Tottenham Hotspur

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Djed Spence will have to play the entire World Cup in a protective mask due to a "crazy challenge" from Liam Delap, which saw him sustain a broken jaw in Tottenham's penultimate Premier League game of the season.

The full-back, who was named in Thomas Tuchel's 26-man England squad ahead of Newcastle United's Lewis Hall and Manchester United's Luke Shaw, revealed the injury will take three months to heal.

"It is a little bit uncomfortable - but it is what it is," Spence said. "I have a broken jaw so I have to wear it throughout the tournament.

"It is something I will have to get used to. It will be three months until it is fully healed, so it is a long time. It was painful, but luckily I play football with my feet and not my jaw so it is all good.

"I have been wearing it in training, getting used to wearing it in the heat, and trying to break it in properly.

"It was a crazy challenge, but it is in the past now. I've just got to focus on this tournament now. "

The 25-year-old, who has five England caps to his name, sported his protective mask in England's first World Cup warm-up game against New Zealand last week.

"It shows the manager believes in me," Spence added on his World Cup call-up. "He believes in my quality and I'm thankful for him.

"I just want to keep on putting in the performances to make everyone happy. It is a huge honour to play for your country, it is a big thing. I'm over the moon and happy to be here.

"It has been a difficult season [with Tottenham], but there is always light at the end of the tunnel. We managed to get out of a difficult situation, so we have to move forward. Hopefully this World Cup will be a good one."

England will continue their preparations with another warm-up fixture against Costa Rica in Orlando on Wednesday, 10 June.

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We asked for your views on which players boss Roberto de Zerbi has worked with before you would like to see Tottenham target as the club look to close a deal for Jan Paul van Hecke, his former defender at Brighton.

Here are some of your comments:

David: I like the idea of a chunk of our defence being from the Netherlands. So yes to Van Hecke and Bart Verbruggen to complement Micky van de Ven. I remember a time not long ago when our Belgian duo, Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen, secured our backline and that worked out great. And if Roberto already knows them, so much the better.

Atul: Tottenham need strengthening all over the pitch and if he rates his former players, then yes, he should go for them.

Christopher: I have always been an admirer of Kaoru Mitoma and have desired for Tottenham to sign him long before Mr De Zerbi came along. In my opinion, Japanese players are hugely underrated and the traditionally 'bigger' clubs not coming in for them (like Maeda Daizen at Celtic) is strange. And, unlike players from Marseille, Shakhtar Donetsk and Mr De Zerbi's Italian clubs, Mitoma not only has Premier League experience but five years of it. He would top of my list.

Doug: Van Hecke is a great player and if we can get it over the line it would be an amazing signing. Brighton need to be realistic with his valuation and, as he's in his final year, I wouldn't overpay and would sign him next season instead on a free. The player I'd most love to see though is Mitoma - he is class and we need someone like him on our left wing because we never replaced Son Heung-min.

Ken: Signing former players is a weakness. It's an attempt at a shortcut and a tacit admission that you are unable to transfer your ideas across quickly and/or that you have already made a judgement on certain players like Cristian Romero, Destiny Udogie et al.

Tyler: I've always loved Mitoma. He reminds me so much of Son in his prime. I would rather go in for him than Savinho for that alone.

Charles: Van Hecke would be a great choice in place of Romero, who needs to leave this summer, particularly as the Brighton defender is a compatriot of Van de Ven. However, my top pick would be Mitoma - an incredible player who scored a sensational goal against us last season. Spurs badly need a fast left-sided player and he would be an amazing signing.

Matt: It is very limiting to only look at players who have played for De Zerbi in the past so I hope they don't restrict themselves in that way. However, having players who can come right in and play his style and advocate for his methods would be beneficial and help Spurs get a quick start next season. I'd love to see Mitoma at Spurs. He's a direct replacement for Son and he still has a couple good seasons in him. He would help develop our younger players in that position: Mikey Moore and Mathys Tel.

Ian: Mitoma. We need someone capable right now, and that doesn't block the path of Moore long term. I think Savinho is just a different Tel and too similar in age to all the other left forwards we have. They would all block one another's paths, particularly Moore's.

The countdown to the World Cup is well and truly on, so here's a reminder of the Spurs players selected to represent their countries from 11 June to 19 July.

The expanded 48-team competition is set to be the biggest in history, with the United States, Canada and Mexico hosting.

Tottenham's World Cup contingent:

• Rodrigo Bentancur (Uruguay)

• Lucas Bergvall (Sweden)

• Kevin Danso (Austria)

• Antonin Kinsky (Czech Republic)

• Pedro Porro (Spain)

• Andy Robertson (Scotland)

• Cristian Romero (Argentina)

• Pape Matar Sarr (Senegal)

• Djed Spence (England)

• Micky van de Ven (Netherlands)

• Luka Vuskovic (Croatia)

This list includes Vuskovic, who has returned from a season-long loan spell at Hamburg, and Robertson, after his summer transfer from Liverpool.

Take a dive into each of the 48 squads here

Read more about the World Cup squads in numbers

Find out more about how to follow the competition on the BBC

Click here to download your World Cup 2026 wallchart

Tottenham are advancing in talks over a deal worth about £60m for Manchester City's Brazil winger Savinho, 22. (Mail), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

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Brighton are expecting Tottenham to return with another bid for defender Jan Paul van Hecke after rejecting their initial offer.

Van Hecke, who is part of the Netherlands' World Cup squad, has a year left on his contract and new Spurs boss Roberto de Zerbi is keen to be reunited with the 25-year-old after working with him at Brighton.

The Brighton defender would be one of De Zerbi's first signings - after signing former Liverpool defender Andy Robertson - if this deal materialised, and shows how he is looking to boost his squad with players he knows well from his previous managerial roles.

Which other former De Zerbi players would you like to see Spurs target this summer and why? And do you think this is a good recruitment strategy for the club?

Get in touch with your views here

Christian Eriksen has given a positive update on his health on his Instagram page.

The midfielder collapsed during the second half of Denmark's friendly against Ukraine on 7 June.

He was fitted with an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) - a type of pacemaker - after suffering a cardiac arrest during a Euro 2020 match against Finland in 2021.

• Read more on the story

Brighton have rejected a second bid from Tottenham for Netherlands centre-back Jan Paul van Hecke, 25. (Talksport), external

Meanwhile, Spurs' Guglielmo Vicario has emerged as the frontrunner as Juventus look to sign a new goalkeeper. (Gazzetta dello Sport - in Italian), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column

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We asked for your views on what one thing needs to change at Tottenham before the new campaign and why.

Here are some of your comments:

Steve: We need a top-quality centre forward... for a change. Disappointingly, Solanke hasn't made the grade.

Phil: The big one for me is a player. It has to be the position of goalkeeper. Tottenham need a world-class goalkeeper to strengthen the defence. Unfortunately last season the number one Vicario was nowhere near the required standard, nervous on crosses and corners. Terrible with the ball at his feet and much too prone to making silly mistakes. He alone must have cost the team at least 10 points last season. Not sure whether Kinsky is the answer but huge credit goes to him for coming back and helping the club stay in the Premier League after the terrible time he had in the Champions League match against Atletico Madrid.

Robert: The two major issues De Zerbi needs to solve are the weak player mentality and the crippling injury list that has plagued the squad for the past two seasons.

Colin: If everybody stays fit I think we have a competitive team for next year, the new manager seems to be switched on with how to get the best out of the players. We need a world-class striker to complete the team, we've never come close to replacing Kane. Richarlison and Solanke are not the answer.

Robin: We need Harry Kane back. Not only on the field but just around the club. Same with Son. Both are amazing influences on the club and the fans and team mates. But in reality we need a real goalscorer. Not an occasional one, which is all we have. Sad.

Richard: Two players that can score 20-plus goals in a season.

Jonesy: Recruitment, recruitment, recruitment - we need to stop fishing in the bargain basement at the 11th hour of every transfer window and sign the players that improve our starting 11 early in the window. We have to avoid a re-run of last summer's debacle at all costs - if the player won't commit within reasonable time then move on because he's probably not going to be right for us anyway.

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Former Tottenham manager Thomas Frank has shared a statement via the League Managers' Association.

It's the first time he has spoken since his sacking in February this year after eight months in charge.

"I wanted to take a moment to thank everyone who has reached out over the past few months," said Frank. "Your support and encouragement have been greatly appreciated.

"Leaving Tottenham has given me the chance to step back and reflect on my journey so far. Football management is a profession that demands complete commitment every single day, and periods like this are a rare opportunity to assess, learn and gain a fresh perspective.

"From the outside, it may have looked like a time of many challenges at Tottenham when results were not what we wanted. From within, however, it becomes clear why the club is so special - full of talented people who work tirelessly every day. I have no doubt Tottenham has a bright future."

The 52-year-old said he will not be returning to management this summer, but confirmed he will be part of some World Cup coverage.

"I am also looking forward to covering the World Cup for Danish television and the BBC, as well as experiencing the Tour de France. Time away from the touchline is allowing me to broaden my perspective and gather insights that I look forward to bringing into my next challenge.

"There have been conversations and opportunities since leaving Spurs, but I have decided not to rush into the next role. For me, this summer is not the right time to go back into management.

"When the time is right, I will look forward to my return as a manager, ready to embrace the job with great energy and dedication."

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Tottenham Hotspur boss Roberto de Zerbi has said Spurs have signed a "proven winner" as Andy Robertson's free transfer from Liverpool was confirmed.

The 32-year-old, who will captain Scotland at the upcoming World Cup, will join Spurs officially on 1 July when his Liverpool contract expires.

He won numerous honours during his nine years at Anfield, including the Champions League, two Premier League titles and the Fifa Club World Cup, and will join a Tottenham side that narrowly avoided relegation in the final weeks of the Premier League season.

De Zerbi said: "Andy is someone I've admired for a number of years and he will bring outstanding technical qualities, experience, leadership and mentality to our team.

"He is a proven winner at the highest level over a long period and is someone who can be a big player for us, both on and off the pitch.

"I can't wait to start working with him and seeing the positive impact he will have on everyone around him."

In a video message to fans posted on Spurs' X account, left-back Robertson said: "I cannot wait to play for you guys, I cannot wait to meet you guys, I cannot wait to play in the stadium for the first time in front of you and I'm already looking forward to next season."

Chris Collinson
BBC Sport statistician

With all 48 World Cup squads now confirmed, we look at how they shape up and compare with each other leading into the tournament.

Which clubs have the most players?

Looking just at the 20 clubs that made up the 2025-26 Premier League, only this season's top three have more players at the World Cup than Conference League winners Crystal Palace (12).

Including players out on loan over the season, Sunderland remarkably have as many representatives on the global stage as Chelsea and Liverpool (11), showing just how globe-trotting their recruitment was following promotion last summer.

The majority of Brentford, Everton and Leeds' squads can put their feet up and recharge their batteries for next season, with those clubs sending just four players each.

• Get more key stats on participation

The 2026-27 Premier League season will be here before we know it, with the first matches taking place on Saturday, 22 August.

We have a simple question for you - what one thing needs to change at your club before the new campaign and why?

It can be a player, manager, ticketing issue, owner, or wider change.

Let us know in detail here

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We asked for your views on whether midfielder Joao Palhinha's loan from Bayern Munich should be made permanent and why.

Here are some of your comments:

Errol: Signing Joao Palhinha is an absolute no-brainer. Whenever he played we were a much better team than without him. He breaks up play very well, wins his tackles and also scored important goals for us.

Jonny: The Spurs fans are very divided on this matter. Many see Palhinha as one of our reasons for decline this season in possession and chance creation, and so replacing him should be a priority to raising our squad's technical quality. I'm in the camp of believing that actually we need more experience in the squad and we looked better for having him in the team compared with our floor of young midfielders. Regardless of his passing limitations, having experienced midfielders is a platform for more stability. You've got to sort the foundations out after the season we had, and I think Palhinha can work towards that next season.

Richard: Over the years, Spurs rarely have a solid defensive midfielder that can genuinely tackle. Combine that with his commitment and enthusiasm, Palhinha is a player we need. He gives other creative players more freedom.

Colin: No-brainer! He has been our best player by some degree since arriving at Spurs. He proves to be the perfect midfielder, showing flair, aggression and an eye for a goalscoring opportunity. These qualities, over time, can only influence and improve his fellow team members. He must be encouraged to stay.

Ade: Definitely keep him. He was one of the few players visibly fighting to keep the club in the Premier League. We were short of that sort of desire last season and we need it if the club is serious about not repeating the same mistakes.

Patrick: Palhinha showed real passion and determination when it really mattered. His controlled aggression and excellent technique lifted the players and the crowd in vital matches. In my opinion, as a season ticket-holder, he should stay and have a prominent role next season.

Brian: I say bring him back for one more year, perhaps even on loan again if Bayern Munich will agree to it. I sense this is what both Tottenham and Palhinha prefer. He will be on his way back home to Portugal sooner rather than later, but he could be crucial while Roberto de Zerbi builds a more competitive squad, which might take some time.

Will: Palhinha embodies several positive traits, which have proven conspicuously absent from the Spurs changing room in recent years: spirit, resilience and strength of character. His values are also top notch and he appears to contribute to a strong and healthy family ethos - from which he is clearly also a product himself. Given everything he contributed to help keep us up, I'd say he's worth double his option-to-buy clause.

Ellington: Spurs should sign Palhinha on a permanent deal - 100%. He's exactly the kind of leader we need in the dressing room. De Zerbi has had a chance to assess who he wants to stay and those he wants to go. Palhinha is one who has to stay. COYS.

Craig: Spurs should make it permanent. He has experience and he proved his worth, especially towards the end of the season. Tottenham should add this to the youth they have in other areas of midfield.

AC Milanhave emerged as serious contenders to sign Crysencio Summerville, 24, from West Ham, with the Dutch winger also attracting interest from Tottenham and Aston Villa. (Teamtalk), external

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Nat Hayward
BBC Sport journalist

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A key part of Tottenham's midfield planning for next season will be whether Joao Palhinha's loan from Bayern Munch is made permanent.

There have been conflicting reports over whether Palhinha will remain in North London, with stories in BBC Sport's Gossip column, external earlier this week suggesting he will instead try and engineer a move to Sporting.

However, Fabrizo Romano reported on Monday, external that the midfielder has given "priority" to Spurs, "as the feeling with Roberto de Zerbi is very good".

Despite Tottenham's poor season, it could have ended far worse had it not been for Palhinha's performances and late season goalscoring heroics.

Of their seven matches under De Zerbi after his appointment at the end of March, Spurs won three games - two of which were 1-0 wins thanks to scrappy Palhinha goals from set-pieces, including on the all-important final day over Everton which secured survival. In other words, six of the 11 points won under the Italian were thanks to goals from the 30-year-old.

To illustrate Spurs' attacking woes, Palhinha's five league goals was the second-highest in the squad.

But, it is not just his goals that could make a permanent move attractive.

The Portugal international led the Spurs squad in tackles (110), tackles won (66) and duels won (193) across the 2025-26 campaign, despite only starting 23 games.

He is not, however, just a midfield destroyer. Palhinha is also capable of progressing the ball and the play. No Tottenham midfielder made more passes (1044), forward passes (314) or attacking line-breaking passes (55) than him.

Now, it must be stressed that he recorded these number in an under-performing Spurs side and he was still a part of a side that came very close to a historic and humiliating relegation.

Spurs fans, we want to hear from you. Do you want Palhinha to stay? Why? And how did you rate his loan spell?

Let us know here

Barcelona boss Hansi Flick, sporting director Deco and president Joan Laporta remain keen to sign Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford on a permanent basis amid interest from Tottenham, Newcastle, Aston Villa and Bayern Munich in the 28-year-old England international. (The I), external

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Tottenham have identified Eintracht Frankfurt winger Jean-Matteo Bahoya as a potential signing, but the Bundesliga club will not let the 21-year-old Frenchman leave on the cheap. (Teamtalk), external

Manchester United want to offload Marcus Rashford to help new head coach Michael Carrick's transfer budget and, while Arsenal, Chelsea, Newcastle and Tottenham are monitoring the situation, the club are reluctant to sell him to one of their top-flight rivals. (Mirror), external

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Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham,Liverpool and Newcastle are all interested in AC Milan's Portuguese winger Rafael Leao with the 26-year-old keen to leave San Siro this summer. (Calciomercato - in Italian), external

Portugal midfielder Joao Palhinha, 30, does not want to make his loan from Bayern Munich to Tottenham a permanent one and will try to engineer a move to Sporting instead. (A Bola - in Portuguese), external

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We asked for your views on which players Tottenham should sign from the three relegated Premier League sides Wolves,Burnley and West Ham United.

Here are some of your suggestions:

Tob: Joao Gomes from Wolves would help to add some creativity in the midfield now that Xavi Simons is out until January. Or maybe West Ham players like El Hadji Malick Diouf or potentially Jarrod Bowen? I don't think any Burnley players will help the squad, apart from maybe Jaidon Anthony.

Lindsay: While it isn't going to happen, Bowen is a total no-brainer.

Tyler: I would love to see us take Bowen off West Ham, if nothing else but just to annoy them. I wouldn't mind us looking into Mateus Fernandes either.

Jonathan: I can't see much in the way of quality in any of the three relegated clubs. Taty Castellanos and Bowen may be of interest to Spurs. It is in the forward line where we really struggled this year. Wolves' Joao Gomes is also a decent midfielder, but we already have a lot of competition in that area. Jean-Philippe Mateta from Crystal Palace would be a better option than any of these though.

Alex: The past two seasons have proven we don't need cheap, we need quality. We desperately need a decent striker or two because Richarlison and Dominic Solanke are not good enough. We have a strong midfield, if they stay fit, but scoring goals has been a big issue.