Stories By Graham Ruthven

• Sport

  Roberto Mancini carrying out his finest work with Italy

  Speaking to the media with his jacket draped over his shoulder after watching his Italy side win their third straight match at Euro 2020, Roberto Mancini had the look of a man without a care in the world.

• Sport

  Would Philippe Coutinho be a good fit for Leicester?

  Only two players in footballing history (Neymar and Kylian Mbappe) have cost more than the €145m Barcelona paid for Philippe Coutinho in January 2018. While that fee was somewhat inflated by Barca’s desperation for a big name replacement for Neymar at the time, it was generally reflective of Coutinho’s status in the game.

• Sport

  Kalvin Phillips would be ideal Fernandinho replacement for City

  Even those who have watched Kalvin Phillips thrive under Marcelo Bielsa at Leeds United were surely surprised by the astonishing standard of the 25-year-old’s performance for England in their 1-0 win over Croatia on Sunday.

• Sport

  Benzema could make France unstoppable this summer

  Even before the surprise inclusion of Karim Benzema in the France squad after a six-year absence, Didier Deschamps’ side were widely seen as frontrunners to go all the way at Euro 2020 this summer. Les Blues already boasted one of the most potent frontlines in the international game.

• Sport

  Fabio Paratici could be the most vital Tottenham signing this summer

  In one sense, Tottenham Hotspur were ahead of the curve in the mid-2000s. While the club struggled for consistent success, they were one of the first to truly embrace the Director of Football role that had been commonplace in Europe for a long time, with Damien Comolli hired in 2005.

• Sport

  Arteta rebuild needs to be backed at Arsenal this summer

  More than once last season, Mikel Arteta must have looked at the Arsenal squad in front of him and wondered where to even start with his rebuild. While the Spaniard has had his own shortcomings as a coach exposed, he hasn’t been left with much to work with.

• Sport

  Man Utd can’t be distracted by Cristiano Ronaldo return

  Had Sir Alex Ferguson not retired in 2013, Cristiano Ronaldo might well have have sealed a return to Man Utd that summer. Many reports have emerged since then that revealed the Portuguese’s desire to go back to Old Trafford, only for David Moyes to take over and raise doubts over United’s competitiveness at the top level.

• Sport

  Aymeric Laporte a huge boost for Spain at Euro 2020

  Aymeric Laporte has won it all in English football – three Premier League titles, one FA Cup, three EFL Cups and a Community Shield – and by the end of this season he might have won European football’s biggest prize too, with Manchester City in the Champions League final.

• Sport

  Underperforming Everton yet to match lofty ambition

  Only three Premier League clubs have spent more in the transfer market over the last five years than Everton. This is a measure of the ambition now harboured at Goodison Park, as was the appointment of Carlo Ancelotti as manager a year-and-a-half ago.

• Sport

  Jadon Sancho would be a perfect fit for Liverpool

  Jadon Sancho has been chased by Manchester United for so long that most can’t imagine the winger moving anywhere else when he finally decides to leave Borussia Dortmund, as is inevitable. With another window in sight, speculation is starting to swirl once more and the majority of it points to Old Trafford.

• Sport

  Gareth Southgate must include Buyako Saka this summer

  It would be understandable if Gareth Southgate has stopped watching Arsenal this season. At this point, not even the club’s own fans are enjoying watching the Gunners play such has been the dismal standard of their recent performances.

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