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Tottenham Hotspur have been backed to appoint Burnley boss Vincent Kompany as their new manager by talkSPORT pundit Tony Cascarino.

The Lowdown: Tottenham set to replace Conte?

Tottenham have started looking at potential replacements for Antonio Conte, with the club recently being linked with a swoop for former manager Mauricio Pochettino, who has been available since leaving Paris Saint-Germain.

The likes of Roberto De Zerbi and Luis Enrique have also been named as candidates to replace Conte, and the latter is deemed to be a more likely target for sporting director Fabio Paratici than Pochettino.

The Latest: Cascarino reacts

Speaking on talkSPORT, Cascarino reacted to the recent comments from Richard Keys, in which he touted Kompany with the Spurs job this summer.

The pundit said: “Now there’s an opportunity out there that is going to be jumped on by somebody very quickly. And I think if they do lose Conte, which pretty much looks like is going to happen in the summer, there’s one person that stands out for me – Vincent Kompany.

“He retired young enough, he’s smart enough, he’s a captain, he’s a leader, and leaders do lead. I think he ticks all those boxes.

“If I was Daniel Levy and was really looking for a guy that I could get, he would be top of my hitlist, he really would. I think what he’s done at Burnley has been nothing short of incredible.”

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The Verdict: Right man for the job?

There is no doubting that the Belgian is a very promising young manager, given that his Burnley side are currently top of the Championship table by a remarkable 13 points, having only lost twice all season.

However, it must be noted that it is the 36-year-old’s first job in English football, and he is unproven above the second tier, meaning it would be a huge risk for Daniel Levy to offer him the manager’s role at Champions League-chasing Tottenham.

Kompany has made a fantastic start to his managerial career, and his previous experience winning four Premier League titles as a player with Manchester City would stand him in good to be a success with Spurs.

That said, there are more proven managers available for Daniel Levy, notably Enrique, who is out of work since leaving the Spain job, and has won nine trophies as a manager.

Leeds United have seldom spent big since their return to the Premier League, hoping that the various systems employed by their managers would have been enough to extract the very best from their squad.

Although they have recorded some significant outlays, it is far from the regularity with which many of their rivals unload similar fees to stay ahead of them in the league.

The sparsity of this big spending makes it all the more imperative that they get it right when they do. Whilst the jury remains out on many of Jesse Marsch’s signings, it seems that Marcelo Bielsa’s top acquisition only really got going once the Argentine was sacked.

Having signed Rodrigo for a then club-record fee of £27m, it was expected he would offer supplementary goals to go alongside the already red-hot Patrick Bamford. However, the 32-year-old quickly fell flat until this new season offered him a fresh start.

The former Valencia man had notched ten goals in just 18 league appearances and seemed poised to fire them to safety had he not been struck down with an injury in late January. 

When will Rodrigo be back from injury?

Rodrigo has remained out ever since that innocuous challenge in their FA Cup win over Accrington Stanley, as it was revealed he had suffered bone and ligament damage and underwent minor surgery.

However, it was recently suggested that the club’s top scorer for the season remained hopeful that a surprise return could be on the cards for tomorrow’s match against Brighton and Hove Albion. Should that prove a game too early, their following clash is seen as more of a certainty.

His reintroduction into the fold would prove so important for Javi Gracia, who has been without the Whites’ star man since he took over from Marsch.

Despite this desperation for his return to fitness, it was just last year that the 6-foot dynamo was lambasted for his underwhelming performances when he was needed most.

Even former Premier League striker Kevin Phillips noted:

“His performances haven’t justified the amount they spent on him. It was a lot of money. I would say he’s been disappointing so far for Leeds, in all honesty.”

As such, his abysmal form, where he had scored just six all season, saw his value crumble during his time at Elland Road.

Once rated at an impressive €30m (£26.2m) upon joining in 2020, his value has since fallen to just €9m (£7.9m) as of late 2022, which marks a 236% drop in value, further compounded by his age.

GRAPHIC

The £100k-per-week dynamo seemed destined to be forever remembered as one of Leeds’ most notorious transfer flops, and yet since his reignition under Marsch, the fanbase yearns for his return. His emergence from the operating table could be the catalyst to save the club from the drop.

Nottingham Forest fans were left fuming with the performance of Moussa Niakhate in the 2-1 defeat against Newcastle United on Friday night.

The Lowdown: Gutting defeat

Forest took the lead in the first half through Emmanuel Dennis, however stoppage-time goals from Alexander Isak in both the first and second half meant that the visitors took all three points.

It appeared as though the spoils were going to be shared as the game entered its dying embers, but a blatant handball handed the Magpies the perfect opportunity to win the match, and Isak made no mistake from the spot.

The Latest: Forest fans react

Taking to Twitter after the awful mistake from the defender, Forest fans expressed their frustration.

They said:

“What’s Niakhate doing putting his hand up there? Thrown away a good point. Brainless!” – @WPacey_89

“What a joke Niakhate is for that. Absolute clown. Absolutely raging.” – @joshthutc

“I don’t want Worrall or Niakhate in team. Bring back Boly from dead.” – @hannahforest

“Niakhate has just cost us a valuable point.” – @COYR26

“Clueless from Niakhate. Very much played like someone who’s not played since August.” – @TomJacobs93

“You all wanted Niakhate and you’ve got him…not ready for a game of that standard.” – @melly783

“Just seen that penalty back. Niakhate let us all and himself down there. Stupid Sunday league error. We could of fluked a point without that.” – @Rich_NFFC

“We almost had a point. Stupid by Niakhate.” – @missTyped

“Niakhate is not good enough.” – @SimonThomason4

The Verdict: Very poor mistake

It was a very poor mistake from the 27-year-old, however it must be noted that it was his first game back after a very long injury layoff, and his performances should only get better over the coming weeks.

Steve Cooper’s side are not in action until the beginning of April as a result of the international break, meaning the centre-back has time to get back up to match speed, with a view to putting in a much-improved performance against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the first game back.

The handball aside, there were some promising signs from the Senegalese colossus, displaying his passing range by completing all four of the long balls that he attempted, as well as winning four aerial duels.

However, Niakhate’s very poor decision ultimately ended up costing his side what could be an important point at the end of the season, given just how close the Premier League relegation battle is at present.

Former Tottenham Hotspur boss and managerial candidate Mauricio Pochettino would take the job if offered it, according to Sky Sports.

The Lowdown: Spurs draw shortlist…

Spurs and sporting director Fabio Paratici have already drawn up a shortlist of names to potentially replace current head coach Antonio Conte.

Even before his astonishing post-match Southampton rant, the 53-year-old had been tipped to leave the club at the end of this Premier League season, with his contract expiring in June.

Chairman Daniel Levy has the option to extend his stay by a further 12 months but this is currently not in the pipeline.

Conte could well be shown his marching orders before then as the Lilywhites identify Roberto De Zerbi, Luis Enrique, Thomas Tuchel, Marco Silva, Thomas Frank and Pochettino as possible replacements.

The Latest: Pochettino would take Spurs job…

One of the most popular names by far to have been linked with the post is Pochettino, Spurs’ former boss who lead them to a Champions League final in 2019.

Sections of Tottenham’s fanbase have seriously campaigned for the Argentine to make a return and Sky have an update on the situation.

The broadcast giant claims Pochettino would take the job ‘if offered it’, stating on air:

“We understand that many of Tottenham’s squad have been in contact with their former manager, Mauricio Pochettino, they want him to replace Conte.

“And we also expect Pochettino would take the job if offered it. As things stand Pochettino will assess all of his options in the summer, he has had several approaches in the last eight months, none of them he felt were right.

“Tottenham also approached Pochettino in the summer of 2021 but his contract at PSG then meant he couldn’t talk to them.”

The Verdict: Perfect man for the job…

The former Southampton boss already has both a bond with members of the Spurs squad and large portions of supporters, surely making this a match made in heaven.

His status as a free agent also opens the door for Levy to make an approach with little obstacle in his path.

Pochettino would come back to Spurs with much more experience, having won a Ligue 1 title with Paris-Saint Germain last year.

The 51-year-old is also highly respected in other countries, especially Italy, with Serie A football expert Mina Rzouki telling BBC Radio 5 Live that Italians think he’s a ‘genius’ and ‘master tactician’.

Pochettino’s experience in England, where he is proven on limited resources, is yet another reason to make this move a reality.

West Ham United have been dealt a blow after learning that summer target Kalvin Phillips isn’t likely to be available for transfer in the next window, according to reports.

What’s the latest on Phillips’ future?

The England international made the initial £42m move to Manchester City from Leeds United back in July 2022 but hasn’t made the start to life he would have been hoping at the Etihad. The Sky Blues midfielder has only made ten appearances for Pep Guardiola’s side since putting pen to paper with just one of those being a start, as per WhoScored, so the fact that he’s out of favour has alerted potential suitors to his possible availability.

The Daily Star recently credited the Irons with an interest in the 27-year-old but claimed that they were set to face competition from his former side and boyhood club in Yorkshire, who are keen to get him back on their books after his exit last summer. However, both David Moyes and Leeds have now been dealt a huge setback in their pursuit if the following update is anything to go by…

According to Football Insider, Man City have “no plans” to sell Phillips during the upcoming window despite him yet failing to make a significant impact on the first team. The Whites’ academy graduate “wants to remain” with the Premier League giants and is “determined” to show the boss what he’s capable of.

Guardiola previously publicly criticised his big-money signing for supposedly returning from the World Cup “overweight”, though this doesn’t seem to have affected his stance on his future at the club.

Should West Ham attempt to sign Phillips?

Phillips is already used to playing alongside Declan Rice for England and he could be an ideal successor should the captain depart, so it could well be worth West Ham testing the waters with an approach regardless of Man City’s viewpoint.

The £150k-p/w talent is solid in the natural defensive aspect of his game, ranking in the 99th percentile for blocks per game and the 97th percentile for tackles per game amongst Europe's top midfielders, noting his desire to get stuck in and win back possession for his team (FBRef).

Guardiola’s number four is also a threat in the final third having posted 28 goal contributions (14 goals and the same number of assists) throughout his career, with this form at both ends of the pitch playing a big part in helping the Whites win promotion back to the top-flight in 2019/20.

A World Cup and Euro’s regular for the Three Lions, Phillips has been dubbed a “Rolls Royce” by journalist Josh Bunting and it would be a coup for the boss should he be able to secure his services to replace his international midfield partner in Rice.

Referee Christopher Kavanagh and his VAR team may have made a big mistake in the most recent Newcastle United game after awarding a controversial penalty.

What's the latest on Newcastle and VAR?

The Magpies managed to pick up a vital three points on their push to finish inside the top four as they beat Brentford 2-1 at the Gtech Community Stadium.

Indeed, travelling away from home and down to west London, Eddie Howe and his men were put under plenty of pressure in the first half.

After just 28 minutes, Sven Botman made a poor challenge inside his own box but Nick Pope saved Ivan Toney's penalty. However, before the break, the Brentford man did manage to score from 12 yards after Alexander Isak was judged to have fouled Rico Henry.

While the incident wasn't called live, video assistant referee Darren England instructed Kavanagh to go to the pitchside monitor, and a penalty was then awarded.

Was it a foul by Isak?

It's clear that referee Kavanagh has a great view of the initial challenge but he decided against giving a foul.

With that in mind, it's a little odd that he later agreed with VAR that he had made a clear and obvious mistake and so would have to overturn his first call.

While speaking about the incident on Match of the Day (via Shields Gazette), Alan Shearer certainly made this point.

Indeed, the furious BBC pundit said: “I don’t mean to get angry, but there’s no other option than to do that. This is a terrible, terrible decision.

“Henry goes for it, Isak goes for it. Chris Kavanagh the referee sees that himself and he doesn’t give that at all, not at all. He has a great view of it.

“The VAR and Darren England look at that for twenty replays and it takes them three minutes to send the referee [to the monitor] and say to him ‘no, I think you have made an absolute howler, you have to go to the screen’. What I would say to Chris Kavanagh is show some courage and back yourself to say to VAR and Darren England ‘no, you’ve got it completely wrong. I’ve watched it for myself, I’ve had a good view of it and I’m sticking to my decision.’

“But no, he backs down and gives the penalty. It’s a terrible decision."

He then added that he expects a PGMOL apology for the call, saying: “Once again Howard Webb will be ringing Eddie Howe up for the second time in a month and saying ‘I apologise we got that one wrong’. I know Howard Webb has a tough job and he wants to have a high bar, but for them to re-referee like that, it’s not right, he doesn’t want that, he’s told me.”

In the end, despite this controversy, Newcastle still managed to pick up the win with two goals in the second half – including a redeeming winner from Isak.

Leeds United are thought to be interested in a move for Real Madrid forward Mariano Diaz this summer.

What’s the latest news on Leeds and Diaz?

Diaz has been on the books at the Bernabeu since returning to the club back in 2018 from Lyon but is out of contract in a matter of months. The Dominican Republic international has found game time hard to come by after moving back to Madrid, and in total, has made 81 appearances for the club, contributing to 15 goals.

The 29-year-old, an out-and-out centre-forward, has won 11 major honours with Madrid, including two Champions League titles, and a move to West Yorkshire could well be on the cards heading into the 2023/24 season.

Sport Witness relayed an update from Spain regarding Diaz in the last 48 hours. They said that Leeds are one of three sides interested in the player, who is seen by those at Elland Road as a potential replacement for Patrick Bamford.

The Whites striker reportedly has many proposals to leave the club, and should Bamford depart, Leeds ‘will make a proposal’ to Diaz. His agents are already looking for a new club face and there could be competition from West Ham and Ligue 1 side Nice.

Does it make sense to move on Bamford?

Bamford’s current contract at Leeds doesn’t expire until 2026, however, he has had a difficult few years after netting 17 times in the club’s first season back in the Premier League in 2020/21.

The 29-year-old, recently labelled “a joke” by Chris Sutton for his comments on former manager Jesse Marsch’s style of play, managed just nine league appearances last season due to numerous injury issues and has scored just twice in 21 top-flight games during the current campaign.

Javi Gracia started Bamford against Nottingham Forest in the week, with the Whites coming out 2-1 winners. However, some have suggested that the forward almost cost Gracia as he was the worst Leeds performer on the pitch, with Conor McGilligan suggesting during the game that the former England international "needs to be better".

It has been a frustrating few seasons for Bamford, so a move elsewhere could be best for all involved, especially with Leeds having the likes of top scorer Rodrigo and club record signing Georginio Rutter to call upon.

You'd expect that Bamford would need to be replaced should he depart, but bringing in a player who has also struggled in front of goal and game time for Madrid like Diaz may not be the best idea, although it looks as if it could be one to keep an eye on.

Newcastle United are interested in signing Leicester City midfielder Harvey Barnes, and he could be available for a lower fee if the Foxes are relegated, according to a report from Football Insider.

Will Harvey Barnes leave Leicester this summer?

Leicester are fighting for their lives in the Premier League, currently sitting two points from safety with just nine games to go, and interest is growing in some of their top players, namely Barnes, who is said to be "admired" by Tottenham Hotspur.

Newcastle were known to be interested in the Leicester star in the last summer transfer window, but they may have been dissuaded from making a move for the midfielder by the huge asking price of £50m.

If Leicester are relegated to the second tier, however, they may be unlikely to command that sort of fee for the 25-year-old, and Football Insider reports they will find it tough to keep hold of him, amid growing interest from elsewhere.

The Magpies headline a list of a number of Premier League clubs interested in the Englishman, with the other potential suitors remaining unnamed, and they believe they could secure a bargain deal, should the Foxes finish inside the bottom three.

Even though the £40k-per-week earner has two years left before his contract expires, his current employers may have to come to terms with losing him in the summer, and he is not the only key player who could be on his way out.

James Maddison remains a target for Eddie Howe, although Tottenham Hotspur are currently said to be in pole position for the 26-year-old's signature.

Should Newcastle sign Harvey Barnes?

Hailed as a "beast" by members of the media, the one-cap England international is enjoying a very good season, despite his team underperforming as a whole, registering ten league goals for the first time in his career.

It appears as though the Burnley-born midfielder's role has changed somewhat this season, as last year he predominantly weighed in with assists, while his goalscoring has been his best attribute in the 2022/23 campaign, displaying his ability to both score and set up his teammates.

At 25 years old, Barnes is likely to be entering his prime years, and Newcastle should definitely look to pounce if Leicester are relegated this season, but if they manage to stay up, Maddison should be their priority target.

The midfielder has recorded similar numbers to his teammate in the Premier League this season, and given that his contract expires next summer, the Foxes could be more willing to sell him.

Leeds United are submitting a bid to bring Hamilton Academical teenager Josh McDonald to Yorkshire, Football Insider report.

What’s the latest Leeds transfer news?

The Whites currently find themselves in a battle to avoid relegation from the Premier League, with Javi Gracia’s side just one point above the drop zone.

However, Leeds are still looking to add to their Thorp Arch pool talent and are set to sign teenage winger Ilias Akhomach from Barcelona this summer.

Another youngster in McDonald, dubbed an “exceptional talent” by coaches, also seems to be on the Elland Road radar, regardless of what division Leeds are in next season.

Football Insider reporter Wayne Veysey shared an update from Leeds in the last 48 hours, revealing that the Whites are submitting an offer for McDonald.

He adds that the club have been in contact with the player and his family and are looking to pip Rangers to the midfielder’s signature.

Bigger problems for Orta and Leeds…

Things haven’t been going to plan for Orta and Leeds ever since they parted ways with Marcelo Bielsa. The Argentine’s successor, Jesse Marsch, was sacked back in February and Gracia is looking to pick up the pieces of a squad that was largely assembled by Orta and Marsch.

Leeds supporters turned on the sporting director and the board during the 2-1 defeat to Fulham on Saturday, as reported by Phil Hay. Therefore, you could argue that the Whites have bigger problems to deal with instead of looking to sign a teenager in McDonald.

The Scotland U18 international could well turn out to be a future star, however, Leeds could find themselves back in the Championship if things don’t go to plan in the next six games, which would undo all of the hard work put in by Andrea Radrizzani, Orta and Bielsa to get the Whites back in the Premier League.

It seems as if a move for McDonald will be one to keep an eye on, though, and who knows, the midfielder may well be the next promising gem to come through the Thorp Arch ranks and into the first team over time.

The wait continues to see just who will be named as the permanent successor to Antonio Conte at Tottenham Hotspur, with chairman Daniel Levy still yet to nail down a suitable fit to take on the top job for the long term.

A frustrating campaign for the Lilywhites – which has seen their long-running trophy drought extended – has now become almost farcical amid the uncertainty in the dugout, with the club having only recently taken the decision to sack interim coach, Cristian Stellini.

Quite why the Italian – who had been working as the assistant to his compatriot, Conte – was handed the reins is still something of a head-scratcher, with Levy and co having now been forced to turn to up-and-coming coach, Ryan Mason, to fill the void over the coming games.

While the latter man has admitted that he is "ready" to be the new permanent appointment, the recent speculation would suggest that ex-Bayern Munich boss, Julian Nagelsmann is among the leading candidates for the role.

That being said, however, Football Insider reported last week that the north Londoners are 'not hopeful' of being able to snap up the German visionary, with there a belief among some that the 35-year-old is only using the negotiations as 'leverage' in order to secure a role at one of Europe's elite clubs.

That fact could ensure that Tottenham may need to find a suitable alternative to the one-time RB Leipzig boss, with ESPN having only recently reported that Mainz head coach, Bo Svensson, could be under consideration.

Should Spurs appoint Bo Svensson?

The Danish coach may be an unfamiliar name to most of a Spurs persuasion, although the 43-year-old is seemingly highly respected by those in the game, having been previously described as "outstanding" by Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp.

It was in fact the latter man who took Svensson to Mainz as a player back in 2007, with Klopp commenting that his former asset was a "grenade even then", while also lauding him as a "great, great talent" as a coach.

The reported Spurs target will likely be hoping to follow in the footsteps of the likes of the Anfield icon and ex-Chelsea man, Thomas Tuchel – both of whom began their coaching careers with the Bundesliga side – by making the transition to life in the Premier League from Germany.

The former FC Liefering coach is already showing signs that he could be able to emulate that stellar duo, having thus far averaged a better points-per-game ratio (1.53) than that of both Klopp (1.51) and Tuchel (1.43) during their respective stints at the club.

Svensson only recently bolstered his reputation even further by leading his current side to a famous, 3-1 win over title hopefuls, Bayern, with that man Tuchel now in charge of the Bavarian giants following Nagelsmann's recent dismissal.

That should indicate that if the latter man is not interested in taking on the vacancy at N17, then Svensson – who has guided Mainz to eighth in the German top flight so far this term – could represent a dream alternative.