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Premier League relegation can have a big impact on people off the pitch. It's one of the great unspoken human costs of operating at the highest level.

This season, even the British taxpayer could feel the pinch depending on which of London's two rival relegation candidates ends up taking the third spot below the dreaded dotted line.

Wolverhampton Wanderers and Burnley already know they'll be playing in the Championship next season and they will be joined by one of a pair of struggling capital giants.

Tottenham Hotspur are two points ahead of West Ham United with two matches left to play and seem to finally be making a fist of it under new manager Roberto De Zerbi.

Spurs will play Chelsea and Everton in their last two games of the Premier League season, while West Ham face Newcastle United and then Leeds United as they desperately scrap to avoid the drop.

According to London Mayor Sadiq Khan, the fate of the capital's drifting football duo could have a knock-on effect on City Hall.

"What I'd say to Londoners who don't support Spurs is you should probably be cheering on West Ham," Khan told the Evening Standard.

"The previous Mayor, Boris Johnson, did the worst deal that can be imaginable. As far as West Ham are concerned, as a deal of the century where he basically gave them rent free, this amazing stadium for 100 years.

"Now if West Ham are relegated, we, the taxpayers, we City Hall, could lose up to £2.5 million a year."

According to the Standard, West Ham pay £4.4 million per year in rent to City Hall, which in turn is responsible for all associated stadium costs even on a West Ham matchday.

Why Londoners 'should probably be cheering on West Ham'

Relegation would be a blow to London's coffers because of a projected drop in revenue and a definite leap in operating costs.

Commercial revenue from the stadium would be expected to drop as a result of the Hammers playing in the second tier.

Meanwhile, London would pick up the bill for four additional matches for next season and every subsequent one West Ham spend outside the Premier League for the remainder of the 99-year lease on the former Olympic Stadium.

West Ham will play their penultimate game of the season on Sunday, two days before Spurs travel across the city to take on Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Tottenham Hotspur moved a further point clear of the relegation zone with their 1-1 draw with Leeds United on Monday night in the Premier League.

It now means Spurs are just two points clear of West Ham, who occupy the final relegation spot, with just two games remaining in the season, which means that their future in the English top flight is still in the balance; however, they do control their fate at this point.

Fans of the club will still be fearful that they could suffer relegation from the Premier League for the first time in their history, albeit not the first time they have suffered relegation from the top flight of England.

Now, a financial expert has detailed how relegation to the Championship could impact Spurs, as Stefan Borson on ‘The Room Where it Happened’ podcast explained that could cost the club about £145 million in just one season.

Borson said: “It’s that double whammy of not just relegation but also no UEFA revenue next season. You’re going to lose £100 million on UEFA; you’re going to lose 75 million on the domestic. Two hundred million quid in one year; the current year of broadcast is at £200 million. That’s going to drop down to £55 (million). That’s a loss of £145 million.”

Meanwhile, the Touchline on X has claimed that the impact could potentially be worse than Borson has claimed, estimating that there could be £250m in revenue overnight.

They back their claim up due to the loss in TV revenue, while there would be no Champions League money with a loss in matchday fees, while a sponsorship clause could kick in, resulting in less money being given to the club.

Now, the positive news for Spurs fans is that at the minute they are outside the relegation zone knowing that if they match or better West Ham’s results in the final two games of the season, they will be safe.

Roberto De Zerbi’s side will travel to Chelsea next, a tough fixture despite the Blues struggling in recent weeks with their focus solely on the FA Cup this weekend.

While on the final day of the season, they will host Everton, with the Toffees aiming to be in with a chance of qualifying for Europe next season, so it could be a tough prospect for Spurs.

A potential saving grace for them is that West Ham have two tough fixtures too, as they travel to face Newcastle United next before, on the final day, hosting Leeds at the London Stadium.

Tottenham have been told to terminate one player's loan deal rather than signing him on a permanent basis.

To say that the 2025/26 season for Spurs has been a disaster feels like an understatement.

Less than a year after winning their first trophy in 17 years by beating Manchester United 1-0 in Europa League final, the London club are facing a battle for Premier League survival.

Following the draw with Leeds United, Spurs are 17th in the Premier League table and just two points clear of rivals West Ham United with two games left in the season.

Should Spurs be relegated to the Championship it is widely expected that several players will leave the club in order to stay in the Premier League or to go abroad.

And according to Spurs expert John Wenham, one of the players that should leave the club regardless of the outcome of their relegation battle is young talent James Wilson, who joined the club on loan during the winter transfer window.

Despite interest from Arsenal, Wilson left Scottish side Hearts to to play for Spurs' Under-21 squad in a deal that includes a reported £2.5million buy clause.

And despite scoring four goals in 11 appearances for the U21s, Wenham clearly isn't impressed and thinks he should be sent back to the Scottish club in the summer.

Speaking to Tottenham News, he said: “The one I wonder about is James Wilson.

“This is the kid that came on loan from Hearts, despite the fact Hearts might win the first league title for 60-odd years or whatever it is, and instead has come to play for our under-21s, which I just find strange.

“I know we’ve got this option to buy out, but I probably would send him back, from what I’ve seen.

“We’ve got other strikers that, including Will Lankshear, who’s been out on loan at Oxford doing so well, I’d put above him [Mason Melia and Dane Scarlett], in terms of moving forward as a club.”

Which Spurs players could leave if they are relegated?

Several players look almost certain to be on their way out should Spurs go down at the end of the season, with one believed to have already agreed a deal to leave.

After falling out of favour at the club, it has been reported that goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario has reached an agreement to return to Italy with Inter Milan at the end of the season.

Alongside him, it is likely that both Dominic Solanke and Rodrigo Bentancur will leave should Spurs go down, with both player's contracts set to expire in the summer.

Meanwhile centre back pair Micky Van de Ven and Cristian Romero would be expected to leave amid interest in both defenders in recent weeks.

A player who won the Europa League with Spurs last season has since retired at the age of 27 - and now lives a very different life.

Goalkeeper Alfie Whiteman joined the club's academy at the age of 10 and spent his entire professional career in north London.

He only played once for the senior side, coming on as a substitute for Joe Hart during a Europa League group stage match in the 2020/21 season.

But Whiteman was a part of the first-team squad under a host of top-class managers, including Antonio Conte, Jose Mourinho and Ange Postecoglou.

He was registered as part of the Europa League squad last season as a club-trained player, with Spurs having to register four players under that category.

And despite not playing a single minute, the goalkeeper was awarded a winner's medal by the club.

He left Spurs at the end of his contract in June, before retiring from football altogether shortly after turning 27 in October.

The Athletic reported that he had trials in the summer with several clubs in the EFL, and was offered an initial six-month to be the number two goalkeeper at a Championship club but turned it down.

Spurs player starts brand-new full-time career

Whiteman's passions outside of football had already long become apparent to fans, with his film reviews on the popular website Letterboxd gaining him a cult following.

He also began work in creative industries, such as photography, music and acting, alongside his footballing career.

"I guess I always felt a little bit different," he told The Athletic in October 2025 of how he realised he could have a career away from football.

"My team-mates - who I got on well with - called me a hippie. That was their definition.

"But then, when I was 18, I met my ex-girlfriend, who was a model. She was a bit older than me. Her best friend was a director. It just started opening my eyes to what life has to offer.

"So as I was getting a bit older around 18 or 19, I started meeting new people and realising a bit more about myself, and understanding the football bubble, because it's so insular."

Whiteman now works for the production company Somesuch as a director and photographer and, as per his management's official website, is currently taking part in acting classes.

He is also a resident DJ on NTS Radio, a global platform which broadcasts to over 50 countries worldwide from Hackney in east London.

His debut art exhibition, titled 'A Loan', went on display at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on May 1 and will remain there until September 27.

It features photographs and diary entries from his time on loan in Sweden, as well as a 'full-size replica of the lakeside sauna where Whiteman spent so much of his time'.

Barcelona are in pole position to lift La Liga this season, yet the club hierarchy are not resting as they aim to put the steps in place to prepare to kick on next season.

The Catalan giants are chasing their holy grail, a sixth Champions League, after they last secured the competition in 2015, and they will have to wait at least another season after elimination to Atletico Madrid in the quarter-final this campaign.

Hansi Flick has fallen short on two occasions now as manager despite securing the La Liga title in his debut season and looks like he will add to it this campaign.

So, the German manager will be hopeful of further additions to his squad to give him the tools to finally win the elite European trophy.

Yet, Barcelona do not have a limitless pot of money to spend from and so will need to fund this through the sale of some of their existing stars, as reported by AS Diario.

Three of the players that the Spanish giants may be considering allowing to leave Camp Nou are defenders, with one of these being a leader on and off the pitch in Ronald Araujo.

The Uruguayan has only started two La Liga matches since taking time off from action in November due to depression, and this lack of gametime may indicate he is seen as surplus to requirements.

The other two defenders who may be set to leave the club are fullback options in the shape of Jules Kounde and Alejandro Balde.

While both have the full backing of Flick and have been incredibly reliable and trusted options, there may be the chance that if better individuals can be recruited or they are needed to leave the club for funds, then that may be the case.

La Masia product Marc Casado may be another player that could be set to leave the club in order to help fund the transfer pot.

The midfielder has had plenty of suitors over recent months, as they can see the undoubtable ability he has; however, Casado has been unwilling to leave the club due to his desire to play for Barcelona.

Clubs in Saudi Arabia are interested in him, as well as those in the Premier League and La Liga, and while he has rejected approaches previously, due to his lack of gametime, he may now opt to leave.

The last player that could leave the club is Roony Bardghji, with this case being slightly more difficult, as he is seen as a player with a lot of potential and one Barcelona do not want to lose.

This may see him sold with a buy-back option in the deal to give him minutes away from the club, as he has been deputising for Lamine Yamal at present on the right wing and so has had limited minutes.

Players linked with summer moves to Barcelona

Barcelona have been linked to several stars this summer to strengthen the squad, with Atletico’s Julian Alvarez and Inter Milan’s Alessandro Bastoni appearing to be at the top of the wish list.

However, according to El Chiringuito TV, it appears that there are four other players that the club are also interested in bringing to Camp Nou ahead of next season.

Two of the players are fullbacks and may explain their decision to look at Kounde and Balde as dispensable.

One of the options they could bring in is Denzel Dumfries from Inter, with the Dutchman proving to be a reliable option in fullback for the Italian side now for several seasons.

Meanwhile, the other fullback the club are chasing is a Catalan who has previously played for Espanyol, Marc Cucurella, who is currently playing his football at Chelsea.

Bernardo Silva has also been linked to the club, with the Manchester City star set to be available on a free transfer, as it was announced he would be leaving the English club in the summer upon the expiration of his contract; however, they may face tough competition in bringing the Portuguese international to Catalunya.

The final player that has been mentioned about securing a move to Barcelona this summer is Youssef Diomande from RB Leipzig, as the Ivorian international has impressed in the Bundesliga this campaign.

Barca will face tough competition to get Diomande to the club this summer, as he has been linked to Liverpool, but the draw of playing for one of the most iconic clubs in the world may be too much for him as well as the chance of linking up with one of the biggest talents in the world at the minute in the shape of Yamal.

A Spurs star has reached an agreement to leave the club in the summer, irrespective of the ongoing relegation battle the team are in.

Despite a first Premier League win over 2026 against already relegated Wolves, Spurs still find themselves occupying the final spot in the bottom three because of West Ham's last-gasp win over Everton on Saturday.

Spurs are two points behind the Hammers with four games remaining, but already there's word that one of their main men is on the move.

According to Gazzetta dello Sport, Goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario has reached an agreement to return to Italy with Inter Milan at the end of the season.

Vicario signed for Spurs in 2023 from Empoli and he has played 117 times, helping the club win the Europa League last season.

It's claimed that Spurs have been happy to allow Vicario to move on for several months now and he is now "very close" to signing after reaching a "full agreement".

Vicario and his entourage have agreed the length of the contract as well as the salary; all that is waiting is for the two clubs to come to an agreement on the transfer fee for the 29-year-old.

Current Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer is set to leave in the summer, with his contract up on June 30 and not set to be renewed.

Juventus have also been interested in Vicario but he has given his commitment to Serie A leaders Inter.

Inter have another talented goalkeeper on their books in Josep Martinez, who started in two of the last three games and made a huge impression.

His situation needs to be decided, with Martinez likely not willing to accept a second season playing as second-choice.

Vicario, who joined for a fee of £17 million, still has two years left on his contract at Spurs and it's widely expected that his transfer fee would lower if Spurs are relegated for the first time in the Premier League.

The North London side return to action on Sunday when they take on Champions League-chasing Aston Villa. Vicario has been absent due to recovering from surgery on a hernia injury, with Antonin Kinsky playing in between the sticks.

A former Premier League star has issued a heartbreaking statement from a hospital bed after undergoing surgery at just 34.

These days, world-class footballers play at a high level for much longer than previous generations, with Lionel Messi, 38, and Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, being two notable examples of top-level players who continue to defy logic with exceptional performances, despite no doubt being in the twilight of their respective careers.

Many players in their mid-thirties continue to perform in the Premier League, with Liverpool centre-back Virgil van Dijk arguably still being the best in the league as he approaches his 35th birthday.

However, not all players are so lucky, with injuries still part and parcel of a footballer’s life, and some are forced to end their careers due to the impact the sport has had on their bodies.

An example of this is former Spurs winger Erik Lamela, who retired at the age of 33 in 2025 due to a chronic hip problem.

At the time, the Argentinian, who represented River Plate, Roma, Spurs, Sevilla and AEK Athens, as well as his country 25 times, explained the reasons for his premature retirement in a statement, revealing that his hip issues started in 2017.

Part of the statement read: “After the operations went well, they gave me four more years of my career. They told me I’d get worse over time, and that’s what I’m experiencing now. With a lot of sacrifice, spending hours with the physiotherapists, strengthening myself in the gym, and with an endless series of injections and treatments, I’ve managed to play more than twice as much.

“For five years, I’ve been taking pills for every match to be able to play in the best possible condition, starting with the lowest dose and recently taking the maximum two days before the match to be ready.

“Now I have decided to put an end to all this; now all this effort ends.”

Now, almost a year on, the 34-year-old took to social media following an operation on his hip, with the former winger posting a video of his leg in plaster, as well as an X-ray.

Lamela wrote: “A bit sore, but with my new hip, let’s hope this prosthesis is the start of a pain-free life. 🤞

“A greeting to everyone, thanks to those who always write! 🙏”

Fans waded in with well-wishes in the comments section.

Lamela made 487 professional appearances, winning the Europa League with Sevilla in 2023

With their future in the top flight of English football hanging in the balance, the situation at Tottenham Hotspur is beginning to attract the attention of Europe's biggest clubs.

Sitting 18th in the Premier League, Spurs need to overcome a two-point deficit to West Ham to survive relegation with just four games left.

Although there's still plenty of football left to be played, the North London club's situation is looking bleak, and they could be regarded as one of the most talented teams to ever drop out of the league, just a year after winning the Europa League.

Now, the top players from the club are beginning to attract the hungry sharks from around Europe who will be eager to attack if they do fall into the Championship.

Specifically, Barcelona looks to be swarming, as they are reportedly monitoring the progress of multiple Spurs players.

Barcelona eyeing five Spurs players amid their drop

Should Spurs get relegated, the club will undoubtedly struggle to keep any of their best players, with a huge wage cut clause coming into play.

According to the Spanish outlet Diario SPORT, Barcelona is monitoring five Spurs players, including centre-back pairing Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero.

The defensive pair have played 21 games together in the Premier League this season, but were both sidelined in the New Year through injury, which became one of the biggest reasons for Spurs' downfall.

Micky van de Ven, especially, is attracting attention from Barca, as the report suggests he is one of the club's favourite prospects to partner Pau Cubarsi next year, thanks to his ability on the ball.

Among the other names being watched are Lucas Bergvall, Pedro Porro, and former La Masia product Xavi Simons.

Unfortunately for Simons, his hopes of showing the world what he has to offer at the World Cup were dashed in Spurs' recent win against Wolves, as he suffered an ACL blow that will likely sideline him until Christmas.

Still, Barca could be on for a huge coup, and Spurs losing five of their big stars in one go would sum up their season.

It's make or break for Spurs

There is some light at the end of the tunnel for Tottenham, though, as they are already on the hunt to bolster their squad for the 26/27 season, should they stay up.

Interest has been renewed in Andy Robertson, who will leave Liverpool this summer, and new manager Roberto De Zerbi has signalled that a Juventus star would be his first name on the transfer sheet.

The club would also be boosted by the return of multiple players from the injury bench, as Dejan Kulusevski offered an insight into his progress, and James Madison has boosted fans by showing off his physical condition as he returns to the bench.

Premier League relegation would be disastrous for the club, with Barcelona being one of many clubs eyeing their best talent, but if they can survive, Spurs will appear poised for a good bounce back.

Tottenham Hotspur's first post after sealing their first Premier League win of 2026 against Wolverhampton Wanderers has instantly gone viral.

Joao Palhinha's late goal gave Spurs their first domestic victory since December and stopped them from slipping further into the relegation zone.

Roberto De Zerbi's side knew victory against an already relegated Wolves was a necessity to keep their survival hopes alive.

Despite a spirited effort from the home side, Palhinha managed to turn home from close range to send the away end into a frenzy.

At that point, Spurs were moving out of the bottom three thanks to Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's equaliser against West Ham United.

Callum Wilson restored West Ham's lead in added time, ensuring the table remained unchanged from kick-off on Saturday afternoon, with Spurs trailing the Hammers by two points.

Spurs' X account still tried to rally supporters at full-time following a first victory in 118 days.

Alongside a picture of Palhinha celebrating in front of the travelling Spurs supporters, they posted to their 8.7 million followers: "An important win in Wolverhampton."

It saw many point out that nothing had actually changed in the relegation battle as Spurs stayed favourites to go down with four games to go. However, some defended the club, believing the game was a must-win and defeat would've all but confirmed their fate.

De Zerbi demands a shift in mentality

Spurs' squad has been decimated by injuries in a campaign that started with so much promise.

James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski haven't played a minute of football all term, while seven others were missing for the trip to Molineux.

Things went from bad to worse on the injury front when Dominic Solanke and Xavi Simons were forced off in the first and second half, respectively.

Spurs return to action against Aston Villa next Sunday evening and De Zerbi has urged his squad to ignore the noise and how the teams around them get on.

“I hope this result can change something in our head, in our mentality,” he told reporters. “Because I believe to stay up. If I stay [arrive] here, it’s because I’m positive.

“If you are Tottenham or another team, the most important are the qualities of the players and the human level of the players.”

Spurs supporters are fuming after seeing what they believe was the wrong decision during West Ham’s 2-1 win over Everton, which preserved the Hammers’ two-point buffer over Tottenham.

On Saturday (April 25), both West Ham and Spurs won their respective Premier League matches, meaning Roberto De Zerbi’s side remain in the relegation zone with four matches remaining.

Just when Spurs’ trip to Wolverhampton Wanderers looked to be heading for a dull 0-0 draw, Joao Palhinha’s strike secured the side’s first Premier League win of 2026.

Meanwhile, Callum Wilson’s 93rd-minute strike saw Nuno Espirito Santo’s side beat Everton 2-1 in a game which looked to be heading for a draw after Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s equaliser two minutes from time. Tomas Soucek had put the Hammers 1-0 up earlier in the first half.

And despite those heading back to north London this evening likely feeling a lot better after seeing Spurs win, several fans believe a decision in West Ham’s game could cost Tottenham their Premier League status.

With West Ham leading 1-0 in the 84th minute, Everton forward Thierno Barry attempted to shield the ball from Mateus Fernandes in the penalty area.

As the West Ham player put his arms around the Everton forward, the ball appeared to make contact with his hand, although no penalty was given.

The Premier League Match Centre posted the following statement after the incident: “The referee’s call of no penalty was checked and confirmed by VAR, with it deemed that Fernandes accidentally handled the ball while grappling with an opponent.”

After the match, Everton boss David Moyes addressed the incident.

He said: “I’m a bit surprised. I’ve been to see them [the officials] and VAR are saying it was grappling – well, the boy marking him was grappling. He punched the ball. It would have been harsh, but I’m amazed they haven’t given it.

“If any team was going to go and win it, it was probably us. We just didn’t do well enough at the end.”

Meanwhile, Spurs fans slammed the decision on social media.

Former Spurs midfielder Jamie O’Hara wrote: “Everyone against Spurs again today, it’s a joke. Brobbey red card, red card today for a two-footed tackle, the ref gave us absolutely nothing, and the handball in the West Ham game is a shambles.”

Another added: “West Ham player literally punching the ball away in his own penalty area, but @FA_PGMOL says it’s all okay because it’s National Relegate Spurs Month.”

A third claimed: “Fernandes hits the ball out with his hand for a corner, but a West Ham goal kick is awarded.”

West Ham return to action at Brentford on May 2 before Spurs travel to Aston Villa the following day.