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England youth international Archie Gray is one of the most talented players in the Tottenham Hotspur squad, and he is so good that clubs as big as Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, and still others in the Premier League are monitoring him as a potential transfer target. With Spurs getting closer to survival under new manager Roberto De Zerbi, these elite clubs are less likely to vulture in and steal Gray, but Spurs are still guarding against the threat of losing one of England's biggest midfield gems.

But the funny thing is, Gray hasn't actually been a big part of the upturn under De Zerbi. Even though he was the best player on Tottenham during their worst period of weeks as they descended into the relegation abyss, Spurs have opted to go with more veteran players as an edict from De Zerbi.

Even funnier, it's actually paid off. Rodrigo Bentancur has started again over Gray after losing his job to the young man even under Thomas Frank at the beginning of the season, and since returning from a hamstring injury, Bentancur, along with winter signing Conor Gallagher, has been brilliant, rebounding in a huge way under the Italian manager.

Roberto De Zerbi sees Archie Gray as a captain

Although Gray has not been important to Tottenham these last few matches, Roberto De Zerbi still clearly has plans for the future superstar. He told reporters at the press conference before Monday night's big game in the relegation battle against Gray's former employers Leeds United that he sees big things ahead for Gray, even labeling him as a future captain, which is a sentiment Spurs supporters will wholeheartedly agree with after watching him fight for the badge at their lowest point.

De Zerbi said of Archie Gray, via Football.London journalist Alasdair Gold, “He's very young. Big potential as a player. I think he can become the future. I'm sure he can become the future of this club, the captain of this club. He has to understand better what will be his position on the pitch because he can play in a lot of positions but I would like him more specific in his positions. We are working with him on that with individual meetings.”

It is incredible how spot on De Zerbi already is in his early tenure as Tottenham manager, and with Gray, it looks like he is having his cake and eating it, too. Because not only is he benefiting from Rodrigo Bentancur and getting the veteran Uruguayan ticking again wtih Spurs racking up results in the relegation battle, but he's also getting a chance to work with Gray away from the pressure of games to play his best position in the future.

De Zerbi is playing the long game with Gray and probably grooming him to be a true 6, rather than jostling him around the pitch like Thomas Frank, Ange Postecoglou, and Igor Tudor all did. Tottenham fans have to be very excited for Gray, because De Zerbi is a better coach than the others and recognizes the importance of the right approach with him.

Tottenham Hotspur have another pivotal matchup in the Premier League relegation fight slated for Monday Night Football, as the Lilywhites will take on a Leeds United side that has been mighty impressive of late, getting closer and closer to playing themselves out of the threat of relegation, just like Nottingham Forest.

So Spurs will need to get the three full points in this next battle, having finally scooped up back to back wins to get out of the bottom three with a hard fought 2-1 win over Aston Villa - a team they used to be fighting with for Champions League places not too long ago.

After battling Leeds, Tottenham will face a familiar rival who had embarrassed them earlier this season in Chelsea. And according to Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi, the Lilywhites may have one of their starting attackers back by then.

Dominic Solanke is nearing a return

Striker Dominic Solanke was one of the latest notable players to go down with an injury, hurting his hamstring the previous week in what was deemed a multi week injury. Via Spurs Army, De Zerbi told reporters at the press conference before Spurs game against Leeds that Solanke is making positive progress. He pretty much ruled Solanke out of the Leeds game but said that the England international could be ready for the May 19 matchup on Tuesday night against Chelsea.

Although Tottenham Hotspur may seem to be better off without Solanke based on how poorly he has played in recent weeks, the former Bournemouth star was actually the central No. 9 of choice for Roberto De Zerbi until his hamstring injury. De Zerbi was starting him regularly and praising his all around quality.

Solanke, on paper, should be Tottenham's best striker. He was their record 65 million pound signing in 2024, ostensibly for a reason, and although he has been pretty terrible this season outside of a brief purple patch when he returned from his nagging foot injury, he was key for Tottenham even last season during the Europa League title triumph.

At this point in the Premier League relegation fight, Tottenham need all hands on deck. Plus, Chelsea have a suspect defense, and a trio of Richarlison, Dominic Solanke, and Mathys Tel could be a great group to deliver goals. Solanke, in theory, is a good fit for the middle because of his technical ability and chance creation, and De Zerbi may want to see if he can unlock a partnership between Solanke and Tel before the season ends.

Micky van de Ven's future at Tottenham Hotspur has been uncertain this season, with the club involved in a relegation battle. However, it has recently been speculated that he would be willing to stay at Spurs should they remain a Premier League side.

Tottenham's chances of staying in English soccer's top flight have been boosted recently with the win over Aston Villa. This coincided with West Ham United losing to Brentford, which meant that Roberto De Zerbi's side leapfrogged their way out of the bottom three.

If Van de Ven were to stay, then it would no doubt have rippling effects throughout the soccer world.

Tottenham Hotspur fans

Spurs fans would hate to see one of their best defenders leave the club. If he stayed, it would also have meant that Tottenham would not have been relegated to the Championship.

Not only is Van de Ven a great defender, but he is also a threat at the opposite end. This season, he has scored seven goals with one assist in 42 games in all competitions. This included a fantastic solo effort against Copenhagen.

Micky van de Ven

Tottenham may have endured a difficult campaign, but they are still one of the biggest clubs in England. Van de Ven has already won the Europa League with Spurs and could go on to win more trophies with the club.

Spurs have one of the best stadiums and training grounds in the world. Therefore, he will still have a very enjoyable career if he were to stay at the club.

Roberto De Zerbi

If Van de Ven stays, then De Zerbi can focus on strengthening their side as they look to get back into European contention. The Italian took a gamble by taking over at Spurs when they were in a relegation battle.

It is not over yet, but many Tottenham players may still want to leave after the season they have endured. Keeping Van de Ven would be a huge boost to De Zerbi's plans at Tottenham.

Potential suitors

Van de Ven has been linked with multiple clubs, including Manchester United, Liverpool, Barcelona, and Real Madrid. He is only 25 and one of the top defenders in the world. It would be a huge blow for any of these clubs if Van de Ven chooses to stay at Spurs. They would then have to focus on alternative targets.

Premier League rivals

If Van de Ven stays, then Spurs can build on next season. They will not be expected to be in another relegation battle unless something disastrous happens again. Under De Zerbi, Tottenham will be expected to challenge for Europe once more.

The Premier League is becoming unpredictable, and we do not know who Spurs' rivals for European soccer will be next season. At the same time, we do not know if Tottenham will be in another relegation battle and who they will be fighting to avoid the drop. It would be too far to expect that De Zerbi's side could win the division next season. However, they may just have a mid-table finish.

Cristian Romero

Cristian Romero is Tottenham's captain, but with him and James Maddison injured, Van de Ven has been wearing the armband. Romero has not been the best leader for Spurs recently; he has had two sendings off in the Premier League and has often taken to social media for outbursts against the club.

Guglielmo Vicario's expected return to Italy this summer will bring to an end three seasons of joyous then dismal chaos at the goalkeeper position for Tottenham Hotspur.

Vicario once represented Ange Postecoglou's upwardly mobile Lilywhites, who's frenetic nature between the posts epitomised a frantic game model that dazzled just as much as it bewildered.

For a while, it appeared as if the former Empoli shot-stopper would stick around for the long haul. However, Vicario hasn't ever been the same since breaking his ankle midway through the 2024/25 campaign, with his decision-making over the past 12 months, before he underwent surgery for a hernia, becoming more bizarre and developing into a distinct hinderance.

His summer move to Inter Milan is as good as done, with the Nerazzurri on the hunt for a potential Yann Sommer usurper. Vicario has the potential to be that guy, but only if a sense of stability is restored within.

For Spurs, there will be a new No. 1 in town come the start of 2026/27. Whom that is likely depends on our Premier League status, but the club may believe they already have Vicario's successor on their books.

Here are four goalkeepers who could be Tottenham's starter next season.

They said his career in north London was "over" after those 17 humiliating minutes at the Metropolitano. Antonín Kinsky's Champions League debut couldn't have gone any worse, with three rapid concessions, two of which were woeful Kinsky blunders, convincing Igor Tudor to turn to Vicario off the bench.

As Kinsky stormed past our former interim manager and down the tunnel, consoled by a couple of his teammates, you did wonder how this vulnerable young Czech goalkeeper could ever come back from that?

Well, Vicario's hernia offered Kinsky an immediate shot at redemption. He's started all four games under Roberto De Zerbi and has struggled to put a foot wrong, with his confidence in possession quickly restored. Suddenly, he looks like the hugely promising talent who was named Man of the Match on his Spurs debut again.

Kinsky will almost certainly be the starter if we succumb to the second tier, but there's bound to be stiff competition if we stay up.

There seemingly isn't a club in English football that hasn't been linked with a move for Manchester City's James Trafford.

Trafford joined the Cityzens last summer expecting to be their starter, but the surprising availability of Champions League winner Gianluigi Donnarumma forced the once-perennial champions to double-dip.

Trafford hasn't had much of a look-in as a result, with his opportunities limited to the domestic cup competitions after Donnarumma made his Premier League bow in September. The young Englishman laid out his credentials in the Carabao Cup final, executing a superb triple save early on in the 2-0 victory over Arsenal, and it's clear that he's far too good to be rotting on the bench in Manchester.

This is a potential future England No. 1, and a pursuit of Trafford does make a whole lot of sense. However, a bucket load of teams also have a similar idea, so Johan Lange will have to do some serious persuading to convince Trafford that De Zerbi's project is the right one for him.

De Zerbi could turn to his former employers for upgrades at multiple positions this summer. There was overlap between the Italian and Bart Verbruggen on the south coast, with the Dutch international joining the Seagulls in 2023.

Verbruggen did lose his starting job at one point to Jason Steele, with De Zerbi appreciating the Englishman's ball-playing abilities, but the Dutchman is certainly no slouch in that regard. He'll start between the posts at the World Cup for the Netherlands this summer off the back of an excellent Premier League season.

According to Opta, Verbruggen leads the division with 6.4 goals prevented, highlighting his shot-stopping prowess, and also boasts the fourth-highest save percentage (70.2). He's certainly grown since De Zerbi's departure, with Fabian Hürzeler saying towards the end of 2024 that Verbruggen, then only 21, reminded him of Manuel Neuer. Lofty praise.

“Neuer plays a very modern style, he’s good with his feet, always very reactive and has the ability to make great saves. It is similar to Bart," the Brighton boss said.

Verbruggen does have a Hugo Lloris brain fade in him, but you'd struggle to find a goalkeeper who doesn't.

Ideally, Tottenham wouldn't have to shell out a small fortune to acquire their No. 1 for the long haul this summer. The scouting and purchase of Kinsky last January was a rare box tick for Lange and company, with the young Czech a potential option to succeed Vicario, as we've mentioned.

If we are to go down a different route, likely restricting Kinsky to a back-up role, then a considerable fee will likely have to be shelled out. Brighton won't let Verbruggen walk for peanuts, and Sunderland will drive a hard bargain for their starting goalkeeper, Robin Roefs.

The Black Cats spent no more than £10 million to sign the NEC Nijmegen shot-stopper last August, and could bank a hefty profit if they're swept off their feet by an offer this summer. Pete O'Rourke believes Tottenham are plotting a move.

Roefs has had an excellent debut season on Wearside, helping Sunderland retain their top-flight status without much fuss. He's made the second-most saves in the Premier League (103) and has the fifth-highest save percentage (70.1).

De Zerbi will love what the Dutchman can do with the ball at his feet, that's for sure. Like Kinsky, Roefs is comfortable off both over a variety of distances.

Although nobody would mistake Richarlison for being Erling Haaland or even Joao Pedro, the Brazilian international has been the best striker on Tottenham Hotspur this season. That's not really a high compliment, given how invisble Randal Kolo Muani and Dominic Solanke have been lately, but a reflection of the entire 2025/26 season really emphasizes just how important Richy has been to the club.

He has his flaws, obviously, and he has never been a 60 million euro player for Tottenham. At the same time, he is the only player on Spurs with double digit Premier League goals this season at 10 - and nobody else has even half that - and there are only two other players with more than his four assists (and neither of them happen to be healthy right now).

So Richarlison just might be the MVP of the 2025/26 season for Tottenham when you factor in the reality that the very best players on Tottenham probably don't qualify because of the sheer number of matches they have missed due to injury.

Richarlison isn't as bad as they say

But then there is another concept Tottenham fans have to think about as a branching point off the discussion of Richarlison's value this season. Tottenham have been one of the worst teams in European football this season and have only just gotten themselves out of the relegation places. Their midfield has been overrun all season long. Before Roberto De Zerbi arrived, there was no progression or real patterns of play, and the strikers were starved of chances.

And when you put that into context, then Richarlison never really stood a chance. He was in and out of the lineup, competing with Kolo Muani and Solanke for minutes, and isolated while running around for scraps in a system that wasn't really even a system, especially with how much Thomas Frank's vision of football was built on sheer cowardice.

Richarlison's 10 goals look even better under that lens, and when Tottenham Hotspur think about how they are rebuilding their squad this summer transfer window, especially if they remain in the Premier League and have more room to maneuver (and more tough decisions to make), Richarlison's chances of staying have to be higher than some may think.

Because if Richy is showing a great attitude, healthier than before, scoring more goals than his teammates, creating more assists than the other strikers, and performing passably well on mere scraps, then maybe Tottenham have been undervaluing him this whole time. Tottenham, as a whole, have been terrible, but a lot of what has been so terrible about this team has made the individuals, like Richarlison, look even worse than they really are and even shrouded over positives worth praising.

Earlier in the season, Tottenham Hotspur played out a 2-2 draw with Manchester City. This was a good result with Spurs on a bad run of form, but it did do Arsenal a favor in the title race. Tottenham fans now find themselves in a similar predicament.

West Ham United play Arsenal in the Premier League this weekend. The Hammers are in a relegation battle with Spurs, so they need them to drop points. However, a West Ham win would throw a spanner in the works of Arsenal's title challenge.

Tottenham leapfrogged West Ham out of the relegation places last weekend after beating Aston Villa 2-1. The Hammers had already lost 3-0 to Brentford, which ended a run of three games undefeated for Nuno Espirito Santo's side.

Both West Ham and Tottenham have just three Premier League games left to play this season. As well as facing Arsenal, the Hammers have to play Newcastle United before facing Leeds United on the final day of the season. Tottenham also has to play Leeds, and then they face Chelsea before a match with Everton on the final day.

Tottenham fans will be getting Déjà vu

The Premier League is a division where there can often be many twists and turns, even with just three matchdays to go. West Ham are not expected to beat Arsenal, but have got results against the Gunners in the last three seasons, which helped scupper their title challenges.

Nuno's side's best chance at picking up three points comes against Newcastle, who are on a bad run of form. Recent results for Leeds have ensured they are all but safe from relegation. Therefore, they could be 'on the beach' when they face the Hammers on the final day.

The team from Elland Road could be mathematically safe with a result against Spurs on Monday night. The London derby against Chelsea will be tasty, but the Blues are on a disastrous run of form. Then the Everton match could be tough for Spurs. The Toffees may still have a chance of qualifying for Europe.

Another similar predicament for Tottenham occurred during the 2023/24 season when many of their fans wanted them to lose to City, as it would help deny Arsenal the chance of claiming the title. Spurs did lose that game, and City went on to win the division that campaign.

Spurs fans will be getting Déjà vu as this keeps on happening. Arsenal are currently five points clear of City at the top of the Premier League. However, City does have a game in hand. On the previous occasions where Spurs fans may have wanted their team to lose to City, they were not in such a perilous position at the bottom of the Premier League. Therefore, fans would be worried about the Hammers climbing out of the bottom three at Spurs' expense if the Hammers were to beat Arsenal.

The perilous nature of Tottenham's Premier League position has rendered it tough to consider the future, namely the summer transfer window.

A once-unfathomable humiliation remains on the cards, but on the flip side of the coin, a potentially exciting future beckons with Roberto De Zerbi at the helm. The early signs are doubtless promising, with Sunday's win at Aston Villa thrusting us out of the relegation zone after West Ham United were beaten at Brentford.

The club have supposedly been busy behind the scenes, preparing for the eventuality that De Zerbi gets us out of the mire. No matter what goes down over the next few weeks, there's an expectation that Tottenham's backline will look a whole lot different come the start of 2026/27.

Cristian Romero and Guglielmo Vicario are almost certain to depart, while Micky van de Ven could be tempted elsewhere. Spurs will most likely have to reinvent their backline this summer, and the club know they boast a potential trump card.

Tottenham preparing fresh Luka Vuskovic contract offer

Spurs worked a minor miracle to convince 16-year-old Luka Vuškovič to join the club in 2023. He arrived in an official capacity after turning 18, but is yet to feature in a competitive game.

Nevertheless, his distinct talent has manifested out on loan. His current spell, with returning Bundesliga club Hamburg, has seen Vuškovič's stock soar. An immediate fan favorite, given his martyred brother's ties to the club, the defender has discussed potentially remaining at the Volksparkstadion for another year, amid reported interest from Europe's elite.

Tottenham's relegation would offer them little leverage if the teenager didn't fancy a second-tier excursion. With the likes of Bayern Munich and Barcelona lingering, we could be powerless to prevent Vušković from making a major move at such a young stage of his potentially stellar career.

Thus, survival is imperative for keeping the teenager onside. According to The Sun's Tom Barclay, Spurs are ready to offer Vušković a 'bumper new contract' to retain the Croatian international for the long haul. Sporting director Johan Lange has reportedly flown to Hamburg to touch base with the defender and his entourage, likely laying out the club's plan for him moving forward.

Now, leaving Lange to anything of importance unnerves me, but we can at least appreciate the proactivity. Spurs may have something special in Vušković, and if the departures many are expecting do play out, then the 19-year-old will emerge as a defensive protagonist in N17 next season.

Thomas Frank sent Tottenham Hotspur on a descent into the abyss that interim manager Igor Tudor was unable to slow at all, but in the last few weeks, new manager Roberto De Zerbi has finally started to give Spurs supporters the feeling that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

With back to back wins over Wolves and Aston Villa after previously riding a streak of 15 Premier League games without a single victory, Spurs are out of the bottom three. Though they are still locked in a tight relegation fight with rivals West Ham United while the likes of Nottingham Forest and Leeds United start ot pull clear, Spurs no longer look totally helpless.

There were so many issues with Frank during his time as Tottenham manager, but perhaps the most frustrating was how many players had regressed under the Danish manager. Aside from newcomer Mohammed Kudus, there was not a single player in the squad who was performing better under Frank than they were before Frank.

Roberto De Zerbi has the motivation down

Conor Gallagher has been one of the biggest benefactors of Roberto De Zerbi joining Tottenham, and he spoke about a small change De Zerbi has made in terms of man management that has been crucial to getting the most out of the former Chelsea and Crystal Palace midfielder - as well as his teammates.

He said, via Football.London's Alasdair Gold, "He just reminds me of when I was at my best. He said that second season at Chelsea, when I had a really good season, he just reminded me of that player, he wants me to be like that again and to not forget how good I can be. He's done that with a lot of the lads. It's as simple as that, just trying to remind us of what we were when we were at our best."

Although there were misgivings about De Zerbi when he initially took the Tottenham Hotspur job, one of the biggest positives that was immediately kicked around was RDZ's charisma and ability to bring that hunger out of players. So many of his former players have spoken about this in the past, including even famed storyteller Kevin Prince-Boateng all the way back when they were in RDZ's early Sassuolo days together.

De Zerbi has turned Gallagher back into a real force in English football, and the Atletico Madrid signing has been a driving force to Spurs winning. Pedro Porro, Rodrigo Bentancur, and others have also improved markedly already under De Zerbi, and all it took was positive reenforcement and actually having a player's back, using the old David Goggins psychological trick of reminding people that they have cookies in their cookie jar; that there are things they have done in the past that they can use to derive strength from within during adversity, reminders that they have already been great before.

Tottenham Hotspur need to stay focused for these final few matches of the 2025/26 Premier League season, because the margin for error is pretty much zero. Spurs are out of the bottom three relegation places after an incredible win over Aston Villa, and under Roberto De Zerbi, there is real optimism they can stay up in the top flight.

Even if Tottenham are able to avoid the drop, they are going to have to sell key players who have not been performing to their standard, but they are also at risk of losing young stars of the future who will be coveted highly by other big clubs around Europe. And there is no player Spurs would be more scared about losing than Luka Vuskovic, who has been arguably the best player in the entire Bundesliga this season who is not in the Bayern Munich attacking trio.

As such, Tottenham Hotspur are wisely taking early steps to make sure Vuskovic doesn't get poached by Bayern Munich, Barcelona, or any other club that will join them with an interest in the Croatian center back sensation.

Tottenham are working on Luka Vuskovic

According to a report from Tom Barclay of The Sun, Tottenham are working on sending Luka Vuskovic an offer for a bumper contract that will pay him a higher salary. Spurs Director of Football Johan Lange even traveled to Hamburg in order to talk to Vuskovic in future and convince him about his future in North London.

The good news in the background to all of this is Vuskovic seems to want to stay at Hamburg for at least another season in order to play with his brother, who had been suspended for the 2025/26 Bundesliga campaign.

Now, while Vuskovic is more than ready to start for Tottenham and is honestly already even better than Micky van de Ven and World Cup winner Cristian Romero, it is preferable for Vuskovic to stay at Hamburg than to, say, bolt all of a sudden this summer transfer window to Bayern Munich or Barcelona because he has cold feet about playing for Spurs.

So that's what makes it so important for Tottenham to make sure they are covering all their bases so that Vuskovic does not have any inclinations of leaving. They need to make sure the sporting project is strong, there is ambition, there is the right coaching, and the financial compensation is right. Spurs have Roberto De Zerbi bringing in optimism, they are working on giving Vuksovic a better contract, and now it is about getting the other ducks in a row.

Desperate times call for desperate measures, and no team in European football is more desperate for results right now than Tottenham Hotspur. Squarelyin the Premier League relegation fight and coming off a 3-0 loss to Nottingham Forest, Spurs made the decision to throw the farm at Roberto De Zerbi, replacing Igor Tudor with one of the bigger coaching names in the top five leagues.

De Zerbi is already paying dividends, and he has been leaning on the experienced players in the Spurs squad to get results. Tottenham have now made it three straight games without a loss after their previous streak read 15 straight matches without a win.

A big part of that turn around has been the immediate improvements experienced by center midfielders Rodrigo Bentancur and Conor Gallagher. These two notable names have gone from massive disappointments and clear liabilities in the starting lineup to crucial cogs in the wheel who are controlling games, dominating defensively, winning the ball, progressing it, and helping Spurs drive forward and get key results.

Giving Pedro Porro some due

But though Gallagher and Bentancur are generating the most positive buzz among the Tottenham Hotspur fan base, even a player who has started virtually every game this season has enjoyd the benefits of Roberto De Zerbi in the dugout.

Right back Pedro Porro has been a workhorse this season, and while he has been one of Spurs most important players this season, that fact has felt, as with captain Cristian Romero, like a case of it being true by default.

Porro was honestly frustrating, too, with inaccurate crosses and brutal lapses of judgment and positioning defensively. But like Gallagher and Bentancur, Porro has been turning up the heat over the last couple of games and has been absolutely vital for Tottenham, shining at a very high level, particularly on the defensive side of things.

The Spanish international has registered a whopping seven combined tackles and interceptions in each of the last three positive results for Spurs in a row: the draw against Brighton and both wins over Wolves and Aston Villa. Pedro Porro has been a defensive stalwart, snapping into tackles and showing much better positioning and discipline to boot.

Offensively, he's been a solid creator still, too, registering four key passes in those three games, which is good for a right back. Porro has been flying under the radar, but he has been a huge bright spot for Tottenham lately in this upturn.