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Newcastle United have exceeded expectations this season by qualifying for the Champions League with a top-four finish and reaching the Carabao Cup final, falling to Manchester United in a close encounter.

Returning to the pinnacle of continental competition after a two-decade absence, Newcastle are in a sterling position to craft a lasting dynasty following the affluent PIF takeover of the club in October 2021, ending years of obscurity under the ownership of the loathed Mike Ashley.

While a plethora of names are in circulation with the opening of the transfer window just over two weeks away, supporters can rest easy and eagerly await the first announcement of the summer, with manager Eddie Howe stating that four 'elite' additions will be targeted to bolster the fold.

One of the shrewder signings could come in the form of Red Devils midfielder Scott McTominay, with Football Insider claiming that the 26-year-old has told friends that he wishes to leave the Theatre of Dreams this summer after falling out of favour under the tutelage of Erik ten Hag.

Newcastle are joined by West Ham United in their pursuit of the tenacious midfielder, who still has two years on his current contract with the option for a further year.

Should Newcastle sign Scott McTominay?

Eyebrows might be raised by a smattering of Magpies supporters, but McTominay could represent an astute piece of business for a Newcastle side preparing for an increase in competition after qualifying for the Champions League.

While the 38-cap international has only started ten Premier League matches all season, including just four since September, he has made 207 total appearances for his solitary club and played a role in clinching the Carabao Cup trophy earlier this season.

He could also bring an offensive threat to Howe's squad, ranking among the top 23% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for rate of non-penalty goals and the top 5% for expected goals (xG) – the metric used to define the statistical measurement of the probability that a shot will find the back of the net.

While the 6 foot 4 brute has been underperforming in front of goal, it is an indication that his position is in the final third, emerging from the half-spaces to occupy promising pockets of space, and this is something that could play into the Magpies' favour as they seek fresh dimensions to enhance their prospects next term.

The £60k-per-week gem's defensive acumen isn't too shabby either, ranking among the top 1% of positional peers for clearances and the top 18% for rate of tackles per 90, praised as a "physical monster" by former boss Ole Gunnar Solskjær.

Signing the "superb" conductor – as he has been praised by writer Hesham Bilal-Hafiz – could draw rumours of Newcastle interest in Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot to a close, with FBref drawing similarities between the respective skill sets of the midfielders.

Despite Rabiot's contract in Turin concluding this summer, his £150k-per-week wages could prove to be a stumbling block in any negotiations, with Gazzetta dello Sport reporting at the start of the campaign that the 6 foot 2 Frenchman demanded £162k-per-week wages from Man United when the Red Devils were in negotiation for his signature last summer.

And with the towering aces both exhibiting a similar skill set – Rabiot ranks among the top 3% of midfielders for rate of non-penalty goals, the top 17% for rate of clearances and the top 16% for aerials won per 90 – Howe may well be inclined to delve down the shrewder avenue and tie up a deal for a Prem-proven star in McTominay.

Well-known Arsenal photographer Stuart MacFarlane has slammed an unnamed ex-reserve player after he was "trolled" in a message for not winning the league.

How many days were Arsenal top of the league?

It was a tough weekend for the Gunners as they lost by a single goal away at Nottingham Forest in the Premier League.

As a direct consequence, rivals Manchester City were able to win the title race without actually having to kick a ball on Sunday – though they still picked up all three points against Chelsea in their own match.

Sadly, Arsenal's failure to lift the league trophy means they set a new record as the team that spent the most days at the top of the table (248) without managing to go on and win the division.

In light of their defeat, it seems one gleeful ex-Gunner could help but rub the club's disappointment in the face of one of their loyal staff members.

Indeed, as revealed by MacFarlane on his personal Instagram page, a former Arsenal academy man had been in his DMs asking like a : "Baby".

The photographer explained: "Tough evening in Nottingham but ultimately very proud of what the players and staff have achieved this season. Getting trolled on my DMs by an ex reserve player for us not winning the league is hilarious, will he ever grow up and move on…I doubt it #baby."

Who is Stuart MacFarlane?

The chief photographer and lifelong fan came to the attention of many fans last year when he delivered a rousing speech ahead of the North London Derby win over Tottenham Hotspur – as captured in Amazon's All or Nothing documentary.

At the time, Mikel Arteta explained his importance, saying (via The Sun): "This guy, for the last 30 years has captured emotions, emotions and teams.

"I want you to hear from him, how he feels about you. And about our club."

And so it's clear that MacFarlane has a deeply personal link with Arsenal and one former player thought it would be best to personally seek him out with a message to rub salt in the wounds as the club's title challenge came to a disappointing end.

It might be unfair to speculate too much on who this individual might be but TalkSport host Jamie O'Hara is one player that comes to mind. After all, he came through the academy but went on to play for Spurs and has been vocally revelling in the Gunners' struggles at every opportunity this season.

Still, that is just a guess, so perhaps it's best not to jump to any major conclusions just yet.

Selectors to pick Zimbabwe and West Indies tour squads on Monday

India’s selectors will meet on Monday in Mumbai to pick the squads for the tours of Zimbabwe and West Indies. Asked if senior players would be rested for the tour, BCCI president Anurag Thakur said the decision would be taken by Sandeep Patil-led selection panel. “Let the selectors decide that,” Thakur said. “Before any tour if any player wants to take rest they convey it to the BCCI and the selection committee. Even if the selection committee wants to experiment with new players they take the senior players into confidence.”

The BCCI has set June 10 as the deadline for candidates to apply for the role of India’s head coach. An interim coaching staff is likely to be put in place for the limited-overs series in Zimbabwe in June, with the aim of appointing new long-term coaches by the time Virat Kohli’s team reaches the Caribbean for a four-Test series against West Indies, scheduled for July-August.The contracts of team director Ravi Shastri, batting coach Sanjay Bangar, bowling coach B Arun and fielding coach R Sridhar – who had comprised India’s coaching staff since the ODI series in England in 2014 – expired after the World T20 in March.In 2015, the BCCI had appointed a three-man advisory committee comprising Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman to look for a head coach. That panel panel was disbanded when Ganguly took over as president of the Cricket Association of Bengal. It is understood that the BCCI failed to find a suitable replacement for Ganguly, thus stalling the coach-selection process.”We will advertise for the post of coach today,” Anurag Thakur said at his first media briefing after being elected BCCI president on Sunday. “And by June 10 anyone who is willing to take up post of coach, they can apply to the BCCI. The candidate will be finalised after that.”Thakur said the BCCI was looking for a long-term coaching staff with the 2019 World Cup as the team’s main goal. “Currently our team is No. 2 in Test and T20, and No. 4 in ODIs and women’s cricket. We will take every step or whatever is possible to make Team India No.1 in all forms of cricket.”Asked to explain the delay in appointing a head coach, Thakur said: “If you have to go for the best you can’t go with limited choices. So we are keeping it open.”Thakur also said the previous members of the coaching staff – Shastri, Bangar, Arun and Sridhar – were all eligible to apply for the job. “Of course, yes. It is open for everyone whether [it is] the current support staff, [or] from outside India or within India, anyone who is keen to be a coach with Indian team or take other responsibilities – bowling, batting, fielding coach or the head coach – all these positions would be available.”Thakur also praised Shastri and his specialist staff, saying they had done a “good job in the past and the team had performed well under their leadership”.According to Ajay Shirke, who was appointed BCCI secretary during its special general meeting on Sunday, the BCCI’s call for applications was an extension of its recently launched “transparency initiative”. “We are just widening the net so that everybody feels they can be part of the Indian coaching staff if they are judged to be the best,” Shirke said.Asked if the team director’s position would be done away with, or whether it would remain in conjunction with a head coach and other support staff, Thakur said the BCCI would make a decision based on the number of applications it received. “Once we see how many people are interested in taking up that job, what is the talent available and who could be the best coach for Indian cricket team then you can take the final decision after that.”

Tottenham manager target Vincent Kompany has held a three-hour phone call with London rivals Chelsea recently, according to journalist Nathan Gissing.

What’s the latest on Kompany to Spurs?

There have been many, many different reports linking the Man City legend to Spurs in the last month, with some even suggesting that he is chairman Daniel Levy’s top target.

The Lilywhites parted company with former boss Antonio Conte last month after a mutual agreement, leaving interim boss Cristian Stellini and assistant coach Ryan Mason in temporary charge until the end of this Premier League season.

Kompany is on the agenda to replace Conte at Spurs with reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano recently backing their real interest in the Burnley boss. Even though there are some reports of the 37-year-old being unwilling to leave Turf Moor, other conflicting claims state that he is open to talks with Tottenham.

One common denominator among these rumours is Spurs do like the former Anderlecht boss, but they aren’t the only side, with Chelsea also eyeing a move for Kompany.

After sacking Graham Potter, the Stamford Bridge side are still well in the search for their new manager alongside Spurs – posing a threat to Levy and co as both clubs chase football’s most sought-after coaches.

Now, sharing an update on Kompany, reporter Gissing – who contributes to Sky journalist Gianluca Di Marzio’s personal website – says Chelsea are moving for the tactician.

Should Spurs keep pushing for Kompany?

It appears that Chelsea could rival Spurs for another manager, coming after reports of their interest in Luis Enrique and Mauricio Pochettino.

Leading Burnley back to the top flight at the first time of asking, Kompany is attracting real attention as a man in demand, with his stock never being higher.

The Championship leaders have scored more goals, conceded fewest and won more matches than any other side in England’s second tier – highlighting the remarkable job he’s done since taking the reins in Lancashire.

Pep Guardiola is certainly an admirer of his character and leadership, having called him an ‘incredible’ figure whilst holding the utmost respect for his former star.

Chelsea’s presence complicates a Tottenham move for Kompany somewhat, so it will be interesting to see if Spurs keep pursuing or move on to other targets.

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.

A number of England fans have been enjoying a video of Declan Rice and Luke Shaw joking with Bukayo Saka after the Arsenal star’s rather surprising recent interaction with Kim Kardashian.

Why did Saka FaceTime with Kim Kardashian?

With the Premier League now set to take a break for the next few weeks, a collection of top players will be heading off to link up with their national teams.

For instance, the Arsenal star as well as Rice and Shaw will be playing for England soon when the Three Lions take on Italy and Ukraine in qualifiers for Euro 2024.

Saka recently arrived at the Three Lions training camp and was met by the Manchester United and West Ham men who took little time in winding their international teammate up.

Kardashian and her family were recently spotted at The Emirates as the Gunners took on and lost to Sporting CP in the Europa League and then took the time to call Saka for a personal message later on.

And so – as seen in footage shared on the official England Twitter page – when the 21-year-old arrived for England duty, he quickly had to deal with a few mocking words from his teammates.

Indeed, Rice joked: “He’s been on FaceTime with Kim Kardashian bruv, he doesn’t want us anymore.”

While Shaw also got in on the act, saying: “He’s with the A-listers.”

Saka took in all in good spirits as he soon went over to greet the pair and some fans might be particularly happy to see him joking around with Rice. After all, the England midfielder has been widely tipped to join Arsenal in the summer and is understood to be a main target for Mikel Arteta.

Regardless of all that, though, Three Lions supporters on Twitter were quick to add their input on the funny interaction. Here are some of the best reactions…

Journalist Dean Jones has revealed that Antonio Conte will not be leaving his position as Tottenham Hotspur manager any time soon despite recent rumours.

What’s the latest on Antonio Conte and Spurs?

For a little while now there have been some rumblings about the Italian potentially leaving Spurs, especially as his contract expires in the summer – although the club have the option to trigger a 12-month extension.

What’s more, Conte hasn’t enjoyed the best of times lately, having had to step away from the job in person for a brief time as he recovers from undergoing surgery to remove his gall bladder.

Taking that all into account, it’s no shock that rumours have grown stronger about a possible departure but in reaction to such talk, Jones has revealed that a parting of ways is not on the cards at this moment in time.

While speaking on the Chasing Green Arrows YouTube channel, the insider explained (18:03): “There was a few whispers at the start of this week that Conte and Spurs might even end up parting ways and amicable terms.

“I checked it out with two people who were pretty in the know at Spurs and they said it’s just not really realistic right now.”

Could Spurs see Conte go before the end of the season?

Seeing as Spurs are still in the race to finish inside the top four in the Premier League, fighting in the Champions League knock-out stages, and into the fifth round of the FA Cup, it’s not as if there is nothing to play for this season.

With that in mind, even if the quality of football has been scrutinised at times this season, it would be a bit of a shock if Conte was to abandon ship at this stage.

Even so, with his bad health and lack of contract certainty, the club may be wise to start planning for a future without the Italian when the season finishes – which would explain the constant links to former boss Mauricio Pochettino.

For now, though, it sounds as though Conte will see out the rest of the current campaign with Tottenham.

Glasgow Rangers midfielder Nicolas Raskin was the club’s ‘best player’ during Saturday’s Scottish Premiership game, according to journalist Jordan Campbell.

The Lowdown: Victory on the road

The Light Blues were the visitors at the Tony Macaroni Arena this afternoon where Michael Beale and his side secured a 3-0 victory thanks to goals from Marcus Tavernier and Kemar Roofe.

The Belgian was named in the starting line-up despite being an injury doubt after suffering issues following last weekend’s Scottish Cup win over Partick Thistle, and his performance on the road didn’t go unnoticed.

The Latest: Campbell’s praise

Taking to Twitter, Campbell couldn’t speak highly enough of Raskin and even went as far as to say that he was Rangers’ standout performer on the day. He wrote:

“Raskin [has] been Rangers’ best player today. Few slack moments but has been strong when the ball has broken loose, has switched play well and is always looking to play forward. Never content to just do the obvious, easy thing.”

The Verdict: Impressive start

Raskin may have only arrived at Rangers last month but he’s had an instant impact and looks set to be a hugely exciting signing for the future of the club.

The Teddy Bears’ star has one assist in just two appearances so far and is already rated as Beale’s third-best-performing defensive player despite his limited number of outings.

The Liege native earned a match rating of 6.9 in today’s game and had an 88% pass accuracy percentage, as per SofaScore, highlighting his positive contribution to the side.

The Gers remain nine points behind rivals Celtic at the top of the table but Raskin will be looking to finish the season personally strongly and build on the impressive start he’s made to his career north of the border.

Glasgow Rangers are reportedly considering terminating Josh McPake’s agreement and giving him a ‘sizeable’ pay-off, after failing to offload him in January.

The Lowdown: Lots of promise…

McPake was a player that showed a lot of promise in his early years at Ibrox, winning the Academy Player of the Year in the 2018/19 season, and was widely considered to be one of their most talented players.

Dubbed a ‘really exciting’ player by former Morecambe manager Stephen Robinson after a loan spell there, McPake is now on loan at Queen’s Park, where he has managed four goals and three assists in 25 games in total over all competitions so far this season (Transfermarkt).

The Latest: On his way out?

As per Football Insider, the Gers are considering terminating McPake’s agreement and giving him a ‘sizeable’ pay-off, despite still having 18 months left on his current deal at Ibrox.

They tried to offload him in January, but found no concrete interest in him, even though scouts watched him in action against Ayr last Friday.

McPake has had ‘discipline issues’ at Queen’s Park, and his form has been up and down, so it is no surprise to see Michael Beale’s side want to get rid.

The Verdict: Time to go

McPake is clearly having a hard time out on loan, and at 21 years of age, it is time for the Light Blues to cut their losses.

The Scotsman has only ever made one senior appearance for the club, and needs to find a new home which he can settle down in and play regular football.

He has been getting that at Queen’s Park, but his attitude problems suggest that he needs to be looking elsewhere.

Nonetheless, terminating McPake’s contract would be best for all parties, as he clearly does not have a future at the Teddy Bears.

CBS Sports journalist Ben Jacobs has given his verdict on where the future of Liverpool target Moises Caicedo lies.

The Lowdown: Plenty of suitors

According to The Mirror, plenty of Premier League clubs are interested in the Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder.

Jurgen Klopp’s side are thought to be one of those clubs showing a keen interest in the Ecuadorian, with Chelsea also firmly in the running.

Jacobs suggested last week that the asking price for the Seagulls man could end up being north of £75m.

In 18 league appearances this season, Caicedo has a goal and an assist to his name, amassing a total of 1,833 minutes across all competitions.

The Latest: The offer has to be right

Speaking on the TogetherBHA YouTube channel, Jacobs claimed that if the offer is right and the player wants to move, Caicedo won’t be prevented from leaving the Seagulls amid strong links coming from Chelsea at present.

He stated: “Brighton’s stance is it will have to be something incredible, but we have to also make it clear, for balance, that Chelsea are pushing.

“And as I said before, in my interview – but also in conversations with sources, so this isn’t just from Paul Barber – it’s been made clear at the club end that if the right offer is hit and Moises Caicedo says, ‘I want to go now’, the club will understand that.

“And as a consequence, if it is right for – and Barber said this part on record – player and club, then a sale could still happen.”

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The Verdict: Liverpool would have to bid big

We believe that the Reds will have to put forward a big bid to land Caicedo and add a new addition to their midfield, particularly if they wish to strengthen further this month.

In their clash with Chelsea this past weekend, the Liverpool midfield really struggled when attempting to win the ball back – Thiago Alcantara made five tackles, but the rest of the midfield registered one between them in 90 minutes.

Fabinho has previously been labelled as ‘the best’ holding midfielder in the Premier League, but in the past year, Caicedo has proven to have better defensive stats in multiple departments when compared to the Liverpool man.

Per 90 minutes, the Brazilian averages 2.1 tackles per game as well as 1.39 interceptions and 1.53 blocks, whereas the Reds target trumps Fabinho in tackling and interceptions.

Caicedo’s stats show he picks up 2.7 tackles and 1.43 interceptions per 90, with blocks (1.43) being the area where the Liverpool player marginally wins out.

And with Brighton sitting three places above Liverpool and eight points off a Champions League spot, there seems little incentive for Caicedo to make the switch to Anfield at the moment – though whether the league table will determine his future remains to be seen.