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Tottenham could make a shock move to appoint John Gregory as their next manager.

Thomas Frank has finally been sacked by Tottenham after a shocking spell in charge at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The last straw came as Tottenham fell to a 2-1 defeat against Newcastle United on Tuesday, meaning Spurs are yet to win a Premier League game in 2026.

Frank didn’t think Tottenham would sack him, but his exit has now been officially confirmed in North London.

The door is now open for a new manager to come in, with Gregory emerging as a surprise candidate to take over from Frank.

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Tottenham told to appoint John Gregory

Roberto De Zerbi has emerged as a target for Tottenham, with the Italian now out of a job after leaving Marseille.

He is just one of many options on the table right now in N17, although a left-field shout could now be utilised by the Lilywhites.

Frank couldn’t get the best out of his players at Spurs, but there is a belief that Gregory would be able to do exactly that.

Former scout Bryan King has put the ex-Aston Villa boss forward as a manager who could come in and turn the tide for the North London club.

Speaking exclusively to Tottenham News, King said: “There are enough experienced managers around.

“Looking at English managers, I would go and get John Gregory in. People would laugh, but I tell you what, he would sort it out.

“He’s an experienced manager, doing very little right now.

“I’d bring him in and say, ‘Sort it out, John. Come in for six months and keep us in the Premier League, thanks very much.’

“He’s the most experienced manager who isn’t working.

“He’s a better manager than Postecoglou, so throw Gregory’s name in. John is hot on the discipline side, and he can handle big players.“

Gregory could be man to replace Frank

It isn’t a surprise that Frank has been let go in North London, having racked up a win rate of just 34 per cent this campaign.

There is a massive decision to make over the next head coach, especially with Spurs so close to the relegation zone right now.

Bringing in someone who has been there and seen it all could be a wise option, and Gregory is someone who fits that bill.

It would represent a big task for him to return to the Premier League and hit the ground running, but his man-management skills could be exactly what the Lilywhites need right now.

Tottenham could soon part ways with Micky van de Ven.

Van de Ven has been linked to Liverpool in the past, but the Netherlands international remained in North London in the past two transfer windows.

That could change when the summer window opens, especially with Thomas Frank potentially close to the sack with Spurs sitting 15th in the Premier League.

His defensive partner, Cristian Romero, has come under massive pressure at Tottenham, so a move away to an elite side might be on the back of the 24-year-old’s mind.

That could see van de Ven be open to a Tottenham Hotspur Stadium exit, with a Real Madrid switch potentially on the cards.

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Micky van de Ven may leave Tottenham in the summer

It says a lot that van de Ven has shone during shocking Tottenham performances, with the draw away to Burnley being a recent example.

The Dutchman has been consistently excellent for the Lilywhites, so it makes little sense for him to be featuring in a side that could be destined for a relegation battle.

Even if Spurs drag themselves further up the Premier League, the ex-Wolfsburg man may still see his future away from N17.

Former scout Bryan King has backed the defender as the best player available to Frank, but believes it is his various talents that could prompt interest from Real Madrid and Manchester City.

Speaking exclusively to Tottenham News, King said: “As long as he stays clear of injury, he’s Tottenham’s best player.

“He’s without a doubt a top-class player. He’s quick, he can defend, and he’s a big asset.

“I imagine he’ll be of interest to plenty of clubs after the World Cup.

“You won’t be looking at any less than £100m for him because he’s got years on his side as well. He could go to any team, in any league.

“I think he’d be a hit anywhere.

“If Real Madrid are looking for a defender, which they are, they’ll be interested.

“Manchester City got Guehi, but they will still be looking at a player of his quality.“

Van de Ven could join Real Madrid for record fee

There aren’t many better centre-backs out there right now than the Spurs man, especially with his wide-ranging talents.

Van de Ven is unique in his pace and ability to drive forward, while also being an excellent defender in his own right.

That could prompt Real Madrid or Manchester City into spending that £100m on his signature, something that would represent a world record fee for a defender.

World record transfer fees for defenders:

The Spurs man could sit at the top of the tree ahead of some big names, with seven of the top 10 being deals within the Premier League.

Van de Ven could buck the trend and become the first to break into the top 10 for a move from the Premier League to elsewhere, if he is to join Real Madrid.

Tottenham’s relegation fears have now been made real after a damaging 2-1 loss to Newcastle United on Tuesday.

Spurs hosted Eddie Howe’s side at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in a crucial Premier League clash for both managers.

Thomas Frank has been under increasing pressure at Tottenham, and the result is exactly the opposite of what the Dane needed.

Joe Willock had a goal ruled out for offside in the first half before Malick Thiaw gave the Magpies the lead heading into the break shortly after.

Archie Gray volleyed home an equaliser for the hosts before Jacob Ramsay curled the winning effort past Guglielmo Vicario to seal the win.

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Everything good for Tottenham came through Xavi Simons

Xavi Simons was pure livewire for the Lilywhites, and the only shame is that he’s not being played through the middle for Tottenham.

Spurs fans will be frustrated that they haven’t seen this version of the Dutchman consistently, as his £51million price tag has yet to be fully justified.

He’s had his critics this season, but the numbers from his performance against Newcastle speak for themselves.

Simons created the most chances in the game with five, and recorded a pass accuracy of 89 per cent, while also chipping in with 10 defensive actions.

As highlighted in the Sofascore graphic above, Simons grabbed a 7.9 rating, as his performance may have gone under the radar.

Yes, his yellow card for a dive was silly, but he’s young, and he’ll learn. It feels like the 22-year-old could be one of the biggest winners if Frank is to be sacked.

Yves Bissouma was atrocious vs Newcastle

Yves Bissouma has recently come back into the fold for the Lilywhites, and maybe Spurs fans will be wishing he never.

The midfielder has faced off-the-field issues this season that go beyond his injury problems, and it seems like Tottenham missed a trick by seeking his sale in the winter window.

The 29-year-old won just 33 per cent of his ground duels and made just three defensive contributions in a horror 24-touch showing that deservedly got him hooked at halftime, with Joao Palhinha acting as his replacement.

Now, Bissouma’s career at Tottenham looks finished, and the Lilywhites need to start prioritising starting players who are going to be here for the long term.

Tottenham player ratings vs Newcastle

Guglielmo Vicario – 5

Archie Gray – 7

Radu Dragusin – 5

Micky van de Ven – 6

Djed Spence – 5

Conor Gallagher – 5

Yves Bissouma – 3

Pape Sarr – 8

Wilson Odobert – 4

Dominic Solanke – 6

Xavi Simons – 8

Substitutes –

Joao Palhinha – 7

Mathys Tel – 4

Tottenham continue to be frustrated as they wait for Dejan Kulusevski’s return from injury.

Kulusevski suffered a knee injury in May 2025 during a 2-0 defeat to Crystal Palace, which forced him to miss Tottenham‘s Europa League final win over Man United.

The 25-year-old hasn’t kicked a ball in anger for Spurs since then, and his star quality has been missed in Thomas Frank‘s team this season.

Despite his injury problem, Kulusevski was strongly linked with a move to Man City in the summer, but no deal materialised as his return from injury remains an eagerly awaited event in N17.

Dejan Kulusevski injury update drops from Sweden

Napoli were also heavily credited with an interest in Kulusevski ahead of the January transfer window, but just as with the reported Man City interest, nothing came of it.

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Frank left Kulusevski out of his Champions League squad for the knockout stages last week, indicating that the attacking midfielder was some way off being fit to play again.

However, his timeline for a return to action had remained pretty unclear, but a light has now been shed on when Spurs could expect to have Kulusevski back.

But it’s not the news that anyone connected with the Lilywhites would’ve been hoping for, as the talismanic attacker is still not close to fitness.

As per a report from Swedish news outlet Sportbladet, they have revealed that Kulusevski is expected to remain sidelined for longer than first feared.

It’s stated that the expectation is that he’ll miss Sweden’s World Cup semi-final play-off game against Ukraine on 26 March, with something “miraculous” needing to happen if he’s to make that fixture.

Therefore, it looks as though Tottenham can rule out a return for Kulusevski until April at the earliest.

Frank may not get Kulusevski back in time to save his Spurs job

It has to be said that, however you may feel about Frank’s performance as Tottenham manager this season, he’s not received a kind hand whatsoever when it comes to injuries.

Having both James Maddison and Kulusevski available in attack could’ve completely transformed the way his Spurs team plays, and would’ve allowed a fairer assessment to be made of his performance in the job.

But, football can be a cruel game, and Frank is now running out of road in North London, but a Kulusevski return could be the last-minute lifesaving moment he requires.

However, that may come too late for him.

Darren Bent makes Cristian Romero plea to Tottenham chiefs after Man United red – ‘No sympathy’

Cristian Romero has come in for heavy criticism following his Old Trafford antics.

Tottenham were beaten 2-0 by Man United on Saturday, piling further pressure on under-fire boss Thomas Frank.

However, the trajectory of the game was drastically altered in the 29th minute, as Romero was shown a straight red card for his foul on Casemiro.

Romero will now miss Tottenham’s next four Premier League games, starting with Spurs’ clash against Newcastle United on Tuesday evening.

Darren Bent believes Tottenham ‘can do much better’ than Cristian Romero

There have been some suggestions that Romero could have his Tottenham captaincy stripped from him following his United sending off, which is his second red card of the season so far.

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Romero has been one of the first names on the Tottenham teamsheet since first joining from Atalanta in 2021, but the 27-year-old has struggled to stay in referees’ good books since his arrival in N17.

However, this season in particular has been a particularly poor one, disciplinary-wise, for the Argentine international, with eight yellow cards and two reds from just 21 Premier League games.

And, his dismissal against United does have the feel of being a watershed one in his Spurs career, as the reaction from many connected with the Lilywhites has largely been one of, that’s enough now.

Speaking live on talkSPORT on Tuesday, that certainly seems to be how Darren Bent feels about the Spurs captain, too, as he’s urged Tottenham chiefs to move on from Romero.

“That tackle there, especially after you come out and criticise the board or whoever you’re subliminally criticising, and you’re supposed to be the Spurs captain, and you go and do that?” Bent said.

“I’ve got no sympathy for him whatsoever…Stupid challenge, but as I said, you’re going to come out and criticise the board, and criticise whoever you want to criticise, you’ve got to put a level of performance in, and you haven’t.

“You’ve got yourself sent off again, and at the end of the season, I’m looking at that from a Tottenham perspective and going, ‘they can find better’.”

Romero frustration boils down to his otherwise impressive numbers

Bent is right in the respect that Tottenham could find a much more reliable centre-back than Romero, in terms of having a player you trust not to make rash decisions and pick up cards.

However, when you look at his actual numbers from this season, the frustration with the Argentine becomes abundantly clear: he’s actually a very good player.

As per Sofascore, Romero has had four team of the week inclusions, recorded a pass accuracy of 87 per cent, completed 78 per cent of his dribbles and won 71 per cent of his aerial duels respectively.

Those are superb numbers that rank among the very best Premier League central defenders this season, but if Romero can’t stop hurting his team with the number of cards he receives, Spurs may well have to move on from him.

Tottenham have been truly awful in the Premier League again this season, and if their worst fears come true, it could leave them in real trouble.

So far this season, Thomas Frank has failed to impress, securing just 29 points in 25 matches. The Danes’ future is almost certainly up in the air.

However, the Lewis family has yet to pull the trigger on relieving the manager of his duties, as the odds of Frank’s potential successors continue to be slashed.

The results mean that Tottenham are in a relegation battle; that much is clear, as they are level with Leeds United and just six points above the drop zone.

And if that does happen, it could spell a big worry for the Lilywhites.

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Do Tottenham players have a relegation clause in their contracts?

Dropping down to the Championship would mean a major financial hit for the Londoners. The TV money alone in England’s second tier is far below what teams receive in the Premier League.

Spurs have been spending in the market like a top side in the league, even if the results are not showing it. That means large transfer fees, which, of course, bring big wages.

Often, teams that are expecting that the chance of going down is a possibility include a relegation clause that sees wages drop in order to combat the harsh financial realities that going down brings.

However, according to journalist Matt Law, these clauses are not thought to be included in the players’ contracts at N17.

As looks likely, if Spurs fail to qualify for Europe, that would see a drop in wages, as bonuses associated with that achievement would not be awarded.

However, it would not be enough to help quell the losses the club would face.

While many players would seek an exit away from Spurs in the event of relegation, it would not be a plausible or realistic expectation that the club could get rid of all of their high earners.

The overhaul would be massive and an extremely difficult task. It leaves the Lewis family in real trouble if the Lilywhites go down.

Who is most likely to leave Tottenham if relegated?

Cristian Romero has already been linked with a move away from North London, and with the Argentine being one of the club’s top earners, it would make sense for him to exit.

Additionally, James Maddison and Xavi Simons are both reported to have high wages, and with their qualities, they would never spend a season in the Championship.

Micky van de Ven is another who would attract interest, but in truth, most of Tottenham’s squad would likely be raided by Premier League and European rivals.

Not only would the financial hit be huge, but Spurs would also be faced with a huge rebuild, and that would further damage the books.

The Lilywhites could very well be doomed if they go down, but for now, nobody expects that.

Tottenham’s injury crisis continues to grow.

Destiny Udogie was forced off injured against Manchester United on Saturday, as he became the latest Tottenham player to suffer an injury blow.

Dejan Kulusevski was left out of Spurs’ Champions League squad for the knockout phases, showing that he’s likely still some way off being ready to play again.

Meanwhile, James Maddison underwent surgery on a ruptured ACL in his knee back in August last year, and isn’t expected to be back before the end of the season.

James Maddison reacts to Jack Grealish injury revelation

Spurs have really missed Maddison’s creativity and attacking production this season, with the 29-year-old scoring 12 goals and providing 10 assists in 45 games last term.

As such, it goes without saying that Thomas Frank could really do with the England international being available to him at the moment, as his team continue to struggle in the Premier League.

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Tottenham were beaten 2-0 by Man United last time out, in a game where Spurs only recorded seven shots, with just one of those being on target.

But, Tottenham aren’t the only team dealing with a crushing injury to a talismanic attacker, as Everton have received some devastating news of their own in that regard.

Posting to his Instagram account on Monday, Maddison’s England teammate Jack Grealish has revealed that he’s undergone surgery on a foot stress fracture, a procedure that will now end his season.

“Didn’t want the season to end like this, but that’s football, gutted. Surgery done and now all focus on getting back fit,” Grealish said.

“I know for sure I will come back fitter, stronger and better than before. The support I’ve had since coming to this unbelievable club has meant the world to me.

“I’ll be backing the lads all the way and doing everything I can to get back as soon as possible. Thank you again for all the love, it means so much.”

Stars from across the Premier League were among thousands to leave messages of support to Grealish, and Maddison was one of them, as he simply responded by sending three white heart emojis.

Xavi Simons is waiting to form partnership with Maddison

If there’s one Tottenham player who’s probably missing Maddison the most, it’s Xavi Simons.

The 22-year-old attacking midfielder is enjoying a solid debut season in N17, scoring twice and providing five assists in 30 total appearances so far after signing from RB Leipzig last summer.

However, there is a real consensus feeling among Spurs fans that the Dutchman could have considerably more goal involvements than that had if he been playing alongside Maddison this season.

The two could form one of the best attacking midfield partnerships in the Premier League, as other Spurs players in this department, such as Wilson Odobert, simply haven’t stepped up to replace Maddison this term.

With relegation becoming a growing fear, Frank needs his best players back very quickly.

Tottenham’s absentee list keeps on growing with Cristian Romero’s red card at Old Trafford not helping things.

The Lilywhites now turn to Newcastle on Tuesday after Thomas Frank’s side struggled against Man United last time out.

Spurs could be looking at a relegation battle if results do not start trending upwards, and Frank’s job at Tottenham is far from safe.

Eddie Howe’s side have also found themselves in poor form, having not won any of their last four Premier League games.

Now, ahead of the fixture, there are quite a few injury and suspension concerns for Tottenham and Newcastle.

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Injury latest ahead of Tottenham vs Newcastle

Tottenham are favourites to beat Newcastle, but looking at the injury blows to both sides, there would be little hope Spurs can snag a crucial win.

Frank has quite a crisis at the back, and his options are now even slimmer following Romero’s inexplicable sending off.

The manager will be hoping to turn things around, even though form has been extremely poor.

Ahead of Newcastle, Micky van de Ven and Radu Dragusin remain his only available centre-backs. Kevin Danso is still recovering from a toe injury.

Romero, of course, is serving a four-game ban.

Meanwhile at fullback, Pedro Porro, Ben Davies and Destiny Udogie are still ruled out, but Frank could see Djed Spence return after providing a positive update before facing Man United.

However, at the moment, the England star is 50/50 as to whether he is available.

In attack, Richarlison is nearing his return date, but Newcastle is too soon for the Brazilian, while Mohammed Kudus remains sidelined.

The opposition have concerns of their own, with Anthony Gordon and Joelinton among their possible absentees in North London.

In total, there are a staggering 18 players among both sides that could be sidelined on Tuesday.

Thomas Frank in his final swansong to save his Spurs job

While there is plenty of sympathy for Frank in England after seeing that extensive injury list, you have to feel that the Dane only has a few weeks or games to save his job.

In truth, the results over this season have not been good enough, and there have been no signs of that changing anytime soon.

The defeat against Manchester United was not a shock, and that simply says it all about the current situation.

Another loss, and this time to the hands of Newcastle, could well and truly be the final nail in the coffin ahead of a huge North London derby.

Gareth Bale was a fantastic player for Tottenham and still clearly has the club close to his heart.

The Welsh wizard joined the club from Southampton in 2007, and starred for Spurs before his move to Real Madrid in 2013.

Bale would return to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on loan for the 2020-21 term, scoring 11 times in 20 appearances, despite his best years being behind him.

Playing an integral role as Spurs solidified themselves as a consistent Champions League challenger, the Welshman is remembered fondly in North London.

The 36-year-old retired from professional football in 2023, after a spell with Los Angeles FC, and even in retirement, he has shown that he still has Tottenham in his heart.

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Gareth Bale gives message that Tottenham fans will love

A huge fan of golf throughout his career, Bale has been competing in The Icons Series – a tournament featuring professional athletes from various sports.

Alongside fellow former Premier League stars Aaron Ramsey, Robbie Fowler and more, Bale was asked to name his least favourite football club for the series’ TikTok account.

Instantly, the former Spurs man replied, saying: “Arsenal.”

Making his first appearance against the Gunners in 2007, Bale would score the opening goal as Spurs lost 3-1 at White Hart Lane.

The winger made 11 appearances against Arsenal in total, scoring five times.

Gareth Bale’s incredible Tottenham stats in full

Tottenham developed Gareth Bale into one of the world’s best players during his time in North London, and his value skyrocketed with every passing campaign in the early 2010s.

Spurs would part with around £10million to sign the then 17-year-old left-back in 2007, and he would continue to improve throughout his time at White Hart Lane, before he made the switch to the Bernabeu after scoring 21 times.

With lightning pace, fantastic physical attributes and a wand of a left foot, Bale was a cut above any other wideman in the Premier League before his big move.

He would go on to have a fantastic career away from Spurs – scoring in two Champions League finals, and playing a talismanic role for his country as they reached the semi-final stage of Euro 2016.

The Lewis family might be the most unpopular owners in the Premier League right now.

Joe Lewis has been under pressure to sell Tottenham, with fans furious at how the club has been run.

Thomas Frank is under intense scrutiny as Tottenham sit 15th in the Premier League, which is barely an improvement from last season’s 17th-placed finish under Ange Postecoglou.

Spurs supporters feel that ENIC haven’t recruited well in the last decade, and that has been reflected by a number of alarming stats.

Joe Lewis needs to take responsibility for alarming Premier League form

Tottenham’s 2-0 defeat to Man United at Old Trafford on Saturday was their 10th loss in the league this season, and it’s clear that there are no signs of progress under Frank.

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Spurs’ last 50 league matches have produced the club’s lowest 50-game points haul since 1913-15, with the run starting just before World War One.

While it is true Ange Postecoglou oversaw more than half those games, the Lewis Family cannot simply blame Frank alone.

Tottenham are also winless in their last 11 midweek Premier League games, their longest run in the competition’s history. Their last victory on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday was against Brentford in January 2024.

When looking at the recruitment in the winter transfer window, it’s safe to say that Frank needed a lot more, with Conor Gallagher’s arrival from Atletico Madrid being the only significant piece of business.

Technical director Johan Lange confirmed that Spurs were saving their money for the summer, which is completely ridiculous.

If they had spent more in the transfer market, this season would have been completely salvageable.

However, Tottenham’s hopes of qualifying for the Champions League next season are virtually over, and the focus is now on staying in the top flight.

Since winning four of their first five home Premier League matches in the 2024-25 season, Tottenham have won just four out of 26 games at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

They’ve picked up just 39 points during 2025, and it’s evident that nothing seems to be changing in 2026.

Lewis has made a number of costly errors, whether that be in recruiting staff or failing to spend money in a responsible way, and Spurs fans simply deserve better.

Is there any hope left for Thomas Frank?

Ultimately, the blame will lie with Frank.

There are hardly any signs that show why he is the right man to lead Spurs forward.

Xavi Simons and Dominic Solanke can develop a strong partnership in attack, and there is certainly enough quality in the final third.

However, the boring style of play has infuriated supporters throughout the campaign, and ENIC can’t allow the toxicity at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to continue much longer.

Frank’s current win percentage of 35.14 per cent is completely abysmal, and there is nothing that can legislate some of the shocking performances this season.

Since reaching the Champions League final in 2019, it has been a sorry state of affairs, and Frank must work miracles in order to avoid being yet another manager to fail in N17.