Sports Mole

Tottenham Hotspur are keeping a close eye on the progress of Coritiba's diminutive attacker Lucas Ronier, according to reports.

The Lilywhites could secure Premier League survival in the penultimate gameweek of the 2025-26 season, when they travel to London rivals Chelsea and West Ham United head to Newcastle United.

Roberto De Zerbi's men sit two points clear of the 18th-placed Hammers in the Premier League table, meaning that they will be safe if they can defeat Chelsea and West Ham fail to beat Newcastle.

Until Spurs' fate is sealed, however, their transfer plans for the summer window will not be set in stone, as relegation to the Championship would have dire consequences on their finances and player recruitment.

Nevertheless, Tottenham have supposedly identified an ideal attacking signing in Coritiba's Ronier, as cited by UmDoisEsportes.

Who is Tottenham-linked attacker Lucas Ronier?

© Iconsport / Robson Mafra/AGIF/Sipa USA

Born in 2004, Ronier progressed through the Coritiba academy ranks and has already made over 100 appearances for the Brazilian outfit across all competitions.

The winger has produced 17 goals and nine assists for Coritiba in that time, and he helped his side earn promotion to the top tier of Brazilian football for the 2026 campaign with four goals in Serie B.

Labelled a 'gem' by South American media, Ronier may not be putting up eye-catching goal and assist totals, but he ranks in the top four players in the 2026 Serie A season for successful dribbles, with 27.

The Brazilian only stands at 5ft 4in tall, but his low centre of gravity has helped him 'stand out' in one-vs-one situations, and both Tottenham and Fulham are believed to be monitoring developments closely.

How much will Tottenham have to pay for Lucas Ronier?

© Iconsport / PA Images

Ronier's contract with Coritiba only runs until the end of 2027, meaning that the Brazilian club would not be in the strongest negotiating position during the summer window.

However, the report adds that Ronier's deal includes a €60m (£52m) release clause, and the Coritiba board have so far been unwavering in their stance that they will only sell for a sizeable figure.

Nevertheless, Tottenham could realistically try to drive the price down this summer thanks to Ronier's contract situation, lest Coritiba run the risk of losing him for nothing next year.

Despite Spurs and Fulham's interest, Coritiba are supposedly yet to receive an official offer for Ronier, who is most comfortable on the right wing but can also function as a number 10 and left-winger.

Daniel Levy has reflected on Tottenham Hotspur's fall from grace, as the North London club fight for their Premier League survival.

The Lilywhites began the season competing in the Champions League under Thomas Frank, but have since endured a difficult period that has seen them drop toward the foot of the table.

Currently on their third permanent manager of the term in Roberto De Zerbi, the North Londoners are desperately fighting for top-flight survival with only two matches remaining.

The former executive chairman, who departed in September following a 25-year tenure, has commented on one of the remarkable stories of the 2025-26 Premier League campaign.

Levy comments on Spurs' Premier League relegation struggle

© Imago

The 64-year-old was speaking after being awarded a CBE for his services to the local community and charity in the Tottenham area on Wednesday.

“All I’m focused on is making sure Tottenham stay in the Premier League," Levy told Sky Sports News. “I could never have envisaged this at the beginning of the season.

“Obviously (I’m) incredibly disappointed but let’s look forward and very much hope that next season we’re still in the Premier League. I’m feeling the pain but optimistic that we’ll get through it.

“It’s been very, very difficult but Spurs is in my blood and I’m hopeful that we’ll be OK in the end.”

Spurs face Chelsea in their penultimate league fixture next Tuesday before hosting Everton at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on the final day.

The Lilywhites head into those fixtures two points clear of 18th-placed West Ham United.

How will Levy's Spurs tenure be remembered?

© Imago

Levy’s departure in September marked the end of a quarter-century at the helm, a period defined by significant infrastructure growth and mixed results on the pitch.

While his chairmanship delivered only two trophies, including the 2008 League Cup and last season’s Europa League, Spurs' global profile undeniably rose during his tenure.

“Getting in the (2019) Champions League final, opening the stadium, achieving Europe a number of times, having some great players, making a contribution to the local community, impacting people’s lives," said Levy when asked about his finest highlights at Spurs.

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly prepared to explore alternative midfield targets if they fail to secure Joao Palhinha on a permanent deal this summer.

Palhinha joined Spurs on loan from Bayern Munich last summer and has made a strong impression in North London.

The 30-year-old has made 43 appearances across all competitions, scoring six goals, while Tottenham hold an option to make the move permanent at the end of the campaign.

With Spurs currently sitting 17th in the Premier League table and still embroiled in a survival battle, much of their transfer strategy is likely to depend on where they ultimately finish.

Joao Palhinha future: What Tottenham plan to do

© Imago

According to Football Insider, Palhinha’s future is no longer entirely in Tottenham’s hands, even though the club are keen to keep him beyond the summer.

Spurs reportedly want to add at least one new central midfielder ahead of next season regardless of where they end up, while Palhinha has also been strongly linked with a return to Sporting where the lure of rejoining his boyhood club could prove difficult to ignore.

The midfielder will likely assess his future once the season concludes, but a permanent stay in North London appears highly unlikely if Spurs suffer relegation.

That means Tottenham may first need clarity on Palhinha’s own intentions before moving ahead with their summer plans.

Roberto De Zerbi has reportedly made it clear that he wants the Portuguese international to remain, but for now, the final decision may rest beyond the club’s control.

Bayern Munich stance on Palhinha

© Imago

When Bayern sanctioned Palhinha’s loan move, the expectation was that the arrangement could pave the way for a permanent exit.

Vincent Kompany already has the likes of Aleksandar Pavlovic, Joshua Kimmich and Tom Bischof as midfield options, and while Leon Goretzka is expected to leave in the summer, the Bundesliga champions still appear to have sufficient depth in that department.

The Portuguese midfielder is not considered a natural fit for Kompany’s tactical setup, which is why Bayern would reportedly be open to sanctioning a permanent departure this summer.

Tottenham are believed to be keen on negotiating a fee lower than the original £25m purchase option, but unless Palhinha makes his intentions clear, the situation is unlikely to move forward quickly.

London rivals Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United are embroiled in a nervy battle to remain in the Premier League.

The recent round of Premier League action ensured that Leeds United, Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest could not be relegated.

Now, only one of Spurs or West Ham can follow Burnley and Wolverhampton Wanderers through the trap door to the Championship.

Spurs have the upper hand with two games left to play, boasting a two-point advantage over 18th-placed West Ham.

Here, Sports Mole covers what Spurs and West Ham need to do to remain in the top flight, covering key permutations and potential scenarios.

What do Tottenham need to avoid relegation?

Spurs missed an opportunity to move four points in Monday's frustrating 1-1 draw against Leeds United.

That said, they still have their fate in their own hands after putting together a four-game unbeaten run.

Roberto De Zerbi's side needs five points from their final two matches to guarantee their survival, although four points would almost certainly be enough due to their significant goal difference advantage over West Ham.

Spurs currently have a goal difference of -9 after scoring 46 goals and conceding 55, while 42 goals for and 62 against leave the Hammers with -20.

What do West Ham need to avoid relegation?

West Ham, meanwhile, missed out on a potential point in Sunday's controversial 1-0 defeat against Premier League leaders Arsenal.

Callum Wilson's late leveller was ruled out after the referee penalised Pablo for a foul on Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya following a VAR review.

After suffering back-to-back defeats, Nuno Espirito Santo's side are now up against it in their fight to remain in the Premier League.

In theory, West Ham could win their final two games and reach 42 points, but still go down if Spurs pick up six points or four without a significant swing in goal difference.

Put simply, West Ham will stay up with two wins and one Spurs defeat, and one win would be enough if their rivals lose both of their final two fixtures.

When could Spurs be relegated?

Given their two-point advantage over West Ham, the north London club cannot be relegated on matchday 37.

If they are to go down, it will happen on the final day of the Premier League season on May 24.

Tottenham will hope to have their fate in their hands if the battle for survival goes right to the wire, but that would not be the case if West Ham win at St James' Park and Spurs lose to Chelsea.

When could West Ham be relegated?

In contrast to Spurs, Nuno Espirito Santo's side could be relegated on matchday 37, but it cannot happen this weekend.

That is because Tottenham do not face Chelsea until next Tuesday due to the Blues' involvement in Saturday's FA Cup final against Manchester City.

West Ham will be relegated next Tuesday if they fail to beat Newcastle on Sunday and Tottenham win at Stamford Bridge.

Tottenham Hotspur midfielder James Maddison has hit out at "petrified" Premier League referees after he was denied a late penalty in Monday's 1-1 draw with Leeds United.

Roberto De Zerbi's men had the chance to move four points clear of the relegation zone on home soil, and they were on course to do that thanks to Mathys Tel's stunning opening goal in the second half.

The Frenchman was the villain at the other end of the field, though, catching Ethan Ampadu with a high foot in the penalty area, and Dominic Calvert-Lewin stepped up to convert the spot kick.

Spurs then wanted a penalty of their own deep into added time when Maddison went down under pressure from Lukas Nmecha, but Jarred Gillett waved away the appeals on the pitch, and his decision was backed up by the VAR room.

Craig Pawson and assistant Nick Hopton decided that the Leeds attacker had played the ball, and De Zerbi refused to criticise the officials in his post-match press conference.

James Maddison claims referee got Tottenham-Leeds penalty decision wrong

© Iconsport / SPI/Paul Terry

However, Maddison took to Instagram on Monday night to suggest that the referees got the decision wrong, and that he was the one who touched the ball rather than Nmecha.

"For clarity, the small tiny touch on the ball to change direction came from the outside of my right foot, not Nmecha," Maddison said in a story, accompanied with a screenshot of the moment in question.

"I told the ref that but the check was over in about 20 seconds. Officials are petrified to make decisions on pitch now because of VAR. We keep fighting. COYS."

Despite Tottenham's late disappointment on Monday night, De Zerbi's side can still secure Premier League survival if results go their way in the penultimate gameweek.

The Lilywhites are two points clear of West Ham United in the Premier League table, and they will be safe if they beat Chelsea and the Irons fail to win against Newcastle United.

What happens next for Tottenham after James Maddison penalty decision?

Even though Maddison is firm in his belief that the referees were wrong, it will not change the outcome of the match, nor Spurs' position in the rankings.

However, this is unlikely to be the last we hear of the incident, as the Premier League's Key Match Incidents' panel is likely to review the decision and determine whether Gillett and Pawson got it right.

Meanwhile, Tottenham can request an explanation from the PGMOL, including asking to hear the conversation between the VAR and Gillett and the rationale behind their decision.

If Spurs wish to escalate further, they can submit a formal complaint to the referees' body or the Premier League, but De Zerbi's indifferent reaction suggests that they will not go down that avenue.

The Premier League have explained why Tottenham Hotspur were not awarded a late penalty in their 1-1 draw with Leeds United on Monday night.

The Lilywhites missed the chance to move four points clear of the relegation zone at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, where Mathys Tel's strike was cancelled out by a Dominic Calvert-Lewin penalty.

Roberto De Zerbi bit the bullet and brought on Maddison for his first appearance of the season during the closing exchanges, as Spurs frantically searched for a late winner.

Maddison's introduction at least injected some life into the Tottenham crowd, who were then up in arms when the playmaker was seemingly felled by Lukas Nmecha inside the area.

However, on-field referee Jarred Gillett saw nothing wrong with the incident, and nor did VAR Craig Pawson, who agreed with his colleague's initial decision.

Tottenham told why James Maddison was not awarded penalty vs. Leeds

One hundred and eleven minutes had been played by that point, and there was no time for Spurs to mount another attack as the game ended level.

Replays showed that Nmecha may have got the slightest touch on the ball before making contact with Maddison, and the Premier League have now confirmed that was also Pawson's view.

"The referee’s call of no penalty to Tottenham Hotspur was checked and confirmed by VAR – with it deemed that Nmecha played the ball," the PL Match Centre said on X.

Tottenham's point at least moved them two points clear of 18th-placed West Ham United in the Premier League table, and extended their unbeaten run to four matches in the division.

However, the Lilywhites will drop back down into the relegation zone if West Ham beat Newcastle United on Sunday, two days before De Zerbi's men meet London rivals Chelsea.

Leeds poke fun at reaction to Tottenham penalty incident

Before Tottenham were denied a penalty right at the death, Gillett eventually pointed to the spot in front of the away supporters following Tel's challenge on Ethan Ampadu.

The Tottenham scorer went for an overhead kick clearance while Ampadu bravely went in to head the ball, and replays showed Tel's studs catching the Welshman on the forehead.

Calvert-Lewin confidently blasted his penalty past Antonin Kinsky to level the scores, and Ampadu could be seen sporting a red mark on his head for the remainder of the game.

Leeds took the opportunity to poke fun at the reaction to the incident, posting an image of Ampadu's red head on X with the caption “Doesn’t touch him” and a melting smiling face emoji.

Fighting for Premier League survival, Tottenham Hotspur will welcome Leeds United to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Monday for their penultimate home game of the season.

Roberto De Zerbi's Spurs will be hoping to earn a third consecutive win after beating Aston Villa 2-1 last Sunday, while Daniel Farke's Peacocks will be looking to build on their 3-1 victory against Burnley on May 1.

Here, Sports Mole provides all the details you need to know about how to watch Tottenham's Premier League clash against Leeds on Monday.

What time does Tottenham vs. Leeds kick off?

This match kicks off at 8:00pm on Monday, May 11 for viewers in the UK.

Where is Tottenham vs. Leeds being played?

The Peacocks will head to Spurs' 62,850-capacity Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the £1bn ground that the Londoners opened in 2019.

How to watch Tottenham vs. Leeds in the UK

TV channels

This clash will be broadcast live in the UK on the Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Main Event TV channels.

Online streaming

Fans can also stream the action live through SkySports+ Stream, or via NOW UK if they have purchased the Sky Sports package on the online platform.

Highlights

Game-changing events will be posted by the SkySportsPL X (formerly Twitter) account, while highlights will be uploaded to the Sky Sports Premier League YouTube channel later in the day.

What is at stake for Tottenham and Leeds?

Tottenham face the prospect of watching bitter rivals Arsenal win the Premier League this season, but their North London Derby opponents lent them a helping hand by beating West Ham United 1-0 on Sunday.

The Hammers' defeat means that Spurs now have the chance to move four points clear of the relegation zone with a win on Monday, but given their strife this term, it remains to be seen whether they can capitalise.

As for Leeds, they were also the beneficiaries of Arsenal's triumph, which ensured that the promoted side are now safe from the drop.

Despite merely playing for position at this stage, Farke's men will be keen to end the campaign in strong fashion, and considering that the Peacocks have only lost one of their last nine matches across all competitions, fans may even be confident of their team's chances.

Check out Sports Mole's video preview for Tottenham vs. Leeds

Premier League survival is in both Tottenham Hotspur and Leeds United's hands ahead of Monday's significant showdown in North London.

The Lilywhites are aiming for their third successive Premier League win, while the visitors have avoided defeat in each of their last six top-flight away games.

Here, Sports Mole rounds up all of the latest team news for the two clubs.

TOTTENHAM vs. LEEDS

TOTTENHAM

Out: Guglielmo Vicario (hernia), Dejan Kulusevski (knee), Wilson Odobert (knee), Ben Davies (ankle), Mohammed Kudus (thigh), Xavi Simons (knee), Cristian Romero (knee)

Doubtful: Dominic Solnake (hamstring)

Sports Mole's predicted XI: Kinsky; Porro, Danso, Van de Ven, Udogie; Bentancur, Palhinha; Kolo Muani, Gallagher, Tel; Richarlison

LEEDS

Out: Noah Okafor (calf), Gabriel Gudmundsson (hamstring), Ilia Gruev (knee)

Doubtful: Pascal Struijk (hip)

Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly identified West Ham United attacker Crysencio Summerville as a potential summer transfer target.

Spurs and the Hammers are currently embroiled in a battle to avoid relegation to the Championship, with the two teams separated by just one point in the Premier League table.

While Spurs are preparing to take on Leeds United on Monday night, West Ham host leaders Arsenal in a mammoth showdown at the London Stadium on Sunday.

With Nottingham Forest six points clear of West Ham, a West Ham defeat would effectively leave it as a straight shootout to avoid the drop between the two London giants.

Nevertheless, as per Football Insider, the teams may end up doing business in the summer once their battle on the pitch has reached a conclusion.

Spurs to make Summerville approach?

The report claims that Spurs are long-term admirers of Summerville, who has enhanced his reputation with West Ham since his arrival from Leeds United.

Five goals and three assists have come from his 28 appearances in the Premier League during 2025-26, a far better return than in his first season in East London.

Given his previous impact in the Championship for Leeds, West Ham may choose to retain the 24-year-old's services should they be relegated to the second tier of English football.

That said, it is debatable whether they would be able to turn down offers for one of their most prized assets, who arrived in a deal worth a potential £34m in 2024.

Former scout Mick Brown, speaking on the outlet's Inside Track Podcast, suggests that there will be "more than just Tottenham" looking at Summerville over the coming months.

Would Spurs fans be disappointed with Summerville signing?

If Spurs retain their Premier League status, a rebuild under Roberto De Zerbi will come without European football on their schedule.

However, that will not necessarily impact on their ability to attract top players, and Spurs' fanbase would likely expect players of higher pedigree than Summerville.

Just 10 goals and seven assists have come from his 81 Premier League appearances, and the only time that he has ever contributed more than five goals in a single season was in the Championship.

Summerville has also not made the breakthrough into the senior Netherlands setup, a concern when his national team are not the force that they once were.

While there is time for Summerville to enhance his stock, even signing him for a cut-price fee may not go down well with Spurs fans.

Chelsea are reportedly among the clubs who are considering a move for Sporting Lisbon left-back Maxi Araujo.

The Blues have a strong working relationship with the Portuguese giants having secured deals for Dario Essugo and Geovany Quenda since the start of 2025.

However, while those two players were signed as starlets, Chelsea chiefs are under pressure to acquire more established stars going forward.

That is a consequence of the club realistically requiring at least two wins from their final three fixtures to finish in the top half of the Premier League table and stay in contention for European qualification.

According to AS, there is the possibility of BlueCo giving the green light for a move for Araujo during the summer transfer window.

Chelsea one of four clubs interested in Araujo

The report suggests that Chelsea, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Juventus have all had scouts present at Sporting fixtures.

Araujo, who can play down the left flank, has impressed for the Primeira Liga side this season, contributing seven goals and four assists from 38 top flight and Champions League appearances.

Many of those outings have come from left-back, but the Uruguay international has also been used at wing-back and as a winger.

Sporting would allegedly demand in the region of €50m (£43.26m) if clubs firm up their interest in the player.

Furthermore, they remain in a strong position to demand their desired fee, a consequence of Araujo still having over three years left on his contract.

Why Araujo is not what Chelsea need

While Marc Cucurella has been viewed as untouchable as Chelsea left-back for some time, there are signs that may not be the case in the long term.

Not only have the Spain international's performances dropped off this season, he has publicly acknowledged that he is open to a return to Barcelona should they express any interest.

Araujo's attacking numbers suggest that he would be a suitable alternative, yet Chelsea are in desperate need of height and physically in their team.

Players such as Reece James, Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez - all relatively small players - are untouchable in their respective positions when fit, so a position such as left-back needs to be viewed as a way of getting another player in excess of 6ft 2ins into the team.

Not only do Chelsea struggle at defending set-pieces, they have not kept a Premier League clean sheet since the middle of January.