Sports Mole

Tottenham Hotspur resume their fight for Premier League survival when they take on Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Molineux Stadium on Saturday.

The Whites remain winless in the league in 2026 and have fallen to 18th in the standings, two points adrift from West Ham United in safety, leaving Roberto De Zerbi's side in desperate need of a victory.

Here, Sports Mole rounds up Tottenham’s latest injury and suspension news.

Ben Davies

© Imago

Status: Out

Type of injury: Ankle

Possible return date: May 3 (vs. Aston Villa)

Davies has been out with an ankle injury since January, and the defender is not expected to return until at least next month.

Mohammed Kudus

© Imago

Status: Out

Type of injury: Thigh

Possible return date: Unknown

Kudus was due to return earlier this month, but the forward now requires further specialist review and potentially surgery after a setback, meaning the forward is now unlikely to appear for the remainder of the season.

Wilson Odobert

© Imago / Sportimage

Status: Out

Type of injury: Knee

Possible return date: Unknown

Odobert ruptured his ACL against Newcastle in February, meaning the winger will not feature for Spurs until next season as he undergoes his lengthy rehab.

Dejan Kulusevski

© Imago / Bildbyran

Status: Out

Type of injury: Knee

Possible return date: Unknown

Kulusevski remains unavailable with a knee injury that he picked up last season, and it looks as though the forward will be sidelined for the remainder of this campaign.

Guglielmo Vicario

© Imago

Status: Doubt

Type of injury: Groin

Possible return date: May 3 (vs. Aston Villa)

Vicario has missed Tottenham's last two matches with a groin issue, and the goalkeeper is not expected to return in time for Saturday's game.

Cristian Romero

© Iconsport / PA Images

Status: Out

Type of injury: Knee

Possible return date: Unknown

Romero suffered a knee injury in the loss to Sunderland earlier this month, and it has now been reported that the defender will miss the rest of the season.

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR’S SUSPENSION LIST

Tottenham Hotspur have no players unavailable due to suspension for their clash against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Tottenham Hotspur are preparing for life without captain Cristian Romero and a summer exit is looking increasingly likely, according to a report.

The 27-year-old centre-back has been heavily linked with a move away from Spurs at a time when the club are in serious danger of suffering an unimaginable relegation from the Premier League.

Roberto De Zerbi, who has failed to win his opening two games in charge of the North Londoners, sees his team sitting inside the bottom three and two points adrift of safety with five matches remaining.

Romero may have already played his final game for Tottenham after sustaining a season-ending knee injury in the 1-0 defeat at Sunderland earlier this month, making him a doubt for the 2026 World Cup with Argentina.

Since joining from Atalanta BC in 2021, Romero has played 164 times for Spurs in all competitions and played a key role in helping the club win the Europa League last season.

Although Romero still has more than three years remaining on his contract, CaughtOffside claims that the defender’s future in North London has suddenly become far less certain.

The report adds that Tottenham’s leadership are now open to offers for Romero this summer as part of a planned financial reset.

Considering his age, Premier League and international experience, and the time remaining on his contract, Spurs are said to value Romero between €60m (£52.3m) and €65m (£56.6m).

Tottenham’s ability to demand such a fee is tied directly to their top-flight survival and financial position, though, as a devastating drop down to the Championship could force the club to lower their asking price.

European trio could battle for £56m Romero this summer

Atletico Madrid are one club who have been credited with a long-standing interest in Romero, with head coach Diego Simeone said to view the defender as the ‘perfect’ leader for his system.

Spanish rivals Real Madrid have also been credited with an interest at a time when the club has concerns over the fitness of Eder Militao and David Alaba, the latter of whom is out of contract in the summer.

A 111-day wait for a Premier League win looked set to come to an end when a stunning strike from Xavi Simons put Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 ahead with 13 minutes remaining, only for a 95th-minute equaliser from Georginio Rutter to leave Roberto De Zerbi’s side heartbroken and stuck in the relegation zone.

Now sitting just one point adrift of safety, Spurs will be hoping results elsewhere go in their favour before their trip to Wolverhampton Wanderers next weekend, but unless they can quickly turn things around, the prospect of Championship football next season is becoming increasingly real.

With the unthinkable edging closer with each passing week, Sports Mole takes a look at what could lie ahead for Tottenham should the current Europa League holders suffer relegation from the top flight for the first time since the 1976-77 season.

Who could Spurs target in the summer if they get relegated?

If Tottenham are relegated, a major squad overhaul would be inevitable, with several high-profile departures expected to force a significant rebuild.

Players such as Antonin Kinsky, Djed Spence and Souza could remain to provide some familiarity in defence, while centre-back pairing Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero are likely to attract strong interest from top European clubs.

James Maddison, who recently returned to the matchday squad after nearly a year out, could be one big name who stays at the club and may play a central role in any potential Championship campaign.

In attack, Dominic Solanke, Mathys Tel and Richarlison are all likely to draw attention from elsewhere, meaning Tottenham may need to reinvest heavily in forward areas.

Zan Vipotnik is a potential candidate the Tottenham board could turn to, the Swansea striker is the current top scorer in the Championship with 21 goals from 41 and would be a great addition for any side in the second tier.

Mohammed Kudus has struggled with injuries this season but may still be deemed too good for the Championship, prompting Spurs to consider alternatives such as Leo Scienza.

The Brazilian winger, currently at Southampton, has registered seven goals and 10 assists in 34 Championship appearances and would offer a lot going forward to a potentially relegated Tottenham side.

Who could make an impact on their return from loan ?

Although they may be in for a busy window, Spurs currently have a lot of players out on loan who could into the fold next season.

Defender Ashley Phillips has impressed during his spell at Stoke City, making 33 starts in the Championship this season, and could return ready to stake a claim for a regular role in the heart of defence.

Luka Vuskovic, currently on loan at Hamburg, is another highly-rated prospect who could be integrated into the first team, although his performances in Germany have already attracted interest from elsewhere and could make him too good for the Championship.

Mikey Moore is another who is out on loan and impressed during his time away and could easily become a Tottenham regular for years to come.

The winger, on loan at Rangers, has scored six times in the Scottish Premiership but is another who could already be too good for Tottenham.

Elsewhere, Yang Min-hyeok, Jamie Donley, Alfie Devine and Will Lankshear have all been gaining valuable experience on loan in the Championship, while Manor Solomon, Kota Takai and Dane Scarlett are spending the season in various European leagues and will return at the end of June

How will they lineup ahead of next season?

Whatever happens from now until the end of the season, Tottenham Hotspur are in for a busy summer.

With such a high number of outgoings and incomings it is hard to predict exactly how Tottenham will shape up if they fail to maintain their Premier League status.

A mixture of retained players, returning loanees and new recruits could provide a solid foundation of a side capable of competing at the top end of the Championship.

Tottenham Possible lineup:

Kinsky; Spence, Phillips, Vuskovic, Souza; Devine, Gray; Scienza, Maddison, Moore; Vipotnik

Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Conor Gallagher could be offered an escape route by Everton if the Lilywhites suffer Premier League relegation, according to a report.

The former Chelsea man has immediately cemented a place in Roberto De Zerbi's starting lineup since the Italian's arrival, making the first XI against both Sunderland and Brighton & Hove Albion.

Gallagher nearly registered a freak goal against the latter on Saturday, charging down Seagulls goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen but seeing his block fly away from the net.

However, Spurs were held to an agonising 2-2 draw by De Zerbi's former club, meaning that the Lilywhites could be five points adrift of safety in the Premier League table if West Ham United beat Crystal Palace on Monday.

A first-ever demotion from the Premier League would have catastrophic consequences for the Europa League holders, who would be forced into a firesale of top talents to help offset devastating financial losses.

Everton boss David Moyes 'big admirer' of Tottenham's Conor Gallagher

Gallagher is one of the many Tottenham players who would be expected to depart, as the England international would also have to take a mammoth 50% pay cut on his club-record £200,000-a-week contract, alongside most of his teammates.

According to Football Insider, Everton have identified Gallagher as a potential summer transfer target, although they are not planning to buy the midfielder outright in the upcoming window.

The Toffees would reportedly prefer a loan deal with an obligation to make Gallagher's stay permanent in 2027, meaning that Tottenham would not receive payment right away, but David Moyes is nevertheless a 'big admirer' of the 'proven' 26-year-old.

Gallagher is under contract with Tottenham until the summer of 2031, but Spurs would be largely powerless to let their biggest earners depart for cut-price fees if they find themselves playing Championship football next season.

Gallagher has registered just one assist and no goals in 13 appearances for the Lilywhites since joining from Atletico Madrid in a €40m (£34.8m) deal during the January transfer window.

Which other Tottenham players could leave if Spurs go down?

While Tottenham's overall performance against Brighton was arguably one of the best of their season so far, the outlook remains incredibly bleak for the 2018-19 Champions League finalists.

Xavi Simons at least did his value no harm whatsoever with a delightful assist for Pedro Porro and stunning second-half strike in North London, and the Netherlands international would be expected to lead a mass summer exodus if Spurs go down.

Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Guglielmo Vicario, Lucas Bergvall, Archie Gray and Richarlison are also among the high-profile names who could depart, while Randal Kolo Muani and Joao Palhinha's loan arrivals would not be made permanent.

Twice in the space of two weeks Tottenham Hotspur players have been on the verge of waterworks - Cristian Romero at Sunderland after his season-ending knee injury, and multiple white-clad athletes on Saturday after another afternoon of heartbreak.

A Xavi Simons stunner at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium would ostensibly be enough to beat Brighton & Hove Albion and give Spurs their first Premier League win of 2026 at the 14th attempt, but Georginio Rutter found a soul-crushing equaliser late on to steal a 2-2 draw for Roberto De Zerbi's old employers.

And just like that, Spurs were cruelly dragged back below the dotted line, still lying 18th in the Premier League table and one point adrift of West Ham United, who play their game in hand against Crystal Palace on Monday night.

As the hitherto unthinkable threat of demotion becomes ever more realistic, Sports Mole explores what would happen to Tottenham if the Europa League holders drop down to the Championship for the first time in the Premier League era.

How much money will Tottenham lose if they get relegated?

Financial positives are few and far between for Tottenham right now, but the Lilywhites' progression to the last 16 of the Champions League has at least pushed their European prize money up by over an estimated 200%, even after their Europa League triumph last season.

However, the well-documented Premier League TV revenues would be no more for Tottenham in the second tier; from a £127m TV revenue package in 2024-25, Spurs' income from such streams in the Championship could drop by a staggering £80m.

Spurs' matchday revenue from attendances is likely to be spliced in half too - dropping to between £50m and £70m from £126.7m - given the inevitable fall in ticket prices for Championship football.

An inevitable firesale of players would boost the coffers somewhat, but Tottenham would be in their weakest position yet when it comes to negotiating deals, and rival clubs will know that they can lowball the Lilywhites even for star names on long contracts.

While relegation is not yet a guarantee, Spurs missing out on European football is, and that could have a serious knock-on effect for their commercial deals; sponsors have the power to reduce payments by as much as 20% or withdraw from agreements completely if the club are not competing in Europe.

One saving grace for the Lilywhites would be the stadium's hosting of NFL matches, concerts and other big money-spinning non-football events, but the club would also struggle to finally secure a lucrative naming rights deal for the ground, seeing them miss out on another yearly eight-figure agreement.

Overall, taking reduced TV revenues, ticket price decreases, commercial concerns and a lack of European football into account, Tottenham's revenues could suffer an estimated £250m hit overall.

Which Tottenham players could leave - and stay - if they get relegated?

Tottenham had consistently refused to break their wage structure before making Conor Gallagher their only £200,000-a-week player in January, but those mega deals will be no more in the second division.

Most Spurs players are understood to have mandatory 50% pay-cut clauses inserted into their contracts in the event of relegation - allowing the club to save around £128m for the year - but further cuts, via salary reductions or player sales, would inevitably be needed.

A team that drops down from the Premier League can arguably have no true 'superstars', but Simons - the jewel in the Lilywhites' crown - at least did his prospects of a top-flight return no harm with his stunning goal and assist against Brighton.

The Dutch playmaker has demonstrated raw passion during his mixed time at Tottenham, but he would almost certainly be one of the first out of the door, alongside coveted centre-back duo Romero and Micky van de Ven.

Number one goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario is being lined up for a return to Italy too, Joao Palhinha's Bayern Munich loan move would almost certainly not be made permanent - the same goes for Paris Saint-Germain owned Randal Kolo Muani - while Richarlison would also likely complete a move away that has been tipped to happen for some time anyway.

However, the likes of Mohammed Kudus, Dejan Kulusevski, Wilson Odobert and James Maddison would find moves harder to come by given their lengthy spells out injured, and it is not impossible to envisage the latter two staying if the worst happens.

Fan favourites Archie Gray and Mathys Tel - both still at the beginning of their careers - could stick around to lead the Spurs promotion charge too, alongside fellow fledglings Souza, Lucas Bergvall and possibly Mikey Moore too.

Will Roberto De Zerbi leave Tottenham if they get relegated?

Before being offered a lucrative five-year contract by the increasingly desperate powers-that-be, De Zerbi reportedly had no interest in taking on the Tottenham job with no guarantees of a Premier League stay.

However, a long-term deal unsurprisingly turned the Italian's head, and shortly after he replaced the grieving Igor Tudor, he vowed to remain at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium no matter whether Spurs were travelling to the Etihad or Lincoln City's LNER Stadium next season.

De Zerbi would not be easily able to go back on that promise, as his contract is not thought to contain a break clause which would allow him to terminate the agreement in case of relegation, as Tottenham sought a long-term project with the former Brighton boss.

But the boss would not survive the unprecedented pay cuts either, as he is supposedly pocketing around £12m a year under his current terms, and a Championship club paying a manager that much would be unheard of; nevertheless, even a £6m-a-year packet after a 50% decrease would make other head coach's salaries in the division appear totally insignificant.

Tottenham could of course sack De Zerbi for failing to keep them up, but the eight-figure costs associated with offloading the manager - and maybe some of his staff too - would plunge Spurs into even deeper financial oblivion.

De Zerbi did leave Benevento in 2018 immediately after leading them to relegation from Serie A, although a repeat in the English capital is surely beyond the realm of possibility given the reasons outlined above.

Tottenham Hotspur's 2-2 stalemate with Brighton & Hove Albion means they are the only Premier League team without a victory in 2026.

The 2025-26 season has been one of regression for Spurs, with the club battling relegation from the top flight for a second consecutive season, though this time they do not have silverware to soften the blow.

Thomas Frank's dismissal in February was followed by the sacking of interim Igor Tudor, whose place was taken by Roberto De Zerbi in March.

The Italian has only been in charge for two games, but he oversaw a 1-0 loss against Sunderland last weekend, before overseeing a 2-2 stalemate with Brighton on Saturday, leaving the club in 18th place with 31 points.

That draw was their 15th Premier League game without victory in a row, a period in which they lost nine times, and they remain they only club in the top flight without a win in the league in 2026.

The problem with Roberto De Zerbi at Tottenham Hotspur

While De Zerbi has earned widespread praise for his style of play, it is hard to be positive about the future of the club given the real threat of relegation.

Many view the Italian as one of the best tactical coaches in Europe, but points on the board are all that matter at this stage, and his entire tenure would be overshadowed by demotion to the Championship.

The head coach has only taken one point from two games so far, and his side still look vulnerable at the back, which perhaps hints that he has not yet been able to raise the confidence levels in the squad.

Will Spurs achieve Premier League survival and avoid relegation?

Spurs could end matchweek 33 four points from safety, and there may not be enough time left in the season to overturn that deficit.

West Ham United would have to beat Crystal Palace on Monday, and Nottingham Forest would have to beat Burnley on Sunday for that situation to occur, but both rank in the top 13 in terms of form over the last five matchweeks.

Spurs rank second last in that regard, though they will face last-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers next Saturday, and it would be surprising if they failed to claim three points from that clash.

Tottenham's rivals will almost certainly drop enough points for them to be caught, but it remains to be seen if Spurs can unite and come together to escape the bottom three.

Tottenham Hotspur head coach Roberto De Zerbi has suggested that Mohammed Kudus' recent injury setback will influence how he handles the comeback of James Maddison.

Spurs square off against Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday evening in what is viewed as their biggest match of the season, with De Zerbi taking charge of his first home game when the club are sitting in 18th place in the Premier League table.

There had initially been hope that Kudus could return from a thigh injury for the run-in, only for the Ghana international to suffer a setback in training and be ruled out for the rest of the campaign.

While that has come as a major blow to the North Londoners, there has recently been the welcome sight of Maddison making his own return to training.

The England international has spent more than eight months on the sidelines with a serious knee injury sustained during pre-season.

Will Maddison return for Spurs this season?

Speaking at a press conference on Friday, De Zerbi seemingly left the door open for the playmaker to come back into contention before the end of 2025-26.

Nevertheless, the Italian hinted that Kudus suffering a recurrence of his previous injury so soon after his return to training is likely to influence his thinking.

As quoted by The Standard, De Zerbi said: "I don't know. I don't know yet. I don't want to push too much because we lost Kudus in this way.

"I used to waiting the players when they are available, totally available to play and to restart the training.

"Because it's better to lose one game more than to take a risk for another new injury.”

Is a Maddison return in 2025-26 realistic?

As this point in time, Spurs have six Premier League fixtures remaining, the last of which will be played on May 24.

Unless Spurs find wins and fast, they will be scrapping for every point until the closing weekend as they bid to avoid relegation to the Championship.

With the stakes increasing by the week, Maddison may have to bide his time. As much as Spurs could benefit from his creativity and threat in the final third, the 29-year-old would need to manage his desire to make an instant impact.

Realistically-speaking, Maddison will need to come through several weeks of training before he is considered for a place in the squad.

Nevertheless, if he can avoid any setbacks and build up his strength and fitness, a place on the substitutes' bench against Leeds United on May 11 could be a possibility.

Spurs then conclude the season with fixtures against Chelsea and Everton respectively.

Roberto De Zerbi will face his former club when Tottenham Hotspur take on Brighton & Hove Albion in a crucial Premier League clash on Saturday.

For Brighton, the fixture presents another opportunity to climb the table and strengthen their push for European qualification, but for Spurs, the stakes are far higher.

Sitting in the relegation zone with just 30 points from 32 matches, the north London side are in a perilous position, with survival now the immediate priority before any deeper reflection on their struggles.

Winless in 14 Premier League matches since the turn of the year, De Zerbi must quickly find a way to reverse their fortunes, having already lost his first game in charge against Sunderland.

Tottenham must avoid embarrassing losing record

This will be De Zerbi’s first home match in charge, and he can take some encouragement from the fact that only one of the previous 13 Tottenham managers has lost their first home game.

However, that sole exception was his predecessor Igor Tudor, who suffered defeat against Arsenal earlier this year.

Spurs have managed just 10 points at home this season - the worst record in the league - making it difficult to draw much confidence ahead of this encounter.

According to BBC Sport, Tottenham last lost five consecutive home league matches in 1994, and they are now at risk of matching that unwanted 32-year-old record.

They currently trail West Ham and Nottingham Forest by two and three points respectively, and a short run of positive results could still secure their top-flight status with six games remaining.

Tottenham battling injury crisis - huge blow ahead of Brighton clash

Spurs are expected to be without their influential captain Cristian Romero, who could miss the remainder of the season due to a knee injury.

The centre-back has reportedly suffered a partial MCL tear, which could also impact his World Cup prospects.

The most in-form Premier League team face the most out-of-form Premier League team on Saturday evening, as Brighton & Hove Albion travel to North London to take on timid Tottenham Hotspur.

The Lilywhites have collected just one point from the last 18 on offer to plunge into the Premier League relegation zone, while the Seagulls have won five of their last six to move to within touching distance of the European spots.

Here, Sports Mole rounds up all of the latest team news for Tottenham and Brighton.

TOTTENHAM vs. BRIGHTON

TOTTENHAM

Out: Cristian Romero (knee), Dejan Kulusevski (knee), Wilson Odobert (knee), James Maddison (knee), Mohammed Kudus (thigh), Ben Davies (ankle), Rodrigo Bentancur (thigh)

Doubtful: Guglielmo Vicario (hernia)

Sports Mole's predicted XI: Kinsky; Porro, Danso, Van de Ven, Udogie; Gray, Gallagher; Tel, Simons, Richarlison; Solanke

BRIGHTON

Out: Lewis Dunk (suspended), Adam Webster (knee), Stefanos Tzimas (knee)

Doubtful: James Milner (unspecified)

Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly emerged as the favourites to sign Bournemouth defender Marcos Senesi.

With the Argentina international having entered the final six months of his contract, it has become apparent that he is likely to leave the Vitality Stadium on a free transfer.

Senesi is viewed as an attractive option having accumulated 110 appearances in the Premier League since his arrival in 2022.

As well as Barcelona, Premier League clubs Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea have all been credited with an interest in the 28-year-old.

However, according to The Athletic, Spurs are the surprise frontrunners in the race for his signature.

Spurs favourites for Marcos Senesi

The report suggests that the North Londoners have already entered advanced negotiations for the centre-back.

Nevertheless, it is emphasised that any deal would be dependent on Spurs avoiding relegation to the Championship.

Roberto De Zerbi's side currently sit two points adrift of safety in 18th position in the Premier League table.

Furthermore, interest remains from elsewhere, and will likely continue while Spurs' fate remains uncertain.

Why would Marcos Senesi join Spurs?

The best-case scenario for Spurs in the short term is retaining their Premier League status for 2026-27 but without European football on their calendar.

With Senesi having never played Champions League football and having the opportunity to do so, picking Spurs would be an unusual move.

From the player's perspective, however, more chance of first-team football, living in London and being attracted to playing under Roberto De Zerbi may have swayed his decision.