Tottenham find themselves in a dire situation under new boss Roberto De Zerbi.
Tottenham Hotspur are becoming increasingly worried as the prospect of relegation is starting to look more likely with each passing week.
The North Londoners’ plans for an ambitious summer transfer could be ruined if they drop down to the second tier for the first time in nearly five decades. The Spurs hierarchy are concerned about several possible big-name exits if they fail to secure their Premier League status.
It goes without saying that the majority of the players have royally underperformed this season, leaving the club in total disarray. Regardless, a mass exodus from Tottenham could be on the cards if the club go down, with several clubs from the Premier League and Europe circling over the club’s best players. Now, the key decision-makers at Tottenham have been urged that some drastic steps will need to be taken, even if Roberto De Zerbi manages to keep the club afloat in the top flight.
Toby Alderweireld delivers blunt assessment of the Tottenham squad
In an interview with ESPN Netherlands, Toby Alderweireld has delivered a brutal assessment of Tottenham’s squad. The Dutchman has urged his former club to carry out a thorough clear-out at the end of the season. Following the 2-2 draw against Brighton, his words seem to make even more sense.
“The squad really needs a ‘thorough clear-out’,” Toby Alderweireld said.
“This season reveals what kind of mettle the players are truly made of. Furthermore, you need to have a clear vision. Give the manager time and ensure that the playing personnel improves.
“Otherwise, you’ll find yourself in the exact same situation again next year. It’s going to be very difficult regardless. Honestly, when you watch them play, you don’t give them much of a chance.”
Massive squad overhaul required!
Alderweireld is spot on! Spurs slipped into the drop zone after the 1-0 defeat at Sunderland in De Zerbi’s first game in charge. De Zerbi was widely expected to prefer a move to Tottenham in the summer once relegation had been avoided, but was eventually convinced to take the job on a five-year deal during the March international break.
However, the Italian has inherited a fragile, injury-riddled squad that is clearly lacking motivation and ambition. The performances of experienced players have dipped massively, especially the centre-back pairing of Romero and Van de Ven. As the pillars at the back, that drop in performance levels automatically sting, especially in a squad that already lacks experience and winners.
And in what looked like a match that would finally see Tottenham earn their first win in 2026, Brighton snatched a late 2-2 draw in a rather frustrating evening for the North London club.
That said, despite where Tottenham finish at the end of the season, a squad reboot is essential. De Zerbi is a tactician who has a specific style of play and requires a certain set of players to execute it. As he has spoken about staying committed to the project even if the club goes down, then the onus will fully be on the board to back him with the tools in the squad to usher into a new era.