Premier League
Four priorities Tottenham must address after Igor Tudor’s exit
Tottenham face four urgent priorities after Igor Tudor’s exit to avoid relegation in 2025/26. season
Tottenham leave Igor Tudor’s brief spell with a single Premier League point and a situation that has become perilous. Tudor replaced Thomas Frank when the club were five points clear of the drop, but a 3–0 defeat to Nottingham Forest made his position untenable and he has now left. One point separates the Europa League holders from relegation and the incoming plan must be urgent and pragmatic.
1) Appoint the right short-term coach. The club trusted a recommendation from Fabio Paratici when they brought Tudor to N17, but that decision has not worked. Given the circumstances, appointing someone with a close understanding of the club or its predicament would be sensible. The article argues against Adi Hütter at this moment and suggests running it back with Ryan Mason, trying to tempt Robbie Keane from Ferencváros, or “swallowing your pride and trusting Sean Dyche, who got Everton out of the mire in 2022–23.”
2) Restore belief and change the tone. The team arrived at 2025/26 riding momentum from that Europa League final night, but Thomas Frank’s tenure left them low on bravery and fluidity. Tudor repeatedly hinted his players needed to shed their “bad habits” but could not complete the repair job. The next manager must empower the squad rather than institute a long-term project.
3) Discipline selection and reward effort. There is a perception among some fans that certain players regard themselves as above the crisis, and reports suggest some squad members “explicitly expressed as much in the dressing room.” Those who have underperformed should not be guaranteed places; those who have offered real commitment, like Archie Gray and Mathys Tel, must be prioritised.
4) Fix the attacking shortfall. Tottenham have not won a Premier League game since Mohammed Kudus suffered a thigh injury. The absence of Kudus has been stark, and the decision not to recruit an attacker after selling Brennan Johnson contributed to the problem. James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski have yet to play a single minute this season, leaving a creativity deficit that must be addressed urgently.
Chelsea
Why Marc Cucurella Publicly Challenged Chelsea’s Midseason Choices
Cucurella publicly criticised Chelsea’s midseason changes and long-term recruitment strategy. Today.
Since BlueCo completed its takeover in 2022, Stamford Bridge has changed off the field while results have lagged. The January exit of Enzo Maresca crystallised growing unrest among supporters and within the squad, with Enzo Fernández publicly expressing disappointment and confusion over the decision.
Marc Cucurella took that frustration further, questioning the timing and the club’s wider direction. “The moment Maresca left, it had a big impact on us,” Cucurella said. “These are decisions taken by the club. If you asked me, I would not have made this decision. To make a change like that, the best thing is to wait until the end of the season. You would give everyone, the players and the new manager, time to get ready, have a full preseason.”
Maresca’s relationship with those above him had been strained since the summer, when he publicly requested a new centre back to replace the injured Levi Colwill and that request was refused. Reports say Maresca grew disenchanted with the sporting directors and decision-makers, accusing them of interfering in his role. The hierarchy opted for a change, and Liam Rosenior was appointed to replace Maresca at a crucial point while the team remained in the race for Champions League qualification.
Cucurella also criticised Chelsea’s transfer philosophy. He highlighted the shift away from senior, experienced signings after the 2022 window in which Todd Boehly played a prominent role in recruitment. That summer saw arrivals including Raheem Sterling, Kalidou Koulibaly, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Wesley Fofana, Carney Chukwuemeka, Cesare Casadei and Cucurella himself.
“I understand this is part of the club’s policy, and that they want to take this direction—signing young players and looking to the future,” he stressed. “But, for all of us who are still here and want to win big things, moments like this make you feel discouraged.
“We have a good core of players. The foundations are there. But to fight for major trophies such as the Premier League or the Champions League, you need more. Signing young players only might complicate achieving those goals. Against PSG , we lacked players that had gone through situations like that.
“You need time as well, and I know the young players are the ones that will have the experience in the future. But you need to find the balance between both worlds.”
The recruitment model overseen by co-sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart, and Joe Shields, has prioritised young talent. There are a few clear positives from the recruitment since 2022, including Cole Palmer and Moisés Caicedo. But several signings have drawn scrutiny and recent results, such as the Champions League loss to PSG following Club World Cup success, have intensified fan protests and anti-Eghbali chants at home games. The board renewed contracts for Winstanley, Stewart, Shields and Sam Jewell in August 2025, even as dissent grew louder.
Highest paid players
Why Inter Miami’s roster rules make signing Casemiro a near-impossible task
Inter Miami lack roster space and allocation funds to absorb Casemiro’s reported $20m annual salary.
As Casemiro approaches the end of his Manchester United contract, interest from Major League Soccer clubs has been widely reported. Inter Miami are often mentioned among suitors, but the club’s roster and salary mechanisms create a major barrier to signing the Brazilian midfielder.
Reports suggest Casemiro earns $20 million per season at Old Trafford. Inter Miami already have three designated players locked through the 2027–28 season: Lionel Messi, Rodrigo De Paul and Germán Berterame. The club also has three players signed under the U-22 Initiative, the maximum permitted when a team carries three senior designated players. To add Berterame, Miami loaned a fourth U-22 Initiative player, Tomás Avilés, to CF Montréal.
Fabrizio Romano says the club are “really serious” about signing the Man Utd star, but the mechanics are complex. Miami could convert to two designated player slots to free a U-22 Initiative spot, yet that would allow only a younger signing, not a veteran aged 34 like Casemiro. A move would therefore likely require either replacing a current star or a deep roster rework.
Allocation tools also limit Miami’s options. Targeted Allocation Money is used to reduce a salary cap hit for players earning between $803,125 and $1,803,125, but Casemiro’s reported wages sit well above that range. General Allocation Money, which can buy down salaries under $803,125, is minimal for Miami; the club is reported to have only $17,361 in GAM. By comparison, the Colorado Rapids hold $6,380,121 for 2026, while Miami’s 2025 MLS Cup opponent, Vancouver Whitecaps, sit with $20,945.
Without selling or trading significant assets or shedding a designated player, the only practical way for Casemiro to join Inter Miami would be on a salary below $803,125. With the league team salary near the reported maximum of $6,425,000, adding another high-earner looks highly unlikely unless Miami undertakes a major roster upheaval.
Barcelona
Barcelona Prepare to Weigh Offers for Jules Kounde Amid Premier League Interest
Barcelona may sell Jules Kounde if Chelsea, Liverpool or Man City match the club’s valuation. summer
Barcelona are reported to be open to selling Jules Kounde should offers approach the club’s valuation, with Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City credited with interest by Mundo Deportivo. The 27-year-old has been linked to the three Premier League sides and City’s pursuit is described as particularly well established.
Deco, Barcelona’s sporting director, revealed last summer that Pep Guardiola’s side “asked us if Kounde was available,” and the club’s response at that time was simple: “No.” The latest coverage suggests Barcelona’s position may have shifted as they weigh financial priorities.
When fit, Kounde is a regular under Hansi Flick. The quick fullback started 25 of La Liga’s first 26 matches this season before a muscular injury forced him to miss the entirety of March. Mundo Deportivo report that Barcelona, in need of funds, would consider any bid in the region of $92.3 million (€80 million).
Selling Kounde would not leave Flick without options. Eric García has provided versatile cover across the backline, including at right back, while Masia graduate Xavi Espart earned his senior debut during Kounde’s absence. João Cancelo’s continued presence in Spain has also been mooted as a way to mitigate the loss of Kounde.
Barcelona are widely expected to prioritise signings of a striker and a centre back this summer. Targets mentioned publicly are likely to command significant fees, with the acquisition of Julián Alvarez noted as an example of the cost involved. That context helps explain why a substantial offer for Kounde would be difficult for Barcelona to ignore.
From the English perspective, Manchester City’s search for a right back last summer was fruitless. Matheus Nunes has adapted from a midfield reputation—having shrugged off Guardiola’s barb about a lack of intelligence to play in midfield—to flourish as an overlapping fullback this season, but City could still seek a more orthodox right back.
Chelsea and Liverpool possess quality options at right back, but selection can be complicated. Reece James has rammed home his committment to the Blues with a recent contract extension only to then succumb to the sort of hamstring injury which has plagued so much of his career. Malo Gusto serves as a suitable deputy and is far less prone to fitness lapses.
Whether any Premier League suitor will meet Barcelona’s reported valuation remains to be seen.
