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Tottenham Hotspur coach Ryan Mason is highly rated by those within the club and could be the man who takes over if Antonio Conte is sacked.

Could Ryan Mason be the next Spurs boss?

According to reports, the Lilywhites are looking into the possibility of sacking Conte during the international break ahead of his contract expiring in the summer.

And it is believed one of the options which Spurs would then have is to promote Mason as the caretaker manager as he did back in 2021.

There are 10 games remaining for the north London side in the Premier League and there is a lot lying on their run-in with Champions League football still to play for.

Speaking on the FIVE YouTube channel, reliable journalist David Ornstein has claimed the noises coming out of Hotspur Way surrounding Mason are incredibly positive:

"Does his potential translate into being able to manage Tottenham at this level on a permanent basis? Does he have the staff around him? Can you build a sufficient staff to manage a club at this level and the egos of the dressing room?

"I'm really liking what I've seen of Ryan Mason and what I've heard, but that will be a big decision for them to make."

Can Mason be trusted as the caretaker manager?

As aforementioned, there are 10 important games for Spurs in their quest to land a spot in next season's Champions League and they will likely have to turn their form around given the competition they face.

Newcastle United only sit two points off Spurs now but Eddie Howe's men have two games in hand on Spurs which could, therefore, open up a four-point gap in fourth spot.

Mason has previously stepped up and took charge of the first team when Jose Mourinho was sacked and he was able to provide a satisfactory return in the Premier League.

Under the 31-year-old, Spurs were able to return four victories from their six league games as they finished in seventh spot in the table.

However, it has to be noted Mason's spell of games back in 2021 looked a lot more favourable than the run of games which are ahead of Spurs in the coming months.

Champions League football is still very much to play for in the remaining games of the season but they will face the teams around them in the process.

Visits to Anfield and St James' Park are on the list as well as hosting Brighton & Hove Albion as well as Manchester United.

Mason does now have a lot more experience of coaching under his belt having worked under Conte since the Italian's appointment back in 2021.

However, there is no denying there is a massive challenge ahead of Spurs if they are to land themselves a spot inside the top four.

Tottenham's pursuit of a top-four berth come the end of the season took a big hit on Monday evening as a scintillating late strike from Michael Keane ensured the spoils were shared at Goodison Park.

A 1-1 draw with Everton came about in typical 'Spursy' fashion with the ghost of Antonio Conte's tenure in north London still lingering around the playing squad.

That can hardly be a surprise, however, with Conte's two trusty lieutenants in Cristian Stellini and Ryan Mason now in control of the ship.

Spurs were largely toothless from an attacking point of view again with the fourth-place side in the Premier League relying on a Harry Kane penalty against an outfit playing with ten men for large parts of the game.

Heung-min Son's role as a "passenger" – in the words of journalist Charlie Gordon – hardly helped matters either.

Indeed, the South Korean has been a shadow of his former self this term, bagging just six league goals in 27 outings. His outing at Goodison rather summed up his dire campaign, losing the ball every three touches and taking no shots on goal, as per Sofascore.

The subject of attention from the boo boys due to his unfortunate leg-breaking tackle on Andre Gomes several years ago, it was a night of very few positives for him. That said, the 30-year-old's partner in crime down the left, Ivan Perisic, was just as bad.

How did Perisic play against Everton?

The Croatian looked like a bargain pick-up last summer when he arrived on a free transfer, albeit on a large £180k-per-week contract.

Unfortunately, the former World Cup finalist is yet to truly justify those wages having had to wait until the 3-3 draw with Southampton prior to the international break for his first Spurs goal.

Afforded the opportunity to start against Sean Dyche's relegation-threatened side, Tottenham supporters were hoping for another influential performance.

Sadly, they got everything but that. Indeed, the ex-Inter wing-back was in poor form with Stellini's left side notably being dubbed a "complete joke" by The Athletic's James Maw.

Indeed, Maw noted that Perisic was barely "able to move after the 47th minute", with that perhaps an indication of his age.

Not that the Croat isn't in shape, but at 34, he is certainly in the last knockings of his career at the elite level.

That was perhaps best summed up by the defender's lack of composure in possession of the ball, losing the ball on 20 occasions throughout the night.

Although that was a sign of his inviting and "dangerous" crosses – as alluded to by Alasdair Gold – it was overall a wasteful night for the 6 foot 1 asset.

Writing in his post-match player ratings, the aforementioned Gold handed the Croatia international just a 4/10, while noting that Perisic 'lost much of his impact' after those balls into the box during the early parts of the encounter.

Although handed a 7.4 rating via Sofascore, this was rather generous with Perisic failing to truly stamp his authority over proceedings.

He completed just 78% of his passes while both shot attempts were fired off target on a night where Stellini and co really just needed a bigger threat going forward.

With Ben Davies set for a spell on the sidelines with a hamstring injury, Perisic will have an opportunity to improve and indeed, he must do so quickly if Spurs are to stay in contention for a Champions League spot.

Manchester United are thought to be plotting a £150m double deal for Brighton & Hove Albion stars Alexis Mac Allister and Moises Caicedo.

What’s the latest Man United transfer news?

The Red Devils are hoping to be busy in the transfer window this summer, with a new midfielder and forward their transfer priorities ahead of Erik ten Hag’s second season in charge.

Ten Hag met with director of football John Murtough, technical director Darren Fletcher and chief executive Richard Arnold during the international breaks for talks on transfer plans.

However, some at Old Trafford feel that the ongoing takeover process could impact the club’s ability to act quickly in the transfer market. It appears as if the Red Devils are still making plans, though, with Mac Allister and Caicedo seemingly two potential summer arrivals.

Football Insider reporter Pete O’Rourke shared a story in the last 48 hours, claiming United are plotting a £150m double deal for the Brighton pair.

He said that Ten Hag is looking to improve his midfield options with Scott McTominay set to leave and Marcel Sabitzer only on loan from Bayern Munich. A £70m offer for Mac Allister and an £80m bid for Caicedo could be enough for the pair to move to Old Trafford.

What would each player bring to Man United?

Caicedo, dubbed a ‘machine’ by talent scout Jacek Kulig, is primarily a defensive midfielder, ranking third in the entire Premier League for tackles completed so far this season.

The Ecuador international would therefore provide Ten Hag with another holding midfield option alongside the likes of Casemiro. Caicedo is still just 21 years of age, so he could represent a long-term addition, potentially becoming the Brazilian’s successor over time.

Meanwhile, Mac Allister would bring plenty of versatility to Old Trafford, as he has moved forward as the season has progressed, recently turning out in an attacking midfield role under Roberto De Zerbi after beginning the campaign in a holding role when Graham Potter was in charge.

The Argentinian, described as a 'golden boy' by journalist Ryan Adsett for his performances at the World Cup with Argentina, would provide a threat in the final third after contributing to 12 goals this season.

Both players will be out to take Ten Hag and United down next weekend in an FA Cup semi-final at Wembley, but by the looks of it, they could possibly be turning out for the Red Devils next season.

Tottenham Hotspur need to get their next appointment right. For too long a club of their size has languished far away from the major honours, leading to widespread ridicule from rival fans. They should be fighting for silverware every season, yet far too often they find their campaign ended in January as they exit both cups.

However, one pitfall they cannot afford to fall into again is to hire someone to fulfil that sole purpose. Antonio Conte and Jose Mourinho were born winners and had done so at every club before joining the Lilywhites. It just feels like the foundations are not in place for such a consistent assault for trophies quite yet.

Therefore, Daniel Levy could perhaps divert his attention away from these ageing mercenaries whose best days are behind them, and instead opt for someone who can lead them into the future.

Whilst Mauricio Pochettino had done so in his early stint in north London, leading them up the Premier League table and into a Champions League final, his potential return would mark a similar blunder as their recent hires.

The Argentine has only struggled since his sacking, ultimately being given the boot by PSG too, and many could argue he too fits into that category of coaches whose best days are behind them.

Therefore, of the manager list that is ever-changing, Vincent Kompany should be the outstanding candidate for where they seek to go in the future.

How is Vincent Kompany's managerial philosophy?

Having already secured promotion with his Burnley side, the rapidity with which he turned the relegated Clarets around was astounding. Joining from Anderlecht, few knew how the Belgian would manage as the squad was purged upon their exit from the top division.

Chairman Alan Pace had admitted that there was a three-year plan in place for their promotion back, but the "magic" that his appointment has worked shocked even him.

Another issue that plagued him was the play style, which many thought they knew well: they will lump it long, feed off the second balls and look to dominate in the air.

Kompany wasted no time in rewriting this script. Maintaining a 4-4-2 shape, much of the 37-year-old's philosophy was born through Pep Guardiola's tutelage. As what is essentially the antithesis to that aforementioned Burnley stereotype, suddenly short and sharp passes were exchanged to progress them up the Turf Moor field.

Patience is key for the former Manchester City defender, but a high press is even more imperative in maintaining a stranglehold on every game his teams partake in.

This enthralling style has seen them hit 91 points already in the Championship, having scored 78 times in 41 games and conceding just 30. They are both the top scorers and have conceded the least in the division.

With an identity crisis of sorts going on at Spurs, as the turgid and pragmatic football that promised trophies continues to falter, perhaps a return to the form of those early days under Pochettino could help them recapture what made the club so special.

However, they must do so without relying on relics of the past, and instead betting on the future to lead them to glory.

The primary focus for Arsenal at present will be on maintaining their push for the Premier League title, with Mikel Arteta's men facing a real battle on their hands to fend off Manchester City in the race for that league crown.

Beyond this season, however, the onus will be on sporting director Edu to plot ways to further improve the squad this summer, with the aim to ensure that this season's title charge is no mere anomaly.

One area of the park that the Brazilian may be looking to strengthen is in the centre of the park, despite having only recently brought in experienced gem, Jorginho, from rivals Chelsea on a £12m deal.

According to 90min, one player who could well help to bolster Arteta's options in midfield is Borussia Monchengladbach ace, Florian Neuhaus, with the report suggesting that the north London outfit have done scouting work on the 26-year-old of late.

While the piece does add that the Germany international is not set to be a priority target for the title hopefuls this summer – amid concerns over the playmaker's only relatively recent return from a knee injury – he is set to be someone that the club will 'keep an eye on'.

Would Neuhaus be a good signing for Arsenal?

The hope would be that Neuhaus can ultimately emulate another man to have made the move from Gladbach to the Emirates in the form of Granit Xhaka, with the Switzerland international having emerged as a key figure under Arteta of late after initially arriving on a £30m deal in 2016.

Although the previously polarising ace has endured his fair share of ups and downs during his time in England – having notably been stripped of the captaincy back in 2019 – the 30-year-old is now helping to lead the charge toward the title.

The tenacious left-footer has proved himself to be a real "fighter" in recent years after enjoying an "amazing turnaround" – as per pundit Alan Hutton – having now racked up 291 appearances in all competitions, providing 21 goals and 27 assists in that time.

The 113-cap ace has been particularly impressive so far this term with five goals and five assists in 31 Premier League outings, with pundit Paul Robinson hailing him as a "revelation".

While the aforementioned Neuhaus may not wish to follow quite as turbulent a path as that of Xhaka, the aim would be for the "outstanding" talent – as lauded by teammate Marcus Thuram – to also establish himself as a leading figure in Arteta's side.

Although the £27k-per-week maestro has scored just twice so far this season in what has been an injury-hit campaign, prior to that the 6 foot 1 ace was particularly impressive last term, scoring four goals and providing four assists in the Bundesliga.

The elegant talent also possesses the ability, like Xhaka, to feature in a variety of midfield roles, having taken on a deep-lying berth at times, while also operating in more of a playmaking role on occasions.

That versatility and flexibility would seemingly be appealing to those back in north London, with it set to be another Xhaka-esque masterclass for Arsenal if Edu can pull off a deal.

Tottenham Hotspur may have just blown their chance of making the top four this season after they were thrashed 6-1 by rivals Newcastle United on Sunday afternoon.

Cristian Stellini’s side were five goals down inside 21 minutes in what was an utter capitulation from his backline, who had surprisingly been deployed in a back four, rather than a back three.

It meant that Eric Dier partnered Cristian Romero in the middle, an experiment that saw neither player muster up a rating better than 5.6 on Sofascore, with attack-minded duo Ivan Perisic and Pedro Porro acting as full-backs.

This quickly became a disastrous move by the Italian interim boss as he left the likes of Porro and Dier exposed by the Magpies’ ruthless frontline, where both Alexander Isak and Jacob Murphy bagged themselves braces.

How did Pedro Porro play vs Newcastle?

After the aforementioned duo and substituted goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, the Spanish defender was Stellini’s lowest-rated performer and he was arguably at fault for as many as four of Newcastle’s goals, being done by Joelinton on more than one occasion.

His display was lambasted by Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher, who took to Twitter to say that the 23-year-old – who cost Spurs in the region of £40m – “can’t defend” and echoed comments from former Lilywhites boss Tim Sherwood not so long ago after Porro made his debut for the club: “Pedro Porro is so bad it’s unbelievable,” he said.

Indeed, no player lost possession of the ball more than the former Sporting CP dynamo, squandering the ball as many as 20 times and considering he had 68 touches, that was a third of the time he was in control, so it’s no wonder Tottenham had just 43% possession in the whole game, via Sofascore.

The Evening Standard’s Dan Kilpatrick was equally scathing about Porro in his post-match column as he wrote: ‘Dreadfully exposed as a full-back in a back four. Joelinton easily beat him ahead of Murphy’s opener and then ran behind him to double Spurs’ lead.

Elsewhere on the pitch, the £85k-per-week dud was dribbled past on two occasions and he could only win three of his nine duels, of which none were in the air.

Porro’s wayward passing didn’t help matters either as his 67% accuracy from 47 attempts was comfortably the second-worst of any outfield player, whilst only one of his four crossing attempts found a Spurs player too.

All in all, it was another low point for anyone associated with the club.

It has been a difficult season, both on and off the pitch, and this result has only compounded their woes further as they look certain to miss out on the Premier League’s top four, spearheaded by the inability to defend from the likes of Porro and Dier, both of whom would be lucky to start against Manchester United on Thursday night.

A £30m price tag has been set for Eintracht Frankfurt’s Djibril Sow, who is being closely tracked by West Ham.

What’s the latest on Djibril Sow to West Ham?

According to Football Insider, the Hammers are continuing their pursuit of a deal for the midfielder.

The outlet previously revealed that the Irons have extensively scouted the 26-year-old ahead of a potential £30m move in the summer. It's said that if a bid of that amount arrives, it's likely to be accepted.

The East London outfit is scanning the market for a Declan Rice replacement, whose departure is nearing ever closer.

It has been reported that the Englishman could leave West Ham for £100m and this monstrous fee could partly be reinvested in the Frankfurt star.

Sow’s contract expires in the summer of 2024, so his current club may choose in cash during this window to avoid losing one of their prized assets for free.

What would Djibril Sow bring to West Ham?

The £18m-rated machine was an integral component of the German side that won the Europa League last season. On the journey, he made 12 appearances, and made three goal contributions, with an average rating of 6.89, as per WhoScored.

The 36-cap international started every game for Switzerland at the World Cup, and he has appeared in 28 of the 30 Bundesliga games.

After being named Swiss Super League Young Footballer of the Year in 2019, he was showered with praise upon signing a five-year deal back in 2019.

Former Frankfurt board member Fredi Bobic said: “We're absolutely convinced of his ability to perform and his potential to develop further. His technical, strategic, and athletic abilities will strengthen us."

His rise in his homeland is similar to that of Rice’s in England – a young, dynamic, but equally commanding and tough-tackling pivot, who is able to ruthlessly dictate proceedings.

Adi Hütter, the titan’s old manager, described Sow as a "fast, box-to-box player.” Although Rice perhaps doesn't boast the speed of a cheetah, he is renowned for being elite, having been hailed as “the best in his position in world football” by John Terry.

When Rice does eventually exit, his sublime passing range will be missed, but the Swiss is also astute in this department – ranking in the top 21% in Europe’s top five leagues among his positional peers for progressive passes.

He has also been pinpointed as a “combative” presence by the Express' Sam Smith and his profile fits the style of English football. As a result, he would be expected to acclimatise smoothly.

Therefore, for this cut price and with the plethora of experience he’s gained from Bundesliga and European football, Sow would be a fantastic option for West Ham, and he would be an adequate replacement for Rice.

Liverpool could complete a standout signing in West Ham United's Declan Rice this summer to revitalise the ranks after a turbulent campaign on Merseyside.

What's the latest on Declan Rice to Liverpool?

According to one European journalist, talks are "ongoing" between the Reds and the Irons, with the "evolving situation" slotting the 24-year-old at the forefront of the club's summer transfer reckoning.

In full, the report reads: "Liverpool identified Alexis Mac Allister and Declan Rice as main targets for the midfield: everything confirmed, as already told in November.

"Contacts ongoing with Brighton and West Ham for their respective players: evolving situation."

Speculation surrounding Rice's next move has been rife after winter revelations confirmed his desire to leave in search of silverware and Champions League football, with his outfit now resigned to losing him.

Touted for at least £75m, Liverpool's interest has seemingly been maintained, and despite attention from Premier League rivals such as Arsenal and Chelsea, Klopp's burning desire for a new central engine could entice Rice into a switch.

Who could Declan Rice replace at Liverpool?

A multitude of Liverpool players have been lacklustre this term, with only the likes of commanding Alisson between the sticks and Mohamed Salah as the copper-bottomed goal-getter truly able to hold their heads above the water that has swept flotsam of debris across Anfield this term.

Last year's FA Cup and Carabao Cup champions have been a shadow of their former selves, and despite an ongoing six-match winning streak in the top-flight, the emphatic fortunes of Newcastle United and Manchester United leave Klopp's men one point behind the former and two behind the Red Devils – and both teams hold a game in hand.

A score of reports have detailed the outfit's midfield struggles this term, and while results have improved at this late stage of the campaign, a signing of Rice's ilk would be the optimum way to return to the top.

Indeed, the numbers speak for themselves.

Having risen through West Ham's youth ranks following a bitter release from Chelsea's academy in his adolescence, Rice has forged 239 appearances and been instrumental in the ascension to successive European campaigns – with the east London outfit awaiting AZ Alkmaar in this year's Europa Conference League semi-finals.

Hailed as a "force of nature" by journalist Rob Blanchette, the £60k-per-week gem also ranks among the top 3% of midfielders throughout Europe's big five leagues for interceptions per 90, illustrating his importance in breaking up the play and recycling possession effectively.

The "monster", as hailed by ESPN's David Cartlidge, has also recorded a Sofascore rating of 7.21 in the division this term – the highest in David Moyes' squad – and boasts an average of 2.3 tackles, 1.8 interceptions, 1.1 key passes and a 59% duel success rate, highlighting the remarkable scope of his skill set.

This is a far cry from that of Liverpool anchor Fabinho, who ranks only among the top 32% of positional peers for the same metric, with journalist Chris Stonadge stating he has "fallen, dramatically, off a proverbial cliff" this season.

While the blame for the Reds' woes cannot be solely attributed to Klopp's £44m man – so important in gleaning the whole gamut of major honours including the Premier League and Champions League – his 6.86 Sofascore rating is only further evidence in the gulf of seasonal quality between himself and Rice, who considerably trumps his average of 1.8 tackles, one interception, 0.5 key passes and 50% duel win rate.

And with transfer insider Dean Jones stating this winter that the £180k-per-week Brazilian's Anfield future is 'in doubt', Klopp could yet look to cash in on the 29-year-old, who is still valued at £58.5m by Football Transfers.

With Mac Allister also being targeted, with rumours putting Liverpool as front-runners for the World Cup-winning Argentine, Rice could be the glue to hold it all together, but if both deals are pulled off then a devastating duo could be created at Anfield to sniff out silverware once again.

With this in mind, the Hammers machine must be brought to Anfield in the forthcoming months; while Fabinho has been a stalwart for the club, an industrious servant to spearhead Klopp's reign, his ship might now have sailed and an arc of continuation is required to ensure Liverpool reclaim their place at the top of the game.

Tottenham Hotspur winger Dejan Kulusevski has hailed interim manager Ryan Mason who has stepped in amid the ongoing search for a new manager.

Who could become the next manager?

European football is still there to play for Spurs in their final three games of the campaign, however, it may not be the level of competition they were hoping for.

Indeed, having dropped out of the Champions League earlier in the year, Spurs will have had their targets set on going again next season.

But it does not seem likely the north London club can force their way into the top four this time around with Newcastle United and Manchester United having pulled clear of the Lilywhites.

Whether that will have any bearing on who could become the future Spurs boss or not will remain to be seen.

Reports would suggest the number one target now for Daniel Levy is Julian Nagelsmann with talks ongoing over a potential deal for the German.

However, one man who has made it clear that he would be open to potentially becoming the next permanent boss is Mason.

And speaking to the club's media, Kulusevski has hailed the 31-year-old for his impact since taking the reins in north London:

"I like Ryan a lot, he knows how it is to be in our shoes because he played here just a couple of years ago. It's good when you can speak with someone like him because he's a fantastic guy," the £110k-per-week Swede said.

Should Mason have replaced Conte?

The rot in north London have begun before the exit of Antonio Conte, however, replacing him with his assistant manager was clearly not the correct route.

Cristian Stellini stepping in as the interim boss did not work with the same issues at play following Conte's departure.

There have been signs of this under Mason, sloppy first-half displays against Manchester United and Liverpool cannot be ignored and shows Daniel Levy that upgrades are needed over the summer.

However, there have also been a lot of positives to take with Mason's appointment seeing Son Heung-min return to much-improved form after what has been a seriously difficult campaign on the pitch for the South Korean.

The win against Crystal Palace was impressive and there were bright spells in the games against United and Liverpool, which can't help but make you think whether Mason should have been made manager in the first place.

Had Mason taken over from Conte, perhaps they would have taken all three points against Everton and Bournemouth which would have kept their top-four hopes alive

Looking back even further, with Conte's issues off the pitch evident, perhaps Mason could have provided Spurs with a competent manager to take over from the Italian amid his health struggles.

Although Nagelsmann is reportedly the favourite, it would be interesting to know where Mason lies in Levy's thinking.

It's March 2022. RMC Sports are reporting that Liverpool have reached an agreement with AS Monaco for their prodigious midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni, albeit with Real Madrid also coming to a conclusion over the logistics of a deal, with the ball in the player's court.

Jurgen Klopp has guided Liverpool to triumph in the Carabao Cup, with the tantalising hopes of a historic quadruple very much alive.

It didn't all go to plan. The Reds would complete a laudable domestic cup double and glean the FA Cup too, but Manchester City would pip the Anfield side to the Premier League by the most minute of distances, while Los Blancos would agonisingly defeat Liverpool in the Champions League final.

Carlo Ancelotti's imperious outfit subsequently enticed Tchouameni into signing for £85m, adding insult to Liverpool's injuries after sapping them of both success on the continental stage and their most coveted summer target.

Liverpool's malaise seeped into the 22/23 term, and the club are now battling to even secure Champions League football next season, unable to add to their growing collection of major honours under Klopp's wing.

90min's Graeme Bailey has recently stated that the Merseyside club could swoop for the 23-year-old this summer, following previous reports that the gem could be secured on a loan deal after making a mixed start to life at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Why should Liverpool sign Aurelien Tchouameni?

Once hailed as an "extraordinary" talent by compatriot Paul Pogba, Frenchman Tchouameni blitzed into prominence last season with The Red and Whites before completing his high-profile move to Spain.

Having scored five goals and provided three assists from a mammoth 50 appearances for Monaco last term, the £212k-per-week machine has indeed emerged as one of Europe's brightest talents, making an average of 2.5 tackles and 2.9 interceptions per match in Ligue 1, as per WhoScored.

The 6 foot 2 menace has plied 45 matches for Los Blancos, registering four assists, but has only started on 22 occasions in LaLiga and has not been entrusted with a starting berth across any of his team's Champions League knockout fixtures.

The 22-cap ace – who started all seven of France's 2022 World Cup matches and scored against England – ranks among the top 1% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues for pass completion, the top 2% for rate of interceptions, the top 13% for rate of clearances and the top 12% for aerials won per 90.

Not just a defensively sound asset, the youngster boasts quality bursting forward from his central berth, ranking among the top 28% for progressive carries.

Described as a "superb talent" by Rio Ferdinand, Tchouameni could yet blossom into one of Europe's greatest modern holding midfielders, and if Liverpool succeed in securing his signature, could boast their own version of coveted midfield anchor Declan Rice, who Liverpool have been linked with, perhaps even wielding an upgrade on the West Ham United man.

Rice, meanwhile, ranks among the top 4% of midfielders across Europe for rate of interceptions per 90 and the top 15% for progressive carries, outlining their close similarities.

The £60k-per-week Iron has been integral over the past several seasons in guiding his outfit to successive European seasons – with the Hammers currently leading AZ Alkmaar 2-1 at the midpoint of their Conference League semi-final – and securing Premier League survival this term, recording a 7.19 average rating in the top-flight.

Tchouameni is a far more assured passer of the ball than Rice, who ranks only among the top 19% of midfielders for pass completion, but that only goes to prove how good a signing this would be, to lure someone similar but potentially even better than the Englishman to Anfield.

Should Klopp wrap up a deal, Liverpool would return to the forefront of European football, providing him with a platform to flourish and exhibit the full might of his ability.