Hotspur HQ

Lately, there has been a lot of praise for Tottenham Hotspur center midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur, as the Lilywhites have been without a defeat since the Uruguayan international's quiet return to the starting lineup after tearing his hamstring in the winter.

While Bentancur was actually one of the antagonists for Spurs in the first half of the campaign, epitomizing the deterioration of Tottenham under Thomas Frank into the most cowardly football in the English Premiership, he has emerged in shining armor under Roberto De Zerbi, even in the place of young Archie Gray.

But it is not a great thing that Bentancur has suddenly become so important to Tottenham and so above the others. Taking nothing away from the player himself, who was exceptional in blanketing an awful Wolves side last weekend in a 1-0 victory, but if Bentancur is the best midfielder of experience that Spurs have in terms of controlling a game, then this team is really in big trouble long term.

Tottenham have serious questions to answer in midfield

Tottenham Hotspur may be able to save themselves from relegation, which still seems bleak at this point, but rebuilding this club back into an annual team in European football is going to be tall task for Roberto De Zerbi and - wistful thinking here- the next leadership group that takes over from Vinai Venkatesham and Johan Lange.

Bentancur is a decent footballer, but he profiles as more of a rotational piece for a Premier League club with aspirations of hanging around in the top seven. Right now, he is indispensible to Tottenham and one of the driving forces of their survival bid under De Zerbi, which is, among many things, an indictment of how far Spurs have left the standard of quality slip at the N17 in the last few years.

It is all coming home to roost for Tottenham in 2026, and whlie the appreciation for Rodrigo Bentancur is merited, especially in the context of a player saving his own poor season and coming back from a brutal injury, the broader discussions about Tottenham as a whole are far less rosy.

There is going to be a lot of work that needs to be done this summer transfer window, and it is the sort of yeoman's work that has been needed for quite some time and not done. In the meantime, Bentancur will need to keep playing at this level, because, well, Spurs hopes of the Premier League are totally shot otherwise.

Although it is unclear when James Maddison will return to the Tottenham Hotspur midfield as their starting No. 10, which is an even more important return after Xavi Simons himself tore his ACL in last weekend's streak breaking win over Wolves, the Lilywhites are set to get another key midfielder back in the side - even if he isn't as big of a headline grabber as Madders.

According to Roberto De Zerbi at the final press conference before the huge Premier League tilt against Aston Villa, Senegal international Pape Matar Sarr is ready to return to the matchday squad from his injury.

De Zerbi told reporters, via Football.London's Alasdair Gold, “Today was the first day with the group but he worked very well. He’s available, yes. I have not decided yet the starting XI.”

Pape Matar Sarr is back in the saddle

Sarr has not suited up for Tottenham Hotspur since a 30 minute cameo off the bench against Sunderland in their return from the March international break on April 12, as he sustained a shoulder injury. But he's going to be back in the saddle against Aston Villa, though De Zerbi is leaving the door open as to whether or not he is a starting option.

Lately, Tottenham have been starting all veteran midfielders under De Zerbi. Xavi Simons would actually play on the left wing with winter signing Conor Gallagher in the 10 position and Rodrigo Bentancur and Yves Bissouma behind him.

Since Bissouma has been more mediocre than stellar, he is the easiest one to lop off the lineup. Tottenham have to make tough decisions with the forward line with Simons (and Dominic Solanke) down, but if Maddison is not available, then Gallagher will still be the 10.

And that increases Sarr's chances of getting back into the starting lineup, because he still has enough experience to be considered by Roberto De Zerbi as a more senior player. He is definitely a better option than Bissouma and can offer the same level of grit, work, and defensive quality as Bissouma in that box to box role alongside Rodrigo Bentancur.

Pape Matar Sarr may not be a star player, and his importance to Tottenham this season is technically part of the problem. But he is still a useful player to Spurs, whether as a starter when they are down in numbers or as a rotational piece. So the confirmation that he is back with Spurs in injury crisis in midfield is great news, especially against an opponent the caliber of Aston Villa.

Aston Villa are fifth in the Premier League table, 24 points better off than the lowly, seemingly doomed Tottenham Hotspur heading into Sunday's duel in the West Midlands.

On paper, this is a game Spurs should not win. However, odd things tend to occur down the stretch, and our desperation, combined with the Villans' alternate priorities, means Roberto De Zerbi's depleted outfit have a fighting chance.

If we are to survive, a result is imperative at Villa Park. That's the feeling. We don't want to be heading to Chelsea in a couple of weeks time needing to win to avoid the ignominy of those folk being the executioners.

Despite claiming our first Premier League win of 2026 last weekend, the level of optimism in N17 is rather subdued after another tough round of injury news. De Zerbi, though, won't tolerate anyone feeling sorry for themselves. He's embracing the challenge, and this group of players, despite everything that's conspired against them during the run-in so far, are fighting for this manager.

Villa Park has been a happy hunting ground for Tottenham

"It’s all negative things, and it’s rubbish. I want to keep my focus on ourselves, on the qualities of my players," De Zerbi asserted on Friday, attempting to shift the mentality of his squad and its supporters for the final month of a torrid season.

He said after a crushing draw at home to Brighton & Hove Albion that his team are capable of winning five out of five to preserve their Premier League status. Well, Spurs are one for one on that front, and now chasing an unlikely win at Villa Park.

They're aided by the fact that this fixture arrives between Villa's Europa League semi-final tie with Nottingham Forest, and Unai Emery is bound to rotate heavily on Sunday night. His team are eight points clear of Brighton in sixth, likely to secure Champions League football anyway, so they're not desperate for a result this weekend. Thursday night's clash is doubtless more significant.

Moreover, Tottenham have enjoyed their visits to Villa Park over the past 20 years. In fact, we've triumphed at Aston Villa's home more times (10) than any other away ground in the Premier League since 2006.

We're happy hunters when we visit the West Midlands, and some of our recent victories have been emphatic. Antonio Conte's Spurs thumped the Villans 4-0 towards the end of the 2021/22 season, then Ange Postecoglou's side won by the same margin two seasons later.

The long awaited return of Tottenham Hotspur star attacking midfielder James Maddison is finally right around the corner after his torn ACL late in the 2024/25 season, and his reintroduction to a team threatened with relegation could not come at a better time, especially with the other No. 10, Xavi Simons, now out for the foreseeable future with a torn ACL of his own.

Maddison was the team's chief creative architect besides wide man Son Heung-min last season, enjoying a successful season en route to the Europa League title. A long time star of the Premier League, Maddison brings the kind of veteran leadership and proven quality that Spurs have really missed this season with a sea of injuries.

When Maddison was last playing for Tottenham last season, Spurs finished 17th in the Premier League and already had serious issues in the middle of the park. It's why they tried bringing in Joao Palhinha, Conor Gallagher, and Simons as new faces to begin with.

Tottenham's midfield is in shambles

But a year lafter, with Maddison on the verge of returning potentially against Leeds United, Madders enters uncharted territory to a Tottenham midfield that has completely fallen apart. New manager Roberto De Zerbi has cobbled together the veterans to form something salvageable, somehow getting improved play out of Rodrigo Bentancur and Gallagher in a starting XI alongside the mercurial Yves BIssouma.

None of those guys, even in good form, is a starting caliber player for a Premier League Big Six club. So when James Maddison returns from his injury, he may be the only top midfielder standing, and that's assuming he still has the juice after a devastating knee injury.

Being the leading face of this midfield is a tall task for Maddison, and he wil have to bridge that group and a front line that has been quit atrocious this season, showing no real signs of growth under De Zerbi either. Mathys Tel returning to the starting XI would obviously help matters, but it's also not like Tel is ready to be a true star at the highest level either.

Tottenham fans will be very happy to see a healthy Maddison back out there, but his return leads to this sobering reflection that Spurs, who were already terrible in the Premier League last season, are markedly worse in the areas that matter most a year later. And hence they are reliant on these desperation ploys like Maddison back from an ACL tear to be the catalyst that saves them from relegation.

Tottenham Hotspur have to go forward for the remainder of the 2025/26 Premier League season with almost a paradoxical mindset. They have to believe, firstly, that they must be perfect and win every game, leaving nothing in the relegation battle to chance. But they also must play freely without fear and without that sense there is anything to lose, because it is the cowardice and trepidation that has cost them - and we have seen that this season.

Roberto De Zerbi has hit all the right notes in his press conferences as the early Tottenham manager, and he has done so in the ways that neither Igor Tudor nor Thomas Frank were able to. The charismatic De Zerbi delivered again, starting a war on negativity head on before the Aston Villa game.

And as part of that, De Zerbi sent some slight praise over to Richarlison and Randal Kolo Muani in light of an injury crisis that is only deepening and adding to that negativity surrounding a Spurs side that is still in the three Premier League relegation places.

Roberto De Zerbi has faith in his forwards

De Zerbi said, via Last Word on Spurs, “If Xavi and Solanke are injured we can play with Kolo Muani, Tel, Richarlison. These are not bad players. We have Porro, Van de Ven, Udogie (lists a lot of other fit players). I don't have too much time to hear these things.”

Tottenham Hotspur fans already know that Mathys Tel is good, but it is Richarlison and Randal Kolo Muani, the two experienced strikers, who have born the brunt of the negativity from within. And rightfully so, to be blunt, they have been disappointing this season and especially lately - Kolo Muani being the biggest offender of them all.

Instead of trying to wax poetic about them or gush their praises in a blatant and rather disengenuous bid to raise their spirits or gas them up, De Zerbi smartly took a quicker and more subtle approach. He brought up Kolo Muani's transfer pedigree to PSG and Richarlison's standing as a Brazil national team player, as both men were World Cup starters in 2022. He used those facts in the press conference, in addition to offering confidence that they can step up with Simons and Solanke down for the count.

And Kolo Muani and Richarlison needed to hear that from their manager. They needed De Zerbi to counteract the negative by showing that he trusts them. But, well, the onus is now on them to earn that trust and play well vs. Aston Villa.

When Tottenham Hotspur opened the new year and, thus, a new transfer window, they had to know that the players at their disposal were not adequate and that the threat of relegation from the Premier League was something to keep in the back of their minds.

But by a combination of hubris and incompetence, Spurs signed just one player of experience in the winter transfer window, overpaying to bring in Conor Gallagher, whom Atletico Madrid had been desperate to sell on a permanent basis for years. Spurs broke their wage structure for a mediocre player jettisoned by Chelsea, spending more money than Aston Villa would have to sign Gallagher from the Rojiblancos. And if they had their way, they would have also brought in Andrew Robertson in a similarly poor decision.

Tottenham are teetering on the brink now, and while the issues at the club were already set before the winter transfer window began, that period of time has to be looked back on as an even bigger disaster with where Spurs are now. And the best word to describe that winter window is "unbecoming", because it was the moment where Spurs passed up on their chance to salvage their season and went full on into doomsday. That window should be an "unbecoming" one for Johan Lange and Vinai Venkatesham, whose futures at Spurs must be non existent now, regardless of whether Spurs stay up.

Johan Lange messed it all up in January

So much went wrong in that window. Not only did Spurs sign the wrong player in Conor Gallagher, but Johan Lange famously did not bring in anyone else to upgrade this thin and injury ravaged squad because he did not want to panic buy. Well, who is panicking now that his job is on the very line?

It's not just the fact that Tottenham Hotspur somehow got worse at the forward positions after the transfer window rather than better, but beyond the players they did or didn't sign, the biggest screw up of the winter window was in the manager's chair.

At that time, Spurs could have fired Thomas Frank. They should have. Doing so may have spared points in the table for Tottenham, who could have hired Roberto De Zerbi all the way back in February rather than waiting until the spring to do so, and they may not be in this mess right now.

As Ademola Lookman shines for Atletico Madrid and Tottenham's forwards - the ones left standing - continue to struggle to score, Tottenham fans look back even more at January as a huge missed opportunity and the "unbecoming" moment where Spurs truly unraveled into a descent into the rest of England's relegation fodder.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Roberto De Zerbi has given the fans hope of survival with a draw against Brighton and a win over Wolves in their last two matchups, but things will get a lot more difficult for the Lilywhites both this weekend against former top four rivals Aston Villa and even the following weekend against Leeds United, who have nearly scrambled themselves to safety.

Spurs are mostly forging forward with the veteran players in the squad, and young Mathys Tel has been one of the biggest casualties of that, despite being the team's best attacking player over the past couple of months. Though, of course, given the state of the competition, that isn't necessarily saying much.

Still, Tel's importance to Tottenham was pretty evident even last weekend, as he came off the bench and changed he game, winning the corner that led to the crucial goal to push Spurs to a three points that, had they not obtained them would have meant almost sure fire relegation at this point.

Mathys Tel is a solution

The fight Tel has is beyond what his attacking teammates are offering, and though Dominic Solanke was not actually a big help these last several games, the injury to the striker takes a mainstay of the early Roberto De Zerbi early out of the Tottenham Hotspur starting XI.

Though De Zerbi may prefer the experience of the veteran players, Mathys Tel is his best option. And though Tel primarly plays as a left winger, some of his most decisive performances this season, including against the very same Leeds, have been as a left sided forward in a two striker system.

Richarlison is the far superior option to Randal Kolo Muani and also meshes better with Tel, especially from what Spurs fans have seen this season. For De Zerbi, with Xavi SImons injured, Solanke out, and no right winger in the squad, shifting Tel back into the starting lineup and utilizing a two striker formation, which will be even more dangerous once James Maddison returns to be the No. 10, is the obvious conclusion here.

Tel has to start. Tottenham fans have been screaming that fact to three managers now, and if Tel's key play against Wolves wasn't an indication, then maybe the entirety of the season's data that De Zerbi has to reflect on will be. It's do or die for Spurs at this point, and with De Zerbi showing he is not married to one way of playing or one idea in order to survive, then, perhaps, he should make that same decision with Tel and play him despite his youth.

While obviously any time is a great time for a player and leader of the caliber of James Maddison to return to the fold, Tottenham Hotspur are especially desperate for the English attacking midfielder to make his return to the starting lineup after Xavi Simons tore his ACL at the worst possible time - as if there were ever an opportune time for a player to tear an ACL.

Maddison tore his ACL at the end of the 2024/25 season, unable to participate in the Europa League Final triumph over Manchester United. But the playmaker extraordinaire was very much a part of that historic triumph, fulfilling a successful season in a Spurs shirt after years of credibility in the English top flight with darlings Leicester City.

Now, Maddison is working his way back from injury and very close to formally returning. He was in the squad as early on as the Brighton fixture, and it may only be a game or two until Roberto De Zerbi reintegrates Maddison into the action.

James Maddison is a 10 only

Even with Simons leaving the lineup, how Maddison fits become an interesting point of discussion. Before the injury to Xavi Simons, the Dutchman was actually playing as a left winger with Conor Gallagher in somewhat of a defensive 10 role, Yves Bissouma and Rodrigo Bentancur lined up behind him in midfield.

James Maddison is obviously, then, not a like for like change for Simons. He does not have the same explosiveness or agility to play on the wings. So the 10 position is his. Then, does Mathys Tel become the new left winger? Does Roberto De Zerbi go for a more formal two striker system again with Richarlison and Randal Kolo Muani in light of Dominic Solanke's own injury?

How about two No. 10's? Conor Gallagher and Maddison next to each other with Maddison playing off the left so he can cut inside and score? Now, four midfielders woud narrow the formation too much, so coud Spurs instead roll with three and have a solitary deep mid? Rodrigo Bentancur to build the play up? Or is that skimping too much on defense? But then if Joao Palhinha is the solitary defensive midfielder, then Spurs are screwed when building it out of the back.

The best bet for Spurs may, then, be a diamond. Maddison in the 10, Gallagher and Bissouma staying as 8's with Bentancur as a deep lying "playmaker" and then Richy and Kolo Muani up top. Or how about Tel on the left and Richy on the right? Tel is the better of the two Frenchmen, after all, and will actually fight for the team.

See, Roberto De Zerbi has to juggle with the impressive but less versatile Maddison comign back to pull the strings in the attacking midfield. And it's anyone's guess as to which of these decisions and pushes and pulls he chooses.

Although the 2025/26 Premier League season is far from over for Tottenham Hotspur with literally everything left to play for in the relegation battle, regardless of whether or not Spurs stay up, the campaign can only be described as an utter embarrassment that reflects upon just how far the standard has fallen at the club. Or rather, maybe the standard they were setting was already in the gutter after the dismissal of Mauricio Pochettino, with only the sheer brilliance of Premier League legends Son Heung-min and Harry Kane shrouding the totality of their ineptitude.

Tottenham have managed to hit a nadir this season, and sitting 18th placed in the Premier League, they are under the very real threat of relegation to the EFL Championship despite the recent splash hire of Roberto De Zerbi - a move, unfortunately, that is likely too little, too late.

But again, regardless of the ultimate outcome of the 2025/26 season, Spurs have been shameful this season, and there needs to be consequences. And the first move, therefore, of the summer 2026 transfer window has to be getting Johan Lange and Vinai Venkatesham out the door as quickly as possible. If anyone competent will even have the Spurs job at this point, that individual needs to come in as soon as possible so that Spurs can get moving on an actual productive summer transfer window.

Tottenham must clean house

Whenever a team is coming off a season as horrendous as this one - and, in all honesty, Spurs were also horrible in 2024/25 despite the Europa League triumph papering over all that - they are at a critical crossroads in terms of the overall health of their organization. And in this critical period, Spurs must act swiftly, lest the festering infection that has already rotted out the squad turns them into a full on corpse in the Schalke or Bordeaux mold.

Lange and Venkatesham have proven inept in ways that are so profound, even the Tottenham Hotspur faithful are wondering if they regret losing Daniel Levy. Because whereas Levy was greedy, he was not incompetent; his problem is that his goal was raising that sweet private equity dough. Meanwhile, Vinai and Lange are so grossly incompetent, that it is impossible to ascertain what their actual goal or vision is, with Spurs fans even questioning sabotage on the part of the former Arsenal man. And these guys have to go, because if they don't, they will make the same mistakes that they have already been repeating - and a relegated Spurs may not even make it out of the Championship.

Dominic Solanke has scored just three goals in 15 Premier League games this season. However, having a player such as Alex Scott behind him would boost his productivity.

The Tottenham Hotspur striker has lacked service this campaign with several top midfielders out, and new signings such as Conor Gallagher not performing.

Solanke has been unlucky with injuries this season; an ankle injury kept him out from August until January. He also recently had to limp off in the first half against Wolverhampton Wanderers with a knee problem. It is still not known when he will return to action.

Tottenham's roster has been decimated by injuries this season. Xavi Simons will miss the rest of the season. James Maddison has not played this campaign yet. Whilst Mohammed Kudus, Wilson Odobert, Pape Matar Sarr, Destiny Udogie, Ben Davies, Cristian Romero, and Guglielmo Vicario are all also out.

Missing these players has contributed to the predicament that Spurs are currently in. They are currently in the bottom three with a real chance of an unprecedented relegation. The Spurs board must also take blame for their managerial appointments; Thomas Frank did not work out, Igor Tudor failed drastically, and Roberto De Zerbi has inherited a difficult situation.

Would Alex Scott come to Tottenham Hotspur?

If Tottenham are to be relegated to the Championship, then there is no chance that Scott would join. His AFC Bournemouth side is currently seventh in the Premier League and has a real chance of qualifying for Europe this season.

There is uncertainty at Bournemouth with their manager, Andoni Iraola, already announcing that he will leave the club at the end of the season. The Cherries already lost Antoine Semenyo to Manchester City in January, and more of their top players could depart this summer.

If Tottenham stay up, then signing Scott could be a possibility. Despite enduring a very poor season, Spurs are still one of the biggest clubs in the country with one of the best stadiums and training grounds.

At Bournemouth, Scott is used to playing in front of 11,000 supporters. The capacity of the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is nearly 63,000. Therefore, it would be no surprise if Scott were to be tempted by the move to North London.

Spurs also have De Zerbi contracted until 2031, so they have potential if they stay in the Premier League. The Italian did a very good job at Brighton & Hove Albion, getting them into Europe, which followed a stint at Marseille. He has the credentials to get Spurs back to the upper echelons of English soccer.