Tottenham Hotspur are preparing for life under Igor Tudor, whose time in the dugout begins this weekend with a Premier League clash against Arsenal.
Talk about getting thrown in at the deep end, though a win over Spurs’ north London rivals would be some way to endear yourself to the fanbase from the get-go.
Tottenham supporters need an uplift, with Thomas Frank’s tenure pulling them into a relegation battle. That’s the plain truth of it, though there is more than enough quality
Lowest Win Records at Spurs (Premier League) | ||
|---|---|---|
Manager | Apps | Win % |
Thomas Frank | 26 | 26.9% |
Jacques Santini | 11 | 27.3% |
Juande Ramos | 36 | 27.8% |
Osvaldo Ardiles | 54 | 29.6% |
Christian Gross | 27 | 33.3% |
Data via StatMuse (at least 10 games in charge) | ||
There are numerous issues for Tudor to put to rights over the coming months, but one of the most glaring is a wobbly backline that may lose its skipper, Cristian Romero, at the end of the season.
Spurs looking to sign Romero replacement
Tottenham have got issues, alright, and Romero has hardly been flawless in his performances this season, but there’s no question that his departure would weaken the north Londoners.
Micky van de Van draws plenty of plaudits, but the 27-year-old Romero, at this point in time, is the superior centre-back, even with an overzealousness that gets him into trouble at times.
Van de Ven vs Romero – Premier League 25/26 | ||
|---|---|---|
Match Stats (* per 90) | Van de Ven | Romero |
Matches (starts) | 24 (24) | 21 (20) |
Goals + Assists | 4 + 1 | 4 + 1 |
Clean sheets | 6 | 4 |
Touches* | 64.9 | 64.8 |
Accurate passes* | 47.8 (89%) | 42.7 (87%) |
Chances created* | 0.2 | 0.5 |
Recoveries* | 3.6 | 3.9 |
Tackles + interceptions* | 2.0 | 3.8 |
Clearances* | 4.2 | 4.1 |
Ground duels* | 2.0 (62%) | 3.4 (61%) |
Aerial duels* | 1.3 (42%) | 3.0 (71%) |
Errors made | 2x | 3x |
Data via Sofascore | ||
With the Argentine having recently criticised the board, though, and then getting himself sent off during the defeat at Old Trafford against Manchester United, noise has increased around his future, with talkSPORT’s Tony Cascarino bemoaning his “terrible attitude”.
If Romero truly doesn’t want to play his football at N17 beyond the current campaign, Spurs will need to ensure they land a top-notch replacement.
And according to Caught Offside, a controversial move for former Chelsea star Antonio Rudiger is being lined up, with the Real Madrid defender mooted for a return to the Premier League when his contract expires this summer.
The Lilywhites are joined by Crystal Palace and West Ham United in having opened talks with the 32-year-old’s representatives, and while a move for one of Stamford Bridge’s biggest modern stars might seem dubious, you need only look back to last month, when Conor Gallagher made the trip from Madrid back to London, to see that that is not the case.
What Rudiger would bring to Spurs
Rudiger might not be in the prime of his career anymore, but his aggression and sharpness in defensive phases could see him prove the perfect Romero replacement, certainly when considering how he could balance his qualities against those of Van de Ven.
The German international is one of the most decorated centre-halves of his generation, winning the biggest prizes with Chelsea in England and then again with Real Madrid after signing for Los Blancos in 2022. He has been described as “the best defender in the world” in the past by former international teammate Mesut Ozil.
In La Liga this term, for example, he has only started seven times but has still won 63% of his duels, averaging seven ball recoveries every two fixtures, which emphasises his natural athleticism.
A ball recovery is defined by the number of loose balls recovered by a player.
Like Romero, Rudiger is a defender who transcends the role. He has a wealth of technical skills and an instinctiveness in the box that makes him a useful tool across many different areas.
However, he has also seen seven career red cards, and was sent off in 2025 after launching an object at an official during Real Madrid’s Copa del Rey final defeat to Barcelona.
Though Rudiger would add a lot of positivity to Spurs’ backline, shoring up a stuttering defence and instilling leadership, there is a risk that he would just be another version of Romero, immensely talented but impeded by his own recklessness.
Like Rudiger, Romero is one of the most talented defenders in the world, and like Rudiger, Romero has something of a rash streak, a fire inside that potentially fuels the more lauded aspects of his game.
With it looking like the Argentina international could be off this summer, this might just be the move to propel the Londoners back into the ascendancy, partnering the accomplished Madrista with Van de Ven.
Big Tudor upgrade: ENIC could appoint a “Pochettino clone” at Spurs
Tottenham are searching for a permanent appointment to replace Thomas Frank at the end of the season.
