TBR Football

Both Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United are now in very similar situations in that their whole season will be decided by one game.

Tottenham and Man United currently occupy 17th and 16th spots in the Premier League respectively, a dismal performance for both sides.

In another season with a more competitive side in the bottom three, both Ange Postecoglou and Ruben Amorim might still be locked in a relegation fight with one game to go.

Of course, Spurs and United have both been playing weakened sides whilst prioritising their Europa League games of late, but they’ve often been losing regardless of personnel.

But following Wednesday evening’s tie in Bilbao, one of the two will qualify for next season’s Champions League — a huge opportunity to salvage their seasons.

Bruno Fernandes has given his thoughts on Tottenham ahead of the final, but it remains to be seen which Spurs side show up on the night.

Alan Shearer and Gary Lineker give Europa League final predictions

That being said, all of Alan Shearer, Gary Lineker and Micah Richards gave their predictions for the final on ‘The Rest Is Football’ podcast.

Shearer and Lineker boldly opted for Tottenham to end their trophy drought, however, Richards had other ideas — and the pundit actually tipped Casemiro to play the deciding role.

Starting their predictions, Shearer said: “My prediction is going to be 2-2 or 3-3 after extra time and Spurs to win on penalties.

Lineker then replied: “Oh, he’s gone full on there, sounds like a World Cup final. I’m going to have to go for Spurs, I couldn’t not.

Shearer: “After 90 minutes?”

Lineker: “Well, I’ve got this feeling that it’s the teams that have not won for ages this year.

“And I think they’re going to, I don’t know about 90 minutes or, I think it could easily go to extra time.”

Adding his own shout, Richards said: “I’m going to say, I think a lot of people have laughed off Casemiro or laughed at him for a while now.

“But I think in these competitions, sometimes it goes down to set pieces. So I’m going to say Bruno assist for a Casemiro goal, one nil.”

Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham future

Of course, if Tottenham lose on Wednesday then it could prove to be Postecoglou’s penultimate game in charge.

Tottenham are searching for new managers and Daniel Levy has seemingly lost patience with performances under Postecoglou.

Spurs’ chairman seemed sympathetic towards his manager during the club’s injury crisis — he acknowledged that Postecoglou was doing his best in difficult circumstances.

However, things haven’t improved in the league since players have returned and Levy could sack Postecoglou regardless of Wednesday’s outcome too.

And whilst clubs are looking at Ruben Amorim right now, it doesn’t seem as if United have any plans to part ways with their new manager, who they will hope is only just getting started.

Wednesday’s Europa League final could be a game-changing moment for Tottenham Hotspur.

There is so much riding on the European final between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United, with both a trophy and Champions League qualification up for grabs.

The North London club will be desperate for the trophy, but in gearing up for next season, having Champions League football on offer could revolutionise their summer transfer plans.

Ahead of the mammoth Europa League final between the two Premier League giants, Ange Postecoglou’s team have been told their chances of landing a Premier League superstar could skyrocket if they were to win.

Darren Ambrose thinks Jack Grealish would fit in at Tottenham

Darren Ambrose has backed Jack Grealish to fit in at Tottenham Hotspur if the North London club can win the Europa League and have European football to offer him.

The former Crystal Palace midfielder believes that Aston Villa would also be in the race to bring him back to the Midlands, with Unai Emery’s side in contention to finish in the top five.

TBR Football has previously reported that Villa and Tottenham are keen on Grealish and the 29-year-old would be open to leaving Man City in the summer.

Ambrose told Stadium Astro: “Look, I think he definitely has some admirers, he’ll definitely fit in a lot of teams. Aston Villa, he would definitely fit in.

“At Spurs he would fit in, but that depends on what happens on Wednesday, he’s not going to go with no European football. He needs a manager who can release the shackles and let him do what he can do.”

How many games has Jack Grealish played this season for Man City?

Grealish has once again seen his game time significantly reduced having played a total of just 1,520 minutes across the season.

Just seven starts and 15 appearances in the Premier League means that City may have to take a big hit on the £100m they paid to sign Grealish back in 2022.

The winger has also managed just three goals and five assists in total this season meaning any move away from the Etihad would likely need to be on reduced terms.

Tottenham and Manchester United have both had horrid seasons in the league, with the clubs currently sitting 17th and 16th in the table respectively.

Ange Postecoglou has made a new Spurs record with 21 defeats, the most by any manager in a single Premier League season. Man United on the other hand have lost 18 games, the most they have in the league ever.

Despite the struggles domestically, both clubs have done surprisingly well in Europe, having reached the Europa League final.

The match holds a huge significance for both Spurs and United. It is their final chance to salvage their season, as a win would not only win them a trophy but also guarantee a place in next season’s Champions League.

Former Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has now made his prediction about the final.

Harry Redknapp backs Tottenham to beat Manchester United

The two teams are set to go head-to-head in the final which will take place in Bilbao on the 21st of May.

Ruben Amorim is convinced Spurs will not change the way they play, which makes them predictable, giving United an edge going into the game.

However, Ange Postecoglou’s side have not had a problem beating Manchester United this season, having got the better of them thrice.

They beat them 3-0 at Old Trafford at the start of the season and then beat them again 1-0 at home back in February. They also knocked United out of the League Cup, beating them 4-3 in a seven-goal thriller.

And Redknapp has now backed them to beat them again. Writing in his column for The Sun, he stated: “I fancy Tottenham to beat Manchester United in the Europa League final — because they have got a much better squad.”

Harry Redknapp wants Ange Postecoglou to stay at Tottenham

Postecoglou’s future at the club remains uncertain following the poor season domestically.

And the club is almost certain to sack him if they fail to win the Europa League. However, there remains a chance that Daniel Levy decides to stick with him if he delivers the club’s first trophy in 17 years.

Redknapp certainly feels that the club will keep the Australian, however, he has urged Ange not to walk away from the club after winning the trophy. He added: “If Spurs do win, I think they might keep Ange Postecoglou . . . and he’d be silly to walk away.

“Even though some people think that he will because he has had enough. You can see a difference in him but that comes with losing. When you’re winning, you can have a laugh and a joke.

“Now you can see an edge to him because he’s being asked questions about his future and he’s getting beat week in, week out.

“It’s going to change his persona. That’s for sure. I didn’t really have a bad time like that at Spurs. So I understand how Ange feels…

“If they won this competition, and could add a couple of good players, they could have a really good season. Ange just needs to survive to have the chance to work with that team again. And I think he’d probably survive if he wins the final.”

Regardless of whether Ange Postecoglou is in charge next season, Tottenham Hotspur will have already begun planning for the summer ahead.

Tottenham have come up short domestically to say the least and have already lost 21 times in the Premier League with one game to go.

Spurs face Brighton & Hove Albion next Sunday, but that’s a game that’s barely been given any attention given the one that comes four days prior.

Tottenham will of course face Manchester United in the Europa League final in Spain, a match which will define both clubs’ seasons.

Bruno Fernandes has spoken about Tottenham and offered his honest thoughts on Postecoglou’s struggling side, and Wednesday’s fixture is already shaping up to be a classic.

James McAtee left out of FA Cup final

That being said, something that happened prior to a ball being kicked in Saturday’s FA Cup final in England might be of real interest to Spurs.

In lieu of trying to improve their squad for next season, Tottenham are interested in James McAtee at Manchester City.

McAtee will have just one year left on his City contract in the summer and there’s currently no indication that he will sign a new deal.

Spurs have made a habit of capitalising on these situations in the past — a similar predicament helped them sign Brennan Johnson from Nottingham Forest for example.

And despite playing an important role in City’s run to the FA Cup final, McAtee was left out of Pep Guardiola’s squad for the final.

The 22-year-old was fully fit and it was merely a technical decision — one that can’t have gone down well with the player’s camp.

It won’t have been lost on McAtee’s suitors that he was snubbed for the final, something which might even help negotiate down the midfielder’s £30m price tag.

Daniel Levy has contract issues to sort at Tottenham

Guardiola’s squad is in need of a slight revamp, as evidenced by their 1-0 defeat to Palace at Wembley.

And perhaps Tottenham could perfectly time a cut-price move for McAtee, who’s certainly proven his quality this season.

Of course, Spurs do have one or two situations of their own to sort — Daniel Levy also has important players on dwindling contracts.

TBR Football understands that there is a strong possibility that Son Heung-min will remain at Tottenham Hotspur next season, although his future will most likely depend on the next manager.

The South Korean is bidding to win his first trophy with Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday as they face Manchester United in the Europa League final.

The 32-year-old has now been at the North London club for ten years and his loyalty could be about to be rewarded with a European trophy. Son just watched Harry Kane end his trophy wait and now he will be hoping for a similar moment in Bilbao.

Son could exit on a remarkable high, however, there is a strong possibility that the club captain could give them one final season.

Son Heung-min could give Tottenham one final season

Despite not offering him a new contract and interest from the Saudi Pro League, Son Heung-min could yet stay for one more season at Tottenham, sources have told TBR Football chief correspondent Graeme Bailey.

The South Korean international signed a one-year extension at Tottenham back in January, but the forward’s future in North London has remained unclear since then.

But with Ange Postecoglou’s future at Tottenham in doubt, the next manager may decide to change the club’s plans and part ways with the captain.

Bailey said: “I’m told Son could remain at Spurs beyond this summer and as we know, it’s totally dependent on the manager.

“That’s why you’re not really seeing many links abroad, because I think it’s still possible that he has a future at Spurs. Obviously, but that is very dependent on who takes over, as they are expecting Postecoglou to go.”

Son has been linked with a move to Saudi and the Pro League remains in contact with the player’s representatives about a potential summer move.

“The one thing with Son is that the Saudi Pro League are in touch with him and his camp for a summer signing,” added Bailey.

“There is a possibility of him going, but equally there’s the prospect of him staying as well. I know some Tottenham fans probably think he’s going to go for definite, but it isn’t definite.

“Daniel Levy does love him as a person and as a player, despite the fact that he hasn’t offered him that new deal. That’s just football, so that is an interesting one to keep an eye on.”

Son Heung-min is one of Tottenham Hotspur’s most experienced players.

The South Korean is closing in on 10 years at the club, and he has worked with a number of exceptional players over the years.

From clinical finishers like Harry Kane to strong players like Mousa Dembele, Son has seen it all and is a great judge.

Now, the Tottenham captain has revealed a few details about some of his current teammates.

Son Heung-min says Djed Spence is Tottenham’s strongest player

Tottenham signed Djed Spence from Middlesbrough in a £20 million deal in the summer of 2022 (BBC).

The Englishman was viewed as a terrific talent at the time, and Spurs beat several other English clubs for his signature.

However, immediately after Spence signed, Antonio Conte publicly called him a club signing and refused to give him too many opportunities.

Ange Postecoglou didn’t really fancy Spence either and was ready to sell him last summer.

Spence couldn’t get a move then, so he stayed at Tottenham, and that proved to be the best decision of his career so far.

The defender got his opportunity at Spurs after injuries to key players this season, and he has more than made his mark under Postecoglou.

Spence has earned the respect of his teammates too – even his skipper, Son Heung-min.

In a video on the Europa League’s official TikTok account, Son was asked to name the ‘strongest’ Tottenham player.

He replied: “Spence!”

What Son said about some of his other Tottenham teammates

Spence being the strongest Tottenham player is a bit of a surprise. We would’ve guessed that Kevin Danso is way stronger, but Son definitely knows more than us.

The South Korean shared his thoughts about some of his other teammates as well:

Tottenham’s struggling Premier League campaign continued, as they were beaten 2-0 by Aston Villa in their latest outing.

With just one win, two draws, and seven losses in their last 10 league fixtures, Tottenham are enduring their worst season in years, which sees them sit 17th in the table.

Their focus now shifts to the Europa League final, where victory would end their trophy drought and secure a Champions League spot.

Behind the scenes, summer plans are underway. A big summer is expected with several players expected to leave. Among them is Cristian Romero who remains linked with Atletico Madrid.

If he leaves, Spurs may turn to the market for a replacement, though they already have Luka Vuskovic, the promising young centre-back signed two years ago.

Luka Vuskovic opens up on his future at Tottenham

Vuskovic has confirmed that Tottenham want him to join the squad for pre-season this summer.

The Croatian wonderkid understands that regular playing time may be limited at the North London club at the moment, but he remains open to the idea of another loan spell to develop further.

Speaking to Nova TV, Vuskovic stated: “Right now, I don’t know anything yet. They told me to finish this season calmly and as well as I can, and then we’ll talk. But they did say they’d like to have me at the pre-season with them.

“If they want me to stay, I’ll stay, but I don’t think I’d get many chances because the club has top defenders, and maybe it would be smarter to go on loan for another season.”

Luka Vuskovic has impressed since joining Tottenham

Vuskovic is officially set to join Spurs this summer, two years after the club agreed a deal for him for around £12 million.

Since then, the 18-year-old has emerged as one of Europe’s most promising young defenders with his impressive performances.

Vuskovic, who has been likened to Gvardiol, is currently on loan at Westerlo, where he’s had an impressive season, scoring seven goals and providing three assists in 35 appearances from the heart of the defence.

Vuskovic has already achieved a lot for his age, breaking records with Hajduk in the Croatian league and UEFA Youth League, becoming the youngest player to debut and score for the club.

His loan spells in Poland and Belgium have further honed his ability at the senior level.

For Tottenham, integrating Vuskovic could be a key step in building a new defensive core, especially with Romero’s future uncertain and the squad in transition.

Mikey Moore is one of Tottenham Hotspur’s brightest young talents.

The attacker, still only 17, is highly regarded behind the scenes at Spurs, and many view him as a superstar in the making.

In 2024, Ange Postecoglou gave Moore his debut in the Premier League, and he became Spurs’ youngest player in the history of the competition.

Now, the North Londoners have made a firm decision about his future.

There will be a lot of changes at Tottenham this summer.

The likes of Richarlison and Cristian Romero could leave Spurs for opportunities elsewhere, while Postecoglou is expected to be sacked even if he wins the Europa League.

Amid all that, Sky Sports Germany journalist Florian Plettenberg revealed that Borussia Dortmund are keen to sign Moore this summer.

The 17-year-old will have just two years left on his contract in July, and the Bundesliga giants are interested in luring him away.

Tottenham, however, have no interest in letting Moore go.

GiveMeSport have claimed that ‘Postecoglou and influential figures behind the scenes have decided they will not entertain the possibility of selling’ the teenager this summer.

It has been claimed that ‘there’s no way’ Moore will be allowed to leave, and Spurs are even planning to offer him a new deal to keep him at the club.

Furthermore, the report says that Tottenham are confident that the ‘unpredictable’ Moore will stay and pen a new deal in the coming months.

Tottenham’s plan for Mikey Moore

Mikey Moore has had opportunities at Tottenham this season.

The youngster has made 19 senior appearances for Spurs, the most recent of which came in the defeat to Aston Villa on Friday night.

In the summer, Tottenham plan to give even more chances to Moore in pre-season, and a good showing there could result in increased game time in the 2025/26 campaign.

The report claims that Spurs ‘have been putting a lot of time into Moore’s development plan’, and they feel that losing him now would make no sense whatsoever.

Dortmund have always been a great club for youngsters to make a name for themselves, but as things stand, they will not be able to land Moore this summer.

Tottenham Hotspur’s preparations for next week’s Europa League final aren’t going to plan.

Indeed, Spurs have lost both their league games since beating Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League semi-finals, and their injury list has also got longer.

James Maddison is out for the season, while Lucas Bergvall is a doubt for the Europa League final too.

Meanwhile, this week, Dejan Kulusevski underwent surgery on his knee and he will also miss this crucial clash with Manchester United in Bilbao.

Speaking on Premier League Productions, Glenn Hoddle has been discussing Kulusevski’s injury.

Glenn Hoddle reacts to Dejan Kulusevski injury

Hoddle spoke about Kulusevski’s injury and the fact he’s now set to miss the biggest game of the season.

The pundit described this as a ‘massive blow’ for Tottenham claiming that the midfield will now be very unbalanced.

“That’s right, it’s a massive blow for the club because Maddison is out as well. That position is up for grabs. I don’t know if you could look at tonight and Ange could say ‘I’ll play him in there,’ I think they’d go for a straight three of Sarr, Bissouma and Bentancur, which isn’t the right balance, whether Bergvall might make it, I don’t know, but Kulusevski is a massive miss. He’s a top, top quality player and he likes playing against Man United as well,” Hoddle said.

Dejan Kulusevski’s record vs Manchester United

As Hoddle says, Kulusevski’s absence is a massive blow for Tottenham.

Kulusevski has been Tottenham’s best player this season, and, as Hoddle says, he also has a good record against Manchester United.

The midfielder has only ever lost one game against the Red Devils in his career, while he’s scored twice against United in the past too.

Unfortunately, Spurs will be without their talisman for the biggest game of the season, and that is a real blow for the north London club.

Spurs’ season almost entirely rides on the result of the Europa League final, and it’s hard to fancy Tottenham to win this one with so many key players sidelined for this match.

Aston Villa have put themselves in a decent position to secure Champions League football after beating Tottenham Hotspur 2-0.

They currently lie in 5th place, the last available slot for the elite European competition, on 66 points.

It’s looking like a straight shoot-out between them, Newcastle United, Chelsea and Manchester City with one team set to miss out.

Villa managed the comfortable win to keep them in the race in their last home game of the season, which had been moved to Friday night at the request of Spurs.

Tonight’s defeat was yet another blow to Tottenham after missing out on a £50m defender.

Despite the unusual slot for the last home game of the season, Villa’s players were able to thank the home fans for their support.

Marcus Rashford wasn’t able to play due to injury, with his future at Aston Villa in question.

At such occasions, there’s usually an indication of possible changes in the summer with the players able to send a message to the crowd.

This time was no different, as Emiliano Martinez caught the eye with his visceral gestures to the fans.

The Argentinian goalkeeper was spotted tearing up and motioning towards the Villa faithful, with some interpreting it as Martinez waving goodbye.

Fabrizio Romano explains Emiliano Martinez ‘waving goodbye’ to Aston Villa fans

Fabrizio Romano has offered an explanation to Aston Villa fans over Emiliano Martinez’s gestures at full time of the Spurs match.

The football journalist said: “Dibu Martinez, emotional at full time as this could be his last appearance at Aston Villa – not sure yet but a possibility ahead of summer window.”

He then addressed who could be interested in signing the goalkeeper: “Understand Saudi Pro League clubs have approached Martinez in the recent weeks.

“Emi Martinez will assess all the options also from Europe after Saudi Pro League clubs approaches, as he’s expected to leave Aston Villa.”

Romano added that the club have already identified a potential replacement: “Villa are among several clubs showing interest in Joan Garcia, open race ahead.”

Arsenal are one of the clubs also interested in Garcia, who plays for Espanyol.

The Argentine, who was named the best goalkeeper in the world in 2024, would likely not be short of offers if he has decided to leave.

However, at 32 years old, it would make sense if he decided to cash in on one final payday by moving to Saudi Arabia.

His contract at Aston Villa runs until 2029, so whoever makes a move for him will likely need to offer the Midlands club big money.

Unai Emery speaks out on Emiliano Martinez’s future at Aston Villa

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery was asked about Emiliano Martinez in a post-match interview following the 2-0 win.

Responding to a question about his goalkeeper’s future, Emery said: “We will see. Of course, it is the last match here [this season], and I don’t know.

“We will see about the team, the players, but of course, they are responding on the field.”

It was a non-committal response that won’t exactly reassure Villa fans about Martinez staying at the club.

Villans have been sharing their gratitude towards Martinez online.

Another fan added: “If Dibu is to leave us, he gave us five incredible years and achieved his goal of getting us UCL.

“Villa believed in him, which helped him play for Argentina and lift the World Cup. One of a kind. Incredibly proud to say he was our No. 1.”