Tottenham suffer Sarr injury concern as De Zerbi confirmed before Sunderland trip | OneFootball

New Tottenham head coach Roberto De Zerbi faces an immediate injury concern after Pape Sarr missed Senegal’s friendly against Gambia with a shoulder issue before a trip to Sunderland.

According to Sunderland Echo, De Zerbi was confirmed on Tuesday on a five-year deal. Press Association understands the contract does not include a relegation release clause, with Spurs one point above the Premier League bottom three.

With seven games left, Spurs have not won a league match in 2026. Sarr played in Saturday’s 2-0 win over Peru, then was omitted on Tuesday with a shoulder problem, Senegalese media reported.

Any setback for Sarr would deepen Spurs’ absentee list at Hotspur Way, with Guglielmo Vicario, Ben Davies, Rodrigo Bentancur, James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, Wilson Odobert, Mathys Tel and Mohammed Kudus all previously sidelined or currently unavailable.

De Zerbi’s arrival has also drawn opposition from sections of the fanbase. Three supporters’ groups issued No to De Zerbi statements on Friday, citing past comments about Marseille forward Mason Greenwood. The Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust later set out serious concerns.

Press Association understands Spurs discussed those comments and the surrounding sentiment with De Zerbi during negotiations. The Proud Lilywhites and Spurs Reach said they disagreed with the appointment culturally, but would keep backing the team while maintaining their stance.

Greenwood was charged in October 2022, before the Crown Prosecution Service dropped the case in February 2023 after witness withdrawal and new material. He denied the allegations and later joined Marseille in 2024.

Source: Sunderland Echo