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Journalist Tom Roddy has questioned whether the prospect of managing Tottenham Hotspur right now would be appealing to Julian Nagelsmann.

What's going on at Spurs?

Mauricio Pochettino has been linked with a return to the club, whilst recently sacked Bayern Munich manager Nagelsmann could be an attractive target. Tottenham wants to open talks with him over their vacant job.

The German's availability could provide the perfect opportunity for Spurs to hire a successor to Conte, but it remains to be seen whether he will want to join the club so soon after losing his job at Bayern.

Speaking on TalkSPORT (1.40), Roddy claimed that the situation at Spurs makes the job less appealing for Nagelsmann, and convincing him to join will be a tough ask.

"I think it is Spurs suddenly sensing an opportunity that didn't exist a week ago," he stated.

"They wanted him before in 2019, they wanted him to be Pochettino's replacement. He didn't want to do it then, now it's clear why, because he had the Bayern Munich job lined up, so he didn't want to do it at that point which makes total sense now.

"Would he want to go from Bayern, sacked and stunned by getting sacked, and go straight into another league, midseason, to a club in quite a lot of turmoil?

"There's a real uncomfortable atmosphere between fans and the hierarchy at that club at the moment, does he want to take that on?"

Should Nagelsmann join Spurs now?

Spurs are currently out of the running for a trophy this season, but face a battle to finish in the top four and qualify for next season's Champions League.

Given that their place in the competition could determine what manager they could attract, it may be worth Spurs hiring their ideal candidate, if available now, to finish the season strongly and set them up for the next campaign.

If they can convince Nagelsmann to join now, rather than waiting until the end of the season, it could provide a boost to their top four hopes, and therefore be of huge benefit.

However, Nagelsmann himself may be better off waiting until the end of the season. With Graham Potter under pressure at Chelsea, and Carlo Ancelotti considering his Real Madrid future, other top jobs may become available to him, and if he commits to Spurs now, he could miss out on other clubs who may be interested in hiring him.

When Wolverhampton Wanderers broke their transfer record to sign precocious 18-year-old Fabio Silva for £35.6m in 2020, optimism was rife that the club had clinched the services of a possible prodigy.

Speaking of the deal, chairman Jeff Shi said: "Fabio is a young player who shows not only incredible technical ability, but also his game intelligence for a player of his age is top class."

The Old Gold did not meld with the Portuguese teenager as anticipated, and Silva only managed to clinch four goals from 62 appearances before being shipped out on loan last summer to Belgian outfit Anderlecht, where he was recalled and pushed out to PSV Eindhoven in January.

The Premier League outfit will remain positive that Silva can hit the rich vein of form desired in the midlands, especially after the forward has enjoyed some fruitful fortunes this season.

How has Fabio Silva played this season?

Silva's quality has never been in question, rather, his physical presence and authority in the thick of the robustness of the Premier League, but at such a young age there is still plenty of time to make the increments to his physicality to partner the innate goal-scoring threat.

He is improving quickly, though, and has scored 15 goals and served five assists from 33 starts across his two temporary outfits this term.

What's been said about Fabio Silva?

Prior to his sojourns in Belgium and the Netherlands, The Mail's Ollie Lewis even hailed his "enormous potential" in August and said he "led the line superbly with his energy and physicality."

Former Old Gold captain Conor Coady also waxed lyrical over the rising star last year, praising the now 20-year-old for his impact on the squad, belying his youthful years and inexperience.

He said: "He’s been fantastic since he came in. He works so, so hard to improve and get better, and you see that now. We know when he comes into the team, he’ll do a job, and that’s what he’s doing at the minute."

Who could Silva replace at Wolves?

With Silva's development perhaps leaving him in good stead to forge a second surge for a place as the undisputed talisman at Molineux, Lopetegui must consider axing Diego Costa, with the 34-year-old striker failing to find the back of the net since his summer arrival as a free transfer.

Indeed, Costa has played 16 matches this season and failed to record even one direct contribution, and it is hard to envisage that his one-year deal will be extended.

As per Sofascore, the Spaniard has recorded an average league rating of only 6.56, taking 1.5 shots per match but unable to strike the back of the net; Costa's 0.4 key passes per match are below par too, his verve and efficiency waning after his past feats on English soil, starring for Chelsea and scoring 52 goals from 89 outings en-route to winning two Premier League titles.

With Silva in the maiden phase of his career and already boasting, as per WhoScored, 1.4 shots and 0.4 key passes per match – almost identical numbers to his senior peer – the ace could unleash the "monster" inside – as hailed by Jack Collins – and devastate Premier League defences with a shot at prominence at Molineux once again next term.

Everton are reportedly likely to terminate Dele Alli’s contract at the end of the season, as his loan move at Besiktas will not be made permanent.

The Lowdown: Struggling at Besiktas

Alli has been struggling so much at Besiktas to the extent that he has recently been banished from their first-team squad.

He has not played any part in their last two league games, and in 15 matches in total over all competitions so far this season, he has only managed to score three goals and make no assists (Transfermarkt).

Nonetheless, Everton now have a big decision to make over whether to welcome him back into the squad for next term, or look to get rid of him again.

The Latest: Contract likely to be terminated

As per Football Insider, Alli’s loan move at Besiktas will not be made into a permanent one this summer, and could be set for what the report describes as a ‘double blow’, with the Goodison Park outfit also ‘likely’ to terminate his contract and pay him out, rather than keep him in the squad for another season.

Besiktas have the option to exercise the £6.9m buy-out clause in Alli’s loan agreement at the end of the campaign, but they do not plan to do so.

Besiktas coach Senol Gunes has already hinted that Alli will not be staying, and criticised a recent performance of his in their 0-0 draw with Antalyaspor:

“Alli did not add the efficiency we thought of as a game. We work physically and tactically.

“Alli played in two friendly matches. He did positive things. He runs a lot, but he has problems in assisting and scoring goals.

“He also ran today, but he did not contribute. He is a player with a high probability of leaving at the end of the year, whether he plays well or badly.”

The Verdict: Just get rid

Unfortunately for Alli, it is just not worked out on Merseyside, having made a mere Premier League, scoring no goals and making no assists.

The Toffees may find it difficult to shift him though, as he earns no less than £100,000-per-week, while talkSPORT pundit Darren Bent has recently claimed that no Premier League club would buy him.

It would certainly be a shame for the Englishman, but at 26 years of age now, he needs to try and find a new home away from the Blues.

Manchester United are thought to be plotting a new move for long-term target Denzel Dumfries, according to Football Insider.

The Lowdown: Transfer priorities

Erik ten Hag has enjoyed a solid first season at Old Trafford, already lifting silverware in the Carabao Cup last month.

However, he and Old Trafford chiefs already appear to have one eye on the summer transfer window, with a new striker and midfielder reportedly the club’s main priority.

Alongside those two positions, bringing in a new goalkeeper to rival David de Gea has also been rumoured, with Brentford’s David Raya a potential player of interest.

And now, it looks as if United could also look at signing Dumfries after first being linked with a move for the Inter Milan right-back last summer.

The Latest: Dumfries update

Football Insider reporter Pete O’Rourke shared a story in the last 48 hours regarding United and Dumfries. He said that Ten Hag is still a ‘huge fan’ of the player and that the Red Devils could go back in for the defender after considering a move in January.

The report adds that a bid of between £40-50million could be enough to prise Dumfries away from the Serie A giants due to their financial troubles.

The Verdict: One to watch?

Dumfries is 26 years of age and appears to be in his prime with a career-high €28m Transfermarkt valuation. He could bring a real attacking threat from right-back to Ten Hag’s side, as he has contributed to 56 goals from 229 appearances from that position compared to Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s 16 in 1823 games.

Wan-Bissaka’s future has also been up in the air this season but stayed beyond the winter window after impressing Ten Hag. However, should the club look at bringing in Dumfries once again over the coming months, the Englishman could be the one to make way, with former side Crystal Palace still interested in signing the United man.

Dumfries has been hailed as a ‘monster’ by freelance journalist Alan Rzepa and a ‘very exciting’ and ‘effective’ full-back by members of the Italian media, so could prove to be a shrewd addition at Old Trafford to rival first-choice full-back Diogo Dalot.

Therefore, this could well be a deal to keep an eye on over the coming months, and it looks as if it may prove to be a really busy year off the pitch in Manchester alongside a number of potential incoming, with a takeover still possibly on the cards in 2023.

Tottenham Hotspur players are said to have enjoyed the break away from Antonio Conte when the Italian returned home to recover from his recent surgery.

Will Spurs part ways with Antonio Conte?

Spurs were sent packing in the Champions League on Wednesday night and now face another season without getting their hands on any silverware.

And in turn, their recent form has cast a dark shadow over N17 with the future of the Italian manager now in question ahead of the summer.

However, over recent weeks, the Spurs manager had missed a number of the club’s games as a result of his recovery in which Cristian Stellini led them on a positive run.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, journalist Alasdair Gold has suggested the mood around Hotspur Way was much more positive with Conte back home in Italy:

“I know, because I speak to a lot of people around the club; I also speak to people around the players. And the one thing I keep hearing was that while he was away, Conte, Hotspur Way was just kind of a more relaxed place.”

Should Tottenham sack Antonio Conte?

No silverware is on the table for the Lilywhites this season, however, the prospect of Champions League football for next season is still there to be clinched.

Some fans may be wondering what the point of the top four is when the club put out performances as they did in the last 16 against AC Milan, however, ahead of the summer, it provides the club more room to spend.

Again, some fans may scoff at the notion of the owners investing in new players, however, the reality is the club have spent fairly significantly over the last few windows.

Whether that has been on the right players or not is another question but, ultimately, that does not necessarily land solely at the feet of Daniel Levy.

But what the chairman now has to decide is whether Conte is the right man to guide this struggling side over the line and into the Champions League for next season – even if he is not going to be there.

Looking ahead, Spurs have a favourable run of games ahead of them which include trips to Newcastle United and Liverpool – their main top-four rivals – which means they do have the say in their own destiny.

But with Conte seemingly not wanting to be at the club any longer, you have to question whether he is motivated to get the best out of this side when he, seemingly, is not going to be there next season.

Spurs have two games against Nottingham Forest and Southampton coming up before the international break and it does feel like that could be the opportunity for Spurs to potentially make their move.

Leeds United journalist Conor McGilligan is far from happy with the performance of English winger Jack Harrison.

The Lowdown: Edged out at Stamford Bridge

The Whites failed to climb further away from the relegation zone as Javi Gracia’s men were on the receiving end of a 1-0 loss against Chelsea.

Despite the result, there were moments of promise from Crysencio Summerville in particular in the first-half. However, Wesley Fofana’s goal in the 53rd minute was enough as Leeds showed a lack of quality in front of goal, with just two of their 11 shots on target.

The Latest: Harrison in the firing line

On a day where Leeds really needed a result, with Wolves managing to pull themselves away from the relegation zone and Leicester playing Southampton, Gracia could have done with Harrison on top form.

But, it’s clear this certainly wasn’t the case in the eyes of Conor McGilligan, as he took to Twitter to slate the winger.

He said: “Get Harrison off the pitch, every single week. Senior player he kills half of our momentum going forward. Gnonto exasperated with him inside about 5 minutes of coming on.”

The Verdict: Stats don’t lie…

The stats certainly support McGilligan’s feeling as the Englishman had just 43 touches, a pass success percentage of 73, lost the ball 14 times, failed to complete a dribble and lost six duels (Sofascore).

Harrison hasn’t managed to score in the Premier League since all the way back in August, though he has created a number of goals. But, with Leeds in desperate need of goals, fans will be hoping that he can rediscover his form from last season.

It really is desperate times for Leeds with Wolves and Nottingham Forest coming up in the next four games.

Reliable journalist Alasdair Gold has shared the latest update on Christian Eriksen’s potential return to Tottenham Hotspur this summer.

The Lowdown: Eriksen’s Spurs career

The Denmark international departed Hotspur Way in January 2020, joining Serie A giants Inter Milan on a four-and-a-half-year deal.

The attacking midfielder made a stunning 305 appearances for the Lilywhites, in which time he contributed 69 goals and 90 assists, so it is no surprise he’s been dubbed a ‘superstar’ after his return to action this season.

With his contract at Brentford set to expire at the end of the month, Eriksen has received a lot of interest ahead of next season, including plenty from Antonio Conte and Fabio Paratici.

The Latest: Gold’s update

Gold has now shared the latest update on Tottenham’s pursuit of Eriksen, amid rumours linking the Dane with a move to Manchester United or with an extended stay at the Bees.

Taking to Twitter, he claimed: “Here’s the latest update on the Christian Eriksen situation for you. Understand Spurs were last in contact with his camp two weeks ago but have not followed that up since. Full details below, including all the interested clubs.”

In the adjacent article, Gold reports that United, Everton, Newcastle, Leicester, West Ham and Brentford have made contact for a deal with the midfielder, as well as Ajax and one unnamed La Liga side.

With his family settled in London, there had been suggestions that the former Inter man was initially keen to remain in the capital, but that is no longer thought to be the case, with so many options on the table for the experienced Premier League midfielder.

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The Verdict: Do it!

Whilst Eriksen hasn’t played too much football in recent times, the Dane ranks in the 99th percentile for assists, expected assists and shot-creating actions when compared with positional peers across Europe over the past year (via FB Ref), showing he is still a dominant creative force.

With Tottenham’s qualification for the Champions League, Conte will be needing more reinforcements to keep his squad in good condition during a hectic playing schedule next season, made even worse by the winter World Cup.

The arrival of someone like Eriksen, with a wealth of experience at the top level, could allow the Italian to rotate a number of options in his attacking ranks, making this a good signing for the Lilywhites and one that injects a big dose of end product into the squad.

In other news: Michael Bridge drops Clement Lenglet transfer claim

Tottenham Hotspur  are interested in Atalanta wing-back Joakim Maehle, according to Danish outlet Tipsbladet (via Sport Witness). 

The lowdown

Atalanta signed Maehle from Belgian outfit Genk as recently as January 2021, committing him to a four-and-a-half year contract.

But the 25-year-old was in and out of the side last season, starting only 15 out of a possible 38 league games.

Spurs have already signed a wing-back for their system in Ivan Perisic, but Evening Standard journalist Dan Kilpatrick says they could yet add another.

The latest

The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is a ‘possible destination’ for Maehle after the Lilywhites ‘expressed an interest’, says the report.

His chances of leaving Bergamo are put at around 30 per cent, but the report does stress that a sale ‘cannot be ruled out’ if Spurs stump up between €20million and €26.7million (£17.2million-£23million).

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The verdict

Maehle may be familiar to English audiences after impressing at last summer’s European Championships.

He scored in a 4-1 win over Russia in the final round of group fixtures to help Denmark reach the knockout phase.

And he was on target again in a 4-o rout of Wales in the Round of 16, before providing an assist in a 2-1 quarterfinal win over the Czech Republic to set up a semifinal meeting with England.

Goal named him in their team of the tournament, dubbing him a ‘phenomenon’ and calling his assist in the last eight ‘outrageous’.

And Zach Lowy labelled the ‘delectable trivela cross’ for Kasper Dolberg ‘the assist of the tournament’.

Based on these showings, he could be an excellent addition.

In other news, The Guardian say Spurs are eyeing this UCL winner.

Leeds United are acting early to ensure that a relegation dogfight isn’t repeated in 2022/23 and it appears they are close to sealing yet another signing at Elland Road…

What’s the word?

The Yorkshire giants have already secured a move for RB Salzburg duo, midfielder Brenden Aaronson (£25m) and right-back Rasmus Kristensen (£10m), and now are honing in on a third arrival.

That’s according to Yorkshire Evening Post reporter Graham Smyth, who delivered a short and snappy five-word update to Twitter, where he said:

“One deal being worked on.”

In an accompanying article, it’s claimed that the Whites are working to complete another signing by the ‘end of next week.’

Busy summer continues

Leeds narrowly avoided relegation to the Championship on the final day of the season, thanks to their 2-1 win over Brentford and some fortune as Burnley were defeated. It would have been a gutting twist in their history, having taken 16 years to get back to the big time in 2020.

Evidently, the wretched campaign left a sour taste on those high up in the hierarchy as they have already sanctioned two big-money deals, despite the transfer window only reopening on Friday.

Aaronson is a hugely promising attacking midfielder that fits Jesse Marsch’s system like a glove, whilst Kristensen is another player that has been coached by the American and will offer more threat down that right flank.

The third signing is unknown at this stage but could quite easily emerge to be Bayern Munich’s bit-part midfielder Marc Roca, who is thought to be attracting £10m interest from the Premier League side in a deal that could be a bargain.

Torino wing-back Ola Aina, NYCFC striker Valentin Castellanos, Liverpool’s Takumi Minamino, and long-time target, Huddersfield Town midfielder Lewis O’Brien have all been linked in recent days, too.

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The fact that Victor Orta and co are already lining up another move is certainly thrilling for the Elland Road faithful, any one of those names would add something to Marsch’s squad, on top of the Salzburg duo.

It’s going to make for an exciting summer and one that could see Leeds’ fortunes change drastically heading into the new season.

AND in other news, David Lynch drops Takumi Minamino transfer update…

Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard will be ‘hoping’ to land Rangers defender Calvin Bassey this summer, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.

The Lowdown: Bassey linked with Villa

Villa have already made four permanent additions this summer. Philippe Coutinho and Robin Olsen have converted their loan spells into full-time moves, while deals for Boubacar Kamara and Diego Carlos have been completed.

Bassey has also been linked with a move to Villa Park, with reports towards the end of May even going as far as suggesting that a transfer was close.

Speculation has cooled following the move for Carlos, but O’Rourke thinks that a deal for the Nigerian defender may still be of interest to Gerrard.

The Latest: O’Rourke’s comments on Bassey

Speaking to GiveMeSport, O’Rourke said that the Villa manager will be looking to use ‘his past connections’ with Rangers to ‘swing’ a potential deal for Bassey ‘in his favour’.

The journalist stated: “I think for Rangers, they’ll be definitely trying to keep hold of Bassey, but Gerrard will be hoping his past connections with Bassey can maybe swing the deal in his favour, if Rangers do decide to sell.”

The Verdict: Needed?

Described as ‘absolutely sensational’ by Jason Cundy, Bassey can line out as a centre-back and left-back and was a regular at Ibrox this season, making 50 appearances in total.

Villa will now have five senior centre-backs after signing Carlos, but should Newcastle loanee Matt Targett seal a permanent move away from the Midlands, they could be short at left-back.

Meanwhile, Ashley Young is out of contract at the end of June, so Bassey could come in as competition for Lucas Digne while providing yet another centre-back option for Gerrard at Villa Park.

In other news: ‘Incomings…’ – Chief reporter drops what Villa supporters should now ‘expect’ after Olsen move