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Tottenham Hotspur need both a new manager and a whole host of new players, with key decisions in both of these facets falling upon Daniel Levy's lap.

The chairman is without a permanent boss, and with his director of football gone too, his club are a shell of the once profitable and relatively successful organisation they once were.

Of the ever-changing list of potential new head coaches, there are a few standout options amongst the younger, more rogue suggestions. It seems like for Levy the search has culminated in two key names, Luis Enrique and Julian Nagelsmann, both of whom showed an interest in questioning the structural plans of the club.

With these two having their respective upsides and drawbacks, the direction the club will be propelled in hinges on this vital decision. Should the Lilywhites opt for more experience, or a greater risk in youth that could merit a remarkable reward?

In the former, Enrique would bring a wealth of wisdom into the role, having led some of the world's best-ever players for a period.

During his tenures at Barcelona and Spain, the likes of Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta, Luis Suarez and more all wrought the benefits of a philosophy he would seek to immediately employ in north London.

What could excite the 52-year-old most is the prospect that he could already have an option for his favoured Rodri role, should Levy secure the signing of Franck Kessie, which Spanish media is proposing.

Would Franck Kessie be a success in the Premier League?

As an imposing yet creative midfield powerhouse, already the Ivorian boasts the physical assets to more than compete in England. Writer Sacha Pisani outlined this when he branded the star a "beast".

However, this campaign has been a struggle in maintaining the form he enjoyed at AC Milan, as he has seen limited playtime under Xavi.

During that final season in Italy, the 26-year-old took great care of the ball, yet chipped in with six goals too. His 88% pass accuracy paired well with his 1.3 tackles per game via Sofascore, as the £153k-per-week destroyer was silently imperative in their Serie A title success.

With Rodri of similar importance to Pep Guardiola's philosophy of late, this season he too has upheld similar attributes that every team requires. His 91% pass accuracy and two tackles per game are a slight upgrade on Kessie, yet he has just two goals.

The former Atletico Madrid maestro featured 31 times under Enrique.

Although these two midfielders share differing physical and technical profiles, their play styles are resemblant enough that this boss could utilise them in a similar manner.

Every squad needs a player to do the dirty work and keep the team ticking over. Should Kessie make the move to Spurs, he could be the perfect enforcer to kickstart the Spaniard's north London revolution.

Simon Phillips has backed future Chelsea Christopher Nkunku transfer to be a "really good signing".

What's the latest on Christopher Nkunku and Chelsea?

As per trusted transfer source Fabrizio Romano, the RB Leipzig attacker has already agreed to join the Blues and will become a Premier League player in July 2023.

No doubt, this will be a really exciting deal as Nkunku will arrive in England with a big reputation. Indeed, he has 64 goals and 52 assists in 164 outings at his current club.

Seeing as Chelsea are currently struggling for goals right now – having scored just once in their last five games across all competitions – they could really use the 25-year-old right.

However, the Blues will have to make do with the likes of Mykhailo Mudryk and Joao Felix until the end of the season.

And while speaking to Football FanCast, Phillips suggested that Nkunku could potentially come in and provide a better option to the attack with Mudryk underperforming and Felix's future uncertain while only on loan from Atletico Madrid.

He said: "But I think Nkunku, going back to him, he's a very tidy player, a very good player. He can do a bit of everything.

"You know, he can come up with goals, he can create goals. And that's exactly what Chelsea had been missing in his current squad right now.

"And he's a player who is still young, he is just going to get better and better and develop. And I do think that this one will prove to be a really good signing.

"Perhaps, you know, the area on the pitch that he plays, he operates from more on on the left. There's question marks about signing Mudryk and spending £88m on him, and what will happen with Felix who also likes to operate in a similar area.

"But in terms of Mason Mount, I think they're two different positions and two different players."

Have Mudryk and Felix been Chelsea flops?

Interestingly, Liverpool turned down the chance to sign the midfielder last summer.

As alluded to by Phillips, Mudryk hasn't really made a fast start to life in England. Indeed, he has often been slammed by fans for his displays and the £97k-p/w star is still yet to score a first goal.

Felix hasn't necessarily done that much better either – with two goals, zero assists and one red card in 14 games – so maybe Nkunku could outshine them both.

After all, he has 17 goals and five assists in all competitions this term. If he can bring that form to the Premier League, Chelsea certainly would be landing a special talent.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is urging Etihad officials to sign RB Leipzig defender Josko Gvardiol this summer, Football Insider report.

What’s the latest on Man City and Gvardiol?

It could well be a busy summer for City chiefs, with a new midfielder possibly on the agenda to replace Ilkay Gundogan. The German is out of contract in Manchester at the end of the season and has reportedly held talks with Barcelona. City have Bundesliga duo Jude Bellingham and Florian Wirtz as potential replacements for Gundogan, and it appears as if a new centre-back is of interest as well.

The club are willing to sell Aymeric Laporte after falling out of favour under Guardiola, with the City boss seemingly identifying his top defensive target. Football Insider provided a Manchester City update they have heard regarding Gvardiol in the last 48 hours, revealing that Guardiola is a big fan of the player and has personally urged the club to sign the centre-back.

Chelsea and Real Madrid are also interested in Gvardiol, who will have a £97m release clause in his deal from 2024. As a result, there could be a rush to secure the player’s services this summer.

Has Guardiola already laid the groundwork?

Guardiola had the chance to watch Gvardiol in action in Manchester City’s last 16 Champions League tie with Leipzig, with the 21-year-old scoring a first-leg equaliser in Germany. The player admitted that he had a conversation with the City boss after the second leg in Manchester but refused to go into detail, saying:

"I extended my hand to Guardiola and congratulated him on advancing in the Champions League. Guardiola, a great coach, threw a few words at me, but I will keep them to myself."

Therefore, Guardiola may have already laid the groundwork and hinted to the player over a potential summer move to the Etihad.

The left-footed centre-back recently starred at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar for Croatia and has been called 'sensational' by members of the media. Former midfielder and pundit Owen Hargreaves has also declared that Gvardiol will be "the best centre-back in the world one day", which highlights his potential, which he may end up fulfilling in Manchester.

Should Laporte depart as speculated, Gvardiol could prove to be a brilliant long-term replacement, looking to establish himself as a regular ahead of the likes of Ruben Dias, Nathan Ake, John Stones and Manuel Akanji.

Crystal Palace are still thought to be serious about signing Celtic striker Kyogo Furuhashi this summer and are readying a £20m offer.

The Lowdown: Furuhashi at Parkhead

Furuhashi made the move to Scotland back in 2021 from Vissel Kobe and has proven to be an excellent signing by Ange Postecoglou, with his Transfermarkt valuation rising to a career-high €6m during his time at the club.

The 28-year-old has contributed to an impressive 31 goals in 39 games this season, taking his total Hoops tally to 46 goals and 10 assists in 72 games.

He has already won three major honours in Glasgow and is under contract until 2025, but it looks as if one Premier League side are extremely keen on luring him south in the summer.

The Latest: Transfer update

Calciomercato provided an update on Furuhashi and Palace in the last 48 hours, claiming that the Premier League side are still keen on his services despite sacking Patrick Vieira.

They said that it is ‘getting serious’ for the Japanese striker, with those at Selhurst Park readying a £20m bid.

The Verdict: Decision to make

Furuhashi is clearly a player Postecoglou loves, with the Hoops boss saying this about the forward after he scored twice in the League Cup final against Rangers last month.

‘It’s not just about his goals. They are the most important thing, but he works so hard. He’s another that, whatever rewards he gets, they are hard earned.

‘He’s not floating about just waiting for a chance. He’s running his socks off to do things other strikers won’t do because he knows it’s the right thing for the team.

‘Players at this club are often measured by how they perform on the biggest of stages — and he delivers again. You look at him, the size he is and the players he is against, and he doesn’t shirk any of it. He puts the opposition under pressure, he’s so clever with movement and he wants to be front and centre when the opportunities are there. He was outstanding and has been from the moment he joined this club.’

Therefore, the club look set to have a big decision on their hands later this year, as selling Furuhashi for £20m would see him become one of the club’s most expensive departures.

The Hoops also have recent history when it comes to selling a star striker to Palace in Odsonne Edouard, and it looks as if a bid will be made over the coming months, making this one to watch.

Ian Abrahams has admitted he’s confident that Arsenal will be able to sign £100 million midfielder Declan Rice.

The Lowdown: Arsenal will look to improve

Considering Arsenal were indeed willing to spend big on Mykhailo Mudryk in January but instead only spent a fraction of that on Leandro Trossard, would suggest that there will be money available in the summer.

Even if Arsenal don’t end up winning the Premier League – which looks rather unlikely now given their lead at the top – they will have Champions League football for the first time since the 2016/17 season, so should be able to attract a higher calibre of player.

Arsenal will know that if they wish to be challenging for the Premier League each and every season then money must be invested this summer and in windows going forward and one area they could look to bolster is midfield given Thomas Partey’s injury woes this season.

The Latest: Rice would cost Arsenal £100 million

While speaking on TalkSPORT, Abrahams admitted he was fairly certain Rice would move to The Emirates this summer, although it will force them to pay a club-record fee for the midfielder.

He said: (0:15) “This is an outstanding player, this is a £100 million footballer who -regardless of what Roy Keane says – his old club would love to sign if Liverpool don’t get Jude Bellingham they’d like to sign.

“I’m pretty certain that clubs like Chelsea and Arsenal, who I think he’ll end up going to, they want to sign as well.”

The Verdict: Huge battle for his signature

It’s no surprise so many clubs are indeed interested in Rice as he is one of the top midfielders in the Premier League and even this term when the Hammers have been poor he ranks inside the top 20 for players tackled across the division, and is also yet to make an error in the league this season which shows how reliable he is (FBRef).

Reports have been swirling around his year about how Rice may well prefer a move to Arsenal, and it’s no surprise given the trajectory they are on under Mikel Arteta, but also because they boast such a young squad, the youngest in the league.

Therefore, Rice would fit in very nicely with what Arenal need for the here and now, but also be able to build around the likes of him and Martin Odegaard in midfield for the future, but his eye-watering price tag is sure to test Arteta and Edu’s resolve when it comes to spending huge as their last big-money signing – Nicolas Pepe – certainly didn’t work out.

Journalist Dean Jones has shared a very promising update on midfielder Mason Mount’s proposed new deal at Chelsea.

The Lowdown: Blues eye new deals…

According to reliable reports, the west Londoners are attempting to tie their best players down to fresh terms after another very eventful transfer window.

Chelsea broke the British transfer record for midfielder Enzo Fernandez and there are suggestions owner Todd Boehly is by no means done there.

Fabrizio Romano recently shared that Graham Potter’s side are in talks with the likes of Lewis Hall and N’Golo Kante new deals with Jones now dropping an update on Mount.

The Latest: Jones shares exciting Mount contract update…

Speaking to GiveMeSport, the reporter has shared news from a ‘well-informed contact’ regarding the midfielder.

Jones states that Mount’s new contract at Stamford Bridge could be a ‘matter of time’ as Chelsea pursue an agreement over fresh terms.

The Englishman is one of Potter’s most used players but he will also need to be fully convinced this is the place to remain.

The Verdict: Good news…

Despite Mount arguably not being at his best overall so far under Potter, we believe he will have a major role to plat at Chelsea in the coming years – if he pens a new contract.

The 24-year-old’s importance for Chelsea is clear, having been played among the most times by Potter this Premier League season.

Only the likes of Thiago Silva and Kai Havertz can boast a similar amount of minutes played to Mount and the player’s performances last season showcase real quality.

The former Derby County loanee registered 21 goal contributions in the league alone with 11 goals and 10 assists – not to mention their highest rate of attempts at goal per 90 (WhoScored).

As Mount’s contract ticks down, with it currently set to expire in 2024 as things stand, we believe tying down the homegrown ace should be among Chelsea’s top priorities.

Sunderland return to action in the Championship on Saturday as they host Reading at the Stadium of Light with the hope of bouncing back from their defeat to Fulham.

Tony Mowbray’s side were beaten 3-2 by the Premier League side in their FA Cup fourth-round replay on Wednesday night in a thrilling match on Wearside.

The Black Cats put in a spirited display against Marco Silva’s men and came close to drawing level with the Cottagers in the final stages of the game after Jewison Bennette pulled one goal back in stoppage time.

Sunderland now come up against 16th-placed Reading and could move into the play-off spots with a win as they currently sit two points off the top six in the table.

Will Joe Gelhardt start against Reading?

One change Mowbray must make to his side from the defeat to Fulham is bringing in on-loan Leeds United centre-forward Joe Gelhardt from the start.

The 20-year-old, who arrived at the Stadium of Light during the January transfer window, was ineligible to play on Wednesday after playing for his parent club in an earlier round last month.

He is the only natural striker available for Sunderland, after Ross Stewart’s injury and Ellis Simms’ departure, and has the potential to be a match-winner for the Black Cats.

Amad Diallo (seven) is the only midfielder with more than four strikes in the Championship this season and this suggests that Mowbray is not blessed with a plethora of regular goalscoring outlets.

Gerhardt, however, could be the main man for goals for Sunderland if the gem can hit his stride in a red and white shirt as his form Leeds at youth level shows that there is a huge attacking threat to be unearthed.

These statistics show that the 5 foot 9 gem, who was once hailed as “absolutely outrageous” by Leeds reporter Beren Cross, was a consistent, reliable, goalscorer for the Whites at U21 level. 

The young centre-forward has also shown glimpses of his quality at Premier League level as the gem has scored two goals and provided six assists in six starts – playing 35 times in total.

Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp once lauded the gem as “exciting” and a “human wrecking ball” for his impact in a top-flight match for Leeds and this suggests, along with his contributions in attack, that Gelhardt has the ability to make an impact at the top level.

Therefore, in theory, the 20-year-old should be able to thrive at a lower level if presented with the chances he needs from his teammates to find the back of the net, which is why Mowbray must unleash him from the start.

Liverpool are reportedly ‘no longer in the race’ to sign Brighton and Hove Albion central midfielder Moises Caicedo.

The Lowdown: Liverpool interest

It was reported earlier this week that Liverpool are ‘exploring’ a deal to sign Caicedo, alongside fellow Premier League rivals Chelsea and Arsenal.

Journalist Fabrizio Romano then gave an update on the Caicedo situation on Friday morning, saying that while Chelsea have had a £55m verbal proposal rejected by Brighton, Arsenal have submitted a £60m bid for the Ecuador international, which has since also been rejected.

This comes after reports that Brighton have splashed an £100m asking price over Caicedo’s head, so it looks like a very difficult deal to do in January.

The Latest: Liverpool pull out

Taking to Twitter, journalist Kevin Palmer says that the Anfield outfit are ‘no longer in the race’ for Caicedo, quoting the reported £100m asking price for him as ‘insane’:

“Liverpool are no longer in the race to sign Moises Caicedo from Brighton amid claims the asking price is £100m. A decent player but that fee is insane.”

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The Verdict: Not at that price…

The Reds are right to walk away from a deal for Caicedo if they would have to pay £100m for him.

Granted, the 21-year-old is a great player in his own right, as no Seagulls player can match his average of 2.9 tackles per match in the Premier League so far this season, while he also ranks highly among his team-mates for for interceptions, key passes, long and through balls (WhoScored).

However, paying £100m would be a huge gamble for Jurgen Klopp’s side, given that he would be their club-record signing by far and they already paid a large amount of money for Darwin Nunez in the summer (Transfermarkt).

Thus, they should focus on securing cheaper alternative targets, with recent reports linking them with a move for Sheffield United’s Sander Berge, who would be expected to be much less expensive given that he would be coming from the Championship.

Chelsea will travel to Manchester City to wage battle at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon, with sights set on earning payback and advancing to the fourth round of the FA Cup.

The Sky Blues defeated Chelsea 1-0 at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League on Thursday night, stretching the gulf between the two teams to even greater proportions, but Blues manager Graham Potter will be convinced that he can galvanise his side towards victory, despite the barrage of injuries.

Indeed, Raheem Sterling and Christian Pulisic were both withdrawn from duty in the first half against Pep Guardiola’s destructive outfit, and the squad has truly been scraped down to the bare bones, with a host of further first-team stars sidelined.

Regardless, a winning mentality is embedded within Chelsea’s very core, illustrated by the whole gamut of major honours since the turn of the millennia – including two Champions League and five Premier League triumphs – and the chances of cup victory need only a glance back to last season, where the Blues lost on penalties in both the FA Cup and Carabao Cup to Liverpool, to know that this is a dogged and tenacious team that strives for silverware at every opportunity.

Here is how Football FanCast expects Chelsea boss Potter to field his starting line-up against Guardiola’s Man City in the FA Cup on Sunday, with four changes from the team that lost earlier in the week …

Predicted line-up: Kepa; Azpilicueta, Chalobah, Koulibaly, Cucurella; Jorginho, Kovacic, Zakaria; Ziyech, Aubameyang, Chukwuemeka.

With Edouard Mendy recently having surgery on a broken finger, Kepa Arrizabalaga is expected to deputise between the sticks for the cup encounter.

The full-backs will remain the same, with captain Cesar Azpilicueta and £60m left-back Marc Cucurella continuing to maraud up and down the defensive flanks, while the “Rolls-Royce” that is Thiago Silva – as dubbed by Joe Cole – will be replaced by Trevor Chalobah as Kalidou Koulibaly’s centre-back partner.

A slight change, instilling more composure and authority into the centre of the park, will mean Jorginho recalls his spot in the stead of the injury-stricken Sterling, while Juventus loanee Denis Zakaria is expected to continue his all-encompassing role after dazzling against the forthcoming opponents earlier in the week.

19-year-old prospect Carney Chukwuemeka entered the fray for Pulisic in the first half against Man City and dazzled in his leg flanker role, recording a Chelsea match-best rating of 7.10, hitting the post and proving to be a constant menace against the opposing backline.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang could be offered another shot as the offensive focal point after losing his spot to Kai Havertz, the Gabonese veteran has not scored in seven matches for the Blues, and will be desperate to make an impact on Sunday.

Liverpool are eyeing a surprise move for a Serie A midfielder as Jurgen Klopp looks to add some more depth to his midfield…

According to journalist Ahmet Ercanlar (via TEAMtalk), Klopp has held talks with Napoli midfielder Eljif Elmas over the phone as he aims to lure the player to Anfield.

It’s clear that the German is requiring midfielders ahead of a busy second half of the season, and Elmas could be a cheaper alternative to Enzo Fernandez and will be able to slot straight into the team.

Elmas can solve Liverpool’s key issue

With James Milner, Naby Keita, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain all out of contract at the end of the season, plus Arthur Melo’s loan spell coming to an end, Klopp’s midfield options could look rather sparse in the summer and next month could be the ideal time to add some reinforcements.

Elmas might be an ideal solution in January, especially with his good form so far this season for the Serie A leaders.

The 23-year-old has played 14 league matches for the club, although he has started just four, chipping in with three goals and an assist, which is a goal every 179 minutes.

Despite spending just 38 minutes on the pitch on average per game, he has made 0.6 key passes, taken 24.2 touches and created one big chance, showing his ability to still contribute, even if he is coming off the bench in the latter stages of a match.

The £32.5k-per-week Macedonian is an excellent passer of the ball, which is supported by the fact he is ranked in the top 4% across Europe’s big five leagues for pass completion success rate (84.8%) when compared with positional peers, and this could see him shine in Klopp’s team.

Elmas’ versatility could also be a big bonus for the German, as he can play in the centre of the midfield, as an attacking midfielder, or even on the left wing, and with Luis Diaz injured at the moment, it could be an opportunity for Klopp to kill two birds with one stone.

The Napoli player’s agent – George Gardi – once dubbed him a “jewel” and despite not getting many starting opportunities at the Italian side, this could certainly change if he moved to Liverpool, especially with the Anfield side sorely lacking in midfielders.