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Tottenham Hotspur‘s January transfer gamble in signing Souza may be paying off after a slow start.

Souza swapped Santos for Tottenham in a £13million deal in January, but the 19-year-old had to be patient early on.

The left-back made a cameo off the bench in a 2-0 loss at Manchester United on 7 February, back when Thomas Frank was still in charge.

Following the Dane’s sacking, interim boss Igor Tudor has given the teenager more of a chance to shine, with two Premier League starts in his last three matches.

Archie Gray was signed for £40million by Tottenham in 2024, but he has predominantly played in defence so far, despite his strength being in midfield.

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And to date, Souza’s versatility is also being tested since signing for Tottenham.

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Igor Tudor not bothered about playing Souza out of position

Souza was signed by Spurs as a long-term prospect at left-back. Destiny Udogie isn’t much older at 23, but he has been linked with a return to Italy.

But with the Italy international consistently injured, although he is set to return for their crunch six-pointer with Nottingham Forest on Sunday, Souza has been given a chance to strut his stuff.

Indeed, the youngster has played at left-back and as a left midfielder for the north London team. He was even deployed as a right midfielder in the 1-1 draw at Liverpool on Sunday.

In that match, he played 56 minutes, had one shot on target, a 100 per cent passing accuracy, and had nine touches.

For Tottenham so far, he has made four clearances and two interceptions, but his duel rate is down at 16.7 per cent. Moreover, he has won two fouls and conceded three.

He didn’t look out of his depth, especially against Liverpool. But once again, Tottenham are putting a lot of faith in a young player, as they have done with 20-year-olds Gray and Lucas Bergvall.

Gray, in particular, has repeatedly been played out of position, with the former Leeds United man being used as a centre-back, a full-back, and occasionally in midfield. While playing in multiple positions can be good for your game, too much of it can blunt a player’s edge.

Tottenham needed to sign players who improved their starting XI in January for what has now become a relegation battle.

Now it seems Souza is getting the square peg in a round hole treatment.

Igor Tudor may be delaying the inevitable

Tudor was brought in as interim manager until the end of the season in mid-February, but so far, it has been a wretched start at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The Croatian has endured heavy defeats to Arsenal, Crystal Palace, and Atletico Madrid, while seemingly angering players and fans with his approach.

After a 5-2 drubbing in the Champions League at Atletico, the pressure on Tudor reached fever point ahead of facing Liverpool, but a creditable 1-1 draw has sparked hope, in some quarters, of a revival.

As Jamie Carragher put it, Liverpool were sleepwalking in the second half against Spurs, who are one point above the relegation zone, as Richarlison’s late equaliser earned them an important point.

This was undoubtedly Tottenham’s best performance under Tudor, but that positivity could evaporate when they face Atletico in the second leg of their last-16 Champions League tie on Tuesday.

Moreover, they host Forest in a massive game in the Premier League on Sunday.

Tudor may yet turn things around, but for the time being, it still seems that this job may prove too much for the former Juventus manager.

Guglielmo Vicario is lucky his Tottenham Hotspur teammates put up a fight against Liverpool in the Premier League on Sunday.

Spurs travelled to Anfield on 15 March, with Igor Tudor securing a valuable point after Richarlison’s late equaliser in the 1-1 draw.

Dominik Szoboszlai opened the scoring for the Reds in the 18th minute from a free-kick, but the North London outfit’s goalkeeper arguably could’ve done better to keep it out.

Vicario has struggled at Tottenham this season and the 29-year-old Italian shot-stopper has been on the receiving end of supporters’ fury.

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What Tottenham fans are saying about Guglielmo Vicario after draw vs Liverpool

Tottenham fans on X want to see Vicario leave at the end of the season if they survive Premier League relegation.

The Lilywhites are 16th in the table, one point ahead of 18th-place West Ham United, and supporters in N17 want Tudor to take the goalkeeper with him out the door.

Fans have been left frustrated with the shot-stopper constantly costing the North London outfit points in the league.

Vicario was described as “woeful” by one supporter, while another called his display “grotesque”.

There are those who feel Spurs put in a decent performance at Anfield, but the former Empoli shot-stopper cost them.

Along with the goalkeeper, some of the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium faithful want to see Radu Dragusin leave, with the two defensive players coming under fire.

Johan Lange in for transfer headache at Spurs

If Johan Lange survives the axe at Spurs at the end of the season, he will undoubtedly be left with a major transfer decision.

The North London outfit’s sporting director will surely be tasked with finding a new goalkeeper and figuring out what to do with Vicario.

Antonin Kinsky could potentially look for a Tottenham exit, with fears among supporters that the 22-year-old Czechia shot-stopper may never recover from his mistakes against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League.

The recruitment team should be in overdrive in the summer, but one of the main focuses has to be the addition of a quality goalkeeper.

Tottenham Hotspur chiefs will reportedly give Igor Tudor at least two more games to save his job as interim manager.

The Croatian lost his first four games in charge of Spurs in all competitions prior to Sunday’s deserved 1-1 draw away at Liverpool.

Spurs remain winless in the league this calendar year, but the draw at Anfield at least keeps them one point above the drop zone.

Tudor looked on the verge of being sacked by Spurs last week, but he will now get another week in the N17 hotseat.

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Igor Tudor to stay in charge for crucial Nottingham Forest clash

Spurs have a midweek Champions League last-16 tie with Atletico Madrid to come, but fans can be forgiven for already looking ahead to next weekend.

The Lilywhites trail Atletico Madrid 5-2 after a calamitous showing in the Spanish capital last weekend that could have turned out a lot worse than it actually did.

But any hopes of a comeback are extremely slim, with Tudor having a far bigger clash against fellow strugglers Forest to come on Sunday.

Forest are a point behind Spurs, level on points with West Ham United in 18th, so it is not hyperbolic to describe that as one of the biggest league games in the North London club’s recent history.

If Sky Sports‘ update on Monday evening is anything to go by, Spurs chiefs have made a howler.

If that midweek game with Atleti ends in embarrassment, much like the first leg, it would surely make sense to roll the dice before facing Forest.

Spurs simply cannot afford to slip up next weekend. Even a draw would be a bad result, so a win is very much needed.

Tudor needs to count his blessings

The performance at Anfield was much improved, granted, but the previous four results and performances cannot be brushed under the carpet.

A fifth defeat in six, in horror circumstances, should spell the end for Tudor. If Spurs chiefs have any sense, they would already have another option lined up.

Tudor is fortunate to even be in charge this long as he seems the wrong man at the wrong time – there is no worse combo.

But this is Spurs in 2026, and Tudor will now oversee that truly massive Premier League clash with Forest next weekend.

James Rowswell became Tottenham Hotspur‘s latest debutant in the 1-1 draw with Liverpool on Sunday.

The 19-year-old defender replaced Richarlison in second-half stoppage time just after the Brazilian had scored the equaliser.

It was his 12th appearance in the matchday squad, but the first time that he has made it onto the pitch, as he became Legacy Number 904.

That means that Rowswell is the 904th player to play for Tottenham’s senior side in their history, after making his competitive debut for the North London club.

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Who is the latest Tottenham star James Rowswell?

Rowswell has been at Tottenham since the age of five, and signed his first professional contract with his boyhood club in the 2023-24 season.

He was born in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, and attended Richard Hale School, where he was a keen swimmer.

He made his debut for England Under-16s in December 2021 against Turkey, but is yet to appear in any of the older age groups.

Rowswell is traditionally a centre-back but can also play right-back, which should serve him well as he tries to break through and stay in the senior side.

He appeared on the bench seven times under Thomas Frank, and Igor Tudor had included him in four previous squads before handing him his debut in his fifth game in charge against the Reds.

Why the future is bright for Rowswell

The future is bright for Rowswell because Spurs may have a crisis at centre-back and right-back when the summer transfer window comes around.

Micky van de Ven and Pedro Porro look likely to attract significant interest from across Europe, which could leave an opportunity for him to make more appearances in the near future.

The fact that he has made his debut before the likes of Luka Vuskovic and Kota Takai, who are very highly rated in N17, is a very encouraging sign for the young defender.

He will hope that his moment is not a flash in the pan, that will disappear when Tudor leaves in the summer, and he can have an impression on the new manager, whoever that may be.

Given his showing against the Merseysiders, where he stopped a promising attack in the dying embers, he should be able to do so.

Tottenham Hotspur and Nottingham Forest fans have been warned to take extra care when making travel arrangements for next weekend’s blockbuster Premier League clash.

Spurs are one point ahead of Forest in the battle to avoid relegation from the Premier League, with the Reds currently level with West Ham United in 18th.

It sets up an intriguing battle at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday, where a sell-out crowd can once again be expected.

However, there will be some travel disruption around the ground on the day of Spurs’ clash with Forest.

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Various train and underground alterations in place

Thousands of fans will be making their way to the ground via the various train networks, but there will be disruption this coming weekend.

Liverpool Street – the UK’s busiest train station – will be shut on the day of the game. No Weaver Line services will operate through White Hart Lane.

While replacement buses will be in place, it is recommended that supporters use the Victoria Line instead.

Meanwhile, Greater Anglia services will now run on an amended timetable to and from Stratford due to Liverpool Street being closed.

Furthermore, the Piccadilly Line will be closed between Cockfosters and Uxbridge.

Those attending the fixture are advised to check the Transport for London and National Rail websites for the most up-to-date information.

What else do I need to know if attending Tottenham vs Nottingham Forest?

It is also worth noting that Bruce Grove and Silver Street stations will be closed for two hours after the game, which kicks off at 2:15pm on Sunday.

As ever, there will also be multiple road closures in place around Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, while various parking enforcement measures are also in place.

It is advised that if attending to the ground from the Central London area, use the Victoria Line where possible.

And as ever, leave plenty of time for your journey to the game in order to avoid any unwanted disruption.

While the closure of Liverpool Street is far from ideal, there are still plenty of other routes and methods of travel.

Guglielmo Vicario has been cleared of any blame after Dominik Szoboszlai’s strike against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.

The Italian started in between the sticks as the Lilywhites travelled to face Liverpool at Anfield in desperate need of a result.

It looked as if things were going to follow a similar path for Igor Tudor when the Hungarian international slammed home a free kick.

His strike after 18 minutes didn’t have the desired effect as Richarlison went on to net a late equaliser to steal a point for the Lilywhites.

Vicario has still come under pressure after Tottenham drew 1-1 at Liverpool, but it appears that he doesn’t deserve any negative reviews.

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Bryan King clears Guglielmo Vicario of blame vs Liverpool

The 29-year-old has hardly covered himself in glory this season and has conceded 18 goals since the start of February alone.

That has hardly painted a positive picture and even prompted Tudor to throw Antonin Kinsky in at the deep end away to Atletico Madrid.

The youngster lasted just 17 minutes and was once again replaced by Vicario, but pressure has still surrounded the ex-Empoli man.

Szoboszlai’s free kick hasn’t helped matters, especially as many believed he should have done better after getting a hand to the ball.

That isn’t the feeling of former Millwall keeper Bryan King, who believes the Italian did all he could against a superb effort from the Liverpool man.

Speaking exclusively to Tottenham News, King said: “To be fair to Vicario, he was in the right position to start with because his wall was on the right side.

“When the ball comes over the wall like that, his reactions were slow, but you can’t blame him for the goal.

“I don’t think he’s made a mistake.

“Szoboszlai has hit free kicks from further out than that. What he does with a ball is special.

“It’s far too easy just to blame the keeper. It was a hell of a free kick, he’s got a hand to it but just couldn’t divert it past the post.”

That is the feeling of the former scout and keeper, all while Jamie Carragher and Wayne Rooney tear into Vicario for his antics at Anfield.

Vicario didn’t cover himself in glory vs Liverpool

King has cleared the Spurs number one of blame for Liverpool’s opening goal, which comes as a surprise based on the general scrutiny surrounding him.

That will certainly mean more to Vicario, coming from a former goalkeeper who made over 540 appearances in between the sticks.

He may be safe from pressure for the free-kick, but that isn’t to say he was particularly great in other parts of his game at Anfield.

The shot stopper did make three saves, but failed to show his authority after not making a single high claim or punch inside his area.

If he had just diverted Szoboszlai’s effort past the post, it would have been a totally different story, and it is those small margins that are seriously costing Tottenham right now.

Callum Olusesi enjoyed a Premier League debut to remember after helping Tottenham Hotspur secure a crucial 1-1 draw with Liverpool on Sunday.

Spurs’ lengthy injury list rendered Igor Tudor’s squad threadbare for the daunting trip to Anfield, but in crisis came opportunity for youngsters Olusesi and James Rowswell.

The duo were among just seven substitutes, with two goalkeepers also making up the numbers, but Tudor was happy to rely on both of them in the closing stages.

Olusesi, in particular, caught the eye during his 14-minute cameo against Liverpool, proving that the 19-year-old is already more than good enough to play a part in this relegation fight.

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How did Callum Olusesi play vs Liverpool?

Max Dowman’s match-winning heroics for Arsenal in their victory against Everton may have stolen the headlines over the weekend, but Olusesi was quietly superb on Merseyside.

The teenager was a calming influence despite the Anfield din and watched on as Richarlison pounced in the 90th minute to score a deserved equaliser for the North London side.

According to Sofascore, he took nine touches, predominantly in the centre of midfield, and completed eight passes while boasting an impressive 100 per cent accuracy.

Seven of those passes found their desired target inside Liverpool’s half, which allowed the visitors to slowly but surely turn the screw on their opponents in their chase for a leveller.

Olusesi also did his part defensively, making two recoveries in the final minutes.

Despite his tender age, the wonderkid is showing wisdom – and quality – beyond his years, and that bodes very well indeed for Tottenham, both now and in the future.

Spurs right to reject Olusesi bids

According to The Standard, Olusesi attracted interest from Italy, Germany and the Netherlands in January, with £6million bids from Hoffenheim and PSV Eindhoven rebuffed.

His burgeoning reputation and standout academy performances were enough to convince clubs to swoop, and he is now beginning to make his mark at a senior level, too.

Understandably, Spurs did not want to let him leave, and his latest display will only have strengthened this resolve. He is also crucially tied down to a long-term deal signed last April.

After describing his top-flight debut as a “dream come true”, Olusesi put his focus back on the club’s relegation plight. This mentality suggests he will have a very bright future indeed.

Xavi Simons: Tottenham midfielder better suited to impact role after Liverpool show – here’s why

Xavi Simons came off the bench and was excellent as Tottenham Hotspur put a massive point on the board against Liverpool on Sunday.

Igor Tudor’s side looked to be heading for a seventh-straight defeat in all competitions at Anfield, with Liverpool leading 1-0 as the 90th minute approached.

However, Richarlison would prove to be Liverpool’s nemesis once again, as he netted in the dying minutes of the game to level the scores at 1-1.

Tottenham’s draw with Liverpool has stopped the losing rot in N17, and with a huge relegation six-pointer against Nottingham Forest next on their Premier League agenda, it could be the point that makes all the difference.

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Xavi Simons made Tottenham impact from the bench vs Liverpool

Now is the time for Tottenham’s best players to step up, and drag Spurs out of the situation they find themselves in.

One of Spurs’ big-name stars is Simons, who signed from RB Leipzig in this season’s summer window for a reported fee of £52million.

However, Simons hasn’t quite taken to life at Tottenham in the way that was expected of him, as he’s registered just one goal and four assists in 24 Premier League outings this season.

And, he would put in one of his most impressive and impactful cameos in a Tottenham shirt so far, despite only being on the pitch for 34 minutes.

As per Sofascore, Simons played one key pass, completed both of his two long ball attempts successfully, registered three shots on goal and made four progressive carries with the ball.

He also completed two of his three dribble attempts successfully, won his lone tackle attempt, won three of his four ground duels and registered a passing accuracy of 82 per cent respectively.

Simons was everywhere for Tottenham when he entered the fray, looking like a player with a point to prove and a fire in his belly to boot.

Simons may have unlocked his best Tottenham role

Now, given the money Tottenham spent to go and get Simons from Leipzig, it’s fair to say that a role as an impact sub was not the one anyone hoped nor believed he’d be destined for in N17.

And he doesn’t have to be long-term either, but for now, whilst the 22-year-old is still figuring out the league and his new surroundings, tasking him with this responsibility in games could be a very pragmatic one.

Over the course of 90 minutes, Simons hasn’t really proven he’s got the stamina levels yet to prevent himself from fading in games the longer it goes on.

However, over shorter bursts of 15, 20 and 30-minute cameos from the bench, that’s where Spurs may be able to get the best out of him right now, as his performance against Liverpool suggests.

Tottenham Hotspur boosted their Premier League survival hopes with a battling 1-1 draw with Liverpool on Sunday, and their improvements were clear to see.

Igor Tudor finally got on the board for the first time since replacing Thomas Frank after Richarlison scored a 90th-minute equaliser to stun the champions at Anfield.

It was a match sorely lacking in quality, but Spurs will not have minded after the result kept them a point above the drop zone with eight matches remaining.

While interim boss Tudor is still under severe pressure, he looks to have bought himself time, with the performance against Liverpool a significant step in the right direction.

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Tottenham’s impressive work rate revealed

Tottenham had conceded first after Dominik Szoboszlai’s free-kick, which led Wayne Rooney to rip into Guglielmo Vicario, but they rallied back to grab a share of the spoils.

According to the post-match statistics, Spurs comprehensively outworked the hosts, which helped to set the foundations for a potentially season-defining result.

Indeed, the visitors covered 118.27km, 8.67km more than their opponents, while the North London outfit also sprinted for 10.05 per cent across that distance.

Tudor will have been delighted with the effort, but these promising signs have actually been there for much of his temporary stint, despite the largely chastening results.

Jonny Blain shared on X that the most distance Spurs have covered in Premier League matches this season have both come under Tudor – against Liverpool and at Fulham.

In addition, three of his four top-flight matches are in the top five of the same metric across the entire campaign, with the loss at Crystal Palace the only exception.

That effectively puts to bed speculation that his squad are not trying their utmost under him, and can be compared to their relentless energy under Ange Postecoglou.

While covering ground doesn’t automatically translate to results, it does set the tone while justifying Tudor’s decision to focus on fitness during his first training sessions.

What are Tottenham’s chances of relegation?

Spurs did not open up a cushion over 18th-placed West Ham despite their sterling fightback against Liverpool, but the result will have done their confidence a world of good.

Having lost 3-1 to Palace on March 5, they were given a 16.10 chance of being relegated by Opta Analyst. Now, however, that has been reduced to a 14.90 per cent likelihood.

Despite being just a marginal decline, every percentage point matters.

In comparison, Nottingham Forest have a 34.05 chance of going down, with West Ham’s odds now 45.26 per cent.

Clearly, then, the momentum is with Spurs, and if they can get the better of Forest in next weekend’s relegation six-pointer, they will be able to breathe a little easier.

Pedro Porro was embarrassing yet again for Tottenham Hotspur against Liverpool.

Spurs left it late at Anfield to secure a point against Liverpool, with Richarlison once again proving to be the saviour.

His 90th-minute equaliser looks to have bought Igor Tudor some more time in charge of the North Londoners, despite the fact that he remains winless after five games.

However, Tudor is still under pressure, and that pressure will break him unless he drops Porro from his starting 11 for the foreseeable future after yet another shameful display against the Reds.

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Pedro Porro almost broke unwanted Premier League record vs Liverpool

Porro was once the man that Spurs looked to for some creativity and composure, but this season, he has been unable to offer anything of that.

And that was again the case against Liverpool, where the Spaniard was quite literally hopeless at anything he tried to do.

Porro completed just 24 of his 35 attempted passes, with only 55 per cent of his attempted long balls reaching a teammate.

Defensively, he was even worse, having won zero of his seven ground duels, which is even more alarming considering he was defending against Rio Ngumoha, a recently turned 17-year-old youth prospect.

As demonstrated via his Sofascore graphic below, Porro was also dribbled past on six occasions in the game, and had it happened two more times, he would have taken the record of being dribbled past the most times in a single Premier League game this season.

Porro has been linked with an exit from Tottenham, and if that is the level of display he is now capable of, then an exit should be his next step.

Who could replace Porro at Tottenham?

Tudor made the bizarre choice to start Souza out wide, and that needs to change next time out.

The Brazilian could slot back in at left-back, with Djed Spence shifting over to the right in place of Porro, who looks to be getting worse with every game he plays.

It could allow Xavi Simons to return to the starting 11 after he was named on the bench against Liverpool, to give Spurs some added creativity.

However, whatever Tudor decides to do, it has to be without the services of Porro.