Sports
Declan Rice to win Ballon d’Or; Enzo Maresca sacked; Thomas Frank stays at Tottenham: our 2026 predictions
It’s been another thrilling year in the Premier League and beyond.
Arsenal end 2025 as firm favourites for the Premier League title, Chelsea are world champions after triumphing in the United States in the summer after Tottenham finally ended their long trophy drought.
What lies in store for the three biggest clubs in London in 2026?
Our team of reporters have peered in the magic ball to find out…
Declan Rice
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Declan Rice to win the Ballon d’Or
Mikel Merino to win the Golden Boot at the World Cup and own goals to finish as Arsenal’s top scorer this season were strong contenders, but let’s go with this.
Mikel Arteta has suggested Declan Rice is in the Ballon d’Or running and why not? He has been Arsenal’s best player this season and was man of the match in the statement win over Bayern Munich in November.
As it stands, the Gunners are favourites to win the Premier League and Champions League. If Rice plays a leading role in Arsenal going all the way in Europe and then helps England win the World Cup next summer – yes, these are big ifs – then he would be the obvious Ballon d’Or choice.
Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland and Harry Kane are all scoring every other minute, but Rice has just as much, if not more, of an influence on his side. Book it in. And probably another Real Madrid boycott.
Enzo Maresca
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Enzo Maresca to be sacked
The Chelsea hierarchy are obsessed with constant progress, but how do they improve on two trophies and a top-four season achieved last season? Put simply, they won’t. Enzo Maresca made something of a rod for his own back when his first season in charge went quite that well.
Maresca isn’t afraid to set off the odd quote bomb and then run away before explaining it. His two-year tenure will be assessed at the end of the season, and Chelsea may well decide to cut ties and hire a new head coach then.
I reckon Chelsea will strengthen in attack and at centre-back in the summer, but there won’t be as many signings as summer 2025. Joao Pedro will be their top scorer and Reece James their top assister in all competitions this season.
And, yes, they will keep picking up stupid yellow cards and needless red cards throughout the year.
Thomas Frank
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Thomas Frank to deliver success for Spurs
Tottenham have had an interesting 2025 to say the least. They finished 17th in the Premier League last season but lifted their first major trophy in 17 years as they beat Manchester United in the Europa League final.
Thomas Frank, who has had a mixed start to life as Spurs boss, will be hoping for a more straightforward 2026 and my prediction is that he will be given the time to turn things around.
For too long, Spurs have lurched from manager to manager in search of an identity. Now, though, with change behind the scenes, I believe they are ready to give Frank the time he needs to cultivate a cultural overhaul of the club.
Results have not been good enough under Frank and his play style has divided opinion, but there are positive shoots of growth, and with Dejan Kulusevski and Dominic Solanke to return in the new year, Spurs will see progress under Frank.
It is not a particularly outlandish prediction to say he will be given the season to try and change things. However, come back here in a year and you will see a completely different atmosphere around the club.
Spurs need drastic change, and Frank will provide it.
