AliousTottenham Hotspur are currently facing a deep crisis, and the looming threat of relegation could force several key players to consider leaving the club in the summer.
Spurs sink further after flat defeat to Crystal Palace
Some nights in football are disappointing — and then there are nights like Thursday for Tottenham.
Ismaila Sarr converted a penalty before Jørgen Strand Larsen added another during a chaotic spell that completely turned the game.
Despite owning a billion-pound stadium and generating some of the highest revenues in European football, Tottenham entered the match desperately needing a victory to halt a worrying decline. For a brief moment, it looked possible.
Dominic Solanke gave Spurs the lead in the 34th minute, raising hopes inside the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium that their run of ten Premier League games without a win — a new club record — might finally end.
However, the momentum quickly collapsed. Defender Micky van de Ven brought down Sarr in the penalty area, prompting referee Andrew Madley to immediately show a red card.
Sarr then struck again before halftime, sliding the ball beneath goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario. Palace had scored three times in just 13 minutes, and by the interval many home fans were already heading for the exits.
Tottenham showed some determination in the second half but failed to find a way back, eventually falling to their fifth straight defeat.
The loss means the North London side have now gone 11 league games without a win — their worst run since before World War II. They remain just one point above the relegation zone, with a daunting schedule ahead that includes a trip to Liverpool F.C. at Anfield and a Champions League clash with Atlético Madrid.
For a team already low on confidence and thin in defence — now without the suspended Van de Ven — the upcoming fixtures could hardly be tougher.
Head coach Igor Tudor, who has been in charge for three weeks and is still searching for his first Premier League victory, insisted he saw positives despite the defeat.
“After this game I believe more than before. Maybe that sounds strange, but I saw something in the team,” Tudor said.
The statistics, however, paint a bleak picture. Spurs have conceded nine goals in Tudor’s three matches in charge and remain without a league win in 2026. A club that last played outside the top flight in 1977 now faces the very real possibility of relegation with nine games left.
Reports before kickoff suggested Tudor could lose his job if Spurs failed to beat Palace, with former striker Robbie Keane mentioned as a possible replacement. For now, though, Tottenham appear ready to stick with the Croatian.
Van de Ven considering summer exit
The situation could worsen further off the pitch. According to Football Insider journalist Pete O’Rourke, Van de Ven is unhappy at Tottenham and may look to leave during the summer transfer window.
The 24-year-old Dutch defender — who has captained the side in the absence of Cristian Romero — is contracted until 2029. However, negotiations over a new deal have stalled, and he is no longer pushing to extend his stay.
Clubs such as FC Barcelona and Liverpool are reportedly keeping a close eye on the situation, a sign of how highly rated he remains.
O’Rourke explained that Van de Ven has delayed discussions over a new contract, potentially opening the door for offers this summer — something Tottenham are fully aware of.
With Romero also widely expected to move on, Spurs could lose both of their first-choice centre-backs in the same transfer window, regardless of whether they remain in the Premier League.
For Tottenham, the pressure is mounting. Only a dramatic turnaround between now and May may prevent the situation from spiraling even further.
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