Antonio Conte has turned his future into a twice-weekly soap opera.
But subtle changes behind the scenes at Tottenham might suggest that he is actually going to stay for the longer haul. Fabio Paratici is already at White Hart Lane as managing director and, after years of chairman Daniel Levy being very hands-on, there is a growing feeling that, as someone put it, the “Italians are in charge now.”
Conte might slowly be getting his way, his message and demands are getting through and the club want to back him. He is, after all, a world class coach and a winner. And after recent seasons in which Pini Zahavi and then Frank Trimboli were trusted as preferred agents, super-agent Jorge Mendes is undoubtedly having a growing influence.
Even to the point of Mendes making calls on potential transfer targets supposedly on behalf of Tottenham to sound out interest. One target was surprised to get a call from Mendes and it may not go down well with rivals. It is far from unusual for a Premier League to work closely with a particular agent but Mendes’ relationship with Paratici might suggest Conte’s position has been strengthened.
Conte keeps hinting that Tottenham need to match his ambition, he only signed an 18 month contract (with an option to extend), but if they do sneak into the top four then the landscape may yet change for the Italian boss. Tottenham know there will be interest in Harry Kane this summer - Manchester United are watching developments closely - but if they do clinch Champions League football and keep Conte then it could be a game-changer.
Man City given boost in Erling Haaland pursuit - by Kylian Mbappe
Erling Haaland will be arguably the most sought after transfer of the summer.
And the reason why Borussia Dortmund believe he is more likely to go to Manchester City is because it is hard to imagine Real Madrid signing Haaland and Kylian Mbappe in the same window. The transfers are still very fluid, it could yet change but the terms have been laid out, Haaland will command a huge contract and, ultimately, it will come down to whether City are prepared to break the bank, be creative with the package and get their man.
Clearly, money will be a big driving factor together with whether Haaland really fancies sharing the limelight with Mbappe. The reality is that Haaland probably did prefer the idea of going to Spain, he dreamed of playing for Real Madrid… but now City’s financial clout might win the day.
Nations League TV package still up for sale
Sky have got England’s two Wembley friendlies with Switzerland and Ivory Coast (or Côte d’Ivoire as their FA insist is the right and proper way rather than the Anglicised version). But the Nations League package (four games in June and two in September) are still up for grabs and at the bidding stage.
It may be unlikely that Sky are able to break the bank for England’s Nations League games so they may return to terrestrial TV but the mini tournament at the end of the season will be very welcome for all football addicts.
Free food for Chelsea fans at youth game
The new sanctions kicked in at Chelsea last Thursday - and were immediately noticeable the next night when Chelsea’s under-23s played West Ham at Kingsmeadow. Because they could not take any money, all the food and drink was completely free. Bar staff gave away tea, coffee and pies for nothing to both spectators and the many scouts in attendance alike.
Premier League's Covid restrictions to disappear for last two games of season
Premier League Covid restrictions are slowly being relaxed for fans and the media with the return of in-person press conferences and masks no longer having to be worn. There are still red zones in place to keep players and managers at a safe distance but even those are set to be lifted for the final two games of the season.
In fact, the hope is that there will be no Covid restrictions at all for match rounds 37 and 38 as a mini experiment ahead of next season returning to what it was pre-March 2020.
Financial worries over TV rights in Turkey
TV rights in Turkey are taking a very interesting twist - and could be dangerous for both clubs and players amid growing financial fears.
Piracy is such an issue in the Turkish Super League - both within the country and in countries like the UK - that the value of the right has fallen dramatically. Digiturk, a subsidiary of beIN Sports, saw a bid of £100m rejected with the league promising to go with lower offers from untried partners. It does beg the question as to how the biggest stars will be paid.
Slabhead becomes useless fridge
Harry Maguire has come in for some heavy criticism this season - but none more so than being compared to a fridge. Former Manchester United youngster Bojan Djordic, now working as a pundit for Swedish TV channel Nent, said: “I called him a fridge when he started his career. Honestly, you have more use of a fridge than Harry Maguire."
