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Chelsea are set to have a second interview with Luis Enrique over the manager's job at Stamford Bridge, according to journalist Simon Phillips.

Who is favourite to take charge at Chelsea?

The Blues are currently working hard on finding their next permanent manager, with the appointment expected to be made in the summer, at the latest. Frank Lampard is currently in temporary charge, but three successive defeats against Wolves, Real Madrid and Brighton show that he is not the man to take the team forward in the long-term.

It has been a fairly chaotic season at Chelsea, with both Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter sacked since the campaign got underway, and it is vital that the club nail the next manager this time around, in order to get somewhere near the top of the Premier League again.

Enrique is seemingly one of the front-runners to take charge at Stamford Bridge, having already undergone one interview, although the likes of Julian Nagelsmann, Mauricio Pochettino and Jose Mourinho are all reportedly in the mix, too.

Could Enrique be the man to come in?

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Phillips said that the 52-year-old is expected to have another interview soon, suggesting he remains a strong contender to be the next Chelsea boss:

"Julian Nagelsmann isn’t the only candidate that Chelsea are looking at. They’re also planning to bring Luis Enrique back in for a second interview. But as well as those two, there are up to seven more candidates that Chelsea are considering right now.”

Enrique certainly has the credentials to be an impressive appointment by Chelsea this summer, having tasted Champions League glory in charge of Barcelona back in 2015, as well as winning back-to-back La Liga titles with them in 2015 and 2016.

Granted, his spell as Spain manager didn't end well, with elimination at the hands of Morocco at the 2022 World Cup, but he is a proven winner who will be hungry to succeed at Stamford Bridge.

Whether Enrique is the best possible option for Chelsea is debatable, with Nagelsmann arguably Europe's most exciting young manager right now, but the German lacks the Spaniard's experience when it comes to handling top players with big egos, of which there are arguably plenty at Stamford Bridge currently.

That fact that a second interview looks likely certainly suggests that Todd Boehly considers Enrique a strong option and it would be an appointment that could prove to be inspired.

Tottenham Hotspur could look at appointing Brendan Rodgers as their next manager, as he "has admirers" within the boardroom, according to journalist Pete O'Rourke.

What's the latest Tottenham manager news?

Football Insider are now reporting Rodgers has a good chance of getting the Tottenham job, as the club are impressed by his track record of building teams and developing players, while he would also not be confrontational with the board.

Pundit Frank McAvennie has since backed the Northern Irishman to take over, claiming he would do a "great job" at N17, and is "good enough" to make the step up to Spurs from Leicester, but he is not the only candidate for the job.

ENIC have a number of managers on their shortlist, with the likes of Roberto De Zerbi and Thomas Frank believed to be of interest, although Julian Nagelsmann remains the main target for the time being.

In a recent interview with GiveMeSport, O'Rourke confirmed the 50-year-old has admirers within the Tottenham hierarchy, having been a managerial candidate in the past.

Talking about Spurs' search for a new manager, the journalist said: "It obviously increases the opportunities for Brendan Rodgers now.

"He's basically a free agent, he's on the market, has great experience and he’s managed top clubs like Liverpool and Celtic where there is massive pressure to deliver success.

"He has admirers in the Tottenham boardroom, as Daniel Levy has considered him previously for the job as well. So now, there's no compensation to pay for his services.”

Would Brendan Rodgers be a good appointment?

If the Spurs board are looking for someone with a track record of building teams, the former Leicester boss could be a suitable option, having taken the Foxes from ninth, up to fifth, missing out on Champions League football by one point in the 2020-21 season.

Hailed as "excellent" by members of the media, the tactician also has experience managing some big clubs, where there is a great deal of expectation, leading Celtic to two league titles, and taking charge of Liverpool for 166 games.

The main concern for Tottenham, however, will be just how much Leicester have regressed this season, now sitting 19th in the Premier League, two points from safety.

Of course, even the best managers cannot guarantee success every season, but the fact a drop-off of that magnitude happened under Rodgers' watch is a real worry, and Spurs may be better off steering clear.

Arsenal were held to a 2-2 draw with Sporting CP in their Europa League clash in midweek, with Mikel Arteta having to field a makeshift starting XI due to injury issues.

It wasn’t their finest performance all season, with defenders Ben White and Jakub Kiwior – making his debut – underperforming in the tie and the second leg is all to play for.

Fulham are the opponent this afternoon and with the Premier League title race coming into the final stretch, three points are all that matters, especially considering Manchester City are hot on their heels.

With this in mind, Arteta will be looking to field the strongest line-up he has available and with Kiwior struggling against Sporting, the Spaniard should unleash Gabriel Magalhaes at centre-back alongside William Saliba.

Will Arteta unleash Gabriel against Fulham?

The Brazilian has been in fine form in the league this term for the Gunners, ranking as their second-best defender with a Sofascore rating of 7.04/10, just behind Oleksandr Zinchenko, while Kiwior recorded a score of 6.10 on Thursday.

Across 26 matches, he has scored twice, averaged 75.2 touches, holds a 90% pass success rate, and has kept 11 clean sheets during his time on the pitch, forming a solid partnership with Saliba in the process and this has been the cornerstone behind Arsenal’s excellent league form.

The 25-year-old has also chipped in with 1.3 tackles, 0.8 interceptions, and 3.2 clearances per game while winning 4.7 duels each match – a success rate of 62%.

The £50k-per-week centre-back has played an integral part this season and former Arsenal striker Kevin Campbell even described him as a “rock” back in 2021 and he appears to have significantly improved since then.

Indeed, writer Connor Humm claimed that the player has “gone to another level” since coming back from the World Cup and he must come back into the starting XI this afternoon as the gem could use his newfound form to dominate the Cottagers.

Fulham have the eighth-best total for goals scored in the league this term as they have enjoyed their first season back in the Premier League, and having narrowly lost to the Gunners in the reverse fixture back in August, Arteta will have to be on his guard, which is why Gabriel must come back into the side to replace Kiwior at the heart of the defence.

Newcastle United are reportedly set to reward Nick Pope with a new contract worth £100,000-per-week.

The Lowdown: Top signing

Hailed as an ‘exceptional’ goalkeeper by Eddie Howe upon arriving from Burnley in the summer, Pope has been a top signing for Newcastle.

The six-foot-three colossus boasts the most amount of clean sheets in the Premier League so far this season with 12, and his team have conceded the fewest goals by far with 17.

The Latest: New bumper contract…

As per The Sun, the St. James’ Park outfit are set to reward Pope with a bumper new deal worth £100,000-per-week.

His basic salary at the moment is £60,000-per-week, but that is thought to increase with appearance money, clean sheet and win bonuses.

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The Verdict: Deserved

Pope’s new contract is well-deserved considering his form this season.

He has established himself as not only one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League, but in Europe as well, ranking in the top 20% for a number of key metrics for shot-stoppers in Europe’s top five leagues.

Pope’s current £60,000-per-week wage does not reflect his importance in the squad, and a new £100,000-per-week contract would put him among Newcastle’s highest earners.

Thus, the Magpies should be looking to wrap this deal up as soon as they can, so that it does not become a distraction for the rest of the campaign.

Journalist Ryan Taylor has hinted that Liverpool could make some high-profile summer sales this year, in the same manner as Gini Wijnaldum and Sadio Mane’s departures in previous windows.

The Lowdown: Massive summer ahead

The Reds have had an extremely challenging season, with too many key players not performing, and both mental and physical tiredness appearing to hold them back.

This summer is a massive one in Liverpool’s recent history, with transfer funds surely having to be made available by FSG, especially in terms of midfield additions.

It could be that some individuals leave the club, too, and it may even be that a high-profile name heads out of the Anfield exit door.

The Latest: Journo hints at high-profile exits

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Taylor was asked if he could see a Wijnaldum or Mane-like departure at Liverpool, to which he responded:

“Absolutely, because we’ve seen Georginio Wijnaldum and Sadio Mane leave. They’re in the biggest rut of the Jurgen Klopp era, arguably, so why wouldn’t that be the case?

“I feel like Klopp needs to keep a core. The Wijnaldum and Mane sales will haunt Liverpool forever. They just really did not make sense to me.

“I know Klopp’s been keen to make an example, with the likes of Philippe Coutinho, of the fact that nobody is bigger than the club. I know Wijnaldum’s representatives and the player himself were looking for a contract more reflective of his value to the team. Once he didn’t get that, obviously he was shown the door, but I feel like it was a bad decision.”

The Verdict: No need to sell a star man

There are arguments to make either way when it comes to Wijnaldum and Mane – some feel they should have been retained and others think they were past their very best – but it would be a surprise to see similar happen this summer.

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The Reds certainly have certain players who it makes sense to move on, with Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain standing out, given their injury-prone nature and the fact that their contracts expire this summer.

While many top players have underwhelmed this season, from Trent Alexander-Arnold to Virgil van Dijk, they all remain absolutely massive players moving forward, with potential midfield signings making a world of difference, such as Jude Bellingham.

To sell one of them or a player of similar importance would make no sense at all and the hope is that some top players come in to aid the current heroes.

Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg has shared a very promising update on Harry Kane’s potential contract extension at Tottenham Hotspur.

The Lowdown: Kane exit links…

The England captain has been repeatedly linked with a move away from N17 as he enters the final 18 months of his contract at Spurs.

Kane’s current deal expires in 2024 as things stand, putting the likes of Bayern Munich and Man United on red alert as both sides scour the market for a world class centre-forward.

The 29-year-old has been a crucial player under Antonio Conte, scoring 16 goals in 21 Premier League starts this season as he spearheads Tottenham’s chase for a top-four finish.

The Latest: Plettenberg shares promising Kane update…

Taking to Twitter, Sky journalist Plettenberg claims that, after a latest round of in-house talks, Spurs are ‘very optimistic’ that Kane will put pen to paper on a contract extension.

Furthermore, it is believed that United and Bayern should have ‘no chance’ of stealing the striker away from north London.

Plettenberg explained: “News #Kane: More talks between Tottenham/agent took place. Been told that Tottenham is ‘very optimistic’ now that Kane will extend beyond 2024. Bayern and #MUFC should have ‘no chance’. Bayern don’t give up hope but the bosses are more & more pessimistic.”

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The Verdict: Great news…

You can never say never until Kane officially puts pen to paper, but this certainly comes as a very encouraging claim for Spurs supporters. The odds have appeared to swing in both Conte and Daniel Levy’s favour, with Tottenham now looking like favourites to tie down Kane rather than seeing him leave.

According to WhoScored, the forward’s contribution stretches far beyond being a proven goalscorer, as he also ranks joint-second in their squad for key passes made per 90 in the final third.

At the end of 2020/21, Kane won both the Premier League Golden Boot and Playmaker of the Year award, prompting serious interest from champions Manchester City at the time.

The Three Lions star comes as a real all-rounder and a rare striker in the beautiful game, especially in the sense that he can drop deep and create alongside his ability to poach in the penalty area.

Keeping hold of Kane beyond 2024 would be a major boost for Tottenham, and this update suggests that they may well do so.

Tottenham Hotspur will still have their eyes on the market even if they are able to bring in the Sporting CP defender Pedro Porro in the coming days.

What’s the latest?

Spurs finally brought in their first addition of the January transfer window in the loan signing of Arnaut Danjuma on Wednesday from Villarreal.

The Lilywhites are also looking to bring in the Spanish right wing-back, Porro, this month with the two parties believed to be locked in talks over a possible deal.

It is said Spurs have agreed personal terms with Porro ahead of a possible agreement between the clubs with the 23-year-old said to be open to a five-year deal.

However, speaking on his YouTube channel, Fabrizio Romano has claimed the north London club may not stop there and could look to bring in some further additions:

“Tottenham are not done yet on the market. It doesn’t mean that they are 100% signing a new player after Danjuma and after Pedro Porro, but Tottenham are still exploring the market.

“Tottenham are still looking at opportunities, at options, so the situation is open around Tottenham and deadline surprises are possible for Spurs.”

More to come?

It has certainly been a slow start to the January transfer window for Spurs with it taking 25 days for the first signing to come through the doors of Hotspur Way.

And perhaps that was to be expected with the previous January transfer window seeing the two signings, Rodrigo Bentancur and Dejan Kulusevski, arrive on the final day of the window.

But there is a feeling emerging now Spurs have got their first deal over the line that they are now in business and could quickly make it two signings for Anotnio Conte.

Having endured such a poor run of form since the middle of October when the away defeat against Manchester United kickstarted a dreadful defensive record for Spurs, it does feel like Spurs could do with as many signings as possible.

The Lilywhites have now seen their grasp on the top four fade away but still remain just a handful of points adrift of the race for a spot in next season’s Champions League.

And despite some of the doom and gloom around the north London club, Conte’s men still have the FA Cup and Champions League to fight for.

It will be interesting, though, to see if Spurs have any specific positions in mind over the coming days of the window with their defensive record leaving a lot to be desired.

Goals has not particularly been a problem for Spurs – albeit there’s been a heavy reliance on Harry Kane – but the crux of Spurs’ main issues this season has been their frailties in defence.

Perhaps Fabio Paratici will only be keeping an eye out for any opportunities that present themselves – like Danjuma – but it does feel as if any defensive reinforcements could be much needed.

Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Pape Sarr has a long-term future at the club, according to John Wenham.

The Lowdown: Sarr at Spurs

Sarr signed for Tottenham all the way back in August 2021 for £14.6m (via Sky Sports) from Metz when Nuno Espirito Santo was at the helm.

However, he never featured under the Portuguese boss, who was soon booted out the Spurs exit door to be replaced by Antonio Conte, all whilst the Senegalese was back on loan with the French side.

Upon his return to north London at the beginning of the current campaign, Sarr found himself on the cusp of the squad until he made his bow in the Premier League against Aston Villa on New Year’s Day.

He has since featured in the subsequent four games, even starting the north London Derby and making himself a firm part of Conte’s plans.

The Latest: Wenham’s praise

The 20-year-old lasted 76 minutes against Arsenal in a game that Spurs were largely second-best with him left chasing shadows around the middle of the park with Mikel Arteta deploying an extra midfielder.

Despite the disappointing result, Wenham told Football Insider how impressed he was with Sarr, who he feels can play a big role at the club.

Wenham said: “He was one of our better players, which is funny because he had only really played against Portsmouth before the Arsenal game.

“But he was handed this golden chance by Conte, because you would think Bissouma or Skipp would have been in there.

“You have to think Conte might prefer Sarr, but then, if that’s the case, why haven’t we seen more of him? Just on Sarr, though, I think there is a player there.

“He is so young and that game will have been a big experience for him, he will have learned so much. It looks like he is sticking around for the second half of the season as well so hopefully he can continue to develop.”

The Verdict: Key second half of the season

Sarr was shown incredible faith by his boss in the derby, but his inclusion and performance did not please everyone, with Jamie O’Hara singling out the 20-year-old after the defeat.

Still with doubters to prove wrong, Sarr will have ample opportunity to do exactly that with his place in the Spurs side potentially his to lose.

Oliver Skipp and Yves Bissouma have suffered from poor campaigns, with the pair’s average rating the second-lowest and fifth-lowest in the whole squad respectively (via WhoScored).

He’s certainly left an impact, with Sky Sports reporter Jamie Weir describing him as “really good” following Sunday’s derby.

We think Sarr could be given more chances by Conte over the next few weeks and months, with the youngster becoming a key part of his plans of late.

Journalist Ben Jacobs has claimed that Tottenham Hotspur could be in the running to sign talented Borussia Dortmund striker Youssoufa Moukoko.

What’s the latest?

The teenager has been widely tipped to make a move away from his current side in the near future, as it remains unclear if he will sign a new contract, with his current deal set to expire at the end of the season.

In a new interview with GiveMeSport, the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool and Barcelona are all said to be contenders for Moukoko’s signature.

However, it seems as though Spurs are also ‘ones to watch’. Indeed, Jacobs explained: “Manchester United are one of those [interested]. They’ve tracked him for quite some time. They haven’t entered into any kind of advanced talks yet.

“Liverpool and Spurs are ones to watch and don’t rule out a move to La Liga and Barcelona either. Barcelona’s position is very much that they’re working on the player’s side to try and persuade him not to sign a new contract in the hope they’ll get him for free. As soon as transfer fees come into it, it wouldn’t surprise me if they back off the race. So, lots of suitors here.”

Spurs could land a gem

Now January has begun, Moukoko, who was dubbed as the ‘biggest talent in the world’ by Erling Haaland, is free to negotiate with foreign clubs having entered the final six months of his Dortmund contract. And, seeing as he became the youngest player to score 10 Bundesliga goals earlier this season, at just 17 years and 350 days, it’s not hard to see why a number of teams would be keen on a deal.

Despite still only being 18 years of age, the German striker has already played 59 times for Dortmund and has scored 11 goals and provided eight assists in that time. He is also now a full international for his country and even featured at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar this winter, coming off the bench in the defeat to Japan.

While Harry Kane is very much the undisputed main man up top for Spurs, he is now 29 years of age and so the club may soon have to start planning for a future without him. What’s more, his contract expires in 2024 and there is no guarantee that he will commit the next step of his career to the north London outfit.

Regardless of Kane’s situation, Moukoko would be a top talent to bring in, capable of making a big impact for Tottenham now and somewhere down the line too.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are listed as one of the two Premier League sides who “stand out” in the chase to sign Real Madrid defender Nacho, according to reports. 

The Lowdown: Minutes decreasing…

32-year-old Spanish defender Nacho has been a loyal servant to Los Blancos. Having come through the academy ranks, Madrid is all he has ever known. 

However, playing time has now become an issue for the versatile veteran, with the central defender, who can also play both full-back roles, compiling a mere 141 minutes from seven appearances with just one start made in La Liga this term. 

As he nears the 300 game mark for Real Madrid, Nacho may need to evaluate his future with his contract expiring in the summer of next year. 

The Latest: Wolves on high alert

According to Sport Witness, who relayed a report from the Spanish press, there is a possibility for Nacho to switch clubs in the upcoming winter market, which has put Wolves on alert. 

Real Madrid have offered the versatile defender a one-year contract extension, though it is said that the Spaniard has not accepted this proposal due to the concerning lack of minutes.

Wolves are listed as a “stand out” destination alongside Aston Villa, with the Old Gold’s interest “not accidental” due to the arrival of Julen Lopetegui as the new boss at Molineux. 

It is said that Lopetegui knows Nacho well from their shared time at the Bernabeu, with the Spanish boss always liking the player. 

The Verdict: Get it done!

Although Wolves’ back line has hardly been the biggest problem at Molineux this season, improvements can still be made, and there is very little depth behind the first-choice centre-backs.

And besides, an addition like £133k-per-week Nacho at the back – a defender schooled in a possession-based, progressive approach – could slowly but surely help the side in their goalscoring woes too, with the Real Madrid man able to commence attacks from deep due to his ability to play out.

With Wolves bottom of the table, a familiar face could go along way in Lopetegui’s revival mission.