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Nuno Santo is just over a week away from leading out Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League for the very first time.

Much of their hopes will be pinned on Harry Kane – should he stay – and Heung-min Son as Spurs look to bounce back from a frustrating two years.

The attacking duo contributed 40 goals and 24 assists in the Premier League, a stark return considering the overall squad only found the net 68 times across 38 matches.

They will be expected to repeat such a feat if Spurs are to stand a chance at redemption.

However, one name has looked impressive under the Portuguese head coach and as a result, could be given a new lease of life at the club…

On the Chalkboard

Steven Bergwijn has struggled for much of his Spurs career so far.

The 23-year-old dynamo set the ground running with a stunning goal on debut against Manchester City back in February 2020 but similar performances were far and few between.

During the 2020/21 campaign, the Dutch winger found the net just once and before Jose Mourinho’s sacking, he failed to even make the matchday squad in seven of his final nine matches, as per Transfermarkt.

As is often the case, Bergwijn has since been linked with a move away from North London, with Eredivisie giants Ajax keen on his signature, according to reports in his home country.

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However, he has featured in all three of Spurs’ pre-season friendlies and has looked the part.

Two of those matches were against League Two opposition and that has to be factored in, even if they were fitness exercises. He capped off his change in fortunes with a goal on Wednesday evening, however, against Champions League winners Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

By all accounts, many who were at the game were impressed, including football.london’s Alasdair Gold and Nuno himself, who described Bergwijn as a “very talented player” to reporters after the game.

The departure of Erik Lamela has also bolstered his chances of being a success and with all eyes on Kane and Son, he could well emerge as Nuno’s secret weapon, even if it’s from the bench.

Despite being lauded as “incredible” by Mourinho, the £34m-rated Dutch international really struggled to make his mark under the former Spurs boss but now it could well be his time to shine on that right flank.

Only time will tell.

AND in other news, Imagine him and Kane: Levy could form frightening Spurs duo with “complete” £36m-rated beast…

A huge twist has emerged in Tottenham Hotspur’s pursuit of Nuno Santo…

What’s the word?

The 47-year-old is believed to be the front-runner for the vacant manager’s role at the North London outfit, with recently-appointed Fabio Paratici thought to be ‘pushing hard’ to secure him.

However, chairman Daniel Levy is thought to have major doubts about the former Wolves boss for numerous reasons, according to ever-reliable football.london correspondent Alasdair Gold.

In a recent article, he wrote:

“Paratici wants Espirito Santo and had him on his list of potential candidates to replace Andrea Pirlo at Juventus, along with Gattuso. Talks with the Portuguese have reached an advanced stage and he could be appointed next week, ahead of the club’s July 5 pre-season start date, if the green light is given.

“However, Levy is still believed to be undecided over appointing the former Wolves boss, concerned that some have compared his style to his compatriot Mourinho’s, and most of all there is fear over the reaction the chairman will get from the fans at the first home game of the season against reigning champions Manchester City, particularly if such a difficult first game is lost.”

Fans don’t want him!

Whilst this would pose yet another worrying setback in this arduous process, it’s one that will go down well with the Spurs faithful as many in N17 do not want the Portuguese coach appointed.

Levy and co have been dealt blow after blow over mooted targets ever since sacking Jose Mourinho in mid-April, with many names appearing to be close to being hired, only for the move to fall through at the 11th hour.

Initially, names like Bayern-bound Julian Nagelsmann and Leicester City’s Brendan Rodgers were linked as Tottenham’s top targets before both were quickly ruled out.

And then came discussions with former Premier League winner Antonio Conte but both parties abandoned talks over concerns about one another. There was even a chance for Mauricio Pochettino to make a sensational return to the club but Paris Saint-Germain were not letting that happen.

Spurs were left back at square one following breakdowns in moves for Paulo Fonseca and Gennaro Gattuso and that made Nuno a very clear candidate for the role, seeing as he’s available after he left Wolves by mutual consent only last month.

However, much of the Lilywhites faithful have been totally against the former goalkeeper and that had led to a similar social media campaign to stop him from being appointed, just like they did with the controversial Italian but more about his playing style rather than his sordid past.

Gold even makes reference to this in his latest update on the situation, claiming:

“The fans have not been as opposed to Espirito Santo as they were to the Gattuso talks, for different reasons. However, there is still an clear air of disappointment over a two-month long search, taking in such exciting names only to come around to a manager who has been free and available since May and has been linked with teams such as Crystal Palace and Everton.”

Furthermore, in reaction to the initial reports to Nuno, fans deemed it “embarrassing”, called for Paratici to be sacked and even claimed it was “worse than expected”, as relayed by This is Futbol.

All in all, it means the latest doubt from Levy will come as encouraging news for many in North London as it means there’s a chance that the chairman vetoes the move instead of approving it – if so, many will be buzzing as they simply do not want Nuno as their next manager.

AND in other news, Alasdair Gold drops exciting Spurs transfer claim…

Dropping the latest on West Ham United and the possibility of signing Jesse Lingard on a permanent deal from Manchester United, Claret & Hugh have now shared a possible boost in news from behind the scenes.

The Lowdown: Lingard returning to London?

The 28-year-old has been heavily linked with a permanent switch to east London following a phenomenal spell on loan over the second half of 2020/21.

Indeed, Lingard was arguably a crucial component of West Ham’s eventual sixth-placed finish which saw them qualify for the Europa League group stages, and Irons manager David Moyes allegedly wants to see him signed as an indefinite Hammers player this summer.

The Latest: C&H drop Lingard boost…

Dropping a behind-the-scenes claim, West Ham insider Claret & Hugh have shared a big boost for the club in their chase for Lingard.

Indeed, the 28-year-old is apparently keen to join West Ham permanently and wants his agents to get in talks with the club after Moyes puts pen to paper on his three-year deal.

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Lingard is apparently ‘ready’ to move south once the manager’s contract situation is sorted, with the Irons ‘entirely confident’ that Moyes will honour his agreement. The attacking midfielder is also not prepared to sign any new deal at Old Trafford having become ‘very much a part of things’ at West Ham.

The Verdict: Boost for West Ham…

Even though Lingard’s move to West Ham appears dependent on Moyes signing his new deal, all the signs point to that being a formality.

Reliable club insider ExWHUemployee believes the club will make his contract announcement imminently, so bearing that in mind, this news from Claret & Hugh comes as a big boost in the Irons’ chase for Lingard.

Having bagged nine goals and four assists over 16 Premier League appearances for West Ham (WhoScored), securing his services this summer would be massive for the club.

In terms of goal threat, no other West Ham player could match Lingard’s 2.6 shots per game on average, and it’s safe to say Moyes will need that attacking potency in the Europa League next season.

In other news: West Ham player now really wants to leave, Cottee dubbed him their ‘best footballer’…find out more here.

Celtic have been linked with a move for Shanghai SIPG midfielder Aaron Mooy following Ange Postecoglou’s Parkhead arrival.

The Lowdown: Mooy and Postecoglou’s relationship

The Hoops have already been linked with moves for two players who Postecoglou knows well in Yokohama F. Marinos striker Ado Onaiwu and Brighton goalkeeper Mat Ryan.

Mooy, whose wife is Scottish, worked under Postecoglou when he was in charge of Australia’s national team.

The 30-year-old now has 42 caps for his country and currently plies his trade at club level for Shanghai SIPG after sealing a move from Brighton last year.

The Latest: Celtic links

Australian outlet SBS claim that Mooy is likely to be on Postecoglou’s radar.

There has already been talk in Shanghai over a potential Hoops approach for the midfielder, who earns a significant salary in China.

A potential transfer fee wouldn’t be significant, according to the report, with Chinese teams aware the current situation in the country is tough for foreign players.

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The Verdict: Versatility could prove priceless

Mooy is capable of playing as a defensive, central or attacking midfielder, so should a move to Scotland materialise, he could end up replacing Scott Brown, who has left for Aberdeen or even Ryan Christie, whose contract is up in January and is linked with a summer exit.

The versatile and experienced midfielder has 96 Premier League appearances to his name as well as 94 A-League appearances under his belt.

He also has previous experience of playing in the Scottish Premiership with St Mirren 10 years ago.

It could turn out to be a wise move by Postecoglou in signing a few players he knows well who can instantly adjust to his tactics and create a sense of trust in the dressing room, so it’ll be interesting to see whether these links will go any further over the coming months.

In other news: John Kennedy update emerges, find out more here. 

An update has emerged on Tottenham centre-back Joe Rodon, regarding Brighton’s interest in his services…

What’s the talk?

According to The Sun, Brighton have identified Tottenham centre-back Joe Rodon as a potential replacement for Ben White this summer. Graham Potter will need to bring in a defender if one of his current stars walks out of the AMEX and it seems as though he would like to reunite with his former Swansea colleague Rodon.

The report claims that the Seagulls are ready to pursue a permanent deal for the Welsh international. However, they would also be open to signing him on loan if Spurs are unwilling to part ways with him permanently.

Fans would be gutted

Fabio Paratici must avoid making a grave error following this update. The newly-appointed chief must keep hold of Rodon and refuse to allow him to join Brighton, especially on a permanent deal. With Nuno Santo coming through the door this summer, Rodon could have a chance to stake a claim for his place in the side and the Portuguese boss’ preferred formation could increase his chances of becoming a regular.

Santo lined up with three centre-backs, either in a three or a five, in 24 of Wolves’ 38 Premier League matches last season and all 38 of the games in the 2019/20 campaign. This suggests that he could look to employ a similar system in North London this year, which could open the door for Rodon play as one of the three central defenders in the team.

Eric Dier, Davinson Sanchez and Toby Alderweireld all played more minutes in the Premier League for Spurs last season, but The Sun recently claimed that the club are open to selling any of those three this summer. Therefore, Rodon could become one of the three first-choice options in that area of the park.

Earlier this year, Jose Mourinho lavished praise on “brave” Rodon and refused to blame him for making a mistake in a Premier League clash with Liverpool as his overall performance was excellent.

He told the Evening Standard:

“He showed good personality, good concentration, was good on the ball. First half building well and going for duels. Not a coward for not to assume the duels, a brave boy to go for every duel, even against difficult opponents like they are.

Mourinho seemingly rated the £24k-per-week beast and saw potential in him at Tottenham. He did hand the centre-back 12 Premier League appearances, but opted to go with experience for the most part with a back four the most used formation for the club. This means that he was competing with Dier, Alderweireld and Sanchez for two spots in the team.

The fans would now be gutted if a promising young player is not offered the opportunity to show what he can do as part of a back three for Santo, given that the likes of Sanchez and Dier have hardly set the world alight.

Therefore, Paratici must reject any offers from Brighton – loan or permanent – for Rodon and keep him this summer. If it gets to January and he has not been able to force his way into the XI then they could reconsider their stance but for now, Rodon should stay.

AND in other news, Imagine him and Kane: Spurs must swoop for Nuno-approved beast compared to Haaland…

Barry Ferguson has suggested Glasgow Rangers should sell Glen Kamara after they were linked with a move for Koln’s Salih Ozcan.

The Lowdown: Gers eye Ozcan as Kamara stalls on contract

The Gers have been linked with a move for Ozcan (Kicker), who is currently competing for Germany at the U21 European Championships.

Kamara, meanwhile, has not yet put pen to paper on a deal, and has regularly been linked with an exit from Ibrox in recent months, such has been the quality of his displays this season.

The Latest: Ferguson urges Kamara sale

Speaking on Go Radio (via The Scottish Sun), Ferguson urged his former club to move on from Kamara. He said:

“That (story about Salih Ozcan) could be a sign that Glen Kamara might not be committing to Rangers, hence the fact that this guy has been mentioned with a move.

“I don’t know too much about him. He’s playing at a decent club, Cologne.

“But going back to it, it looks like Kamara won’t be extending his contract.

“And if not you need to go and cash in, and bring in another midfielder.

“Kamara will be going into the final 12 months of his contract (next summer) and has already been offered a new contract.

“You don’t want players going into the final 12 months.”

The Verdict: Be clever

Kamara has been a fantastic signing for the Gers, especially when you consider he cost them the bargain fee of just £50,000. Now valued at £5.4m (Transfermarkt), he has made 106 appearances in two years, helping the Gers win the Premiership and also contributing to his national side Finland’s qualification for this summer’s Euros.

If he impresses over the next month or so, there may never be a better time for the Gers to make a huge profit on the 25-year-old – that £5.4m valuation is a remarkable 108 times what he cost the club when he signed.

Ozcan, meanwhile, appeared 28 times for Koln in the Bundesliga in the last campaign. With 13 career assists, he could perhaps provide some extra creative ability, offering more going forward than Kamara. If the former Arsenal youth graduate does depart, Ozcan may well be a fantastic replacement.

In other news, Kieran Maguire has made this Ibrox claim.

If Carlo Ancelotti can take any positives from Everton’s 0-0 draw with Aston Villa on Thursday evening, it’s that they didn’t lose.

The Toffees tasted defeat against Dean Smith’s men in the reverse fixture less than a fortnight ago, so they were already behind when it came to the mental battle.

That said, Everton really should have won the game yesterday. They created numerous chances to score but were met with the brick wall of Emi Martinez. The Argentine has been inspired this term and made five saves to deny Ancelotti’s attack in midweek.

The biggest positive, however, will be a successive clean sheet. Everton were lacking Yerry Mina due to injury but stood firm with a three-man backline again.

However, Seamus Coleman didn’t cover himself in too much glory at right wing-back. The Irishman has been a fantastic servant to Goodison Park but it’s evident that his time on Merseyside is starting to wind down.

You can never fault the defender’s attitude and commitment but his final ball and passing let him down during an average display from the skipper.

The tone was set in the very first minute of the game. Hounded by former team-mate Ross Barkley, Coleman gifted the opposition a corner instead of attempting to clear the ball upfield.

He had a particularly nervy opening ten minutes at Villa Park, bringing down Matt Targett when Everton could have won a set piece themselves before lifting a cross straight into the arms of Martinez.

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Coleman completed just 50% of his crosses and was successful with only 71% of his passes. He was disappointing in possession, completing just ten passes in the entire game and taking fewer touches (28) than Jordan Pickford (37).

The defender may have won 50% of his defensive duels but he wasn’t entirely competent when it came to dealing with Anwar El Ghazi and Targett. The latter raced past him as though he wasn’t even there on the stroke of half time but fortunately Villa spurned the opportunity to score.

It was no surprise that Coleman was eventually substituted with more than 15 minutes left to play. He exited Villa Park having lost possession every 2.8 touches; a woeful tally for a player who usually brings a calming nature to Ancelotti’s side.

This was a night to forget for him and the Toffees’ attackers.

AND in other news, Everton must swoop for £300k-p/w “outstanding technician”, he’s shades of Tim Cahill…

Former Premier League manager Lawrie Sanchez has exclusively told Football FanCast that he isn’t surprised Crystal Palace are interested in signing Reading striker Yakou Meite.

The Eagles currently have three senior centre-forwards in their squad, but the in-form Christian Benteke is out of contract this summer, whilst Michy Batshuayi is set to return to Chelsea following the conclusion of his loan spell in south London.

That would leave Palace with only Jordan Ayew, meaning their need to add to their strike department could grow in the coming months.

And the Reading frontman is on Palace’s radar, with reports suggesting that he could be available for just £5m, with Watford and Brighton also keen.

Meite has been a consistent goalscorer during his time in the Championship, bagging at least 11 times in each of his three seasons at Reading, which is exactly the number he managed during the previous campaign in just 29 appearances.

His contract expires in 12 months’ time, which explains exactly why a proven goalscorer is available at a cut-price.

Sanchez told Football FanCast:

“I think they’re the ones that will have a nibble at him, it’ll be interesting to see what type of money they’re talking about and will be interesting to see how much money Reading want. They will need profit from some of these sales.”

Dwight Gayle agreed to sign a new deal at Newcastle United ‘a few weeks ago’, Lee Ryder has clarified in a fan Q&A for Chronicle Live.

The lowdown

The £4.5m-rated striker made 20 appearances in all competitions last season, scoring just one goal.

The Athletic reported at the end of March that Gayle had extended his stay at St James’ Park by signing a new three-year contract on reduced terms, but rumours around his future have continued to swirl.

Ryder’s Chronicle Live colleague Mark Douglas said he could still see the striker departing, while a report in the Sunday Mirror suggested that Chris Wilder was keen on bringing the 30-year-old back to West Brom if he is appointed manager at The Hawthorns.

The latest

As per Chronicle Live, Ryder was asked to confirm Gayle’s contract situation by a Newcastle supporter who was still unsure after reading ‘mixed reports’.

The journalist claimed: “I was told it [the new deal] had been verbally agreed or done in principle”, adding that Gayle’s family are said to be “settled” on Tyneside, hence his inclination to stay.

The 30-year-old is currently on holiday, so an official announcement could be made after his return.

The verdict

The real question mark here is whether Newcastle have moved to extend Gayle’s deal because they consider him a valuable part of the squad, or because they’re looking to protect his value. Of the striker’s 20 appearances last term, 16 came as a substitute, which certainly doesn’t suggest that he is a central figure at St James’ Park.

It does have the air of a pragmatic step from a club which probably won’t be shedding its deadwood while it remains in limbo amid the ongoing takeover saga.

In other news, Newcastle have been urged to recruit this partner to Callum Wilson.

In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, former Sheffield United striker Brian Deane has questioned his old club’s reported interest in John Terry.

The Yorkshire outfit are on the lookout for a permanent successor to Chris Wilder following his exit last month and it appears their search has taken them to Terry.

According to the Mirror, the Aston Villa assistant head coach is on Sheffield United’s shortlist to replace their former boss as the club prepares for life back in the Championship.

Terry has spoken in the past about his desire to become a manager, meaning this opportunity in the Bramall Lane dugout may appeal to him.

Deane, however, has sent a word of warning to his old side, picking up on Terry’s lack of managerial experience. On the subject, Deane told FFC:

“The club has to decide what direction they want to go in and part of that direction is, you know, do they want to go down a route where more of the club structure and infrastructure is club owned?

“Do they want to go down the route of kind of giving somebody an opportunity to come in and manage their club, you know, with relatively no understanding or no experience of the area, of what the fans expect, what kind of football? I don’t know what kind of football John Terry likes.”

The Mirror also reports that Villa are well aware of Terry’s ambitions to manage one day and will support him in his efforts to land the top job in a dugout, so it should not be too hard for Sheffield United to get him out of Villa Park.