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Tottenham Hotspur could reportedly be set to rekindle their interest in Galatasaray star, Nicolo Zaniolo, having been heavily linked with a move for the promising playmaker in the recent past.

What's the latest on Zaniolo to Tottenham?

According to journalist Nevzat Dindar – via Turkish outlet Milliyet – the Lilywhites are seemingly the frontrunners in the race to sign the 23-year-old this summer, having suggested a fee in the region of €35m (£30m) for the signing of the Italy international.

Speaking about the midfielder's future, Dindar revealed: “Zaniolo is evolving into a world star. English club are asking €30-35m for Zaniolo. Galatasaray are not taking Juventus’ offers seriously at this point. Tottenham are the closest club to sign Zaniolo.”

This follows reports from back in January which claimed that the north Londoners were in talks to prise the 6 foot 3 ace from Serie A giants, AS Roma, with speculation having also been rife last summer that former Spurs boss Antonio Conte was keen to bring his compatriot to N17.

Would Zaniolo be a good signing for Tottenham?

Previously described as a "frightening talent" by CBS reporter, Ben Jacobs, Zaniolo has thrived since making the move to Istanbul during the winter window, having scored five goals and laid on one assist in just 11 games for the Super Lig side in all competitions in the second half of last season.

Prior to that, the versatile asset – who can feature in an advanced midfield role or on the flanks – had chipped in with 42 goal contributions in 128 outings during his time at the Stadio Olimpico, despite having been cruelly plagued by injury in recent years.

While there had been claims that Conte was looking to bring the 13-cap gem in as a possible wing-back option last year, Zaniolo would likely take on a different role in Ange Postecoglou's preferred 4-3-3 formation, with there a potential for him to line up in one of those two attacking midfield berths.

If Postecoglou is able to get the one-time Inter Milan asset in the door, he could well partner the Italian in the centre of the park with another exciting talent in the form of James Maddison, with Tottenham said to now be leading the race for the Leicester City man's signature ahead of Newcastle United.

That left-foot, right-foot combination could well work a treat at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium next season, with Zaniolo able to offer a real goal threat in that central role – as his form in Istanbul of late would indicate – while Maddison can be the man to supply the goods as a creative force, having ranked tenth in the Premier League in 2022/23 for chances created (69).

Having a figure such as the Englishman in the side does appear something of a necessity as Spurs have seemingly "still not replaced [Christian] Eriksen" according to BBC Radio London's Phil Parry, while Zaniolo's desire to get forward can also put him ahead of the club's current options, with Rodrigo Bentacur leading the way among his midfield colleagues with just six goals across all fronts last season.

Therefore, the addition of both Maddison and the Galatasaray whiz could be a dream partnership in the making for Postecoglou and co.

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.

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.

Leicestershire have confirmed that Graeme Welch is joining the club as assistant coach at the end of the 2016 season.Welch will work alongside Pierre de Bruyn, who was recently confirmed as the club’s new head coach, replacing Andrew McDonald who is returning to Australia.After a long career in the county game as an allrounder with Warwickshire and Derbyshire, Welch had spells as bowling coach at Essex and Warwickshire before becoming the head coach at Derbyshire ahead of the 2014 season. He quit that post in June of this year after what is believed to have been a disagreement over interference into team selection from outside the dressing room.He has a particularly strong reputation as a bowling coach and worked with England Lions ahead of their series against Pakistan A in Dubai at the start of the year.”Graeme will be a fantastic assistant for Pierre with his tremendous experience of county cricket as both a player and coach,” Wasim Khan, the Leicestershire chief executive, said.Leicestershire have also announced the signings of batsman Harry Dearden and seamer Gavin Griffiths, both of whom emerged through the Lancashire system, and seam-bowling allrounder Will Fazakerley, who graduates from the club’s academy having previously impressed with Guernsey and in the Sussex youth system. Cameron Delport has also been re-signed for the 2017 white ball season.

With the club's hopes of survival still firmly in the balance, it is fair to say that it has not been the season that Leeds United supporters would have been hoping for, having yet again been thrust into a battle to stave off relegation.

Having narrowly avoided the drop last term, the Whites would likely have had loftier ambitions heading into the start of the current campaign, particularly after splashing the cash on the likes of Tyler Adams, Luis Sinsiterra and Brenden Aaronson.

The signing of the latter man had been a long-time coming after the Yorkshire side saw two bids rejected for the then-Red Bull Salzburg man in January 2022, going on to fork out around £25m to get the deal wrapped up back in June.

Since wrapping up that protracted switch, however, the United States international has "failed to make the step up from the Austrian Bundesliga to the Premier League", according to writer Zach Lowy, scoring just one goal and providing only three assists in the top-flight to date.

That measly return from the 22-year-old is at least better than that of current teammate, Georginio Rutter, with the latter man having thus far proven an even more expensive and ineffective addition for the Elland Road outfit than that of Aaronson.

How much is Georginio Rutter worth?

Much like Aaronson, the former Hoffenheim marksman was brought in under the watch of former sporting director, Victor Orta, with the transfer chief – who only left the club earlier this month – seemingly having made a real error of judgement by green-lighting the move.

While young Rutter still has time to turn things around in future, the 21-year-old has been unable to endear himself to his new club after failing to score or provide an assist in 12 appearances across all fronts to date, having even been demoted to life with the U21 side of late.

Although the Frenchman did look 'dangerous' while turning out for the academy side against Aston Villa in the Premier League 2 Division 2 play-off semi-final just a few weeks ago – according to Leeds Live's William Jackson – those at Elland Road will have been hoping for far more from the club's record signing.

Such have been the striker's woes, he is currently valued at just £17m – according to CIES Football Observatory – with that representing a drop of around £18.5m in less than five months, in relation to his initial £35.5m fee.

It seemingly beggars belief as to why Orta and co forked out such a hefty sum for a player who had scored just 11 goals in 64 games during his time in Germany, with there perhaps also confusion as to why the France U21 international has not been handed a greater chance to impress.

BBC pundit Micah Richards (Radio 5 Live, Monday Night Club, 24/04/2023) only recently suggested that he didn't "understand what the plan was" with relation to Rutter's signing as he is "not even getting a kick", with it evidently clear that the peripheral figure has "struggled" in English football so far – as per journalist Dean Jones.

With reports having emerged a few months ago that the player himself didn't even want to make the move in the first place, Leeds could well be harbouring their own regret at sanctioning such a costly deal.

On the basis of Rutter's current valuation, it looks unlikely that the Whites would be able to recoup anywhere close to that £35.5m fee if they were to cash in this summer…

Wolverhampton Wanderers swept aside an in-form Crystal Palace on Tuesday evening to condemn Roy Hodgson to his first defeat on his return to the Premier League.

The stubborn resistance of Julen Lopetegui’s men stopped an Eagles side that had scored nine goals in their past four games from finding the net.

It was another brilliant result for the Midlands club, who have won three of their last four top-flight matches and six of their previous eight games at Molineux.

A large portion of the credit must be awarded to Lopetegui, who took charge when the club dismally resided in the relegation zone. Since he has overseen eight victories in 18 Premier League encounters to provide Wolves with an excellent platform was survival.

As well as his obvious tactical acumen, the former Real Madrid coach’s recruitment has played a massive factor in this turnaround and the signing of Mario Lemina has emerged as an intelligent and astute masterclass.

Why has Mario Lemina been a good signing for Wolves?

The former Southampton ace arrived in the Midlands for an undisclosed fee in the January transfer window and has been one of Lopetegui’s most trusted options.

Upon the 29-year-old’s return to England, his new manager showered him with praise.

He said: “I think that he has the profile to be a good player for us. He has to be a very complete player, with and without the ball. I think without the ball he’s a very strong player, and he knows his job. With the ball, he has enough technically to play and to understand the play.”

The relationship between the Spanish boss and Lemina has blossomed. The Gabonese international has started 13 of Wolves’ last 15 league outings to underline his paramountcy and the important role he had undertaken in such a short space of time.

During this time, the midfielder has been an outstanding contributor to the defensive effort and has averaged 2.1 tackles, 1.3 clearances, and 0.9 interceptions per 90, according to Sofascore.

These impressive numbers contribute to a wider analysis of this dominant physical pivot as he ranks in the top 8% in Europe’s top five leagues among his positional peers for tackles and clearances.

The £45k-per-week man has formed a formidable partnership with Ruben Neves in central midfield, as the captain is often spraying mesmeric passes out to the flanks whilst Lemina effectively breaks up play.

With Lopetegui and the “unbelievable” Lemina – as per one club analyst – both presented with a pre-season and a full campaign next year, they could both be central figures once again.

Rumoured Manchester City transfer target Ben Chilwell looks set to sign a new deal with Chelsea, according to an update from reliable journalist David Ornstein.

Is Chilwell on the move this summer?

The 26-year-old has become an important squad member for both the Blues and England in recent years, proving to be arguably one of the Premier League's leading left-backs. This season, he has made 19 appearances in the league and the only reason the number isn't higher is because of injury problems, which robbed him of a place in the Three Lions' World Cup squad.

Chilwell is out of contract at Chelsea in the summer of 2025, and while that date is still a fair distance away, it does mean the west Londoners are slowly running out of time to get a good fee for his services, should he want a move away.

City have been linked with a summer move for the Englishman, as Pep Guardiola looks to bring in a new left-back who can offer more natural attacking width in the position than someone like Nathan Ake, who has played there eight times in the league so far this season.

A new update has now emerged, though, and it is one that is unlikely to go down too well with City supporters.

Is defender staying put at Chelsea?

According to The Athletic's Ornstein, Chilwell is "set to commit his future to the club by signing a new four-year deal", adding that it "will prolong the wing-back’s stay from 2025 until 2027."

He also mentions that City have been "keen" to bring the 18-cap England international to the club this summer, but may now have to look at other options instead.

Chilwell could have been an ideal summer addition at the Etihad, even though he likely would have cost money, with the Chelsea man exactly the type of play City could do with at left-back. He possesses both powerful running and quality going forward, scoring and assisting twice apiece in the Premier League this season, but he is also a strong defender, winning an average of 1.2 aerial duels per match.

It looks as though Guardiola will have to elsewhere for a new left-back option, however, but someone with a similar profile to Chilwell, in terms of age and playing style, would be just what the doctor ordered. While Ake has done well at left-back this season, a natural in the role will help strengthen City further.

Liverpool are exploring their options when it comes to refreshing their midfield this summer and now a new update has emerged on a potential transfer target this summer.

What's the latest on Liverpool's interest in Alexis Mac Allister?

According to The Times' Northern Correspondent Paul Joyce, Liverpool have several top targets for their midfield rebuild ahead of next season with Brighton and Hove Albion playmaker Alexis Mac Allister named.

As per the report, it is claimed that Liverpool have cooled their interest in Jude Bellingham ahead of the summer transfer window and will instead focus their investment on alternatives that fit FSG's model and recruitment structure in order to sign multiple new additions.

Will Liverpool sign Alexis Mac Allister?

It is no secret that after years of competing at the highest level and winning trophies, it has started to take its toll on the current squad at Anfield, with a number of players starting to show signs of struggle, which has ultimately led to their downfall over this season.

The Reds are currently 13 points adrift of a Champions League qualifying spot inside the Premier League top four with just nine games remaining and have been knocked out of every opportunity to win another trophy this season.

As a result, it comes as no surprise that Liverpool are linked with several players in the lead-up to the summer transfer window and Mac Allister, in particular, is a player who has been touted with a move to Merseyside for months.

The World Cup winner – who has a reported price tag of £60m – has been impressive for both Argentina and Brighton this season.

Over 25 Premier League appearances, Mac Allister has scored eight goals, registered one assist and tallied up an 88% pass completion rate, as well as averaging 1.1 key passes per game as a marker of his involvement in the final third.

Not just an attacking threat, however, the Argentine is adept at winning back possession, having made 2.2 tackles per match, and capable of taking on his opponents, completing 1.2 dribbles each outing on average.

As a result, the midfield "golden boy" – as he was dubbed by podcaster Ryan Adsett – could be the perfect player to join forces with Liverpool's rising star Stefan Bajcetic.

The young central player could not only learn a lot from the established international star, but also provide Mac Allister with a connection that can offer him quality balls when he is breaking the lines of attack.

Mac Allister thrives on a left-sided starting point in midfield and will often drive the ball forward on the left flank, which could be perfectly complemented by Bajcetic on the right side.

The Spaniard's rapid pace alongside his outstanding ability to recover the ball and distribute it accordingly could consistently supply those ahead of him with great opportunities.

With that being said, the signing of Mac Allister could be a great opportunity to not only add a player of immense quality, but also provide Bajcetic with a partner who can keep up with him in the centre of the pitch, match his energy and help to continue his impressive development.

Everton will have to be at their very best tonight if they are to claim vital points against Tottenham Hotspur.

Arguably the worst thing they could have done for the Toffees in the run-up to this Premier League fixture was sacking Antonio Conte, as with the Italian in charge the Lilywhites had endured patchy and unpredictable form that often saw them surrender points to teams far below them.

Their late collapse to Southampton before the international break stands as immediate proof of this, but now their unpredictability kicks into overdrive and the potential of a top display to spite their old boss emerges.

Although Sean Dyche has masterminded a vast turnaround in form since his arrival, there is a palpable tension surrounding tonight's game, in which fans will want to capitalise on the instability of the visitors whilst also realising the immense talent their squad still boasts.

The former Burnley boss has earned praise for his tactical changes that have solidified an otherwise poor side, with his desire to pack out the midfield proving effective. Whilst it has allowed the likes of Dwight McNeil and Abdoulaye Doucoure to flourish, it has somewhat stifled the creativity of others.

Alex Iwobi in particular has seen his performances dwindle as he is once again reduced to an unfavoured wide role, and he could lose his place in the team because of this downturn in form.

Will Alex Iwobi start vs Spurs?

The Nigerian had recently admitted that Frank Lampard "saved his career" with a move to his favoured central midfield role, so to see him forced back to the wing must have been frustrating for him.

Journalist Paddy Boyland even noted back in 2020 that he: "Always quite liked the idea of Iwobi as a No 8. Sometimes struggles out wide. He's not a winger."

However, given his versatility and incomparable attitude, he is not one to complain.

The 26-year-old has been a talismanic figure in recent years for the Toffees, enjoying a fine redemption arc that made him one of their most important players. Radio presenter Andy Bush even suggested he had been "reborn" back in September, as his creative assets were outlined.

This campaign has seen the former Arsenal maestro record one goal and seven assists, however, in Dyche's eight games in charge he has only offered one goal contribution.

The £120k-per-week star, as a victim of the system employed and the team's collective performance last time out against Chelsea, could now see his spot vacated.

With Ellis Simms having essentially demanded a starting spot after scoring his first Premier League goal, Demarai Gray has been too impressive to be dropped having scored and registered two key passes per match across his last three fixtures.

Given four of Iwobi's last five league matches have warranted a 6.8 rating or lower, he is hardly commanding a place in the side despite quietly going about his business.

Should they survive come the end of the season, perhaps Dyche can then reassess to discover a new system that once again allows the creative leader to flourish. But, for now, he cannot justifiably start over Gray and Simms.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are monitoring Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Renato Sanches ahead of a potential move to the Premier League, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Previous failed deal

The Portuguese only made the move to the Parc des Princes from Lille last summer but has been heavily out of favour, having spent four separate periods on the sidelines through injury.

Christophe Galtier’s player’s contract isn’t due to expire until 2027 but that hasn’t stopped Julen Lopetegui from setting his sights on him, and it’s not the first time he’s attracted interest from Molineux.

Sky Sports reported in 2021 that the Old Gold were in talks regarding a loan deal for the 25-year-old on deadline day but a move failed to materialise due to Lille refusing to lower their option to buy fee during negotiations.

The Latest: Wolves monitoring Sanches

According to 90min, PSG are ‘prepared to part ways’ with Sanches at the end of the season and there are already a whole host of clubs lining up to secure his services.

Wolves, Liverpool, Tottenham, Newcastle and Aston Villa all ‘appreciate’ the midfielder and are being ‘kept informed’ of his situation in the French capital.

The English clubs hold a ‘significant interest’ in their target, who is claimed to have been ‘courted’ by some of his potential suitors even before his move to PSG.

Italian giants AC Milan are also ‘keen’ on completing a deal.

The Verdict: Neves successor?

Sanches has been dubbed a ‘top-class roaming playmaker’ by talent scout Jacek Kulig, and with captain Ruben Neves reportedly ready to quit this summer, he would be the perfect successor.

The Adidas-sponsored ace currently ranks in the 97th percentile for most progressive passes per game and this desire to push his team higher up the pitch and contribute to efforts in the final third has proven to be effective when it comes to finding the back of the net.

The Lisbon native has scored 17 goals and provided 20 assists since the start of his career, which has seen him win 15 trophies at both club and international level, bringing a much-needed winning mentality to the Midlands.

Lopetegui’s target also has the versatility to operate in all five positions across the midfield, making him an attractive option on the market and indeed one to have at the boss’ disposal.

Finally, Sanches shares the same agent as nine of the current Wolves players – Jorge Mendes’ GestiFute – so this could potentially give them an edge over their competitors when it comes to trying to get a deal over the line.

Arsenal succumbed to defeat in their Europa League last 16 tie against Sporting CP on Thursday evening, and it wrecked the clubs chances of winning only a second-ever major European honour.

What makes it even worse is the tie dragged on for 120 minutes, before the Portuguese side prevailed on penalties to reach the quarter-finals.

The first three efforts from both sides were converted before Gabriel Martinelli missed Arsenal’s fourth penalty before Nuno Santos scored the winning effort, and it means the Gunners can now divert all their attention to winning the Premier League.

Aaron Ramsdale took plenty of criticism on Twitter for his meek shot-stopping ability from the spot, coming close to saving a few but ultimately falling short.

Some described it as “hilarious” goalkeeping while others comedically claimed the England international was “moving” like a player on FIFA’s Pro Clubs game mode.

Might the shootout have gone in a different direction had a former goalkeeper for the club been between the sticks? With Emiliano Martinez, anything is possible that’s for sure.

What is Emiliano Martinez up to now?

Well, the Argentinian has had quite the journey since leaving Arsenal which culminated in him enjoying the tournament of his life at the 2022 World Cup, where he not only played a massive part in his country winning the competition, but he also secured the Golden Glove award for best goalkeeper.

Arsene Wenger signed him for the club back in 2010, and he endured loan spells at six different clubs during his spell at Arsenal. The 30-year-old made just 38 appearances for the first team across his near decade-long stint and joined Aston Villa for £20m in 2020.

His penalty record is excellent, and he may have saved Arsenal from defeat against Sporting. He has saved ten penalties in his career and his heroics in penalty shootouts for his country have been wonderful.

Indeed, he saved two penalties against the Netherlands in the World Cup quarter-final, before denying France’s Kingsley Coman in the final.

During Argentina’s Copa America victory in 2021, Martinez saved three of Colombia’s five penalties and during his career, he has faced 24 penalties in competitive shootouts and has saved six of them, a success rate of 25%.

He is valued at €25m (£22m) by the CIES Football Observatory while former Argentina defender Pablo Zabaleta described him as “crazy” following his performance against the Netherlands in Qatar.

Of course, this is all conjecture, but having someone like the Villa sensation in goal for the crucial penalty shootout on Thursday evening may have unnerved a few of the opposition players no end, especially with his recent antics.

It wasn’t to be for Arsenal, yet the defeat might well be a blessing in disguise as a first league crown since 2003/2004 might just be a few short weeks away.