Manchester United could look at a free transfer for Lyon midfielder Houssem Aouar this summer, according to The MEN’s Daniel Murphy.

The Lowdown: Aouar interest

The Red Devils were on the hunt for a new midfielder late in the January window after an injury to Christian Eriksen. As we know, Erik ten Hag brought in Marcel Sabitzer on loan from Bayern Munich, but it could well have been Aouar.

Reports suggested that United ‘asked for information’ and were even ready to pay the entirety of his wages on deadline day, however, he remained on the books of Lyon.

Aouar’s contract situation has remained the same following the winter window, and with the midfielder set to become a free agent in the summer as things stand, speculation over a potential move to Old Trafford has already begun.

The Latest: Free transfer claim

Murphy, football writer for The Manchester Evening News, shared a story on Friday morning looking at 10 potential free agents the Red Devils could look to target.

He said that ‘Ten Hag wants to bring more technical quality to his midfield’, name-checking Aouar as a possible option.

‘Houssem Aouar perhaps hasn’t reached the full potential expected of him since bursting onto the scene at Lyon but he’s still just 24 and has buckets of talent a coach like Ten Hag could develop. Aouar is capable of playing anywhere in midfield and has plenty of big match experience having inspired his side to knock Manchester City out of the Champions League and earn rave reviews from Pep Guardiola.’

The Verdict: Smart move?

Guardiola did once wax lyrical over Aouar as Murphy states, saying this following a Champions League last 16 encounter back in 2018.

‘Houssem Aouar is a very good player. He is incredible.

‘We talk a lot about (Tanguy) Ndombele, but Aouar is also excellent. He’s always very calm with the ball at his feet, with an excellent technical quality.’

Aouar is still just 24 years of age and is primarily a central midfielder who can also turn out in an attacking midfield role or on the left. The Frenchman has plenty of experience at the highest level, turning out on 227 occasions for his current employers, contributing to 77 goals.

Therefore, should Sabitzer return to Germany at the end of the season and Scott McTominay depart as has been speculated, Aouar could prove to be a solid addition to Ten Hag’s midfield options in a cut-price transfer, joining the likes of Casemiro, Fred, Eriksen and Bruno Fernandes.

Manchester United are considering a potential move to bring recruitment operator Tim Steidten to Old Trafford, according to reports in the last 48 hours.

The Lowdown: Steidten profiled

The German started his career as a professional footballer, spending most of his time in his homeland, where he carried out successful spells with the likes of SV Meppen and VfL Oldenburg before hanging up his boots in 2009.

Following retirement, the 43-year-old was initially appointed as squad planner at Bayer Leverkusen in 2019 before being handed the role of sporting director just last summer (Football.London).

The Bundesliga outfit’s chief, however, has departed his position by mutual consent over the last 48 hours and there are already a trio of Premier League clubs that would like to take him on board queueing up to secure his services, one of those being the Red Devils.

The Latest: Man Utd eyeing Steidten

According to Football Insider, Man United, Tottenham and Liverpool are all ‘eyeing potential moves’ for Steidten following his recent exit from Bayer Leverkusen.

The recruitment operator leaving his post has ‘alerted’ the three clubs to his availability and it’s reported that he’s viewed as ‘one of the best’ transfer gurus in Europe.

Monaco are also monitoring his situation, with the quartet all being ‘admirers’ and tempted to make an approach for him in the ‘next weeks and months’.

The Verdict: Get it done…

One of Steidten’s most well-known strengths is that he’s renowned for putting heavy focus on data when it comes to finding and scouting potential new signings, and he would be a fantastic addition behind-the-scenes for United, who have often been criticised for an old-fashioned recruitment set-up.

During his career so far, the former defensive midfielder has been credited with signing the likes of Piero Hincapie, Edmond Tapsoba, Jeremie Frimpong, Moussa Diaby and Florian Wirtz, to name just a few rising stars at his current club, so is clearly good at what he does.

Erik Ten Hag will of course have his own future transfer targets in mind and he would undoubtedly be backed as he was in the summer getting players like Anthony over the line, but getting a new pair of eyes on board could help him discover some hidden gems.

Bild recently reported that Steidten is likely to end up at Chelsea at some point next season after a previous failed pursuit, but United should definitely give it their best to secure his signature and they wouldn’t even have to pay any compensation considering he’s now a free agent.

Tottenham sporting director Fabio Paratici ‘loves’ former Barcelona boss Luis Enrique as reporter Alasdair Gold shares what he knows on the tactician.

The Lowdown: Conte leaving?

Spurs head coach Antonio Conte is thought to be slipping closer and closer to the N17 exit door with reports suggesting that he has no future at the club.

The Italian’s contract is set to expire at the end of this Premier League season, and while Spurs have the option to extend his stay by 12 months, that is currently very unlikely to happen.

Conte is allegedly set to be sacked by the Lilywhites and chairman Daniel Levy as Paratici is tasked with finding his replacement.

A shortlist has already been drawn up with many names in contention. including Mauricio Pochettino, Roberto De Zerbi, Luis Enrique, Thomas Tuchel, Marco Silva and Thomas Frank.

Conte’s outburst after Spurs’ 3-3 draw at Southampton last weekend appears to have been the final with Chelsea’s former head coach seriously not holding back.

“We are 11 players that go into the pitch. I see selfish players, I see players that don’t want to help each other and don’t put their heart (in),” said a furious Conte at St. Mary’s, continuing further to lash out at the board and club as a whole.

The Latest: Gold shares Enrique to Spurs update…

Speaking in a football.london Q&A, the reliable Spurs reporter claims Paratici ‘loves’ the former Spain manager and he could be a ‘fascinating’ option.

He adds that Enrique could be a risky option considering his lack of experience in England and the fact his football is ‘very different’ to Conte’s.

Gold said:

“Luis Enrique would be a fascinating choice and he’s someone Fabio Paratici loves, along with Porto boss Sergio Conceicao, who is reportedly considering stepping down at the Portuguese side.

“Enrique’s football is very different to Conte’s and would require a revamping of the squad, which might be no bad thing. There’s also a element of risk with the Spaniard when it comes to his lack of success outside of his club management in his homeland, mainly those two seasons at Barcelona, and trying to apply his methods quickly at a Premier League club aiming to remain a top four club would be a big task.”

The Verdict: Perfect Pochettino alternative?

The Champions League-winning boss is certainly an option with real pedigree given he has managed some of the biggest names in world football and competed for the biggest prizes.

We believe Enrique would be a perfect Pochettino alternative given the Spaniard’s status as a current free agent and emphasis on attacking football.

Reports have also suggested that the 52-year-old is a real frontrunner for the Spurs job so this could well be one to keep a close, close eye on.

Manchester United continue to make impressive progress under the guidance of manager Erik ten Hag, with the Dutchman having already claimed Carabao Cup glory with further silverware still up for grabs.

With the Red Devils still having plenty left to play for between now and the end of the season, the club are in a far stronger position that at the same stage last term, with interim boss Ralf Rangnick having overseen a dismal end to a rather dire campaign at Old Trafford.

Having crashed out in the early rounds of both domestic cup competitions, a Champions League, last-16 exit at the hands of Atletico Madrid in March 2022 only served to exacerbate the frustration surrounding the club, with the stop-gap appointment of the German visionary having failed to have the desired effect.

With the veteran's brief tenure not looked upon too fondly by supporters, one positive that may well have come during Rangnick's tenure was the signing of teenage midfielder, Toby Collyer, with the former Brighton and Hove Albion starlet one figure who could potentially be a star of the future at the Theatre of Dreams.

Who is Man United's Toby Collyer?

It is now just over a year on since young Collyer was snapped up by the Premier League outfit, although the promising 19-year-old is still waiting for his first taste of life at senior level, despite having been involved in first-team training on occasion.

That inclusion would appear to indicate that the Worthing-born gem is certainly on the radar of Ten Hag as the Dutchman seeks to build for the future, with the midfield department one area, in particular, that is seemingly in need of bolstering.

Manchester Evening News only recently revealed that a 'younger midfielder' could be targetted ahead of the summer window, with United likely to be plotting potential successors to the likes of Fred, Casemiro and Christian Eriksen – all of whom are in their thirties.

In order to help provide a fresh injection of youth in the squad, the former Ajax boss could look to the likes of Collyer as a possible option rather than splashing out millions in the transfer market, with the England youth international a potential hidden gem who is just waiting to be unleashed.

The former Seagulls star has made a quiet start to life in his new surroundings after making just 12 appearances in all competitions in the youth ranks this season, although was previously tipped for big things during his time on the south coast.

The defensive midfield asset was notably hailed by former Brighton U18 coach Mark Beard last year, who said of his talents: "You could see he was going to be a top-class player. He is a pleasure to coach. He is so low maintenance, what I mean by that is you don't know he is there."

"He gets on with his job. He regularly put in displays of 8/10 at the least. He had the best running stats, runs 13 kilometres a game, breaks things up. He is so unassuming, he gets on with his job. You want 11 of these type of players in the team. You know what you're going to get in training, he works hard, he wants to improve, he's intelligent. He's a good all-round kid."

Beard also dished out further praise for the youngster's defensive quality, having stated: "He plays like two men sometimes. As defensive midfielders go, and it is quite a disciplined role, he is probably the best in the country at doing it".

That glowing praise should well catch the attention of those back in Manchester, with Ten Hag potentially missing a trick by not handing Collyer a chance in the first-team, particularly with the midfield department having been stretched due to Eriksen's injury woes and with Casemiro having been inhibited by suspension.

With games set to come thick and fast once again when club action resumes this weekend, the United boss should think about handing an opportunity to the teen ace sooner rather than later.

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg has become the first Tottenham Hotspur player to comment on the Antonio Conte's scathing rant from the weekend.

What has Hojbjerg said?

The Danish midfielder played the full 90 minutes on Saturday as Spurs fell apart in the final 15 minutes of their game on the south coast against Southampton.

The Lilywhites looked set to climb up the table to go up into third spot ahead of Manchester United, who were playing in the FA Cup.

However, the north London side somehow allowed their 3-1 lead to slip against the side bottom of the Premier League table and were forced to settle for a point.

And after Conte's furious post-game press conference, Hojbjerg has responded by claiming he will always give his all when playing for the club.

He said (via Daily Express): "I understand that if you want to be successful as a team, you need 11 men who are committed to a project and a culture. But I think he has to elaborate on how he feels before you as a player can start measuring and weighing.

"The coach has not been satisfied, and that is what I will take with me. You do what you can to please him. What I do know about myself is that I am an honest player. I am a player who always gives 100 per cent of myself for the team."

Should Spurs find an upgrade for Hojbjerg?

Spurs have now had Hojbjerg playing in the middle of the park for three seasons now having brought him in from Southampton back in 2020.

And he has maintained a regular spot in the starting XI over the numerous managers he has seen come and go having racked up 137 appearances across all competitions (via Transfermarkt).

In that time – from his defensive role – he has returned 10 goals and 14 assists with five of those goals and five of those assists coming in this season's Premier League and Champions League.

However, across other midfielders in the top five leagues, he has provided a return which ranks in the bottom 22nd percentile for tackles made (via FBref).

In the game against the Saints, he registered a slightly above-average return of two goals but he has also dribbled past on two occasions (via Sofascore).

He did only win two of his five attempted ground duels and gave away possession 10 times throughout the game.

In comparison to one of the Premier League's top defensive options in the shape of Casemiro, Hojbjerg not only lacks in his defensive returns but also has provided slightly fewer shot-creating actions (via FBref).

With Rodrigo Bentancur recovering from a long-term injury and a new manager potentially coming in over the next few months, perhaps this is an area which Spurs look to upgrade over the summer.

Liverpool will travel to west London this evening for their Premier League clash with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and Jurgen Klopp will be hoping that his squad can quickly recover from their 4-1 defeat against Manchester City.

The Reds are now eight points adrift of the Champions League qualifying spots inside the top four and a win over a managerless Chelsea will be integral to their chances of closing that gap between themselves and Tottenham Hotspur in fourth.

Something needs to change as the side put in another uninspiring shift at the Etihad and Klopp hinted in his pre-match press conference that the side could look different to the one he lined up on Saturday:

"We need a reaction badly. It was a super strange game (v City). Second half was not acceptable, but it happened anyway."

"Short turnaround means I have no clue who I can line up. We give the boys as much time as possible to recover but there will be changes, definitely."

As a result, it could be a great opportunity for the German coach to give starts to players who haven't had many opportunities to prove themselves this season with Curtis Jones available for selection.

Will Curtis Jones start vs Chelsea?

It is no secret that the midfield has suffered this season with multiple injuries hindering Klopp's opportunity to select his very best options in the centre of the pitch, alongside a lack of quality and pace, as many opponents have outrun Liverpool in the Premier League this term.

Naby Keita, Stefan Bajcetic and Thiago Alcantara remain unavailable for selection due to injury issues, which means that the Liverpool boss will have his options limited when trying to add fresh perspectives and fresh legs into the midfield this evening.

Jones has made just 13 appearances this season as the academy graduate has struggled with injury issues himself.

However, he will be an option for the starting XI against Chelsea and could replace Harvey Elliott after he was 'caught up in the City whirlwind' – as per journalist Ian Doyle – having failed to offer 'enough defensively' in the words of Matt Addison during that encounter.

Jones is a variable alternative as a result of his efforts at both ends of the pitch, but it's in attack where he could make the biggest difference against a beleaguered Chelsea.

The £15k-per-week "massive talent" – as dubbed by Klopp – has tallied up eight goals and ten assists over his 86 senior appearances so far and, like Elliott, is a player who is keen to break the lines to become part of the attacking threat.

That could be incredibly valuable to his team against Chelsea in the pursuit of gaining an early lead.

With that being said, the Liverpool boss must unleash Jones against Chelsea. After such a restricted season, he has a point to prove and could inject some life back into the midfield three, giving the team something different to improve upon the uninspiring display seen just a few days ago.

Journalist Jacque Talbot has claimed that Tottenham Hotspur could be set for a big "boost" to their transfer funds if they allow a major investor to change the name of their stadium.

What's the latest on the naming rights for the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium?

Since it opened in April 2019, Spurs' 62,850-seater arena, which cost £1bn to make, has carried the rather unimaginative Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

However, as per Football Insider, while chairman Daniel Levy and commercial director Todd Kline are looking to find an appropriate naming rights partner, they are content to wait until their reserve price is met because the club brand is doing just fine for exposure in the meantime.

The article notes that Google and Amazon are among the companies linked with a possible £250m deal that would be spread over 10 years.

While talking about the situation on The Insider Track, Talbot backed Spurs to complete a deal that would massively help with funds.

He explained (16:52): “I'm sure that's going to boost their funds though, isn't it, really?

"Like if they get a deal with one of them companies, that’s going to be huge investments. So why not at this stage?

"Football's got to that point now where it's like everything's for sale, really? Isn't it? It's nothing on Spurs, every club's doing it."

How much will Spurs make from stadium naming rights?

As per reports, Levy wants to bring in £25m a year with the stadium naming rights – which would be a record amount for a football team.

That tallies with the claims from Football Insider that reference a £250m contract spread across ten years for the likes or Amazon or Google.

And so it will certainly be interesting to see what the next steps are and if anything happens soon. After all, while Levy is reportedly happy to be patient and wait for the right deal, the club may need major funding soon to maintain their ambitions.

After all, there is no guarantee Tottenham will finish in the top four this season – they sit in fourth just two points above Newcastle but have played two more games – and so if they can't bring Champions League football to north London, then surely the exposure won't be as good and naturally, they'll generate less income anyway.

With that in mind, perhaps Levy will try and intensify the search for a major new sponsor in the near future.

Tottenham Hotspur have contacted Luis Enrique and are keen to hold talks with him, according to journalist Graeme Bailey.

What's the latest on Enrique?

The Spaniard has been a highly sought-after manager since he departed the Spain national team with both Spurs and their London rivals holding a serious interest. Reports have suggested that the 52-year-old has been in the English capital for talks with Chelsea, coming after Spurs also shortlisted him as a candidate to replace Antonio Conte.

Enrique joins Mauricio Pochettino, Julian Nagelsmann and Zinedine Zidane as perhaps the most big name free agent coaches who are currently on the market and available for hire. All four have been linked with a move to N17 in the last fortnight but Chelsea's presence in the managerial merry-go-round slightly complicates matters.

The west Londoners have appointed former boss Frank Lampard on an interim basis until the end of this Premier League season but will still scour the market for a permanent Graham Potter replacement.

Indeed, it appears Tottenham and the Stamford Bridge side could be battling it out for the same managerial targets, with reporter Bailey sharing what he knows about Enrique.

According to the journalist, writing for 90min, the former Barcelona boss has 'also had contact with Tottenham' amid Chelsea's pursuit of him. Bailey goes on to claim that Spurs are keen to hold talks with Enrique, who arrived in England for discussions with their rivals.

Should Spurs go all-out for Enrique?

The Champions League-winning coach has arguably proved his merit on the biggest stages in world football, even despite his limited achievements with Spain in his most recent job.

Called a 'genius' by members of the media, Enrique has experience working with world football's biggest superstars like Lionel Messi and has nine trophies in total to his name (Transfermarkt).

This could make the former Celta Vigo boss a pretty exciting candidate in the eyes of some Spurs supporters, not least because he also encourages an attack-minded style of football and favours an offensive 4-3-3 formation.

The only slight drawback from Levy's perspective is Enrique's limited experience outside of Spain with the manager having never taken charge of a Premier League club. Other candidates, like Pochettino for instance, can at least boast their proven knowledge of the English top flight.

That being said, Enrique does still come as a big name who would bring much anticipation if Levy was to install him as his latest Spurs coach.

Liverpool have been offered the chance to bring PSV Eindhoven midfielder Ibrahim Sangare to the Premier League, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Reinforcements needed

Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that Arthur Melo will be returning to Juventus upon the expiration of his loan and Naby Keita, James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are also out of contract at the end of the season so central reinforcements will be required in the summer.

The Ivory Coast international’s deal at the Philips Stadion isn’t set to expire until 2027, but being Ruud van Nistelrooy’s top-performing defensive player, feels like he’s ready to embark on a bigger challenge in England which has been confirmed by his boss himself.

Speaking to Voetbal International, he said:

“Obviously he can handle [the Premier League]. I have challenged him because I think Ibrahim can go to the top in England. He would also be great in Italy or Spain.

“I see players in his position there now and I think Ibrahim is definitely going to take a shot at that level.”

The Latest: Liverpool offered Sangare

According to 90min, Sangare is ‘ready’ to complete a move to the Premier League and it’s reported that PSV are ‘open’ to cashing in this summer whilst his value is high, with his contract having a €37m (£32m) release clause.

Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham have been ‘offered’ a chance to sign him and all are ‘admirers’ of the 25-year-old.

They’ve apparently been ‘alerted’ by Sangare’s agents that he is set to be available for transfer during the upcoming window.

The Eindhoven star’s representatives have ‘spoken’ with Jurgen Klopp and the hierarchy as well as the rest of his potential suitors to make them aware of his decision.

West Ham have also been ‘touted’ as a possible destination, but it’s claimed that he’s ideally looking to join a ‘bigger side’.

The Verdict: Get it done…

Sangare has been dubbed a ‘top talent’ by football scout Jacek Kulig and Liverpool should definitely act fast to get this deal over the line ahead of their fellow competitors.

The 6 foot 3 colossus currently ranks in the 92nd percentile for most tackles and successful take-ons per game, showing that he’s not afraid to get stuck in, win back possession and dribble past his man.

The Cote d’Ivoire native’s desire to consistently contribute to his side’s efforts in the final third hasn’t gone unnoticed either having scored seven goals and provided three assists across all competitions this season (Transfermarkt).

Finally, Sangare can operate in defensive, central and attacking midfield so would add plenty of versatility to the squad, making this deal even more of a no-brainer to complete.

West Ham could be afforded the luxury of having a fully fit squad for their vital Premier League clash with Southampton this weekend, according to a key update.

Are West Ham in action this weekend?

The Hammers are facing a huge battle to remain in the top flight currently, sitting 18th in the table with 12 league matches remaining. On Sunday afternoon, David Moyes' side face an enormous game at the London Stadium, with bottom-of-the-table Saints making the trip to east London for what feels like a six-pointer in the scrap for survival.

It is arguably a must-win match for West Ham, who technically don't have an easier fixture on paper between now and the end of the season, with victory likely to take them out of the relegation zone. Having key players fit and firing is going to be key this weekend, and in that respect, a hugely promising update has now emerged.

What's the West Ham vs Saints team news?

According to ExWHUEmployee on the West Ham Way Podcast [via West Ham Zone], Moyes could have a completely available squad to choose from on Sunday:

"This is a massive boost for us ahead of this must-win game. At the moment there are no reported injury issues which is a great thing for us. So pending no injuries are picked up, to have a fully fit squad at this stage of the season could prove vital, especially on Sunday with Southampton losing key players."

There is no denying how vital injuries can be to any football team at any level, often affecting the likes of squad depth, rhythm and ultimately results hugely. For West Ham to have no fitness issues this weekend would, therefore, be an absolutely massive boost, allowing Moyes to pick his strongest possible starting lineup, have options on the substitutes' bench and generally enhance their hopes of victory.

The Hammers certainly have the quality to pull away from the relegation zone, from the dominant Declan Rice in midfield to the dangerous Jarrod Bowen and Danny Ings in attack, and there should be confidence about a positive result against Saints after this update.

If West Ham continue to be largely injury-free between now and the end of the season, they will stand a great chance of pulling clear and even pushing for a mid-table finish – for now, though, it is a case of seeing off Saints and ensuring that a crucial fixture is hurdled without too much of an issue.