Category: Sport

Manchester United are showing ‘concrete interest’ in signing Bayern Munich and Canada left-back Alphonso Davies, according to reports.

Davies is out of contract next summer and has been strongly linked with a move to European champions Real Madrid.

Erik ten Hag’s side have also been thrown in the mix. A report earlier this month claimed they were eyeing up a triple raid of Bayern, with Leon Goretzka, Leroy Sane and Davies all of interest.

Our man Joe Williams wrote about a Sky Germany report which claimed Manchester United are ‘keeping an eye on’ all three players.

Man Utd in contact with camp of Bayern Munich star – Plettenberg

Rumours linking Davies to Old Trafford are not going away and the latest from Florian Plettenberg is good news for the Red Devils.

The German transfer expert says ‘United’s interest in Davies is becoming more concrete’.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe signed Noussair Mazraoui from Bayern in the summer, which assisted in shifting Diogo Dalot to left-back due to injuries to Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia.

The persistent injury problems could see Ratcliffe accelerate his interest in Davies and Plettenberg says the Canadian international is a ‘desired transfer’ for the left-back position.

Indeed, the Red Devils have apparently ‘been gathering extensive information on Davies for several days’ and ‘made an informal enquiry with the player’s camp’.

United are boosted by the lack of contract negotiations between the 23-year-old and Bayern.

Plettenberg wrote on X:

Manchester United’s interest in Alphonso #Davies is becoming more concrete #MUFC have been gathering extensive information on Davies for several days. The 23y/o would be a desired transfer for the vacant left-back position, as recently revealed. In recent months, Manchester United have already made an informal inquiry with the player’s camp. At present, there are no new talks about a contract extension with FC Bayern. Davies could leave the club as a free agent next summer.

Manchester United drew their third Europa League match in a row at Fenerbahce on Thursday and are back in action away to West Ham on Sunday.

Red Devils boss Ten Hag is under severe pressure following a dismal start to the campaign but Hammers head coach Julen Lopetegui – who is fourth in the Premier League sack race, two places below the Dutchman – says he thinks every manager is under pressure.

“When you become a coach, you live with pressure always. This is normal, and sometimes it is good too. It is our kind of life,” Lopetegui said.

“It is true we didn’t have the best start or start (the way) we wanted to have.

“But in the same way, we are sure we are doing the steps ahead and are going to be able to arrive at the end of the season in the position we want to be.

“There are a lot of matches in front of us. I believe a lot in these players and I am sure the results are going to arrive.

“The only way is to work hard, try to be self-critics and be able to improve, and we are, this is the way we work.”

He added: “I think that all the coaches, we are under pressure always, sometimes more, sometimes less depending on the last matches.

“But I am not going to talk about one colleague or another club. I can talk about me.

“We are going to play against a very big team – Manchester United is one of the best teams in the world.

“We have to be ready to face them, to play well and to work hard to be beat them. That is going to be our aim.”

Arsenal and Manchester City are both interested in signing Sporting striker Viktor Gyokeres in the January transfer window, according to reports.

Gyokeres has been scoring for fun this year, netting 38 goals, which is five more than Harry Kane and six more than Erling Haaland.

It was surprising to see such little interest in the Swedish international in the summer transfer window after he scored 43 and assisted 15 in 50 appearances across all competitions in 2023/24.

Sporting paid around £18million to sign Gyokeres from Championship side Coventry City in July 2023 and will receive £83m if his 100 million euro release clause is triggered.

Arsenal reportedly considered signing the 26-year-old in the summer and were linked with several strikers.

Manager Mikel Arteta decided against the signing, instead keeping the faith in Kai Havertz after a strong end to the season.

Havertz has started the season well with six goals in 12 games but Gyokeres has 13 in 13, which is keeping Arsenal’s eye on him.

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The Gunners are still crying out for an out-and-out striker, which could be what finally gets them over the line in the Premier League.

They will surely regret it if Gyokeres somehow ends up at Man City, which will never happen, right? Right? Well…

Man City, Arsenal ready to fight for Viktor Gyokeres

According to Spanish website Fichajes, the Premier League champions are interested in signing the Sporting star in January, joining Arsenal in the race for his signature.

Indeed, City see Gyokeres ‘as a possible alternative to strengthen their attack’ with Haaland without a back-up striker.

Furthermore, Haaland is frequently being linked with a move away from the Etihad and – not only in terms of his goalscoring numbers – Gyokeres is a very similar striker.

Both are extremely powerful and an absolute demon in the penalty area. They are also big and blonde, which is much more important.

City manager Pep Guardiola believes Gyokeres is the perfect replacement ‘should Haaland decide to leave’.

The Citizens have already ‘entered talks’ with the player’s representatives in a bid to ‘explore a potential agreement’.

👉 READ MORE: Gyokeres to Man City? Viana’s five best signings ranked on likelihood of joining Guardiola’s side

While City are advancing, Arsenal ‘are not far behind’. The report claims they have been ‘keeping a close eye’ on him and will have scouts in attendance to watch Sporting against the Premier League champions in the Champions League.

It is claimed that the two Premier League clubs are expected to be in ‘fierce’ competition and the winter window could see a ‘close battle’ between City and Arsenal.

The same outlet also has a report on the future of Haaland, who has ‘ruled out’ joining Real Madrid next year as he is ‘determined to stay’ at the Etihad.

Great news for City, that. Horrible news for literally everyone else.

Haaland is apparently in talks over a new contract, with his current deal set to expire in 2027.

According to a report, Manchester United have been in ‘secret talks’ with several managers over replacing Erik ten Hag.

Dutch manager Ten Hag is under severe pressure with Man Utd winless (but also unbeaten) in the Europa League and 12th in the Premier League with three wins and three losses from their opening eight matches.

New Red Devils owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe held discussions with several managers in the summer but ultimately extended Ten Hag’s contract after failing to reach an agreement with his top targets.

The former Ajax boss was expected to lose his job at the end of last season but rescued himself by winning the FA Cup final against Manchester City.

Man Utd hold ‘secret talks’ amid interest in four managers

Man Utd’s start to the season has seen all of the same speculation return and a report from the Daily Mail says Ratcliffe and his minions have been in ‘secret talks with a number of managers over replacing Ten Hag’.

The website reported earlier this week that Man Utd spoke to ex-Barcelona head coach Xavi last week, while Sporting’s Ruben Amorim and former Borussia Dortmund boss Edin Terzic ‘also on the list of potential targets’.

Another interesting name in the picture is Brentford head coach Thomas Frank, who is ‘under strong consideration’.

Ratcliffe and co have ‘resumed their search for a replacement behind the scenes’ amid ‘doubts’ over Ten Hag.

These talks do not mean Ten Hag is guaranteed to be sacked but the Dutchman definitely needs to turn things around quickly if he wants to be in a job this Christmas.

The report adds:

United are said to have spoken to former Barca boss Xavi twice in recent months. The 44-year-old has been out of working since leaving the Nou Camp in the summer and is known to be reluctant to coach another club in Spain.

Amorim is one of the most highly-rated coaches in Europe, although he has been widely touted as Pep Guardiola’s replacement at Manchester City after they confirmed that Hugo Viana, his director of football at Sporting Lisbon, will succeed Txiki Begiristain at the Etihad at the end of the season.

Frank’s exciting brand of football has won him a lot of admirers at Old Trafford, even though Brentford were beaten by Ten Hag’s side there last weekend.

The Dane was among a number of candidates who spoke to United in the summer – including Thomas Tuchel, Kieran McKenna and Marco Silva – so it’s possible that other names will come into the frame again. Ten Hag’s assistant Ruud van Nistelrooy could step in at short notice, and Gareth Southgate and Graham Potter are still out of work.

Juventus are reportedly interested in signing Man Utd striker Joshua Zirkzee on loan but the 23-year-old ‘does not intend to leave’ the Red Devils.

Zirkzee joined Man Utd from Bologna in the summer transfer window but has struggled to get up to speed under Erik ten Hag.

He scored on his debut but has not found the back of the net since, with lots of pundits criticising his poor form.

For example, Paolo Di Canio says the Dutchman is “too slow” for the Premier League and would benefit from a loan to Juventus.

“I would loan Zirkzee from Manchester United,” he said.

“They’ve been making crazy choices for several years and none of them are working, not even Zirkzee who’s a bit too slow for the Premier League.

“He’d be the perfect profile for Juventus, also because it would allow Motta to have a striker with different characteristics to [Dusan] Vlahovic.”

Interestingly, Zirkzee is now being linked with a move to the Serie A giants.

Joshua Zirkzee to leave Man Utd in January?

According to reports in Spain, Juventus are ‘contemplating the possibility’ of signing Zirkzee on loan in January.

The Old Lady view the Dutch international as a ‘temporary solution’ due to their ‘financial constraints’ and the uncertain future of Dusan Vlahovic, who has been linked with a move to Arsenal this week.

Zirkzee’s ‘complicated’ time at Old Trafford has ‘captured Juventus’ interest’ and ‘points to a return to Italy’, where we know he can play at a high level.

Thiago Motta’s side are believed to be ‘keeping their options open and hope to take advantage of his availability in January’.

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A loan approach would be the Old Lady’s priority but it is unclear if Man Utd would be open to letting him leave in the winter transfer window.

Erik ten Hag relied heavily on Rasmus Hojlund last season and signed Zirkzee to provide some much-needed depth up front, so is very unlikely to loan him out mid-season.

Furthermore, German transfer expert Florian Plettenberg has reported that the former Bologna striker has no intention of leaving Man Utd in January.

It is claimed the Red Devils have faith in Zirkzee to turn things around and the player ‘wants to establish himself’ at Old Trafford.

Plettenberg wrote on X: ‘Been told that Joshua Zirkzee does not intend to leave Manchester United in winter.

‘The 23y/o believes in his qualities, wants to establish himself, and sees himself as the number one striker.

‘Rumours about his intention to leave the club are fake news, according to sources.’

Georgia Stanway scored twice but England could not complete the comeback after slipping to an early three-goal deficit in their 4-3 loss to Germany at Wembley.

The last time these sides met was at the same venue for England’s triumphant 2-1 comeback in the Euro 2022 final. That match remained goalless until the second half but Friday night’s friendly was an utterly different story.

The visitors stunned the hosts with a penalty in an early brace for captain Giulia Gwinn and a third from Klara Buhl in the opening 30 minutes, before Stanway clawed two back including a spot-kick of her own.

England conceded another penalty after the break, converted by Sara Dabritz, with Lucy Bronze able to draw the sides within one late in the thoroughly entertaining contest in front of a 47,967 crowd.

All but two of Sarina Wiegman’s starting XI – goalkeeper Hannah Hampton and defender Jess Carter – featured in that historic final, though both were in the squad 817 days ago.

New Germany head coach Christian Wuck, who was installed after their bronze-medal winning turn at the Paris Olympics, led a visiting side who took an early lead after Millie Bright brought down Linda Dallmann in the penalty area.

Referee Marta Huerta de Aza’s decision stood after a VAR check, and Gwinn made no mistake when she stepped up and beat Hampton.

Alessia Russo thought she had levelled in the 10th minute from Ella Toone’s backheel but the Lionesses’ celebrations were quickly ended by the offside flag.

Germany broke back and doubled their lead, Gwinn again the goalscorer with an effort that pinged off Hampton’s left post before going in.

The woodwork proved less generous to the hosts, who watched Russo’s next effort clip the far post before going out as the end-to-end action continued.

The tempo did eventually slow, England enjoying the possession advantage but without a shot on target to show for it.

Germany were three goals to the good in the 29th minute after Buhl’s low effort flashed through the legs of Bronze and past the diving Hampton’s outstretched hand at the near post.

Stanway finally gave the home support something to celebrate five minutes later after Gwinn, sliding to block Lauren Hemp’s cross, was penalised for handball.

The Bayern Munich midfielder placed the resulting 33rd-minute penalty in the bottom left corner of former Chelsea keeper Ann-Katrin Berger’s net, then clawed the Lionesses back within one with a lofted effort three minutes later.

Toone probably should have levelled proceedings after finding herself one-on-one with Berger, but directed her effort inches wide.

The Lionesses remained just a goal down at the halfway point, though Dallmann came close in added time, forcing Hampton into a nervy fingertip save onto the bar.

It was Germany’s turn to have the offside flag deny them a goal five minutes after the restart, and Hampton was called into action again to deny Jule Brand while Buhl skied an attempt just before the hour.

The visitors continued to keep Hampton busy, and substitute Dabritz extended Germany’s advantage after Russo was adjudged to have fouled Pia-Sophie Wolter with an outstretched boot while challenging for the ball.

England had the ball in the back of the net again, Hemp the next player denied by the flag, but it was Bronze who kept the hosts’ chances alive when she pounced on Berger’s error to draw the Lionesses back within one in the 81st minute.

Substitute Alex Greenwood cleared a loose ball from off the line to keep the hosts in it, but six minutes of stoppage time was not enough for England to find an equaliser.

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Chris Wood scored his sixth and seventh Premier League goals of the season as Nottingham Forest beat former boss Steve Cooper in a 3-1 win at Leicester City.

Wood bagged a second-half double to earn Forest the three points after Ryan Yates’ early opener had been cancelled out by Jamie Vardy.

Foxes boss Cooper, who was sacked by Forest last December, bizarrely refused to even acknowledge his time at the City Ground before the match in an attempt not to annoy Leicester fans.

But he could not avoid them for long as his former club put on a rampant display at the King Power Stadium to claim their second win in four days and climb to fifth in the table as Cooper’s replacement Nuno Espirito Santo’s excellent work continues.

It was at this ground two years ago that Forest fans sung Cooper’s name after a 4-0 defeat which saved him from the sack. The packed away end again serenaded him, but this time it will have hurt.

His new side, who came into the game with back-to-back wins, put in an inept defensive display which will have annoyed the home fans far more than any pre-match comments might have.

Forest opened the scoring in the 16th minute as the hosts’ generous defending began.

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Facundo Buonanotte was tackled on the edge of his own area and then James Justin failed to clear properly, allowing Yates to pick out the bottom corner from 20 yards.

Leicester responded well and levelled seven minutes later as Vardy was in position to poke home Harry Winks’ fizzed ball across goal.

The Foxes were celebrating again moments later, but this time it was at the other end as Mads Hermansen produced a brilliant save to deny Nicolas Dominguez, flinging himself across goal to block the Argentinian’s shot.

The Danish goalkeeper was forced into another save nine minutes before the break when he palmed away a trademark Callum Hudson-Odoi effort cutting in from the left.

Stephy Mavididi had a similar attempt for Leicester on the stroke of half-time as he curled one just wide of the post after stepping in from the left flank.

Forest needed less than two minutes of the second half to regain their lead. Leicester again failed to clear their lines and Elliot Anderson squared for Wood, whose shot on the turn curled into the bottom corner.

Cooper’s men were on the rack and Forest came within inches of adding another as Hudson-Odoi again slalomed inside and hit the post, with Anderson firing the rebound wide.

Five minutes later Forest did get a third and they were the recipients of another gift as Wout Faes failed to deal with a long ball and Wood was on hand to head over a stranded Hermansen.

Forest could have added more in the final half-hour as a ragged Leicester defence was continuously breached.

Yates somehow managed to miss from four yards as a loose ball fell to him from a set-piece, Jota Silva dragged one wide and then Taiwo Awoniyi fired into the side-netting from a quick break.

Delighted Forest fans ended the match singing Nuno’s name while Leicester were booed.

Premier League leaders Liverpool are a ‘serious option’ for Eintracht Frankfurt striker Omar Marmoush, according to reports.

Marmoush has been in outstanding form this season, scoring 10 goals and providing seven assists in 11 matches.

Thirteen of his goal contributions in 2024/25 have come in seven Bundesliga matches, earning him the league’s player of the month award for September.

The 25-year-old joined Frankfurt from Wolfsburg on a free transfer in July 2023 after an underwhelming six goals in 48 matches.

Elsewhere, he scored three in 21 for Stuttgart, seven in 21 for FC St. Pauli and three in 18 for Egyptian side Wadi Degla, the club he came through the youth ranks.

His record of 12 goals in the German top flight last season was comfortably Marmoush’s best but he is already close to eclipsing that in 24/25.

Unsurprisingly, this has caught the attention of several top clubs including Liverpool.

Marmoush has 33 caps for Egypt and knows Reds superstar Mohamed Salah well from representing his country.

Journalist Tarek Metwally was recently high in praise of the Frankfurt forward, who is apparently in a better place now than Salah was at 25.

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“Everyone here is predicting a very great future for him. In my opinion, Marmoush is in a better position than Salah was at his age,” Metwally said.

“If he continues like this, he will be better at some point. Salah was initially characterised by his speed, then developed further.

“Marmoush, on the other hand, is also very fast, but already has other skills. Some people in Egypt would like to see him in the Premier League, especially at one of the top clubs.

“I am not exaggerating when I say that Frankfurt’s last game against Bayern was watched by Egyptian fans in a similar way to Salah’s games with Liverpool, for example against Manchester United, Manchester City or Real Madrid.

“The Egyptian cafes were almost shaken by Marmoush’s two goals against Neuer, who is considered by a large part of Egyptians to be one of the best goalkeepers in the history of football. Most Egyptians would like to see Marmoush and Salah as teammates on the same team.”

For what it’s worth, Salah signed for Liverpool 16 days after his 25th birthday. So, that is a load of rubbish.

Liverpool transfer boost as striker ‘would immediately join’

Anyway, it has been reported by German transfer expert Florian Plettenberg that Liverpool are interested in signing Marmoush.

Plettenberg says Frankfurt wants €50-60million (£41.6-49.9m) for their star player and a move to Anfield is a ‘serious option’.

The Reds have apparently made ‘contact’ with the player’s representatives and Frankfurt are ‘aware’ of the talks given Marmoush’s ‘dream to move to the Premier League’.

Plettenberg wrote on X: ‘Eintracht Frankfurt are currently demanding a transfer fee of between €50-60m for Omar Marmoush.

‘Liverpool is indeed a serious option. The interest is real, and there has already been contact between the player’s camp and LFC.

‘SGE are aware of it. Marmoush dreams of a move to the Premier League and would immediately agree to join Liverpool.’

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The die-hard members of Jose Mourinho’s dwindling fan club will have lapped his antics before, during and after Fenerbahce’s 1-1 draw against Manchester United as the former Special One took full advantage of his time back in the limelight.

In England, Mourinho has not been on the tip of football fans’ tongues for quite a while as his spells at AS Roma and Fenerbahce have kept him away from our back pages.

But this week’s reunion with Man Utd provided an intriguing narrative, especially with his rival manager reportedly ‘one match’ away from being sacked.

A draw was not the best result for Ten Hag, so the Dutchman will be thankful to Mourinho for hogging the headlines in the aftermath as sack talk can be put off until a potential slip-up for Man Utd at the London Stadium on Sunday.

As for the main man, Mourinho is certainly not everyone’s cup of tea. But I love the bloke and I’m already stocked up on popcorn in preparation for his inevitable Premier League return.

So with a move back to England firmly in Mourinho’s sights, who in the Premier League will take him? Here are five potential options for his grand return…

Wolves

“The best thing I can do is to go to a team who does not play in UEFA competition. So a club at the bottom in England who needs a coach in two years, I am ready to go. I don’t want to speak any more about it.”

Mourinho’s recent jobs suggest his days of managing elite clubs are long gone, but I’m all for the prospect of witnessing him combust amid referee and VAR controversy while in the thick of a relegation battle. It would be pure cinema.

Of the teams currently in a relegation battle, Southampton’s Russell Martin and Wolves’ Gary O’Neil areamong the favourites to be the first manager sacked.

Southampton and Mourinho don’t feel like a good fit, but Wolves – mainly because of their previous links with super agent Jorge Mendes – do work.

READ: ‘Boring’ Mourinho sells newspapers again as 6-1 Spurs win caught in crossfire of delirium

Everton
Many onlookers rightly scoffed at the idea of Mourinho reportedly being a ‘strong option’ to replace under-fire Sean Dyche earlier this season.

Much is said about Mourinho’s affiliation with the Premier League, but he had just taken the Fenerbahce job and David Moyes returning to see out Everton’s final season at Goodison Park was significantly more likely.

However, Dyche has recently done Dyche things as he’s steadied the rocky Everton ship to boost the optimism among the fanbase regarding their Premier League survival chances.

In hindsight, we were foolish to ever doubt Dyche as this is what he does each year. But he remains on a tightrope, especially post-takeover as Everton’s prospective new owners potentially look to put their stamp on the team by appointing a new manager with a fresh perspective.

Like Dyche, Mourinho’s typical style of football is hardly inspiring. But he is still a huge name and this could attract him to the owners as they eye immediate success.

Nottingham Forest
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side have been a pleasant surprise this season as they have impressively only lost one of their opening nine Premier League games.

Bucking the trend set by other recently promoted sides, Forest – admittedly with the help of huge investment – are managing to stabilise in the Premier League.

But plenty of football fans/clubs are guilty of being greedy and Forest could easily succumb to this trait in pursuit of grander goals should their enigmatic owner Evangelos Marinakis get bored.

Given the club’s history, you could easily see Mourinho being attracted to managing Forest in the future. Also, the owner-manager relationship between himself and Marinakis would be a car crash that every streaming service should be breaking the bank to cover in a documentary.

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Newcastle United
As much as certain Newcastle supporters will hate this, Mourinho being appointed at St James’ Park still feels inevitable.

Eddie Howe deserves credit for the great job he’s done in the aftermath of PIF’s takeover, which could won’t lead to the club being ‘expelled’ from the Premier League.

But the constant rumblings of discontent with sporting director Paul Mitchell and Newcastle’s underwhelming start to the 2024/25 season make it feel that Howe is gradually reaching the end of his tether.

Howe’s Newcastle role was likely to be transitional from the moment of his arrival and recent developments have not altered this thinking.

Profit and Sustainability rules are delaying Newcastle’s progress, but their gatecrash of the elite is still inevitable and PIF will likely seek out a proven winner to get them there. There is another debate to be had over whether Mourinho would be up for a job of this magnitude, but we are likely to find out regardless.

READ: Mourinho struts his stuff as careless, careworn Man United reach a year without a European win

Manchester United
Mourinho’s stance on a ‘sensational return’ to Man Utd has already been made clear and he certainly did not burn any bridges with his comments about his former club this week. If anything, he was too complimentary…

Man Utd’s managerial situation has been a mess for months and matters recently were made worse as INEOS ‘missed the boat’ with the outstanding Ten Hag replacement candidate.

Co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has a way to go if he’s to restore the great Man Utd feeling as it’s currently hard to blame managers for turning their noses up at the prospect of replacing Ten Hag.

Had willing quality replacement options been available, Ten Hag would have been replaced in the summer. However, Ratcliffe’s hand will be forced if there is not a sudden improvement in results/performances and Mourinho would be one of very few ‘elite’ managers willing to take on the burden of managing Man Utd.

Enzo Maresca says he expected more leadership from Chelsea captain Reece James, admitting the Blues squad lacks a natural leader.

James made his first appearance of the season in the 2-1 defeat to Liverpool last weekend following a lengthy injury lay-off and did not travel with the side that beat Panathinaikos in Athens on Thursday.

The last two campaigns have been blighted by knee and hamstring problems for the 24-year-old but he was nevertheless appointed club skipper by previous boss Mauricio Pochettino last August.

“I spoke with him and I expect from him more in terms of leadership inside the changing room,” said Chelsea head coach Maresca.

“He’s on the way, he’s doing well, he’s progressing but I expect more.

“Most of the time, a player thinks that because I am captain I expect that you give me more. No, for me because you are the captain you have to give more. You have to give more than the rest. Sometimes, I am the captain I can give less? No, no, no.

“I expect it from Reece and his team-mates expect it from him to give always more in terms of leadership.”

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Since being handed the armband, the England international has played only 12 times for the club meaning his role as captain has largely been confined to his off-field influence.

Conor Gallagher, who has since been sold to Atletico Madrid, led the team for most of last season with vice-captain Ben Chilwell also missing for much of the campaign, though he too has been largely overlooked by Maresca.

It leaves the Italian seeking change from within the dressing room in terms of developing leaders, though he said discussions with James – who is known to be a quieter member of the squad – about what he expects from him have been positive.

“He’s understanding that we’re expecting more from him,” he said.

“He’s our guy from the academy. It’s one of the reasons why he has to show more in terms of personality.

“He’s a reserved guy. But when you don’t have a proper leader, you need to build that. I think we don’t have a proper leader. We need to build them. Reece is one who is on the way but he’s not there. He needs to make an effort.

“The one that is doing fantastic is Levi (Colwill). At the beginning he was not a leader but now you can see he’s one of the guys that’s always speaking. Marc Cucurella is one of the guys, but we need more and more.”

Colwill and Cucurella have been key parts of the strong start made by the team since Maresca’s appointment, particularly since both players were criticised during recent seasons for underwhelming performances as Chelsea struggled.

The Blues are sixth in the Premier League having taken one point from the last two games, and play Newcastle at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

“It’s something that comes with age,” said Maresca. “In two, three years some of them will be better at that. We have to help them understand the leadership side.”

Ange Postecoglou is confident Tottenham teenager Mikey Moore will keep his feet on the ground and not buy a Ferrari after comparisons to Neymar.

Moore made only his second Spurs start in Thursday’s 1-0 win over AZ Alkmaar and, after he again caught the eye, team-mate James Maddison made a tongue-in-cheek reference that it was like Brazil international Neymar played on the wing.

With Son Heung-min still not 100 per cent after he reported muscle soreness at the start of this week, Moore is in contention to make his full Premier League debut against Crystal Palace, but Postecoglou does not expect the hype to go to the 17-year-old’s head.

“Just to be clear, I didn’t call Mikey, Neymar,” Spurs boss Postecoglou said with a smile.

“I think you’ll find that my demeanour around Mikey will be the same today as it was yesterday and that’s what he’d expect.

“The best indicator is the person himself and I’ve got a feeling that won’t affect Mikey. I don’t think we’ll see him arriving with a different colour hair or a Ferrari. Well, he can’t drive can he! I think he’ll be fine.

“I think Mikey just wants to be Mikey and like I said after the game, what I see with him is that he’s very mature for a 17-year-old, he handles things really well.

“Sometimes young players are exciting but you can see pitfalls down the road, but I don’t see that with him. At 17, you think what is he going to be like at 21 and hopefully I am the manager then!”

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Postecoglou was coy over whether Moore would start a second successive match in reference to the Selhurst Park trip on Sunday, but has limited options.

Richarlison and Wilson Odobert have only just returned from injury, while Timo Werner, who deputised when Son was absent for three weeks with a hamstring issue, has failed to score in his last 16 appearances for Tottenham.

On Moore, Postecoglou added: “I think he’s ready to start a Premier League game, for sure.

“For us what we want to do is to continue to develop Mikey in the right way and give him a platform to keep improving. So far whatever we’ve asked of him, he’s made a real impact and the plan is to continue to do that.

“He’s one of the options (against Palace). Again, two games in a week, the biggest concern I have for him is physically more than anything else.

“He’s still a growing kid, his body is still adjusting to this level, so to ask to play two games in a short space of time, I’d be cautious about that, but we’ll have a look at how the team shapes up.”

The emergence of Moore has delighted Tottenham fans, who have given him the chant ‘he’s one of our own’, which had belonged to Harry Kane before his 2023 departure to Bayern Munich.

Postecoglou revealed there may be more to come from Spurs’ academy, with Luca Williams-Barnett an exciting prospect in the Under-18s.

“When we brought Mikey up last year and he played a couple of times in the Under-21s, he stood out,” Postecoglou explained.

“(Academy director) Simon Davies and the guys in the academy were really strong about his potential, how he trains, his behaviour. As soon as he came into the training environment, he showed no fear.

“In pre-season, he was always a standout for us. There are some others in there. Some young boys who are starting to make some inroads, some a bit younger around the 15-to-16 age group.

“If you go through a successful period, it’s more sustainable if you’ve got players at the club coming through.”