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Journalist Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Chelsea hadn't even spoken to Mauricio Pochettino about becoming manager until last week.

What is the latest on Mauricio Pochettino and Chelsea?

It's been a dramatic few days for the Premier League side as the search for a new head coach really begins to heat up.

Indeed, in the week, it was reported that Luis Enrique is no longer a favourite to take charge of the Blues. This was followed up by reports that Julian Nagelsmann was also dropping out of the race.

Since then, it has emerged that former Tottenham Hotspur boss Pochettino is now being considered as a prime candidate for the Chelsea job.

However, when talking about this on his YouTube channel, Romano revealed that these talks have only just begun.

He explained: "Pochettino was already in conversation with Chelsea board last summer, when they decided to go for Graham Potter. It was Potter or Pochettino. Chelsea decided in a few days [to hire Potter], but Pochettino was there and was really appreciated.

"Now he's back in the list after first contact made this week. So until last week, Pochettino never spoke to Chelsea. Now he is in the list and the conversation is there."

Will Pochettino want to join Chelsea?

This is interesting, as in some parts of the media, Pochettino was viewed as a favourite to come in at Chelsea weeks ago. For instance, Gary Nevile told Sky Sports (via BBC Sport): "If they appoint [Zinedine] Zidane, [Diego] Simeone, [Luis] Enrique, they're going to want another £300m because they won't like some of the players they've signed.

"They have to appoint a manager who is going to inherit and like the squad that they’ve got – I think that man, because a lot of them are young, is Pochettino.”

However, despite all these rumours, it seems as though the Chelsea board hadn't seriously considered hiring the 51-year-old until recently.

This could be because their favourites Luis Enrique and Nagelsmann were no longer viable options, and it doesn't necessarily bode that well if they are now trying to hire their third-choice option.

What's more, the club have already opted against Pochettino in the past. As Romano explained, they viewed Potter as the better option when they were last appointing a new boss.

With that being the case, it remains unclear if the Argentine would even want to come in. It certainly sounds as though Chelsea haven't always been totally convinced even if they may now turn to him.

Journalist Charles Watts has earmarked Kieran Tierney as an opportunity for Arsenal to make "big money" this summer.

What's the latest Arsenal transfer news?

With the Gunners flying high this season but potentially set to fall just short of winning the Premier League, plenty of focus has been on who they can bring in during the upcoming transfer market to improve the squad.

However, if new faces come in, certain members of Mikel Arteta's team will also be put up on the transfer list too.

One name who has been linked with a move away from north London of late is left-back Tierney. Indeed, as per Football Insider, Manchester City are looking into potentially signing the Scotland international.

While discussing the £110k-p/w defender on his YouTube channel, Watts suggested this move could happen if Arsenal wanted to add some funds to their transfer kitty.

He said: “Kieran Tierney obviously is another player who I think you can make big money out of this summer if you decide to sell.”

How much is Tierney worth?

According to that report in Football Insider, the player is actually open to the move and Arsenal value him at around £30m.

If that is the case, it's certainly a decent chunk that could be reinvested in players elsewhere. What's more, they might be able to replace him internally.

After all, Oleksandr Zinchenko has been the first-choice left-back this term (starting 24 league games), while Takehiro Tomiyasu has also been played at left-back ahead of Tierney at times.

With that being the case, it's easy to see why Arsenal might look to offload the defender in the summer but it remains to be seen if they would want to sell to a direct rival.

The Gunners signed Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus from Man City and this has helped them challenge for the title – a mistake City won't want to make again.

And so, perhaps Arteta would be happier to sell elsewhere. There has actually been talk that La Liga giants Real Madrid and Barcelona could be keen on Tierney (via The Sun), suggesting a transfer bid could be in the region of £50m, which certainly would see Arsenal make some "big money" just as Watts suggests.

All in all, it will be interesting to see if he's really up for sale this summer and who is interested.

Journalist Dean Jones has suggested that Tottenham Hotspur’s search for a manager could persuade Harry Kane to stay, with three ‘big names’ in contention.

The Lowdown: Conte rant…

Antonio Conte had already been linked with a Spurs exit before his infamous post-Southampton rant to the press as sporting director Fabio Paratici got to work on a shortlist.

Sky Sports claimed last week that this list of names features Mauricio Pochettino, Roberto De Zerbi, Luis Enrique, Thomas Tuchel, Marco Silva and Thomas Frank.

Reports state that other candidates have also been entering the frame to succeed Conte with one of them being Eintracht Frankfurt boss Oliver Glasner, who won the Europa League last season.

Conte laid bare the problems he believes faces Tottenham at both squad and board level, taking aim at the players who don’t want to play ‘under stress’.

The Italian said:

“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).

“Why? Because they are used to it here, they are used to it. They don’t play for something important yeah. They don’t want to play under pressure, they don’t want to play under stress.

“It is easy in this way. Tottenham’s story is this. Twenty years there is the owner and they never won something but why? The fault is only for the club, or for every manager that stays here. I have seen the managers that Tottenham had on the bench.”

The Latest: Journalist makes Kane claim amid manager search…

Writing for GIVEMESPORT, Jones has claimed that Tottenham’s quest to find a new manager after Conte could Spurs a ‘better opportunity’ to convince Kane to remain at the club.

He adds that there are three ‘big names’ they’re considering for the job – Pochettino, Tuchel and Enrique – and talks with all three will involve explaining the situation surrounding Kane.

The Verdict: Crucial next step…

Losing both Conte, a serial winner at all of his previous clubs, and Kane upon the expiry of his 2024 contract, would surely be a sore one to take for Spurs supporters.

If Tottenham’s next boss actually cannot sway the England international into remaining in north London, the only logical step for Levy is to sell this summer while he still can.

Spurs’ all time-top goal scorer and prodigal son is near-irreplaceable, especially going by his sensational goal return, and any replacement could well be a step down.

However, the Lilywhites could well be left with little choice if things go sour – making this a crucial next step for Tottenham.

TalkSport pundit Darren Bent believes Mason Mount would fit perfectly into Newcastle United’s team.

The Lowdown: Attacking reinforcements are needed

During the January transfer window, it was reported that Newcastle wanted to prioritise signing a new midfielder, but they switched up their approach and splashed out £40m on yet another winger in the form of Anthony Gordon.

However, Newcastle not going for a new midfielder in January could well have played into their own hands as they have reportedly entered the race for contract rebel Mount by the Daily Mail.

If Newcastle are able to land a Champions League winner in the form of Mount, it would really be a statement of intent and also help them bridge the gap between themselves and the very elite clubs in England.

The Latest: Mount would be perfect for Newcastle

Despite being linked with a big-money move to Liverpool, Bent has admitted on TalkSport that Mount would be the perfect player for Newcastle to go out and sign this summer.

He said: “I’m surprised Newcastle aren’t heavily in for him, because he’d be perfect for them. Surely, if you’re trying to get to the next level, he’s exactly what you’re looking for. He’s young, he’s English, he’s an international; he’s played in big, big games, won big trophies, been a Player of the Year at his club.

“If you’re trying to build and attract players to your club, you don’t go and buy someone who’s 28, 29 that’s maybe in between whether they are going to go on to the next level, or are they going to start to fall away. He’s not even in his prime yet.”

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The Verdict: Howe would love to sign Mount

Given that Newcastle still only have four ready-made first-team options to pick from in the midfield department, if they could add Mount alongside Bruno Guimaraes, it would be a major step up.

Mount has won the Champions League and played in some of the biggest games for club and country, so it would surely be an absolute no-brainer for PIF to hand Eddie Howe someone of Mount’s ability if he was open to the move, which he could well be if the Magpies were willing to bump up his reported £80,000-per-week wage.

Given where Chelsea and Newcastle are in the Premier League table, it could perhaps be viewed as a step up in his career if they continue on their current trajectories, especially given the ambitions that Amanda Staveley and PIF have for the Magpies – although they’d face stiff competition from Liverpool for Mount’s signature if they decided to make a move.

When Brendan Rodgers was sacked from his position as manager at Liverpool in 2015, the pessimism threatened to boil over on Merseyside, with the prestigious Premier League outfit devoid of confidence and inspiration; all changed with the appointment of Jurgen Klopp.

Having fallen by the wayside under Rodgers, the Reds returned too the glory days under the wing of the eccentric German boss, having now qualified for the Champions League on six consecutive occasions, reaping a plethora of major honours including the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, and Carabao Cup.

The meticulous crafting of his outfit and the effect it had on Anfield, a veritable shadow of its former glory before returning to transcendent brightness once again, was resounding in its entirety.

And some of the shrewder signings of the reign have proven to be the most valuable to Klopp and co, with Gini Wijnaldum signing from Newcastle United for £25m and Joel Matip arriving from Schalke on a free transfer.

But no player can match the impact of Andy Robertson for such a minimal fee, with the Scottish left-back completing a £10m move to Merseyside in 2017 from relegated Hull City.

How much is Robertson worth now?

The core of Liverpool’s success under Klopp bears a distinctive and glinted sheen; Mohamed Salah earns the plaudits for his clinical prowess, while the galvanising leadership of captain Jordan Henderson and the defensive equanimity of Virgil van Dijk have ensured the intensity and cohesion have remained firmly gelled.

But the bouncing ball of destructive energy that is Robertson has been integral in ensuring the left side has an unceasing creative outlet, with Robertson’s 61 assists from 255 appearances for the Reds a remarkable achievement; indeed, on Boxing Day, the Scotsman’s served pass for Salah cemented his position as the highest-assisting defender in Premier League history, overtaking Leighton Baines.

Having won a plethora of major honours, including the English top-flight and the Champions League, the 59-cap Scotland captain now boasts a market value of £62m, according to Football Transfers, surpassing the fee paid for the phenom by over six times.

If Liverpool had ever been inclined to sell, they would have made a mammoth profit, but the work Robertson has plied on Merseyside suggests the correct route in utilising his talents throughout the prime of his career has been the most auspicious option, with FBref ranking him among the top 3% of full-backs for assists, 4% for shot-creating actions and 12% for progressive passes per 90.

Lauded as a “Duracell Bunny” by Liverpool writer Leanne Prescott, Robertson certainly brings the high-voltage charge to his outfit, almost always a relentless force on the left flank, marauding up and down the wing and looking to provide auxiliary support to the frontline whenever possible.

His defensive acumen is underrated too, with WhoScored recording an impressive career average of 1.5 tackles, one interception, and 1.8 clearances per game, illustrating just how expansive a scope the £100k-per-week gem truly has to offer.

As such, Klopp’s dip into Hull to land a young Scottish left-back with a solid start to life in the Premier League can be viewed as nothing other than a masterstroke, with so much of Liverpool’s success over the past several seasons owed to the marauding excellence down the left.

BBC pundit Chris Sutton has criticised Malik Tillman for scoring a controversial goal in the most recent Rangers game.

Was Tillman wrong to score for Rangers?

In the Scottish Cup this weekend, the Ibrox side managed to claim a narrow 3-2 home win over Partick Thistle. The game, though, did not pass without incident.

Indeed, around the 70th minute, after the ball had been put out of play for Tillman to receive treatment for an injury, action resumed with the opposition thrown back the ball. However, the striker quickly moved to score without fairly giving Partick the chance to properly regather possession.

His effort stood but Rangers and manager Micheal Beale sportingly allowed Partick Thistle to then run through on goal unopposed to quickly even things up.

While talking about the incident on BBC’s 606, Sutton weighed in on it all, slamming Tillman for his “poor” behaviour.

The pundit said: “Yeah, there was a big, big controversial incident up there, wasn’t there?

“Tillman scoring a goal which he shouldn’t have done. He shouldn’t have scored because I think he was injured and went back on. And the Partick Thistle players were outraged. Really poor from Tillman.”

How does the Tillman incident reflect on Rangers?

There is no rule stopping Tillman from doing what he did, hence why the goal was allowed to stand, but it certainly wasn’t a good look for the youngster.

However, the case has been made that as he was the player down injured, he didn’t realise the ball had been put out of play and so when the game resumed he assumed things were just carrying on as normal.

Partick Thistle boss Ian McCall certainly seemed to give the player the benefit of doubt. He told BBC Sport: “I don’t think Malik Tillman knew what he was doing. I think he got mixed up and put it in the net.

“Michael Beale showed an awful lot of class, so did James Tavernier to do what they did. It was the right to do so there’s no blame on anybody, not even the ref. I’ve been involved in the game since 1981 – I’ve never seen it before.”

While Beale also defended his player, saying: “It was a big misunderstanding, the whole thing. Malik gets injured. We play the ball out. Malik’s on the floor, he’s unaware that we’ve played the ball out so when he gets up, he just thinks it’s a throw-in to Partick Thistle. He presses innocently and then he’s through on goal and he goes and finishes the move.

Ironically enough, Sutton was once involved in a similar incident when he scored for Blackburn Rovers against Arsenal. The former player has since admitted, “Martin Keown wanted to rip my head off”.

With that in mind, you’d think he’d be a little more sympathetic to the Rangers man.

Injury expert and Sky Sports contributor Ben Dinnery has given his verdict on the current injury sustained by Arsenal’s Thomas Partey. 

The Lowdown: FA Cup knock

Partey suffered an injury for Mikel Arteta’s side against fellow Premier League club Manchester City in the FA Cup. Indeed, he was taken off in the 45th minute and replaced by Albert Sambi Lokonga.

The Ghanaian has been a mainstay in the Gunners midfield, playing 16 league fixtures and starting all of those games for the north London outfit.

This season joining from Atletico Madrid in October 2020 for £45 million.

The Latest: Question marks

Dinnery claimed it’s hard to know for certain about the status of Partey, if he’s available he could end up wearing some form of protective clothing on his ribs when speaking on Premier FPL Injuries.

He stated: “In midfield Thomas Partey, this is a big question mark. That was a rib injury, he’ll need to come through a sole training session on Friday or at least take part in a full contract session.

“There is a possibility that he could wear some kind of protective shield for that rib. Just given the nature of that problem. and obviously, he needs to be able to be comfortable and breathe.

“It’s a difficult one, so it’s going to be a good balance between protecting that area and for him to be able to slowly function and move around the field. So it remains to be seen the big question marks here with that one.”

The Verdict: Gunners have depth

We believe that if Partey is ruled out for Arsenal’s clash with Everton, then Arteta does have a sufficient backup option in midfield.

The Gunners signed Jorginho from Chelsea on deadline day for a fee of £12 million, the Italian signed an 18-month contract with Arsenal.

In our view, the 31-year-old will add experience to Arsenal’s ranks, due to the fact he’s played in the Premier League for a number of seasons as well as top European competitions, which include the Champions League and Europa League.

However, if it’s the choice between Partey and the ex-Chelsea man to start, Arsenal’s number five gets the edge for us.

Glenn Murray heaped praise on the Ghanaian for his performance against Nottingham Forest when speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live (via GhanaWeb.com), he claimed ‘everything’ that Arsenal did came ‘through’ the work of Partey.

In our view, the fact that the 29-year-old is in an ongoing who’s the better player debate with a multi-time Champions League winner in Manchester United’s Casemiro, says all you need to know about the level of his ability.

Matheus Nunes has been heavily linked with a move away from Wolves in recent weeks, and the Old Gold could potentially return to Sporting Lisbon by bringing in Manuel Ugarte as his replacement.

According to Media Foot, the Midlands outfit and Atletico Madrid have both been in talks with Sporting over a potential move for the 21-year-old, with Wolves’ relationship with his agent Jorge Mendes likely to be crucial in any deal.

The young midfielder has established himself as a key player in Ruben Amorim’s side and has been one of their stars so far this season, although his current €60m (£53m) release clause means that it would be another expensive transfer for the Old Gold to complete.

Wolves already spent big when bringing in Nunes from the Estadio Jose Alvalade last summer, with the midfielder joining in a club-record deal worth £42.2m.

Despite some disappointing form so far in the current campaign, which has seen him register no goals and just one assist in the Premier League, the 24-year-old still has multiple suitors, with recent reports suggesting that Liverpool are especially keen on signing him in 2023.

If Julen Lopetegui does opt to cash in on the young midfielder, then Ugarte could be an ideal replacement, and he may even prove to be an upgrade when you compare their respective statistics from the season so far.

This graphic emphasises that the Uruguayan would be a significant upgrade from a defensive perspective in Lopetegui’s side compared to Nunes, and on current form, he could be a far better player to have in a relegation battle.

Ugarte’s ability to win back possession  has earned him praise from football talent scout Jacek Kulig, who called him a “midfield machine” after topping the charts for tackles and duels won among all players in the Champions League so far this season.

While Nunes has hitherto struggled to adapt to the Premier League, Ugarte’s strength in winning physical battles suggests that he could be an ideal fit at Molineux.

Therefore, if Wolves splash the cash on another player from Sporting Lisbon this month, then it would not be a surprise to see Nunes offloaded amid Liverpool’s interest in him.

Manchester United starlet Anthony Elanga has been urged to go out on loan in this transfer window by YouTuber Mark Goldbridge.

What’s the word?

Goldbridge claimed that the winger is not currently at the right level to play for Man United, with his development stalling after initially coming into the team too early as a result of a lack of other options.

Ahead of their midweek clash against Bournemouth, the Swedish attacker has scored four times in 45 matches for the club, and although the 20-year-old has impressed at times, including scoring away at Atletico Madrid in the Champions League, he still has a long way to go from becoming the finished product.

He has been linked with a loan move to Everton, and Goldbridge has claimed on his YouTube channel that he definitely needs regular minutes to stand any chance of success at Old Trafford.

He said: “My stance on Anthony Elanga has always been he should be doing what Amad [Diallo] is doing in the Championship and playing in the Championship developing – because he’s not developing at Man United.

“There [has been] no development in Anthony Elanga in the last eight months; he is flatlining. Every time he comes on, it’s the same Anthony Elanga that we saw eight months ago.

“He’s not developing whatever talent he’s got. It’s got to the point with me with Elanga, where if I’m being completely honest, I like the player, but my heart sinks a little bit.

“I’m like, this is not exciting, he’s not going to spark. I hope he does, but he’s just not developing. He needs to be playing every week.

“I would like to see Elanga on loan ASAP.”

A good deal for everyone?

Should Elanga join Lampard’s side in the winter window, he could gain regular minutes, whilst Everton would be gaining an additional attacker, so a move could be of benefit for both sides.

If he does well on loan, his value could rise, and he could return to United ready for the first team or be sold on for a sizeable fee.

However, given that Everton are in a relegation battle, he would have a lot of pressure on his shoulders at Goodison Park to deliver instantly. If he settles quickly, he could become a hero if he helps Everton stay up, though poor performances could quickly destroy his confidence.

He needs a regular run of games, and his versatility means he could slot in anywhere across the Everton attack. Therefore, we can see why United may be tempted to loan Elanga out.

Manchester United have acted swiftly and with conviction to home in on the signing of Jack Butland from Crystal Palace, in a move that could spell the end to Dean Henderson’s career at Old Trafford…

What’s the word?

With Newcastle United shot-stopper Martin Dubravka’s loan spell with the Red Devils cut short at the beginning of the January transfer window, having forged only two showings – both in the Carabao Cup – Erik Ten Hag has moved quickly to secure an apt replacement, and nine-cap England ace Butland has been distinguished.

Butland has made only a smattering of appearances since departing second-tier Stoke City for Palace in 2020, but is viewed by United to be the ideal back-up for David de Gea’s goal on the current market.

Despite only registering interest this week, according to BBC Sport, Butland is already headed to Manchester to complete a medical ahead of a permanent transfer, which could be announced imminently.

Bye-bye Henderson

Nottingham Forest currently yield Henderson between the sticks, with the 25-year-old ‘keeper making 17 Premier League appearances and keeping five clean sheets during what has been a mixed spell away from the Theatre of Dreams.

Although an improving figure, he did not enjoy a great start to the campaign with the Athletic’s Richard Amorfa lamenting his shot-stopping ability, taking to Twitter to say that he was “getting cooked from long range again.”

Prior to his temporary move away, he was being valued at a costly £40m by United with Newcastle potentially eyeing up a switch. That seemed a hefty sum of money but when you consider how he burst onto the scene in resounding fashion over a two-year loan stint with Sheffield United, it looked decent value.

His stock rose a great deal in Yorkshire as he starred between the sticks during a promotion-winning term and then during a commendable Premier League season that saw the newly-promoted outfit clinch ninth place.

While Henderson’s calibre as a Premier League goalkeeper certainly towers above Butland’s at present, the deal set to be struck represents a shrewd piece of business from the Reds Devils, who will be signing an “unreal” gloveman – as heralded by journalist Jack Reeve – capable of adopting the No. 2 role at the club.

All of that could well see Henderson move on for a reported £20m, the fee Forest will have to pay to sign him permanently.

With De Gea reportedly seeking assurances over his long-term future at Old Trafford and looking to initiate a contract extension, his position as the established No. 1 appears to be cemented.

Butland’s top-flight credentials are also ticked off, with his 21 clean sheets in 87 appearances an impressive tally for a goalkeeper previously plying their trade for a club battling, and eventually falling to relegation in Stoke.

A swiftly wrapped-up transfer manoeuvre is a warming indication for a shift in transfer policy at the Theatre of Dreams, moving with steadfast resolve to bring targets to the club in wise, shrewd moves; Man United might soon put on a show once again.