Published May 27, 2026, 6:41 PM GMT+1

Ben is an experienced sports writer and editor, graduating with a Master’s in Sports Journalism in 2017.

Ben counts experience with publications like The Liverpool Echo and The Lincolnshire Echo. He has covered various sports, from American football to Mixed Martial Arts, but his primary passion is football reporting.

Since joining Football FanCast in 2018, starting out as a freelance writer covering nearly every team in the English football ladder, Ben has progressed through the ranks. He now leads the publication’s news team as a senior editor.

Palhinha was Spurs’ hero in their final-day relegation decider at home to Everton on Sunday with his 43rd-minute effort enough to secure a 1-0 win and clinch Premier League survival.

The all-action midfielder also struck the only goal in a vital victory at Wolves last month and Palhinha confessed he would love Tottenham to turn his loan from Bayern Munich into a permanent move.

“A really important day for the club, for everyone, for all the supporters. We are really happy with the way we finished this day, because it was the main objective to keep Tottenham in the Premier League,” Palhinha reflected.

“I always shared my thoughts. Since the first day I arrived, I feel at home. From the supporters, the crowd. Top club.

“Who doesn’t want to play for Tottenham and stay here? I have everything here, but this is like a marriage.

“What I can say to you is I would really like to be here and I enjoy it a lot this season with this club even being a tough season.”

Palhinha finished the campaign with seven goals, but split opinion with the Spurs fanbase during the club’s most embarrassing season in the Premier League era.

De Zerbi’s arrival at the end of March proved crucial for Tottenham and Palhinha, who quickly estabalished himself as a key figure under the Italian with telling contributions against Wolves, Aston Villa and lastly Everton.

De Zerbi again insisted he would “100 per cent” want to keep Palhinha at the club on Sunday and Tottenham’s option to buy the 31-year-old is 30 million euros (£26m).

“I think the next season will hopefully be really different and I truly believe (it will),” Palhinha insisted.

“I think this season will help Tottenham for the future. Analyse the season, what we did wrong, what we did well and I think it’s a big improvement and a big relief after the season.”

Tottenham youngster keen to fight for his place

Tottenham have already started their summer business with moves for Liverpool legend Andy Robertson and West Ham United's Aaron Wan-Bissaka, but De Zerbi will also have decisions to make regarding several of the club's loan players.

Luka Vuskovic's future has been the subject of much debate after his stunning season in the Bundesliga, and closer to home there are also clubs queueing up for 20 year-old Tyrese Hall, who is yet to make his senior debut for the club.

Hall spent the 2025/26 campaign on loan at Notts County, helping them earn promotion to League One via the League Two play-offs.

Playing all over the pitch as a midfielder and forward, the 20 year-old scored eight times, and journalist Pete O'Rourke has revealed 'several clubs are already interested' in a loan deal this summer.

Hall, for his part, wants to impress the Tottenham manager during pre-season, so it will be interesting to see if he features in the fixture against Auckland FC following the World Cup.