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According to Football Insider, Tottenham Hotspur chiefs are intent on giving striker Harry Kane the platform he needs to achieve his trophy ambitions at the club.

What’s the word, then?

Well, the England captain dropped a bit of a bombshell during an Instagram Q&A with Jamie Redknapp on Sunday, via The Guardian, saying that he wouldn’t stay at Spurs for the sake of it if he doesn’t feel they are going in the right direction.

The 26-year-old’s verdict will certainly concern some fans of the north London outfit, however according to a source who has spoken to Football Insider, chairman Daniel Levy isn’t looking to cash in on their talisman anytime soon.

In addition, the same source says that Tottenham intend to hold him to his contract which runs until 2024, and that they are intent on giving him the platform to achieve his trophy ambitions in the capital.

Exciting insight

Following a tough 2019/20 campaign and the latest quotes from Kane, Spurs supporters could do with a boost and this report should provide that.

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The fact that Levy & ENIC have no intention of letting their star centre-forward leave and are seemingly ready to do everything to ensure his ambitions are met has to be a positive sign – especially with someone like Jose Mourinho at the helm, given he has won the Premier League on three occasions and the Champions League twice.

The Portuguese manager will already know that he needs new faces – especially in defensive areas – if Tottenham are to get back to challenging at the very top in the English top flight and in Europe, with The Express reporting in February that he wants to rip up an ageing backline.

Cameo Clubs: Which obscure teams did these football legends play for?

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This latest report suggests that financial backing for the former Manchester United and Chelsea boss could be on the cards sooner rather than later, so there is no danger of Kane going.

Watch this space, then.

In other Tottenham news, Spurs fans have identified the 6 ft 4 colossus they want should Kane end up leaving…

Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy is attempting to drive down the price of midfielder Giovani Lo Celso in this transfer window, per iNews.

What’s the word?

The Argentina international is currently on loan at Spurs but the club hold two options to sign him permanently.

The deal includes a compulsory purchase option that kicks in if Spurs qualify for the Champions League and stands at €40m (£34m).

However, Spurs can sign him in January for a reduced fee of €32m (£27.2m).

The report, though, states that Levy is attempting to negotiate that price to below €30m (£25.5m).

Betis, though, are said to be holding firm and are refusing to negotiate with the north London club.

The Spanish club, however, are not said to have any expectations that he will return to the Liga club.

The big fat Tottenham quiz of 2019 – how much do you remember about the last year at Spurs?

A joke

Levy needs to stop beating around the bush and try to get this deal done.

The two clubs struck an agreement in the summer and the Spurs chairman needs to honour that instead of haggling over the price.

The Premier League club simply need to pay up if they are going to keep the Argentine, who has yet to make a serious impact at the club.

He has started just two games in the top-flight under both Mauricio Pochettino and Jose Mourinho.

But, nevertheless, the conditions are clear and Levy needs to stick to them, especially if he wants to save that £4.8m.

Meanwhile, Spurs boss Jose Mourinho has made a huge transfer demand. 

Whether we like it or not, the world’s top footballers are some of the richest sportsmen in the world and their influence is huge.

Social media has been a big player in raising the profiles of the world’s best, especially in recent years, Instagram.

Not only can players use the social media platform to raise their profile by gaining new followers, they can make money from them.

Influencer marketing is a huge business and the guys at Ticketgum.com have worked out the earning potential of the top players in the world.

From merely posting a sponsored post, these players can earn more than average Joe earns in a year and in some cases ten years.

Warning this article will make you insanely jealous.

21. Ivan Rakitic – £26,415.76 per post

The Croatian had a brilliant World Cup and was influential in their journey to the final.

With a star-studded attacking line-up at Barcelona he is often the forgotten man, but with 12.8 million followers, he could make some serious cash from sponsored posts.

20. Robert Lewandowski – £28,634.13 per post

With 352 career goals, Lewandowski is one of the most prolific goalscorers in world football.

The Polish forward is prone to a sponsored post to his 13.8 million followers on the social media platform.

19. Thiago Silva – £30,430.04 per post

With over 14.7 million followers on Instagram the Brazilian could certainly use his popularity to reach a wide audience.

The PSG defender could set up a sponsored post and make enough to buy 79 season tickets for the French champions.

18. Luka Modric – £33,004.47

Ballon d’Or winner Luka Modric has seen a huge rise in popularity this year, thanks to another Champions League win and guiding Croatia to the World Cup final in 2018.

With 16.3 million followers, his European reach would see him able to demand over £33,000 for a single sponsored post.

17. Gerard Pique – £34,922.11

If the Barcelona captain was asked to promote a product or brand to his followers, he too could ask for a huge paycheck.

With 16.8 million worldwide followers and a popstar girlfriend, Pique could demand £34,922.11 for any single promoted post.

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Lots of Celtic fans on Twitter backed manager Brendan Rodgers after he was asked about the pressure on his job in his pre-St Johnstone press conference.

The Bhoys currently sit in sixth in the Scottish Premier League table after six matches having conceded a last minute goal to lose 2-1 away at Kilmarnock on Sunday.

Earlier in the season, the Hoops also crashed out of the Champions League at the qualifying stage and are now in the group stages of the Europa League, where they saw off Rosenborg in their first game but only thanks to a late Leigh Griffiths goal.

After Rodgers completed the double treble last season, many would have been forgiven for thinking that his job would be untouchable this season. However, after their poor start to the campaign and a very public disagreement over transfers in the summer the pressure has begun to mount.

Celtic fans on Twitter were clear in their backing for him though. Check out some of the best tweets below.

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The transfer window is called silly season for a reason, and West Ham United fans are finding out why.

On Monday, Tuttomercatoweb reported that the East London outfit have made an offer for Real Madrid midfielder Mateo Kovacic.

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The 24-year-old may end up moving on from the Spanish giants this summer purely due to lack of game time.

Last season, Kovacic made 35 appearances in all competitions and scored three goals in that time.

However, it would be a huge shock if he were to end up at the London Stadium.

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The Hammers would surely not have the funds to launch a satisfactory enough bid for Los Blancos to accept.

In addition, the Premier League outfit could struggle to match Kovacic’s wages, although there is always the option of trying to secure a loan deal.

It would be an audacious move, but is it one that West Ham should take a chance with?

Let us know by voting below…

According to reports in the Daily Star, Newcastle are one of three Premier League clubs targeting a move for out-of-favour Manchester City midfielder Fabian Delph this summer.

The Magpies, along with Burnley and West Bromwich Albion, are keen to rescue the 27-year-old from his City nightmare, where he has struggled to break into the starting line-up and has been hampered by injury following an £8m move from Aston Villa in 2015.

His appearances were once again limited under Pep Guardiola this season and he may need to leave the Etihad in the coming weeks if he is to try and reignite his career.

Toon manager Rafa Benitez has been handed a huge transfer budget to significantly strengthen his squad this summer as he looks to avoid being involved in a relegation battle next term following their immediate return to the top flight, and the England international could be one of the players that moves to St James’ Park.

Here are three reasons a move to Newcastle would be the right one for Delph…

Playing regularly

Having been a regular in the Aston Villa midfield for three seasons, Delph made just 17 Premier League appearances in his first campaign at the Etihad, and just seven in his second.

While he was affected by a muscle injury towards the start of the season, the 27-year-old was fit and ready to play at the end, but failed to make the matchday squad for the final seven league games.

It is clear that the midfielder needs to play regularly and he would get that opportunity at St James’ Park, with Rafa Benitez looking for at least one new addition to start in the middle of the park.

Being a key player

Delph received his first England call up when he was starring for Aston Villa, and it perhaps shows that he is more suited to being a key man for a club where there is less pressure, rather than one where there is a lot.

The 27-year-old has struggled to make an impression at City around a host of star names, and he may feel more comfortable at St James’ Park where he would be considered as one of the team’s best players and an influential and experienced head to call upon.

International ambitions

Delph became something of a regular fixture in the England side during their Euro 2016 qualification campaign, but a lack of game time at Manchester City mean that he has failed to make an appearance for the Three Lions since 2015.

The 27-year-old will still be on Gareth Southgate’s potential list of players to be watched, and the midfielder will know that he will need to make a move this summer if he is to have any chance of going to the 2018 World Cup – there is no doubt that Newcastle can provide him with that platform to perform on.

Do you agree, Newcastle fans? Let us know below.

The November injury curse seems to have struck Arsenal again as midfielder Santi Cazorla has been ruled out for three months with an Achilles problem.

The Spaniard has not been seen since he picked up a knock in the Gunners’ 6-0 victory over Ludogorets Razgrad in the Champions League on October 19.

The initial prognosis was not thought to have been very serious, but doubts grew when manager Arsene Wenger continued to admit uncertainty over Cazorla’s return.

On Thursday, the fans’ biggest fears were confirmed when Arsenal released a statement announcing that the 31-year-old requires surgery to cure the problem.

“Santi Cazorla is travelling to Sweden early next week to undergo surgery to his right ankle.

“The club’s medical team and specialists have decided that surgery is required to the plantaris tendon in the Spain international’s right foot.

“Everyone at the club will be working hard with Santi to make sure he’s back on the pitch as soon as possible.”

Cazorla will miss the crucial festive schedule, which includes Premier League games against Manchester City, West Bromwich Albion, Crystal Palace and Bournemouth.

Arsenal are currently fourth in the table, three points adrift of leaders Chelsea and have not been beaten in the top flight since their opening-day loss to Liverpool on August 14.

As expected, supporters have been left in despair at the news, with many predicting that the club’s title campaign is over with five months left to go.

Some have taken to Twitter to vent their anger, while others believe that it will give other players an opportunity to shine.

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Leeds United confirmed the signing of Jean-Kevin Augustin on Monday morning, landing him on an initial loan deal with an option to buy in the summer.

However, with the deal now officially announced, it could just be the wrong one from Victor Orta and co.

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Augustin’s Transfermarkt valuation once stood at £22.5m, and in 2017/18 he scored nine Bundesliga goals in just 1273 minutes, a ratio of a goal every 141.4 minutes.

That paints quite a good picture of Augustin as a player, but you can twist stats however you like to make anyone sound better than they actually are.

In reality, this is a man who scored just once in the entire calendar year of 2019, and no matter how you look at it, that’s not good enough as a number nine.

Add onto that the fact that he has just one assist over the past season and a half and there are plenty of red flags surrounding the RB Leipzig striker’s arrival.

This isn’t a player who is shy of taking shots either, he’s averaged 2.4 per 90 mins this term, while last season that figure stood at 2.6.

It seems as though he’s just as ineffective in front of goal as Patrick Bamford, and that his nine-goal haul in the German top-flight a few seasons ago was just a purple patch that he’s since been unable to recreate.

Bamford himself has these types of runs too. Back in 2017/18 he looked like the best striker in the league for a few weeks as he netted eight goals in five games in late February and early March, but he’d scored just once before that run.

The last thing Leeds need right now is another patchy and struggling striker, and that seems to be what they’re getting with Augustin.

Time will tell whether the move pays off, but an initial viewpoint suggests Orta may have got this one wrong.

In other news, Leeds may have signed the wrong winger.

The veteran is a surprise inclusion in Southgate's latest squad, but his international career should be over after swapping Liverpool for Al-Ettifaq

Jordan Henderson's unforeseen move to Saudi Arabia in July was expected to be the death knell for the 33-year-old's international career. The political and footballing optics of his controversial, £13 million ($16m) transfer from European giants Liverpool to Steven Gerrard's middling Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq have made Gareth Southgate's selection decision an easy one.

However, six weeks on, Henderson somehow finds himself back among the England camp for fixtures against Ukraine and Scotland in September. Southgate looked like a rabbit in the headlights when quizzed on the call-up in a press conference, but rather than admit that his decision would be scrutinised, he instead launched into a fierce defence of one of his trusted lieutenants.

"My job is to pick a football team," he sniped. "I don’t think you can pick a football team based on any prejudice about where they might be playing their football. I am a bit lost with some of the questioning. You walk in to talk about a squad for football and we are wading into complex political situations, which I am not really trained to do. We will do the best we can."

Southgate has done so much for the England national team, but there is little doubt that this is a decision he has gotten badly wrong, and the accompanying furore is an unnecessary distraction.

• An incredibly tone-deaf transfer decision

  It is of course now well-documented that Henderson postured as a self-proclaimed LGBTQ+ ally throughout his time as Liverpool captain, wearing a rainbow armband and participating in the Rainbow Laces campaign as a show of support.

  In 2021, he told Liverpool's official website: "I do believe when you see something that is clearly wrong and makes another human being feel excluded you should stand shoulder-to-shoulder with them. You also have a responsibility to educate yourself better around the challenges they experience.

  "That’s where my own position on homophobia in football is rooted. Before I’m a footballer, I’m a parent, a husband, a son, a brother and a friend to the people in my life who matter so much to me. The idea that any of them would feel excluded from playing or attending a football match, simply for being and identifying as who they are, blows my mind."

  His move to Saudi Arabia, then, is a case of actions speaking far louder than words. Homosexuality is criminalised in the Gulf State and punishable by death, as is the gender expression of trans people, and therefore Henderson's willingness to move there is a clear betrayal of the LGBTQ+ community and his so-called allyship.

  Speaking tohaving been included in the latest England squad, Henderson gave a weak defence of his decision to move to Saudi Arabia, suggesting he has martyred himself by going to play there as an LGBTQ+ advocate.

  "I can understand the frustration. I can understand the anger. I get it," he said. "All I can say around that is that I’m sorry that they feel like that. My intention was never, ever to hurt anyone. My intention has always been to help causes and communities where I felt like they had asked for my help. Now, when I was making the decision, the way that I tried to look at it was I felt as though, by myself not going, we can all bury our heads in the sand and criticise different cultures and different countries from afar. But then nothing’s going to happen. Nothing’s going to change.

  "I think people know what my views and values were before I left and still do now. And I think having someone with those views and values in Saudi Arabia is only a positive thing."

  The England squad has built a reputation for giving consideration to human rights issues and speaking out against discrimination. Henderson's transfer decision and subsequent inclusion in the squad betrays that, too.

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  Missed opportunity to set a precedent

  Quite incredibly, Henderson is insistent that his decision to swap the already-obscene riches of the Premier League for the unimaginable wealth of Saudi Arabia was financially motivated, instead claiming that the project at Al-Ettifaq – a club that finished seventh last season – 'excites' him, and denying that he is earning a reported £700,000 ($881,000) per week in the Gulf state (it's actually every two weeks).

  "People will see this club come with loads of money and he’s just gone, 'Yeah, I’m going.' When in reality that just wasn’t the case at all," the former Liverpool captain alleges in his extensive and dissatisfying chat with .

  "People can believe me or not, but in my life and my career, money has never been a motivation. Ever. Don’t get me wrong, when you move, the business deal has to be tight. You have to have financials, you have to feel wanted, you have to feel valued. And money is a part of that. But that wasn’t the sole reason. And these possibilities came up before money was even mentioned."

  Sure, Jordan.

  When it comes to his players moving to Saudi Arabia or any other moneyed-but-developing league where standards will be nowhere near the level required for international representation, Southgate's thinking in his selection process should really be clear: you will not be rewarded for chasing the money and playing in a significantly weaker league, which will inherently bring your own level down – whether you are conscious of it or not.

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  Significant step down in quality

  Despite the exodus of big-name players from the upper echelons of European football to the Pro League, the drop down in quality from England's top flight cannot be underemphasised – especially given how Public Investment Fund-owned (PIF) clubs Al-Nassr, Al-Hilal, Al-Ittihad and Al-Ahli have effectively monopolised the blockbuster signings.

  Southgate – who has been accused of contradictory selection decisions in the past – previously shunned the likes of Jude Bellingham and Jadon Sancho during their time in Germany based on the perception that the Bundesliga is weaker than the Premier League, so it's difficult to comprehend his willingness to call upon a 33-year-old who has just embarked on what is an obvious swansong in the Middle East.

  Attempting to explain his rationale, Southgate said: “When Jordan phoned me about the likelihood he might be going there, we had an honest conversation. I said: ‘We’re going to have to map you against players playing in a different league and in a different level of competition and we’re just going to have to see how that goes.’"

  How Henderson's brief time with Al-Ettifaq has prepared him for games against relatively weaker nations Ukraine and Scotland remains to be seen, but while he has snuck into this squad, he has surely done serious damage to his chances of being included in the group for Euro 2024.

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  Past his best

  Henderson seems to be convinced that he is still in the physical condition to compete at the highest level, but he has struggled at times in the early days of his time with Gerrard's side, with the boy from Sunderland toiling in the oppressive heat. Indeed, he was having little influence on games before providing two assists against Damak last time out.

  That is a reflection of his understandable decline at the age of 33 – one which was evidently set to see him lose his starting berth at Liverpool in a summer overhaul of the midfield that everyone associated with the club seemed to deem necessary. Though he played regularly, Henderson's form was patchy throughout a difficult 2022-23 campaign for the Reds with his powers or intensity, energy and relentless discipline seemingly on the wane, and the fact he was allowed to leave despite having two years left on his contract, albeit reluctantly, suggests that deep down they were ready to move on without him.

  Discussing the reasons behind his decision to leave Anfield with , Henderson said: "There were a few things that sent alarm bells ringing. I’ve got a very good relationship with Jurgen. He was very honest with me. I won’t go into detail about the conversation because it’s private, but it put me in a position where I knew that I wasn’t going to be playing as much. I knew there were going to be new players coming in my position.

  "And if I’m not playing, as anybody will know, especially the manager, that can be quite difficult for me and especially when I’ve been at a club for so long, I’ve captained the team for so long. Especially when England’s a big thing for me. You’ve got the Euros coming up."

England backed up their win over Italy with a comfortable 2-0 success against Ukraine at Wembley on Sunday evening

Bukayo Saka lit up Wembley with a world-class display as England cruised to a comfortable 2-0 win against Ukraine on Sunday.

The Arsenal star set up the first goal for Harry Kane on 37 minutes with a wonderful ball in before scoring the second himself three minutes later, bending a fabulous effort into the top corner from 20 yards.

It was a wonderful finish from a player operating at the top of his game and one that allowed England to see out the contest with ease after the interval.

The hosts had chances to extend their advantage in the second half and some of the wasteful finishing will be the only thing that will have frustrated Gareth Southgate after another impressive win.

England, who beat Italy 2-1 in Naples on Thursday night, have now started their Euro 2024 campaign with back-to-back successes and sit top of Group C with six points from a possible six.

GOAL breaks down the winners & losers from Wembley…

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  WINNER: Bukayo Saka

  Is there anything Bukayo Saka can’t do?

  Saka is at the very top of his game right now, whether it be for club or country. And the scary thing is he not even 22 yet.

  This was a game that seemed to be just drifting towards half-time, with Ukraine comfortably keeping England at bay for 37 minutes.

  Then, in the space of three minutes, Saka turned the match on its head with two moments of pure quality.

  The first was a devilish cross which Harry Kane turned home to make it 1-0 and then the second was a quite wonderful curling effort from 20 yards which flashed into the top corner to double England’s advantage.

  It was Saka at his very best and just another example of why the 21-year-old is right up there with the best Europe has to offer right now.

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  LOSER: Mykhailo Mudryk

  Mudryk would have been hoping to impress at Wembley and show everyone in England that he has what it takes to star in the Premier League despite his underwhelming start to life at Chelsea.

  But instead, the winger endured another frustrating afternoon, with Kyle Walker keeping him very quiet as the Manchester City full-back used all his experience to dominate the 22-year-old.

  And on the odd occasion Mudryk did escape Walker’s clutches he was unable to make an impact, slashing wildly at a couple of efforts that did not threaten Jordan Pickford in the England goal.

  Mudryk clearly has a lot of quality and it’s far too early to write him off after his slow start at Stamford Bridge. But he’s really struggling for confidence and looks like a player desperate for something to happen that will spark him into life.

  That didn't happen at Wembley, however, and the longer he goes without producing some performances of note, the louder the voices are going to grow over his ability to cut it at the highest level.

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  WINNER: Kyle Walker

  It was clear after just a couple of minutes that Walker was relishing his job against a player of Mudryk’s pace.

  Walker seems at his best when he is up against a winger who he knows could cause him problems and this was one of the occasions.

  The Manchester City right-back was on it from the start and did not give Mudryk an inch of encouragement during the early stages.

  That set the tone for the rest of the evening, with Walker comfortably seeing off the Chelsea attacker, who became more and more of a passenger before being replaced after an hour.

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  LOSER: Phil Foden

  News of Phil Foden’s departure from the England squad was announced just before kick-off.

  The Manchester City star, who came on as a substitute against Italy on Thursday night, had to withdraw due to acute appendicitis.

  It was announced he had to undergo an operation ahead of the game and he will now have to spend some time on the sidelines as he recovers from the surgery.

  His absence did not impact England, but it will be a major blow to both Foden and to Pep Guardiola, with so many crucial games on the horizon for Manchester City.