Now Poch says: I’m so motivated to stay at Spurs

MAURICIO POCHETTINO has given Tottenham further belief he will not leave by declaring: ‘I’m so motivated to stay.’ Spurs chiefs are convinced he will remain in north London. Manchester United’s appointment of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and the arrival of Zinedine Zidane at Real Madrid appeared to close off his most likely exit routes. Managerless Juventus are admirers but Pochettino (right) said: ‘Today Tottenham is, for me, the best club in the world when we talk about facilities. There’s still a lot of work to do, but of course I am so motivated to stay and provide Tottenham with what they deserve.’

ARSENAL captain Laurent Koscielny, 33, will discuss his future after Wednesday’s Europa League final. The defender is entering the final year of his contract. A number of clubs in Italy, Germany and France are interested.

CHELSEA winger Callum Hudson-Odoi will head overseas to warmer climes in his bid to be fit for the start of next season. The teenager had surgery after rupturing his achilles tendon in April.

EVERTON have signed goalkeeper Jonas Lossl, 30, from Huddersfield.

GATESHEAD have been suspended from the National League for multiple breaches of financial rules, including financial reporting, permitted loans and defaulting on creditors.

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin defended the decision to host the Europa League final in Baku despite Arsenal’s Henrikh Mkhitaryan being unable to play against Chelsea due to safety fears. ‘If football allows itself to be stopped by such tensions, then we will not be able to organise anything in future,’ said Ceferin.