Ange Postecoglou is set to be named new Tottenham Hotspur manager after agreeing a four-year contract.
The Australian, 57, will be the fourth manager to take the reins at the North London club this year after Antonio Conte, Cristian Stellini and Ryan Mason. Postecoglou leaves Scottish champions Celtic after a hugely successful two years in Glasgow.
The former Australia national team boss joins a club still licking its wounds after a miserable season. Tottenham finished eighth in the Premier League and out of the European qualifying places, losing out to the likes of Aston Villa and Brighton & Hove Albion.
Here are they key areas he must address if Spurs are to challenge for a top-four finish in 2023/24.
Keep Harry Kane
The first order of business for Postecoglou will be to try to persuade Kane that he can fulfil his ambitions and win trophies at Tottenham.
Kane's importance to the team can be seen in his goal returns. The striker, 29, scored 30 Premier League goals 32 in total. He reached two milestones on February 5; his goal in a 1-0 win over Manchester City saw him break Jimmy Greaves' long-standing club record of 266 goals and also saw him become only the third player in the history of the Premier League to score 200 goals.
His double against Leeds United on the final day of the season extended Kane's club tally to 280 – a mark that is likely to stand longer even than Greaves' record of 53 years. Alan Shearer's Premier League record of 260 goals is also in sight (Kane currently sits on 213).
The England international can rightly claim to be among the world's elite strikers, but the rumblings of discontent with a club that has underachieved and unable to challenge for the top honours on a consistent basis is likely to persuade him that his future lies elsewhere.
Real Madrid are known admirers, and with Karim Benzema's departure there is a space in the Spanish side's attack that Kane could fill comfortably. Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is also a fan, and could be the player to help them bridge the gap on rivals Manchester City.
With Kane now in the final 12 months of his contract, Postecoglou must move quick to convince his star man that he can deliver the silverware he so desperately craves.
Sign a goalkeeper
If Spurs' season was a bad dream, Lloris' was its nightmare.
Premier League statistics do not count own goals as errors leading to a goal but the reality is that Lloris' mistakes cost his side on at least four occasions in 2022/23 – and that's before taking into account his passing that constantly puts his teammates under unnecessary pressure.
The nadir for both Lloris and Spurs' miserable season came in the 6-1 pasting against Newcastle United on April 23 that ended any lingering hopes of a top-four finish and Champions League football.
Spurs were 3-0 down in nine minutes and 5-0 down at half time. And while it would be unfair to scapegoat only Lloris for a turgid first half, the Frenchman must take his share of the blame.
Lloris was replaced at half time at St James' Park and has almost certainly played his last game at the club. After 11 years of loyal service, he is one of a growing list of players being linked with a move to Saudi Arabia.
Fraser Forster saw out the season as first choice but did little to convince he is more than an able deputy. Postecoglou must be shrewd in who he picks between the sticks to make sure Spurs improve on an awful defensive record.
Handle the misfits
Spurs' squad lacked many things last season, mostly a reliable goalkeeper, a commanding centre-half and a playmaking midfielder. None of those areas are likely to be addressed with the players set to return rom various loans.
Tanguy Ndombele has failed under a succession of managers in North London and barely featured in Napoli's first Serie A title win in 33 years. Spurs are unlikely to ever recoup the €62 million they paid Lyon for the 26-year-old French midfielder and its apparent that neither are a good fit for each other.
Argentine playmaker Giovani Lo Celso has spent the past two seasons on loan at Villarreal while Spain internationals Segio Reguilon and Bryan Gil also joined La Liga clubs after finding themselves frozen out by Conte. Reguilon's versatility as a wing-back or left full-back could be an asset with Ivan Perisic's age catching up to him, but Lo Celso and Gil's futures would appear to be away from English football.
Postecoglou will be underwhelmed by the end-of-season reports of others who made temporary homes last term.
Defender Joe Rodon featured in less than half of Stade Rennais' games as they finished fourth in Ligue 1 while midfielder Harry Winks was part of a Sampdoria squad that finished dead last in Serie A. Destiny Udogie was a constant in an inconsistent Udinese who finished 12th in Italy's top flight.
With the exception of Reguilon, none are necessarily upgrades on the squad Postecoglou will inherit and so the Australian may feel he is better served offloading the majority to fund his own transfer targets.
Spurs 2022/23 season player ratings
Why your domicile status is important
Your UK residence status is assessed using the statutory residence test. While your residence status – ie where you live - is assessed every year, your domicile status is assessed over your lifetime.
Your domicile of origin generally comes from your parents and if your parents were not married, then it is decided by your father. Your domicile is generally the country your father considered his permanent home when you were born.
UK residents who have their permanent home ("domicile") outside the UK may not have to pay UK tax on foreign income. For example, they do not pay tax on foreign income or gains if they are less than £2,000 in the tax year and do not transfer that gain to a UK bank account.
A UK-domiciled person, however, is liable for UK tax on their worldwide income and gains when they are resident in the UK.
The five pillars of Islam
Quick pearls of wisdom
Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”
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Afghanistan fixtures
- v Australia, today
- v Sri Lanka, Tuesday
- v New Zealand, Saturday,
- v South Africa, June 15
- v England, June 18
- v India, June 22
- v Bangladesh, June 24
- v Pakistan, June 29
- v West Indies, July 4
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Manchester City transfers:
OUTS
Pablo Zabaleta, Bacary Sagna, Gael Clichy, Willy Caballero and Jesus Navas (all released)
INS
Ederson (Benfica) £34.7m, Bernardo Silva (Monaco) £43m
ON THEIR WAY OUT?
Joe Hart, Eliaquim Mangala, Samir Nasri, Wilfried Bony, Fabian Delph, Nolito and Kelechi Iheanacho
ON THEIR WAY IN?
Dani Alves (Juventus), Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal)
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-finals, first leg
Liverpool v Roma
When: April 24, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Anfield, Liverpool
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
MATCH INFO
Karnataka Tuskers 110-5 (10 ovs)
Tharanga 48, Shafiq 34, Rampaul 2-16
Delhi Bulls 91-8 (10 ovs)
Mathews 31, Rimmington 3-28
Karnataka Tuskers win by 19 runs
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
What are the influencer academy modules?
- Mastery of audio-visual content creation.
- Cinematography, shots and movement.
- All aspects of post-production.
- Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
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- Professional ethics.
More on Quran memorisation:
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
