegation fight yet.

One factor that doesn’t help Tudor is how he has managed 12 teams in 11 years – with many of those leading to sacking or resignations after fallouts with the club’s board.

He is known as a firefighter, which is just what Tottenham need to get out of their current bind. But reports suggest that Tudor is not among the favourites to get the job permanently, even if he keeps them up.

Robbie Keane and Mauricio Pochettino are thought to be more serious contenders, although Tudor will be given a chance to stake his claim in the remaining months of the season. All of this will be irrelevant, though, if Tottenham go down.

Brad Friedel would love Mauricio Pochettino to stay with the USMNT, but can see him re-joining Tottenham after the World Cup.

Following the sacking of Thomas Frank at Tottenham, Igor Tudor has been tasked with guiding the north London team to Premier League safety this season.

The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium outfit are just four points above the relegation zone in 16th and haven’t won in the Premier League since 28 December.

If Spurs do survive, former manager Pochettino has been linked with a return to his old club, but for now, he is focusing on guiding the USMNT at this summer’s World Cup.

Now, ex-United States international and Tottenham goalkeeper Friedel has given his perspective on where the Argentine’s future lies.

MORE SPURS STORIES

Mauricio Pochettino will have options amid Tottenham interest

Pochettino has been in charge of the US team since September 2024, and since then, he has won 13, drawn two, and lost seven of his 22 matches in charge.

The former Chelsea manager has spoken about his desire to return to club management one day, amid persistent links with Tottenham.

Now, Friedel, who played for Spurs between 2011 and 2015, has given his American perspective on Pochettino’s next move.

He said on talkSPORT: “I would love Pochettino to stay at the US and do another four years to really galvanise the mentality of the US player. Do I see that happening? Probably not.

“Do I think he’s good enough to come back to the Premier League? Absolutely. Would it be tempting? Yes. He’s one of the best in the game. It wouldn’t surprise me if he did, and it wouldn’t surprise me if people are already trying to speak with him.”

For the time being, though, Tudor will do his utmost to keep Tottenham in the Premier League. He may also have desires of leading Spurs beyond this season if he does a good job.

Would Pochettino even want to return to Tottenham?

As Friedel alluded to, Pochettino is a big name in football. He won trophies at Paris Saint-Germain, turned Tottenham into a different beast, while just falling short of silverware, and still has a good reputation.

When he thrived at Tottenham, he had players like Harry Kane, Christian Eriksen, Mousa Dembele, and more, as they qualified for the Champions League and reached the final of that elite competition.

While Spurs are Europa League holders and breezed into the last 16 of the Champions League, they are just above the bottom three in the Premier League and are on a nine-match winless run.

The stars of yesteryear left Tottenham long ago.

When Pochettino needed extra backing to help Tottenham kick on to the next level in 2019, he didn’t really get it, and the Argentine was sacked later that year.

He would have a young squad to nurture at Tottenham, but so much work needs to be done to fix Spurs these days.

One, Pochettino definitely won’t come if they get relegated. And secondly, if he does leave the US job, the ex-Chelsea manager will likely have more tempting and less difficult offers at his disposal.

If Tottenham stay up and get their ducks in order this summer, it could happen, but it still seems a long shot.

Lucas Bergvall could be set to benefit from Mauricio Pochettino’s potential return to Tottenham.

Pochettino is the heavy favourite among Tottenham Hotspur Stadium supporters to take over from Igor Tudor at the end of the season.

Bergvall has been a rare standout in another dismal campaign for Spurs, making 26 appearances in all competitions, with one goal and four assists.

The 20-year-old is likely to play a key role if the United States national team boss comes back to North London after his World Cup duties are over.

Why Bergvall will become a Pochettino favourite at Tottenham

John Wenham believes that Pochettino will love Bergvall, and he will emerge as one of his top player if he returns to the dugout.

MORE SPURS STORIES

Speaking exclusively to Tottenham News, he said: “You can just imagine how good a player he will become, and how he will flourish and develop under the tutelage of Mauricio Pochettino next season.

“Pochettino always built his side around those young, hungry, energetic midfielders, Bergvall seemingly ticks all the boxes.

“He has got a massive part to play with Tottenham in the long-term, and I see him as a key player under Pochettino.

“Someone who would become a face of Pochettino’s Spurs in his second attempt in North London.

“It doesn’t surprise me that there is interest in him, he is an outstanding player, you have to remember when Tottenham signed him, he was so close to signing for Barcelona, and Tottenham managed to swoop in there in front of Deco and Barcelona.”

Why Tottenham are fully in control of Bergvall’s future

Bergvall is under contract with Spurs until 2031, having signed a new long-term deal in April 2025.

That means that the Lilywhites can dictate his future, because they are able to turn down bids from interested clubs like Liverpool and Chelsea.

If they did decide to sell, it would take a huge amount to even consider it, much more than the £57million price tag that was reported last summer.

If Pochettino returns in the summer, he will likely see the Swedish ace as one of his key players when he takes over, and that should only further cement his future in N17, rather than elsewhere.

The youngster will spend his formative years in North London and likely become world-class under the Argentine, if he becomes the new permanent Spurs boss.