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According to a report by the Telegraph, Tottenham Hotspur held a video call with Ajax boss Erik ten Hag before he signed a new contract and he could yet come back on to the club’s radar.

The Lowdown: Spurs manager chase…

Spurs have suffered repeated managerial blows over this last fortnight.

Firstly, the Athletic broke news of Tottenham and their talks with former boss Mauricio Pochettino – but his current club PSG refused to budge on their stance of letting the Argentine leave.

Afterwards, Spurs turned their focus to former Inter Milan boss Antonio Conte, but those talks eventually broke down – leaving the Lilywhites back at square one.

The Latest: Spurs could turn to ten Hag…

Now, the Telegraph claim that Erik ten Hag could still come back into focus amid Fabio Paratici’s impending appointment as sporting director/general manager.

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Indeed, Spurs will apparently be starting fresh with a new shortlist and the Italian is said to be overseeing it.

One man who could retain his place as a Tottenham managerial target, though, is ten Hag – with journalist Matt Law stating that Spurs held a video call with the Dutchman before he signed his new deal at the Johan Cruyff Arena.

Even though a new candidate list will need to be drawn up amid Paratici’s arrival, it is believed ten Hag could still come back on to Tottenham’s radar.

However, if they are to make a move for him, Spurs would now be forced to pay compensation.

The Verdict: Do it Paratici…

After blows involving Conte and Pochettino, you could make the argument that ten Hag is now Tottenham’s best possible managerial solution factoring in chairman Daniel Levy’s requirements. 

Even though pundit Kevin Campbell has doubts over whether he would succeed in the Premier League, despite calling him ‘brilliant’ in his role at Ajax, ten Hag does have one big admirer in Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp.

Indeed, Klopp dubbed him ‘one of the most exciting coaching talents in world football’ (Planet Football), and it’s hard to argue given his impressive career average of 2.07 points per match (Transfermarkt).

He may just be Tottenham’s best hope.

In other news: Tottenham ‘monster’ now ‘open’ to north London exit this summer, find out more here.

As announced by UEFA, referee Antonio Miguel Mateu Lahoz will take charge of Manchester City’s first ever Champions League final at the end of this month against Chelsea – with many Sky Blues left horrified at the choice of official for their historic encounter.

City aim to clinch European glory after a phenomenal domestic season under Pep Guardiola overall, having already won the Premier League and Carabao Cup.

Indeed, Guardiola’s record breakers could put the cherry on top of 2020/2021 by winning their first ever Champions League title – with City’s last European trophy triumph coming way back in 1970.

However, as UEFA announce Lahoz will be officiating the final, City supporters have been left horrified with the decision whilst lamenting it as the ‘worst news’.

The Spanish referee has sent off Guardiola in a previous Champions League tie for confronting him about a disallowed Leroy Sane goal (Sky Sports).

Indeed, City’s boss was dismissed to the stands during their quarter-final second leg clash against Liverpool back in 2018, with Guardiola then making his feelings known in a post match press conference. 

Sky Blues, therefore, are in uproar at UEFA’s choice of official – find a flavour of their social media verdicts down below.

Man City fans horrified by Lahoz announcement

“Dreadful man, the worst news.”

Credit: @BenchSue

“This is unbelievable after the Liverpool game. Didn’t he disallow a goal for offside and send Pep off?”

Credit: @peterlakie

“We’re finished”

Credit: @KDBsIntern

“Noooooooo”

Credit: @mohamedamiin2

“Worst decision I have ever seen”

Credit: @iD7Mi1

“There’s always next season I guess”

Credit: @grantymcfc

“Oh no…”

Credit: @adl0133

“Was good while it lasted.”

Credit: @roamdeuter

In other news: Man City fans flock to huge contract claim, find out more here.

A second-half comeback inspired West Ham United to victory as they bolstered their chances of qualifying for Europe by beating West Brom at the Hawthorns.

David Moyes’ side now need just one point in their final match to seal a Europa League berth and their highest league position since 1999.

After Declan Rice missed a penalty in the game’s opening stages, Matheus Pereira soon handed the Baggies the lead but right before the break, the man of the moment – Tomas Soucek – equalised before Angelo Ogbonna and Michail Antonio sealed all three points.

It was simply an outstanding display from the Czech warrior in the heart of the engine room as he dominated the opposition at either end of the pitch.

You can forget about Antonio causing a constant nuisance up top, capping his own performance with an injury-time strike and earning rave reviews from the Evening Standard, as it was Soucek who arguably ran the show on the night.

The 26-year-old beast was graded as the Irons’ best player (8.3), as per SofaScore ratings and it’s easy to see why.

Only one other player for either team managed more than his 70 touches, showing just how big an influence he was in driving the visitors forward, as well as thwarting the home side in their tracks.

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Soucek registered double the number of tackles (six) of the next best on the pitch and also chipped in with five clearances, two blocks and two interceptions, via SofaScore – ‘industrious’ would be an understatement.

And that was on top of winning a match-high 15 duels.

But he also contributed further up the pitch, as alluded to by football.london, the midfielder was “an important part of West Ham’s team in both attack and defence.”

The £36m-rated talisman not only notched his tenth goal of the 2020/21 campaign but he also managed to fire off five of their 21 attempts at goal and made 32 passes.

His performance drew glowing praise from the media, with the Daily Star’s Paul Brown claiming he was “immense again.”

Evidently, Soucek was the star of the show up in the Midlands on Wednesday night.

AND in other news, Imagine him & Rice: GSB could form dream West Ham duo by signing £30m “total animal”…

Lee Bowyer’s Birmingham City side are considering a move for Jamie Paterson this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to Football Insider, who claim that the Blues, as well as Nottingham Forest, Stoke City and Millwall, are interested in a move for the Bristol City attacking midfielder, who will be available to sign on a free transfer upon the expiry of his contract at Ashton Gate at the end of the season.

Potential bargain

It is unsurprising to learn that a host of second-tier sides are interested in Paterson, as the 29-year-old has a huge amount of Championship experience under his belt, scoring 39 goals and providing 35 assists over his 243 appearances in the competition.

And, while he has not been a regular under Nigel Pearson this season, the former Walsall star has shown that he can still be relied upon when required, scoring three goals and providing two assists over his 20 league appearances this term, as well as making an average of 1.3 key passes and taking one shot per game.

Furthermore, the attacking midfielder’s versatility is something that could prove extremely valuable at Birmingham, with Paterson comfortably being able to operate from the left-hand side of midfield, central midfield, left-wing, right-wing and even upfront.

Aside from his fine performances, his wealth of Championship experience and his versatility, it is also hard to ignore the financial attractiveness of a deal for the midfielder.

Currently earning a rather modest wage of £7,100-per-week, a deal for the player Lee Johnson once dubbed as “outstanding” is likely to be one that Birmingham would comfortably be able to afford, while, as the 29-year-old is out of contract, there would be no transfer fee for the Blues to stump up.

As such, it would seem as if a move for Paterson would tick a great many boxes for Bowyer and his side, who will be looking to kick on in the Championship next season after a strong finish following the former Charlton manager’s appointment at the club back in March.

In other news: Birmingham must land “frightening” 11-goal star this summer, Bowyer would love him – opinion

Liverpool are reportedly interested in signing Leeds United striker Patrick Bamford this summer as they look for attacking reinforcements.

The Lowdown: Bamford shines for Leeds

The 27-year-old has been one of the star men for an impressive Whites side this season, scoring 15 goals in the Premier League and helping them to 10th in the table currently.

Bamford’s performances have put him in contention to make England’s Euro 2020 squad, with Gareth Southgate to make a decision later this month.

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The Latest: Reds interested in Bamford signing

According to The Athletic’s David Ornstein, Liverpool are one of several clubs who ‘admire’ Bamford, ahead of a potential summer bid. He wrote: “Bamford’s progress has not gone unnoticed, with several clubs, including Liverpool, believed to admire the forward.”

The report also stated that the Leeds striker has extended his contract to 2023, however, so a big fee may be required to prise him away from Elland Road.

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The Verdict: Is he good enough?

Bamford has undoubtedly enjoyed an excellent campaign, but there are question marks over whether he would be good enough for Liverpool.

Granted, Jurgen Klopp described him as “an exceptional player” after last month’s 1-1 draw at Elland Road, but he lacks the pace and versatility of the Reds’ current attackers. Also, prior to this season, he had only scored once in the Premier League, so some may question whether the 2020/21 campaign is a commendable one-off for the striker.

That being said, it could be argued that Bamford would offer something different from the substitutes’ bench, bringing an aerial presence which has seen him average 1.3 aerial duel wins per game in 2020/21. In comparison, Roberto Firmino has averaged just 0.6 per game and scored only six times in the league.

Bamford isn’t an elite player, so he isn’t worth signing for big money, but that’s not to say he doesn’t deserve huge credit for silencing any previous critics this season.

In other news, a big-money Liverpool target has remained coy over his future – find out who it is here.

Everton transfer target Patson Daka has been priced at £17m but the Blues will have to ‘move quickly’ to bring him in for that price, according to the Daily Star.

The media outlet’s report named the Toffees among the Premier League’s interested parties in the in-form RB Salzburg striker.

Daka’s dizzying record

Daka has scored 30 goals and provided eight assists in 32 appearances this season across all competitions. In the Austrian Bundesliga, he is scoring a goal every 59 minutes (19 in 1,351 minutes).

On Sunday, he netted a remarkable eight-minute hat-trick in a 3-1 victory over Sturm Graz – the fastest in the Austrian top flight’s history.

Daka could provide competition for, and potentially play alongside, Dominic Calvert-Lewin at Goodison Park if he moves to the blue half of Merseyside.

Everton recruited Josh King in January to bolster their depth in the position but, prior to Monday’s clash against Crystal Palace, he has yet to start a game or score a goal for the Toffees.

Unsurprisingly, there seems to be plenty of competition for Daka. Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal are also said to be in the race for his signature, as he has apparently emerged as a cheaper alternative to former Salzburg hitman Erling Haaland.

Transfer Tavern verdict

Daka’s numbers are sensational, and a back-up role at a top club would probably suit him. He’s only 22 and he still has plenty of room to improve, as evidenced by the fact he’s failed to score in European competition this season.

Everton are an increasingly attractive proposition under Carlo Ancelotti and could tempt Daka to move to Merseyside. A £17m deal would be a surefire contender for bargain of the window if the Toffees can pull it off.

In other news, these Everton fans have been celebrating one squad update.

Frank McAvennie has slammed the Scottish FA after they banned five Glasgow Rangers players for six games for breaking health protocols.

McAvennie slams SFA’s Rangers decision

Nathan Patterson, Calvin Bassey, Bongani Zungu, Dapo Mebude and Brian Kinnear all attended a house gathering earlier this year and were therefore banned for six matches (Sky Sports).

However, speaking to Football Insider, former Celtic player McAvennie believes the punishment is too harsh. Speaking in particular about Patterson, he said:

“He’s only a boy, people keep forgetting that he’s just a young kid.

“I know he’s done wrong but oh my god, I just can’t find in my heart the ability to have a go at these players. 

“They’re just boys and they’ve done wrong. I know we have the rules but my god, some of the things that are getting batted around about these players, you’d think they’d committed murder. 

“Fine them and give them a slap on the wrist but don’t harm their careers, they’re young athletes who have to get things out of their system. 

“I’m not praising them or anything but he’s a young boy, give him a fine, take it and move on. You can’t have a go at them.”

If you can’t do the time…

This is certainly a difficult situation to judge. Steven Gerrard made a decent point in regards to the ban, questioning the consistency of the SFA’s decisions throughout the campaign (via The Glasgow Times). Arguably, Patterson and co have been held to a higher standards than others have.

However, quite frankly, the quintet have no-one else to blame but themselves. When they decided to meet up, they knew full well they were disregarding the rules, yet they did it anyway. Once they have served their sanction, the whole saga should not be held against them, but for now, they need to learn the error of their ways.

In other news, Rangers fans are livid at this journalist’s comments.

This summer will be one of change for Celtic. No longer is Neil Lennon in charge and Peter Lawwell will also be gone.

The club’s maligned CEO is set to retire and be replaced by Dominic McKay in a few months time.

One of his first priorities must be to address the playing squad. It’s set to be a hectic period for the Bhoys with as many as 12 players potentially facing the exit door.

Scott Brown is one player out of contract while the likes of Odsonne Edouard, Kristoffer Ajer and Tom Rogic have been linked with moves to other clubs.

Considering the importance of top scorer Edouard and the defensive rock Ajer, Celtic will be desperate to hold onto them.

One area of the squad they may need to improve is at left-back. When Diego Laxalt heads back to AC Milan following the conclusion of his loan spell, it will leave Greg Taylor and Boli Bolingoli as their options.

The Hoops have been linked with a switch for French full-back Romain Perraud and if he joins, it will surely be the end of the road for Bolingoli.

Regardless of whether Perraud joins, though, the Belgian must face the exit door. The 25-year-old had one campaign at Paradise before being shipped out to Istanbul Basaksehir last summer.

It was a moment of madness from the left-back that cost him his place in the side, and arguably, should cost him his future at the club as a whole.

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During the height of the pandemic last summer, Bolingoli took the decision to go on an unsanctioned trip to Spain. When the left-back returned, he failed to quarantine, trained with the squad, and even appeared off the substitute’s bench against Kilmarnock days later.

Unbeknown to Lennon until after the game, he had spent 24 hours in Spain, ultimately putting not only the entire Celtic squad and coaching staff at risk, but also the Killie players and staff. It was a moment that put the entire of the SPFL in grave danger too.

The former Celtic boss called him “stupid” and then added: “This has been premeditated. You don’t book a flight to Spain on a whim. He knew exactly what he was doing. So this has been quite calculated. It’s been total disregarding of the outcome and the risks involved, so he will be dealt with in the strongest possible way by the club.”

Celtic were quick to condemn the player’s actions with a statement at the time reading: “All of our playing and backroom staff have been tested twice for Covid-19 since this incident and all, including the player in question, have tested negative. While this comes as a relief to all concerned, it in no way diminishes the seriousness or stupidity of the player’s actions.”

Bolingoli was rightfully sent on his way but he is still technically a Celtic player. This may come as a shock to see that the £15k-per-week defender wasn’t ousted completely but the time for that will surely come next summer. It’s not as though he provided the Hoops with many game-changing moments on the pitch either.

He has featured in just 14 matches since signing from Rapid Vienna in 2019. With Taylor improving on a regular basis, it makes it even harder to picture a future for Bolingoli in Glasgow. The former has amassed 16 tackles at a rate of 2.2 per game in his last seven starts for instance.

Taylor has to be the number one left-back over Bolingoli; there is no future for him at Parkhead.

AND in other news, Forget Brown: Celtic must unleash never-seen 19 y/o, he’s a “breath of fresh air”…

‘Carlo Ancelotti wants to take’ Napoli goalkeeper Alex Meret to Everton this summer, journalist Umberto Chiarello has told Area Napoli.

Chiarello expects Meret to cost in the region of £17 million and suggested that the move is ‘likely’ to go through.

Ancelotti oversaw Meret’s development in Naples and has already rekindled relationships with midfielders Allan and James Rodriguez at Goodison Park.

Meret would probably come in as back-up to Jordan Pickford at first. The Toffees’ current number two, Robin Olsen, is only on a season-long loan from AS Roma, so as things stand a replacement will be needed this summer.

Who is Alex Meret?

Italian ‘keeper Meret has made 68 appearances for Napoli, keeping 21 clean sheets. He has one cap for his country, which came in November 2019.

Napoli manager Gennaro Gattuso has rotated Meret with veteran Colombian David Ospina over the course of the season – Meret has played 12 Serie A matches, but his run in the team has only once extended beyond two games.

The 24-year-old has conceded 17 league goals from a post-shot xG (expected goals) of 14.8, which perhaps explains why he’s struggled to nail down his spot (via FB Ref).

Meret does come with the recommendation of the great Gianluigi Buffon, who said he was ‘exciting’ (via Football Italia) to watch as he broke into the Napoli side.

Transfer Tavern verdict

Meret would be a reasonably good back-up, but he’s not yet done enough to suggest he could challenge Pickford and be the long-term number one.

£17 million would therefore be way too big an outlay in this market, especially considering the bargain swoop last year for Olsen, which secured an experienced goalkeeper’s services for the season for virtually nothing.

In other news, Jamie Carragher picked out these two Everton players for praise. 

Even when Celtic appoint their new manager, they will still have a whole host of problems to address.Whether it’s a crumbling defence or the fact their star men could leave in the summer, it won’t be the easiest of rebuilding jobs.Another priority will be addressing the club’s academy. This term it’s been a particular source of debate for supporters with the Green Brigade growing tired of seeing their best products leave.Cameron Harper looks as though he’ll move back to the United States while Karamoko Dembele is yet to sign a new deal. His current contract expires in the summer and it doesn’t look as though he’ll sign a new one.With that in mind, it will be up to the boss, and indeed John Kennedy before he is dislodged, to bring through a new generation of talent. After all, the current crop are hardly good enough; they’re 15 points off top spot.Kennedy has already started to make progress. Since he walked through the door, young forward Adam Montgomery, never seen in the Celtic senior team before, was handed a long-term deal at Parkhead.He celebrated that accomplishment by being named among the substitutes for the Bhoys 1-0 win over Aberdeen last weekend.The 18-year-old didn’t feature but it looks as though the future is bright for Montgomery, particularly with Kennedy at the helm.The interim manager was Kieran Tierney’s biggest mentor when he was rising through the ranks of the Hoops academy and thus, he could prove highly beneficial for someone like Montgomery.[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/check-out-the-latest-on-celtics-managerial-vacancy” title=”Check out the latest on Celtic’s managerial vacancy!”]With little to play for, it wouldn’t be a surprise if the teenage forward was given an opportunity at earning first-team minutes. He is a crafty attacker and as footage tells us, has a wonderful left foot.Montgomery is always keen to stride forward and inject a sense of energy into the game; something demonstrated by his goal against Inverness nearly a year ago.It was a goal that no doubt will have attracted plenty of onlookers at the top of the Celtic chain. He exchanged passes nicely before bursting forward with sheer pace. The way he turned in the box before burying the opportunity was truly mesmeric.

Moments of quality like that are incredibly rare but with Harper potentially leaving, there is a spot for the youngster to contest for in the senior side.

The former hasn’t been a regular at the first-team level but his departure will well and truly be Montgomery’s gain, especially after penning new terms until 2025.

Possessing the ability to drift past opponents with ease, his energy could give him the edge over players like Patryk Klimala heading into next season. After all, the Pole cut a frustrated and lazy figure versus Aberdeen.

He needs to watch out that Montgomery doesn’t take his place. After earning a new deal, he has earned the right to be unleashed for good by Kennedy.

AND in other news, Desmond could sway Ajer’s Celtic future by hiring 47 y/o who’d be a “very good fit”…