Tottenham Hotspur hold a concrete interest in Napoli manager Luciano Spalletti, while they could also target the Serie A side's sporting director, Cristiano Giuntoli, according to reports from Italy.

What's the latest Tottenham manager news?

There are conflicting reports about who Tottenham's number one manager target is, as it has recently been reported that chairman Daniel Levy is ready to green light a move for Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso.

That would suggest Julian Nagelsmann has fallen down the list of priorities, despite Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg claiming Levy is "pushing" to appoint the German, who is set for "more talks" with the north London club.

Many of the coaches Spurs have recently been linked with have been young, up-and-coming managers, with Ruben Amorim also in the picture, which is why the recent reports about Spalletti may come as a little bit of a surprise.

According to reports from Italy (via Sport Witness), the Lilywhites hold a concrete interest in the 64-year-old, with his future at Napoli uncertain, despite the fact his contract has recently been extended until 2024. Spurs are said to have a number of targets on their list, and they are keen on the Napoli boss, but they are not the only club interested.

Chelsea and PSG are also keen on the Italian, while Tottenham could also consider a move for Napoli's sporting director, Giuntoli, having recently had contacts with the 51-year-old, who could be brought in to replace Fabio Paratici.

Should Tottenham appoint Spalletti?

It is no wonder the Certaldo-born coach is being targeted by a number of top European clubs, as he has recently led Napoli to their first Serie A title since 1990, doing so with four games left to spare, after a remarkable campaign.

Hailed as an "elite football coach" by members of the media, the 4-3-3 attacking manager has won nine trophies throughout his career, however it must be noted the vast majority of that success was quite some time ago.

Prior to leading Napoli to their recent Scudetto, the last trophy the veteran manager won was the Russian Premier League with Zenit St Petersburg in 2012, while he has also never managed in England, so his appointment would undoubtedly be a risk.

Given that Tottenham are said to want a young and progressive manager, it would probably be wise to steer clear of Spalletti this summer, despite his achievements with Napoli.

Nuwan Kulasekara, the 33-year old Sri Lanka seamer, has announced his retirement from Test cricket.”I would like to retire from playing Test cricket with immediate effect,” he was quoted as saying in a Sri Lanka Cricket press release. “After much thought I believe it is the right time to retire and I hope it will allow me to better prepare for ODI and T20 cricket, which I would like to continue playing for Sri Lanka subject to good performance and selection”Kulasekara played 21 Tests and picked up 48 wickets since making his debut in April 2005. Though pace wasn’t his strong suit, he had the ability to move the new ball and was known for his accuracy. Among his standout performances were the two four-wicket hauls he took against Pakistan in Colombo in 2009 to finish with a match-winning 8 for 58 in 28.4 overs.Kulasekara played his last Test in June 2014 at Lord’s, where Sri Lanka clung on for a nail-biting draw. He was not in the XI at Headingley, though, where Sri Lanka beat England to seal a landmark series win.Kulasekara is an asset in limited-overs cricket – he has played 173 ODIs and was ranked as the No. 1 bowler in March 2009 – due to his nagging lines and seam movement but was unable to reprise the same threat in Tests. As a result, he could only play 21 matches in 11 years.

Leeds United have a "problem" with midfielder Weston McKennie at the moment, according to an update from journalist Dean Jones.

How is McKennie doing at Leeds?

The American made the move to Elland Road during the January transfer window, deciding to fight for a place as a standout star instead of staying put as a rotational player at Juventus. He was seen as an exciting signing at the time, given his pedigree and performances in the World Cup, but he hasn't necessarily been a success so far.

McKennie has made 15 Premier League appearances for Leeds, but he hasn't yet registered a single goal contribution for the Whites, not enjoying the influence in the middle of the park that many hoped for. He needs to up his game in the coming weeks, as the relegation battle reaches its conclusion.

There are numerous players not pulling their weight, with goals being conceded at an alarming rate game after game, but he has arguably been a standout poor performer.

Are Whites fans happy with McKennie?

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Jones said that McKennie has become something of a boo boy among Leeds fans, presenting an immediate problem upon Sam Allardyce's arrival:

"When things aren't going well, it seems like he's not really somebody that rises to the challenge and that's absolutely not what Leeds are going to settle for at the moment. I know a lot of the fans have got a problem with McKennie. Not personally, but as a player in the team at the moment. I think they'd rather he wasn't there."

In truth, this is a fair assessment of McKennie, with the 24-year-old someone who should be dragging Leeds through these must-win matches, instead of being ineffective in them. He arrived with the reputation of being a midfield battler, but that has been nowhere to be seen too often.

On this evidence, the Whites would be wise to steer clear of signing him permanently in the summer transfer window, and if they are relegated and he continues to play badly, he is a player who will forever be held in low regard by the fanbase. Now is the time for the 42-cap USA international to change their perception of him.

This is someone who is established footballer at both club and international level – he has made 96 appearances for one of Europe's biggest club in Juventus, which is no mean feat, and been hailed as "excellent" by journalist Adam Pope – but there has been nowhere near enough quality and influence on show.

Tottenham Hotspur finally showed some rarely-seen spirit last night, as they battled from two goals down to salvage a 2-2 draw against an impressive Manchester United side.

With the visitors having surged into a 2-0 lead before the break, Pedro Porro managed to thump home their first before Heung-min Son equalised with 11 minutes to go.

Although it marked another game without a win, Ryan Mason’s new-look side seemed refreshed, free from the burden of Antonio Conte and his disciples.

Despite relinquishing 60% of the ball to Erik ten Hag’s men, it was in fact the Lilywhites who boasted the most shots with 18. However, due to the constant wave of Red Devils attacks, this put undue pressure on a back line still recovering from their 6-1 drubbing last weekend.

With Clement Lenglet having watched that display from the bench, it was thought that his return last night would see the Frenchman unburdened by such a demoralising performance. Eric Dier clearly was still suffering, outlined in his 6.3 Sofascore rating.

The England international was particularly bad throughout the encounter having looked all at sea defensively, making it “so easy” for United – as per Football.London’s Rob Guest.

However, the Barcelona loanee had no such excuse, with his 6.1 rating the lowest of anyone on the pitch.

How did Clement Lenglet play vs Manchester United?

Starting on the left-hand side of a back three, as Mason sought to learn from Cristian Stellini’s mistakes, the 27-year-old looked shaky all game both with and without the ball.

Little defensive interactions from the centre-back suggest an anonymous showing, with his 36 touches standing as proof of that. This allowed him to retain a 97% pass accuracy, although this only saw 28 passes completed; hardly an outstanding return. via Sofascore.

Such unwillingness to assert himself on the game left Spurs lacking at the back, and whilst he would make three clearances, this did not make up for the fact that the £145k-per-week dud was dribbled past once and lost 80% of the five duels competed in.

The culmination of his rough night came when Bruno Fernandes fed the ball through his legs to fashion himself an opening, truly exacerbating the embarrassment suffered at the hands of a strong United side.

Although Dier put in another questionable 90 minutes at the heart of defence too, at least his defensive numbers stood out: four clearances, one block, one tackle and one interception is a huge upgrade on his partner at the back.

With his loan set to expire this summer, and an average rating of 6.61 in the Premier League only set to diminish with last night’s showing, there has been little to suggest that a permanent deal would be a fruitful one for Tottenham.

Daniel Levy will want to hold off on any rash transfer decisions until he has his new manager in place, who can come to his own conclusions about the current squad. However, given how his spell in England has gone thus far, most incoming bosses would likely come to a similar conclusion: he is not good enough for where they want to be.

Leeds United defender Max Wober may miss this afternoon’s crucial meeting against Bournemouth through injury.

What’s the latest Leeds injury news?

The Whites travel south for this afternoon’s Premier League clash with the Cherries in what appears to be a must-win fixture in their bid to avoid the drop.

They begin the afternoon six points behind Bournemouth, who have won three of their last four, two of which came against relegation rivals Leicester City and Southampton.

Javi Gracia will be without Luis Sinsterra who has been ruled out for the season with an ankle injury, and it looks as if Wober may also miss out.

The Austrian returned from injury last weekend against Fulham but was once again absent in the 1-1 draw with Leicester in the week after missing training on Monday. Leeds correspondent Phil Hay, who was present for Gracia’s pre-match press conference at Thorp Arch, took to Twitter to provide the latest on Wober, saying:

“Wober not training yet. So a doubt for Sunday.”

Not good for Leeds…

Leeds haven’t had much luck when it comes to injuries this season, and being without Wober for large parts of the run-in hasn’t been ideal alongside midfielder Tyler Adams.

Described as an “intelligent” player and “leader” by former manager Jesse Marsch, the January arrival’s presence on the pitch has been noticeable. With Wober, Leeds haven’t conceded more than twice in a game, whereas without him, they have shipped four to Arsenal, five to Crystal Palace and six to Liverpool.

Therefore, as well as the blow to Sinisterra, this update on Wober isn’t ideal for Leeds, but hopefully, they will manage to record just a third away win of the season and return to Yorkshire this evening with three vital points.

Newcastle United now have just four games remaining in their Premier League campaign with a spot in the Champions League firmly on their radar.

Eddie Howe's men have exceeded all expectations following their takeover. The Magpies have established themselves as the real deal in the race for a spot inside the top four with big victories over the likes of Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur.

However, last weekend's defeat to title chasers Arsenal was no doubt a setback, while the likes of Liverpool ready to pounce if either they or the Red Devils in the closing weeks.

Remarkably, seven points from 12 will be enough to secure a place in the Champions League, and with four games remaining in their campaign, here is how the Tyneside club's remaining games pan out…

Newcastle fixtures 13 May: Leeds (a) 18 May: Brighton (h) 22 May: Leicester (h) 28 May: Chelsea (a) Leeds v Newcastle

There is a case that Arsenal were simply too good for the Toon at the weekend, though the home side had their moments. Turning their attention to a team at the opposite end of the table, Howe will surely feel that a performance of a similar level will be enough to take three points from West Yorkshire, despite Sam Allardyce's men only losing narrowly to leaders Manchester City.

That said, Leeds United are fighting for their lives and Elland Road can be just as raucous as St James' Park on its day – and with so much on the line, this game is far from a foregone conclusion despite the gulf in class the two sides have displayed throughout the campaign.

It must be noted that despite having the league's leakiest defence ahead of Saturday's lunchtime clash, the Whites kept a clean sheet over Newcastle when they last met, so the way this result goes could well hinge on just how composed the hosts are as they scrap for points to stay alive.

Unfortunately for them, history is perhaps not on their side.

Prediction: Leeds 0-3 Newcastle

Newcastle v Brighton

Brighton's shock defeat against Everton will surely calm some of the nerves ahead of a game that could be pivotal in both clubs' search for European football.

With this a midweek clash and the Toon benefitting from an extra day's rest over their opponents, who face Arsenal this coming Sunday, you have to say that the odds are in the hosts' favour ahead of this one.

Prediction: Newcastle 3-0 Brighton

Newcastle v Leicester

This could be Newcastle's day of destiny. Granted, their Champions League fate could be sealed before kick-off or even going down to the wire, but if they keep their current pace up, victory over Leicester could well be the clincher.

With the Magpies' defeat to Arsenal just their second at home this term, this has to be a game the lowly Foxes will be having nightmares about.

The game will also be an opportunity for the Toon's incredible support so say thank you for a memorable season. There is surely only one outcome here.

Prediction: Newcastle 5-0 Leicester

Chelsea v Newcastle

Whether Newcastle will even need a result at Stamford Bridge remains to be seen, but with the Magpies in the box seat when it comes to securing a top-four place and Chelsea's season petering out, this is arguably going to be a more awkward afternoon for the hosts than the Champions League chasers.

If qualification is already secured, Eddie Howe could experiment with his side and afford some of his players an early holiday after a terrific year's work. But he'll no doubt want to head out on a high note – though the same can be said for the beleaguered Blues as their never-ending state of mid-transition continues.

Prediction: Chelsea 1-1 Newcastle

Predicted run-in points: 11/15 Predicted total points: 76

Chelsea found themselves trailing at half-time yet again, with Nottingham Forest opening the scoring through Taiwo Awoniyi, and whilst Edouard Mendy was mostly at fault for the goal, Mateo Kovacic was also singled out for criticism.

There has been a lot of speculation over the future of Kovacic, with reports linking him with a move away from Stamford Bridge, and his recent displays have meant that some of the Chelsea faithful will actually be glad to see the 29-year-old depart.

The midfielder, who played a crucial role in Chelsea’s Champions League victory in 2021, has been linked with Manchester City, in a surprising move.

Kovacic could not even finish the first half against Forest as he departed with injury on what could be his final appearance for the club, but he was one of the poorest performers in yet another below-par Chelsea display this season.

Fans were quick to criticise his efforts in the first half before his withdrawal, and some are even questioning why other top clubs would be interested in the Croatia international, given his current levels of performance.

The best of the reaction can be seen below. Will Kovacic be missed in West London?

Some were unimpressed by his display…

Some questioned why Man City would want Kovacic…

أكد المدير الفني لفريق أتليتكو مدريد، دييجو سيميوني، أنه سيقوم بالاعتماد على منقذ مصر في كأس أمم إفريقيا 2023 كوت ديفوار.

وودع منتخب موزمبيق منافسات كأس أمم إفريقيا وذلك بعد تحقيق تعادلين أمام مصر وغانا، والخسارة أمام الرأس الأخضر بثلاثية نظيفة عن منافسات المجموعة الثانية من كان 2023.

وأحرز مدافع أتليتكو مدريد ومنتخب موزمبيق، رينيلدو ماندافا، هدفاً في الوقت القاتل في مباراة غانا بكأس أمم إفريقيا، والذي حجز لمصر مقعدًا في منافسات دور الـ16 بتأهله في المركز الثاني، بالإضافة إلى إقصاء منتخب غانا، وساهم في الإبقاء على حظوظ تأهل منتخب كوت ديفوار كأحسن ثوالث.

اقرأ ايضاً.. تمت.. أتلتيكو مدريد يحسم أولى صفقاته الشتوية من يوفنتوس

وقال دييجو سيميوني في تصريحات صحفية قبل مباراة إشبيلية في كأس ملك إسبانيا: “رينيلدو يستطيع المشاركة معنا بشكل أكبر مما كان عليه قبل رحيله إلى بطولة كأس أمم إفريقيا”.

وأضاف: “إنه لاعب مهم دائمًا، دعونا نأمل أنه عندما يأتي دوره، يمنحنا شغفه وتفانيه والتزامه، وهو ما كان يتمتع به دائمًا”.

ويلاقي أتليتكو مدريد نظيره إشبيلية، وذلك ضمن منافسات الدور ربع النهائي من بطولة كأس ملك إسبانيا، على ملعب “واندامتروبوليتانو” الخميس في تمام العاشرة مساءً.

Pawan Negi had a phenomenal start to 2016, only most of his success came off the field. The 23-year old left-arm spinner was a wildcard pick in the Indian squad for the World T20 but he couldn’t break into the XI. Still, his elevation up the ranks had come in time for the IPL auction, where he was bought for INR 8.5 crores by Delhi Daredevils, who had made a conscious decision to recruit younger players this year. Negi had fit the profile, but after a dismal season – he played only eight of the team’s 14 matches and bowled a mere nine overs in the entire tournament – he felt he was underused.”I kept wondering why wasn’t I given more opportunities,” Negi told the . “And the team management didn’t tell me the reason either. When I was with CSK [Chennai Super Kings], Mahi bhai [MS Dhoni] backed my abilities. Maybe, I feel Delhi didn’t back my skills with bat and ball. Maybe, it was a rotation policy, because I was never told that I was dropped.”The hardest part was, before every match, I had no clue whether I would play or not. People kept asking me why I didn’t play much. I didn’t have a proper answer.”Sitting on the bench was hard to digest as I never expected to watch the action from the sidelines. I was mentally down, but I didn’t lose hope. After the season, TA Sekhar and our manager Sunil Valson pepped me up saying that I didn’t get enough opportunities to showcase my abilities.”In the chances he did get, however, Negi was unable to make an impact. He was often used as a pinch hitter in the batting order but a strike-rate of 96.61 indicated his lack of form. On the bowling front, with Amit Mishra, Zaheer Khan and Chris Morris taking 36 of the team’s 63 wickets in 2016 and establishing themselves as the frontline options, Negi was rarely needed. He picked up one wicket.A mixture of injury and strategy contributed to Daredevils making 35 changes in 14 matches – an average of 2.5 changes per match – which also contributed to Negi spending time in the sidelines.”I was told that it was sort of a combination [of poor form and tactics],” Negi said. “Though I’m a very positive person, I would say this IPL ended on a negative note for me. I wasn’t surprised a bit that I didn’t make the cut for the Zimbabwe series because I didn’t perform well in the IPL. Now, I will practice hard for the upcoming Ranji season.”Negi has played one match for India – a dead rubber against UAE in the Asia Cup in March – but at the time of the auction in February, he was still uncapped and the INR 8.5 crores he fetched was the record for an uncapped player in the IPL.When asked if the money had played on his mind, he said “it was never about money. The team management said not to get weighed down by the price tag and the pressure that comes with it. Coach Rahul Dravid told me to stick to my natural instincts. He wanted me to perform like I was doing in the Chennai colours for the last two years. I was excited to play for Delhi, my home.”

USA have selected an Under-17 squad of 14 to play in a tri-series against Bermuda and Canada in Houston, Texas from July 14 to 19

Peter Della Penna01-Jul-2016USA’s quest to qualify for their first Under-19 World Cup since 2010 has begun to take shape with the announcement of a preliminary squad of 30 for the 2016-17 season and with 14 players chosen to play for USA Under-17 in a tri-series against Bermuda and Canada in Houston, Texas from July 14 to 19.Five players from USA’s third-place team at the 2015 Under-19 World Cup Qualifier in Malaysia – Mohak Buch, Vivek Narayan, Gaurav Patanker, Arjun Patel and Sahil Patel – were included in the squad of 14 for Texas. 2015 USA Under-19 captain Alex Shoff was included in the preliminary squad, but he was not available for the Texas tri-series.Two of the most notable newcomers are northern California wicketkeeper Maulin Vajir – who along with Narayan was named co-MVP of the 2014 USACA Under-15 National Championship – and Dallas bowler Karthik Lappathi, the Best Bowler winner from the same tournament. Vajir is one of seven players in the squad from California. Batsman Raymond Ramrattan joins Narayan as one of two players from New Jersey.Lappathi’s fellow Texan, left-arm spinner Saad Humayun from Austin, also made the squad, so did Sam Das, who was chosen from the remote cricket outpost of Jonesboro, Arkansas. Das plays in the same Arkansas-Tennessee Cricket League team as new USA national selection chairman Ricardo Powell and was highly regarded by evaluators at the Houston Combine held in May, with one describing the left-arm quick as “the best I’ve seen at that age group”.Two players were also selected from the newly-crowned champions of the NY PSAL high school cricket league, John Adams High School. Batsman Alix Husain and John Adams captain Richie Balkarran were tabbed for inclusion. Balkarran, a junior allrounder, was named MVP of the 2016 PSAL championship match at Baisley Pond Park after taking 4 for 6 in John Adams’ win over FDR for the title. Balkarran took 14 wickets and scored 127 runs in four playoff matches, which also included a haul of 6 for 13 and 85 with the bat in the semi-finals against Abraham Lincoln.The tri-series in Texas will be a double round-robin with each team playing a total of four 50-over games. It will be played at the recently-opened Moosa Cricket Stadium, a private facility built by local businessman and former USA national team sponsor Sakhi Muhammad in the south Houston suburb of Pearland.According to a media release, USA did not name a head coach and will instead use local coaches from the Houston area to oversee the team. Of those in the Houston area, former USA captain Sushil Nadkarni, who was utilised as an Under-17 talent evaluator during the Houston Combine in May, is one of the leading options. USA national selector Asif Mujtaba, based in Dallas, will also be present during the series.USA Under-17 squad: Ozair Ahmed, Richie Balkarran, Mohak Buch, Sam Das, Saad Humayun, Alix Husain, Karthik Lappathi, Vivek Narayan, Gaurav Patankar, Arjun Patel, Sahil Patel, Aravind Patnam, Raymond Ramrattan, Maulin Vajir