Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou holds aloft the Europa League trophy. Getty Images
Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou holds aloft the Europa League trophy. Getty Images
Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou holds aloft the Europa League trophy. Getty Images
Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou holds aloft the Europa League trophy. Getty Images

Ask Mina: What's Everton's transfer strategy and should Spurs sack Postecoglou?


Mina Rzouki
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Q: How are Everton looking in the transfer market under new ownership?

@Mattie.Middleton asks on Instagram

A: I have been critical of the Friedkin Group when it comes to some of their decision making at Roma, the Italian club also under the American group's ownership. It was evident they didn’t understand the culture of Italian football, and I wondered how they would fare in England. But so far, so good; a new stadium, some good results in the second half of the season and Liam Delap potentially on the way. There’s room for optimism at Everton.

When it comes to transfers, a new striker, a right winger and a starting right-back are the priority, but in the words of David Moyes, there’s a lot of work to be done. “We’ve got an awful lot of players out of contract, we’ve got the most players on loan of any club in the Premier League,” he said.

Signing Delap from Ipswich would be a coup, especially with Manchester United showing interest. Even with their problems, it may be hard for him to reject United, but Everton can provide the 22-year-old striker with an intriguing project and the chance to be the team’s leader.

The club have also been linked to Liverpool winger Ben Doak who impressed on loan at Middlesbrough in the Championship. However, he suffered a season-ending hamstring injury at the end of January and it will cost Everton upwards of £30 million to prise him away from Liverpool. Lille midfielder Ngal’ayel Mukau is another target.

Q: Erik Ten Hag has been appointed at Bayer Leverkusen, do you think it will work?

Zeeh107 asks on X

A: Losing Xabi Alonso, who has replaced Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid, was a blow for Leverkusen. However, this is an incredibly well run club, and boast a sporting director in Simon Wolfes that many credit with building the team that Alonso led to victory.

Wolfes understands the football landscape and what is required to win. He brought in players with great potential as well as experience that offered balance. Erik ten Hag, the club feels, is the right manager to continue the project.

The Dutchman might have failed at Manchester United, but let’s not forget that he won the League Cup and the FA Cup during his time there, which is more than they seem capable of doing right now.

New Bayer Leverkusen head coach Erik ten Hag. AFP
New Bayer Leverkusen head coach Erik ten Hag. AFP

Ten Hag has previous experience of German football having been head coach of Bayern Munich reserves under Pep Guardiola in 2013.

His Ajax team overachieved, guiding young players like Frenkie de Jong and Matthijs de Ligt to the Uefa Champions League semi-finals in 2019.

With good support and quality investments, Ten Hag can build on what Alonso achieved.

Q: Should Tottenham sack Ange Postecoglou. He did win a trophy but surely finishing in 17th should have consequences?

@Natashareith on Instagram

A: It’s been such a poor domestic season for Spurs but the Australian coach did lead them to the Europa League title – their first trophy in 17 years.

I listened to a caller on the radio who argued that Spurs didn’t exactly beat tough opposition in the Europa League, so how impressive was this achievement? Barring Eintracht Frankfurt, Spurs were vastly superior to many of their opponents.

However, it’s also worth noting that winning trophies changes mentalities. Giorgio Chiellini famously said that Spurs’ history has been defined by losing; Guglielmo Vicario made a point of saying that’s all changed now. “It’s the history of Tottenham. We’ve changed history,” Spurs' goalkeeper posted on social media.

I think winning a trophy should result in the coach being given more time and support by way of investing in better and more experienced talent. Postecoglou seems to enjoy the support of the dressing room, too.

I don’t want to disregard the 22 Premier League losses; it’s shocking. However, I doubt many of his potential replacements mentioned to replace him would fare much better.

Q: Will Simone Inzaghi stay at Inter? Italian reports talk of a potential move to Saudi Arabia

@untitledbyMaysa on Instagram

A: According to those reports, the club in question is Al Hilal, who are on the lookout for a new manager, adding that they hope to lure the Italian with a €30m a season salary.

On Tuesday, Inzaghi admitted that he had received offers, from Saudi Arabia and elsewhere, but batted away suggestions he would leave Inter. “It happens every year,” he said. “There are requests from Italy, abroad, Saudi Arabia, but it would be crazy to think about that.”

Inter Milan coach Simone Inzaghi is in demand, according to reports. AFP
Inter Milan coach Simone Inzaghi is in demand, according to reports. AFP

He is annoyed with the timing of the reports as he prepares for the most important match of his life: Saturday's Uefa Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain.

Inzaghi said he will sit down with Inter at the end of the season and discuss their future together, but I doubt that he will leave. He is happy at Inter and feels he’s well supported and respected, and is eager to keep building. At Lazio, his previous club, he spent 22 years as player, coach of the youth team and then first-team manager. When he’s happy, Inzaghi tends to stay.

Q: It’s clearly not working out at Manchester United, is there a possibility of Sheikh Jassim coming back in with a bid?

@AlYazid on Instagram

A: The Qatari consortium headed by Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani reportedly has no plans to revive its bid to purchase Manchester United, despite the club's share price having dropped significantly.

The fans were hopeful when Ineos billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe came on board and purchased a minority stake, largely because he would take on operational control of football matters. However, the club’s fortunes have worsened rather than eased. The club’s finances are dwindling while cost-cutting measures have left an unpleasant aftertaste.

Following United’s defeat in the Europa League final last Wednesday, the club’s share price plummeted more than 17% compared to the same time last year. As of Wednesday, the club's share price is now $13.46 per share.

Would United be better off if Sheikh Jassim's bid, which was withdrawn, been accepted ahead of Ratcliffe's? It's impossible to know, but it could hardly have been much worse.

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MATCH INFO

Newcastle United 3
Gayle (23'), Perez (59', 63')

Chelsea 0

T20 World Cup Qualifier fixtures

Tuesday, October 29

Qualifier one, 2.10pm – Netherlands v UAE

Qualifier two, 7.30pm – Namibia v Oman

Wednesday, October 30

Qualifier three, 2.10pm – Scotland v loser of qualifier one

Qualifier four, 7.30pm – Hong Kong v loser of qualifier two

Thursday, October 31

Fifth-place playoff, 2.10pm – winner of qualifier three v winner of qualifier four

Friday, November 1

Semi-final one, 2.10pm – Ireland v winner of qualifier one

Semi-final two, 7.30pm – PNG v winner of qualifier two

Saturday, November 2

Third-place playoff, 2.10pm

Final, 7.30pm

It Was Just an Accident

Director: Jafar Panahi

Stars: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr

Rating: 4/5

FA CUP FINAL

Chelsea 1
Hazard (22' pen)

Manchester United 0

Man of the match: Eden Hazard (Chelsea)

Juvenile arthritis

Along with doctors, families and teachers can help pick up cases of arthritis in children.
Most types of childhood arthritis are known as juvenile idiopathic arthritis. JIA causes pain and inflammation in one or more joints for at least six weeks.
Dr Betina Rogalski said "The younger the child the more difficult it into pick up the symptoms. If the child is small, it may just be a bit grumpy or pull its leg a way or not feel like walking,” she said.
According to The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases in US, the most common symptoms of juvenile arthritis are joint swelling, pain, and stiffness that doesn’t go away. Usually it affects the knees, hands, and feet, and it’s worse in the morning or after a nap.
Limping in the morning because of a stiff knee, excessive clumsiness, having a high fever and skin rash are other symptoms. Children may also have swelling in lymph nodes in the neck and other parts of the body.
Arthritis in children can cause eye inflammation and growth problems and can cause bones and joints to grow unevenly.
In the UK, about 15,000 children and young people are affected by arthritis.

NBA Finals so far

(Toronto lead 3-1 in best-of-seven series_

Game 1 Raptors 118 Warriors 109

Game 2 Raptors 104 Warriors 109

Game 3 Warriors 109 Raptors 123

Game 4 Warriors 92 Raptors 105

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March 15 - Australia, Melbourne; March 22 - Bahrain, Sakhir; April 5 - Vietnam, Hanoi; April 19 - China, Shanghai; May 3 - Netherlands, Zandvoort; May 20 - Spain, Barcelona; May 24 - Monaco, Monaco; June 7 - Azerbaijan, Baku; June 14 - Canada, Montreal; June 28 - France, Le Castellet; July 5 - Austria, Spielberg; July 19 - Great Britain, Silverstone; August 2 - Hungary, Budapest; August 30 - Belgium, Spa; September 6 - Italy, Monza; September 20 - Singapore, Singapore; September 27 - Russia, Sochi; October 11 - Japan, Suzuka; October 25 - United States, Austin; November 1 - Mexico City, Mexico City; November 15 - Brazil, Sao Paulo; November 29 - Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi.

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Dubai Bling season three

Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed 

Rating: 1/5

Updated: May 28, 2025, 4:08 AM`