Premier League
Spurs Weigh Relegation Release Clause to Secure De Zerbi Amid Fan Opposition
Spurs eye a relegation release clause to attract De Zerbi as fans protest his defence of Greenwood.
Tottenham Hotspur are reported to be considering an unusual contractual incentive as they pursue Roberto De Zerbi. Discussions have focused on a release clause that would apply in the event of relegation, allowing another club to remove the coach from his Spurs deal if the team were to go down, according to The Times.
De Zerbi has been reluctant to take charge of a squad “perched perilously above the relegation zone,” and sources say the clause is one option intended to ease those concerns. The Italian is thought to be “amenable” to the idea of taking over Tottenham but only if another incumbent has successfully avoided relegation, BBC Sport report in the aftermath of Tudor’s exit. It remains unclear whether the release clause will ultimately be offered or accepted.
Tottenham are out of action until April 12, when they travel to Sunderland for the first of seven remaining Premier League matches. The club have indicated they want to give their new coach—the club’s third of the season—at least 10 days to prepare for that fixture.
Talk of De Zerbi’s potential appointment has sparked strong opposition among sections of the Spurs support. Several fan groups have combined to warn the club against appointing De Zerbi following his public defence of Mason Greenwood during their time together at Marseille.
Greenwood did not play for Manchester United again after being arrested in January 2022. He was subsequently accused of attempted rape, engaging in controlling and coercive behaviour and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. Greenwood denied all accusations. The U.K. Crown Prosecution Service dropped all charges in February 2023 after “a combination of the withdrawal of key witnesses and new material meant there was no longer a realistic prospect of conviction,” a spokesperson told the BBC.
Manchester United carried out an internal investigation that concluded in August 2023. At that point, the club claimed: “Mason did not commit the offences in respect of which he was originally charged.” However, it was decided that he would not play for United again. “As Mason publicly acknowledges today,” a statement at the time read, “he has made mistakes which he is taking responsibility for.”
Greenwood spent the 2023–24 season on loan at Getafe before signing for De Zerbi’s Marseille in July 2024. Before Greenwood had officially signed for Marseille, De Zerbi promised to publicly defend all his players “like [they were] my sons.” Earlier this season, the Italian coach described the forward as “a good person,” adding: “It saddens me what happened to him because I know a very different person from the one portrayed in England.”
Those comments have helped fuel the ‘No to De Zerbi’ campaign. The Proud Lilywhites group, Women of the Lane and Spurs Reach all released statements criticising De Zerbi’s defence of Greenwood.
Chelsea
Why Marc Cucurella Publicly Challenged Chelsea’s Midseason Choices
Cucurella publicly criticised Chelsea’s midseason changes and long-term recruitment strategy. Today.
Since BlueCo completed its takeover in 2022, Stamford Bridge has changed off the field while results have lagged. The January exit of Enzo Maresca crystallised growing unrest among supporters and within the squad, with Enzo Fernández publicly expressing disappointment and confusion over the decision.
Marc Cucurella took that frustration further, questioning the timing and the club’s wider direction. “The moment Maresca left, it had a big impact on us,” Cucurella said. “These are decisions taken by the club. If you asked me, I would not have made this decision. To make a change like that, the best thing is to wait until the end of the season. You would give everyone, the players and the new manager, time to get ready, have a full preseason.”
Maresca’s relationship with those above him had been strained since the summer, when he publicly requested a new centre back to replace the injured Levi Colwill and that request was refused. Reports say Maresca grew disenchanted with the sporting directors and decision-makers, accusing them of interfering in his role. The hierarchy opted for a change, and Liam Rosenior was appointed to replace Maresca at a crucial point while the team remained in the race for Champions League qualification.
Cucurella also criticised Chelsea’s transfer philosophy. He highlighted the shift away from senior, experienced signings after the 2022 window in which Todd Boehly played a prominent role in recruitment. That summer saw arrivals including Raheem Sterling, Kalidou Koulibaly, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Wesley Fofana, Carney Chukwuemeka, Cesare Casadei and Cucurella himself.
“I understand this is part of the club’s policy, and that they want to take this direction—signing young players and looking to the future,” he stressed. “But, for all of us who are still here and want to win big things, moments like this make you feel discouraged.
“We have a good core of players. The foundations are there. But to fight for major trophies such as the Premier League or the Champions League, you need more. Signing young players only might complicate achieving those goals. Against PSG , we lacked players that had gone through situations like that.
“You need time as well, and I know the young players are the ones that will have the experience in the future. But you need to find the balance between both worlds.”
The recruitment model overseen by co-sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart, and Joe Shields, has prioritised young talent. There are a few clear positives from the recruitment since 2022, including Cole Palmer and Moisés Caicedo. But several signings have drawn scrutiny and recent results, such as the Champions League loss to PSG following Club World Cup success, have intensified fan protests and anti-Eghbali chants at home games. The board renewed contracts for Winstanley, Stewart, Shields and Sam Jewell in August 2025, even as dissent grew louder.
Highest paid players
Why Inter Miami’s roster rules make signing Casemiro a near-impossible task
Inter Miami lack roster space and allocation funds to absorb Casemiro’s reported $20m annual salary.
As Casemiro approaches the end of his Manchester United contract, interest from Major League Soccer clubs has been widely reported. Inter Miami are often mentioned among suitors, but the club’s roster and salary mechanisms create a major barrier to signing the Brazilian midfielder.
Reports suggest Casemiro earns $20 million per season at Old Trafford. Inter Miami already have three designated players locked through the 2027–28 season: Lionel Messi, Rodrigo De Paul and Germán Berterame. The club also has three players signed under the U-22 Initiative, the maximum permitted when a team carries three senior designated players. To add Berterame, Miami loaned a fourth U-22 Initiative player, Tomás Avilés, to CF Montréal.
Fabrizio Romano says the club are “really serious” about signing the Man Utd star, but the mechanics are complex. Miami could convert to two designated player slots to free a U-22 Initiative spot, yet that would allow only a younger signing, not a veteran aged 34 like Casemiro. A move would therefore likely require either replacing a current star or a deep roster rework.
Allocation tools also limit Miami’s options. Targeted Allocation Money is used to reduce a salary cap hit for players earning between $803,125 and $1,803,125, but Casemiro’s reported wages sit well above that range. General Allocation Money, which can buy down salaries under $803,125, is minimal for Miami; the club is reported to have only $17,361 in GAM. By comparison, the Colorado Rapids hold $6,380,121 for 2026, while Miami’s 2025 MLS Cup opponent, Vancouver Whitecaps, sit with $20,945.
Without selling or trading significant assets or shedding a designated player, the only practical way for Casemiro to join Inter Miami would be on a salary below $803,125. With the league team salary near the reported maximum of $6,425,000, adding another high-earner looks highly unlikely unless Miami undertakes a major roster upheaval.
Barcelona
Barcelona Prepare to Weigh Offers for Jules Kounde Amid Premier League Interest
Barcelona may sell Jules Kounde if Chelsea, Liverpool or Man City match the club’s valuation. summer
Barcelona are reported to be open to selling Jules Kounde should offers approach the club’s valuation, with Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City credited with interest by Mundo Deportivo. The 27-year-old has been linked to the three Premier League sides and City’s pursuit is described as particularly well established.
Deco, Barcelona’s sporting director, revealed last summer that Pep Guardiola’s side “asked us if Kounde was available,” and the club’s response at that time was simple: “No.” The latest coverage suggests Barcelona’s position may have shifted as they weigh financial priorities.
When fit, Kounde is a regular under Hansi Flick. The quick fullback started 25 of La Liga’s first 26 matches this season before a muscular injury forced him to miss the entirety of March. Mundo Deportivo report that Barcelona, in need of funds, would consider any bid in the region of $92.3 million (€80 million).
Selling Kounde would not leave Flick without options. Eric García has provided versatile cover across the backline, including at right back, while Masia graduate Xavi Espart earned his senior debut during Kounde’s absence. João Cancelo’s continued presence in Spain has also been mooted as a way to mitigate the loss of Kounde.
Barcelona are widely expected to prioritise signings of a striker and a centre back this summer. Targets mentioned publicly are likely to command significant fees, with the acquisition of Julián Alvarez noted as an example of the cost involved. That context helps explain why a substantial offer for Kounde would be difficult for Barcelona to ignore.
From the English perspective, Manchester City’s search for a right back last summer was fruitless. Matheus Nunes has adapted from a midfield reputation—having shrugged off Guardiola’s barb about a lack of intelligence to play in midfield—to flourish as an overlapping fullback this season, but City could still seek a more orthodox right back.
Chelsea and Liverpool possess quality options at right back, but selection can be complicated. Reece James has rammed home his committment to the Blues with a recent contract extension only to then succumb to the sort of hamstring injury which has plagued so much of his career. Malo Gusto serves as a suitable deputy and is far less prone to fitness lapses.
Whether any Premier League suitor will meet Barcelona’s reported valuation remains to be seen.
