The Mirror

Arsenal and Tottenham contest the North London Derby on Sunday with 14 players expected to be absent as two stars face late fitness tests

Arsenal and Tottenham approach the North London Derby facing vastly contrasting injury concerns. The two fierce adversaries are poised to meet on Sunday afternoon, with three points essential for both considering their respective title aspirations and relegation concerns.

Mikel Arteta's squad have enjoyed considerably less recovery time having battled to a 2-2 stalemate with Wolves on Wednesday evening. Leandro Trossard and Bukayo Saka were both withdrawn after treatment from physios during that encounter.

The Gunners manager has nevertheless confirmed both are fit whilst also revealing that Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard stand a strong chance of making comebacks. He said: "Well, we have to wait until tomorrow, but there is a big possibility that they [Havertz and Odegaard] are available for the game."

As Arteta indicates, either participating in training on Saturday will probably dictate their availability with late fitness assessments potentially necessary for the pair. That won't be required for Mikel Merino, however, with the Spaniard a prolonged injury casualty following surgery on his foot.

Max Dowman is also anticipated to be unavailable despite Arteta revealing earlier this month that he is scheduled to rejoin training imminently. The Arsenal academy talent has been sidelined for the past two months with an ankle problem, though has been spotted back in training ahead of the clash.

FOLLOW OUR ARSENAL FB PAGE!Latest Gunners news and more on our dedicated Facebook page

Across north London, Igor Tudor has almost as many senior players sidelined through injury as he has available for training sessions. The club's new interim boss confirmed this concerning situation whilst also revealing a fresh fitness worry.

He stated: "Very particular moment as you know this very rare situation that you find with 10 players injured, with big injuries also. We made training with 13 players. Probably no [for injury returns vs Arsenal]. Solanke, Dominic, had some problems with his throat, but he made today some training. So, all others, probably someone next week."

Pedro Porro and Richarlison could potentially return soon, with the latter seen back training at Hotspur Way earlier this week, though Tudor's comments suggest neither are quite ready yet.

Spurs desperately need Solanke fit for Sunday's clash, particularly after losing another forward to a serious injury last week when Wilson Odobert ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament. He becomes the latest player to join James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski in facing an extended spell out with knee problems.

Neither of that pair have featured in competitive action this campaign, though both hope to be back before May concludes. Rodrigo Bentancur faces a similar timeframe, with the midfielder currently recovering from a hamstring problem.

However, the exact timing of his return remains uncertain. What Tudor does know is when Cristian Romero will be back in contention.

Ensure our latest sport headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. **Click here to activate or add us as Preferred Source in your Google search settings

The club captain is currently completing a four-match suspension following his second red card of the campaign against Manchester United, and is set to be available for the Liverpool away fixture in mid-March, provided he avoids any fitness setbacks in the meantime.

Spurs are facing a defensive personnel crisis, with both Destiny Udogie and Ben Davies unavailable. Kevin Danso is working towards recovering from an unusual toe injury before the upcoming international break, which begins late next month.

Tottenham players must follow non-negotiable rule as Igor Tudor instruction emerges

Igor Tudor will be in the Tottenham dugout for the first time on Sunday as his new side take on fierce rivals Arsenal at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Igor Tudor will take charge of Tottenham for the first time on Sunday when his side take on rivals Arsenal. And one of the Croatian boss's key principles should be welcomed by the entire squad.

Following Thomas Frank's sacking, Tudor was brought in to stabilise things until the end of the campaign. Spurs are perilously positioned near the relegation zone after enduring a difficult run under Frank.

Tudor has previously taken over at Lazio and Juventus to restore stability mid-season. He now faces a formidable challenge when the Gunners visit N17.

Throughout his spells in Italy and France, one philosophy proved central to Tudor's success. Italian football expert Daniele Fisichella, who witnessed the head coach in Turin and Rome, has identified the 47-year-old's one golden rule.

MAKE THE MIRROR YOUR FIRST CHOICE! Click here to activate or add us as Preferred Source in your Google search settings

"The type of football that Tudor likes to play, it's vertical football," Fisichella told football.london. "It's direct football, attacking in a way, where the intensity and the pace is key."

Revealing one rule Tudor demands his players follow, Fisichella added: "One of his favourite quotes and that was when he was managing at Marseille, was, 'If you don't run, you don't play. ' Dimitri Payet, who played there under him, didn't see the pitch that much, because probably in training he wasn't doing enough running."

Cristian Romero might not be particularly keen on this approach. Among all outfield players who featured for 200 minutes in the top-flight last season, the Tottenham skipper spent 75.5 per cent of his time walking, the third-highest percentage in the Premier League.

Romero received his second red card of the campaign after being dismissed in the opening half of Tottenham's 2-0 defeat to Manchester United earlier this month. The sending-off triggered a four-match suspension, ruling him out of Sunday's clash.

One player expected to start against Arsenal is Micky van de Ven. Fisichella believes the Dutch defender should flourish under his new boss's philosophy. He said: "I think anyone who's young, energetic, willing to run forward and willing to press will benefit from Tudor.

"He loves having somebody like Micky van de Ven. He's quick, therefore he can push the line higher. Having somebody of that pace, it's a great boost for him because that means his team can play maybe 10, 15 metres higher up the pitch.

"It will be an aggressive set-up, I think. He likes quite a pressing side. The issue is that not always, and not often, they convert those turnovers into shots or into goals, which is a completely different issue. But they do like to press.

Tottenham sporting director Johan Lange admits he is under pressure after another desperate Premier League season, with Igor Tudor tasked with avoiding a disastrous relegation

Igor Tudor has got the chance to be at Tottenham for a “long time". Former Croatia World Cup defender Tudor has been appointed until the end of the season to try and guide Spurs away from relegation danger.

Tudor’s reign begins with the North London derby on Sunday and it is the SEVENTH time he has taken a job mid-season which has made him seen as a managerial Red Adair.

But Tottenham sporting director Johan Lange says this time Tudor will be in with a chance of getting the job on a permanent basis if he does well enough in the next three months.

Lange said: “We interviewed a few candidates. Igor impressed us very, very much in the interview. Obviously, we also managed to take references of Igor. He comes in with very big experience at the highest level in football.

“As a player, playing for a very, very big club, one of the biggest clubs in the world in Juve. Of course he was part of this very good generation of Croatia national team in the late 90s.

MAKE THE MIRROR YOUR FIRST CHOICE! Click here to activate or add us as Preferred Source in your Google search settings

“He has shown the capabilities of coming into clubs around this time, February, March, and also big clubs, and made an immediate performance impact.

“You need to come into build relationships but of course assess the style of the club immediately. He has shown that with great success, not only once but a few times, to come into that.

“That is one of the reasons why we believe he is the best candidate here now but of course also with his reputation and what he’s done in his career, of course, if things go well, he could be here for a long time.”

Tottenham fans were singing former boss Mauricio Pochettino's name even before Thomas Frank was sacked and he is clearly the crowd favourite.

But current USA boss Pochettino would not be available until after the World Cup and he would also have to contend with a different Tottenham from when he left with the team struggling to compete.

Ex-Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou questioned the club’s ambition and “To Dare Is To Do” motto because they have been reluctant to push for the biggest signings.

Lange, who reports into chief executive Vinai Venkatesham, said: “A couple of things. I’m not going to sit here and start commenting on an ex-employee of the club’s comments.

“I think Vinai in his notes earlier this year, or the latter part of last year, made it known in the match day programme that we, as a club, need to grow our wage bill to be competitive.

“We were also linked, I think Thomas commented a little bit on players in January, and it was definitely not because of a lack of emotion from our side or efforts from our side that those players are not here today.”

JOIN US ON FACEBOOK! Latest news, analysis and much more on Mirror Football's Facebook page

Lange accepted his position is certain to be under the spotlight after this season’s poor results while he also warned whoever is next that entertaining football will be “high on the list” of job requirements.

Lange added: “I think when you work for a big club like Tottenham, then pressure, or where you want to call it, is part of it. I’m sitting here today because I want to take responsibility for the club, everything that comes into football. Part of being here is expectations.

“We are also a club with a rich history of having some of the best offensive players in the world and having a very particular style of play that resonates with the history, resonates with the fans. Of course that is something that is important for us here at the club.”

The latest Arsenal news ahead of Sunday's all-important north London derby

Arsenal have arguably the most important games of the season coming up when they face Tottenham Hotspur in the north London derby this weekend with their Premier League lead at risk. The Gunners dropped points for the second consecutive game on Wednesday after Wolves scored a 94th-minute equaliser to end the game 2-2.

This slip-up has allowed Manchester City the opportunity to close the gap at the top to just two points on Saturday night when they face Newcastle United at home. Arsenal will not play until Sunday afternoon and should City claim the three points, they will be faced with a must-win derby against Tottenham.

However, Mikel Arteta has urged his team to harness the "pain" from the Wolves draw to push for the Premier League title. He said: "We need to go through the pain and go through it looking in the mirror and understand what the game requires now and the next action is Sunday.

"We need to keep all that in our tummies to show it on Sunday."

Here, Mirror Football has all the latest coming out of the Emirates Stadium.

Ensure our latest sport headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as Preferred Source in your Google search settings.

Mikel Arteta exit prediction made

Alan Shearer has predicted Arteta will leave Arsenal if they don't win the Premier League title this season. Despite leading the pack for most of the 2025/26 campaign, the Gunners have wobbled a few times in recent weeks and have allowed City to claw back the points deficit at the top of the table.

Shearer has still put his money on Arsenal to top the table in May but admits it won't be easy. Speaking on the Rest Is Football podcast, he said: "They’ll probably still win it, just.

"I never expected Arsenal to do it the easy way, I always knew there were going to be bumps and everything else, nervy times.

"People are going to be chucking questions and bombs and you have to get over that. I did expect this to happen. Let’s see what they are made of.

"If he doesn’t win the league he might not be at Arsenal. After the chances they have had to win it and finishing second, with what they have spent on the players they have got and the positions they are in, they have to win it."

FOLLOW OUR ARSENAL FB PAGE!Latest Gunners news and more on our dedicated Facebook page

Regarding the north London derby, Shearer believes this tense match has come at the right time for Arsenal. He added: "I think if you need a game after what has happened then it is not a bad one to have in your local rivals.

"I know they have a new manager and it is away, but what a response it would be to go and win at Tottenham at the weekend."

Eberechi Eze's Arteta verdict

Eberechi Eze admits he had no fear in returning to Arsenal in the summer thanks to a helpful conversation with Arteta. Discussing his transfer in an interview with Men in Blazers, the 27-year-old stated he was more than aware of his new manager and was looking forward to working under him.

Eze said: "I spoke to him previously so I already knew the type of character he was and it was very cool. So I knew that’s the type of conversation I could have."

Praising Arteta's character, he added: "He’s an honest guy, he’s straight, he says it how it is. If I’m honest, I wasn’t too nervous."

Arsenal will hope Eze will bring his best for the title run-in after scoring just four goals and assisting twice in 21 Premier League appearances since his return.

Igor Tudor is set to make his Tottenham Hotspur managerial debut on Sunday as the Lilywhites take on Arsenal in the North London Derby, but may have to deal with a major issue during his tenure

Stephen Carr believes Igor Tudor faces a challenge that proved insurmountable for both Ange Postecoglou and Thomas Frank, with precious little time to address it at Tottenham Hotspur. The Croatian has taken charge as caretaker manager until the end of the season, following Frank's dismissal just eight months after his appointment earlier this month.

After going winless in eight Premier League fixtures, with Spurs stuck in 16th place, the hierarchy decided they had seen enough from the Danish coach. Consequently, the club has turned to ex-Juventus and Lazio manager Tudor, with just 12 matches left to play, hoping he can steer Spurs clear of a potential relegation battle.

Yet the 47-year-old confronts a daunting task in achieving that, considering Tottenham are severely depleted squad-wise due to an ongoing injury crisis. It's a problem Frank was compelled to navigate for much of this campaign, whilst Postecoglou was similarly hindered by absent players in 2024/25, only managing a 17th-place finish in the English top flight.

That came despite securing the Europa League trophy that very same season. Now, Carr has identified that injuries appear to make up part of Spurs' current troubles, leaving Tudor facing a near-impossible challenge if he wants his reign to be viewed as a success. Speaking to Mirror Football via Meta Spins Casino, the club legend said: "He [Frank] came with a reputation.

"He was a very good manager and he still is a very good manager, let's not forget, because you can't do that in the Champions League and then be a poor manager. He's a very good manager.

"He's had a lot of injuries. A lot of people can use that as an excuse. If any of the top clubs in that league had them injuries, they'd struggle - Man City, Arsenal, Man U, Liverpool. He's had it tough, but unfortunately, in football, no one cares. It's about results. They don't think when they have injuries, they don't even take that into account. Fans pay a lot of money to go there. They don't care."

Regarding how Tudor can resolve what neither Postecoglou nor Frank managed to, Carr believes the head coach requires consistency within his squad, and shouldn't be fixated on implementing a particular style of play. He added: "He just needs stability in that team. He needs to get results, however they do it.

JOIN US ON FACEBOOK!All the best sports news and much more on our dedicated Facebook page

"It's not like we need to play this football and that football, the Tottenham way, like West Ham do; the West Ham way, it's not about that. It's about getting results now. It's getting up that table. At the moment, they're in a really poor position."

Tudor's opening fixture with Spurs takes the form of the North London Derby on Sunday, February 22 - a daunting challenge given Arsenal currently lead the Premier League table. However, following the Gunners' 2-2 stalemate with bottom-placed Wolves in midweek, Carr believes his former side have a genuine opportunity to claim victory.

He said: "They have Arsenal at the weekend. Is it a good time to get Arsenal? Probably after the result they just had. They're under pressure. They're under pressure in a different way; to win the title.

"But it'd be a typical Tottenham team to go and get results after all that's happened. So, they should be lifting themselves for that. I think it's an amazing game. Any derby goes...you don't know what's happening in the derby. You've seen that in loads of derbies.

"I think it's a great game for them. Always great to play in derbies. For the manager as well. I wouldn't be surprised if Tottenham win, it'd be just a typical Tottenham."

Ensure our latest sport headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as Preferred Source in your Google search settings.

Tottenham boss Igor Tudor concedes he's not in north London to enjoy himself, but instead to get results as he seeks to make an immediate impact with the club is free fall

New Tottenham boss Igor Tudor admits he's not enjoyed his early days as manager because he's "here to work" as he underlined his laser focus from now until the end of the season.

The Croatian has been hired and tasked with steadying the ship over the coming months and will begin his tenure with a north London derby on Sunday. The atmosphere in and around Tottenham had become increasingly volatile in the final weeks of Thomas Frank's tenure before his dismissal.

He had struggled for wins at home, leading to numerous outings which finished with jeers from the crowd. Tudor is only a short-term appointment but needs to restore a sense of calm and swiftly improve results.

A run of one win in 11 games has seen the club spiral down the table and they are now just five points above the bottom three. It represents another season of struggle but Tudor has maintained he is 100% sure Tottenham will be a Premier League club next season.

He said: "I didn't enjoy (my first days) because I'm not here to enjoy. I'm here to work. It's the first moment and there's work to do. It's a privilege to be here."

MAKE THE MIRROR YOUR FIRST CHOICE! Click here to activate or add us as Preferred Source in your Google search settings

Tudor's last job ended in October as he was shown the door by Juventus after just 24 games. Prior to that the Croatian, who won the Champions League as a player, had a good track record of making an immediate impact when taking on a new role, which he'll need to do in London.

The head coach himself couldn't give any insight as to how or why he gets results so quickly. "I don't know. I do my job, Nothing special," he said. "I do the things I believe is important. Nothing more, nothing less. Each coach has his own style to achieve the results. I have my style which I believe is the best. It’s never the same because there are always different characteristics, different clubs and different culture.

"Not even of the league but the club. Some clubs like this kind of football, some like this. You need to resolve the problems. Everywhere the problems, if you go to the best clubs in the world you believe there are not problems there but there are problems there like in the third division. It’s all about how you resolve the problems in a very quick time. Not easy but it’s okay."

After facing Arsenal Tottenham will make the short trip across London to Fulham. Before the next international break they'll also take on Crystal Palace, Liverpool and Nottingham Forest.

Tottenham are in danger of being relegated from the Premier League after a turbulent season and Jamie Carragher insists it wouldn't be a surprise to see them go down

Jamie Carragher has torn into Tottenham as fears grow over their top-flight status, warning they are 'not too big or good' to go down and that their relegation would be the most 'embarrassing' of any team in the Premier League era.

Spurs have endured another calamitous domestic campaign after finishing 17th last season and currently sit just two places and five points above the relegation zone. Thomas Frank was appointed as the club's new head coach last summer and paid the price for the team's poor form with his job earlier this month.

Igor Tudor has been installed on a contract until the end of the season with a remit of keeping Tottenham in the division - something which would have been unfathomable at the beginning of the campaign.

But Carragher now says nobody would be surprised to see them slip through the trapdoor after watching them this term.

MAKE THE MIRROR YOUR FIRST CHOICE! Click here to activate or add us as Preferred Source in your Google search settings

“It is often said that a club are too big, or even too good, to go down. No one is making that claim about Tottenham Hotspur,” the former Liverpool defender wrote in The Telegraph.

“The fear that prompted the end of Thomas Frank’s unhappy reign is justified. Watching Spurs, and comparing their current form to third-bottom West Ham United – a team who recently won at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium – warrants the suggestion they are on the verge of catastrophe.

“If they drop into the Championship it would be the most shocking descent of the Premier League era, and the most embarrassing for a club of such wealth and stature since Denis Law’s back-heel for Manchester City sent Manchester United into the old Second Division in 1974.

“Analysing the quality of the squad Igor Tudor leads for the first time in this weekend’s North London Derby, the scale of the challenge is obvious.

“The concern is the prolonged dip under his two immediate predecessors, and how soon that can be reversed. There is no escaping the shadow of the dreaded “R word” at Spurs. Relegation is possible. Add “ridiculous” or “reprehensible” and plain “rubbish” to the valid descriptions of their record over the past 27 months, which has led them to this perilous situation.”

Carragher goes on to agree with Tottenham over the decision to sack Frank, although the Sky Sports pundit points out that a coach with his organisational qualities would usually be a boost to any club bidding to attain survival.

He does, though, have concerns over Tudor, who despite impressing in Italy during spells with Juventus, has no Premier League experience and is now in the midst of a survival fight.

It is stressed that Tudor has to hit the ground running - no mean feat when his first obligation in charge of Tottenham is a north London derby against Arsenal.

Carragher added: “Despite Tudor’s success in Italy, there is an element of risk when appointing a coach who might need a period to adapt to English football. Spurs do not have any time.

“Since the Premier League formed in 1992, of the original “big five” who initiated its formation, only Everton have flirted with relegation.

“What was until recently considered unthinkable for Tottenham is now conceivable. Tudor does not just need to hit the ground running. He needs to start his reign like an Olympic sprinter to keep Spurs out of the bottom three.”

Swedish politician Mikael Damberg used Tottenham as an analogy for Sweden's economic struggles, branding both as 'Spursy' in a jaw-dropping speech while in parliament

Swedish politician Mikael Damberg has launched an extraordinary swipe on Tottenham, comparing the struggles to his country's economic woes. During what appears to be an official parliamentary address, Damberg used the north London club as a curious yet seemingly fitting comparison for how Sweden have and could continue to falter.

When speaking to the chamber about Sweden's challenges, his remarks translate to English as: "I naturally think of Tottenham Hotspur, also known as Spurs, it is one of England's most distinguished and rich clubs with an enormous stadium, dedicated and large supporter base - everything to be considered a 'top team'.

"Despite this, Tottenham find themselves in crisis. They are fighting at the bottom of the table, just a few points above the relegation zone. Not because they lack resources or benefits, but because they have squandered opportunities.

"Due to making wrong decisions, general jerkiness and thinking in the short-term, they have lost their direction and stability."

"The club have been given the name 'Spursy', [which is] when you have opportunities but get no results. Madame Speaker that is precisely how the Minister of Finance is handling the Swedish economy.

JOIN US ON FACEBOOK!All the best sports news and much more on our dedicated Facebook page

"Sweden has the power, ability and resources. We have the companies, workforce and innovation capabilities. Conditions exits for the Swedish economy to prosper."

He added: "The government risks making Sweden 'Spursy'. That won't do. Sweden cannot perform like Tottenham." Whilst put rather bluntly, Damberg's evaluation of the club isn't wide of the mark, with repeated poor decisions leaving them in a dangerous position.

Igor Tudor has been appointed as caretaker manager with the single objective of dragging Tottenham clear of this mess and away from the drop zone, following Thomas Frank's dismal record of just two victories from 17 Premier League matches.

The escape attempt begins this Sunday afternoon with the incredibly daunting prospect of a north London derby against league leaders Arsenal.

In his opening press conference as boss, Tudor made a fleeting reference to that fixture whilst also addressing the issues he's already encountering and his potential remedy.

Ensure our latest sport headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as Preferred Source in your Google search settings

He said: "The situation is not easy, because, as you know better than me, we have a lot of injured players, so we need first to find the best system, the suit for the players that are available in this moment.

"So, a very particular moment, maybe this can sound strange, but I believe that the thing that we need to be focused on is the training. So, the training from today, that's the key, because, as I always like to say, Sunday and the game is a consequence of the training."

Two players unavailable for selection are Sweden internationals Lucas Bergvall and Dejan Kulusevski. Given this, the pair are expected to be referenced when Damberg's remarks are discussed.

'I watched Igor Tudor manage in Italy - this is what I think about his Tottenham appointment'

New Tottenham manager Igor Tudor is getting ready for a challenging first match against rivals Arsenal but is accustomed to taking over teams mid-season

Igor Tudor has been named as Tottenham's head coach through to the season's conclusion. And an Italian football specialist has provided some insight into what supporters can anticipate following the manager's short stints with Juventus and Lazio.

Following Thomas Frank's untenable situation, Tudor was brought in to tackle the crisis until the campaign finishes. Spurs are perilously positioned near the drop zone, with their upcoming Premier League fixture being a challenging north London derby at home to rivals Arsenal.

The Croatian has no previous managerial experience in England, though he's well-versed in taking charge of clubs mid-season. His most recent role was in Turin, where he enjoyed initial success before struggling at the start of the current term.

Daniele Fisichella, an expert on Italian football, observed Tudor's approach with both Juventus and Lazio, another of his recent clubs. While plenty of fans may be unfamiliar with the 47-year-old prior to his appointment, Fisichella believes matters will progress smoothly.

MAKE THE MIRROR YOUR FIRST CHOICE! Click here to activate or add us as Preferred Source in your Google search settings

Fisichella told football.london: "It's a great chance for him. It's a chance to go to the best league in the world, midway through the season, to a team that needs an identity and needs a proverbial kick on the backside, which I'm sure he's going to give them.

"He's a manager who is very direct. He's very honest, open, sometimes perhaps even too much if you like. He always speaks his mind. He might come across as a little bit brash, but I don't think he will sit on the fence.

"This is a man who can fix you a problem. At Juventus last year, he came in in March and achieved the results. He qualified them for the Champions League, which was what he needed to do. This was in nine games, only losing one.

"When he came to Lazio, they were a team that was doing a slow build-up, keep possession, keep the ball, the players perhaps were not as aggressive. In only a few games he managed to transform Lazio into a much more proactive and pressing side."

Tudor's spell with Juventus didn't conclude on good terms. He was dismissed in October last year following an eight-match winless streak. However, Fisichella believes there were mitigating circumstances behind this collapse. He continued: "There have been some issues with him as well, but I think maybe in the end he was given a bad hand.

"He wanted Juventus to buy a playmaker in the summer and they didn't. We also have to say that this season, when Tudor was in charge, Juventus had a very, very tough run of fixtures. The expectations perhaps were a bit high, although I think he didn't help himself with some choices and a bit of confusion."

What constitutes success for the new Spurs manager is yet to be determined. His team remain in the Champions League and whilst lifting that trophy would be a significant challenge, Fisichella doesn't dismiss the possibility of Tottenham advancing deeper into the tournament.

"If the aim is to win the Champions League, well, I think Tudor might struggle with that," he said. "Although potentially there could be a tie with Galatasaray or Juventus in the last 16, so maybe it is not impossible for them to progress."

Tottenham are reportedly set to lose a major sponsor this summer, with the club's ongoing battle against relegation and inability to land key transfer targets set to cost the club financially

Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly lost a major sponsor in a significant setback for the Lewis family that could see the club forfeit millions. Spurs' current relegation fight and failure to secure priority transfer targets mean the club is preparing for a substantial financial blow in sponsorship revenue.

The Telegraph reports that one of Spurs' longstanding principal sponsors has informed the club their partnership will terminate this summer, irrespective of whether the north London side stay in the Premier League. They suggest industry experts are forecasting the financial impact will run into the 'tens of millions' whatever division Spurs find themselves in next term.

The publication claims to be aware of which company will sever ties next summer, but is unable to disclose it owing to contractual confidentiality. They state the arrangement has generated millions for Spurs throughout its duration, with other sponsors reportedly reviewing their own partnerships.

JOIN US ON FACEBOOK! Latest news, analysis and much more on Mirror Football's Facebook page

The report suggests multiple factors contributed to the key sponsor's withdrawal, including last season's decision to prioritise the Europa League over Premier League survival. Ange Postecoglou steered Spurs to their first European Trophy, but concluded the 2024/25 Premier League season in 17th position, and sit just one point higher at present, three points clear of the drop zone.

One source reportedly said: "There has been no explanation from the club or acknowledgement of the domestic performance concerns from the club. Instead, their messaging was focused on the Europa League, which is not the tier of competition global sponsors expect from a so-called 'elite club'."

BACK THE MIRROR! Ensure our latest headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search

The report highlights a diminished appeal regarding the club's recent transfer dealings, with targets such as Eberechi Eze opting for bitter rivals Arsenal instead, whilst Daniel Levy's exit from the club is understood to have created a 'leadership vacuum' at the top. The atmosphere at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium has also come under scrutiny from sponsors, with the volume of empty seats presenting an unappealing spectacle for commercial partners.

Thomas Frank was relieved of his duties earlier this month after an underwhelming period in charge following his switch from Brentford.

Igor Tudor has been appointed interim head coach until the end of the campaign, with the former Juventus manager set to take charge of his first match against Arsenal this weekend.