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Tottenham Hotspur have Oliver Glasner on their managerial shortlist, but he would not be willing to leave Eintracht Frankfurt before the end of the season.

Who will take over from Conte?

It does seem as if Spurs are set to part ways with their Italian manager in the coming days with reports suggesting the club are now discussing a compensation package for his early departure.

This will leave Spurs with 10 Premier League games remaining until the end of the campaign which may prove problematic in finding a manager who is willing to jump straight into the job.

Some reports would suggest Daniel Levy may look to Ryan Mason and a makeshift backroom staff for the remaining games before bringing in their long-term option for the summer.

One manager who would not be open to joining in the next week or two is Glasner, according to Fabrizio Romano, who does, however, believe the 48-year-old would be open to a Premier League move in the summer:

"I wanted to clarify on Glasner, that from what I understand, at the moment for the immediate situation, March/April, there is no way. So Glasner is not leaving Eintracht during the season.

"This is the feeling around the [Austrian] coach. At the end of the season, he will explore the options also in the Premier League."

Would Glasner be a good appointment?

There are certainly two ways of looking at the potential appointment of Glasner in north London if they are to seriously target him as Conte's successor.

This season may feel slightly underwhelming on the back of last season with Frankfurt currently six points off the Champions League spots in the Bundesliga table.

And their recent form has been incredibly underwhelming with no win to their name in their last six games across all competitions which included a 5-0 aggregate thumping in the Champions League (via Transfermarkt).

Like some of the other managers believed to be on Fabio Paratici's shortlist, Glasner does typically use a similar set-up to Conte with the use of wing-backs.

So in that sense, he could be viewed as someone to come in and keep the identity of the current side but potentially bring some fresh ideas.

Something which may also prove to be an attractive bonus for Spurs is his achievement of winning the Europa League last year with the German side.

Spurs are obviously in the middle of a trophy drought which will not be ended this season having recently been knocked out of the FA Cup and Champions League.

And given the north London club's issues this season, they could well find themselves playing in the second-string European competition next season – a competition in which Glasner has a good pedigree.

West Ham United have conducted a scouting mission to assess Lille midfielder Carlos Baleba ahead of a potential transfer swoop, according to a report.

The Lowdown: West Ham eyeing midfielder

Declan Rice could well leave the London Stadium this summer, with it recently being reported that Manchester United are now set to push Arsenal for his signature.

As such, David Moyes has started looking at potential replacements for the Englishman, and Lazio star Sergej Milinkovic-Savic is one player being linked with a move, while Bristol City’s Alex Scott is a potential younger option.

The Latest: Baleba scouted

According to a report from 90min, the Hammers have also scouted Baleba in recent months, with a view to lodging a potential transfer bid.

However, West Ham will face stiff competition for the midfielder’s signature, given that the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United are also believed to be interested.

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The Verdict: Get it done?

Hailed as ‘brilliant’ by journalist Antonio Mango, the 19-year-old is at the right age to be a long-term heir for Rice, and he has already started to force his way into the Lille team, having made 14 first-team appearances in all competitions this season.

It has been a real breakthrough season for the starlet, however, he has mainly been limited to cameo appearances off the bench, and he is yet to prove himself as a consistent performer in Ligue 1.

That said, West Ham should undoubtedly continue to monitor his performances for the rest of the season, especially considering the club now appear to be resigned to losing Rice in the summer, and a suitable replacement will be needed.

In-form Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford is now close to signing a new contract at the club, journalist Rudy Galetti has claimed.

The Lowdown: Sensational season for Rashford

The 25-year-old looked completely out of sorts at times last season, but this time around, he has undoubtedly found the best form of his career to date.

Rashford has been one of the Premier League’s standout players in 2022/23, scoring nine goals and registering three assists in the competition, including 10 overall since the 2022 World Cup.

The Englishman’s current deal expires next year, however, highlighting the need for United to tie down his future.

The Latest: New deal close

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Galetti claimed that an extension is now close to being agreed:

“Based on what I know, Marcus Rashford is close to extending his contract with Manchester United. The Red Devils put a deal on the table, a long-term future proposal with his current salary.

“Rashford is now convinced that he’s making the right choice to renew at Manchester United, as confirmed by Erik ten Hag a few weeks ago.”

The Verdict: As big as any signing

This is clearly great news for United, with Rashford someone who is going to play an enormous part in the club’s future, having been hailed as ‘spectacular’ by Casemiro.

At 25, the hope is that the £200,000-a-week attacker’s best years are still ahead of him, and his all-round game becomes even more polished, he could become one of the world’s leading attackers.

Rashford’s resurgence is also a timely reminder to supporters that footballers are human and can suffer both good and spells, with some arguably even willing to see him leave Old Trafford last year.

This has been a devastating season from him, however, and it would now be a huge shock if he didn’t sign a new contract, as he looks to add to his 111 United goals.

Tottenham Hotspur could still make a late January move for Inter Milan midfielder Marcelo Brozovic, according to reports from Italy.

The Lowdown: Tottenham targeting Brozovic

The 30-year-old has been wanted by Antonio Conte for quite some time, with Calciomercato reporting that he was a target for the Premier League club back in November 2021, and their interest has been maintained ever since.

Mondo Calcio reported earlier this season that Spurs were leading the race for the Croatian, who is said to be coveted by many suitors, and they could now finally make an attempt to bring him to Hotspur Way.

The Latest: Deal on the cards?

According to a report from Italian outlet Calciomercato, the January transfer window could still have some ‘surprises’ in store for Inter Milan, one of these being Tottenham potentially making a move for Brozovic.

It is detailed that the Lilywhites could come forward with a bid of €25m (£22m), which might be enough to tempt the Nerazzurri into a sale, with Juventus also said to be interested in the Croatian.

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The Verdict: Get it done?

The 30-year-old’s best attribute is definitely his ability to pick out his team-mates, attempting an average of 73.36 passes per 90 in the past year. That ranks him in the 95th percentile compared to other midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues, completing 89.2% of his passes.

Hailed as a ‘fantastic’ player by former Spurs boss Jose Mourinho, the maestro mainly features in a defensive midfield role, but he also offers a threat on the front foot as he ranks in the 88th percentile for non-penalty goals, averaging 0.17 per 90 over the past 12 months.

However, Conte does not really need another midfielder, with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Rodrigo Bentancur ranking in the top three Tottenham players so far this season as per Sofascore metrics. Also, Brozovic’s age means that he might not be the best-judged signing, as he is likely to already be past his peak.

Tottenham Hotspur hold a ‘genuine’ interest in Brighton and Hove Albion forward Leandro Trossard, according to talkSPORT reporter Alex Crook.

The Lowdown: Extension triggered

The Belgian’s contract at The Amex was due to expire at the end of the season, but the Seagulls have recently triggered a one-year extension, meaning that he’s now tied down until 2024, making it harder for potential suitors to negotiate.

The Lilywhites, alongside Premier League and north London rivals Arsenal, have both been credited with an interest in the 28-year-old, and an update on Antonio Conte’s pursuit of his target has now emerged.

The Latest: Trossard to Spurs update

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Crook revealed that Tottenham are seriously monitoring Trossard ahead of a potential move but are yet to table any kind of official offer. He said:

“I think Brighton are always willing to let players go if they think they’re getting value for money. They showed that with Marc Cucurella, Ben White and Yves Bissouma.

“I’m told Tottenham’s interest is genuine, this is more than just paper talk but they haven’t made a bid yet.

“What Brighton have done, quite crucially, is they have protected themselves because they have triggered the one-year option in his contract. He is contracted until the summer of 2024, so I think it takes a decent bid to get him away.”

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The Verdict: Get it done…

Trossard isn’t likely to come cheap given Brighton’s recent actions, but Fabio Paratici needs to act fast should he want to beat his rivals to his signature.

The Maasmechelen native already has seven goals and three assists to his name so far this season and is a versatile player with the ability to operate in four different positions (Transfermarkt).

Spurs now have the chance to sign players who they feel will be able to help them secure a top-four finish at the end of the campaign, and Trossard is surely a perfect candidate to come in and do just that.

Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane may have a release clause or gentlemen’s agreement in his Spurs contract, claims Tony Cascarino.

The Lowdown: Kane’s situation

Kane has not committed his long-term future to Tottenham with him yet to agree an extension on his current £200k-per-week deal that expires in 2024.

The 29-year-old is in his 10th Premier League campaign since making his top-flight debut for the Lilywhites in a late cameo against Newcastle United in 2012.

He’s since gone on to score 265 goals in 412 games for the north Londoners and is one away from levelling Jimmy Greaves’ club goalscoring record.

The Latest: Cascarino’s comments

Despite him being on the verge of immortality at Spurs, Cascarino questioned on TalkSport whether there is something in Kane’s contract that could see him leave in an attempt to bag the first major trophy of his career.

He said: “With 18 months on his contract now, he has to make up in his own mind what direction he goes.

“Daniel Levy’s played a big part in keeping him at Spurs, but when the last contract was signed, were words said that ‘if I’m not achieving some of the goals I want to do with the record on my CV, can you let me go for a certain amount?’”

“Harry clearly does want to win things – who wouldn’t?

“He clearly does, he plays with the type of manner that he really does try desperately hard to be as successful as he can, but it’s just not happening with Spurs, though.”

The Verdict: Career-defining decision

With Kane turning 30 before the start of next season, the end of his current contract sets up a huge dilemma that will define his career, with guaranteed legendary status at Spurs on the cards or a greater chance of winning silverware elsewhere.

England’s joint all-time goalscorer is yet to lift a single major trophy in his incredible playing career, with Spurs previously league runners-up, twice beaten finalists and four-time beaten semi-finalists in Kane’s time.

Antonio Conte is a serial winner but with his future also uncertain and no obvious winning remedy at the club, silverware doesn’t look to be on the cards at present, so it’s a huge decision that looms for the Englishman as early as the summer.

Aston Villa have been dealt an injury blow as Jacob Ramsey is set to miss the club’s next three games. 

The Lowdown: Ramsey’s season so far

This season has seen the midfielder feature in every match for his club across the Premier League and the Carabao Cup, which showcases just how important he is to the team.

Now that the league is set to resume following the conclusion of the World Cup, Unai Emery is set to see his side take on Liverpool at Villa Park on Monday.

Looking ahead to that match and beyond, an update has emerged regarding the fitness and availability of Ramsey, who has been hailed for his “superb” performances by journalist Ashley Preece this year.

The Latest: Ramsey injury blow

Midlands football journalist John Townley took to Twitter on Friday afternoon to share some Villa team news for Birmingham Live ahead of the Liverpool game.

The reporter tweeted: “Jacob Ramsey is expected to miss #AVFC’s next three games as he nurses a hamstring injury.”

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The Verdict: A concern for Villa

Given how prominent Ramsey has been in the team so far this season, potentially having him unavailable for Villa’s next three matches will surely be a blow for him and the club.

Having scored two goals and supplied two assists in the current Premier League campaign, having a midfield option who can offer a goal threat makes him a vital asset for Emery’s team.

In addition, only John McGinn has made more passes into the final third of the pitch (58 vs 41) and racked up a higher combined total of tackles and interceptions (49 vs 44) than Ramsey of anyone in Villa’s squad, further highlighting how impressive the Englishman is with and without the ball.

Taking all of that into account, it’s safe to say that everyone at the club will be hoping that the 21-year-old will recover from this injury blow as soon as possible.

Newcastle United have been in phenomenal form in the Premier League this season currently third in the table and now a new update has emerged on a player who could potentially be a target for the Magpies if they continue to dominate.

What’s the latest?

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist and transfer insider Dean Jones has revealed what it would take for Newcastle to sign recently linked Juventus star Dusan Vlahovic.

When asked about the potential of signing Vlahovic, Jones revealed:

“If Newcastle can qualify for the Champions League, then that’s the moment we can take links like this more seriously.

“They’ve taken a very gradual step-by-step rise in what they expect from their recruitment process so far, at the moment they’ve got forwards like Callum Wilson and Alexander Isak who are really good.

“Vlahovic would be considered to be the next tier up from that given he’s largely considered one of the most exciting young forwards in the world, so I don’t think it’s realistic at this point.”

Howe could land his own Haaland

There is no doubt that it would be an ambitious effort for Newcastle to try to sign Vlahovic as he only joined Juventus in January 2022 in a transfer worth £66m, so it would be unlikely that the Italian club would be willing to part ways with their star striker.

However, if Newcastle remain unstoppable in their rise up the Premier League table and compete comfortably in the Champions League in the campaigns ahead, a move for the talented goal machine would not be an unrealistic prospect.

The 22-year-old striker has scored 88 goals and registered 14 assists in 193 appearances with a goal contribution every 121 minutes over his career so far, proving that he is a consistent and reliable threat in front of goal.

Over 10 Serie A appearances this season, Vlahovic has scored six goals and delivered one assist, as well as averaging 1.1 key passes, 3.1 shots on goal and 4.1 duels won per game.

Howe could even land his very own Erling Haaland as the Manchester City striker has been named as the fifth most comparable player to the young forward, according to FBref.

The two strikers share many similarities in their output over the season so far including goals per shots on target (0.45 v 0.60), pass completion (70.9% v 73.7%), shot-creating actions per 90 minutes (2.54 v 2.52) and touches in the attacking third (145 v 167).

With that being said, the signing of Vlahovic would be a major coup for Newcastle and would certainly put them a fantastic position to compete in both the Premier League and in European competitions if they can qualify in the seasons ahead.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp could consider eventually taking the Newcastle United job one day, according to a claim from transfer expert Dean Jones.

The Lowdown: Klopp working wonders at Liverpool

The German has become a legendary figure at Anfield since taking charge in October 2015, inspiring them to both Champions League and Premier League glory, among numerous other trophies.

Klopp has twice been named the world’s best coach, and while Liverpool have dipped below their usual standards so far this season, his standing remains powerful.

An intriguing claim has emerged regarding the 55-year-old’s future, which is where Newcastle come into play amid recent reports that the German is “obsessed” about the Magpies.

The Latest: Jones drops Newcastle claim

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Jones claimed that Klopp could potentially eye up the St James’ Park job one day, even though it is still unlikely.

He said:

“Yeah, possibly. I mean, it might be a good moment in Klopp’s career for that change to come around. I’m not totally convinced that Klopp is obsessed by Newcastle in this moment.

“But of course, as a manager of a top flight team, you’re going to be intrigued by what’s going on because they’re threatening your own side’s position in the league and you probably feel a little bit vulnerable.

“But we should also consider Jurgen Klopp is probably going to fancy the Germany job at some point. I know it kind of gets played down sometimes but I’m sure that will be the next job that is also posted in his direction.”

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The Verdict: Feels unlikely

The job that Eddie Howe is doing at Newcastle means that there certainly shouldn’t be any talk of a new manager at the moment, with the Englishman working wonders at St James’ Park.

That being said, even a mention of Klopp becoming their manager one day is undoubtedly exciting, considering his brilliance at Liverpool and the aura that he possesses.

Nonetheless, it feels likely that he will remain at Anfield for some time yet and then possibly take a break – as Jones says, the Germany job shouldn’t be ruled out – so it would be a surprise if he headed to Newcastle any time soon.

Crystal Palace have been heavily linked with Bristol City striker Antoine Semenyo ahead of January and his arrival could allow Patrick Vieira to finally get rid of Jordan Ayew.

According to reports last month from Football League World, the Eagles are keeping a close eye on the Ghana international in the Championship this season, with the view of bringing him to Selhurst Park in the near future.

The 22-year-old was also heavily linked in the summer after a superb campaign in the second tier which saw him hit eight goals and 12 assists in just 31 appearances for the Robins, averaging a strong 6.97 rating from WhoScored for his performances.

Injury problems meant that it was a slower start to the 2022/23 season for the former Sunderland loanee but he notched four goals and two assists ahead of the World Cup break, and will no doubt be looking to impress in Qatar with the Black Stars.

Manager Nigel Pearson was full of praise for the young attacker last season, saying:

“He is a real threat with his power and pace – he must be a nightmare to play against! His challenge now is to keep developing and adding elements to his game to make him even more effective.”

Semenyo’s contract at Ashton Gate is set to expire in June next year so he could prove to be a bargain option for Vieira in January, and he could easily step up as the replacement for Ayew at Selhurst Park.

Coincidentally, the Bristol City star will be competing with the Crystal Palace man for a starting spot in Qatar but on current form, the youngster might just have the edge in Otto Addo’s thinking.

Ayew has struggled in his performances for the Eagles so far this season, with no goals and just one assist to his name in 14 Premier League appearances, with WhoScored awarding him a disappointing 6.65 rating.

The 31-year-old also managed just four league goals in the last two campaigns combined and his lack of attacking output surely means he is one of the favourites to drop out should Vieira add to his squad in January.

Considering Semenyo leads the way in terms of goals, assists and long-term future, it would not be a surprise to see him take Ayew’s starting spot at Palace should he make the move to Selhurst Park.