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Tottenham Hotspur have now shortlisted an 'unidentified candidate' as chairman Daniel Levy looks to make his 12th appointment in 22 years, according to a report.

Who could Spurs appoint as manager?

Spurs are still well and truly on the search for a permanent manager after parting company with former boss Antonio Conte in late March, with there being no shortage of linked coaches.

Indeed, the likes of Julian Nagelsmann, Arne Slot, Brendan Rodgers and others have been mentioned as possible contenders for the vacancy with Ryan Mason taking interim charge until the end of the Premier League season.

Nagelsmann has been billed as a prime contender for the role at Tottenham, coming after his talks with London rivals Chelsea fell through recently, which could hand Spurs a free run at appointing him.

Slot, meanwhile, has seriously impressed at Feyenoord and is believed to be emerging as a serious contender for the Tottenham job.

Burnley's Vincent Kompany is also a prime candidate, with reports suggesting that Spurs have held talks with the Belgian over his appointment.

As per ESPN, there is now apparently a mystery new name in the frame, with this update claiming an 'unidentified candidate' has made his way onto Levy's shortlist.

Indeed, as Levy looks to make his 12th hire in 22 years as chairman, there is now an unnamed coach who could also succeed Conte at Tottenham.

Not much is said or hinted at who this could be, but he is apparently on Tottenham's list of contenders alongside the likes of Slot and Nagelsmann.

Who should Tottenham hire to replace Conte?

While it will be interesting to see which name may emerge as this mystery contender, we believe Nagelsmann is still the sure-fire choice to take over Tottenham.

Arguably one of the most exciting managers in world football, Nagelsmann already has a league title to his name at such a young age, and we believe he was rather unfairly sacked at Bayern.

The 35-year-old had led them to a Champions League quarter-final against Man City with the Bavarian giants fighting on all fronts at the time, making his dismissal a surprising one to say the least.

Nagelsmann has also been praised by elite coaches like Man City boss Pep Guardiola, who said this on the German way back in 2018:

“I’m really, really impressed [with Nagelsmann]. Taking over Hoffenheim in such a bad situation so young. He will have a lot of success in his career. He’s already at a good team in a top competition. It’s the first time we meet, but hopefully it won’t be the last.”

Arsenal's reported summer target Declan Rice made no secrets about his post-match discussion with the Gunners manager Mikel Arteta.

Does Declan Rice want to join Arsenal?

The north London side have enjoyed an impressive 2022/23 campaign under their Spanish coach where they have put together a solid push for the Premier League title.

However, over the last two weeks, there have been indications that this title charge could be on the verge of collapsing with two-goal leads thrown away against Liverpool and West Ham United.

But it seems as if they are already looking ahead to the summer transfer window as their project under Arteta may need further reinforcements to solidify them as regular title competitors.

One name who has been linked with a serious interest from the north London club is West Ham's midfield general, Rice, who put in a solid shift on Sunday.

And after the game at the London Stadium, the £60k-per-week Rice was captured sharing an embrace with the Spaniard amid the transfer speculation.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Dean Jones has commented on the England midfielder not being concerned about the perception on his discussion with Arteta ahead of the summer window:

"What I think is interesting is that he (Rice) didn't care about being so public about those moments. He knows the stories are out there.

"But in his mind, he's given West Ham absolutely everything. And he's got nothing to hide in this situation. End of the day, he's making a career for himself."

Should Arsenal go all out for Rice?

Perhaps one of the surprise packages in this season's Premier League campaign has been Granit Xhaka in the middle of the Arsenal side.

The Swiss midfielder has even been booed off the pitch by his own fans in the past but he has received a lot of praise over recent months for his turnaround in north London.

However, he operates the midfield alongside Thomas Partey who has established himself in the side since his arrival from Atletico Madrid.

So it will provide Arteta with an interesting headache if Rice is to join over the summer given the Gunners already have such a strong midfield.

Rice has been hailed as a "superstar" by Bianca Westwood and it's clear to see why when he ranks inside the top ninth percentile for both clearances and interceptions (via FBref).

This is a player who could seriously improve the Arsenal midfield with their strength in depth taking a huge boost if Xhaka was willing to play a rotational role.

Rice (2.27) has more than doubled the number of tackles per 90 minutes that Xhaka (1.06) has returned this season with a much higher tackles-won percentage too (via FBref).

But it will leave an interesting dynamic in the camp and it would be intriguing to see whether – at 30 years old – Xhaka would be willing to take up a lesser role in the squad.

A number of fans online have reacted to the worrying times at Chelsea after Kepa Arrizabalaga was spotted giving out tactics mid-game against Brighton.

What’s the latest on Kepa Arrizabalaga and Chelsea?

It’s safe to say this weekend’s efforts were disappointing but not surprising as the Blues sunk to another Premier League defeat.

Goals from Danny Welbeck and Julio Enciso were enough to see the Seagulls pick up a 2-1 victory at Stamford Bridge despite Conor Gallaghers’ opener.

Chelsea came into the game with Frank Lampard as interim manager after sacking former Brighton boss Graham Potter but the club legend hasn’t helped improve form in his short spell back so far.

Indeed, this defeat follows up a 2-0 away loss in the Champions League against Real Madrid, as well as another league defeat against relegation-threatened Wolves the weekend prior.

All in all, it feels as though no one really has a clue what’s going on right now at Chelsea with co-owner Todd Boehly even confronted by some angry fans at Stamford Bridge on Saturday afternoon.

Perhaps summing the mess up, footage has since emerged showing goalkeeper Kepa desperately trying to organise the players in front of him as his defence battled to hold onto a lead.

Whatever he said certainly didn’t seem to work with Brighton going on to level the scores before half time, and then netting a winner later on in that match.

And it seems as though a number of fans think it’s worrying and rather funny (depending on who you support) that the £150k-per-week Chelsea shot-stopper was trying to do manager Lampard’s job for him mid-game.

Here are some of the best reactions…

Some even joked that Kepa should be the next coach…

Arsenal fell to yet another collapse yesterday, cruising into a 2-0 lead only to let it slip. Against Liverpool at Anfield, this could be excused, but when clashing with relegation-threatened West Ham United, a 2-2 draw on the road could prove costly.

It has truly opened the door for Manchester City to come bursting through, for if Pep Guardiola's side win their game in hand, the title will likely come down to their meeting at the Etihad in just over a week. Given they were dismantled at the Emirates by them earlier this year, it does not bode well.

Mikel Arteta was forced into some frustrating changes for their trip to the London Stadium, but it was felt like there remained more than enough quality within the squad to achieve a vital victory. When they had scored twice within ten minutes, this thought process was vindicated.

However, conceding a clumsy penalty before the break allowed the deficit to be halved, and after Jarrod Bowen's volley squirmed past Aaron Ramsdale on 54 minutes, the visitors were rumbled.

Few have come under fire for their performances, with Thomas Partey's 6.1 Sofascore rating the worst of anyone on the field drawing particular scorn.

The Ghanaian was especially bad in the middle of the park, perhaps dropping one of his worst performances of the campaign to date. Caught trying to play an audacious flick by Declan Rice, it was Partey who was dispossessed in the build-up to Lucas Paqueta earning a first-half penalty that started the comeback.

Despite this, it was clear where their main deficiencies truly lay. In the absence of Oleksandr Zinchenko, Kieran Tierney simply did not step up to the levels required of him. As such, the whole team suffered.

How did Kieran Tierney play vs West Ham?

Starting in his first Premier League game since December, the Scotsman was drafted in due to the Ukrainian's minor injury sustained in their last game. The 26-year-old has been integral to the way the Gunners have played this season, with his knowledge of the inverted full-back role key in their fine form.

However, it quickly became clear that the former Celtic man was without such capabilities, and as such his performance suffered.

Earning a 6.6 rating courtesy of Sofascore, of which only three players on the pitch earned lower, the lack of creative impetus from the £110k-per-week defender proved criminal in their lack of potency.

It seemed that once the Hammers had equalised, Arsenal had lost all control of the game. Had Zinchenko been playing, the experienced maestro would likely have proved to be a cool head to calm down a shell-shocked side.

However, his absence was instead exacerbated, as his replacement recorded 67 touches, an 81% pass accuracy and offered no key passes. Whilst his defensive numbers might have been impressive, with two tackles and two clearances, via Sofascore, this is arguably indicative of how on the back foot the visitors were compared to their usual dominant displays.

To further outline just how much pressure they were under against a side that started the day three points above the relegation zone, journalist Tom Victor highlighted one "desperate block" that Tierney made to deny Bowen a second. That was likely the Scot's best moment of a game in which he looked well out of sorts.

This struggle was supported by another journalist in Tan Copsey, who wrote: "Tierney and Holding don't have the passing range and it all starts to get so messy in the build-up."

He understood the sheer gulf in quality between the 25-year-old featuring as opposed to when Zinchenko starts. Arteta will now seek to rush back the former Cityzens star, to avoid another miserable result like yesterday's that further hands the title to their rivals.

Leeds United have a host of academy talent all of which are awaiting their first team opportunity, however, their status as a perennially relegation-battling outfit of late makes it harder to promote youngsters.

To unleash such malleable starlets into the troubles that a fight for survival offers is to risk their entire careers, as it truly is a sink-or-swim environment. Some might relish the opportunity and play a huge role in avoiding the drop, whilst others could wilt and never recover from the confidence dent it would bring.

Therefore, Javi Gracia will likely be hesitant to promote any of the Whites' future stars unless it is absolutely necessary, or unless they have proven their ability to perform at the required level.

From the academy, Darko Gyabi stands out as the asset who is most likely to soon break into the senior outfit. The classy central midfielder, who signed for a £5m fee in the summer, boasts immense potential and has shown glimpses of his talent throughout a fine year for the U21s.

However, going about his business quietly in the background has been Charlie Allen, who merits a call-up just as much as the former Manchester City man.

Who is Charlie Allen?

With 15 Premier League 2 appearances to his name this season, Gyabi has contributed two goals and three assists as the star of the engine room. This has led to three senior cameos in various competitions, including his Premier League debut too.

However, all the while Allen has played just one more game in the league yet boasts two goals and four assists. Despite this, and the fact the 19-year-old has been around the club far longer than his teammate, a senior appearance he still lacks.

That is not to suggest that the midfield maestro is not highly rated, it just seems that the teenager has perhaps been overshadowed by such a big-money addition to the youth setup.

His international elite performance director, Jim Magilton, clearly envisions a bright future for the versatile ace, as he claimed: "Charlie is one of those kids you can play anywhere and he’ll probably still be the best player on the pitch. He can play right back, central midfield, on either wing, at No10 or at centre forward."

This unparalleled ability to deputise in any given role is truly priceless and should give Allen the edge in the battle with Gyabi.

With a sparkling future laid out in front of him, this particular academy gem has proven that he could be one of the few who would swim, were he just handed an opportunity to prove his worth to Gracia as they enter the run-in.

ESPN pundit Steve Nicol has suggested that Real Madrid could part ways with Carlo Ancelotti if they fail to win the Champions League – and that the Italian would be perfect for the Brazil job if he is available.

What's going on with Real Madrid and Ancelotti?

The Italian has been criticised at times despite his recent success with Real Madrid, with Los Blancos 12 points behind their rivals Barcelona, but they could still retain their European crown in the Champions League.

However, failure in Europe could spell the end of Ancelotti's second reign in charge, but the 63-year-old has been linked with the vacant Brazil role and this could be an option for him.

Speaking on ESPN FC, Nicol claimed that the Brazil job would be perfectly suited to Ancelotti's style of management.

"If they don't win the Champions League, then it seems likely that Real Madrid would move him on, and if that was the case, then I really don't see a better fit from a manager and a team's point of view than Ancelotti with Brazil," he stated.

"I mean, it seems like a match made in heaven. The guy who undoubtedly, in world football, would be the man to take over a team with established players, established stars, mature players.

"From my point of view, it just seems the perfect fit, Ancelotti with Brazil – he would go in there, all he would have to do is look after all the big stars, all the big egos. It wouldn't be about tactics or getting the team going, any of that stuff. It would be completely and utterly, in my opinion, about man-management. And I don't think there's a better man-manager in football."

Should Ancelotti take the Brazil job?

Given all he has accomplished at Real Madrid, and indeed in Europe, having won all the top five leagues as well as multiple Champions Leagues, this could be the perfect opportunity for Ancelotti to venture into international management.

Real Madrid stars Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo and Eder Militao all play for Brazil, and with superstars such as Neymar and Casemiro in the side, Ancelotti can use his experience in managing big names.

He has won titles with the likes of AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain, having had to manage world superstars at many of his clubs, and if he can get the best out of the Brazil squad, he can help return glory to a nation which has disappointed on the big stage in recent years.

Chelsea were perhaps always going to rue letting Antonio Rudiger leave on a free transfer last summer but the German's impressive form ahead of the Champions League quarter-final next month will hammer home the Blues' mistake.

How much is Antonio Rudiger worth now?

Chelsea signed the powerful centre-back from Roma in the summer of 2017 in a deal worth £29m, with the German defender signing a five-year contract at Stamford Bridge.

Crucially, that contract length would hurt the Blues as despite him being a regular with the west London outfit for that five-year period, he would never sign a contract extension and was therefore free to leave last summer when Real Madrid came calling.

During his time at Stamford Bridge, Rudiger would make 203 appearances, contributing 12 goals and seven assists, winning an FA Cup and Champions League with the Blues.

Reports from Germany had suggested that the Germany international was keen to extend his stay at Chelsea and had agreed to a new deal to ensure his contract went beyond 2022 but the Blues were unable to finalise his extension due to the financial sanctions that were facing former owner Roman Abramovich.

Wage demands were also reportedly a sticking point in negotiations, but the Blues clearly left it too late when trying to extend his deal, as the German defender was a consistent force during his time in England, averaging above a 6.7 rating from WhoScored in all of his seasons as a Chelsea player.

Back in 2021, Rudiger earned a "world-class" label from former Bayern Munich defender Jerome Boateng as a result of his strong performances for club and country.

He said: "For me, he is currently the best German defender – and definitely among the top five in his position in Europe."

Although Carlo Ancelotti's side could lose out on the La Liga title this season, they look a strong bet for the Champions League once again and will face up against Graham Potter's side in the quarter-finals next month.

It would not be a surprise to see Rudiger return at his very best, as the £247k-per-week defender has averaged a superb 6.92 rating from WhoScored across his six appearances in the Champions League so far this campaign, with the most aerials won per game in Los Blancos' squad.

Unsurprisingly, as he is playing for one of the top clubs in Europe, Rudiger's market value is still very high, with Football Transfers rating him at €47.4m (£42m).

This emphasises that no matter how much money Todd Boehly spends at Chelsea, the club still needs to do better in keeping their top players for the long term, as Rudiger would have been a big help to Potter this season.

Indeed, to lose him was one thing, but to see him walk away for free must be gut-wrenching.

West Ham United’s transfer business over the previous decade hasn’t exactly been profitable, with large amounts spent on players who just didn’t live up to expectations.

The likes of Felipe Anderson (£36m), Javier Hernandez (£16m) and more recently Gianluca Scamacca (£35.5m) have failed to perform for the club in line with the major financial outlay that went on securing their services and this has been a colossal waste of money.

One of the worst signings in recent years was that of Issa Diop, who became the club’s record signing when he arrived in the summer of 2018 from Toulouse for a fee of £22m.

Following a bright spell in France, where he had played nearly 100 times for Toulouse, scoring six goals, the then 21-year-old looked as though he could become a mainstay of the West Ham defence for the next few years. It didn’t quite work out that way, unfortunately.

How much did Issa Diop cost West Ham United?

Initial impressions were fairly good, with the defender playing over 30 Premier League matches in his first and second seasons for the club, with Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho even lavishing praise on the young centre-back, describing him as a “monster” during a win against the Old Trafford side in his debut season.

Things started going wrong during the 6 foot 4 defender's third campaign in London. He made just 21 appearances in all competitions, and it was evident that David Moyes didn’t quite rate him, with last term being his worst in a West Ham shirt.

Across 13 league appearances, he averaged a Sofascore rating of just 6.69, with the club keeping just two clean sheets in the games he played in. the Frenchman ranked as low as 17th in the squad for overall performances, and it looked as though his time was coming to an end.

Indeed, Moyes signed Nayef Aguerd and Thilo Kehrer, further pushing Diop down the pecking order, and he was finally sold to Fulham for £15m, a solid enough return given his poor form.

During his four-year spell at the Hammers, Diop ransacked the club for a total of £35m (his £22m transfer fee plus £13m in wages during his 216-week spell) with that well and truly proving to be a colossal waste of money.

Diop is just another name in the vast carousel of recent West Ham signings that haven’t quite made the grade despite considerable hype upon their arrival and transfer business in the future will have to be a lot smarter to avoid big money flops and indeed, relegation scraps.

Two years ago, Newcastle United's focus was on preserving Premier League status and hoping to craft a team capable of treading water above danger at the bottom of the division.

Now, fortunes have changed drastically, and the Magpies currently compete for a place in next season's Champions League, one point behind fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur and with a game in hand.

The influence of the opulent new owners has been profound, but not so much so as the appointment of manager Eddie Howe, who has meticulously set about crafting a team capable of competing against the supposed 'big six' of English football, evidenced by the sustained growth in the league and the club's endeavour in reaching this year's Carabao Cup final against Manchester United.

In order to continue the meteoric rise, Howe and co must throw the kitchen sink at a deal for Napoli prodigy Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who has been linked with a move to St. James's Park, according to Football Insider.

The outlet states that the Georgian attacker demands that any new contract with his Serie A outfit must include a release clause, with the Magpies indeed poised to swoop.

How would Kvaratskhelia perform at Newcastle?

Kvaratskhelia is currently valued at £100m, according to 90min, despite signing for Napoli for roughly only €10m (£9m) last summer.

From 29 appearances across all competitions, the 19-cap phenom has scored 13 goals and supplied 15 assists, integral in his outfit's remarkable title-chasing campaign – 18 points clear in the league – and progression into the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

As per FBref, he ranks among the top 10% of attacking midfielders and wingers throughout Europe's major leagues for goals, the top 1% for assists, the top 6% for progressive carries and the top 9% for successful take-ons per 90, illustrating his all-encompassing forward skill set and the "magic" behind his craft, as lauded by transfer guru Fabrizio Romano.

His partnership with team-mate Victor Osimhen has been particularly remarkable, with the Nigerian sharpshooter within the upper echelon of strikers in European football, scoring 23 goals from 28 matches.

Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti recently praised the pair as "very efficient", also heralding Kvaratskhelia as a "great player", with one source also calling the dynamic duo a "match made in heaven".

Should Newcastle succeed in what would certainly be the biggest transfer in the club's modern history, Howe could look to emulate the partnership by deploying the Napoli whiz alongside £63m summer signing Alexander Isak.

The Swede has struggled for fitness since arriving from Real Sociedad, missing 13 matches, but the 23-year-old has scored six times already in the Premier League, despite only starting on seven occasions.

With Isak starting to grow into his boots to complement a multi-faceted arsenal, Kvaratskhelia could indeed find a home next to the gem, the duo respectively flourishing in one of Europe's rising powerhouses.

The £120k-per-week machine ranks among the top 13% of forwards across Europe's big five leagues for progressive carries and the top 10% for successful take-ons per 90 himself, so the transitional nature of both footballers would only enhance the robustness of Howe's system.

Kvaratskhelia won't come cheap, but with Newcastle on the rise, a deal might just ascend the outfit to the forefront of European football.

Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi is now back in training after his groin injury, according to a report from The Athletic.

The Lowdown: Injuries mounting up

A whole host of Forest players are set for a spell on the sidelines, with Cheikhou Kouyate, Scott McKenna, Willy Boly and Omar Richards all ruled out due to a variety of different injury issues.

Awoniyi has not been named in the match-day squad for the last eight Premier League matches, having sustained a groin injury in the Tricky Trees’ 1-0 win away at Southampton at the beginning of January.

With winger Brennan Johnson also sustaining a groin issue in the recent defeat against Tottenham Hotspur, Steve Cooper is light on numbers in forward areas, and so the latest news about Awoniyi will be a welcome boost for the manager…

The Latest: Awoniyi back in training

According to a report from The Athletic, the striker has recently returned to light training, as he looks to put his injury problem behind him.

The 25-year-old is said to have stepped up his involvement at Wilford Lane over the past week, indicating it may not be too long until he is deemed ready for a return to the first team.

It is detailed that Cooper may also view the Nigerian as a potential replacement for Johnson in the starting XI, despite the fact they are very different types of players, as he can be a real outlet for Forest in attack.

The Verdict: Boost for Cooper

The Ilorin-born marksman was just starting to find his feet in the Premier League prior to his injury blow, netting the winner in the 1-0 victory at Southampton, which remains the Tricky Trees’ only win on their travels in the top flight all season.

Hailed as ‘absolutely sublime’ by the media earlier this season, the forward was also branded a ‘hero’ for his performance in the 1-0 victory against Liverpool at the City Ground, a match in which he again netted the winner, while he also displayed his playmaking ability, creating one big chance.

With Forest sitting just two points clear of the relegation zone, it is absolutely vital they have their best players available for the run-in, as we enter the final third of the Premier League season.

Awoniyi is firmly in that category, having averaged 0.51 goals per 90 so far this season, the highest amount of any player, and so it is a real boost that he could return to first-team action soon.