A player who Tottenham apparently want to tie down with a new contract may actually push to leave this summer, says one BBC pundit this week.

Spurs consider mass summer sale with over a dozen players unsafe

Paul O'Keefe, a very reliable source when it comes to news from within Spurs, has claimed that the Lilywhites could consider offers for over a dozen members of Ange Postecoglou's squad this summer.

Related Sky pundit praises Paratici after hearing Tottenham could sign £51m star

The ex-managing director is still having a big say at N17.

Posts ByEmilio Galantini May 8, 2024

Spurs started the 2023/2024 campaign in absolutely rip-roaring fashion, winning eight out of their opening 10 Premier League games before injuries to James Maddison and Micky van de Ven started somewhat of a mid-season slide.

Their form eventually picked back up again and the Lilywhites were firmly in contention for a Champions League place for the vast majority of 2023/2024, but their form has dropped off a cliff in the last month.

Losing four games on the bounce, including heavy defeats to Newcastle and Liverpool, as well as London derby losses to Arsenal and Chelsea, top-four rivals Aston Villa are now in cruise control and look almost certain to nick that last Champions League qualification for next term.

Tottenham's last five Premier League games

Liverpool 4-2 Tottenham

Chelsea 2-0 Tottenham

Tottenham 2-3 Arsenal

Newcastle 4-0 Tottenham

Tottenham 3-1 Arsenal

Barring a late collapse from Unai Emery's men, Postecoglou and Spurs look very likely to be playing Europa League football in 2024/25, which will be disappointing to a number of supporters considering just how excellently their side had begun this season.

It also highlights what Postecoglou has stated on multiple occasions recently – Tottenham need serious change. The notion that they're open to offers for over a dozen players indicates the vast scale of the long-term project facing them, with Bryan Gil, Giovani Lo Celso, Troy Parrott, Joe Rodon, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Richarlison, Tanguy Ndombele, Sergio Reguilon, Japhet Tanganga, Manor Solomon and Djed Spence all linked to the N17 exit door recently.

Lo Celso's case is a curious one, as the Argentine World Cup winner has been handed precious few opportunities despite Maddison's dwindling form. Some supporters have expressed disdain for this, and hold little shock that Lo Celso is reportedly open to leaving Tottenham as a result.

The £100,000-per-week ace's contract expires next year, so despite his lack of game time, Tottenham are apparently planning to hold "surprise" new deal talks with Lo Celso to protect themselves from a major financial loss.

Lo Celso could push to leave Spurs despite new contract talk

Speaking to Tottenham News, BBC pundit Alan Hutton has claimed that Lo Celso could still push to leave Spurs despite talk of improved terms.

“He might push for an exit,” Hutton explained.

“I think everybody wants to play football week in and week out and I genuinely just don’t see that happening for him so as a player is it basically going to come down to what are your options. If you’re not regularly playing, you feel like an outsider and I think that’s what he feels at the moment. He doesn’t get the game time that he wants so if it was me, I would be assessing my options.

“Yes, it would be good to know that Tottenham want you there, but he seems to be more of a squad player than a starter there so I would be looking at all my options come the summer.”

Manchester United may have already made a huge decision over their manager position for next season, with some inside information on Erik ten Hag's future leaking courtesy of beIN Sports' coverage of Sunday's defeat to Arsenal.

Erik ten Hag under pressure at Man Utd

This has been a dismal season at Old Trafford – one of the worst in the club's history, in fact – with performances in the Premier League embarrassing at times. Sunday's 1-0 loss at home to Arsenal was far from their worst result of the campaign, but it means they have suffered a club-record 14 defeats out of 36 games in the competition, and in truth there looked an acceptance that only losing 1-0 was a good day at the office.

For that reason, Ten Hag is under significant pressure to keep his job beyond the summer, and the fact that so many managers are being mentioned as possible replacements suggests that he is clinging on to his job.

Thomas Tuchel is seen as a leading contender to replace the Dutchman this summer, with the current Bayern Munich boss seen as United's answer to Jurgen Klopp. Graham Potter is also being considered, having not worked since being sacked by Chelsea after a short stint at Stamford Bridge.

The likes of Gareth Southgate and Roberto De Zerbi have also been constantly mentioned as candidates to take charge at Old Trafford, with the former possibly leaving his England post after Euro 2024.

Pundit makes huge Man Utd manager claim

Speaking to Richard Keys on beIN SPORTS [via The Daily Mail], former Liverpool defender Jason McAteer claimed that a current Manchester United player believes Ten Hag is "done" and Southgate will be Man Utd's new manager: "He plays for Man United and I had a conversation with him on Friday, I bumped into him because I live just outside the area.

"We got into conversation, great lad, and I asked him (about the) end of the season and what he thought and he gave me no inclination that the manager was there to stay. In fact we spoke about different names and who we thought will be a good fit and I got no inclination from him."

McAteer added that the player in question "smiled but that wasn't the name" when asked about Tuchel, and gave a "no" regarding Jose Mourinho, before saying "yes that was the name" when bringing up Southgate.

On Ten Hag's future specifically, he claimed: "Footballers have an inclination when the manager's job is on the line and they obviously know and I just got the feeling that it's done, it's done."

It does appear as though Southgate is a genuinely big target for United at this point, but there would likely be a mixed reaction to him coming in. Granted, he has largely done a good job as England manager, but being in charge of an international team is still very different to managing one of the biggest club sides in the world, with the intensity of the job greater on a week in, week out basis.

Erik ten Hag

2022-present

Ralf Rangnick (interim)

2021-2022

Michael Carrick (interim)

2021

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

2018-2021

Jose Mourinho

2016-2018

Louis van Gaal

2014-2016

Ryan Giggs (interim)

2014

David Moyes

2013-2014

Sir Alex Ferguson

1986-2013

Ron Atkinson

1981-1986

Southgate has also fallen short in big matches a number of times at major tournaments, arguably being out-thought tactically by other managers such as Roberto Mancini in the Euro 2020 final, and he doesn't have enough pedigree at club level to suggest that he warrants a job the size of the United one.

His relationship with Dan Ashworth could be a reason why Sir Jim Ratcliffe wants him, assuming the Newcastle ace comes in as sporting director, but Southgate feels a long way from being a surefire bet just yet.

England men’s players announced an initial donation of £500,000 ‘to the ECB and selected good causes’ on Friday

George Dobell06-Apr-2020Jos Buttler has called for the money donated by England’s centrally contracted players to be directed to grass roots cricket.England men’s players announced an initial donation of £500,000 “to the ECB and selected good causes” on Friday in recognition of the challenging situation faced by a game confronted by the Covid-19 pandemic. And while the announcement suggested “the precise details of the charitable donation will be decided over the next week by the players” Buttler’s personal preference is clear.”I think the players would love that money to go towards grass roots community stuff,” Buttler said. “There are so many different areas that are going to be affected: grass roots, youth coaching and disability sports.”As players we’re all very aware of the other affects this is going to have drip feeding down into the game and without grass roots cricket we’re nothing, really. That’s the people we’re trying to inspire. That’s the whole point of something like The Hundred: it’s to inspire a new generation and bring new people into the game.”So I know the players are very strong on wanting that money to help that grass roots structure and pathway because we need to bring people into the game and make sure that is very strong. Personally, yes, grass roots causes would be my choice.”ALSO READ: England contracted players volunteer salary reductionsButtler also revealed the inspiration for his decision to auction the shirt he was wearing when he completed the run-out that sealed the World Cup. Buttler is selling the shirt to help the Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals charity purchase an ECMO (Extra Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation) machine which provides life support to people with life-threatening heart or lung problems. The top bid is, at the time of writing, £65,800. The auction ends on Tuesday evening GMT and can be followed here.”My wife, Louise, has an aunt who is the head of paediatrics at the Royal Brompton Hospital,” he said. “So last summer – and the year before – we’ve been into the hospital to see her and the work she does. When this outbreak started we were speaking to her about what it was like and whether there was anything we could do to help.Jos Buttler looks on in England training•Getty Images

“She said it’s true what the media are saying: doctors and nurses have been working incredibly long hours and struggling for simple things like snacks and toiletries. She said there was a donation we could make on her [charity] page which I did and a few of the other England players did. I think they had a Waitrose delivery on Friday, so a bit of money went to that.”She also told us about the emergency appeal the hospital had started. They were looking to raise £100,000 to buy emergency equipment. I said we could auction my World Cup shirt to raise some money for that.”As well as wearing the shirt at the key moment of the match – he wore a different one while batting – Buttler also revealed he wore it throughout the following night of celebrations and that it has been autographed by his teammates.”It’s the shirt I fielded in for the 50 overs and the Super Over,” he said. “I probably took it off about seven o’clock the next morning. They were great times; those times in the dressing-room and then we headed back to the hotel bar with everyone still in full kit. Everyone’s autograph is on the shirt. It’s seen it all, that shirt. It smells pretty authentic.”

تعرض أحد لاعبي الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي الزمالك، للإصابة خلال مواجهة بلاك بولز الجارية الآن ضمن منافسات كأس الكونفدرالية.

ويلتقي الزمالك مع بلاك بولز في إطار لقاءات الجولة الأولى من مرحلة المجموعات بالبطولة القارية، وذلك على أرضية استاد القاهرة.

طالع.. فيديو | دونجا يسجل هدف الزمالك الثاني أمام بلاك بولز في الكونفدرالية

وغادر حمزة المثلوثي، الملعب بسبب الإصابة في الدقيقة 78 حيث اصطدم بشكل قوي مع محمد عواد، ليغادر الملعب على نقالة وحل مصطفى الزناري بدلًا منه.

وتشير النتيجة، إلى تقدم الزمالك بهدفين مقابل لا شيء، في المباراة الجارية الآن.

ويتواجد الزمالك في المجموعة الرابعة لـ كأس الكونفدرالية رفقة أندية المصري البورسعيدى، إنيمبا النيجيري وبلاك بولز بطل موزمبيق.

وجاء الهدف الأول للزمالك في الدقيقة الأولى من الوقت بدل الضائع عن الشوط الأول، سجله أحمد عبد الرحيم ايشو من تسديدة قوية بعد وصول الكرة له عقب ارتباك دفاعي في صفوف بلاك بولز وتصويبها مباشرة في المرمى.

وسجل نبيل عماد دونجا الهدف الثاني في الدقيقة 51 من تصويبة قوية بقدمه اليسرى من خارج منطقة الجزاء. إصابة حمزة المثلوثي في مباراة الزمالك وبلاك بولز

Everton will be looking to make it four Premier League wins in a row when they travel to face Luton Town at Kenilworth Road this evening.

Sean Dyche's side claimed a third successive top-flight victory last time out, beating fellow strugglers Brentford at Goodison Park, following on from the impressive 2-0 win over local rivals Liverpool.

A second goal in three matches for midfielder Idrissa Gueye secured a vital 1-0 win for the Toffees, as Dyche's side also kept their third clean sheet in as many games.

The Toffees secured their top-flight safety last weekend, extending their ever-present Premier League status for at least another season despite receiving a total of eight points deducted this campaign.

Despite the fantastic team display against Thomas Frank's side six days ago, Dyche should be looking to drop one player to give his side the best opportunity of extending their current winning run.

Why Youssef Chermiti could make way vs Luton

Although he made his first Premier League start in the win against Brentford last weekend, striker Youssef Chermiti could be in danger of dropping back to the bench ahead of the meeting with Rob Edwards' side tonight.

The youngster featured for 89 minutes during the victory, only managing to achieve 33 touches – the fewest of any Everton player who started the game.

The Portuguese forward also only managed to complete 15 passes, an average of one every 16 minutes, at a completion rate of just 68%.

Although he ran the channels well, Chermiti failed to impose himself as the likes of Dominic Calvert-Lewin or Beto would've, winning just five duels during his time on the pitch, but also losing 11.

It's clear he tried to make a positive impact on the encounter, but his eagerness to score saw the striker stray offside three times and gifting possession away ten times.

Liverpool Echo journalist Chris Beesley awarded the 19-year-old a 6/10 rating, the lowest in the starting lineup, with Dyche needing to unleash another forward against the Hatters.

The man to replace Chermiti against Luton Town

Although he's struggled with injuries again this season, striker Calvert-Lewin, who was dubbed "phenomenal" by former boss Carlo Ancelotti, has been a solid source of goals for the Toffees once again, with his tally of six in the Premier League the joint-most at the club, alongside Abdoulaye Doucoure.

He missed the win over Brentford with a knock, but in his pre-match press conference yesterday, Dyche confirmed that the striker was back in training and in contention for a return tonight.

His latest setback came at an awful time for the 27-year-old, who had managed to find the back of the net in three of his last four outings, including against Merseyside rivals Liverpool.

With Luton's pitch being one of the narrowest in England's top flight, the Toffees may resort to playing the occasional long ball tonight, with Calvert-Lewin's height and aerial ability potentially playing a huge part tonight.

He's averaged 6.2 aerials won per 90 this season, as per FBref, with the striker potentially being the difference in what could be a tight and cagey affair as Luton battle for Premier League survival.

Latest Everton injury news, return dates and suspensions

FFC keeps you up to date with all the latest Everton news involving injuries.

ByJack Salveson Holmes May 10, 2024

Five years after making his first-class debut at 27, Richard Gleeson is closing in on an England cap

Matt Roller04-Jun-2020At the age of 27, Richard Gleeson had all but given up on his dream of playing cricket for a living.After a series of odd jobs for a boiler firm, at a fishing tackle shop and as a landscape gardener, he landed a coaching job at the Lancashire Cricket Board, which he combined with his minor counties career for Cumberland. He was at peace with the fact a professional career had passed him by.Five years on, he is back in training at Emirates Old Trafford, after being named in England’s 55-man training group for this summer’s internationals, with the possibility of a full debut in sight.”To go from a club cricketer at 26 to an England international at 32, it would be amazing,” he says on a Zoom call. “I probably had thought ‘I’m not going to get any opportunities, so I’ll enjoy what I’m doing’.”I had my career path with the coaching… that’s the direction that I was going down. Like any club cricketer, I was enjoying it – I’d always try to play to the top standard I could in minor counties. And then James Middlebrook came to me and said there was an opportunity to maybe play some cricket at Northants. I said: ‘I’ll take it’.”That led to a first-class debut against the touring Australians in 2015, and the wickets of the Marsh brothers on debut. He impressed head coach David Ripley enough to win a pay-as-you-play deal for the following year, and a starring role in Northants’ title-winning T20 Blast season earned him a gig in the Bangladesh Premier League.ALSO READ: Northants unknown is fit for England, says Ripley (2017)He was soon wearing an England shirt, representing the Lions in early 2018 after his ability to hit speeds of 90mph/145kph caught the eye, and signed with Lancashire later that year to be closer to his girlfriend (now fiancée) Laura and their new-born baby. Last season saw him take 56 wickets despite injury setbacks, and earn contracts in the Hundred, Big Bash and Abu Dhabi T10. After touring Australia with the Lions over the winter he now finds himself in contention for a full debut later this summer.”It’s just a great story to never give up, keep following your dream and keep pursuing things, because you never know what could happen and when. It’s a great advert for minor counties cricket as well. I think they’ll enjoy the story – if it [a debut] happens, and hopefully it does, it will make a nice read.”Gleeson has been bowling with both red and white balls since returning to training, but is more likely to be in contention for an ODI cap than a Test one. He had a chastening time in Melbourne Renegades colours over the winter, leaking more than 10 runs per over, but feels better equipped to reach his top speeds and use ground dimensions to his advantage after working closely with the team’s bowling coach Shaun Tait.The combination of a packed schedule and the prospect of running two squads in parallel this summer means that rotation among fast bowlers is highly likely, and Gleeson can reasonably hope that a chance to impress the selectors might be forthcoming.While his inclusion at the age of 32 might come as a surprise – not least with 35-year-old Liam Plunkett’s age the main factor in his omission – Gleeson thinks that his relative inexperience and physical fitness means his body is that of a man several years younger.