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Lucas Bergvall and Pape Sarr have both had their moments for Tottenham Hotspur this season, but it’s the latter who has posted the better underlying numbers.

Bergvall has now recovered from his ankle surgery that he underwent in January, and has appeared off the bench in Tottenham’s last two matches against Atletico Madrid and Nottingham Forest respectively.

Meanwhile, Sarr is beginning to carve out a consistent place in the starting lineup in N17 over the last few weeks, having previously been utilised as a rotational player under Thomas Frank.

Both players would’ve hoped for more impactful and better seasons, but neither have been anywhere near Spurs’ worst this term.

So, with seven Premier League games to go, both Bergvall and Sarr will be hoping to play key roles in helping the Lilywhites stave off relegation to the Championship.

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Lucas Bergvall and Pape Sarr’s Premier League stats compared

Bergvall is tipped to struggle under Roberto De Zerbi, with concerns over whether the Sweden international will be a tactical fit in his system.

However, still only 20-years old, the central midfielder is still very highly regarded at Tottenham, and is a player that many Spurs fans are desperate to see more of moving forward.

Sarr, on the other hand, is the more experienced of the two at 23, and has consistently been one of Spurs’ better players since arriving from Metz in the summer of 2021.

They both could be players that De Zerbi looks to build his Tottenham engine room of the future around, but when looking at the underlying numbers, how have they compared with one another in the Premier League this season?

Well, as per Sofascore, Sarr has created two big chances to Bergvall’s zero, whilst also recording a higher pass success rate of 85 per cent compared to the Swede’s 82 per cent respectively.

Sarr also has a better long ball success rate of 60.6 per cent to Bergvall’s 55.6 per cent, and per game, has also won more interceptions (0.8 to 0.1), tackles (1.5 to 1.1), more clearances (2.1 to 0.6) and blocked more shots (0.5 to 0.1).

Bergvall does have the upper hand in a few categories though, as his 70 per cent dribble success rate is considerably higher than Sarr’s 57.9 per cent.

Meanwhile, Bergvall also posts a better ground duels won percentage with 53.3 per cent compared to Sarr’s 50 per cent, although the Senegalese international wins more per game on average with 2.6 to Bergvall 2.2 respectively.

What are Bergvall and Sarr’s Tottenham contract situations?

Tottenham may well struggle to retain the services of both Sarr and Bergvall if they go down the Championship.

If that is to be the case, then Spurs would be in a very strong negotiation position to hold out for the maximum fees possible, with both players inked to long-term contracts.

Bergvall is contracted at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium until the summer of 2031, having penned an extension in April last year.

Sarr, meanwhile, is contracted through until the summer of 2030, after he agreed a new deal in January 2024.

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Tottenham Hotspur boss Roberto De Zerbi may have his eye on Manuel Locatelli ahead of what is set to be a summer of change in North London.

It has been a dismal year for Spurs, who have turned to the former Brighton boss as they hover above the Premier League relegation zone.

De Zerbi has had previous success in England, having guided the Seagulls to the Europa League in 2023.

Though the job that put him on the radar of clubs across the continent came in his native Italy, where his Sassuolo side became one of the most intriguing in the nation.

Locatelli joined up with the Neroverdi and De Zerbi in 2018 after progressing through the AC Milan academy, before the 46-year-old played a huge part in launching his career at the top level.

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Manuel Locatelli was the beating heart of Robero De Zerbi’s Sassuolo

Sassuolo is one of, if not the smallest, club in Serie A, with the Emilia-Romagna town having a population of just over 40,000.

Though under De Zerbi, they continued to punch above their weight – becoming one of the league’s most entertaining teams in the process, alongside Gian Piero Gasperini’s Atalanta.

Following promotion to Serie A for the first time in the club’s history in 2013, the Neroverdi remained inconsistent in the top-flight, before De Zerbi guided them to eighth in his second year – the highest finish in their history – missing out on the Europa League on goal difference.

Operating as the link between defence and attack, Locatelli took on somewhat of a ‘hub’ role in midfield, with everything going through him.

The same style of play seen at Brighton was present, with defenders looking to invite pressure, before quickly popping the ball into midfield.

And this was where Locatelli shone, with his speed of thought, excellent passing range and intelligence all coming to the fore – allowing the mercurial talents of wideman Domenico Berardi to take on a talismanic role in the final third.

As a result, both Berardi and Locatelli would be called up to the Italian national team ahead of the rescheduled Euro 2020 tournament, which the Azzurri ended up winning.

Moving on to Juventus that same year, it has not been plain sailing for the midfielder, with the Bianconeri’s crisis era heavily impacting this.

With an overhaul set to take place over the summer, a Locatelli and De Zerbi reunion could be something that the Spurs boss is looking for.

Tottenham are in need of a big summer overhaul

It goes without saying that it has been a dismal year for the Lilywhites, who somehow find themselves in a relegation battle.

With multiple players set to leave over the summer months, De Zerbi will be able to fully make his mark on the side – one that is his own.

There aren’t many players out there who sum up De Zerbi’s style of play more than Locatelli, who is capable of not just feeling the tempo of a match but also being able to progress play excellently with his passing range and intelligence.

Spurs have been in crisis for multiple years, leaving them in need of big changes should they secure their Premier League future.

And when it comes to their recruitment, Locatelli should be the first man that Tottenham look to bring through the door.

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Tottenham Hotspur star Mohammed Kudus has some of the best dribbling stats in the Premier League – despite being out since early January.

Tottenham spent around £55million to lure Kudus away from London rivals West Ham to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last summer.

The winger has oodles of talent but his season has been overshadowed by a thigh injury he suffered at the turn of the year.

Injuries have blighted Tottenham’s campaign, which has turned into a relegation scrap, with Spurs badly missing Kudus, James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, and more.

And despite being out for three months now, injured Tottenham ace Kudus is among the best in the Premier League when it comes to successful dribbles.

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Tottenham need Mohammed Kudus back

In 26 games in all competitions this season, Kudus has scored three goals and added six assists for Tottenham.

The Ghana international is something of a fan favourite at Tottenham but he hasn’t been able to wow supporters since going off injured against Sunderland on 4 January.

When Kudus limped off in early January, it had been less than a week since Tottenham had won a game in the league.

Ahead of a possible return in the coming weeks, Spurs haven’t tasted victory in the English top-flight in more than three months.

In that time, Kudus’ presence has been missed. In the Premier League, he has created three big chances, averages 2.7 successful dribbles a game, is fouled 1.2 times per match, and has seven goal contributions.

And, it appears that only Everton’s Iliman Ndiaye (55), Brighton’s Yankuba Minteh (56), and Manchester City’s Jeremy Doku (63) have completed more successful dribbles than Kudus (52).

Think what numbers he could have produced had he not been injured…

De Zerbi to live and die by first result

After sacking summer appointee Thomas Frank and parting company with interim boss Igor Tudor, Tottenham have turned to Roberto De Zerbi to keep them up.

Despite some backlash to his arrival, De Zerbi looks set to be a good appointment for Tottenham after signing a five-year deal with the club.

While it is still very early days and first impressions may not mean much in a relegation fight, De Zerbi is said to have made a very positive impact on the training pitch.

Many of his former charges have stated that De Zerbi is the best coach they have ever worked with, as the Italian tries to implement his possession-based, eye-catching style.

But all of this will mean nothing if they fall to another defeat, this time away to Sunderland on 12 April. Tottenham are just one point and one place above the relegation zone.

Therefore, a rare win could kickstart their Premier League survival.

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Tottenham Hotspur forward Randal Kolo Muani could get his season back on track now that Roberto De Zerbi has been appointed as their new head coach.

Kolo Muani has struggled to perform at Tottenham after joining on loan from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer.

However, with four goals in the Champions League this campaign, the 27-year-old has shown huge amounts of promise in N17, and he seems to thrive on the biggest stage for Spurs.

Despite some underwhelming performances in recent games, the Frenchman has proven that he can perform at this level, but he needs to add consistency to his game.

And with Tottenham in a relegation battle, Kolo Muani has to step up, but luckily, De Zerbi’s 3-4-2-1 formation can help him succeed.

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Randal Kolo Muani will excel in Roberto De Zerbi’s formation

The imposing forward has scored nine goals in 31 caps for his country, and he’s desperate to appear in successive World Cup tournaments for Les Bleus.

Currently, his form for Spurs isn’t good enough to be in Didier Deschamps’ squad, unless there is a drastic change.

His pass accuracy of 70.3 per cent and his duel win success rate of 33 per cent in the Premier League highlight the fact that he needs to step up his game in multiple areas.

However, according to Sofascore, Kolo Muani has completed 50 per cent of his attempted dribbles in the Champions League, which shows that he is capable of being successful for Spurs.

Kolo Muani has an abundance of talent, and although there are plenty of doubts, he could relish the opportunity of scoring the goals that will keep Tottenham in the Premier League.

And with De Zerbi at the helm, this could happen.

At Marseille, he predominantly used a 3-4-2-1 formation, which worked to great effect in the 2024-25 season.

Kolo Muani suits the right-sided role behind the lone striker, and his athleticism and power could prove to be key in the last seven games of the season.

As he has only recorded 1.82 xG in 23 Premier League appearances, he needs to work closely with De Zerbi, but this is a partnership that could work before his loan spell ends in May.

What does this mean for the rest of Tottenham’s attackers?

With Kolo Muani likely to start, it would guarantee that one of Richarlison or Dominic Solanke would be stuck on the bench.

As Richarlison has scored nine goals from 6.26 xG in the top flight this season, he’ll surely be trusted to lead the line, leaving Solanke out in the cold.

As for Xavi Simons, he wasn’t favoured by Igor Tudor, but his dazzling display against Atletico Madrid in March showcased how much he can offer to the side.

The Dutchman would slot into the left-sided role in the front three, which may spell bad news for Mathys Tel.

The young winger has completed 55.6 per cent of his dribbles in the Premier League, but De Zerbi may want someone in the attack who can help defensively.

The next seven games are crucial as Spurs look to avoid Premier League relegation, and the Italian head coach will have to oversee an immediate change in the team’s form.

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Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario could be in line to lose out following the appointment of Roberto De Zerbi.

The position between the sticks has been a hot topic at Spurs this season, with Vicario coming under fire for large periods of the campaign, while Igor Tudor’s decision to substitute Antonin Kinsky in the first half against Atletico Madrid drew heavy criticism.

De Zerbi has been brought in with the immediate goal of dragging the Lilywhites to safety, with the North London club hovering above the Premier League drop zone.

Looking to make an impact with his style of play, De Zerbi’s compatriot Vicario could be set to lose his number one spot, with a race to fit after hernia surgery too.

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Roberto De Zerbi could be set to drop Guglielmo Vicario

Taking over at Brighton in 2022, the Italian guided the Seagulls to a Europa League finish, playing some of the best football seen across the Premier League.

Gaining a reputation for his style of play, particularly the build-up from the back, De Zerbi made a big call early into his time at the Amex, when he dropped Robert Sanchez for Jason Steele.

And given his record on the South Coast, the decision most certainly worked out, with Steele being much more comfortable with the ball at his feet when compared with Sanchez.

Similar can be said when the current goalkeeping situation at Tottenham is considered.

Throughout the season, Vicario has received criticism for his haphazard distribution, backed up by his 67 per cent pass completion rate – something that has not been covered up by his shot-stopping ability either, with -5.22 goals prevented in the Premier League this term.

While Kinsky was naturally in the spotlight following his horrendous evening in Madrid, he is much more comfortable with the ball at his feet – something that De Zerbi will no doubt want in his team.

Roberto De Zerbi requires a ball-playing goalkeeper

When it comes to the Italian’s style, players comfortable in possession are imperative, even when it comes to the man in between the sticks.

In build-up, a big characteristic of a De Zerbi team is the backline and goalkeeper baiting the opposition into a press.

As seen with the aforementioned Steele, Lewis Dunk and more at Brighton, players would often slow the game to a standstill, placing their studs on the ball before shifting the ball forward into midfield to artificially create counter-attacking-like scenarios.

It cannot be argued that this approach does not work either, especially given De Zerbi’s time at Brighton.

When it comes to Vicario, he is not the type of goalkeeper to be comfortable under pressure, as seen during his haphazard moments throughout his time in a Tottenham shirt.

The new Spurs boss needs someone capable of breaking lines in between the sticks, and Vicario simply is not the man to do that.

While an exit could be on the cards for the summer, with Inter Milan named as a potential destination, he could be in line to lose his number one spot in the coming weeks.

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Tottenham Hotspur look set to release academy talent Leon Myrtaj this summer.

Myrtaj’s contract will run down at the end of the season and Spurs are not believed to have offered him a professional deal, a bitter blow for the 18-year-old forward.

The London-born ace has been on the club’s books since the age of seven and steadily worked his way through the youth set-up, rising into the Under-18s.

This season, he has made 13 U-18 Premier League appearances, registering three assists.

However, despite his good performances, Spurs are still poised to let Myrtaj go.

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Leon Myrtaj running out of time to force U-turn

Academy football has garnered a brutal reputation for scooping up youngsters before spitting them out, leaving them without a club and wondering what happens next.

Indeed, less than one per cent of academy players are offered a professional deal at Premier League sides in the UK. Sadly, Myrtaj now risks walking that uncertain path.

However, releasing him so prematurely is a mistake.

He is a tricky winger, blessed with good ability on the ball, a strong turn of pace and a reasonable end product that simply needs to be honed.

Spurs supporters have also now cottoned on to his unfortunate situation, with one X user writing on Saturday: “This Myrtaj kid in our academy is sick. Wtf.”

He has proven himself at almost every age range, having netted 13 goals for the U-16s in 2023-24. He is also a U-17 international for Albania, but has switched allegiance to Hungary.

Perhaps there is still time for Tottenham to correct this looming mistake, but the odds are not in his favour. Roberto De Zerbi‘s appointment has also done little to trigger a U-turn.

Why might Tottenham release Myrtaj?

For academy figures at Spurs, it simply appears to be a numbers game.

Mikey Moore has caught the eye during his loan spell at Rangers and is the same age as Myrtaj. Tynan Thompson is also set for a bright future and plays in the same position.

In the lower age categories, Melvyn Kabongolo and Kaiden Burke are two forwards progressing well, with both tipped to go on to make an impact in the first-team.

It is deeply unfortunate for Myrtaj that he faces such stiff competition for very few places. His ability and potential mean Tottenham would do well to reconsider letting him go.

Tottenham Hotspur remain at risk of relegation, and following that would be a huge turnover of players.

Having taken over from the previously sacked Igor Tudor, Roberto De Zerbi is the man tasked with keeping Spurs in the Premier League.

The Italian has already devoted his future to the North Londoners regardless of the outcome ahead of the final seven games of the season, but the same can not be said about the players.

A whole host of Tottenham players will leave upon relegation, begging the question as to who they would actually be left with?

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The players nailed on for Tottenham exit

Quite frankly, this summer is going to be a huge one regardless of whether safety is achieved or not, but it will be even bigger if the outcome is the latter.

Spurs can expect the overwhelming majority of their squad to push for moves, and despite their shortcomings this season, they won’t be short of suitors.

Richarlison would be a prime example of that, having scored nine Premier League goals from just 6.26 xG this season, which will certainly prevent him from having to drop into the Championship.

Players like Mohammed Kudus, Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero and Rodrigo Bentancur would be nailed on departures, despite very few of them having shown much this season.

Kudus would be the biggest miss for Spurs, given his ability to create something from nothing.

The former West Ham star has completed 52 dribbles this season, with an average of 3.03 per game, which places him among the top 6.5 per cent of Premier League wingers.

Who may Tottenham be able to retain?

Ultimately, there are very few, if any players at all, that you can say will be here next season if Spurs are relegated to the Championship, but there are a handful you could make a case for.

Once again, Archie Gray has been a shining light for Tottenham this season, and while there is interest from some European giants, his age may just afford Spurs the chance to keep him for another season.

The same goes for the likes of Mikey Moore and Lucas Bergvall, the former of whom has had an excellent season on loan at Rangers with nine goal involvements in 40 appearances.

Unfortunately for Tottenham, the majority of the other players they hold a chance of keeping are the ones that have them in their current predicament.

The likes of Radu Dragusin, Kevin Danso and Conog Gallagher would do well to secure a move back to the top flight, given their woes in the Premier League this season.

Djed Spence could soon find himself cast aside at Tottenham Hotspur.

Given the risk of relegation and the lack of time he will have had with the squad before they face Sunderland, Roberto De Zerbi is unlikely to make wholesale changes.

That goes for tactics as well as personnel, with the latter more of a restriction than a choice given the ongoing injury issues in North London.

However, De Zerbi is tasked with keeping Tottenham in the Premier League, and if he is to get them playing his way, Spence may be sacrificed.

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Djed Spence may not be suited to De Zerbi-ball

De Zerbi’s teams typically adopt a 3-2-5 formation in possession, with plenty of emphasis on the wing-backs to get forward and create.

While Spence has had a solid campaign in general, he has failed to offer much in that sense, as showcased by the fact that he is one of only a few players without a goal or an assist.

In fact, Spence averages just 0.5 chances created per 90, which places him among the bottom 22.8 per cent of Premier League defenders.

The wing-back has created just 10 chances in the 24 appearances he has made in the top flight this season, which again places him among the bottom 40.5 per cent of defenders.

His ability to drive forward with the ball has been on show, as demonstrated by his 26 completed dribbles, but if he is to have a role to play under De Zerbi, his level of creativity will have to be increased.

Spence’s shortcomings could open door for Souza

If only Tottenham had a young, attack-minded full-back to come and play a role under De Zerbi…

If Spence fails to improve that aspect of his game, then there is every chance that the Italian turns to Souza on the left side of defence.

The Brazilian has played just 144 minutes of Premier League football since arriving in the winter, and the tactical tweak expected under De Zerbi could benefit him.

It would most likely see Pedro Porro retain his place on the right, which again will be far more suitable for him given his willingness to offer a creative presence in the final third.

Tottenham Hotspur‘s home form is something that Roberto De Zerbi must immediately fix.

The Italian was announced by the club earlier this week, with Spurs locked in a battle for their Premier League survival.

After winning the Europa League last May, things have continued to worsen throughout the ongoing term, leaving the Lilywhites dangling above the drop zone.

With a week to go until De Zerbi’s first match in charge against Sunderland, a damning stat regarding the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium has been revealed.

It highlights a serious issue that the 46-year-old must fix as he looks to keep Spurs in the division.

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Roberto De Zerbi takes over a club in crisis – home form shows it

Seven years ago on 3 April 2019, Tottenham finally moved to their brand new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium after spending almost two years playing at Wembley.

However, things have not gone all too smoothly for the club since, with nine managers coming and going – including interim spells

In the time period since making the move, Spurs have lost 55 times on home soil. Which in itself is not too concerning.

What is, however, is the 21 losses recorded on home soil since August 2024, the beginning Ange Postecoglou’s final year at the helm.

The Lilywhites would limp to a 17th place finish under the Aussie last term, though he cemented his place in the club’s folklore by lifting the Europa League last May.

The current campaign was earmarked as one of further progression under Thomas Frank, who joined from Brentford last summer, though once again, Spurs proved to be a club in crisis.

The Dane would lose his job in February, replaced by Igor Tudor, who would go on to become another victim of the crisis club just over a month later.

Roberto De Zerbi has to fix serious home issue

For a club of Tottenham’s size, with a stadium of its size, and the relative quality and riches at the club’s disposal as a member of the ‘big six’, 21 losses on home soil over a time period of less than two years is simply unacceptable.

For context, relegation rivals Leeds would have to go back to the 2021-22 season to find the corresponding point in time.

The Whites are one of Spurs’ big survival rivals heading into the season’s crunch point, having lost just five times on home soil this season compared to Tottenham’s 10, Nottingham Forest’s seven and West Ham’s eight.

Losing 10 matches on home soil is unacceptable for any side looking to survive in the division, and it can’t be ignored that it is simply relegation-level form, especially given the fact that two-thirds of their overall losses have come on their own stomping ground.

With De Zerbi now in post, one of the first things he has to fix, is Spurs’ home form.

Tottenham need to begin dominating and controlling games, and punishing sides when they can, making the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium a tough place to go – something that simply has not consistently been the case since the stadium’s opening seven years ago.

Mason Melia made an immediate impact for Tottenham Hotspur‘s Under-21s on Saturday.

Melia scored just three minutes into his first appearance for the age category after being brought on during a 3-2 victory against West Ham in the Premier League 2 on Saturday.

His goal drew Spurs back on level terms and would have acted as a resounding message to head coach Roberto De Zerbi as he plots a path to Premier League survival.

The 18-year-old coolly touched home from close range on 70 minutes and delivered an impressive all-round performance. In truth, he looked head and shoulders above his peers.

There is a reason he has been tipped for a very bright future, and judging from this recent showing, Melia is ready to help save Tottenham from relegation during their crucial run-in.

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Mason Melia takes Tottenham chance

The 18-year-old arrived at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium from Irish side St Patrick’s Athletic back in January with a glowing reputation as one of his country’s best young talents.

The initial £1.6million figure – which could double with add-ons – was a record switch for a League of Ireland player at the time, underlining Spurs’ utmost faith in his abilities.

Last season, the red-hot ace scored 15 goals and recorded five assists in his 43 appearances for his previous club, and it hasn’t taken him long to get off the mark in London.

Melia was forced to wait for his big Spurs opportunity. His introduction was delayed due to a back injury he had been nursing at St Patrick’s, before he also suffered a chest infection.

Now, though, he is fit and raring to prove himself at the highest level. As a result, a first-team debut is likely next season, but it also shouldn’t be ruled out before the end of this campaign.

After all, it is the natural next step for an ace with the world at his feet.

How did Melia respond to dream debut?

Clearly, Melia also has a wise head despite his tender age. Speaking post-match, he admitted he was mainly relieved to be back playing, especially in front of family members.

“It’s been a long six months, I think,” he said post-match.

“I’m happy to get the goal and win the game. It was a tough, sloppy game, but to get the 3-2 result is a good win. I’ve a big family, so a few of them came over, my parents, my missus and all. I’m buzzing to have them here. It makes it more special.

“It’s been a long time coming. I’m really proud to have my debut and make it happen finally.”

Spurs have one of the sport’s hottest prospects in their hands, but must act carefully. How the next few months play out may well define the course of his career.