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De Zerbi has confirmed that Kulusevski is finally set to return to the squad for Monday’s clash against Coventry. The Swedish international has endured a grueling period on the sidelines, having not featured in a competitive fixture for nearly 18 months due to a complex kneecap issue. After successfully navigating an 11-a-side training exercise during the international break, the winger is now ready to take his place among the substitutes.

The Italian manager could not hide his delight at the prospect of welcoming back such a key figure to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Speaking to the media ahead of the match, De Zerbi emphasized the psychological lift this provides the entire club. “Yes, the medical staff have given the ok. It's probably the greatest news since the Everton game," De Zerbi said. Discussing the emotional weight of the comeback, the manager added: “He has suffered too much. I told him yesterday and he had a big smile on his face.”

While the news regarding Kulusevski is overwhelmingly positive, the North London side has been hit by a significant blow involving summer signing Savio. The Brazilian winger, who has shown flashes of brilliance since his arrival, is set for a spell in the treatment room after picking up a muscular injury during the mid-season break. The timing is particularly frustrating for De Zerbi, who had hoped to have a full complement of attacking players available.

The injury occurred just as the squad was preparing for their training camp in Marbella, leaving the coaching staff to rethink their tactical approach for the upcoming weeks. "No Savio, unfortunately Savio on Tuesday before leaving for Marbella felt a muscular problem and we have lost him for some weeks," De Zerbi stated.

The injury woes do not stop with Savio, as teenage sensation Lucas Bergvall is also facing a stint on the sidelines. The youngster apparently picked up a knock during the recent draw at Old Trafford against Manchester United. Despite showing bravery to continue after an early scare, the medical staff have determined that a period of rest is necessary to ensure the midfielder does not aggravate the condition further.

"And Lucas Bergvall because he had a problem in Manchester early on in the first chance he created for Dominic Solanke. He felt pain in his knee but felt fine and on Sunday he came to the training ground and he'll be out for two weeks,” the Spurs boss explained.

Adding to the selection headache is the continued absence of Spanish full-back Pedro Porro. The defender has been struggling with a hamstring injury, and while there were hopes he might be ready for the Monday night kick-off, the game has ultimately come too soon. His absence means Tottenham will likely have to rely on secondary options at right-back against the newly-promoted side, further testing the squad's overall depth. With three key players ruled out and one only just returning to the bench, De Zerbi faces a balancing act to ensure his team maintains their momentum in the Premier League.

Manchester United manager Michael Carrick has confirmed that both Noussair Mazraoui and Matthijs de Ligt are available to strengthen his squad for Sunday's clash against Leeds United. The Red Devils travel to face their historic rivals at Elland Road seeking a crucial Premier League victory.

Mazraoui returns to full training after a spell on the sidelines, while De Ligt continues to build match fitness following a challenging few months.

Carrick described the return of both key defenders as a significant step forward for the team's defensive stability.

Speaking to club media ahead of the fixture, Carrick expressed delight at having De Ligt back on the bench and reintegrated into first-team action. "Matty's been back in the squad. Every training session and every day that goes by... being on the bench again was a good step for him," Carrick said.

"A little bit of patience and getting him up to speed, but it's great to have him around. He's had a tough few months that he's had to work through and credit to him."

Turning to Mazraoui, Carrick added: "Hopefully, we got Nouss back involved with us. He's done a little bit of training, so he'll be back around the group, which is a good step."

Carrick showered praise on teenage defender Ayden Heaven following his composed display at right-back against Atletico Madrid, while highlighting Amad Diallo's upcoming 100th appearance for the club. "Aiden's a young player that's got fantastic attributes and he's got a knack of not being fazed," Carrick noted.

"He carries himself really well and against Atletico in a tough game, he showed that for a young defender he does some really, really good things."

On Amad, the manager added: "It's always nice when you can take the numbers off. He's a real team player and offers so much in how he contributes."

Facing a consistent Leeds United side managed by Daniel Farke, Carrick knows his squad must channel their energy productively in front of a hostile crowd.

"It's a special game, going to Elland Road," Carrick concluded. "It's where it brings everything out in you. All the senses are alive and the noise, the atmosphere, the intensity, everything's there."

The Red Devils head coach expects a fierce encounter as United look to secure three vital points across the Pennines.

According to TEAMtalk, the Red Devils are alongside the Gunners and Spurs in tracking the Magpies attacker, whereas links involving the Anfield outfit remain unconfirmed. The Ivory Coast international only arrived at St James' Park from Hoffenheim in Julyfor around £43 million. Nevertheless, his explosive pace and ability to beat defenders have already caught the eye of several leading clubs across England and Germany.

Both the Old Trafford hierarchy and Arsenal had scouted the left-sided forward prior to his Tyneside switch, while Aston Villa and Tottenham are also keeping tabs on his progress even though none of the four clubs have made a formal approach.

The youngster has made an encouraging impact despite limited game time, netting twice across five outings in all competitions this term. He opened his Premier League account across four substitute appearances during a 4-1 defeat away at Leeds United in mid-September, having also scored when starting the first half of a 3-2 Carabao Cup second-round victory over West Bromwich Albion.

The 20-year-old's direct running and ability in one-on-one situations match the exact profile sought by domestic rivals looking to inject youthful pace into wide areas. For United, he fits their ongoing search for high-potential forwards capable of developing into long-term starters. Meanwhile, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta continues to assess wide attacking options to bolster his squad depth following a summer window in which a move for Vinicius Junior failed to materialise.

Despite growing interest in his services, the same report outlines that none of his suitors are expected to launch a formal bid until the summer of 2027 at the earliest. Newcastle view the winger as a central pillar of their long-term project and hold a commanding negotiating position thanks to a contract running until 2031 with no indication of a release clause. Consequently, sanctioning a January departure is considered highly unlikely just months after their heavy outlay.

Lisandro Martínez has been fined by Manchester United over his scathing interview following the 2-0 defeat to Atlético Madrid, according to the BBC. His future at the club is highly uncertain. Manager Michael Carrick called the Argentine in on Thursday, and the former Ajax player has since apologised publicly.

After the match against Atlético Madrid, Martínez criticised technical director Jason Wilcox in particular, saying he had not strengthened the squad enough during the summer transfer window. "We performed fantastically last season and now we expect more from the club's leadership," he told Amazon Prime at the time.

"Signings who can compete, because many other teams are also bringing in a lot of players," Martínez added. In an initial statement, the defender said he had spoken out of anger and frustration, and that his words stemmed from his ambition to compete for the biggest trophies with Manchester United.

Martínez has since spoken to Carrick and the club's directors. "Today I met the club's leadership and the manager. It was a very positive conversation in which we were able to exchange views and speak openly about what happened after the match," he writes.

"Everyone knows I am a passionate person and that I experience football with great intensity," the defender continues. "The frustration of the defeat led me to express my feelings at a time and place that may not have been right, and I want to apologise for that."

On unity at Manchester United, Martínez admits his comments did not help. "Our club are at their best when we are all united, and I realise that my words at that moment did not help with that," the defender says.

Martínez insists everyone at the club is pursuing the same goal. "I know that everyone at Manchester United is doing everything they can to achieve our shared ambition: to achieve the successes that this club and its supporters deserve."

"Now that this situation is behind us, we are fully focused on winning together," the defender concludes.

Barcelona want Pedro Porro. The Tottenham Hotspur full-back is on their list of targets for the summer window, but prising him away from north London will be anything but straightforward.

According to the newspaper Sport, Tottenham have no intention of letting the Spaniard go cheaply and have already slapped a price of around 90 million euros on his head.

Pay that, and Porro becomes the most expensive right-back in the history of the game.

Journalist Graeme Bailey reported on Thursday via TEAMtalk that both Barcelona and Real Madrid have registered an interest in signing Porro in 2027.

Intermediaries acting for the player are believed to have already contacted both clubs to test the water. Either way, the deal would demand a huge financial outlay.

Spurs have set their asking price at 75 million pounds sterling, roughly 88.6 million euros.

That would comfortably smash the current record for a right-back, which Paris Saint-Germain set when they paid Inter Milan 67 million euros for Achraf Hakimi in 2021.

Why are the London club so bullish? Porro extended his contract last summer for five seasons, and that renewal hands Tottenham the stronger hand at the table. It does not, according to the same information, rule out an exit in 2027.

Porro's current market value sits at 45 million euros. Spurs either want to keep him or make a serious profit if they cannot.

Events on the pitch could shape his future too. The full-back signed that new deal convinced Tottenham would build something competitive under Roberto De Zerbi. The results have told a different story.

Six Premier League rounds, no wins. It has been a hugely disappointing start to the season for the London side.

All of which suits Barcelona and Real Madrid nicely, particularly if the Spanish defender fancies a return home with one of the two giants of his domestic league.

According to TEAMtalk, intermediaries working for the 57-year-old coach have contacted the Red Devils' hierarchy to confirm his readiness to replace their struggling boss. The veteran manager has been unattached since departing Napoli in the summer after winning the Serie A title in his debut campaign and finishing second last term. His approach comes with United having lost four of their opening nine outings while managing just two victories.

The Italian's camp previously held talks with director of football Jason Wilcox during the summer, only for the board to hand the 45-year-old Carrick the permanent role after he secured Champions League qualification following Ruben Amorim's January departure.

Despite missing out then, the former Juventus boss remains convinced he can turn fortunes around in Manchester and is eager for another spell in England. He boasts a proven track record in the division, having lifted both the Premier League trophy and the FA Cup during a two-year spell at Chelsea until 2018, before registering a win rate above 50 percent at Tottenham Hotspur between 2021 and March 2023, departing with the north Londoners sitting fourth.

The team's stuttering form has left players increasingly concerned that the board could act soon, a tension that sparked Tuesday's outburst from Lisandro Martinez prior to the Argentine defender releasing a statement to clarify his remarks.

While the renewed contact from Conte's representatives has not yet triggered formal negotiations as the hierarchy publicly stand by their current boss, club insiders acknowledge that results must improve drastically.

Meanwhile, reports on Wednesday indicated that directors have earmarked a leading Premier League manager as their preferred target, with Julian Nagelsmann and former Newcastle United chief Eddie Howe, who recently turned down a Champions League club, also touted as potential contenders.

Carrick's side must now deliver an immediate response when they travel to face rivals Leeds United on Sunday as they look to ease the mounting pressure. Although club chiefs have given no indication of an imminent dismissal, the manager will inevitably carry the can if results do not pick up quickly. With Conte waiting in the wings alongside other high-profile contenders, this weekend's Elland Road showdown is pivotal.

According to TEAMtalk, the Red Devils are locked in a battle with Spurs and the Toffees as all three Premier League sides keep close tabs on the 24-year-old forward ahead of the January transfer window. The English trio's interest has been sparked by the 195cm striker's prolific streak of 12 goals in his last 14 games, including 10 in just seven domestic league outings. His hot form carried over to the international stage recently, netting his maiden goal for Croatia on his third cap during a 4-1 UEFA Nations League defeat to Spain.

Beljo's blistering form this season is no flash in the pan, having racked up an impressive 38 goals in 48 appearances across all competitions last term. The same TEAMtalk report reveals that Brentford, alongside City Football Group and Chelsea owners BlueCo, are also closely monitoring his progress. The race is further intriguing given previous links to Newcastle United and Leeds United, two clubs the forward has previously named among his personal Premier League favourites.

Each of the main suitors has a pressing need for attacking reinforcements, starting with Old Trafford, where decision-makers want added competition for Benjamin Sesko and Matheus Cunha amid ongoing uncertainty over Joshua Zirkzee's future. In north London, Richarlison's exclusion from Roberto De Zerbi's squad leaves Tottenham reliant on Dominic Solanke and Omar Marmoush. Everton, however, are arguably in dire need after a frantic end to the summer window left David Moyes with Thierno Barry as his sole recognised senior striker following Beto's departure to Fiorentina.

While interest remains at the monitoring and data-gathering stage for now, concrete moves could materialise once the winter window opens. Securing his signature will not come cheap or easy, as the forward remains tied to Zagreb on a long-term contract running until June 2030. For now, the striker's immediate focus remains on sustaining his goalscoring momentum in Croatia while his Premier League suitors prepare to make their moves in the new year.

Pedro Porro could be on his way out of the Premier League. The Tottenham Hotspur full-back is giving serious thought to a return to Spanish football, and that has put him on Barcelona's radar, with the club monitoring the Spain international's situation ahead of a possible move in the next transfer window.

According to the Spanish newspaper Sport, Porro is increasingly convinced his time in England is nearing its end. He no longer sees his long-term future in the Spurs project and is seriously weighing up a return to Spanish pitches, despite a contract that runs until June 2031. Barcelona are watching closely.

The Catalan club have tracked the 27-year-old for some time, and he ticks plenty of the boxes Hansi Flick wants in defence. Pace, attacking instinct, international experience and the ease with which he bursts forward to join attacks all make him an interesting option for the right-back slot.

Any Barcelona move, though, hinges on the state of their current squad. The sporting management led by Deco are not thinking about heavy investment in the two full-back positions unless a player leaves first. Two names stand out: Jules Koundé and Alejandro Balde.

Koundé's potential exit would open the door directly to filling the right-back position, and that would make Porro a particularly attractive option.

Selling Balde, meanwhile, could provide the financial resources needed to complete a deal of this kind. It would also force the club to reorganise their defensive positions.

Tottenham remain the main obstacle. They renewed the Spain international's contract until 2031 only recently and face no contractual need to part with one of their most prominent players.

Any negotiations would therefore require a substantial fee, while the player's own wishes could prove decisive.

Reports in both Spain and England over recent days suggest Porro is seriously considering a change of scenery and a new challenge.

Barcelona continue to monitor his situation, though no official offer has arrived. His future could depend on the moves made in the English capital, as well as on what the Catalan club decide about their two current full-backs.

Iván Fresneda is also on Barcelona's list. The Sporting Lisbon man is among the options under consideration to strengthen the full-back positions.

Manchester United's Champions League preparations have taken another hit. Kobbie Mainoo and Luke Shaw both missed training ahead of the trip to Atletico Madrid, throwing their availability for the eagerly awaited fixture into doubt and piling more pressure on Michael Carrick.

A decision on whether the pair travel to the Spanish capital is expected later, with United counting on the game to restore some balance after a stuttering start to the season.

Shaw's case looks the more straightforward of the two. The club say he was given a scheduled rest day, having started Saturday's 1-1 Premier League draw with Tottenham before Ayden Heaven replaced him in stoppage time.

The England full-back also sat out United's Champions League league phase meeting with Sabah last month through injury, so his situation is being monitored closely ahead of the next game.

Mainoo's absence raised far bigger questions. The midfielder played the full 90 minutes against Spurs with no obvious sign of a problem, then skipped Monday morning's session.

Carrick and his staff will wait on news of both men before flying to Spain. United badly need technical stability and can't afford to lose influential players at this stage of the campaign, with the manager desperate to name his strongest possible side against Atletico.

Carrick is currently grappling with immense scrutiny as his side endures a historically poor run of form. Following a disappointing 1-1 draw against Tottenham Hotspur, body language expert Darren Stanton has highlighted several physical indicators that suggest the coach is nearing his breaking point.

Stanton, a former police detective, noted that Carrick appears to be a man feeling under extreme pressure and identified four specific "red flags" in his recent public appearances. "Firstly, we see a one-sided shoulder shrug, which denotes a total lack of confidence in what he’s saying when talking about certain parts of the game being better. He has no real belief in what he’s saying," the expert told The Sun.

Additionally, furrowed lines across Carrick’s forehead were cited as evidence of distress, anxiety, and growing frustration. Stanton also observed extreme lip suppression, which he interpreted as a conscious effort to hold back his true feelings about the club's current predicament.

The final significant indicator mentioned was a self-assurance gesture involving Carrick sticking his tongue out, which Stanton compared to a pacifying behavior often seen in young children who are uncomfortable in their environment.

"Sticking your tongue out is the self-reassuring gesture we see in very young children when they’re unhappy and uncomfortable in a situation. Carrick too feels very uncomfortable at the moment in his job and how it’s going for him," Stanton explained.

He further noted that Carrick appeared pale and was sweating noticeably, suggesting a physiological "flight" response where the manager’s instinct is to get as far away from the stressful situation at Old Trafford as possible.

The tactical and psychological struggles mentioned by experts have translated into a grim set of results for the Red Devils. During the clash with Spurs, United appeared to have the upper hand when Bryan Mbeumo scored in the 73rd minute, followed shortly by a red card for Tottenham's Rodrigo Bentancur.

However, despite the man advantage, Carrick's side retreated and allowed Dominic Solanke to head home a stoppage-time equalizer. This inability to close out games has become a recurring theme, with the team failing to win any of their last three matches they finished with a numerical advantage. The atmosphere has turned toxic, with fans loudly booing the team at both half-time and the final whistle.

The statistics surrounding United’s current campaign make for uncomfortable reading for the board. The club has managed to collect only six points from their opening six Premier League fixtures, marking their poorest start to a top-flight season in four decades. Carrick, who initially revitalized the squad as an interim replacement for Ruben Amorim, is now finding the permanent role far more taxing.

While he enjoyed a superb run of 39 points from 17 games at the end of last season, that momentum has completely vanished, leaving the club languishing in 12th place in the table.