According to FCInterNews, Newcastle United are prepared to offer Napoli forward Dries Mertens a lucrative contract with his current deal set to expire at the Serie A giants.
What’s the word?
It’s claimed that the Magpies’ prospective new owners would pay the Italian frontman €7m-per-year (£6.14m) across two seasons, but they will have to compete with Napoli offering him an extension as well as Inter Milan’s proposal.
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Premier League rivals Chelsea are also keen on landing the 32-year-old with his contract set to finish at the end of the current campaign.
Newcastle’s offer is believed to eclipse both Italian teams whilst there is no word on what Frank Lampard’s Blues would hand Mertens.
Just the start
If Amanda Staveley’s consortium were able to clinch the veteran forward, then it would be the perfect start to the new Saudi era at St James’ Park.
Despite his age, Mertens has found the net 12 times this campaign and has also provided six assists, meaning he has contributed to 18 goals in just 29 appearances, via Transfermarkt. But this has been the pattern throughout the duration of his Gil Azzurri career – scoring 121 goals as well as racking up 73 assists from 331 matches.
Mike Ashley wasted an abhorrent £40m on the one-goal Joelinton, so swooping for Mertens would certainly ease their attacking problems substantially, going by the above record.
Mertens’ experience in Europe would also help the club transition from midtable straddlers under Steve Bruce into genuine contenders for glory, which will surely be the aim under the lucrative new ownership.
The Belgian is described as a hard-working frontman who possesses good technique and dribbling, so it won’t take long for the Magpies faithful to fall in love with him either.
Mertens should be high on their priorities this summer.
AND in other news, Phillips claims money may tempt unemployed manager to join Newcastle…
This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…
Sheffield Wednesday are now ten games into Garry Monk’s tenure at the club, but Saturday’s game was far from the perfect result to mark the occasion as they were defeated 2-1 at Blackburn Rovers.
It was just the second loss since the 40-year-old took charge at the start of September, so maybe it is fair to suggest that it has been pretty good going – especially considering this squad he inherited was built entire by someone else in Steve Bruce and then Lee Bullen.
The Owls have only slipped out of the playoffs due to the division being so tight, just four points separate fifth from 15th, for example.
Monk has made his mark quickly on the defence as they have managed to record four clean sheets, but there are still concerns surrounding the reliance the team has on top goalscorer Steven Fletcher.
But now, a worrying new trend has emerged.
On the Chalkboard
Prior to Saturday’s game, Wednesday were on a roll of four games without defeat, with a key part of that being a shift in defence as Liam Palmer reverted back to his more natural right-back position with Morgan Fox being reintroduced on the other side.
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The 26-year-old’s return has been so emphatic that he managed to clinch the October Player of the Month award ahead of some solid contenders like Dominic Iorfa, who has started to make that centre-back position his own as of late.
However, against a Blackburn side that had endured a run of six straight games without a victory, the full-back duo were quite underwhelming, and it isn’t through any fault of their own.
Monk is quite right to start with a solid foundation defensively, but at times he is restricting his side’s full potential.
The 40-year-old was without Barry Bannan, who has provided the joint-most assists in the squad, so they clearly lacked some creativity.
If he were to allow his full-backs to bomb on, then they could have contributed more to the attacking side of the game. Instead, they sat too deep and invited the pressure, which eventually saw them crumble in the final five minutes.
As you can see from WhoScored’s average player position map from the game, neither Palmer nor Fox are in the opposition half with the latter barely ahead of the defensive midfielder, Sam Hutchinson.
This only goes to highlight a potential problem that may be creeping into Monk’s system, if this continues then the performances of the two will only drop off from here as they are merely defensive pawns.
This may not be the best way to treat someone, particularly as it’s his birthday.
But that’s the treatment that Aro Muric has been getting from Nottingham Forest fans in the wake of some events that occurred on Wednesday night at his parent club.
After Claudio Bravo was sent off for Manchester City in their Champions League game with Atalanta, the Citizens could be staring at a goalkeeper crisis after Kyle Walker had to deputise.
Their first-choice keeper Ederson, meanwhile, sustained an injury in the same game.
As a result, there were a lot of Nottingham Forest fans who were flat out demanding that Pep Guardiola take him back to the Etihad, responding following the game and after the club posted that it was his birthday.
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Muric started off the season as the club’s number one, but has found himself on the bench since the end of August and replaced with Brice Samba in goal. Since then, he’s only made one appearance during the Carabao Cup defeat to Arsenal.
If these Forest fans had their way, that may be the last time they see him between the sticks for the club.
He might get more game time if they brought him back, so perhaps it’s in Muric’s best interests as well.
Tottenham Hotspur have never had it so good as they did during Mauricio Pochettino’s reign between 2014 and 2019.
During that spell, Spurs reached a League Cup final and the Champions League final, while establishing themselves as one of the best sides in the Premier League, finishing outside the top four just once between 2015 and 2019.
The Argentinian built a solid team that perhaps could count themselves unlucky to not win a major trophy during his spell in charge.
He did form one of the finest triumvirates in the club’s recent history, however, as Harry Kane, Heung-min Son and Dele Ali all thrived under Pochettino.
Kane went from plucky academy talent to one of the best strikers in the world, while Pochettino also managed to bring out the best in Son and Alli during his time managing the pair.
Ange Postecoglou can now only call upon the services of the South Korean star, as both Kane and Alli have since departed the North London side.
Ange Postecoglou and James Maddison celebrate
Under the inspired leadership of the former Southampton manager, Alli registered 103 goal contributions, while Kane and Son registered 196 and 110 respectively, clearly proving how good Pochettino was for the trio.
The club haven’t had three players quite link up in the final third like those three, something which Ange will be desperate to do sooner rather than later.
He could turn to some of the club's hottest young talent to solve that problem. Here's three players vying to be Tottenham's next superstars…
1 Mikey Moore – the next Harry Kane
Kane had to bide his time during his early years at Spurs, going out on several loans before finally grabbing his chance during the 2014/15 season under Pochettino and finally utilising his talents.
Mikey Moore is certainly built similarly to the England icon, showcasing a keen eye for goal during his appearances for the U18 side since the start of the 2022/23 campaign.
For the U18 age group, Moore has been deployed as both a left-winger and centre-forward, scoring 19 goals in just 24 matches, along with chipping in with 13 assists, not a bad set of numbers for a 17-year-old.
Mikey Moore makes his Tottenham debut
During the U17 European Championship, the teenager scored four goals in four games for England, grabbing an assist too, as he demonstrated his qualities on the international stage.
Ange clearly has high hopes for Moore as he gave him his senior debut towards the end of last season, bringing on the teenager in games against Manchester City and Sheffield United, offering him the opportunity to play for the senior side.
With the club in four competitions this term, expect plenty more chances for the young forward as the season progresses.
2 Wilson Odobert – the next Heung-min Son
The Frenchman began his career at Paris Saint-Germain, emerging through the youth system as one of their most promising wingers.
Across 30 games for the U19 and Youth League sides in 2021/22, Odobert scored 19 times and registered four assists, which gave him all the confidence needed to flourish during a loan spell with Troyes the season after.
Wilson Odobert
This allowed him to seal a move to Burnley last summer. Despite the fact they were relegated, Odobert still managed to score three goals and grab three assists, which attracted attention from Spurs.
The North London side splashed out £25m to bring him to the club, which looked like it was going to be an investment for the future.
Metric
Son
Odobert
Goals
17
3
Assists
10
2
Key passes per game
2
1.1
Successful dribbles per game
1.1
1.8
Shots per game
2.4
1.7
Big chances created
20
7
Last term, the 19-year-old created seven big chances in the Premier League, while also averaging 1.1 key passes and succeeding with 1.8 dribbles per game.
These statistics could eventually see him become the ideal heir for Son in the Spurs starting XI, as his potential, noticeably in possession of the ball, is limitless.
Despite playing only 66 minutes for his new club, Odobert has still managed to make one key pass and succeed with two dribbles in their win over Everton recently.
Pressure shouldn’t be placed on his shoulders right now, but if the French gem can settle in and hit the ground running, Spurs may have another talented winger on their hands.
3 Lucas Bergvall – the next Dele Alli
The 18-year-old attacking midfielder joined Spurs this summer having initially agreed a deal to sign for the London side back in February from Djurgarden in the Swedish top flight.
His spell with the club clearly attracted plenty of attention as he scored nine times and chipped in with six assists across all competitions and these sorts of numbers could certainly see the teenager emerging as a player similar to Alli at Spurs. Out of sorts now, the England international is cut from a similar cloth, both capable of finding the net and assisting teammates on a regular basis.
Such is his immense promise and wonderful pre-season, Bergvall has been called up to the Sweden national side for the very first time, signifying that Ange has a prodigious talent at his disposal.
The youngster looked bright on his first appearance for the club, coming on for the final 12 minutes against Leicester City in the first Premier League match of the season.
Despite his limited chance to shine, Bergvall still managed to make a key pass and created a big chance, while finishing the game with a 96% pass success rate and succeeding with two of his three dribbles.
A promising debut indeed, and it gives Ange an indication of what he could expect in the near future.
This trio of young talents could begin to make an impression in the first-team squad throughout the 2024/25 campaign, giving the boss plenty of options to call upon.
While they may not live up to the reputation of Kane, Son and Alli, the three players are among some of the finest prodigies the club has had in a few years and look like a fine crop of young talents.
Spurs struck gold on "fantastic" star who's worth way more than Odobert
Liverpool have reportedly sent scouts to watch an exciting teenage talent in action, with a number of huge European clubs also believed to be in the mix to acquire his signature.
Liverpool transfer news
Much has been made of a fairly forgettable summer transfer window at Anfield since the end of last season, during a period in which many supporters hoped that Arne Slot would have been backed significantly in the market.
Instead, Liverpool only signed Federico Chiesa from Juventus for the here and now, with more attackers arguably not at the top of the new head coach's wish list, with Valencia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili also being snapped up before being loaned straight back to his current club. A decision will be made about whether he comes in next year or again goes out on loan, with Alisson still firmly first-choice between the sticks.
Federico Chiesa for Juventus
Granted, the Reds certainly don't look as though they need many signings, given the superb start they have made to the new Premier League season, but failure to bring in a new No.6, most notably Real Sociedad ace Martin Zubimendi, could be an issue as the campaign goes on.
Planning for the future is something that Liverpool always did so well under Jurgen Klopp, with the German bringing plenty of youth talent through, from Trent Alexander-Arnold to Curtis Jones, and it looks as though similar could now be happening with Slot at the helm.
Liverpool send scouts to watch Brazilian prospect
According to a fresh claim from Caught Offside, Liverpool are among the clubs interested in signing Brazilian teenager Vitor Reis, having sent officials to watch him in action. The report states that "positive reports" have been sent back about the 18 year-old defender by scouts from several huge clubs, including the Reds
Arsenal, Barcelona and Real Madrid are all thought to be in the mix to sign the Palmeiras centre-back, however, while Portuguese giants Benfica are mentioned as potential suitors, too.
Reis is a relative unknown to many, considering he is yet to get any European football under his belt, but he looks like a big talent, winning a total of 11 caps for Brazil at youth team level.
The defender is still clearly a big work in progress, but centre-back is an area of the pitch that needed reinforcements at Liverpool during the summer, given Ibrahima Konate's injury record and the fact that Jarell Quansah is still a raw young footballer in his own right. He could come in as a squad player, but one who continues to learn in the youth setup at the same time.
Liverpool hit gold on "deadly" star who's worth millions more than Chiesa
Arne Slot is already enjoying this Reds star’s first-class ability…
2 ByAngus Sinclair Sep 2, 2024
The lure of both Barca and Madrid is great for any young South American player, however, so they pose a real threat to Liverpool's chances of signing him in the near future, but if Richard Hughes manages to entice him to Anfield, he could end up being a wonderful long-term option.
Newcastle United have been searching for a new right-winger all summer long, but with less than 24 hours remaining in the window, they are running out of time to secure any new additions.
Numerous players have been strongly linked with a move to St James’ Park, including Chelsea ace Noni Madueke – but after his hat-trick against Wolves coupled with his England call-up, it’s highly unlikely he’ll be making the move to Tyneside.
The deal for the youngster appeared to be edging closer just a couple of weeks ago, with reports of Madueke even agreeing personal terms with Eddie Howe’s side.
After Marc Guehi’s proposed move fell through, the club will undoubtedly still be targeting a move for a new centre-back but it could allow them to split their investment and target a new attacker to complete the Magpies’ attack.
As a result, one player could be shipped out of St James’ before tonight’s deadline, with the club still willing to cut ties despite his lengthy spell at the club.
Miguel Almiron’s future at Newcastle
Miguel Almiron is now something of a long-serving figure at Newcastle, after joining the club in a then-club-record deal from Atlanta United back in 2019.
Newcastle United winger Miguel Almiron.
He’s provided some magic moments in the club’s black and white colours, but most crucially during the 2022/23 campaign, where the Magpies secured a Champions League place for the first time in two decades as he scored 11 league goals.
However, he’s since lost form and been touted with various moves away from St James’ – including a return to the MLS to join Charlotte FC – but a deal was never agreed, with the Paraguayan still currently a Newcastle player.
Despite the lack of time remaining in the window, Fulham have recently monitored the 30-year-old over a potential move, with a deal for the winger potentially going down to the wire.
He may be sent packing after making 211 appearances for the club, potentially being replaced by one player who’s currently on Newcastle’s radar.
Why Ferran Torres should replace Miguel Almiron
In recent days, Newcastle have moved closer to a deal for Barcelona ace Ferran Torres, with rumours suggesting the Magpies have tabled an offer for the Spanish forward.
The 24-year-old, who earns a reported £165k-per-week as per Capology, only joined the Catalan side back in January 2022 for a fee in the region of £55m but could be set to depart the LaLiga giants as a result of their current financial situation.
He would be a huge upgrade on Almiron, with the Euro 2024 winner producing an array of impressive stats across the board in 2023/24.
Games played
29
33
Goals + assists
9
7
Shots taken
2.8
1.9
Shot-on-target accuracy
40%
29%
Shot-creating actions
3.9
2.4
Crosses completed
1.6
1.1
Goals + assists per game
0.7
0.2
The “world-class” talent, as described by former boss Xavi Hernandez, registered more combined goals and assists last season, despite featuring in five fewer games than the Paraguayan – an example of his added qualities in attacking areas.
Torres also managed more shots per 90 whilst also managing a higher shot-on-target accuracy rate – showcasing the threat that the Spaniard poses should he make the move to Tyneside.
The former Manchester City ace has also completed more crosses, allowing for the likes of Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon to increase their own goal tallies as well as his own.
A move for Torres would certainly spell the end for Almiron at St James’ with Torres providing an upgrade on the winger for Howe’s side.
If the club are to reach the heights they achieved two years ago, numerous elite-level talents are required, with Torres fitting the bill perfectly – potentially completing the club’s already impressive forward line.
Newcastle agree terms with "great" £50,000-a-week star but deal collapses
Newcastle thought they were closing in on a top signing.
Liverpool are interested in completing a swoop for Manchester City right-back Kyle Walker in a move that will undoubtedly come as a surprise to many Premier League supporters.
What's the latest on Kyle Walker to Liverpool?
That's following a recent report from the Daily Mail, who claims that while Manchester City are pushing for a contract extension and German Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich have been engaged in negotiations for a transfer, Jurgen Klopp's Reds are rumoured to be a potential suitor too.
With just one year left on his current deal at the Etihad Stadium, Walker will likely be sold this summer if an extension cannot be agreed, and Bayern are believed to have offered £15m for the distinguished full-back.
Liverpool are believed to be in the market for a right-back this summer despite emphasising the reconstruction of the midfield, and Walker would be a shrewd signing to bolster the ranks and add a dimension as the Reds chart a course back to prominence.
Should Liverpool sign Kyle Walker?
Given his age, Walker would not be a signing to stake his claim for a regular starting berth over the next decade, instead bringing his experience and physicality to bolster the Reds' right flank for the next couple of years.
Hailed as "one of the best, if not the best, right-back" in the Premier League by Tory Deeney, Walker has made 254 appearances for the Sky Blues since signing from Tottenham Hotspur for £53m in 2017, and has won the Champions League, five Premier League titles, two FA Cups and four League Cup honours.
Despite his age, Walker has maintained impeccable performances this year and played 39 times across all competitions as Manchester City historically won the European treble, being praised for "incredible" defending that was "equivalent to a goal" by talkSPORT's Stuart Pearce.
As per FBref, the 75-cap England international ranks among the top 6% of full-backs across Europe's top five leagues for pass completion, the top 3% for passes attempted and the top 5% for progressive passes per 90, underscoring his ball-playing aptitude that could be invaluable to Klopp as he adds a facet to his Liverpool team.
kyle-walker-manchester-city-tottenham-hotspur
Trent Alexander-Arnold is Liverpool's star right-back and boasts a passing prowess of a different kind, heralded for his scintillating cross-field attempts and unparalleled vision, with Goal's Neil Jones writing that he is a 'genius'.
The Scouse-born star ranks among the top 8% of full-backs for assists, the top 4% for shot-creating actions and the top 2% for progressive passes per 90, and has recently found success in a new inverted role that drives him into the Liverpool centre after his defensive frailties have inhibited his progress this term.
With the distinguished Walker providing the sturdy base that Liverpool would need at right-back, Alexander-Arnold would have the license to drive forward and play with freedom from the middle, and it could be the genesis of an impeccable duo, as well as an illustrious new era at the club.
The wait goes on at Elland Road to see just who will be named as Leeds United’s next permanent manager, with the position currently vacant following the departure of Sam Allardyce following his short-term stint in charge.
The experienced Englishman had been the final man in charge amid what proved a wholly turbulent campaign for the Whites, with the Yorkshire side succumbing to relegation after seeing both Jesse Marsch and Javi Gracia dismissed from the dugout.
With the newly-relegated side now preparing for life in the Championship next season, supporters will no doubt be keen to see a quick resolution to the club’s search for a new head coach, with a protracted pursuit likely to hamper any early transfer business.
According to Football Transfers, one man who is already in talks regarding the vacancy at Leeds is out-of-work boss Steven Gerrard, with the 43-year-old – who is also on the radar of Leicester City – having been without a job since being axed by Aston Villa back in October.
While that short stint in charge at Villa Park – in which the Englishman won just 13 of his 40 games at the helm – may have somewhat soured his reputation, the Liverpool legend’s previous success at Rangers should spark excitement among the Leeds faithful.
Should Leeds appoint Gerrard?
The former England international worked wonders during his first managerial post at Ibrox, having led the Old Firm giants to the Scottish Premiership title in the 2020/21 season following what was an “incredible season” for the club, according to pundit Alex McLeish.
That triumphant year saw the Gers go unbeaten throughout the entire league season, having ultimately finished 25 points clear of Celtic at the summit to end their rivals’ hopes of securing what would have been a historic tenth successive league title.
Having initially taken on the role in the summer of 2018, it evidently took time for the up-and-coming coach to truly make his mark in Glasgow, with that gradual build-up to success having been described as “kind of similar to Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool”, in the words of McLeish.
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp
That likeness to the German tactician is showcased by the fact that the ex-Borussia Dortmund also took time to lead the Anfield outfit to glory, having won his first piece of silverware – the Champions League – in 2019, just under four years on from replacing Brendan Rodgers in the dugout.
The 55-year-old has also led the Merseysiders to a Premier League title and a handful of domestic honours since then, establishing himself as “head and shoulders above everyone” – alongside Pep Guardiola – due to his coaching prowess, according to pundit Jamie Redknapp.
It is interesting to note then that Gerrard – who, like Klopp, typically utilises a 4-3-3 formation – has been earmarked as a potential successor to the current Liverpool boss in future, with former teammate Djibril Cisse hailing him as a “great leader” and someone he would “love to see” take charge of the Reds.
As far as Leeds are concerned, the appointment of Gerrard may take time to pay dividends – as was the case at Rangers – although the 113-cap ace could potentially emulate the success of Klopp in becoming a successful, long-term figurehead at Elland Road.
Daniel Levy's pursuit for a new Tottenham Hotspur manager appears to be coming to a head, and while Celtic's Ange Postecoglou is the frontrunner, Luis Enrique's 'interest' in the job is keeping the race alive.
What's the latest on Luis Enrique to Tottenham?
According to journalist Paul Brown, speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Enrique is "interested" in taking the reins at Spurs and is believed to be alongside Postecoglou and Sporting Lisbon gaffer Ruben Amorin on the candidate list.
Brown said: “Luis Enrique is a really interesting one. I think he's done great work at some of the clubs he's been at and with some of the teams that he's managed.
"I do believe he also is another one who's quite interested in the job, but as I say, I would prefer Spurs to be looking in a slightly different direction."
Despite this, following a long and onerous process that has yet to yield a desired new boss, Enrique could indeed take to the dugout with the transfer window less than two weeks from opening its gates.
Why should Tottenham appoint Enrique?
While Brown might think that the Lilywhites should seek a different solution to appointing the former Barcelona and Spain manager, he possesses a proven trophy-clinching pedigree and could inject a much-needed winning mentality in north London, having once been heralded as "remarkable" by Arsene Wenger.
Having dismissed Antonio Conte in March, Ryan Mason has led from the dugout at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on a caretaker basis but is not expected to take the reins next season.
Enrique is a distinguished manager with an illustrious record, having won the European treble with Barcelona in his debut season, and his managerial style of astute tactical understanding and an awareness of both the team's philosophy and the individual roles could be exactly what Spurs need after an ending to the campaign littered in disarray.
For such an approach to be effectively implemented at Tottenham, he will need a midfield conductor capable of leading with conviction and serving diligently on the pitch, and Pierre-Emile Højbjerg could be his man.
Tottenham's Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg
According to CIES Football Observatory, the Danish machine is valued at £52m after signing from Southampton for just £15m in 2020, and despite his outfit's lacklustre year he has remained a solid performer in the middle.
As per Sofascore, he completed an impressive 7.11 average rating in the top-flight this term, scoring four goals, registering five assists, completing 89% of his passes, making 1.6 tackles per match and succeeding with 72% of his dribbles.
Should Enrique arrive, the £100k-per-week "monster" – as once hailed by former Denmark midfielder Morten Bisgaard – could adopt the role that Ivan Rakitic played so well for La Blaugrana with the 53-year-old at the helm, with the Croatian engine his outfit's workhorse to make the system tick.
He earned a glowing endorsement from Jose Mourinho for his feats in Catalonia, who said:
"He’s a fantastic player at every level. He does the defensive work on the right side to compensate for [Lionel] Messi. He runs miles.
"In ball possession he’s fantastic, he’s simple, he’s effective. He’s one of the most underrated players."
Having just won the Europa League with Sevilla, the 35-year-old boasts a career average pass success rate of 85% and 1.4 tackles on average, as per WhoScored.
Hojbjerg could be a "phenomenal" and "intelligent" heir to his esteemed positional peer in Enrique's squad, as Mourinho also remarked of the 27-year-old, and with him at the centre, Spurs could whir into life at full throttle.
Journalist Alasdair Gold has claimed that Ange Postecoglou isn't right for the Tottenham Hotspur job as they should be hiring "a manager earlier in his career".
Who do Spurs want to hire as their manager?
The wait goes on to find out who will take charge of Spurs next term after links with Arne Slot suddenly came to an end this week with the Feyenoord coach ruling himself out of the running.
This comes after a number of names have been touted in the media but Daniel Levy hasn't been able to find the right man yet, with Julian Nagelsmann also looking like a strong contender at one stage before things swiftly changed.
Since then, however, reports in Scotland (via Record Sport) claim that Tottenham are now preparing to make their move for Celtic boss Postecoglou.
While talking about the 57-year-old on the Gold and Guest Talk Tottenham podcast, Gold seemed to suggest that a younger man would be a better fit.
He said (24:53): "I mean, look, I wouldn't say I'd be out there on the streets, kind of holding up placards if Postecoglou came in.
"Sure, he'd have a very certain style to him, but I don't know… maybe it's just this weird kind of thing within me now where I feel like they need this rebuild. And maybe rightly or wrongly a feeling it should be geared towards a manager earlier in his career.
"Someone that really desperately wants this job. I'm not saying he doesn't, I don't know whether Postecolgue does, but certainly a young manager that can really stamp their authority on this club.
"I'd rather say at the start of their career, near the beginning. Someone that can develop with the club, that's kind of what I want to see. It doesn't have to necessarily be a young manager, it could be an older manager, but I think it does have to be someone that's ready to grow."
Would Postecoglou be a good fit for Spurs?
It's not hard to see why Gold wants the new manager to be someone who is excited to be part of a project at Spurs – with former managers Antonio Conte and Jose Mourinho arriving with plenty of prior success already under their belts, which may have impacted on their appetite to really have the patience to develop Tottenham.
Celtic's Ange Postecoglou
And maybe Postecoglou could be somewhat similar to them in the fact that he is now 57 years old and has won plenty of silverware with Celtic, as well as in Australia and in Japan.
However, he is yet to manage in one of Europe's top five leagues and so if he took charge in north London he may well be excited to grow alongside Spurs and help with the rebuild even if he's older than some other candidates like the more youthful Slot and Nagelsmann.