Keith Panoramica

Former Tottenham Hotspur forward Clive Allen has offered to mentor Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane if the newly crowned Ballon d'Or winner pursues a second sporting career in the NFL. The England captain has long admired American football and remains open to trying his hand as a placekicker once he eventually hangs up his boots.

Spanish heavyweights Barcelona have revived their pursuit of Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Lucas Bergvall after the youngster struggled to command regular minutes in north London this season. Despite the 20-year-old Sweden international penning a fresh five-year extension only last month, top clubs across Europe are closely monitoring his situation.

Jamie Carragher has offered a blunt assessment of Harry Kane’s historic Ballon d’Or victory, suggesting the striker would have remained empty-handed had he stayed at Tottenham. The former Liverpool defender believes the England captain’s move to Germany was the essential catalyst for his individual recognition on the world stage.

Chelsea have been hit with a significant setback ahead of their midweek Carabao Cup clash against Liverpool, with Xabi Alonso confirming that Joao Pedro is set for a spell on the sidelines. The Brazilian forward was a surprise omission from the squad that faced Tottenham at the weekend and is now expected to miss several weeks of action.