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Tottenham Hotspur apparently have their eyes on a versatile 22-year-old midfielder as they also chase a deal for Chelsea star Conor Gallagher.

Spurs set sights on third January signing

As widely reported, Spurs are now looking to sign a midfield number eight after sealing deals for both defender Radu Dragusin and forward Timo Werner.

Related All confirmed Premier League done deals: January transfer window 2024

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Posts ByLuke Randall Feb 1, 2024

Dragusin joins in a £25 million deal from Genoa, while Werner put pen to paper on a six-month loan with the option to buy. Manager Ange Postecoglou will be thrilled as Spurs get a lot of their transfer business done nice and early in the transfer window, something which he said was imperative.

"If you can bring them in early, even if they don't play you can bed them into training and our style of football because it's not like we're going to sign somebody and they'll hit the ground running," said Postecoglou on Tottenham's transfer window.

"Maybe they could. Whereas if you leave it towards the end of January, it's potentially not until mid to end of February when they get up to speed, depending where they're coming from, the league they're coming from. So there's a whole lot of moving parts. So yes, I'd love to do something early in the window but even me saying that puts a challenge on us – because other clubs know we want to do something early."

Following Dragusin and Werner, Spurs have been heavily linked with a deal for Chelsea star Conor Gallagher. The 23-year-old is starring under Mauricio Pochettino at Stamford Bridge, and the likes of Fabrizio Romano have refused to rule out Tottenham signing Gallagher before January 31.

The west Londoners are thought to be demanding around £45-£50 million to sell him, as there has been no progress on talks over a new deal (Wayne Veysey).

The vast majority of Spurs transfer rumours are centered around Gallagher right now, but reporter Ben Jacobs has lifted the lid on another player who they're huge fans of.

Tottenham "looking at" Kasey McAteer

When asked who else Spurs admirer besides Gallagher and usual suspects, the CBS journalist pointed towards Leicester City sensation Kasey McAteer. It is believed Tottenham are "looking at" McAteer as a player they "really like", though Jacobs admits that a deal is unlikely for this month.

“The other player Tottenham are looking at, a different type of player to the ones we have mentioned is Kasey McAteer at Leicester, they really like him, " said Jacobs on the Spurs Chat Podcast.

"He started well for Leicester, but then he got an injury, with Leicester flying they’re likely to get promotion. I’m not sure anything is possible there in 2024 just because he’s in the right place for his development.”

Kasey McAteer's best Championship performances – 2023/2024

Match Rating (via WhoScored)

Rotherham 1-2 Leicester City

8.98

Norwich City 0-2 Leicester City

7.77

Southampton 1-4 Leicester City

7.57

West Brom 1-2 Leicester City

6.65

Leicester City 2-1 Coventry City

6.62

The 22-year-old has been hailed for his "real versatility" by Johnnie Jackson, having also scored four goals in 12 Championship appearances for the Foxes this season.

If not in 2024, he could be one to watch for the future, as McAteer would also bolster Tottenham's homegrown numbers

Newcastle United's slump continued as Chris Wood bagged a hat-trick on his return to St. James' Park to hand struggling Nottingham Forest a much-needed victory in the Premier League.

For Eddie Howe's Magpies, however, a sixth defeat from seven matches across all competitions leaves the club in a poor position, seven points off fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur – who have a game in hand – in the table.

Martin Dubravka was the man between the sticks but wasn't really the figure at fault, with his defence failing to stifle a spirited Forest attack that effectively utilised Wood's expertise as a veteran focal point.

The backline struggled, but up front, there were several poor performers too, with Miguel Almiron failing to impress once again.

Miguel Almiron's performance vs Forest

Many Newcastle fans will maintain perpetual support for Almiron, who is a veritable workhorse and has been praised for his “sensational” rise in the past by journalist Josh Bunting, but Howe will have been left displeased by his performance today.

As per Sofascore, Almiron took two off-target shots and succeeded with only one dribble, struggling to impact the game and being hooked by Howe after just 55 minutes.

Some of the Paraguayan's best traits did still shine through, creating two key passes and completing 92% of his total passes, also winning four of his six contested duels, but his wastefulness and lack of sharpness in key moments contributed to the defeat.

Writing in his post-match ratings, the Shields Gazette's Dominic Scurr branded the 29-year-old with a 3/10, writing: 'Saw plenty of the ball but has been inconsistent with it so far with two wayward shots.

'Again his decision making must be questioned in the build-up to Forest's equaliser with his decision to pass proving costly. Almost scored an own goal but was fortunately saved by Forest's Anthony Elanga. Another bad afternoon for the winger.'

A tough afternoon for the forward, but while his profligacy was disappointing, the display of defender Dan Burn matched Almiron in ensuring that United's torrid run of form continued.

Dan Burn's game vs Forest in numbers

Burn is an excellent defender and boasts many commendable qualities, but pace is one thing that he doesn't quite have in his locker and this was brutally exposed by the impressive Anthony Elanga, who provided two assists for Wood.

Remarked to have been “left in a tangle” by the Chronicle's Lee Ryder as the New Zealand native scored his second of the afternoon, Burn, like Almiron, was taken off after 55 minutes in an attempt to stop Elanga from wreaking havoc down the Toon's left channel.

The 31-year-old did make two tackles and clearances apiece and won three of his five duels but failed to protect Dubravka's goal when it mattered and was rightly replaced by Tino Livramento.

The 6 foot 6 titan also only completed 74% of his passes and failed to attempt a single dribble on the occasion, with this stagnancy allowing Elanga and co to grow into the game after Alexander Isak's first-half penalty handed the hosts the lead.

Also receiving a 3/10 match score from Scurr, Burn was not at the races, with the journalist saying: 'Made some strong challenges but was beaten for Forest's equaliser. Elanga has caused him plenty of problems. Beaten again for Wood's second goal. A dismal afternoon before his withdrawal after 55 minutes.'

Howe will be desperately seeking to restore his side's verve, and while the ongoing run of poor form is concerning, injuries have ravaged the squad.

Burn remains a key component of Newcastle's team, but he suffered a bad game today and will need to ensure he finds a way to combat pacy players such as Elanga going forward.

Chelsea's Premier League campaign has just gone from bad to worse this season. From shocking home defeats to Nottingham Forest to humbling away defeats to an equally dysfunctional Manchester United side.

And to make things worse, club captain Reece James is now set to spend another period on the sidelines after sustaining a hamstring injury in the club's 2-0 defeat away to Everton last week.

There were plenty of poor performers that day, but one of the worst, and one of the worst all season for that matter, must be dropped ahead of Saturday, Mykhailo Mudryk.

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The young winger could provide the attacking impetus the team needs.

Posts ByJack Salveson Holmes Dec 14, 2023 Mykhailo Mudryk's game vs Everton in numbers

Mauricio Pochettino started the Ukranian wideman out on the left ahead of Raheem Sterling, perhaps hoping that against a supposedly relegation-threatened Everton side, he could play himself into some form; whatever the thinking behind the decision was, it backfired.

The Evening Standard's Nizaar Kinsella gave the 22-year-old a rather generous 6/10, praising his supposed threat but lamenting him for being tremendously 'wasteful' in possession.

In his 97 minutes of football, Mudryk lost the ball 19 times, meaning he lost the ball every five minutes, a statistic so poor that it is almost laughable – almost.

It's a surprise that his teammates didn't just stop passing him the ball.

The £100k-per-week speedster also failed to take a single shot, let alone one on target, only succeeded in half of his crosses and registered a paltry expected goals figure of 0.05.

There are signs that there is a talented footballer in there, but it just hasn't worked yet this season and if Pochettino wants to give the fans something to cheer about on Saturday afternoon, Mudryk cannot play.

Mykhailo Mudryk's Game vs Everton in Numbers

Expected Goals

0.05

Passing Accuracy

75%

Crossing Accuracy

50%

Shots on Target

0

Total Shots

0

All Stats via Sofascore

Raheem Sterling must start against Sheffield United

The former Manchester City star has been in relatively good form for Chelsea this season, scoring five goals and providing three assists in the 16 games he has played.

In his last home game that wasn't disrupted by a Chelsea red card, the England international was fantastic and scored a goal against Pep Guardiloa's treble-winning City side – reminding his old boss just how good he is.

He registered a genuinely impressive expected goals figure of 0.45 and an expected assists figure of 0.14, took two shots, completed four dribbles, made one key pass and even made a clearance for his side.

The Daily Mail's Adrian Kajumba gave the 29-year-old an 8.5/10 for his performance and described him as 'up for it all game.'

Premier League and Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer proclaimed the winger "incredible" after the match, and it's hard to disagree.

Raheem Sterling's Game Against Manchester City in Numbers

Goals

1

Expected Goals

0.45

Expected Assists

0.14

Touches

55

Shots on Target

1

Key Passes

1

Successful Dribbles

4

All Stats via Sofascore

Ultimately, with Chelsea in desperate need of a win this weekend, Pochettino should already have Sterling's name down on the teamsheet and Mudryk's firmly on the bench.

Glasgow Rangers will be aiming to return to winning ways as they welcome Aris Limassol to Ibrox for their Europa League clash this evening.

With a 1-1 draw against Aberdeen on the weekend derailing some momentum gathered under Philippe Clement, the key thing was no further ground was lost in the Premiership title race.

The Gers currently occupy second place in the group behind Real Betis, but a win over the Cypriot side will ensure qualification for the knockout stages.

It will be the fourth time in the previous six seasons that the Light Blues will play European football after Christmas if they do secure all three points, and they could repeat their heroics from 2022, where they reached the Europa League final.

Clement will be taking it one match at a time and not getting too far ahead despite the good form the club are showing of late.

With the fixtures set to come thick and fast over the next few weeks, keeping his starting XI fresh will be a key priority for the Belgian and this could mean there will be a few changes to the starting XI this evening.

While the Light Blues were the dominant team against the Dons on the weekend, they simply couldn’t take their chances and this will need to be fixed ahead of some tough games.

Related Rangers star who hasn't played all month could feature vs Aris

Rangers face a crucial tie against Aris Limassol on Thursday evening

Posts ByRoss Kilvington Nov 27, 2023

With this in mind, could Clement move Todd Cantwell from a wide right position to a more advanced central role?

Todd Cantwell’s game against Aberdeen in numbers

The Englishman looked keen enough against the Dons as he saw the ball often and managed to complete five key passes and succeeded with 100% of his dribble attempts, which are solid statistics, yet his effectiveness in front of goal deteriorates when he is played out wide.

Cantwell failed to take a single shot at the weekend while also losing possession on 12 occasions, and while his versatility is a key strength, it is time Clement stuck him in one position and let him cause chaos.

When he joined the Gers from Norwich City in January, Cantwell ended up scoring four goals and grabbing four assists from an attacking midfield slot, scoring only twice from a wide position, suggesting that playing behind the striker is where he is at his best with regard to scoring and creating chances.

Todd Cantwell’s season in numbers

The 25-year-old hasn’t quite hit the ground running in the 2023/24 campaign, managing to find the back of the net just once across all competitions.

He hasn’t been helped by missing five games after suffering a knee injury during the 1-0 defeat to Celtic back in September and this has disrupted his progress.

The midfielder currently ranks in a lowly 13th position in the squad for goals and assists in the Premiership (one), while he also ranks eighth for shots on target per game (0.4), fifth for key passes per game (1.3) and eighth for successful dribbles per game (0.8) and these statistics clearly indicate that he hasn’t quite been at his best.

Granted, the former Norwich gem has been forced out onto the wing on numerous occasions during the current campaign, yet under Clement, he has to start showing more.

Todd Cantwell's Premiership statistics at Rangers

2022/23

2023/24

Goals

6

0

Assists

4

1

Big chances created

5

0

Key passes per game

1.3

1.3

Successful dribbles per game

1.5

0.8

Stats via Sofascore

The likes of Tom Lawrence and Sam Lammers are queuing up to slot into that attacking midfield role if Cantwell fails to produce solid displays in the near future and the tie against Aris gives him a perfect opportunity to get some confidence back into his game.

Cantwell being relocated would leave a spot open on the right wing and the Belgian must continue to utilise the talents of Ross McCausland, who has been a breath of fresh air over the previous few weeks.

Ross McCausland’s season in numbers

The former Club Brugge manager has managed to tie down the young winger to a long-term deal at Ibrox and this could be the finest piece of business that the Belgian does in the coming weeks.

The Northern Irishman has already made eight appearances for the senior side this term, and while he has yet to open his account or grab an assist, his pace and ability on the ball has been a joy to behold.

He was given his first start by Clement against Livingston prior to the international break, and he looked extremely lively out wide. The 20-year-old won a penalty during the first half and even had the ball in the back of the net, but it was disallowed.

He doesn’t seem to be fazed at pulling on a Rangers jersey and this lack of fear could stand him in good stead.

Against Sparta Prague just a few weeks ago, the youngster came off the bench and made a wonderful impact. Not only did he succeed with 100% of his dribbles, but he also managed two shots during his 21-minute cameo, along with making one key pass and losing possession just once.

In these types of matches it is tough to emerge from the bench with little time left and create some chances, but that is exactly what the winger did and his performance drew praise from journalist Josh Bunting, who said:

“Ross McCausland has been excellent since coming on, he’s been positive. For such a young player his vision and eye for a pass is of superb quality. Honestly don’t think he’s long away from a start, brings a new dimension and spark into this Rangers side.”

The 6 foot dynamo clearly has the required attributes to succeed at the Light Blues and his displays in the first team this season should only give him further confidence that he can continue to make inroads to becoming a regular in the starting XI.

With Cantwell moving to the middle, a space opens up for the Northern Irishman on the right wing and with a win against Aris securing progress to the knockout stages and European football after Christmas, there isn’t a better game to be involved in.

With a new contract signed and the chance to stake his claim under Clement, McCausland is living the dream.

Fran Kirby, Lauren James, Ella Toone, Grace Clinton and Jess Park are all options for the European champions. But who should get the shirt?

Consistency has been synonymous with England's success under Sarina Wiegman. Be it in team selection, results or the calm demeanour of the Lionesses' staff and players in the big moments, it's helped the team win a first European Championship and reach a maiden World Cup final while becoming one of the best national sides on the planet. But as England begin a new tournament cycle, there is one position in the starting XI that is seriously lacking consistency: the No.10 role.

Perhaps nothing sums that up better than a quick glance at Wiegman's squad for the April international break, which opened with a 1-1 draw with Sweden at Wembley on Friday and will conclude in Dublin against Ireland on Tuesday. In Fran Kirby, Ella Toone, Jess Park and Grace Clinton, there are no fewer than four players who would be primarily considered attacking midfielders in this Lionesses team. Add Lauren James, who alternates between that role and one out wide, and the number becomes five.

While the array of options highlights the team's depth, and competition for places is rarely a bad thing, no one is yet to really nail down that final place in England's midfield. Friday's draw, which lacked creative spark, was the latest sign that the sooner Wiegman figures out who her first-choice No.10 should be, the better the Lionesses' chances of building up to their European title defence in the right way.

Getty ImagesConsistency

Most of the time, Wiegman's starting line-ups have been relatively easy to predict. While that has resulted in some criticism, it is an approach that has ensured familiarity for players in the XI, allowed on-pitch relationships to blossom and, above all, yielded results.

For the first year under Wiegman, which included the Euros triumph in 2022, it was Kirby in the No.10 role and Toone as her regular replacement from the bench. With Kirby struggling for fitness after that tournament, Toone became Wiegman's go-to in the build-up to the World Cup, and she got the nod in five of the Lionesses' seven games in Australia as they reached the final.

The two other teams Wiegman named in that tournament lined up in a 3-5-2 formation, and it was James who was granted the free role in midfield, one she ran riot in against China before a red card in the last-16 clash with Nigeria paved the way for Toone's return.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesChanging things up

That formation change messed with England's consistency for a while. Wiegman flip-flopped between it and her more common 4-3-3 during the Lionesses' UEFA Women's Nations League campaign, with that at least one reason for the disappointing performances throughout the competition.

She also regularly changed the player in the No.10 role, with Kirby, Toone and James all getting chances to start there. However, bar Kirby's impressive performance in the last of those six matches, a 6-0 win over Scotland, no one really stole the show or laid down a marker to be the Lionesses' first-choice playmaker.

GettyNew kids on the block

Now, there are two new faces competing for that position. Park's England debut came in late 2022, but it's in recent months that she has really hit levels that make her a contender to start on a regular basis for her country. Her form for Manchester City has been seriously impressive and, in truth, the energy she brings to the midfield was what the Lionesses were missing on Friday against Sweden.

However, it was another youngster who started alongside Keira Walsh and Georgia Stanway in the middle of the park at Wembley, that being Clinton. The 21-year-old is thriving on loan at Tottenham from Manchester United, and her form was rewarded in February with two starts as England faced Austria and Italy in friendlies.

Despite those being her first senior appearances for her country, Clinton shone, and it was little surprise to see her in Wiegman's line-up on Friday, even if she didn't produce a performance of similar electricity.

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GettyFinding the best fit

Most managers would love to have this problem. Here are five excellent footballers for Wiegman to choose from, all with different strengths and profiles. It's not particularly clear who of them is closest to taking control of the battle to be England's No.10, either.

Though Kirby has long been first-choice and has often justified her status, England have never got the best out of her massive talent – during and before Wiegman's tenure. At Chelsea, she is granted a free role and that maximises her skillset. With the Lionesses, she feels like a round peg placed in a square hole, though her natural ability means the chance of her being able to impact a game is always high.

Part of that is the difference between international football and club football. The international game is often more disciplined, owing to fewer matches and the requirements of tournament football. That means these free spirits can sometimes be a little caged, for the good of the team.

You could say similar of James, though probably to a lesser extent. She has shone as an attacking midfielder in this England team, but has openly stated that she prefers to play out wide, a position she's also done well in for her country. James is an option as a No.10, and a tantalising one at that, but given the sheer quantity of playmakers Wiegman has included in recent squads, it does feel like she is starting to see the Chelsea star more as a winger.

An ecstatic Phil Parkinson claimed that he is "enjoying" Wrexham's promotion push after recording a huge win over title rivals Mansfield Town.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Wrexham beat Mansfield Town 2-0
• Moved to the third place after the victory
• Parkinson delighted with a "hard-earned win"

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  In a thrilling encounter at the Racecourse Ground, Wrexham emerged 2-0 victorious against title rivals Mansfield Town, propelling themselves back into contention for automatic promotion from League Two. Parkinson, expressed his immense satisfaction with his team's performance, hailing their grit, determination, and outstanding teamwork on the pitch after Paul Mullin's brace sealed the win for the hosts.

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  WHAT PARKINSON SAID

  Speaking to reporters after the match, Parkinson said: "It was a hard-earned win; gritty, determined and our out-of-possession work was outstanding. We’re enjoying it, and the lads are relishing every single game, and they’ll take a lot of heart from this result today. We respected Mansfield because of the season they are having, but the work from everyone right throughout the team restricted them.

  “I thought the first goal was a magnificent move; Maxy’s pass was as good as you are likely to see, and Andy’s cross to Mulls brought a calm finish to put us ahead. Before the penalty, we had a twenty-minute period where we gave the ball away too cheaply, but then we got the pen which was a nice cushion. All in all, I think the teamwork was outstanding.”

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  With only one point now separating the top three teams in the league, including Stockport County and Mansfield Town, every match becomes crucial in the pursuit of promotion.

  "It’s a very competitive division but we knew that at the start," he said. "There are teams in the league like Mansfield that have been building for years to have a season like this.

  “It’s another game chalked off, there’s six to go and it’s an important one against one of our rivals. Now it’s about preparation for what will be a terrific occasion at Doncaster on Tuesday.”

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  After his brace on Friday, Mullin is just one goal away from his 100th strike in Wrexham colours. His second goal was nothing short of a cannonball that almost ripped the net off from the spot.

Rovman Powell muscles one over the on side•CWI

After ending their three-game Florida ‘home’ slate winless, the Jamaica Tallawahs looked more at ease in a true road setting as Andre Russell’s charges rediscovered the winning touch in St Lucia by scoring a 21-run win over St Lucia Stars. A match-up with the franchise holding the most losses in CPL history was just the tonic the Tallawahs needed to reclaim the first place on the table as Rovman Powell’s splendid 64 took the Tallawahs past 200.Needing 124 off the final 10 overs of the chase, the Stars threatened briefly behind David Warner, Kieron Pollard and Lendl Simmons but were left with too much work to do in the end after a poor start to their reply. With just four points from eight matches, Stars’ playoff hopes are hanging by a thread as they head back on the road for their final two contests against St Kitts & Nevis Patriots and Barbados Tridents.Ten squared partnershipTallawahs were 56 for 1 at the end of the Powerplay when Qais Ahmad struck with his first ball after entering in the seventh over, getting Johnson Charles to sky a drive to long-off. After the struggles of Ross Taylor to score quickly in Tallawahs’ two-run loss to Barbados Tridents in Florida on Wednesday night, Rovman Powell was promoted to No. 4 and the move paid off as Powell scored 64 off 37 balls. Powell and Kennar Lewis scored at 10 per over for 10 overs in a 100-run stand to give the Tallawahs the necessary platform for victory.After not facing a ball in the Tallawahs’ failed chase three days earlier, Powell made up for lost time by cracking five sixes in crossing 50 off 29 balls. The most impressive of the lot came in the ninth over off Kieron Pollard, swatting a tennis racquet backhand six straight back down the ground after being bounced.Wind MillKesrick Williams, who earlier had removed Glenn Phillips in the Powerplay for 17, threatened to derail the Tallawahs innings in the 17th. Williams started the over with the wicket of Lewis caught behind for 33 and ended the frame by getting Andre Russell driving to Darren Sammy positioned at a very straight mid-off for 5.Powell fell to Obed McCoy two balls into the 18th, bringing Taylor and David Miller to the crease for the final leg of the death overs. On Wednesday night, the pair had teamed up for an ultimately futile half-century stand as they coasted to a stunning loss to the Tridents. Against the Stars attack, though, Miller showed far greater urgency, bashing 29 of the 33 runs that came off the last two overs. Miller’s two sixes off Williams skewed the medium pacer’s figures and took the Tallawahs to 204, just enough in the end.Marked manThe Stars lost two wickets in the first seven overs, beginning with Mark Chapman. The Kiwi import was recalled after missing the last four matches with a groin injury, but his poor form from the first week of the tournament hasn’t changed.Chapman had struggled against spin from the middle order, facing four deliveries and getting out three times to spin bowlers. Promoted to open the chase in an effort to have him take on the Tallawahs medium-pacers, Chapman found the gap through cover point off Oshane Thomas.But after a wide next ball, Chapman’s luckless run at the CPL continued when he slashed Thomas to Adam Zampa stationed very square at third man on the boundary where he took a sensational catch. Chapman has now faced just 12 balls for 12 runs in four innings in his maiden CPL season. Rahkeem Cornwall fell to Imad Wasim in the next over as the Stars plummeted 8 for 2 just eight balls into the chase.Star-crossed finishAt 81 for 3 in 10 overs, needing another 124 to win, Stars were still in with a decent shot of chasing down the Tallawahs’ target considering the high-octane finishes that have occurred in St Lucia throughout this year’s tournament. Warner kicked off the action after drinks by sweeping Zampa for a boundary. Two of the next four balls were sent to the rope by Pollard and Warner as well, but Warner pushed his luck off the final ball of the over when his attempted slog sweep swirled in the air behind Glenn Phillips. Charles ran across from short third man for a lunging catch to dismiss Warner for 42 off 26 balls.A few quiet overs from Imad and Zampa pushed the required run rate near 15 per over as Stars needed 89 off the last 36 balls. But Pollard, who struck 30 in an over 24 hours earlier to help ice the Stars chase against the Guyana Amazon Warriors, kept pace with the climbing rate in the 15th by smashing the first three balls from Zampa for six, four and six.Simmons had been bumped down the order to No. 6 from the opening slot he occupied Friday night against the Warriors as the Stars management searched for a solution to get him out of his form funk. He followed Pollard’s lead in the 16th, bashing three consecutive legal deliveries from Thomas for six, four and four, and by the end of the over, the equation was a manageable 54 off the last four overs.But Russell yorked Pollard three balls later for 46. Simmons struck two sixes off Powell off the final three balls of the 18th as momentum see-sawed briefly back to the Stars leaving 32 off the final two overs. Russell, however, struck again in a tidy six-run over to get Darren Sammy. Simmons was run out by Thomas with three balls left for the Tallawahs to mathematically clinch victory.

The German has revolutionised Liverpool after rejecting advances from United – but which coach could have a similar impact at Old Trafford?

No manager has traumatised Manchester United quite like Jurgen Klopp and it is fair to say that Red Devils fans, a bit like their Blue neighbours, will be delighted to see the back of the German when he departs as Liverpool coach at the end of the season. The Merseysiders have won seven of their 19 matches against United under Klopp with some unforgettable scorelines, above all last year's incredible 7-0 hammering at Anfield.

Before he leaves, Klopp has two more opportunities to further twist the knife into United: Sunday's FA Cup quarter-final tie at Old Trafford and April's visit in the league. And if he can lead Liverpool to a 20th league title to level United's record tally of English league crowns, his mission on Merseyside will be well and truly complete.

Since succeeding Brendan Rodgers in 2015, Klopp has galvanised Liverpool and turned them back into the formidable force they were in the 1980s. In the same period, United have gone through five managers, all of differing profiles, and have been ultimately disappointed with each one. Every step forward has been followed by two steps backwards, with the end result being a club in stagnation.

So how do United find their Klopp and appoint a manager who can truly elevate them away from mediocrity and back to the elite?

• Getty
  

  The dismal 'Disneyland' pitch

  it is worth remembering that history could have turned out very differently had Klopp accepted an offer from then chief executive Ed Woodward to take charge of United in 2014. At the time United's hierarchy were losing faith in David Moyes and Klopp was perhaps the most likable coach in European football, having won successive Bundesliga titles with Borussia Dortmund and reached the Champions League final the year before.

  According to , a book by German journalist Raphael Honigstein, Woodward flew out to meet Klopp and try to convince him to come and coach United. But Klopp was left baffled by the pitch.

  "Woodward told Klopp that the Theatre of Dreams was 'like an adult version of Disneyland', a mythical place where, as the nickname suggested, the entertainment was world class and dreams came true," Honigstein wrote. "Klopp wasn't entirely convinced by that sales pitch — he found it a bit 'unsexy', he told a friend — but he didn't dismiss the proposition out of hand either."

  Klopp decided to turn down United's approach to remain at Dortmund for one more year before stepping down in 2015 after a dismal final campaign. Klopp found a kindred spirit in Liverpool, seeing in them, rather like Dortmund, a fallen giant in a downtrodden city a with a passionate fan base.

  The idea of resuscitating them motivated him, as he later put it: "I was on fire from the first second". Liverpool fans were on board with Klopp before his appointment was even official: 35,000 people tracked his flight from Dortmund to Liverpool John Lennon Airport and scores of fans turned up outside the Hope Street Hotel, where he signed his contract.

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  The worst succession plan

  No United manager has generated anything like that excitement, not even Ferguson. And that is despite the club appointing some big names with big reputations and achievements since the legendary Scottish manager retired in 2013. The Red Devils have tried almost every single profile of coach but none of them have worked.

  At first they sought to hire what they thought was a similar character to Ferguson when they chose David Moyes as his successor. But they soon found that despite Moyes coming from a similar working-class background in Glasgow – and showing loyalty to one club for more than a decade – he lacked the authority, aura and tactical nous of Ferguson.

  Moyes soon found out that what worked at Everton did not necessarily work at United and serial winners such as Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic did not take kindly to being asked to play like Phil Jagielka. They struggled to get on board with a manger who had not won a single trophy in a long career. Moyes' reactive style of play did not chime with fans either and it did not work in an increasingly competitive league, with United finishing seventh that season.

  There was also an inconvenient truth: Ferguson had left him with an ageing squad full of players who had passed their peak and an overhaul was needed. Moyes was not the right man to lead it. His appointment will go down as one of the worst succession plans in football history.

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  Van Gaal's legacy of boredom

  United chose a radically different candidate to succeed Moyes when they hired Louis van Gaal. The larger-than-life Dutchman was a proven winner and had triumphed in the Netherlands, Spain and Germany. But most of his achievements at club level had been long before he took charge at Old Trafford, such as winning the Champions League in 1995 with Ajax.

  His brand of possession football, which was not as advanced as that of Barcelona and Bayern Munich at the time and placed no emphasis on pressing, produced one of the blandest eras of football United fans have ever witnessed.

  Although there were some good moments, the overall impression was a team only capable of passing the ball sideways and that could bore audiences to sleep. Attendances at Old Trafford dropped and the club became genuinely worried that fans would not want to renew their season tickets.

  Van Gaal's unique personality also alienated a fair few players, particularly Memphis Depay and Angel Di Maria, who were both signed for big money but were big disappointments.

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  Mourinho's divide and rule

  With a second managerial appointment going wrong, the club took the obvious choice and hired Jose Mourinho, who everyone considered a born winner and who had lifted the Premier League just one year previously with Chelsea. Woodward conveniently ignored the fact that the Portuguese had also presided over a disastrous season with the Blues and the team were on the brink of the relegation zone when he was sacked.

  As he has done at every single club he has coached, Mourinho adopted a policy of divide and rule. While he was worshipped by some players, namely Ander Herrera, he hung many more out to dry. There was some success, with United winning the League Cup and the Europa League, earning a second-placed finish in the Premier League and reaching the FA Cup final.

  But those triumphs were overshadowed by devastating defeats in which the team showed no ambition, particularly the home loss by Sevilla to exit the Champions League in 2018. That was when Mourinho showed the nasty side of his character and disrespected the club with his rant about 'football heritage'.

  Under the Portuguese, United had become Mourinho FC and the trade off was not worth it as, just like with every previous club, there was a downward spiral in the third season and he was sacked with the team sliding towards mid-table and with a bruised dressing room.

Manchester City star Erling Haaland believes Dominik Szoboszlai has been an "amazing" signing for Liverpool ahead of their crunch clash at Anfield.

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Liverpool host Man City at AnfieldHaaland relishes heavyweight clashSingles out 'amazing' Liverpool playerGettyWHAT HAPPENED?

The Cityzens are looking to climb to the summit of the Premier League and only a victory in Merseyside on Sunday afternoon can guarantee that. Ahead of this heavyweight contest, the City striker singled out midfielder Szoboszlai for praise – with the £60 million ($77.1m) summer recruit scoring six goals and bagging four assists in all competitions so far.

Advertisement(C)GettyImagesWHAT ERLING HAALAND SAID

He told City's website: “I think how the Premier League is, it all comes down to being up there and to then, in the last few months, be the best team. That is how you have to do it. It is going to be a really massive game and there are loads of upcoming nice games over the next months. That is why we play football, because of these games. They have got some great players as well. They have bought some new players too. [Dominik] Szoboszlai is amazing. Liverpool have many great players, but the good thing is that we also have many good players. We need to be brave when we play our football, and we need to be ready. We will try to beat them.”

(C)GoalTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Both City and Liverpool have a huge amount to play for in this contest as the former are looking to secure back to back trebles and the latter are aiming for an historic quadruple. A win for either side will hugely dent the other's Premier League title chances and may deliver a psychological blow in their pursuit of other silverware.

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WHAT NEXT?

After this box office encounter, Liverpool host Sparta Praha in the second leg of their last 16 Europa League tie on Thursday – where they hold a 5-1 aggregate advantage. City, on the other hand, take on Newcastle United next Saturday in the quarter finals of the FA Cup.

Steven Smith is back in Australia and feels it is “time to get back into it”

ESPNcricinfo staff04-May-20180:46

Langer: Ball-tampering mistakes can be forgiven

Steven Smith is back in Australia and feels it is “time to get back into it”. Smith posted a picture of himself with his fiancee Dani Willis and their dog Charlie on Instagram along with a message thanking people for their support.The former Australia captain had broken down crying when talking about his role in the ball-tampering scandal in March, but the six weeks that have now passed since the incident in Cape Town have helped him “come to terms with everything.””The amount of emails and letters I have received has been incredible and I have been extremely humbled by the enormous amount of support you have given me. I now have a lot to do to earn back your trust. To my Mum, Dad and Dani, you have been my rock through this and I can’t thank you enough. Family is the most important thing in the world and I thank you for your love and support.”There was little of that from the public, however, in the immediate aftermath of the news that Australia had cheated in an effort to gain reverse swing, and that the captain had been involved. There was pressure from the Prime Minister downwards on Cricket Australia to take definitive action and the board responded by stripping Smith of his captaincy and banning him from playing cricket for a year. David Warner received the same sentence for his involvement while the man who rubbed sandpaper on the ball, Cameron Bancroft, was suspended for nine months.After the three men were told to return home early, the Australian Cricket Association suggested that their punishment was disproportionate to the crime. CA chief executive James Sutherland said the sanctions had to be severe because of the damage done the reputation of Australian cricket. But the wider cricket community were a lot more sympathetic.Australia’s new coach Justin Langer, who was appointed on Thursday following Darren Lehmann’s resignation, has thrown the door open for Smith, Bancroft and Warner to return to the fold. “Cameron Bancroft and Steve Smith, literally besides Mike Hussey, love the game more than anyone I know,” Langer had said. “They are cricket tragics, and they’re great kids. That’s why it was such a surprise they made the mistake they did. Davey Warner is the same. He’s a really good young bloke, he made a mistake. I love the way he plays his cricket. Has he got areas to get better at? Yep. Has Steve Smith? Yep. Has Cameron Bancroft? Yep. Every single person in Australian cricket? Yep. If we can keep mentoring and helping them and they want to get better and meet the standards of the Australian cricket team of course they will be welcomed back.”Smith and Warner will only be available to play for Australia in April 2019, about two months out from the World Cup. Bancroft, meanwhile, will be eligible by January 2019.