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Spurs star's agent responds to Barcelona interest amid growing relegation worries

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Spurs star's agent responds to Barcelona interest amid growing relegation worries - The Mirror
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Tottenham defender Luka Vuskovic is enjoying an eye-catching season on loan with German side Hamburg but it appears that he is unlikely to return to North London

Luka Vuksovic’s Tottenham future will be decided in the summer, his agent has confirmed. The Croatian defender joined Hamburg last summer on loan and has enjoyed a brilliant campaign.

That has seen Vuskovic linked with a number of clubs including Barcelona and Bayern Munich. Amid those rumours, his agent has revealed that his future will be clarified in the summer.

Speaking to Mundo Deportivo, Pini Zahavi said: "I can't comment on anything at this time. The player still belongs to Hamburg and is completely focused there.

"I can give an update in exactly two months, that is, after his loan ends and he officially returns to Tottenham."

Vuskovic himself has also spoken out on his future, having expressed a desire to one day play in La Liga. Speaking to Tribuna earlier this season, he said: "To be honest, it's not really the Premier League that I desired.

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"I didn't envisage playing in England. I've always only thought about the Croatian league and Hajduk, but among the European leagues, Spain was in a way the closest to my aspirations, and now the German league, which is a very big league. One day, I'd like to play in Spain, that's all."

Meanwhile, former Spurs star Ramon Vega recently slammed Spurs for the decision to send the young defender out on loan. He also claimed that Vuskovic would never make his debut for the North London side.

He shared on social media: “This player is not coming back to Spurs! Another of many players the Spurs had a chance with, but they made the wrong decision.

“This is an example of the problem Spurs have been having within the football department! A total neglect.

“They will make good money, for sure, but there’s no football direction within the club. Off to Bayern he goes, no wonder I will not blame him.”

Vuskovic, 19, has made 24 appearances for Hamburg so far this season and has scored five goals. His eye-catching performances come amid issues in North London.

Spurs are under real threat of dropping into the Championship following a woeful season. The North London side sit 16th in the table but just one point above the relegation zone after a 3-1 defeat to Crystal Palace.

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Managing Tottenham: Decision made on Igor Tudor future as formation change could bring survival

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Managing Tottenham: Decision made on Igor Tudor future as formation change could bring survival - The Mirror
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Tottenham Hotspur are winless in three matches under Igor Tudor and pressure is mounting on the manager as Spurs face a crucial run of fixtures

Just three matches into Igor Tudor's tenure, there is plenty for Tottenham Hotspur to worry about. Occasional moments of promise will matter little in the context of a return of zero points under the Croatian manager.

The latest defeat was perhaps the hardest to take, with Spurs imploding during the opening period against Crystal Palace. Micky van de Ven's dismissal paved the way for the Eagles to win 3-1 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and the Dutchman will be banned for his team's journey to Liverpool on March 15.

Tudor's charges face a tough Champions League last-16 clash against Atletico Madrid, with one leg each side of that Anfield encounter. March ends with an international break but the last game before that hiatus could prove most crucial, with fellow relegation contenders Nottingham Forest visiting north London.

Tudor's job is already under scrutiny and Spurs may need to act decisively one way or another. We've examined the major choices that need to be made, including the future of the former Juventus manager.

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OPINION

Should Tudor stay or go?

Tudor may not be the sole issue, but there's little evidence he possesses the capabilities to reverse the decline. Parting ways with the manager shouldn't prove particularly costly, at least compared to some other recent Premier League sackings, considering his deal expires at the season's end.

There may well be an appetite to appoint someone with ties to the club, given Manchester United's turnaround under former midfielder Michael Carrick. Ex-Spurs player and boss Glenn Hoddle has already suggested he'd welcome the opportunity, potentially alongside Robbie Keane, whilst Ryan Mason's recent difficulties at West Brom might not prevent him from stepping back into the technical area in more familiar surroundings.

Back three no more

Some key figures are beginning to make their way back for Spurs after a season disrupted by a lengthy injury list. Pedro Porro has featured in the past two fixtures after sitting out the preceding four, with Kevin Danso starting his first game in over a month on Thursday, while Destiny Udogie is nearing a comeback following the hamstring problem picked up at Manchester United that's sidelined him for a month.

The absence of Van de Ven through suspension, will be offset a little by the return of skipper Cristian Romero after a ban of his own. Personnel returning could pave the way for Spurs to revert to back four in the near future, though Tudor - if he stays - could be tempted to persist with three at the back despite recent struggles.

The new manager's tactics have involved deploying a midfielder or full-back in the heart of defence, with Joao Palhinha stepping into the role against Arsenal at the end of February. A tactical switch could be just what Spurs need to solidify in midfield as well as at the back.

Whether these alterations would instantly trigger the much-needed improvement is yet to be seen. However, it's clear that Spurs are in dire need of a change, and they need it to happen swiftly.

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Why Tottenham being relegated to the Championship would not be apocalyptic

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Why Tottenham being relegated to the Championship would not be apocalyptic - The Mirror
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Igor Tudor has been unable to stop the rot at Tottenham Hotspur but the doomsday scenario of finishing in the bottom three is not quite the ultimate nightmare

There was one bit of good news for Tottenham Hotspur last week … there will be a couple of extra play-off places up for grabs in the Championship next season. It is a tough league but surely even Spurs can finish eighth in the Championship.

They are not yet consigned to that level, of course, and the bookmakers still narrowly favour West Ham United to fill the third relegation spot. But having seen a lot of both teams recently, that seems to be rare mis-step from the bookies.

Even in a 5-2 thumping at Anfield, Nuno Espirito Santo’s side looked a better team than the one that has lost three out of three under the hapless Igor Tudor. It was a bizarre appointment in the first place and there are not many fans/pundits/neutrals who think what was already a temporary Tudor era should last a moment longer.

And that is completely understandable. When ex-players and supporters were advocating a move for Harry Redknapp after the sacking of Thomas Frank, I thought the idea was laughable. Love Harry but he turned 79 the other day.

But having just spent a bit of time with Harry at the training yard where his horse, The Jukebox Man, is being prepared for its tilt at the Cheltenham Gold Cup, I reckon he would have as good as chance as anyone of keeping Spurs in the Premier League. Because quite frankly, the team at any manager’s disposal - one, that it always has to be said, has been significantly weakened by rotten injury luck - does not look good enough to win Premier League games between now and the end of the season.

And this is a team that will certainly get found out in the last 16 of the Champions League by Atletico Madrid over the next week or so. But whoever takes charge of Spurs’ final nine games of the Premier League season - the first of those being at Anfield next Sunday - will have a heck of a job to do to keep them up.

But if Spurs are relegated, what happens? The club does not go out of business.

There are many cliches about teams in relegation battles. There is the ‘too good to go down’ one. And then there is one about relegation being the best thing that could happen.

Well, the latter is not quite the case for Spurs but it would not be the catastrophe that is being depicted by doom-mongers. Looking at the broader picture, supporters would see football that, this season, has arguably been more entertaining than the fare offered by the Premier League.

They would see more wins, more goals. Over the past two seasons, Spurs fans have seen their team win only eight of their 33 Premier League home games.

It would make a nice change to have a winning home season. There would be other spin-offs. You might get rid of a few of the plenty of players who fancy themselves a bit too much.

Oh, and no VAR. Imagine that pleasure. Half of this is, of course, flippancy. Relegation for a club of Tottenham’s stature cannot be a positive thing.

But it does not have to be apocalyptic either. And don’t forget, you only have to finish eighth next season to have a crack at getting back.

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Liverpool star Andy Robertson reveals the truth behind Tottenham transfer talks

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Liverpool star Andy Robertson reveals the truth behind Tottenham transfer talks - The Mirror
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Liverpool defender Andy Robertson has lifted the lid on what really happened when Tottenham Hotspur tried to sign him back in the final days of the winter transfer window

Andy Robertson says it was he who decided to snub interest from Tottenham in the winter transfer window to remain at Liverpool - and then hinted he is ready to sign a contract extension.

The veteran left-back, 31, emerged as a surprise target for Spurs in the final throes of January, presenting Robertson with the chance to bring the curtain down on his nine-year spell at Anfield. The Reds were happy to listen so what the Scotland captain wanted to do given the tremendous service he has given to the club since joining in 2017, before an injury to Joe Gomez complicated matters.

But it was ultimately Robertson who made the call to stay with Liverpool, something he confirmed after Friday night's 3-1 win over Wolves in the FA Cup.

And he hinted that is ready to extend his near-decade long stay on Merseyside despite the fact he is likely to have no shortage of suitors at the end of the season, when he would be available on a Bosman transfer.

"There was obviously interest there - there were discussions had with both sets of clubs," Robertson said. "But the decision was that I wanted to stay. We stayed at Liverpool and that was the decision made.

"I was never not committed. I've been committed to Liverpool for the last eight and a half or nine years now and I'll be committed until I'm no longer needed. That's always been my mindset. This club has given me everything and I've given this club everything.

"It's been a fantastic relationship so hopefully that continues and obviously January happened, but it is now gone. Now we move forward and like I said, my focus never came off trying to help the lads on the pitch and in training.

"Whatever was happening behind the scenes happened, and all I can say is that I kept focusing on football."

Summer signing Milos Kerkez has usurped Robertson in Arne Slot's team this season but the Scot produced an impressive performance to help Liverpool reach the FA Cup quarter-finals at Molineux, breaking the deadlock in fine fashion.

He stressed that while talks would remain private, fans would be the first to know once there is news on the contract front.

Robertson continued: "I've always said that [the talks] will stay between me and the club. I don't think it will get played out in public. It is not one of them. I have got an amazing relationship with Richard Hughes and with Mike Gordon and Michael Edwards.

"I've had a good relationship with these people and these people brought me to the football club. They have helped make me who I am, so in that respect, we've had a fantastic relationship. I think out of respect to them, and they have respected me, then the conversations will be in-house.

"When a decision is made, and we're getting to the point where I only have three months left on my contract, it will be announced to you guys."

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Lincoln City fans tease Tottenham with new chant as Spurs face relegation threat

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Lincoln City fans tease Tottenham with new chant as Spurs face relegation threat - The Mirror
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Tottenham are currently in 16th place in the Premier League table and just one point above the relegation zone, with sections of Lincoln City fans aiming a chant at Spurs

Tottenham Hotspur found themselves the subject of a chant from Lincoln City supporters, given their precarious position near the Premier League's relegation zone. Spurs currently sit in 16th place, just a single point clear of the bottom three.

Igor Tudor took over as Tottenham's interim manager last month on a contract that lasts until the end of the season, but has suffered defeats in all three of his games at the helm so far.

This poor run of form has fuelled rumours about Tudor's future at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with rumours suggesting his tenure at Spurs may be in doubt.

With only nine Premier League fixtures remaining this season, Tottenham will return to top-tier action next weekend when they face off against reigning champions Liverpool.

Despite Tottenham having no fixture this weekend due to the FA Cup taking centre stage, there were still matches unfolding across the EFL, including in Cardiff, reports football.london.

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Saturday saw Lincoln City secure a 2-0 victory away at League One title contenders Cardiff City, propelling them above the Bluebirds to the summit of the third-tier table.

Lincoln now boast a 10-point lead in the automatic promotion spots, with a game in hand, and are widely tipped for promotion to the Championship next season.

Consequently, there's a chance that Lincoln and Tottenham could find themselves in the same league next season, should Spurs suffer relegation from the Premier League.

This prospect wasn't overlooked by some Lincoln supporters, who mocked Tottenham whilst celebrating their victory over Cardiff.

Footage surfaced on social media showing Lincoln's travelling fans inside Cardiff City Stadium after the home crowd had departed, launching into a chant aimed at Tottenham.

"Tottenham away, ole, ole," rang out from sections of Lincoln fans.

Tudor is anticipated to stay in the Tottenham dugout for Tuesday night's Champions League last-16 clash against Atletico Madrid, with the Spurs interim manager offering his assessment of the club's current predicament following the midweek loss to Crystal Palace.

"I don't want to speak about the club. I want to be positive," Tudor said on Thursday after the defeat to Palace.

"I cannot tell the guys nothing in the end after this game. They gave everything. Unfortunately, we pay every detail. We pay every detail.

"If we can say that red card is a detail, there is always something to say. With all the problems we have now, missing the defenders today, missing the full-backs, these are the problems we already know. I don't want to speak about that, but we need to stay together now.

"I always repeat the same things, but it is how it is. Believing and growing. Do not make mistakes. This is the key in the end of football. Stay there, don't make mistakes. One goal, you always score. Two goals, you can score, but it's important to not make mistakes in football.

"Unfortunately, now, in this moment, we pay everything, but in return, I believe, we change everything. Still nine games to play. Still nine games to play."

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'I was in last Tottenham team to get relegated and every mistake made you feel sick'

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'I was in last Tottenham team to get relegated and every mistake made you feel sick' - The Mirror
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Tottenham are facing relegation for the first time since the 1976/77 season and one of the players in that team, Micky Stead, has had his say on that fateful campaign

Very few people can provide a personal testimony of Tottenham Hotspur's previous relegation from the top division. It's been almost half a century since Spurs competed in English football's second tier.

Yet similar to the 1976/77 season, Tottenham are now confronting the drop. That year, Spurs finished at the foot of the old First Division, two points adrift of safety.

Fast forward 49 years, and Thursday's 3-1 loss to Crystal Palace has left the north London outfit facing another seemingly impossible relegation. A club considered part of the Premier League's 'big six', and the ninth-wealthiest globally, are now contemplating a fall into the EFL Championship.

Such a scenario would have seemed inconceivable during Harry Kane's prolific goal-scoring years or when they contested the Champions League final under Mauricio Pochettino in 2019.

Micky Stead is among the former players who turned out for that last relegated Spurs squad - a team featuring talents including Glenn Hoddle, Pat Jennings and Peter Taylor.

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Aged just 20 at the time, he featured in eight matches during that ill-fated campaign. Now working as a cab driver, he spoke to Football London about what relegation at Tottenham felt like.

"I wasn't good enough to play in that Spurs team, perhaps that's the answer," he admits. "When you go and tell me you're a young lad, you need to play a few games, and I wasn't good enough to hold my place down.

"I'd say for me to play, Spurs must have been struggling. That's a fair assessment, I reckon.

"I was trying to do the best for Tottenham, and experience-wise, we had quite a lot of experience in that team, and I don't think we should have gone down, actually. But when you're going through a hard time, it's difficult to get the breaks, so everything breaks against you.

"Look at Liverpool this season. They go to Wolves on a bit of a bad run and they get beat. But then look at West Ham. They've had a few good results, and all of a sudden they look like they could get out of it."

Relegation for any side is a devastating blow. For Stead, that harsh reality completely altered his mindset on the pitch.

The 69-year-old said: "You feel sick to your stomach, I tell you. If you make a mistake, you're absolutely sick.

"No matter how your teammates try and help you out and tell you 'don't worry,' and 'keep going', you're absolutely gutted.

"You're a young boy, playing in that team. If you're playing with a lot of confidence, you're a better player than when you ain't.

"You can see that even in really top-class players. Once they get affected by a bit of pressure and they're not confident, they're not the same."

Stead also shares his thoughts on how Kane's switch to Bayern Munich in 2023 marked the beginning of Tottenham's sharp downturn.

"I'm gutted for them really," he said. "The players will be disappointed. Everyone's disappointed.

"I don't think we've had the vision to grow the club. We've got everything. We've got the stadium, we've got the training facilities, we've got the scouting but you look at what happened with Harry Kane.

"He's gone to Germany, and this is his third season there. Why couldn't Spurs keep him? Because he wanted to win something, so he must have known.

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Tottenham facing squad decimation with Man Utd and Liverpool among transfer vultures

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Tottenham facing squad decimation with Man Utd and Liverpool among transfer vultures - The Mirror
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Tottenham Hotspur are at risk of being relegation to the Championship which may see some players leave the club - and Premier League sides could already be circling

Tottenham Hotspur could see several of their key players leave the club if they suffer a catastrophic relegation to the Championship. Spurs were handed a fresh blow to their hopes of staying in the Premier League with the defeat to Crystal Palace on Thursday night.

Igor Tudor has now lost all three matches as Tottenham boss since replacing Thomas Frank, and will now look ahead to facing Atletico Madrid in the Champions League next week. When it comes to the Premier League, Tottenham are now just one point above the relegation zone and are in 16th place in the table with just nine matches left to play.

As a result, there is a serious risk that Tottenham may be relegated to the Championship next season. If that happens, there is the likelihood that Spurs could be forced to sell some key members of their squad when the transfer window opens.

It remains to be seen which players could head for the exit door if relegation happens, but there has already been some uncertainty around the futures of some players. Manchester United have previously been linked with signing members of the Tottenham squad, including James Maddison.

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Maddison has been spending the entire season recovering from an ACL injury he suffered during pre-season, but will be hopeful of being back to full fitness for the start of next season.

However, it’s worth emphasising that it’s still purely speculative to predict whether or not United could revisit their interest in Maddison in the event that Tottenham do get relegated.

One position that United could look to strengthen this summer is in the wide forward department. As a result, Dejan Kulusevski could also be a player of interest, with the Sweden international getting closer to returning to action following a knee injury suffered towards the end of last season.

Tottenham may also be mindful that there could be interest in defender Micky van de Ven if they are relegated to the Championship. Liverpool were linked with signing Van de Ven before he joined Spurs, and there were rumours of potential interest again during the January transfer window.

Only time will tell whether any players leave Tottenham this summer, but relegation would of course increase the chances of key members of the squad leaving the club. Igor Tudor - whose position is already under threat after just three games in charge - insists the team are moving in the right direction and will survive the drop.

"I will tell you now, maybe it will sound strange, but I believe more after this game than I believed before. I saw something," said Tudor after the defeat to Palace. "I need to choose the right guys because the boat is going in the direction that I want to go, and needs to go, and who is in the boat can stay. Otherwise they can leave the boat.

"When players come back I'm sure we will have a good team and the victories will come. It's not easy to accept the moment where we are now - but it is how it is."

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Tottenham's three transfer mistakes called out after letting 'problem solvers' leave

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Tottenham's three transfer mistakes called out after letting 'problem solvers' leave - The Mirror
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A former Tottenham manager has criticised the club's hierarchy for their transfer business as Spurs battle relegation

Former Tottenham boss Tim Sherwood has hit out at the club's hierarchy for failing to recall three players from their loan spells this season. Spurs' 3-1 defeat to Crystal Palace on Thursday saw them tumble to 16th in the Premier League, with the London side sitting just a single point above the relegation zone after fellow strugglers made up ground.

The home loss represented Tottenham's fifth consecutive defeat and their 11th match without a victory, whilst also marking new interim boss Igor Tudor's third straight loss since taking charge. The north London club's lack of quality has been augmented by a lack of experience on the bench in recent weeks as they deal with a relentless injury crisis.

Former Spurs manager Sherwood insists the club made a serious mistake by failing to recognise the need to bring back several loanees earlier in the campaign, given how desperately thin they are on reliable first-team options. Speaking on the No Tippy Tappy Football podcast, the pundit was asked about 18-year-old academy winger Mikey Moore amid the youngster's impressive form on loan at Rangers.

Sherwood believes Tottenham would be in a far stronger position had they kept Moore at the club. He also made the case for recalling 19-year-old defender Luka Vuskovic and 20-year-old centre-back Ashley Phillips, currently on loan at Hamburg and Stoke City respectively.

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"They loaned Moore out because there's no pathway for him," Sherwood said. "So I think there's a great pathway at Rangers to gain some experience. No one fancied him, at the moment.

"They would probably argue that they sent him out for experience, but I would argue he's better than what you've got, so bring him back and play him in games because not only would he be better than some of the players you have signed, who are in your squad, but you also have a shocking injury crisis.

"So not only Mikey Moore, Vuskovic should have been brought back from Hamburg in my opinion. He's played pretty much every game, he's a big centre-back.

"Phillips, who they signed from Blackburn, who plays every week at Stoke City, should have been brought back. Not brought back for no reason, but to play.

"It would have solved a few injury problems rather than throwing kids on the bench who never would have been near the bench. These guys should be given the opportunity. Not only Mikey, I'm not saying he's going to be the answer, but he might be.

"So I don't know why they didn't make that executive decision. It probably is an executive decision rather than a footballing decision. If there was a football person at the top they might have said let's call them back from loan. That should come from the sporting director."

Moore has been putting in impressive displays north of the border, earning plaudits for his performances under boss Danny Rohl. The teenage winger has contributed five goals in 24 Premiership outings this campaign.

Vuskovic has had a breakthrough season in the Bundesliga with newly promoted Hamburg, dealing with top-level opponents such as Harry Kane and contributing four goals. Phillips, meanwhile, has clocked up 30 appearances in the Championship this term after joining Stoke for a second loan spell.

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Italian media hand Tottenham a bleak warning after Igor Tudor's latest crushing defeat

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Italian media hand Tottenham a bleak warning after Igor Tudor's latest crushing defeat - The Mirror
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Igor Tudor's nightmare with Tottenham is showing no signs of letting up as his team sits dangerously close to the relegation zone

An Italian news outlet has delivered a bleak verdict on Tottenham's situation under Igor Tudor. The 3-1 Premier League loss to Crystal Palace on Thursday marked the Croatian manager's third defeat in as many matches since taking over as interim boss last month.

Spurs saw their 1-0 lead after 34 minutes turn into a 3-1 deficit by half-time, following the dismissal of stand-in captain Micky van de Ven. Supporters began leaving the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in their hundreds at half-time, with boos echoing around the ground post-match, marking a new low in an already dismal domestic campaign.

The repercussions of a fifth consecutive loss and an 11th match without victory are even graver, considering Spurs now sit 16th in the table and just a single point above the drop zone. There's an increasing sense that Tottenham could face relegation from the top flight for the first time in 49 years, especially with Nottingham Forest and West Ham showing better form lately.

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It seems the severity of Tottenham's alarming form has caught attention even in Italy. The country's famous pink newspaper, La Gazzetta dello Sport, issued a scathing critique after Thursday's defeat, attributing the club's current state to poor decision-making at the top. The report also highlighted the formidable challenge facing the under-pressure Tudor.

The paper wrote: "The dismissal of Thomas Frank three games ago, likely months late for a manager hired from Brentford who never seemed to have the right mentality for a big club, hasn't changed matters much.

"Igor Tudor, a surprise signing, has come on strong against Spurs just as he did last season at Juventus and the season before at Lazio, but not even his brisk, to-the-point manner has been able to shake up a team adrift, one that seems to have long since lost its way to respectability on the pitch."

The publication went on to identify Tottenham's persistent defensive frailties, having conceded a staggering 46 goals in the league this campaign. It also claimed the players and club were no longer meeting even the basic standards needed to stay in the Premier League.

It added: "Being second in the Forbes ranking of the most profitable football clubs in 2026, with a valuation of €2.84billion, or having the most beautiful stadium in the Premier League, alone won't be enough to avoid Tottenham's nightmare of a first relegation since 1977.

"Even Tudor's charisma, already under scrutiny after their third defeat in three, risks not being enough. The boos, a mixture of fear and disappointment, from the fans who stayed until the end against Palace won't be enough."

The outlet claimed Tottenham must rediscover their courage and self-belief to secure wins - qualities they have "stopped" showing. Tudor, meanwhile, insisted there were encouraging signs after the match.

He explained: "I will tell you now, maybe it will sound strange, but I believe more after this game than I believed before. I saw something. I need to choose the right guys because the boat is going in the direction that I want to go and needs to go and whoever is in the boat can stay.

"Otherwise, they can leave the boat. So, when the other players will come back, I’m sure we will have a good team and the victories will come back. It’s not easy to accept the moment where we are now but it is how it is."

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Inside Tottenham's sinking ship as Spurs chiefs told 'you're killing the club'

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Inside Tottenham's sinking ship as Spurs chiefs told 'you're killing the club' - The Mirror
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Tottenham's hopes of avoiding relegation to the Championship suffered a blow on Thursday, as they were beaten 2-1 at home to Crystal Palace to spark a mutiny among the home crowd

Igor Tudor had ended a disastrous night in Tottenham by speaking about a boat. Spurs seem to drive their head coaches to despair and naval analogies, with Thomas Frank having declared before his exit that the north London club is a big super tanker that would take a while to turn.

Such analogies, though, only conjure images of sinking ships. The HMS Tottenham Hotspur is taking on water because it's been punched full of holes by the decisions of the club's players, head coaches and hierarchy.

At half-time of the 3-1 defeat to Crystal Palace, a couple of Spurs fans shouted across at the club analysts that they are 'taking the club down'. Another bellowed 'You've killed the club' up at those in the director's box, including CEO Vinai Venkatesham, sporting director Johan Lange and one of the owners, Vivienne Lewis.

The fans are disgusted by the club and in the 94th minute the travelling Palace faithful sang 'You're going to boo in a minute'. The remaining Tottenham supporters duly did. It was a game that turned horribly in the space of a handful of first-half minutes.

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Nineteen-year-old Archie Gray, Spurs' man of the match by a country mile, jinked around two Palace defenders before picking out Dominic Solanke to score. But Spurs captain Micky van de Ven put his brain into standby mode, grabbed Ismaila Sarr's arm as he ran towards goal and pulled him to the floor.

Referee Andy Madley had no choice but to brandish the red card and award the penalty that Sarr scored. Tottenham have the second most red cards in the Premier League (four) and the most bookings (72).

When asked if there was a discipline issue at the club Tudor bewilderingly responded: "There is no discipline issue at all. Opposite." His misplaced optimism felt similar to Frank's on the night before he was sacked.

Will Tottenham be relegated? Give us your prediction in the comments section.

"Maybe it will sound strange but I believe more after this game than I believed before," said the Croatian. "I saw something. I need to choose the right guys because the boat is going in the direction that I want to go and needs to go and who is in the boat can stay. Otherwise they can leave the boat."

The Tottenham hierarchy must decide whether to give the Tudor reign more time or decide they have made yet another managerial mistake and frantically look for anyone else who can give these players a lift. A routine email sent to the media on Friday confirmed Spurs' press conference in Madrid with Tudor on Monday night ahead of the Champions League last-16 first leg tie.

That's not a cast-iron guarantee the Croatian will be in the Spanish capital but it's a sign that some expect him to be. The problem for Spurs is the lack of alternatives to step into the dugout, those available reading like a panel of television pundits.

There's Harry Redknapp, who turns 80 next year and last managed in the Premier League 11 years ago when he left QPR second from bottom. He would be the nostalgic choice for fans after seeing what Martin O'Neill has done at Celtic. Others mentioned are Tim Sherwood, mainly by Tim Sherwood, along with Jermain Defoe and Ryan Mason.

Seeing that quartet coming over the hill is something akin to the four horsemen of the Tottenham apocalypse. Ange Postecoglou is also currently available, although his return would be far too awkward for Venkatesham and Lange. Their positions will be under scrutiny following the decisions made at a club that is lurching from one mess to another.

Spurs need to be saved, for relegation would be a disaster and leave a reported £250million black hole in their finances. Many inside the club fear for their jobs due to the cutbacks that would need to be made.

Something needs to jolt Tottenham to life at Tottenham because they are currently sleepwalking towards the Championship and that would impact far more than just the 11 players on the pitch.

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