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Tottenham Hotspur host their final home game of the 2020/21 season this evening as they welcome Aston Villa to North London, and there will even be fans in attendance for the first time all campaign.

Spurs are still in contention for a place in Europe next season as they currently sit in sixth place, knowing a victory would move them to within one point of Liverpool, who play Burnley later tonight.

Interim head coach Ryan Mason will need to get his team selection spot on and whilst the Midlands outfit haven’t been below 11th all campaign, there isn’t a better time to play them as they have won just two of their last 12 matches.

Last time out, the Lilywhites eased to a 2-0 victory over Wolves.

However, there are now emerging doubts over the chances of Gareth Bale featuring once again. When asked if the Welshman would start, Mason claimed he was “not sure.”

It could mean that Spurs need to find a spark from somewhere else, so perhaps it’s time to recall Tanguy Ndombele to the starting XI tonight.

The £45m-rated Frenchman has been snubbed from the off in their last four matches in all competitions, with Mason preferring Dele Alli in the no.10 role and Giovani Lo Celso a little deeper.

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Ndombele had started to come into his own this campaign, providing six goals and four assists, and on his day, is one of the highest-quality players on the pitch.

There aren’t many in this current Spurs squad that can pick up the ball and drive with it. The 24-year-old dynamo tops the charts – by some distance – for dribbles per game (2.4), with the next best ‘regular’ being Harry Kane (1.4) and Bale (1.4).

Furthermore, Ndombele manages 6.52 progressive runs every 90 minutes, meaning he is the most productive in moving the ball towards the opposition’s goal or into the penalty box – no other Spurs regular is better, not even Heung-min Son, Lucas Moura or Bale, via FBRef.

If the Real Madrid loanee is out, then Mason could benefit massively from having Ndombele’s presence on the pitch, rather than on the bench.

According to Spurs’ backup goalkeeper Joe Hart, via football.london, the box-to-box monster is a “world-beater” and “unplayable,” so it seems a recipe for disaster to leave a player of this calibre out of your squad.

Against Villa in the reverse fixture, the former Lyon star was dominant in the engine room, where he recorded a whopping six successful dribbles, won 92.3% of his midfield duels, and made 94% of his passes, as per SofaScore, causing the likes of John McGinn and Douglas Luiz all sorts of trouble.

Forget Bale, Ndombele could well be Mason’s game-changer this evening. He must be unleashed from the off.

AND in other news, Levy could transform Spurs’ fortunes by hiring 62 y/o “scientist” who’s “Bielsa-esque”…

Giovanni van Bronckhorst could not have dreamt up a better start to life in Glasgow after two wins from two as Rangers manager.

The Gers beat Sparta Prague 2-0 to ensure qualification from the group stage of the Europa League in his first game, before beating Livingston 3-1 in his first league match in charge.

In the short-term, the Dutchman’s focus may solely be on working with the current first-team squad and picking up results and momentum in all competitions. However, a long-term goal may be to make use of the academy and bring quality players through the youth set-up.

New Roofe

One academy player who could be unearthed during Gio’s reign is young forward Tony Weston. The attacker could end up being the new Kemar Roofe at Ibrox, if he is given an opportunity to show what he is capable of.

Weston joined the club from English side Blackpool in the summer of 2020 and has been thriving for the reserve team this season. In six cup matches, he has produced an impressive four goals – averaging a strike every 98 minutes on the pitch

He has also scored 15 goals in the Lowland League, with Rangers B having won 14 of their 19 matches in the competition. This shows that he is a lethal goalscorer for the club’s youth/reserve sides, with 19 goals in a maximum of 25 games to date.

In terms of the forward’s attitude, his former Blackpool manager Simon Grayson previously hailed his ‘pure enthusiasm’ for the game, saying:

“He’s got so much enthusiasm. The lads were watching what he was doing, where his pure enthusiasm and love of being a professional footballer is at the front of his mind.

“He’s got 30-year-old lads behind him in the warm-up and I’ve never known a 16- year-old lead with stuff like that.

“He’s got confidence in his ability and it’s great for him.”

This suggests that he has the mentality to go along with his apparent talent as a footballer. Therefore, he could have a great chance to make the step up to the first-team level at Ibrox, as he has the ability and desire to continue progressing through the ranks.

By offering him a chance in the senior squad, Gio could potentially unearth the new Roofe – who is a current English goalscorer in the team. The ex-Leeds man has registered an excellent 27 strikes in 54 competitive outings for the Gers and his fellow countryman’s record at youth level suggests he has the potential to hit those heights in the future.

AND in other news, Big boost: Gio hands Rangers massive injury lift pre-Hibs, fans will surely love it…

Former Premier League Golden Boot winner Kevin Phillips has been reacting to the news that Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips could miss two months through injury, as per Football Insider.

The Lowdown: Phillips’ hamstring injury

The 26-year-old had to be withdrawn against Brentford last weekend through injury, with Marcelo Bielsa unsure at the time in regards to the extent of the problem. The Telegraph provided an update a few days later, suggesting that the England international could miss up to two months out with a hamstring issue.

Leeds officially shared an update on the 26-year-old’s problem on Thursday, claiming that the midfielder has undergone treatment on the issue.

The Latest: Phillips injury is a ‘huge blow’

Phillips, who regularly features as a pundit on Sky Sports, was talking to Football Insider regarding the news on the Leeds midfielder.

This is what he had to say in reply, labelling The Telegraph’s update as a ‘huge blow’ to the player and his club:

“It’s a huge, huge blow.

“It’s been a tough season for Leeds so far. To lose arguably their most talented player at this point in the season will be devastating. He’s the heartbeat of their midfield.

“It’s been a bit of an up and down season for Kalvin so far, there were obviously the rumours of a rift between him and Bielsa which turned out to be false.

“Being out for two months at such a crucial time with these tough games coming up, it’s a massive blow. It could go wrong for Leeds.”

The Verdict: How will Bielsa deal without Phillips?

Phillips has been influential under Bielsa during his time at Elland Road, perfecting the defensive midfield role in a unique system.

He has turned out 107 times as a defensive midfielder during his career, and early indications are that the manager is more than happy to get imaginative when it comes to coping without the England international.

Leeds went with a 4-3-1-2 system in an impressive display against Chelsea at the weekend, with winger Jack Harrison occupying one of the three central midfield roles alongside Adam Forshaw and Jamie Shackleton.

Stuart Dallas, Mateusz Klich and Pascal Struijk are also options for Bielsa in that position in what could be an entertaining festive period as the Whites look to take points off the likes of Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool.

In other news: Sky Sports think this ‘brilliant’ Leeds beast suffered a fresh injury on Saturday

A huge Rangers transfer update has emerged from an insider on winger Ianis Hagi, following recent speculation over his future at Ibrox…

What’s the talk?

The forward’s famous father, Gheorghe Hagi, has claimed that his son will be remaining in Glasgow despite the reported interest in his signature.

Romanian journalist Emanuel Rosu quotes him as giving this eight-word update: “He’s staying with Rangers, he loves it there”

Galatasaray and Premier League side Aston Villa have both been touted with an interest in the wide man with the January transfer window on the verge of opening.

Ecstatic

Rangers fans will surely be ecstatic with this news as it suggests that the Romania international will be going nowhere anytime soon.

Supporters may have been worrying about what could be about to come next month due to the speculation surrounding his name at the moment, but his dad, who clearly has inside knowledge on Rangers and his child, has now allayed those fears.

He may not be getting the goals and assists to catch the eye this season but his overall performances have been excellent. Hagi has averaged an impressive SofaScore rating of 7.15 in the Premiership, despite having one goal and zero assists, which shows that he is performing well without getting the rewards he possibly deserves.

Former Gers boss Steven Gerrard once heaped praise on the attacker, saying: “We’re really happy with Ianis Hagi, he’s a joy to work with.

“He’s a student of the game. He’s always looking at areas to improve, whether that be from a physical point of view or tactically or technically. He’s someone you have to drag off the training ground.

“Ianis is always in the analyst department too. He’s never out of the gym, so he’s an absolute dream to work with, very low maintenance. We’re delighted with how he is developing and progressing and we’re happy to have him.”

Last season, he produced seven goals and 11 assists in just 23 league starts, whilst averaging a score of 7.02. This suggests that his all-around play has improved in the current campaign but he has lost his magic touch when it comes to the final action to score or create a goal.

If he can maintain his current high standards and recover his contributions in the final third from last term then he could be a phenomenal player for the club. That is why fans will be ecstatic with the prospect of him remaining in Gio van Bronckhorst’s squad, as it will give the Dutchman more time to extract the best from the young talent.

AND in other news, GVB heading for his first big disaster at Ibrox, it may be season-defining for Rangers…

In recent a recent post on Twitter, Alasdair Gold revealed that Tottenham Hotspur manager Jose Mourinho admitted he has not watched the footage of Hugo Lloris’ controversial interview.

Following Spurs’ humiliating 3-0 defeat to Dinamo Zagreb on Thursday evening, a result which saw them dumped out of the Europa League despite having won the first leg of the tie 2-0, Lloris dubbed the defeat a “disgrace” in his post-match interview, as well as hinting at a divide in the Tottenham dressing room.

However, after Tottenham returned to Premier League action last weekend, seeing off Aston Villa 2-0, Mourinho claimed in his own post-match comments (via Gold’s Twitter profile) that he had not watched Lloris’ interview, as he is a “very mature guy” and has “emotional stability”, meaning he was “not interested” in what his player had to say about the loss.

Transfer Tavern Take

While it is likely that Lloris made his feelings known in the dressing room following the loss in Zagreb, Mourinho’s claim to the press that he was not interested in what his club captain had to say after the defeat is certainly an interesting stance to take.

Indeed, with the Frenchman suggesting there is a divide in the Tottenham dressing room, this would very much appear to be something which directly concerns Mourinho – and something which, unless the 58-year-old begins to take notice, could very much have an impact on his own future in north London, regardless of his apparent “emotional stability”.

In other news: Tottenham have identified a potentially ‘perfect’ heir to Mourinho – find out more here!

Former West Bromwich Albion star Steve Bull has told Football FanCast that Sam Johnstone can become one of the best goalkeepers in England.

The goalkeeper has been raging against the dying of the light at the Hawthorns this season, with Sam Allardyce’s side almost certain to go down.

They are 10 points off safety with nine games to go and it would take nothing short of a miracle for them to force their way out of the bottom three.

Johnstone, though, has made the most saves of any goalkeeper in the Premier League and has been rewarded with his first international call-up.

He could play for England against San Marino on Thursday, or against Albania or Poland in the upcoming World Cup qualifiers.

Johnstone will be battling with Manchester United’s Dean Henderson and Burnley’s Nick Pope for a place in the XI for the upcoming games, with Jordan Pickford injured, and Bull, who won 13 caps for the Three Lions, thinks that he has what it takes to become a real option for Southgate.

Asked if he could become one of England’s best, Bull told FFC: “Yeah, he could do. I think he’s got the most saves in the Premier League. His back must be really hurting! I just think he’s got to keep doing it for his club at the moment.

“If he can do it for Albion with all of these shots and crosses coming in, you just think of the likes of Tottenham and Liverpool where there’s hardly anything coming in. I think he’s got to earn his bread and butter now.

“He’s got his first call-up, he might be third-choice, second-choice, you never know, he might get on. You never know what he might do but all he’s got to do is keep his feet firmly on the ground and, who knows, he could be a top six, top three, top two England goalkeeper in the future.

“There’s a lot of young ones that are up and coming and fighting for that spot and all the best to them; keep doing what you’re doing for your club and you’ll get your chance for your country.”

Rangers will face Premier League outfit Tottenham Hotspur in a pre-season friendly at Ibrox this summer.

The lowdown

Rangers will likely be preparing for Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s first full season at the helm. In addition to drawing up transfers, they’ll also have to arrange friendlies to help the squad build fitness for competitive fixtures.

If Rangers finish second in the Scottish Premiership and fail to win the Europa League, then they’re likely to enter the second round of Champions League qualifiers, scheduled for the second half of July.

Meanwhile, the start of the SPFL season is pencilled in for the weekend of 30/31 July.

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The latest

Football London’s Alasdair Gold writes that Rangers held talks with Spurs this week over a potential summer meeting at Ibrox.

The Lilywhites are due to jet off to South Korea for two matches, and wanted to line up a game in Glasgow on their return.

And those efforts have been a success, with the ‘excited’ Spurs officially confirming the fixture for Saturday July 23.

The verdict: Exciting indeed

This can only be good news. Rangers’ players get the chance to test themselves against elite opposition, and the added intensity should be of benefit to Van Bronckhorst’s side.

Last summer, when they faced Spurs’ North London rivals Arsenal, they could only welcome 2,000 spectators amid coronavirus restrictions, but this year, there’s no reason why they can’t get close to a full house and generate considerable funds too.

And the club hierarchy will be looking for alternative revenue sources this pre-season after backing out a friendly against Celtic in Australia following a backlash from fans.

In other news, read this journalist’s concerning Alfredo Morelos claim. 

According to The Sun’s Alan Nixon, Crystal Palace are reportedly eyeing up a move for Stoke City starlet Nathan Collins.

What’s the word?

The Eagles have no fewer than eighteen players set to be out of contract in the summer, including defenders Gary Cahill, 35, and Scott Dann, 33, with several new start needed to come in ahead of their potential departures.

And now, The Sun claims Palace are scouting Stoke’s Collins, but that they face stiff competition from Premier League rivals Arsenal and Burnley.

The report adds that Burnley are lining up a £10m bid for the 19-year-old, who has been heavily linked with a bet365 Stadium exit.

Palace’s next Scott Dann?

Described as “very composed” by James McClean, Collins is a throwback to the traditional centre-back, possessing fine positional sense and awareness.

One of his other club-mates, Joe Allen, was also effusive in his praise for his younger teammate, saying: “There’s a lot of work to be put in and a long way for him to go, but I hope to see him in the Premier League one day. Hopefully with Stoke. He’s certainly got the tools for it — technically, and also in terms of his personality.”

And this level of maturity was clearly on display during his defensive shift in Stoke’s 2-1 defeat to Watford. Whilst he ended up on the wrong side, he held his own for the majority of the game.

As per SofaScore, the £1m-rated colossus made two tackles and three interceptions which was the joint-highest amount of any player for Michael O’Neill’s side, whilst he also took a game-high 98 touches of the ball as he looked comfortable at the back and confident in possession.

He kept Palace’s long-term target Ismaila Sarr in his back pocket for most of the game, as Sarr could only win four duels from 12 attempts as the teenager did his best to nullify the threat on the right-hand side of the pitch.

Despite his age, Collins clearly has an experienced head on his young shoulders, having made 44 appearances for the Potters across all competitions, and he is probably the closest thing Palace could have to the next Scott Dann, who has never been shown a card of any kind over the course of his career so far.

If Steve Parish can get a deal over the line, he could turn out to be a shrewd investment at Selhurst Park.

AND in other news, Crystal Palace target Jordan Amavi would provide ideal left-back cover and competition…

Former Scotland and Premier League manager Alex McLeish believes Tottenham would have to ‘break the bank’ to sign Illan Meslier this summer.

The Lowdown: Key performer for Leeds

There have been a number of key players for the Whites this season, catching the eye on their long-awaited return to the Premier League.

The likes of Kalvin Phillips, Raphinha and Patrick Bamford have all shone, but Meslier has arguably been as good as anyone.

The 21-year-old Frenchman has excelled in the Leeds goal, starting 35 league games and enhancing his reputation as one of Europe’s most exciting players in his position.

The Latest: Robinson discusses Spurs interest

Speaking to Football Insider, McLeish discussed the idea of Meslier replacing Hugo Lloris, something which has been mentioned in the media recently, saying only a huge bid would give Spurs a chance of signing the goalkeeper:

“It’s not easy to lose Lloris and find a goalkeeper of that level immediately, without paying top dollar. Some of the costs of goalkeepers over very recent years…

“He’s a hugely consistent goalie, I wouldn’t rate him the best in the world. I do think there are better out there.

“Would Spurs have to break the bank and go for a Meslier or someone like that? Leeds would probably break the bank to keep him. That’s the sort of levels we’re talking about now.

“For a rebuild in terms of goalkeepers, Harry Kanes, it’s a tough one being a Spurs fan.”

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The Verdict: Too important to sell

Meslier is one of the most influential players at Elland Road, so Marcelo Bielsa will be absolutely desperate to keep hold of him – Darren Bent hailed him as ‘superb’ earlier in the season.

Not only is the youngster excellent with the ball at his feet, but he also has the third-highest save percentage (75.1%) in the league this season, with only Nick Pope (77%) and Emiliano Martinez (76.6%) ahead of him.

Meslier could be the natural successor to Lloris for France, but Leeds must do all they can not to let him succeed the Frenchman at Spurs.

In other news, a pundit has been discussing an ex-Leeds player potentially returning to Elland Road this summer. Read more here.

According to The Daily Record, Southampton are interested in signing Farense midfielder Ryan Gauld this summer.

The Lowdown: Busy summer ahead

This season was a mixed one for the Saints. They started fantastically and even reached an FA Cup semi-final, but they ended up finishing in the bottom half and put in an awful display at Wembley.

As such, Ralph Hasenhuttl is likely to demand new arrivals at St. Mary’s Stadium this summer.

The Latest: Saints eye Gauld

One of the players linked to the south-coast outfit is Gauld, who currently plays in Portugal for the recently relegated outfit Farense.

Legia Warsaw, as well as teams from the MLS and the Championship, are said to be interested in signing the 25-year-old this summer but the report indicates that a move to Southampton appeals to him.

The Verdict: Plenty of ability

Gauld may be a name familiar to some, especially in Scotland. He started his career at Dundee United, and his showings there even earned him comparisons with Lionel Messi (via The Sun). He has mainly struggled to live up to the huge expectations on his shoulders, but this term, he has impressed.

Although Farense were relegated to the second tier, Gauld scored nine goals and provided a further seven assists (Transfermarkt). Last term, he scored nine in 21 in the division below, indicating this campaign’s form is no flash in the plan. Valued at just £4.5m (Transfermarkt), his contract runs out at the end of this term – on a free transfer, this could be an inspired move from the Saints.

In other news, Hasenhuttl reveals the Saints are in talks to sign this 87-goal man.