Football FanCast

It is right back to business for Tottenham and Ange Postecoglou after their heroics in the Europa League on Thursday, with Champions League qualification chasers Nottingham Forest awaiting them on Easter Monday as Nuno Espírito Santo looks to upset his former club.

Tottenham enter first Europa League semi-final since 1984

Spurs edged past Eintracht Frankfurt in the quarter-finals, courtesy of Dominic Solanke's vital spot-kick, and Postecoglou's side were forced to display some last-gasp pieces of defending to keep hold of their precious advantage on hostile away turf.

Bodies were on the line over a dogged, mature display which we've scarcely witnessed at Spurs all season long, and Postecoglou was thrilled by the effort from his players, as Tottenham set up their first Europa semi-final since 1984.

"They’ve been so united in believing in what we’re trying to achieve here and that is what gave me heart all along that if we got our own slice of luck in terms of getting some players back that I really believed this team could achieve," said Postecoglou on Spurs' win over Eintracht.

"That is what keeps driving me. It isn’t so much my belief in them, it’s their belief in what we’re doing and both players and staff have been outstanding. I am the front man for it but they take responsibility for it as well and all my decisions and everything I do, but not at any stage have I felt they lost any belief in me or what we’re doing."

Postecoglou has been repeatedly tipped for the Tottenham axe following a dismal Premier League season, having already lost 17 top-flight matches, but their Europa League campaign represents a golden opportunity for the Lilywhites to make history and fulfill the Australian's goal of winning silverware during his second term in charge.

All eyes are on the next round, where they will face off against fairy-tale semi-finalists Bodo/Glimt, but they must first take on both Forest and travel to Anfield for a clash against Liverpool.

Tottenham could be without James Maddison against Nottingham Forest

As Spurs prepare to host the former at home, Postecoglou has shared a pre-match update on star £170,000-per-week midfielder James Maddison.

Maddison was forced off against Eintracht after his nasty collision with goalkeeper Kaua Santos, which resulted in the away side being awarded Solanke's decisive penalty.

The Englishman ultimately playing a crucial role in helping Tottenham to the semis, but as a result, Postecoglou has now confirmed that Maddison is a Tottenham injury doubt for Forest.

"It's fair to say he'll probably be a bit sore, so he's probably a doubt for Monday," said Postecoglou on Maddison's condition.

"The rest of the group, again, they all worked hard, so they'll be sore, but they should all be okay for Monday night. Sonny will still be out. He's been dealing with a foot problem for a while, so now is as good a time as any to give him the right time to to get over it. He'll definitely miss Monday. Everyone else should be okay."

The 28-year-old has bagged 10 goals and 11 assists throughout all competitions, and he'll likely be a sore miss against Forest, but with nothing to play for domestically, it is far more imperative that he's fresh and ready for their European tie.

Ange Postecoglou declared in August that he always wins a trophy in his second season.

Well, despite the fact his team are 15th in the Premier League table, he's still on course to deliver on his manifesto.

On Thursday night, Tottenham Hotspur reached the Europa League semi-finals, with Dominic Solanke's spot-kick enough to oust Eintracht Frankfurt at Waldstadion.

Spurs will now face Bodø/Glimt in the semi-finals, they have become the first-ever Norwegian club to reach the last four of any UEFA competition, with the Lilywhites thereby firm favourites to reach the final in Bilbao.

If Tottenham are going to end their 17-year wait for silverware, aiming to capture the UEFA Cup for the first time since 1984, one player in particular will be key, given that he's reminiscent of a Spurs star of yesteryear.

How good Mousa Dembélé was at Tottenham

When one thinks of Tottenham at their peak under Mauricio Pochettino, the players who immediately spring to mind might be Harry Kane, Son Heung-min, Dele Alli, Hugo Lloris, Toby Alderweireld or Jan Vertonghen.

However, no Spurs supporter will overlook or ever forget Mousa Dembélé's importance to that side.

Back in the summer of 2012, the Belgian joined Tottenham from Fulham for a reported fee of £15m, going on to make 249 appearances for Spurs, before departing for Guangzhou City in the Chinese Super League in January 2019.

During his time at the club, Tottenham went from being a mid-table Premier League outfit to regular top four finishers and Champions League Finalists, and the pivotal role Dembélé played in this transformation cannot be forgotten.

Charlie Eccleshare of The Athletic described him as the 'lynchpin of Pochettino's' team, praising his 'ball-carrying skills' and 'ability to evade pressure'.

Meantime, Bart Vlietstra of the Guardian believes that, in his prime, Dembélé was 'the best midfielder in the world', while his former teammate Kyle Walker would agree, stating that he was "probably the best player I have ever seen play football”.

How Postecoglou would love to have Dembélé at his peak patrolling and controlling his midfield, something Spurs have severely lacked throughout this season, but is one current Spurs star showcasing some of the same qualities?

The current Spurs star who could be replicating Dembélé

Earlier this season, it would've been inarguable Dejan Kuluševski was Tottenham's most dangerous attacker, scoring in five successive matches just before Christmas, on target against Chelsea, Rangers, Southampton, Manchester United and Liverpool during this sequence.

However, more recently, the Swede has spent a few weeks on the sidelines due to a foot injury suffered against Manchester City in February, before making his return at Molineux last Sunday.

This is a major boost for Postecoglou, ahead of the aforementioned Europa League semi-final against Bodø/Glimt, and the table below illustrates why.

As the table outlines, since the start of last season, only Son Heung-min and Brennan Johnson have been involved in more Spurs goals than Kuluševski.

However, his similarities to fellow left-footer Dembélé come stylistically.

Jay Harris and Anantaajith Raghuraman of the Athletic praise the 24-year-old's 'impressive running power' as well as his 'durability' and 'defensive work' rate while, according to FBref.com, only nine players have recorded more progressive carries in the Premier League this season.

Ben McAleer of the Guardian adds that Kuluševski is 'absolutely vital' for this Tottenham team, asserting that he has been their 'most consistent player' of the Ange-era.

Following Tottenham's 4-0 demolition of Manchester City in November, speaking during Sky Sports' coverage, Gary Neville labelled Kuluševski as "brilliant" and a "serious player", adding that he uses his "strength and running power" to "subtley beat players" with ease.

So, while there are stylistic similarities to Dembélé and Kuluševski, the biggest overlap between the duo could be the fact they go under-the-radar a bit as Spurs' pivotal unsung heroes.

Tottenham Hotspur have "invited" a manager to hold discussions over potentially replacing Ange Postecoglou, with the tactician also responding to this approach behind-the-scenes.

Ange Postecoglou future uncertain despite Europa League campaign

Spurs booked their place in the Europa League semi-finals on Thursday after a very hard-fought 1-0 win away to Eintracht Frankfurt.

Dominic Solanke's cooly-taken penalty was enough to hand Postecoglou a precious win and keep his hopes of winning silverware alive, following a torrid Premier League campaign where Spurs are on course for their worst ever finish.

However, some reports suggest that Postecoglou could be sacked regardless of what happens in Europe, so the Australian's future still very much hangs in the balance amid repeated links to other managers.

Chairman Daniel Levy's shortlist of potential replacements for the 59-year-old includes names like Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner, Brentford's Thomas Frank, Fulham's Marco Silva and Bournemouth's Andoni Iraola, according to recent rumours.

Iraola has been tipped as Tottenham's top target to succeed Postecoglou, but Bournemouth won't make it easy for the Lilywhites after his impressive campaign in the Cherries dugout.

Bournemouth owner Bill Foley wants to extend Iraola's deal and is working to do so, having hailed his boss as "excellent", meaning Silva has emerged as an alternative frontrunner for the Tottenham job (talkSPORT).

The Telegraph also reported this week that Iraola is more inclined to remain at Bournemouth, despite the £10 million release clause in his contract, and this is echoed by journalist Duncan Castles.

Tottenham invite Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola for talks

Speaking on The Transfers Podcast, Castles reports that Tottenham have approached Iraola over the manager's job, inviting him for discussions, but the 42-year-old has seemingly rejected their advances in favour of staying on the south coast.

“Interestingly, my guidance on this is that Tottenham's approaches to Iraola have been rebuffed by the manager," said Castles.

“He has been invited and told to speak to them about that position, and has actually declined to do so.

“And instead, he has been having conversations with Bournemouth, informal conversations with Bournemouth for several weeks now, about not only continuing on his current contract, but signing a new contract to extend there."

With a move for Iraola looking less and less likely by the day, perhaps Glasner could be an excellent option. The Austrian, lauded for his "exciting" approach by Steve Parish, has guided Palace to an FA Cup semi-final and earned plaudits for his work at Selhurst Park since joining from Eintracht Frankfurt.

Glasner also boasts a Europa League winner's medal on his CV, having won the competition with Eintracht in 2022, with pundit John Wenham also calling the 50-year-old a "far more exciting" appointment than Iraola.

"He is far more exciting than most names that have been linked," said Wenham to Tottenham News, "He is someone I would be happy for Tottenham to appoint. I think with better players he would excel, and I find him more exciting than Marco Silva or Thomas Frank, to be honest."

Manager Ange Postecoglou himself admits that the ‘general sentiment’ is that he'll be sacked, even if Spurs win the Europa League, set to face Bodø/Glimt in the semi-finals, after ousting Eintracht Frankfurt on Thursday.

So, with the club currently 15th in the Premier League table, Daniel Levy could be searching for a new manager come the summer, while the first-team squad may require a mass rebuild too.

So, do Tottenham lead the chase to sign a highly-rated youngster?

Tottenham's teenaged transfer target

According to a report by Pete O'Rourke of Football Insider, Tottenham Hotspur are one of many top European clubs 'tracking' Gambian 'sensation' Gibril Sima, with Levy said to be 'ready to pay big' get a deal over the line.

Considering the 17-year-old plays for Gambian Dutch Lions FC in his native country, very little is known about him, but Pete O'Rourke describes him as "the next big talent to emerge from Gambia", adding that both Internazionale and Borussia Dortmund are also interested in securing his signature.

A report by Ebrima KB Sonko of Gambiana praises Sima's 'standout performances', labelling him a 'highly-rated young talent', while also noting that he has signed a two-year contract extension with his club, thereby protecting his transfer value.

So, could he be on his way to North London this summer?

Tottenham's transfer strategy

As outlined by Jay Harris of the Athletic, Tottenham's transfer strategy last summer was clear; sign young players, as the table below illustrates.

As the table presents, of the eight players Spurs have recruited throughout this season, six are aged 22 or under, with Dominic Solanke the oldest at 27.

This though, is nothing new, and Sima's potential arrival, coming in from a lower level with very little known about him, is reminiscent of a recent Spurs legend.

Dele Alli signed for Tottenham in January 2015 from Milton Keynes Dons for a reported fee of £5m, still only 18 years old at the time, having made just 88 senior appearances at League One level, scoring 24 goals and providing ten assists for MK.

Well, fair to say this was money well spent, considering Dele would go on to make 269 appearances for Spurs, registering 67 goals and 59 assists, a key member of the Spurs side that regularly finished in the top four and reached a Champions League Final.

Even after his powers began to wane, then-manager José Mourinho described Dele as "very, very important for Tottenham", having become the youngest Englishman to score 50 Premier League goals, as noted by Charlie Eccleshare, Tom Worville and Jack Pitt-Brooke of the Athletic.

In his prime, Dele was comparable to the best Premier League midfielders of all time, simply now seeking to resurrect his career in Italy, having joined Serie A side Como in January.

Nevertheless, Dele proves that a club can find a gem in the transfer market at a low fee and turn them into a star; given that Tottenham might not be in European competition next season, this has to be the strategy, and Sima seemingly fits the bill.

As another young rising star - having even earned comparisons to Arsenal icon Thierry Henry, as per O'Rourke - it certainly bodes well for the impact that the Gambian make, should he be plucked from obscurity.

Tottenham Hotspur are being handed a boost in the chase for a key transfer target also wanted by Man City, with the player said to be considering a move to north London behind-the-scenes.

Tottenham face Nottingham Forest after Europa League triumph

Under-fire Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou was given some rare breathing room after his side put in a dogged display to overcome Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt in the second leg of their Europa League quarter-final on Thursday.

A penalty by Dominic Solanke was eventually enough to send the Lilywhites into their first Europa League semi-final since 1984, with Tottenham showcasing the much-needed mature defensive qualities which they've lacked all campaign.

Postecoglou's future remains in the balance, but the Australian could still make good on his promise of always winning silverware during his second season in charge.

A tough test in Bodo/Glimt awaits Tottenham in the semis, and despite their minnow status, they cannot be taken lightly - having just knocked out Serie A giants Lazio.

"From our perspective, we’ve had a difficult season and I think there’s some reasoning behind that. It was pretty evident that when we've got our strongest team out there, a lot of things we’ve suffered with this year I’m sure we wouldn’t have," said Postecoglou on Tottenham's chances of winning the Europa League.

"The spine of our team, at times we've been missing Vicario, Romero, Van de Ven, Bentancur, Solanke, all of them we've been missing at different times this year.

"We've got the whole group. It's not just them, it's the whole group together. We know that we can be a team that's pretty compelling against anybody. We're in the final four now, so we've given ourselves a chance."

Before their all-important battle against the Norwegians, which could make or break their season, Spurs have two tough Premier League tests in Nottingham Forest and champions elect Liverpool.

Postecoglou will be looking to maintain the positive mood around N17 after their quarter-final triumph, and hopefully not add more top flight defeats to their record after already losing 17 this term.

Hugo Larsson now considering move to Tottenham this summer

Summer transfer targets will also be keeping a keen eye on Tottenham's end to the season, and one of them is believed to be Eintracht Frankfurt star Hugo Larsson.

The versatile Sweden midfielder is a mainstay for Dino Toppmoller's side, racking up 40 appearances in all competitions, and he's done enough to earn himself a £50 million price tag and interest from Man City (Pete O'Rourke).

However, according to GiveMeSport, the 20-year-old is also a wanted man at Spurs. As per their sources, Larsson is privately considering a move to Tottenham, so he's fully aware of their interest, and it is claimed that Postecoglou's side are now "increasingly confident" they can tempt him to N17 as a result.

Predominantly a defensive midfielder, the Scandinavian starlet has already drawn comparisons with Rodri, and Football Analyst Ben Mattinson believes Larsson is "one of the most exciting talents" to come out of Sweden in recent years.

A young striker likened to Arsenal legend Thierry Henry is in line to leave his club, with Tottenham Hotspur ready to pay "big money" for his services, according to a new report this week.

Ange Postecoglou praises Spurs players after Europa League triumph

Spurs were forced to showcase heroic defending on their best night of the season so far, beating Eintracht Frankfurt 1-0 in Germany on Thursday night to seal their place in the Europa League semi-finals.

Dominic Solanke's penalty, courtesy of James Maddison heroically putting his body on the line to win it, was enough to keep Ange Postecoglou's hopes of winning silverware during his second season in charge well and truly alive.

Spurs face Norwegian minnows Bodo/Glimt in the next round, and are expected to dispatch this year's unlikely semi-final opponents, but anything is possible in tournament football and Postecoglou will be keen to ensure they're not underestimated.

"We can’t get too far ahead of ourselves. We’re in the semi-final and will play a difficult opponent in the semi, but it’s not about my belief in the team," said the Lilywhites boss in a post-match press conference.

"What’s more important is the belief the team has had because after a season like ours, it would be very easy for the players and staff, they could have left me in a pretty vulnerable place in terms of them splintering, but I’ve never felt that (even) with all the noise around our season.

"They’ve been so united in believing in what we’re trying to achieve here and that is what gave me heart all along that if we got our own slice of luck in terms of getting some players back that I really believed this team could achieve.

"That is what keeps driving me. It isn’t so much my belief in them, it’s their belief in what we’re doing and both players and staff have been outstanding. I am the front man for it but they take responsibility for it as well and all my decisions and everything I do, but not at any stage have I felt they lost any belief in me or what we’re doing."

Postecoglou's future is on the line, and his position will very much play a role in Tottenham's transfer plans for the summer.

Tottenham ready to pay "big money" for Gambian sensation Gibril Sima

As per Football Insider, the club are making some plans regardless, with Gambian sensation Gibril Sima now on Tottenham's radar. The teenager is making a name for himself in Africa, drawing comparisons with Henry, and Spurs are willing to pay "big money" for Sima ahead of other European suitors.

That is according to journalist Pete O'Rourke, sharing news for Football Insider that Postecoglou's side are very keen on the centre-forward, alongside Borussia Dortmund and Inter Milan.

His club, Dutch Lions, are resigned to losing Sima amid this interest as well, so it appears he is well and truly in line for a move abroad.

Tottenham Hotspur have some major rebuilding to do if they're to become genuine Premier League title contenders, with two big names now tipped to leave as part of the process.

Tottenham seal Europa League semi-final place after Thursday win

After a hard-fought victory at Eintracht Frankfurt, where Ange Postecoglou's side were forced to dig deep and display truly heroic, last-gasp defending over a dogged showing, Spurs have now booked their place in the Europa League semi-finals.

Dominic Solanke's penalty was enough to hand the Lilywhites a spot in the next round, where they will play fairy tale semi-finalists Bodo/Glimt, after the Norwegian minnows knocked out Lazio on penalties.

Tottenham showcased true professionalism to get the job done on a tough, hostile night in Germany, with Postecoglou's side keeping their nerve on away soil and earning serious praise from their manager.

"Yeah, I'm delighted with many things, super proud of the lads," said Postecoglou after Tottenham's win at Eintracht.

"Going away from home, a quarter-final against a very good side, you know you're going to have to work really hard, be really disciplined, and we needed to score. We had to show the quality we had as well.

"To a man, I just thought they were outstanding, so proud of them. In such a big game, they delivered a performance, and it means we're through to a semi-final. I think over the two legs we deserved to go through. It could have been all over in the first leg, but we earned the right to be in the semi."

Playmaker James Maddison put his body on the line to win Spurs the penalty which ultimately proved decisive, but according to talkSPORT pundit Troy Deeney, the England international is one of four players who could be sacrificed in the transfer market by chairman Daniel Levy.

Troy Deeney says Tottenham could let go of Son Heung-min and James Maddison

As well as Maddison, Deeney believes fellow big-name Son Heung-min could leave Tottenham soon.

The attacking stars, on a combined £260,000-per-week at N17, have both played mainstay roles under Postecoglou - but the pundit believes Spurs' duo may well depart alongside the likes of Richarlison and Yves Bissouma.

"For me, he's done a good job blooding the younger players and giving them the confidence to go and score a lot," said Deeney on talkSPORT this week.

"Brennan Johnson, what is he on, about 16 goals now? I think they're in a transition period, I think you could see the likes of Son [Heung-min] move on. Potentially [James] Maddison, [Yves] Bissouma, Richarlison, these guys will start moving on.

"And then obviously they have a lot of young players like Mikey Moore, but I still think they're a little bit like Chelsea. They need one, maybe two, older pros just to be like, 'We don't do that here, this is how you win things.'

"And that's the bit I think that they're missing."

Tottenham Hotspur boss Ange Postecoglou was gifted a rare bit of breathing room after Spurs' statement performance in the Europa League, but there remains the possibility that he won't be at the helm next season.

Tottenham in Europa League semi-finals after Eintracht Frankfurt win

A penalty from striker Dominic Solanke, who cooly slotted home beyond the Spurs-linked Kaua Santos in Eintracht Frankfurt's goal, ended up being enough for Postecoglou's side to edge into the Europa semi-finals after a hard-fought battle.

Postecoglou earned rare praise after his Lilywhites side put in the dogged, mature display which they've sorely lacked all season - shutting Eintracht out with some truly exceptional defending and putting bodies on the line to preserve Tottenham's slender one-goal advantage.

The atmosphere was hostile right from the off, but while the home crowd did their utmost to unnerve Postecoglou's side in Germany, Spurs kept their cool and booked their place in the next round, where they will face off against unlikely semi-finalists Bodø/Glimt, who knocked out Serie A side Lazio on penalties.

There is a very strong chance that the north Londoners will put Bodø/Glimt's fairy tale Europa League journey to an end and become European finalists for the first time since 2019, but even that might not be enough to save Postecoglou.

The Tottenham boss has been under mounting pressure after an historic low Premier League season, where they've tasted defeat on 17 separate occasions and currently lie 15th in the table.

Reports in the build up to their quarter-final second leg claimed that Postecoglou could be sacked by Tottenham regardless of their Europa League campaign (The Mirror), and Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner is believed to be among the contenders to replace him.

Tottenham have reached out to the representatives of Glasner to express their interest recently, according to media sources in Germany, but face competition from RB Leipzig for the £4.5 million-per-year Palace boss.

Speaking to Tottenham News, pundit John Wenham stated his belief that Glasner would be an "exciting" appointment for Tottenham, above other linked candidates like Bournemouth's Andoni Iraola, Fulham's Marco Silva and Brentford's Thomas Frank.

“He has an aura about him, the way he charges around on the touchline, I quite like him," said Wenham.

"He was flying with Palace last season. I know they made a slow start this season, but they lost some key players. However, since then, he has rebuilt well.

“He has led Palace to an FA Cup semi-final, and he is far more exciting than most names that have been linked. Therefore, he is someone I would be happy for Tottenham to appoint. I think with better players he would excel, and I find him more exciting than Marco Silva or Thomas Frank, to be honest."

The ex-Eintracht boss also guided his former club to Europa League glory in 2022, and is one of the only trophy-winning coaches rumoured to be on Spurs' managerial shortlist.

Tottenham Hotspur technical director Johan Lange is believed to have held recent talks over bringing a "special" player to Spurs, with the Lilywhites showcasing a newly-found interest in his services.

Ange Postecoglou under pressure as Tottenham make plans

Under-fire head coach Ange Postecoglou could depart north London regardless of what happens in Europe (John Cross), leading to chairman Daniel Levy and the board to make contingency plans in the event they sack him.

It has been a lacklustre campaign for the Lilywhites on all fronts, with Postecoglou suffering from a serious lack of player availability midway through the season after an injury crisis swept through the Spurs squad.

This seriously debilitated the 59-year-old's options, but Postecoglou has attracted fierce criticism regardless, as Tottenham endure their worst ever Premier League season, with 17 top flight defeats in total so far.

Tottenham firing Postecoglou after just two years in charge is a very real possibility, with Bournemouth's Andoni Iraola, Fulham's Marco Silva, Crystal Palace's Oliver Glasner and Brentford boss Thomas Frank all linked with the job in this past fortnight.

Bournemouth are planning a new contract for Iraola amid Spurs' interest, though, so it is believed the likes of Silva and Frank are becoming more genuine contenders to replace Postecoglou at Tottenham.

Tottenham would also want a new manager as soon as possible, so they could work with their potential fresh appointment on summer transfers ahead of the first window's opening on June 1st (Pete O'Rourke).

However, Lange appears to be making a head start on that himself, according to a fresh report out of Germany this week.

Lange holds Tottenham talks over Eintracht Frankfurt star Kaua Santos

According to Sport Bild, the Dane is taking a firm interest in Eintracht Frankfurt goalkeeper Kaua Santos, following the Brazilian's heroics during Tottenham's Europa League quarter-final first leg clash with the Bundesliga side.

Santos made a series of excellent saves in an overall stunning performance to keep Spurs at bay, impressing on-lookers and the north Londoners themselves, who witnessed his quality first-hand at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Sport Bild report that Lange held Tottenham talks with Eintracht over Santos after their encounter, with the 22-year-old shot-stopper making quite an impression after stepping in for the injured Kevin Trapp this season.

The South American has already been praised for his excellence in-between the sticks, but he won't come cheap, as Sport Bild highlights that Eintracht value him at around £50 million.

“Kaua did very well and showed what we have seen from him in training over the last few weeks and months," said manager Dino Toppmoller.

"He’s a very courageous goalkeeper."

Meanwhile, Santos has also attracted acclaim from his teammates, with defender Robin Koch suggesting he has that unique "special" quality which makes him stand out among goalkeeping peers.

However, while Guglielmo Vicario has come under some fire lately, it is debatable whether Spurs need to splash out that sort of money on a keeper right now.

Newcastle United have now joined the transfer race to sign an “unbelievable” £100 million star this summer, according to a recent report.

Newcastle go six unbeaten with a 5-0 win over Crystal Palace

The Magpies continued to be without manager Eddie Howe for their game against the Eagles, but that wasn’t a problem for the Premier League side, as they blew Palace away with four goals in the first half. The 5-0 win on Wednesday night means it is 12 goals in their last three league games, and assistant manager Jason Tindall believes that is down to the team being “confident”.

Tindall told BBC Match of the Day: “We've got a fantastic squad, and the balance of the team has been great. We've got some players on the bench who can come on the pitch and make a difference. We're confident; we've had a good run of results, and we have to remain level-headed and work hard every day to go out and deliver performances."

The win against Palace has lifted Newcastle to third place in the Premier League, five clear of sixth-place Chelsea. Tindall has now stated that the Magpies have six cup finals to go and secure Champions League football for next season.

"That's where we want to get to. Everybody in the Premier League wants to be in the Champions League. We've experienced it before, and we want more of it,” he told BBC Match of the Day.

"We've got six cup finals now remaining, and we have to stay focused to be able to go out there and deliver the performances we know will help us to get to the Champions League."

Newcastle join Spurs in race to sign £100m Man City star

So as the Magpies close in on returning to Europe’s biggest competition, Howe and co. are beginning to look at potential transfer targets for this summer. According to a report from Spain, Newcastle are looking to sign Jack Grealish from Manchester City but face competition from other Premier League teams.

The report states that the Magpies, as well as Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur, have made themselves the main contenders to sign the England international this summer. The 29-year-old is under contract until the summer of 2027, but given he has struggled to become a regular in Pep Guardiola’s team, City are potentially looking to sell him this summer if they receive offers that meet their demands.

This report states that Newcastle see Grealish, who cost City £100 million, as a good player to bolster their options, especially if they secure European football. Both Villa and Spurs have been credited with interest in Grealish before Newcastle, but the Magpies may hope that securing Champions League football can give them the edge in this race, and the fact that he has the same agent as goalkeeper Nick Pope could also help them when securing a transfer.