Premier League
Tudor’s derby debut: an urgent opening to steady a fragile Tottenham
Tudor’s derby debut must spark belief at Spurs: a shorter window to unite a depleted squad and fans.
Opta’s models appear more confident about Tottenham Hotspur’s chances of Premier League survival than many supporters. After eight months of Thomas Frank-led disappointment, the club have turned to Igor Tudor with Sunday’s North London Derby as his first, immediate test.
Supporters have been yearning for the ”good ol’ days” and nostalgia shaped the debate around managerial options. Mauricio Pochettino has openly pondered a return, but the Argentine’s commitment to the USMNT rendered a stopgap necessary. Some even flirted with the improbable idea of a 78-year-old Harry Redknapp returning, imagining “Niko” and “Crouchy” in Lilywhite once more. The hierarchy rejected those fantasies and handed Tudor the task of unifying a fractured squad and an increasingly weary fanbase.
Fabio Paratici left as sporting director after the January transfer window, yet his fingerprints are visible on Tudor’s appointment. Paratici’s arrival in 2021 signalled an intent to emulate European elites, attempting to impose Juventus-like standards in N17. Recruits such as Dejan Kulusevski and Rodrigo Bentancur, and the return of Antonio Conte, were part of that blueprint; the past year, though, has diverged from Paratici’s vision.
Tudor, a 47-year-old Croat sacked by Juve last October, has a record of rescue jobs but none with stakes this high. His no-nonsense mantra and aggressive pressing principles must yield results quickly or relegation becomes a real risk. Tottenham head into the derby without a Premier League win in 2026 and with about six fit outfielders. That depleted picture makes his opening fixture especially precarious.
Arsenal, chasing a 22-year-long objective, drew 2–2 at Wolverhampton Wanderers on Wednesday, and Manchester City sit five points behind with a game in hand. If City maintain their home run against Newcastle, Arsenal’s lead would be two on derby day. Since Conte’s late-2021 run, Arsenal have won all but one of seven meetings, a sequence that followed Tottenham supporters, in Gary Neville’s words, “brutalised” Arteta’s side.
For Tudor the priority is immediate connection. The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium has often been a cauldron of discontent; only Conte and, briefly, Postecoglou have truly weaponised it. A spirited finish to the season would offer relief and restore some foundations, leaving any long-term successor a more stable platform than a club on its knees.
Liverpool
Mac Allister’s Camp Rebuffs Madrid Talk but Keeps Door Ajar After World Cup
Carlos Mac Allister says Real Madrid have not spoken to Alexis; future after World Cup remains open.
Alexis Mac Allister’s agent and father, Carlos, has moved to dampen talk of an imminent transfer to Real Madrid while making clear his son remains focused on the World Cup.
Speculation has linked the Liverpool midfielder with a summer move following a 2025–26 campaign in which his form drew harsh scrutiny. Real Madrid have been mentioned as a destination after securing Bernardo Silva this year as they seek long-term successors to Toni Kroos and Luka Modrić.
Carlos Mac Allister, who also represents his son, denied that any contact had taken place with the Spanish club when speaking to Erem News. “The reports circulating about Alexis are false.
“No one from Real Madrid has spoken to us so far. There is no new information regarding Alexis’s current situation at Liverpool .”
Mac Allister’s contract at Liverpool runs until June 2028 and, according to the available information, there have been no discussions about an extension. The player spent three seasons on Merseyside after his move from Brighton & Hove Albion.
The agent returned to the subject in comments to WinWin, stressing the immediate priority and leaving the possibility of reconsideration once the World Cup is concluded: “Alexis is in excellent shape to play in the World Cup. Before the World Cup begins, it’s not possible to discuss or analyse a player’s future,” he said.
Liverpool endured a difficult 2025–26 season and finished fifth to secure Champions League qualification. The club has since changed managers, with Arne Slot replaced by Andoni Iraola, and a significant summer of turnover is anticipated, including the departures of Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson.
How the new manager views Mac Allister remains unclear. After three seasons at Liverpool, both player and club may evaluate whether a fresh chapter is appropriate once international commitments conclude.
Premier League
De Zerbi Prioritises Sandro Tonali as Spurs Target After Survival Drive
De Zerbi has identified Sandro Tonali as Spurs’ priority target after rescue mission last season…
Roberto De Zerbi has identified Sandro Tonali as Tottenham Hotspur’s primary midfield target as the club looks to rebuild following a perilous run last season. Spurs were perilously close to succumbing to a stunning relegation, with only the work of De Zerbi after he was appointed at the end of March steering them clear of West Ham United and the Championship abyss.
Tottenham have already moved in the market, signing Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi from Liverpool and Bournemouth on free transfers. The acquisition of Tonali would be regarded internally as a clear statement of intent and one engineered by De Zerbi, who holds considerable power in N17 after steering the club to safety.
Newcastle United are expected to make a major decision on their squad this summer as they embark on a mini-reset. While Eddie Howe remains in the picture, Anthony Gordon has moved on to pastures new with Barcelona and Tonali could soon follow the Englishman out the door.
Tonali has been linked previously with Arsenal, Manchester City and Manchester United, but multiple sources state Spurs have now entered the race. The Athletic’s David Ornstein is among those to report that Spurs and the player’s entourage have held “positive talks”, though there has not yet been any contact with Newcastle, who are expected to demand a mega fee for the former AC Milan star’s services.
The Magpies value Tonali highly and may force Spurs to pay as much as £85 million ($114 million). Newcastle paid AC Milan £55 million ($74 million) in 2023, so a sale would produce a sizeable profit for them. Spurs are said to be further advanced in talks than other suitors.
Tonali, the 26-year-old, is not the pass-first, build-up orchestrator some expect, but he contributes across the pitch. He is strong out of possession and more forceful in that phase. Early-career Andrea Pirlo comparisons proved to be erroneous, but Tonali has become underrated with the ball. Having helped resurrect Tottenham’s engine room down the stretch, De Zerbi believes he could get the best from the player, who grew up in Lodi, Lombardy, an hour’s drive from Brescia where the manager was born.
Man Utd
Man Utd Target Crysencio Summerville as Left‑Wing Options Are Weighed
Man Utd assess Crysencio Summerville as one of several left-wing options, West Ham face sales. soon.
Manchester United are “paying serious attention” to West Ham winger Crysencio Summerville as part of their search for a left-sided wide player this summer. Sources suggest the club view Summerville as one of several candidates while evaluating alternatives and squad options.
Summerville, 24, drew fresh interest after an impressive World Cup showing against Japan in which he scored and offered a combative display off the ball. The Athletic reports Manchester United have “enquired” about his situation. At an estimated $67.1 million (£50 million) he sits at the lower end of the price range compared with other reported targets.
Other names United have considered include Yan Diomande, Iliman Ndiaye, Morgan Rogers and Bradley Barcola. Leipzig are likely to demand about $116 million (€100 million, £86.5 million) for Diomande, a figure that would place him well above Summerville and potentially push any move beyond the immediate window. Barcola has been linked amid reports of frustration over his minutes at Paris Saint-Germain.
Domestically, reintegrating Marcus Rashford remains a discussed option within the club, although it may be regarded as a last resort. Michael Carrick has not ruled out that path while also acknowledging the desire to add a new wide player.
Summerville’s form last season included a run of four successive Premier League goals in January after an indifferent start to 2025–26, but a minor injury in March interrupted his momentum and reduced his influence in the closing weeks.
West Ham paid roughly half of the reported United valuation to sign Summerville from Leeds United in 2024. Relegation has increased the likelihood of interest in the club’s top performers, a list that also contains midfield target Mateus Fernandes and attacker Jarrod Bowen.
Daniel Křetínský, the incoming principal shareholder at West Ham, has insisted the club will not sell for financial reasons. “We have a very credible strategy,” Křetínský told The Times. “We don’t need to sell the players for financial reasons. We are doing this to make sure we are promoted back to the Premier League immediately. That is our only goal.”
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