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Alasdair Gold was far from impressed by what Dejan Kulsuevski offered last night in Tottenham Hotspur’s defeat in the Champions League.

The Lowdown: Spurs fail to get a positive result

Tottenham got off to the worst possible start as they saw Cristian Romero easily beaten by Theo Hernandez which led to Brahim Diaz heading home at the second attempt from close range.

Romero wasn’t the only one that failed to show up, however, with both Kulusevski and Son Heung-min failing to make an impact on the pitch, which certainly hindered Tottenham in the final third.

Kulusevski has failed to hit the heights of last season with just two goals and six assists across all competitions – and while injuries haven’t helped him, he certainly isn’t the same player from the last campaign.

The Lowdown: Kulusevski struggled in Italy

Gold said it as he saw it live at the San Siro last night as he picked out Kulusevski for his shocking performance that earned him a 4/10 rating after being hooked midway through the second half.

He said: “Struggled to make any real impact on the game in his 70 minutes on the pitch as he returned to Italy to face an opposition he knows well.”

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The Verdict: Performances must improve

Interestingly, Kulusevski received the lowest rating of the night with his 4/10.

When Kulusevski turned up last January, he was a revelation and played a huge part in helping Spurs secure a place in the top four as he registered five goals and eight assists in just 18 Premier League games.

However, he’s struggled to stay fit this season, and last night saw him unable to find the form that was so positive last term, as the Sweden international registered zero shots and lost possession 20 times in the defeat (as per Sofascore).

A 1-0 defeat isn’t the end of the world for Spurs as they may back themselves to at least be able to take the tie to extra time back in north London, but they will hope their attackers can find some form before then, with Kulusevski and Son both out of sorts.

Aston Villa and Leeds United are both plotting moves to sign Celtic teenager Aidan Borland, according to Football Insider.

The Lowdown: Academy departures

The Hoops have lost a number of starlets in recent years before getting the chance to reap the rewards of their talent in the first team.

Youngsters have moved to the likes of European giants Bayern Munich, Liverpool and Manchester City, with Eseosa Sule the latest teenager to seal a Parkhead exit.

The forward’s move to Championship side West Brom appears to have officially gone through this week, and it looks as if another Celtic gem could move south later this year.

The Latest: Borland update

FI reporter Pete O’Rourke shared news he’s heard on Borland in the last 24 hours. He stated that Villa and Leeds have made checks on the midfielder and are both plotting moves for his services.

The 15-year-old has already broken into Celtic’s U18 side after catching the eye of youth coaches at Lennoxtown, but could now follow Sule out the door in what appears to be a brutal few days for the Hoops academy.

The Verdict: Ange might not be happy

Borland appears to be a potential star in the making, so if Celtic were to lose another talented teenager, boss Ange Postecoglou may not be too happy.

Postecoglou admitted earlier this season that he wants a ‘conveyer belt of talent going between the B Team directly up to the first team’, describing it as ‘hugely important’.

Should Borland continue to impress in Glasgow, he could soon be on course to break into the club’s B team and therefore on Postecoglou’s radar, so hopefully, he’ll remain in Scotland for the foreseeable future.

Leeds United host Premier League relegation rivals Southampton at Elland Road on Saturday, with newly-appointed manager Javi Gracia taking charge of his first game with the Whites.

They are currently 19th in the top-flight table following defeat at Goodison Park last weekend, giving Everton their opportunity to rise out of the relegation zone, so it will be crucial in their chances of survival to take all three points from their bottom-of-the-table opponents this weekend.

After being announced as the club’s new manager on Wednesday, Gracia is just getting his feet under the table at the club but could make a number of important tweaks and changes to the starting side on Saturday to ensure that his first outing goes off without a hitch.

The former Watford boss will have had limited time to work out who his best players will be going forward, although simply watching the poor performances which have unfolded in recent months should give the manager a fair representation of where changes need to be made.

As a result, Gracia could now boldly ditch Patrick Bamford when the Saints pay a visit to Yorkshire tomorrow and instead give a golden opportunity to Georginio Rutter to prove himself in the centre-forward role.

Will Bamford start against Southampton?

It could be considered a risky move for Gracia to come in and make big changes to the team, but considering Leeds’ position in the league and limited remaining opportunities to collect enough points to survive in the Premier League, it could massively pay off to mix things up in terms of team selection.

Leeds have not won a top-flight game since the beginning of November and Bamford has failed to find the net in his last five league outings, with his last goal coming in the defeat to Aston Villa in January.

In fact, out of the four league wins that the Whites have picked up this season, the £70k-per-week striker has only been involved in two, with the team losing nine of the 16 games in which he has played a part.

The 29-year-old – whose touch has been described by Alan Shearer as “terrible” – hasn’t been able to return to his form of previous years after suffering a string of injury issues, and Gracia could now spark a new era at Elland Road by instead opting for Rutter to offer a fresh perspective in front of goal.

The January signing hasn’t scored in his five Leeds outings so far, although he did prove his worth in the Bundesliga last term with eight goals, and it’s only right that he gets ample opportunity to repay his club-record £36m fee.

The new manager could become an instant hit at Elland Road if his team selection and style of play pays off, but he could also become an instant villain should his methods fall flat. Having the guts to drop some underperforming players whilst exercising a level of caution could be the perfect combination for success against Southampton.

Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy has been criticised for an ‘anonymous’ display as his side crash out of the FA Cup to Blackburn Rovers.

The Lowdown: Foxes defeated…

The Foxes were humbled by a Rovers side who displayed real determination and an underdog spirit.

Brendan Rodgers and his team were simply not at the races on a night to forget for the Premier League relegation-battlers, with Blackburn forward Tyrhys Dolan putting them 1-0 down just past the half hour mark.

Leicester then had a mountain to climb when attacking midfielder Sammie Szmodics doubled the away side’s lead, a strike which eventually gifted Rovers the win despite Kelechi Iheanacho’s late goal back.

The Latest: talkSPORT man hammers Vardy…

On a night to forget for Rodgers, with his side bowing out to a 2-1 defeat, talkSPORT reporter Jason Bourne criticised the display of Vardy on social media.

The Englishman was ‘pretty anonymous’ last night, according to Bourne, with the stats perfectly backing his point.

The Verdict: Right call?

As per SofaScore, the 36-year-old took fewer touches than any Leicester City starter on the night with just 19 – highlighting what was an ‘anonymous’ display.

Vardy did manage a key pass and two shots on goal with his limited involvement, one on target and one off, but this may well be a night to forget for the club legend.

The Englishman also completed just ten passes on the night, further reinforcing his struggle to get involved, with Vardy now looking to get back to winning ways.

Leicester take on strugglers Southampton in the Premier League this weekend and it’s a match which could be pivotal in determining who drops to England’s second tier.

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag may opt to keep hold of Aaron Wan-Bissaka this summer, according to Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth.

The Lowdown: Wan-Bissaka’s improved form

The 25-year-old hasn’t always hit the heights many expected of him in a United shirt, with Diogo Dalot gradually becoming the first-choice right-back at Old Trafford.

An injury to the Portuguese ace has afforded Wan-Bissaka more playing time of late, however, and he has completed a full 90 minutes seven times since the turn of the year.

The Englishman has been linked with a United exit this summer but now a very different rumour is doing the rounds.

The Latest: Defender could now stay

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Sheth claimed that Ten Hag’s stance on Wan-Bissaka may have changed:

“The right-back situation has been an ever-changing one over the last couple of transfer windows. It looked like Aaron Wan-Bissaka was gone, not only in the summer but in January as well. But, post-World Cup, I think his performances have maybe changed Erik ten Hag’s mind.

“They probably still would be in the market if a fantastic right-back came along at the right price.

“But I’m not sure whether it will be as high a priority this summer as it would have been over the last two transfer windows, simply because of the performances of Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Diogo Dalot.
“This is definitely still one to look at.”

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The Verdict: Should United still sell?

Wan-Bissaka deserves great praise for the manner in which he has found some improved form for United, being hailed as ‘absolutely fantastic’ by pundit Micky Gray.

While the temptation to keep hold of him is now obvious, especially as he is still only 25, this summer could still be the best time to move him on, receiving good money for his services.

Dalot needs to be first-choice, when fit, considering his all-round game is better – he has two Premier League assists this season compared to his teammate’s zero – and a superior backup could also then come in as a replacement.

The idea of Wan-Bissaka staying is certainly no disaster for United, but his upturn in fortunes may have upped his price tag, allowing them to cash in before it potentially drops again.

Tottenham Hotspur right-back Emerson Royal missed the game on Saturday against Nottingham Forest after struggling with a knee injury.

Why didn't Emerson Royal play against Forest?

Since the arrival of Pedro Porro in January, the Brazilian right-back has impressed massively for the Lilywhites and has kept ahold of the starting spot for the majority of the games since.

However, he was not included in the game on the weekend as Spurs took all three points against Forest as Porro starting at right wing-back.

Emerson did play 70 minutes on Wednesday night as AC Milan knocked the Londoners out of the Champions League with their 1-0 aggregate victory.

And speaking on his YouTube channel, Alasdair Gold has claimed the Brazilian's injury issue is to do with his knee and is something which continues to flare up:

(52:20) "Emerson's got a little, he's got this problem in his knee that kind of keeps flaring up at the moment, occasionally, so obviously Porro got his chance again."

What does this mean for Porro's game time?

As aforementioned, since arriving in north London, Porro has not exactly had a smooth transition into life in the Premier League as he shared the minutes with Emerson.

But he has started the last two Premier League games now for Spurs and his performances have continued to develop after he made an impression coming on against Milan.

And he did so again on the weekend as he grabbed his first assist for the club with a superb cross which Harry Kane was able to head home.

Gold awarded the Spaniard with an 8/10 rating for his display in the game on Saturday as he played a role in all three of the goals for the hosts.

With Emerson struggling with an ongoing issue, this feels like the perfect opportunity for Porro to nail down some consistent displays for Spurs in the starting XI.

Because Emerson's displays have been so impressive recently it has felt perhaps a little unfair to dislodge him from the team just because of Porro's arrival.

But at the end of the day, Porro is a big-money signing for Spurs and fans will want to see him on the pitch as well as Antonio Conte who will have likely been crying out for a natural right wing-back in January.

There is definitely room for improvement in his game having lost possession 22 times and been dribbled past on five occasions (via SofaScore).

However, it does seem as if he could be set to be handed some back-to-back starts in the league if Emerson's issue is something Spurs want to treat with caution.

Leeds United recorded one of their wins of the season yesterday, as they screeched into a commanding lead only to oversee a nervy final 25 minutes as they conceded twice late on.

Despite that, a late Rodrigo strike solidified all three points as the Spaniard made a triumphant comeback from injury.

It was a game that had everything, including an all-important victory for Javi Gracia.

The Spaniard has overseen a steady start to life at Elland Road, having won just once before yesterday. Scrutiny was rising, however, as the Yorkshire side seemed to sink deeper and deeper into the relegation zone.

But with just one win they have rocketed up to 14th, within just one point of the Wolverhampton Wanderers team they defeated. This small upturn in form can be attributed to many players, but none more surprising than the ever-improving Luke Ayling.

How has Luke Ayling been playing?

Despite Rasmus Kristensen’s summer signing, the former Yeovil Town defender has maintained his place in the starting side throughout the season, accumulating 19 Premier League appearances.

It has been something of a renaissance for the 31-year-old, who was lambasted around this time last year for his conduct whilst in a similar relegation battle.

Averaging a 6.61 rating throughout a campaign in which they survived only on the final day, Jamie Carragher was particularly incensed after a rash tackle saw him sent off against Arsenal.

The former Liverpool defender claimed: “The lack of professionalism for his team-mates and what this could mean going forward… it's not just down to 10 men. Disgusting tackle with two feet.”

However, he has clearly put that misery behind him this campaign as he headed in the Whites’ second yesterday to put daylight between them and their hosts.

It marked another fine performance from the ageing stalwart who has earned a 6.9 rating or higher in three of his last five matches.

Given how poorly he performed at the business end of last season compared to how he is impressing of late, Ayling is only going from strength to strength as he continues his redemption journey from zero to hero.

Manchester United have welcomed a Qatari delegation representing the Qatar-based takeover bid to tour the club's facilities on Thursday.

What's the latest in Man United's takeover push?

The Red Devils received bids to potentially buy the Premier League club last month but now it seems as if the club are taking the next step in their possible sale.

A bid from Qatar was perhaps the most well-reported bids to land on the table of the Glazer family and on Thursday they were welcomed into the country.

It is believed they have been granted limited access to the club's financial accounts and will be visiting both Old Trafford and Carrington training ground.

Speaking on Sky Sports, reporter Kaveh Solhekol has claimed presentations will also likely take place on Thursday as the club look to narrow down their options:

"It's quite a significant day, actually, because Qatari delegation representing the bid for Manchester United made by Sheikh Jassim is visiting Old Trafford, so they're going to have a look at what they potentially could be buying.

"They've also had some access to United's accounts – but not full access yet – and they will also be visiting the training ground today. I think they will be given some presentations from people like John Murtough.

When could the takeover be completed?

It is worth mentioning the potential sale of the Red Devils is still not a guarantee, with the American firm Elliott Management reportedly still offering the Glazer family funding if they decide to stay put.

However, this is certainly an encouraging sign to see the club welcome the proposed bidders into their facilities to hold further discussions over where the process is at.

It is believed the Qatari group are also falling short of what the Glazers are hoping to generate for the club with their valuation believed to be worth up to £6 billion.

So it will be interesting to see what comes of the visit to Manchester and whether it is something which can help push along the discussions to take over the club.

It does seem as if valuation will be the biggest issue for the Qatar-based bidders, though, and that could be something which has the potential to derail the move for the Premier League side.

There will be hope from the fans that any move for the club could be completed before the summer transfer window and with that now just a handful of months away, it does feel as if these meetings will have to run smoothly to meet that deadline.

A major concern for Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag at present will be the lack of a reliable, centre-forward presence, with January arrival Wout Weghorst having failed to truly make his mark at Old Trafford thus far.

The towering Dutchman has certainly "worked so hard" during his time in Manchester – in the words of journalist Josh Bunting – although has not been able to marry up that willing work ethic with an end product, having scored just twice in 18 appearances across all competitions, all of which have come from the start.

The 30-year-old's regular run in the side since his loan switch from Burnley earlier this year has come amid the continued, frustrating absence of fellow forward, Anthony Martial, with United's number nine having repeatedly been hampered by injury this season.

The long-serving marksman – who has been at the Theatre of Dreams since joining from Monaco back in 2015 – has thus far made just 14 appearances across all fronts this season, having last featured in a Premier League game back in January in the Manchester derby.

While Ten Hag has previously suggested that the Red Devils play their "best football" when the 27-year-old is in the side – as the Frenchman does have eight goal contributions to his name despite his lack of action this term – the problem has been the inability to get him fit and firing consistently.

That has led to suggestions that the Carabao Cup winners could be set to call time on the £250k-per-week man's eight-year stay at the club, with Ten Hag and co currently weighing up potential moves for the likes of Victor Osimhen and Harry Kane.

Even if either of that latter duo are signed, however, United will still seemingly be in need of a suitable understudy to fill in on occasion, with the former Ajax boss potentially best served looking to the academy ranks to find that solution, rather than putting further faith in the stricken Martial.

Who could replace Martial at Man United?

One sparkling youngster who could emerge as the player to help ease Ten Hag's striking woes is 18-year-old sensation, Manni Norkett, with the Nottingham-born gem having been in scintillating form in recent years at youth level.

Hailed previously as a player who could be the "real deal" in the future – according to one former youth coach, Garry Attwood – the teenager is making waves with his displays of late, having already netted 18 goals in just 38 games for the club's U18 side.

That remarkable tally includes a haul of eight goals in just 12 appearances in the U18 Premier League so far this season, while the exciting talent has also made a handful of appearances in the U21 set-up of late.

While the prolific ace does still need to establish himself in that latter age group, journalist Shaun Connolly earmarked the striker earlier this year as one of the players at United who is "on the cusp of [the] first team", with that an indication of how highly-regarded Norkett is by those in the know.

The youngster was also hailed during his loan stint at lower league side Gainsborough last season, with manager Tom Shaw describing the precocious talent as a "real prospect" and someone who "plays with plenty of confidence and authority for such a young man".

Norkett is certainly not short of confidence that's for sure, memorably mimicking the celebrations of both Erling Haaland and Cristiano Ronaldo following the 3-2, comeback win over rivals Manchester City for the U18s earlier in the campaign.

Clearly a player with an 'eye for goal', the emerging talent also has an 'excellent work rate' – according to the club's official website – with that latter trait seemingly putting him ahead of the aforementioned Martial, who has been dubbed a "lazy player" by Bunting.

With the latter man having more than had his fair share of opportunities to impress over the years, it should now be time that the Red Devils give a chance to somebody else through the middle, hence promoting young Norkett over the coming months or ahead of next season.

Liverpool attacker Darwin Nunez is "available" for his side's crucial Premier League clash with Manchester City this weekend, according to journalist Andy Hunter.

How has Nunez fared this season?

The Uruguayan arrived at Anfield last summer as a big-money arrival from Benfica, as he looked to make up for the loss of Reds legend Sadio Mane, who joined Bayern Munich after six years on Merseyside. It hasn't always been plain sailing for Nunez in his first season on Merseyside, however, and he hasn't been helped by the team's struggles as a whole.

While some of the 23-year-old's finishing has been erratic at times, he has still scored 14 goals in all competitions.

Unfortunately for Liverpool, Nunez has been suffering with a minor injury problem during the international, leaving his involvement in this weekend's action in doubt. Jurgen Klopp's side head to reigning champions City on Saturday lunchtime, in what represents a huge challenge in their top-four battle.

While Luis Diaz won't return to the pitch yet, despite being back in training this week, some encouraging news has emerged regarding another Reds attacking hero that will buoy the supporters.

Could Nunez start at Man City?

Taking to Twitter following Klopp's pre-match press conference, journalist Andy Hunter confirmed that Nunez is fit for Saturday's trip to the Etihad, in a much-needed boost for the Reds boss:

"Darwin Nunez available for City."

This is clearly an enormous positive for Liverpool, with Nunez someone who may still be raw as a footballer, but is so capable of producing moments of magic. His record suggests he could be a potent threat for the Reds on the counter-attack against City, especially with the hosts desperate for a win in the title race, and therefore potentially pushing men forward as the minutes tick by.

With the former Benfica man on the left wing, Mohamed Salah down the middle and Cody Gakpo linking the attack centrally – Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino are also options – Liverpool could have a match-winning trio in the final third, as they so devastatingly showed in the 7-0 win over Manchester United, in which they all scored twice.

Nunez has continued to silence many critics who have been overly critical of his form since joining the Reds, and a big goal at the Etihad could further quieten the negative voices in what promises to be a thrilling game between two sides who have cooked up some classics in recent years.