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Frank Lampard would be an ideal successor to Thomas Tuchel when the England manager’s job next becomes available, former Coventry striker Matt Jansen has exclusively told GOAL. The Three Lions legend is in the process of rebuilding his reputation as a coach with Championship promotion hopefuls and could be a contender to step into a prominent international post at some stage.

Lampard's coaching career: Mixed bag from Chelsea legend

Former Chelsea midfielder Lampard, who won Premier League and Champions League titles with the Blues, cut his coaching teeth at Derby County. After suffering play-off heartache there, an emotional return to a spiritual home was enjoyed when inheriting the reins at Stamford Bridge.

Lampard opened up a pathway into the first team for several academy stars in west London, but was relieved of his duties in January 2021 after taking in 84 games at the helm. A tough time was then experienced at Everton before heading back to Chelsea on an interim basis towards the end of the 2022-23 campaign.

Some 17 months were spent away from the dugout at that point, before being lured back in by Coventry. Another near miss in the play-offs was endured last season, but the Sky Blues are now flying high at the top of the Championship table – boasting the last unbeaten record across the top four tiers of English football.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesFuture England boss? Lampard heading in the right directon

Lampard is seeing his stock rise once more, with it already being suggested that he will land another prominent Premier League post at some stage. He would also be a popular pick for England, with current boss Tuchel only working on an 18-month contract through to the end of the 2026 World Cup.

Quizzed on whether Lampard will come into contention for positions of that magnitude, ex-Coventry forward Jansen – who was dropped from England’s 2002 World Cup in dramatic circumstances – told GOAL when speaking in association with : "He's doing fantastic. They are top of the Championship at the minute. He took over there when they were struggling in the bottom half of the Championship and now they just missed out on going up through the play-offs and are now top of the league. I think they will get promoted.

"Whether he will get head-hunted if they do get promoted, possibly. I think England would be a good fit for him if Tuchel goes. The respect that he would get from the players for what he has done in the game and with England, I think he would be a really good fit."

England legends at the helm: Other names in the frame

Lampard is one of several Three Lions legends that are looking to reach the very top in coaching circles. Any one of those could one day find themselves calling shots with England. Jermain Defoe believes treading such a path is possible, with the former Tottenham striker having previously told GOAL: "I don't know if they are thinking on that kind of level. Lamps has gone back in at Coventry and is doing well. Felt like he needed that.

"There are people like Ashley Cole as well that are in the system. He's an amazing coach. The hard work that he has put in, I've seen behind the cameras all the hard work and graft that he put in with Chelsea, England and Birmingham. I’d like to see Ash at some stage get a job and then you never know. You never know with football. If that was to happen, Steven Gerrard becomes England manager, he's a legend in the game and it would be nice to see."

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GOALCoventry dare to dream after 25-year absence from the Premier League

Harry Redknapp has previously claimed that Gerrard and Lampard – the latter his nephew – could do the England job "standing on their head", with both deserving of an opportunity to show what they can do at that level.

Coventry will not want to part with Lampard's services any time soon, with dreams forming in the West Midlands of returning to the Premier League after a 25-year absence. The Sky Blues were last relegated out of the top tier in 2001 and dropped as far as League Two in 2017-18 before beginning their rise back up the divisions.

“I prefer not to speak. If I speak, I’m in big trouble,” Jose Mourinho famously muttered after a narrow defeat for Chelsea in 2014. That had to do with the refereeing in that game against Aston Villa. On Tuesday, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) captain Ajinkya Rahane said pretty much the same thing. “” (“If I say anything, it’ll create chaos).”He didn’t need to elaborate. After KKR fell short by just four runs in an IPL 2025 game where their spinners had little impact against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), the murmurs around the Eden Gardens surface, and whether it plays to the strengths of the home side, began swirling again.”Let me just keep it that way. curator publicity (this discussion has just given our curator a lot of publicity),” Rahane went on to add in the post-match press conference. “Whatever you’d like to write about home advantage, you can go ahead. If I have any concerns, I will talk to the IPL about it, rather than you guys, and discuss with the concerned authorities.”Related

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• Marsh, Pooran outgun KKR in high-scoring thriller

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With 238 playing 234, bowlers of all kinds were clattered around the park, but for KKR to not use all eight overs of spin at home went against popular wisdom. Sunil Narine was hit for two fours and three sixes in his three-over wicketless spell of 38. The other spinners on view – Varun Chakravarthy, Digvesh Rathi and Ravi Bishnoi – did complete their overs.Bishnoi, too, was hit for six fours and two sixes. While Varun and Rathi finished with their reputations intact, going at 7.75 and 9.25 respectively, and occasionally troubled the batters with their variations, there was little turn on offer in the afternoon game.”Firstly, there was no help for the spinners, let me clear that,” Rahane said when asked why Narine’s quota was not completed. “They used the longer boundary really well. Our bowlers tried as well, but again, Nicholas Pooran (87* in 36 balls) and Mitchell Marsh (81 in 48) batted really well. In between, they took their chances, which came off really well for them. It was a lovely wicket [to bat on], we all saw that, scoring almost 500 runs [472] on this track. Hard for the bowlers, but they used the conditions and the boundary well.”Rahane said that the KKR bowlers had plan against Marsh and Pooran, especially keeping in mind the lopsided boundary dimensions for this game – 57 metres to one side, 70 metres to the other – but felt the bowlers failed to land the balls in the right areas.”Sometimes what happens is, as a bowling unit, when we have that plan, it’s all about execution, and that didn’t happen tonight for us,” Rahane said. “Against strong, quality players like Pooran and Marsh, as bowlers, there is very little margin of error. I thought our plans were perfect, but we couldn’t nail that perfect yorker or wide slower ball. And they just capitalised on those slightly loose balls or easier balls.”Ajinkya Rahane felt there were enough positives to take back despite their four-run defeat•Associated Press

Rahane, though, felt there were enough positives to take back despite their four-run defeat, especially with their powerplay batting. He scored 61 in 35 balls himself, and his shots alongside those of Narine (30 in 13) and Venkatesh Iyer (45 in 29) kept KKR in the contest – they were 90 for 1 after the first six overs, their second-best IPL powerplay performance.”I thought we played really good cricket, you know. Chasing 239 and coming that close is never easy,” Rahane said. “Everyone’s intent and attitude was really positive when we came into the dressing room after 20 overs of bowling. And we thought we will chase it down. But these things happen, you know. When you’re chasing, you will lose two-three wickets in between.”I thought the way we started in the powerplay with Sunny’s intent and Venkatesh Iyer’s batting, their contribution was amazing. So we got more positives I feel. I always believe that whatever happened in this game, it’s past now. As long as we are learning from our mistakes and the good things we have done, that’s all.”KKR, now sixth on the points table with two wins in five games, next travel away to meet Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on April 11 in a short turnaround.

Lionel Messi made a bold claim when talking about the best player England have ever produced, naming a 114-cap star as the “greatest”, ahead of Wayne Rooney, Harry Kane and a storied list of strikers.

Messi continues to light up the global game

The great Argentine may now be 38 years of age but he’s continuing to perform remarkably well, standing the test of time compared to some of his peers.

He scored twice during Inter Miami’s recent 4-0 victory over Atalanta United in MLS, taking his tally across his last ten outings to nine goals and seven assists. He notably picked up a hat-trick of assists during their 4-1 win over New England Revolution at the beginning of October.

He also starred for Argentina in October’s international break. Although he did not score, Argentina defeated Puerto Rico 6-0.

The Inter Miami star is yet to decide whether he will go to the 2026 World Cup, but if he is able to do so, Argentina should be in a strong position to go all the way once again, having blitzed their way through qualification.

England, on the other hand, officially qualified for the tournament in America with a 5-0 win over Latvia. The Three Lions will be hoping 2026 is finally the year when football ‘comes home’, but talisman Harry Kane will need to be at his best.

England have a great recent record of producing top strikers, with Rooney scoring 53 goals in 120 international appearances, but Messi has suggested a different Liverpool-born player is the best-ever.

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Speaking after Steven Gerrard’s retirement in 2016, Messi picked Gerrard as England’s greatest player of all time.

Gerrard without doubt among England's best-ever players

It is arguably a bold claim to suggest Gerrard is the Three Lions’ greatest-ever player, but he is certainly in the conversation, given the instrumental role the 114-cap star played in Liverpool competing for major honours until the mid 2010s.

Of course, it will probably haunt the 45-year-old that he never managed to win the Premier League title, but the former Liverpool captain certainly wasn’t unsuccessful, winning 11 trophies during his time with his boyhood club, including the FA Cup in 2006.

Most famously, the Whiston-born midfielder instigated the comeback in arguably the greatest final in Champions League history, with the Reds coming from 3-0 down to beat AC Milan on penalties in 2005.

Not only did the Liverpool legend always step up when required, scoring a number of crucial goals in finals, but he has also received praise for the impact he had on his teammates, with Gerard Houllier once saying: “He is a natural born leader, a very inspirational leader. He is somebody you want to follow.”

Newcastle United rode into the summer transfer window on the crest of a wave, but the Magpies faithful have since been left with misgivings after wretched fortunes in the market.

So many transfer targets have been missed, and now, the all-inspiring talisman that is Alexander Isak is pushing to sign for Premier League champions Liverpool.

Though Newcastle lost the race against Manchester United for Benjamin Sesko, with a £73m deal agreed with RB Leipzig, there is still an impetus on Eddie Howe’s part to sign a high-level number nine this month.

Newcastle planning to sign a striker

The Athletic’s David Ornstein revealed on Friday that FC Porto striker Samu Aghehowa has emerged as a leading contender to improve Newcastle’s frontline this summer, albeit with talks of offers merely abstract things right now.

The truth is that Newcastle are chasing a number of targets, with Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson another to have emerged as an option.

However, the Senegalese international has been priced at an extortionate £80m, and though Chelsea might be inclined to drop that valuation, the 24-year-old has shown over two years in the Premier League that he is very much the unfinished article.

The list doesn’t end there. According to the Daily Mail’s Craig Hope, Newcastle are considering a move for Wolverhampton Wanderers star Jørgen Strand Larsen, though the Norwegian has a lofty price tag of his own, coming in at roughly £60m.

This is no small sum, but Howe might be inclined to prioritise a bid for the 25-year-old, who has more in his locker than Chelsea’s Jackson.

Why Newcastle should sign Strand Larsen

Wolves signed Strand Larsen on loan from Spanish side Celta Vigo last summer, sealing the forward on a permanent deal at the end of the 2024/25 season.

Though the Old Gold ebbed and flowed throughout the season, ultimately finding form under Vitor Pereira’s wing, Strand Larsen proved a success at the front of the ship, reliable and consistent in front of goal, notably posting seven goals and two assists across nine matches to see the year out.

This red-hot form is something Newcastle could do with, for sure, and it’s this which suggests he could be the better pick than Jackson, who has struggled for fluidity in the Premier League.

Jackson has his strengths, but his dynamic athleticism doesn’t do enough to place him above a clinical force like Strand Larsen, not when he’s missed 43 big chances across his two Premier League terms, only scoring 24 times in total.

Matches (starts)

35 (30)

30 (28)

Goals

14

10

Assists

4

5

Shots (on target)*

1.5 (1.0)

2.5 (1.2)

Big chances missed

13

19

Accurate passes*

8.4 (65%)

10.0 (77%)

Big chances created

6

6

Dribbles*

0.2

0.6

Tackles + interceptions*

0.5

0.8

Duels won*

3.0

3.0

Strand Larsen is not just more clinical in front of goal, but more economical too. Indeed, as the graphic earlier reveals, he hit the target more times per 90 than any other Premier League striker last season. As analyst Ben Mattinson noted, he’s simply a “proper No.9” in every sense.

Jackson might be more mobile and more dynamic, but the Norway international has proved himself as a prolific outlet, with a creative side too, for a team competing toward the lower end of the English top flight.

Howe’s system is steeped in swift, transitional tactics, but it needs a reliable focal point to finish off the chances created by Anthony Gordon, Anthony Elanga and the like.

Such speedy wingers would be perfect for a number nine like Strand Larsen, whose skill at being a “nuisance” for defenders, as remarked by Toon legend Alan Shearer, would see him prove a better signing than the wasteful Jackson.

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Newcastle are weighing up a bid for a new midfielder in the summer transfer market.

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West Ham United have set their sights on further reinforcements before the season gets underway and have now reportedly submitted an opening offer to boost their goalkeeper department.

West Ham set sights on new goalkeeper

In a relatively quiet summer by Premier League standards, West Ham have welcomed just three fresh faces in the form of Kyle Walker-Peters, El Hadji Malick Diouf and former Celtic youngster Daniel Cummings. It follows a busy window this time last year which ultimately failed to result in the progress that then-technical director Tim Steidten had in mind.

Now, with Mark Noble in the role of sporting director, the Hammers have taken a more cautious approach as Graham Potter aims to change his fortunes following a tough start to life in the West Ham technical area last season.

That’s not to say they don’t have targets in mind, however, and a new goalkeeper is seemingly among their priorities. According to talkSPORT’s Alex Crook, those at the London Stadium have launched a formal approach to sign Leicester City’s Mats Hermansen in a deal to bring the impressive goalkeeper straight back to the Premier League following relegation.

It certainly makes sense that West Ham have turned their focus towards welcoming another shot-stopper. After all, Alphonse Areola is now 32 years old and no longer has the competition of Lukasz Fabianski following the Pole’s departure at the end of last season.

Whether or not it’s Hermansen remains the question. The Leicester man is still just 25 and was one of few Leicester players who stood out in a campaign to forget last season.

However, it’s key to point out that he’s not the only name on West Ham’s shortlist.

West Ham submit "formal bid" to sign John Victor

According to Fabrizio Romano, West Ham have now submitted a “formal bid” to sign John Victor worth €8m (£7m) as they step up their search for a goalkeeper. The 6’5 Brazilian also has interest from Everton and Galatasaray, whilst Manchester United also monitored his progress in recent months, but it’s now the Hammers who are taking key steps towards his arrival.

Praised for a “phenomenal” tenure at Brazilian side Botafogo by South American football expert Nathan Joyes, Victor would be an impressive coup by West Ham.

At 29-years-old, the towering goalkeeper could finally have the chance to step into European football for the first time in his career and potentially take Areola’s starting place under Graham Potter.

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As an alternative option to Hermansen, the Botafogo would also bring experience at Club World Cup-level that the Leicester man would otherwise struggle to add to West Ham’s best side.

Former Bayern Munich star Mario Basler has stated that Nick Woltemade made a mistake by joining Newcastle instead of the German giants.

• Basler criticises Woltemade's move to Newcastle
• Ex-Bayern star believes German star will fail in England
• 56-year-old wanted Stuttgart forward to join Bavarians

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Basler believes Woltemade will have a tough time in the Premier League and that he should have either stayed in Stuttgart or joined Bundesliga giants Bayern. The Bundesliga champions made many attempts to buy him from Stuttgart, but were rejected each time. Stuttgart insisted that the player would stay at the club for another season, but Newcastle's approach at the end of August convinced them to let him go.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Newcastle turned to Woltemade to replace Swedish hitman Alexander Isak, who made a move to Liverpool. The Magpies paid a hefty sum of £69 million ($93m) to the Bundesliga outfit in the process and the move was criticised by Bayern's honorary president Uli Hoeness, who stated that the Premier League side have overpaid in signing the player. Now, Basler has criticised the transfer on his podcast, predicting the 23-year-old will fail in England.

• WHAT BASLER SAID

  Basler said: "Uli Hoeness said it correctly in Doppelpass: Woltemade isn't worth €90 million. And he'll have big problems in Newcastle. I don't think Woltemade will prevail in Newcastle. In my opinion, this move was the wrong one for Woltemade. Either he should have stayed in Stuttgart for another year or he should have gone to Munich. It all happened very quickly. An offer came in, and he was gone immediately. I think that was a huge mistake for the career of this young man, who certainly played a great six months. I think it was the wrong move. It wasn't the step for his career that would move him forward."

  He also suggested Woltemade could find himself on the bench if he does not thrive immediately in the Premier League, saying: "We saw that with [Niclas] Fullkrug [at West Ham], who eventually stopped playing."

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR WOLTEMADE?

  Woltemade is yet to feature for Newcastle, but could make his debut against Wolves at St James' Park on Saturday.

Arsenal are now expected to submit a bid for a Real Madrid target, with Mikel Arteta personally keen on securing his signature, according to a report.

Gunners in transfer tussle with Real Madrid

While they ultimately came up short against Paris Saint-Germain, the Gunners proved themselves to be a force to be reckoned with by dispatching of Real Madrid 5-1 on aggregate in the Champions League quarter-final last season.

As such, the Emirates Stadium should be an attractive destination for some top players this summer, with Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi thought to have chosen a move to north London ahead of remaining in Spain and signing for Xabi Alonso’s side.

Arteta is seemingly very keen to strengthen his midfield this summer, with Thomas Partey heading for the exit door, having also set his sights on Brentford’s Christian Norgaard, who has agreed to make the move across the capital.

However, Arsenal are also battling Madrid for the signature of a centre-back, namely Valencia’s Cristhian Mosquera, with a report from The Guardian revealing Arteta’s side are now hopeful of getting a deal over the line.

The Gunners boss has identified Mosquera as his main target as back-up for Gabriel and William Saliba, and the north Londoners are expected to make an improved offer for his services, having already seen a £16m bid knocked back by the Spanish side.

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Personal terms aren’t expected to be an issue, so a deal could be relatively straightforward if the Premier League side are willing to increase their bid slightly, with it previously being revealed that Valencia are looking to receive a fee of just £21m.

"Dominant" Mosquera impressing in La Liga

Football scout Ben Mattinson has been left very impressed by the 21-year-old’s performances for Valencia, having praised the youngster for his ability in duels and possession of the ball.

Despite still being in the early stages of his career, the Spaniard has already cemented himself as a key player for Valencia, making 37 appearances in La Liga last season, which indicates the centre-back could make an instant impact at Arsenal.

That said, it will be very difficult to dislodge Gabriel or Saliba in the starting XI, while Jakub Kiwior also impressed in the second half of the 2024-25 campaign, playing “exceptionally well” against Real Madrid, according to Martin Keown.

As such, bringing in a new centre-back shouldn’t be a priority for Arsenal, but signing Mosquera would provide them with greater strength in depth, in order to compete on all fronts next season.

Legspinner Jafer Chohan claimed a maiden five-wicket haul to help set Yorkshire up for a crucial win by seven wickets over fellow contenders Durham at Headingley, chasing only 108 to boost their Vitality Blast quarter-final hopes.Chohan, who turned 22 today, finished with a superb 5 for 14 from 3.4 overs as Durham were bowled out for 107 inside 17. He struck three times in the 15th over as Durham crumbled from 96 for 5 to 97 for 9 on a used pitch having elected to bat. They crept to three figures, but it wasn’t enough to prevent a fifth defeat in 11 – this one coming with 3.2 overs remaining as Adam Lyth top-scored with two sixes in 30.Durham, for whom Ben Raine top-scored with 33, started an overcast night fourth in the North Group but slipped out of quarter-final places as the Vikings chased with comfort to end a run of three straight losses and win for the fifth time in 11. A win at Lancashire tomorrow could put them in the top four qualification places.