Daily Express

Tottenham Hotspur's quest for a new gaffer has hit a snag with Andoni Iraola of Bournemouth and Marco Silva of Fulham considered key to their clubs by their owners, both having been touted as possible replacements for Spurs' current boss Ange Postecoglou. With Bournemouth and Fulham managers in the spotlight, the North Londoners face a tough fight to secure their services.

Iraola's Cherries clashed with Silva's Cottagers at the Vitality Stadium on Monday, where a rapid strike from Antoine Semenyo sealed a 1-0 win for the home side, pushing them above Fulham into eighth position.

The two sides now find themselves neck and neck, each amassing 48 points - a striking eleven points ahead of Postecoglou's Tottenham with just six fixtures left to play. Despite the precarious situation, Chairman Daniel Levy hasn't made a move to dismiss Postecoglou, although the ex-Celtic leader might be in jeopardy should he fail to steer Spurs to Europa League success.

Summer recruit Iraola, replacing Gary O'Neil, expressed his contentment at Bournemouth back in late March, remarking "I want to do my job the best I can. I don't know how far we can go, where we will finish," prior to the FA Cup exit at Manchester City's hands.

In recent developments reported by BBC Sport, Bournemouth's bigwig Bill Foley is reportedly UK-bound to initiate contract extension discussions with Iraola, whose current contract concludes after the forthcoming season. There's rising anticipation that the former Rayo Vallecano chief might pledge his future to the south coast squad for an extended spell.

Khan, in his address to BBC Radio 5 Live, couldn't help but glow about the season saying, "We're having a tremendous season," Khan shared with BBC Radio London, "We have got a great team, we have a great coach with Marco Silva and we have a great squad,".

His effusive commentary didn’t end there as he continued to extol every facet of the team. "We have so many great players, a great dressing room, these are really great people on and off the pitch. And we have the best fans. It is a really exciting time at Craven Cottage and at all our matches. The team has had a really great season and everyone is really proud of them and really looking forward to the run-in."

He showered further accolades on Silva: "Marco is a huge, huge asset to Fulham Football Club," he raved. "He is such an amazing person and he is so important to the football club."

Khan encapsulated his feelings with a ringing endorsement, expressing a personal connection and an overarching ambition for continuity: "Marco has a great relationship with my father and myself, and we really love Marco and we want him to stay at Fulham Football Club forever. He is a huge part of what we have got going for the future and the present and he is a great man."

Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner, who previously managed Eintracht Frankfurt to Europa League glory in 2022, will make a goodwill visit to his former club's staff at their London hotel before their quarter-final match against Tottenham this week. Glasner's presence could act as a lucky charm for the German team, who are enjoying a remarkable season, sitting third in the Bundesliga and competing in the Europa League quarters.

Glasner shared his thoughts on the upcoming match, though without confirming whether he will offer any tips on how to face Spurs, saying: "I will visit them the day before (the Tottenham game) in their hotel - not the players but of course many of the staff are still working there. I am pretty sure Frankfurt are having a fantastic season, they are positioned third in the Bundesliga and also in the quarter-finals of the Europa League. These games are so important for the club and fans - and I know there will be many at the Spurs stadium.

"I really know what a good team Tottenham is and I expect a very good quarter-final with two attacking teams. These are two teams with a lot of pace in their squads - I am looking forward to watching this game but I will watch it on TV."

Frankfurt, under Glasner's leadership, secured the Europa League title by defeating Rangers in the 2022 final and went on to make a strong showing in the Champions League the following year, advancing from the group stage alongside Tottenham.

Tottenham head coach Ange Postecoglou may find himself under increased pressure, with winning the Europa League potentially his only hope to salvage his job. Big Ange is now in the last chance saloon to uphold his impressive record of securing a trophy in his second season at every club he has managed.

This season, Premier League matches involving Spurs have seen more goals than any other team - a staggering 105 in 31 games, with only Liverpool (72) outscoring Tottenham's 58.

However, their ongoing defensive frailties, exacerbated by injuries that have led Postecoglou to utilise 16 different defensive combinations, make Frankfurt the favourites to progress.

Meanwhile, Glasner's Palace have suffered just one more Premier League defeat this season than third-placed Nottingham Forest.

Andrea Berta is set to miss out on a seven-figure transfer bonus which could have been a big help in his first window at Arsenal. The Italian was recently appointed as the club's new sporting director, and he will need to hit the ground running ahead of what promises to be an important summer for the Gunners.

Even more frustratingly for Arsenal is the fact that north London rivals Tottenham are partly to blame. Spurs beat Southampton 3-1 on Sunday, with a brace from Brennan Johnson and a stoppage-time penalty from Mathys Tel guaranteeing the Saints' relegation from the Premier League.

A £1million cash windfall from Aaron Ramsdale's transfer to St Mary's has been taken off the table as a result. The England goalkeeper left the Emirates Stadium and headed to Southampton last summer for an £18m fee which would have been bumped up to £19m if a survival bonus was triggered.

Ramsdale's defeat at old foes Tottenham made 100% sure that Arsenal will never see that cash, as Southampton come to the end of a miserable season.

Having been the Gunners' No. 1 as recently as 2023, Ramsdale has let in 74 Premier League goals during a sobering campaign, while Arsenal are in line to finish second with David Raya between the sticks.

One of Berta's summer tasks will be to properly replace Ramsdale and find Raya's long-term deputy. Arsenal plugged the gap by signing veteran goalkeeper Neto on a season-long loan, but he has hardly played, and will surely return to Bournemouth at the end of the season.

Senior figures at the Emirates have reportedly been scouting Espanyol keeper Joan Garcia. The extra £1m could have been useful to Berta in pursuit of the Spaniard, whose £21m release clause would make him an expensive back-up.

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Arsenal's other transfer priorities will also require Berta to spend some serious cash. Manager Mikel Arteta is set to be given a new striker, with Kai Havertz's injury emphasising the need for greater depth.

Central midfielder Mikel Merino has been forced to deputise up front during the German's absence. The likes of Viktor Gyokeres, Victor Osimhen and Alexander Isak are all believed to be of interest to the Gunners.

Reinforcements may also be required in central midfield, where Jorginho and Thomas Partey are approaching the end of their contracts. Real Sociedad star Martin Zubimendi is widely expected to be snapped up for a handsome transfer fee after extensive talks were held in January.

Tottenham ended a four-match Premier League run without a win by beating Southampton 3-1 and condemning their visitors to relegation. A first-half Brennan Johnson brace and a late Mathys Tel penalty provided a much-needed positive result for head coach Ange Postecoglou.

Johnson first converted in the 13th minute after Djed Spence got in behind Southampton's defence and cut the ball back for the winger. Another excellent move saw Johnson poke past goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale after James Maddison's cushioned header to make it 2-0 just before half-time.

Southampton's struggle to provide much threat encapsulated their season and this is the earliest a team has been relegated in Premier League history. Mateus Fernandes struck a consolation in the 90th minute but it was far too late. Tel restored the two-goal advantage with a penalty six minutes into added time.

Here is how Express Sport rated the Spurs players, with three stars earning an eight out of 10.

Guglielmo Vicario - 6/10

Spurs’ goalkeeper had very little to do and faced just one shot on target before the 60th minute. A late flurry of chances for Southampton saw Fernandes score.

Pedro Porro - 7

This was a typically all-action display from Porro at right-back. He created three big chances and was unfortunate not to get an assist.

Cristian Romero - 8

Whatever Southampton threw at Spurs, Romero generally dealt with superbly. In the second half, the Argentine made a great block to deny Kamaldeen Sulemana's cross from reaching a Southampton player. One nervy moment saw him deflect an effort onto the post in the first half but this was otherwise an excellent performance. Spurs must keep Romero in the summer.

Ben Davies - 6

With Micky van de Ven rested after hobbling off against Chelsea in midweek, Davies stepped into central defence and performed okay.

Djed Spence - 8

Spurs’ injury crisis earlier this season presented an opportunity to Spence to step up. The former Middlesbrough and Nottingham Forest defender has excelled and grabbed his second assist of the season.

Lucas Bergvall - 7

There is a lot to come from Bergvall next season. He has shown glimpses of being an excellent No. 8 and was central to a couple of Spurs’ best attacks. The Swede’s all-round game is very impressive.

Rodrigo Bentancur - 7

Bentancur played several penetrative passes which nearly unlocked Southampton’s defence. He was taken off just before the hour-mark, replaced by Pape Matar Sarr.

James Maddison - 7

Despite some inconsistency, Maddison has still been relatively productive this season. His perfectly weighted header found Johnson to score Spurs’ second goal. The 28-year-old’s overall performance was very good - he was involved in much of the positive work Spurs did.

Brennan Johnson - 8

Johnson has been a rare highlight of Spurs’ season and his two goals set his side on their way to a comfortable win over a really poor Southampton team. The Wales international converted from Spence’s cut back before finishing on another good move, laid on a plate to him by Maddison. These were his 10th and 11th goals of a solid personal campaign.

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Dominic Solanke - 6

Those around Solanke did the damage against Southampton. His link-up play was good and helped to create several chances, but other than a shot that was saved by Aaron Ramsdale, the 27-year-old had few threatening moments of his own.

Son Heung-min - 6

Son has scored only twice in the Premier League in 2025 and sometimes looks slightly lost. Often receiving possession on the touchline with his back to a defender, Spurs need to get their best attacker closer to goal. Son was hooked before the hour.

Substitutes

Pape Matar Sarr - 6

Spurs lost a little bit of control in midfield after Sarr replaced Bentacur.

Wilson Odobert - 6

Odobert has an excellent opportunity in the final months of the season to prove he is Son's long-term successor. It has been a frustrating season for the former Burnley star, who has suffered a couple of injuries.

Archie Gray, Yves Bissouma, Mathys Tel - N/A

Gray and Bissouma were introduced with 10 minutes to go and had little impact, while Tel was a late replacement for Solanke and scored with a 96th-minute penalty.

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Ange Postecoglou risked the fury of the Tottenham faithful once again with his actions during Thursday night's clash against Chelsea. Spurs had been trailing to their cross-city rivals when Pape Matar Sarr put the ball into the Chelsea net - a strike that sparked a passionate reaction from the Tottenham boss.

The travelling Spurs fans cooped in the corner of Stamford Bridge had blasted Postecoglou's decision to bring Sarr off the bench when the midfielder replaced Lucas Bergvall in the second half. Reacting to the substitution, the Spurs faithful were heard chanting "You don't know what you're doing" in the direction of Postecoglou.

Clearly affected by the show of dissent from the Tottenham fans, when Sarr found the back of the net from range, Postecoglou turned to the away end with his hand cupped to his ear, as if to say, "You're not complaining now". However, it was the Australian who was left with egg on his face after referee Craig Pawson disallowed the goal following a lengthy VAR review and a trip to the pitchside monitor.

Following the full-time whistle at Stamford Bridge, Postecoglou urged the players to head over to the away end, but the manager himself was spotted keeping a distance from the disgruntled supporters. The result means Spurs have now won just one of their previous six matches across all competitions and remain marooned in the bottom half of the Premier League table.

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Postecoglou had recently claimed a section of the support had "lost a bit of faith" in his management, stating in an interview with Mark Schwarzer: “There’s no doubt there’s probably a large portion of Tottenham fans who have lost a bit of faith and belief in what we’re doing.

“They were encouraged by what they saw last year but that certainly hasn’t manifested itself this year. I still am really optimistic and bullish about the squad we’ve got. I think there will be enormous growth in them once we can navigate through this. Surviving tough times can be such a strong uniter of people.”

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It comes after a string of high-profile incidents involving Postecoglou and Tottenham fans this season, with the former Celtic chief having been confronted by supporters following a defeataway to Bournemouth earlier in the campaign. When quizzed on the altercation at the time, he explained: "The fans were disappointed and rightly so. They gave us some direct feedback which we'll take on board."

When pushed on what the fans were saying to him at the time, Postecoglou responded: "It's not something to be said in here." The 59-year-old was again involved in a heated exchange with a supporter when Spurs lost away to Fulham last month.

Few rivalries in London stir emotions quite like a clash between Chelsea and Tottenham. This is more than just a game - it's a long-standing grudge match where history meets hostility, transforming each encounter into a fierce battle for dominance in the capital. Recent meetings have provided non-stop drama - featuring hair pulls, intense hand shakes, red cards, and an avalanche of goals.

Their upcoming face-off is expected to be no different, even as both sides struggle to recapture their best form. Chelsea's early-season spark has faded, leaving them fighting to stay in the race for a Champions League spot. Tottenham, meanwhile, are desperately trying to avoid their worst Premier League finish since 2004, with increasing pressure on Ange Postecoglou. Both teams are in dire need of a victory - yet neither seems able to guarantee one. As anticipation builds across London, with pride, league standings, and bragging rights at stake, Express Football brings you all the key details on how to follow the action.

When and where is the match?

Chelsea vs Tottenham will be played at Stamford Bridge on Thursday, April 3. Kick-off is scheduled for 8pm UK time. Under the bright midweek lights, the stage is set for a high-intensity showdown as the season reaches its climax.

How to watch the match?

UK viewers can catch the game live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League, with coverage starting from 7pm. Fans on the go can stream the match via the Sky Go app on smartphones, tablets, or laptops.

No Sky subscription? No worries - NOW TV offers flexible viewing options, including a day pass for £14.99 or a monthly pass for £34.99, allowing you to watch without a long-term contract.

Chelsea team news

Injuries have hampered Chelsea, with Nicolas Jackson, Noni Madueke, and more recently, Cole Palmer all sidelined. However, the trio could be available for this crucial match. Palmer, who missed last month's Arsenal fixture and withdrew from England duty due to a thigh problem, is expected to make the squad.

The Blues are also hopeful about Madueke and Jackson, who resumed training late last month after recovering from hamstring troubles. However, the club may decide to ease them back into action rather than risk an early return.

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Tottenham team news

Dejan Kulusevski, Richarlison, Lucas Bergvall, and Kevin Danso are all expected to return soon, but their participation against Chelsea remains uncertain. Bergvall appears fit after overcoming the illness that kept him out of Sweden's international matches.

Kulusevski is in a race against time, having been absent since Spurs' February loss to Manchester City. Danso may have a chance to feature but won't be rushed back, particularly with Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven available again.

Richarlison, recovering from a calf issue, was anticipated to regain fitness over the international break. With Postecoglou optimistic about his progress, there's a strong likelihood he'll make the squad for Thursday's encounter.

What’s at stake?

Beyond local bragging rights, this fixture could have a major impact on European qualification. Chelsea are striving to cement a top-four finish, while Spurs need maximum points to remain in contention in a congested table.

Maresca's side faces a brutal run-in, with Liverpool, Newcastle, Manchester United, and a resurgent Nottingham Forest still to come. Securing points early is critical for their momentum.

Tottenham’s European ambitions remain intact, but consistency is crucial in the final stretch of the season. A statement win against Chelsea could provide a much-needed morale boost - though history isn't on their side, with only one Premier League triumph at Stamford Bridge since 1992.

Head-to-head record

Chelsea have struggled against other ‘big six’ teams recently, but not when it comes to Tottenham. They've lost only twice in their last 16 meetings since January 2019 - and one of those was a penalty shootout defeat in the League Cup.

Postecoglou has yet to beat Chelsea, suffering three defeats while conceding four goals in two of those games. Their last meeting in December ended in a 4-3 thriller, with Chelsea overturning a two-goal deficit to snatch victory.

Chelsea also handed Postecoglou his first Premier League defeat, winning 4-1 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium after Spurs had made an unbeaten 10-game start to the 2023/24 season. Since then, neither Tottenham nor Postecoglou have looked the same.

Tottenham icon Graham Roberts believes that Daniel Levy should snub Andoni Iraola for another Premier League boss if Ange Postecoglou is sacked. The current Bournemouth boss has been instilled as the favourite to take over after an impressive two seasons on the south coast.

Bournemouth have 10 more points than Spurs this season and are only seven points away from the top four. A reported release clause included in Iraola’s contract appears to be tempting the north London outfit, but Roberts has urged caution in removing Postecoglou for the Spanish coach.

He instead feels that Eddie Howe should be placed at the top of the shortlist.

“Someone said Iraola from Bournemouth but he plays the same way as Ange,” Roberts told Express Sport with Mr Vegas Online Casino. “With the way that they press, you are not going to get anything different.

“We had Nuno (Espirito Santo), Nuno left and he is doing really well at Nottingham Forest now. I suppose it is down to the players that you have.

“Eddie Howe I would put at the top of the list, I thought he was brilliant at Bournemouth. If it (Postecoglou getting sacked) does happen then we will see what names get thrown into the hat.”

The chances of Howe being prepared to swap Newcastle for Spurs are slim, with the Magpies riding high following their Carabao Cup win. They are also more likely to qualify for Europe next season.

Spurs’ only hope of reaching the Champions League would be by winning the Europa League. They have a two-legged tie with Eintracht Frankfurt starting next week, with Roberts believing that winning that competition could see Postecoglou hold onto his job.

“It’s a difficult one and I think we have to wait until the end of the season, he has got two more years on his contract. In the end of it, the decision will be made by the board. That is down to them.

“My opinion is let him see if he wins the Europa League, if we win the Europa League then they have a decision to make and that’s up to them. But the position in the league is not good enough for Tottenham Hotspur Football Club.”

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Roberts also thinks that Spurs, despite being in desperate need of points to move up the table, would be happy with a point at Stamford Bridge on Thursday when they take on Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea.

“It all depends on what players come back from international duty and are fit for Tottenham,” he explained. “And also for Chelsea you have got Cole Palmer, is he going to be fit? If he is fit then Chelsea are a better side.

“I think it is going to be a real tough game for both teams, it could go either way, I actually think Tottenham would take a draw now. But I don’t think that is good enough for Chelsea, I think Chelsea need to win. So there is a lot of pressure on them.”

Ange Postecoglou remains unshaken about his position at Tottenham, confidently stating that he's not concerned about his future as he believes he could easily secure another top role.

Despite the pressure mounting on him due to Tottenham's disappointing run of losing 15 out of their 29 Premier League matches this season, Postecoglou maintains that he is "well and truly on the road" to meeting the goals set when he assumed the managerial role in the summer of 2023.

The Tottenham manager shrugged off Mauricio Pochettino's remarks about wanting to return to the club one day, asserting that such speculation does "not rock my world."

With Bournemouth's Andoni Iraola and Fulham's Marco Silva being touted as potential replacements, Postecoglou is feeling the heat. However, he stands by the progress made under his leadership, highlighting the team's commitment to playing more attractive football and thei contention in the Europa League, with a quarter-final clash against Eintracht Frankfurt on the horizon.

Postecoglou stated: "I know what my responsibilities are and I am sure if the club decides to go in a different direction there are some outstanding candidates for it.

"And you know what, maybe someone will think: 'Ange Postecoglou is not a bad coach, maybe we'll take a punt on him.' Mate, it doesn't rock my world. It doesn't consume me.

"I am here, I am passionate about what we're doing. I was brought in to change the way the club plays, rejuvenate the squad and bring success. I am focused on that and that is what I'll keep doing."

Despite losing all three matches against Chelsea since taking over, including being on the receiving end of two home losses, Postecoglou remains undeterred, vowing not to deviate from his philosophy.

He confidently stated: "Sorry to disappoint. We'll go there and have a crack and see if it'll be a good game and hopefully we'll come out on top. I think every club's on its own journey and I was brought here for a couple of specific reasons.

"One was to change the way the club plays its football, rejuvenate the squad and bring some success. We're well and truly on that road and we'll stay on that road until those things happen."

Postecoglou, who has a colourful coaching career including stints with the Australian national team, Celtic, and now Tottenham, is known for advocating an intense style of play. This approach has, however, seen a rise in player injuries under his tenure.

The determined Australian coach insists the sport should look into the reasons why injuries are being sustained regularly and preventative measures such as mandating a set off-season for players in order to preserve the overall quality of football.

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Postecoglou added: "The demands of international football, of continental football, are increasing so at some point something has to give if we want the product to remain and we want to look after the most important participants which are the players.

"This is the only league where you have got this amount of teams, three competitions, no winter break and no sort of rest weekends before European fixtures. It''s the only league that does it. Either we're smarter than everyone else or maybe there's something in what others are doing."

Regarding Tottenham's key player Dejan Kulusevski, Postecoglou revealed that he will miss the Chelsea game and the first leg against Frankfurt. However, he added that he has a chance of returning for the second leg: "He's out of the boot, that was the first hurdle. We're talking a couple of weeks so definitely not the first leg. A chance for the second."