West Ham could look at a move for Rafael Benitez to possibly replace David Moyes, according to The Daily Express.
The Lowdown: Moyes chants
The Hammers lost 4-0 at Brighton in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon, with the travelling supporters chanting ‘you don’t know what you’re doing’ and ‘you’re getting sacked in the morning’ at Moyes in either half.
West Ham continue to flirt with the bottom three following their 14th league defeat and potential replacements for the Scot are being mooted in the media, although Roshane Thomas has stated that Moyes still has support from the board.
The Latest: Benitez claim
Jack McEachen of The Daily Express shared a story on Saturday evening following the 4-0 defeat to Brighton, looking at five possible options to replace Moyes with the pressure mounting.
One of those was Benitez, with the reporter saying that the Spaniard is after a ‘project’ in his next job, something which the Hammers would represent.
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The Verdict: Needed?
A change appears needed at the London Stadium in what has been a hugely frustrating campaign, and Benitez could be the man to turn things around.
He has actually defeated Moyes 11 times during his career and has plenty of experience in England with Liverpool, Newcastle and Everton.
The 4-2-3-1 manager also has experience of managing a side in the latter stages of a European competition, and with West Ham still in the Europa Conference League, bringing in Benitez could be a wise move, both in the short and long run, especially with the available 62-year-old seemingly looking for a long-term role.
Newcastle United are believed to be showing an interest in the Leicester City winger Harvey Barnes ahead of the summer transfer window.
Do Newcastle want another left-winger?
Eddie Howe's men have established themselves as serious contenders for the top four this season after a stunning 2022/23 campaign so far.
And with the prospect of playing more games next season as a result of European qualification, it seems as if the Toon are looking to beef up their squad depth.
Over the January window, Newcastle splashed the cash on the England youngster Anthony Gordon who is yet to make much of a splash himself on the pitch.
In fact, the 22-year-old has only really made the headlines in a black and white shirt after his reaction on the weekend after being substituted off by Howe.
The youngster was clearly left unimpressed having only been brought on off the bench earlier in the game.
Despite having options on the left wing, reports have suggested the Magpies are looking to take another option from a fellow Premier League outfit in the form of Barnes.
And speaking on the Talking Transfers podcast, insider Graeme Bailey has waxed lyrical about how good of a fit the 25-year-old would be for the Tyneside club:
(35:30) "So they do want this other player and I think Barnes would suit Eddie Howe down to the ground. I really do. I think he'd be the perfect fit for Newcastle.
"And I think he's great. I love Harvey Barnes. I think he's not had the plaudits he deserves at Leicester I think [James] Maddison's overshadowed him press-wise/media-wise, but he's got 10 goals from out wide in that Leicester team which is mightily impressive."
Could Barnes be the perfect fit for Howe?
On the right side of the front three, Miguel Almiron's transformation under Howe has provided the Toon with a strong return in front of goal.
Indeed, the Paraguayan winger has been able to provide the Magpies with an impressive 11 goals and one assist in the Premier League alone (via Transfermarkt).
The impact off the left has not been as impressive with Allan Saint-Maximin having only offered up one goal and five assists as Gordon remains in search for his first contribution.
And if Newcastle are to play in the elite European competition next season, then they are going to need players from all over the pitch contributing to the side.
Anthony Gordon and Eddie Howe discuss the incident after full time as Newcastle United beat Brentford in the Premier League.
Barnes is a player who has certainly provided an impressive return in the Premier League this season with 10 goals and one assist (via Transfermarkt).
The £35k-per-week winger has been hailed as "special" by journalist Adam Bates in the past and he is certainly showing signs of that this season as he exceeds his XG by over two goals (via FBref).
Spending £45m on Gordon in January shows Newcastle have a lot of belief they can get the absolute best out of the youngster.
However, if they are to be playing Champions League football next season, perhaps they need a proven option out left who they could rely on to chip in with goals.
As the search for a new permanent manager continues at Tottenham Hotspur, supporters will likely be fearful of seeing a repeat of the protracted quest to find a replacement for Jose Mourinho back in 2021, with chairman Daniel Levy having missed out on a string of potential targets before settling on Nuno Espirito Santo.
The fear will be that history may be repeating itself, with the Lilywhites having already seen a possible candidate in the form of former boss Mauricio Pochettino opt to join rivals Chelsea, while German visionary, Julian Nagelsmann – who appeared to be a favourite for the role – is also now out of the running.
With the end of the season rapidly approaching, Levy will surely have to settle on a new full-time appointment sooner rather than later, with the Englishman also likely to be sweating over the future of talisman, Harry Kane, with the England skipper being linked with a move to Manchester United amid his expiring contract.
According to Daily Express journalist Ryan Taylor, however, the north Londoners could well ease those fears over the 29-year-old's potential exit by turning to Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso as the long-term successor to Antonio Conte, with the 41-year-old's arrival at N17 possibly set to be enough to tempt Kane into staying put.
Speaking to GIVEMESPORT about the future of the prolific striker, the respected insider stated: "It depends really. Obviously, he wants to win trophies, but at the same time, you could also launch a counter-argument for that as he's had Conte, he's had José Mourinho, he’s had Mauricio Pochettino and still not won a trophy.
"So it depends on what he wants to do, if he's happy to stay, I think someone like Xabi Alonso might actually excite him. I think it's clear Alonso is a forward-thinking manager with fresh ideas, and he's well respected in the game.”
This comes amid a recent report from Sky Sports that named Alonso as a target – in the wake of the shock Nagelsmann blow – with the piece revealing that senior figures at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium are admirers of the Spaniard.
Would Xabi Alonso be a good appointment for Spurs?
As per Taylor, the capture of the former Real Madrid and Liverpool midfielder may prove enough to sway Kane's thinking this summer, with 3-4-3-based Alonso having made a promising start to life as a manager at senior level.
Having taken the reins at Leverkusen back in October after previously spending over three years with Real Sociedad's B team, the up-and-coming coach has quickly caught the eye due to his fine work, having turned the Bundesliga side from relegation contenders to European hopefuls in such a short space of time.
With the German outift having been languishing in 17th with just one win from their opening eight matches of the season at the time of his arrival, the one-time Bayern Munich maestro has since guided his new side up to seventh in the table, as well as taking them to the semi-finals of the Europa League.
Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso
Currently trailing 1-0 following the first-leg meeting with Jose Mourinho's Roma side in that competition, Alonso has received notable praise from the former Spurs boss in recent times, with the Portuguese ace stating that he "has all the conditions to be a very good coach.”
The Tolosa-born gem has also received a glowing assessment from Leverkusen starlet Jeremie Frimpong who hailed him as a "great coach", with the hope being that Alonso can replicate such a turnaround in fortunes were he to move to north London.
On the evidence of his early work in Germany, it is easy to see why Kane – and his teammates – could be excited by the potential appointment of the World Cup winner.
Birmingham City are in talks to sign Derby County midfielder Krystian Bielik, according to a report from the Telegraph
What is the latest news regarding Krystian Bielik?
According to the report, the Championship side are locked in talks with the League One outfit for the Polish international, with the fee potentially reaching £1m
The midfielder spent last season on loan at the Midlands club, making 35 appearances in the league and recording one goal and one assist across the campaign.
Birmingham City loan midfielderKrystian Bielik.
Birmingham look set to be under the new ownership of American hedge fund manager Tom Wagner soon, and manager John Eustace will be hoping to make Bielik his first signing of the new era.
Will Krystian Bielik join Birmingham City?
Bielik joined his parent club Derby from Arsenal in the summer of 2019 for a fee that could’ve risen to £10m, should all of the performance incentives been met.
The Polish midfielder has had an incredibly unfortunate time at Pride Park, suffering a pair of devastating knee injuries in back-to-back seasons that kept him out of action for a combined 634 days.
Ahead of last season, following Derby’s relegation to League One and the potential of a place in the Polish national team for the 2022 World Cup, Birmingham swooped in and picked him up on loan for the season.
Across the campaign, Bielik averaged a 6.77 rating, according to WhoScored, which was the second-highest average rating in the Birmingham squad for players who played over 2000 minutes
The midfielder is a defensive powerhouse, having averaged 1.92 blocks per 90, 2.17 clearances per 90 and 2.07 aerials won per 90 ranking him in the top 10% of all players across Europe's "next eight" leagues over the last year, as per to FBref. The Pole also averages 2.04 tackles per 90 and 1.45 interceptions per 90, further showcasing his defensive solidity
The Blues stand to get a fantastic deal for the 25-year-old colossus, with his market value currently €2.8m (£2.4m).
One reason why the midfielder, who was described by journalist Ryan Conway as Derby County’s “X-Factor”, is available for less than half his market value is his contract situation, with the players deal at Derby set to expire in the summer of 2024.
Should Birmingham be able to complete this deal despite their potential FFP problems, they will secure a fantastic midfielder who could help them in their quest to finish in the top half of the Championship for the first time since the 2015/16 campaign.
Chelsea target and Inter Milan forward Lautaro Martinez would love to complete a summer switch to Stamford Bridge, according to reports.
How old is Lautaro Martinez?
Martinez is a 25-year-old striker who has played his football at the San Siro Stadium since 2018 after joining from Racing Club. During his four years in the Serie A, he’s been a regular feature of Simone Inzaghi’s first-team, racking up a total of 238 appearances to date.
The Argentina international, however, could be on the move during the ongoing window after establishing himself as his side’s both overall and offensive best-performing player last season with a WhoScored match rating of 7.18, not to mention that he also won the World Cup, which has attracted plenty of attention from the Premier League.
Back in June, 90min reported that the Blues and Manchester United, alongside La Liga giants Real Madrid, had all registered an interest in a summer deal for the attacker who is expected to start a new adventure, and his new home could well be in SW6.
Since his arrival, Mauricio Pochettino has already recruited RB Leipzig’s Christopher Nkunku and Villareal’s Nicolas Jackson, but it appears that he’s in the market for even more attacking reinforcements if the following update is to be believed.
Are Chelsea signing Lautaro Martinez?
According to Football Insider, Martinez is "keen to make the switch" to the English top-flight and more specifically "wants to team up" with his compatriot Pochettino at Stamford Bridge. The Chelsea boss is believed to be a "big fan" of the centre-forward and it's claimed by sources that he would "love" the opportunity to work with his countryman.
Inter Milan's talisman is on a "shortlist" of final third targets alongside Juventus' Dusan Vlahovic and Eintracht Frankfurt's Randal Kolo Muani, though it yet remains to be seen which of the three strikers would be the preferred option in the capital.
Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez.
How many goals has Lautaro Martinez scored?
In the Serie A last season, Martinez posted a remarkable 28 goal contributions (21 goals and seven assists) in 38 appearances with this outstanding form seeing him collect eight man-of-the-match awards, so should he put pen to paper, he could be a real force to be reckoned with leading the line at Chelsea.
Sponsored by Nike, Inter’s “dangerous” striker, as lauded by talent scout Jacek Kulig, also recorded a total of 125 shots over the course of the campaign which was more than any of his fellow teammates, as per FBRef, highlighting not only how much of a standout star he is but also the constant eye and desire he has to make sure that the ball hits the back of the net.
Martinez, who pockets £182k-per-week and has the versatility to operate anywhere across the frontline, including out wide on both wings, will additionally know what it takes to compete and be successful at the highest level having secured eight senior trophies since the start of his career – that number could increase if he was to move to the capital where a new era is about to begin under Pochettino.
Tottenham Hotspur are currently reaping the rewards of what proved to be a relatively smooth summer of business despite the sale of talisman Harry Kane, with Ange Postecoglou's new additions helping to contribute to an unbeaten start to the new Premier League season.
Such astute dealings in the transfer market – including arguably the "signing of the summer" in the form of James Maddison, as per TNT pundit Joe Cole – have not always been commonplace at N17 over the last decade or so, evidenced by the fact that two former club-record arrivals, Davinson Sanchez and Tanguy Ndombele, have both been shipped off to Turkish giants, Galatasaray.
The at-times scattergun approach of chairman Daniel Levy – which famously saw the 'magnificent seven' acquired following the sale of Gareth Bale – was also best illustrated with the signing and subsequent sale of polarising right-back, Serge Aurier.
How much did Tottenham pay for Aurier?
The Lilywhites had been searching for a new option at right-back following the departure of Kyle Walker to rivals Manchester City on a £50m deal, with Mauricio Pochettino seemingly keen to find a worthy competitor to Kieran Trippier in that defensive berth.
Amid that quest to find a Walker replacement, Levy and co looked the way of Aurier despite the string of misdemeanours that the Ivorian had carried out during his time at former club Paris Saint-Germain, notably insulting manager Laurent Blanc in March 2016, while also being convicted of elbowing a police officer just a few months later.
Despite that back catalogue of controversy, the north Londoners opted to splash out £23m in order to sign the full-back in the summer of 2017, having notably racked up 15 assists in just 81 games during his time at the Parc des Princes.
That deal quickly looked like something of a mistake for those of a Spurs persuasion, however, with the 5 foot 9 enigma proving rather "erratic" in truth, as described by pundit Teddy Sheringham following his club debut.
How much did Tottenham sell Aurier for?
Despite enjoying a solid record of eight goals and 17 assists in 110 appearances during his time in the capital, the former Toulouse man was something of a rash and reckless liability at times, notably earning two red cards while in a Tottenham jersey.
That 'erratic' nature was particularly evident during the 2021 Carabao Cup final defeat to Manchester City, with Aurier giving away the free-kick that led to the game's decisive goal, following a needless foul on Raheem Sterling.
That incident – which saw his defending branded "criminal" by ex-Spurs man Michael Dawson – seemingly epitomised his time at the club as a whole, with Sky Sports' Jamie Carragher subsequently dubbing the one-time Lens asset as "one of the biggest liabilities in Premier League football".
Following such a costly mistake, it was then no surprise that Aurier was moved on that summer amid the arrival of Emerson Royal, with Levy agreeing to terminate the player's contract a year early, thus seeing him walk away for nothing.
Where is Serge Aurier now?
Despite the criticism that the 30-year-old received during his four-year spell at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium – with Carragher branding him the type of player who would "put you off management" due to his "crazy decisions" – it only took 12 months for the experienced figure to return to English football, having joined newly-promoted Nottingham Forest last year after spending just a solitary season at Villarreal.
Bizarrely, it does look as if the £50k-per-week talent has proven a solid performer for the Tricky Trees after having been hailed as "a fantastic player with great quality" by teammate Chris Wood, following his brace of assists against Sheffield United earlier this season.
Across the last 365 days, he also ranks in the top 2% for both aerial duels won and clearances made among those in his position in Europe's top five leagues, as well as in the top 11% for tackles made, illustrating that perhaps improvements have been made to his defensive game under Steve Cooper.
Those strong showings at the City Ground will not, however, take away from Aurier's wretched record in north London, with his 2017 signing having proved particularly costly both on the pitch and financially for Levy and co.
Tottenham Hotspur are yet to make contact with former Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino, despite him being open to talks over a reunion.
What's the latest news on Pochettino and Spurs?
The 51-year-old has been consistently linked with a return to Spurs since the north Londoners announced Antonio Conte's mutually agreed departure. Pochettino is one of the big-name free-agent managers currently available for hire, alongside the likes of Luis Enrique, Julian Nagelsmann and Zinedine Zidane, with all four attracting interest from Tottenham.
Pochettino's possible return to Spurs is seen as a fan-favourite option, not least because the Lilywhites have arguably failed to really kick on since his exit in 2019. That same year, he guided Spurs to a first-ever Champions League final.
The former Southampton boss, though, is just one manager Spurs have been linked with and left-field options like Brendan Rodgers, who is also a free agent after leaving Leicester City, have not been ruled out completely.
As well as the Northern Irishman, chairman Daniel Levy is said to hold an interest in the likes of Oliver Glasner, Arne Slot, Roberto De Zerbi, Thomas Frank and Celtic's Ange Postecoglou.
mauricio-pochettino-harry-kane-tottenham-hotspur
Going back to Pochettino, a report by The Evening Standard has shared the latest on Tottenham and a possible reappointment of the Argentine. Indeed, it is believed that he is 'open to talks' over re-joining Spurs, but there's one problem.
Despite Pochettino's apparent eagerness to speak with his ex-club, Levy is yet to take any action, with the South American still waiting for contact.
Should Pochettino return to Tottenham?
If or when Spurs do make an approach, we believe he is exactly the kind of figure who could reignite a sense of positivity at N17 and steer Tottenham back in the right direction.
Pochettino already possesses proven Premier League experience at the Spurs helm and has worked with many of the club's current crop of players already – potentially ensuring a smooth transition from the Conte era.
Hailed as being a 'ruthless' tactician by talkSPORT reporter Alex Crook, Pochettino would return to Spurs with trophy-winning pedigree – having clinched a Ligue 1 title with PSG last year.
His status as a free agent who is open to making the move is yet another reason Levy should waste no time in opening talks with Pochettino.
As Chelsea threaten to poach Tottenham's other manager targets, their former boss could be the best solution for Spurs.
Glasgow Rangers head coach Michael Beale has enjoyed a terrific start to life in the Scottish Premiership since replacing Giovanni van Bronckhorst in the dugout earlier this season.
The English boss has won 12 of his 13 matches in the league, remaining unbeaten, and is still in contention to win the Scottish FA Cup before the end of the campaign.
Since arriving during the break for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Beale has leaned on the experience in his squad and this has led to Connor Goldson and Ben Davies establishing themselves as the first-choice centre-back pairing, despite the emergence of Leon King this season.
How has Leon King's season gone so far?
The talented Ibrox teen burst onto the scene under van Bronckhorst in the first half of the campaign and played 11 times in the Premiership before the Dutchman's exit.
However, the 19-year-old is yet to make a single appearance in any competition since Beale's arrival, although the youngster has been an unused substitute in 11 matches.
King may not be in favour at the moment but his early season form suggests that the enforcer has the potential to be a future star of Beale's team, with the Light Blues really set to strike gold with the academy graduate.
Indeed, the head coach will look to utilise his talents further down the line, but Davies and Goldson are understandably the preferred pairing in high-pressure matches due to their experience as the Gers compete for trophies.
At the start of the season, King had an Expected Transfer value on Football Transfers of €0.2m (£177k) in August 2022 and that has soared to a whopping €4.1m (£3.6m) at the time of writing (15/03/2023).
This means that his xTV has rocketed by a staggering 1934% in less than one full season of action at Ibrox, illustrating the incredible strides the young battler has taken this term.
King, who was once described as a "big Rolls-Royce" by former Gers defender Alan Hutton, has averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.84 and won 56% of his individual duels in the Premiership in 2022/23.
That rating places him higher in the squad than the likes of Scott Arfield, Glen Kamara, Allan McGregor, and Scott Wright, to name a few, showing that the teenager was a solid option for the club in the heart of the defence.
His exponential growth in the transfer market and the gem's performances in the Scottish top-flight at the age of just 19 suggest that Rangers have hit the jackpot by unearthing the youngster, and it does not seem likely that his cold spell will continue for too long if Beale is interested in helping him to develop further.
A big update has emerged on Sunderland's pursuit of a new striker as they appear to be closing in on a late swoop to bolster their squad before the summer transfer window slams shut.
What's the latest Sunderland transfer news?
According to journalist Igor Semyon, via the Sunderland Echo, Zorya Lugansk centre-forward Nazariy Rusyn is set for a medical on Wearside ahead of a move to the club before the deadline.
It is also stated that reports in Ukraine believe that an offer of up to €3m (£2.5m) has been lodged by the Black Cats, with a 20% sell-on clause also included within the deal.
The 24-year-old marksman is now said to be awaiting a work permit to go through before being able to officially complete his transfer to the Stadium of Light before Friday.
How good is Nazariy Rusyn?
He is an unproven quantity in English football but the talented finisher could be an exciting partner for current Sunderland star Jobe Bellingham if he is able to translate his form for Zorya over to Wearside.
The Ukraine U21 international, who has scored six goals in ten games at that level, enjoyed an impressive 2022/23 campaign as he showcased his ability as both a scorer and a creator of goals.
Rusyn caught the eye for Zorya with an excellent return of 13 goals and six assists in 30 Premier Liga outings, whilst the Black Cats target has also notched once in two league matches this season.
The £2.5m-rated has racked up 23 goals and 12 assists in 70 Premier Liga games throughout his career to date, which works out as a direct goal contribution every other clash.
His ability to be a provider from a number nine position could make him an exciting player to be deployed alongside Bellingham as the 17-year-old midfielder carries a goal threat.
The former Birmingham City prospect has scored two goals in four Championship matches so far this season and has missed two 'big chances', which shows that the teenage sensation is getting into the right positions in front of goal.
Bellingham, who scored five goals in 12 games at U18 level for his former side, could benefit from Rusyn's creativity as the Ukrainian ace's return of six assists last term was three more than any Sunderland striker managed.
Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray.
This suggests that the 5 foot 10 dynamo has the creative quality to lay on chances for his teammates at an impressive rate, which could provide the 17-year-old ace with the opportunities he needs to find the back of the net with greater regularity.
The Zorya star's 13-goal haul was also three more than any current Black Cats star produced in the Championship as Amad Diallo, who has since returned to Manchester United at the end of his loan spell, was the club's top-scorer with 14 and Ross Stewart was behind him with ten.
Rusyn could, therefore, be an outstanding scoring option for Tony Mowbray's side if he can carry that form over, or even improve upon it, to English football this season.
Just imagine the £2.5m gem and Bellingham lining up alongside each other in attack to cause constant problems for the opposition with their goalscoring potential.
Tottenham Hotspur extended their winning run in the Premier League to four matches with victory over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, maintaining their lead at the top of the table.
The meteoric rise under Ange Postecoglou's stewardship has been nothing short of exemplary, and against the Eagles, while not at their best, Spurs got the job done and brandished their title-winning credentials after securing a 2-1 victory.
Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou.
Whereby last season only brought misery and a fourth managerial dismissal in as many years following Antonio Conte's sacking in March, there is now a tangible possibility that silverware – a premium so agonisingly out of reach for so long at Tottenham – could be gleaned.
Spurs' win against Roy Hodgson's side means that eight victories have been collected from ten Premier League matches, having drawn the opener away to Brentford and again against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.
Tottenham's performance vs Crystal Palace
Palace were resilient and looked to stifle the away side's attacking verve through a cohesive, collective understanding of the match plan, and while they held their shape well for the lion's share of the first 45 minutes, the tactical tweaks in the second half swayed the odds in Spurs' favour.
Indeed, after a drab opening half, the away side knuckled down and started to thread their plan together, with James Maddison warming after an ineffective first 45 and Postecoglou's substitutions working well.
Ben Davies earned his first Premier League start of the campaign in the absence of Destiny Udogie, but the 30-year-old stalwart was hooked during the break and replaced by the more energetic Emerson Royal, who was in the thick of the action and actively progressed the play.
Maddison's whipped delivery, forcing an own goal, put the Lilywhites in the driving seat shortly after the break while Heung-min Son's eighth goal in seven Premier League matches confirmed that three points would be returning to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
With another win in the bag, Tottenham's manager praised the "disciplined" performance, and it was indeed the kind of composed and controlled display that was often elusively out of reach last term, as the north London club slumped to an eighth-placed league finish and conceded a staggering 63 goals.
Postecoglou deserves all the plaudits for the transformative effect that he has instilled, but there is little doubt that the signings made across the summer have been nothing short of superlative, with the likes of Maddison, Micky van de Ven and goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario steering the ship on course.
James Maddison was "superb" again
Maddison, of course, has been the standout so far since joining from Leicester City for £40m in the summer, having scored ten goals and supplied nine assists in the English top flight despite only starting 28 times as his outfit plummeted into the Championship.
This term, he has already posted three goals and five assists from the opening ten games of the Premier League term, winning August's Player of the Month award, and while he did not add to his tally at Selhurst Park, he was once more at the centre of the success.
Hailed for his "superb" link-up play by football.london's Alasdair Gold, the England international warmed into his role in the second half, and after forcing Joel Ward to turn into his own net, he served reliably as the conduit, ensuring his teammates had apt supplementation.
Metric
#
Minutes played
89
Touches
57
Pass completion
31/16 (86%)
Key passes
2
Ground duels won
4
Dribble attempts
1/3 (33%)
Tackles
1
Clearances
1
It was by no means his most impressive display for the club, but it is an illustration of how consistent his performances have been since the summer, and as Spurs march on, he will continue to serve as the centrepiece.
Maddison is the obvious player to shower effusive words upon, but it was the performance of Pape Sarr that perhaps went under the radar despite exhibiting the sheer collective value of this newly-vitalised team.
Pape Sarr is Postecoglou's true hero
Sarr, aged 21, moved to Tottenham from Metz in a £15m deal in 2021 but returned to the French side on a season-long loan, and while he sat on the periphery last season, he is now very much at the core of the midfield.
Praised for his “unbelievable” performance by scout Lee Mayes, who remarked at how well he "ran the whole midfield", the Senegalese starlet took 92 touches and completed 89% of his passes – very much omnipresent in his duties.
Making two interceptions and clearances apiece and succeeding with his one dribble, he was everywhere on that pitch and played a big part in both of Tottenham's goals, with Gold among those waxing lyrical after the match.
Gold said: "Forgot to mention Pape Matar Sarr, who was terrific again. Never stopped running, providing an outlet and using the ball well on the whole. Played a big part in the second goal and still mad to think he's only 21. He's only going to get better and better under Postecoglou."
Against Crystal Palace, he demonstrated a maturity and energy that evades all but the select few midfielders who sit atop the pile, and it really is frightening to consider how good he might become over the coming years.
Tottenham midfielder Pape Sarr.
As per FBref, the all-action midfielder ranks among the top 10% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for pass completion, the top 19% for assists, the top 18% for progressive passes and the top 20% for passes attempted per 90.
Frankly, there is so much more to come, and Tottenham really have unearthed a jewel in this rising star, who has been sensational in the early phase of the campaign and a large reason behind such a relentless start.
And while Tottenham are currently five points clear in their table-topping position, both Arsenal and Manchester City have the opportunity to close the gap this weekend.
Nonetheless, the job that Postecoglou has done so far has been remarkable, and there would have been scant optimism that such a position of strength could have been established mere months ago.
With gifted stars like Sarr in the centre, there is every possibility that this season's success will endure, and Tottenham will prevail.