top of page
970x250.png
News image template
No Writer
Apr 18
Senior civil servants knew weeks ago that Mandelson had failed security vetting

But they did not pass over the information to the prime minister because they were waiting for legal checks on what information could be released, according to a Cabinet Office spokesperson. Cabinet secretary Antonia Romeo and cabinet office permanent secretary Catherine Little were both present at a meeting between Sir Keir Starmer and senior civil servants on Tuesday, when the prime minister was finally told about Lord Mandelson's failure to pass vetting. The spokesperson said: "Senior officials in the Cabinet Office did the right thing and took urgent steps to ensure they could update the prime minister. "On receipt of the UK Security Vetting information, the permanent secretary of the Cabinet Office rapidly sought legal and other advice to be in a sound position to share the document, or the fact of it, with the prime minister. She updated the cabinet secretary who agreed with the approach. "As soon as these checks were conducted, the prime minister was informed." The Foreign Office's chief civil servant Sir Olly Robbins was sacked on Thursday night after Sir Keir and foreign secretary Yvette Cooper lost confidence in him over the scandal. The prime minister was "not aware" there was a recommendation against giving Lord Mandelson security clearance for the ambassador role - which was overruled by the Foreign Office, according to a document produced by Number 10. He was only told of the advice on Tuesday. Sir Keir said he will "set out all the relevant facts in true transparency" to parliament on Monday. The prime minister on Friday said he was "absolutely furious" and it was "staggering" that he had not been informed the vetting process was overruled to clear Lord Mandelson for the ambassador posting. Read more:What really happened with MandelsonPM facing almighty clash as critics look to finish him off "I was not told that he had failed security vetting, no minister was told... Number 10 wasn't told, that is completely unacceptable," he said. Criticising officials, the PM said: "It is totally unacceptable that the prime minister making an appointment is not told that security vetting has been failed." Sir Keir is not resigning or considering his position, No 10 also said on Friday. Ms Cooper only found out Lord Mandelson failed security vetting on Thursday after being approached by journalists, Sky News understands. Sir Olly has been invited to speak to the Foreign Affairs Committee as early as next Tuesday. The opposition party leaders have all called for Sir Keir to resign over the latest revelations, with Kemi Badenoch, for the Conservatives, arguing the prime minister had misled parliament and the public. SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn called on the prime minister to "do the decent thing and resign". He suggested Sir Keir is "either incompetent, gullible or a liar". The Foreign Office has been blamed for clearing the peer in January 2025 to start as US ambassador, despite him failing a secure vetting process. Lord Mandelson was sacked from his Washington role last September when more details emerged about his relationship with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein, who died in 2019. Sir Keir was already facing heavy criticism over the decision to hand Lord Mandelson the position, despite it being known that his dealings with Epstein continued after the financier's conviction for child sex offences.

News image template
No Writer
Apr 17
Kanye West's Polish concert cancelled just weeks after he was blocked from entering the UK

The decision comes days after the artist postponed a show in France amid anger over his past antisemitic comments, he subsequently wrote on social media that he didn't "want to put my fans in the middle of it". "We would like to inform you that the Ye (Kanye West) concert planned for 19 June 2026 at the...Slaski stadium ‌will not take place due to formal and legal reasons," stadium director Adam Strzyzewski said in a statement posted on Facebook. Just over a week ago, West - now known as Ye - was blocked from coming to the UK after the government concluded that his presence would "not be conducive to the public good". The 48-year-old was due to headline all three nights of the Wireless Festival in London, but the event was cancelled after his electronic travel visa authorisation was withdrawn. There was no immediate comment from West, who in January apologised for his behaviour, which he attributed to untreated bipolar disorder, and renounced past expressions ‌of admiration for Adolf Hitler. Polish officials had already stated their disapproval at the prospect of him performing in their country. Marta Cienkowska, Poland's culture minister, said on Thursday: "In a country scarred by the history of the Holocaust, we cannot pretend that this is just entertainment." More than 1.1 ​million people, most of them Jews, were murdered at the ​Auschwitz death camp in Nazi-occupied Poland during World War ⁠Two. Read more from Sky News:Starmer facing almighty clashCuba on its knees and 'next' for Trump On Tuesday, West announced on X that his planned concert at the Orange Velodrome in Marseille on June 11 would be postponed "until further notice". In a follow-up post, he wrote: "I know it takes time to understand the sincerity of my commitment to make amends." The rapper was also barred from Australia last year after releasing a song promoting Nazism and advertising swastika T-shirts on his website. He has performed in the US and Mexico this year, with upcoming appearances in India, Turkey, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain and Portugal. On Wednesday, West wrote on social media after the French gig was shelved, he was "looking forward to the next shows".

News image template
No Writer
Apr 18
Senior civil servants knew weeks ago that Mandelson had failed security vetting

But they did not pass over the information to the prime minister because they were waiting for legal checks on what information could be released, according to a Cabinet Office spokesperson. Cabinet secretary Antonia Romeo and cabinet office permanent secretary Catherine Little were both present at a meeting between Sir Keir Starmer and senior civil servants on Tuesday, when the prime minister was finally told about Lord Mandelson's failure to pass vetting. The spokesperson said: "Senior officials in the Cabinet Office did the right thing and took urgent steps to ensure they could update the prime minister. "On receipt of the UK Security Vetting information, the permanent secretary of the Cabinet Office rapidly sought legal and other advice to be in a sound position to share the document, or the fact of it, with the prime minister. She updated the cabinet secretary who agreed with the approach. "As soon as these checks were conducted, the prime minister was informed." The Foreign Office's chief civil servant Sir Olly Robbins was sacked on Thursday night after Sir Keir and foreign secretary Yvette Cooper lost confidence in him over the scandal. The prime minister was "not aware" there was a recommendation against giving Lord Mandelson security clearance for the ambassador role - which was overruled by the Foreign Office, according to a document produced by Number 10. He was only told of the advice on Tuesday. Sir Keir said he will "set out all the relevant facts in true transparency" to parliament on Monday. The prime minister on Friday said he was "absolutely furious" and it was "staggering" that he had not been informed the vetting process was overruled to clear Lord Mandelson for the ambassador posting. Read more:What really happened with MandelsonPM facing almighty clash as critics look to finish him off "I was not told that he had failed security vetting, no minister was told... Number 10 wasn't told, that is completely unacceptable," he said. Criticising officials, the PM said: "It is totally unacceptable that the prime minister making an appointment is not told that security vetting has been failed." Sir Keir is not resigning or considering his position, No 10 also said on Friday. Ms Cooper only found out Lord Mandelson failed security vetting on Thursday after being approached by journalists, Sky News understands. Sir Olly has been invited to speak to the Foreign Affairs Committee as early as next Tuesday. The opposition party leaders have all called for Sir Keir to resign over the latest revelations, with Kemi Badenoch, for the Conservatives, arguing the prime minister had misled parliament and the public. SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn called on the prime minister to "do the decent thing and resign". He suggested Sir Keir is "either incompetent, gullible or a liar". The Foreign Office has been blamed for clearing the peer in January 2025 to start as US ambassador, despite him failing a secure vetting process. Lord Mandelson was sacked from his Washington role last September when more details emerged about his relationship with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein, who died in 2019. Sir Keir was already facing heavy criticism over the decision to hand Lord Mandelson the position, despite it being known that his dealings with Epstein continued after the financier's conviction for child sex offences.

News image template
No Writer
Apr 17
Arsenal's technical issue and how Kai Havertz can help fix misfiring attack against Man City - The Radar

Welcome to The Radar, a Sky Sports column in which Nick Wright uses a blend of data and opinion to shed light on need-to-know stories from up and down the Premier League. This week: 🔴 Arsenal's big issue in attack?🆚 Emery reunion for Xhaka🔍 A player to watch this weekend Arsenal's technical issue Arsenal's first-leg lead against Sporting allowed them to fall back on their defence in Wednesday's Champions League quarter-final second leg. Having shown vulnerability in recent games, a return to some characteristic solidity helped them into the last four. Got Sky? Watch Premier League games LIVE on your phone📱No Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW📺 Mikel Arteta will hope to see the same defensive stinginess against Manchester City on Sunday. But Arsenal's performance against Sporting was also a reminder of the room for improvement at the other end of the pitch. Their attack continues to misfire. How can Arteta change it? Maybe he doesn't need to. They have a six-point lead at the top of the Premier League. The onus is on City to win the game. But against an opponent of their quality, it is hard to see a positive outcome if offensive solutions can't be found. Arteta's approach has become the subject of intense scrutiny. Has a perceived aversion to risk come at the cost of fluency and flair on the ball? Has open-play chance creation been neglected in favour of set-pieces? Do Arsenal rely on their defence too readily? Personnel is another important factor. Injuries continue to limit Arteta's options, with Bukayo Saka ruled out of Sunday's game and Martin Odegaard among those doubtful. But the need for changes in forward areas only became clearer against Sporting. For the second game in a row, Arteta fielded a front three of Noni Madueke, Gabriel Martinelli and Viktor Gyokeres, a combination which plainly does not work, or facilitate smooth football. Arsenal have only won two of the last six games the trio have started together. And one of those wins, against Chelsea in the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final at the Emirates Stadium in February, required a late goal from substitute Kai Havertz. All three players can be potent when running at, or in behind, opposition defences. They have contributed 36 goals between them this season. But their selection, all at once, leaves Arsenal lacking the technical security to retain possession high up the pitch. "It's about doing the basics to a better level, just the five, 10-yard passes that we're giving away a bit sloppily," said Declan Rice after the Sporting game. "We have lacked a little bit of clarity in the final third," added his midfield partner Martin Zubimendi. The business of ball retention is a struggle for Gyokeres in particular. According to Opta, he has lost possession 246 times in the Premier League this season, having only had 566 touches, figures which give him the second-highest rate of touches ending in possession losses among outfield players in the division at 43.5 per cent. Martinelli and Madueke rank high on the list too, at 38.9 per cent and 36.1 per cent respectively. Manchester City, by contrast, do not have a single player over the 30 per cent mark. Like Gyokeres, who only completed five of his nine passes against Sporting, Martinelli and Madueke found it difficult to hold on to the ball on Wednesday, losing possession 12 and 17 times respectively. The game changed with Arsenal's substitutions. Not in terms of creativity, admittedly. But at least in terms of control. Havertz, Leandro Trossard, Max Dowman and Gabriel Jesus completed 89 per cent of their passes, their technical quality allowing Arsenal to play in Sporting's half during the closing stages. Arsenal might need that same capacity at the Etihad Stadium if they are to avoid a repeat of the second-half barrage that did for them in last month's Carabao Cup final, when they couldn't get up the pitch and Manchester City's pressure proved too much. Pep Guardiola's pressing structure, or non-pressing structure, proved crucial as his front four sat off Arsenal's goalkeeper and defenders, instead blocking routes into midfield and forcing long passes to a striker, in Gyokeres, who couldn't make the ball stick. Arteta's hand may now be forced on his team selection when it comes to Dowman, with Madueke a doubt for Sunday's game having picked up an apparent knee injury against Sporting. Havertz, meanwhile, can give Arsenal the outlet they lacked. The 26-year-old has endured an injury-hit season. He struggled in midfield in the Carabao Cup final and again in the defeats to Southampton and Bournemouth. But there were reminders of his effectiveness as a focal point against Sporting. In the space of 35 minutes, and having scored the goal that ended up settling the tie in the first leg, Havertz won more aerial duels than any other player on the pitch, with three, one of which teed up Eberechi Eze for a clear shooting chance. Havertz also completed three times as many passes as Gyokeres, with 15. Factoring in the last two seasons in the Premier League, given his limited involvement this term due to injuries, Havertz's superiority to Gyokeres in the duel and in terms of ball retention shines through in the numbers. Put simply, he is the better targetman. Manchester City need no reminding of what Havertz can do in the role. The player who scored the winner in the Champions League final against them for Chelsea also played a starring role in Arsenal's 5-1 win at the Emirates Stadium in February of last season. Havertz set up Odegaard's opening goal that day and dispatched the fourth himself. He also provided an outlet, linking the play by completing all but two of his 28 passes and, again, winning more aerial duels than any other player on the pitch, with three. His deployment up front on Sunday, having only played there on a handful of occasions all season, could help give Arsenal's attack the balance it has so often lacked, while also giving Gyokeres the chance to make an impact against tiring legs as a substitute. Manchester City's quality is such that Arsenal will inevitably need to fall back on their defence for periods of the game. But raising the technical level of their attack, as much as player availability allows, could hold the key to emerging with a positive result. Xhaka's Sunderland influence Arsenal's captaincy has been another point of discussion this week after Rice was handed the responsibility in their last two games. Meanwhile, their former skipper Granit Xhaka is preparing to face the manager who stripped him of the armband in 2019. Sunderland take on Unai Emery's Aston Villa on Sunday having claimed another big scalp in beating Spurs. They are on a run of three wins from four in the Premier League. Xhaka's return from an ankle injury has been a significant factor in their upturn in form. Their record with and without him in the Premier League speaks to his importance. Sunderland points per game average jumps from one to 1.5 when he starts. They have lost four of their six Premier League games without him compared to only six of the other 26. He was typically influential last weekend, having more touches and making more passes than anyone else on the pitch as he demonstrated the ball-playing prowess Spurs badly lack. He can strengthen his case for signing of the season at Villa Park. Player Radar: Who else to keep an eye on Chelsea loanee Tyrique George has struggled for playing time at Everton but his speed and directness from the bench helped them come from behind to draw with Brentford last weekend. David Moyes has promised him more minutes. Could he be an option to exploit Liverpool's vulnerability to counter-attacks in the first Merseyside derby at the Hill Dickinson Stadium? Live Radar: What's on Sky this weekend? Spurs face Brighton in the Roberto De Zerbi derby on Saturday Night Football, with coverage starting on Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Main Event from 5pm ahead of the 5.30pm kick-off. A bumper Super Sunday has Aston Villa vs Sunderland, Everton vs Liverpool and Nottingham Forest vs Burnley available to watch across Sky Sports at 2pm before Man City host Arsenal at 4.30pm. On Monday Night Football, Crystal Palace take on West Ham. Coverage begins at 6.30pm on Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Main Event ahead of the 8pm kick-off time. Read last week's Radar column Alejandro Garnacho and the rest of Chelsea's misfiring summer signings were the subject of the last column. Antoine Semenyo's Manchester City impact and Brian Brobbey's clutch value to Sunderland were also covered.

News image template
No Writer
Apr 18
Counter terror police lead investigation into arson attack on business in London

The Metropolitan Police has said the incident is not being treated as a terrorism and officers are keeping an open mind about the motive. The force said officers were called at 10.31pm on Friday. The London Fire Brigade also attended the scene. "A man approached a row of shops with a plastic bag containing what was later found to be three bottles containing fluid," the Met said. He placed the bag next to the building and lit the items in the bag. The bottles failed to fully ignite and the man fled the scene. There were no injuries and only minor damage was caused to the shopfront, the Met said. Read more from Sky News: Daniel Kinahan arrested over alleged links to 'international organised crime'England fans facing inflated prices to get to World Cup games The investigation is being led by Counter Terrorism Policing London, supported by officers from the North West Command Area. No arrests have been made. The incident occurred around two miles away from Golders Green, where last month four vehicles operated by volunteer-led Jewish ambulance service Hatzola were destroyed. David Pinto-Duschinsky, MP for Hendon, told Sky News that the incident will "undoubtedly add to the concerns" among the large Jewish community in the area. He said: "In Hendon we are proudly the home of a large Jewish community. "We've seen the attacks on Hatzola in Golders Green which is just a mile down the road. "(Also) the attack on Finchley Reform Synagogue, which is just a few miles away, so obviously this adds to the concerns the community has. "Today is Sabbath and as people come out of Sabbath they will be greeted with this news so its something I'm working very hard on and obviously its a source of concern." Commander Helen Flanagan, of Counter Terrorism Policing London, said: "At this stage last night's arson is not being linked to other incidents in the North West London area over the last week or last month's arson in Golders Green but Counter Terrorism officers are leading due to the similarities of each attack. "I would ask that anyone with information or footage that could help our investigation gets in touch with police as soon as possible." "We will be relentless in our pursuit of those responsible for this and other, similar, hateful acts against London's communities." Detective Chief Superintendent Luke Williams, who leads policing in the area, said that Friday's incident will only "add fears to the community". "Since the incident in Golders Green last month we have spoken extensively to community leaders," he added. "I understand and appreciate their concerns. "Local officers are working closely with Counter Terrorism Policing to support the investigation." He said since last month's attack patrols had been increased within the area. This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the fullest version. You can receive breaking news alerts on a smartphone or tablet via the Sky News app. You can also follow us on WhatsApp and subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with the latest news.

News image template
No Writer
Apr 17
D4vd: Singer held on suspicion of murdering teen girl found dead in his Tesla

The 21-year-old musician had been under investigation by a grand jury after the remains of Celeste Rivas Hernandez were found in a car registered to him in September. Los Angeles police said the Houston-born singer - whose legal name is David Anthony Burke - was being held without bail on suspicion of murder. The decomposed remains of Ms Hernandez were discovered in a Tesla registered to D4vd on 8 September - the day after she would have turned 15 - when police were called to a Hollywood tow yard because of reports of a foul smell coming from the vehicle. The vehicle had been towed from the Hollywood Hills, where it appeared to have been abandoned. Inside the car, investigators found a cadaver bag containing a head and torso, and a second bag containing dismembered body parts, according to court documents, although the cause of death has not been publicly confirmed. Ms Hernandez, who was identified after forensic examinations, had been reported missing from her hometown of Lake Elsinore - about 70 miles southeast of Los Angeles - since 2024. Court documents show authorities had given her age as 14 when she was killed. In a statement, D4vd's lawyers vowed to "vigorously defend" his innocence, adding: "Let us be clear - the actual evidence in this case will show that David Burke did not murder Celeste Rivas Hernandez and he was not the cause of her death." Read more from Sky News:Bank robbers hold 25 hostage - and use sewer to fleeEyewitness - Trump's oil blockade is bringing Cuba to its knees D4vd had been on tour when the body was discovered, and a spokesperson for the artist said at the time he was "fully cooperating with the authorities". The singer, who went viral on TikTok in 2022 with the hit Romantic Homicide, subsequently cancelled his world tour.

News image template
Sam Coates, deputy political editor
Apr 17
What really happened with Peter Mandelson, and how Olly Robbins did PM two favours

In October, November and December 2024, Number 10 indicated it wanted to appoint Peter Mandelson as Ambassador to Washington. It was presented with an array of people telling them not to: Cabinet ministers, spooks, officials in a vetting report. All raised major red flags. Politics latest - follow live 👉 Listen to This Is Why on your podcast app 👈 Sir Keir Starmer and former aide Morgan McSweeney made clear they were not interested in any objection, and this must go ahead at all costs. So Mandelson's appointment was announced in mid-December 2024. The vetting we are focused on today came later, in January 2025. Vetting of ambassadors is the responsibility of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and - now former - permanent under-secretary Olly Robbins. One bit of the system said no - the United Kingdom Security Vetting agency said do not appoint Mandelson. We do not know on what grounds, but probably the grounds that Number 10 had seen and rejected as a reason to block. Olly Robbins cleared Mandelson. Very quietly, Mandelson did not get the very highest level of clearance when he got the job, but got the overall okay because of Robbins. Robbins did Number 10 a favour. This is because Olly Robbins knew that going to Number 10 post-announcement, and saying the Mandelson appointment cannot happen, was politically impossible. And civil servants want to deliver for their political masters. So Olly fixed it for Keir and is now paying a price. Olly Robbins has - incidentally - done Number 10 a second massive political favour. The really, really toxic claim doing the rounds on Thursday night was that surely someone - anyone - in Number 10 DID know the UKSV agency turned down the vetting. Olly Robbins is making clear he did not tell people the UKSV verdict because that would be inappropriate as part of the process he followed. It's not even clear he saw it. Number 10 does not seem to realise he has done them a favour, and is releasing documents to challenge alternative versions of events. Let's see how it plays out. The bottom line is that Number 10 wanted Mandelson come what may. They rammed it through. Read more:Starmer facing almighty clash as critics look to finish him offKeir Starmer dodges question about 'considering his position' One quango, post-appointment announcement, was never realistically going to be allowed to stop Mandelson taking the job because the top of government had publicly committed to it. They had not wanted to heed the warnings earlier, and were in too deep. That's where I think we are.

News image template
No Writer
Apr 17
Tottenham: Roberto De Zerbi says relationship with Spurs board will decide future - not Premier League relegation

The Italian promised he would be "the coach of Tottenham next season no matter what" in his first club interview after signing a five-year contract with uncertainty around his commitment if Spurs were relegated. After De Zerbi suffered defeat in his first game, a 1-0 loss at Sunderland, Spurs sit in the bottom three, two points from safety with six games to go, and are the Premier League's only side yet to win in 2026. De Zerbi reassured Spurs fans in an exclusive with Sky Sports that going down to the Championship will not decide his future. Are Spurs destined for relegation? | Carra: Spurs look like they're going downSpurs news & transfers⚪ | Spurs fixtures & scoresGot Sky? Watch Tottenham games LIVE on your phone📱Not got Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW📺 Asked if he will be at Spurs next season whatever happens, De Zerbi said: "The problem is not the league. The problem is to keep the relationship with the board and to have the same ideas in the project." Pressed to clarify that being on the same page – and not Spurs' division – is crucial for him, De Zerbi added: "Yes. Everyone on the same page." Analysis: De Zerbi is all in – but needs Spurs to match that Sky Sports News reporter Michael Bridge: From sitting down with Roberto De Zerbi it is clear how ambitious he is and the conviction he has that Spurs will be back in the Premier League's top six next season if they can avoid relegation. But, of course, with six games to go that is a very big 'if'. Spurs are the only side in the Premier League yet to win a game in 2026. A coach of his stature managing in the Championship? I put the question to him of whether he could guarantee he would be at Spurs next season, even if they are relegated. For De Zerbi, everyone at Spurs being aligned and his relationship with the board – not the division the team are playing in – are most important to him. That is a principle De Zerbi brings to every club he coaches. You could see that at Marseille and Brighton. He can only operate when giving 100 per cent to his club and this was his way of saying he needs to get that back from Spurs. The summer's transfer window will be a key test of that, with a huge rebuild required whatever happens in the final weeks of the season. De Zerbi will want to feel supported whether that is spending big on a player for promotion or to qualify for Europe. De Zerbi is confident that if Spurs do stay up that they will be fighting among the Premier League's elite next season for one of those top six positions. He has no doubt about the potential of this club - but it comes back to that big 'if' once again. Can he keep them up? 'If you don't have character, you won't play' De Zerbi takes charge of his first Spurs home game on Saturday against his former club Brighton, live on Sky Sports. A victory against the Seagulls will take Spurs out of the relegation zone, at least momentarily, before West Ham take on Crystal Palace on Monday, live on Sky Sports. In a bid to unite the group, De Zerbi took the squad out for dinner as he admitted he has to focus more on getting to know the players rather than trying to figure out why things have gone so wrong. "I have to get to know my players better and better every week," he said during his pre-match press conference on Friday. "We have no time to lose. We have no time to understand the problems we have this season. We have to be focused just on the next game. Transfer confidence. "I can bring my philosophy of football. But also working to create a good atmosphere, a good relationship with the players. In this moment of football, the qualities of the players are important. But the spirit, the relationship between the players is too. "We have to feel everyone's responsibility in this situation. And we can't cry. We have to push to get out of this situation. "We need players with personality and character. Otherwise they don't play with me." De Zerbi looking for leaders to reveal themselves With captain Romero now out for the season, it leaves an already young and fragile Spurs squad with one less commanding presence on the pitch. While De Zerbi admitted he had bigger problems to deal with than deciding who will take the armband for the remaining six games, he believes that several players in his squad can step up and become leaders in different ways. "There are a lot of different types of leader," he added. "A leader who talks inside of the dressing room. A leader with the ball. A leader in tough moments. A leader because he helps his team-mates. To be a stronger team we need many of those. "I would like Micky van de Ven to reach this level. [Rodrigo] Bentancur is a leader. Palhinha is another. "I would like to push with [Dominc] Solanke because he is one of the best strikers in the Premier League. I want him to become stronger as a personality and a character on the pitch. Xavi Simons is very young, but is a leader on the ball because he has personality. He has the right character to receive the ball when the ball is hot. But we need characters and personalities." De Zerbi calls for leadership from a squad full of youngsters Analysis from Callum Bishop: It is often said that when you have a squad full of young talent, you need experienced heads to help drag them through testing moments. But, where is that experience for Tottenham? With Romero out until the end of the season, De Zerbi has one less leader to rely on when he sends his team out onto the pitch. James Maddison can't help. There's no timeframe on Dejan Kulusevski's return. Not even Ben Davies can come in and provide any calmness in this pressure cooker. Even if they were available to help on the pitch, it may not be enough. Even with the injured players included, Spurs have the third-youngest squad in the Premier League this season. That means that players who have not felt the responsibility of fighting for survival are being asked to step up and show leadership that can drag their side away from a worst-case scenario. Someone like Solanke would be a natural figure to point to. He's been there with Bournemouth before. Yet, De Zerbi's comments make it sound like the striker isn't that type of personality. The fact he references Xavi Simons, a player who though technically brilliant has struggled to adapt to English football, is a worry. All that certain is that in the next six games, someone needs to take the bull by the horns. Or, the Seagulls by the wings on Saturday, and prove they are the man that De Zerbi can turn to over the course of the run-in. Watch Tottenham vs Brighton live on Saturday Night Football from 5pm, live on Sky Sports Main Event.

bottom of page