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Tottenham Hotspur boss Antonio Conte will likely be chomping at the bit to back in the dugout amid his recent layoff, with the serial-winning Italian having watched from afar as his side wilted on the road for the second game running in all competitions.

After suffering a shock FA Cup exit at the hands of Championship side Sheffield United in midweek, the Lilywhites – under the stewardship of Cristian Stellini – again came undone away against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday afternoon, with Adama Traore’s late strike sealing the win for the battling hosts at Molineux.

Having clinched two successive Premier League wins against both West Ham United and Chelsea heading into today’s encounter, the north Londoners were dealt a dose of reality after suffering a further setback in their top-four bid, with only Newcastle United’s earlier loss to Manchester City likely to have softened the blow.

Amid a frustrating day for the visitors, one standout figure was arguably that of January arrival, Pedro Porro, with the dynamic wing-back having come close to breaking the deadlock with a stunning free-kick on the stroke of half-time.

The 23-year-old had seemingly deserved to get on the scoresheet having been a real threat down the right flank, with the relentless Spaniard having laid on two key passes in his 81-minute outing, as well as enjoying a solid 81% pass accuracy rate.

The on-loan asset was not alone in having impressed in the Midlands, however, with influential defender Cristian Romero having also been something of a shining light on the day.

How did Romero play against Wolves?

The World Cup-winning Argentine – who has previously been lauded as “street-wise” by Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher – went into the match off the back of his rock-solid display against the Blues last week, having been “utterly impeccable” in that 2-0 triumph in the words of The Athletic’s Tim Spiers.

The 24-year-old was able to follow up that dominant performance with another dogged display this time around, despite ending up on the losing side, with the aggressive centre-back having won five duels in total, as well as making three clearances.

That destructive quality – which saw the centre-back commit two fouls – was also mirrored by Romero’s brilliance in possession as he achieved a standout 93% pass accuracy rate from his 80 touches, losing possession on just seven occasions.

As the Evening Standard’s Dan Kilpatrick noted, the former Atalanta man had initially been in ‘total control’ for the first hour or so prior to Wolves’ late onslaught, with the 6 foot 1 ace undoubtedly not to blame for the home side being able to eventually make the breakthrough in the closing stages.

As 90min’s Sean Walsh also noted, the at-times erratic brute was ‘Tottenham’s most alert defender and easily their most reliable distributor from the back’, having seemingly done all he could to try and keep Stellini’s men in the game.

With the battle for Champions League qualification likely to hot up in the coming weeks and months, there are few players better suited to such a fight than that of Romero.

Tottenham Hotspur are leading the race to sign Inter Milan central midfielder Marcelo Brozovic this summer, according to a recent report.

The Lowdown: Tottenham eyeing midfielder

It is clear that Tottenham want to strengthen in the centre of midfield this summer, given the number of players they have been linked to in that area of the pitch, with Fulham’s Joao Palhinha recently emerging as a potential option for Antonio Conte.

Another player Spurs are considering a move for is Southampton captain James Ward-Prowse, with journalist Pete O’Rourke recently claiming that he is a ‘top player’ who would be a ‘great fit’ for the north London club.

While proven Premier League players are on the shortlist for the Lilywhites, there is also a suggestion they could turn their attentions to options from abroad, with Brozovic being linked with a move during the January transfer window.

The Latest: Leading Brozovic race

According to a new report from Inter Live, the Inter Milan midfielder has plenty of admirers in the Premier League, but Tottenham are in pole position as the main team to keep an eye on.

However, the report states that Conte remaining at N17 could play a major part in whether a deal goes ahead, given that the 30-year-old is someone the manager has been interested in for a long time.

It is also detailed that Spurs could use Tanguy Ndombele as a bargaining chip in negotiations with Inter, as he is set to return from his loan with Napoli at the end of the season.

The Verdict: Get it done?

Lauded as ‘fantastic’ by former Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho, who is a huge fan, the Croatian is very assured in possession, ranking in the 97th percentile for passes attempted and in the 94th for his completion percentage per 90 over the course of the past year.

In the Serie A this season, the maestro has been one of Inter’s most consistent performers, receiving an average Sofascore rating of 7.30, the highest of any midfielder and the fourth-best figure in the entire squad.

Despite predominantly featuring as a defensive midfielder throughout his career, the 83-time Croatia international also pitches in with the attacking output, recording 30 goals and 37 assists in a total of 309 games with his current club.

With Rodrigo Bentancur set to be sidelined until November at the earliest, Brozovic would be the perfect addition to Conte’s squad, although he should only be offered a short-term contract, as he is no longer in his peak years.

AS Roma could look to sell striker Tammy Abraham this summer, with Aston Villa seemingly extremely keen on his services.

The Lowdown: Striker a priority

Villa continued their impressive form under Unai Emery with a 3-0 win over AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League on Saturday. Ollie Watkins didn’t get on the scoresheet, but Villa have now scored 35 goals in 27 top-flight games.

Emery is already planning for the summer ahead of his first full season in charge, with a new No.9 to partner Watkins at the top of Villa’s shopping list this summer, according to Ashley Preece.

A number of players have been linked with a move to the Midlands, including Abraham, and a further update has emerged on the Roma man.

The Latest: Transfer update

Sports Witness relayed an update from Calciomercato regarding Abraham in the last 48 hours. They said that the forward is slipping down the pecking order with Roma, who ‘could evaluate’ a sale so long as the price offered is above €40m.

This has come down from previous reports that stated that Roma would want around €75m, although €40m (£35.3m) would still be a club record at Villa Park, surpassing the current record deal for Emiliano Buendia.

The title of the report says that Abraham has been top of Emery’s wishlist for months, with the new price tag also more affordable for Villa chiefs.

The Verdict: One to watch

Abraham, hailed as ‘incredible’ by journalist Maxi Angelo, has enjoyed a relatively successful period in Italy, scoring 34 times in 90 appearances for his current employers. He has contributed to 13 goals during the current campaign, so could be a shrewd option to rival Watkins and Jhon Duran next season.

Jose Mourinho has also praised Abraham recently for being a team player along with his brief display against Juventus.

“For me there is only one Abraham that interests me and that’s what the team player does and who was on the bench in the last game and celebrated the goal in the Curva. It looked like he scored.

“I understand that he can score more goals, but the important thing is the contribution he makes to the team and the 15 minutes he played against Juve he did well.”

He has history of scoring goals for fun at Villa Park in the Championship, so a return could be a wise move by owners NSWE, and it looks as if it could be one to watch going off this latest update.

Glasgow Rangers have sent scouts to watch Joel Piroe ahead of a potential move to the Scottish Premiership, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Alongside Whittaker?

The Light Blues are believed to still be in contact with Swansea City regarding a summer deal for Morgan Whittaker having failed to land him in January and it appears that he isn’t the only player Michael Beale is targeting.

The Dutchman has now entered the final 18 months of his contract in Wales, and being Russell Martin’s top-performing offensive player, has caught the eye of the hierarchy at Ibrox.

The Championship outfit are having the kind of season where they aren’t in any real danger but neither are they going to achieve anything so the striker could be tempted to look elsewhere should he want to progress his career further.

The Latest: Rangers scout Piroe

According to Football League World, Rangers (and by extension sporting director Ross Wilson) have been ‘scouting’ Piroe in ‘recent weeks’ and would offer a ‘different type of opportunity’ should he decide to make the move north of the border.

Burnley, Middlesbrough and Norwich City are also ‘keeping tabs’ on the 23-year-old, whilst Crystal Palace and Everton both ‘explored’ a deal in January, though nothing ever came to fruition.

Sources believe that Swansea are ‘at risk’ of losing their standout performer as a result of failing to properly get themselves going under Martin, so this could be one to watch in the months ahead.

The Verdict: Get it done…

Piroe has been dubbed a ‘danger man’ by journalist Josh Bunting and Rangers need to act fast should they want to secure his services ahead of their fellow competitors.

The Wijchen native has clocked up 13 goals and provided one assist in 34 Championship appearances so far this season where he’s currently averaging 3.2 shots per 90 minutes.

The 6 foot 1 star also ranks in the 95th percentile for pass completion, showing his excellent ability to link up well with his teammates, and the 91st percentile for most progressive passes (FBRef).

Despite naturally being a centre-forward, the left-footed ace has played in five different positions since the start of his career and is comfortable operating anywhere across the frontline.

The Teddy Bears have to head into the summer window on a mission to recruit players that will be able to have a significant impact on the side and get them competing with Celtic again and Piroe is certainly the perfect candidate to come in and do just the job.

Eintracht Frankfurt manager Oliver Glasner could potentially become Antonio Conte’s replacement at Tottenham, according to journalist Christian Falk.

The Lowdown: Conte is on the verge

All is not well at Spurs at the moment, with Conte openly calling out key figures after last weekend’s 3-3 draw away to Southampton in the Premier League.

The Italian has cut a frustrated figure for big chunks of the 2022/23 campaign, while his own health has also been an issue, and it feels like a matter of when he leaves Tottenham, rather than if.

Conte is contracted to Spurs until the end of the season, at which point an extension won’t be signed, but he could even leave before then, with a replacement arguably needed now, in order to secure a top-four finish.

Departed former Bayern Munich boss Julian Nagelsmann is a candidate to replace Conte, but Glasner has also emerged as a contender.

The 48-year-old has managed Frankfurt since 2021 and won the Europa League with them last season, beating Rangers on penalties in the final.

The Latest: Falk talks up move

Speaking to Caught Offside, Falk talked up Spurs’ potential appointment of Glasner as Conte’s successor:

“The news that Thomas Tuchel is joining Bayern Munich is good news for Oliver Glasner.

“They clearly like German coaches over in Tottenham! A few years before, they tried to get Hansi Flick, now they’ve tried to go for Tuchel, they’ve got Glasner on the list; he’s Austrian, of course, but German-speaking and German-thinking.

“The point is that Glasner is thinking about this move, which is why he’s yet to sign a new contract. Frankfurt have tried to extend his contract but there are ongoing discussions about the squad.

“Glasner wants to make the next step and get better with Frankfurt. If you don’t get better with Frankfurt, you can get better with another team and get a better squad; these are the discussions between Markus Krosche and Glasner.”

The Verdict: Could be a great option

Glasner could be a very exciting option for Spurs, either in the coming weeks or this summer, with the Austrian doing such an impressive job at Frankfurt, guiding them to sixth place in the Bundesliga currently.

The north Londoners’ barren run without silverware is much-publicised, and he could be seen as someone who can come in and end that drought, having won the Europa League last season.

Some of Spurs’ matches under Conte this season have been dull, and while Glasner adopts a counter-attacking style, it has more purpose than what supporters have had to sit through at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this season.

Glasner could also be a cheaper option than Nagelsmann, which could appeal, and while the latter has some doubters after his spell at Bayern, the former’s reputation is very much in-tact right now.

Tottenham have approached a new manager target with Wolfsburg boss Niko Kovac giving his swift reply to chairman Daniel Levy.

Who will Spurs hire as next manager?

The Lilywhites have officially begun their search for a permanent Antonio Conte replacement after they both mutually agreed to part ways earlier this week.

Conte parted company with Tottenham after around 16 months in charge of the club, having guided them to a top four Premier League finish last season whilst building real anticipation. However, the 53-year-old arguably couldn't build upon his debut season success, with Spurs criticised for their brand of football and tepid approach.

It is now Levy's responsibility to pull Spurs back in the right direction and employ a manager who can both excite supporters with attacking football and steer them towards the division's summit.

Mauricio Pochettino, their former manager and real fan favourite, has been billed as a top candidate to succeed Conte alongside the likes of Luis Enrique and Julian Nagelsmann in the last week.

As Tottenham scour for their perfect new head in the background, it is the job of both interim boss Cristian Stellini and assistant coach Ryan Mason to deliver a top four finish for the north Londoners. New targets are consistently appearing via sections of the media with Wolfsburg boss Kovac now mentioned as a coach of interest.

German website WAZ, as relayed and translated by Sport Witness, claim that Spurs have made an approach for the former Bayern Munich manager. However, it isn't good news for Levy, with Kovac apparently replying swiftly and rejecting their advances.

It is believed that the 51-year-old has principles he wishes to stick too, namely that he doesn't break contracts, with Levy's advisors told it was a no from Kovac. The report goes on to claim it was 'impossible' for him to take a job in England right now.

Was Kovac the right man?

Interestingly, the 4-2-3-1 coach has actually managed to some fairly notable sides in recent years with Bundesliga giants Bayern standing out as the obvious one.

During his time at the Allianz Arena, Kovac guided Bayern to a German top flight title in 2019 but didn't stay long after that – being sacked in November that same year.

Thereafter, the coach went on to manage Monaco for one season and a half before eventually joining Wolfsburg at the start of this season. Kovac is currently battling for a European qualifying place with his new team but we believe there are certainly more prestigious candidates out there for Spurs – namely the likes of Nagelsmann and Pochettino.

Graham Potter paid for Chelsea’s poor run of form since Christmas with his job on Sunday as Todd Boehly sacked the Englishman just seven months into his Stamford Bridge tenure.

It perhaps wasn’t a surprise, but Potter may have felt hard done by, especially considering how much he’d spent during the January transfer window.

Thoughts now turn to who could take over with Fabrizio Romano since claiming that Julian Nagelsmann – available after being sacked by Bayern Munich – is “the favourite candidate” to replace Potter.

Boehly may be ready to strike fast and secure one of the game's most talented young managers but it may not be as straightforward as that, with the 35-year-old in no rush to find a new job according to Sky Germany.

This could throw a spanner in the works and might tempt the American to go after another manager for the role and there is one who is free and ready to begin work straight away – Zinedine Zidane.

Could Zinedine Zidane take over at Chelsea?

Zidane was linked with the Chelsea job back in February as growing pressure mounted on Potter following an indifferent start and following the recent news, the Frenchman will surely once again be under consideration.

He is currently unattached so wouldn’t cost any compensation and having managed Real Madrid – arguably the biggest club on the planet – taking over at the Stamford Bridge side shouldn’t daunt him the slightest.

The three-time World Player of the Year took over at the Bernabeu in 2016 following Rafa Benitez’s sacking and led the La Liga side to their finest era since the 1950s, becoming the first coach to win the Champions League three times in a row.

Along with the three European titles, Zidane won two league titles and a handful of other trophies across his two stints at the club and this rate of success may be too tempting for Boehly to turn down.

The 50-year-old's man management skills would bring the best out of these Chelsea players with his methods having worked wonders for players such as Luka Modric, who lavished praise on him while he was coach of Madrid, saying: "Every piece of advice he gives you is like gold dust and it helps you improve on the pitch."

With a points per match average of 2.24 having staggeringly lost just 21 league matches from 183 fixtures, he is a more than adequate alternative for Nagelsmann, who has a PPM average of 1.86 across 243 matches, losing 46 matches.

It speaks volumes for the club that they are in the position to be chasing two of the finest managers in the game, the question is, who will succeed Potter? Zidane could well be the man.

Aston Villa's rise to become European challengers has been nothing short of meteoric, with Unai Emery the mastermind behind one of the Premier League's great success stories from this campaign.

Having started the season under Steven Gerrard, his October sacking gave way to the experienced Spaniard, whose main initial goal was just to avoid the drop.

Whilst this was expected to be a simple task for someone of his pedigree, few could have predicted just how quickly the 51-year-old would engineer a turnaround at Villa Park.

Players who had struggled under the previous regime became instant stars, and those who might have been heading for an exit were afforded crucial second chances.

With that freedom and a newfound opportunity to impress the new man, few have opted against taking that chance.

There have been standout players since that impressive appointment, with Ollie Watkins likely to steal the headlines for his fine goalscoring run. However, arguably one of the greater comeback stories given how his form has faltered in recent years, Tyrone Mings also deserves immense praise for his work in reigniting his career.

How did Tyrone Mings play vs Newcastle?

This success culminated in yesterday's unprecedented victory over Newcastle United, where every man in Claret and Blue put on a faultless display.

In a game that finished 3-0, with Watkins scoring twice, once again many rushed to laud the English forward. However, it was journalist Henry Winter who instead turned to the £80k-per-week defender as someone worthy of his praise.

He wrote on Twitter: "Mings the merciless, on the ground and in the air, AVFC defender absolutely dominated NUFC strikers. Read danger, threw his body into blocks, made clearing headers and played some neat passes to build attacks. Outstanding performance. Only Watkins was better today."

The 7.5 rating he earned from that display more than supports this glowing endorsement, as the Englishman completed six clearances, three blocks and two tackles to keep a vital clean sheet, via Sofascore.

This marked the fourth game in his last five Premier League appearances where he had earned a Sofascore rating of 7.2 or higher, truly outlining just how he had birthed such a renaissance.

Emery is deserving of widespread praise for many of his acts since moving to the Midlands, with their unlikely push for Europe sitting atop that list. But considering how only in September the 30-year-old was lambasted by Danny Mills, his work in engineering this turnaround is up there too.

The pundit had suggested: "He’s terrible. I think Maguire is better on the ball." However, with the Villans sitting at the pinnacle of the form table, and Gareth Southgate having watched over his most imperious recent performance, perhaps he is set to prove the former Leeds United defender wrong.

Chelsea are now open to offers for Hakim Ziyech and have set their price amid interest in the Premier League, according to reports.

What's the latest on Ziyech's future?

The Blues playmaker’s contract at Stamford Bridge isn’t set to expire until 2025 but his future has recently been uncertain after falling out of favour which has seen him make just six top-flight starts this season. Football.London have reported that Todd Boehly could be set to sanction a mass exodus this summer to try and help with the financial aspect of things and the 30-year-old is one of the names to have been included on the list of players who could potentially be facing the axe.

West Ham United and Fulham are two clubs that have already been credited with an interest in the winger should he be made available for transfer at the end of the season and there now appears to be another rival who has entered the race to secure his signature.

According to Football Insider, Tottenham Hotspur have “registered an interest” in signing Ziyech during the upcoming window. Paris Saint-Germain are also expected to join the running after they saw a loan move collapse in January. The Blues forward “could look to leave” SW6 ahead of the new term after dropping down the pecking order where the Irons and the Cottagers are once again both name-checked alongside Spurs.

It’s believed that Frank Lampard's side would “accept bids” in the region of £20m which is a staggering £18m less than the £38m they initially paid for him when he joined from Ajax. PSG are currently his “preferred option”, but the Lilywhites would be the “most likely” to acquire him should he remain in the Premier League.

Should Chelsea keep or sell Ziyech?

Ziyech has been hailed a “joy to watch” by journalist Josh Bunting and he certainly can be on his day, but Chelsea clearly don’t see him as part of their long-term future so they should cash in whilst there is significant interest.

The Moroccan international has not featured in any of his side’s previous six top-flight outings, the last four he was completely omitted from the matchday squad and the other two he was an unused substitute. Additionally, the Dronten native has made 19 appearances across all competitions this season but has only recorded one assist during that time showing that he’s failed to prove himself when given the opportunity to play.

Finally, Ziyech is pocketing £100k-p/w in the capital which is an awful lot of money for someone who’s nothing more than a bench warmer so Chelsea letting him go would help free up their wage bill and generate funds for potential new signings in the summer.

Manchester United have seemingly made their first move to bring Atalanta forward Rasmus Hojlund to Old Trafford this summer.

What’s the latest news on Man United and Hojlund?

The Red Devils and Erik ten Hag appear to be on the hunt for a new marquee striker over the coming months as well as bolstering their midfield ranks.

A number of forwards have been linked with a move to Old Trafford, including Tottenham’s Harry Kane, Napoli’s Victor Osimhen and Eintracht Frankfurt’s Randal Kolo Muani.

Hojlund is another attacker on the radar in Manchester, with current owners the Glazers confident of remaining in charge by securing some outside investment. One of their first summer moves could well be for Hojlund, who has admitted is a "huge Manchester United fan".

Sport Witness relayed an update from Danish outlet BT regarding Hojlund, where the Red Devils were named. They stated that United and Real Madrid and showing a concrete interest in the striker and have made it known in the form of a letter.

The report adds that Atalanta will be aware of the letter and say that Hojlund should have a new agent over the coming weeks and will consider his next move then.

Would Hojlund be a smart signing by Man United?

Hojlund, who journalist Sacha Pisani has labelled as “scary quick”, is 20 years of age and appears to be a star in the making after scoring five goals in his first four Denmark appearances.

The Denmark international was called a “beast” at the beginning of the season by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, while there have also been comparisons to Manchester City striker Erling Haaland. Valued at a career-high €35m by Transfermarkt, the left-footed forward is under contract until 2027 with Atalanta and has contributed to 20 goals in 36 appearances.

However, this is Hojlund’s first season in a big European league, so you could argue that he could be more of a risk compared to alternative targets such as Kane or Osimhen.

The Spurs star has guaranteed goals in the Premier League over the last nine seasons, whereas Osimhen has been impressing in both France and Italy during the last four campaigns.

It is good to see that the Red Devils have a number of attacking targets, and it’ll be interesting to see who arrives at Old Trafford to take over from Anthony Martial and loanee Wout Weghorst, with the former also potentially on the way out.