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Journalist Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Tottenham Hotspur may bring in a "new" director of football to help replace Fabio Paratici as opposed to just promoting from within.

What is the latest on Fabio Paratici and Spurs?

Not long after Antonio Conte left north London, the club's managing director also left Spurs as he had to resign after losing his appeal when trying to overturn a 30-month ban from football for his role in alleged false accounting at Juventus.

As a result, Spurs are now in need of appointing replacements for these two Italians who have vacated hugely important positions within the club. While Julian Nagelsmann is a prime candidate to come in as manager, with no sporting director, it remains unclear if any coaches will commit to the project.

And so there is a real need for Tottenham to act fast and get the right person in to guide the club behind the scenes. Scott Munn recently left Manchester City to take on a chief football officer role at Spurs and while he could take on some of Paratici's responsibilities, it sounds although an external solution may also be required to help replace the 50-year-old Italian.

Indeed, while talking on the Here We Go podcast, Romano explained (34:13): "This is why right now at Tottenham, it's important to understand who's going to take the responsibility of the new coach, and also who's going to be the director, because now there is Scott Munn who joined the club from the City Group.

"But I would keep doors open for Tottenham to bring in also a new director of football at the club. This is a possibility. Let's keep things open. So this is crucial to understand who's going to be the coach."

Who will replace Paratici at Spurs?

There has been talk from Alasdair Gold that Gretar Steinsson and Andy Scoulding could be promoted from within to help fill the void left by Paratici.

However, it might look more ambitious and be a bit more enticing for any prospective future managers if Spurs opted to hire someone from outside the club to work as the new sporting director.

Along that line of thinking, 90min have actually reported that Sevilla executive Monchi is a potential target for the position in north London.

That might get fans a little more excited and it will certainly be interesting to see how Daniel Levy approaches the task but he won't want to delay too long as this role may need to be sorted before Spurs can then go and hire a permanent manager.

Journalist Charles Watts has earmarked Kieran Tierney as an opportunity for Arsenal to make "big money" this summer.

What's the latest Arsenal transfer news?

With the Gunners flying high this season but potentially set to fall just short of winning the Premier League, plenty of focus has been on who they can bring in during the upcoming transfer market to improve the squad.

However, if new faces come in, certain members of Mikel Arteta's team will also be put up on the transfer list too.

One name who has been linked with a move away from north London of late is left-back Tierney. Indeed, as per Football Insider, Manchester City are looking into potentially signing the Scotland international.

While discussing the £110k-p/w defender on his YouTube channel, Watts suggested this move could happen if Arsenal wanted to add some funds to their transfer kitty.

He said: “Kieran Tierney obviously is another player who I think you can make big money out of this summer if you decide to sell.”

How much is Tierney worth?

According to that report in Football Insider, the player is actually open to the move and Arsenal value him at around £30m.

If that is the case, it's certainly a decent chunk that could be reinvested in players elsewhere. What's more, they might be able to replace him internally.

After all, Oleksandr Zinchenko has been the first-choice left-back this term (starting 24 league games), while Takehiro Tomiyasu has also been played at left-back ahead of Tierney at times.

With that being the case, it's easy to see why Arsenal might look to offload the defender in the summer but it remains to be seen if they would want to sell to a direct rival.

The Gunners signed Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus from Man City and this has helped them challenge for the title – a mistake City won't want to make again.

And so, perhaps Arteta would be happier to sell elsewhere. There has actually been talk that La Liga giants Real Madrid and Barcelona could be keen on Tierney (via The Sun), suggesting a transfer bid could be in the region of £50m, which certainly would see Arsenal make some "big money" just as Watts suggests.

All in all, it will be interesting to see if he's really up for sale this summer and who is interested.

Arsenal's run to this potential Premier League title has been a tumultuous one, having overcome numerous setbacks to maintain their status as leading the pack for some time.

However, Manchester City remain frighteningly close to the Gunners; a feeling that Liverpool fans would be all too accustomed to.

When seeking out league titles, a squad cannot remain wholly reliant on just the starting XI to carry them to glory. It would be foolish to assume that everyone would stay fit for all 38 games, and so adequate depth is required to maintain a charge.

Whilst the Cityzens arguably have some of the best squad depth in history, given their untold riches and unabashed approach to spending it, the north London outfit are not blessed with such benefits.

They have been forced to rely on relics from previous regimes or academy graduates who are not quite up to standard to fill their gaps, but such is with any great manager, Mikel Arteta has managed to get them to raise their level.

It is therefore not outlandish to suggest that without the exploits of Eddie Nketiah, who featured heavily whilst Gabriel Jesus recovered from his knee surgery, this title race would already be over, back in Pep Guardiola's hands.

How has Eddie Nketiah played this season?

When play was halted for an unprecedented mid-season World Cup, every team sent their players off praying they would return with a clean bill of health.

However, before the group stages were even up it was revealed that their Brazilian marksman, who had enjoyed such a blistering start to life at the Emirates, would be ruled out for months. The former Cityzen had secured eight goal contributions in his first eight league games.

There was something of an inquest as to who might deputise in his absence, and who could possibly offer what the 26-year-old had done with regard to leading the press.

Handed his chance to shine, Nketiah took it with both hands, and the £100k-per-week finisher scored four goals across five games that spanned from late December into January. This bridged the gap towards Jesus' return date, whilst also allowing them to acquire a supplementary forward in Leandro Trossard who would add more creativity.

Although these have been the only four goals the 23-year-old has scored all season, his work during that nine-game period of starts was integral as they would lose just twice.

An ankle injury has since ruled the striker out, but with his 5 foot 9 teammate now back from injury, his work is done. Considering he was branded "useless" by writer Ifreke Inyang in late 2022, Nketiah's stint through the centre served to prove himself as a wholly necessary character in keeping the title race alive with just eight games left for the leaders to play.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek has sadly never lived up to his immense potential at Chelsea and Graham Potter should look to move him on from Stamford Bridge this summer.

Should Chelsea sell Ruben Loftus-Cheek?

The powerful midfielder is a product of Chelsea's youth academy and has been with the Blues since the age of eight, but has not gone on to achieve the things many thought he would when he was a teenager.

The former England international earned a wonderkid status from the media after making his debut for the club in a Champions League game against Sporting at Stamford Bridge back in 2015.

At that point, nothing seemed likely to prevent Loftus-Cheek from reaching the very top with the Blues but he has been plagued with minor injuries throughout his career, which have perhaps prevented him from ever enjoying a consistent run in the first team.

Now 27, the versatile midfielder has failed to ever make more than 24 appearances for Chelsea in a Premier League season, with his 30 top-flight outings at Fulham in the 2020/21 relegation campaign producing an underwhelming one goal and no assists.

While he has been something of a regular under Potter this season, making 18 appearances in the Premier League thus far, he has averaged a disappointing 6.67 rating from WhoScored for his performances, with no goals or assists to his name.

This ranks him as the 15th-best performer at Stamford Bridge and it seems likely that, with the January addition of Enzo Fernandez, he will be forced to play second-fiddle to Chelsea's big-name signings in the future, as he has done for much of his career.

Former manager Thomas Tuchel perhaps put it best when describing Loftus-Cheek's ability after he scored his first Chelsea goal in three years last season, saying:

“This performance is what he shows in training, but it’s not enough because he needs to show it on the pitch.

“I think he’s been hiding his talent and his potential for a long time in his career. He’s capable of producing performances that everybody sees on the pitch, but he’s also capable of producing performances that hides all of his quality."

However, there is still an opportunity for the Blues to rake in a promising amount of money on their academy graduate, as CIES Football Observatory values him at €15m (£13m), which would represent good value for money for Chelsea given they obviously paid nothing to sign him.

There would surely be interest in the Englishman from other top-flight clubs and a move away from Chelsea could be exactly what both the player and the club need to move on, with both no doubt left wondering what could have been had he lived up to his immense potential with the Blues.

Journalist Charles Watts has hinted that Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah could be set for a prolonged spell on the sidelines with injury.

What's the latest on Eddie Nketiah?

The Englishman has missed Arsenal's last three games in all competitions, having been restricted to minutes from the bench in previous weeks as the club were concerned about a knock he had picked up.

There is now no official timeframe on his potential return, but with Gabriel Jesus and Leandro Trossard both appearing against Fulham, Mikel Arteta will have options at his disposal even without the 23-year-old.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Watts claimed that there could be concerns over a possibly significant injury for Nketiah, and a quick return looks unlikely.

He said: "It's clearly a pretty significant injury that Eddie Nketiah's had. Arsenal, still, when you speak to people there, [say] hopefully he might be back after the international break, but certainly what Mikel's saying there, it feels like it's a little bit worse than some people at Arsenal have been letting on in terms of Nketiah's injury.

"Clearly if he's in a protective boot, he's nowhere near coming back to training, obviously, if he's still in that situation.

"The fact that Arteta said he's got a big challenge ahead of him, we'll wait and see exactly when Eddie's going to be back. But from those comments, you kind of think, I'm not sure immediately after the international break is going to be possible, but we shall wait and see."

How important has Nketiah been for Arsenal?

Arsenal were dealt a huge blow when Gabriel Jesus picked up a long-term injury during the World Cup, but this gave Nketiah a chance to deputise for the Brazilian.

Arteta's side were five points clear at the top of the league when Jesus picked up his injury. They are still top now over four months later, and that is in no small part thanks to Nketiah's efforts up front.

He has scored nine goals in all competitions this season, which included a stunning brace as Arsenal came from behind to beat Manchester United.

If Arsenal do go on to win their first Premier League title since 2004, then Nketiah's contribution must be acknowledged given the impressive way in which he has covered for Jesus and chipped in with goals going forward.

But it is clear that his participation for the remainder of the campaign is in doubt due to Jesus' return to fitness and some massive games on the horizon for the Gunners.

Crystal Palace’s lack of a ‘clinical’ forward is ‘a huge problem’, according to journalist Dean Jones.

The Lowdown: 21 goals

The Eagles have struggled in front of goal in the Premier League this season, with Patrick Vieira’s side netting 21 times in 24 games, less than 19th-placed Bournemouth and 17th-placed Leeds United.

They are still without a win in 2023 and are just six points clear of the bottom three, potentially in danger of finding themselves in a relegation battle over the coming months if things don’t improve.

The Latest: Jones’ comments

Jones was talking to GiveMeSport regarding Palace and was asked if Vieira’s job could be under threat. The reporter believes the Eagles will assess ‘everything’ in the summer but believes not having a ‘clinical goalscorer’ is ‘a huge problem’.

“I think they’ll try to see out this season and then really assess everything across the summer.

“Palace are probably just about far enough up the table that they’ll be okay, but like Southampton, they haven’t got a clinical goalscorer, and that’s a huge problem.”

The Verdict: Spot on

Winger Wilfried Zaha is the club’s top scorer this season with six goals, with Odsonne Edouard netting five times. Eberechi Eze has four goals to his name and Michael Olise two, with no one else in the squad scoring more than one goal.

They are averaging less than a goal a game which could be a worry heading into the latter stages of the season. Zaha is also out of contract in the summer, so as Jones says, the club may need to ‘assess everything’ in the summer, with multiple attacking additions surely high up on the club’s agenda.

Everton have now been gifted a double injury boost as Sean Dyche has confirmed that Nathan Patterson and James Garner will play for the U21s on Friday.

The Lowdown: Injury lay-offs

Patterson has seen a knee injury keep him out of action since the beginning of November.

They had made 22 appearances between them previously this season, and so remain a key part of the squad going into the remainder of the campaign.

The Latest: U21 comeback

Speaking to the media in his pre-game press conference ahead of their match at home to Leeds United on Saturday afternoon, Dyche has confirmed that both Patterson and Garner ‘will play’ for the U21s against Tottenham Hotspur on Friday, as they look to step up their recovery from injury:

“James Garner and Nathan Patterson will play for the U21s tomorrow which I’ll watch. They’re not ready for us yet but they’ve been back with us on the grass.”

The Verdict: Big boost

Having Patterson and Garner return to the pitch, albeit in an U21s game, is a big boost for the Goodison Park outfit, as it suggests that they will return to first-team action soon.

The £58,000-per-week duo have been among their best performers in the Premier League so far, with only Yerry Mina matching Patterson’s average of three tackles per game, while they both rank highly for interceptions and pass success rate (WhoScored).

Nonetheless, Toffees supporters will want to see more of Garner especially given that he was a new summer signing, and they will be hoping that they can both return to first-team action soon.

Deadline day was a relatively quiet one by Leeds United’s standards, with the addition of Weston McKennie on January 30th the latest deal that Jesse Marsch’s side completed in January.

The USA international joins on a loan deal from Juventus which includes an obligation to buy in the summer, becoming the club’s third signing in January after Maximilian Wober and Georginio Rutter.

Another body in midfield will allow Marsch to change things up at Elland Road, with the former Salzburg boss now having the option of an all-American midfield, with Tyler Adams and Brenden Aaronson.

The arrival of the 24-year-old Schalke man could see Adam Forshaw’s spell in the first team finally come to an end but Marsch might consider dropping another midfielder in Sam Greenwood.

While he is still only 21, the former Arsenal man has struggled on his rare appearances in the first team this season, notching just one goal and two assists in ten appearances, averaging a disappointing 6.40 rating from WhoScored for his performances.

This ranks him as the 19th-best performer at Elland Road so far this season, so he is definitely a candidate to lose his place in the squad following the business done in January.

Since signing from Arsenal’s academy, Greenwood has certainly done the business with Leeds’ youth sides, hitting 21 goals and six assists in 40 appearances for the U21s but he is yet to show that sort of form with the senior side.

In 25 first-team appearances, the 21-year-old has just one goal and five assists, with Marsch opting to play him in a deeper role, which is yet to really pay off.

Although he looks to still have plenty of potential, you only have to look towards the impact of 19-year-old Wilfried Gnonto to realise that Greenwood might not have what it takes to be a regular in this Leeds side in the future.

McKennie should offer far more from a defensive perspective and has a great deal more senior experience than Greenwood, which could be vital in the second half of the season as Leeds look to retain their Premier League status.

Therefore, while Forshaw is seen as the one who will lose his place, it is arguably Greenwood who looks set to lose out the most from the signing of McKennie in January.

Tottenham Hotspur have not made any contact as of yet with any potential managerial replacements for Antonio Conte amid concerns over his future in north London.

What’s the latest?

Whether Conte will be at the helm of Spurs next season or not is the big question surrounding the north London club at the moment.

There were reports to emerge over the weekend from the trusted Italian journalist, Gianluca Di Marzio, suggesting Conte’s long-term future was not at Spurs.

A number of reasons are said to be at the heart of this expected decision to part ways with Spurs at the end of the campaign with his family living in Italy believed to be a big one.

However, despite some reports that have since emerged, Fabrizio Romano has said on the House of Champions YouTube channel that Spurs are not speaking with any possible replacements:

“No, I can say that from what I’m told, Tottenham are not having conversations with any other manager at the moment.

“So the expectation at the moment is to continue, of course, with Antonio until the end of the season, and then to decide about the future.

“Antonio has not decided anything now. He has not communicated that he’s going to leave the club, he has not communicated that he’s going to extend the contract.”

No homecoming just yet?

The reports to emerge have suggested the managerial option in question is the former Spurs manager, Mauricio Pochettino, with claims from Italy stating talks have already begun.

However, Romano was adamant that this was not the case. And if so, we do have to question why Spurs may not look to offload Conte sooner rather than later.

If the Italian is not in it for the long haul then there is very little reason why Spurs should consider keeping him in position until the end of the campaign.

The 53-year-old had a sensational second half of the season last term, however, the form Spurs are stuck in at the moment would have most managers’ positions at their club questioned.

And if this form is showing no signs of improving then surely Spurs should be looking to bring in a manager like Pochettino who would be willing to work with the players and get the very best out of them.

There is no doubt Spurs could do with some improvements across the pitch, but it has to be remembered the likes of Eric Dier were playing at an extremely high level under Conte just a few months ago and now some fans do not feel he’s good enough.

Now whether this is true or not, there has been an incredible drop-off from Conte’s defence since October with the Lilywhites keeping just one clean sheet in the league since October.

Journalist Ryan Taylor has shared a worrying update on Leeds United target Azzedine Ounahi.

The Lowdown: Ounahi speculation

The Whites have already signed Max Wober from Red Bull Salzburg and appear close to a move for Hoffenheim forward Georginio Rutter.

Leeds officials are also targeting Angers midfielder Ounahi, with reports last weekend suggesting that an offer has been made. However, rumours claimed that the player doesn’t want to join Leeds, and another blow has emerged in the club’s quest to sign the Morocco international.

The Latest: Taylor’s comments

Speaking to GiveMeSport on Monday night, Taylor shared what he’s been ‘told’ regarding Ounahi, admitting Leeds’ offer was worth around £17.5m, which would make him the club’s eight-most expensive signing of all time. The reporter said that an unnamed club are in advanced talks for the midfielder, which may come as a worry to the Whites.

When asked if he thinks Andrea Radrizzani will land his transfer target, Taylor replied: “No, to be honest. I know they put in a bid for around about £17.5 million.

“There’s been kind of mixed feelings on this, but I was actually told yesterday that there was a club in advanced talks to sign Ounahi from Angers and he would stay at the club for the rest of the season on loan.

“I don’t know who it is, but there’s been a lot of clubs interested. Napoli, weirdly Almeria from La Liga as well, and Marseille are very active in talks with Angers over that.”

The Verdict: Needed?

Mateusz Klich has recently sealed an emotional Elland Road exit, so there is definitely room for another midfielder in Jesse Marsch’s squad.

Ounahi would offer plenty of versatility in Yorkshire as he is capable of lining out as a defensive, central or attacking midfielder.

He appears to be at the top of his game with a career-high €15m (£13.2m) Transfermarkt valuation, so he could be a shrewd signing if the Whites bring him in. Leeds have tried their best with a £17.5m offer, but in truth, their attempts could be in vain judging by Taylor’s comments.