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Tottenham Hotspur youngster Will Lankshear has been sensational for Oxford United.

The 20-year-old was sent out on loan to the U’s last summer, and played an integral role as Matt Bloomfield’s side fought for survival.

That battle would eventually end in relegation to League One, though things could have been much worse had it not been for the loanee.

Notching 12 goals over the course of the season, Lankshear finished as the club’s top scorer by a fair margin, with Cameron Brannagan netting the second-highest tally of six.

Looking ahead to next season, the youngster simply has to be given a chance by Roberto De Zerbi, who will be looking to rebuild over the summer.

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Will Lankshear spearheaded Oxford charge

Following Oxford’s promotion to the Championship in 2024, they were able to punch above their weight and compete in the second tier for two years.

In a side battling at the bottom end of the table, the Tottenham loanee became talismanic throughout his spell.

Praising the England Under-20 man, Oxford boss Bloomfield told talkSPORT: “I’ve found him an absolute credit to his family, a credit to himself. A credit to his craft because he works so hard every day at his craft, his finishing, his hold-up play.

“If he can stay clear of injury and keep that focus that he has, I think he can go to the top because his finishing is top drawer. It’s his focus, his single-mindedness to be the best he possibly can be, that is so admirable. And I wish him every success.”

Having already scored his first Tottenham goal in a Europa League clash against Galatasaray, he has had a taste of a high level.

Moving forward, he has to be on the mind of De Zerbi as he looks to mould the club in his image.

Will Lankshear has left Tottenham with no choice

Lankshear is one of multiple youngsters arriving back at Hotspur Way this summer after successful loan spells.

Alongside his productive time with Oxford, both Mikey Moore and Luka Vuskovic have performed sensationally for Rangers and Hamburg respectively.

Though with the future of that pair in particular uncertain for the time being, it is much clearer with Lankshear – he must be part of the first-team squad.

It has been a dismal season for the Lilywhites, who find themselves in the middle of a tense relegation battle.

If the worst were to happen and Spurs were relegated, it would be a no-brainer that Lankshear leads the line next term.

Though, if De Zerbi does drag the club to safety, his integration into the first team is also a must. Not necessarily as a regular stater, but as a bench player and an option to start every now and then.

Should safety be secured, Tottenham are in need of a complete rebuild, and Lankshear is part of a core young group ready to begin stepping up as they do exactly that.

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Roberto De Zerbi must build his Tottenham Hotspur side around Conor Gallagher after the 2-1 win over Aston Villa.

Gallagher was signed in January in a £34million deal but has yet to really show how good he can be in a Spurs shirt.

However, that changed against the Villans as he helped the Lilywhites to a vital three points at Villa Park on 3 May.

He opened the scoring with a fantastic drive from range and was a general thorn in the Villans’ side all evening.

Gallagher proved that he has the mettle to star for Spurs and help them avoid relegation.

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What was said about Conor Gallagher in Tottenham win vs Villa?

Gallagher has had a miserable time at Tottenham so far, but the perception may change after the scenes against Villa.

TNT Sports commentator Lucy Ward was stunned by one specific aspect of the former Atletico Madrid man’s play, his pressing abilities after a lunge on Youri Tielemans where he nearly snatched the ball.

Speaking on the platform on 3 May (19:30 pm), she said: “I tell you what, Gallagher, absolutely elite out of possession, he knows where to go, he knows where to track.

“Because he has his mates either side of him, he knows that if the ball goes past, probably a little too much there, from where the referee is stood but it’s great pressing.”

How Gallagher can be central to De Zerbi’s plans

Gallagher has been far from elite for Spurs recently, but the victory provides him with a springboard to push on and reach that level.

According to data from Fotmob, he completed 85 per cent of his passes, and scored with his only shot in the game.

The ex-Chelsea man made one pass into the final third and had one touch in the opposition box, as he tried to assert his influence on proceedings.

Defensively, he made six recoveries, three tackles, one block and one interception, and was dribbled past just once.

He also won four of the seven ground duels that he attempted, for a 57 per cent success rate.

Ward is right, his pressing game is elite, and if he can keep up the showing from the Villa game, then De Zerbi will have no choice to make him a key part of his plans moving forward.

It will be a huge relief for the Lilywhites if he can do that, and finally show that it was the right decision to spend so much money on him.

He may finally have given his manager the blueprint on how to get the best of him, now the Italian must use it.

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Alan Shearer has reacted to Tottenham Hotspur’s 2-1 win against Aston Villa as the Lilywhites moved out of the relegation zone.

It was a crucial win in the dogfight at the bottom of the table, with the pressure now put back onto West Ham ahead of the next set of fixtures.

Roberto De Zerbi’s side looked much better at Villa Park and had the desire to go out and win that football match.

While Spurs may have been helped by Villa’s rotation, nothing can take away from the effort that was shown on Sunday night.

In Tottenham’s win against Aston Villa, the change of determination was evident in the eyes of Alan Shearer.

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What did Alan Shearer say about Tottenham’s performance against Aston Villa?

Tottenham have picked up back-to-back wins in the Premier League this season for the first time since the opening two matches of the season.

The Lilywhites knew they had it all to do to climb out of the relegation zone, and De Zerbi’s side turned up in a big way.

Speaking on Match of the Day, Shearer pointed out what was different for Spurs, stating: “They don’t win the first header, but they win that second ball.

“That was a constant right throughout the game, and that gave them the platform to go and play and to create chances.

“Again, look how many men they’ve got in forward positions. They were brave, they were aggressive, and they were absolutely outstanding and deserved to win that game.”

Shearer is spot on. Tottenham showed up to win that game of football, and that was clear in their intentions from the very first whistle.

In truth it was a breath of fresh air from the Spurs teams we have seen over the course of this season. Against Aston Villa, Tottenham held more possession at 55 per cent as per Sofascore.

Spurs completed more tackles (23) than Aston Villa (19) throughout the game. Tottenham also made more interceptions (10) than Emery’s side (5).

Additionally, that agression and determination Shearer speaks of is clear in the fact that the N17 outfit won a higher percentage of duels (51 per cent) than the Birmingham-based club (49 per cent), even if the margins are slim.

Roberto De Zerbi deserves credit for Tottenham’s turnaround so far

Two wins in a row is quite the turnaround for Tottenham this season, and manager De Zerbi deserves the credit for doing so in his short reign so far.

The Italian had the Lilywhites playing with an intent that has often been lacking this season, and none of the Tottenham players were hiding.

Since being named Tottenham manager, De Zerbi has won 58 per cent of the total points available. If Spurs keep up at that rate, they will finish the campaign on 42 points.

It means West Ham would have to at minimum win two of their final three and get a result in the other, with Tottenham having the superior goal difference as it stands.

Tottenham face Leeds United on 11 May, with the Elland Road outfit not mathematically safe from relegation yet.

It is poised to be yet another must-win tie, but each game left this season already is.

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Tottenham Hotspur beat Aston Villa 2-1 for a crucial three points on Sunday.

Conor Gallagher and Richarlison struck in the first-half, which was enough to make Emi Buendia’s late goal meaningless.

The result means that spurs climb out the relegation zone at the expense of West Ham, with just three matches left to play.

Roberto De Zerbi looks as though he will lead the Lilywhites out of the relegation and to Premier League safety if he can continue to get results.

Tottenham fans will be jubilant, but here is three things that they may have missed when watching the contest.

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Roberto De Zerbi still nervous despite comfortable Tottenham lead

De Zerbi knows that he still has a lot of work to do to keep Tottenham up, so his celebrations were initially reluctant.

Journalist Tom Barclay said: “And they have done, 2-0, Richarlison. Barely a flicker of celebration from De Zerbi.”

He later spotted the Spurs boss releasing his emotion and celebrating the header from the Brazilian forward, saying: “Scratch, that just saw the RDZ celebration, he looked pretty pumped!”

That shows that the Italian knows exactly how hard it will be to keep his side in division, which can only be a positive thing as he will not allow the side to slack.

Conor Gallagher gets full appreciation from Tottenham fans

Conor Gallagher has not had the finest of times since joining Tottenham, but supporters were in full appreciation in the Midlands.

The Englishman scored the opening goal and was a general nuisance for Unai Emery’s side and the fans recognised his showing.

Barclay noticed them signing about him more than once during the first-half of the contest, saying: “That’s twice now Conor Gallagher has had his name sung by the travelling fans, which tells you how well it’s going for Spurs so far today.”

Hopefully, he can now kick on and become a key player in De Zerbi’s plans for the foreseeable future.

Unai Emery stunned by Tottenham showing

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery is normally one of the most animated figures in the top-flight but that was not the case against the Lilywhites.

The Athletic’s Aston Villa correspondent Jacob Tanswell compared the Villans’ boss and his staff to statues in the late stages, as they struggled to break the N17 outfit down.

The manager had his hands in his pockets and substitutes were not warming up, according to the journalist.

He said: “The usual animated touchline – Emery kicking every ball, subs warming up – have seen them all turn into statues. Subs not moving, hands on hips, Emery with hands in pockets.”

It sounds like a rather strange sight, with the usually lively manager stunned by the way Spurs had performed in the contest.

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Tottenham Hotspur secured a vital three points as they brushed Aston Villa aside with a 2-1 win on Sunday.

Roberto De Zerbi‘s side took the lead through Conor Gallagher before Richarlison doubled the lead to ease relegation woes massively, with Emi Buendia notching a late consolation for the hosts.

The Villa Park scoreline on 3 May lifted Spurs out of the relegation zone by a single point, with West Ham dropping below them.

It was a huge relief for the Lilywhites as their position would have looked very precarious had they not beaten a heavily rotated Villans side.

Tottenham will hope to push on and put some distance between them and the Hammers in the next few weeks.

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Rodrigo Bentancur excels again in Tottenham win

Rodrigo Bentancur has been brilliant since his reintroduction to the Tottenham side and that continued in the contest.

He shone again, completing 98 per cent of his passes and made one pass into the final third, according to data from Fotmob.

The Uruguayan had 56 touches and was dispossessed zero times, showing that he is extremely comfortable on the ball.

Meanwhile, when his side did not have it, he made two tackles, two interceptions and three recoveries to help his side out.

In terms of duels, he won four of six on the ground and failed with his only aerial duel, in a brilliant showing for De Zerbi’s side.

His remergence after his injury could be the difference between Spurs staying in the top-flight and going down, that is how good he has been.

Randal Kolo Muani proves he can make a difference

Randal Kolo Muani has been subject to much criticism this season, but he was fantastic against the Villans.

The Spurs attacker took five touches in the opposition box, and completed both of his two crossing attempts in the contest.

He was a constant menance, completing four of his six dribbles and having two shots, with one being on target.

The Frenchman contributed defensively too, making two tackles and four recoveries and he showed that he is up the fight.

He won nine of the 12 ground duels that he contested and one of the two aerial battles that he had, proving that it was the right decision to start him.

If he had more time he may well have forced the N17 outfit into signing him permanently but that does not look likely at the moment.

How Tottenham players rated vs Aston Villa

Antonin Kinsky – 6

Pedro Porro – 6

Kevin Danso – 7

Micky van de Ven – 7

Destiny Udogie – 6

Joao Palhinha – 6

Rodrigo Bentancur – 9 (off for Bissouma, 66)

Conor Gallagher – 7

Randal Kolo Muani – 8 (off for Spence, 66)

Mathys Tel – 6 (off for Bergvall, 90)

Richarlison – 7 (off for Sarr, 90)

Substitutes:

Yves Bissouma – 5

Djed Spence – 5

Pape Sarr – N/A

Lucas Bergvall – N/A

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Tottenham Hotspur’s decision to hire Igor Tudor has been criticised by Stephen Warnock.

The former defender recently labelled the appointment as a mistake, suggesting that Spurs would not be in the position they are had Roberto De Zerbi been the man to replace Thomas Frank back in February.

It has been a dismal season for the Lilywhites, who are in serious danger of relegation if they do not continue to pick up points.

De Zerbi would win for the first time at the helm last Saturday, as his side beat Wolves 1-0 at Molineux, though the North London club remain bang in trouble.

And while the decision to appoint Tudor is an obvious error, Warnock is only halfway there in his verdict, with the major managerial blunder made last summer.

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Thomas Frank appointment is the big problem for Tottenham

Just under a year ago, Tottenham’s trophy drought finally ended as they lifted the Europa League under the guidance of Ange Postecoglou.

The Australian would soon lose his job after a disappointing 17th-place finish, and while it was deemed as the correct decision at the time, the move for Brentford boss Frank turned out to be disastrous.

Losing 15 matches in charge, the Dane would lose his job in February with Tottenham slipping ever closer towards danger – something that was not resurrected by the incoming Tudor, who lasted just seven matches.

Guiding Brentford to the Premier League and having the Bees punch above their weight, Frank had gained a reputation as an adaptable coach who gets the best out of the profiles in his squad.

Though this was far from the case at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with a squad used to playing front-footed football now often looking like the underdogs, no matter the opponent.

Across his spell, Spurs had a higher xG than their opponents in just 15 matches, while 52 per cent of the total xG of 44.35 came in matches against Doncaster, Premier League sides in the drop zone, or newly promoted sides.

Tottenham squad did not suit Frank

As has been the case for many years in North London, the mismanagement of the club saw a manager arrive who was just simply not able to get the best out of those at his disposal.

A squad put together for the fast-paced football of Postecoglou was not going into games looking to play a much more defensive style, while the attackers had little to no freedom.

And even as Spurs looked to become more solid under Frank, this just simply didn’t happen, with the expected goals against tally sitting at 1.45 per 90 – slightly better than the 1.69 recorded under Postecoglou, but it must be considered that the Dane had his entire defence fit and ready, unlike his predecessor.

However, all this does once again is point in the direction of more haphazard management at the club.

Since Mauricio Pochettino’s 2019 departure, Spurs have changed ideologies with each and every appointment.

All of Jose Mourinho, Nuno Espirito Santo, Antonio Conte, Postecoglou and Frank since all look to deploy incredibly different styles of play – resulting in a squad stuck between multiple styles, while being a master of none.

Warnock is right in the sense that De Zerbi could have dragged Tottenham out of this mess earlier, but the problems of the term go back to last summer – as has been the case for too long at the club.

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It was never going to be easy, but even by Tottenham Hotspur‘s standards, this is absurd.

Of course, they really only have themselves to blame for their current predicament, which sees them two points adrift of Premier League safety with just four matches to go. However, they still have every right to let their heads drop for good after a wave of tragic luck.

Injuries to crucial players and misfortune during matches, largely born from the squad’s brittle confidence, have left them on the brink of oblivion. Even when they finished 17th last season, they never looked like being relegated. This time feels dangerously different.

Will they be able to get the points to stave off the Championship? Really, they would need at least another win to have any chance of keeping their dreams alive, but this has proven near-impossible throughout the campaign, having picked up only eight in the league since August.

On Sunday, Spurs travel to Aston Villa in search of a result that could reignite their fading hopes. They have no choice but to capitalise on West Ham’s 3-0 defeat by Brentford, and will be aiming to secure back-to-back top-flight wins since the opening eight days of the season.

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Stats stacked firmly against Tottenham

The 1-0 triumph at already-relegated Wolves last time out showed it can be done. That result would have reminded the dressing room of the sweet sensation success can bring, and also united them around Roberto De Zerbi, who has worked so hard to lift their spirits.

Eeking out all three points at Molineux saw their 16-game domestic winless run finally come to an end. Now, it must act as a springboard for the daunting trip to Villa.

There is no more room for error. With the finish line no longer a distant dot on the horizon, West Ham tripped up, going down meekly at the Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday. That left the door open for Spurs, who have often conspired to walk straight into it.

The Hammers had threatened to pull away, having picked up 11 points from their previous six matches before falling flat on their face against Brentford. In comparison, Spurs have picked up five from their last six. That shows why they are in such deep trouble.

Still, they will be thanking Nuno Espirito Santo. West Ham’s setback put Tottenham’s fate back into their own hands, starting with the showdown at Villa Park. That much has been represented in Opta Analyst‘s latest supercomputer predictions, with Spurs’ odds shifting.

Tottenham now have a 50.07 per cent chance of being relegated, a notable fall from the 60.22 per cent prior to Saturday’s matches. In comparison, West Ham’s chances have increased from 36.84 per cent to 48.84 per cent.

Who goes down will be decided by a coin toss.

Spurs are wounded, but they’re not out just yet. De Zerbi has made it very clear that he has no time for players feeling sorry for themselves. After the 2-2 draw with Brighton, he had declared anyone who reported for training without a smile would be sent back home.

His job has been made even harder by a series of obstacles, the lengthy list of absentees perhaps being the primary one. James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski have been restricted to a watching brief, while Xavi Simons has ruptured his ACL.

It is truly alarming that of all Spurs’ first-team players who have been at the club for the entirety of the campaign, only Mathys Tel has not missed a game through injury. That has seen the medical staff come under fire in recent weeks, particularly after Simons’ setback.

Last season, Spurs finished 17th under Ange Postecoglou with 38 points. Then, a record-low points total of 26 was all that was required to beat the drop. This time around, Tottenham will likely need just shy of 40 to get over the line – meaning they require at least another win.

That, of course, is easier said than done.

Gloomy pre-Villa omens for Spurs

According to Opta, Spurs have just a 19.1 per cent chance of beating Villa on Sunday, in comparison to the home side’s 59.9 per cent chance. A draw is estimated at 21 per cent.

It has been an unhappy hunting ground for clubs this season, but it will fall to Tottenham to find a way to grind out maximum points. Anything less, and the odds will truly be stacked against them. A defeat could well prove the straw that breaks the camel’s back.

Ollie Watkins will certainly be counting on it, having scored goals in three previous top-flight fixtures against teams managed by De Zerbi. In September 2023, the striker bagged a hat-trick against Brighton. How the Italian will be desperately praying to avoid a repeat.

De Zerbi had set a target of winning all five of Spurs’ remaining fixtures. One down, four to go. He is staring directly in the face of history, though. No team in the relegation zone with five games remaining has ever gone on to win them all.

That encapsulates the bizarre situation they now find themselves in.

Tottenham are hoping to make history on one front while also looking to avoid being relegated for the first time since the 1970s. Dropping into the Championship doesn’t bear thinking about, but it’s now lurking menacingly in the wing mirrors.

That arguably makes the trip to Villa a make-or-break.

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Tottenham face up to ‘painful truth’ as fire sale scenario laid out for Premier League relegation

Tottenham Hotspur are in for a turbulent summer transfer window if they are relegated from the Premier League.

A drop into the Championship is looking like a realistic possibility at this stage as the Lilywhites occupy 18th spot with four games to go.

West Ham are their only true opposition right now, with Spurs two points behind them with a game in hand after the Hammers’ 3-0 defeat against Brentford on Saturday.

Things are certainly far from ideal for Spurs right now, although they may only get worse if Roberto De Zerbi doesn’t turn the ship around.

Tottenham could face massive financial repercussions if they do fall into the second tier, a reality which is becoming more of a concern day after day.

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Tottenham face fire sale if Premier League relegation happens

There is no hiding from how catastrophic this campaign could prove to be if the worst possible thing happens.

There has been little positive to say about the N17 outfit this season and there is no true reason why they won’t get relegated at this stage.

That eventuality would result in major issues on and off the pitch for Spurs moving into at least a year in the Championship.

A report from finance expert ‘The Esk’, real name Paul Quinn, has suggested that relegation could force Tottenham to sell their best players in order to meet Championship Profit and Sustainability Rules.

In what they describe as “the strategically painful truth” is that their most sellable assets represent the squad’s spine.

That could see the main players depart at a time when they are needed to maintain stability when staging a promotion effort at the first attempt.

Their top-10 most valuable assets come in at a gross value of £395–500million, leaving them with a potential profit of £180-245m if a firesale was pushed through.

That sums up how bad things could be for Tottenham if they are relegated, but it looks like it will only get worse away from the pitch.

Revenue to drop by over £200m if Tottenham are relegated

Selling key players would certainly be a blow, but it certainly wouldn’t come as a surprise to many.

It would actually be a necessary evil given how hard revenue streams will be hit as soon as relegation is sealed.

Tottenham’s current revenue totals at a figure in the region of £565m, with over £320m coming from TV and sponsorship deals alone.

According to The Esk, that would come crashing down to a figure between £320-360m, marking a decrease of £205-245m for the Lilywhites.

TV revenue and sponsor fees would reportedly drop by nearly £150m combined, and that’s just year one of being in the Championship.

Things would only get worse the longer the North Londoners remain in the second tier.

The likes of Leeds United, Coventry City and Nottingham Forest have proven it is possible to get stuck down there and require total revamps to turn things around.

Tottenham simply can’t afford to be relegated, but there is limited time remaining to stop it happening.

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Tottenham Hotspur will have to make assurances if they want to sign Curtis Jones from Liverpool.

The Lilywhites aren’t waiting around to see where their future lies as they look ahead to the summer transfer window.

Various targets have emerged already, but everything will hinge on which division Spurs will play their football in next season.

The Liverpool midfielder has been linked with a move to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with an Anfield departure now entirely possible.

A deal could be massively impacted by whether Tottenham can persuade Jones to agree to a North London switch ahead of other potential destinations.

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Inter Milan join Curtis Jones transfer race

The Englishman has been a bit-part player for the Reds this season as Arne Slot continues to utilise other options ahead of him.

That has been a similar story for the 25-year-old throughout his career at Anfield, but that hasn’t stopped him from winning trophy after trophy on Merseyside.

It feels now as if he’s reached the end of the road in L4, as a summer move continues to be discussed ahead of the summer.

Spurs have emerged as a potential destination, although fresh competition in the shape of Inter Milan has emerged.

Alan Nixon reported via his Patreon on Sunday that the Serie A outfit are trying to persuade the midfielder with the prospect of being a regular starter at San Siro.

That leaves the North London club with a decision: If Tottenham want to sign Jones from Liverpool, he must come in as a guaranteed starter.

Tottenham hampered in efforts to sign Jones from Liverpool

It does feel as if the Anfield academy product could provide the Lilywhites with a winning mentality they’ve been missing.

The problem will arise in negotiations.

Spurs have already been bitten in their move for Conor Gallagher and need to learn from that, moving into the summer window.

Offering big wages and guaranteed minutes is a recipe for disaster and is unlikely to help turn the tide if they avoid relegation from the Premier League.

If Inter Milan can offer starting football every week and Jones is eager to move to Italy, it may be better for Tottenham to sit this one out.

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Tottenham Hotspur will have more hope about their chances to beat Aston Villa, with Unai Emery confirming Amadou Onana is ruled out.

The Lilywhites have been hit with plenty of injury issues of their own, making their task of staying in the Premier League all the more difficult this season.

Roberto De Zerbi’s side must win against the Birmingham-based club, but they will already know that.

The N17 outfit have not had much luck against Villa in recent times, losing the last four matches in all competitions.

However, while injuries may have hit Tottenham ahead of playing Aston Villa, the opposition could now feel the effects.

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Why Amadou Onana’s injury is a bigger boost for Tottenham than fans might think

Onana is a key player for Aston Villa, and while fans will already know that his unavailability is a positive for Spurs, it may be more of a boost than originally imagined.

The Belgian midfielder has played just 24 times for the Villans this season, missing 10 games through injury or simply being left on the bench.

Over those 10 games, Emery’s side have just a 30 per cent win rate. Their record stands at three wins, three draws and four losses.

Additionally, it hands them a points-per-game of just 1.2, whereas without the Belgian that stands at 1.88 with him on the side.

Onana has also maintained a strong 64 per cent duel success rate this season and recovered the ball three times per match as per Sofascore.

This leaves the battle in the middle of the pitch certainly open for someone other than the Villa man to dominate.

So, Tottenham have been handed yet another reason to go and try to win this game, with Villa clearly weaker without the 24-year-old.

Tottenham must take advantage of West Ham’s defeat.

Spurs have been handed a monumental opportunity in the relegation battle, with West Ham failing to beat Brentford.

Tottenham could now climb out of the relegation zone if they beat the Villans this weekend, but they simply have to increase their points per game.

De Zerbi so far is only averaging a total of one point-per-game, but that is a small sample size.

A win against a side such as Emery’s Aston Villa would be a huge statement in the relegation battle this season, but the supercomputer is not in Tottenham’s favour.

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