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Tottenham Hotspur fans have been forced to endure some admittedly miserable football in recent years.

Daniel Levy's sudden switch towards blindly chasing silverware has left the club without an identity, as Jose Mourinho, Nuno Espirito Santo and Antonio Conte all struggled to overcome the challenges placed in front of them.

It was a harsh change in philosophy that was unexpected and yielded unimpressive results, with all of these well-known managers sharing similar ideals.

Their defence-focused style has led to fans having to endure turgid football on a weekly basis, and although they remain in the top four they have done so with little finesse.

In fact, should Brighton and Hove Albion win their three games in hand, they will actually take their Champions League spot anyway.

This is a testament to the imperious work of Roberto De Zerbi, who is proving to Levy that it is possible to challenge without employing a pragmatic style.

Perhaps, in an admittance of defeat, he could now swoop for the high-flying Italian who is reportedly on his list.

What is Roberto De Zerbi's play style?

Having only entered the Premier League in September, it did not take long for the rest of the league to stand up and take note of the 43-year-old who was only building upon Graham Potter's success at the Amex.

Many had lauded the Chelsea boss for his overperformance on the south coast, which must make the work of De Zerbi nothing short of miraculous.

Not only do they find themselves challenging for European spots, but in just under a month's time they will also travel to Wembley to face Manchester United, vying for a place in the FA Cup final.

What makes their overperformance even more impressive is that it is dressed up in a style of play that truly captures the imagination. Every player on his team is comfortable with the ball at their feet, and as such, it makes for some wonderful free-flowing football. In the league, their 46 goals scored are only bettered by four other teams, and only five teams have conceded less than their 31 goals.

His previous work at Sassuolo outlined the style he would later perfect, and writer Carlo Garganese even wrote on the Italian outfit: "Starting to fall in love a bit with this team. Play gorgeous, modern, attacking football. Roberto De Zerbi is set for a big career in coaching."

This was a prediction that already seems destined to come true, and a move to Spurs would only exacerbate his rapid rise to the top.

In appointing De Zerbi, it would finally ensure that the Lilywhites regain an identity, whilst his work this campaign serves to prove that silverware can be fought for if he is given enough time to alter the culture and acquire the necessary playing staff. As such, his hire simply must be considered ahead of next term.

YouTuber Mark Goldbridge has predicted that the “mystery” bidder for Manchester United is a US hedge fund – which is why they have remained anonymous for now.

What’s the latest on the “mystery” Man United takeover bid?

It’s well known that Qatari-linked Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani and British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe are both keen on taking over from the Glazers.

However, it remains to be seen if either party will be enough to convince the Glazer family to sell their asset. Recently, though, it has been claimed that a “mystery third bidder” has entered the race.

While speaking about it on The United Stand, Goldbridge claimed that the anonymity of the bidder is a “red flag” as they must be hiding their identity out of fear of criticism.

He explained: “I personally think why wouldn’t you put it out there publicly? Because if you’re a good bid or an interesting bid, you know what fans are like, they’d be like, ‘oh, like that bid’, and then you get a load of publicity.

“I think the absence of them going public is a big red flag, that these are not the sort of people you want to buy United.

“My prediction would be they’re hedge funds. I would predict one of these bids is a hedge fund from the United States.

“What’s a hedge fund? It’s an investment group. It’s a set of people who are very wealthy who have a certain amount of money in a pot. And that can be billions, sometimes it’s millions, but it will be billions in this case. And they will acquire something with the intention of doubling its value over a certain period of time.

“It’s an investment. And I think that’s why they’re being quiet, because you go public with that and your email inbox is going to be full within seconds of people saying, ‘stay away from our club’.”

Who is the third bidder for Man Utd?

The Qatari-linked bid has already led to plenty of scrutiny in the media with Amnesty International’s Manchester branch (via The Guardian) highlighting concerns over state influence and human rights abuses in the country.

With that in mind, if a new bidder was self-aware enough to preempt public criticism, they may want keep their profile as low as possible amid a possible takeover attempt.

Hedge funds have been the subject of much controversy as they are often viewed as a way of simply making the rich even richer while also operating with a  lack of transparency that will keep fans out of the loop.

It remains to be seen who this third bid has come from and if the Premier League club even end up changing owners but it seems Man Utd supporters have a number of reasons to be wary of whoever comes in to try and start a new era at Old Trafford.

Glasgow Rangers are reportedly not expected to make James Sands’ loan move a permanent one this summer.

The Lowdown: 18-month loan

Rangers signed Sands on an 18-month loan deal in January 2022, which will expire in the summer.

There was plenty of excitement when he initially signed, with manager at the time Giovanni van Bronckhorst calling him a ‘talented young player’, and sporting director Ross Wilson said that he has ‘brilliant’ character, personality and leadership qualities.

However, Sands has been limited to just 13 starts in the Scottish Premiership.

The Latest: Permanent move unlikely

As per Football Insider, the Gers are not expected to make Sands’ loan deal into a permanent one this summer.

There have been no talks between him and the club over his future, with the buy option in his contract thought to be £4m.

The Teddy Bears see this as a ‘huge outlay’, and if they signed him, they would have to move away from other targets.

The Verdict: Move on

While Sands was initially seen as a signing of promise, he has not really lived up to expectations.

The USA international has been criticised for some of his performances this season, while Rangers hero Brian Laudrup has even gone as far as to claim that he is ‘error-prone’.

Nonetheless, Sands has not been able to cement a regular starting place since his arrival, playing only two minutes in the 3-0 win away at Livingston in the Scottish Premiership on Saturday afternoon, and so Michael Beale’s side can afford to let him go.

Tottenham have been named as the only potential destination for Bayer Leverkusen defender Piero Hincapie as the club plot a major overhaul.

The Lowdown: Spurs linked…

The Ecuador international, who featured for his nation at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, has emerged as one of the Bundesliga’s most promising central defensive talents.

Hincapie is attracting attention from Spurs and manager Antonio Conte with reports suggesting that contact has even been made at various points.

The Premier League top-four chasers may have one mind on the summer transfer window with a centre-back thought to be at the very top of their priorities.

The Latest: Tottenham named as sole Hincapie destination…

As per Bild, a reliable German newspaper, Leverkusen are now plotting a major summer overhaul and Hincapie is one of the many players who could leave.

Listing the South American as among the candidates to depart, Bild name Spurs as the sole club when it comes to a potential landing spot for Hincapie.

Not much is added beyond that, but it appears the north Londoners are the main and only candidates for his services as things stand.

The Verdict: Major talent…

The 21-year-old comes with plenty of promise, even able to play both in central defence and in the full-back area.

A left-footed defender, Hincapie is a valuable commodity in the football world and Transfermarkt values him at a very reasonable £22 million.

The player has already won awards, clinching the Men’s Youth Best Player Award at the recent Conmebol Under-20 tournament.

Hincapie’s value, going by his recent performances, only looks set to increase – having also put in assured displays for his country at the World Cup. According to WhoScored, he averaged the joint-most tackles per 90 out of any Ecuadorian at the tournament – potentially making clubs take further notice.

Called ‘really impressive’ by former Leverkusen head coach Gerardo Seoane, Hincapie should undoubtedly be a top target for Tottenham and Conte.

Wolves have been linked with SC Heerenveen right-back Milan van Ewijk recently and his potential arrival at Molineux could allow Julen Lopetegui to finally ditch Nelson Semedo.

According to The Daily Mail, Wolves are one of several Premier League sides who are keen to strengthen at right-back this month, with Southampton, Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur also mentioned as possible destinations for the Dutchman.

Van Ewijk would reportedly be available for just £4m, which considering his strong form in the Eredivisie so far this term, could prove to be a bargain for Lopetegui as he looks to bolster his defensive options.

The 23-year-old has made 17 appearances in the Dutch top flight so far this campaign, in which he has three goals and no assists, with WhoScored awarding him a strong 6.93 average rating for his performances.

Considering Wolves’ top performer so far this season has been Ruben Neves with a 6.92 rating, it is clear how impressive Van Ewijk has been and how much quality he could add to Lopetegui’s squad.

It also seems clear that, on current form, he could be a far better option for the Spaniard than Semedo, who has averaged a disappointing 6.43 rating for his displays in the Premier League.

The former Barcelona man has also averaged fewer interceptions (0.8 vs 1.2), clearances (1.9 vs 2.1) and key passes (0.4 vs 0.8) than van Ewijk so far in 2022/23, which suggests that the Dutchman’s potential arrival could see him finally moved on.

The Old Gold paid a staggering £36.8m to sign the Portuguese full-back from Barcelona in 2020 but his time at Molineux has been something of a disaster, mainly due to his struggles defensively, which were cruelly exposed by Kaoru Mitoma in Brighton’s 3-2 win earlier in the season.

Van Ewijk certainly backs himself to offer plenty in the final third too, as he spoke about his strengths as a player in 2019.

He said: “I’m a fierce right back who can attack well, but also defend well and I’m in good shape. I can certainly be found in the front. Last season I also gave a number of assists. I’ll show the rest during the matches.”

Therefore, with Lopetegui having also preferred academy graduate Dexter Lembikisa at right-back in recent weeks, it could be bye-bye Semedo if Wolves do bring van Ewijk to Molineux before the transfer window closes next week.

Journalist Alasdair Gold has revealed that other groups have shown interest in investing in Tottenham Hotspur amid recent Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) talks.

What’s the word?

It was recently reported by Sky Sports that Spurs chairman Daniel Levy met with QSI head Nasser Al-Khelaifi in early January to discuss the possibility of investing in the north London club – although Tottenham have since denied such reports.

The same report claimed that QSI are looking to expand their footballing empire in 2023 from PSG and Braga to include a new team.

However, if Tottenham aren’t on the agenda – which is what the club have claimed – that doesn’t mean other groups won’t be considering possible investment in the Lilywhites.

Indeed, in an article for football.london, Gold explained: “My area is Tottenham really and all I know is that QSI kicked off a process with Spurs this month to see whether investment might be possible or not.

“Tottenham deny that was the case and we’ll see whether it ever amounts to anything. I’m led to believe that a couple of other groups have shown interest about investing in the club.

“Of course, the flip-side is that selling a minority stake of shares to a group like QSI, who can’t buy the club outright because of their PSG ownership, makes it less straightforward to then sell the club in future years unless everybody can agree to a sale.”

Time for change

Fenway Sports Group look to be selling Liverpool and so this may leave the door open for QSI to invest in the Reds instead – as certain rumours suggest.

Back at Spurs, though, now might be time for a change too. Indeed, fans certainly aren’t happy with the way things are being run under owner ENIC Group and club chairman Daniel Levy. For instance, earlier in January supporters sang: “Daniel Levy, get out of our club.”

With that in mind, potential new investors may well feel as though they have the perfect chance to pounce and so it certainly is interesting to hear that certain groups have started to show interest.

At this stage, however, beyond QSI, it remains unclear as to what parties have made any kind of contact with Spurs.

David De Gea looks likely to stay at Manchester United and sign a long-term deal, Graeme Bailey has claimed.

What’s the word?

The goalkeeper is out of contract at the end of the season, although United have an option to extend it by a year.

Given his £375k-per-week wages, if the club want to keep the 32-year-old, they would ideally tie him down on a deal with a reduced salary.

If they choose to let the Spaniard go, finding a replacement may not be easy, with Porto’s Diogo Costa previously linked.

Speaking on the Talking Transfers Podcast, Bailey claimed that United would rather tie him down on a new deal or even let him go for free, than activate the extension on his current contract and wages.

“I think, from Ten Hag’s point of view, he’s more than happy to stick with De Gea,” he stated.

“If De Gea is happy to take a drop in wages he’s not going to get the same deal as he has now.

“I think that he’s either going to leave on a free transfer with United’s blessing, or he’s going to sign this multi-year contract, two or three years and then look at it again.

“A couple of years, I think that’s where it’s gonna go. From what I’m told they will not just take up the one-year option. De Gea doesn’t want that as it stands. I don’t think United do. It’s either going to be a two or three-year deal or leave on free with the United completely changing direction there.”

A new start at the back?

There is a strong case to be made that United need to go in a different direction when it comes to their goalkeeper, despite De Gea’s immense contributions over the years.

Erik ten Hag likes his goalkeepers to be good on the ball, playing it out the back, and this is not a position of strength for De Gea, as he has been criticised for his sweeping ability before.

At 32, De Gea is not a long-term solution as a number one, and United may be better served splashing out on a younger option who could fill his role for years to come.

Newcastle United are believed to be considering a move for Chelsea midfielder, Jorginho, with the Italy international yet to commit his future to the west London outfit.

What’s the word?

According to the Daily Mail, the 31-year-old is said to be a ‘prime target’ for Magpies sporting director Dan Ashworth ahead of the January transfer window, with the northeast side seemingly looking to strengthen their midfield ranks in the New Year.

The Brazil-born maestro could well prove to be an attainable target as a result of his ongoing contract uncertainty at Stamford Bridge, with the 46-cap gem having just six months remaining on his existing deal with the Blues.

That would ensure that the Tynesiders could potentially strike a cut-price deal next month, or land the former Napoli man on a free transfer at the end of the season.

Busquets-esque

The £110k-per-week ace has been pulling the strings in the centre of the park for both club and country in recent years, having notably finished third in the Ballon d’Or rankings in 2021 after claiming the Champions League and European Championship glory in that calendar year.

Despite that success, the 5 foot 10 genius is still somewhat “underappreciated” – according to talkSPORT pundit Trevor Sinclair – with the playmaker’s brilliance perhaps sometimes going under the radar.

A clinical presence from the penalty spot – having scored 19 spot-kicks in his Premier League career to date – it is his quality in possession that has particularly caught the eye, with the one-time Hellas Verona ace enjoying an 85% pass accuracy rate in the top-flight this term.

That knack for dictating the tempo of the game can see him likened to Spain and Barcelona legend, Sergio Busquets, with the two men said to share a number of stylistic and statistical similarities, as per FBref.

That comparison is an astute one as the pair are both orchestrators from their deep-lying roles at the base of the midfield, with Jorginho ranking in the top 7% in Europe among those in his position for attempted passes, while Busquets ranks in the top 5% for that same metric.

That forward-thinking approach is also showcased by the fact that the latter man ranks in the top 11% for progressive passes, while the Chelsea man ranks in the top 10% in that regard as a sign of his ability to initiate attacks from deep.

Such likeness is a marker of just what a gifted figure Jorginho truly is, with Busquets having been recognised as one of the finest of his era over the last decade or so, with current Manchester United man Casemiro having previously dubbed the Spaniard the “best in the world” in that role.

The 34-year-old has won a plethora of major honours for both club and country to date, while notably racking up 696 appearances for La Blaugrana, as well as 143 caps at international level prior to his recent post-World Cup retirement.

To be compared to such a talent truly does illustrate Jorginho’s undoubted prowess, with it set to prove a real coup if Ashworth can bring the latter man to St James’ Park in 2023.

Chelsea are still yet to fully take shape under Graham Potter; with the manager replacing Thomas Tuchel at the beginning of the season, the Blues are yet to truly find their feet under the reins of the former Brighton & Hove Albion manager.

What’s the talk?

The World Cup break couldn’t have come at a better time for the 47-year-old, who could not prevent a three-game skid before the midseason pause, with the defence no longer holding its formidable aura and the attack lacking oil.

Paying close attention to the esteemed competition, Potter will be delighted to witness the endeavours of touted titan Josko Gvardiol, who recently hinted at a desire to leave RB Leipzig in the near future, saying “maybe one day I will be [at Chelsea].”

With Chelsea interested, and Fabrizio Romano now tweeting that the player is set to depart Saxony in 2023, speculation is only set to intensify, with Potter facing a clash against Real Madrid to secure the signature.

In his tweet, the Italian transfer insider said: “Josko Gvardiol race, still open. He will get big transfer in 2023 – Chelsea are still working on the deal but there are other clubs interested, it’s not done yet… as Nkunku is. Been told release clause is not worth €45m.”

Ramos 2.0

Gvardiol’s efforts on the global stage are only illuminating the calibre of the “man mountain” – in the words of Ryan Taylor – who is steadily climbing the ladder toward prominence.

Such efforts have earned recognition, with the colossus being likened to coveted former Real Madrid centre-back Sergio Ramos, with the player himself basing his game on the illustrious legend.

And there is certainly semblance between the two titans, with both adopting the full-back role during the early stage of their respective careers and both possessing technicality and flair that most central defenders can only dream of boasting.

With aggression and an innate ability to repel advances, Gvardiol might just succeed in emulating the coveted former Madridista, and with Los Blancos also eyeing his services, it appears president Florentino Perez shares this notion.

The 20-year-old, valued at an eye-watering £80m, would be worth every penny that Chelsea can offer, with his assurance and ability on the ball a telling sign that a career laden with trophies and individual accolades is set to follow in the 15-cap international’s wake.

The “monster”, as Romano proclaimed in an earlier tweet, recorded a triad of sterling showings in Qatar, an integral part in his nation’s two clean sheets in three matches, with the only goal shipping during the 4-1 victory over Canada.

As per Sofascore, Gvardiol recorded an average rating of 7.3, excelling with his 5.7 clearances and 1.7 interceptions per match, while also completing 90% of his passes.

Having made 19 appearances for Leipzig this term, Gvardiol is truly on the cusp of breaking into the upper end of the copious pool of defensive talent in world football, and at Chelsea he would be able to harness and nurture these abilities, perhaps emerging as the new Ramos as the next era of the sport dawns.

Liverpool are interested in making a move for exciting young Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams, according to a new transfer report.

The Lowdown: Williams shining for Bilbao

The 20-year-old is the younger brother of club-mate Inaki Williams and he is now forging an impressive career of his own.

He has chipped in with three goals and three assists in La Liga this season, also being described as ‘incredible’ by his older brother.

The youngster’s current Athletic Bilbao deal expires at the end of next season, so it is no surprise to see other clubs monitoring the situation.

The Latest: Liverpool keen on Williams

According to a report from Spain [via Sport Witness], Liverpool are ‘one of the main interested parties’ in signing Williams in the near future.

Jurgen Klopp is thought to be keen on bringing in an ‘unbalancing winger’ in the January transfer window, and the Reds now ‘take the lead’ in the race to snap up the Athletic Bilbao starlet, having sent scouts to the World Cup to watch the youngster in action first-hand for Spain.

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The Verdict: Exciting long-term option

It is vital that Klopp continues to rebuild his squad moving forward, not allowing it to grow old together, and Williams could be an ideal prospective long-term acquisition.

At 20, he is already an important squad figure for an established La Liga club and he is also making his mark at international level, winning three caps and scoring once for Spain.

Most prominent on the right flank, Williams could come in as a backup to Mohamed Salah, learning from the Egyptian and potentially acting as his long-term replacement.