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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.

Sunday was the third time New Zealand were denied parity by India’s lower order, but Trent Boult has said that the visitors are not doing much wrong

Sidharth Monga at Eden Gardens02-Oct-2016Sunday was the third time New Zealand were denied parity by India’s lower order, which has been crucial in a low-scoring series. In the first innings in Kanpur, India’s sixth wicket added 52 and the last 41. In response New Zealand lost their last five wickets for seven runs. In Kolkata, Wriddhiman Saha led the lower-order fightback, taking India from 200 for 6 to 316. In the second innings, India have exceeded those last two comebacks by converting 106 for 6 into 227 for 8. New Zealand’s leading bowler, Trent Boult, though, feels they are not doing much wrong against the lower order.”Not necessarily,” Boult said when asked if they could have done much differently to prevent another frustrating resistance from India’s lower order. “We are trying to apply the pressure for as long as we can and not let off at all throughout the whole innings. But we know and realise they are going to put partnerships together, and we just can’t afford to get frustrated by that. It is still a challenge as a bowling unit to not drift and release that pressure, but it is something we are trying to get much better at.”Some of it could be put down to the exhaustion in the heat. “I have to put these down as some of the tougher conditions I’ve ever played in in my career,” Boult said. “I’m not too sure what it looks like on TV, but it is pretty taxing. Obviously the dryness in the wicket and in the air is pretty tough. The last session is probably the easiest session in terms of heat. [But] You are just sapped by the time that comes around.”The guys did extremely well to put the balls in the areas we did and apply that pressure. It was spoken in the huddle that we weren’t just going to let them drift away with the game with a figure in mind. We wanted to put pressure on them and make them earn every run. I think we did very well.”Thanks to Jeetan Patel and BJ Watling’s batting at the start of the day and the six early wickets, New Zealand fought their way back, but perhaps it was that deficit that meant India weren’t under the pressure New Zealand would have wanted to put them under. It was mostly on day two that they let the game slip with India’s lower-order runs and their own collapses with rain and bad light around.”It’s very disappointing but that is done now and we can’t do anything about it,” Boult said of the second day. “They had some good conditions there last night to put us under pretty big pressure with the ball. Bhuvi [Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who took five wickets] bowled very well, and that has played a big part in the game. But we are not just going to roll over, we’ve fought very nicely to get ourselves back in the position we are in now.”Boult said New Zealand would need every bit of skill with the bat to fight back again in this Test. “We have the guys with the ability to bat long periods of time,” Boult said. “In terms of the wicket there is a little bit of variation in bounce and that is obviously going to be in the back of a few of our minds. We have to take it small steps at a time. If we can tick off our goals of trying to bat for half a session, then a session and just keep them out there and try to build like that. Anything that is set is definitely achievable.”They could learn from Jeetan Patel’s innings in the morning, Boult said. “He did very well. It’s his first in a wee while and to come back and play an innings like that was good to watch. The rest of us can take a leaf out of his book and try to apply yourself like he did because they were valuable runs.”

Glasgow Rangers will need to bolster their attacking options during the summer transfer window in order to achieve success next season.

Alfredo Morelos has left the club having failed to agree to an extension, while Kemar Roofe is perennially injured and played only six games last term, leaving Antonio Colak as their only fully fit striker at the current moment in time.

Michael Beale has admitted that improving the quality of players he has at his disposal in the final third is key, saying: "Certainly, in the final third, I think that's an area where, although we win a lot of games and score a lot of goals, we are also a team that miss a lot of chances.

"That's a key part of my thinking."

With this in mind, the Ibrox faithful will be hoping to see a couple of forwards arriving in Glasgow over the course of the summer, especially as they scored 21 fewer goals than Celtic last term, a key factor in them winning another Premiership title.

Could Rangers sign Josh Maja this summer?

The Bordeaux striker has been linked with Rangers over the previous few months, and due to the Ligue 2 side failing to achieve promotion, the Gers could now seal him on a free transfer.

Foot Mercato claimed that Maja would have signed a new deal had Bordeaux sealed a path back to the French top flight, but according to France Bleu, he is ‘expected to leave’ – and could end up being an upgrade on Fashion Sakala for Rangers.

The Zambian enjoyed something of a renaissance under Beale when he took over in November, eventually finishing the season with 20 goal contributions. However, he isn’t the most clinical, and former Rangers winger Neil McCann claimed Sakala “can sometimes lack composure” after a win against Hearts in February, whereas Maja could add a ruthlessness in front of goal that the club have been struggling with.

Across 40 games in all competitions last term, the Nigeria international scored 17 goals and grabbed six assists, while he also created more big chances (eight to seven) and netted more league goals (16 to 12) than Sakala.

There is no doubting Sakala’s enthusiasm, however, he is often deployed out wide, while Beale needs a reliable finisher ahead of an important season, and former Ibrox hitman Jermain Defoe has even lauded praise on Maja, as they both spent time at Sunderland, saying: “Josh is a quick thinker and if you’re that fast upstairs, you don’t need anything else.

“When he trained with the first team he showed such great awareness – he knew when to pass it, had a great touch – and although he’s not got electric pace, he’s two steps ahead of everyone which means he’s got an immediate advantage.

“The gift Josh has is rare and if he builds on it, the sky’s the limit.”

It’s a gamble that Beale must take, and considering he might not cost the club a penny in terms of a transfer fee, Maja may just go on to surprise a few people should he make the move to Scotland.

Tottenham Hotspur are interested in a deal to bring Marc Guehi to north London in the summer transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to Jack Pitt-Brooke, with the journalist revealing in a recent article for The Athletic that Fabio Paratici and Antonio Conte are big admirers of the Crystal Palace centre-back, with the England international believed to be a potential alternative to Inter Milan’s Alessandro Bastoni.

However, Pitt-Brooke added that, with the 21-year-old having four years remaining on his current contract at Selhurst Park, Patrick Vieira’s side have little incentive to negotiate with Spurs regarding any sale of the defender, with it being reported that it would take a huge fee to sign him this summer.

In his article, the journalist wrote: “Spurs are big admirers of Marc Guehi at Crystal Palace but he has four years remaining on his deal, meaning that Palace have no incentive to even negotiate with Spurs. It would take a huge fee to get him out at this point.”

The next John Terry

Considering just how exciting a prospect Guehi undoubtedly is, it’s not difficult to see why both Conte and Paratici would be keen on bringing the centre-back to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this summer.

Indeed, over his 36 Premier League appearances in 2021/22, the £60m-rated talent was imperious on the left of Palace’s centre-back pairing. He helped his side to keep 10 clean sheets, making 0.8 interceptions, one tackle and 3.5 clearances and winning 4.1 duels (at a success rate of 67%) per game.

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The £31k-per-week prodigy also impressed going forwards, scoring two goals, registering one assist and creating one big chance for his team-mates, in addition to making 57 passes and 4.4 long balls and taking 0.5 shots per match.

These returns saw the player who Vieira dubbed “unbelievable” earn a quite spectacular seasonal SofaScore match rating of 7.03, ranking him as the Eagles’ second-best performer in the league last season.

Furthermore, as a result of his impressive reading of the game, Tom Barclay went as far as to compare the Chelsea academy product’s style of play to that of one of the best centre-backs to ever grace the English top flight, in John Terry.

Speaking about Guehi in an interview with GIVEMESPORT earlier this year, the journalist said: “He’s never been blessed with rapid pace, but his understanding of the game has really helped him on that front.

“I’m not surprised that John Terry is his idol. When you consider the similarities, John Terry didn’t have a lot of pace but his reading of the game nullified that problem.”

A deal appears unlikely at present, but should Paratici somehow manage to convince Palace to part with their centre-back sensation this summer, the sporting director could well have unearthed the next Terry at Tottenham. That is certain to be a hugely exciting prospect both for Conte and for supporters of the club alike.

AND in other news: “Told..”: Journo reveals Paratici now “very close” to Spurs deal, Arteta will be livid

Nottingham Forest are reportedly looking to make a bid to sign Wolves midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White ahead of the upcoming summer transfer window.

What’s the news?

According to a recent report from journalist Alan Nixon in The Sun, Bruno Lage will try and convince the player to sign a new deal at Molineux this summer as Forest and Southampton are “poised with offers should negotiations not go to plan.”

As a product of Wolves’ youth system, the 22-year-old has gone on to make 103 appearances across their U23 and senior sides, scoring five goals and delivering six assists in the process.

The Englishman recently completed his second loan spell away from the Midlands club, this time with Sheffield United after he had a short period with Swansea City between August 2020 and January 2021.

Great news for Cooper

During his time with the Blades, the youngster found the net 12 times and supplied ten assists in 37 appearances, which is why his parent club are keen to secure his long-term future at Molineux and why the likes of Forest and Southampton are reportedly willing to splash the cash to sign him.

To further highlight how deadly he was for the Yorkshire club this season and why he’d be a good signing, Gibbs-White racked up more shots at goal (86) and more shots on target (33) than any other United player.

He also ended the campaign with the joint-highest average of key passes per game in the squad and the highest overall performance rating (7.14/10) according to WhoScored.

This shows the attacking capabilities he has and how he could be a big asset for Forest as they prepare to take on their upcoming campaign as a Premier League team.

Should Wolves fail in their attempt to get the youth talent to sign a new deal with them, it would be great news for Steve Cooper to see his side bring in a young player like Gibbs-White that has proven what he can do in the Championship and has some experience of playing in the top flight.

This situation is certainly one that Forest should be keeping a close eye on and potentially make a bid should an opportunity to do so present itself.

In other news: Huge boost: Exciting NFFC transfer update emerges that’ll leave supporters buzzing

Leeds United are confident of signing RB Salzburg defender Rasmus Kristensen, according to The Yorkshire Evening Post.

The Lowdown: Kristensen links

Phil Hay was the man who broke the news regarding the Whites and Kristensen on Tuesday morning.

The reliable reporter stated that the club have been following the 24-year-old, who Jesse Marsch signed for Salzburg back in 2019.

Kristensen is expected to leave Austria over the coming months for a fee of around £10m, however, Leeds could face competition from Borussia Dortmund and Brentford.

The Latest: Transfer update

The YEP shared an update regarding Kristensen on Tuesday afternoon.

They claimed that Leeds are ‘confident of moving forward with negotiations for the Denmark right-back’.

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The Verdict: Perfect

With Luke Ayling and Stuart Dallas sidelined for the foreseeable future, a right-back appears to be needed at Elland Road, and Kristensen looks like the ideal target.

Able to play further forward as a right-midfielder, Kristensen has plenty of experience and success working under Marsch and likes to get forward with an eye for goal.

Described as an ‘aggressive but athletic’ defender, it looks as if he has the qualities to fit in at Elland Road, and by the looks of it, Marsch is on course to get his way when it comes to a reunion with the full-back.

In other news – £34m release clause: Leeds now interested in move for ‘special talent’ who Marsch loves

According to the BBC, there has been a significant West Ham United transfer update involving long-time transfer target Jesse Lingard.

The Lowdown: Moyes attempts permanent move…

Ever since the Manchester United ace thrived during a loan spell at the London Stadium in the first f ew months of 2021, Irons manager David Moyes has been attempting to re-sign the player on a permanent deal.

The Englishman has been at the centre of West Ham transfer attempts both in January and last summer, but those failed to result in Lingard signing for the Hammers indefinitely.

However, as the 29-year-old’s contract at Old Trafford nears its end, Moyes and GSB have the opportunity to finally seal his capture for zero transfer cost on a Premier League Bosman deal.

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The Latest: BBC share Lingard update…

According to Simon Stone for the BBC, the West Ham manager is indeed back in for Lingard once more, with the east Londoners already making a pre-summer move in the form of an enquiry.

Stone added that Moyes has a personal long-standing interest in his former attacker, who is set to leave Manchester as a free agent next month.

The Verdict: Seal a move…

Signing Lingard for no transfer fee really is a no-brainer for Moyes and West Ham, who will be looking to build upon their remarkable rise over the last two seasons.

Having already excelled under Moyes, all while knowing the club from his first temporary spell, the Red Devils outcast could find a real home at Rush Green, and we believe that Lingard should give first priority to an Irons reunion.

Pundits like Paul Robinson, who was speaking to Football Insider on the possible transfer, have claimed that Lingard would be a ‘massive signing’ for West Ham, and we’re inclined to agree, especially considering that he can now join for free at the end of June.

In other news: Club chief flies to London as West Ham now eye ‘incredible’ £30m striker…find out more here

Everton have had one of their worst seasons in the Premier League era, narrowly avoiding relegation in what was a campaign filled with tension and poor performances under both Rafael Benitez and Frank Lampard.

There is no doubt that the latter must improve his squad over the summer, as a club the size of Everton shouldn’t be battling relegation, and a major restructure of the playing roster is surely imminent.

With the likelihood that there will be some incoming transfers, the manager will need to get rid of some deadwood, with Andre Gomes surely near the top of the list to go.

The Portuguese midfielder signed for Everton from Barcelona in 2019 for £22m and it hasn’t exactly represented the best value for money, playing 100 games for the Toffees and only scoring twice. Gomes was also dubbed “reckless” by David Prentice, and Lampard could see this summer as the ideal time to move him on, especially when there’s an ideal replacement already being linked with the club.

Spanish outlet AS recently reported that Everton are keen on signing 17-year-old Barcelona midfielder Gavi, who has been dubbed “spectacular” by his manager Xavi. To earn that praise from such an iconic footballer would make it a great move for the Toffees to sign the teenager not just for next season, but for what he could produce further into the future.

The youngster has made 33 La Liga appearances this season, chipping in with two goals and five assists. To make that kind of impact for a club like Barcelona at such a young age suggests that he has an extremely bright future, and Everton could make a massive statement by signing him this summer.

Gavi could be the fulcrum around whom Lampard can build his side; and with the 17-year-old’s talent and maturity, it would be a shrewd signing. It would also mean that Everton could axe Gomes, whose performances this season have left a lot to be desired.

AND in other news, Everton handed huge injury lift as early Arsenal team news emerges

Everton have had a disappointing season that has seen them compete in a rollercoaster relegation fight over the last few months, and with two Premier League games left to go they are still in a vulnerable position.

Despite a two-point cushion on the bottom three, the Toffees squandered their opportunity to secure safety in their game against Brentford on Sunday at Goodison Park in their first loss in four games.

Frank Lampard’s side went down to nine-men by the time the whistle had blown, and will now need to hope they can pick up results in their final fixtures this week.

Many players have clearly underperformed to put Everton in this position, but one player in particular who featured in the self-destructive performance against Brentford was Andre Gomes.

Lampard was left with no choice but to make changes to his recently in-form midfield as both Donny van de Beek and Fabian Delph are out with injuries, so the manager made the decision to play Gomes for the first time in eight games and it surely wasn’t the right one when you consider his lack of impact and positive influence in the centre of the pitch.

According to SofaScore, the Portuguese midfielder who was branded “ridiculous” by Sky Sports pundit Gary Birtles, only made 78% accurate passes completing just 14 in total. He also made no tackles or interceptions, was dribbled past and made an error leading to a shot, proving he was simply a passenger in the game before being brought back to the bench in the 72nd minute.

This isn’t a one off for Gomes either and the game against Brentford was simply a reflection of the midfielder’s lack of presence and effectiveness throughout the season in his 13 appearances. He the ball every 3.8 touches on average, failed to win the majority of both his ground and aerial duels (62%) and was dribbled past by opponents 1.8 times on average.

With that being said, the Toffees boss clearly doesn’t see a future for the 28-year-old giving him just three opportunities over the last 15 games so if he can make some money by selling the player this summer, it would be the best outcome for Everton going forward.

AND in other news: Talks ongoing: Major Everton transfer development will leave supporters fuming

Manchester United are thought to be preparing an offer to sign Sporting CP defender Goncalo Inacio.

The Lowdown: Inacio links

Reports earlier this month linked the Red Devils with a summer swoop for Inacio. The 20-year-old Portuguese starlet, primarily a centre-back who can also turn out at left-back, has been tracked by United chiefs for ‘some time’, with their interest now ‘real’ ahead of an Old Trafford rebuild under Erik ten Hag.

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Newcastle United have also been name-checked with a possible move for Inacio, who has a €45m (£38.5m) release clause and was hailed as ‘underrated’ by journalist Zach Lowy.

The Latest: Offer ‘imminent’

Sports Witness relayed an update from A Bola regarding United and Inacio on Tuesday. They claim that the Red Devils are leading the race for the defender’s services, with a bid now ‘imminent’.

Developments could happen ‘very soon’, with the report adding that United may decide to offer €40m with €5m in performance-based add-ons.

The Verdict: Smart move?

Only five Premier League sides have conceded more goals than United this season, which goes to show that a defensive overhaul is needed ahead of Ten Hag’s first season on charge.

Inacio could be a shrewd signing both in the short and long term as he’s been a regular for Sporting during the current campaign and has even weighed in with five goals in all competitions.

He’s also comfortable on the ball, with a passing completion rate of 91% in the current Portuguese top-flight campaign, while he also ranks high for Sporting when it comes to clearances made and dribbled past the least per 90. [WhoScored]

You’d like to think the club could raise funds needed for a move by moving on one or two this summer, and it looks as if they will make their offer soon.

In other news: ‘Important’ – Fabrizio Romano now drops Man Utd news as Ten Hag close to first piece of business.