Here are the latest Premier League headlines for Monday, May 23.
Ten Hag excited to get started
Erik Ten Hag has spoken of his excitement after taking charge at Manchester United, who he sees as having "huge potential". The Dutchman on Monday conducted his first press conference since being named as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's permanent successor last month.
The former Ajax boss comes in after Man United, with Ralf Rangnick in interim charge, finished sixth in the Premier League table. Ten Hag opened the press conference at Old Trafford by saying he was "really excited to be here" and stressing "I want to achieve success".
He added: "The confidence is that I have a good feeling with the people around, I have a good feeling from the meetings. We have a plan and now it's about to get the plan done, to co-operate, to be consistent in our plan."
Ten Hag said "the plan is huge and we only have a short time". And when asked about the number of new players the club might need, he said: "I'm still in the process of analysing, to set conclusions.
"I'm looking forward to working with these players. The season before, this squad was second in the league, so there is huge potential. I think if we improve, if we work with them, I think we can get out more than what was the result from this season."
READ MORE: Kalvin Phillips hails 'unbelievable' Leeds United duo Raphinha and Jack Harrison
Villa make early signing
Aston Villa have continued to recruit for next season by announcing the signing of French midfielder Boubacar Kamara on a five-year deal. The 22-year-old will move to Villa Park from Ligue 1 side Marseille after his contract expires in the summer.
Kamara has just earned his first call-up to the France national team following an impressive season in which Marseille secured a second-placed finish and reached the Europa Conference League semi-finals. Kamara is manager Steven Gerrard's second summer recruit after Philippe Coutinho, who joined the club on loan from Barcelona in January, agreed a permanent move.
Gerrard told the club's website: "I am delighted that we have been able to attract one of the most promising young talents in European football. We have a very clear plan to make our team stronger and Bouba is an important part of that."
Villa wrapped up their eventful 2021-22 campaign by playing a full part in Sunday's thrilling conclusion to the Premier League title race, losing 3-2 to eventual champions Manchester City despite leading 2-0 at one stage.
Ayoze's gametime struggle
Ayoze Perez admits he has suffered this season after struggling for game time at Leicester. The striker's first goals since September completed a 4-1 victory over Southampton to secure eighth place in the Premier League on Sunday.
Perez started just six league games for the Foxes - despite Jamie Vardy's injury struggles - and scored three times in all competitions. He also failed to complete 90 minutes in the top flight and the former Newcastle forward conceded he has found it hard.
"It hasn't been a great season for myself, not easy at all, but it's a great feeling for some game time and to be able to score two goals. Obviously I'm happy to be able to be in a position to do that," Perez told the club's official site. "We were trying to manage the game the last couple of minutes, keeping the ball so they could not attack but we found the spaces and we got up there and we have a great link between Ricky (Ricardo Pereira) and myself. It was a great goal.
"It's a very good win to finish the season. We wanted to finish as strong as possible to get eighth place, so it's a great result against a tough opposition. We can start again next season and hopefully we can improve a little bit next season and finish higher. It was really entertaining to watch, a lot of goals, we knew we could be better in the second half, we changed a couple of things and then, after that, we made it slightly easier. We controlled the game, we managed the counter attack and we scored some goals."
Perez's late brace added to goals from James Maddison and Jamie Vardy while James Ward-Prowse pulled a goal back from the spot for the visitors.
Dier wants Spurs to build
Tottenham defender Eric Dier has called on the club to capitalise on their return to the Champions League. Spurs booked their place back in the top tier of European football with a 5-0 final-day win at Norwich, which capped a remarkable resurgence under Antonio Conte.
They were ninth when the Italian took over in November and then seven points adrift of fourth when they lost to Burnley in February but 10 wins from their next 14 games saw them overhaul Arsenal, Manchester United and West Ham to claim fourth spot. Conte is due to meet chairman Daniel Levy and managing director of football Fabio Paratici in the coming days to discuss the future.
And Dier says it is in the "club's hands now" to back Conte and build a squad that can challenge for the top honour. He said: "I think the club needs to take advantage of this moment, take advantage of this team and this manager.
"It's in the club's hands now. We've done our job and now it's the club's job this summer to do the best work they can. I'm sure they'll try to do the best they can to put us in a position next season for us and the manager to continue to push on and get better and better.
"It's not just investment. The club has a lot of room for improvement in many different areas. Everyone always points to investment but that's just one part of it. There's many areas we can improve and we need everyone to be going in the same direction. The players and the manager are. I'm sure the club will do the best they can as well."
Success is even better for Stones
John Stones claims the taste of success has got better every year after claiming his fourth Premier League winner's medal with Manchester City. The England defender returned from injury to feature in City's dramatic title-clinching comeback victory over Aston Villa at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
City had trailed 2-0 with 14 minutes remaining but, knowing only a victory could guarantee they would pip Liverpool to the crown, hit back with three goals in a stunning five-minute spell to win 3-2.
"We made it difficult for everyone," Stones said. "Probably a few weren't happy with us for 70-odd minutes but what an incredible day. The feeling of lifting the trophy just gets better every time. Last year's was a special one for me and this one going right to the last game is something special too.
"But we'd been here before three years ago. We knew what to do and how to handle the game. It didn't go as planned, obviously, but to come out again lifting the trophy is incredible."
For the latest Leeds United news direct to your inbox, go here to sign up to our free newsletter
