Stories By Graham Ruthven

• Sport

  Southgate must mould more proactive squad to succeed

  The success of Gareth Southgate’s tenure as England manager to date is clear in the results his team have achieved. Indeed, the 51-year-old took the Three Lions to their first World Cup semi-final for 28 years in 2018 before making the final of Euro 2020, England’s first appearance in a major tournament final since 1966.

• Sport

  Will Lewandowski bid Bayern farewell this summer?

  Robert Lewandowski’s desire to one day play in Spain has been clear for years. In 2018, the Polish striker changed agent with the intention of pushing through a move to Real Madrid who were looking for a successor to Cristiano Ronaldo at the time.

• Sport

  Forget Mane, Liverpool must sign successor to Firmino this summer

  Defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League final had barely sunk in by the time Jurgen Klopp was faced with his next issue as Liverpool boss. In the hours that followed the Reds’ loss in Paris, it emerged Mane desires a transfer away from Anfield this summer with Bayern Munich one potion till suitor for the Senegalese winger.

• Sport

  Can Perisic bring Spurs instant success?

  The January transfer window had only just closed when Antonio Conte made clear just how hard he would push to get the signings he wants as Tottenham Hotspur boss. “Four important players left in January,” he said.

• Sport

  Which shirt should Dominic don next season?

  Even after scoring the winner against Crystal Palace to secure Everton’s Premier League status next season, Dominic Calvert-Lewin will look back on the 2021/22 season as a difficult one. Injuries restricted the 25-year-old to just 13 league starts with the majority of those appearances coming in the last few weeks.

• Sport

  Conte can compete with Klopp and Guardiola next season

  Tottenham Hotspur were slumped in ninth place when Antonio Conte arrived at the club last November. Many in North London had already given up hope on making the top four and qualifying for the Champions League and instead looked to their new Italian manager to merely point them in the right direction again.

• Sport

  Which summer signings will give Aston Villa step up next season?

  While Aston Villa failed to finish in the top half of the Premier League table, as looked possible not so long ago, they are in a much better place now than they were at the time of Steven Gerrard’s appointment in November.

• Sport

  High-flying Rangers prove Scottish football deserves more respect

  Not since 2008, when the Europa League was called the UEFA Cup, had a Scottish team reached the final of a European competition. Back then, Rangers defended with their backs to the wall to set up a meeting with Zenit St Petersburg in Manchester.

• Sport

  Should Southgate stick chances on Toffees winger?

    Within seconds of kick-off, Anthony Gordon crunched into a tackle that reflected the demanding mood of the Goodison Park crowd. The Everton fan recognised the desperate need for a win against Chelsea to ease the club’s growing relegation concerns and created an atmosphere that set the tone for the players on the pitch.

• Sport

  McNeil marching to beat of Jackson’s drum

  In the eyes of many, Burnley’s decision to sack Sean Dyche was a metaphorical waving of a white flag. The 50-year-old had done such a good job of keeping the Clarets in the Premier League for so many seasons that his exit wasn’t seen as a gamble, but a resignation.

• Sport

  Should Spurs swap Conte for Poch?

  As footballing divorces go, the one that saw Mauricio Pochettino and Tottenham Hotspur part ways in November 2019 was particularly painful, and maybe even regretful for both parties. Jose Mourinho, Pochettino’s replacement, lasted less than a year-and-a-half as Spurs boss while Pochettino has suffered a stressful time at Paris Saint-Germain.

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