Former England striker Gary Lineker has urged struggling Tottenham Hotspur to replace caretaker manager Igor Tudor with former boss Harry Redknapp to avoid Premier League relegation.

Spurs are currently just one point above the drop zone following a disastrous run of domestic form.

The north London club have lost three consecutive matches since the Croatian coach replaced Thomas Frank last month.

Their latest defeat came at home to Crystal Palace on Thursday, where a dramatic late collapse saw them concede three goals in 10 minutes.

A crisis of confidence

The capitulation against the Eagles was compounded by a red card for stand-in captain Micky van de Ven.

Reports suggest the dressing room is fractured, with Sky Sports claiming players are seething about the current situation behind the scenes.

Speaking on the Rest is Football podcast, Lineker insisted a radical change is necessary before a daunting trip to Liverpool this weekend.

‘A big personality’

The Match of the Day presenter believes bringing back a familiar face could provide the psychological boost required to secure top-flight survival.

Lineker stated that a bold appointment is needed to immediately lift the toxic atmosphere at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

“Honestly, I don’t think it would be a bad idea to bring someone like Harry Redknapp in,” said Lineker.
“I know it sounds a bit mad and he’s been out of the game for a while, but you know what he’s like, that big personality, lifting everybody in a moment of crisis.”

The case for a veteran return

The 77-year-old has been absent from professional management since leaving Birmingham City in 2017.

However, his reputation as an elite man-manager makes him an intriguing short-term option for a squad severely lacking belief.

With only nine games remaining to preserve their Premier League status, the Spurs hierarchy faces a defining decision.

Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou will return to mixed martial arts to face Philipe Lins on 16 May as part of Most Valuable Promotions’ inaugural MMA card on Netflix.

The five-round heavyweight bout serves as the co-main event to the headline clash between Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano.

It marks the Cameroonian fighter’s first appearance in the cage since he stopped Renan Ferreira in the first round to claim the PFL Super Fights title last October.

This latest announcement arrives just days after the renowned knockout artist confirmed his departure from the Professional Fighters League.

A new chapter on a global stage

He initially joined the PFL in 2023 on a unique contract that allowed him to pursue high-profile boxing matches alongside his mixed martial arts commitments.

During that brief stint, the 38-year-old nearly upset Tyson Fury before suffering a devastating stoppage loss to Anthony Joshua earlier this year.

“Stepping back into the cage isn’t just a return; it’s a reclamation.”

The former Parisian added that his return demanded a stage matching his ambition, noting that partnering with MVP and streaming giant Netflix ensures worldwide visibility.

Familiar heavyweight pedigree

Ngannou famously departed the Ultimate Fighting Championship in early 2023 following a bitter contract dispute, vacating the heavyweight championship he won by dismantling Stipe Miocic in 2021.

His upcoming Brazilian opponent boasts vast combat experience across the UFC, Bellator, and PFL promotions.

Lins recently enjoyed a four-fight winning streak as a light-heavyweight in the UFC before being released from his contract in March 2024.

“Francis is one of the most feared knockout artists the sport has ever seen, and his return to MMA instantly makes this a historic night.”

MVP co-founders Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian promised that adding arguably the best heavyweight in the world creates unprecedented star power for their debut mixed martial arts event.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are targeting an unprecedented escape from Premier League relegation after securing consecutive victories to narrow the gap to safety to 12 points.

The Molineux outfit currently sit at the bottom of the table and must make top-flight history to retain their eight-year status.

Despite impressive recent league wins against Aston Villa and Liverpool, they remain significantly adrift with a vastly inferior goal difference.

According to Opta, the West Midlands club still face a 99.9% probability of dropping into the Championship at the end of the season.

A statistical mountain to climb

No team in the Premier League era has ever recovered from such a significant deficit at this advanced stage of the campaign.

West Ham United previously set the benchmark in the 2007-08 season when they survived after being eight points from safety after 30 matches.

Leicester City famously provided another blueprint in 2014-15 by winning seven of their final nine fixtures to escape the drop zone.

To simply draw level with Nottingham Forest and West Ham in 17th and 18th place, the strugglers require a minimum of four victories while hoping their rivals fail to register a single point.

Edwards sparks Molineux revival

Manager Rob Edwards has undeniably injected fresh belief into the squad since replacing Vitor Pereira in November.

Following a difficult start of eight consecutive defeats, the former Middlesbrough boss has guided his team to 13 points in their last 12 league outings.

This recent points tally matches the return of top-half teams like Brighton and Newcastle United over the exact same period.

A dramatic improvement in work rate has underpinned this revival, with the team collectively running an average of 7.8 kilometres more per match.

Building crucial momentum

The physical transformation was evident when they outran Arsenal during a spirited 2-2 draw, covering over 114,000 metres collectively.

Defensive solidity has also improved, highlighted by restricting a misfiring Liverpool attack to just 0.62 expected goals during Tuesday’s 2-1 triumph.

Although the Reds quickly gained revenge with a 3-1 FA Cup victory on Friday, the domestic league focus remains absolute.

Another vital victory against Brentford next Monday would provide essential momentum as they attempt the impossible.

Max Verstappen could walk away from Formula 1 due to intense frustration with the newly introduced 2026 car regulations following a chaotic Australian Grand Prix.

The Dutchman endured a highly difficult season-opening race weekend in Melbourne.

He suffered a bizarre crash during Saturday’s qualifying session and has been heavily critical of the new energy-dependent machinery.

Red Bull’s star driver previously likened the new era of cars to “Formula E on steroids”.

Mounting frustration with new rules

When asked if the sport should be worried about his potential departure, he refused to rule out an early exit.

“I think what they should worry about is the rules, just focus on that.”

The multi-time world champion is reportedly pushing hard behind the scenes for immediate changes.

He stressed that his vocal criticism stems from a deep, underlying passion for motorsport.

The Red Bull driver stated he wants the series to feel like “Formula 1 on steroids” instead of its current iteration.

Alternative racing options

A departure from the pinnacle of single-seater racing would not spell the end of his motorsport career.

The prolific racer is already set to compete in an endurance race at the Nurburgring later this year.

With his team currently trailing a dominant Mercedes outfit under the new rules, a quick fix appears unlikely.

If his machinery remains uncompetitive, a move to another racing discipline becomes a highly realistic scenario.

A brutal blow for the sport

Formula 1’s next major regulation overhaul is not scheduled until the 2030 season.

He would only be 33 years old by the time those future rules are officially implemented.

Given his immense talent, a route back into the championship would almost certainly remain open.

However, losing their biggest box-office star would represent a devastating setback for the sport’s executives.

The Miami Dolphins have announced they will release quarterback Tua Tagovailoa at the start of the new NFL league year, incurring a record-breaking $99m salary cap hit.

A team statement released on Monday confirmed the departure of the left-handed quarterback, who was benched with three games remaining last season.

The move carries enormous financial implications for the Florida franchise, creating the largest dead money penalty in National Football League history.

By designating the departure as a post-June 1 transaction, the organisation will be able to split the unprecedented financial burden over two years.

Seeking a sustained winner

Miami general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan stated the decision is part of a broader strategy to revamp the squad and establish a stronger foundation.

“As we move forward, we will be focused on infusing competition across the roster and establishing a strong foundation for this team as we work towards building a sustained winner,” Sullivan said.

The strategic release designation means the team will absorb an estimated $67.4m dead salary cap hit during the 2026 season alone.

A challenging final campaign

The former first-round draft pick struggled to maintain consistency during his final campaign under center for Miami.

He recorded 20 passing touchdowns but also threw a career-high 15 interceptions across 14 appearances before ultimately losing his starting role.

This drastic roster move highlights the franchise’s urgent desire for stability and a fresh direction at the sport’s most important position.

Mercedes driver George Russell has urged the FIA to rethink new regulations following his victory at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.

The 28-year-old overcame a difficult start to finish ahead of Ferrari rival Charles Leclerc and team-mate Kimi Antonelli.

Despite claiming the 25th podium and sixth win of his career, the championship favourite expressed serious concerns regarding handling issues.

‘Straight mode’ raises safety fears

At the heart of the debate is a newly introduced ‘straight mode’ engineered into the cars for the current campaign.

This setting allows for significantly increased speeds on straights but drastically reduces front-end downforce and steering control.

Heavy battery consumption is also a major concern for teams managing the revised power units.

Several competitors experienced dramatic incidents during a chaotic race weekend down under.

Chaos and early retirements

Safety marshals were forced to intervene on track when debris detached from Sergio Perez’s wing.

McLaren driver Oscar Piastri suffered an early retirement after a power surge and cold tyres sent him crashing into the wall on the formation lap.

Veteran Spaniard Fernando Alonso also withdrew, citing extreme car vibrations that threatened permanent nerve damage.

Russell warns of yo-yo effect

Speaking to the media after his triumph, the British driver acknowledged the thrilling nature of the race but highlighted severe technical deficits.

“I’m feeling incredible, it was a hell of a fight at the beginning!”
“We had this suspicion that it was gonna be a bit of a yo-yo effect, and as soon as one of us got in front, it just felt impossible to hold it.”
“With this straight mode, we lose a lot of the front end on the car, so we’re sort of just understeering a lot around these corners.”

The race winner hopes the governing body will address these understeering issues before the paddock moves to Shanghai for the Chinese Grand Prix next weekend.

The Colorado Avalanche have acquired Nazem Kadri while the Minnesota Wild secured multiple veterans as the NHL trade deadline closed ahead of the playoffs.

The 2026 trade window has officially concluded with the league’s top contenders significantly strengthening their squads.

The Central Division, which boasts three of the top four teams in the NHL, saw the most intense activity.

The Dallas Stars, currently sitting second in the overall standings, had already added Tyler Myers and Michael Bunting earlier in the week.

However, their divisional rivals responded with aggressive moves of their own as the deadline approached.

Minnesota build on Hughes acquisition

The St Paul-based franchise ignited the market back in December by bringing in standout defenceman Quinn Hughes.

The American Olympic gold medallist has proven instrumental in transforming the roster into genuine Stanley Cup contenders.

To bolster their push, the fourth-placed side added several key pieces in the final week:

The latter move unites the experienced forward with his brother Marcus for the first time in their professional careers.

Avalanche solve centre dilemma

Meanwhile, the 2022 Stanley Cup champions have answered a long-standing question regarding their attacking depth.

“Who will replace Nazem Kadri as the second-line centre on the Avs?”

That seasons-long question was finally answered with a dramatic buzzer-beating trade with the Calgary Flames.

The returning centre, who famously brought the sport’s greatest prize to a mosque four years ago, is back in Denver.

His arrival restores formidable depth down the middle, joining Nathan MacKinnon, Brock Nelson and Nic Roy.

This creates a daunting prospect for any postseason opponent emerging from the notoriously difficult Central Division bracket.

Ducks surprise as Eastern races heat up

Elsewhere, the Anaheim Ducks shocked the hockey establishment by securing Washington Capitals stalwart John Carlson.

The Californian outfit are now strongly positioned to end an eight-year absence from the playoffs.

In the Eastern Conference, activity remained surprisingly subdued despite a fierce scramble for qualification spots.

New regulations regarding double salary retention may have hindered negotiations for several ambitious general managers.

The Buffalo Sabres hold the longest active postseason drought at 14 years, while the Detroit Red Wings have yet to host playoff hockey in their current arena.

Both historic franchises currently hold playoff positions and are desperate to maintain their form as the final stretch begins.

Liverpool forwards Federico Chiesa and Trey Nyoni were absent from Monday morning’s training session ahead of Tuesday’s crucial Champions League fixture against Galatasaray.

The Italian winger and the teenage midfielder were notable absentees as manager Arne Slot finalised his tactical preparations for the European tie.

Both players were recently involved in the matchday squad for Friday night’s FA Cup encounter against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

During that domestic cup fixture, the 17-year-old academy prospect made a second-half appearance from the substitutes’ bench.

Nyoni absence explained as Chiesa omission remains unclear

Nyoni’s omission from the senior session is understood to be a routine recovery measure after he featured for the Under-21 side on Sunday.

However, the precise reason behind the former Juventus attacker’s failure to participate at the training ground remains unspecified.

Slot will now likely have to formulate his attacking strategy without the services of the summer signing.

Crucial European points on the line

The Merseyside club face the Turkish giants aiming to secure another vital victory in the league phase of the continental competition.

Managing squad rotation and minor knocks continues to be a delicate balancing act for the Dutch head coach during a severely congested winter schedule.