Sports Mole

Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly been dealt a devastating injury setback, as Mohammed Kudus could require surgery on a new complication.

The Ghana international has been out of action since sustaining a serious quadriceps injury in January's 1-1 draw with Sunderland, missing Spurs' last 16 matches across all competitions.

Kudus was initially pencilled in for a comeback in April, and Igor Tudor revealed just before his departure that the former West Ham United and Ajax attacker was working with the ball again.

Nearly three weeks have passed since that update, and there was hope that Kudus could have been available to make his comeback in Roberto De Zerbi's first game in charge against Sunderland this Sunday.

However, according to a report from The Sun, the 25-year-old has now suffered a new setback, and there are even concerns that he could miss out on a spot in the Ghana squad for the World Cup.

Tottenham's Mohammed Kudus 'could require surgery' on new injury setback

It is not clear whether Kudus has exacerbated his previous injury or has suffered a new problem, but an operation has not been ruled out for the attacker.

If the 25-year-old does go under the knife and his World Cup hopes are plunged into doubt, then he would almost certainly miss the remainder of the Premier League season in a major blow to Spurs' survival hopes.

Kudus hit the ground running at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium following his arrival from West Ham for £55m in the summer, registering three goals and six assists in 26 appearances before his injury.

Tottenham - who remain one point above the drop zone in the Premier League table - are also working without James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, Wilson Odobert, Guglielmo Vicario, Pape Sarr, Rodrigo Bentancur, Ben Davies and Yves Bissouma, but De Zerbi has received one boost ahead of his debut match.

Games Tottenham's Mohammed Kudus could miss through injury

Remaining Tottenham fixtures 2025-26

April 12: Sunderland (A)

April 18: Brighton (H)

April 25: vs. Wolves (A)

May 2: vs. Aston Villa (A)

May 11: vs. Leeds (H)

May 17: vs. Chelsea (A)

May 24: vs. Everton (H)

With the FA Cup, EFL Cup and Champions League long gone, Spurs are only fighting to avoid a devastating demotion for the rest of the season and have seven games left on their calendar.

Kudus will almost certainly sit out all of Spurs' remaining games this month, against Sunderland (April 12), Brighton & Hove Albion (April 18) and Wolverhampton Wanderers (April 25), as well as the showdown with Aston Villa on May 2.

The Ghana international should also be absent for the Leeds United home game on May 11 - a potential relegation six-pointer - and there is a major possibility that he will also miss Chelsea on May 17 and Everton on May 24.

Roberto De Zerbi has been appointed as Tottenham's new head coach, replacing Igor Tudor. Before that decision was made, however, a number of other managers were linked with the post, among them Sean Dyche, known for his expertise in keeping clubs in the top flight, who has been without a club since leaving Nottingham Forest in February.

Despite the speculation, the former Burnley and Everton boss was never actually contacted by Spurs — a fact Dyche has now confirmed himself, adding that he would not have accepted any approach regardless.

Dyche confirms he was never contacted by Spurs

"I didn't laugh it off by the way, I told a true story. I spend a lot of time in London, not working but socially, and I just happened to be here at the same time the Tottenham job opened. Once you're in the city, people put two and two together and it was never about getting drawn into the rumours. I'm telling the truth. There was a lot of speculation and talk and I was playing it down correctly," he said on talkSPORT's White and Jordan show.

The speculation emerged at one of the most precarious moments of Tottenham's season. The club are hovering just one point above the relegation zone with seven matches remaining.

Dyche, who built his reputation as a survival specialist primarily at Burnley and Everton, made it clear that financial incentive would not have been a factor in any decision.

Dyche says no amount of money would have swayed him

"Obviously in the career I have, it does pay well, but I wouldn't go in there looking for money. They could offer me a massive amount of money — I'm sure they're capable of it and allegedly they've offered De Zerbi a massive amount of money. It would have been about what are you going to help me gain as a human being. What would I gain? I'm not thirsty for that. I've got some money," he said.

The 54-year-old also outlined the professional risks he felt would make the role unappealing and potentially damaging to his career.

"If you don't get the job done, then somehow it's on my neck that I took Tottenham down. That ain't good for me as a human, this is not even about football at this point. Then you get some money and I go, I'm not thirsty for that. I've got some money," he continued. "Say you go in there and do the job, which is to stay up. Next season if you're not in the top four and the football isn't what they want, you're rubbish and they want you gone. So you're not going to gain a lot there, are you? And that's if you get the job done, because it's not easy."

With just one point separating them from West Ham, who currently occupy the final relegation place, De Zerbi's Tottenham visit Sunderland on Sunday in their 32nd Premier League fixture of the season.

Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly identified Manchester City goalkeeper James Trafford as a potential successor for Guglielmo Vicario.

The Italy international has been Tottenham's number one goalkeeper for the majority of his stay in north London.

However, Vicario, who arrived from Empoli in 2023, has come under fire for some of his performances in what has proved to be a difficult campaign for Spurs, who are currently battling to preserve their top-flight status.

As a result, the relegation-threatened side could look to offload Vicario this summer, despite the fact that he is under contract until June 2028.

Spurs eyeing Trafford as Vicario replacement

With Vicario heading towards the exit door, The Sun are reporting that Spurs view Man City's Trafford as a potential successor.

Spurs are currently monitoring the Englishman's situation at the Etihad Stadium, although they face fierce competition from other Premier League clubs.

Newcastle United are believed to be in pole position to secure his signature, while there is also interest coming from Aston Villa, who could be in a position to offer Champions League football at the end of the season.

As for Spurs, any realistic chance of landing the Man City shot-stopper will depend on their survival bid.

Tottenham, who are sitting just a point clear of the drop, will have to lower their expectations for a new goalkeeper if they are unable to avoid the drop.

Why Trafford could leave Man City this summer

After emerging from Man City's youth system, Trafford spent time out on loan before joining Burnley in a permanent deal in 2023.

The goalkeeper returned to the Etihad Stadium last summer after helping Burnley win promotion to the Premier League.

Trafford hoped to be Pep Guardiola's number one, but those aspirations were dashed by the arrival of Gianluigi Donnarumma.

As a result, the 23-year-old has featured in just 14 competitive games, with only three of those appearances coming in the Premier League.

With his situation unlikely to change, Trafford may look for a summer exit in a bid to find regular game time elsewhere, although it remains to be seen whether Man City will be willing to sanction his departure.

Tottenham Hotspur have earmarked 23-year-old Sassuolo defender Tarik Muharemovic as a potential summer transfer target, according to a report.

The Lilywhites remain in serious danger of dropping down to the Championship under Roberto De Zerbi, who has taken over with the Europa League winners sat 17th in the Premier League table.

Only one point separates Tottenham from West Ham United in 18th position, but De Zerbi has vowed to stay on at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium no matter what transpires next season.

The former Sassuolo, Marseille and Brighton & Hove Albion boss will also be involved in plans for the club's first transfer window, although those plans cannot be set in stone until it is known what division Spurs will be competing in next term.

However, De Zerbi could very well target players from his previous clubs regardless, and according to Tuttosport - via Sport Witness - Muharemovic has emerged as an ideal target.

Who is Tottenham-linked centre-back Tarik Muharemovic?

Tarik Muharemovic profile

Age: 23

Height: 6ft 3in

Nationality: Bosnian

Club: Sassuolo

Club appearances (2025-26): 27

Club goals (2025-26): 2

Valuation: £17.4m

Born in the Slovenian city of Ljubljana, Muharemovic - who represents Bosnia-Herzegovina at international level - has established a reputation as one of the leading defensive talents in Serie A.

The 23-year-old was on the Juventus books from 2021 to 2025, but he never made the grade in Turin and was offloaded permanently to Sassuolo last summer following a season-long loan spell.

Muharemovic helped Sassuolo earn promotion to the top flight in his first campaign and has since registered two goals and two assists in 26 Serie A starts for the Neroverdi, who impressively sit in mid-table.

The 6ft 3in defender will also have the chance to showcase his talents on the global stage this summer, as he helped Bosnia-Herzegovina qualify for the 2026 World Cup, playing the full 120 minutes in their playoff final win over Italy.

How much will Tottenham have to pay for Tarik Muharemovic?

Muharemovic - known for his 'domination' of Serie A forwards in recent weeks - is under contract with Sassuolo until 2031, but the Serie A side would be in no position to turn down a sizeable sum.

Sassuolo paid just €5m (£4.4m) to sign Muharemovic in 2025, and the Neroverdi would supposedly be after €30m (£26.2m) to let the Bosnian defender depart in the upcoming window - a fee that would represent an 'extraordinary capital gain'.

Spurs and Aston Villa are said to be the two main Premier League contenders for the 2003-born centre-back, whom Bournemouth tried and failed to snap up during the January transfer window.

However, Juventus are also interested in bringing him back to Turin, while Inter Milan have touched base with Sassuolo over a summer deal and could blow Spurs out of the water if De Zerbi's men go down.

Tottenham Hotspur's players were reportedly impressed by new head coach Roberto De Zerbi during his first training session on Friday.

The 46-year-old has signed a bumper five-year deal at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium running until the summer of 2031, with the immediate aim to keep the Premier League giants in the top flight.

Yet to win a top-flight contest in 2026, the Lilywhites are hovering dangerously above the relegation zone, a single point and position ahead of West Ham United in 18th with seven games remaining.

Before the international break, Igor Tudor's Spurs crashed out of the Champions League at the round-of-16 stage at the hands of Atletico Madrid, who took advantage of an out-of-sorts English outfit.

De Zerbi returns to the Premier League following a successful spell on the South Coast at Brighton & Hove Albion, having to wait until April 12 for his first match as Tottenham boss when they visit Sunderland.

Tottenham players' De Zerbi first impressions revealed?

Near the backend of the international pause, Tottenham announced De Zerbi as their new head coach on a five-year deal, with the Italian tasked with guiding the capital club to Premier League survival.

Due to the process of the 46-year-old obtaining his work permit in England, he was only able to take his first training session at the Enfield complex on Friday, getting onto the grass with his new players for the first time.

After the failed reigns of Thomas Frank and most recently Tudor, De Zerbi is the third man to lead Spurs in a difficult 2025-26 term, with the first-team squad becoming accustomed to a new voice once again.

According to football.london, Tottenham's senior ranks were left extremely impressed by the opening training session of the former Brighton boss, with one unnamed member of the team claiming that the work of the new coach was 'outstanding'.

On top of that, the report states that numerous other players have told close family and friends glowing reports of De Zerbi's first day of the training ground, highlighting the 46-year-old's tactical work.

De Zerbi's short-term remit

One of the most tactically-impressive managers in world football, De Zerbi does not have a lot of time to get his genius ideas across to the Tottenham squad, who are embroiled in an unexpected relegation dogfight.

The Italian has insisted that he will be in the North London dugout regardless of whether Spurs are in the Premier League or not next season, however, that is certainly not a reason for relaxation.

Out of their final seven matches, Tottenham have a number of contests that they will be targeting for maximum points in the race for top-flight safety, including a trip to bottom side Wolverhampton Wanderers on April 25.

New Tottenham Hotspur boss Roberto De Zerbi has received an injury boost after Mathys Tel was spotted in Friday's training session.

De Zerbi was appointed Spurs head coach earlier this week following the club's decision to part ways with interim boss Igor Tudor.

The former Marseille head coach has signed a five-year deal with the north London club, highlighting his commitment to the role despite the club's perilous position in the Premier League table.

De Zerbi takes over a side that are languishing in 17th position and just a point above West Ham United in 18th spot.

De Zerbi handed Tel injury boost

The new Spurs boss will be keen to have all hands on deck for the final seven matches of the Premier League season, so it was certainly a positive sight to see Tel in Friday's training session.

There were concerns surrounding Tel's injury status after he limped off in the 3-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest before the international break.

The forward then withdrew from the France Under-21 squad, giving him valuable time to recover over the international break.

Tel was seen taking part in De Zerbi's first training session in a short clip uploaded to Tottenham's social media channels.

The attacker's involvement will come as a boost ahead of Spurs' next Premier League outing against Sunderland on April 12.

Who is currently on Tottenham's injury list?

While Tel appears to be available for selection, De Zerbi still has a number of injury concerns and absentees to contend with ahead of his first game in charge.

Goalkeeper Gugliemo Vicario is unlikely to be ready for the meeting with Sunderland after undergoing a hernia operation.

Defender Ben Davies remains sidelined with an ankle injury, while Yves Bissouma is a doubt after he sat out the defeat to Forest.

Rodrigo Bentancur and Mohammed Kudus are both progressing in their recoveries, but it is unclear whether they will be available for next Sunday's fixture.

Spurs also remain without long-term absentees James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski and Wilson Odobert.

Bayern Munich are reportedly interested in signing Tottenham Hotspur target Bart Verbruggen from Brighton & Hove Albion.

Manuel Neuer remains Bayern's long-standing number one goalkeeper, but at the age of 40, he is in the closing stages of his career.

The Bavarians are still keen to extend Neuer's stay at the Allianz Arena, with his current contract set to expire at the end of the season.

However, the veteran shot-stopper is yet to decide whether to sign a new deal or end his 15-year stay in Munich.

Even if he remains at the club, Neuer's injury struggles this season highlight the need for Bayern to find a long-term successor.

Bayern could disrupt Tottenham's Verbruggen pursuit

According to TEAMtalk, the German giants have identified Verbruggen as a potential replacement for Neuer.

Bayern are said to be 'great' admirers of the Brighton man, who is currently their 'leading candidate' in the search for a new goalkeeper.

The report claims that Bayern's interest in Verbruggen could 'torpedo' any plans Spurs have of signing the Netherlands international.

Tottenham have a 'long-standing' interest in the 24-year-old and could look to reunite him with his former Brighton head coach, Roberto De Zerbi, if they are successful in their Premier League survival fight.

De Zerbi, who was recently appointed Tottenham boss, was in the Brighton dugout when Verbruggen was signed from Anderlecht in the summer of 2023.

Why are Spurs in the market for a new goalkeeper?

Spurs number one Guglielmo Vicario has recorded 13 shutouts in 43 competitive appearances during a difficult campaign.

While he may be the club's first-choice goalkeeper, Vicario's overall form has been disappointing this season, leading to Igor Tudor's decision to drop him for the Champions League last-16 first leg against Atletico Madrid.

However, Antonin Kinsky made two profile errors before being hauled off in the 17th minute, a clear example that he is not ready to be Tottenham's number one.

As a result, Spurs will surely look to address their goalkeeping situation in the summer transfer window, with De Zerbi likely to oversee a rebuild if the team stay in the top flight.

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly showing a keen interest in £55m-rated striker Marcos Leonardo, formerly linked with a move to Arsenal.

New Spurs boss Roberto De Zerbi is currently getting to work with his squad at Hotspur Way, where three strikers in Randal Kolo Muani, Dominic Solanke and Richarlison are all vying for minutes.

However, whether any of the trio will still be at Spurs next year is another question entirely, as Kolo Muani is only on loan from Paris Saint-Germain with no option to make the deal permanent.

Meanwhile, Richarlison will enter the last 12 months of his contract at the end of June, and Solanke could seek a move elsewhere if Tottenham suffer a catastrophic relegation to the Championship.

As a result, a new striker is supposedly already on De Zerbi's radar, and Brazilian outlet RTI Esporte claims that the Lilywhites have taken a liking to Al-Hilal's Leonardo.

Tottenham face possible 'bidding war' for £55m Marcos Leonardo

While the 22-year-old was representing Portuguese giants Benfica, Arsenal allegedly came forward with an offer of £25.5m for his services, but the Gunners failed to secure a deal.

Instead, Leonardo was seduced by Saudi Arabian riches and joined Al-Hilal that same summer, and the Brazilian has struck an impressive 44 goals in 72 matches for the Saudi Pro League team.

Leonardo has a long-running contract with Al-Hilal until the summer of 2029, but the club reportedly do not consider him to be untouchable and would entertain offers of around £55m in the upcoming window.

Brazilian giants Flamengo and Sao Paulo have already tried and failed to bring Leonardo back to his homeland, while Tottenham have been keeping tabs on the attacker for 'months' and are ready to make their move.

However, clubs in Serie A, La Liga and Ligue 1 are also interested in a deal for Leonardo, meaning that a 'bidding war' for the ex-Brazil youth international could soon emerge.

Does £55m Marcos Leonardo make sense for Tottenham?

While Leonardo has largely found the back of the net for fun in Saudi Arabia, his brief stint in Europe was mediocre, as he struck just eight goals in 24 appearances for Benfica.

The Brazilian is now two years older and wiser, but Tottenham may not be able to justify spending £55m on him, especially if they do find themselves playing Championship football next season.

As Spurs' position is still so precarious, it is nigh-on impossible for the hierarchy to make firm transfer plans, but any arrivals in the region of £50m+ can surely be written off if demotion does occur.

Roberto De Zerbi is Tottenham's new head coach, the third of the season. Had this been announced in July 2025, at the start of the campaign, it could have been considered one of the Premier League's best appointments. Now, however, that is no longer the case.

The Italian replaces Igor Tudor, who oversaw a wretched run of five defeats in seven games, and will attempt to save the club from relegation with seven matches remaining. If Tudor had already disrupted the foundations Thomas Frank had been building at Spurs, De Zerbi represents an even more significant break.

Why defending the De Zerbi appointment is difficult

There is no denying that a manager of his calibre at a major Premier League club would be inherently exciting. De Zerbi is a "romantic" of football: he loves the ball, technical quality and aggressive territorial dominance. He has always been associated with aesthetically pleasing football.

Even so, it is difficult to defend the appointment at this stage of the season. Tottenham are just one point above the relegation zone, with seven defeats in their last ten games. Their most recent win — a 3-2 victory over Atletico Madrid in the Champions League — was rendered almost meaningless by their elimination from the competition.

More than that, the squad Tottenham have assembled does not appear close to the style De Zerbi demands. Worse still, several of the players most suited to his approach are currently injured, Dejan Kulusevski, James Maddison, Rodrigo Bentancur and Mohammed Kudus among them.

De Zerbi's mission, then, is close to impossible: applying a high-risk, build-from-the-back style — one that demands patience, heavy goalkeeper involvement and a team that deliberately invites pressure — to a side desperately fighting to stay up.

Possession, manipulation and controlled chaos: how Tottenham should play under De Zerbi

Following impressive spells at Sassuolo, Brighton and Marseille, De Zerbi has built a reputation as a manager capable of raising the collective level through complex and often risky tactical concepts.

De Zerbi's teams typically operate from a 3-2-5 structure in possession, a shape that, at first glance, resembles Pep Guardiola's, but with distinct objectives. Where Guardiola seeks to control the game through constant circulation and rational occupation of space, De Zerbi uses possession as a tool to manipulate the opposition. The aim is not simply to keep the ball, but to lure the opponent into errors.

The key concept is deliberately inviting pressure. The team plays short, seemingly risky passes in their own half, encouraging the opposition to push their lines higher. When that happens, De Zerbi's side look to break through that pressure with quick vertical or diagonal passes, exploiting the space left behind. The result is unpredictable, often brilliant football, but one that carries obvious risk.

Maximum width and aggressive box occupation

Another fundamental pillar of his approach is the use of wide players. Unlike teams that deploy more interior forwards, De Zerbi demands his wingers hug the touchline, stretching the pitch to its maximum width.

That width creates space for central penetrations and allows the team to attack with five players in the final line. The objective is simple: stretch the opposition's defence to breaking point and create numerical superiority in the channels.

Despite the heavy emphasis on possession, De Zerbi's football is not slow. On the contrary, verticality arrives at precisely the right moment, typically after luring the press.

This explains why his teams consistently produce high offensive numbers. Both Brighton and Marseille ranked among the best in metrics such as possession, chances created and expected goals during their respective domestic campaigns.

The downside, however, is clear. Having so many players committed to attacking leaves space exposed in defensive transitions. It is no coincidence that his teams have frequently ranked among those conceding the most goals from counter-attacks and direct play.

How the Spurs squad fits De Zerbi's system

Implementing this model at Tottenham will depend entirely on how well the squad adapts. Despite the difficulties, there are players who appear naturally suited to his demands. In midfield, Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall fit the profile he favours, young, technically gifted, mobile and positionally intelligent.

In defence, Djed Spence could be a key piece in the transition to a back three, while Pedro Porro offers versatility with his ability to occupy interior zones. Further forward, Xavi Simons emerges as the ideal creative profile for the space between the lines, while Richarlison could benefit from the aggression demanded in the final third. Cristian Romero fits the model through his defensive intensity and ability to defend in open space.

The big unknown is the one-versus-one dribbler, an essential component in De Zerbi's system for breaking down defences. In that regard, the return of Mohammed Kudus could be decisive. The other concern is the volume of midfielders in the squad who do not fit the style: recent signings Joao Palhinha and Connor Gallagher, for example, are not the profile his approach requires.

Despite the theoretical fit, one factor could prove decisive against De Zerbi: time. His model is notoriously complex, demanding repetition, training and collective understanding.

Even at Brighton, the manager needed several weeks to embed his ideas, going without a win in his opening matches. The adaptation period at Tottenham could follow a similar path — but with a crucial difference: if results do not come quickly, the club will be relegated.

Curiously, Spurs find themselves in a situation with parallels to the early days of Ange Postecoglou. Possession football, high pressing and wide attacking play were already part of the club's recent repertoire during that period, which could ease the transition.

If he can implement his philosophy, De Zerbi could transform Tottenham into one of the most exciting and unpredictable teams in the Premier League. The risk is high — and the outcome is likely to be historic either way: a catastrophic relegation, or the turning point that redefines the club's direction for years to come.

Tottenham Hotspur have confirmed the appointment of Roberto De Zerbi as their third head coach of the season, following the dismissal of Igor Tudor.

The Italian has signed a five-year deal in north London, signalling a long-term vision, although he faces the immediate challenge of steering Spurs to safety with just seven games remaining.

Tottenham currently sit just one point above the relegation zone in the league table, but De Zerbi will be confident of preserving their Premier League status.

Should they avoid the drop, the summer transfer window could see Spurs target several players familiar with De Zerbi’s system.

Here, Sports Mole takes a look at five such players Roberto De Zerbi can sign for Tottenham.

Carlos Baleba (Brighton)

The 23-year-old defensive midfielder has experienced a dip in form this season, which has cooled interest from several clubs in recent months.

De Zerbi signed Baleba from Lille for £23m and believed he had the potential to develop into the next Moises Caicedo.

With Joao Palhinha unlikely to join permanently, Spurs could be tempted to take a calculated gamble on Baleba at a reduced fee.

Geronimo Rulli (Marseille)

The Argentine goalkeeper has been a regular presence for Marseille this season, starting 24 Ligue 1 matches.

With Guglielmo Vicario linked with a potential exit and Antonin Kinsky facing an uncertain future, Spurs may look to reinforce their goalkeeping department.

Rulli’s experience and consistency, combined with a contract nearing its final year, could make him an attractive and affordable option.

Kaoru Mitoma (Brighton)

The Japanese winger arguably enjoyed his best spell under De Zerbi, registering 23 goal contributions in 48 appearances.

His direct style, pace, and creativity make him a natural fit for the system De Zerbi prefers.

Son Heung Min's departure has left a massive hole on the left-hand side, and Mitoma could be brought in to fill the gap.

Timothy Weah (Marseille)

Weah has been linked with Tottenham in the past, although no concrete move materialised.

The 26-year-old has scored two goals and provided two assists in 24 league appearances this season, figures that do not fully reflect his overall contribution.

His ability to operate at right-back, left-back, right midfield, and on the wing could make him a valuable utility option in an injury-hit squad.

Manuel Locatelli (Juventus)

Locatelli has been identified as a key tactical fit for De Zerbi’s system due to his composure and control in midfield.

The 27-year-old brings significant experience at both club and international levels, offering leadership and stability.

A deal in the region of £22m could be enough to secure his services, making him a practical and strategic addition for Spurs.