Tottenham Hotspur have endured a season to forget in 2024/25, with their dismal standing in the Premier League reflecting their failure to impress on the pitch.

Ange Postecoglou’s side currently sit in the bottom half of the table, but could still end the campaign with a trophy should they claim the Europa League title.

However, pressure is building on the Aussie in North London, with it unclear if he will even be in charge next season should they end the year trophyless once again.

Regardless, additions are hugely needed to prevent a repeat of this season, with the summer window rapidly approaching and work needing to be done behind the scenes.

One player has already emerged onto the Lilywhites’ shortlist ahead of the opening of the window, offering added quality in a department that has been struggling in recent months.

Spurs plot move for £60m defensive star

According to journalist Christian Falk, Spurs are one of numerous sides interested in making a move for Bayer Leverkusen centre-back Piero Hincapie this summer.

Fellow Premier League sides Liverpool and Chelsea are also keen on a move to land the 23-year-old, who’s valued at around £60m by Xabi Alonso’s men.

The Ecuadorian international has made 39 appearances across all competitions in 2024/25, notching five combined goals and assists – having an impact at both ends of the pitch.

The report states that the Bundesliga outfit may have to offload players this summer, with Hincapie one big-money star who could depart the side ahead of 2025/26.

Whilst it would be another huge investment into the first-team squad, it is one that is desperately needed, offering an upgrade on one player currently plying their trade in North London.

Why Hincapie would be an upgrade on Van de Ven

Over the last few months, injuries have massively plagued the Spurs backline, resulting in countless players having to operate at the heart of the defence – albeit in an unnatural position.

Archie Gray is just one player who had to feature in such a role, doing an admirable job despite his tender age and inexperience in such a position throughout the early years of his professional career.

The youngster was forced to cover after regular centre-back Micky Van de Ven spent an extended period on the sidelines after a reoccurrence of his hamstring issue.

The Dutchman has been a key member of the side since his move in the summer of 2023, racking up 44 appearances throughout his two years in North London.

However, the injuries he’s suffered in recent times have halted his progress, subsequently being unable to replicate his high levels of performance which caught the eye in his debut year in England’s top flight.

When he has played, he’s been unable to better Hincapie, leading to the recent transfer news which could see the Leverkusen star take the Dutchman’s place in the side should he move this summer.

How Hincapie compares to Van de Ven in 2024/25

Statistics (per 90)

Hincapie

Van de Ven

Games played

26

11

Goals & assists

4

2

Progressive carries

1.8

0.8

Progressive passes

5.3

4.6

Tackles won

1.4

0.6

Interceptions made

1.2

0.9

Aerials won

58%

52%

Stats via FBref

The Ecuadorian, who’s been labelled “sensational” by one analyst, has managed to complete more progressive carries and more progressive passes per 90 – showcasing his ability to play out from the back in a possession-based system.

He’s also managed to win more tackles and come out on top in more aerial battles, offering that added defensive solidity that Spurs have hugely lacked throughout this season.

Whilst it may be harsh on Van de Ven, from the figures produced in recent times, it’s evident that Hincapie would be an upgrade on the talented youngster.

Unfortunately, football is a cutthroat industry, with success the main priority, something which the 23-year-old could play a huge part in should he complete any move during the upcoming window.

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Posts ByJack Salveson Holmes Apr 5, 2025

Chelsea claimed a 1-0 win over London rivals Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge last night, edging them one step closer to securing a Champions League place.

Enzo Fernández’s header in the second half secured all three points for Enzo Maresca’s men, securing their third Premier League win in the last four outings.

Pape Matar Sarr thought he had clinched a point for the visitors, but his effort was ruled out after a foul on Moises Caicedo in the build up to his long-range effort.

The Blues could’ve easily won the game by more than a one-goal margin, but ultimately, the boss will be happy to gain another victory in their hunt to return to Europe’s biggest competition.

However, despite the victory, numerous players failed to deliver in West London, potentially putting their starting role in the first-team at risk between now and the end of the season.

Chelsea’s poor performers against Tottenham Hotspur

Goalkeeper Robert Sanchez has had his doubters over the last few months, with his ability to be the club’s number one in the long-term coming into question.

The Spaniard was let off the hook by Sarr’s effort, with the 27-year-old beaten by the strike, but he should’ve easily kept it out after getting a hand on it before pushing into the ground.

Striker Nicolas Jackson made his return to action after an injury lay-off last night but failed to deliver – highlighting the need for added investment within the final third this summer.

The Senegalese international only completed eight passes during his 82-minute display, also failing to complete any of his three dribbles – showcasing his wasteful nature when having the ball at his feet.

However, despite the lack of quality from the aforementioned duo at the Bridge, one other first-team member also failed to deliver, with Maresca needing to take action ahead of the club’s next outing.

The Chelsea dud who needs to be dropped after Spurs

Despite sitting in the top four with just eight games to go this campaign, Chelsea have endured some tricky periods throughout the last few months – with many players failing to deliver.

Frustrations have grown within the fanbase as a result, especially considering the amount of money spent in West London over the last couple of seasons.

They could be about to drop more money on winger Jadon Sancho this summer, with the club expected to trigger his £25m clause within his loan deal.

However, the 25-year-old did himself no favours with his showing last night, once again failing to produce the goods amid murmurs around his long-term future.

The winger featured for 68 minutes before becoming the first Blues player to be withdrawn, understandably so given his lack of impact against Ange Postecoglou’s men.

Whilst he was unlucky not to find the back of the net with his effort expertly saved, his strike was the highlight of what was a dismal overall showing on the night.

He failed to complete any of his attempted dribbles, whilst also being unable to find a teammate with any of his crosses – showcasing his lack of quality in attacking areas.

Minutes played

68

Touches

38

Possession lost

9x

Dribbles completed

0/2 (0%)

Crosses completed

0/1 (0%)

Duels lost

6/7 (85%)

Shots taken

2

Sancho also only managed 38 touches during the win, losing possession nine times, subsequently gifting the ball away every four times he had it at his feet.

He was shrugged off the ball multiple times by full-back Djed Spence, losing 85% of the duels he entered, further highlighting how poor he was against their London rivals.

As a result, the attacker was handed a measly 4/10 match rating from The Express’ Alex Turk, compounding his misery on a personal level.

Given his showing, Maresca simply can’t afford to start Sancho ahead of the club’s next league outing, with Champions League qualification still hugely up for grabs.

It’s an unforgiving division, with numerous sides waiting to pounce should they slip up, with all players needing to deliver if they are to achieve their goal.

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ByEthan Lamb Apr 3, 2025

Last night was arguably Tottenham Hotspur’s biggest game of the season so far, and things did not entirely go to plan.

Ange Postecoglou’s side played host to Eintracht Frankfurt in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final, and instead of building up a lead ahead of the second leg, they played out a 1-1 draw.

Unsurprisingly, given the scoreline, it was a night of mixed performances from the hosts, with some starters putting in a real shift while others have given the manager a decision to make ahead of next week.

1

Goals

1

0.89

Expected Goals

0.36

57%

Possession

43%

2

Big Chances

1

10

Total Shots

4

1

Saves

5

9

Corners

3

8

Tackles

21

528

Passes

410

In fact, one of Ange’s own signings was particularly poor, and truth be told, they let the manager down in a game which could seriously impact his job security.

Spurs' standout performers

So, before getting to the offender in question, it’s worth going over a couple of the starters who did at least put in a real effort and arguably deserved to come away with a win, such as Micky van de Ven.

The Dutch defender was immense at the back, making his trademark lung-busting runs on more than one occasion to completely snuff out counter-attacks.

Had it not been for the former Wolfsburg gem, there is a very real chance that Frankfurt could’ve got one or two more goals, and so he’s more than deserving of the 8/10 match rating he got from the Standard’s Dan Kilpatrick.

Performance in Numbers

Want data and stats? Football FanCast’s Performance in Numbers series provides you with the latest match analysis from across Europe.

James Maddison was another of Ange’s signings who put in a decent performance last night.

Now, he did lose the ball that led to the visitors’ opener, but after the first 15 minutes or so, he really found his feet and looked a genuine threat for much of the game.

The former Leicester City star got the assist for Pedro Porro’s goal and could have had one of his own in the second half, which, again, justifies the 7/10 match rating he got from Kilpatrick.

Unfortunately, one of Postecoglou’s other signings was far less influential last night, and as such, they let the fans and manager down.

The Spurs star who let Ange down

While the likes of Dominic Solanke and Son Heung-min were underwhelming last night, Brennan Johnson was arguably the worst Spurs player on the pitch.

It was only on Sunday that the Welsh international scored a brace against Southampton, so it made sense for Postecoglou to start him, but unlike then, the former Nottingham Forest star was utterly anonymous against Frankfurt.

In fact, it felt like whenever the “frustrating” wide man, as dubbed by former professional turned pundit Jamie O’Hara, did have the ball, he either lost it or played it safe, and then when he had a golden opportunity towards the end, he fired the ball well over the crossbar.

It might sound harsh, but Kilpatrick shares our opinion, awarding the winger a paltry 4/10 match rating at full-time and writing that aside from his big miss, he ‘was otherwise quiet.’

Unsurprisingly, his statistics only further back up this narrative, as in 95 minutes of action, the 23-year-old ace amassed a combined expected goal plus assists figure of 0.15 and failed to have a single shot on target.

To make matters worse, the Welshman only had 32 touches, completed just 13 passes – three fewer than goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario – and failed with 100% of his crosses during a really wasteful evening.

Minutes

95′

Expected Goals

0.14

Goals

0

Expected Assists

0.01

Assists

0

Shots on Target

0

Touches

32

Passing Accuracy

13/18 (72%)

Key Passes

0

Crosses (Accurate)

2 (0)

Long Balls (Accurate)

2 (1)

Lost Possession

11

Fouls

2

Ultimately, it was a middling night for Tottenham overall but a particularly bad one for Johnson, and if Postecoglou wants to see a better performance from his side in the second leg, he’d be better off dropping the Welshman.

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ByJack Salveson Holmes Apr 10, 2025

Being a football manager is brutal, and at the top level, the level of scrutiny and pressure to perform is even greater.

Southampton’s record-breaking relegation from the Premier League recently highlighted this, with the Saints hierarchy overseeing two of the worst top-flight managerial tenures in history this season.

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Here are the worst Premier League managers based on points earned per game. Some of these managers proved or even redeemed themselves at other top-flight clubs, but there’s no escaping these horror appointments.

For this list, only permanent managers who were in charge for at least four games are included.

Worst Premier League managers based on points per game

Rank

Manager

Club

Matches

Points

PPG

1

Frank de Boer

Crystal Palace

4

0

0

2

Paul Jewell

Derby

24

5

0.21

3

Sam Allardyce

Leeds

4

1

0.25

4

Mick McCarthy

Sunderland

37

10

0.27

5

Ivan Juric

Southampton

14

4

0.29

6

Russell Martin

Southampton

16

5

0.31

7

Terry Connor

Wolves

13

4

0.31

8

Jan Siewert

Huddersfield

15

5

0.33

9

Nathan Jones

Southampton

8

3

0.38

10

Billy Davies

Derby

14

6

0.43

11

Alan Pardew

West Brom

18

8

0.44

12

Roy Hodgson

Watford

18

9

0.5

13

Daniel Farke

Norwich

49

26

0.53

13 Daniel Farke (Norwich City) 0.53 points per game

Daniel Farke has yet to excel in the Premier League, despite getting Norwich City promoted twice from the Championship.

Across his 49 top-flight games in charge – spanning three seasons as a result of relegation in 2019/20 – the German only oversaw six victories, which include a shock result against then-champions Manchester City in September 2019.

He left the club in November 2021, bizarrely not long after securing a first win of the campaign.

12 Roy Hodgson (Watford) 0.50 points per game

Roy Hodgson has had a glittering managerial career, but after making an unexpected comeback to football with Watford, his bid to save them from relegation couldn’t have gone much worse.

He only managed two wins in 18 games at Vicarage Road, and the Hornets were ironically relegated following a defeat to Hodgson’s former – and future – club, Crystal Palace.

It won’t diminish his stature as one of the managerial greats, but not many have done worse than the ex-England boss during this unforgiving spell.

11 Alan Pardew (West Brom) 0.44 points per game

Alan Pardew was a highly experienced Premier League manager, so coming into West Brom, he must have backed himself to turn the club’s ailing fortunes around.

In the end, one win and eight consecutive defeats in the Premier League was his undoing, with just eight points taken from a possible 54.

West Brom were eventually relegated without Pardew in the dugout, and the manager’s career has been low-key ever since.

10 Billy Davies (Derby) 0.43 points per game

Taking Derby County into the Premier League for the first time in five years via the play-offs will have made Billy Davies a hero at Pride Park, but the beginning to their fateful 2007/08 campaign was a disaster.

The Rams’ sole win on matchday 6 was the only highlight post-promotion, and failure to repeat the trick in the eight games that followed saw Derby and Davies part ways.

The Scot’s only solace is perhaps that even his successor – who features below – couldn’t get a tune out of the team, either.

9 Nathan Jones (Southampton) 0.38 points per game

After impressing at Luton Town, Nathan Jones got his big break when Southampton came calling following the sacking of Ralph Hasenhuttl in November 2022.

But Jones and his unpredictable methods saw his tenure last just eight Premier League games, with the Saints only managing one win over Everton in that time.

With 0.38 points per game, he comfortably has one of the worst records in Premier League history.

8 Jan Siewert (Huddersfield) 0.33 points per game

When Jan Siewert was drafted in to save Huddersfield Town’s Premier League status, even he must have been daunted at the size of the mountain he will have had to climb.

Arriving with the Terriers 10 points adrift at the bottom of the table, it would have taken a miracle to salvage anything positive from the campaign.

Siewert earned one win and lost eight on the spin before being relegated, lasting just three (winless) Championship games before he was dismissed.

7 Terry Connor (Wolves) 0.31 points per game

Terry Connor was handed a somewhat poisoned chalice after Mick McCarthy’s spell at Molineux turned sour, and he was unable to get a tune out of Wolves as they battled relegation in 2011/12.

Promoted from assistant to head coach with the Old Gold staring down the barrel of demotion, Connor oversaw a hapless, winless run that consigned his side to Championship football.

Connor didn’t take another full-time managerial role until joining the Grenadian national team in 2023, and is now assistant manager at National League side Dagenham & Redbridge.

6 Russell Martin (Southampton) 0.31 points per game

Russell Martin set out his stall following Southampton’s promotion last season, vowing to play his way towards Premier League survival.

That turned out to be a horrendous call, with the Saints losing game after game, earning just five points before his eventual sacking in December 2024.

But if Southampton thought Martin’s average of 0.31 points per match was bad, they were in for a nasty surprise with his successor.

5 Ivan Juric (Southampton) 0.29 points per game

Ivan Juric had left Roma before joining Southampton to save their Premier League skin.

But after starting his tenure with six straight defeats, it was clear that Southampton were never going to turn the corner under the Croatian.

Losing by four goals or more on three occasions in his 14-match spell, the Southampton hierarchy have to take some of the blame, with their run of appointments in the top flight being almost completely useless.

4 Mick McCarthy (Sunderland) 0.27 points per game

Throughout his Sunderland tenure, Mick McCarthy recorded one relegation and two disastrous Premier League campaigns.

In 2002/03, McCarthy replaced Howard Wilkinson in the Sunderland hot seat, but endured nine straight defeats as the Wearsiders recorded what was a record low Premier League points total.

He did get the Black Cats up at the second time of asking, but McCarthy’s second attempt at top-flight success in the north-east ended having lost all but six of his games in charge.

With the Premier League still yet to be decided, Liverpool still need to win four games to claim the title after only a second league defeat against Fulham yesterday.

Arne Slot’s men simply weren’t at the races, unable to produce the performance that they have done so many times over the last couple of months, which has led them to the summit of the division.

The Reds will be hoping to make amends against West Ham United next week, aiming to close in on a first league title since Jürgen Klopp’s triumph back in 2019/20.

Despite the heights achieved during the Dutchman’s first year at the helm, the showing against the Cottagers was one of the worst of the campaign with countless players way off the pace.

As a result, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see various players dropped from the starting eleven, with changes needed to prevent such a defeat from occurring in the near future.

Liverpool’s poor performers against Fulham

Curtis Jones has been forced to operate at right-back in recent weeks after the injuries suffered by Trent Alexander-Arnold and Conor Bradley – doing an admirable job against local rivals Everton.

However, the same can’t be said for his showing in the capital yesterday, contributing to an error that led to a goal, whilst also failing to win any of the two tackles he entered.

He wasn’t alone in failing to deliver, with Dominik Szoboszlai producing one of his worst displays in recent memories, uncharacteristically so given his rise under Slot.

The Hungarian failed to create a single chance for any of his teammates, whilst also losing 100% of the ground duels he contested, ultimately being a passenger during the loss.

Despite the showings from the aforementioned players, one other star failed to deliver, with the manager needing to offload him when the summer transfer window opens.

The Liverpool player who’s become the new Fabinho

Brazilian midfielder Fabinho was a fan-favourite during his time at Anfield, starring in the heart of the side and making over 200 appearances during his five years as a Red.

However, his last season on Merseyside was one to forget, falling way below the expectations he’d set for himself given the heights he achieved after helping Klopp’s side win the league title.

He would leave in a £40m deal to join Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Ittihad in the summer of 2023, with one player potentially suffering the same fate in the form of left-back Andy Robertson.

The Scottish international will go down as one of the biggest bargains in the club’s history, making over 300 appearances and notching 66 assists after joining for just £8m back in 2017.

Whilst he’s achieved some impressive performances over the years, he’s rapidly declined in recent months, with the club targeting Milos Kerkez as a replacement this summer.

The 31-year-old once again failed to impress against Fulham, also making an error leading to a goal before being replaced with just eight minutes remaining.

He also failed to complete any of his attempted crosses, coming out on top in just 50% of his tackles and being dribbled past once in the process.

Minutes played

82

Touches

59

Crosses completed

0/2

Tackles won

1/2

Possession lost

10x

Dribbled past

1x

Errors leading to goals

1

Robertson also lost possession 10 times during the defeat and was unable to produce the goods as he did during his early days as a player on Merseyside.

As a result of his showing, he was handed a measly 4/10 match rating by The Express’ Jack McEachen, with fellow journalist Lewis Steele labelling his showing as “awful”.

Given his age, it’s likely that he’s going to continue declining over the next couple of years, with Slot needing to offload him this summer to allow for fresh blood in the backline.

He’s been an incredible servant to the club, helping them win countless major honours, but ultimately his showing against the Cottagers was further evidence that he’s unable to cut it at the top level.

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ByAngus Sinclair Apr 4, 2025

The last few years have been nothing short of a roller coaster for Ipswich Town.

Kieran McKenna has led the team from mid-table in League One all the way up to the Premier League for the first time in two decades.

However, while it’s been a fairy-tale rise for much of that time, this season has been something of a brutal reminder of just how tough the top-flight can be.

That said, while it’s looking like the Tractor Boys will be back in the Championship next season, they have the players to bounce right back up, including one who might be a future England star, who is their version of Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Ipswich's future England stars

So, before we get to the star who could well be the next Trent, it’s worth looking at a couple of Ipswich players who have a chance of breaking into the England squad in the future, starting with Omari Hutchinson.

Now, we will admit that this does feel like something of a longshot at this point, but there are a couple of reasons why the former Chelsea ace could one day find himself with the Three Lions on his chest.

The first is that, despite still being just 21 years old, he has established himself as an important member of a Premier League side and, on top of being able to play in a few positions, has racked up a reasonable tally of 22 goal involvements in 78 appearances for the Tractor Boys.

Furthermore, he is already a part of England’s U21 side, starting the last game against Portugal and already amassing a haul of four goal involvements in four games.

Now, the Blues star who seems destined to break into the senior side sooner rather than later is Liam Delap, who is also a part of the U21 side and now has a tally of five goal involvements in 12 games for them.

Moreover, and more importantly, he’s one of the most exciting strikers in the Premier League and, despite playing for a bottom-three side, has scored 12 goals and provided two assists in 30 games in the competition this year.

However, Delap is not the only Ipswich star who seems like he will get a cap at some point, as there is another first-teamer who’s been with the club since the League One days who could be their own Trent.

Ipswich's own Trent

While there are a few decent defenders in McKenna’s squad this season, like Dara O’Shea and Axel Tuanzebe, when it comes down to which is most like Trent, there is only one answer: Leif Davis.

Now, we are not saying that the “unbelievable” 25-year-old, as dubbed by journalist Harvey Davies, is as good as the Liverpool star, as that would be somewhat absurd.

However, we are saying there are similarities between the two defenders and that the former Leeds United gem is exceptionally talented.

The most important similarity between the pair is how often they bomb forward and how effectively they get the ball into dangerous areas for their teammates.

For example, in his 118 appearances since moving to Portman Road, the Blues gem, whom writer Harvey Davies claims has “got better every year”, has scored six goals and provided 38 assists in 119 appearances, which works out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.70 games.

Appearances

119

349

Goals

6

22

Assists

38

87

Goal Involvements per Match

0.37

0.31

For his efforts, the Liverpool-born international has scored 22 goals and provided 87 assists in 349 appearances, which works out to an average of a goal involvement every 3.20 games.

Ultimately, not only is Davis more than good enough to help Ipswich get back to the Premier League at the first time of asking next season, but he’s also good enough to make it into an England squad one day, and could well be the left-sided Trent in the future.

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Goals from Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli sealed a 2-1 win at Real and booked Arsenal’s place in the Champions League semi-finals, where they will face Ligue 1 champions PSG in a blockbuster two-legged tie after they knocked out Premier League rivals Aston Villa.

Arsenal’s next five Premier League games

Date

Ipswich Town (away)

April 20th

Crystal Palace (home)

April 23rd

Bournemouth (home)

May 3rd

Liverpool (away)

May 11th

Newcastle United (home)

May 18th

It was a statement quarter-final victory over Carlo Ancelotti’s which shocked the whole of Europe, beating the Spanish heavyweights 5-1 on aggregate, with club-record signing Declan Rice putting in two world-class performances over the two legs.

Supporters have been given real belief their side can go on and win the competition, and if they do, this season could be viewed as a major success from Arsenal’s perspective, despite missing out on the Premier League title to Liverpool.

“It’s been quite different before because it was impossible to be in any round because the club wasn’t in the Champions League for seven years,” said Arteta on Arsenal’s evolution since he took charge.

“So, that shows you the turnaround, and a lot of great decisions that the club has made and the contribution a lot of people have made to be where we are. It’s a team that you can feel today how hungry, how determined and ambitious that is to go. We’re going for more, for sure.

“The biggest pride is when I look at them and I talk to them, how convinced they feel and that’s been part of our job and of the coaches, and that’s why it’s a joy to work with them.”

Arsenal given 50 per cent discount for Bayern winger Kingsley Coman

Off the field, Berta is already preparing to back Arteta by signing star upgrades for the squad this summer.

According to Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg and other sources, £280,000-per-week Bayern Munich winger Kingsley Coman is emerging as a serious target.

Plettenberg reported recently that Arsenal are in “ongoing” and “direct” talks with Coman’s representatives over a summer move, with fellow reliable journalist Ben Jacobs now sharing an update of his own for TEAMtalk.

The reporter states Bayern could let Coman leave for a half-price fee of £30 million, with his initial value of £60 million dropping “significantly” since last summer. The France international’s contract expires in 2027, so Vincent Kompany’s side have precious little time to make any cash off his sale.

£30m would still come as a profit for Bayern, considering they only signed him for £18 million from Juventus in 2017, so this could be a win-win for both parties.

Called a “complete” forward by those who’ve worked with him, Coman would leave Bayern as a legend, having racked up 330 appearances for the club in total with 69 goals and 69 assists to show for his efforts.

The ice beneath Ange Postecoglou has become even thinner, if that were even possible. Indeed, the end is surely nigh as far as his term at Tottenham Hotspur is concerned.

As Spurs lost 4-2 to Wolves on Sunday afternoon, it came as little surprise, truth be told. The errors that dominated the game were of little shock either.

Postecoglou has engineered some brilliant football since arriving at Spurs but the error-stricken performances from his players have been all too frequent now.

The Europa League may well still provide solace for the Aussie and his bunch of players but not even that feels like it will save him from the sack.

Indeed, the display at Wolves just about summed up their season.

An error-riddled display from Spurs (again)

Spurs can score goals; we know that under Ange. They did find the net twice on Sunday, netting through loanee Mathys Tel and substitute Richarlison. However, it was too little too late. The damage had already been done.

It all started early on when Rayan Ait-Nouri’s volley found the net. Guglielmo Vicaro’s punch from a Wolves free-kick didn’t go very far and as a result, was powered home by the left-back.

Vicario had a total nightmare between the sticks for Spurs, notably handed a 2/10 player rating by Football.London’s Alasdair Gold at full-time.

That wasn’t the goalkeeper’s only error. He nearly cost the visitors again just moments later. His pass out from the back didn’t find a teammate and Jorgen Stand Larsen somehow missed from a matter of yards out.

A comedy of errors continued later in the half when Vicario parried the ball into Djed Spence who bundled in an own goal.

The stopper wasn’t the only Spurs player at fault, far from it. Cristian Romero was caught in possession for the third goal, which allowed Ait-Nouri to tee up Stand Larsen. This time he did not miss.

Lucas Bergvall, usually so crisp and composed in possession, was then at fault for the fourth. Caught on the ball by Matheus Cunha, the Brazilian stole it away from him before racing away from Ben Davies and Romero to find the net.

Player ratings courtesy of Sofascore

Despite all of that, there were more underperformers in the Spurs camp.

Spurs have found their new Tanguy Ndombele

In July 2019, Spurs smashed their transfer record to bring £63m man Tanguy Ndombele to the club.

It was a landmark transfer and one that Daniel Levy hoped would take Spurs to new heights. While the Frenchman had his moments, he unfortunately flopped big time in the capital, leaving in June 2024 when his contract was cancelled. It was a huge waste of investment.

2019/20

29

2

4

2020/21

46

6

4

2021/22

16

2

1

So, what went wrong? Well, speaking to the Athletic, one training ground source encapsulated it perfectly, stating: “Tanguy is the maverick of the team, he can do stuff that nobody else can do. Incredibly talented, incredible ability, just sometimes you just want to be like, ‘Tanguy you’re so good, just do the basics’.”

Perhaps guilty of doing too much, or in fact, being a little lazy, it was unsurprising that it never worked out for him at Spurs.

Now, in a slightly different sense, Postecoglou may have found the new version of Ndombele in Yves Bissouma. We’ll tell you why.

Writing at full-time, the aforementioned Gold handed the Malian midfielder a dismal 4/10 rating, suggesting that ‘sometimes he looks good on the ball, sometimes looks like it’s alien to him.’

Chalkboard

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That could easily sum up Ndombele too. So gifted on the ball, there were moments when it looked as though he didn’t know how to kick a ball.

Bissouma didn’t arrive for quite as much as the Frenchman but he did move from Brighton with considerable hype attached to his name, joining in a £35m move.

Sadly, despite a few flashy moments, like Ndombele, it hasn’t quite happened for another big-money midfielder at Tottenham Hotspur.

He has been withdrawn at half-time on three occasions in the Premier League this term and was perhaps fortunate not to have the same fate on Sunday, instead dragged off after just 55 minutes.

Bissouma set the tone early on, booked inside the opening eight minutes of the game. From that moment onwards, he failed to offer Postecoglou’s side the protection they needed against a rampant Wolves.

Minutes played

55

Touches

49

Accurate passes

38/40 (95%)

Key passes

0

Shots on target

1

Shots off target

0

Crosses

0

Duels won

4/8

Possession lost

4x

Fouls

2

Tackles

3

Dribbles past

1

He did complete 95% of his passes but only won 50% of his duels, failed to complete a key pass and gave away two fouls.

It was another average display from a man who looks like he should be sold in the summer. Spurs have plenty of exciting young players coming through in a similar area of the pitch, chiefly Bergvall and Archie Gray. They should be prioritising their minutes instead.

For the new Ndombele, his time at Spurs should surely be up in a few months time.

Spurs already have their very own Huijsen in monster 18-year-old defender

The incredibly exciting youngster will be a star for Spurs.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Apr 11, 2025

In what would spark Liverpool’s frontline into life, the Reds are now reportedly strongly positioning themselves to sign an impressive La Liga midfielder, who has a release clause worth as much as £68m.

Liverpool's summer plans begin to take shape

In most circumstances, the question over just how the champions-elect improve such a talented side is the one posed. But Liverpool have been far from perfect this season and whilst they deserve their pending crown, there are still improvements to make in Arne Slot’s side. The glaring problems have come at both left-back and within their frontline this season – two problems that could be addressed this summer.

FSG must cash in on "world-class" Liverpool star who's the next Mane

Liverpool are planning for sweeping changes in the transfer market this summer.

ByAngus Sinclair Apr 16, 2025

Starting at left-back, Slot could replace the struggling Andy Robertson with the in-form Milos Kerkez. The Reds are reportedly interested in signing the Bournemouth star in a deal worth £45m in the coming months. At just 21 years old, there’s no doubt that the Hungarian would provide a permanent solution down Liverpool’s left-hand side.

On the striker front, meanwhile, the Reds have reportedly set their sights on Newcastle United star Alexander Isak, who has an increasing list of admirers. In a deal that will cost over £100m, it will certainly be interesting to see whether those at Anfield are prepared to break their transfer record.

Of course, their need for an attacking overhaul has been lessened slightly by the news of Mohamed Salah’s new contract, which will keep him at the club until at least 2027. Keeping hold of the Egyptian couldn’t be more important following the season that he’s enjoyed whilst those around him have faltered in front of goal on several occasions.

Away from both left-back and their frontline though, another Liverpool target has seemingly emerged and one that would complete Slot’s midfield once and for all.

Liverpool positioning themselves to sign Oihan Sancet

According to reports in Spain, Liverpool are now strongly positioning themselves to sign Oihan Sancet this summer despite a rumoured release clause worth €80m (£68m) at Athletic Bilbao. Whether those at Anfield skip the release clause and aim to negotiate with the La Liga club remains to be seen, but any talks will be made that much harder by reports that Bilbao are keen to keep hold of their midfield star.

Described as “underrated” by analyst Ben Mattinson, Sancet has certainly earned the chance to complete a big move this summer following another excellent campaign in Spain.

The 24-year-old has scored a stunning 16 goals in 29 games in all competitions from attacking midfield this season, highlighting the offensive spark that he would provide the current Liverpool side – one they’ve perhaps lacked at times when Salah has misfired.

Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy is in the market for a potential new manager this summer, with Ange Postecoglou likely to leave after a disappointing season.

Ange Postecoglou facing Spurs exit regardless of Europa League

News sources across the British media, including Mirror journalist John Cross and The Telegraph’s Matt Law, have heard from their sources that Spurs could part company with Postecoglou, even if they win the Europa League.

Related Tottenham now "ready to sell" £50m-plus star and replace him with 24 y/o

Spurs are hatching a plan to reshape the squad.

Posts 1 ByEmilio Galantini Apr 23, 2025

It would be quite a feat for the Australian to clinch Tottenham’s first piece of silverware in 17 years amid a campaign blighted by injuries, protests from supporters and potentially their worst ever Premier League season to date.

Tottenham’s next five Premier League fixtures

Date

Liverpool (away)

April 27th

West Ham (away)

May 3rd

Crystal Palace (home)

May 10th

Aston Villa (away)

May 18th

Brighton (home)

May 25th

The Lilywhites face this year’s fairy-tale overachievers Bodo/Glimt in the Europa semi-finals, a side nobody expected to get this far, and Postecoglou’s men are the overwhelming favourites to reach this year’s final in Bilbao.

However, even in the event that Postecoglou keeps good on his promise by winning a major trophy during his second season in charge, something he confidently predicted right at the start of 2024/2025, Spurs’ torrid domestic form and lack of backing from fans could mean he still parts company.

Levy has the likes of Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola, Fulham’s Marco Silva, Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner and Brentford’s Thomas Frank on Spurs’ managerial shortlist to replace Postecoglou, according to reports,

Further abroad, reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano has previously shared news of Inter Milan’s Simone Inzaghi attracting admirers from within Spurs, but it will be very hard for Levy to prise the Nerazzurri boss away from Italy.

The dissatisfaction around N17 right now after this tepid campaign has caused tensions in the stands to reach boiling point, so Levy and ENIC are under real pressure to get this next appointment right, make smart investments into the squad and turn Tottenham’s fortunes around.

Tottenham now eyeing Burnley manager Scott Parker

As per The Mail and journalist Mike Keegan, a new name is now on Tottenham’s growing list of linked head coaches – Burnley boss Scott Parker.

The former Lilywhites and England midfielder amassed 63 appearances for Spurs during his playing days, and has since gone on to enjoy some successful stints during his managerial career – guiding both Fulham and Burnley to Premier League promotion.

Bar a failed stint at Jupiler Pro League side Club Brugge, the 44-year-old has showcased some promise in his early career as a tactician, and it is believed Tottenham are fans of Parker as a manager.

He’s also attracted praise from his peers, with Man City boss Pep Guardiola branding him one of English football’s new “innovative” coaches back in 2021, while former Tottenham left-back Ryan Sessegnon called Parker a “top coach” when he was linked with the hot seat four years ago.

“He’s a top guy, top man and a top coach. He’s just an all-round great guy,” explained Sessegnon.

“He obviously has a philosophy of play and sticks to it and all the players are buying into that. Recently, it hasn’t been so good for them in terms of results, but I think the performances and effort is still there.”