Journalist Fabrizio Romano has revealed that touted Tottenham Hotspur manager target Mauricio Pochettino is still not guaranteed to be offered the job or to even want a return.

What's the latest on Spurs and Mauricio Pochettino?

It seems as though current boss Antonio Conte will almost certainly be leaving Spurs at the end of the season when his current contract is set to expire.

Indeed, the Italian has not been able to bring much success to that part of north London as the club's search for a first piece of major silverware since 2008 stretches on.

Over the weekend, Conte saw his team surrender a 3-1 lead to Southampton – currently bottom of the Premier League – in a 3-3 draw and couldn't contain his rage after the game.

Speaking to the press he suggested that the players aren't able to player under "pressure" and "stress" and questioned the club's mentality after so long without a trophy.

It's the sort of talk that suggests he won't be with Spurs in the long run and former manager Pochettino is widely tipped to make a return in the summer.

However, while speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano explained that it remains to be seen if Sours will offer the Argentine the chance to come back and if it's what he wants.

The journalist said (3:59): “So we have to see what happens also with Mauricio Pochettino.

"If Tottenham will really propose him the opportunity to return, what Pochettino wants to do – this is an important point."

Will Conte definitely leave Spurs?In full, Conte said after the Southampton loss said: “They don’t play for something important, yeah. They don’t want to play under pressure, they don’t want to play under stress.

“It is easy in this way. Tottenham’s story is this, 20 years there is the owner and they never won something but why? The fault is only for the club, or for every manager that stay here. I have seen the managers that Tottenham had on the bench."

With all that in mind, it certainly would take a brave person to suggest the Italian has any desire to remain in north London next season – or that any Spurs fans and players would want him around.

Pochettino, on the other hand, is still loved by many supporters. After all, many fans started signing his name in the recent Champions League exit against AC Milan.

Despite all that, it seems nothing is set in stone just yet.

As Liverpool headed to the Bernabeu on Wednesday evening to face Real Madrid, they did so with only a glimmer of hope.The chances of overturning a 5-2 deficit against the most successful team in the competition’s history was always going to be a tall order, and that it was, as Jurgen Klopp’s men lost 1-0 on the night.Typically, it was Karim Benzema who found the net on an evening where the Reds never really got going.Mohamed Salah was guilty of rare errant passes in the final third, the midfield looked as toothless as it has all campaign and Trent Alexander-Arnold was cooked by Vinicius Jr on the right flank.The defeat meant that any hope of winning a trophy has now disappeared. Considering how the last few years has played out at Anfield, that is a particular surprise.Klopp and co now need to turn their attention to the summer and a transfer window that will be decisive in how they bounce back in 2023/24.One man who could well leave the club during that period is Fabio Carvalho. The former Fulham man looked capable of magic moments in his early days in Merseyside but has barely featured of late, playing just two minutes of Premier League football following the World Cup.He was then given a matter of seconds in Madrid on Wednesday as Klopp threw him into the action in the dying embers, quite literally. There was only around nine seconds left when the youngster was introduced into the fray.It was a truly bizarre substitution and one that drew plenty of reaction on social media, the best of which can be found below.

West Ham are reportedly eyeing up former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho as David Moyes’ replacement, should he be sacked in the near future.

The Lowdown: Moyes under huge pressure

The Hammers were humbled away to Brighton on Saturday afternoon, losing 4-0 on the south coast and being comprehensively outplayed throughout.

It was a result that left West Ham sitting 16th in the Premier League at the end of the weekend action, with Moyes finding himself under increasing pressure.

Rumours have already emerged regarding the east Londoners looking at a new manager to bring in and now a fresh update has emerged.

The Latest: Mourinho offer made

According to LaRoma24.it [via Sport Witness], West Ham have ‘delivered a remarkable offer’ to Mourinho, as they look to entice him away from Roma.

It is believed that the 60-year-old is flattered by the ‘rich contract’ coming his way but is currently happy at the Serie A club.

The Verdict: Could be a great appointment

Acquiring Mourinho’s signature certainly looks like it could be difficult for West Ham but he is someone who could be a magnificent appointment if they get it done.

Granted, the Portuguese’s powers may have waned a little since his Chelsea days, when he won three league titles and was considered arguably Europe’s best manager, but he is a born winner and remains a force, clinching UEFA Conference League glory last season.

Mourinho would surely have the experience and talent to steer the Hammers away from the relegation zone, before then building towards better things this summer and beyond.

For now, his appointment may have to feel like nothing more than a pipe dream for West Ham supporters, but if something changes, it could be a masterstroke by the club.

West Ham are reportedly considering a move for Stade de Reims manager Will Still as they look for a long-term successor for David Moyes at the London Stadium.

The 30-year-old’s incredible start to life as a manager with the Ligue 1 side has seen him attract attention from across Europe and he could be the ideal man to replace Moyes given the Hammers’ woeful Premier League performances so far this campaign, which leave them in the relegation places with just 12 games to play.

Could West Ham appoint Will Still?

According to French news outlet Foot Mercato, the Hammers appreciate Still’s profile for next season and the young Belgian could be tempted by a switch to the London Stadium, given he has already admitted to being a West Ham fan.

The 30-year-old has progressed through various roles in football, starting out as an academy manager for Preston North End, before spending time working as a video analyst under Yannick Ferrera with Sint-Truiden and Standard Liege in Belgium.

Another analyst role with Lierse SK would follow before he became assistant manager, and then manager for eight games, winning seven during his brief time in charge, which saw him change tact and take on more coaching roles with his future clubs.

Still was assistant manager with Beerschot, Stade Reims and Standard Liege, before he returned to France with Les rouges et blancs again in 2022.

After just over 100 days as assistant manager to Oscar Garcia, the Belgian was appointed first-team manager in October of last year and has taken Stade de Reims to ninth in the French top flight.

Still would take the French side on a 19-game unbeaten run in Ligue 1, which included an away draw at PSG and an impressive away win at Monaco, before the run was finally brought to an end with a 2-1 home defeat by Marseille last weekend.

Journalist Robin Bairner labelled the unbeaten period an “incredible achievement” by Still and Reims, and it seems as if the 30-year-old will only continue to win plaudits as a manager, with a long career ahead of him.

Although he doesn’t currently have a professional UEFA coaching license, which sees Reims fined every time he takes charge of game, he has proven himself to be more than adequate in the dugout, averaging 1.95 points per game so far this season.

Considering Moyes has managed just 0.92 points per game in the top flight so far this term, the Scottish manager clearly needs replacing, and who better to succeed him than an exciting young manager in Still who already holds the club close to his heart? It would be a gamble, but perhaps one worth taking for David Sullivan and co.

TalkSport journalist Alex Crook has claimed that Leeds United are unlikely to get a relegation boost amid the FFP charges aimed at Everton.

Will Everton's FFP charges help Leeds?

It was revealed this week that the Toffees have been referred to an independent commission amid an alleged breach of Financial Fair Play rules in the Premier League.

It is claimed that Everton may have broken the rules after they recorded losses of £371.8m over the last three years, when clubs are only allowed to lose a maximum of £105m over the same period.

Seeing as Leeds are just one place above Sean Dyche and co in the table with both teams on 26 points, some supporters may have been hoping a points deduction could help their relegation fight.

However, while talking about the situation on TalkSport, Crook explained why such an outcome was unlikely to happen in time to impact the standings this season.

He said: "I think what's also interesting, this is the same charge that has been levelled at Manchester City.

"We're expecting that to go on for some time because Manchester City will challenge the charge. They'll go down all the legal avenues to try and get off that charge. I would imagine that Everton will do the same.

"So I think for any supporter of a relegation rival – a Southampton, a Bournemouth or a Leeds – who are hoping, 'well, maybe this might mean a points deduction this season, and therefore Everton are relegated,' I would imagine they will be disappointed."

Will Leeds avoid relegation?

Seeing as both Premier League sides are just two points above the bottom three, and only three points above the foot of the table, it's clear just how tight things are this season.

With that in mind, if Everton were to get any kind of points deduction, it would likely have huge ramifications for all the teams struggling down towards the relegation zone – which could have been a fascinating twist as Leeds were one of two teams (with Burnley) who wrote to the Premier League to question the Toffees' spending last year.

However, it sounds as though Leeds will have to rely on themselves to avoid the drop and not the financial mishandlings of others. Luckily for Javi Gracia and co, things are still in their hands.

Indeed, the Whites have found some improved form under their new Spanish boss, winning two, drawing one and losing one of his first four league games in charge.

As a result, Leeds now have 11 games to go and find themselves two points above the bottom three, but have a game in hand on Everton and Wolves, who sit on either side of them in the table – meaning they are very much in control of their own fate.

Sunderland travel to Norfolk on Sunday to face off against Norwich City at Carrow Road in the Championship off the back of three straight defeats.

The Black Cats have lost their last three games in the division – to Rotherham, Stoke, and Coventry – and conceded a staggering nine goals in those matches.

Tony Mowbray’s side now face a Norwich team with three wins and eight goals scored in their last three outings in the league, which illustrates the size of the task facing them this weekend.

The Canaries lined up with a three-man midfield of Jacob Sorensen, Kenny McLean, and Gabriel Sara in their last match against Millwall and they combined for two goals and one assist.

Sunderland, meanwhile, deployed Dan Neil as their only recognised central midfielder, with attacking midfielders Alex Pritchard and Patrick Roberts filling out the midfield, in the 5-1 loss to Stoke.

Will Pierre Ekwah start vs Norwich?

The dominance that the Canaries could have in the middle of the park should lead to Mowbray altering his team by unleashing Pierre Ekwah to combat the potential threat of their opponents.

Since joining from West Ham United in January, the Frenchman has only made four appearances as a substitute in the Championship but the nature of the game on Sunday could be perfect for him to come in to solidify the midfield.

The rarely-seen gem, who was described as “all-action” by journalist Jonty Colman, could provide physicality and some defensive steel in the middle of the park in an attempt to stop the likes of Sara and Sorensen from dictating and deciding the match.

Mowbray once hailed the ace’s physique, saying:

“His left foot is really smooth, and yet I have been trying to encourage him to bring his physicality because he is a big lad – he’s not a small, skinny, frail, kid. He’s got huge physical attributes that he should bring to the party.”

The 21-year-old has not had an opportunity to showcase his quality in the first-team at Sunderland so far, with just the four cameos, but did catch the eye in the EFL Trophy for West Ham’s U21s earlier this season.

In three appearances in the competition, Ekwah averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.00 and made two tackles and interceptions per match whilst winning 54% of his duels.

This shows that the potential is there for the youngster to be an imposing force in midfield, whilst his two key passes per game in the EFL Trophy means that he could also provide a threat on the ball that forces the Norwich players to drop off to deal with his quality in possession.

Therefore, Ekwah must be unleashed from the start at Carrow Road to bolster Sunderland’s midfield and prevent another Stoke disaster from taking place.

An unconvincing South Africa survived a spirited Afghanistan chase to defend a 200-plus score and get their World Twenty20 campaign back on track

The Report by Firdose Moonda20-Mar-2016
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details 4:07

Chappell: South Africa have a few bowling concerns

An unconvincing South Africa survived a spirited Afghanistan chase to defend a 200-plus score and get their World Twenty20 campaign back on track. In the absence of Dale Steyn, who was left out for tactical reasons, Chris Morris and Imran Tahir squeezed through the middle period to ensure AB de Villiers’ quickfire 64 was not in vain.Afghanistan’s second loss means their chances of progressing to the knockouts are all but over, but they have showed their promise. They kept up with the required run-rate for the first half of their innings and were ahead of where South Africa were at the same stage in their knock, but lost too many wickets to keep going. Afghanistan also did not have a 17th over like South Africa did; de Villiers took 29 runs off Rashid Khan, which ended up being the major difference between the two sides.In the end, South Africa will be relieved that they were able to defend their total, but disappointed that the margin of victory was not bigger. They tightened up on their discipline in the field but still gave away more extras than their opposition – six wides compared to two from Afghanistan – and did not show the kind of killer instinct that they will need later in the tournament.They also suffered an injury concern. JP Duminy left the field four balls into Afghanistan’s chase with a hamstring strain and was unable to take any further part in the match. Duminy has only just found form again and his availability will be important for the rest of the World T20.As the same venue where they posted 229 batting first on Friday night, South Africa chose to set a target again. Quinton de Kock picked up from where he left off two days ago and dominated the opening passages of play. De Kock faced all but one delivery in the first two overs and found the boundary five times. Hashim Amla may have wanted to catch up but after one four, gifted a catch to Asghar Stanikzai at mid-off.South Africa held de Villiers back and sent in Faf du Plessis at No.3. The strategy worked. Du Plessis took on the spin from Mohammad Nabi while de Kock continued to attack in the Powerplay. South Africa finished it on 66 for 1 and 60 of those runs came in boundaries.When the fielding restrictions were lifted, Rashid put the brakes on with the first boundary-less over of the innings, but du Plessis did not want things to slow down too much. He picked up the pace before being run-out and de Villiers was soon at the crease.Afghanistan were not under threat immediately while de Villiers settled in and de Kock nicked off. After conceding just 19 runs in three overs after the halfway stage of the South African innings, Afghanistan might have been hopeful of pulling South Africa even further back. But Duminy and de Villiers were wise to the need to accelerate and began to push for runs.De Villiers should have been caught for 27 when he offered Samiullah Shenwari a return catch but he could not hold on his follow through and Rashid suffered most. He was torn apart in his final over, when de Villiers went over midwicket and down the ground five times. The result? Six, four, six, six and six. South Africa’s total went meandering to mighty and 200-plus was within sight. It was up to David Miller to take them there after de Villiers was dismissed. Twenty runs off the final over ensured South Africa had a second straight 200-plus score.South Africa would have felt fairly safe with 209 on the board, especially as Afghanistan two previous scores over 210 were only achieved batting first, but Mohammad Shahzad threatened to gun down that total all by himself. He began fearlessly against Kagiso Rabada and Kyle Abbott and plundered 32 runs off the first two overs. His partner Noor Ali Zadran did not face a ball until the third over and then, it was only to return the strike to Shahzad.Morris was brought on in the fourth over and showed improvement from previous performances. He started by holding his length back but then steamed in with a delivery just under 150kph – full and straightening – which splayed Shahzad’s stumps.Asghar Stanikzai and was caught behind in Morris’ next over but Gulbadin Naib kept Afghanistan in it and targeted David Wiese, South Africa’s replacement for Steyn. Afghanistan reached 10 overs on 103 for 2, 11 runs ahead of where South Africa were at the same stage. Then, Gulbadin was caught behind, Noor Ali was stumped, and Afghanistan were wobbling, still needing 100 runs off eight overs. Their chase was over then and South Africa had the chance to drill home an advantage.Instead, they allowed Afghanistan to drag it out. Abbott and Morris got the yorker right more often than they did in previous matches and Rabada managed one at the end, but South Africa will not feel it was a complete performance by any means.

West Indies captain Darren Sammy has backed his batting line-up to come good in support of their star man, opener Chris Gayle

Arun Venugopal in Mumbai15-Mar-2016Chris Gayle. Destructive. Chris Gayle. Massive. Chris Gayle. Best T20 batsman. Right from the time West Indies arrived in India, Darren Sammy has summoned courage from these words, even using them as incantations to rouse confidence.Unlike some captains who prefer not to talk up their gun player – as much to not add to the pressure as not wanting to jinx him – Sammy has no problem harking back to Gayle every time. Wobbly middle-order? There’s Gayle to make up for it. Areas of concern? There are some… but then we have Gayle.Sammy is confident it won’t overwhelm Gayle. “There is never too much pressure on Chris.” Sammy is probably right. Evidence of that, if you need it, can be seen at West Indies’ practice. Gayle ambles to the nets, pats a few balls, misses some and in due course larrups successive deliveries into the vacant stands over deep midwicket. The routine plays out on loop for some time before Gayle has a seat in the shade.

‘We support Russell’ – Sammy

West Indies captain Darren Sammy has thrown his weight behind allrounder Andre Russell, who faces the possibility of a lengthy ban for committing an “anti-doping whereabouts violation”, according to the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission. Russell reportedly missed three tests in a 12-month period, which equates to a failed test under doping laws, and could face a possible two-year ban if found guilty.
“We always have setbacks. We thrive on things like that to use that as motivation to go out and play well,” Sammy said. “When we especially play well, no other team can match it. The vibes we bring, and we as a team have supported Russell. We are confident he will be taking part in the full tournament and having an impact like he has done in all the four tournaments he has played around the world.”
Russell, who can continue to play while his case is investigated, has been in good bowling form lately and finished as the highest wicket-taker in the Pakistan Super League.

As the sun begins to set he is messing with a media person from the ICC who is interviewing with him. Gayle has taken a liking for his interviewer’s fancy camera and is fiddling with it. It is the media guy’s turn to be asked a question: “Which team are you supporting?” When the answer isn’t West Indies Gayle mock threatens to take his camera away. All in a day’s work.Watching Gayle go about his thing it is hard to imagine a team beset with off-field worries. Equally hard is getting your head round the fact that here is a team preparing for its opening game in the World T20. Gayle’s statesmanlike presence – not that he lugs such baggage around – in a young, exuberant side hits home only when you notice the smattering of grey on his beard”Whichever dressing room Chris Gayle is in, because he such a destructive figure – there always seems to be pressure on him to perform,” Sammy said. “But Chris is just gearing up to do what Chris has done throughout his T20 career. That’s why he is the leading run-scorer in T20s and has, I think, 12 or 13 hundreds [16] and the next person has seven or six.”What is also hard to overlook, however, is how the batsmen that follow Gayle have fared. In West Indies’ warm-up game against India, the middle-order froze against the spinners after Gayle was dismissed for 20 off 11 balls. In their second warm-up game against Australia, they were spiralling downwards at 72 for 6 in a chase of 162 before Sammy manufactured a heist. The likes of Dwayne Bravo and Denesh Ramdin did better in their four practice matches in the UAE recently but there are question marks over how consistently they can notch up such performances, especially against spin in the middle stages.Sammy, though, vouches for his senior players, and feels Adil Rashid and Moeen Ali won’t be hard to counter on a surface more hospitable to seam bowling.”If you look at our middle, where you have potentially Marlon [Samuels], Bravo, Ramdin, [Andre] Russell at six. Bravo is one of the most experienced as he has been playing in these conditions,” he said. “Wankhede is a more seamer-friendly track; the games that have been played at the IPL tell you that.”You have Bravo, Russell, Sammy, Jason [Holder], Carlos Braithwaite… that’s a lot of power, so the key for us is each player accepting their own personal role in the team and be responsible and not leaving it for any one person.”Darren Sammy’s hitting rescued West Indies in their warm-up game with Australia•AFP

Sammy cited the Australia game as an example of West Indies becoming more efficient in finishing games. While Sammy ransacked an unbeaten 50 off 28 balls, Braithwaite blasted 33 off 14 and Russell 29 off 15 as they reached their target with a ball to spare. Sammy feels that a robust lower order has ensured his team remained unfazed by tall scores or dire situations. He may not admit to it but they have also covered for the batsmen higher up a little too often, maybe, for West Indies’ comfort.”Playing T20 all over, you gain experience,” Sammy said. “I am 32 years old and I have gained a lot of experience playing and being in the situation, especially batting at six or seven, most of the times you will get maximum eight overs unless the team really collapses.”So I have developed a formula for my game. I have watched [MS] Dhoni do it all the time, just take the game all the way down to the last over, give yourself the best chance. As a captain, that lower order of ours always makes me smile. Russell, the last three tournaments he has played, he has been MVP. You have the young and exciting Carlos, and myself. That game against Australia gave us more belief that from whatever position we are, the job could be done.”At the end of a long training session, though, there were other things to be worried about. Gayle and Bravo were curious to know if a full house would turn up at the Wankhede on Wednesday night. The West Indies are ready to put on a show.

When West Ham United signed Gianluca Scamacca last summer for a £35.5m transfer fee, it looked as though David Moyes had the final piece of his puzzle – a striker who could score 25 goals a season.

Unfortunately, it hasn’t quite worked out like that for the Italian hitman as he has largely struggled to get to grips with the English game. Across 18 domestic matches, the 24-year-old has scored just three times however he appears to have found his feet in Europe, scoring five goals and registering an assist in nine matches.

His poor form along with many other of his teammates has led to West Ham fighting a Premier League relegation battle and having scored just 24 league goals, the third-lowest total in the division, it’s clear Moyes’ goal-scoring woes could play a major part in whether they survive this term.

They could use the help of a world-class striker now and former player Carlos Tevez would be the ideal candidate to alleviate the club’s current woes.

How did Carlos Tevez perform at West Ham?

Considering how poor the Irons’ attackers have been this season, a prime Tevez would surely run riot in the Premier League under Moyes, instantly acting as an improvement on Scamacca and Antonio.

The diminutive Argentinian signed for the club way back in 2006 alongside Javier Mascherano in what was an astounding move, with Alan Pardew and the club somehow securing their services from Brazilian side Corinthians on permanent deals following their World Cup displays for Argentina.

This was a major coup for the Hammers and although Tevez didn’t score in the league until March, his performances during the final few months of the season were integral to the club retaining their league status.

Tevez played all of the club's final ten Premier League matches that term, scoring seven goals – including the winner against Manchester United on the final day – while grabbing three assists and this was just a taste of what was to come for the forward in England.

He moved to United not long after, before joining cross-city rivals Manchester City, scoring 117 goals combined for the two clubs. Overall, he has scored 257 club goals, notably being dubbed a "monster" along the way by journalist Sam Tighe.

West Ham would be nowhere near the relegation zone if Moyes had the opportunity to utilise the forward in the present day. Indeed, he would terrorise opposition defences to shreds.

Newcastle United sporting director Dan Ashworth could be looking to raid former club Brighton and Hove Albion this summer, amid reports that the Magpies are one of the clubs showing an interest in midfield maestro, Alexis Mac Allister.

What's the latest on Mac Allister to Newcastle?

According to 90min, the Tynesiders are among a host of Premier League teams who are closely monitoring the Argentine's situation at the Amex, with the report suggesting that the 24-year-old is looking to leave the Seagulls at the end of the season.

The 14-cap international – whose current deal is set to expire in 2025 – has attracted such intense interest as a result of his vital role in his nation's World Cup success last year, having played in six of the seven tournament games for the eventual winners.

As the piece outlines, while Brighton would be reluctant to cash in on the highly-coveted asset this summer, there may be a willingness to sell provided the price is right, with CBS reporter Ben Jacobs previously revealing that Roberto De Zerbi and co could be set to demand more than £60m.

How could Mac Allister fit in at Newcastle?

As noted above, Mac Allister truly put himself on the map as a result of his displays for his country in Qatar, having arguably been "one of the best players" at the tournament, according to his club boss.

That form has also been replicated in the Premier League with the former Argentinos Juniors ace – who arrived in England on a £7m deal back in 2019 – having already scored seven goals from his midfield berth from 21 appearances, while also providing one assist in that time.

The gifted playmaker – who has been branded a "baller" by Statman Dave – has showcased his all-round quality after also averaging 2.4 tackles per game as a marker of his defensive prowess, as well as completing an impressive 72% of his total dribbles.

Such standout form has contributed to the £50k-per-week ace achieving an average match rating of 7.23 so far this term in the top-flight, as per Sofascore, with that only bettered by Kieran Trippier (7.74) among those at St James' Park – excluding Martin Dubravka (7.60) who has made just a solitary league outing.

Adding such a classy individual to Eddie Howe's ranks could allow the former Bournemouth boss to fashion a truly mouthwatering midfield partnership involving Mac Allister and current talisman, Bruno Guimaraes.

The latter man has emerged as a leading presence for the northeast side since arriving from Lyon back in January 2022, scoring nine goals and laying on four assists in just 44 games in all competitions from his deep-lying berth.

A goal threat like Mac Allister, the Brazilian also mirrors his fellow South American star in being able to offer a real ball-winning presence in the centre of the park, showcased by the fact that the 25-year-old averages 2.2 tackles per game from his 19 league appearances this season.

To have two individuals who can impact proceedings at both ends of the pitch working in tandem would certainly allow Newcastle to push on even further next season, with Ashworth needing to utilise his Brighton connections in order to get a deal over the line.