Football League World

James Maddison has missed a year of football but the Spurs midfielder has deep ties to Coventry City after emerging from the academy ranks.

James Maddison quickly established himself as one of the most technically gifted and young English players outside the Premier League with Coventry City, combining vision, flair, and a serious eye for goal early on in his career. A return to Coventry from Spurs is conditional but perhaps possible.

Soon after breaking through, his performances earned him a move to Norwich City. Whilst at Carrow Road, he elevated his game further before securing a big-money switch to Leicester City. It was at Leicester where Maddison truly flourished, becoming one of the Premier League’s most creative midfielders and earning England recognition.

A high-profile move to Tottenham Hotspur followed, where he was tasked with being the creative heartbeat in North London. However, football has a habit of coming full circle. With Coventry potentially rising and Spurs facing uncertainty, a return to his boyhood club — perhaps unthinkable even a year ago — may now carry genuine weight.

Why Spurs' James Maddison might fancy moving to Coventry City

Football careers are increasingly defined by narrative as much as silverware. Maddison has already proven himself at multiple levels, but a return to Coventry offers something different and it could be the chance to be more than what he has been at Tottenham via another chapter. Maddison might make more sense than Gus Hamer as well.

Rather than being remembered as another talented player who featured for Spurs, he could become synonymous with Coventry’s modern rise. That is perhaps reason enough but we have listed the THREE primary reasons why it makes sense this summer.

James Maddison's return to Coventry City would be incredibly romantic

There is often a romanticism in football that cannot be ignored, and a return to Coventry would tap directly into that. Maddison is not just another former player as he is one of their own. Academy graduates who go on to reach elite levels often maintain a deep-rooted connection to their first clubs.

Opportunities to return in their prime are rare. Also, for Coventry supporters, this would represent more than just a marquee signing as well. It would symbolise their progress and ambition under Doug King. For Maddison, it offers the chance to give back to the club that shaped him.

A chance in a meaningful, competitive context rather than like the late-career swansong we sometimes see. In contrast to the pressure cooker of Tottenham, Coventry could offer a sense of belonging that is difficult to replicate at bigger clubs. Imagine he keeps them up, too?

How likely do you think a James Maddison return to Coventry City is? Comment below!

Perhaps the most obvious, but if Spurs were to suffer relegation while Coventry bypass them, the decision for Maddison becomes far more pragmatic than sentimental. At 29, he is firmly in his peak years, and remaining in the Premier League would be a priority and not just for personal ambition, either.

If he has any ambition of making it back into the England setup, he must be a top flight player. Dropping into the Championship, even with a club of Spurs’ stature, presents risks. Visibility, intensity of fixtures, and the unpredictability of promotion pushes can all hinder a player accustomed to top-flight football and already struggling with injuries.

Coventry, by contrast, would offer Maddison immediate continuity at the highest level and a less gruelling schedule after a serious injury. From a career management perspective, this would not be a step down — it would be a lateral move in terms of league status.

Learning from Frank Lampard with more freedom would suit James Maddison

The expectations at Tottenham, frankly, are relentless. Every performance is scrutinised, every result magnified, and creative players like Maddison often find themselves under intense pressure to deliver consistently.

A move to Coventry would naturally recalibrate those expectations. While there would still be pressure to keep them in the league, the overall environment would likely allow for greater creative freedom. Managers at clubs like Coventry are more inclined to build systems around their standout talents, rather than fitting them into rigid structures.

On Frank Lampard, Maddison would also be learning off one of the best goalscoring midfielders ever and he would encourage and enable Maddison to be able to play with more spontaneity, take risks in possession, and rediscover the expressive qualities that made him such a standout earlier in his career.

Tottenham Hotspur's immediate future remains uncertain at this moment in time, with the North London club still fighting for survival in the Premier League as the season heads into its final weeks.

Spurs' recent plight has been extremely well-documented, as they have been under the management of three different permanent or interim head coaches this season, with Roberto De Zerbi now in the hotseat in N17 as they look to stave off a seismic relegation to the Championship before looking to push forward back to their prior position as European contenders.

As is expected to be the case with Leicester City following the Foxes' own shocking fall from the Premier League to League One in successive seasons, if Tottenham were to fall into the second tier for the first time in over 40 years, many high-profile stars would likely depart in order to somewhat aid the financial position at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Whilst they still remain inside the Premier League's relegation zone behind the likes of Nottingham Forest and West Ham United, with Burnley and Wolves' fates already sealed, the capital outfit could be swapping places with Middlesbrough in the pyramid, with Kim Hellberg's side still in with a shot of promotion after returning to form at the most critical time.

It has, ironically, also been a season of chaos and drama at the Riverside Stadium, with Kim Hellberg replacing Rob Edwards in November, just months after the latter had been given a managerial reprieve by owner, Steve Gibson.

As such, it remains to be seen what transfer policy the North East club adopts in Hellberg's first pre-season in charge, although the developments which occur in the promotion battle over time could impact one man who has impressed in the Championship this term despite a season of struggle for his temporary employers.

How Tottenham feel about selling Will Lankshear as Middlesbrough transfer truth emerges in Oxford United loan ace

Indeed, Oxford United are bound for League One again after two seasons in the Championship, albeit Matt Bloomfield's side certainly went down fighting before their drop into the third tier was confirmed on April 25th courtesy of Charlton Athletic and West Bromwich Albion avoiding defeat ahead of the U's 4-1 success over Sheffield Wednesday at the Kassam Stadium.

On-loan Spurs forward, Will Lankshear, grabbed his 10th and 11th goals of the season against the Owls, and now speculation has already surfaced over the 21-year-old's immediate future.

After playing a handful of matches for Spurs' first-team last season ahead of a disappointing loan spell with West Brom, Lankshear's development has come on leaps and bounds this term despite Oxford's relegation, and this has already attracted suitors from higher up the division.

It was exclusively revealed by Football League World in January that the England youth international had been targeted by Middlesbrough and Wrexham, before details later emerged that the Teesside club and Ipswich Town had seen offers rejected, which included a loan-to-buy deal worth £15m from Boro.

A fresh report from the Sun has now revealed that a permanent departure from Tottenham cannot be ruled out for the striker, who is expected to garner serious interest if that is to be the case, with Middlesbrough's prior stance cited again.

Can you see Tottenham sanctioning a permanent exit for Will Lankshear this summer? Comment below!

Will Lankshear's career could benefit from permanent Tottenham exit

At this stage, it remains to be seen what the future holds for Lankshear, particularly as a result of Spurs' on-pitch situation.

If the club were to be relegated, it would not be a surprise to see him feature more regularly in North London, having showcased his development and goalscoring ability in the Championship for Oxford.

It also comes as little surprise to see it revealed that a glut of clubs would like to lure Lankshear to their own projects on a permanent basis, and after two loan spells of mixed fortunes, that could best serve his individual career in the long run.

With just a few weeks left of the 2025-26 Premier League season, the prospect of Tottenham Hotspur dropping down for the first time ever is still a huge possibility.

Spurs have not seen the second tier of English football since 1978, but having struggled under mainly Thomas Frank and then Igor Tudor this season, the north London outfit are embroiled in a scramble to survive in the Premier League, with it looking like either them or West Ham joining Burnley and Wolves in next season's Championship.

It would be by far the biggest shock relegation to happen in the entirety of the Premier League's 34-year history, and Spurs could end up heading to places like Lincoln City, as well as a return to Luton Town's Kenilworth Road if they are able to navigate their way into and through the League One play-offs.

Ray Parlour issues Tottenham relegation jibe to Luton Town boss Jack Wilshere

Having overcome the odds to win promotion to the top flight in 2023, the Hatters suffered back-to-back relegations into League One in 2024 and 2025, much like what has happened to Leicester City.

Under ex-Arsenal and England midfielder Jack Wilshere though, Luton are aiming for an immediate return to the Championship, but after a slow start to the season under Matt Bloomfield, which ended up costing him his job, the Bedfordshire outfit will have to do it the hard way -firstly by bettering Stevenage's result on Saturday against Wigan Athletic when they head up north to take on Bolton Wanderers, who are already cemented within the top six and may end up resting some star players, and then they'd have to win the play-offs.

Despite the odds not exactly being in Luton's favour to win promotion, another former Arsenal man in the form of Ray Parlour couldn't resist taking a cheeky dig at Tottenham's struggles and the potential of Wilshere facing them as a manager.

"I'm sure you're gonna get promoted - and do you know what Jack? You could be managing against Tottenham next year," Arsenal icon Parlour told Wilshere live on talkSPORT, to which Wilshere responded that the focus from himself and Luton is only on them and not other teams.

There's obviously no love lost when it comes to ex-Arsenal favourites and what they think about Spurs, but Wilshere may potentially have to wait a while longer if he cannot get the right result this coming weekend at the Toughsheet Community Stadium - and even if he does, it could be out of his hands.

Jack Wilshere may face Tottenham as a manager sooner rather than later if his stock continues to rise

Wilshere has only been in full-time management for six months, having had a short stint with Norwich City as their interim head coach late late season, but he's managed to turn Luton's season around from floundering early doors to winning the Vertu Trophy and putting them in play-off contention.

There was a period of form in January and February that saw a few losses creep in and very few wins, which probably has let Town down when it comes to being a sure-fire play-offs team, but 30 points from a possible 36 from their last 12 matches has really seen Luton come out of their shell and start to show the team they should've been all season.

Still only 34 years of age, Wilshere is incredibly young as a manager, but if he continues to show some impressive management skills at Kenilworth Road, and Luton don't sneak into the play-offs and go up this year, could clubs further up the pyramid - especially in the Championship - be eyeing him up?

Can Jack Wilshere take Luton Town to the Championship? Let us know in the comments!

If he were to make a move elsewhere, which there's no indication of him doing at this current moment, then the chances of facing Tottenham next season will strengthen drastically, but for now, the most likely chance of that is if the EFL Cup or FA Cup is lucky to Luton next season.

Following a disappointing season in the Championship, Birmingham City have work to do this summer on their first-team squad, but there's one striker who FLW's fan pundit doesn't fancy much up front for them next season.

Three wins and a draw from their last four matches may have nudged them up into the top half of the table, but there's little doubting that Birmingham City's 2025-26 season has been something of a disappointment.

Promotion from League One at the end of 2024-25 with a record-breaking 111 points brought with it a degree of optimism that the club might be able to secure a second successive promotion into the Premier League. But despite a reasonable start to the season, the Blues have failed to make much impression near the top of the table, with their latest upswing in form having come too late to guide them back towards a play-off spot.

All of this leaves the club in something of a position as flux as the end approaches. There's been considerable conjecture that manager Chris Davies might not survive beyond the end of this season, with Football League World exclusively revealing that the club are lining up Thomas Frank as his replacement in a hugely ambitious move.

But whoever the Birmingham manager is by the summer, there will be work to be done on a first-team squad which has not performed as hoped this season.

"Not for me" - Birmingham warned off Will Lankshear as an attacking option for next season

Having scored just 56 goals in 45 matches in the Championship going into their final round of fixtures, goalscoring has been a bit of an issue for Birmingham City this season, and one player who could be an option is Will Lankshear, who's been on loan this season at Oxford United from Tottenham Hotspur after having spent the second half of 2024-25 on loan at West Bromwich Albion.

But Football League World have spoken to our Birmingham fan pundit Jason Moore about Lankshear, and he isn't enthused by the idea: "Not for me. I've not been impressed that much by Lankshear, to be honest. If it's something the club wants to pursue then by all means go for it, but I think they're looking for bigger and better targets."

For one thing, Jason believes that Auguste Priske, who signed for the Blues from the Swedish club Djurgårdens IF for an undisclosed fee in the January transfer window but who has yet to score his first goal for the club, will come good: "I think Priske will come good. He was a case where if we didn't get him in January we weren't getting him at all because there were Premier League clubs sniffing around him. So Priske will come good, I've got absolutely every faith in that."

Our Blues pundit feels that his team's big issue hasn't so much been their strikers as the support they've been getting, and that the summer may see the club address that issue, which could alter Jay Stansfield's role next season: "And I think next season, Stansfield is a striker as well.

What striker would you like to see Birmingham City pursue this summer? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

"I don't think he does this supporting striker role. I think he's only being forced to do that currently because our options in the number ten position are shocking. We brought in Fujimoto, who doesn't play, and I think Ducksch will be gone, so I think Stansfield will be a striker next season, and we'll go and get a couple of number tens to play in that position."

If Will Lankshear does end up at St Andrew's, he'll get Jason's support, but he doesn't believe that he is the right man for the job: "If Lankshear is who the club would want to pursue, I'd back the recruitment. Whoever comes in and wears that blue shirt, I'll back them until there's a reason to think 'you're not good enough, you've got to go.' I wouldn't personally be looking for then go for it, I'll back it, but if you're asking me right here right now, then I'd say not for me."

Will Lankshear has been a success at Oxford, despite his club's relegation

With relegation back to League One confirmed before the final weekend, this has been a far from successful season for Oxford United, but Will Lankshear is one of their players who will emerge from it with his reputation intact.

Lankshear has scored 11 goals in 43 League appearances for the Us this season, an excellent return for an attacking player in a struggling team, especially one having his first full season as a regular in a senior first team. But that form coupled with Oxford's relegation would appear to make the prospect of him staying at The Kassam Stadium for next season a fairly remote possibility.

With their own relegation potentially looming, it may well be that Spurs want to keep hold of the striker for next season, should they end up in the Championship. In that eventuality, it would certainly be useful for them to have players with experience of the division, but it seems likely that their status for next season will be undecided until the Premier League season ends on the 24th May.

And it's certainly true to say that Auguste Priske has not yet caught light for Birmingham since his January arrival at the club. Priske has made 16 appearances for the Blues since his arrival, eight of them starts, but has thus far failed to find the net, and his performances have not been particularly inspiring, either. Kanya Fujimoto, meanwhile, been limited to just five appearances from the bench all season following his arrival from the Portguese club Gil Vicente last summer.

Jay Stansfield and Marvin Ducksch have scored ten goals each in the Championship this season, but these figures underline that the Blues have been struggling a little in front of goal, and especially since the turn of the new year. They've failed to score more than two in a League game since their 3-2 win against Coventry City on the 4th January, a run of 18 matches.

Our Blues fan pundit believes that his club would be better off looking for playmakers over strikers, but finding "bigger and better targets" may prove a challenge. With plans for a new stadium to be open by 2030, there's no questioning the club's ambition.

Birmingham City look set for what could be a decisive pre-season in the summer, as the club look to eventually meet Knighthead Capital Management's lofty expectations on the pitch.

This will come after the end of what has been a disappointing first season back in the Championship for Blues, all things considered, with much more expected of Chris Davies and his side from those on the outside after coasting to the League One title last year with an already impressive pre-existing squad.

It must be remembered that this is still Davies' first ever role as a manager after previous spells as an assistant at clubs such as Leicester City, Celtic, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur, although many feel there has now been a large enough sample size of matches for the 41-year-old to be critiqued on when it comes to his overall performance at St. Andrew's @ Knighthead Park.

As such, it has been well-known that, at various points of the Championship season, Davies has become the subject of sack calls and reports, whilst still retaining the full confidence and support of owner, Tom Wagner.

But, with Birmingham currently 14th in the table despite taking four points from their last two matches, with a win over Wrexham followed up by a 1-1 draw at Hull City, Football League World understands that a managerial change could still be in the offing come the summer, and that Knighthead are eyeing up a potentially shock swoop for former Tottenham Hotspur head coach, Thomas Frank.

With that in mind, we asked our Birmingham City fan pundit, Jason Moore, for his immediate reaction to such developments.

Birmingham City urged to consider 'Premier League' level Thomas Frank as potential replacement for Chris Davies

It had already been claimed that England Under-21s boss, Lee Carsley, had emerged as a potential name on the club's shortlist should Davies lose his spot in the dugout, with Frank now also appearing to feature alongside the ex-Blues midfielder on this front.

The 52-year-old endured a frustrating eight-month spell at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium before being dismissed in February, but had previously done an impressive job at London rivals, Brentford, after initially replacing Dean Smith in November 2018.

In the Championship, the Bees were so often a fine watch in Frank's high-pressing system, which developed the likes of Bryan Mbeumo, Said Benrahma, Ivan Toney and Ollie Watkins, and eventually led to a play-off victory in May 2021 over Swansea City.

It is, therefore, rather unsurprising why Moore believes a move for the Dane would be a statement from the West Midlands outfit.

"It's an absolutely massive upgrade on Chris Davies. He's a 'Premier League-esque' manager'," Moore told FLW.

"Look at the job he did at Brentford. He's 100% an upgrade.

"Whether we've got the pull power to get him, I'd be surprised if we have," he added.

"If you can get Thomas Frank in the Championship, it'd be absolutely silly not to. But, I'd be surprised if we had the power to get him.

"There's not much else to say, you'd just be stupid not to go and get him. If he wants the move, get him in, 100%," Moore stated.

"He knows he'd get financially backed, and to be fair, it's probably an attractive job for a lot of managers. You know you're going to be backed and get a lot of money.

"If Thomas Frank wants to come in, then bring him in, 100%. I'd take him over Chris Davies any day of the week."

Blues fans, can you see Thomas Frank replacing Chris Davies? Comment below!

Thomas Frank could help deliver Birmingham City's long-awaited Premier League return

Given his stature and recent achievements, barring a disappointing spell with Spurs, Frank is still highly regarded within the game, and it would certainly increase expectation levels at St. Andrew's if Blues were to secure his appointment.

However, as previously mentioned, he is someone who would provide extensive knowledge of the Championship given his experience as a promotion contender for two seasons with Brentford, as well as knowing what would be required in order to consolidate in the Premier League afterwards.

Even though Frank is currently out of work, it may prove to be a rather pricey gamble for Knighthead, but one that could well be worth the risk.

Birmingham City's first season back in the Championship has ultimately been one of frustration, as they are set to end the 2025/26 campaign in mid-table.

Having coasted to the League One title last season, plenty was expected of Blues and manager, Chris Davies, this year, particularly when the club continued to conduct an eye-catching transfer window in the summer, before doing exactly the same in January as the playing squad at St. Andrew's @ Knighthead Park was reshuffled.

With just three matches to go in the Championship, the West Midlands outfit are stationed in 14th position at present, having taken four points from their two most recent outings against play-off hopefuls Wrexham and Hull City, as they earned a credible 1-1 draw at the MKM Stadium through Tomoki Iwata's late thunderbolt.

That said, it has remained to be seen for some time whether Davies will be the man leading the next phase of Birmingham's 'project' under their ambitious American investors, Knighthead Capital Management, with plenty of supporters far from pleased with how the current campaign has fizzled out in recent weeks.

Given the spotlight on the club, the 41-year-old's position has been under scrutiny at various points of the season, but he has retained the full support and confidence of Tom Wagner.

But, in a fresh turn of events, Football League World understand that, should Davies be relieved of his duties in B9 ahead of a critical pre-season, a shock move for ex-Tottenham Hotspur boss, Thomas Frank, could be in the pipeline.

The Dane, of course, endured a rather miserable time in North London and is now out of work, having cost Spurs a fair amount of money throughout his eight-month tenure.

How much money Tottenham Hotspur spent on Thomas Frank as Birmingham City eye surprise managerial move

The 52-year-old, of course, is no stranger to the Championship as well as the Premier League, having previously spent almost seven years in charge of Brentford, who he achieved promotion with through the play-offs in 2020/21, before establishing the Bees as a top-flight side for the first time in decades.

Unsurprisingly, such an upward trajectory caught the eye of last season's UEFA Europa League winners, who paid their London rivals a sizeable £10m compensation fee when handing Frank a three-year contract at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last June in place of the departed Ange Postecoglou.

It would prove to be a disastrous move all round, though, as the Dane won just 13 of his 38 matches across all competitions, with five of those coming in the UEFA Champions League.

Spurs then ended his short-lived reign with a run of eight games without a win in the Premier League, and Frank was dismissed after a 2-1 home defeat to Newcastle United on February 10th.

It was then revealed that he would receive a year's worth of compensation based on earnings, which equated to £8m, having collected a reported monthly wage figure of £650,000 a month in North London, meaning Tottenham had spent in excess of £23m on his services in said timeframe.

Blues fans, do you think Knighthead would be able to lure Thomas Frank to St. Andrew's? Comment below!

Thomas Frank appointment would be a statement of intent from Birmingham City

Given Blues' well-documented ambitions, going in search of Frank as a potential successor for Davies would send out a statement heading into next season in a division which could still well include his former club, Spurs, as they are fully immersed in the relegation battle.

It would be intriguing to see if Frank saw a potential drop back down to the EFL as a viable option from his own perspective, even if Birmingham have their sights set on a short-term return to the top-flight ahead of the opening of the Powerhouse stadium in four years time.

Looking at the aforementioned figures from Frank's time in North London, it certainly wouldn't be a cheap option for Knighthead, but it is one which could pay off when taking his overall record, particularly with Brentford, into consideration.

Birmingham City could well elect change in the dugout upon the conclusion of the current Championship campaign, with Chris Davies' future in charge having long been the subject of intense speculation.

Despite gaining promotion from League One last season, it has been a relatively underwhelming season for the upwardly-mobile Second City outfit.

Ambitions of competing for successive promotions were made clear in no uncertain terms by chairman Tom Wagner and Birmingham's transfer activity was reflective of a club intent on going all the way as the likes of Tommy Doyle, Marvin Ducksch, Kyogo Furuhashi, Demarai Gray and Patrick Roberts all rocked up at St Andrew's @ Knighthead Park in eye-catching deals.

Birmingham, however, have struggled to establish consistent form and deliver upon their own lofty expectations after setting pulses racing with an EFL-record points haul en-route to lifting the third-tier title last term, with this season now poised to be concluded with an uninspiring mid-table finish.

Positioned in 14th-place following Saturday afternoon's 1-1 draw at promotion-chasers Hull City, Blues are unlikely to experience much movement in the dying embers of the season and that could force ever-ambitious owners Knighthead into action over Davies' position.

Various reports throughout the campaign have thrown the future of the ex-Spurs assistant into question and no shortage of Bluenoses have now turned either, with many favouring a change of management to lead Birmingham higher up the table and towards the promised land.

And now, as we edge ever closer to the commencement of the off-season, Football League World can now exclusively reveal a hugely-ambitious leading contender to succeed Davies if Birmingham decide to relieve the head coach of his duties in the coming weeks.

Birmingham City eyeing shock move for ex-Spurs boss Thomas Frank if Chris Davies is sacked

Football League World has learned that Birmingham could look to make yet another statement of intent as Knighthead weigh up potential candidates in the event of sacking Davies, which is a decision that still appears to hang very much in the balance.

If Blues do part ways with the 41-year-old, though, FLW can exclusively disclose that they will set their sights upon a shock swoop for Thomas Frank as he searches for a return to management after departing Tottenham Hotspur in February.

Sources have revealed to FLW that Birmingham are considering the possibility of lining up a move for Frank, and it's one which would undoubtedly make waves across the Championship and beyond while strengthening Blues' promotion ambitions ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.

Frank enjoyed a stellar near-seven-year stay with Brentford, taking the Bees into the Premier League for the first time and establishing the West London outfit at top-flight level on a limited budget with savvy spending and recruitment.

His exploits at Brentford earned the admiration of Spurs, who appointed the Dane as a replacement for Ange Postecoglou last summer.

However, despite being backed heavily in the transfer market by completing deals for Mohammed Kudus, Joao Palhinha, Xavi Simons and Mathys Tel, Frank managed to win just 13 of his 38 games in charge while suffering early elimination from both domestic cup competitions before receiving his marching orders just over two months ago, by which stage the Lilywhites were positioned 16th in the Premier League table.

Birmingham City fans, how would you feel about the potential appointment of ex-Spurs boss Thomas Frank? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

Spurs' fortunes have, of course, only worsened following the departure of Frank, with a shock relegation to the Championship now looking likely in spite of Roberto De Zerbi's recent appointment.

It could just transpire, then, that Frank is managing against his former side in the Championship next term in a shock potential turn of fate.

Thomas Frank appointment could be Knighthead's best Birmingham City call yet

Convincing Frank to drop down to Championship level will represent no easy task for Birmingham, who may possess stronger financial resources and pulling power than the overwhelming majority of their divisional counterparts owing to Knighthead's deep pockets and glittering long-term ambitions but could still find themselves beneath where the Dane is looking to rejuvenate his career.

He was, after all, one of the most highly-rated head coaches in the Premier League less than twelve months prior, and while FLW understands Birmingham's intentions to line up a bold move, there is no current indication of how the former Brentford boss feels about it at the time of writing.

Frank would, no doubt, represent a dream hire for all associated with Birmingham if the club's key-decision makers can broker a deal after potentially dismissing Davies, and his experience of both winning promotion and competing impressively at Premier League level aligns with exactly where Blues want to be.

Even if this move proves a touch too ambitious for a club who have already turned heads and defied the odds with player recruitment in recent times, the interest alone is a sure-fire representation of Birmingham's ambitions and supporters may rest somewhat assured in the high standards that they are setting for weighing up candidates to replace Davies.

It's clear that Birmingham are going to look at contenders who could significantly elevate the level of the current squad while also having the requisite qualities to lead and establish the club in the top-flight in the years to come, and it would be no surprise to see more ambitious names appear on Blues' radar moving forward.

Derby County are still in the mix for a play-off place in the Championship with only four games to go.

The Rams survived relegation to League One by just one point last season under John Eustace, who took over in February 2025.

But the team have gone from strength to strength in the 46-year-old’s first full campaign in charge at Pride Park.

The gap to sixth place Hull City is now five points following the club’s defeat to Southampton last weekend.

Derby haven’t competed in the top flight since 2008 when they set a record for the least amount of points earned in the history of the Premier League with just 11.

But there is still some hope that they could make a return this year, provided they can overcome the gap to the Tigers and win the play-offs.

Derby County unwanted record could be broken

Derby’s last campaign in the Premier League saw the team earn just 11 points en route to going straight back to the Championship at the first time of asking.

The club earned many unwanted records as part of their disastrous season, including the most games without a win to start a calendar year in the top flight.

But, according to stats provider Opta, Tottenham Hotspur are now on course to beat that record in the coming weeks amid their poor run of form.

The London outfit’s last victory came on 28 December when they won 1-0 at Selhurst Park against Crystal Palace.

Will Derby County and Tottenham Hotspur be in the same division next season? Comment your opinion below

They have gone 14 games without a win since then, leaving them inside the relegation zone with just six fixtures remaining.

Derby went 18 games winless from 1 January 2008 until the final league game of the 2007/08 campaign when they lost 4-0 to Reading.

However, if Roberto de Zerbi’s side fail to win any of their remaining fixtures in the Premier League this season, then they will eclipse the 18 game streak and reach 20.

Derby will be keeping an extra close eye on Spurs’ upcoming games against Brighton, Wolves, Aston Villa and Leeds United, as it’s against Daniel Farke’s side where they could equal the record.

Derby County would love to lose some of their Premier League records

Derby’s last Premier League campaign was a true disaster under Billy Davies, and then Paul Jewell, as the club broke a number of records on their way back down to the Championship.

But if they could shed some of those records, then that will be a positive moment for the Rams.

Derby earned the fewest away points of any team in Premier League history in 2008, and were one of only six sides to fail to win away from home in a whole campaign.

The club also have the record for the total number of consecutive matches without a win at 32.

The team scored just 20 times from 38 games, conceding 89, while they won just one game, making them the worst in Premier League history.

However, Derby now have the chance to make their return to the top flight just as Spurs could potentially go down.

De Zerbi’s side lost at the weekend to Sunderland in what was the Italian’s first game in charge, leaving them two points adrift of safety with just six games to go.

Stoke City and Mark Robins will be keeping one eye on Tottenham Hotspur for one clear reason, as the Potters target a summer return for their star defender.

Stoke's season, at one stage, was packed with promise, with the Potters emerging as strong promotion candidates alongside both Coventry City and Middlesbrough at the beginning of the campaign.

However, whilst Coventry and Middlesbrough have been able to sustain their form and continue to push for promotion throughout the year, Stoke, on the other hand, have plummeted down the table and look destined for another season in the Championship.

Not since the 2015/16 season have Stoke finished in the top half of any division they have been in, with it being nearly a decade of bottom-half finishes in the Potteries.

Whilst many Potters will be frustrated and disheartened with the way this season has panned out, there have been clear signs of incremental improvement around the club, both on and off the pitch, giving them something to hold on to moving forward.

Sorba Thomas has been their standout performer, hitting double digits for both goals and assists from the wing, though one of their defenders, who has just been nominated for an EFL award, has arguably been just as good.

Ashley Phillips has been excellent once again during his second loan spell at Stoke City from Tottenham Hotspur

Ashley Phillips is approaching the end of his second loan spell at Stoke, having spent the 2024/25 season on loan from Tottenham Hotspur. He rejoined the Potters this summer under Mark Robins and has picked up where he left off.

Having recently been shortlisted for the EFL Championship’s Young Player of the Season award alongside the likes of Leicester City's Jordan James, Sheffield United's Sydie Peck, and Derby County's Bobby Clark, it is just a small piece of recognition for just how good the centre-back has been this campaign.

Phillips initially struggled to break back into the side upon his return to the Potteries, with both Bosun Lawal and Ben Wilmot excelling alongside each other, but an injury to Lawal allowed Phillips a route back into the side, and he hasn't looked back.

Stoke, for a large part of the season, had the best defensive record in the league, and whilst that has diminished in recent months for several reasons, Phillips has remained excellent in the middle of defence.

Still only 20, the Blackburn Rovers academy product has already made over 100 professional career appearances, with 79 of those coming on loan with the Potters, which is a testament to just how important he has been for them.

Stoke would likely jump at the chance to bring him back to the bet365 Stadium once again this summer, and their chances of doing so will drastically increase in the event of one thing in particular.

What do you rate Stoke's chances of re-signing Phillips this summer? Should Robins look to sign him permanently? Share your thoughts below!

Mark Robins will be holding his breath as Ashley Phillips' future hinges on Tottenham Hotspur's fate

Indeed, whether Phillips will be a Stoke player once again next season largely depends on the fate of his parent club, Tottenham, with the North London outfit embroiled in a heated relegation battle in the top flight.

Both Thomas Frank and Igor Tudor have failed to get a tune out of the Spurs squad, with former Brighton and Hove Albion and Marseille boss Roberto De Zerbi the man tasked with keeping the club afloat in the final stretch of the season.

In the event that Spurs retain their Premier League status, re-signing Phillips, whilst not an easy task, would be all the more simple than if they were to be relegated, as the 20-year-old would likely become a key component of their squad.

Phillips signed a fresh deal with Spurs in the summer before returning to Stoke, with his time in North London set to expire in the summer of 2028, meaning he will have another two years left on his deal at the end of this campaign.

What sort of fee Spurs would demand for Phillips in any case remains to be seen, but they will likely be looking to make a significant profit on the £2 million they paid Blackburn for him back in 2023 as an 18-year-old.

With the financial regulations changing heading into next year, Stoke will be able to spend once again, and backed by the wealthy Coates family, Robins will be rubbing his hands at the thought of rebuilding the Potters.

Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Alfie Devine has been a standout star for Preston North End this season on loan.

Disregarding Saturday afternoon’s match against Charlton Athletic, the England youth international has registered eight goals and four assists across 40 Championship appearances.

It's already known that if the Lilywhites want to keep the 21-year-old at Deepdale beyond this season, they have to pay a club-record fee of £4.5m, as per The Lancashire Post.

But there's a fresh twist involving a certain club north of the English border that could put this option-to-buy in jeopardy.

Celtic boss Martin O'Neill spotted watching Spurs star Alfie Devine at Preston North End

According to Football Insider's Pete O'Rourke, Celtic interim manager Michael O'Neill was spotted in the stands during Preston North End's 1-1 draw with Queens Park Rangers on Easter Monday.

With this in mind, O’Rourke’s sources indicated that Alfie Devine was the “focus of attention.”

The transfer correspondent had revealed earlier on the outlet’s podcast that O’Neill wanted to assess the Spurs youngster in person to determine his suitability for Celtic’s squad.

In said game, Devine set up Brad Potts for North End's goal, which was his fourth goal contribution in just his last three league games.

Although O'Neill has apparently refused to rule out staying at Celtic longer, the expectation is that he will leave at the end of the season. Even still, the aforementioned Football Insider report notes that the Northern Irishman remains involved in the Glasgow club's "ambitious" summer recruitment plans.

Devine told BBC Radio Lancashire on Friday that this loan spell he's having has been his "best" one yet, although there's no obligation for the midfielder to commit his future to Preston, which obvioulsy leaves the door open for the likes of Celtic.

In short, the option-to-buy hinges on whether North End can afford him AND whether Devine wants to stay.

Where do you think Alfie Devine will be playing his football next season? Tottenham, Celtic, Preston OR someone else? Discuss your transfer theories below!

As per The Lancashire Post once more, Preston's chairman, Peter Risdale, confirmed personal terms are already agreed with Devine, so that's one less thing to worry about.

But, they'd have to more than double their current highest spend of about £2m, which they reportedly paid for Callum Lang in February.

How Tottenham Hotspur's own troubles add weight to Alfie Devine's Preston North End or Celtic future

Ultimately, this growing Celtic admiration could derail Preston's plans for Devine entirely - or he could even end up staying at Spurs.

Thanks to West Ham United's 4-0 win over Wolves on Friday night, Tottenham are now in the Premier League's bottom three for the first time since 2009.

Yes, there's still seven games to go, but should Spurs actually drop into the second tier, Devine could feature in their plans for next season.

For now, though, if the youngster keeps his form going strong till the end of the season, then surely more and more clubs will be queuing up to sign him in the summer.