Brentford among clubs Mirror link with Spurs youngster

Stories in Friday’s newspapers involving the area’s clubs…

Brentford are among clubs keen on Tottenham youngster Maxwell Statham, the Daily Mirror reports.

The centre-back, 18, is the son of former Brentford defender Brian Statham, who had a five-year spell at Griffin Park in the 1990s having also played for Spurs.

The Mirror say Norwich are leading a race to sign young Statham but could face competition from Brentford as well as Nottingham Forest and Sunderland.

His Spurs contract expires at the end of the season and he is yet to be offered a professional deal.

He trained with the first-team squad this week and the Mirror reckon this “could be seen as Tottenham considering what to do next.”

Meanwhile, The Sun continue to link Zinedine Zidane with Chelsea – but say the club will have to move fast if they want to appoint him.

The newspaper has recently been reporting that Zidane has been lined up as a replacement for Maurizio Sarri and that he is interested in the job.

Chelsea’s victory over rivals Tottenham eased the pressure on Sarri following reports the head coach was close to being sacked.

And The Sun say Chelsea could miss out on Zidane if they wait, because his former club Juventus want him.

It follows reports in Italy that Massimiliano Allegri is set to leave Juve in the summer after completing what would be a fifth straight title triumph.

Lee Johnson and former Chelsea man Steve Clarke are contenders to take over at Fulham, according to the Mirror.

Scott Parker has been placed in caretaker charge after Claudio Ranieri was sacked by the relegation-threatened Whites.

The Mirror say Bristol City manager Johnson and Kilmarnock boss Clarke are under consideration for the job.

The Daily Telegraph say Ranieri was sacked partly because his coaching methods were seen as outdated.