Football League World

Preston North End are already beginning to shape their plans for the summer transfer window after a campaign that promised far more than a 14th-place finish in the Championship.

Paul Heckingbottom’s side spent much of the first half of the season in the play-off conversation before fading badly after the turn of the year, with injuries, recalls and a lack of depth ultimately catching up with them.

Despite that downturn, there were still plenty of positives to emerge from the Lilywhites across the 2025/26 campaign, particularly in the loan market.

Tottenham Hotspur youngster Alfie Devine established himself as one of Preston’s standout performers, becoming a key figure in Heckingbottom’s attacking setup.

The 21-year-old midfielder ended the season with eight goals and six assists in 45 Championship appearances, while also collecting PNE's Young Player of the Year award, and his form has inevitably sparked speculation over whether North End could secure a permanent deal this summer.

Preston North End working on payment structure for permanent Alfie Devine transfer

That move could be a bit closer now, as according to Alan Nixon via Patreon, Preston are hopeful of completing a club-record deal for Devine after agreeing a £4.5 million fee with Spurs in advance of his season-long loan last summer.

However, the report states that the Lancashire outfit are now attempting to negotiate a payment structure with the London giants that would allow the fee to be spread over three or four years due to their restricted budget, with a takeover attempt from US-Saudi businessman Amr Zedan still not yet completed.

Devine arrived at Deepdale last summer on a temporary basis and quickly became one of the Championship’s most exciting young midfielders.

Having previously enjoyed loan spells at Port Vale, Plymouth Argyle and Belgian side Westerlo, this past season represented the clearest indication yet that Devine is ready to establish himself as a senior player at a high level, with eight Championship goals and six assists.

Interest in the midfielder has, however, intensified in recent months. Reports have linked Celtic with a possible move, while Tottenham were also believed to be monitoring his development closely about a potential recall following his strong campaign under Heckingbottom.

But Preston appear determined to give themselves every chance of winning the race for his signature, and were in a strong position anyway thanks to the pre-agreed transfer fee.

The proposed £4.5 million deal would comfortably eclipse Preston’s previous transfer record - a reported £2.1 million for Milutin Osmajic (Callum Lang's move from Portsmouth could go above that fee) - and signal a major statement of intent from the club, particularly amid ongoing takeover speculation.

Alfie Devine pursuit could reveal Preston North End’s summer ambition

Whether Preston can finalise a deal for Devine may ultimately depend on more than just agreeing payment terms with Tottenham.

The midfielder himself would still need convincing that Deepdale is the right environment for the next stage of his development, especially with interest emerging from elsewhere and the possibility of opportunities higher up the football pyramid.

Yet, PNE can make a strong case.

Devine became one of Heckingbottom’s most trusted players this season and was consistently deployed in a role that allowed him to flourish creatively. His relationship with teammates became central to Preston’s attacking identity during the club’s strongest run of form.

There is also a growing sense that North End recognise the importance of retaining the core of what briefly looked like a genuine play-off-calibre side before their campaign unravelled in January.

Would you welcome Devine back at Deepdale next season - or is the money better used elsewhere? Comment your opinion below!

Heckingbottom himself has repeatedly stressed the need for Preston to stop developing loan players purely for the benefit of other clubs. Securing Devine permanently would represent a significant shift in that direction.

Financially, it would still be a considerable gamble for a club that traditionally operates among the Championship’s lowest spenders. But if Preston can negotiate favourable payment terms with Spurs, the move may become far more realistic than initially expected.

Will Lankshear has enjoyed an excellent personal campaign on loan at Oxford United and is set to be a player in demand this summer, though his parent club, Tottenham Hotspur, may have different plans.

Oxford United suffered an unfortunate relegation back down to League One after two years in the second tier, with neither Gary Rowett's nor Matt Bloomfield's efforts enough to keep the U's afloat.

The club will be in a better place than they almost ever have been when they drop back down to the third tier next season, and will be confident of bouncing back at the first time of asking.

Although they almost certainly will be without their star centre-forward from this year in Will Lankshear, with the 21-year-old set to return to his parent club, Spurs, in the summer, with the North London side seemingly having already made their decision on the England youth international's future.

Tottenham Hotspur make decision on the future of Will Lankshear amid interest from Ipswich Town, Middlesbrough, and Leeds United

With 11 goals and four assists in 44 Championship games for Oxford this season, Lankshear has enjoyed an excellent season on a personal level, having developed superbly during his time at the Kassam Stadium.

The former Arsenal and Sheffield United academy forward endured a far from successful loan spell previously with West Bromwich Albion, but found the right fit with Oxford, despite failing to save them from relegation.

Football Insider have previously reported that the 21-year-old had the option to join either Ipswich Town or Middlesbrough in the January window, but decided to stay put with the U's instead, a decision that may well have proven to have been the correct one despite not being the obvious choice.

However, Football Insider are now reporting that interest from both of those clubs has not died down, and the pair, alongside Premier League outfit Leeds United, could attempt to make a move for the forward this summer.

Though Spurs have seemingly already made up their mind about Lankshear, with Italian boss Roberto De Zerbi keen to see the youngster link up with the first-team over the summer ahead of deciding on his future.

Spurs themselves have an uncertain immediate future, with the North London outfit embroiled in a relegation battle with West Ham United, and could well be playing Championship football for the first time in their history next season.

For the moment, all attentions at Spurs will be on staying in the Premier League, with the decisions on the futures of almost all their squad depending on which division they will be playing in next year.

That includes Lankshear, who will likely be given the chance to show what he is about regardless of Spurs' fate.

With Ipswich, Middlesbrough, and Leeds monitoring his situation, it's likely that they are not the only three clubs interested in Lankshear this summer, as Spurs will face a huge decision on the forward in the coming months.

Where do you see Will Lankshear playing his football next season? Would you like to see him at your club? Share your thoughts below!

Will Lankshear will be given the chance to impress at Spurs ahead of a huge transfer decision this summer

With Oxford's relegation, it would be a major surprise if Lankshear were to drop down to League One next season, as the Englishman's next club is not yet clear.

During his time with the U's, he forged an excellent relationship with the club and the supporters, saying: "People talk about loans and just being a loanee, but I didn't feel like that.

"I felt like a signing and I felt like I was there (permanently), I made such good relationships with all the contracted players, the physios, everyone at the club, so when everyone's so good to me I couldn't not give my absolute all.

"Every single game I played I wanted to give back, the fans were so good to me, and I absolutely loved playing in front of them.

In what was just his second taste of regular first-team football, Lankshear thrived in difficult circumstances, and whoever his next club may be, they will be getting an excellent forward.

Interest in him will be rife, but Spurs will have the final say on his immediate future, though as to whether that be in North London or elsewhere, remains to be seen.

Coventry City are in for an exciting summer. Having already been linked with a host of names, Sky Blues supporters will be rubbing their hands at the prospect of the upcoming transfer window.

With promotion confirmed, the attentions of those at the CBS Arena will have already turned to the summer window, as head coach Frank Lampard draws up his shortlist of potential targets.

Having risen all the way from League Two, this will be Coventry's first time playing top-flight football in 25 years, and they will be keen to ensure they don't take this opportunity for granted.

The Premier League is filled to the brim with ability, with numerous teams in the lower reaches having ridiculously talented players, such as Nottingham Forest, who, having barely secured survival, were recently knocked out by fellow English side Aston Villa in the Europa League semi-finals.

Coventry will be up against it from the first whistle, with a strong summer window being required if they are to stand a chance of safety, as the Sky Blues should look to rival Tottenham Hotspur for the signature of a £26 million forward lighting up the Spanish La Liga.

Coventry should join Spurs in the race for Levante striker Karl Etta Eyong this summer

Coventry scored the most goals and conceded the least across the 46-game Championship season, and in an ideal world, the club wouldn't need much surgery.

Lampard will be keen to keep the bulk of his squad together, but will be well aware that upgrades are imperative to the club's hopes of survival, and whilst the likes of Haji Wright, Ellis Simms, Brandon Thomas-Asante, Ephron Mason-Clark, Jack Rudoni, and Tatsuhiro Sakamoto combined to great effect for Coventry in the second tier, whether they can do so in the Premier League is unclear.

The former Chelsea and Everton boss mustn't take the risk of solely relying on his current attacking options, and should look to challenge potential Premier League rivals Spurs for the signature of Levante's Cameroonian forward Karl Etta Eyong.

Etta Eyong, 22, was playing in the lower reaches of Spain only last season for Villarreal, having previously spent time with Cadiz, but has enjoyed a breakthrough campaign with Levante, having joined the club last summer from the Yellow Submarine.

Six goals and two assists in 28 top-flight games won't exactly fill Coventry fans with much anticipation, but, at 22, in his first season in the top flight, his raw ability is evident to see, and with the right coaching, he could become a sensation.

Spurs are reportedly ready to pay his €30million (£26m) release clause should they remain in the top flight, as per TEAMtalk, as Coventry should try their luck and join the race for the forward.

Whilst any move would come with a degree of risk, a move like this has the potential to transform Coventry's attack and light up the CBS Arena for years to come.

It would be a gamble, but the positives certainly outweigh the negatives, as the Sky Blues must consider swooping in under Spurs' noses to seal the signing of this rough diamond.

Do you think Coventry should be looking to sign Karl Etta Eyong this summer, or should they focus their attentions elsewhere? Share your thoughts below!

Frank Lampard will be aiming to strengthen his Coventry City side this summer and must consider a swoop for Karl Etta Eyong

Having seen the likes of Nottingham Forest and, more recently, Sunderland spend big after securing promotion, Coventry may well be looking to do similar this summer.

Whilst spending big is not always a guaranteed strategy to securing survival, it almost certainly helps, but the deals that the Sky Blues make must be the correct ones for the club, with each needing to have a positive impact upon their arrival.

Etta Eyong's lack of experience not only in playing top-flight football, but also in playing in England as well, is cause for concern over any potential move, and must be considered if they were to make a swoop.

For a side lacking much Premier League experience, the Cameroonian would almost certainly need to be joined by more top-flight experience surrounding him.

Former Norwich City colleagues were reunited last night during Leeds United and Daniel Farke's visit to face Tottenham Hotspur, with James Maddison making his return from injury.

The game ended 1-1, with the former Norwich City midfielder entering the pitch on 85 minutes for his first appearance since facing Bodo/Glimt in the semi-finals of the Europa League in May 2025.

A knee injury that day kept him out of the remaining fixtures, including the Europa League final win over Man United. Maddison then suffered a cruciate ligament injury in pre-season for Spurs to keep him out of action until recent weeks.

Maddison has been an unused substitute for the games against Brighton & Hove Albion, Wolverhamption Wanderers, and Aston Villa, but it was against Daniel Farke's Leeds United that he returned and almost won a penalty late on as well.

What Daniel Farke did with James Maddison in Spurs 1-1 Leeds United

Maddison has spent the vast majority of his career in the Premier League, but he joined Norwich not long before Farke did. He joined from Coventry City in the winter window of 2016 before spending the remainder of the year with the Sky Blues.

He then had a stint in Scotland with Aberdeen on loan before Farke arrived at Norwich in May 2017, with Maddison penning a new four-year deal just a month into the German's tenure at Carrow Road.

Farke has had a knack of getting the most out of attack-minded players, particularly in East Anglia. Maddison was no different, with the midfielder scoring 15 and assisting 11 in 49 games to secure a Premier League move to Leicester City that summer.

How do you remember James Maddison at Norwich City under Daniel Farke? Comment below!

For the last eight seasons, he has been playing top flight football since. He has plenty to thank Farke for and the two shared an embrace as he and former Leeds defender Djed Spence entered the field for Tottenham.

As shared by The Pink Un from Sky Sports, Maddison and Farke shook hands as he replaced Mathys Tel on 85 minutes for Spurs. However, that was not the end of them showing respect for one another.

At full-time, Farke and Maddison shared a longer embrace in the centre of the pitch. As shared by The Final Whistle on X (formerly Twitter), with the pair catching up as well.

What Daniel Farke said about James Maddison at full-time against Tottenham

After the game, Farke spoke about Maddison in more detail. Via Pink Un, he explained his feelings towards his former player, stating: "He's a dangerous customer for me because he was a player for me when he was young."

That was not the quote in full, however, with Farke gushing with praise for the number 10. Speaking via journalist Miguel Delaney, he added: "If you love football, you love James Maddison, because he's a pure baller for me."

Coventry City and Ipswich Town are going up to the Premier League in first and second, with the focus of those high up at the CBS Arena and Portman Road now firmly on the summer transfer window ahead.

It's been an enjoyable year for Coventry and Ipswich fans, to say the least.

The Sky Blues ended their 25-year absence from the top flight in style, thumping Portsmouth at home 5-1 in front of a packed stadium to confirm themselves as Champions, whilst Ipswich's fate went to the final day, as they secured a 3-0 home victory over Queens Park Rangers to confirm their promotion at the first time of asking.

Whilst they will be celebrating their success for a few more weeks to come, and rightfully so, those at both clubs will be acutely aware of the trials and tribulations the top flight presents, and will know that upgrades will be needed across the board if they are to survive relegation.

In years gone by, we've seen newly-promoted clubs such as Nottingham Forest sign Morgan Gibbs-White, Sunderland Brian Brobbey and Granit Xhaka, and Leeds United Dominic Calvert-Lewin, with each proving to be statements of intent.

Both Coventry and Ipswich should look to do the same, with both having been linked with an exciting move for former Tottenham Hotspur striker Troy Parrott, who has just enjoyed an excellent year in the Netherlands with AZ Alkmaar.

Dublin-born striker Troy Parrott came through the ranks at Spurs, having initially made the move to North London in 2017 from his native Ireland, but would struggle to establish himself in the first team.

With Harry Kane ahead of him in the ranks, it was always going to be a tall order for the Irishman to displace the current Bayern Munich hitman, and he would head out on a series of loan moves to the likes of Millwall, Ipswich Town, MK Dons, Preston North End, and Excelsior in the Netherlands.

With Excelsior, he'd score ten and assist four in 25 league games for the Dutch side, alerting the interest of AZ Alkmaar, who parted ways with just £6.7 million to lure him away from North London permanently.

Since then, the goals have not stopped coming for Parrott, who has already reached a half-century of goals for the Dutch side in just 93 appearances so far, with 16 assists to boot, including 30 goals and 11 assists in all competitions this season alone.

The 24-year-old has also shone on the international stage for the Republic of Ireland, notably netting a dramatic late hat-trick against Hungary to send the Green Army through the World Cup Qualification semi-final against Czechia, where they'd lose out on penalties, with Parrott netting from the spot in both normal time and in the shootout.

It's therefore unsurprising that interest in the Irishman is beginning to heat up, with French journalist Sebastien Vidal reporting via X that both Coventry and Ipswich are monitoring his situation ahead of a potential summer move.

To date, Parrott has just two Premier League appearances to his name, and may feel as though he has got a point to prove in the English top-flight, with both the Sky Blues and Tractor Boys presenting attractive propositions.

Spurs may well try to re-sign their former striker this summer, but with no buyback clause inserted into the deal that saw him make the move to the Netherlands, Coventry and Ipswich may be quietly confident in their ability to rival the Premier League strugglers this summer.

The North London outfit may well regret selling Parrott for as little as they did, and embroiled in a hotly-contested relegation battle themselves, they could well have done with the Irishman in their ranks, who may well be playing in a division above them next season.

Where do you think Troy Parrott will go this summer? Should Spurs have sold him for as little as they did? Share your thoughts below!

Coventry City and Ipswich will fancy their chances of signing Troy Parrott this summer amid probable Spurs competition

Heading into the Premier League, both Coventry and Ipswich may be looking to add a striker or two in preparation for the top flight.

The Sky Blues have both Haji Wright and Ellis Simms as their main options, but Lampard could well look to add some more firepower to his side's ranks in the form of Parrott, who is unlikely to break the bank and has the plus side of being homegrown in the country.

The Tractor Boys, meanwhile, will be preparing for the departure of Ivan Azon back to Como following the end of his loan spell, leaving just George Hirst as the club's main centre-forward option, with doubts surrounding his ability persisting.

Parrott would be an excellent addition for both sides, who will believe they stand every chance of persuading him to join them this summer.

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.