This is shaping up to be the most defining month Tottenham Hotspur have faced in a long time, with their Premier League future hanging in the balance and the very real threat of dropping into the Championship looming over the club.
Spurs have not been relegated since 1977 and have never experienced the drop in the modern era. Yet since Roberto De Zerbi took the reins from Igor Tudor during the March international break, the outlook has shifted. Performances have picked up and two consecutive wins have given the club renewed hope.
Whether that turnaround has come in time remains to be seen, but Tottenham have at least climbed out of the bottom three and currently hold a two-point cushion over West Ham United — a margin that could prove decisive in a battle this tight.
Tottenham’s remaining fixtures: Leeds at home (11 May), Chelsea away (19 May), Everton at home (24 May) — against sides currently sitting 14th, 9th and 10th respectively.
Regardless of how the season concludes, significant changes are anticipated at the club over the summer. Several prominent players are already said to be weighing up their options.
Micky van de Ven is among those Spurs may struggle to retain. Losing the Dutch centre-back would be a considerable blow, though his sale could generate substantial funds, with reported interest from Liverpool pushing his estimated value toward £90 million.
Lucas Bergvall, meanwhile, is a player the club is determined to keep. According to The Athletic’s David Ornstein, Tottenham turned down approaches from both Aston Villa and Chelsea for the teenage midfielder in January. He is widely regarded as one of the most exciting young talents in the league and central to the club’s long-term plans.
Yet even survival may not be enough to retain every key figure. One senior player now looks increasingly likely to depart whatever happens — and the situation is drawing comparisons to Luka Modrić’s final years at the club.
Modrić is fondly remembered at Spurs, having made 160 appearances before joining Real Madrid and going on to become one of football’s all-time greats. However, his exit was far from smooth, with a transfer request in 2011 casting a shadow over his time in North London.
Cristian Romero now finds himself in a strikingly similar position. The Argentine has established himself as one of the Premier League’s finest centre-backs, but indications are growing that he intends to move on this summer regardless of Tottenham’s fate. Former Spurs forward Chris Waddle recently suggested Romero had never truly been settled at the club, adding weight to the mounting speculation.
For all his undoubted quality, Romero’s spell at Spurs has been punctuated by injury, indiscipline and inconsistency. His combative style has won him admirers but also brought red cards and fitness issues that have limited his influence during one of the club’s most difficult seasons in recent memory.
A parting of ways this summer may well suit everyone. Supporters are unlikely to remain patient with a captain whose mind appears to be elsewhere while the club fights for its top-flight survival. Spanish clubs are said to be keeping a close eye on his availability ahead of the window.
Romero’s commitment to the cause is not in question, but his focus seems to be drifting toward a new chapter. Tottenham are widely expected to sanction his sale if a suitable offer materialises, potentially drawing a curtain on yet another turbulent era at Hotspur Way.
