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Referee Andy Madley and his VAR team may have made a big mistake on the weekend as they failed to rule out a Tottenham Hotspur goal with Harry Kane stood offside.

What's the latest news on VAR and Spurs?

Even without former manager Antonio Conte at the helm, Spurs' season continues to unravel as they suffered another setback in their push for a top-four finish.

Indeed, the north London outfit suffered a shock defeat this weekend against relegation candidates Bournemouth, losing 3-2 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Spurs did actually take the lead thanks to Son Heung-min but left-back Matias Vina then pulled the Cherries back level.

In the second half, Dominic Solanke finished well to give his side a lead but it looked as though a point had been rescued when Arnaut Danjuma equalised in the 88th minute.

Even from there, though, Tottenham bottled it and surrendered all three points when substitute Dango Ouattara netted a winner in the 95th minute of the game.

However, it seems as though all this late drama may not have been necessary had Danjuma's goal been ruled out for what looked to be an offside.

Indeed, when viewing footage of the effort on the official Sky Sports highlights package, Kane can clearly be seen standing offside, blocking goalkeeper Neto's line of vision.

As per the official FA Rules, an offside should be given when a player prevents an opponent from "playing or being able to play the ball by clearly obstructing the opponent’s line of vision".

Seeing as Neto's line of vision is clearly obstructed by Kane – as shown in the image above – it's a wonder VAR checked the incident but still allowed the goal to stand.

Spurs fans can argue that the Bournemouth goalkeeper wouldn't have been able to stop it anyway, but that is subjective and Kane is objectively impacting the goalkeeper's ability to see when the ball is struck.

With that being the case, it's safe to say Spurs got away with one on Saturday but even with this slice of luck going in their favour, they still contrived to find a way to lose the game.

That wasn't the only controversy either. After the defeat, interim coach Cristian Stellini marched down the tunnel without shaking Gary O'Neil's hand.

The Bournemouth manager slammed the behaviour, telling BBC Sports (via Daily Echo), “When we were on the wrong end at our place, I shook the opposition manager’s hand.

“I was disappointed with them today. I thought to go straight down the tunnel and not shake hands was poor on their part.

“But it is what it is.”

Chelsea have now confirmed that Frank Lampard will be the caretaker manager until the end of the season, a decision which may boost Noni Madueke's hopes of becoming a regular at Stamford Bridge.

Does Madueke deserve to start?

Despite the plethora of wingers already at the club, Todd Boehly spent £29m to bring the England U21 international to Stamford Bridge in the January transfer window, but he struggled for regular game time under Graham Potter.

The former Tottenham Hotspur youngster had caught the eye in the Netherlands with PSV Eindhoven, contributing an impressive 20 goals and 14 assists in just 80 appearances for the Eredivisie side, so it is easy to see why Boehly wanted to bring the promising youngster in, given his preference for 'wonderkid' signings in his time at Stamford Bridge.

However, the youngster has so far been unable to replicate the form he showed with PSV, with no goals or assists in any of his five Premier League appearances this term, although only two of those have been starts.

He did show his class during the international break, scoring once and assisting twice in England U21s' 4-0 win over France U21s, which led manager Lee Carsley to urge Chelsea to utilise him more often.

He said: “He is exciting, fast, direct, and very versatile but what we have to remember is he is still young.

“He is going to need time, match minutes, the time to work on his game, but he has high potential. Like a lot of the younger players, he just needs an opportunity.

“They need opportunities to show that talent and given a run of games he will be fine.”

Madueke, who has previously been described as a "mentality monster" by his coach Saul Isaksson-Hurst, managed just six minutes of action for Chelsea in March and was left on the bench again for the stalemate against Liverpool in midweek.

Fortunately for the 21-year-old, his fortunes may be about to change following Lampard's appointment, as the 44-year-old's previous spell at the club saw him regularly put his faith in the best prospects on offer at Stamford Bridge, with Mason Mount and Reece James the most notable examples of academy graduates who became key first-team players.

Although there was a transfer ban in place at the time, Lampard still gave 12,545 minutes to players aged 21 or younger in the Premier League during his first spell, which was more than any other club over the same period.

Given that the other wingers in Chelsea's squad, notably Hakim Ziyech, Christian Pulisic and Mykhailo Mudryk have all failed to deliver so far this season – scoring a combined haul of one goal for the Blues – Madueke could finally get an extended run in the side under the new caretaker manager.

Manchester United remain interested in signing Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong during the summer transfer window, according to a new update.

The Lowdown: De Jong a constant target

The Dutchman has found himself endlessly linked with a move to Old Trafford in recent times, whether it be last summer or again in January, with the two teams even agreeing an initial fee of €75million (£63million) before the start of this season.

De Jong has remained loyal to Barcelona to date, however, refusing to move after that agreement was met and proving to be a key player for them so far this season, starting 19 La Liga matches in total.

The United rumours are refusing to go away, though, with Pete O’Rourke sharing the latest ahead of this summer’s window.

The Latest: Ten Hag’s first choice

According to Football Insider‘s O’Rourke, the Red Devils ‘remain keen’ on acquiring De Jong’s services this summer.

They are planning to ‘reignite their interest’ in the Barca man, whose current contract expires in 2026, with the Catalans ‘aware they will have to sell to help manage their financial problems’.

Erik ten Hag wants a new striker first but also a new central midfielder, and De Jong is his ‘first choice’.

The Verdict: Perfect summer addition?

De Jong could be absolutely perfect for United this summer, adding both class and energy to the midfield at a time when a younger signing is needed in that area.

The 25-year-old is superb on the ball, enjoying an incredible 90.5% pass completion rate in La Liga this season, but he also averaged 2.4 tackles per game for the Netherlands at the 2022 World Cup, showing his tenacity on the defensive side.

De Jong could be the perfect foil for Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes, proving to be a box-to-box link man, and he would also represent a younger option than both, as well as Christian Eriksen.

He was described as both ‘spectacular’ and ‘one of the best midfielders in the world’ by Xavi over the weekend, which further highlights his brilliance, and the arrival of the Dutchman along with a marquee striker signing could be massive for Ten Hag’s future.

Newcastle United are believed to be monitoring developments surrounding Mason Mount’s future at Chelsea, with the England international yet to commit himself to the west London outfit.

What’s the latest on Mason Mount to Newcastle?

According to 90min, the Magpies – as well as Manchester City, Manchester United and Liverpool – are showing a particular interest in the 24-year-old’s contract situation at Stamford Bridge, with the playmaker having just under 18 months left on his existing deal.

The report suggests that while the one-time Derby County loanee ‘does want to stay’ at the club, talks over an extension for the Blues academy graduate have proven ‘challenging’, with the player seemingly demanding a deal that ‘reflects his status’ as a key player for both club and country.

This follows previous reports during the summer window that also suggested the Tynesiders were in the frame for his signature, with manager Eddie Howe said to have been keen to sign the midfield maestro on loan during his time in charge at AFC Bournemouth.

Would Mount be a better fit than James Maddison for Newcastle?

A new creative addition does appear to be high on the agenda for the St. James’ Park outfit, with the top-four hopefuls also said to be considering an approach for Leicester City’s James Maddison ahead of next season, after seeing a £50m bid rejected during the summer.

The 26-year-old has sparkled for the Foxes of late – with nine goals and five assists in 16 Premier League games this season – although a move may well prove difficult to pull off, with champions Man City also now seemingly showing firm interest in his services.

Although Mount has endured an underwhelming campaign by his standards – with only three goals and six assists across all fronts – he could well make Newcastle forget about his compatriot, such is his undoubted quality.

The Portsmouth-born gem notably racked up 29 goal involvements last season in all competitions – just one shy of Maddison – having reached double figures for both goals and assists in the top-flight alone during the 2021/22 campaign.

The £71m-rated sensation is able to couple that attacking quality with his willing work ethic, as he ranks in the top 19% among his European peers for tackles made, having been described as a “manager’s dream” by BT Sport pundit Joe Cole as a result.

That has ensured that the 5 foot 11 ace has established himself as a regular fixture in Gareth Southgate’s side at international level with 36 caps to his name to date, while Maddison has only achieved one senior Three Lions appearance in his career thus far.

As such, it is Mount who boasts the experience of having featured at the World Cup and European Championship, having also provided a crucial assist for Kai Havertz’s winner in Chelsea’s Champions League final victory over City side back in 2021.

Maddison, by contrast, is yet to enjoy a taste of life in Europe’s premier competition, with it to be seen if he can truly deliver on a consistent basis at the very highest level of the game.

With Howe and co harbouring ambitions of securing a place in the Champions League for next season themselves, it may well make sense to lump for a figure who has already showcased his class in the competition in the form of Mount.

Celtic striker Kyogo Furuhashi could miss the League Cup final, but pundit Frank McAvennie is not worried, as Rangers ‘don’t know how to handle’ Oh Hyeon-gyu, who could start instead.

The Lowdown: Furuhashi injury concern

As reported by the Sun, Furuhashi has missed training due to a shoulder injury and is set to undergo further tests, with the striker hoping to return for the League Cup final against Rangers at the end of the month.

The Japan international is feeling positive about a swift return, but he is set to miss the game at Celtic Park against Aberdeen this weekend, which could give £2.5m January signing Oh the chance to impress if a full recovery does not come in time.

The Latest: McAvennie reacts

McAvennie does not have any major concerns about Furuhashi’s absence, telling Football Insider that the unknown quantity of Oh may actually be an advantage for Celtic.

The pundit said: “I won’t be too disappointed because I think he (Oh) would give [Ben] Davies and [Connor] Goldson a bit of a game. But I hope that Kyogo is fit.

“If he does not play for the next two weeks or so he might be ok and we could get a half out of him.

“Rangers do not know much about Oh so they do not know how to handle him. They know how to handle Kyogo so that could go in our favour.“

The Verdict: Showing good signs

The South Korean has already opened his account for the Hoops, scoring after appearing as a substitute in the 5-1 victory against St Mirren last time out, and he has now been given the perfect opportunity to show what he can do as a starter this weekend.

That said, it will still be very disappointing for Celtic if Kyogo is unable to return for such an important game, as despite Rangers being more aware of his qualities, they’ve been unable to stop him previously, as he netted a late equaliser in the 2-2 draw at Ibrox last month.

If Oh does get the nod on February 26th, he will have the opportunity to become an instant cult-hero, and his previous goal record indicates he could be up to the task, scoring an impressive 14 goals for Suwon Samsung Bluewings last term.

Everton could look to Andre Ayew now the January transfer window is over as a short-term signing until the end of the campaign.

What’s the latest?

The Toffees ended the January window without bringing a single new face in through the doors at Goodison Park for Sean Dyche to work with.

This comes amid the club’s struggles in the Premier League which has them sitting second bottom with just 15 points from their opening 20 games.

However, there have been some reports suggesting the Merseyside club could potentially make a move for the Ghanaian forward Ayew.

And speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Pete O’Rourke has supported this possibility suggesting the 33-year-old could bring something to Dyche’s side:

“He’s a versatile forward as well, he can play in several positions. So if Everton are desperate to bring in a forward, which we think they are, I think Andre Ayew will be a sensible short-term signing.”

Top flight experience

Ayew is no stranger to the Premier League having spent some time with West Ham United and Swansea City between 2015 and 2018.

Indeed, the 33-year-old was able to rack up 89 appearances in the English top flight where he was able to return 21 goals and 12 assists (via Transfermarkt).

And Ayew could potentially land at Goodison Park in some relatively impressive goalscoring form with 18 goals in 30 appearances in the Qatar Stars League.

However, scoring in the Premier League is a different matter and his previous record with West Ham and Swansea may concern some of the fans at Goodison.

But the reality is, as a result of their dismal January window, there wouldn’t be any harm done in bringing in a free agent like Ayew over the coming days.

Scoring goals has been a major issue for the Toffees this season and with their second-highest scorer this season, Anthony Gordon, now not at the club, any extra help may prove huge.

And as O’Rourke has hinted at, Ayew is an incredibly versatile player who has played in a number of positions across his career which may prove incredibly useful for Dyche in the remaining games this season.

Liverpool have been linked with a number of midfielders over the last six months and now a new update has emerged on a potential transfer target.

What’s the latest?

According to talkSPORT transfer insider Alex Crook, Liverpool remain interested in Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Ruben Neves.

As per the report, the talented player is on the radar of both the Premier League giants alongside La Liga outfit Barcelona as Wolves prepare themselves for Neves’ likely departure in the summer.

Next Xavi Alonso

It is no secret that the Reds are struggling this season with their successful squad ultimately turning stale thanks to a number of inconsistent Premier League performances that have left them ninth in the table.

Jurgen Klopp will surely be frustrated with the situation at Anfield as his team were competing for a quadruple just months ago and now they are ten points adrift from a Champions League qualification spot inside the top four.

There are set to be a number of midfielders leaving the club this summer with Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and James Milner all out of contract at the end of the season, whilst Jordan Henderson and Thiago Alcantara are well into the latter stages of their careers.

As a result, the signing of Neves would be a major coup for Liverpool in their efforts to rebuild their midfield in 2023 and get back to dominating the top flight as soon as possible.

Over 19 Premier League appearances so far this season, the 25-year-old – who was dubbed “sensational” by his former skipper Conor Coady – has scored four goals and successfully completed 54% of his dribbles, as well as averaging 50.6 accurate passes, 1.5 interceptions, 2.5 tackles, 2.4 clearances and winning 3.9 duels per game.

Not only that, Neves has completed more accurate passes (965) than any of the Liverpool midfielders this season so far, proving that he could be the key to unlocking better control in the centre of the pitch if he makes the move to Merseyside.

With that metronomic passing style in mind, Klopp could even land Liverpool’s next Xabi Alonso with the signing of the Portuguese talent, as the similarities between the two midfielders are obvious.

Alonso is one of many success stories that the Merseysiders have acquired over the years – winning a Champions League and an FA Cup before moving to Real Madrid in 2009.

Try as they might, Liverpool were never able to replace the world-class player – with Alberto Aquilani just one example of his failed successors – but now Neves could be the second coming of the Spanish star at Anfield.

Neves has been lauded for both his ability to dictate play and his impeccable passing range in the centre of the pitch, whilst displaying his potency in attack despite being a deep-lying playmaker – all attributes that make him hugely comparable to Alonso.

Indeed, throughout their careers, their pass success rates are rather alike, with the Wolves star completing 83.9% and the ex-Liverpool technician registering 87%.

The likeness has not gone unnoticed with former Liverpool player turned pundit Jamie Redknapp claiming that Neves reminded him of Alonso in his column for the Daily Mail.

With that being said, if the powerbrokers at Anfield could secure a deal for Neves- who has a reported price tag of £70m – it would be a great piece of business, something that gives Klopp a player who can make an immediate impact with proven Premier League experience and polished quality in his position.

The January transfer window is now open for business and Liverpool have already made one move in the market to improve their squad.

Jurgen Klopp brought in Netherlands international Cody Gakpo from Dutch side PSV at the start of the month and the German coach may be on the lookout for further reinforcements before February.

One area in which the former Borussia Dortmund manager may want to strengthen is the midfield department as the Reds have been caught out in that position at times this season.

19-year-old midfielder Harvey Elliott has been given an increased role in the team this term and has started 12 of the club’s Premier League matches to date, whilst he featured in all 17 of their games in the division.

The youngster has averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.80 in the Premier League, which places him 16th in the squad, and Liverpool could ditch him from the starting XI by bringing in a new recruit.

A player who could come in to take Elliott’s place in the side is Brighton dynamo Moises Caicedo, who is reported to be of interest to the Reds.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Ben Jacobs has revealed that the club are keen on the midfielder. He said:

“They very much admire the player and have done historically. When he was at Independiente del Valle before he joined Brighton, they did explore signing Moisés Caicedo.

“It’s what’s been termed to me as a messy deal because even though Brighton could be persuaded to sell for a high price this January, the representation side of things is problematic. There’s more than one agent and he also changed his agent towards the back end of the summer.”

Caicedo, who is valued at £70m, was once hailed as a “terrific athlete” by South American expert Tim Vickery and a “revelation” in the Premier League by football talent scout Jacek Kulig.

He has averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.11 in the division for Brighton this season and made a whopping 4.3 tackles and interceptions, whilst also creating 1.1 chances, per game for the Seagulls.

Elliott, meanwhile, has averaged 1.0 tackles and interceptions and 0.9 key passes in the league for Liverpool and this suggests that Caicedo, who is two years older than the Reds gem, would be a huge upgrade on him in the middle of the park.

The Brighton talent offers more at both ends of the pitch and that is reflected in their respective average ratings in the top-flight this season, which is why Klopp could ditch the teenager by signing the Ecuador international.

Arsenal are one of the ‘closest and most concrete solutions’ when it comes to a transfer for Real Valladolid defender Ivan Fresneda.

The Lowdown: Gunners linked…

The Premier League frontrunners have been linked with a move for Fresneda alongside both Real Madrid and Barcelona, who are said to be watching him closely.

Having caught the eye of many top clubs across Europe, reports have suggested that a ‘frantic race’ is underway over who could seal the signing of Valladolid’s gem – with Arsenal in the running.

A new report has now shed light on the situation as Mikel Arteta’s side emerge as one of the favourites.

The Latest: Arsenal among favourites to sign Fresneda…

Sharing news in the last 24 hours, Relevo claim that out of all possible destinations for Fresneda, the north Londoners, alongside English rivals Newcastle United, are among the ‘closest and most concrete solutions’.

It’s also been claimed that Arsenal have recently entered the race for his signature with ‘great force’ and have shown ‘great insistence’ over his possible signing.

As well as the Gunners and Newcastle, a host of other European teams are also mentioned – including Inter Milan, AC Milan, Juventus.

The Verdict: Exciting talent…

The 18-year-old is one to watch and the fact this many teams are taking an interest just shows how talented he truly is.

Lauded for his ‘beastly’ ability to deliver pin-point crosses from the wide areas, Fresneda’s contract possesses a £26 million release clause and Valladolid are apparently open to a sale.

There appear to be growing incentives for sporting director Edu to make a move for the teenage talent as serious interest continues to emerge from all over the continent.

Everton will likely look to the upcoming transfer window to strengthen their squad ahead of the second half of the Premier League season after another disappointing start to the campaign.

The Toffees are currently 17th in the league table teetering on the edge of the relegation zone just one point clear of the bottom three, a position the team and the manager are both all too familiar with.

Frank Lampard will be desperate to improve upon the performances and get his side in a much more comfortable position in the Premier League as another difficult relegation scrap could result in much more devastating circumstances than Everton dealt with last season.

Indeed, the powers at Goodison Park did sanction eight new signings in the summer but will still likely remain cautious in their approach to transfer business when the market reopens next month.

As a result, Lampard could add further depth all over the pitch and save the club millions during the transfer window by looking at the players he already has at his disposal in either the youth academy or out on loan, with one player, in particular, thriving whilst earning first-team football.

Jarrad Branthwaite has been proving his worth over the last few months during his loan spell with PSV Eindhoven and had become an integral member of the Dutch club’s squad ahead of the World Cup break.

Over eight Eredivisie appearances, the 20-year-old centre-back has scored one goal and tallied up a 90% pass completion rate, as well as averaging 45.3 touches, 2.9 clearances and 2.4 duels won per game.

The former Everton U21 defender has risen through the ranks in the youth set-up on Merseyside since joining the club from Carlisle United back in 2020 and his former Carlisle manager Steven Pressley delivered high praise hailing Branthwaite in an interview with Everton’s official website:

“He had so many quality attributes to become a top player,” he said.

“I told people he was a future England international.

“The truth is, I think he has got everything. He can pass the ball almost equally as good with both feet. He’s a terrific footballer.”

It has been reported this week that the Toffees are in talks to cut short the player’s loan spell with PSV despite entering a deal for a season-long loan opportunity for Branthwaite, so it is clear Lampard is keen to bring his defender back to Goodison Park as soon as possible.

With that being said, it will be interesting to see whether Branthwaite makes a rapid return to Everton in January as it is questionable as to whether he will get as much game time at his parent club as he could be offered with PSV over the second half of the season.