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A new Celtic manager update has emerged from Parkhead following Martin O’Neill’s first defeat as interim boss.

O’Neill’s comments after suffering first loss back at Celtic

The Hoops, after back-to-back wins over Falkirk and Rangers, suffered their first loss under O’Neill on Thursday evening. Celtic’s hopes of prolonging their Europa League campaign into the knockout stages suffered a major blow after they lost 3-1 to FC Midtjylland.

Reo Hatate’s late penalty was only a consolation for O’Neill’s side, and the interim boss said his side were handed a reality check following the defeat.

“It was a tough evening, there’s no question about it. We conceded two goals within a minute or 90 seconds of each other and the game goes away from you very, very quickly.

“They score a third and it’s a long way back. The goals that we conceded weren’t good. But in terms of European football, they’re a very fine side, there’s no question about it.”

The Hoops only have four points after four games in Europe, but O’Neill added: “I suppose I probably always thought that 10 points would probably get you (through), so we’re not out of it.

“That’s a big lesson for us tonight, to know what it takes to be a really decent European team.”

There have been claims that O’Neill’s relationship with Dermot Desmond has been viewed as crucial to his return, which could be extended longer, something which the Irishman is willing to do.

Now a new update has now emerged regarding O’Neill and Celtic.

O’Neill in "driving seat" for Celtic job

According to Football Insider journalist Pete O’Rourke, O’Neill is in pole position to keep the Celtic job on a full-time basis that could even stretch beyond the end of the season, should he wish.

O’Neill has never shied away from his love for Celtic following his successful period in charge between 2000-2005 and was recently called “amazing” by Ian Wright.

English League Cup

1997, 2000

Scottish Premiership

2001, 2002, 2004

Scottish Cup

2001, 2004, 2005

Scottish League Cup

2000

UI Cup

2008

Now, he could be in line for a longer stint than he and many were expecting at Parkhead. There are other options for Celtic, though.

Celtic top target McKenna "wants" Hoops job, frontrunner with 57 y/o manager

Patrick Mahomes was fired up Wednesday night at Kauffman Stadium.

During the bottom of the fifth inning of the Kansas City Royals' Game 3 matchup against the New York Yankees in the ALDS, outfielder Kyle Isbel doubled to bring home a run. The next batter, Michael Massey, then hit a game-tying triple to bring home Isbel and even the score 2–2.

Mahomes, watching alongside his wife Brittany Mahomes in a suite, was absolutely elated watching the fifth-inning rally. He ran around the box in celebration and got in the face of his longtime buddy Gehrig Dieter, a former Kansas City Chiefs receiver and lifelong Yankees fan, to talk some trash.

Mahomes, of course, plays across the street at Arrowhead Stadium for the Chiefs. But he also has a stake in the Royals, as he bought 1% of the team in 2020.

The Royals haven't been in the postseason since winning the World Series in 2015 when Mahomes was just a sophomore at Texas Tech.

Regardless if Kansas City pulls off the win Wednesday night, the Royals will host New York again Thursday night at Kauffman Stadium for Game 4.

As for Mahomes? He'll likely be back in the building Thursday night, as the Chiefs are enjoying their bye week after a perfect 5–0 start to the 2024 season.

Shubman Gill feels the combination of flat pitches and the quick-to-go-soft Dukes ball is taking away from the essence of Test cricket in England.After India managed to take 20 wickets – 15 of them in bursts with three new balls – to level the series 1-1, he was asked what he thought of these conditions that happen to have coincided with the Bazball era in England.”It gets very difficult for the bowlers,” Gill said. “Even more than the [pitch], the ball is going soft and out of shape very quickly. I don’t know what it is – weather, [pitches] or whatever – but it gets very difficult for the bowlers to get wickets in these conditions. As a team, when you know it is difficult to get wickets and runs are coming easily, a lot of things are out of your control.Related

• Akash Deep ten-for seals statement win for India

• Breaking Baz – India cook up the perfect new-ball formula

“I think there should be a little help at least. If the ball is doing something, you enjoy playing. If you know there is only 20 overs of any help and then you have to spend the rest of the day on the defensive, thinking how to stop runs, then the game loses its essence.”Gill, though, joked that he didn’t mind the relief as a batter after having had a baptism in spicier conditions around the world. In the first Test at Headingley, in pretty much similar conditions, India left runs out in the middle through some casual batting from the lower order. Gill took it upon himself to lead by example after having holed out on 147 in the first innings of the previous Test.”Sometimes, especially when you are the captain, I think you need to lead by example so that whenever there is another player in that situation, you can command to that player,” Gill said after scoring 269 and 161 at Edgbaston. “This is what the team requires right now and you always have to put the team first rather than your personal desires. Or sometimes you want to try some things, but I think if you put the team ahead of you, you will always walk in the right direction or walk on the right path and that’s what I wanted to do in this match.”If a good ball gets me out, it gets me out, but as long as I’m there, I want to play as long as possible.”Having seen the might of India’s batting somewhere near its ruthless best, Gill joked he didn’t expect England to roll out such a flat track again. That was when he was asked whether he missed Kuldeep Yadav’s wristspin during those dreadful middle overs. He said it wasn’t easy for him to leave out a bowler of the quality of Kuldeep, but he felt he needed a bit of the batting depth that Washington Sundar could – and did – provide.Shubman Gill with his Player of the Match medal•Getty Images

India are not used to playing such long Test matches. The tracks at home aid spin, and when India play away, they are handed green seamers. When asked what he had learnt from these rare back-to-back Tests that practically went to the last session, Gill said India were pleased most of the time was spent by them batting.”Definitely helped us in a massive way,” Gill said. “I would say [there are] not many Test matches when we play in India [that] go for five days. But, luckily, most of the days when we are playing here, we are batting and not fielding, so that’s good for us. Even in the first innings, I think we fielded for about 90 overs, which is about a day. So I think that’s good. I think even in the series, in the upcoming matches, if you’re able to score runs consistently and post around 400 or 300 totals, we will always be in the game.”Gill was full of praise for the bowlers that made sure that India didn’t have to field for too long. “They were absolutely magnificent for us,” Gill said of Akash Deep and Mohammed Siraj. “[They] took 16-17 [17] wickets [together]. That itself is a big, big achievement coming into this Test match, especially without Jasprit [Bumrah] . There were a lot of questions if we would be able to take those 20 wickets. And the way these two guys delivered was just outstanding. I have no words to describe.”Gill said these were the best players in the country, and he believed that any bowling combination selected from the squad of 16 would be able to take 20 wickets anywhere in the world.

Tom Westley and Michael Pepper combined for a 215-run sixth-wicket partnership that frustrated Hampshire and ultimately saved Essex from suffering their third Rothesay County Championship defeat of the season.The pair came together at 131 for 5, still 26 runs short of making Hampshire bat again, and were not parted for nearly three-and-a-half hours. Slowly but surely they took the game out of the visitors’ grip that had looked strong after gaining a first-innings lead of 157. Pepper was the hare to Westley’s tortoise, but both batters clocked up contrasting centuries, Westley his 30th in red-ball cricket and Pepper his highest first-class score.When handshakes were exchanged to signal the draw at 4.50pm, the Essex captain had batted for all but 12 overs of the 119 Essex faced in their second innings. He had struggled for runs this summer but his unbeaten 322-ball 130, with 12 boundaries, showed a high level of self-discipline and application.While Westley had dug in doggedly, Pepper changed the tempo of the innings with some big-hitting before he was eventually dismissed for 140 from 154 balls, including 20 fours and a six. Pepper had also played a similar key role in partnership with Matt Critchley to help Essex secure an equally unlikely draw against Yorkshire last month.Hampshire spinner Liam Dawson added two early wickets in the morning to the pair he had in the bag overnight, but while whirling away for a marathon stint of 41 overs could not improve on figures of 4 for 82.Essex had started the day requiring 49 more runs to make Hampshire bat again – or remain all day at the crease to hang on for the draw with seven wickets in hand.Hampshire hopes were high when overnight batsman Critchley was undone by a delivery from Dawson that turned and caught him on the instep of his front leg. He had dug in for an hour and a half for his 19, and had earlier set the tone for the opening exchanges by finally claiming the first run of the day from the 29th ball.Westley was particularly watchful, adding just a single to his overnight 50 in the opening 51 minutes and 35 balls before he went on the backfoot and drive Eddie Jack for a boundary. His concentrations was such that he added just 20 runs from 65 balls in the morning session.First-innings centurion Charlie Allison was slightly more expansive with two fours in 31 balls before he pulled Dawson to short midwicket. That wicket fell at 11.59am; the next came at 4.30pm.A sweep off Dawson for four by Pepper eased the Essex total into the black. It was at that point Pepper put his foot on the gas. He took 15 from an over by James Fuller, including a big yahoo for six.Pepper then cut Jack for another boundary that brought up the fifty partnership with Westley in 11 overs, of which the wicketkeeper-batsman contributed 42. Pepper’s own half-century, reached with his eighth four, driven to long leg, took just 43 balls. The pair took another 13 overs to pass three-figures together.Westley’s strike-rate increased in the hour after lunch when he added the 30 runs he required to reach his century, realised with a lofted drive off Dawson for his 11th boundary.Pepper was not long in following suit, a thick edge off Jack racing away to the third-man boundary took him to second century of the season. It also brought up 150 runs scored between the pair in 40 overs.A contrast in the pace at which the two batters had scored was shown starkly when Pepper caught up with Westley when both had 108; Pepper had got there in 152 balls fewer.However, Pepper’s knock came to an end when he attempted to launch Tom Prest out of the ground but only found Kyle Abbott on the long-leg boundary.

Club currently sit bottom of Division Two after winless start to County Championship season

ESPNcricinfo staff13-May-2025Keaton Jennings has stepped down as Lancashire red-ball captain with immediate effect, with the club sitting bottom of Division Two in the County Championship. Marcus Harris, the club’s Australian overseas signing, will take over as interim captain.Lancashire are winless after five games of the Championship season, having drawn four and lost one. They succumbed to a three-day defeat against Northamptonshire at the weekend, prompting the club’s management to issue an apology to supporters on Tuesday morning, in which director of cricket performance, Mark Chilton, described their form as “not acceptable” and said Lancashire would “make necessary changes” to improve the situation.That has led to Jennings relinquishing the captaincy in Championship cricket, although he will continue to lead the Blast side. Appointed in 2023, he was the team’s leading first-class run-scorer last year, with 1006 at 45.72, but couldn’t prevent relegation. So far this season, he has made 337 runs at 33.70 with two half-centuries.Related

Stand-in captain Harris signs contract extension at crisis club Lancashire

Harris dominates for Lancashire with unbeaten 165

Harrison spins it for Northants after Sanderson onslaught

“It’s been a huge honour to lead Lancashire Cricket in the Championship over the last couple of seasons, a club with rich history that I hold dear to my heart,” Jennings said. “This has not been an easy decision, however after reflection and conversations with the management, I believe the team will benefit from a change of captaincy.”My passion and commitment to serving Lancashire has not and will never change. Our current position in the table is not reflective of our commitment as a team and club to winning. I recognise the best way for me to serve the club is to continue to score big runs at the top of the order and put in match-winning contributions. I feel as though the team will benefit from this change and it will help to drive us forward.”I will of course provide Marcus with as much support as he wants throughout the rest of the County Championship. I know that the team is focused on our collective goal of getting Lancashire back to winning four-day cricket.”Harris is currently the leading Championship run-scorer in either division with 749 at 83.22, including three hundreds. He will be assisted in charge of the red-ball team by vice-captain, Josh Bohannon, and James Anderson, England’s all-time leading Test wicket-taker who is expected to make his first appearance of the season in the next round of games, starting on Friday.Chilton added: “Keaton has given his total commitment to the captaincy since taking over in 2023 and remains a key figure in the dressing room.”His experience and professionalism will continue to be invaluable, and I would like to thank Keaton for his service as Lancashire’s County Championship captain in recent years. We hope that the change in captaincy will allow him to concentrate fully on his batting and take some weight off his shoulders.”Marcus will provide an alternative perspective to leadership and, although relatively new to the group, he has worked with Dale [Benkenstein] before, and everyone has seen his impact on the team’s performance in the first five games of this season. We are also hopeful that James Anderson can get back on the field adding vast experience and leadership into the side.”Lancashire’s head coach Dale Benkenstein is under growing pressure•Getty ImagesForemost among Lancashire’s issues so far this season has been an inability to take wickets at home – in three games at Emirates Old Trafford, they have only bowled the opposition out once. Their next two fixtures are against Derbyshire, at home, and Leicestershire, currently second and first respectively in Division Two.John Abrahams, chair of the cricket development committee, said the board retained faith in the coaches, led by Dale Benkenstein.”The Lancashire Cricket Board remains fully behind the coaching group, and we want members to know that the club will do whatever the cricket department needs to effect change quickly,” Abrahams said. “We continually look at different ways we can improve the squad, whether that be loan or permanent additions to the squad.”We are also working closely with the grounds team to look at how we can perform better at Emirates Old Trafford, having experienced the challenging conditions to bowl teams out twice.”I’d like to thank the members for their continued support of the club, and we all hope to see a change of fortunes for the team in the next couple of weeks in the County Championship, ahead of the Vitality Blast starting at the end of this month.”

Centuries to Jimmy Peirson and Jack Wildermuth have given Queensland a strengthening pulse as they aim to return to Adelaide for the Sheffield Shield final.Looking shot at stumps on day two, Queensland have batted themselves back into the complicated equation that will decide who plays top side South Australia in the final.By reaching 330 inside 100 overs in their first innings on Monday, Queensland picked up vital batting bonus points against SA at Karen Rolton Oval.Assuming their match ends on Tuesday with a tame draw, Queensland will return to play SA in the final at the same venue – provided neither New South Wales somehow beat Tasmania or Western Australia produces a miracle chase against Victoria.Queensland started the last round in second place, but SA’s imposing 614 for 7 declared set the agenda and then the visitors crashed to 110 for 5 by the end of day two.Peirson combined with Michael Neser, who made a vital 68, to stop the rot in Monday’s morning session, putting on 109 for the sixth wicket.Then Wildermuth cut loose, belting 104 from only 90 balls, with 11 fours and three sixes, as he and Peirson racked up 151 in their seventh-wicket stand.Most importantly, Peirson and Wildermuth took the score to 356 after 100 overs to secure 1.56 batting bonus points, which made up for only securing 0.4 bowling bonus points in the first innings.Wildermuth and then Peirson were dismissed after their jobs done. Peirson played an outstanding knock, top-scoring with 128 in 281 balls with nine fours and a six.Queensland were dismissed for 370 and predictably, South Australia batted again given a result is unlikely.Nathan McAndrew, who ripped through Queensland’s top order, Henry Thornton and Lloyd Pope took three wickets apiece.Neser was rested for the remainder of Monday’s play, clearly with an eye to the final, as Queensland nervously monitored scores from the WACA and Bellerive.SA reached 66 for 2 at stumps in their second innings, with Jason Sangha (24) and Nathan McSweeney (eight) looking for pre-final batting practice on the final day.

The LSG opener admitted there is temptation to want to bat like Pooran and Marsh but his best chance of success was to bat his way

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Apr-20251:14

Jaffer: Pooran hands down the best T20 batter at this point

Aiden Markram had a slow start to IPL 2025. But in his last three matches, he has scores of 58, 47 and 53, which have played their part in Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) registering a hat-trick of wins.He is a key part of their high-scoring top order along with Nicholas Pooran and Mitchell Marsh.”Yeah, definitely slow [start to the campaign],” Markram said after being named Player of the Match against Gujarat Titans (GT) on Saturday. “You want to start this competition sort of ahead of the game, but unfortunately [I] fell a bit behind. But slight change of role [from a middle-order player last IPL] and probably just getting accustomed to that again and being up top and having the complete freedom to play your game and take the bowlers on. So, didn’t come off in the first few, but grateful that the last couple of matches have been a bit better.”Markram said that sticking to his game, and not trying to emulate Pooran and Marsh’s approach of hitting “sixes for fun” has helped him find his form.Related

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“Schedules are packed obviously, so you’re sort of just hopping around, playing lots of cricket and conditions always changing and things like that. So, there’s lots to take in, but ultimately you need to stick true to your game,” he said. “There’s guys that can hit sixes for fun. That might not be my strength, so [you] back what you’re good at. So, if it comes off, the team can benefit from that.”Markram said one could “very easily” get sucked into trying to play differently with team-mates like Pooran and Marsh. “So, initially in the competition, I sort of thought I need to remould my game and find a way to really clear the boundaries as often as they do, but you always end up going back to your strengths as a player.”If it’s good enough for selection, then you get back. If not, you completely understand. So, I think it’s quite important to stick true to things like that and if the team can benefit and you can come up for the team, obviously that’s the most important thing.”Marsh missed the match against GT as his daughter was unwell, and LSG captain Rishabh Pant opened in his absence. Markram and Pant put on a 65-run stand in 6.2 overs before Pooran came in and continued his stunning form, which has kept him at the top of the run chart since he got there,Aiden Markram hit a 31-ball 58 against Gujarat Titans•Associated Press”Unfortunately, Mitch didn’t play today and obviously Rishabh stepped up to play [at the top]. What was important for us was that partnership,” Pooran said after the game. “Aiden continuing his good form throughout the season, it’s nice to see him get a start and obviously carry on. He would have liked to go to the end as well, but we obviously take that.”GT tried to tempt Pooran into targeting the longer boundary by bringing on left-arm spinner R Sai Kishore in the tenth over. The gambit didn’t pay off, with Pooran hitting him for three sixes off four balls.Pooran said that while batting at No. 3, a batter has to sometimes consolidate, but also “target their goal”.”Today I was lucky that obviously they brought Sai on to bowl to me, obviously with the big side [on the leg side],” Pooran said. “Yes, I can hit the ball in the air and get out as well but for me that was definitely a match-up and I had to be brave and take my match-up and try to pull the game. So today was just one of those days that it came off for me.”

MatériaMais Notícias

Desde a fatídica final da Copa Sul-Americana em 2012, quando o Tigre não quis jogar o segundo tempo após uma confusão entre os jogadores e o São Paulo foi declarado campeão, as equipes não se encontravam no estádio do Morumbi. Mas nesta terça-feira (27), na vitória por 2 a 0, a situação foi diferente.

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As provocações existiram, é fato, e o Tigre terminou a partida. Mas estas provocações foram bem mais amenas. Se na Argentina, os torcedores do Tigre receberam as delegações com pedras (que acertaram o ônibus da equipe argentina por engano), na casa tricolor foi mais pacífico. Além das típicas vaias nas chegadas dos ônibus dos rivais, existiram faixas na frente do estádio também. Nelas, a frase: ‘Pelo fim da maldição. Joguem o segundo tempo. Em 12/12/2012, você correu’.

E chegamos ao fatídico intervalo. A 'maldição' se quebrará daqui a 15 minutos? Vamos ver. #lanceMORUMBI pic.twitter.com/PRAt7zUprr

— Gabriel Santos (@ga_obiel) June 28, 2023

Dentro de campo, as vaias permaneceram. A delegação do Tigre chegou bem cedo no estádio, por volta das 19h30 (de Brasília). Primeiro, uma equipe realizou o reconhecimento do gramado. O Morumbi ainda estava vazio, então sem reações. Mas na hora do aquecimento, cerca de uma hora antes da partida, os goleiros do time argentino foram recebidos por fortes vaias e xingamentos também.

IMPERDÍVEL! Transmissão ao vivo dos jogos do Tricolor na Sul-Americana por apenas R$1,00!

Para os tricolores apaixonados: produtos a partir de R$39,90 na FutFanatics!

Veja tabela da Copa Sul-Americana

Mas o clima se intensificou quando Leizza foi expulso. Logo na dura entrada em um dos xodós da torcida, Pablo Maia, o estádio explodiu. Muitos gritos e vaias. Quando a expulsão aconteceu, de fato, a reação foi mais forte. Muitas reclamações, e a torcida chegou até a cantar mais alto para apoiar o jovem volante. Mas não teve jeito, Pablo Maia deixou o gramado de maca.

A torcida do Tigre ocupou uma pequena parte do setor destinado aos visitantes, e mesmo com várias faixas, mal fizeram barulho. De acordo com relatos ouvidos no estádio, houve até mesmo uma caravana para chegar ao Morumbi, com crianças presentes.

Torcida do Tigre por aqui também! #lanceMORUMBI pic.twitter.com/FiufmtpsPu

— Izabella Giannola (@bellaxgiannola) June 27, 2023

Na volta do segundo tempo, a provocação são-paulina seguia no mesmo tom pacífico. Algumas vaias quando os jogadores adversários realizavam alguma ação na partida, e logo após os dois gols que garantiram a vitória do Tricolor, até gritos de ‘olé’ nos minutos finais.

Mas como esperado, o jogo seguiu sem grandes problemas. Como o Lance! apurou nesta segunda-feira (26), o próprio São Paulo já esperava que fosse um clima mais tranquilo. Mesmo com os ataques com pedras na Argentina, a delegação tricolor foi bem recebida pelo Tigre – e o mesmo aconteceu no Morumbi. No final da partida, os jogadores se cumprimentaram como de costume e foram embora.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Santos conquistou a vitória sobre o Internacional, em jogo válido pela 9ª rodada do Brasileirão Feminino. O triunfo por 2 a 1 se desenhou com gols de Cristiane e Brena para o time da Vila Belmiro, enquanto as gaúchas marcaram com Priscila. O resultado coloca as Sereias na 6ª posição da tabela e mantém as atletas na zona de classificação para a próxima fase.

Dentro da Vila Belmiro, a bola começou a rolar e não demorou muito para o placar ser aberto. Aos 13′, Brena deu chapéu na marcação, passou para Ketlen, a camisa 7 alçou a redonda na área e Cristiane conferiu de cabeça. Dois minutos depois, o empate das Coloradas surgiu após Priscila acertar um chute no canto direito da goleira Camila.

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+ATUAÇÕES: Mendoza tem grande atuação e comanda vitória do Santos na Vila

O gol decisivo só foi sair no segundo tempo. Aos 25′, Brena recebeu ótimo passe de Thaisinha e só precisou escorar para poder correr pro abraço.

Agora, as Sereias se preparam para enfrentar o Cruzeiro na próxima rodada. O duelo acontecerá no próximo sábado (6), às 15h. No mesmo dia, as coloradas vão atrás dos pontos contra o Palmeiras, a partir das 11h.

Tottenham Hotspur are now plotting a move for an “elite” Premier League defender, who Micky van de Ven knows very well, according to a report.

Spurs looking to sign new centre-back

There has been a great deal of speculation surrounding the future of Cristian Romero, as the 27-year-old has been heavily linked with a move to Atletico Madrid, but Thomas Frank has now indicated the defender is set to remain at N17.

That said, perhaps given that his predecessor, Ange Postecoglou, was left very light on options in defence at times last season, Frank remains keen on bringing in another centre-back, and AFC Bournemouth’s Illia Zabarnyi has now emerged as a target.

Spurs are ready to shell out over £60m to get a deal for Zabarnyi over the line, but with the Bournemouth defender keen on joining PSG, Frank may be forced to move on to alternative options, and a different Premier League centre-back is now on the shortlist.

That is according to a report from France (via TEAMtalk), which states Tottenham are now eyeing a move for Crystal Palace defender Maxence Lacroix, less than one year after the defender’s £18m move to Selhurst Park.

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The way in which Lacroix has been able to adapt to the Premier League has caught Spurs’ eye, and the move would reunite the defender with former Wolfsburg teammate van de Ven, with the pair playing alongside eachother on 29 occasions in Germany.

With the 25-year-old contracted until 2029, however, Palace remain in a strong negotiating position, and there could be a great deal of rival interest, with the likes of Borrusia Dortmund and various Serie A clubs also keen.

"Elite" Lacroix could be excellent acquisition for Spurs

Hailed as an “elite defender” by journalist Tobias Kröger, the Palace star was a mainstay in Oliver Glasner’s side last season, making 35 appearances in the Premier League, while also starting in the victory over Manchester City in the FA Cup final.

During his first season in England, the Frenchman’s defensive abilities were on display on a regular basis, with winning back possession his forte, suggesting he could now be ready to make the step-up to one of England’s biggest clubs.

Statistic

Average per 90

Tackles

1.96 (83rd percentile)

Interceptions

1.56 (89th percentile)

Clearances

5.98 (81st percentile)

Glasner is also clearly happy with the addition of the former Wolfsburg man, with the Palace boss saying: “It is great recruitment. The new players who came in this year, like Maxence Lacroix, like Daichi Kamada, showed an outstanding performance today and also at the Emirates.”

As such, Lacroix could be a solid signing for Tottenham, but it may be difficult to prise him away for Palace, given that the centre-back remains contracted until 2029.