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Fabio Paratici has enjoyed mixed success since being appointed as Tottenham Hotspur’s managing director of football operations back in July 2021.

The Italian supremo is responsible for a lot of the club’s transfer dealings, both incomings and outgoings, in which he’s taken plenty of flak and praise depending on what the situation is.

He hasn’t always hit the money with his signings, although he cannot be criticised for not spending, having broken the Lilywhites’ record signing with the arrival of Richarlison from Everton for £60m in the most recent summer transfer window.

Pedro Porro was the marquee signing in January and the Spanish wing-back will compete with another one of his big-money acquisitions in Emerson Royal, who cost £26m from FC Barcelona in his very first window.

You’d probably find it hard to name a player that divides opinion more than the Brazilian and truthfully, it’s hard to come down on one side on whether he’s been a success or just a big flop.

With the arrival of Porro, you could argue it’s the latter, especially as Antonio Conte has reportedly been never convinced by his ability and suitability to his system, though the fact that it was Matt Doherty who made way instead perhaps speaks volumes.

However, according to FootballTransfers, the 24-year-old dynamo’s expected transfer value has increased substantially in the 18 months he has been at the club with the website now valuing him at €50.2m (£45m).

That sees him as a more valuable asset than the likes of Ryan Sessegnon, Oliver Skipp and even Cristian Romero (€45.6m).

Whether you love him or hate him, it’s certainly surprising to see Emerson valued at a bigger price than the fan-favourite and World Cup-winning Argentine.

Despite being lambasted as a “complete liability” and a “mistake waiting to happen” by former Lilywhites midfielder Jamie O’Hara in the past, the £62k-per-week star did show glimpses of his potential in their recent 1-0 win over defending champions Manchester City, where he kept England international Jack Grealish at bay for 90 minutes.

He was among Spurs’ top performers in the eyes of Evening Standard journalist Dan Kilpatrick, whilst the Express’ Ryan Taylor lauded it a “defensive masterclass” from Emerson.

Therefore, it has to be argued that Paratici has struck gold with the signing of Emerson – who was also hailed as “flawless” by Sky Sports’ Jamie Weir and “terrific” by journalist Tom Barclay – as his value has nearly doubled despite issues with inconsistency and his overall ability.

AND in other news, Conte could find his Romero replacement by unleashing “colossal” £65k-p/w Spurs “beast”…

Spurs TV commentator Rob Daly admits that he loves to watch Dejan Kulusevski play when he puts on a Tottenham Hotspur shirt.

The Lowdown: Making an impact

Kulusevski joined Antonio Conte’s side on deadline in 2021 on an 18-month loan deal, his contract with Tottenham will expire at the end of this season, but he could join permanently if the requirements of the deal are met.

The Swede has provided 21 goal contributions in 38 matches for Spurs across all competitions since making the switch to north London.

At the end of last year, the Premier League star was given the Guldbollen which is the award for Sweden’s best male player in a calendar year.

The Latest: Daly loves Kulusevksi

Speaking on The View From The Lane Podcast, Daly raved about Kulusevki and why he loves watching him play.

He stated (34:03), “I love Dejan Kulsevski, I was blown away by how quickly he adapted to the Premier League.

“I just love the way he carries the ball, he doesn’t look quick but he is and he can drop the shoulder he can go inside and out.

“It’s either whip a cross to the back post left foot, he’ll get to the bottom or cut it back right for I just adore Dejan Kulusevski.”

The Verdict: Some talent

We believe that Kulusevki is a great talent and with him looking very likely to sign this summer, it’ll be great for them to have him on board for the long term.

Conte has raved about him in the past, labelling him as ‘fantastic’ and ‘important’ player as quoted by Football.London.

There’s no doubt he’s been an important player this season in the league, averaging a goal contribution every other game. Had not suffered a thigh injury earlier in the season, you could argue his tally could be even better.

At only 22-years-old, Kulusevki has the potential to get even better in our view and could well end up becoming a future Spurs legend, the fans have certainly taken to him.

Sky Sports have shared some more Manchester United takeover news right before the club’s meeting with Leicester City on Sunday afternoon. 

The Lowdown: Bids in

The soft deadline for bids to be made for the Red Devils passed on Friday, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos group and Qatari Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani both making offers.

Sheikh Jassim is reportedly prepared to pay a world-record price for a sports club to buy United, whereas Radcliffe’s offer is for “majority ownership”.

The Latest: Sky Sports update

Sky Sports, via Football Daily, shared an update right before kick-off at Old Trafford regarding a potential takeover involving Radcliffe.

They said ‘we’ve got more now’ on Radcliffe’s offer, revealing it is actually for 69% of the club, the number which is currently owned by the Glazer family, and they would not be involved at all moving forward if the deal goes through.

They add that Radcliffe could seek to buy the rest of the shares in the future and is committed to redeveloping Old Trafford.

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The Verdict: Exciting

There have been multiple protests against the Glazers in recent years, with supporters once again chanting against the current owners during the meeting with Leicester this afternoon.

Therefore, this update on Radcliffe and how he could buy out the Glazers completely could be one that is welcomed by large sections of the fanbase. He also appears to be keen on stadium redevelopment, which is another positive sign.

Gary Neville has previously said that United have fallen behind off the pitch and that a full rebuild of Old Trafford could be best for the Red Devils, so as well as investment in the playing squad, looking at off-field development is good news under either Radcliffe or Sheikh Jassim.

Keith Downie has revealed that he wouldn’t be surprised if Eddie Howe hands Jacob Murphy a rare Newcastle United start.

The Lowdown: Howe has a huge tactical decision to make

A lot of the talk has been about who will start in the cup final on Sunday given the absence of Nick Pope, albeit Loris Karius will be the overriding favourite given his experiences across different competitions.

However, there is indeed another huge call facing Howe this weekend with Joe Willock back in training, he could be in line to start the cup final, potentially in place of Allan Saint-Maximin.

While many me see it as a straight shoot-out between Willock and Saint-Maximin, Downie believes Murphy could be in line to start in the Carabao Cup final, despite being handed just 584 minutes in the Premier League this season.

The Latest: Murphy may get a shock start

Downie has been speaking on the National World YouTube channel about how Murphy could be in line to start this weekend despite having just two goal involvements to his name all season.

He said: (17:30) “I think Willock will be given every chance to start the game, if he doesn’t it will then be I think between either Allan Saint-Maximin or Jacob Murphy to come in on the left-hand side.

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“I wouldn’t be surprised to see Murphy start just given the fact that I think he’ll want to have Saint-Maximin as an impact sub to come off the bench in the second half alongside Alexander Isak or Wilson.”

The Verdict: Starting Murphy would be a wild decision

Given that Howe could deploy one of Saint-Maximin or Joelinton on the left this weekend, it would be a huge shock to everyone associated with the Magpies to see Murphy handed just his seventh start of the season.

Murphy has been used in every single game this season by Howe, albeit most of them have seen him come on for cameo appearances in the second half, so to then be thrust onto the Wembley stage would be a huge call from Howe.

If Howe wants to get after Man United and try to win the game early on, starting Saint-Maximin could be the way to go, but if he wishes to keep things tight and frustrate the Red Devils, then starting all of Willock, Joelinton, Bruno Guimaraes and Sean Longstaff would be the safest bet.

Aston Villa’s signing of Douglas Luiz looks to have certainly paid off, as the Brazilian’s market value has rocketed in his four-year spell with the Midlands club.

How much is Douglas Luiz worth?

Villa would sign the defensive midfielder from Manchester City in 2019 in a deal worth £15m, with the youngster having impressed in loan spells away from the Citizens after failing to earn a work permit during his time with Pep Guardiola’s side.

Now 24, the former Girona loanee has made 137 appearances for Villa’s first team, in which he has contributed eight goals and 13 assists, including five assists in just 23 Premier League outings so far this campaign.

This has helped him to earn a strong 6.77 average rating from WhoScored for his performances in the top flight, which ranks him as the third-best performer in Unai Emery’s squad, emphasising just how important he has become since the Spanish manager took over at Villa Park.

Under Steven Gerrard, Luiz had lost his regular starting place in the team and looked likely to complete a move away, with Arsenal reported to be extremely interested in signing the midfielder on deadline day during the summer.

However, he would later commit his future to the club in October 2022, signing a new deal until the summer of 2026, and he has been a mainstay in the side ever since.

Villa legend Gabriel Agbonlahor was full of praise for the Brazilian last year after a strong run of form, with the former England striker complimentary of the way he had adapted his game.

He said: “Douglas Luiz has been very good. He’s flying forward and getting into the box. He’s been outstanding and transformed.”

Luiz has certainly maintained that consistency from last season, as he would also earn a 6.77 rating from WhoScored in the 2021/22 campaign, and Villa fans will be hoping that he can only get better with more regular starts under Emery.

However, the Villans can be safe in the knowledge that if he ever leaves the club, they will make a significant profit on the £15m they paid in 2019.

Since joining the club, Luiz’s Transfermarkt value has shot up from €2.5m (£2.2m) to €35m (£31m), which represents a remarkable 1300% increase, so Villa deserve a huge amount of credit for spotting his talent as a youngster and helping develop him into an established Premier League player.

Chelsea owner Todd Boehly could ditch manager Graham Potter and issue a swoop for Jose Mourinho, who has led the Blues on two illustrious prior occasions, in a move that may finally get the best out of under-firing Kalidou Koulibaly.

What’s the latest on Chelsea’s managerial hunt?

After winning just two of the past 15 fixtures across all competitions, Potter’s grip on the reins of his Blues outfit appears to grow increasingly weaker, and despite the faith of the owners, the Telegraph’s Matt Law reports that the next two fixtures, against Leeds United and Borussia Dortmund, could be definitive for the 47-year-old.

And now, according to former Italian footballer Antonio Cassano (via Sport Witness), Mourinho would be ‘keen’ on a return to Stamford Bridge, should an opening materialise.

Cassano said: “If Inzaghi were to be fired, I would rule out the return of José Mourinho. If an offer from the Premier League were to arrive, the Special One would choose England. The fans fell in love with his attitude (in Italy), but he intends to leave, and for me, he can only go back to Chelsea.”

Could Mourinho really get the best out of Koulibaly?

Mourinho’s first two spells with Chelsea left him with an illustrious trophy cabinet consisting of three Premier League trophies, the FA Cup and the Carabao Cup.

And while he was sacked on both occasions, there may just be a belief that he can stamp an instant change into life at Stamford Bridge, something that is duly needed given that the Blues are currently tenth in the Premier League, 13 points off top-four.

According to one tactical analysis, Mourinho’s system with i Lupi focusses on forcing opposition out wide and negating the threat in the central defensive areas; Koulibaly, who is 6 foot 1 and ranks among the top 12% of defenders in Europe’s top five leagues for blocks per 90, also winning two aerial battle per match across the duration of his career, can prove effective in this regard.

And given his former imperious standing with the Partenopei in Italy, Mourinho might just hold the key to unlocking his potential and ensuring he returns to his former zeal with his west London outfit.

Hailed as “outstanding” by former Chelsea man Joe Cole, Mourinho is an experienced and iconic manager with a heap of defensive pedigree – indeed, the chosen one’s 2004/05 title-winning Blues team hold the division’s greatest seasonal defensive record to this date – Koulibaly might just benefit from a switch in system that finally opens the floor for him to flourish.

Considering this, Chelsea might just strike gold with an audacious managerial appointment of Mourinho, with the distinguished Champions League-winning boss perhaps feeling he can issue a three-peat of successful spells in west London.

And with his defensive acumen in mind, Koulibaly might just, belatedly, get his career at Stamford Bridge up and running.

Manchester United captain Harry Maguire will be put up for sale by the club during the summer transfer window, according to a fresh rumour.

The Lowdown: Maguire down the pecking order

The 30-year-old has suffered a sobering campaign to date, with Erik ten Hag suggesting that Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez is his preferred centre-back pairing.

Maguire has only started five matches in the Premier League all season long, ahead of this afternoon’s trip to Liverpool.

The Englishman has been linked with a move away from Old Trafford, and a new update does little to dampen the chances of an exit happening.

The Latest: Summer exit expected

According to Football Insider, United ‘have decided to’ allow Maguire to leave United this summer, as Ten Hag looks to raise some transfer funds.

The defender is thought to be ‘surplus to requirements’ at the club, with the manager not seeing him as an important part of his ‘long-term project’.

The Verdict: Right time to move on

Maguire has certainly had some good times at United, making 165 appearances and winning the EFL Cup last weekend, being called ‘magnificent’ by Ten Hag.

The 53-time capped England international has been heavily criticised for some of his recent performances however, and has subsequently lost his place in the starting line-up.

United could still be able to get good money for Maguire this summer, though, with lower-ranked Premier League sides sure to be eyeing him up, such as Aston Villa.

Under Ten Hag, the Red Devils are heading to heights without the skipper, so a summer move makes sense for all parties.

Leeds United forward Wilfried Gnonto is reportedly attracting interest from Juventus ahead of the summer window.

The Lowdown: First-team impact

Former Whites manager Jesse Marsch stated in the summer that Gnonto ‘wouldn’t be Premier League ready’, however, the Italian arrived at Elland Road on deadline day from FC Zurich as the club’s search for a forward went down to the wire.

Since then, the 19-year-old has made a positive impact at first team level, contributing to six goals in 19 appearances. Gary Neville was left impressed with the Leeds youngster against Aston Villa back in January, saying:

‘To see someone so mature, so young is very unusual in that position. Sometimes you see potential and talent but watching him so closely, his understanding of where to be, his choice of pass, when to run with it, his awareness of teammates, really good honestly.’

Italy manager Roberto Mancini has also praised Gnonto following his time at Leeds, saying:

‘Gnonto is a young boy, no one has thought of hiring him but he plays as a starter in the Premier League and that’s not a given at 19. He can still improve and he’s young, he has quality. I hope other young people can follow his example and go abroad to play. If they are good then they play.’

As well as Neville and Mancini, it looks as if his displays have been catching the eye of Juventus officials.

The Latest: Transfer update

Calciomercato provided an update regarding Gnonto in the last 48 hours. They said that Juventus have already started planning for the summer transfer market and have Gnonto on a list of potential targets.

The report states that Juventus officials could look to use Weston McKennie as part of a potential transfer, with Leeds having the option to buy the USA midfielder at the end of the season in a deal worth €35m (£30m).

The Verdict: A worry

This appears to be an extremely worrying update on Gnonto, who reportedly ‘would be very happy to return to Italy, especially in a top club like Juventus’.

He has been a bright spark in what has been a disappointing season on the whole in Yorkshire, with Gnonto’s stunning goal against Cardiff City in the FA Cup earlier this year being compared to fellow countryman Paolo Di Canio.

Gnonto is under contract at Leeds until 2027, however, should the Whites suffer relegation to the Championship over the coming months, the forward could become one of the most sought-after players in Yorkshire.

Glasgow Rangers’ transfer business has been well documented throughout the previous 25 years, with plenty of money being spent in order to vastly improve the squad and progress in Europe, especially under former chairman Sir David Murray.

The club won nine league titles in a row between 1988 and 1997 and in the first few years after the millennium, Murray wanted the Ibrox side to take the next step and become a European force. Of course, millions would need to be spent to achieve this goal, and they were, just ultimately on the wrong players.

When manager Dick Advocaat splash out £6.5m on Everton defender Michael Ball back in 2001, it looked as though the Light Blues had signed a player of considerable quality. It didn’t quite work out well for the left-back unfortunately during his spell at the club.

How much did Michael Ball cost Rangers?

At the time, the deal to bring Ball to Ibrox was the second highest in the club’s history and much hype was generated upon his arrival.

He missed 18 months of football early on in his Rangers career due to knee problems suffered at Everton and this heavily impacted the trajectory of his career.

The Englishman played just nine matches during his first season at the club and missed the whole of the 2002/2003 treble winning campaign.

40 matches in 2003/2004 was his best season at the Glasgow side, although in his last few years, he had to come to a strange agreement with Murray. If Ball played one more match, Rangers would have to pay another £500k to Everton and with the Gers short on money, Ball agreed to pay per appearance.

He said: "I remember it was a match at Ibrox when the gaffer Alex McLeish said the chairman wanted to see me – that's when he put the idea to me.

"Alex asked how it went, and I was still a little bit shocked about what had just happened.

"I had agreed to pay £4000 every time I played so they could pay Everton.

"I wasn't sure if I had got it right. We had a bit of a chuckle about it and later that day I came on as a sub with a few minutes left. I remember thinking 'that's just cost me four grand'!"

All in all, he made 67 appearances for the club across five and half seasons, which works out at around £97k per game in relation to his initial transfer fee – excluding wages – and this simply wasn’t money that Rangers could afford to waste.

If he managed to keep himself fit, there is no doubt he could have enjoyed a wonderful career in Scotland, however it proved to be a massive transfer shocker by Murray.

Journalist Phil Hay believes Wolves will have no chance of winning any potential appeal on Jonny’s latest red card.

The Lowdown: Wolves would be wasting their time

A lot of journalists and fans connected to Wolves felt that, once again, decisions didn’t go their way during their latest defeat, which was a 4-2 thumping at Molineux.

Wolves will likely believe they should’ve had a penalty go their way when Junior Firpo appeared to kick Nelson Semedo, but that wasn’t all as Jonny’s yellow card was upgraded to a red before referee Michael Salisbury did the unusual thing of going over to the monitor and not overturning his decision to allow Leeds their late goal.

Julen Lopetegui spoke post-match and he was visibly angered and frustrated by the decisions about how Wolves would be looking to appeal Jonny’s red card – which may be quite ludicrous given the nature of the tackle.

The Latest: Jonny was rightfully sent off

Leeds United reporter Hay spoke on The Phil Hay Show about how Wolves would not have a chance of getting Jonny’s red card rescinded.

He said: “Lopetegui said afterwards [they] might appeal the Jonny red card. They’ve not a chance that gets overturned, absolutely no chance.

“That is studs-up, it’s through Ayling’s shin. If you look at the replay, it clearly bends his leg. That is not ever getting overturned, that is a clear, clear red card and there’s no dispute about it.”

The Verdict: Lopetegui could spend his time far more wisely

Wolves were indeed up in arms about the decisions which didn’t go their way as they were slightly controversial, however, if they didn’t allow the likes of Ayling to be free at the back post and Rasmus Kristensen to ghost into the box and score, they wouldn’t have needed these decisions to go their way.

Lopetegui should be focusing on how his side have conceded six goals in their last two matches and left themselves with mountains to climb in each game instead of debating what would surely be a frivolous appeal over a red card.

The Midlands outfit boast some top-quality talent in the form of Ruben Neves, Matheus Nunes and Matheus Cunha, but if they continue to worry about officials instead of what they’re doing on the pitch, relegation could become a very real possibility.