Sports Mole

Tottenham Hotspur have been dealt another alarming injury concern ahead of next week's Europa League final, as Pape Sarr was forced off the pitch in Friday's Premier League clash with Aston Villa.

The Senegal midfielder started alongside Archie Gray in the middle of the park at Villa Park, before Ange Postecoglou called on Yves Bissouma to replace him early in the second half.

There did not appear to be an immediate issue for Sarr, whose withdrawal was seemingly a precautionary one before the trip to Bilbao, but he was then seen heading down the tunnel with a member of the medical team.

As a result, Sarr's withdrawal was ostensibly enforced, handing Postecoglou yet another damaging blow before next Wednesday's battle with Manchester United, and he will no doubt be asked for an update post-match.

Spurs will already be missing two key midfielders in Lucas Bergvall and James Maddison for the continental showpiece match, which Dejan Kulusevski (knee) and Radu Dragusin (knee) will also sit out.

Should Sar also be ruled out of the Europa League final, Gray could be pressed into action from the first whistle, joining Rodrigo Bentancur and Bissouma in a midfield trident in San Mames.

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Aston Villa will be bidding to set a new club record when they face Tottenham Hotspur on Friday night.

The West Midlands outfit head into the Premier League contest at Villa Park aware that the game could make or break their Champions League qualification ambitions.

Sitting level on points with fifth-placed Chelsea in the table, Villa kick off 45 minutes earlier than the Blues do against Manchester United at Stamford Bridge.

Having won five of their last six fixtures in the top flight, the West Midlands outfit are the form team in the division ahead of their closing double-header versus Spurs and Man United.

Should Villa extend their outstanding form against the North Londoners, it would see them achieve a new club feat.

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What record is at stake?

Emery has overseen a total of 31 victories in all competitions this season, and one more win would see Villa break their all-time record for triumphs in a top-flight season.

Furthermore, Villa head into this contest having put together a 20-match unbeaten streak at their home ground, stretching back to an EFL Cup defeat to Crystal Palace in September.

There have also been seven successive wins in all competitions, emphasising how strong Villa have become at their West Midlands home.

Ollie Watkins is bidding to move further clear at the top of the all-time Villa goalscoring charts in the Premier League having broke the record with his 75th such effort in the win over Bournemouth last weekend.

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All is not lost for Spurs

Although Spurs have already lost on away territory to Villa in the FA Cup this season, they have incredibly won eight of the last nine Premier League games to be held at Villa Park.

That said, Ange Postecoglou's side are on the brink of posting an unwanted 15-year streak having gone 11 games without a clean sheet in the top flight. Not since 2010 have they gone 12 matches without doing so.

In sharp contrast to Villa bidding to achieve a club record with regards to wins, Spurs must avoid defeat to not equal their club record for losses in a single top-flight season, that being 25.

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With Champions League football still at stake for hosts Aston Villa, they will hope to beat Tottenham Hotspur at Villa Park in their penultimate Premier League game of the 2024-25 season.

Villa come into the game in sixth place with 63 points following their 1-0 win against Bournemouth on May 10, while Spurs are fourth last in 17th place with just 38 points, and here Sports Mole rounds up the team news for both sides.

ASTON VILLA vs. TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR

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ASTON VILLA

Out: Jacob Ramsey (suspended), Marcus Rashford (hamstring), Youri Tielemans (muscle)

Doubtful: None

Sports Mole's predicted XI: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne; Kamara, Onana; Rogers, Asensio, McGinn; Watkins

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR

Out: Dejan Kulusevski (knee), James Maddison (knee), Lucas Bergvall (ankle), Radu Dragusin (cruciate ligament)

Doubtful: None

Sports Mole's predicted XI: Vicario; Porro, Danso, Davies, Spence; Gray, Bissouma, Sarr; Johnson, Richarlison, Son

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match .

Incoming Real Madrid head coach Xabi Alonso is reportedly keen to bring Tottenham Hotspur centre-back Cristian Romero to Bernabeu during this summer's transfer window as part of a squad rebuild.

Alonso's departure from Bayer Leverkusen this summer has already been confirmed, and it is widely expected that he will be announced as Real Madrid's manager once the 2024-25 campaign has concluded.

Real Madrid are believed to be making strong progress in their pursuit of Bournemouth's Dean Huijsen, with the Spain international now expected to arrive at Bernabeu in a deal worth in the region of £50m.

There could be another centre-back arrival this summer, though, as Alonso is believed to be keen to play a back three next term.

According to The Sun, Romero is wanted as part of a new-look back-line, with Alonso said to be a huge admirer of the Argentina international, who made the move to Spurs from Atalanta BC in 2021, initially on loan.

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Real Madrid 'keen on summer deal for Romero'

Romero has made 123 appearances for Tottenham, scoring seven times in the process, although he has only been restricted to 25 outings in all competitions during the current season due to injury.

The 27-year-old has been vital to Tottenham's run to the final of the Europa League, but he has been an unused substitute in their last three Premier League matches, with head coach Ange Postecoglou protecting his fitness.

The North London club's chances of keeping Romero would be significantly boosted if they manage to win the Europa League final next week, which would see them qualify for next season's Champions League.

Romero is set to line up in the middle of the Spurs defence against Manchester United next week, with the two English teams preparing to battle for a trophy which would mean so much to both clubs amid their domestic struggles.

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Will any Real Madrid centre-backs leave this summer?

Antonio Rudiger and Eder Militao, who are currently out with knee injuries, are both set to stay at Real Madrid this summer, and it is possible that the duo could be available for the Club World Cup next month.

Los Blancos will allegedly attempt to move David Alaba on, though, with the Austria international struggling to show his best form for the club since a long period on the sidelines with a knee injury.

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery knows that he will have to make at least one change on Friday against Tottenham Hotspur to the starting XI that featured against Bournemouth on May 10 given Jacob Ramsey was sent off after receiving two yellow cards.

Morgan Rogers is certain to feature in attack alongside Marco Asensio, while John McGinn could come into the team in place of Ramsey.

With Marcus Rashford dealing with a hamstring issue, striker Ollie Watkins is the most probable candidate to lead the line.

In midfield, Youri Tielemans would have been an option, but he could miss out for a few weeks due to a muscle injury.

Boubacar Kamara and Amadou Onana partnered each other in a double pivot last time out, and they can be expected to play together on Friday.

Centre-back Tyrone Mings played in defence against Bournemouth, but Emery has also shown trust in Pau Torres, so perhaps the latter will be partnered by Ezri Konsa.

Full-backs Matty Cash and Lucas Digne have frequently appeared in Emery's four-man defence, and they will be tasked with protecting goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.

Aston Villa possible starting lineup: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne; Kamara, Onana; Rogers, Asensio, McGinn; Watkins

> Click here to see how Tottenham Hotspur could line up for this match

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A Premier League win for Aston Villa against visitors Tottenham Hotspur at Villa park on Friday could put them in a strong position from which to qualify for the Champions League.

Sixth-placed Villa narrowly beat Bournemouth 1-0 on May 10 and their tally of 63 points is the same as fifth-placed Chelsea with just two games remaining, whereas Spurs languish in 17th place with 38 points following their 2-0 defeat against Crystal Palace last Sunday.

Match preview

The hosts were fortunate to have escaped the Vitality Stadium with all three points when they played Bournemouth given they mustered just six shots - three of which occurred in first-half stoppage time - with the victors registering their final attempt one minute into the second half.

Boss Unai Emery will not care about the nature of the win considering they are only behind the final Champions League qualification spot due to goal difference, though Chelsea still have to face Manchester United, as well as seventh-placed Nottingham Forest on the final day of the season.

Failure to qualify for Europe's premier club competition could have significant consequences on the team's ability to keep their best players amid reports that they are at risk of falling foul of profit and sustainability rules.

Villa have kept two consecutive clean sheets coming into Friday's game, and they have in fact prevented their opponents from scoring in five of their last eight top-flight matches, conceding just three times in that period.

Emery's side have been excellent in the Premier League, winning seven of their past eight while losing just one and scoring 16 goals.

The hosts' record at home has been phenomenal, with the club undefeated in their 20 most recent outings at Villa Park, achieving victory 14 times, including in each of their last seven at the stadium.

As for Tottenham, they could have easily conceded more than twice against Palace considering the Eagles produced 23 shots, 10 efforts on target and eight big chances.

Head coach Ange Postecoglou has overseen arguably the Londoners' worst ever Premier League season, and a loss on Friday would be the team's 21st defeat in 37 league matches.

Tottenham have already played the hosts twice this term, losing 2-1 in the FA Cup at Villa Park on February 9, but winning 4-1 at home on November 3, 2024 in the top flight.

The Australian manager has suggested that Spurs' poor domestic showings are a consequence of both injuries and their exploits in the Europa League, making the case that his side's focus has been on reaching the final of the tournament.

Postecoglou has suffered seven defeats in his last 10 fixtures in the Premier League, with his only victory in that period a 3-1 triumph against last-placed Southampton on April 6.

The visitors are also winless in their past five on the road in the league, losing four times while conceding 13 goals and scoring on just four occasions.

Aston Villa Premier League form:

Aston Villa form (all competitions):

Tottenham Hotspur Premier League form:

Tottenham Hotspur form (all competitions):

Team News

Emery will be without suspended attacker Jacob Ramsey following his dismissal against Bournemouth, and that will give the boss a dilemma given Marcus Rashford is dealing with a hamstring injury.

Striker Ollie Watkins could be supported by an attacking unit consisting of Morgan Rogers, Marco Asensio and John McGinn.

Though metronome Youri Tielemans is set to miss a few weeks of action, midfielders Boubacar Kamara and Amadou Onana are available, and the duo may be stationed ahead of centre-backs Ezri Konsa and Pau Torres.

Tottenham attacker James Maddison has been ruled out for the rest of the season, but news that Dejan Kulusevski has undergone surgery means that Postecoglou's squad has been depleted of ahead of next Wednesday's Europa League final.

Perhaps Son Heung-min will start in the forward line alongside Brennan Johnson and Richarlison, though the former two are unlikely to see out the 90 minutes given the final takes place next week.

Archie Gray, Yves Bissouma and Pape Matar Sarr could feature in a midfield three considering Lucas Bergvall is dealing with an ankle injury.

Centre-backs Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven are not likely to be risked from the start due to the fact the pair have often been sidelined this season, so perhaps Ben Davies and Kevin Danso should be expected to appear ahead of goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario.

Aston Villa possible starting lineup:

Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne; Kamara, Onana; Rogers, Asensio, McGinn; Watkins

Tottenham Hotspur possible starting lineup:

Vicario; Porro, Danso, Davies, Spence; Gray, Bissouma, Sarr; Johnson, Richarlison, Son

We say: Aston Villa 4-1 Tottenham Hotspur

Villa's Premier League form has been exceptional and they will be confident of being able to push towards the Champions League spots.

Tottenham are certain to rest many of their starters, and the players on the pitch will have their focus elsewhere, so it would not be surprising if the visitors were comfortably beaten.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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Tottenham Hotspur protege Mikey Moore has allegedly emerged as a target for Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund, and a switch to the Signal Iduna Park could have benefits for Arsenal.

The 17-year-old's rise to fame has one pleasing aspect of an otherwise nightmarish domestic season for Ange Postecoglou, and he has already played 20 times for the senior side in all tournaments.

Moore has come up with one goal and two assists for Spurs in that time and earned 71 minutes in Sunday's 2-0 home loss to Crystal Palace, replacing the injured Dejan Kulusevski in the first half.

However, even with captain Son Heung-min struggling with a foot injury, Moore has struggled to force his way into Postecoglou's lineup, with Richarlison being preferred on the left flank.

Moore contributed one goal and one assist in the Europa League league phase, but the 2007-born talent has not played a single minute of continental football in the knockout stages during Spurs' run to the final.

Moore 'more likely' to join PL club than Dortmund

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Moore penned a professional contract on his 17th birthday in August, but he was not permitted to sign a deal of longer than three years, meaning that he could become a free agent in 2027 as things stand.

Tottenham will likely try to extend Moore's contract when he turns 18 in three months' time, but according to journalist Florian Plettenberg, Borussia Dortmund are now plotting a move for the England Under-19 international.

The Bundesliga giants are even said to have touched base with Moore's agents, but their interest has not developed into anything more than exploratory talks at this stage.

Furthermore, if Moore is to depart Tottenham this summer, Plettenberg claims that the teenager is more likely to stay in the Premier League than try his hand at foreign football.

Moore has represented Tottenham since joining as an Under-9s player in 2016, and he could win his first senior trophy next Wednesday when Postecoglou's side take on Manchester United in the Europa League final.

Tottenham could hand Arsenal, Chelsea transfer favour with Moore sale

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Dortmund poaching top English talents and giving them a platform to thrive is nothing new - see Jude Bellingham and Jadon Sancho - and the duo's successes in Germany would prove a brilliant sales pitch for BVB.

Jamie Gittens is the latest embryonic Englishman to thrive in the black and yellow strip, so much so that the 20-year-old is apparently being courted by several Premier League sides, most notably Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal.

Gittens has reportedly informed his teammates of his desire to move on this summer, and Dortmund may be powerless to prevent him from departing due to a €60m (£50.5m) release clause in his contract.

BVB's supposed interest in Moore suggests that they are worried about the prospect of losing Gittens, and if Spurs were to sell their 17-year-old to the 2023-24 Champions League runners-up, they could be doing bitter rivals Arsenal a massive favour.

Manchester United are said to have decided to keep faith with boss Ruben Amorim even if they lose the Europa League final against Tottenham Hotspur on May 21.

The Red Devils were beaten 2-0 by West Ham United last Sunday, with their defeat the 17th time they have lost in the Premier League this term.

United's poor domestic performances have contrasted significantly with their displays in Europe given they have not lost any of their 14 matches in the Europa League, drawing five and winning nine.

However, pressure has mounted on Amorim despite the fact his side will qualify for the Champions League if they emerge as victors against Spurs in the final of the competition next week.

The Guardian report that the club's hierarchy have decided against parting ways with the Portuguese coach, even if he oversees a loss in the final.

A repeat of last season's mistakes?

Amorim deserves some leniency considering he only took charge of the Red Devils in November 2024, inheriting a disjointed and dysfunctional group from previous boss Erik ten Hag.

The 40-year-old was only afforded one signing in the January transfer window, with wing-back Patrick Dorgu joining his squad, though Antony and Marcus Rashford both left on loan in the winter.

While many of the issues in the current squad are not down to the current manager, his rigid playstyle has not benefitted many of the players at his disposal, and the fact United could finish as low as 17th cannot be overlooked.

Since co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe took over football operations at the club, he has stressed the importance of making smarter decisions off the pitch in order to see the rewards on it.

If he keeps Amorim in post, Ratcliffe must be confident that the Portuguese is the right man for the job as he otherwise risks repeating the same mistake he made with Ten Hag.

Ten Hag was under pressure at the end of the 2023-24 season but winning the FA Cup final against Manchester City reportedly helped save his job, with the Dutchman then given significant funds in the summer of 2024 only to be sacked in October.

It could be dangerous for the club's long-term health if Amorim is allocated funds only to be dismissed given that that money could be of significant benefit to a different manager.

Tottenham Hotspur forward Richarlison is a reported target of former club Everton, with his exit one of several changes touted in the summer.

Spurs were beaten 2-0 by Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon, a game in which they were thoroughly outplayed despite boasting home advantage.

The defeat was the club's 20th of the league season, and the result means they end matchweek 36 in 17th place with just 38 points.

Tottenham will have the chance to somewhat salvage their season considering they play against Manchester United in the Europa League final on May 21, and victory on the day will see the club qualify for the Champions League.

However, several changes to the team are likely to take place in the summer given their poor domestic showings, with Sky Sports News claiming that striker Richarlison could be one figure on his way out amid interest from his former side Everton.

What other changes could take place?

Boss Ange Postecoglou has been criticised for refusing to make adaptations to his attacking style of play, with pundits like Jamie Carragher arguing that his offensive approach has left the team exposed at the back.

While Tottenham have scored 63 goals in the Premier League this season - a tally only bettered by four sides - they rank as the division's joint fifth worst defensive side having conceded on 59 occasions.

The Australian head coach looks likely to be a casualty of the 2024-25 campaign, especially as Spurs have been linked with Roberto De Zerbi, but a number of players could follow him through the exit door.

Captain Son Heung-min will be 33 in July and he has struggled to find form this term, scoring just seven times in 28 Premier League appearances.

There are question marks regarding the futures of defender Cristian Romero, who is a reported target of Atletico Madrid, while midfielder Yves Bissouma has had his place in the squad scrutinised.

Even if Spurs win the Europa League and qualify for the Champions League, it is impossible to overlook their form in the Premier League, and it would not be surprising if numerous changes were made throughout the club in order to avoid a repeat of arguably their worst ever top-flight season. body check tags ::

Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou is hopeful that the injury Dejan Kulusevski picked up in Sunday's 2-0 Premier League loss to Crystal Palace is not serious.

The Lilywhites were dealt another highly untimely fitness concern ahead of the Europa League final in the London derby, as Kulusevski was forced off with an apparent whack to the knee.

Spurs are already missing James Maddison and Lucas Bergvall for the rest of the season due to respective knee and ankle injuries, while Son Heung-min has only just recovered from a foot problem.

However, Kulusevski was able to walk off unaided as he was replaced by Mikey Moore in the first half, and speaking to reporters in his post-game press conference, Postecoglou allayed any concerns.

"He should be OK. Just talking to him after. The medical team are not too concerned about him. It was just a knock," the Australian said after a record-breaking defeat in the Premier League.

Tottenham break unwanted club record in Crystal Palace defeat

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Unsurprisingly prioritising the imminent trip to Bilbao to meet Manchester United in the Europa League final, Postecoglou made another eight changes to his starting lineup for Sunday's derby.

Crystal Palace also have bigger fish to fry as they look ahead to next weekend's FA Cup final with Manchester City, but the Eagles were the only team to turn up at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Two strikes from Eberechi Eze gifted Palace a deserved victory, and Oliver Glasner's men could have easily won by more had it not been for stand-in Spurs goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky, who made eight saves.

However, the January signing could not prevent Spurs from slipping to their 20th top-flight loss of the season, the most defeats that they have suffered in a single campaign in the Premier League era.

Speaking to BBC Match of the Day, Postecoglou lamented the amount of alterations he had to make on the afternoon, highlighting Spurs' exploits in both the Europa League and EFL Cup, where they were knocked out by Liverpool in the semi-finals.

Postecoglou laments "disjointed" Tottenham in record-breaking loss

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"We weren't good enough today," he added. "We didn't reach the level we needed in the Premier League and fell short. We were disjointed because of the number of changes to the team which obviously affects what we're trying to do.

"I still think we could have performed better. We haven't been able to navigate that process as much as we would have liked, we wouldn't have made as many changes in an ideal world but that's the situation we're in.

"It's quite clear why we've lost so many games. If we weren't in Europe or had a Carabao Cup run and only had the league to think about since Christmas then we'd be higher in the league."

However, Tottenham's Europa League final opponents Man United also took a hit to their momentum on Sunday, going down 2-0 at home to West Ham United as they dropped down to 16th and Spurs 17th in the Premier League table.

The Lilywhites now have four days to rest before taking on Aston Villa next Friday, a match rescheduled to allow more recuperation time for the Europa League final on May 21.

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