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Australia’s players have been offered key concessions in their pay dispute with Cricket Australia, as the Australian Cricketers Association renewed its call for independent mediation to find a way forward only a week before the expiry of the current MOU

Daniel Brettig23-Jun-20172:49

Brettig: CA’s contract offers bit of a blank sheet of paper

Australia’s players have been offered key concessions in their pay dispute with Cricket Australia, but the Australian Cricketers Association has been enraged by the board’s decision to simultaneously send out contract offers to players.A week before the expiry of the current MoU, and following the most recent meeting between the two parties on Wednesday, CA’s lead negotiator Kevin Roberts wrote to the ACA chief executive Alistair Nicholson stating that the board is willing to allow all players to share in profits above projections and also to significantly increase payment for domestic male players in recognition of their contribution.These two issues have been central to the dispute, after CA’s initial offer afforded “blue sky” payments above fixed wages to only the top male and female players, while at the same time placing a virtual freeze on payment levels for domestic male players at a time when the next Big Bash League broadcast rights deal is expected to offer a rich windfall to the game.However, the letter was accompanied by contract offers sent to all players despite talks between the two parties being a long way from resolved. The contracts do not specify their terms and conditions, moving the ACA to advise players not to sign.”The ACA notes that CA has made a revised MoU offer and sent it to the players. They have also issued ‘contract offers’ directly to individual players for their signature; bypassing the ACA,” the association said in a statement. “The ACA has advised players not to sign. The letter provided to players today from CA does not accurately reflect how far apart the parties remain with a week to go. The parties have not reached agreement on many fundamental issues.”The contract offers do not contain Revenue Sharing for all players, and are not what they appear to be. They do not include crucial information regarding terms and conditions. Further, as has been requested since August 2016, critical financial and forecasting information has yet to be provided so the ACA can properly assess the offers and advise the players accordingly. This remains unacceptable.”In the letter, seen by ESPNcricinfo, Roberts said that following his national “roadshow” to speak to state squads, CA is now prepared to “increase the international cricket surpluses that are shared with players, include all domestic players in the sharing arrangements, and increase annual pay rises to male state players with commensurate increases for WNCL and WBBL players to maintain gender pay equity”. The letter does not feature any financial details, as figures are believed to be open for discussion.At the same time, Roberts also indicated that players will now be offered contracts, with the provision to change their terms pending the outcome of further talks between CA and the ACA. “These contracts are conditional upon a new MoU being agreed,” Roberts wrote. “If further increases in pay are agreed for male state players, along with WNCL and WBBL players due to the increases contemplated above, the offers in the contracts would be varied accordingly.”The contracts would not require any variation for the inclusion of domestic players in the sharing of any international cricket surpluses above the level required to fund player payments. We trust that the ACA will respond positively to this new offer that CA is proposing in order to achieve a positive outcome for the players and the game.”While the concessions appear significant, there is no indication that CA is willing to budge on no longer offering the players a fixed percentage of agreed revenue over the next five years, the cornerstone of MoUs between the board and the ACA over the past 20 years. Equally, CA appears to remain intent upon rolling a portion of the “adjustment ledger” money from the current MoU into the next one, a move the players have rejected on the basis that it is money they have already earned.There was an adjustment ledger rollover in the previous 2012 MoU, but this was only due to the fact that the previous deal – a one-year agreement signed for 2011-12 – included far more money than would have been available in other years due to the fact that a lucrative India tour took place that summer. Without any carryover of money from that deal, the players’ wages would have spiked dramatically for one season then dropped off significantly in subsequent seasons.Domestic player payments would increase under Cricket Australia’s latest proposal•Getty ImagesThe ACA president Greg Dyer stated on Friday that “emergency mediation” was required between Nicholson and his CA counterpart James Sutherland to end the dispute and prevent a host of chaotic scenarios unfolding post-June 30, including around half of all players falling out of contract.”The current talks between the Australian Cricketers’ Association and Cricket Australia have failed to achieve a break through,” Dyer said. “With only seven days until the June 30 deadline, the ACA calls for emergency mediation to be conducted at CEO level. With this the ACA continues to search for ways to resolve the dispute. We are motivated by a sense of duty to the game and its players and frustration at the current process.”The ACA are instructed in this call by Australia’s male and female cricketers, who are determined to ensure every avenue is explored to avoid the post-June 30 cliff. We are hopeful that the common sense offers of flexibility made in negotiations will be treated more respectfully in an elevated and mediated environment.”As things stand, from June 30 most of Australia’s elite male and female cricket players will be unemployed, jeopardising upcoming tours and ultimately the summer of cricket. This creates uncertainty for broadcasters, sponsors, players and administrators. And potentially stains the game, in the eyes of fans, and Australia’s reputation in the international community.”Dyer said that, among other things, CA is yet to provide the ACA’s negotiating team with adequate financial forecasts about the state of the game over the next five years. CA has repeatedly claimed that the level of detail the ACA is seeking is not able to be provided due to a raft of commercial and broadcast deals needing to be negotiated over the next 12 months.”The ACA is yet to receive the necessary financial information and forecasts to inform Australia’s male and female professional cricketers,” Dyer said. “We have been calling for this since August 2016. To date, CA has only been willing to provide financial ‘scenarios’ and ‘formulas’, which lack the detail and scope required.”The players believe in the principle of sharing in the revenue they generate. The players asked CA for financial and forecasting information in August 2016. This has not been provided by CA, even though it has been provided in the past MOU negotiations. The players have offered two detailed submissions, spent seven months at the formal negotiating table and in May 2017 first called for mediation.”A CA spokesman said that more detailed financial information had been provided to the ACA during the most recent set of meetings: “Full financial information was provided to the ACA in confidence earlier this week, and the ACA currently has all figures and scenarios that Cricket Australia is working with. This information is sufficient for players and their union to assess CA’s pay offer. As CA has explained many times to the ACA, 80% of cricket’s revenue is uncontracted for the next five years, and confidential scenarios are the appropriate and financially responsible way to approach the issue.”

West Ham United could join the race for Sheffield United midfielder Sander Berge, transfer insider Dean Jones told GIVEMESPORT.

What is the latest news regarding Sander Berge to West Ham?

Reports state that the Sheffield United midfielder could be available for £10 million this summer, due to the player's unwillingness to sign a new contract. And, one thing that could work in favour of the Hammers' is the fact that the player's contract expires in the summer of 2024 and as such the club could be forced to cash in on the Norwegian to avoid missing out on a fee for a player they paid €25.00m (£21.5m) for four seasons ago.

Fulham's Joao Palhinha has been mentioned as a potential target for the Hammers, whilst Southampton's James Ward-Prowse is another name that has also been linked to a switch to the London Stadium, however, both options have been quoted at major transfer fees, which may force the club to pivot to different targets.

The Hammers are looking to replace the outbound Declan Rice, and Jones expects West Ham to be considering the Norweigan, along with a number of other Premier League sides.

What are Dean Jones' thoughts on Sander Berge's potential move to West Ham?

When asked about a potential West Ham move for the midfielder, Jones said to GIVEMESPORT: "I wouldn't be surprised if Fulham had another look at this, especially at £10 million. It wouldn't even surprise me if West Ham got involved in a conversation like that if it was such good value.”

What do Sander Berge's stats look like at Sheffield United last season?

Berge has had a positive spell at the Blades, garnering praise from fans and pundits alike, with his former manager Chris Wilder calling him a "complete midfielder".

He was an ever-present during the Blades' promotion push, featuring 43 times across all competitions, as well as producing an incredible seven goals and six assists in all competitions.

And, he isn't short of Premier League experience either as the midfielder has made 29 appearances across the club's two top-flight campaigns, registering four goals and assists. This experience should enable him to be a more seamless fit into the side.

A concern for the Hammers could be his injury worries, with him missing 80 games in his career already, at the age of just 25. It is a stark contrast from Rice who has missed only one game in his career through injury or illness.

Althought, when you take his stats into account and the fact that he costs almost £70m-£80m less than Joao Palhinha at Fulham, it seems like a no-brainer, especially as he already has that experience and more of an attacking ability with his creation, similar to what Declan Rice has started to add to his game in recent seasons. His height is also something that fits right in at the London Stadium, standing at 6ft 5 inches, with Tomas Soucek proving to be an absolute menace from set-pieces for David Moyes' side in years gone by, so fans will surely be up for more of the same.

Liverpool endured a difficult 2022/23 campaign as they finished fifth in the Premier League and missed out on qualification for the Champions League by four points.

Jurgen Klopp has reacted to that disappointment by adding two new players to his squad in the off-season, with Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai coming in to bolster the midfield department.

However, the German head coach may not be finished there as the Reds have been linked with further signings ahead of next season.

Liverpool, along with the likes of Arsenal, Newcastle, Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, are reportedly interested in signing Fenerbahce talent Arda Guler, who has a release clause of €17.5m (£15m) in his contract with the Turkish giants.

What is Arda Guler's style of play?

The teenage dynamo is a creative midfield player whose strengths include dribbling, opening up opposition defences, and delivering consistently impressive performances.

Guler's exceptional form for Fenerbahce last term suggests that the potential is there for him to come in as a huge upgrade on current Liverpool midfielder Harvey Elliott, as both players are left-footed gems who can operate in the middle of the park or out wide on the right.

The Turkey international averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.48 across 20 Super Lig outings and caught the eye with his contributions in possession.

He created two chances alongside two completed dribbles per game for his side, whilst the 18-year-old also chipped in with four goals, which shows that the mercurial maestro is capable of committing defenders and providing teammates with opportunities in front of goal on a regular basis.

Elliott, on the other hand, averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.81 over 32 Premier League matches, which placed him 17th within the squad. The England U21 international produced 0.8 key passes along with 0.6 dribbles per outing for the Reds, who did not have any player with as many as two chances created per game – with Trent Alexander-Arnold (1.9) leading the way.

Therefore, Guler could offer more than Elliott in possession due to his ability to create for others whilst also being able to push the team up the pitch by beating defenders with his quick feet.

No Liverpool star managed a higher Sofascore rating than 7.32 and this indicates that Guler, who was described as a “sensation” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, has the potential to develop into an outstanding midfielder for Klopp, if he can translate his form in Turkey over to England.

At the age of 18, the Fenerbahce wizard has plenty of time on his hands to develop under the German manager's coaching, which means that he could be an excellent addition for the club as an immediate upgrade on Elliott and as a long-term project to bolster the side moving forward.

AB de Villiers, South Africa’s one-day captain, believes there has never been as much belief in the squad as they currently have in the midst of an 11-match ODI winning streak

Andrew McGlashan in Hamilton18-Feb-2017

AB de Villiers, South Africa’s one-day captain, believes there has never been as much belief in the squad as they currently have in the midst of an 11-match ODI winning streak.A win in Hamilton on Sunday will equal South Africa’s best run in ODI cricket – matching the 12 wins in a row they achieved in 2005 – and eyes are already firmly fixed on the Champions Trophy in June. Global tournaments come with a huge weight of history for South Africa, most of it bad, but de Villiers’ faith in his squad is absolute.”The belief in the squad is as high as I’ve ever experienced it,” he said. “There’s a great respect among the players and a sense of direction. It’s as simple as that. We know it can change in a matter of minutes, so there’s a deep respect for the game and the fact you can go into a dip at any time, but I really believe what we have in this team will carry us through good and bad times.”It’s definitely a build-up towards the Champions Trophy, it’s a big goal of ours to go there and win that tournament, we know there’s a long way to go but this is a great stepping stone,” he added. “The conditions are pretty similar – the ball moves around a bit when it’s new and you have to extend your partnerships when you get in, so it’s quite similar to the UK.”Pretorius available for SA

Dwaine Pretorius, the allrounder, will be available for the second ODI in Christchurch after delaying his departure for the tour to attend the birth of his child.
Pretorius, 27, made his ODI debut against Ireland last year and recently claimed five wickets in two matches against Sri Lanka.
Dane Paterson was included for the start of the tour as cover in Pretorius’ absence and played the T20 in Auckland when Kagiso Rabada was rested.

South Africa had warned themselves to be on their guard against a slow start to their tour and de Villiers was delighted with the intensity they showed in the T20 at Eden Park. He admitted a one-off match was tough to get motivated for, but that made the convincing nature of the 78-run victory even more pleasing ahead of the main portions of the tour.”It’s difficult to get yourself up for a one-game series. We chatted about that and saw it as a red flag – even though it’s not that significant, you are still representing your country,” he said. “You are away from home and you want to start a tour off on the right note. We are hoping that momentum will take us into the ODI series. I thought we played an outstanding game of cricket. It was vital for us to start well, it doesn’t guarantee us any success in the ODIs but it was a good start.”A couple of hours after completing their victory, at close to midnight, with only the cleaners, security and night owls of the media left at the ground, the full South African squad strode out to the middle of the Eden Park pitch and produced a loud rendition of their team song. De Villiers admitted it felt “a bit weird” after a one-off match but said it was important to maintain traditions.”We were hoping no one would be there,” he said with a hint of a smile. “We normally go out quite late, but it’s just a tradition after every series win. You have to appreciate the good times.”He insisted, though, that there was no extra feeling because of what had happened the last time South Africa played at Eden Park in the World Cup semi-final.”It will never disappear that we lost the semi-final, but all you can focus on is the now. That game has been played about a 1000 times on TV over the last few days, so I’ve been reliving those emotions quite a bit, but it’s all good memories really. We’ve got through all the pain and heartache. When I’ve watched the game over the last few days I just saw good things.”And with that, the next global tournament draws ever nearer.

علّق تشافي هيرنانديز، المدير الفني لفريق برشلونة، على فوزهم الصعب في مباراة الأمس ضد ريال مايوركا في إطار منافسات الدوري الإسباني.

وفاز برشلونة بهدف دون رد، في افتتاحية الجولة الثامنة والعشرين من الليجا، على ملعب “مونتجويك” (لمطالعة التفاصيل من هنا).

وقال تشافي في تصريحات نشرتها صحيفة “آس” الإسبانية: “لقد كانت مباراة صعبة بالنسبة لنا، هم يلعبون بشكل جيد للغاية، أهدرنا ركلة جزاء كانت ستغير مجرى المباراة بالنسبة لنا”.

وأهدر إيلكاي جوندوجان ضربة جزاء في الدقيقة 23 من عمر الشوط الأول، بعدما تصدى لها حارس الخصم.

وأضاف: “لقد تنافسنا بشكل جيد وخلقنا فرصًا للفوز بأكثر من 1-0، لكن هيا، ثلاث نقاط مهمة جدًا لا تزال تضعنا في المنافسة على اللقب، لقد تحسن الفريق منذ أن قلت إنني سأغادر، لقد أصبح الأمر مرتبطًا”.

اقرأ أيضًا.. لامين يامال بعد هدفه الرائع أمام ريال مايوركا: أحب مساعدة برشلونة في أي شيء

وواصل: “كوبارسي لاعب ذكى، هو يعرف متى يتدخل ومتى لا يفعل ذلك، لامين يامال وباو يستحقان الإشادة، لامين لا يبدو أنه يبلغ من العمر 17 عامًا”.

وتعرض رافينها للإصابة التي أجبرته على المغادرة في الدقيقة 37، كما بدا يامال يعاني من بعض الانزعاجات في اللحظات الأخيرة.

ولكن تشافي أكد أن الأمر ليس خطيرًا، حيث قال: “هناك ضربات ولا إصابات، من حيث المبدأ، بحسب ما يقولونه لي، لا توجد إصابة والجميع سيكون متواجدًا يوم الثلاثاء ضد نابولي”.

واختتم: “هذا الفوز يمنحنا الكثير من الروح المعنوية لخوض مواجهة نابولي، نحن بحاجة إلى ملعب ممتلئ وسنبذل قصارى جهدنا للتأهل إلى الدور ربع النهائي”.

Arsenal could be set to identify an alternative to Declan Rice, having been pushed back in their pursuit with a new competitor having emerged…

What's the latest on Romeo Lavia to Arsenal?

That's according to The Guardian, who suggest that the Gunners retain their interest in Southampton's young midfield general Romeo Lavia, alongside top-flight rivals Chelsea.

Having been relegated from the Premier League, his future on the south coast has been thrown into doubt. With Manchester City retaining their £40m buy-back clause, though it remains to be seen how much the Saints will actually charge should others come in.

However, the necessity for this pursuit comes following their rejected bid to sign their top target in Rice, to which David Ornstein recently revealed: "Man City now actively exploring own approach for 24yo".

Gunners chief Edu Gaspar and manager Mikel Arteta must either act quickly or move on to their other targets, and the 19-year-old presents an intriguing candidate.

Is Romeo Lavia as good as Declan Rice?

Coincidentally, although on paper the two are worlds apart in terms of quality, the youth and room for growth that the teenage sensation boasts makes him a similarly intelligent investment akin to the 24-year-old star.

After all, for what has been his first full season in senior football, Lavia has shone for a very poor outfit.

Recording a 6.80 average rating in the league, the Belgian maintained an 86% pass accuracy and a 68% dribble success rate, alongside 2.1 tackles and 1.1 interceptions per game, via Sofascore. He was a calming presence in possession, and a tenacious tackler when trying to win it back, with journalist Benjy Nurick even branding him a "monster".

Whilst Rice showcases more of an all-around skillset, his experience at the top of the game is shoulders above his potential alternative. In good time, surrounded by the top squad that Arteta has created, his evolution would surely be fast-tracked.

The England international managed 2.1 tackles and 1.7 interceptions per game in the Premier League, yet added one key pass per game and six goal contributions into the mix, via Sofascore. He is clearly the better player now, but for the £100m-plus touted fee, the value could be debated.

With Pep Guardiola having entered the fold to secure his services, his title-winning and trophy-laden pedigree is often a pull impossible to resist. To move to the Etihad is to ensure a vast trophy haul, and Rice would surely be an important cog in their system too.

However, it falls to whether the West Ham United captain wants to join a side already at the top or forge a dynasty that could topple such perfection.

If he chooses the former, then Lavia still represents a fine alternative for the Gunners to target, given the evidence above.

أكدت تقارير صحفية مختلفة، منذ قليل، أن نادي نابولي قرر الإطاحة بالمدير الفني والتر ماتزاري من منصبه كمدرب للفريق، قبل يومين من مواجهة برشلونة.

ويعاني نابولي من سوء النتائج في الموسم الحالي، حيث يحتل حاليًا المركز التاسع في الدوري الإيطالي برصيد 36 نقطة.

اقرأ أيضًا.. سبورت تكشف موقف فيليكس وتوريس من مباراة برشلونة ونابولي في دوري أبطال أوروبا

وحسبما ذكرت تقارير إيطالية مختلفة، فإن إدارة نابولي قررت الإطاحة بالمدرب والتر ماتزاري من منصبه، والتعاقد مع مدرب سلوفاكيا فرانشيسكو كالزونا بعقد قصير الأمد.

كان رئيس نابولي، أوريليو دي لورينتيس، قد أعاد والتر ماتزاري بعد غياب دام 10 سنوات عقب إقالة رودي جارسيا الصيف الماضي، ولم تؤد خطوته إلى تحسن في المستوى، حيث حقق المدرب ستة انتصارات فقط خلال 17 مباراة له.

خطط دي لورينتيس في البداية للانتظار حتى الصيف للعثور على بديل طويل الأمد لـ والتر ماتزاري، لكن استمرار النتائج السيئة دفعه إلى إجراء تغيير قبل مباراة الأربعاء ضد برشلونة في دوري أبطال أوروبا.

وأفادت التقارير بأن كالزونا سيوقع عقدًا مع نابولي لمدة 6 أشهر فقط، حيث سيقود الفريق حتى نهاية الموسم الحالي.

وسيحتفظ كالزونا، الذي يتولى أيضًا تدريب منتخب سلوفاكيا، بدوره ويقود البلاد في بطولة أوروبا في الصيف.

Jack Brooks gave Yorkshire fleeting hopes of victory but rain intervened to leave them frustrated on the final day at the Ageas Bowl

Freddie Wilde at the Ageas Bowl03-Sep-2016
ScorecardJack Brooks gave Yorkshire fleetinh hopes of victory•Getty ImagesThe frustrations Yorkshire must have felt, having certainly been the better of the two teams across the four days and on course for victory were it not for the weather, were most succinctly summarised by Adam Lyth as he scurried through the downpour towards the team bus, shoulders hunched and towel draped over his head. “F*****g rain” he growled in his thick Yorkshire accent.But it is testament to the quality of this Yorkshire team that a result even appeared to be a possibility heading into this final day. After 77 overs were lost to rain and bad light on a frustrating third day and, with heavy rain forecast by tea on the fourth, the two-time defending champions had, at best, two sessions in which to push for victory. Unlikely? Yes. Impossible? Certainly not.Ultimately the rain forecast for tea did arrive, and ultimately Yorkshire ran out of time but not before they gave Hampshire a scare. When play was halted for the final time at 3.40pm Hampshire were 84 for 4 and had the scheduled 38.2 overs been completed it felt more likely that Yorkshire would take the six wickets than they would not.On a day in which talk of the weather was never far away it feels appropriate to describe this Yorkshire team as a force of nature in their own right and their ability to conjure something out of this rain-ravaged match deserves respect.’It’s wide open’ – Gale

“It was one of those where people will you say you could have declared earlier but had we got the full time in then it might have been a tight game,” said Yorkshire’s captain Andrew Gale after play. “You can’t keep declaring by the weather forecast. Another 40 overs and we could have won that game.
“It’s wide open now. Four points in it now. We have two home games and we have a fantastic home record. We must have one of the best home records in the country over the last few years. That’s on our side. We know what we get with our pitches. We win our next two games at home and we are right up there.”

Not only did they make a game out of a match that, given the 128.2 overs lost to rain, had no right to be as competitive as it was, but they made something out a day that appeared to be petering slowly towards a draw.With Hampshire 50 for 1 midway through the afternoon session, Will Smith the man to go, and with the ball not swinging and the pitch showing no signs of life, the slim chance of a Yorkshire victory was fading. In what seemed to be a final throw of the dice Andrew Gale turned to Jack Brooks, who took five wickets in the first innings, to spark the match into life. How much credit Gale, or indeed Brooks, can take for Tom Alsop’s miscued pull that ended up in the hands of square leg is questionable, but the change had worked: Yorkshire smelt blood.Fourteen balls later Jimmy Adams was gone too. Propping forward to Brooks, the edge was found and Adam Lyth pouched the catch at second slip. Now the visitors were ticking; the fielders imbued with energy, throws zipped in above the stumps, clapping and chatter echoing around the ground. The light was closing in but so too were Yorkshire. Seven wickets needed.An over of Sidebottom. Two fours, a two and a single. Eleven runs but things were happening. One ball beat the edge, another fizzed off a length. More clapping, more chatter. Then James Vince. The ball was full, with a hint of swing, Vince threw his hands at it outside off stump – this story has been told before – Tim Bresnan took the catch. Four down. Six wickets needed. Hampshire had lost three for 24, Brooks had taken 3 for 12 in a spell that felt match-winning.And then, quite suddenly, the weather intervened. An early tea was taken for bad light. And before long the rain began. At 4.38pm the match was declared a draw.Earlier in the day Yorkshire had huffed and puffed for 22 overs to add 94 to their overnight lead before declaring to set Hampshire 298. In the end it was not the runs that mattered but the time.

Tottenham Hotspur are chasing a young, hungry manager in the mould of 2014 Mauricio Pochettino, according to a report by The Evening Standard.

What's the latest Spurs manager news?

The Lilywhites have little time left to officially appoint a permanent manager before the commencement of this summer's transfer window, with just two games of the Premier League season remaining.

Spurs have also reportedly ruled out appointing former Bayern Munich boss Julian Nagelsmann, who is no longer in contention to succeed Conte despite his status as a free agent.

The north Londoners are thought to be chasing a plethora of in-work managers, though, with Sporting Lisbon boss Ruben Amorim, Feyenoord's Arne Slot and Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi among the names to have been linked recently.

Spurs are also thought to be on the lookout for a new sporting director, as Fabio Paratici was forced to resign from his post recently, having lost an appeal against his 30-month worldwide ban from football.

Back to their manager search, Spurs players had been mooted with an interest in re-appointing former boss Pochettino, but the club opted against a move for their ex-manager who has joined Chelsea.

Journalist Dan Kilpatrick, writing for The Standard, has given some background as to why – with supporters once calling for their former boss to come back.

He says Tottenham are looking for a "young, hungry, up-and-coming" manager in the mould of Pochettino in 2014, but not quite the man himself, with the 2023 version of the Argentine not fitting this profile.

This information has come from "sources close" to Spurs chairman Daniel Levy, with Pochettino being a decade older, more experienced and a different coach.

Who should Spurs hire instead?

We believe, now both Nagelsmann and Pochettino are out of the running, that Feyenoord's Slot could be a brilliant candidate if Spurs can prise him away from the Netherlands.

The 44-year-old encourages an attack-minded brand of football which could excite Spurs supporters, with Dutch football expert Marcel van der Kraan claiming he is a forward-thinking "maniac".

Van Der Kraan explained to talkSPORT:

“He is very similar to Pep Guardiola, his ideas are very similar, he is a massive fan of Pep and he plays the same time.“He goes ultra-attacking, he is almost like a maniac. Not on the touchline but it is fantastic to see how he has turned an average side into a wonderful attacking machine."

This philosophy will be of serious interest to the Spurs fanbase, who have long been subject to the more dogmatic styles of Jose Mourinho, Nuno Espirito Santo and Conte in recent years.

Newcastle United could be set to capitalise on Premier League rivals Leicester City's woes and raid the club for their most coveted asset, James Maddison, this summer as the Foxes scramble against the threat of relegation.

What's the latest on James Maddison to Newcastle?

According to The Telegraph, the high-flying Magpies are preparing for a busy summer and set to rekindle their move for Foxes phenom Maddison this summer, having failed in their pursuit of the playmaker one year ago.

Last summer, manager Eddie Howe attempted to sign the 26-year-old with a £50m bid but failed to meet the £60m valuation which still stands, enquiring unsuccessfully once more during the winter transfer window.

City are 18th in the top-flight with three matches to play and could plummet into the second division, which would all but confirm Maddison's departure from the King Power Stadium, with Newcastle poised to pounce.

How would Maddison do at Newcastle?

PIF have enjoyed much success since the £300m takeover of the Tyneside giants in October 2021, swiftly appointing Howe as manager and lifting the club from the pit of the Premier League towards prominence, securing a comfortable mid-table finish before ascending to Champions League contention this term.

Indeed, Newcastle reside in third with just four matches to play, three points ahead of fifth-placed Liverpool, who have played an additional fixture.

The signings made over the past three transfer windows have been transformative and adding a creative midfielder of Maddison's ilk could ice the cake and cement this remarkable newfound stature.

Having signed for Leicester from Norwich City for £24m in 2018, Maddison has played 200 matches and scored 55 goals and served 41 assists, crucial in the gleaning of the FA Cup and Community Shield.

However, the outfit's fortunes have taken a dramatic turn and now relegation from the Premier League could become reality in a matter of weeks, despite the best efforts of the £110k-per-week menace.

As per Sofascore, the two-cap England international has recorded a remarkable average rating of 7.4 in the league this term, scoring ten goals, providing nine assists and averaging 2.9 shots and 2.5 key passes per match, assured with his 80% passing accuracy and tenacious with 1.6 tackles per outing.

Ranking among the top 8% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues for rate of goals, as per FBref, the top 4% for rate of assists and the top 10% for progressive passes per 90, Maddison is clearly one of the foremost creative talents around, and could spark excitement into Toon hearts at a level scarcely seen since infamous midfield wizard Hatem Ben Arfa graced the St. James' Park pitch.

The Frenchman signed for Alan Pardew's United in January 2011 after converting a loan move to a permanent deal, alighting English football with his defence-splitting weaving runs and sorcery with the ball at his feet, with Pardew hailing the mercurial ace as a "maverick" who has the "x-factor".

The cult hero scored five goals and six assists from just 16 starts in his first full season in the Premier League, but failed to display the discipline to parallel his brilliant natural prowess with a football, making an unsuccessful loan move to Hull City in 2014 and subsequently ending his career in England.

Maddison holds much of that same flair and guile, hailed as a "monster" by journalist Josh Bunting, but has exhibited his own prowess with sustained, trophy-winning performances across multiple seasons, and could be the heir to Ben Arfa's throne in Newcastle to truly send the city into deafening rapture.