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Writing on Twitter, journalist Jack Pitt-Brooke of the Athletic has shared news on the next managerial step for Tottenham Hotspur which will occur ‘in the next few days’.

The Lowdown: Tottenham back to square one…

Spurs have now been dragged back to square one in their search for new boss after talks with both Paulo Fonseca and Gennaro Gattuso broke down last week.

Indeed, this has prompted past candidates to re-enter the fray for Tottenham – with names like Ralf Rangnick and Erik ten Hag coming up again in the conversation.

Time is running out for Spurs to appoint a new boss, however, as non-international players will return for pre-season training on July 5.

The Latest: The Athletic reporter shares next step for Spurs…

As per Pitt-Brooke of the Athletic, writing on his social media, Tottenham will now take a step in the right direction over appointing their next boss.

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Indeed, the journalist explains that chairman Daniel Levy wants a coach ‘who plays the right way’ and will move to ‘re-examine’ the original shortlist of managers ‘in the next few days’.

This list of candidates includes the likes of ten Hag and Brighton boss Graham Potter – coming after new managing director Fabio Paratici deviated away from those names in favour of Fonseca and Gattuso.

The Verdict: Good news for Tottenham?

One good thing about Tottenham’s original shortlist was the clear profile of boss.

Levy included the original requirements in his end of season letter to supporters and it outlined a manager who prefers an open, attack-minded style of football who can also give opportunities to promising youngsters.

As botched and ridiculous the manager search has become over these past two months, a slight glimmer of light could be this news that Spurs are now re-considering that originally enticing profile of new head coach, rather than veering off to less desirable candidates out of desperation.

In other news: Journalist says ‘sensational’ name has emerged in Spurs manager hunt, find out more here.

Danny Mills had urged Glasgow Rangers striker Jermain Defoe to stay at Ibrox despite interest from League One outfit Ipswich Town.

The Lowdown: Ipswich eye Defoe

Defoe will be soon be out of contract at Ibrox and, as of yet, he has not put pen to paper on a new deal (Transfermarkt).

As such, Ipswich are said to be eager to take him back to England, and would be ready to offer a big-money deal to do so. If the 38-year-old is to stay at Rangers, he will likely have to take a pay-cut.

The Latest: Mills urges Defoe to stay

Speaking to Football Insider, Mills has urged Defoe to stay at Ibrox. He said:

“Does he really want to go to League One? That would be absolutely huge.

“Where it’s more physical and the games come thick and fast, the training facilities aren’t as good…

“I’m not convinced that a player in that situation… Unless he just loves football and wants to play every week, I’m not convinced that’s a move that he would make.

“No, I’m not sure I would be tempted by better money at that stage in my career. It’s Saturday-Tuesday, so he’s still not going to play every game, it will be bits and pieces.

“At that stage, happiness and stability are absolutely huge.”

The Verdict: Still a role to play

Since initially joining the Gers in January 2019, Defoe has done well for the club. In 72 games, he has managed 32 goals, as well as providing 10 assists. While he has not featured too much during this campaign, he has still played his part as Rangers won the Premiership title.

Given his age, he is likely unable to play week-in week-out – that is why he played just 20 times in all competitions this season. However, he will surely want to be part of a potential Champions League campaign this next term. That would be the perfect way to perhaps end his career, offering a reliable rotation and super-sub option for Steven Gerrard.

In other news, Rangers have been linked with a move for this striker.

Crystal Palace are interested in Torino midfielder Sasa Lukic, according to Gianluca Di Marzio, as cited by Sport Witness.

The Lowdown: Lukic profiled

Lukic can play as a defensive, central or attacking midfielder and has 18 caps to his name for Serbia.

The 24-year-old has made 113 appearances for Torino after joining from Partizan Belgrade in 2016 for £1.53m. He spent time out on loan at Levante during the 2017/18 season and is currently valued at £4.5m by Transfermarkt, the highest valuation of his career.

Lukic was a regular in Serie A last season, making 32 appearances mainly as a central and attacking midfielder, and it seems as if his displays have caught the eye at Selhurst Park.

The Latest: Palace ‘moved with major insistence’

According to the report, Lukic has ‘many suitors abroad’, one of which appears to be Palace. The Eagles and Spartak Moscow have ‘moved with major insistence’ for the midfielder, and both destinations reportedly appeal to the player.

Lukic, who is on £13,000 per week, is under contract with his current employers until 2024.

The Verdict: A smart target?

Palace, who are still without a manager, appear to be in line for major changes on the pitch as well as off it. The Eagles have 11 senior players on their initial release list, published by the Premier League in recent days.

One man included was James McCarthy, and should he depart, Palace would be left with just four senior central midfield options on the books. Attacking midfielder Eberechi Eze is one of those, but he’s out until next year with a long-term Achilles injury.

It appears as if central midfield reinforcements could be needed for the Eagles, and bringing in Lukic – who can play in all kinds of midfield roles – may be a smart move by the south London club.

In other news: Many CPFC fans buzz at Conor Gallagher update, find out more here. 

In an official club announcement, Manchester City have confirmed that owner Sheikh Mansour will fund the flight and transfer costs for the Official Club trip to the UEFA Champions League final in Porto – with thousands of Sky Blues supporters set to benefit.

Indeed, as shared by the club, Mansour will personally seek to remove the ‘most significant financial barrier’ for fans attending the final – coming as many are faced with challenging circumstances due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Inflated costs for the trip to Porto and vigorous PCR testing, mandatory before attendance, were set to cause headaches for City supporters wishing to attend the UCL final in Portugal – but they could now be eased greatly.

It is said by the official club website that Mansour will fund the ‘official travel package’ on the day of the final, ultimately assisting thousands of Sky Blues financially in the process.

In response, it’s safe to say City fans adore this move by the club and their owner – calling it an ‘absolute god send’ and ‘fantastic news’.

Find all of their best verdicts on the announcement down below.

Man City fans blown away by UCL announcement

“This is awesomee!!”

Credit: @alex_zappy05

“I literally can’t love my Club anymore than I already do! Absolutely superb this!”

Credit: @bardo_8

“absolute godsend, a gesture that we will forever be grateful for.”

Credit: @feedthegoat1234

“What a gesture love my club”

Credit: @sezzymol

“Wow, what a class act”

Credit: @AgueroProp

“That is fantastic news, my daughter is here gobsmacked as she was working out how she could afford it.”

Credit: @custardpie17

“The best owners in the world”

Credit: @bernardoooov3

“Absolutely class that, best owners in football”

Credit: @LukeKicks89

In other news: Man City fans want this superstar signed, it’s not Haaland or Kane…find out more here.

Former Rangers star Michael Ball has told Football FanCast that the club’s title triumph has issued a wake-up call to the Celtic board.

Rangers have gone unbeaten throughout the season, winning the Scottish Premiership title at a canter.

Steven Gerrard’s side ended the season 25 points clear of Celtic, having finished 13 points behind their Old Firm rivals last term.

Reports have linked Celtic with a deal to appoint Eddie Howe following the departure of Neil Lennon midway through the season.

But Ball believes that Celtic need to make a change at boardroom level as well as in the dugout as they look to close the gap on Rangers next season.

Indeed, he feels that Celtic’s hierarchy will have been stunned by the manner in which Rangers have cruised to the title.

Speaking exclusively to FFC, the ex-midfielder, who played for the club between 2001 and 2005, said: “It’s not just about Eddie Howe. I feel it’s going to be about the upstairs at Celtic. It’s probably shocked them this season, of Rangers not just closing the gap but Rangers overtaking them and winning the league very, very early.

“I don’t think Celtic’s board expected that to happen so soon so it’s a wake-up call for the board.”

Howe has been out of work since leaving AFC Bournemouth in 2020.

The footballing world was rocked on Sunday by the announcement of the European Super League.

The Premier League’s big six clubs have all agreed in principle to become founding members of the competition, along with six other European heavyweights. According to a statement released on Sunday night, the competition is ‘intended to commence as soon as practicable’.

The clubs involved in the proposed midweek tournament have been threatened with a ban from their domestic leagues, while their players could be barred from representing their country at major tournaments.

Clearly, the ramifications for the sport as a whole could be monumental.

PCP Capital Partners figure slams Super League money-grab

On Sunday afternoon, Mehrdad Ghodoussi, husband of Amanda Staveley and a partner in the company which agreed a £305m deal to buy Newcastle United in 2020, took to Twitter to denounce the plans, saying: “When football becomes just about money #superleague”.

Neither Bayern Munich nor Paris Saint-Germain have committed to the competition, with the French champions of the belief that European competition should not be restricted to the wealthiest clubs.

Transfer Tavern verdict

Were the European Super League to go ahead, it would be a definitive, maybe irreversible ‘game’s gone’ moment.

Supporters can only hope that the domestic leagues, UEFA and FIFA stand firm in their warnings, and that the clubs involved are forced to back down.

But who holds the cards? Can the Premier League really survive without the big six?

In other news, read more on this significant update in the potential takeover on Tyneside.

Graham Roberts has told Football FanCast that Daniel Levy was left with no other option but to sack Jose Mourinho because of the bizarre team selections he made, and the way he upset so many players, including Steven Bergwijn.

The Netherlands international was signed from PSV Eindhoven in January of 2020 and made an instant impact, as he scored on his debut against Manchester City.

However, the 23-year-old was in and out of the team in the final weeks of Mourinho’s reign, sparking confusion from the ex-Spurs captain.

Bergwijn played in five successive games between January and February but was then suddenly dropped and has played just 24 minutes since, in the 2-0 win over Aston Villa.

He has been on the bench twice but other than that, the £22.5m-rated ace, per Transfermarkt, had not been included in the squad leading up to Mourinho’s departure.

Roberts thinks that decisions such as this from Mourinho alienated squad members, and ultimately left Levy with no other alternative but to pull the trigger.

Speaking exclusively to FFC, he said: “If you look at it, starting off the season, you had Bergwijn in the team. But Bergwijn’s not even on the bench now.

“So what’s happened there?

“I think you just start to upset that many players, that I don’t think the chairman had any option but to sack him.”

As per an official announcement from Tottenham Hotspur, barely-seen Lilywhites talent Alfie Whiteman has undergone surgery to his left knee after it emerged that the 22-year-old has torn his meniscus. 

Whiteman set for Spurs injury lay off

Having made just one senior appearance for Spurs in all competitions under manager Jose Mourinho, coming in the Europa League earlier this season, news has now surfaced that he is on the treatment table.

Indeed, Whiteman has undergone surgery on his knee following a meniscus tear and is expected to miss the entirety of April – with the club hopeful he will return to training in mid-May after a period of recovery and rehabilitation.

The goalkeeping prospect has made a number of appearances on the bench for Spurs in recent seasons whilst being a regular a youth level, which was enough to prompt the club to award him with a contract extension until 2022 back in December 2019 (official).

Transfer Tavern take

In reaction to his extended deal back then, former Spurs goalkeeper Paul Robinson lauded the news and lavished Whiteman with praise – explaining how he had been impressed with his performances for the Lilywhites Under-23s (Football Insider).

Having also played for England at nearly all youth levels from the U16s to U19s, it’s debatable that he is the most promising up-and-coming shot stopper at Hotspur Way.

News of his meniscus tear and surgery comes as a setback for his continued development, but Spurs’ optimistic recovery timeframe provides a silver lining.

In other news: Tottenham have been dealt a potential Harry Kane blow, find out more here.

Leeds United defender Gaetano Berardi’s time at Elland Road will come to an end this summer, according to The Athletic‘s Phil Hay.

The once-capped Switzerland international joined the Whites back in 2014, arriving from Sampdoria for an undisclosed fee.

Berardi has gone on to make a total of 155 appearances for Leeds, performing solidly in that time and being more of a regular during his early years at the club.

Under Marcelo Bielsa, however, the 32-year-old has featured far less and he is now coming to the end of the one-year contract extension he signed last October.

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Hay tips Berardi to leave Leeds

The reliable Hay confirmed that he doesn’t expect Leeds to retain Berardi’s services beyond this summer, such is the depth now at Bielsa’s disposal:

“And I won’t be surprised if Gaetano Berardi leaves at the end of his latest contract too.”

Transfer Tavern take

Hay continued to explain that the Whites are very well covered at centre-back, and thus it makes perfect sense for the club to move Berardi on, getting him off the club’s wage bill and freeing up funds for potential reinforcements to come in.

He is currently on approximately £32,ooo per week (the fifth highest paid player in the squad), and considering he suffered an ACL injury last summer, he is unlikely to fully return the same player again.

Leeds have moved on without Berardi and should now be looking at younger players who can help take the team forward in the long-term – perhaps another striker given the rumours surrounding Rodrigo’s future.

In other news, a former Leeds star has given his take on the Whites’ summer transfer budget. Read more here.

In a recent interview, former Leeds United forward, Noel Whelan, urged Victor Orta to make a move for Divock Origi in the summer transfer window.

So far this season, Origi has found game time incredibly hard to come by under Jurgen Klopp, with the 25-year-old being awarded just six starts across all competitions by the German manager, resulting in the centre-forward returning just one goal and two assists over his total of 17 appearances in 2020/21.

As a result of his lack of minutes, it has been reported that several clubs, including the likes of Inter Milan and Borussia Dortmund, are considering making an offer of around €15 million (£12.9 million) for the £60,000-per-week Belgian international this summer.

And, speaking recently to Football Insider, Whelan urged Leeds to join the race for Origi, suggesting that the striker would be a perfect fit for Marcelo Bielsa’s style of football, as well as a bargain deal for Orta.

He said: “Divock Origi for £12-15 million, would you turn your nose up at that? No, you wouldn’t. He can play a number of roles: left side, right side, through the middle. You’ve got to look at these things seriously. It’s not a lot of money. It’s so cheap. You could maybe go out and get two strikers if he’s available at that price.

“We need options, especially attacking ones. We know Bielsa likes players who can be versatile and we know Origi is that. He’s a good age and we play a style of football that will suit him because it’s similar to Liverpool’s.”

Transfer Tavern Take

While Origi has never been one of Liverpool’s first-choice players since joining the Reds from LOSC Lille back in 2014, the centre-forward’s record of 35 goals and 14 assists over his 157 appearances for the club does not scream of value for money in a striker.

However, Origi is indeed a versatile forward, with the capability to play across the front line, as Whelan suggests, so perhaps the 25-year-old could be seen as a handy, as well as cost-effective, addition to Bielsa’s attacking arsenal in the summer transfer market.

In other news: Leeds United have been urged to sign this “highly sought-after” £31k-p/w star this summer – find out more here!