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When Tottenham Hotspur reached the Champions League final in 2019, it was supposed to be a watershed moment for the ambitious London outfit.

Mauricio Pochettino had crafted one of the most eye-catching and fluid teams in the Premier League and, despite the loss on that fateful day by the hand of Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool, the rich pool of talent tantalised green pastures over yonder.

Instead, the dismissal of Antonio Conte this year was the fourth permanent manager discarded in as many years, and the failure to qualify for European football this term has underscored the issues that the club is currently beset with.

Ange Postecoglou has now been appointed and supporters will eagerly anticipate how the Australian will bolster the squad this summer.

One of his first moves could be to seal a swoop for Barcelona midfielder Franck Kessie, who has been linked with a departure from Camp Nou after just one season and has been reported by Spanish publication AS to be of interest to the Lilywhites.

As per the report, a fee of €35m (£30m) could be required to prise him away, and given his imposing physicality and tendency to progress play with his barging presence, he could suit English football and Postecoglou's system to a tee.

Should Tottenham sign Franck Kessie?

Dubbed a "warrior" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, the 60-cap Ivory Coast international won Serie A last term and LaLiga this season, making 43 appearances for Xavi's outfit but only starting seven times in the league, consequently discontented with life in Catalonia and ostensibly seeking an exit, with Spurs all too willing to enrich their ranks.

If he is managed aptly, Kessie could be moulded as Tottenham's next version of Dele Alli, with the England international suffering misfortune and a plummet from prominence over the past several seasons but unequivocally one of the most prodigious talents to ever grace Premier League soil.

Alli plundered 67 goals and 61 assists from 269 appearances for Spurs before losing his spark and being shipped out to Everton at the midpoint of the 21/22 campaign, having now completed an unsuccessful season-long loan move with Turkish Super Lig side Besiktas.

At his resounding best, Alli was lauded as a talent with the "world at his feet" by Frank Lampard and "very special" by Xavi – two former stars who know a thing or two about how to succeed as a first-rate midfielder.

The one-time MK Dons youngster was best suited to an attacking role deployed behind the all-encompassing talisman Harry Kane, almost a shadow striker at times, and wreaked havoc with his unflinching approach and devastating offensive potency.

Praised as an "amazing player" by former Spurs 'keeper Paul Robinson, Kessie can emulate this; he ranks among the top 12% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for both touches in the attacking box and progressive passes received per 90, as per FBref, driving forward just like the 37-cap England ace.

And while the former AC Milan gem has been a peripheral figure with La Blaugrana this year, 19 goals across his final two seasons in Serie A, complemented by clinching the Scudetto last term, illustrates a goal-scoring prowess and a "devastating" danger, as remarked by Antonio Cassano, to match Alli's – who posted 37 strikes across his first three top-flight campaigns.

Kessie's possible transfer to Tottenham could well be an unmitigated success, with Kane's superlative skill as one of football's most creative striking focal points – ranking among the top 10% of strikers for shot-creating actions and the top 4% for progressive passes per 90 – providing Kessie with the perfect platform to unleash the full might of his attacking arsenal.

Forging a battle for top four and a confident domestic cup run is imperative next year and with Kessie's signing, the return to the former free-flowing football that left the Spurs support in raucous rapture could return to cast aside the cobwebs of the 22/23 term and drape the curtain irrevocably on the recent woes.

While Liverpool have already got their transfer business underway after sealing the signing of Alexis Mac Allister, there is also seemingly work to be done with regard to outgoings, with promising youngster Fabio Carvalho among those looking set for a departure.

As per journalist Fabrizio Romano, the Merseysiders have already rejected a bid from RB Leipzig for the 20-year-old, with the club only said to be willing to allow the former Fulham starlet to move out on loan this summer.

That uncertainty surrounding the playmaker's future comes following a frustrating debut campaign for the Portuguese gem at Anfield, with the 5 foot 7 ace having been restricted to just 13 Premier League appearances – only four of which came from the start.

Despite being hailed as a "big talent" by Jurgen Klopp earlier in the season, Carvalho has seemingly been unable to totally earn the faith of his manager, with the German previously stating that while the forward has done "nothing wrong", the team have simply been in need of "different skills".

As such, it is, therefore, no surprise that the Portugal U21 international could be on his way sooner rather than later, with Klopp already having a a wealth of young talent at his disposal who can quickly replace the £5m man in the first-team set up.

Among those who are particularly catching the eye is the Reds' teenage duo of Kaide Gordon and Ben Doak…

Who are Ben Doak and Kaide Gordon?

The two youngsters have both been recruited by the Merseysiders in recent years, with Gordon having been snapped up from Derby County back in 2021, while Doak joined from Old Firm giants, Celtic in 2022.

While it is still early days in their development, the pair have already sparked notable interest, with RedMen TV's Ste Hoare – in an interview with Football FanCast – stating that the attacking duo could fight it out to seal a regular place in the senior ranks, ahead of Carvalho.

The respected insider stated:

"I would be more excited about Ben Doak and Kaide Gordon being one of those to be the sixth option as a forward. So [Mohamed] Salah, [Darwin] Nunez, [Cody] Gakpo, [Luis] Diaz, [Diogo] Jota. And then I do think – obviously [Roberto] Firmino's left – so they're looking for, I guess, a sixth person in that rotation.

"And it'd be interesting to see who comes out on top because they're both very exciting young players that are different in their skill sets. But I think one of those we might end up seeing as the sixth forward option especially, again, if Carvalho leaves the club like It looks like he might."

As Hoare alluded to, 17-year-old Doak – who typically operates on the right flank – enjoyed a real breakthrough campaign this season after notably bagging 11 goals and eight assists in all competitions at youth level as well as making five first-team outings, having been described as a "huge talent" by journalist Barry Anderson.

Gordon, meanwhile, has been hampered by injury over the last year or so, although the 18-year-old – who is also a right winger by trade – has already made four appearances for the first-team, scoring against Shrewsbury Town back in January 2022.

With the two wonderkids only on the cusp of the senior ranks at present, the departure of Carvalho could allow at least one of them the chance to establish themselves as a part of Klopp's forward line next term.

Tottenham Hotspur might well have established a frontrunner for their managerial vacancy, but one respected journalist suggests that the race is far from over.

What's the latest on Luis Enrique to Tottenham Hotspur?

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, transfer insider Fabrizio Romano suggested that despite Ange Postecoglou emerging as a fine option for Daniel Levy, Luis Enrique is not one to be discounted.

He claimed:

"I think we have to keep an eye on the situation of Luis Enrique because Enrique is in conversation with Napoli. But the Napoli president confirmed that he has a feeling that, for Enrique, the priority is the Premier League.

"So he is maybe waiting for Tottenham's decision before he keeps going in the conversations with Napoli. Luis Enrique's name is one we have to follow."

With the Spaniard seemingly waiting for a top-flight job in England before confirming his role at Napoli, it seems an opportunity remains for the Lilywhites to hijack this move.

Would Luis Enrique be an upgrade on Ange Postecoglou?

The Spaniard boasts pedigree beyond most who have been linked with the post, namely due to his exploits in Barcelona, as he oversaw one of the greatest club sides in recent history.

With a front three of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez, the Catalan giants were led to an unprecedented treble, adding to the numerous other titles he holds.

His counter-attacking 4-3-3 system might not exert the same control over a game that Postecoglou has done in Scotland, but it cannot be faulted for its effectiveness.

Whilst his most recent venture with the Spanish national team was not as successful as he would have hoped, his exit still led writer Muhammed Butt to brand him a "world-class coach", suggesting they were worse off without him.

The same could not be said for the Australian, who could quite easily be replaced at Celtic Park given the ease with which the Scottish giants often dominate their division. Of the last 12 seasons, they have only been dethroned on one occasion.

Across the sprawling 431-game career of the 53-year-old, including spells at AS Roma and Celta de Vigo as well as the two aforementioned, he has lost just 89 games, scoring 935 in the process.

His teams pride themselves on a quick, vertical style that exploits defensive frailties. With the pace at the disposal of the Spurs squad, this also seems far more likely to reap immediate rewards, rather than the many years it would take to convey Postecoglou's convoluted style.

Whether it be the standard of their careers, the trophy cabinet they boast or the aura they command, Enrique stands as a marked upgrade to Levy's current first-choice candidate.

Celtic are interested in signing Aberdeen youngster Connor Barron in the summer transfer window, according to a fresh transfer rumour.

The Lowdown: Big summer ahead

It was a superb 2021/22 season for the Hoops, with Ange Postecoglou guiding his team to Premiership and Scottish League Cup glory.

The key thing now is to build on that success, with funds available for new signings after sealing Champions League group stage qualification for next season.

While established names may be required in order to make Postecoglou’s squad stronger, it could be that emerging young talent also comes in at Parkhead.

The Latest: Hoops keen on Barron signing

According to The Scottish Daily Express, Celtic have ‘run the rule’ over Aberdeen midfielder Barron, having sent scouts to watch him in action for Scotland’s under-21s.

Postecoglou is believed to have been ‘impressed’ with the 19-year-old in the past 12 months, having made a total of 15 appearances for the Dons.

The Verdict: Building for the future

Barron has been hailed as a ‘brilliant’ and ‘brave’ player by his manager Jim Goodwin, and he is someone who could be an exciting prospective signing for Celtic.

Having young homegrown talent in the squad is always something which should be the case at Parkhead, and the 19-year-old could come in as a future midfield star, initially a fringe player to provide backup before growing into a crucial first-team figure over the years.

It is vital that Postecoglou sees this as a long-term project over many years, and signing players of Barron’s ilk could play a big role in ensuring that Celtic have a core group who could form the backbone of the team well into the future.

In other news, Celtic have reportedly ‘set their sights’ on one player. Find out who it is here.

West Ham look set to get their summer transfer business up and running with a deal for Atletico Mineiro left-back Guilherme Arana.

What’s the word?

That’s according to Brazilian journalist Jorge Nicola (via Sport Witness), who has stated that the Hammers have made contact ahead of a potential swoop for the 25-year-old. Although no bid has yet been submitted, the Premier League club have made Arana’s staff aware of their interest in the player.

Atletico Mineiro insider Fred Augusto has claimed that the fee to sign Arana will be around €19m (£16m).

Could be a huge coup for West Ham

Moyes led West Ham to a wonderful 2021/22 campaign and he will be looking to build on that over the summer by improving his squad.

Signing a top-class left-back will likely be one of the Scot’s main priorities this summer. Aaron Cresswell is 32 and, with his peak years behind him, perhaps it’s time for a replacement to be sought.

At 25 years of age, Arana still arguably has his peak years to come, and signing him for £16m would likely represent an excellent coup by the Irons.

The Brazilian has scored an impressive 19 goals and registered 28 assists in his career so far, which indicates that he loves to get forward and contribute in an attacking sense, and this is something that Moyes will love.

Arana represented Brazil at the Olympic Games last year, where his nation won the gold medal and he ranked as the squad’s fourth-best performer, with a ranking of 7.17 on SofaScore.

These performances translated into the defender making his senior international debut against Venezuela last October, and he has gone on to win two more caps in the meantime.

A move to the Premier League could well suit the left-back. He was described as “spectacular” by Brazil’s Olympic coach Andre Jardine following his performances in Tokyo, and his figures in an attacking sense appear to back up that compliment.

With the World Cup approaching later this year, Arana knows that there is a chance he could make the Brazil squad as they hope to end a 20-year wait to lift the trophy. The onus is now on Moyes to try and bring the 25-year-old to England and allow him to showcase his talents to a wider audience, while also giving West Ham a top-quality long-term successor to Cresswell at left-back.

AND in other news, West Ham eyeing deal for “exceptional” £35k-p/w monster, he’s the perfect Noble heir

Manchester United are once again being linked with a sensational move for Inter Milan defender Alessandro Bastoni, according to Gazzetta dello Sport (via Sport Witness). 

The lowdown: United linked with Bastoni

A product of the youth system at Serie A club Atalanta, Bastoni is a rising star of Italian football and has already amassed 120 top-flight outings despite his tender years.

Recently, an initial report from FC Inter 1908 claimed that the Red Devils are keen on the 23-year-old Italy international, who is under contract in Milan until 2024 (Transfermarkt).

It now seems as though that interest could be growing, as a reputable Italian newspaper provides a fresh update…

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The latest: Ten Hag’s admiration for Bastoni

As per Gazzetta dello Sport, translated by Sport Witness, United are in the mix to sign Bastoni as Inter try to avoid selling Lautaro Martinez.

It is claimed that Erik ten Hag likes the 11-cap Italy defender ‘a lot’ and that the Red Devils present the ‘most credible’ interest in making the move happen.

The report added that it would take a fee of ‘at least’ €60m (£51.1m) in order to make the deal to bring the youngster a reality.

The verdict: Statement signing

As Ten Hag gets to grips with the task at hand at Old Trafford, signing a player of Bastoni’s calibre would be a remarkable start to his reign in Manchester.

Despite adding Raphael Varane to a defence containing Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof and Eric Bailly, United continued to leak goals at an alarming rate, posting the worst concession rate among the top seven finishers in the Premier League.

During the 2021/22 campaign, the 6 foot 3 giant earned an outstanding 7.10 Sofascore rating whilst winning 4.1 duels and making 1.8 clearances and 1.4 tackles on average per game. He has also been hailed as ‘world class’ by journalist Kaustubh Pandey.

That form, combined with the scope in which the 23-year-old has to develop even further, makes the £54m-valued Bastoni a worthy target for bolster United’s defensive ranks.

In other news: Man Utd and Ten Hag launch ‘important offer’ to sign ‘the future’ of football along with De Jong

Liverpool have already been linked with a number of new additions this summer, with a new update emerging on long-term transfer target Jarrod Bowen.

What’s the latest?

According to talkSPORT reporter Alex Crook, Liverpool’s interest in the West Ham United star is “genuine” as speculation mounts on a potential move for the player this summer.

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Crook told GIVEMESPORT:

“I know Jurgen Klopp’s an admirer so that interest from Liverpool is genuine. But where does he fit in now that they’ve signed Diaz? They’ve got (Diogo) Jota obviously at the moment, Salah and Mane are still there, and so is Firmino.”

It comes as The Mirror reports that the FA cup winners could potentially offer a swap deal for Bowen that includes Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Klopp would love him

There is no doubt that Bowen would fit right in at Liverpool but with a large number of attackers already in the team, it would be hard to see how he would pick up regular game time, despite the fact that Jurgen Klopp would love him.

Klopp has given the forward huge praise in the past, and recently complimented the player ahead of his team’s clash with the Hammers this season.

“Bowen, what a player he became!

“We saw him as well at Hull and he was really good at that time. I’m not sure a lot of people expected this jump, but unbelievable player.”

The £75m ace who was hailed “first-class” and a “genius” by Danny Gabbidon, has been having a phenomenal season in East London and has become one of the hottest prospects in the Premier League thanks to his performances for West Ham.

The 25-year-old has scored 12 goals and contributed ten assists in 35 Premier League appearances so far, creating nine big chances, making 1.2 key passes and taking 2.2 shots on average per game in David Moyes’ side, so it is no wonder Klopp holds him in such high regard.

When you compare him to his peers in the league too, the attacker has been ranking highly with the third most assists, sixth-most big chances and ranks seventh for chance creation in the Premier League, which is highly impressive when you consider his output compared to the other talented players in the top-flight.

Although it may be difficult for Liverpool to place exactly how they would be able to fit him into their already impressive attacking team, Bowen’s ability and talent is clearly hard to ignore for the club and could be a huge signing if the opportunity arises on Merseyside.

AND in other news: Klopp eyeing £150m “wonderkid” who “suits Liverpool’s style”, it may be bye-bye Salah

Nottingham Forest could welcome back Jack Colback and Ryan Yates for their Championship playoff semifinal clash with Sheffield United. 

The lowdown

Forest, who finished fourth in the Championship, travel to Bramall Lane to take on the fifth-placed Blades in the first leg on Saturday afternoon.

They’re looking to return to the top flight after 23 years away following their relegation in 1999.

Both Colback and Yates missed the last game of the season – a 1-1 draw with Hull City – through injury, but it appears that their problems were minor.

The latest

Forest journalist Callum Castel-Nuovo reported the potential double boost on Thursday evening.

Manager Steve Cooper ‘is hopeful’ that both Colback and Davis ‘will be fit enough to play on Saturday’.

The verdict

These are both significant returnees for Forest. Colback started 36 of Forest’s 46 Championship matches over the course of the season, while Yates was an even more prominent figure, featuring in 41 line-ups.

The former is an important defensive presence in midfield, averaging 2.2 tackles per 90 minutes (second in the squad), while the latter ranks fourth in Forest’s goal charts with eight.

And Yates’ threat may be particularly important to preserving the team’s firepower in the absence of 12-goal hitman Lewis Grabban.

Cooper will surely feel much more confident heading to Yorkshire with both players in the travelling party.

In other news, a huge decision has been made ahead of the semifinal.

A ‘rising star’ at Tottenham Hotspur has now looking for a new club after being told he has no future under Antonio Conte, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Spurs exodus awaits?

While much has been made of backing Conte in the summer transfer market, it is believed that just as many, if not more, players could be departing Hotspur Way in a major Premier League reshuffle.

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The obvious names linked with a move away are Tanguy Ndombele, Giovani Lo Celso and Steven Bergwijn among others as transfer chief Fabio Paratici is tasked to balance the books.

Paratici’s overhaul of the scouting department appears to spread all the way down to academy level as N17 could also see a plethora of top young talents depart, according to Football Insider.

The Latest: Spurs ‘rising star’ told he has no future…

As per a Lilywhites ‘source’, speaking to the outlet, promising winger and ‘rising star’ Jeremie Mukendi is now set to leave Spurs after being told he has no future at the club.

Indeed, the 21-year-old has been informed that there is no new deal in the pipeline with his current contract at the Premier League side set to expire next month.

Mukendi will now follow both Khalon Haysman and Dante Cassanova in exiting with the north Londoners having made their decision on the talents.

The Verdict: Interesting future ahead…

Playing 20 time for the club’s Under-18’s and five times for their Under-23’s, Mukendi was a schoolboy sprint champion and emerged through the academy with some promise as one Spurs ‘batch of rising stars’ (Football Insider).

The fact he’s been told he has no future under Conte or hope of breaking into the first team is perhaps testament to the amount of competition at the Hotspur Way academy.

Even wonderkids like Dane Scarlett, previously lauded as a ‘diamond’ by Jose Mourinho, has barely featured for Tottenham this season and it appears even the best breakthrough players will have to be very patient in this new era.

Mukendi’s departure could represent the real rise in standards at Spurs both in the first team and lower down the club.

In other news: Offer made: Paratici tables crucial bid as Conte personally pushes for Spurs signing, find out more here.

Everton will travel to Vicarage Road this evening to attempt to stop themselves from suffering the same fate as their opponents as their battle against relegation rolls on, and Frank Lampard has been given a major injury boost ahead of the clash.

What’s the latest?

Roy Hodgson took to his pre-match press conference ahead of the Everton game to confirm that there will likely be a number of changes to his team on Wednesday night, claiming that the squad were in the middle of an injury crisis.

Hodgson told the press (via Watford Official):

“I was hoping to play a similar team, but we’ve lost so many players that we find ourselves in the middle of an injury crisis.

The club website further confirmed that doubts are on Tom Cleverley, Kiko Femenía, Joshua King, Ismaïla Sarr, Emmanuel Dennis and Shaq Forde.

Players who are definitely unavailable are Juraj Kucka (knee), Cucho Hernández (hamstring), and Nicolas Nkoulou (minor groin problem).

Lampard will be thrilled

The Everton manager will surely be delighted that Watford will potentially play a weaker than usual team this evening, especially since he has injury problems of his own to key players.

Yerry Mina, Ben Godfrey and Donny van de Beek have all been ruled out of the fixture, with the two defenders, in particular, a huge loss for Lampard as they have both been positively influential in the backline over the season.

Michael Keane and Mason Holgate will be available to play in the centre-back partnership and with a weakened Watford side should be able to protect their line effectively to secure Everton more points in their endeavour to survive relegation this season.

The Toffees have won three and drawn one of their last five games, and are currently 16th in the Premier League table ahead of Leeds United and Burnley, with one game in hand on their relegation rivals and the potential of picking up a maximum of 12 points over the next four games.

Lampard will hope that his team can continue the momentum in their final push for survival in the top flight by taking three more points this evening which would steer them into further safety and take the pressure off the Evertonians ahead of the end of the season.

Considering Watford’s ropey looking squad, they have every chance of sealing yet another vital win.

AND in other news: Huge blow: Everton dealt big injury setback ahead of Watford, Lampard will be gutted