Tottenham injury crisis could leave them with three world-class players in the Championship
Michael Bridge thinks Tottenham may be forced to keep three of their highest earners, even if the club drops down into the Championship.
Tottenham remain huge favourites to go down despite registering their first win of the Roberto De Zerbi era against Wolves on Saturday.
The Lilywhites are two points adrift of safety with four games to go, and the Spurs stars have vowed to keep fighting until the very end.
However, the North Londoners have received some very bad news regarding one of their key players this morning, and one pundit fears that it may send the club to the Championship.
Tim Sherwood claims Tottenham may be relegated for poor injury and fitness management
Xavi Simons has now been ruled out for the rest of 2026 after suffering an ACL tear in Tottenham’s 1-0 win against Wolves.
He is the latest in a long line of major injuries the club have this season, and Tim Sherwood insists that there have been too many soft tissue injuries for it to be put down to just bad luck.
The former Tottenham midfielder and interim manager fears that the Lilywhites are set to pay dearly for their medical mismanagement.
Sherwood told Sky Sports: “Injuries have derailed Tottenham all season, and it can’t be bad luck. They need to review and [have] a good look at what’s happening to their players because we can all get injured from contact, but a lot of these injuries are not contact.
“They are twists and soft tissue injuries. And ultimately, it looks like they might have to pay the price for it, the ultimate price, which is relegation.
If you’re a manager, you’re going in, your players – some of your best players – keep getting injured and you can’t get them back to fitness.
“Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison, it’s been a hell of a long time since they’ve been injured. So they’re going to need a good look at that in the summer.”
Journalist raises wage bill concerns for Spurs after Xavi’s injury
Reports indicate that Tottenham will be forced to sell many of their highest earners this summer if they go down, as they cannot sustain a big wage bill in the Championship.
However, journalist Michael Bridge has now claimed that Spurs could be forced to retain three of their highest earners, Xavi, James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski, due to their injury issues.
Bridge told Sky Sports: “If Tottenham do get relegated, they could still have James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski and Xavi Simons, three very big names, still at the club in the Championship.
“That’s a ruptured ACL for Simons; you can forget this year. That’s done.
“So with his wages and everything, you’ve got to look at the financial side of it as well. I’m sorry to say, but [Spurs’ persistent injury issues] need to be looked at. This is ridiculous now.”
| Player | Position | Country | Annual Salary | Weekly Salary |
| Cristian Romero | Defender | Argentina | £10,140,00 | £195,000 |
| Xavi Simons | Midfielder | Netherlands | £10,140,00 | £195,000 |
| James Maddison | Midfielder | England | £8,840,000 | £170,000 |
| Conor Gallagher | Midfielder | England | £8,320,000 | £160,000 |
| Randal Kolo Muani | Forward | France | £7,800,000 | £150,000 |
| Mohammed Kudus | Midfielder | Ghana | £7,800,000 | £150,000 |
| Dominic Solanke | Forward | England | £7,280,000 | £140,000 |
| Joao Palhinha | Midfielder | Portugal | £7,020,000 | £135,000 |
| Dejan Kulusevski | Forward | Sweden | £5,720,000 | £110,000 |
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