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De Zerbi Could Axe Underrated Tottenham Star

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We still do not know in which division Tottenham will be playing their football next season.

Spurs have had big chances to pick up vital points in recent weeks to all-but guarantee their survival in the Premier League.

Mathys Tel gave away a needless penalty against Leeds United at home to draw 1-1, having led 1-0 through the same player’s wonder goal. Then, on Tuesday night, Spurs gifted Chelsea a second goal when 1-0 down at Stamford Bridge, and despite a Richarlison goal, it was too big a mountain to climb, losing 2-1.

Spurs could be safe from Premier League relegation already

Roberto De Zerbi on the touchine against Leeds

The extra two points from the Leeds clash or a point against Chelsea would see them safe from the threat of relegation. Instead, they head into the final day of the 2025/26 campaign needing a result against Everton to stave off a first demotion since 1977.

The 2025/26 campaign has been an unmitigated disaster, with three different managers sitting in the dugout and Spurs set to finish in the bottom four of the table for the second season running.

New head coach Roberto De Zerbi has some big decisions to make in the summer, but first he needs to guide his team to a point or more in the final match of the season at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday.

A number of players will be departing N17 no matter what happens on the final day. Ben Davies and Yves Bissouma are both out of contract, while loanees Joao Palhinha and Randal Kolo Muani will head back to parent clubs Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain respectively. It remains to be seen if De Zerbi will make a move to sign either permanently, although Palhinha is the more likely to turn his loan move permanent, with fan feeling towards Kolo Muani not good at all, particularly after his horrendous showing against Chelsea.

GIVEMESPORT understands there is a general feeling that Guglielmo Vicario and Cristian Romero will be allowed to leave, should the right offers come in for them, but there is sure to be more upheaval in the playing squad too.

De Zerbi has been forced to use certain players more than he might have liked due to the club’s awful injury record this season and one of those players who he has had to trust could be axed moving forward.

Danso has accepted his back-up role at Tottenham this season

Tottenham Hotspur's Micky van de Ven celebrates scoring with Cristian Romero and teammates Getty Images

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Kevin Danso has been a steady pair of hands to call upon in the absence of Romero and Micky van de Ven through injuries, not just this season but last, always putting in a solid display when called upon, rarely letting the team down – that mistake that cost Spurs three points against Brighton & Hove Albion apart.

However, while it is unlikely he will be moved on in the summer transfer window, his role in the side may once again diminish.

Danso accepted his role as back-up to Romero and van de Ven when he said: “That’s part of being at a top club that’s at the top of world football, like Spurs is. You have players in every position that are top, top quality.

“Micky and Cuti [Romero] are exactly that. I understand that and I’m very realistic. My role is to just play as best as possible, try and get in the team. If not, also understand that’s part of football. I believe in myself. You’ve got competition, you’ve just got to deal with it the best you can.”

With Romero likely to leave, Danso might expect to become first choice, although if Spurs stay in the top flight they have an agreement in place to sign Marcos Senesi from Bournemouth that might push him back down the pecking order.

And there is an argument that he should probably remain as a back-up defender anyway.

The game against Chelsea highlighted how he may not be suited to De Zerbi’s football. So far it has been all about getting results to stay in the division, but come next season, if Spurs are a Premier League club, De Zerbi will want to fully put his stamp on the squad and get them playing his aggressive brand of attacking football from back to front.

Kevin Danso’s stats show how good a defender he is

Tottenham defender Kevin Danso

Danso had more touches (94) than any other player on the pitch on Tuesday night, but never really looked comfortable on the ball against the Blues, having to recover from poor touches a number of times. He was successful with 93% of his passes – mostly short to van de Ven or midfielders Palhinha and Bentancur – but only one of his long balls was successful.

He lost two of his six duels and interestingly only made one tackle in the 90 minutes.

The stats from Tuesday do not actually look too damning, but that is mainly from a defensive point of view and his presence and how he is perceived on the pitch makes you question whether or not he fits into De Zerbi’s style of football.

The Italian is likely to adopt a high-risk, high-reward philosophy, asking his defenders to start attacks, but also be responsible for stopping the opposition from making any in-roads themselves.

Danso’s numbers suggest he can do the latter comfortably, but whether the man whom former boss Thomas Frank described as “underrated” can adapt to deliver on the former, that is a non-negotiable of De Zerbi, remains to be seen.


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FC Koln Want to Sign Sebastiaan Bornauw From Leeds

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Leeds United fringe player Sebastiaan Bornauw is attracting interest from the Bundesliga, according to reports in Germany.

The Whites are planning for another year of Premier League football after finishing 14th in the table, eight points above the relegation zone, in their first season back in the top flight.

Bornauw joined the club last summer to help bolster their defensive options. He signed a four-year contract after a deal worth around £5m was agreed with German side VfL Wolfsburg.

He has been a fringe player under Daniel Farke, with just 771 minutes of action and just five starts in the Premier League.

FC Koln eye move for Leeds United defender

Sebastiaan Bornauw Leeds

The 6ft 3in player is now wanted back in Germany by FC Koln, according to Bild.

The Bundesliga outfit finished six points above the relegation zone and are in the market for defensive reinforcements.

Cenk Özkacar joined the German side on loan from La Liga outfit Valencia but his move will not be made permanent.

While the defender was not a regular starter under Farke, the Leeds boss was keen to praise the player for his attitude and commitment during his first season in England.

Speaking in a press conference ahead of Leeds’ 2-1 win over Manchester United at Old Trafford in April, Farke branded Bornauw as ‘top class’ and hailed the player’s character for his willingness to play a back-up role within the squad.

Big summer awaits Leeds United

Paraag Marathe

Leeds have ambitions to establish themselves as a consistent top-flight club but chairman Paraag Marathe has warned it will take at least three seasons for them to “truly operate like an established Premier League side”.

It makes this summer all the more important as the Whites must get their recruitment right.

Both Leeds and Sunderland, who have qualified for the Europa League, bucked the recent trend of all three promoted clubs getting relegated immediately.

With Coventry City, Ipswich Town and Hull City coming to the top flight, Leeds and other clubs in the lower third of the table know that minimal spending could risk being dragged into a relegation battle.

In a club statement released this week, Marathe outlined that a second season in the Premier League can prove even more difficult than the first one.

Leeds finished ninth in their first top-flight campaign under Marcelo Bielsa before dropping to 17th the following year. The season after that they were relegated.

With those years fresh in the mind, those in charge of recruitment at Elland Road will know what it takes for Leeds to continue moving forward.


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Chelsea Star Has Already Asked To Leave Before Xabi Alonso Arrives

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Chelsea goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen has asked to leave Chelsea as he seeks more game time, GIVEMESPORT understands.

Jorgensen was number two behind Robert Sanchez this season and is set to fall further down the pecking order next campaign with the highly-regarded Mike Penders returning from his loan spell at Strasbourg.

Chelsea are open to a sale for the 24-year-old, who joined from Villarreal for just over £20million in the 2024 summer transfer window. He signed a seven-year contract upon arrival at Stamford Bridge and said: “This move is a dream come true. I am very excited to have signed for Chelsea, one of the biggest clubs in the world. I can’t wait to get to know everyone and to start playing with all my new teammates.”

Jorgensen made a big mistake in the Champions League

filip jorgensen

Since then, Jorgensen has made 34 appearances in two seasons at Chelsea, but only 11 of them have come in the Premier League.

The Dane made a costly error away at Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League after being given a surprise start at the Parc des Princes by then head coach Liam Rosenior.

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Rosenior stuck up for his goalkeeper on the night, saying: “Players make mistakes. Filip’s not the first one and that’s part of football. Credit to him, he held his hands up in the dressing room. I make mistakes. Everybody makes mistakes.

“Sometimes they’re more costly. This is one of those moments. What we have to do for Rob [Sánchez] and for Filip and for all of the players is look after each other.”

Chelsea have not made a decision on selling Jorgensen

Filip Jorgensen of Villarreal

Seeing his pathway to a starting spot blocked by Sanchez, the desire to leave is primarily being driven by the player, and was directly communicated to Chelsea’s head of goalkeeping, Ben Roberts.

Jorgensen had also asked for a transfer in January as he hoped to lock down Denmark’s number one spot with a view to playing at the 2026 World Cup. In the end, Denmark didn’t qualify.

Porto, Besiktas and Genoa are three clubs who held an interest in the winter. Saudi Arabian side Al-Qadsiah have also been credited with an interest, and have explored some high-profile goalkeepers. Yet GMS understands their priority is first to add a centre-back, winger and forward this summer.


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Celtic Chiefs Working to Persuade Martin O’Neill to Take Charge Next Season

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Celtic chiefs are working to persuade Martin O’Neill to take charge next season following a surprise update on Robbie Keane.

After a phenomenal end to a disappointing season that culminated in Celtic winning the double, club chiefs now have a decision to make on which direction they turn for their next boss.

The odds were stacked against the Hoops heading into the final five Scottish Premiership fixtures, but O’Neill once again showed his class by winning all five, including games against Rangers and Hearts, to lift the title.

Following the disastrous spell at the helm for Wilfried Nancy mid-season, the Northern Irishman took interim charge for the second time in the season and turned the Bhoys’ fortunes around.

Celtic decision-makers have now faced the decision of whether they stick with the 74-year-old, if he is willing to take the job on a full-time basis and stick around, or to look elsewhere.

One option who had been linked with the potential vacant post was Jens Berthel Askou following an outstanding season at Motherwell, but the Dane has joined Toulouse instead, ruling him out of the running.

Now it seems Celtic are ready to go all out to convince O’Neill to stay on.

Celtic Planning to Tempt O’Neill to Stay

Celtic caretaker manager Martin O'Neill looks on during win vs Stuttgart

According to Football Insider, the Celtic hierarchy are planning to ask O’Neill to remain as manager next season, despite the fact that they are compiling a new manager shortlist.

The Guardian reported in March that Robbie Keane was emerging as the frontrunner for the job, and talk among fans has increased after he resigned from his role as Ferencvaros manager in recent days.

However, Football Insider claim that while the 45-year-old is on their shortlist, he isn’t one of the leading contenders to take the reins at Parkhead.

As well as the ‘unbelievable’ O’Neill, other candidates are said to be ahead of the Republic of Ireland legend in the running.

Which Other Managers Could Celtic Target?

Celtic CEO Michael Nicholson

The same Guardian report also named Craig Bellamy as an option for Celtic, but the suggestion is that he is happy as manager of Wales and wants to continue to help the nation qualify for their home Euro 2028 tournament.

Elsewhere, two more names have been heavily linked with the Bhoys across the last 12 months.

One of those is Roberto Martinez, who is about to lead Portugal at the 2026 World Cup in North America, with his future to be decided after the tournament.

While he hasn’t managed in club football for a decade, there is a link at Celtic Park in the form of Shaun Maloney, who has both played and worked under the Spaniard previously.

The other name who keeps getting mentioned is Bodo/Glimt boss Kjetil Knutsen, who continues to make big waves with the Norwegian side.

The 57-year-old brilliantly led his team to the Champions League quarter-finals this season, beating Manchester City, Atletico Madrid and Inter Milan along the way.

If Celtic want a manager who could help them advance in Europe’s elite club competition, the experienced Norwegian might be the man.

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