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Tottenham Hotspur are in search of a new manager, but given the failures of their previous three appointments, Daniel Levy cannot afford to just get in any old name.

It must be someone who is clearly capable of dragging this club towards a brighter future, boasting top tactical and man-management skills to elevate this current crop of players. As poor as they might have been throughout this campaign, there remains a level of quality amongst them that has been seldom visible all year.

The Lilywhites are also often unwilling to spend big in the way Manchester United or Chelsea do, so suggesting an entire squad overhaul this summer might seem unlikely.

Whoever comes in will have to deal with what is already in north London, making best use of those assets until a few transfer windows can pass by.

One such name who desperately needs a new lease of life injected into his career is Richarlison, who moved for a hefty £60m sum last summer and has struggled to impress.

A dogged and hard-working warrior of a forward, his versatility and tenacity lends to the suggestion that one day the 25-year-old could play a true starring role for this club.

Perhaps the man to unlock this potential could be managerial target Julian Nagelsmann, as his experience working with top forwards might prove imperative.

Of the many he has overseen, perhaps Thomas Muller's specialised role would suit the Brazilian more than any routine position.

How has Richarlison played this season?

The former Everton forward had joined with rave reviews from Merseyside, as one of the main reasons for their survival. With ten goals and five assists in the Premier League that year, there was hope that surrounded by an increased level of quality, these numbers would only soar.

However, as of May, the £90k-per-week dud has just one league goal all season.

Perhaps Nagelsmann could seek to shift his focus from just goalscoring, and instead into the Raumdeuter role that saw Muller earn such success. Loosely translating to 'space investigator', very few have the attributes to feature in such a niche position.

It requires someone to have the intrinsic qualities to roam from wide areas into pockets of space, thus acting as a poacher. Given Richarlison has never quite been a centre-forward or a winger, despite featuring in both positions, this seems like a perfect option.

Given the 33-year-old has featured 663 times for Bayern Munich, scoring 234 and assisting a further 255 despite never really being the most technically outstanding player, the similarities he shares with the ex-Watford star are startling. Both often look uneasy on the ball, almost out of control, but have the ability to sniff out danger in the area.

Given Nagelsmann coached the German international in 73 games, perhaps he will have picked up the key traits of the role that could transform the man recently dubbed a "flop" by journalist Zach Lowy. It could be just the recipe to finally revive Richarlison's dismal stay in the capital.

Brighton and Hove Albion star Moises Caicedo "could still end up at Arsenal" this summer, according to CBS journalist Ben Jacobs.

What's the latest Arsenal transfer news?

The Gunners are gearing for an all-important, blockbuster clash in the race for this season's Premier League title as Mikel Arteta's side travel to the Etihad Stadium this evening.

League rivals Man City have gained serious momentum of late, turning it up a gear with no side beating them in any competition since Tottenham in early February. In that time, Pep Guardiola's Blues have scored a ridiculous 49 goals in 16 games, owing to their ruthlessness in the attacking areas.

Arsenal, meanwhile, have dropped points in each of their last three league games – drawing away to Liverpool, West Ham and at home to Southampton.

Tonight's encounter may well determine who clinches this year's domestic crown at it is the job of Arteta to stifle City's imperious run of form.

In the background, Emirates transfer chief Edu is preparing for next season, as he looks to maintain Arsenal's place among England's most elites sides.

A midfielder is high on the agenda, with West Ham star Declan Rice thought to be a major target. Further forward, there have also been recent links to both Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace) and Brazil international Vitor Roque.

Now, commenting on Arsenal's search for a star midfield man, CBS reporter Jacobs has claimed that Brighton star Caicedo could still end up in north London this summer despite their serious interest in Rice.

He also suggests that the Ecuador international could be perfect for Arteta, calling him a 'great fit'.

He explained to CaughtOffside:

"The last thing Brighton will want is to lose Caicedo and Alexis Mac Allister if they have Europa League football.

“There is huge interest in both players. Mac Allister wants to move early. He is high up on Liverpool’s list and Manchester United appreciate him, too. Caicedo could still end up at Arsenal, even though West Ham’s Declan Rice remains the top defensive-midfield target.

“Caicedo would be a great fit at Arsenal, but striking a deal with Brighton won’t be easy – and may be even harder, or at least drawn out, if Mac Allister goes first."

Should Arsenal move for Caicedo?

Depending on the asking price for Rice, which some outlets suggest could be as high as £100 million, we believe Caiedo would be a fantastic alternative.

As per WhoScored, the £80 million star has dazzled under Roberto De Zerbi on the south coast – ranking as their fourth-best performer overall and a rock-solid presence in front of Brighton's back four.

No Seagulls star has averaged more tackles or interceptions per 90 than Caicedo, who also betters Arsenal star Thomas Partey in both respects (WhoScored).

Sky Sports commentator Alan Smith claimed Danny Ings looked angry to be substituted in West Ham's 1-0 at home to Southampton on Sunday afternoon.

What happened in West Ham vs. Southampton?

The Hammers faced an enormous Premier League clash at the London Stadium, as they hosted a Saints team similarly threatened by relegation. It looks set to be a thrilling but nervy end to the season for so many teams, especially when they come up against each other.

David Moyes' men took the lead in the first half, with Nayef Aguerd's header eventually awarded after a long and painful VAR check – his first-ever Premier League goal. Thankfully, West Ham held on in the end, despite their narrow advantage and the woodwork being hit, as they picked up a massive three points in the process.

The win lifts the Hammers to 14th place in the table and one point clear of safety – come May, it is an afternoon could feel so pivotal, even though the game was far from a classic, in terms of entertainment value.

What did Ings do?

Ings was replaced by Michail Antonio midway through the second half, as Moyes made changes to his personnel, but the striker didn't exactly looked enamoured to be taken off.

Speaking on Sky Sports' live coverage of the game, Smith reacted to the moment, revealing Ings' clear disappointment at his manager's decision:

"Ings doesn't look pleased but Antonio can give them some added energy up front."

In truth, it is never a bad thing to see a player show passion at being substituted because it proves they care about affecting the game they are involved in. Of course, showing too much dissent can be a step too far, but that wasn't the case with Ings on Sunday and he may simply have been frustrated at what was a quiet performance overall.

The 30-year-old didn't manage a single shot on or off target during his 65 minutes on the pitch, according to Sofascore, as he failed to add to his two Premier League goals for West Ham. He also completed just 47% of his passes, which is a fairly pitiful return, while he lost possession 11 times and played no key passes.

Better displays are suddenly required of Ings between now and the end of the season, with his vast experience and match-winning ability potentially so important in some tight upcoming matches in the relegation fight.

Former Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino could be offered the Chelsea job at some point in the near future, according to journalist Miguel Delaney.

The Lowdown: Potter’s future still up in the air

The Blues picked up a huge victory over Borussia Dortmund in midweek, booking their place in the Champions League quarter-finals on a massive night for Graham Potter.

The Chelsea boss simply had to win that game in terms of his future at the club, and the performances from the players suggested that they are performing for him.

Potter still isn’t exactly safe in his role, however, and constant links with possible replacements continue to surface.

The Latest: Pochettino could be offered job

Writing about Tottenham’s manager situation for The Independent, the reliable Delaney claimed that Chelsea could jump in before Spurs with a move for Pochettino, although the win over Dortmund has bought Potter time:

“It is even possible Pochettino gets offered the Chelsea job before that, although Graham Potter’s own badly needed Champions League win over Borussia Dortmund probably puts off immediate concerns about his future.”

The Verdict: A strong enough option?

Potter certainly has to keep improving in order to stay on as Chelsea’s manager in the long-term, but showing patience with him is the right way to go currently.

Pochettino, called a “genius” by Heurelho Gomes, is a good manager who enjoyed a strong spell at Spurs between 2014 and 2019, guiding them to the Champions League final. However, he has only won three trophies in his managerial career, all of which came with a Paris Saint-Germain side who were streets ahead of everyone else in their league.

The Argentine would be a gamble, as would so many of those linked with the job, so for now, sticking with Potter and trusting his methods is the best approach.

Mike Arteta was in constant danger of being sacked as Arsenal manager at one point early in his tenure but the patience they have shown with him is now paying off, and Chelsea fans will hope the same happens with Potter.

Paris Saint-Germain are thought to be lining up a shock move for Manchester United defender Harry Maguire, according to The Sun.

The Lowdown: Out of favour

Maguire appears to have slipped down the pecking order this season under Erik ten Hag, starting just five Premier League games so far.

The club captain has played less than 1,000 minutes in all competitions, with Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez seemingly first choice at Old Trafford. The England international is under contract until 2025, but a summer exit seems to be a possibility.

The Latest: PSG keen

The Sun shared a story in the last 48 hours, claiming that Maguire is a ‘shock £50m summer target’ for PSG. A move in January ‘was on the table’ but it could not be done in time, however the French giants still seem keen.

The report adds that PSG will have to match Maguire’s £200,000-a-week salary, something that shouldn’t be seen as an issue.

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The Verdict: One to watch?

The Red Devils paid Leicester City £80m for Maguire back in 2019, so a £50m figure mooted in the report could be of interest to United officials.

The defender’s Transfermarkt valuation stands at €30m (£26.5m), so recouping almost double that amount from PSG could be viewed as good business when you consider he hasn’t been in Ten Hag’s first-choice plans.

He has also been the club’s 17th-best performer in the Premier League this season, as per WhoScored, so an exit appears to make sense and this could be one to keep an eye on over the coming months.

Tottenham Hotspur right wing-back Emerson Royal has left TalkSport pundit Jamie O’Hara stunned by his recent turn of form in north London.

What’s happened to Emerson Royal?

The Brazilian’s time at Tottenham has certainly come with a lot of scrutiny from the Spurs fans who have voiced their frustrations towards the 24-year-old.

However, he has suddenly made a huge U-turn in form which has seen him become a regular in the starting XI despite the big-money signing of Pedro Porro in January.

And his upturn in form of late was summed up on Sunday when he provided the Lilywhites with the opening goal against West Ham United.

Speaking on TalkSport on Monday morning, O’Hara shared his disbelief at what he has seen from the Brazilian in recent weeks in the Spurs side:

“Emerson Royal, all of a sudden, looks like prime Cafu. I mean I don’t know what’s happened to him, but Pedro Porro’s come in and it’s obviously given him a kick up the backside that he needed because he was fantastic again yesterday, and sometimes players need that bit of competition.”

When will Pedro Porro play?

Over the January window, Spurs offloaded Djed Spence on loan and Matt Doherty permanently with right wing-back clearly a position for real improvement.

And it seemed as the Lilywhites had found the man to come in and provide that change with Porro who arrived from Sporting CP in a deal believed to be worth in the region of £44m.

However, since arriving, Porro has only played 75 minutes of football with three appearances on the bench whilst Emerson starts for the Londoners.

It is not exactly surprising Spurs fans were voicing their frustrations towards Emerson earlier in the season with the Brazilian not exactly showing much to suggest he was good enough to play at wing-back.

Prior to the game last month against Manchester City, the 24-year-old had only provided the Lilywhites with one assist for the season (via Transfermarkt).

Yet in his last four Premier League starts, the Brazilian has scored two goals against City and West Ham on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Porro’s debut was far from impressive with the Spanish wing-back slammed for his 75-minute display in the game against Leicester City.

However, we saw on Sunday against the Hammers that Spurs are rotating players with Ivan Perisic rested as Ben Davies played at left wing-back on Sunday.

Ad having spent so much money on Porro there will surely be an urge not to leave him on the bench for too long.

But when Emerson is showing such impressive form, it does leave Cristian Stellini with. tough decision to make at right wing-back.

Enzo Fernandez’s strong desire to join Chelsea was a huge factor in the mega-money deal going through on deadline day, Fabrizio Romano has claimed.

What’s the word?

Chelsea struck a British-record transfer deal in the final hours of the window to sign World Cup winner Fernandez from Benfica, taking their winter spending close to £300m.

For a while, it seemed that a deal would not happen, with intense negotiations taking place throughout the month, but they eventually managed to break the deadlock and secure the deal.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano revealed that the player’s desperation to join Chelsea in the Premier League was an important factor in getting the transfer over the line.

He said: “The player has been crucial. Enzo Fernandez has been really important for this move, because we know that in the first week of January when everything started between Chelsea and Benfica for Enzo Fernandez, the player was pushing and was pushing very hard, he didn’t go to training, so the player was really insisting on the move.

“But then in the final days of January, after that negotiation collapsed in the beginning of January, and then it restarted in the final days of the window.

“What happened is that Enzo, in a very professional way, was praying [to] Rui Costa, the Benfica president, to accept the proposal and to go to Chelsea. Enzo was really insisting; Enzo had this dream of the Premier League, and Enzo wanted [the] Chelsea move.

“It was crucial, because Rui Costa, the president of Benfica, had no intention to accept until a few minutes before the end of the transfer window.”

A long-term option

Midfielder Jorginho departed for rivals Arsenal on the same day as the arrival of Fernandez, and he is surely seen as the natural successor to the Italian, and can be their midfield stalwart for years to come.

The 22-year-old was sensational as Argentina won the World Cup in Qatar, winning the Young Player of the Tournament award and even earned praise from Lionel Messi, who called him a “spectacular player”.

If he settles well at Chelsea, then they will have a major asset on their hands in the middle of the park.

And it speaks volumes about the way Chelsea are viewed globally, as despite languishing in mid-table, Fernandez seemed desperate to come to Stamford Bridge – and if this was not the case, the World Cup winner could well have been stuck in Portugal for the time being.

Newcastle United are in talks regarding a deal to bring Denzel Dumfries to the Premier League in the January transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Italian media outlet calciomercato.com, who claim that the Inter Milan right-back’s agent, Rafaela Pimenta, has recently flown to England in order to discuss a potential deal for the 26-year-old – with Newcastle, Manchester United and Chelsea all believed to have been contacted.

The report goes on to suggest that, should any of the Netherlands international’s three potential suitors wish to make a move for the full-back this month, it would cost them between €40m (£35m) and €50m (£44m) – a fee which it is claimed both the Magpies and the Red Devils believe to be excessive.

“Breathless”

Considering just how impressive Dumfries has been in Italy since joining Inter in a €15m (£13m) deal back in the summer of 2021, it is not surprising to learn that Dan Ashworth could be considering a move to bring the defender to St. James’ Park this winter.

Indeed, over his 33 appearances in Serie A last time out, the £35m-rated talent was in sensational attacking form, scoring five goals, registering four assists and creating six big chances for his teammates, in addition to taking an average of 1.2 shots, making 0.8 key passes and completing 0.4 crosses per game.

The 26-year-old also impressed in metrics more typical of his position, making an average of one tackle, 0.3 interceptions, 0.5 clearances and winning 3.8 duels – at a success rate of 52% – per match.

It has been a similar story over the right-back’s 17 league outings so far this season, with the £54k-per-week flanker having already found the net once, provided two assists and created eight big chances, as well as taking an average of 1.1 shots, making one key pass and completing 0.4 crosses per outing.

With those numbers in mind, it’s hardly a surprise to see him dubbed a “deadly” talent by journalist Marco Messina with Micah Richards having also labelled the full-back “breathless”.

Crucially, the Dutchman has also been solid at the back this term, making an average of 0.6 tackles, 0.5 interceptions, 0.9 clearances and winning 3.4 duels – at a success rate of 54% – per fixture.

And, while it is undeniable that the evergreen Kieran Trippier is Eddie Howe’s current first choice at right-back, with the England international turning 33 years of age later this year, sourcing a successor for the defender would appear a wise move sooner rather than later.

As such, considering just how attack-minded Dumfries evidently is, it would very much appear as if the Dutchman could make something of a deadly successor to Trippier on the right of the Magpies’ backline – leading us to believe that Ashworth sealing a £35m deal for the 26-year-old would represent something of a coup for Newcastle this month.

Everton have been linked with a loan move for Anthony Elanga over the last few weeks and now a reliable source has given an insight into the club’s pursuit of the player.

What’s the latest?

Journalist Pete O’Rourke believes it would be a “no-brainer” for the Toffees to snap up the Manchester United winger this month.

O’Rourke told Football FanCast:

“It’s a no-brainer for Everton to get Anthony Elanga on loan.

“We all know that finances aren’t great at Everton right now, I don’t think there is a large budget for him [Farhad Moshiri] to make signings in this window.

“So to get someone like Elanga on loan would be an astute piece of business and would definitely help with Everton’s fight for survival.”

Frank needs him

There is no doubt that Frank Lampard requires some fresh reinforcements at Goodison Park over the second half of the season and the right moves for the right profile of players will be crucial to their survival chances in the Premier League.

Everton are currently 18th in the league table and are in serious contention for a spell in the Championship after failing to pick up a single win in their last five games with just 15 points tallied up after 18 outings.

One of their most obvious issues is their inability to kill games with goals due to a lack of attacking threat which has been considerably weakened by the departure of Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s constant injury concerns.

The Toffees have scored the third-fewest fewest goals in the entire top flight this season so far, so the arrival of forwards who can make an instant impact in front of goal must be a priority over the transfer window in order to give themselves their best chance over the challenging second half of the season.

Over 21 Premier League appearances last season, Elanga scored two goals, registered two assists and created three big chances, as well as averaging 1.2 tackles, one shot on goal and four duels won per game.

The 20-year-old – who was hailed a “phenomenal talent” by journalist Alex Turk – has not been handed as much consistent game-time since Erik ten Hag’s arrival at Old Trafford averaging 31 minutes per appearance so far but has continued to show glimpses of his potential with one assist and two chances created.

With that being said, it will be interesting to see if Lampard puts his faith in the Red Devils youngster to help Everton improve their attacking form or whether he will opt for a more experienced and proven goal-scorer to increase the goal tally at Goodison Park over the rest of the campaign.

Newcastle United are reportedly set to return for summer transfer target Kouadio Kone, who could flourish within the growing pool of talent at St James’s Park.

What’s the word?

French outlet Media Foot stated last summer that Borussia Monchengladbach’s Kone was subject to a failed €35m (£31m) transfer bid from Newcastle boss Eddie Howe, who was enamoured with the ubiquity of his multi-faceted toolkit from the heart of the midfield.

And following a recent report from The Athletic, it is clear that the Magpies still maintain a vested interest in the player, who has been shortlisted as Howe continues to mull over the best strategy to continue the club’s meteoric rise since a Saudi-led consortium completed the £300m takeover in October 2021.

With Bruno Guimaraes currently occupying the holding midfield position for the Magpies – considered more of a pivot – and Jonjo Shelvey’s incessant injury troubles restricting him to just three substitute showings in the league all season, technical director Dan Ashworth would be prudent to sign a fresh anchor to protect the defence and initiate forward advances from deep is paramount for Newcastle’s efforts across the second stage of the season.

Kante 2.0

Kone, just 21 years old, has earned his name on the team sheet for Gladbach, starting 14 of the 15 league outings this term and impressing with the tenacity of his all-encompassing performances.

As per Sofascore, the French starlet – hailed as the “complete package” by talent scout Jacek Kulig – has recorded a rating of 6.85, completing 87% of his total passes and chipping in with 2.1 tackles per match, also winning 54% of his total duels.

He does have a tendency to lunge in and attach himself to a booking, with his five yellow cards across the first 11 German Bundesliga outings this term resulting in a one-match ban, but with experience comes maturity, and he will continue to nurture every aspect of his game over the coming years.

And as per FBref, he remarkably ranks within the top 1% of midfielders for dribbles completed, averaging 2.17 per 90 – indicating the kind of forward-thinking presence from the heart of the midfield that will serve Howe’s offensive philosophy well as he looks to pump further vitality into his team.

Should he sign for Newcastle, then based on the evidence above he could be the Premier League’s next N’Golo Kante.

He has won league titles with both Leicester City and Chelsea, earning the Player of the Season award with the Blues due to his tough-tackling nature and dynamic skills in control of the ball.

Having made 222 appearances in the English top flight, Kante has made an incredible 676 tackles at a 62% success rate, and 504 interceptions, illustrating the supreme recycling aura he brings to the pitch.

Kone, who equally possesses an innate defensive aptitude and a tendency to seek promising forward plays, would be a fine addition to St. James’ Park, which would welcome the robust tenacity of his game, bringing “an extra man” to the fold.