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Journalist Jack Pitt-Brooke outlined his surprise that both Cristian Stellini and Ryan Mason have remained in charge of Tottenham Hotspur after Antonio Conte was sacked.

What's the latest on Cristian Stellini and Spurs?

On Sunday night, Spurs officially announced that the club's now former head coach would be leaving by mutual agreement as they thanked him for his contribution.

In the statement, chairman Daniel Levy said: "We have 10 Premier League games remaining and we have a fight on our hands for a Champions League place. We all need to pull together. Everyone has to step up to ensure the highest possible finish for our Club and amazing, loyal supporters.”

On top of that, it was explained that Stellini and Mason would remain in charge of Tottenham for now with the 48-year-old Italian working as acting head, coach while the Englishman would be his assistant.

While speaking about this development on TalkSport, Pitt-Brooke explained why he was somewhat taken aback by the news that both men would remain with the club.

Indeed, he explained (1:16): “Well, it's very unusual, isn't it? Off the top of my head. I can't think of any other examples of a manager leaving and his two assistants stay in place.

"I mean, I think the presumption was that Ryan Mason would stay on which of course is what he did after Mourinho was sacked in 2021. But not many people expected Stellini to stay on as well.

“I think in part, it reflects the fact that they don't want a complete repeat of 2021 when Ryan Mason had the last few games. Equally. I think it's also just an acknowledgement of what a good job Stellini and Mason did.

"I mean, frankly, that was his best run in the season when Conte was recuperating from surgery at home in Italy. And Stellini and Mason helped them beat Manchester City and Chelsea. But you're right, it is very odd. It's not something that would normally happen."

How did Ryan Mason do as Spurs manager?

As Pitt-Brooke mentions, Mason was of course in charge as the club's interim for seven games back in 2021 after former coach Jose Mourinho was sacked.

Promisingly, for fans, he actually managed to win four of these games. However, he lost the other three and in that period even managed to squeeze in a Carabao Cup final defeat to Manchester City.

He has remained as a coach at Spurs ever since and so it's safe to assume he'll remain in that position when the club do hire a permanent replacement.

As for Stellini, though, it remains unclear if he will remain in north London when a new man comes in. After all, he was hired by Conte and so is very much connected to the Italian's tenure – which explains why there is some surprise that he too hasn't now departed.

Newcastle United want to bring Real Betis midfielder Nabil Fekir to the Premier League this summer, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Previous contact made

Eddie Howe has reportedly made a new central signing a priority in the upcoming window and it appears that the 29-year-old has been identified as an ideal candidate.

The Frenchman’s contract in La Liga isn’t set to expire until 2026, but being Manuel Pellegrini’s side’s fourth best-performing offensive player, keeping hold of him will be virtually impossible.

The Magpies made contact regarding a move last July and were considering following up with an official offer, but despite a deal failing to materialise, they are now taking another bite of the cherry.

The Latest: Newcastle eyeing Fekir

According to Spanish reports (via Sport Witness), Newcastle and Leicester are both ‘in the picture’ to sign Fekir ahead of the 2023/24 season.

PIF ‘want’ to land their target the second time around and are set to ‘make one last attempt to close’ a deal at the end of the term.

Real Betis are ‘open’ to letting him go and have set a price tag of €30m (£26m), a fee which would ‘not be difficult’ for the northeast outfit to meet.

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The Verdict: Absolute bargain

Fekir has been dubbed a ‘legend’ by talent scout Jacek Kulig and Newcastle should splash the cash to secure his services this summer.

The Puma-sponsored star has scored six goals and provided three assists across all competitions this campaign where he’s currently averaging 1.5 key passes per league game.

The left-footed maestro also ranks in the 96th percentile for most shot-creating actions, highlighting his desire to contribute in the final third.

Should Newcastle be able to successfully sign Fekir for just £26m, it would be an absolute bargain for a player of his talent and calibre.

Liverpool are ‘very keen’ on a deal to sign Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount this summer, according to transfer window correspondent Graeme Bailey.

The Lowdown: Contract talks on hold

The Premier League playmaker has now entered the final 18 months of his contract at Stamford Bridge and is facing an uncertain future after rejecting an offer to extend his stay.

The Merseyside outfit have been credited with an interest in the England international, with Jurgen Klopp in desperate need of midfield reinforcements.

The Athletic’s David Ornstein recently confirmed that the Blues have put contract talks with the 24-year-old on hold and will decide at the end of the season whether to cash in or agree a new deal.

The Latest: Liverpool ‘keen’ on Mount

Taking to Twitter, Bailey revealed that Liverpool hold a strong admiration for Mount and are weighing up whether to make a summer approach. He wrote:

“Liverpool are very keen on Mason Mount amid Chelsea contract uncertainty.

“Jurgen Klopp planning midfield overhaul and Mount has emerged as [a] genuine option for The Reds.”

Expanding in his 90min column, Bailey reveals the SW6 academy graduate would prefer to remain in the capital as it stands, but FSG are ready to capitalise should that change.

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The Verdict: Henderson heir?

Jordan Henderson isn’t getting any younger (32), and with Mount having been dubbed a ‘leader’ by talent scout Jacek Kulig, he could be the perfect heir when the captain hangs up his boots.

The Nike-sponsored star has posted 70 goal contributions in 191 senior outings for Chelsea and is a versatile option, having operated in seven various positions throughout his career.

The Portsmouth-born talent also ranks in the 92nd percentile for most progressive passes per game, displaying his desire to play on the front foot and create dangerous phases for his team.

Mount actually shares the same agent as Fabio Carvalho so this could potentially give Liverpool an advantage should they try to get a deal over the line in the summer.

Leeds United were interested in the possibility of picking up Oliver Skipp on loan until the end of the campaign during the January transfer window.

What’s the latest?

The West Yorkshire club had an encouraging winter window which saw three players come through the doors at Elland Road as Jesse Marsch looks to battle off the threat of relegation.

And one of those players to come through the door was the midfielder Weston McKennie from Juventus, who will likely start alongside his fellow countryman, Tyler Adams.

However, it appears the Whites explored a number of options with the Tottenham Hotspur youngster, Skipp, believed to have been a player on their radar.

Indeed, speaking on his latest YouTube video, reliable Spurs correspondent Alasdair Gold claimed the 22-year-old was open to a loan move, with the Whites one of the sides interested:

“Oliver Skipp, I think was quite open to a loan move, from what I understand, just to get as much sharpness back, really.

“I think he was quite willing, from what I understand, to head out on loan  – [Crystal] Palace, Fulham, Leeds, Bournemouth, all looking to take him if they could, but [Antonio] Conte said no.”

Adding depth

Skipp is a midfielder who has received a lot of praise from some of the recent Spurs managers with Jose Mourinho labelling the youngster “phenomenal” back in 2020.

The Spurs academy product enjoyed a successful loan stint with Norwich City over the 2020/21 campaign where he earned himself 44 starts in the Championship.

However, game time of late has been difficult to come by for the midfielder with Antonio Conte having a wealth of options in the middle of the park.

Having also battled with a foot injury in the early stages of the season, Skipp has seen the January window now pass with just three Premier League starts to his name this term.

But we do wonder, with Adams and now McKennie, whether Skipp would stand much of a better chance at Leeds to starting than what his prospects look like at Spurs?

Granted, it could provide Marsch with much better squad depth, but the player – and Spurs – would likely bat away any bids that would not have Skipp starting on a regular basis.

With the likes of Adam Forshaw still at the club and continuing to prove an injury woe, Skipp could certainly add some much-needed cover in the middle of the pitch for Marsch.

But questions would surely be raised as to how he would find himself in the starting XI on a regular basis if Adams and McKennie avoid injury.

Tottenham Hotspur remain interested in signing Nicolo Zaniolo before deadline day…

What’s the word?

That’s according to Sky in Italy, who claim that Spurs want to sign the AS Roma midfielder on loan but face competition from Serie A rivals AC Milan, who could offer him a permanent switch.

It’s also thought that the 23-year-old has already rejected a move to fellow Premier League outfit AFC Bournemouth as he wants to play in Europe – interestingly, the Lilywhites will face the Rossoneri in a Champions League Round of 16 clash next month.

Roma are asking for around £26m, so it remains to be seen if the north Londoners can get a deal over the line before Tuesday night’s deadline.

Kulusevski repeat

If sporting director Fabio Paratici can secure a late move for Zaniolo, then it could have all the hallmarks of being Dejan Kulusevski 2.0 at Hotspur Way.

This time last year, the Italian supremo secured a deadline day swoop for the then-Juventus outcast – since, he has grown leaps and bounds into a firm fan-favourite around N17, hardly a surprise when you’ve provided 20 goal contributions in 36 appearances. One more than he managed in 74 games for the Old Lady.

Just like Kulusevski, Zaniolo has hit a bit of a career crossroads at the Stadio Olimpico, having been restricted to only 896 minutes of league action, whilst four of his five goal contributions have come in three Europa League appearances.

It’s a stark contrast to his form last season, where he played an integral role in the side clinching the Europa Conference League trophy – across all competitions, he scored eight goals and laid on a further nine assists from 42 outings, via Transfermarkt.

That level of form has seen the Italy international lauded by those around the game and the press. For instance, CBS Sports reporter Ben Jacobs has hailed him as a “frightening talent,” with CEO and Roma fan Nick Mercadante having lauded him as “an absolute monster” too.

Perhaps it is at Tottenham where he can refind that level of quality and consistency, should Paratici manage to secure him in a late deal this window.

He would certainly add another new dimension to Spurs’ attack, having already brought in Arnaut Danjuma, with Pedro Porro on the verge of becoming the next signing, according to reports.

AND in other news, Fabrizio Romano expects more signings at Tottenham…

Chelsea are eyeing a swoop for an exciting young midfielder who could prove to be the long-term orchestrator at the centre of Todd Boehly’s ambitious project at Stamford Bridge.

Despite spending huge sums of money since assuming the ownership role last year – with an outlay of £377m – the Blues’ owner is showing little sign of lifting his foot off the gas and could make a move for Valencia’s prodigious starlet Yunus Musah this month, enhancing the club’s prospects of reviving what has so far been a woeful season.

Indeed, Chelsea have lost seven of their past 11 matches and are desperately yearning for a return to the high-octane, relentless approach very much embedded in a club which has won a wealth of major honours since the turn of the century.

With Caught Offside reporting that the €40m-valued (£35m) Musah has been distinguished as a gleaming option to pursue, the unyielding spending spree could indeed continue before the end of the January transfer market, despite the £88.5m swoop for Shakhtar Donetsk’s Mykhaylo Mudryk being audaciously wrapped up after the preceding £9.7m loan deal for Atletico Madrid’s Joao Felix.

Bye-bye Gallagher?

Musah spent the formative years of his football career in London, rising through the youth ranks at Arsenal and making 18 appearances for their U18’s, scoring five goals and supplying three assists, before deciding that the most auspicious move for his career would be to sign for La Liga outfit Valencia.

This decision has paid off, with 85 senior appearances to his name for Los Ches, scoring five goals and supplying three assists as he makes steady progress towards the elite levels of the game.

With FBref ranking the 23-cap gem among the top 7% of midfielders in Europe’s major leagues for dribbles completed and the top 11% for progressive passes received, the “connector” – as lauded by USA head coach Gregg Berhalter – boasts the acumen and the skills to cement a role in Potter’s squad which would enhance their collective attacking drive.

His possible introduction to life at Stamford Bridge could potentially spell the end at Chelsea for Conor Gallagher, who has recently been linked with a move to Crystal Palace having failed to truly assert himself in the Blues’ line-up.

The 22-year-old enjoyed a fine loan spell with the Eagles last season and announced himself to the Premier League with resounding success, duly earning a chance to cement a place in Chelsea’s team. Having started ten matches across all competitions for the Blues, he has certainly succeeded in earning at least a utility role in SW6.

However, his Sofascore rating of 6.78 in league action hints at a failure to dazzle on several occasions, although he did produce a strong performance in Sunday’s 1-0 victory against Palace, winning four tackles and a mammoth 16 duels.

Musah could be the perfect replacement should the Chelsea grant Gallagher a permanent return to Selhurst Park, with his abundant energy and tenacity earning plaudits in recent months.

Joey Barton waxed lyrical over the American’s performance against England in the 2022 World Cup, saying that the Valencia gem “dusted Bellingham” that night. Having won two tackles and four duels in that game, you can see where the Bristol Rovers manager is coming from.

With Chelsea’s transfer department working overtime of late, there is a clear emphasis on bolstering the squad to the brim with a fresh, authentic sheen.

With Musah only just past his teenage years, there is scope for him to nurture and develop with a move to Stamford Bridge which could breed success for all parties, and Boehly must indeed swoop once again, even if that means offloading Gallagher in the process.

Journalist Joe Chapman has hailed the impact of West Brom midfielder Jayson Molumby, also talking up his on-pitch relationship with Okay Yokuslu.

The Lowdown: Molumby shining for Baggies

The 23-year-old joined the Baggies from Brighton on a permanent move last year, having initially enjoyed a spell on loan at the Hawthorns.

Molumby is becoming an increasingly influential player for West Brom this season, starting 16 times in the Championship and flourishing under Carlos Corberan.

The Irishman bagged an assist and was named his side’s best player by WhoScored in the 1-0 win over Reading on Monday, as their promotion push further gathers steam.

The Latest: Chapman hails midfielder’s impact

Taking to Twitter, Chapman lauded the impact of Molumby, saying he and Yokuslu complement each other well:

“The talking points from yesterday. This festive period in particular has outlined what a good piece of business Molumby is proving to be. Still only 23 and complements Yokuslu so well.”

The Verdict: Brilliant signing

With each passing game, the better Molumby seems to get in a West Brom shirt, and he is going to play a pivotal role in the Baggies’ attempts to return to the Premier League.

Chapman is spot on regarding the midfield pairing of the youngster and Yokuslu thriving together, with the pair a dominant duo playing a big role in the resurgence under Corberan.

At 23, Molumby is still a maturing player, too, so the hope is that he continues to grow into an even more complete and fearsome midfielder in the years to come.

Newcastle United have had their hopes of signing Inter Milan’s defensive powerhouse Milan Skriniar slashed in Fabrizio Romano’s latest Daily Briefing report. 

The Lowdown: Prime time

At 27 years of age, Skriniar is now in and around his prime years in the game, and you can see this in his approach as a ball playing defender. 

The Slovakian, dubbed a ‘monster’ by broadcaster Carlo Garganese, has added around ten more passes to his game in comparison to last season on a per 90 basis, averaging 65 accurate passes per match, and it’s clear he’d fit in any ball-playing side in world football.

And perhaps unsurprisingly, plenty of sides are sniffing around as his contract ticks down to its expiry next summer.

This includes Newcastle, who allegedly bid for the dominant defender in the summer and have been named as ‘top candidates’ in a report from Italy this week.

The Latest: Romano dulls hopes

Writing in his Daily Briefing column for CaughtOffside, the transfer guru covered Skriniar’s recent links to Tyneside. 

Currently, the Italian is not aware of any talks with the Magpies, despite what recent reports have suggested.

Taking to his exclusive column, Romano said:  “Despite what you may have read elsewhere, Milan Skriniar is not in negotiations to join Newcastle as of now.

“Chelsea were considering him last summer, PSG have always been leading the race, but Inter are still pushing to extend his contract.

“A new deal and the captain’s armband have been offered – it’s now up to Skriniar; he has to decide.”

The Verdict: “As of now…”

The “as of now” part of Romano’s update bodes well for the side long term. 

Whilst discussions between Skriniar and Newcastle have not commenced as of yet, that does not mean that talks will not occur later down the line, especially if he does not extend his deal.

Sure, competition with the likes of Chelsea and PSG sniffing around serves as somewhat of a January transfer blow for the side. But, the PIF-led project at Newcastle is an exciting one, especially with the side’s occupancy of an illustrious Champions League qualification place at current. 

As such, while talks are not underway, a move for the £70million star is not off the table just yet.

Southampton defender Mohammed Salisu has been praised for his latest World Cup performance after Ghana secured a 3-2 win over South Korea. 

The Lowdown: Ghana beat South Korea

Ghana picked up their first win of the tournament this afternoon after losing 3-2 to Portugal in their opening game last week.

Otto Addo’s side went in 2-0 up at the interval, only for a brace from Cho Gue-sung to draw the scores level just after the hour mark.

With Mohammed Kudus grabbing his second goal of the game to secure the three points for his country, it was another Ghanaian that also found himself on the end of some heavy praise after the game.

The Latest: Praise for Salisu

Following the dramatic win for Ghana, journalist Ben Jacobs had this to say in a Twitter post on the match and Salisu’s efforts, describing the Saints man as ‘immense’.

“A pulsating game and a stunning win for Ghana. Mohammed Kudus with a brace and a goal from Mohammed Salisu, who was immense in his own box, too. The lowest-ranked side at the World Cup making waves.”

The Verdict: A big performance from Salisu

In addition to opening the scoring for his side, Salisu also found himself doing plenty of important work at the back as Jacobs mentioned.

Having made nine clearances in the game and one off his own goal line, the Saints star also blocked two shots and won five of the nine duels he was involved in.

This performance ultimately earned the £23k-per-week centre-back a strong overall match rating of 7.7/10 from SofaScore, leaving Kudus (8.1/10) as the only Ghana player with a higher rating.

Taking all of this into account, it’s safe to say that the defender played a massive part in seeing his nation pick up their first victory of the tournament.

Moving forward, with Ghana taking on Uruguay for their final group game of the tournament, Salisu will undoubtedly be hoping that he can help his side out again and pick up another potential victory.

Everton will surely be looking at adding depth to their attacking threat in the January transfer window, and now a new update has emerged that could mean the club may reignite their interest in a former target.

What’s the latest?

According to 90min, Everton’s recruitment representatives were in attendance at the PSV Eindhoven vs Ajax clash last weekend with Cody Gakpo named as one of the potential targets.

As per the report, there were many representatives from various Premier League clubs at the game watching a number of the hottest prospects in the Eredivisie including Gakpo, Mohammed Kudus and Edson Alvarez.

He could be a World Cup breakout star

With the World Cup less than two weeks away it will be interesting to see which players are the standouts of the tournament, and there is no doubt that Gakpo will be one to watch over the prestigious international competition.

The talented Dutch forward will face stiff competition to get into Louis van Gaal’s side with the Netherlands World Cup squad due to be announced on Friday 11th November, however, Gakpo should feel that he has done enough based on his form this season so far.

Over 13 Eredivisie appearances, the £34m-valued star has scored been simply mesmerising. Indeed he has scored nine goals and delivered 12 assists, as well as averaging 4.3 key passes, two shots on target and winning 5.8 duels per game.

In fact, in the top five European leagues, only Manchester City’s Erling Haaland has tallied up as many goal contributions (21) as Gakpo this season so far, proving that he could be the World Cup’s breakout star in Qatar.

Gakpo, who was dubbed an “enormous talent” by scout Jacek Kulig, was linked with a move to the blue side of Merseyside in the summer and it is clear that Everton haven’t lost their interest in the rising star.

The Toffees are in desperate need of more goal contributions and a proper natural finisher ahead of the second half of the season with only Nottingham Forest and Wolverhampton Wanderers scoring fewer goals than Everton in the Premier League so far.

With that being said, it is without question that Gakpo would add a spark to the forward line that Lampard’s team is sorely missing, so securing a deal for the PSV Eindhoven star would be a huge coup for the club.