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Tottenham Hotspur appointing Johannes Spors as sporting director as part of a package to bring Julian Nagelsmann in as manager of the club would 'make sense', according to journalist Dean Jones.

What's the latest news involving Johannes Spors and Julian Nagelsmann?

Sky Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg has recently given an update on the possibility of Spors joining Tottenham as sporting director, stating: "We‘ve been told that he is one of a number of Sporting Directors Tottenham are looking at. Spors is a Global sporting director for a number of clubs including Hertha BSC, Genoa, Standard Liege & Melbourne Victory. There was contact in the last weeks. But no concrete negotiations yet."

The Daily Mail have also claimed that Spors is a target to fill the vacancy left by Fabio Paratici, revealing that the 40-year-old is a candidate alongside Brentford technical director Lee Dykes.

The report states that Nagelsmann wants a new director in place before choosing whether to take over at the club or not while clarity surrounding the future of Harry Kane is also of paramount importance to the German.

Spors has enjoyed an interesting career, working in a global sporting director role at the likes of Hertha BSC, Melbourne Victory, Standard Liege and Genoa.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Jones has suggested that he wouldn't be surprised if the rumours surrounding both Spors and Nagelsmann being appointed were linked in some way.

Jones told FFC: "I don't know too much about this guy, but on the Nagelsmann end, this could make sense. He wants to know who he's going to be working with, that's part of the holdup in this whole process, maybe the two are linked. Equally, I've seen Spurs change manager enough times in the past to know that a plan that they've got in place can quickly spiral and head in a totally different direction that nobody was expecting, sometimes even them, I think. At the moment, we know Nagelsmann is in talks and is highly thought of, but both sides need to be sure that this is going to suit them and the sporting director role is going to be important as part of that."

What now for Tottenham Hotspur?

Off the field, it looks like Spurs fans are going to need to wait a little longer to find out for definite whether Nagelsmann will take over in north London.

In the meantime, Tottenham still have three Premier League fixtures left to complete before the close of play against Aston Villa, Brentford and Leeds United, which will go a long way to determining the state that their new prospective manager will find them in.

At present, Tottenham sit sixth in the top-flight standings on 57 points, five behind top-four contenders Liverpool and trailing Manchester United by six, having played a game more than the latter.

In reality, securing one of the coveted Champions League slots looks to be unlikely at this point; nevertheless, managing to achieve continental qualification in the form of the Europa League or Europa Conference League is well within their reach.

England’s fixtures for the 2017 home season have today been confirmed, with South Africa and West Indies lined up for full tours in a busy summer that will also feature the ECB’s hosting of the Champions Trophy in early to mid-June

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Jul-2016England’s home season in 2017 has been confirmed as the longest in their international history, after the ECB announced a glut of fixtures spanning 148 days and featuring both the earliest start date, May 5, and the latest finish, September 29.South Africa and West Indies are lined up for full tours in an unprecedented summer that will also feature the ECB’s hosting of the Champions Trophy in early to mid-June, and the women’s World Cup between June 26 and July 23..The previous earliest start to an English summer was May 6, when England and West Indies embarked on that summer’s first Test at Lord’s. The latest finish also involved West Indies, when they beat England in the final of the Champions Trophy on September 25, 2004.England men’s summer will be launched by a two-match ODI series against Ireland, at Bristol and Lord’s on May 5 and 7, before the arrival of South Africa’s ODI squad for three matches – at Headingley, Ageas Bowl and Lord’s – on May 24, 27 and 29, which will serve as warm-up fixtures for the Champions Trophy, which opens with England’s match against Bangladesh at the Kia Oval on June 1.England’s 2017 schedule

May 5, 1st ODI v Ireland, Bristol
May 7, 2nd ODI v Ireland, Lord’s
May 24, 1st ODI v SA, Headingley
May 27, 2nd ODI v SA, Ageas Bowl
May 29, 3rd ODI v SA, Lord’s
Jun 1-18, Champions Trophy
Jun 21 v SA, 1st T20, Ageas Bowl
Jun 23 v SA, 2nd T20, Taunton
Jun 25, 3rd T20 v SA, Cardiff
Jul 6-10, 1st Test v SA, Lord’s
Jul 14-18, 2nd Test v SA, Trent Bridge
Jul 27-31, 3rd Test v SA, The Oval
Aug 4-8, 4th Test v SA, Old Trafford
Aug 17-21, 1st Test v WI, Edgbaston
Aug 25-29, 2nd Test v WI, Headingley
Sep 7-11, 3rd Test v WI, Lord’s
Sep 16, Only T20 v WI, Durham
Sep 19, 1st ODI v WI, Old Trafford
Sep 21, 2nd ODI v WI, Trent Bridge
Sep 24, 3rd ODI v WI, Bristol
Sep 27, 4th ODI v WI, The Oval
Sep 29, 5th ODI v WI, Ageas Bowl

After the tournament, which concludes with a final at The Oval on June 18, England and South Africa play three T20Is – including their first international fixture at Taunton since 1983 – before attention switches to seven Test matches in the space of 67 days.South Africa are lined up for four matches, starting at Lord’s on July 6 then proceeding to Trent Bridge, The Oval and Old Trafford, before West Indies commence a three-Test series on August 17.That opening fixture, at Edgbaston, has been mooted as England’s first home day/night fixture, although the ECB as yet has not clarified its status. Further matches are scheduled for Headingley and Lord’s, before a one-off T20I followed by five ODIs, with the home summer set to finish at the Ageas Bowl on September 29.”With three different international teams coming here next summer and this country playing host to two major ICC global events – the ICC Champions Trophy and the ICC Women’s World Cup – there will be a feast of international cricket to excite us in England and Wales,” said Tom Harrison, the ECB’s chief executive.”Both the international and the domestic schedule will have a different shape to previous years. And the early season block for the Royal London One-Day Cup – with a new mid-season date for its Lord’s final – will support both England’s ICC Champions Trophy preparations and our longer term planning for the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2019. It will also allow players to focus skills on the white ball game and help more people to understand the structure of the season.”It promises to be a memorable summer of cricket for all our international grounds and a particularly special one for Somerset CCC which will host its first England men’s fixture for more than thirty years; a great opportunity for the county to further capitalise on its strong support for England women’s cricket in recent years.”Edgbaston will once again host NatWest T20 Blast Finals day while the Royal London One-Day Cup Final has been brought forward from its traditional mid-September date to a new mid-summer slot in early July.

Tom Kohler-Cadmore provided an explosive start to the NatWest T20 Blast, hours after learning that his Worcestershire team-mate Tom Fell had been given the all-clear to resume his career after chemotherapy

ECB Reporters Network20-May-2016
ScorecardTom Kohler-Cadmore set a new Worcestershire record•Getty ImagesTom Kohler-Cadmore provided an explosive start to the NatWest T20 Blast, hours after learning that his Worcestershire team-mate Tom Fell had been given the all-clear to resume his career after chemotherapy.Kohler-Cadmore, 21, had his head shaved to raise money for Cancer Research after Fell suffered a second cancer scare before the start of the season. Worcestershire announced before they launched the Blast season with a home game against Durham Jets that Fell had been given the all-clear – and Kohler-Cadmore celebrated by smashing 127 from 54 balls, the highest score for the county in 14 years of T20 cricket.He hit eight sixes, two of them over the stands and into New Road, in beating the unbeaten 116 hit by Worcester legend Graeme Hick against Northants at Luton in 2004.He reached three figures in 43 balls, the sixth fastest in the domestic T20 competition – one ball slower than the Worcestershire record set by Ben Smith in 2005.The Rapids – who have reached the quarter finals in three of the last four seasons but have still to make it to Finals Day – piled up 225 for 6 – enough to set up a 38-run win.Phil Mustard led a brave effort with 64 off 49 balls and they were not out of contention until Joe Leach accounted for Ryan Pringle (21) and Calum MacLeod (0) in four balls in the 15th over.Leach followed that with the dismissal of Mustard, caught at deep mid-wicket after hitting eight fours, but it was Kohler-Cadmore’s night from the start and later to be embellished with three catches, one of these completing Leach’s return of 5 for 33, his best in the completion.New Zealand spinner Mitchell Santner also made an important contribution with 2 for 29 on his debut as Durham came up short with 187 for eight after batting for much of the innings in appalling light.Worcestershire are one of only two counties without floodlights – with Somerset progressing with an application which will soon leave them in an embarrassing, not to say vulnerable, situation.Kohler-Cadmore scored three fifties in last season’s group matches, with a top score of 75 against Nottinghamshire, and was pencilled in to open this summer following the departure of Richard Oliver.The move produced spectacular results in a murderous phase in which he took 28 off Barry McCarthy in the fifth over and then blasted fours off the next three balls he faced in the following over by Ryan Pringle.On reaching his half century in 21 balls, he had scored 48 runs in boundaries and when he was caught at deep mid-wicket off Paul Coughlin in the 15th over, his innings included eight sixes and 14 fours from 54 deliveries.In his first senior appearance since a back injury in June last year, Coughlin took two for 43, a respectable return in the circumstances, but for McCarthy it was a match to forget.His figures of one for 63 in four overs are the most expensive by a Durham bowler in the competition – and this in the week when he took a career-best five for 70 in the championship victory over Lancashire.The total is the biggest against Durham in T20 cricket and for Worcestershire it is their highest at New Road but two short of their best against Northamptonshire in 2007 when they were forced to move to Kidderminster following severe flooding at their headquarters.Kohler-Cadmore’s domination of partnerships was such that Joe Clarke made nine out of 73 until he was caught at long-on – the first of two wickets in an over for Scottt Borthwick – and Ross Whiteley contributed 19 out of 74 before he was caught on the straight boundary, a consolation success for McCarthy. Brett D’Oliveira then gave the innings a final surge with an undefeated 39 from 21 balls.

Arsenal's surprise pursuit of the Premier League title this season was coincidentally upheld by their rivals, as it almost seemed like Mikel Arteta finished off his team with two Manchester City players.

Bringing in Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus both finished off his system perfectly and added the goalscorer they craved, yet it seems set to not be enough with just four games left for the Gunners to play.

That could explain why attention has already turned to this summer, as Edu has been tasked with bolstering the squad to a level where it can feasibly compete with Pep Guardiola's side for a full campaign.

The rumour mill has therefore kicked into overdrive, as a switch to the Emirates has fast become one of the most attractive propositions in football. Joining up with a youthful, hungry manager who is overseeing the joint-youngest squad in the division, means success is almost guaranteed in the near future. However, Arteta will crave it immediately.

Having come so close and fought for so long, a few key additions could prove to be the difference in taking that final step. Ironically enough, one proposed signing is that of Barcelona's Ferran Torres, who also spent time in Sky Blue as part of the Cityzens' relentless regime.

Is Ferran Torres better than Gabriel Jesus?

What makes this potential deal all the more tantalising for the Gunners is the reported price tag of just €35m (£30m), as the Catalonian giants desperately scramble for funds to re-sign the wantaway Lionel Messi.

Edu could pounce on this opportunity, seeking to welcome the Spaniard who could actually prove to be a better finisher than Jesus.

The Brazilian has come under fire of late for squandering chances in big matches, with his role in their 3-3 draw with Southampton particularly frustrating. The 26-year-old accumulated an expected goals (xG) of 1.14 yet did not find the net, and vital points were dropped.

Although he might have scored ten goals this year, outperforming Torres' seven in all competitions, the former forward has actually underperformed his expected goals for the whole campaign.

The 23-year-old too has suffered from his own expected goals tally, but only by 0.89 compared to his potential competition's 3.35. This suggests that the £265k-per-week finisher should have scored far more than he actually has.

Not only this, but Guardiola himself even suggested that the current-Barcelona talent was a more natural finisher than Jesus, claiming:

"I spoke with Gabriel and he likes to play sometimes more in wider positions than the central one, and Ferran has a big sense for the goal, I would say a little bit higher than Gabriel when he plays in central positions."

Having been further lauded in the past by the legendary Spanish boss for his "exceptional" numbers during his debut campaign, as he notched 13 times in all competitions, perhaps ample time for further development could see him return and turn into the true monster he was expected to be.

Newcastle United could enter the transfer market for multiple additions this summer in order to juggle both domestic and European football heading into 2023/24, according to Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie.

What's the latest news involving Newcastle United and Eddie Howe?

Newcastle took a big step forward to securing a top-four finish on Thursday night, with a double from Callum Wilson and strikes from Joelinton and Jacob Murphy giving the Magpies a comfortable 4-1 victory over Everton at Goodison Park.

In terms of the Premier League, Newcastle now sit third place in the table on 62 points, eight clear of Tottenham Hotspur in fifth position having played a game less than their divisional rivals.

Magpies boss Howe is taking nothing for granted in his side's pursuit of Champions League qualification, stating to Sky Sports after the win over Everton:

"We know nothing is taken for granted from our perspective. It puts us in a lot stronger position. To get six points from Tottenham and Everton is a great return."

Of course, the prospect of playing in the Champions League next season has sent the rumour mill spiralling over potential additions at St James' Park in the summer, with the likes of Arsenal defender Kieran Tierney and Barcelona pair Raphinha and Ousmane Dembele among those linked with a move to Newcastle.

Speaking to Football FanCast, Sky Sports reporter Downie has backed Howe to make several signings in the transfer window.

Downie told FFC: "It was interesting at his press conference today [Wednesday], he was actually asked if he's ever been to Champions League match before and he was racking his brains and couldn't even think of one.

"But he's the sort of guy that is so meticulous in everything he does, he works around the clock to ensure that he is the best that he can be. You know that he will do everything in his power to be a success in the Champions League.

"Only time will tell, Newcastle will have to go into that with very little experience in the first team squad and obviously, with the manager, no experience whatsoever and as it stands a very small squad, they're going to have to bring in a raft of players in the summer to, I think, make them competitive on both fronts."

How far can Newcastle United go under Eddie Howe?

Howe isn't someone known for setting defined expectations and will prepare his side game by game rather than looking too far ahead to the future; however, it has to be said, the sky is the limit for Newcastle when you consider their talented squad and financial capability.

Not only have they given themselves an excellent chance of Champions League qualification this term, but they also reached the Carabao Cup final in 2022/23, which was their first cup final in any major competition since 1999.

Looking ahead, expecting Newcastle to be title challengers in the near future may be a stretch, though if they can regularly compete for continental qualification and try and win some silverware then they could really start to establish themselves among the elite of English football.

Either way, it's an exciting time for anyone to be a Toon fan right now and Howe will duly receive plaudits for the magnificent job he's done at St James' Park.

Leeds United youngster Wilfried Gnonto is likely to leave if the Whites suffer relegation from the Premier League this season, a new report has claimed.

What's happened to Gnonto?

The young Italian had been one of the biggest positives to come out of a disappointing season at Elland Road, catching the eye with his performances under both Jesse Marsch and Michael Skubala, scoring five times in 20 appearances for the pair. He has rarely been a top option under Javi Gracia however, playing just 285 minutes with zero goals (Transfermarkt).

At 19, Gnonto looks like a huge prospect, already winning ten caps at senior level for a strong Italy outfit, and the hope is that his long-term future lies with the Whites. There is a clear stumbling block in that respect, however, with Gracia's side dangerously threatened by relegation to the Championship currently and the player seemingly not favoured by the manager.

Should Leeds go down, it is likely to lead to an exodus of big players at the club and it looks as though their brilliant teenager could be one of those who moves on.

Will Gnonto leave Leeds?

According to Football Insider, Gnonto is highly likely to depart for a fresh challenge if the Whites succumb to relegation, which would clearly be an enormous setback after only three seasons back in the Premier League.

It is stated that "top clubs from around Europe have taken notice following his breakthrough season in the Premier League", with a large of amount of interest coming from Serie A as his profile grows in his homeland. It is believed that the Elland Road outfit will demand a massive fee of over £40m.

Losing Gnonto so soon into his Whites career would be such a big blow for the club, not the least the supporters, who have barely had enough time to enjoy him yet. The attacker has been such a ray of sunshine in an otherwise poor campaign – Skubala hailed him as "special" – so often proving to be an unpredictable and lively presence out wide.

Leeds should be using this as an extra incentive to stay up this season, with that outcome the only chance they have of extending Gnonto's stay at Elland Road. Should that happen, there is still a chance that they could persuade him to remain at the club moving forward – on the plus side, the £20,000-a-week winger is contracted until the summer of 2027, so the Whites are at least in a strong bargaining position to demand big player for one of their most prized assets.

Tottenham Hotspur could well have identified a new centre-back recruit ahead of the summer transfer window, with the Lilywhites said to be showing interest in a move for Barcelona's, Ronald Araujo.

What's the latest on Araujo to Spurs?

According to 90min, the north London outfit are among a handful of Premier League clubs who have enquired about the prospect of signing the Uruguay international, with Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Newcastle United also named as potential suitors.

The report outlines that the La Liga side have been unable to successfully register the impressive centre-back, despite the 24-year-old having signed a new long-term deal last year – opening up the door for potential interested parties to pounce.

That being said, however, the piece also adds that the Catalan outfit are seemingly steadfast in their desire to keep hold of the 6 foot 2 ace, with the Camp Nou hierarchy 'not worried' about the uncertainty surrounding the defender's deal.

Who could Araujo replace at Spurs?

As stated above, it may well prove difficult to prise the £71m-rated star from La Blaugrana ahead of next season, although the signing of the towering ace would certainly provide Spurs with a real upgrade in the heart of the backline.

Such an addition is no doubt required amid the recent woes of Colombian, Davinson Sanchez, with the 26-year-old having been booed off following his dire, brief cameo in the defeat to Bournemouth last time out.

Having been brought on in place of the injured Clement Lenglet after 35 minutes, the former Ajax man was unceremoniously hooked just before the hour mark, after playing his part in both of the Cherries' opening two goals courtesy of some "terrible" defending – as per journalist Sean Walsh.

The defender's woes pre-date that 3-2 loss, however, with Sanchez having previously been branded by pundit Jamie O'Hara as "one of the worst players I’ve ever seen" at the club.

The addition of a towering "monster" such as Araujo – as hailed by writer Muhammad Butt – could well help push the current Tottenham man even further down the pecking order under the new permanent managerial appointment next season.

The differing defensive quality between the pair is showcased by the fact that the Barca ace has won 65% of his total duels and 66% of his aerial duels from his 17 league appearances this season, while Sanchez, by contrast, has averaged just 61% and 55% for the same two metrics from his 15 league outings.

It would also appear that Araujo is far more accomplished at playing out from the back as the 12-cap rock ranks in the top 8% among his European peers for progressive carries and the top 15% for successful take-ons, while his fellow South American ranks in just the top 49% and the top 28% for those same two metrics.

The one-time Boston River ace could well be recognised "among the top three" best central defenders in the world – according to Spain legend Carles Puyol – with that a further indication of the potential upgrade that Spurs could be able to secure.

Chelsea are reportedly interested in signing Barcelona wonderkid Gavi this summer, in a deal which could represent Todd Boehly's best transfer since arriving at Stamford Bridge.

Could Chelsea sign Gavi?

According to Spanish news outlet Diario AS, Chelsea have already met with the 18-year-old's agent, Iván de la Peña, with the view of signing the teenager on a free transfer this summer.

The Spain international only signed a professional contract at the Nou Camp in September 2022, earning £114k-per-week with the Catalan side, yet La Liga have refused to recognise the legitimacy of this deal as it sees Barcelona exceed their wage limit once again.

Xavi's side might well be on track to win the La Liga title this season, but the financial issues at the club are still prevalent and it could cost them their biggest wonderkid this summer, as unless they can get back below the salary limit, Gavi's contract would not be recognised as a professional one, and he would be free to leave for any interested side in Europe.

The report claims that talks with Chelsea have gone well and Gavi is unsurprisingly less than impressed with the way Barcelona have handled his situation, which suggests that he could easily find himself at Stamford Bridge ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

Would Gavi be Boehly's best signing at Chelsea?

Boehly has spent close to £600m since taking over from Roman Abramovich, but the Blues sit 11th in the Premier League and look destined to be knocked out of the Champions League after a 2-0 defeat against Real Madrid in midweek.

Other than Wesley Fofana and Enzo Fernandez, none of Boehly's signings have averaged above a 7/10 rating from WhoScored for their performances in the Premier League so far this campaign, which suggests that so far his investments have not really paid off.

Meanwhile, Gavi has been a mainstay in Xavi's side as they look to secure their status as the number one team in Spain this season, making 27 appearances in which he has contributed one goal and three assists, with a solid 6.92 rating from WhoScored.

Club and international teammate Sergio Busquets was full of praise for the youngster earlier this season, outlining qualities that could clearly benefit the Blues.

He said (via The Athletic): “Gavi is a competitive animal, super young, at this age most players are still playing in the youth team. He is at an incredible level, goals, assists, he has a brilliant future, but still many things he can improve.

“At his age, he has to listen to everything, learn more, and hopefully he will be a player to mark an era at Barca.”

Boehly clearly wants to build a team for the future at Stamford Bridge and the prospect of signing one of the best talents to emerge from La Masia in recent years on a free transfer would simply be a remarkable coup.

After all, this is a player valued at £158m by CIES Football Observatory. Not even paying a penny, therefore, would mark the Chelsea owner's best move yet.

Fans online have reacted after seeing the Manchester City crowd brutally boo loaned-out defender Joao Cancelo upon his return to the Etihad​​​​​​.

What’s the latest on Man City and Joao Cancelo?

In January, the full-back shocked many as he made a swift and unexpected move to German giants Bayern Munich until the end of the season.

Cancelo failed to start in any of City’s last three matches across all competitions right before his exit, and so there were suggestions in the media that tension between him and Pep Guardiola caused the swift winter departure.

Just months after leaving the Premier League side, the £250k-per-week star had the chance to return to England as Bayern faced his parent club in the Champions League.

In the end, the home team picked up a memorable win as goals from Rodri, Bernardo Silva and Erling Haaland sealed a 3-0 win.

Ironically, Cancelo didn’t start this game either, but Thomas Tuchel did bring him off the bench with about ten minutes to play – even though all the goals had already been scored.

The Bundesliga club have the option to make the loan move permanent for £61.5m, and after seeing the reaction to Cancelo when he came on it’s hard to see him coming back to City.

Indeed, as footage shared on the BT Sport Twitter feed shows, the home crowd clearly haven’t forgiven him for ditching their side mid-season.

The boos rained down on Cancelo as he came on for Alphonso Davies. And BT commentator Darren Fletcher noted: “that’s not the kind of reaction that a loan player would expect from his own fanbase.”

After seeing the footage, a number of fans online had their say on the matter. Here are some of the best reactions…

Some onlookers even seemed to think that spells the end of Caneclo and City as a partnership.

And some felt it was harsh to treat him that way.

Southampton are monitoring Juventus defender Koni De Winter ahead of a potential move to the Premier League, according to reports.

Southampton make De Winter enquiry…

The Belgian initially joined the Serie A outfit’s U17s five years ago and has since worked his way up through the ranks to become a member of the club’s Next Gen side, as per Transfermarkt. The 6 foot 2 colossus’ contract at the Allianz Stadium isn’t set to expire until 2026 but he’s currently out on a season-long loan at FC Empoli where during his ten starts and two substitute appearances, via WhoScored, has caught the eye of Ruben Selles.

Italian outlet Tutto Juve reported in November that the Saints, alongside their top-flight rivals Crystal Palace and West Ham, all made an enquiry regarding a deal for the 20-year-old with a view to taking him in January, and despite a move failing to materialise, they are still very much keeping a close eye on their target ahead of the upcoming window.

According to Tuttomercatoweb (via Sport Witness), Southampton still “like” De Winter who is being “followed closely” by the hierarchy at the St. Mary’s Stadium. Juventus are believed to be “happy” to sanction his sale should they receive a “good offer”, with the south coast outfit one of the clubs to have “viewed” him in recent weeks.

Sport Republic are “deeply attentive” to scouting younger players for the future with the defender one of the ideal candidates to have been identified and he has “no shortage of offers”, making this “one to watch” in the months ahead.

Should Southampton cash out on De Winter?

Italy and Juventus captain Leonardo Bonucci has claimed that De Winter is a player that has “no fear” with “enormous room” for improvement and he would be an exciting signing for the future of Southampton should they secure his services in the summer.

The Antwerp native is currently averaging 4.1 clearances per league game, highlighting the rock he is at the heart of the backline, and is recording an 86% pass success rate, displaying his calmness and composure when playing out from the back (WhoScored).

De Winter is also a threat at set pieces having scored three goals and provided two assists throughout his career so far with the versatile operator having additionally played at right-back and as a defensive midfielder, making this a no-brainer of a deal to complete (Transfermarkt).