TOTTENHAM have reportedly reached an agreement with Antonio Conte as the Italian flies into London to take over as manager.
Nuno Espirito Santo was sacked on Monday morning after being greeted with chants of “you don’t know what you’re doing” during a 3-0 loss to Man Utd at the weekend.
Meanwhile Antonio Rudiger has confirmed he is happy at Chelsea despite speculation linking him with Liverpool and Man City.
But a centre-back who may have to soon find a new club is legendary former Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos.
Reports from France suggest the idea of releasing the Spaniard is “no longer fiction” for PSG.
And John Terry, Unai Emery and Eddie Howe are among the names being linked with the Newcastle job as the Saudis look to make an appointment by next week.
Stay up to date with all the latest from around the clubs with our live blog…
MESSI ENDING
Lionel Messi says he his ‘hurt’ by the suggestion from Barcelona president Joan Laporta that his move to Paris Saint-Germain was money-driven.
The six-time Ballon d’Or winner left the Nou Camp to join the French giants on a free transfer in August.
Messi joined Paris Saint-Germain from Barcelona in the summer Laporta said he hoped Messi would have offered to play for Barca ‘for free’ but that he had understandably decided to take a ‘powerful offer’ from PSG.
But Messi told Sport: “The desire of me and my family was to stay in Barcelona.
“Nobody asked me to play for free but at the same time, it seems to me that the words said by the president are out of place.
“They hurt me because I think he doesn’t need to say that.”
TOTT UP THE BILL
Nuno Espirito Santo’s short-spell as Spurs boss will cost them £1.4million for each Premier League game he took charge of because of the terms of his deal.
The former Wolves boss oversaw ten league games at Tottenham – and they lost half of them.
The Portuguese was sacked on Monday morning and Spurs will now have to pay him the entirety of his £14m contract as part of his severance package, according to the Express.
The Athletic says the club would not have had to pay anything to sack him at the end of the season if they had finished outside the Prem’s top six.
KESS ‘N TELL
Tottenham are likely to reignite their interest in Franck Kessie under the management of Antonio Conte.
Tottenham could go back in for AC Milan’s Franck Kessie if Conte takes over at Spurs Spurs’ managing director Fabio Paratici met with Kessie’s agent in August to try and land the AC Milan star, while Conte wanted him while he was boss at Inter Milan, according to sports journalist Nicolo Schira.
Kessie, 24, is yet to agree a contract extension with the Serie A giants and could leave the San Siro on a free transfer at the end of the season.
CONTE IN THE CAPITAL
Antonio Conte landed at a London airport this lunchtime to tie-up a deal to become Spurs’ new manager.
The Italian is booked in for an afternoon meeting with the Tottenham hierarchy to agree the final details of a contract until 2023, according to Sky Sports.
INTER STARS CONTE COULD WANT AT SPURS
Antonio Conte might be tempted to raid former club Inter Milan for a couple of his title-winning players to help revive Tottenham’s flagging fortunes.
The Italian has a soft spot for two stars in particular – Milan Skriniar and Lautaro Martinez.
Slovakia star Skriniar, 26, is a 6ft 2in no-nonsense centre-half who would help sure up a Tottenham defence which has conceded 16 goals in their ten Prem games so far this season.
Argentina striker Martinez, 24, is technically-gifted 20-goal a season striker who could give Spurs’ out-of-sorts talisman Harry Kane some much-needed competition.
HOW SPURS MIGHT LINE UP UNDER CONTE
Antonio Conte is likely to deploy wing backs either side of three central defenders at Spurs if he takes over as their new boss.
The Italian likes his full-backs to get up and down the pitch effectively and set the base of his Inter Milan team with flexibility in their back five while leading them to the Serie A title last season.
That could be good news for Spurs duo Sergio Reguilon and Emerson Royal, who could fill the wing-back roles in Conte’s preferred 3-4-3 formation.
CONTE’S MANAGERIAL APPROACH INCLUDES ‘SHARING SEX TIPS’ WITH PLAYERS
Antonio Conte could be offering Spurs stars a bit of bedroom guidance alongside the football tactics if he becomes their new boss.
The 52-year-old Italian has previously told L’Equipe magazine about the sex advice he had given his squads to help improve their performances on the pitch.
He said: “During spells of matches the players should not have sexual relations that last for long periods, and they need to make as little effort as possible
“The best position for them is if their partners go on top, and it is preferable that they are with their own wives.”
Conte made those revelations while in charge of Inter Milan and last season he led the Italians to the Serie A title.
CONTE HAS ‘REACHED AGREEMENT WITH SPURS’
Antonio Conte has reached an agreement with Tottenham to become their new manager and will arrive in London later today to begin his tenure, according to reports.
The Italian has sorted out the final details of his deal with the Premier League club and will sign an 18-month contract, according to gianlucadimarzio.com.
The former Chelsea and Inter Milan boss is set to become the successor to Nuno Espirito Santo, who was sacked by Spurs this morning.
SCUNTHORPE SACK BOSS COX
Trigger-happy Monday has continued with the sacking of manager Neil Cox by Scunthorpe.
Cox’s dismissal comes within hours of the axing of Nuno Espirito Santo at Spurs, and the firing of Markus Schopp by Barnsley.
Scunthorpe lost 2-1 at Colchester on Saturday and have won just one of their past ten league games.
The Iron also parted company with Cox’s assistant manager Mark Lillis.
Coach Tony McMahon and goalkeeping coach Paul Musselwhite will take caretaker charge of Saturday’s FA Cup tie against Doncaster.
MAN CITY ARE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FAVOURITES DESPITE PALACE SHOCK
The bookies have Manchester City as favourties to win the Champions League despite Saturday’s poor display in their Premier League defeat to Crystal Palace.
Ahead of this week’s fourth round of group games, Betfair have City at 7/2 to win Europe’s top club competition, ahead of Bayern Munich at 4/1, Paris Saint-Germain 9/2 and Liverpool 13/2.
It appears the weekend’s defeat at the Etihad – following goals for the Eagles from Wilf Zaha and Conor Gallagher – have done little to dampen the belief Pep Guardiola’s side will go all the way in the Champions League this season.
With three games left to play in Group A, City are second behind PSG, and host Belgian side Club Brugge on Wednesday evening.
CONTE BOKKIES’ FAVOURITE FOR SPURS JOB
Antonio Conte is the bookies favourite to be the next manager at Spurs.
The vacancy follows the expected sacking of Nuno Espirito Santo this morning.
Conte is the bookies’ tip to take the vacant manager’s job at Spurs Betfair have Italian Conte at 2/1 to fill the role at the under-performing Prem club.
Graham Potter at 5/1, Paulo Fonseca 5/1, Ryan Mason 6/1 and Brendan Rodgers 15/2 are also thought to be in the running.
BARNSLEY SACK BOSS SCHOPP!
Barnsley have sacked boss Markus Schopp after their seventh-straight defeat.
The Championship club confirmed Schopp’s departure this morning with a tweet.
The Tykes are second from bottom the second tier after a 2-1 defeat at Bristol City on Saturday.
Barnsley CEO Khaled El-Ahmad said: “On behalf of everyone at Oakwell, I would like to thank Markus for the last few months and wish him well for the next step in his career.
“I would like supporters to know that the process for finding a suitable replacement is underway and we will announce a new appointment in due course.”
Schopp remarked: “I would like to thank all those who have accompanied me in this short but very intense time.
“It is a pity that our hard work was not reflected in the results. I wish the club all the best for the future and that they will achieve all their goals.”
Joseph Laumann will be the care-tacker boss for Barnsley’s Championship clash with Derby on Wednesday.
NUNO SACKED BY SPURS!
Tottenham have sacked Nuno Espirito Santo as their manager after just four months in charge.
The Spurs board held a crisis meeting to evaluate their situation after the club were beaten 3-0 at home to Manchester United on Saturday.
Nuno Espirito Santo was sacked after four-months as Spurs boss A Spurs statement also confirmed Nuno’s coaching staff of Ian Cathro, Rui Barbosa and Antonio Dias were also sacked.
Tottenham Managing Director Fabio Paratici said: “I know how much Nuno and his coaching staff wanted to succeed and I regret that we have had to take this decision.
“Nuno is a true gentleman and will always be welcome here. We should like to thank him and his coaching staff and wish them well for the future.”
It is not clear yet who the club are lining up as Nuno’s replacement but former Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino has been heavily linked.
Former Chelsea boss Antonio Conte, who led Inter Milan to the Serie A title last season before leaving them in May, has also reportedly been sounded out.
Spurs host Vitesse in an Europa Conference League tie on Thursday and former Spurs midfielder Ryan Mason could be set for another caretaker stint in charge of the side.
Mason was appointed interim boss following the sacking of former boss Jose Mourinho in April and held that position before Nuno’s arrival in the summer.
NUNO AT SPURS TRAINING GROUND AS SACK TALK GROWS
Spurs boss Nuno Espirito Santo arrived at their training ground this morning with growing speculation he is about to be sacked.
Chairman Daniel Levy – who has a history of axing under-performing bosses quickly – reportedly spent the weekend considering whether to chop Nuno.
Nuno is under pressure as Tottenham boss after a disappointing start to the season Back-to-back Prem defeats have left Tottenham ten points off the title pace and the lackluster form of talisman Harry Kane is a growing concern at the club.
Antonio Conte, Graham Potter and Erik ten Hag along with ex-Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino have all been touted as potential replacements for Nuno.
The Portuguese had to listen to boos ringing out during a demoralising 3-0 home defeat to Manchester United on Saturday.
PSG ‘CONSIDERING RAMOS RELEASE’
Sergio Ramos’ stay at Paris Saint-Germain could be short and not too sweet, according to reports.
The injury-hit former Real Madrid captain is yet to make his debut for the Ligue 1 giants since his arrival in July.
And according to French media outlet Le Parisien, PSG are now considering terminating the 35-year-old’s contract.
But any release of the player is likely to be far from straight forward as he signed a deal with the French side until 2023.
The club’s supporters are said to be growing frustrated with Ramos’ absence and French newspaper L’Equipe have reportedly produced a mini mockumentary about how he has been like a ghost at the training facility.
OVERNIGHT ROUND-UP
Nuno Espirito Santo’s fate as Tottenham boss could be decided today.
Spurs chairman Daniel Levy held crisis talks with sporting director Fabio Paratici yesterday following Saturday’s 3-0 home humiliation against Manchester United.
Nuno’s reign has lasted 124 days – with Jacques Santini the quickest to be axed by Levy so far after 155 days in 2004.
Former Chelsea and Inter Milan chief Antonio Conte reportedly tops Spurs’ wishlist – as well as Manchester United’s, should they sack Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
United’s impressive weekend win eased the pressure on Solskjaer but Champions League defeat at Atalanta tomorrow night would put it all back on.
But a spanner in the works for both Tottenham and the Red Devils is that Conte is reportedly ready to wait for a new job until the summer.
On the transfer side, Liverpool are being linked with Leicester flyer Harvey Barnes and Real Madrid flop Luka Jovic.
But Reds’ boss Jurgen Klopp still hopes to keep main man Mo Salah.
Arsenal could move for United midfield misfit Donny van de Beek in January.
On the pitch, West Ham went three points clear of fifth-placed United with a comfortable 4-1 win over Aston Villa.
But Villa boss Dean Smith blasted Ezri Konsa’s “staggering” 50th-minute red card when the visitors were 2-0 down.
Smith insisted Jarrod Bowen was not goalbound when Villa centre-back Konsa fouled him.
Earlier Leeds won 2-1 at bottom side Norwich, while Everton will go sixth tonight if they triumph at Wolves.
OLE HAILS FERNANDES
Bruno Fernandes is finally coming to terms with no longer being Manchester United’s main man.
Now Ole Gunnar Solskjaer hopes his Portuguese playmaker has rediscovered his mojo going into this week’s crucial games against Atalanta and Manchester City.
Fernandes’ nose was well and truly put out of joint by the deadline-day signing of his international team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo.
For the previous 18 months he had relished his status as the Old Trafford idol with the entire team being set up around his talents.
But everything changed when Ronaldo returned to become the sole focus of attention.
And Fernandes found himself trying a bit too hard to recapture top dog status and ended up playing his team into trouble as a consequence.
But a long, hard chat with boss Solskjaer following last week’s Liverpool humiliation appears to have got him back on track.
And the change of formation which gave him free rein to try all his tricks behind Ronaldo and Edinson Cavani worked wonders as United took hapless Spurs to the cleaners in Saturday’s 3-0 win.
It was his sublime pass which teed up Ronaldo’s 39th-minute volley and his tackle on Oliver Skipp which set up Cavani’s first goal of the season to secure the victory.
A delighted Solskjaer said: “What a ball for Ronaldo’s goal. Bruno really shows his quality when he plays those passes.
“I’ve been on to him lately about his decision-making because in some games he’s been a bit wasteful and taking too many risks.
“But Bruno has to be allowed to play that pass if he sees Cristiano, Cavani and Marcus Rashford in position and he’s getting better at that which is good.”
KDB SWEATS ON CITY PLACE AT UTD
Kevin De Bruyne is sweating on his Manchester City place for Saturday’s derby at United.
The Belgian superstar, 30, has been the main man at the Etihad — and at times in the whole Premier League — for much of his six-year stay.
But Pep Guardiola does not care much for the past, just ask Raheem Sterling or Riyad Mahrez.
He goes on what he sees on the training pitch and in matches when he picks his team.
And KdB must be worried in the aftermath of Saturday’s shock 2-0 home defeat by Crystal Palace, particularly when he looks around at the midfield talent in Manchester City’s squad.
Because right now, on form alone, he does not get into their first XI.
De Bruyne was left on the bench at Brighton nine days ago — and City shone.
At West Ham in midweek, he was withdrawn ten minutes from time as the Carabao Cup holders went out on penalties.
And on Saturday, when his ten-man team needed inspiration, Guardiola brought him off on the hour.
NUNO FIGHTS TO AVOID AXE
Nuno Espirito Santo is fighting to avoid the sack after Daniel Levy held crisis talks today.
The Tottenham chairman discussed the manager’s future with sporting director Fabio Paratici following Saturday’s humiliating 3-0 home defeat by Manchester United.
Now Levy must decide whether to fire Nuno, 47, after just five wins from their opening ten games of the Premier League season.
Nuno would go down as having the shortest reign of any full-time Spurs manager under Levy with just 124 days in charge if he is axed.
French flop Jacques Santini was booted out after 155 days back in November 2004.
Fans turned on the Portuguese on Saturday, chanting ‘We want Nuno out’.
The atmosphere turned toxic as the North Londoners failed to register a shot on target all game.
Levy was also subjected to fans asking for him to leave the club, while even Harry Kane was booed when he opted to pass rather than shoot.
ONLY MENDY ‘BETTER’ THAN RAMSDALE
These stats show how Aaron Ramsdale is justifying his emergence as Arsenal’s first-choice keeper.
Some doubted why Mikel Arteta would pay Sheffield United £30million for a stopper who might struggle to replace Bernd Leno.
And positions like striker seemed more crucial for strengthening to many fans.
But yesterday’s star-man showing in the 2-0 win at Leicester underlined Ramsey’s progress.
NUNO ‘ON BRINK’
Spurs chief Nuno Espirito Santos is ‘on the brink’ of the sack, according to The Telegraph tonight.
Tottenham chiefs reportedly held an urgent meeting amid anger at yesterday’s 3-0 home defeat against Manchester United.
RASH OF BIRTHDAY WISHES
How many people have done so much, so well received, so young as Marcus Rashford.
And Manchester United marked the birthday of “one of our own” today by hailing the England striker and social campaigner as a “role model on and off the pitch”.
LACAZETTE ‘FANCIES ATLETICO MOVE’
Alexandre Lacazette hopes to join Atletico Madrid next summer, reports say.
The France striker, 30, is expected to leave Arsenal when his contract expires at the end of the season.
And the Daily Express suggest Atletico are keen.
Lacazette has notched 68 goals and 29 assists in 178 games for the Gunners.
DON’T CONT ON IT
Antonio Conte insists he won’t be joining a new club until the end of the season, according to reports.
The former Chelsea boss has been heavily linked with Manchester United, Newcastle and Tottenham.
But Conte reportedly is prepared to bide his time and wait to take a job at the start of next season.
Conte was strongly linked with replacing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at United after their drubbing against Liverpool.
But United won 3-0 at Tottenham on Saturday and their board are keeping the faith with their former striker.
JOHNSON’S SWITCHED ON FOR HAMMERS
Ben Johnson celebrated bagging West Ham’s opener in the 4-1 win over Aston Villa by mocking a viral video of himself as a teenager.
After brushing off his elated team-mates, the 21-year-old defender shook his hands in the air in a similar fashion to the old clip.
Hammers fans were quick to comment, one saying: “Keep those celebrations coming Ben!!”
Another said: “Love that.”
And another said: Quality celebration!
“The screwing in lightbulbs dance! Face with tears of joy Ben Johnson he’s one of our own!”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
