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Tottenham Hotspur are ‘doing everything’ to keep teenage starlet Mikey Moore and are attempting to tie him down to a long-term deal, according to John Wenham.

The Lowdown: Tottenham’s youth policy…

Spurs have seen many bright and exuberant youth prospects blossom into potential first-team stars, most notably Oliver Skipp and Dane Scarlett in recent years.

The former has been labelled a ‘future Spurs captain’ and already has a few noteworthy performances in the bank. Meanwhile, the latter has been likened to Marcus Rashford by former Lilywhites boss Jose Mourinho, with the promising Englishman currently on loan at Portsmouth.

The Latest: Spurs ‘doing everything’ to keep Moore…

Speaking to Football Insider, Tottenham ‘expert’ Wenham claims that the club hold another youngster in Moore, who is yet to make a first-team appearance, in very high esteem.

Spurs are currently attempting to tie down the 15-year-old with a long-term contract and are believed to be ready to give it their all to keep him.

Wenham explained: “I thought the selection of players was very interesting when the club shared an image of Alan Shearer at the training ground. Tottenham chose some academy players to line up next to Shearer. You had Jamie Donley there, a very highly-rated striker.

“Luca Gunter, a very highly-rated England youth goalkeeper. Then two 15-year-olds, one of which being Mikey Moore.

“Tottenham are trying to tie him down to a long-term deal. We can only do so much, we are involving him in everything that we can.

“He’s started in the Youth Champions League and the Under 18s’ League this season. I get the indication that he will stay and the club are doing everything to make sure that happens.”

The Verdict: Get it done…

The 15-year-old has already displayed real promise in the youth leagues, not just for Spurs but also at international level.

The England under-16 international has two goals in two caps for the young Lions and has plundered three goals and four assists in nine appearances for Tottenham’s under-18s (Transfermarkt).

Moore has attracted huge praise from those who follow the Spurs academy with real intrigue, not least Wenham, who has previously raved over the teenager before this latest appraisal.

The striker has been called a ‘hugely promising’ and ‘hugely impressive’ youngster by the Spurs expert before, and Wenham claimed in another interview last year that the teeanger put in ‘outstanding’ displays in the UEFA Youth League (Football Insider).

If recent form and plaudits are anything to go by, Moore is another hot prospect who could soon emerge from the Hotspur Way academy.

Manchester City are planning to hold contract talks with forward Julian Alvarez this summer, according to a report.

The Lowdown: Only recently joined

Man City signed Alvarez from River Plate for £14m in January 2022, and although he did not link up with his teammates until the summer, he has seemingly already impressed enough to warrant a new deal.

The forward is currently tied down to a £50k-per-week deal, which is set to run until 2027, meaning his long-term future is not in doubt, displaying just how much he’s impressed Pep Guardiola if the manager is already willing to offer him better terms.

The Latest: Front of the queue

According to a report from The Mirror, there are multiple City players who are due a new contract, including the likes of Ilkay Gundogan, Kyle Walker and Kevin De Bruyne, but Alvarez is at the front of the queue.

The club will sit down with the 23-year-old for discussions this summer, and they are insistent they won’t be rushed into attempting to tie down players early, despite the charges that have been brought forward by the Premier League.

The Verdict: Good news

While the 19-time Argentina international is already committed to Man City for the long-term, it is still good news that discussions are pencilled in for this summer, as a new contract agreement will thwart off any interest from elsewhere.

Hailed as ‘incredible’ by Guardiola (via Roy Nemer), the former River Plate man has been very impressive this season, despite mainly being limited to appearances as a substitute, weighing in with a total of nine goals and two assists in 29 outings.

In light of the sensational season that Erling Haaland is having, it would be hard for any player in the world to push for his place in the team, but Alvarez is doing a fine job whenever he fills in for the Norwegian, and given his age, he is only going to get better.

Leeds United are keen on appointing Marcelo Gallardo as their next manager…

What’s the latest Leeds manager news?

According to journalist Jason Burt of the Telegraph, the Argentine is seen as the ‘true long-term successor’ of Marcelo Bielsa at Elland Road, despite initially rejecting the club’s advances.

It’s thought that the 47-year-old is keen to return to management, but only in the summer, meaning the west Yorkshire outfit could be made to wait.

Whites director of football Victor Orta is a huge admirer but faces the worrying prospect of the club being relegated before they could hire him, and then they’ll likely be a far less attractive option.

Can Gallardo finally replace Marcelo Bielsa at Elland Road?

Gallardo is arguably one of the more impressive options available on the market, having guided River Plate to 14 trophies in eight-and-a-half-year tenure and subsequently became their greatest-ever manager.

The former Monaco and Paris Saint-Germain maestro won the equivalent of the Champions League, Europa League and European Super Cup all within the first 14 months of taking the helm, which ended Los Millonarios’ near 20-year duck in continental competitions.

In the end, Gallardo managed a 54.7% win rate and 1.88 points per match at the Estadio Monumenta, via Transfermarkt – both longevity and success that Leeds could only dream of.

There are many similarities between the legendary ex-River boss and the aforementioned Bielsa, which can be seen by Marcelo Tulbovitz’s glowing endorsement of the man he worked with for half a decade.

“His main quality is how gets across his ideas. The way he conveys what he wants the team to do on the pitch. Another great virtue is how he manages the work. He is all about the details,” he said to DelSol FM.

“If he has to sub off someone, he does not count to three. He’s not capricious in those things. He has an aggressive and offensive vision of the game. He is pragmatic, not tied to a system, and he is quick to read his rival.”

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is also a noted admirer of Gallardo, once claiming (via The Athletic):

“What Gallardo has done with River is incredible. Every year three coaches are named as the best in the world, and he’s never among them.”

Guardiola has never been shy of waxing lyrical about Bielsa, who he believes is the “best coach in the world” and would’ve won more titles than he did at Barcelona with the same squad.

Meanwhile, the three-time South American Coach of the Year was renowned for giving youth plenty of opportunity, handing debuts to no fewer than 30 academy graduates, including the likes of Manuel Lanzini, Sebastian Driussi, Giovani Simeone and Julian Alvarez.

In further likeness to Bielsa and in a bid to squeeze every little edge out of his side, Gallardo became the first manager in Argentina to appoint a female member of staff after he brought in Dr. Sandra Rossi to help train the mental side of things – clearly, he’s a pioneer and a progressive sort of coach.

Given the above evidence, few hold better credentials to finally see fellow coaching legend Bielsa replaced at Leeds.

Jesse Marsch was never going to be the answer, then again, anyone who took the reins after the Argentine was going to struggle but Gallardo could be the man to bridge that gap and get the Elland Road faithful excited once again.

Orta must do all he can to lure the Bielsa-esque boss to west Yorkshire, before it’s too late.

AND in other news, Leeds could get the very best out of Ayling by appointing “perfect” 40 y/o manager…

Insider ExWHUemployee has revealed that West Ham United winger Jarrod Bowen should be fit to play in the club’s next game amid an injury scare.

What’s the latest on Jarrod Bowen and his WHUFC injury?

Things have not been going well of late for the Hammers and their inconsistent form was well summed up on Sunday afternoon as they slumped to defeat in the Premier League.

Indeed, goals from Emerson Royal and Son Heung-min gave Tottenham Hotspur a comfortable 2-0 win which saw David Moyes’ men end the week inside the relegation zone.

On top of that, key winger Bowen suffered a knock after the defeat and while he did not come off, he appeared to finish the game in notable discomfort.

However, in an update on The West Ham Way podcast, Ex revealed that the Englishman should be fine to play in the club’s next game.

He said: “Bowen received a knock at the end of the game against Spurs.

“Apparently he’s fine as well and should be available for Nottingham Forest.”

What does the Bowen injury news mean for West Ham?

After the game, his manager slammed the challenge that lead to Bowen’s injury noting that it should have been a yellow card. Moyes told the press: “I thought it was a poor decision that it wasn’t a yellow card. I thought it was very simple.

“This was a whack around the shins to me. I was a long way away, so I might be wrong but my first thought, and I’ve not had a chance to see it again, my first thought was it was a pretty clear booking.”

Seeing as the club have a big game against Nottingham Forest at home coming up this weekend, they’ll certainly hope to have Bowen fit. Indeed, a win would leave West Ham just two behind Steve Cooper’s men who are currently 13th in the league.

With that in mind, Moyes will no doubt be relieved to have his winger fit and ready for the game. After all, the 26-year-old has started every league game so far this term, scoring four times and proving two assists.

Leeds United are interested in signing Preston North End goalkeeper Freddie Woodman, according to The Sun.

The Lowdown: Previous links

The Whites held a previous interest in Woodman during Marcelo Bielsa’s time in charge in Yorkshire. Leeds were on the search for a new shot-stopper to cover Illan Meslier, with Andrea Radrizzani and the Whites eventually pulling the plug on a transfer and moving instead for Kristoffer Klaesson.

However, it looks as if the 25-year-old is back on the Elland Road radar under new head coach Javi Gracia, although they aren’t the only side interested.

The Latest: Transfer update

The Sun shared a story in the last 48 hours regarding Woodman, claiming that Preston will listen to offers for the ‘keeper.

Leeds, Rangers and Leicester are all credited with an interest in the player, who is thought to be a high earner at Deepdale.

The Verdict: One to watch?

The Whites will know all about Woodman following their previous interest, and it’s easy to see why they could go back in for him.

He kept seven straight Championship clean sheets at the start of the season and has been hailed as ‘brilliant’ by Steve Cooper during their time at Swansea City.

Meanwhile, Meslier has continued to impress with Leeds, making 27 appearances in all competitions this season, resulting in interest from Manchester United and Tottenham.

Therefore, should Leeds suffer relegation, Meslier could be one to depart the club, meaning the Whites would need a new first-choice shot-stopper, potentially Woodman.

Liverpool’s emphatic 7-0 win over their bitter rivals Manchester United in the Premier League on Sunday left the club within three points of the top four.

The Reds would go level with Tottenham Hotspur if they win their game in hand and Jurgen Klopp’s side have a strong chance to qualify for the Champions League if they can build on their superb win at the weekend.

Their end-of-season fate could play a role in their summer transfer business as qualifying for Europe’s premier competition could help their attempts to land their top targets, given that they would be able to offer top-level football – instead of the Europa League or the Conference League.

One player the club are reportedly interested in signing later this year is RB Leipzig central defender Josko Gvardiol. Fabrizio Romano recently revealed that the club are keen on the Croatia international, despite failing to snap him up in January, ahead of the summer window.

How good is Josko Gvardiol?

Klopp could land a big upgrade on one of his current centre-back options – Joel Matip – by securing a deal to sign the Bundesliga star ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

In the German top-flight this season, the 21-year-old defender has averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.89 across 21 appearances. He has won 58% of his individual duels and completed 89% of his passes, which shows that the youngster has been reliable in and out of possession for Leipzig.

The 19-cap machine also caught the eye at the World Cup with Croatia by averaging a hugely impressive Sofascore rating of 7.16 across seven appearances in Qatar for his country.

Former Arsenal defender Johan Djourou, who played 99 times in the Premier League, lauded the Leipzig star during the World Cup by describing him as “scary” and a “hulk kind of monster”.

Matip, meanwhile, has averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.67 – ranking 19th in the squad – across 11 appearances in the English top-flight for Liverpool this season – winning 51% of his duels and completing 86% of his attempted passes.

Gvardiol and the Reds defender both rank in the top 8% of players in their position in Europe’s top five leagues and European competition over the last 365 days in progressive passes per 90, which shows that they both excel at forward passing out from the back to build attacks for their sides.

However, the Croatian defender’s average performance level in the Bundesliga, and on the biggest stage of all at the World Cup, suggests that he would provide more defensive quality to Liverpool’s backline than Matip, whilst also being ten years younger and offering more long-term value to Klopp’s side.

That said, he could cost around £97m, an extortionate sum of money that may well be out of the reach of FSG.

Leeds United had been completely without any success before they finally earned promotion back to the Premier League after a 16-year absence.

The Whites had struggled in the Championship and League One during that period, yet it was in 2020 when Marcelo Bielsa’s plucky outfit cemented themselves into the club’s history with their exploits.

That promotion campaign was subsequently followed up with the most remarkable of return seasons too, as the bulk of that squad retained their spots and proved their worth at the top level.

At the heart of their success were Patrick Bamford and Kalvin Phillips, who proved themselves more than worthy of the level despite the scrutiny they had come under.

The former was questioned as to whether he could score the goals to keep them up, whilst many showed contempt with the latter’s inclusion in the England squad despite being in the Championship.

Both of these mindsets were shattered in scintillating fashion, however their fairytale has turned into more of a nightmare in recent seasons. This culminated in Phillips’ exit last summer.

Why did Kalvin Phillips leave Leeds?

Last season had been a taxing one for the club, who bid farewell to Bielsa and welcomed Jesse Marsch in his place. The American had the unenviable task of keeping a threadbare squad afloat, with their midfield maestro struggling to retain fitness when they needed him most.

He had quickly become unreliable, and the £42m that Manchester City were offering became a sum they could not refuse.

However, the 27-year-old gave his own reasons for making the move from his boyhood club, as he claimed: “It’s one of the main reasons I wanted to come to City, to improve my game in loads of different ways. It’s hard for me to say right now how I’m going to play a role in the team because it’s very difficult to come into a team of eighteen superstars.”

Despite his undeniable quality, things have been tough for the Yorkshire-born ace who has suffered once again with ailments whilst trying to break into a team laden with quality.

This culminated in Pep Guardiola’s damning assessment of his fitness after the World Cup, where the Spaniard branded the former Leeds star “overweight”. Whilst Paul Robinson suggested he had suffered an “unlucky” season, it seems the lack of football had caught up with him.

The £150k-per-week machine has just five Premier League appearances to his name yet has only been handed two starts all season, in the cup competitions. He is averaging just 0.6 tackles and 0.2 key passes per game, earning a rating of 6.63. It is a far cry from the midfield dynamo who earned a 7.21 average rating, recording 1.2 key passes and 2.6 tackles per 90 in the 2020/21 season, via Sofascore

These performances even led writer Ben Amos to suggest that he would remain a “legend” at the club whether he left or not.

It seems that despite the initial reluctance to sell such a revered player and given how the trajectory of his career has nosedived since, it actually marked the perfect time to let go.

West Ham United are battling to sign Norwich City’s Gabriel Sara after the midfielder left scouts seriously impressed during recent scouting missions, according to a new report.

The Lowdown: West Ham targeting midfielder

West Ham look almost certain to part with captain Declan Rice in the summer window, with it recently emerging that Arsenal are leading the race, and are willing to pay £80m to secure his signature for next season.

The central midfielder has also been linked with a move to Manchester United, while Manchester City have also been named as potential suitors, and David Moyes has now started to look at replacements.

The Irons have scouted Lille’s Carlos Baleba ahead of a potential summer move, and they are well in the mix for Bristol City’s Alex Scott, who is being targeted by a whole host of Premier League clubs.

The Latest: Impressed by Sara

According to a report from Football Insider, the Hammers are set to race RB Leipzig and Atletico Madrid for Sara, after conducting regular scouting missions assessing the midfielder so far this season.

Moyes is believed to be keen on bringing in a new option in the engine room, amid the uncertainty surrounding the futures of both Rice and Tomas Soucek.

If they were to move for the Norwich City ace, it is believed that a fee of around £25m – £30m would be enough to prise him away from his current club, but any deal will hinge on West Ham retaining their Premier League status.

The Verdict: Get it done?

Members of the media have hailed the 23-year-old for the way he has ‘kicked on’ since the departure of Norwich manager Dean Smith, describing his performances as ‘exceptional’.

The Brazilian is now on a tally of five goals and four assists in the second tier so far this season, having recorded a total of five goal contributions in his last six outings, including two in his side’s recent 3-2 victory away at Millwall.

Sara would not be a like-for-like replacement for Rice, given that the maestro specialises in the attacking side of the game, rarely contributing with tackles and interceptions, while the West Ham captain flourishes in his defensive duties.

However, he would still be an excellent addition to Moyes’ squad, as a result of what he offers going forward, and West Ham should continue to monitor his performances in the Championship for the remainder of the season.

A number of Newcastle United supporters have heaped praise on Alexander Isak, following his match-winning performance against Nottingham Forest.

The Lowdown: Huge win for Newcastle

Eddie Howe’s side picked up one of their most important victories of the season on Friday night, winning 2-1 away to Forest in the Premier League.

Sven Botman’s terrible error allowed Emmanuel Dennis to put the hosts ahead but Newcastle responded admirably, with Isak finishing brilliantly to equalise just before half-time.

The Magpies dominated the second half and it was left to the Swede to score a dramatic late penalty, sending the away end into raptures at the City Ground.

It is a win that could look so pivotal come the end of the season, as Newcastle continue to push for a top-four finish and a long-awaited return to the Champions League.

The Latest: Magpies fans laud striker

Taking to Twitter, these Magpies fans waxed lyrical over Isak, as his influence continues to grow after a lengthy injury absence:

“I’m not exaggerating when I say we have the next Thierry Henry. 23 years old and already levels above. We’ve got Isak in attack, fire us into Europe you baller.” – @agbnufc_

“Couldn’t agree more. He wins a Ballon d’Or at our club mark my words” – @nufcHS

“There are games/moments where you actually stand there and realise how good someone is. This lad is special” – @nufcsamuel

“Unbelievable man, the future is bright with this man, Bruno and Botman mind” – @AdamWaterss

“Reminds me of Henry. The kid’s got everything” – @RyanMoseleynufc

“Newcastle haven’t had a player that excites me the way he does in FOREVER. The bloke is stupid, stupid good. Make the right signings in the summer to give him reliable service and it’s game over” – @thompaa__

The Verdict: What a player

Isak really does look like a sensational signing for Newcastle, already scoring six goals in just seven league starts this season, with his performance at Forest magnificent at times.

The Magpies have a potentially elite striker in their ranks, and had he not been absent for several months earlier in the season, you wonder where Howe’s side would be in the table.

Isak has the ability to inspire Newcastle to a top-four finish in the next couple of months – not only that but he can be the club’s next great attacking start for a number of years.

At just 23 years of age, the hope is that this is just the beginning for the 37-cap Sweden international, who could be ‘worth £100million’ one day, according to Jason Cundy.

Everton are reportedly one of a number of Premier League clubs interested in signing Coventry City striker Viktor Gyokeres during the summer transfer window.

The Lowdown: Gyokeres flying for Coventry

The 24-year-old is enjoying a superb season for Coventry, proving to be their main talisman as they push for a potential spot in the playoffs.

Gyokeres has scored 18 goals in 36 starts in the Championship in 2022/23 to date, also chipping in with eight assists to further highlight his prowess in the final third.

The Swede is unlikely to be without suitors come the end of the season and he has already been linked with a move to the Premier League in recent months, with Leeds United potentially the front-runners to snap him up.

A new report suggests that they are far from the only club in the mix, however, which is where Everton come into play.

The Latest: Everton eyeing up move

According to 90min, the Blues are one of a host of teams who are ‘monitoring’ Gyokeres’ situation currently, as they weigh up the possibility of a summer move.

Brentford, Crystal Palace, Leeds and Leicester City are also mentioned in the report and it is stated that the clubs who earn promotion from the Championship would likely enter the race, too.

Everton, along with Brentford, Crystal Palace, Leeds and Wolves, all ‘made enquiries’ for Gyokeres in January, and it is clear. that their interest remains.

Gyokeres’ current Coventry deal expires at the end of next season, leaving them in a tricky position, knowing that selling him this summer is the last opportunity to earn a significant fee for his services.

The Verdict: Could be an inspired signing

Gyokeres’ quality speaks for itself this season, with the attacker such a consistently strong performer, with only Middlesbrough’s Chuba Akpom (24) scoring more goals than him in the league, as things stand.

He could be an inspired signing by Everton this summer, with Sean Dyche badly in need of attacking firepower, considering their top scorer in the Premier League is Demarai Gray with just four goals.

Granted, some may feel that Gyokeres could be a gamble, given the step up in standard from the Championship, but he looks to have the tools to be a success in the top flight, having also shown his prowess at international level by netting twice in 12 caps for Sweden.

Slaven Bilic described him as a ‘very strong striker’ earlier in the season, and at 24, he could be coming into the best years of his career and find another level in an Everton shirt, with them hopefully remaining in the Premier League.