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Hugo Lloris is set to remain at Spurs next season, according to emerging reports…

What’s the word?

Football Insider claim the 34-year-old captain is planning to extend his time at the club into a potential tenth year following talks with chairman Daniel Levy

The 123-time French international was facing an uncertain future in North London, where he has been since 2012. He has registered 371 appearances in the past nine years but will enter the final season of his current £100k-per-week contract this summer.

Lloris had been linked with Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain, where former manager Mauricio Pochettino is now in charge.

Time to go?

Levy must consider a U-turn on this decision as it is time for a new era at Tottenham.

Jose Mourinho was sacked a month ago and whilst the quest for a new manager rumbles on, one thing remains clear – the Lilywhites need a clear out.

Perhaps it is a little unfair to suggest but the same players who cost Pochettino his job, are the same ones that have ultimately seen the Portuguese out the door.

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This squad needs an overhaul, top to bottom, and there isn’t a better place to start than the longest-serving player and captain.

The 2014 World Cup winner has endured a slow and steady decline and has been at fault for several goals over the past 18 months or so. Defensive mistakes have been a recurring theme in Spurs’ season and that must be resolved under the new manager.

Last year, no other player had made more errors leading to a goal than Lloris since his arrival at Spurs, according to Sky Sports, whilst in 2018 he was dubbed a “liability” – and that hasn’t changed this term.

Lloris was described as “lettuce wrists,” “embarrassing” and as a “weak link” in this squad as recently as February following a goal-fest defeat to Everton in the FA Cup, with talkSPORT’s Jason Cundy urging him to move on this summer.

Spurs have been linked to many viable replacements, too, including relegated West Brom shot-stopper Sam Johnstone and England no.1 Nick Pope, so it’s not as if he’d be completely irreplaceable.

Levy must trackback over his stance on the £8m-rated star before he tarnishes his reputation with the Tottenham faithful even more.

AND in other news, Levy could secure Spurs their own Ramos by signing “formidable” £31.5m-rated “leader”…

Lee Bowyer believes that the Birmingham City owners are aware of his desire for steady progress in the Championship.

What’s been said?

In a recent interview, the Blues boss insisted that the club’s Trillion Trophy Asia owners accept the fact that progress under him will be steady rather than spectacular ahead of his first full season in charge at St. Andrew’s, as the 44-year-old looks to gradually rebuild his Birmingham City squad this summer.

As cited by Birmingham Live, Bowyer said: “I think they recognise what has happened at the club the last few years and what position – taking this year out obviously, being in relegation battles for the last few years.

“They recognise it’s not that simple, it’s like a stepping stone. You have to build slowly but surely and that’s what I intend to do. I am not going to go now from 15th or 16th and then climb into the top six. It is going to be very difficult.

“If we can just maybe next season get mid-table then progress from there, that’s my aim – just stay away from that relegation fight. Then you move from there.

“Then it might be ‘OK we might invest a little bit more’. Looking to the future they might then think ‘We’ll invest a little bit more’ and then we might have a push and try and get in and around those play-off places.

“You have got to become stable, haven’t you? I think we have got to stabilise the place because to keep having those relegation fights is not good. If we can stabilise and just finish higher each season then you are moving in the right direction as a club.”

Fans will be buzzing

As Bowyer states, the last few years have not particularly been a highlight of Birmingham’s illustrious history as a football club.

Having circled the Championship relegation zone in the past five seasons – finishing 19th, 19th, 17th, 20th and 18th in chronological order – it is clear that the Blues have lacked any real tactical direction under a variety of different managers.

Off the pitch, too, Birmingham’s owners have largely bought unwisely in the transfer market, spending a total of £43.62m in the last five seasons on incoming players – money that, considering the league finishes, has brought very little reward.

As a result of their spending on transfer fees and player wages, the club’s owners also were found guilty of breaking the EFL’s Financial Fair Play rules back in 2019, with Birmingham receiving a nine-point deduction, as well as having a business plan imposed on them by the league’s governing body.

As such, Bowyer’s comments revealing that Trillion Trophy Asia are content with him building the club back up slowly in order to eventually mount a push for a play-off place is likely to leave fans of the Blues buzzing, as, for the first time in a good while, it appears as if the club has a manager with a sustainable plan for Birmingham’s long-term future – rather than one chasing immediate glory, and he’s set to be allowed to carry out that plan by the board.

In other news: BCFC dealt huge transfer blow over “phenomenal” 24 y/o dynamo, Bowyer will be gutted – opinion

According to a report by Football Insider, Tottenham Hotspur chiefs are now ‘confident’ Lilywhites superstar Son Heung-min won’t be leaving this summer transfer window. 

The Lowdown: Spurs exit claims

Amid all the noise surrounding star striker Harry Kane, with Sky Sports recently lifting the lid on his desire to leave north London, Son still hasn’t signed his new deal at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The South Korean sensation has been heavily touted to put pen to paper on a £200,000-per-week extension since near the end of last year, but contract talks were put on hold due to the financial difficulties caused by coronavirus.

The Sun also claimed that Kane’s possible exit could spark an exodus of stars from north London, with Son left ‘upset’ and ‘concerned’ over the prospect of losing him.

The Latest: Club chiefs ‘confident’ of keeping Son

In an encouraging claim, Football Insider believe that Spurs chiefs are now ‘confident’ of keeping the 28-year-old despite the saga surrounding Kane and his future with the club.

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The prospect of losing another star attacker would have been a tough pill to swallow for Lilywhites supporters, but FI report Tottenham chiefs are under the firm belief that Son isn’t going anywhere this summer.

As relayed by this report, there has been some speculation over whether the winger could force an exit of his own. However, it appears the club have been boosted in their hopes of keeping hold of Son for now.

The Verdict: Big boost for Spurs…

Apart from Kane, Son was Tottenham’s next best player over the 2020/2021 season – bagging a brilliant 17 goals and ten assists in the Premier League alone (WhoScored).

Son and Kane also formed a devastating partnership, breaking Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton’s previous record of most English top flight combinations for goals in a single campaign (Premier League).

Gary Neville perhaps summed up his quality in the most efficient way, labelling Son an ‘absolutely world class’ player when speaking on Sky Sports (via football.london).

It’s safe to say, as a result, that Spurs supporters can take real encouragement from this Football Insider claim as they continue to await where Kane will be next season.

In other news: ‘I hear from a reliable source’…Journalist drops major Harry Kane claim, find out more here.

Former Tottenham captain Graham Roberts has exclusively told Football FanCast that the club are likely to appoint a new manager after the season finishes.

Jose Mourinho was sacked last month with Spurs at risk of missing out on qualifying for the Champions League for the second consecutive season.

But Daniel Levy has since missed out on appointing any of his top three targets.

Julian Nagelsmann left Leipzig, only to become the new Bayern Munich boss, Brendon Rodgers confirmed that he’ll be staying at Leicester, whilst Ajax boss Erik ten Hag ended speculation by penning a new contract in the Dutch capital.

Ryan Mason was placed in interim charge for the remaining six Premier League matches and has made a bright start with victories over Southampton and Sheffield United sandwiching the Carabao Cup final defeat to Manchester City.

The likes of Graham Potter, Scott Parker and Nuno Espirito Santo have also been mentioned as potential replacements for Mourinho, but Roberts doesn’t expect an announcement until the end of the campaign.

He told Football FanCast:

“Ryan Mason has been told he’s got it until the end of the season, so I’m not expecting anything before then. If we win our last four games, you got a chance of the Champions League, but you need to win all four.

“The aim is either to finish in the Champions League or Europa. They threw the last cup final away and have got four more.”

In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, Rob Lee, who made 333 appearances for Newcastle United, believes Allan Saint-Maximin needs more help from his teammates if he is to produce performances like his match-winning one against Burnley.

Saint-Maximin came off the bench against the Clarets in the second half with Newcastle trailing 1-0, and within six minutes he had got an assist and a goal to completely turn the match on its head.

His second goal was very typical of the Frenchman as he picked up the ball in his own half, before heading for goal and forcing both James Tarkowski and Ben Mee to back-pedal towards their own box before the winger fired low into the bottom corner.

Speaking ahead of the Toon’s clash with high-flying West Ham United on why Saint-Maximin needs help from his teammates if he is to become more consistent, and how injuries may always be his downfall, Lee told FFC:

“We do need to see consistency from him and it’s up to the other players to get him the ball more often when he is playing well, because usually when he’s playing well everything will go for him.

“All we need is for him to get his fitness up because he’s been struggling with niggling injuries all season because he’s so quick. I think he’ll be one of those players that struggle with injuries, especially hamstrings.”

This season has been an injury-plagued one for Saint-Maximin having picked up calf, groin and ankle injuries which has seen him miss 18 games for the Magpies.

When the £38,462 per week winger has been on the pitch he’s been a difference-maker with his willingness to get the ball moving forward having completed 51 of his 81 dribbles in the league.

تحدث محمد مجدي أفشة، لاعب فريق الكرة الأول بالنادي الأهلي عن مباراة بالميراس البرازيلي في نصف نهائي كأس العالم للأندية.

وكان ملعب استاد آل نهيان قد استضاف مباراة الأهلي وبالميراس والتي فاز بها الفريق البرازيلي بهدفين دون رد.

فيديو | موسيماني: أيمن أشرف يستحق الطرد أمام بالميراس.. وواجهنا خصمًا صعبًا

وقال أفشة في تصريحات بفضائية “أبو ظبي الرياضية” عقب المباراة”: “نحمد الله على النتيجة، لسنا سعداء ونعتذر لجماهير الأهلي”.

وأضاف: “كنا نتمنى أن نفوز ونصل إلى النهائي، وإن شاء الله نحقق دوري أبطال إفريقيا هذا الموسم ونعود لكأس العالم للأندية”.

واستكمل: “الأهلي ناد كبير ويلعب لآخر دقيقة، وطرد أيمن أشرف أثر علينا، كنا نتمنى ألا تذهب الجماهير حزينة، وإن شاء الله سنلعب على حصد المركز الثالث”.

وأتم: “أبارك لنادي بالميراس، الشوط الأول كنا نلعب متحفظين ولكن الشوط الثاني هاجمنا، نحن النادي الأهلي ولا ندافع، ونعد الجماهير بالمنافسة على المركز الثالث والفوز به”. تصريحات أفشة بعد مباراة الأهلي وبالميراس

According to transfer reports, Leeds are serious about making a summer move for Sampdoria defender Omar Colley.

What’s the story?

It has been suggested in recent weeks that Marcelo Bielsa’s side are interested in signing the Gambia international in the upcoming summer transfer window as they look to strengthen the centre of their defence.

Italian publication Il Secolo XIX have claimed (via Sport Witness) that Leeds’ scouts have been left impressed by Colley and that they are now serious about signing him.

The report added that an “offer is now ‘ready’ and that Sampdoria’s request of €12m-13m (£10m-11m) ‘wouldn’t be a problem’ for the Premier League club, ‘considering higher figures have been spent on far less performing defenders’.”

Could be Leeds’ own Van Dijk

Given that Leeds signed two established centre-backs in the shape of Robin Koch and Diego Llorente just last summer, it seems somewhat surprising that Victor Orta and co are looking to sign another proven central defender – especially when they also have club captain Liam Cooper and the likes of Luke Ayling and Pascal Struijk, both of whom can fill in there too.

This season has seen Colley win 2.9 aerial duels per match, which would rank him second among Leeds’ squad for 2020/21, with only Cooper averaging higher with 3.9 per game.

Indeed, as per Whoscored, his average of 2.6 interceptions per game would rank him first in the entire Whites squad, while his 4.2 clearances per match also sees him comfortably above any of Bielsa’s current options.

Leeds only have to look at Liverpool to see the kind of transformative impact a dominant centre-back signing can have, with Virgil van Dijk playing a key role in turning the Reds into Premier League and Champions League winners since joining from Southampton.

While Colley isn’t in that same bracket perhaps just yet, the 1.92m (6 foot 3) powerhouse appears to have the kind of defensive strengths which would make him a formidable opponent for opposition attackers to overcome – in fact, his average of only being dribbled past 0.3 times per game is better than any Leeds player this season.

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Colley is a brick wall, and while a move is slightly surprising given Leeds’ current options at centre-back, it’s one which could see the Whites land their own version of Van Dijk.

Meanwhile, Bielsa could mould his next Roberto Ayala in this Leeds starlet…

Rangers’ decision to cash in on left-back Declan John in August 2018 looks to have paid off, with the Welsh defender enduring a dramatic fall from grace since leaving Ibrox.

The former Welsh international was signed on a permanent basis from Cardiff City in January 2018, having spent the first half of the season on loan in Glasgow.

However, after making 31 appearances for the club, in which he contributed three goals and four assists, he was sold to Swansea City for £800k in the summer of 2018 following the arrival of Borna Barisic.

Since then, he has managed just 18 appearances for the Swans in all competitions and has quickly fallen down the pecking order at the South Wales club, whilst he also failed to make a single appearance on loan at Sunderland in League One last season, although the campaign was ended early as a result of the current viral outbreak.

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After making no appearances in the first half of the season for Steve Cooper’s side in the current campaign, John was sent out on loan to League Two side Bolton Wanderers, which represents an unfortunate decline since his Ibrox exit.

Although the 25-year-old is impressing in Ian Evatt’s side and has been a big part of their upturn in form, contributing two goals in his 14 appearances so far and averaging a solid 6.83 rating, it seems clear that Steven Gerrard was right to allow him to leave in 2018 despite his brief spell at the club.

The left-back has unsurprisingly also seen his market value decline during the past few years, as having once been valued at £900k following his move to the Liberty Stadium, he is now valued at just £360k.

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Therefore, you could definitely argue that Rangers did very well to sell him for as much as £800k in 2018 and his fall from grace since then emphasises that the Gers made the right decision in getting rid of him.

And, in other news… Rangers handed huge transfer boost over £2.7m-rated beast, Wilson must deliver

كشف الفرنسي باتريس كارتيرون المدير الفني للفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي الزمالك، عن اللاعبين البدلاء أمام فاركو، اليوم الثلاثاء، بكأس الرابطة.

ومن المقرر انطلاق المباراة التي ستجمع الفريقين ضمن منافسات الجولة الثانية، في تمام الثانية والنصف عصرًا، على ملعب استاد الإسكندرية.

ويقع الزمالك وفاركو في المجموعة الثالثة إلى جوار سيراميكا كليوباترا وغزل المحلة وطلائع الجيش وإنبي. بدلاء الزمالك أمام فاركو اليوم

السيد عطية – محمد حمدي – أحمد زكي – محمد حسام “بيسو” – حمدي علاء – سيف جعفر – ماجد هاني – سيد محمد عبدالله – حسام أشرف.

According to a recent report, Tottenham Hotspur paid an agent a multi-million-pound fee for the transfer of one of the club’s summer signings.

The report by Football Insider claimed that a ‘recruitment source’ has revealed, as part of Tottenham’s deal to sign Wolverhampton Wanderers right-back Matt Doherty last summer, that Daniel Levy and the Spurs board paid super-agent Jorge Mendes a £6m fee.

As a result, it is reported that only around £10m of the figure Tottenham paid for the £18m-rated defender actually went to the selling club, with the remainder going directly to Mendes.

Transfer Tavern Take

While it is questionable whether Doherty has been worth the £15.12m with which Jose Mourinho’s side parted in order secure his signing last summer – as the 29-year-old has featured in just 12 Premier League games so far this season, over which he has averaged a rather disappointing WhoScored match rating of 6.65 – from Tottenham’s point of view, to whom exactly the Doherty transfer money went is not likely to be a great cause for concern.

The issue would appear to be more of a relevant point for Wolves, who, if Football Insider are to be believed, saw around a third of the transfer fee received for the sale of their fifth-best player in the league last season pocketed by Mendes.

In other Tottenham news, this Spurs transfer admission lifted the lid on a failed Daniel Levy coup with Pochettino – find out more here!