Daily Mail

Much has been made of the shameful attempts at extortion in various US cities around transport costs, but one host venue is, at least, bucking an ugly trend.

Kansas City, which will host the training camps of both England and Argentina, is offering a free direct shuttle from the airport to downtown and to the FIFA Fan Festival.

In addition, officials will provide a ‘stadium direct’ matchday service to ticket holders, where fans can head to the stadium from five different park and ride locations for the princely sum of $15 return.

That stance is in marked contrast to that seen by some other hosts. In New York/New Jersey, a 30-minute train ride from Penn Station to the MetLife Stadium is being priced at a deplorable $150 – more than 11 times the normal return fare of $12.90.

In Boston, trains from the city to Gillette Stadium, which cost $20 for an NFL game, are being charged at $80, with coach tickets for the 34-minute drive priced at a staggering $95.

Back in Kansas City, $50 will secure fans a Tournament Pass, which will provide unlimited trips.

Issues on the east coast line affected thousands of football fans on Saturday, with Daily Mail Sport revealing how Rotherham United manager Lee Clark, who had returned to his native north east on Friday from the team hotel following the passing of his mother-in-law, was forced to jump on a taxi from Doncaster to his side’s clash at Leyton Orient.

One southern-based Leeds United supporter was left stranded at King’s Cross and got chatting to two fellow Whites in the same predicament. It transpired that the pair were two of a group of around 40 US-based investors invited by owners 49ers Enterprises for their match with Wolves.

The trio immediately hit it off and decided to take a train to Nuneaton before sharing a £150 Uber to Elland Road, making it for half-time of a 3-0 win that pushed the home side closer to safety. Who said the special relationship was dead?

Amazon aired an advert for a Champions League semi-final – featuring Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain – before either team had qualified.

In a move some saw as incredibly disrespectful to both Real Madrid and Liverpool, who were playing both of those sides in the quarter-finals, the ad featuring Harry Kane and Ousmane Dembele for the first leg on April 28, was shown 23 minutes into Liverpool’s second leg against the French side.

At the time, Arne Slot’s men were 2-0 down on aggregate but would obviously have retained hope of a spectacular turnaround. Real, defeated 2-1 in Spain, were due to play Kane’s side the following day in the second leg. As things transpired, Amazon got the semi that they had advertised after PSG won 2-0 on Merseyside and Bayern edged a classic 4-3 in Bavaria.

It is understood station bosses looked into the matter and blamed the graphic, which was shown for a second time later during the game, on an error.

Forget England manager, Tottenham Hotspur are advertising for what some may feel is the toughest job in football. The surprise relegation battler is seeking a ‘Health and Wellbeing Executive’ to join its staff.

According to the job description, the selected candidate will ‘champion health and wellbeing across the club’.

In all seriousness, Spurs are to be praised for taking the mental health of their staff seriously however, following Saturday’s agonising late draw with Brighton it may be an idea to extend the offering to some of the club’s suffering fanbase.

This column recently reported on the failure of billionaire owner of the Head sports brand to be nominated by his dual-native UK and Sweden for re-election as president of the powerful international Ski Federation (FIS) in June.

With Monaco and Azerbaijan reportedly turning down Johan Eliasch for a passport-for-nomination deal, documentation seen by Inside Sport shows that Armenia, which sent the grand total of five athletes to the Winter Olympics, has put a candidate forward for the role. Could it be?

The R&A has pulled funding for radio coverage of this year’s Women’s Open as it celebrates its 50th year. Bosses had paid for a joint IMG and BBC production which was well-received.

However, television coverage on Sky has been extended by three hours on Thursday and Friday to include the morning session and ensure that – if you are a subscriber – you can watch all of the action from Royal Lytham & St Annes.

Insiders say the radio coverage was aimed at ensuring nobody missed out on the early action and that, given the extension, it is no longer deemed necessary. The BBC say they, regardless, will have a broadcast team at the venue and will be providing radio coverage and commentary throughout.

Kevin Danso has responded to the vile and abhorrent racist abuse he received after Tottenham's 2-2 draw againstBrighton on Saturday, vowing not to let it define or distract him.

The Spurs centre-half was at fault for Brighton's late stoppage-time equaliser as Georginio Rutter snatched a point for the visitors, crucially denying relegation-threatened Tottenham their first Premier League win of 2026.

Danso, who lost possession inside his own penalty area moments before Rutter's strike, fell to his knees in despair as Tottenham missed out on the opportunity to climb out of the relegation zone, still a point behind West Ham and Nottingham Forest who both play on Sunday.

What sadly followed for Danso was a wave of racist abuse on social media, which Spurs have described as 'vile, abhorrent and dehumanising' in a statement.

Tottenham have reported the racist abuse to the Metropolitan Police and have vowed to push for the 'strongest possible action' against each perpetrator.

Danso posted to Instagram on Sunday: 'Not the result we needed yesterday. We gave everything, we learn and we move.

'I’ve also seen the comments. The racist abuse has no place in this game or anywhere. But it doesn’t define me, and it won’t distract me from what is important. I know who I am, what I stand for, and why I play.

'Now it’s about staying focused, working harder, and coming back stronger for the next games. We keep pushing, we keep believing, and we give our all every single time we step on that pitch.

'Stronger. Together. On to the next.'

In a lengthy statement condemning the racist abuse, Spurs said: 'Since yesterday’s fixture against Brighton, which took place during the Premier League’s No Room For Racism weekend, Kevin Danso has been, and continues to be, subject to significant and abhorrent racist abuse on social media.

'We have heard and seen vile, dehumanising racism. Behaviour that is without doubt a criminal offence. It will not be tolerated.

'The club is taking immediate action. We are reporting all identified content to the Metropolitan Police and to the appropriate authorities in the country where perpetrators reside, as well as to relevant social media platforms. We will push for the strongest possible action against each and every person we identify.'

Meanwhile, the Premier League also wrote on X: 'We stand alongside Kevin Danso and Tottenham Hotspur in condemning the vile racist abuse he has received on social media.

'Discriminatory abuse has absolutely no place in football or wider society. Anybody who chooses to abuse others is not welcome in our game and they are not a true fan.

'It is clear that more needs to be done to address this issue and we will work alongside clubs, football bodies, law enforcement and social media companies to ensure this remains a priority for all.

'Any individuals identified and found guilty of discrimination will face the strongest possible consequences, including club bans and legal prosecution.'

Hope crashed. Replaced by despair and the disc jockey discarded plans to pipe Barry Manilow and Neil Diamond through the state-of-the-art sound system in favour of Munich by the Editors, a gloomy whirl of guitars and always a sure sign that plans have gone awry in Tottenham.

Kevin Danso looked distraught, rooted to the turf. Probably longing for it to open and swallow him until team-mates Rodrigo Bentancur and Ben Davies noticed his predicament and went to retrieve him.

Danso’s mistake had led directly to Brighton’s 95th-minute equaliser scored by Georginio Rutter and the nature of the game made it impossible for the home side to dress a point up as anything but a serious blow to their chances of staying up.

The precise demands will be clearer after their closest relegation rivals have played. Nottingham Forest tackle Burnley at the City Ground on Sunday and West Ham travel to Crystal Palace on Monday.

Spurs could be cut four points adrift if those results go against them and yet there were signs of life in this performance.

Signs that Roberto De Zerbi, helped by the timely return of important players and the options they provide, might yet squeeze more points from this group of players over the final five games of the season.

It is difficult to be too positive, but his players certainly responded to his calls for more fight. His pre match call to arms mentioned both Micky van de Ven and Dominic Solanke as two leading men who could do more and they did.

Xavi Simons was the one big plus, playing off the left where he struggled to make an impact under Thomas Frank or Igor Tudor and yet fizzing with creativity and threat, with an assist for the first and a wonderful strike from the edge of the penalty area for the second.

His quality will be vital through the last five games and De Zerbi promised to get more from him, as they are kindred spirits, both number 10s at heart.

'He played very well, a great game,' said the Spurs boss. 'He can play better because a player like this needs to feel confidence from the manager and I will be here to transfer all the confidence he needs.

'When I was a player I was a number 10, and I know what he is thinking because I thought the same. I am lucky to have him on my team, but he is lucky as well because I can understand better than other coaches.'

De Zerbi seemed to have decided this race to survive might be no country for young men. After a youthful Spurs midfield was dominated at Sunderland last weekend, he recalled Rodrigo Bentancur and Yves Bissouma.

Bentancur’s game craft was important, especially as his team controlled long periods of the first half but their nerves remain frayed and they are terribly fragile, unable to resist to the pressure points at the end of each half.

Bentancur was playing for the first time after three months out. Bissouma’s return was his first for more than a month, and he could not make it beyond an hour. They were deployed in a vague 4141 shape with Simons drifting inside from wide left to clear the channel for Destiny Udogie to charge forward.

There were early dividends with Udogie raiding forward and Conor Gallagher was an effective as he has been since his arrival, playing as a high-energy number 10. He won the ball and busied around the fringes of the penalty area.

The pattern was lost in the second half, although another key factor was the strength on the bench to keep the energy levels up. Lucas Bergvall had only just come on when he won the ball from Jan Paul van Hecke and set Simons off towards his goal.

Brighton centre half Van Hecke was guilty of over-playing at the back for the first, losing possession to Solanke before Pedro Porro headed in a clipped pass from Simons. Solanke was more physical and knocked defenders about more than usual.

So, there were glimpses of promise. The home crowd united behind their team and generated an electric atmosphere. It did not feel particularly euphoric as they filed back out into the High Road after Rutter had the final say on the night, but De Zerbi’s Spurs did not look like a team surrendering without a fight. And that is progress.

Roberto De Zerbi insists his team can win all five of their remaining games in the Premier League to pull clear of the relegation zone.

Tottenham sensed their first victory of 2026 when a wonder strike by Xavi Simons fired them ahead late on against Brighton, only for Georginio Rutter to make it 2-2 in the 95th minute after an error by Kevin Danso.

That meant Spurs ended Saturday in the relegation zone, one point behind West Ham and having played a game more.

But De Zerbi said: 'It is not finished yet. We know it is tough, a difficult situation but there are another five games, 15 points and this team is able to win five games in a row. Now it is difficult to hear my words but watch the players and analyse their level, we can win five in a row.

'I am not being arrogant because I am not arrogant, especially now but we have the qualities to fight and win games in a row.

'They do not have to think. They have to follow me and listen. I am proud of the performance. They all gave their best, with the right mentality, the right blood and character. I am disappointed only for the result and for my players and the fans, because it was an incredible atmosphere in a very tough situation. The stadium was amazing.'

Spurs go to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday and De Zerbi ordered his players to report for training on Monday with smiles on their faces.

'I have no time to see negative people, sad players or sad assistants,' said the Italian. 'We have to be positive. I don't like people who cry and think in a negative way. They have to be strong, focus on the Wolves game and come to the training ground with a smile, otherwise they will go home immediately.'

He praised Simons and promised there will be more to come from his Dutch playmaker, and he refused to criticise Danso for the late mistake.

'Danso played a fantastic game,' said De Zerbi. 'He lost the ball and we conceded the goal, but I prefer to make mistakes with the personality to play than to concede without personality and courage. We need to play football with the ball not to stay and defend.'

Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler applauded his team's 'resilience' and 'belief' and backed Spurs to get out of trouble.

'I could have told you before the game, they have individual quality, unbelievable players in their squad,' said Hurzeler. 'In their front line, they have players who can make a difference in one action. They have enough quality to make it happen. Let's see.

'We didn't reach our highest standards. You can say we caused our own problems. We gave them presents but, in the end, it's our style of play and it's how you react and we reacted well.'

They are all my sons, Roberto de Zerbi had said of the Tottenham Hotspur players he has inherited and in whom he had already diagnosed a kind of trauma.

They are all his sons and, like the doomed, sabotaged pilots in Arthur Miller’s play, they are all spiralling towards the vast, swallowing ocean below.

This ocean is called the Championship and Spurs are still hurtling towards it at breakneck speed. The spectre of it, the fear of it, the idea that a club like this with its magnificent, steepling stadium and its champagne bars and its high-end restaurants could be hosting Lincoln City and Stevenage next season has spread a slow paralysis over its superstar players.

For a few minutes on Saturday evening, the fear loosened its grip and a wonderful catharsis enveloped this beleaguered corner of north London when Xavi Simons scored a quite magnificent goal that appeared as though it would deliver them from the relegation zone and give them their first win of 2026.

But then they plunged downwards again. Four and a half minutes into added time, substitute Georginio Rutter swept home a pull-back from Jan Paul van Hecke to make the score 2-2. When the final whistle went, many of De Zerbi’s boys in white fell to the turf, distraught.

Kevin Danso, who had lost the ball ahead of the equaliser, was inconsolable. To all their other football traumas this season, they have added one more.

A match that had offered some light ended in darkness. A point is better than nothing but Leeds United had won earlier in the afternoon. They are safe. Nottingham Forest are at home to Burnley on Sunday and will move five points clear of Spurs if they win. West Ham, who are at Crystal Palace on Monday night, are Spurs’ only hope.

De Zerbi’s team, don’t forget, have not won in the Premier League since they beat Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Sunday December 28. Only Sheffield Wednesday across the top four divisions have scored fewer points than Spurs in 2026. Their dive has been steep indeed.

Spurs made a strong start and dominated the early stages. Destiny Udogie went down under a challenge from Yankuba Minteh but the referee waved play on. Xavi Simons had a shot deflected wide. Randall Kolo Muani blazed an effort too high.

All the energy was coming from Spurs. Their pressing was relentless. Their passing was incisive and bold. Brighton, who had won their last three Premier League games, could barely get a kick.

But the visitors slowly began to gain a foothold in the game and 12 minutes before the interval, they came within inches of taking the lead. Minteh curled a cross to the back post and when Jack Hinshelwood headed it across goal, the ball bounced towards the far corner.

Micky van de Ven desperately tried to hook it away but could only slam it against the post. The ball bounced out, hit him on the thigh and rolled across the face of goal before it was hoofed clear.

It was an escape for Spurs but it changed the mood. The supporters saw familiar vulnerabilities again. Brighton attacked once more. Pascal Gross floated a free kick into the box and Danny Welbeck escaped his marker only to glance his header straight at Kinsky. The mood inside the stadium, suddenly, was fretful.

But then, finally, Spurs gave their fans something to cheer. Xavi Simons got the ball on the edge of the Brighton box, turned and floated a delicate chip into the box. Verbruggen came for it but Pedro Porro got to it ahead of him and nodded it into the empty net.

The stadium exploded in a massive scream of relief and joy. It felt like a great liberation. And a minute later, they nearly doubled their lead. Solanke slipped a clever pass through to Simons and Simons turned inside his marker, and bent a low, deliberate shot around Verbruggen.

MATCH FACTS:

Tottenham Hotspur(4:2:3:1): Kinsky – Porro, Danso, Van de Ven, Udogie 6(Spence 76 6) – Bentancur 6(Palhinha 67), Bissouma 6(Gray 57) – Kolo Muani 5(Tel 57), Gallagher 7(Bergvall 76 6), Simons – Solanke.

Head coach: Roberto de Zerbi 7

Brighton & Hove Albion(4:2:3:1): Verbruggen 7 – Wieffer 6, Van Hecke 7, Boscagli 7, Kadioglu 7 – Ayari 6, Gross 8 – Gomez 6(Mitoma 20 7), Hinshelwood 6(O’Riley 75 6), Minteh – Welbeck 6(Rutter 75 6).

Manager: Fabian Hurzeler 7

Referee: Stuart Attwell 8

The ball came back off the face of the post and when Porro rifled the rebound goalwards, the Brighton keeper made a superb reaction save to tip it over the crossbar. Porro held his head in his hands.

But just when everything was going so well, Spurs conceded. It is, the home fans would tell you, the story of their season. In added time at the end of the half, Gross was given too much time to loft a deep cross to substitute Kaoru Mitoma at the back post and Mitoma met it with a crashing left-foot volley that flew into the roof of the net. It was a stunning finish.

Brighton nearly scored again before the interval. The provider, once again, was Gross and this time, his cross was met by Hinshelwood. His header was firm and true and the stadium waited for the net to bulge. It flew just wide.

Brighton started the second half as they ended the first. Spurs defended desperately. Two goalbound shots thudded off the torsos of Spurs defenders. Their fragile confidence was being picked apart. De Zerbi was booked for rushing out of his technical area to impart instructions.

Fourteen minutes from time, there was a flurry of substitutions. Lucas Bergvall was one of them. With his first touch, he dispossessed the dawdling Jan Paul van Hecke and played the ball to Simons.

Simons took a touch and turned. He stepped inside Mats Wieffer and let fly with a quite brilliant right-foot shot that sped high through the air, across Verbruggen and in off the far post.

This glorious stadium that does not have a team to match, has never felt catharsis like it. The home bench cleared of its delirious staff.

De Zerbi hurtled down the touchline. Simons raced into the crowd, tearing off his shirt. When he finally emerged, he stood on an advertising hoarding like the conquering hero Spurs have so desperately needed.

What remained of the game after that was a torture of nerves for the home fans. They begged all their sons to hold on, these sons who had suddenly given them hope, but they could not. Rutter scored the equaliser. That ocean of nothingness called the Championship is growing closer and closer.

Follow Daily Mail Sport's live blog from Saturday's Premier League games featuring Tottenham vs Brighton, Leeds vs Wolves and Newcastle vs Bournemouth.

Thomas Frank was in the stands to watch his former club Brentford take on Fulham in the Premier League, in his first public appearance since being sacked from relegation-threatened Tottenham.

The Danish manager was given his marching orders in February amid a worrying dip in form in north London, which has since crystallised into a dogfight to escape the drop down to the Championship at the end of the season.

Since then, Frank has kept a low profile, but was all smiles in the capital on Saturday afternoon as he was spotted in a VIP box with Brentford's sporting director Phil Giles.

Frank was captured by TNT Sports cameras greeting Brentford supporters and likely discussing his positive spell in west London.

The 52-year-old helped the Bees earn promotion during his seven-year stint at the Gtech Community Stadium, and the side have gone from strength to strength under current manager Keith Andrews.

The picture is far murkier to the north of the capital, with Roberto De Zerbi now installed in the dugout after Igor Tudor - recruited to reverse the club's fortunes after Frank's sacking - was despatched last month.

With his departure from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Frank is thought to have banked an eye-watering £8million settlement after just eight months in charge.

Frank is set to be paid one year's salary as compensation for his dismissal months into his three-year contract, according to reports in his native Denmark.

Spurs paid £10m to prise him away from Brentford last summer and paid him about £650,000 a month, which means they have spent a total of more than £23m on him.

Tottenham will also play on Saturday, with a must-win clash against Brighton looming at 5.30pm in north London.

Defeat to Sunderland last time out - and a resurgence in form at survival rivals West Ham - have left Tottenham two points away from the 17th-placed Hammers.

Roberto De Zerbi has taken his Tottenham Hotspur players for an extravagant team-bonding meal as part of his latest attempt to halt his side’s slide towards the Championship.

Tottenham fans will be hoping this is the only aspect of Igor Tudor’s approach that De Zerbi follows, as the Croatian also organised a similar outing in the early stages of his short tenure in north London, taking his squad to Greek-Cypriot restaurant Ousia in Muswell Hill for a first-team meal.

According to The Telegraph, De Zerbi is said to have arranged the meal himself at Mayfair’s Bacchanalia in the wake of Tottenham’s 1-0 defeat by Sunderland at the weekend.

After the match – his first in charge – the Italian revealed that his primary task over the final six games of the season would be to lift his players’ spirits, saying: 'My job now is not to coach a style, with or without the ball, but try to give the players what they need in terms of mentality'.

The restaurant claims that it is designed 'for those who long for escapism', something Tottenham are certainly craving after failing to win a single Premier League game since the turn of the year, with the weekend’s results seeing them drop into the relegation zone for the first time in 17 years.

'This is not merely a restaurant, it is a breath-taking feast for the senses, a gathering place to feel moved, immersed in another world,' the restaurant declares. 'It is imagination on a grand and glorious scale. Here, people let go, to indulge in life’s richness.'

The prices reflect a Premier League clientele, with pasta dishes ranging from £34 to £135, while a leg of lamb is priced at £130. The sea bass, meanwhile, will set you back £110 before sides or drinks are added.

The celebrity haunt occupies a corner site on Mount Street that once housed a Porsche showroom. It features large Damien Hirst sculptures and has welcomed the likes of Nicole Scherzinger, Megan Fox and the Beckhams in recent years.

Former interim head coach Tudor had also taken the squad out for a meal ahead of the disastrous north London derby on 22 February, which Arsenal won 4-1.

He left the role just 44 days after his appointment, following a damaging defeat by Nottingham Forest that deepened Tottenham’s relegation concerns.

Tudor, however, struggled to win over the players with his abrasive style, whereas De Zerbi is said to have made a far more positive first impression, according to The Telegraph.

If the outlook already appeared bleak following De Zerbi’s arrival, it has worsened further after the defeat to Sunderland, with captain Cristian Romero ruled out for the remainder of the season with a knee injury.

One positive though was the return of Rodrigo Bentancur to training this week. The 28-year-old has been out since January with a serious hamstring injury.

Tottenham face Brighton this weekend, before trips to Aston Villa and Chelsea prior to the season’s conclusion.

If results do not improve, they may retain the same manager next season – as De Zerbi's contract does not include a relegation break clause – but their choice of restaurant venues may need to become more modest.

The Lewis family remain committed as Tottenham owners despite the looming threat of relegation.

Vivienne Lewis and her son-in-law Nick Beucher have become the key ownership figures since Spurs ousted chairman Daniel Levy in September and have not been deterred by a miserable first season in charge.

Spurs are currently in the relegation zone with six Premier League games remaining. They are still without a league win this year and last month appointed Roberto De Zerbi as their third head coach of the season.

De Zerbi lost his first game at Sunderland and faces former club Brighton on Saturday in his first home game at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with pressure on to end a run of 14 Premier League games without a win.

The Lewis Family Trust control Spurs as the majority owners of ENIC.

There have been flurries of takeover claims in seven months since Levy’s exit but sources close to the family insist it is not for sale and that they are committed ‘no matter what’.

Day to day operations are run by the club’s chief executive Vinai Venkatesham and sporting director Johan Lange.

Vultures will be circling N17 long before the final day of the season if Roberto De Zerbi cannot revive this desperate Tottenham campaign.

No club is immune. And the alarm is deepening for Spurs after defeat at Sunderland in De Zerbi’s first game, an injury to captain Cristian Romero and a surprise win for Leeds at Manchester United.

Another week passes by and a little deeper into trouble they sink. Up goes the pressure and the new boss admits the doomsday scenario inhibits his players because they are good people who understand the consequences.

Money is, of course, the starting point and the problems cascade from there. If Spurs are relegated after their final game of the season, at home to Everton on May 24, they can expect revenue to be hit by north of £250million in their first year outside the Premier League.

'There will be a significant drop in revenue if Spurs are relegated,' said Rob Wilson, football finance expert at the University Campus of Football Business. 'The drop is quite structured and relatively manageable, particularly across one year because of parachute payments and relegation clauses, which are becoming fairly standard.

'Even so the loss will create pressure to trim operational costs, especially the wage bill and will feed into transfer strategy.'

The summer transfer window immediately after plummeting through the Premier League’s trapdoor is a maelstrom but some are more used to it than others.

For Spurs, it is almost half a century since relegation. They would not be accustomed to what would lie in wait and some of the factors will be exaggerated because they never expected to be in this position. Players will want out and Spurs will need to sell. But which ones? What will it leave them with? And what can they recruit?

Some might have clauses enabling them to leave after relegation, and others will not expect to slum it in the Championship. Romero, Micky van de Ven and Xavi Simons lead this category as established internationals players in their prime years sure to command interest from clubs in the Champions League.

Prospective buyers will low-ball for weeks aware Spurs will not want disgruntled stars kicking around the building when they return for pre-season.

Loan options on Joao Palhinha from Bayern Munich and Randal Kolo Muani from Paris Saint-Germain will likely be declined.

Inter Milan are interested in goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario and confident of striking a deal for £20m. With two years left on Vicario’s contract, it makes sense for Spurs to cash in. Full back Pedro Porro is another moving into the final two years of his contract and sure to attract interest.

Richarlison has one year on his deal and is a target for Flamengo, but Spurs have been prepared to listen to offers for the Brazilian in recent windows without attracting an acceptable offer.

As with Yves Bissouma, who is out of contract in June. Spurs have tried without success to sell him for two windows and had been planning to trigger a one-year extension to preserve his value and ensure a fee, which they might reassess if relegated.

Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison will be into the final two years of their deals but neither have played this season after serious injuries so their value is diminished.

Spurs will find the players they are most desperate to keep are in the greatest demand. That’s just the way it works. They would love to build a team for the future around Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall, both 20, and Luka Vuskovic, 19.

But Liverpool and Bayern Munich have eyes on Gray. Chelsea and Aston Villa on Bergvall. Barcelona and Bayern admire Vuskovic who is not keen to return to Spurs after a successful loan at Hamburg. The list of suitors for these three will only increase if they go down.

Spurs will have their resolve tested if they are in the Championship because none of their players want to play second-tier football. They will think they are elite players with international careers, image rights and commercial deals to protect. Agents will be in overdrive.

After all of this, what will be the mood of those left behind, those unsold and demotivated because they think they belong in the Premier League but are gearing up for a season in the EFL less than a month after the World Cup ends?

Moreover, who will guide Spurs through this minefield? The new Lewis family regime led by chief executive Vinai Venkatesham and sporting director Johan Lange have hardly inspired confidence. It is difficult to imagine them in the same roles if they preside over the club’s first relegation since 1977.

The search is already on for a new sporting director. Spurs are currently exploring their options, including Sebastian Kehl, who stepped down from the same role at Borussia Dortmund in March and Tiago Pinto, Bournemouth’s president of football operations. If Lange survives the summer, it is expected to be in a less crucial role working under the new appointment, rather than as a joint sporting director – as he was with Fabio Paratici, who left in February.

The club’s executive tier requires urgent strengthening not only to improve the way the first team operates but also across the women’s team and the academy.

De Zerbi will be a powerful voice and while there are clear dangers when a head coach holds any sway in the appointment of a sporting director, it makes sense for their vision to be aligned.

For the next month, though, Spurs will be spinning two recruitment plans in accordance with two different budgets, depending on survival. Go down, and there will be limitations to De Zerbi’s rebuilding operation. Expenditure will hinge upon outgoings and recruitment will need to be adjusted accordingly.

De Zerbi, on his five-year deal, talks of taking Spurs to the top of the Premier League but cannot sign players to do that as a Championship club. A temporary shift of focus would be required. Forget fanciful notions of competing with Liverpool to sign Yan Diomande from Leipzig or Maghnes Akliouche from Monaco.

Spurs are in a strong position to sign Andy Robertson on a free at the end of his Liverpool contract. Having identified a lack of maturity in the dressing room, they tried to advance a deal for the 32-year-old left back in January only to hit a snag.

Robertson would be a perfect captain to lead a new era even if they are relegated. But he can expect offers from the Premier League, so does the deal hold true for the Championship? If not, they could offer Ben Davies, also 32 and out of contract in June, a new deal.

De Zerbi will assess the emerging talent currently out on loan, chief among which is centre half Vuskovic and winger Mikey Moore, 18, who has impressed in the second half of the season at Rangers.

Manor Solomon, on loan at Fiorentina but under contract at Spurs until 2028, played for De Zerbi at Shakhtar Donetsk and is effective in the Championship, where he scored 10 for champions Leeds last season. Solomon is only 26 could tide them over on the right wing until Wilson Odobert is back fit.

Among others, Ashley Phillips, 20, has performed well on loan at Stoke this season.

If relegation comes with a silver lining, it is a chance to blood select youngsters in a less harsh environment in the hope they take the chance and mature into first-teamers.

This though must be offset against the urgency to bounce back up. Spurs, as Wilson says, might carry the financial clout to ride a £250m revenue drop for one year, but they cannot afford to get stuck for any longer outside the Premier League with a stadium debt to repay. Aston Villa took three years to return when they were relegated in 2016. For Sunderland it was eight years, four of which were spent in the third tier, a division Spurs have never played in.

It is vital for Spurs to hold onto some Premier League quality if they go down. Dominic Solanke and Djed Spence both know what it takes to win promotion from the Championship. They can attest to others there is life outside the Premier League. The Championship is vibrant, brilliantly competitive, with atmospheric grounds often packed to capacity.

The EFL would welcome Spurs with open arms and the match-going fans might find plenty to like about it. But the commercial department will be less keen. Try filling those tables at a corporate palace built for the Champions League when Lincoln City come to town. The Championship is no place for a club with aspirations to win the Premier League title.

The best way out of this is of course to stay up. Six games remain in 36 days, starting with a reunion for De Zerbi against Brighton on Saturday. Look out for the vultures.