Liverpool Still Keen On Signing £34m "Mountain"

Liverpool still remain "at the window" for Torino centre-back Perr Schuurs, but he will not come cheap, with a new report from Italy revealing exactly how much the player will cost the Reds.

Who are Liverpool signing this summer?

The Reds' main priority this summer appears to be strengthening their midfield, with their pursuit of Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia still ongoing, having recently submitted a new bid after seeing their £46m proposal knocked back.

Jurgen Klopp is keen on signing Fluminese midfielder Andre, with it recently being reported the 22-year-old could become their "plan A" target in midfield, while Celta Vigo's Gabri Veiga and Leicester City's Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall have also been named as potential options.

A whole host of targets have been identified in midfield, but Liverpool's pursuit of a new centre-back has gone a little quiet, having had their opening bid for Schuurs immediately knocked back by Torino last month.

Read The Latest Liverpool Transfer News HERE

According to a report from CalcioMercato, however, the Reds still "remain at the window" for the Torino defender, with the Serie A club currently demanding €40m (£34m) in order to sanction his departure.

The Merseyside club are not the only Premier League club interested in signing the Dutchman, with Crystal Palace having already submitted a bid of €30m (£26m), which was turned down, ending their pursuit for the time being.

Fabrizio Romano has reported the 23-year-old is being "discussed internally" by Tottenham, while also detailing the player himself is "keen" on a move to the Premier League.

Torino president Urbano Cairo is said to be "inflexible" in his valuation of the centre-back, meaning it is likely all the potential suitors will have to match the £34m asking price if they are to get a deal over the line this summer.

How good is Perr Schuurs?

Lauded as a "mountain" by journalist Josh Bunting, the 6 foot 3 defender has some impressive defensive attributes, ranking in the 80th percentile for tackles per 90 over the past year, when compared to his positional peers.

The £29k-per-week defender, who has been hailed as "phenomenal" by Torino boss Ivan Juric, is also a very competent passer of the ball, recording an average pass success rate of 91.8% in the 2020-21 campaign, amongst the best in Europe.

It could definitely be worth Liverpool bringing in a new defender, considering Joel Matip has gone off the boil in recent times, with pundit Natasha Dowie claiming he "had to do better" in the build-up to Bayern Munich's second goal in the 4-3 loss earlier this month.

perr-schuurs

The Cameroonian defender is now 32-years-old, and with his contract set to expire next summer, Klopp needs to think about a long-term replacement, and Schuurs definitely fits the bill.

The Torino ace is by no means the finished article, with Juric recently claiming he is "still growing", but he has been exhibiting very promising signs since moving to Italy, establishing himself as a key first-team player last season, and Liverpool should undoubtedly test the waters with a new bid.

Newcastle Could Improve Isak With £175k-p/w Signing

With the tumultuous rumblings of the transfer window occurring all around high-fliers Newcastle United, Eddie Howe will be delighted that his Premier League outfit have been swift and incisive this summer.

Who are Newcastle going to sign?

It's a credit to Newcastle's transfer strategy and technical director Dan Ashworth's diligence that Howe has recently claimed that he would "love" one more signing.

Effectively, the 45-year-old gaffer is alluding to the fact that the club's business has been conducted efficiently and anything more this month would be a welcome bonus, with Sandro Tonali, Harvey Barnes and Tino Livramento all bolstering the first-team ranks.

Read the latest Newcastle transfer news HERE…

The Daily Mail's Craig Hope has claimed that Newcastle need to be 'creative' to make their final move to comply with Financial Fair Play regulations, and as such could swoop for Chelsea's Marc Cucurella, with the Telegraph's Luke Edwards revealing that the Spaniard could arrive on loan.

How good is Marc Cucurella?

Aside from the obvious fact that Cucurella would bring added depth to Newcastle's side as they target success across four competitions this season, having returned to the Champions League after two decades away, the 25-year-old could play to the strengths of Alexander Isak.

Isak signed for the St. James' Park team for a club-record £63m from Real Sociedad last summer and plundered ten goals from just 17 Premier League starts during an injury-hit maiden year on English soil, but opened his account with aplomb this season by netting twice in a 5-1 drubbing over Aston Villa, with Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink saying "you can't teach" the innate striking instinct he possesses.

The £120k-per-week Swede is lightning-quick and fleet-footed, ranking among the top 13% of forwards across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for progressive carries and the top 7% for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref, highlighting his progressive presence and prowess with the ball at his feet.

It is because of this skill set that Isak has often been placed out wide for the Tyneside team, playing five of the last seven top-flight matches on the left wing to accommodate Callum Wilson in the central striking role, with the 31-year-old England international's prolificness last term giving Howe a selection headache, which, albeit, is not the worst quandary in the world.

Isak failed to score across those five matches but did look dangerous and left football fans waxing lyrical in their droves after a magical solo run produced a fine goal; while he was not officially credited with an assist due to a slight deflection, the 40-cap star drew comparisons to Thierry Henry for the feat.

With Wilson scoring 18 goals from just 21 starts last season, should Isak find a home on the left flank again, his craft will be enhanced by Cucurella, who offers a very different skill set to that of Dan Burn.

Cucurella's £60m transfer to west London hasn't worked out after such stellar displays with Brighton & Hove Albion the season prior, where he earned an average Sofascore rating of 7.11 as he completed 82% of his passes, averaging 1.2 key passes per game and plundered one goal and assist apiece.

The direct contribution is hardly groundbreaking stuff, but it's a far cry better than Burn's offensive output, with the 6 foot 6 titan ranking among the top 5% of full-backs for clearances per 90 but only among the bottom 43% for passes attempted – also averaging just 0.4 key passes per game last season – keeping it conservative and simple.

Hailed as "outstanding" by one football consultant, Cucurella, comparatively, ranks among the top 8% for passes attempted, the top 30% for progressive passes and the top 2% for tackles per 90, and his ball-playing ability could work a treat for Howe's side and indeed Isak, who would no doubt benefit from a more attacking full-back.

The £175k-per-week gem, while not in good form last year, exhibited his passing prowess and could notch his metrics up a level with a move to Newcastle, providing Isak with supplementation upon his forays out wide and increasing the dynamism and multi-dimensional approach of this thriving English outfit.

Newcastle Showing Interest In "Phenomenal" £9.45m Colossus

Newcastle United are now showing an interest in signing Blackburn Rovers defender Ashley Phillips, who will be available for just £2m when his release clause kicks in this Friday, according to a report from The Sun.

Who is Ashley Phillips signing for?

Reports from earlier this month indicated that Phillips was closing in on a move to Tottenham Hotspur, with journalist Charlie Eccleshare saying:

"Tottenham set to sign highly-rated 18yo centre-back Ashley Phillips from Blackburn for around £3 million. Understood it won't affect Spurs' plans to try and sign at least one senior CB. Phillips expected to have medical in next 24 hours before hopefully joining the tour."

However, there has been little progress since that point, and now The Sun are reporting that Newcastle could make a late move to sign the 18-year-old, with Blackburn still hoping to receive £9.45m if they are to sanction his departure.

Tottenham's stand-off with Blackburn is set to come to an end this week, as a £2m release clause kicks in this Friday, which would allow Ange Postecoglou to snap up the youngster for a heavily reduced fee.

However, Spurs are waiting to see whether Blackburn find another buyer before that point, with the Magpies showing an interest, although they are yet to make an offer above what their Premier League rivals are currently willing to pay.

As such, a move to north London appears to be the most likely outcome at the moment, however there is still time for Eddie Howe to make a late swoop and hijack the Lilywhites' deal, if he is willing to outbid them.

For now, the Blackburn defender is set to continue training ahead of the Championship opener against West Bromwich Albion, but he is unlikely to be risked in games in case of injury.

Who is Ashley Phillips?

Despite the fact he is just 18-years-old, the youngster has already started to gain some first-team experience with his current club, making 14 appearances for the Rovers, including eight in the Championship during the 2022/23 campaign.

The youngster has predominantly played at centre-back throughout his short career so far, where his 6 foot 4 frame would undoubtedly be useful for Newcastle, and former manager Tony Mowbray has also praised his ability in possession, saying:

"He's 6ft 4', he's fast, mobile and can pass it really well. He can use both feet, he's composed. Ash is just a phenomenal young boy; if you were to create a defender in the mould of how you would want one, this kid has got every attribute."

It is still very early days for the Blackburn starlet, given that he only turned 18 last month, but he is showing all the signs that he could go on to be a top player in the future, and it is exciting news that Newcastle are still in with a chance of signing him.

That said, Tottenham appear to be in pole position at the moment, and the Magpies will need to move swiftly if they are going to hijack the deal for Phillips.

The teenager could be worth a push from Newcastle, though, given his clear potential to be a brilliant defender.

كاسيميرو: ريال مدريد يتحول في دوري أبطال أوروبا.. ومبابي مثل كريستيانو رونالدو

تحدث البرازيلي كاسيميرو لاعب مانشستر يونايتد الإنجليزي، عن تأهل ريال مدريد أمام مانشستر سيتي في دوري أبطال أوروبا، وشبه كيليان مبابي بالنجم البرتغالي كريستيانو رونالدو.

وتأهل ريال مدريد إلى نصف نهائي دوري أبطال أوروبا بركلات الترجيح أمام مانشستر سيتي.

وقال كاسيميرو عن ريال مدريد في تصريحات نشرتها صحيفة “ماركا” الإسبانية: “من الصعب شرح ذلك، إنه فريق يتحول في دوري أبطال أوروبا، لديه نقطة النجومية، كرة هالاند التي تصطدم بالعارضة وتخرج… هذا الفريق في دوري أبطال أوروبا شيء لا يصدق”.

وأضاف: “جينات ريال مدريد تحقق لهم الفوز، إذا فزت بالدوري فقط، فلماذا لم تفز بدوري أبطال أوروبا؟ هذا هو الأمر هناك، المتطلبات لا ترهقك، إنها ممتعة، عليك دائما الضغط، هذا هو اللعب في مدريد، هذا الضغط تتعرض له كل يوم”.

وعن مباراة ريال مدريد ومانشستر سيتي، أفاد: “لقد عانيت كمشجع لريال مدريد، بالطبع تأهل ريال مدريد ولكني عانيت من أجل مدريد، كنت أعرف بالفعل أن السيتي لديه لاعبون جيدون جدًا ومدرب مذهل، يعرف ما يلعب، مدريد دافع، دافع، دافع، أنا سعيد جدًا لزملائي السابقين”.

اقرأ أيضًا | كاسيميرو: ترددت في الرحيل عن ريال مدريد بسبب بكاء أنشيلوتي

وانتقل كاسيميرو للحديث عن النجمين كريستيانو رونالدو وليونيل ميسي، واستطرد: “لقد استمتعنا ولا ندرك ما فعله ميسي وكريستيانو، نحن لا نقدر كثيرًا ما فعله كريستيانو في كرة القدم وما يفعله، في العام الماضي سجل 50 هدفًا، ماذا ستقول عن لاعب مثل هذا؟!”.

وعن كيليان مبابي مهاجم باريس سان جيرمان، علّق كاسيميرو: “إنه أحد أفضل اللاعبين حاليًا، إن لم يكن الأفضل، سريع جدًا وذكي… إنه وحش، إنه يذكرني كثيرًا بكريستيانو، وجوده في الملعب يعني وجود خطورة للتسجيل”.

وأتم: “كان كريستيانو هكذا، كان يشم رائحة الهدف، إذا لم يكن كريستيانو على ما يرام، لكن كان بإمكانك معرفة أنه سيسجل، هؤلاء هم اللاعبون النجوم ومبابي لديه ذلك، ضد برشلونة في ذلك اليوم، لم يقدم مباراة جيدة، أنهى المباراة وسجل هدفين”.

Amla insists coach talk is no distraction

Hashim Amla said he has not noticed any change in approach from the South Africa coaching staff since the news that positions will have to be reapplied for

Firdose Moonda31-Jan-2017

Hashim Amla has not sensed any change in Russell Domingo or his coaching staff•AFP

News that South Africa’s coach Russell Domingo will have to reapply for his job if he hopes to continue in the role after the team’s tour of England in August resulted in “a few sad hours in the changeroom” according to ODI captain AB de Villiers but fellow senior figure Hashim Amla said he has not noticed any change in approach from the coaching staff.Domingo has a support staff of five: assistant Adi Birrell, bowling coach Charl Langeveldt, batting coach Neil McKenzie, spin consultant Claude Henderson and fitness trainer Greg King, whose deals are tied to his and as a result, they will also face contract renegotiation later this year, but none of them have appeared distracted.”It hasn’t affected the coaches too much. They still seem extremely motivated, which is brilliant. They have been professional in everything they have done,” Amla said ahead of the second ODI against Sri Lanka in Durban. “Don’t forget it’s still six or seven months away, which is a long time. In between that, we have so many different challenges to keep our focus on.”Chief among those is the Champions Trophy, which will doubtless have some bearing on whether Domingo wants to stay on and whether Cricket South Africa’s board will be keen on keeping him. If South Africa win the competition, it is almost a given Domingo will be in demand, especially as he is already the man who has achieved the most with the team at a major tournament.He was the first coach to oversee a South African victory in a 50-over World Cup knockout match, when they beat Sri Lanka in the quarter-final in 2015, and even though Domingo has not had the same success at World T20s with the 2019 World Cup looming, a strong showing at the Champions Trophy could stand him in good stead for a new two-year term.But the trophy drought has proved a nemesis for so many and no-one has yet come up with the answer to break the hoodoo. Like his predecessors, Domingo’s plans are focused on meticulous preparation – South Africa are regularly the team who have played the most matches in the months leading up to a major tournament – and so far, they seem to be working.”If you look at the build-up we have had as a team, winning the last series [against Australia] as convincingly as we did and being 1-0 up here, it’s building very well,” Amla said. “The coaches and the captains have tried to put the structures in place for us to succeed and it’s really pleasing that everything is working really well.”Amla has been part of all this before though, and knows that even the best laid plans can be derailed on the day, when pressure takes hold. In South Africa’s case, the major tournament bug has most often bitten their batsmen, who have botched modest chases – think Dhaka 2011. Then, South Africa’s line-up contained at least some inexperience. This time, it is unlikely to have any with all of the top six senior figures and all of them in decent nick.”The batting line up looks really solid. Quinny is one of the best, Faf has been in very good form, AB is a legend, JP is batting well, everybody has been contributing,” Amla said.However, even with things go as well as they could, South Africa have every reason to be cautious and not to get ahead of themselves. “Nobody is under the illusion that everything is hunky-dory and things are just going to keep going up and up. There will be some challenges inbetween here and the Champions Trophy and if that comes, we’ve got to be patient with it go through it,” Amla said.The waiting game is something Amla was forced to become well-versed in over the last few months when he went through a rare lean patch in the lead up to his 100th Test. Amla went 13 Test innings without a century before bringing up three figures in his milestone match to end speculation that the end was nigh. He has since topped up on that with a 57 in the first ODI and is feeling like his old self, with no intention of slowing down.”Sometimes you go through those patches. If I can think back, there are other players, much better players, Tendulkar, those guys, they have been through similar. That’s the nature of the game,” he said. “I take it as it comes. I try not to plan too far ahead. Whether its 100 Tests or 50 Tests, the fact that I am playing international cricket is what motivates me. I enjoy batting and I enjoy playing for the country. I feel very fresh. I still feel 18.”

Everton: Dyche Can Ditch Maupay By Signing £33k-p/w "Nightmare" At Goodison Park

An update has emerged on Everton and their plans to bolster their attacking options in the summer transfer window…

What's the latest on Alfredo Morelos to Everton?

Colombian journalist Pipe Sierra has claimed that the Toffees are one of the clubs showing an interest in signing Colombian centre-forward Alfredo Morelos.

The reporter tweeted:

"Alfredo Morelos (26) and #Rangers did not reach a renewal agreement; everything is given for him to be a free agent from July 1. #Sevilla, #Cádiz, #Everton #Nottingham and #Fenerbahçe the first interested parties. There is also an Italian club that wants it."

Toffees boss Sean Dyche will now have to convince the soon-to-be-former Gers marksman to reject a host of other teams in order to secure his signature for the 2023/24 campaign.

Will Neal Maupay leave Everton this summer?

The Frenchman has been linked with a move to Serie A outfit Salernitana and the Blues head coach bringing Morelos in would surely allow him to sanction such a move, thus ruthlessly ditch the expensive dud.

Signing another striker to occupy one of the forward slots in the team would open the door for Dyche to kick Neal Maupay out of the club, after his dreadful season at Goodison Park.

Everton striker Neal Maupay.

The 26-year-old flop joined from Brighton & Hove Albion for a fee of £15m last summer and endured a rough campaign in front of goal for the Toffees.

He averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.56 across 27 appearances in the Premier League and only contributed with one goal, as the misfiring striker failed to register a single assist or create a 'big chance' for his teammates. Maupay also missed seven 'big chances' and this proves that the service into him was not the reason behind his severe lack of goals in the division.

Morelos is yet to experience football in England and there is certainly no guarantee that he will be able to translate his form at Ibrox over to Goodison Park, but his form in Scotland suggests that the potential is there for him to be a big upgrade on Maupay.

The £33k-per-week international plundered an eye-catching 124 goals and 58 assists across 269 appearances for the Light Blues during his time at Ibrox.

During the 2022/23 campaign, the 26-year-old goal machine averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.98 in the Scottish Premiership and chipped in with 11 goals and five assists in 32 appearances, despite only having started 15 matches.

Morelos, who was anonymously described as a "nightmare for defenders" by one of his SPFL opponents, has been a reliable goalscorer, and provider, throughout his years in Scotland and Dyche could now be handed a perfect reason to ruthlessly axe Maupay by bringing the prolific striker in to take his place in the squad.

Man City Close To Signing "Unbelievable" £150k-p/w Star

Manchester City are close to signing Chelsea midfielder Mateo Kovacic, with a verbal agreement reached, according to Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg.

What’s the latest Man City transfer news involving Kovacic?

Pep Guardiola’s side completed a historic treble, sealing the achievement with a 1-0 win over Inter Milan in the Champions League final last weekend. There have been plenty of celebrations between everyone involved at the club and the supporters, however, it looks as if those at the Etihad are already working on summer signings.

One player who has been heavily linked with a move to Manchester is Kovacic, who has been on the books at Stamford Bridge since 2018. The Croatia international, hailed as an "unbelievable footballer" in the media, will soon be entering the final 12 months of his Chelsea deal and a move north looks to be on the cards.

Plettenberg took to Twitter in the last 48 hours to provide an update on the transfer talk between City and Kovacic. He said that a move is close, with a verbal agreement reached.

“Everything is going in the right direction. Kovacic is close to join MCFC & Pep. Verbal agreement is done confirmed. Negotiations between Man City and CFC should follow this week.”

How much does Mateo Kovacic earn?

Kovacic, sponsored by Nike, can play in a defensive, central or attacking midfield role, so should provide Guardiola with a versatile midfield option next season. He also has a history of winning plenty of honours, for example, he has won the Champions League on four separate occasions and the Europa League once.

A player like Kovacic could be needed over the coming month, especially if captain Ilkay Gundogan decides against renewing his Etihad contract over the coming weeks, as has been speculated.

Kovacic also has plenty of Premier League experience under his belt, turning out on 142 occasions in the top flight. And ranks in the 98th percentile for passes into the final third, so could prove to be a shrewd addition in midfield.

He currently picks up £150,000-a-week in London, the biggest wage of his career to date, so it’ll be interesting to see the terms he has seemingly agreed with City. A transfer fee still needs to be agreed between the two clubs, though, but at this moment in time, it appears as if Kovacic could be the first through the door this summer to link up with the treble winners.

عقوبات قوية من رابطة الأندية ضد جماهير الزمالك والإسماعيلي

أعلنت رابطة الأندية المصرية المحترفة عن معاقبة جماهير الزمالك والإسماعيلي بعد مباراة الفريقين الأخيرة في الدوري المصري الممتاز “النيل”.

وكان الإسماعيلي قد تعادل سلبيًا أمام الزمالك، في المواجهة التي جمعت بينهما ضمن لقاءات الجولة 13 من الدوري المصري الممتاز. 

وأصدرت رابطة الأندية بيانًا رسميًا أكدت من خلاله حرصها على المكتسبات التي تحققت في ملف عودة الجماهير لحضور مباريات الدوري.

الإسماعيلي: هناك من يرغب في معاقبة النادي.. ونمتلك مدير فني “صنايعي”

وأضاف البيان: “وفي ضوء ما شهده لقاء الإسماعيلي والزمالك الذي أقيم على استاد الإسماعيلية في الجولة الثالثة عشر من حالة سباب متبادل بين جماهير الناديين، قررت رابطة الأندية المصرية المحترفة العقوبات التالية”. عقوبات مباراة الزمالك والإسماعيلي في الدوري

1- لعب نادي الإسماعيلي مباراتين بدون جمهور وتوقيع غرامة مالية على النادي قيمتها 100 ألف جنيه وذلك نظرًا لتكرار مثل هذه التجاوزات للمرة الثالثة هذا الموسم.

2- إيقاف حضور المباريات من جماهير الزمالك لمدة (مباراتين) وعددهم 2243 مشجعًا وتوقيع غرامة مالية 50 ألف جنيه نظرًا لتكرار مثل هذه التجاوزات للمرة الثانية هذا الموسم.

وتناشد رابطة الأندية جميع عناصر اللعبة التحلي الدائم بالروح الرياضية ونبذ التعصب، وتنبه الرابطة على أنه سيتم تغليظ العقوبات في حالة تكرار مثل هذه التجاوزات، والتي قد تصل لمنع جمهور أي فريق من حضور المباريات حتى نهاية الموسم.

Leeds Aiming To Keep Hold Of £4,400-A-Week Defender

Leeds United want to keep hold of Cody Drameh this summer, amid interest from Burnley and Luton Town, according to a fresh update from journalist Fabrizio Romano.

How has Drameh fared this season?

The 21-year-old was loaned out to Luton Town last summer, with the Whites unable to promise him regular playing time in the Premier League, and therefore thinking a temporary move was better for his development.

Drameh ended up enjoying a memorable season down south, starting 19 matches in the Championship and helping Luton achieve promotion to the top flight.

The £4,400-a-week full-back is out of contract at Leeds in 2024, meaning this summer is a key one in terms of his future, considering they risk losing him on a free transfer next year if he doesn't sign an extension. There is interest in his signature ahead of the transfer window opening, so the club have a key decision to make.

Will Drameh stay at Leeds this summer?

Taking to Twitter, Romano gave an update on Drameh's future, claiming that Leeds are still hopeful of retaining his services moving forward, however, gee said that both Burnley and Luton are prepared to open talks for his services.

"Burnley and Luton are prepared to open talks over the permanent transfer of Cody Drameh in the coming days. Leeds have yet to appoint new head coach as they still hope to convince Drameh to stay and get promoted next season."

This is a tricky decision for Leeds, with Drameh a talented young player who could potentially have a bright future in the game, having been hailed as "fantastic" by Luton manager Rob Edwards.

That being said, reports suggested that he wanted to quit Yorkshire to play in the Premier League next season, although recent speculation has said he could be open to staying in Yorkshire.

At 21, time is very much on Drameh's side, so in an ideal world, he would be content with staying put and looking to help Leeds back into the top flight at the first time of asking, aiming to add to his tally of eight appearances for the club.

His performances in helping Luton reach the Premier League certainly show that he can shine in the second tier – he averaged 3.3 tackles per game in the Championship in 2022/23 – although the fact that Burnley and the Hatters want him in the top flight could certainly sway his thinking.

Tottenham Could Forget Nagelsmann With Outstanding Manager

Tottenham Hotspur fans, and those from other clubs, were understandably baffled when the news came to light regarding their interest in Julian Nagelsmann. Or rather, the lack of.

Many viewed the German as the outstanding option to take over their managerial vacancy, as a young out-of-work tactician already boasting fine pedigree, and all the fresh and innovative ideas to lead a struggling outfit into a brighter future.

However, as of last week, Daniel Levy reportedly boasted no intention of meeting the 35-year-old and did not consider him a contender for the job. Meanwhile, Chelsea move ever closer to appointing Spurs' former touchline hero Mauricio Pochettino, denoting a truly sad state of affairs for the long-suffering fans of the north London club.

Seeing the leading candidate revealed to be nothing more than a concept dreamt up by the media, it has left many confused as to the direction the chairman seeks to take.

julian-nagelsmann-bayern-tottenham

Whilst journalist Jack Pitt-Brooke had revealed an alternative four-man shortlist boasting "Arne Slot, Roberto De Zerbi, Xabi Alonso and Ruben Amorim", fresh news has since come to light regarding a new candidate that has entered the race.

As reported by FCInternews, Spurs have reportedly already opened talks with the agent of Inter Milan manager Simone Inzaghi.

How does Simone Inzaghi set up?

Enjoying just his second job in senior management, the Italian coach has earned widespread success for his work first with Lazio and now the Nerazzurri.

Having already begun to fill his trophy cabinet with various pieces of Italian silverware, the 47-year-old is seeking the ultimate prize this season and is set to lead his team to an unprecedented Champions League final barring a colossal collapse in their second-leg tie with AC Milan.

He has earned such success with a brand of football shrouded in his 3-5-2 system that promotes aggressive attacking from the wing-backs. Given this was a system Antonio Conte aimed to employ, the squad should take little time to adapt to his methods.

With those similarities, it could be argued that the former striker even boasts a smarter alternative to Nagelsmann, who would likely have endured a long transitional period to uproot a squad that has solely played three-at-the-back, over various transfer windows.

It was brutally showcased in their 6-1 loss at St James' Park just how hopeless this squad would be with just four defenders, which again merits distancing the 4-2-3-1 boss away from the job.

Not only this, but across the two teams he has overseen, Inzaghi has enjoyed a fine return of 258 wins from 442 matches, having scored a remarkable 906 times across this period. He will seemingly not repeat the failures of his compatriot, but instead hopefully find a balance that makes them a potent attacking threat once more.

After all, he is viewed as "one of the best coaches in Europe" by his brother Filippo Inzaghi.

Having spent time at such a prestigious club and impressed, perhaps Levy might be onto something should he prefer the Inter boss over Nagelsmann.

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