The five-time Paralympic champion answers your questions on London 2012, her inspirations, lockdown training and more

Glimpse into the lives of world-class athletes as they answer questions from YOU each week on ‘Ask the Athlete’.

This week we are joined by Hannah Cockroft – T34 five-time Paralympic, 12-time world and three-time European champion.

She chats to AW about winning gold in front of 80,000 fans at London 2012, training tips and her rivalry with Kare Adenegan, turning her garage into a home gym in lockdown and so much more!

Have a read of some of Cockroft’s answers below and then enjoy the full 18-minute episode.

Who is your biggest inspiration?

“So I think in the sport my biggest inspiration is a person called Chantal Petitclerc. Chantal I think is a 14-time Paralympic champion, she’s a Canadian wheelchair racer and we used to share a coach when I was under Peter Eriksson. I remember the first time I met Chantal, it was just before the London 2012 Paralympic Games, and you can probably tell I’m not a very shy person, but I remember hiding behind Peter and I was starstruck! There’s only two people I’ve met that I’ve been starstruck by and that’s Chantal and David Beckham.

“Inspiration now just comes from everywhere. I’m inspired by the girls that I race against, ultimately because they inspire me to train hard as I want to beat them! I’m also inspired by people that I just meet every day. Inspiration comes from anywhere you want it to come from.”

What was the London 2012 experience like? How was the atmosphere in the stadium? 

“London 2012 was just unreal! It was amazing. I feel like any words you put it into don’t do it justice. It was just the absolute time of my life. If someone said to me on my last day of living, if you could go back to do one day again in life, I’d do any day in London!

“I feel like I can’t remember it that well and that the memories in my head are just the ones I’ve picked up from the media. I remember going to the stadium and going to compete on the warm up track abut 800m from the main stadium and I could hear this buzzing sound that was like a radio that hadn’t been tuned in that properly. So I said to Peter my coach: ‘Can you hear that? What is that noise, it’s really annoying me!’, and he said: ‘You should probably get used to that, it’s the crowd.’ Up until that point the biggest crowd I’d competed in front of was about 200 people so we went from 200 to 80,000 pretty quickly.

“We went through each call room and the final one was under the stadium on a little warm up track and it was so loud the floor was physically moving. Every other girl was white or green and I just couldn’t stop grinning and the cheer was the loudest thing I’ve ever heard. I love going to concerts and gigs but it had nothing on London 2012!”

Do you revel in being the one that people are chasing or can there be a lot of pressure associated with that? 

“Definitely pressure. I do wish I had someone to chase. It’s not even the pressure, it’s just knowing what’s achievable. When you’re at the front, it’s so hard to break the barriers all the time and not really have anyone to push you to do that. Which I think is why I struggled to break the 17-second barrier for the 100m. Once Kare [Adenegan] had done it I did it pretty quickly after her but I needed someone to prove to me that it could be done. Mentally I just couldn’t get there.

“Every time I line up on the track people just automatically expect me to win. You know, it doesn’t matter the situation, who I’m competing against or where we are, it’s literally that Hannah’s on the track and she should win. I think we are getting away from that, especially with the 100m with Kare and that’s the best thing that could’ve happened to me as I know we can beat each other. Everyone wants a bit of competition.

“I used to revel being the person at the front and believed I was untouchable but I wasn’t and I had to change my mindset and deal with that. It’s nice to win but it’s everything else that comes with it!”

Knowing what you know now, what advice would you give your younger self, just starting out in athletics? 

“I think I’d give myself the advice that I give young people now. Just try everything and take every opportunity that you get given. You never know where it will take you and if you don’t love it, you’ll learn from it. For me, wheelchair racing wasn’t the first sport that I tried, it wasn’t the first athletics discipline that I tired (I started with seated discus), but if you’re in one then discover a new one as you may uncover a hidden talent!

“It’s great to have a team around you and it’s really nice to have someone to depend on but if it’s really important then just get on with it and stop waiting for other people to do it. If you’re not happy with your training plan or the exercises you think you should be doing in the gym, just ask the questions and make it right. Don’t just wait for other people to do it because it never happens.”

Who do you think are the up and coming stars we should look out for? 

“In wheelchair racing in Britain there’s an athlete called Melanie Woods coming through. She’s a T54 so not my classification but I genuinely think she’s going to be an absolute star and she’s flying already which is great to see. Internationally in my class, there’s a girl called Robyn Lambird who’s an Australian athlete. She’s going to be fantastic, she just needs to work on her confidence a little bit but she’s going to be a really good sprinter and definitely one I should look out for!”

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Jordan Larmour, Tadhg Furlong, Dave Kilcoyne and Ronan Kelleher will attend a two-day Ireland training camp later this week despite picking up knocks in Saturday's Six Nations win over Italy.

Wing Larmour has a hip issue which will also be assessed by Ireland's medical staff in Dublin on Thursday and Friday.

Stuart McCloskey is among 13 squad members released back to the provinces.

Furlong, Kelleher and Kilcoyne formed an entirely changed front row for the Stadio Olimpico contest with Larmour also drafted into the starting line-up in place of Keith Earls.

Centre McCloskey and prop Tom O'Toole will be available for Ulster's crucial Pro14 game against Leinster which they realistically need to win to retain any hope of reaching the final while Ed Byrne, Ross Byrne, Rhys Ruddock and Josh van der Flier have been released back to the Conference A leaders and defending champions.

Craig Casey, Andrew Conway, Shane Daly and Chris Farrell return to the Munster squad for Friday's game against Connacht with Bundee Aki, Ultan Dillane and Dave Heffernan being made available to Andy Friend.

Iain Henderson, Rob Herring and Billy Burns are the Ulster players who will attend the two-day training camp with Jacob Stockdale not involved as he instead is expected to get more game time in the Leinster contest following his recent return from a knee injury.

Ireland squad for training camp

Backs: B Burns (Ulster), K Earls (Munster), J Gibson-Park (Leinster), R Henshaw (Leinster), H Keenan (Leinster), J Larmour (Leinster), J Lowe (Leinster), C Murray (Munster), G Ringrose (Leinster), J Sexton (Leinster)

Forwards: R Baird (Leinster), T Beirne (Munster), J Conan (Leinster), W Connors (Leinster), T Furlong (Leinster), C Healy (Leinster), I Henderson (Ulster), R Herring (Ulster), R Kelleher (Leinster), D Kilcoyne (Munster), A Porter (Leinster), J Ryan (Leinster), CJ Stander (Munster)

Returning to provinces: B Aki (Connacht), E Byrne (Leinster), R Byrne (Leinster), C Casey (Munster), A Conway (Munster), S Daly (Munster), U Dillane (Connacht), C Farrell (Munster), D Heffernan (Connacht), S McCloskey (Ulster), T O'Toole (Ulster), R Ruddock (Leinster), J van der Flier (Leinster).

STOCKTON, Calif. – Evan Burrola won Sunday afternoon’s second round of the Stockton Challenge at Delta Speedway, earning the victory in the 20-lap Open 500 Outlaw feature.

Burrola was one of seven winners during the second round of the kart and Outlaw Kart series where again more than 100 teams competed at the seventh-mile dirt oval.

Burrola persevered over a lap 16 restart to hold off Talin Torres for the win.

“I knew Talin was coming. He was pretty fast. That four-lap shootout wasn’t what I wanted because we were slowly running out of fuel there,” Burrola said.

The driver of the No. 21E took the lead from the outside pole position at the start. Polesitter Sage Bordenave stumbled on the second lap, sending Danny Carroll into a spin. Lodi’s Ryan Holden collided with Carroll in turn two to bring out the caution. Eighth starting Luke Hayes of Dunnigan advanced to fourth by lap four before the next caution flew on lap eight.

Cautions waved on lap nine when Stockton’s Caden Sarale – a multi-time Delta champ – spun from just outside the top five in turn four. Simultaneously, Holden and Fresno’s Jarrett Huber crashed in turn one. Torres found something on the top side of the race track on the ensuing restart, moving past Josh Wooten and Fresno’s Tyler Henson to take over second. Wooten and Hayes then followed suit, going around the outside Henson to drop him back to fifth.

A caution on lap 16 set up a four-lap dash to the finish but Burrola led the way at the checkered flag, followed by Torres, Wooten, Hayes, and Henson.

Fifth-starting Bentley Nelson won the Box Stock main event. Delta Speedway Jr. Sprint feature winner Hayden Stepps led the opening go around from the pole while Nelson quickly rocketed to second on the fourth lap. Levi Annas made moves from the sixth position, using the outside line to challenge Nelson for second by lap six.

The leaders navigated through lapped traffic on lap nine, with Nelson using a lapped car as a pick to lead lap 10 over Stepps. Riley Stowers of Lincoln and Sacramento’s Braiden McKenzie hit the front stretch wall to bring out a caution on lap 11. Both drivers were uninjured.

Nelson led the final four laps for the Box Stock triumph followed by Annas, Stepps, Maclaine Lourenco and Braxon Vasconcellos.

Tyce Domingos went two-for-two in Beginner Box Stock competition by claiming the 15-lap affair which started 16 of the youngest drivers at the speedway. Zayne Darpli led the first two circuits from the outside front row before Dominigos took over from lap three. A caution flew on lap nine for Heston Stepps of Oakdale and Mylee Wood up against the wall in turn two.

Great racing developed all throughout the top-five but coming to the checkered flag, Darpli and Blake Lyons crashed in the third turn. Domingos led Logan Barnes, 14th starting Samantha Dozier, Hawaii’s Braxton Moniz, and Corbin Johnson as the top-five drivers.

Roger Guthrie used an inside maneuver on a late restart to top the Clone division in the 20-lap feature. Round No. 1 winner Frank Correia won his heat race to earn the pole position over the 19-kart grid for the feature. After a caution on lap six, Correia and Guthrie traded the lead before Correia wrestled it back on lap eight. Jason Figura of Waterford go up in smoke on lap 12 while Koen Shaw went on his lid in the wild lap 12 that necessitated the red flag. All drivers were uninjured.

Guthrie went to the inside of Correia on the restart for the decisive move, then never relinquished the lead for the victory. Ricky Sanders took over second in the closing stages as well, ahead of Correia, Jason Van Fossen, and Dustin Silva to round out the top-five.

Logan Mitchell won his second consecutive Pure Stock feature, pacing the field for all 15 circuits. Only the top-three finishers came home on the lead lap with Mitchell topping John Tevis and Patrick Flynn.

Connor Grasty led all 15 laps for a comfortable win in the 250 Outlaw Kart division. Jett Barnes, a multi-time winner at Delta in 2019 in Jr. Sprints, hounded Grasty but had to settle for second. Round No. 1 winner Kenzzie Brown of Chowchilla finished third.

Stock Appearing was another race that was decided by a dominating margin. Bill Macedo led the opening lap before third starting Anthony Silva took over. Silva charged ahead for the win with Macedo, Jason Van Fossen, Rich Van Fossen and Ken Flynn as the balance of the top-five finishers.

INDIANAPOLIS – Future Star Racing has confirmed that Ernie Francis Jr. and Chloe Chambers will drive for the team during its inaugural season.

Coaching the young drivers are two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Al Unser Jr. and SFHR Development co-owner Sarah Fisher.

“What an incredible opportunity the McAlister’s are creating through FSR,” Fisher said. “And for these drivers to work with Al [Unser Jr.] is a great addition to their program. He and his dad helped me immensely with driving techniques in Indycars, so our team’s alliance with FSR is coming full circle. Al is an expert on road courses which Chloe and Ernie will benefit greatly from with him as their coach.”

Francis, the winningest all-time driver in 55 years of Trans-Am racing, will be competing in the Formula Regional Americas Championship Powered by Honda on behalf of FSR. Francis opened his Trans-Am Series season by claiming the pole and setting a new track record at Sebring Int’l Raceway. He is also scheduled to compete in the inaugural season of the Superstar Racing Experience this summer.

“I am extremely excited to make my debut in the FR America’s series with Future Star Racing,” Francis said. “Coming from a GT car background, open wheel racing had always been out of reach. Having this opportunity is incredible and I look forward to racing this season.”

The recipient of the PMH Powering Diversity Scholarship from Parella Motorsports Holdings, Chambers will be competing in the F4 United States Championship Powered by Honda. Already gaining momentum for the season, she’s logged laps in testing with the team in preparation for the first race in March.

“I am super excited to race in the F4 Championship with Future Star Racing,” Chambers said. “I am incredibly grateful to Mark and Alora McAlister for this opportunity, along with Tony Parella of Motorsports Holdings for awarding me the PMH Powering Diversity Scholarship. It is an honor to represent Gift of Adoption Fund – a cause that is so dear to my family.”

Mark and Alora McAlister launched Future Star Racing in 2020, to support talented drivers who, while great at their sport, may be lacking the funds to compete in racing.

“So many times in racing you have an amazing talent, who doesn’t have the kind of money or sponsors they need to compete,” Mark McAlister said. “We see it all the time. That’s why we created The Wings and Wheels Foundation, Inc., to support that talent, and Future Star Racing, to provide the tools and professional help they deserve.”

CONWAY, Ark. – An extremely wet past week with more rain forecasted to come has forced officials with Boothhill Speedway and the COMP Cams Super Dirt Series presented by Lucas Oil to push the Ronny Adams Memorial weekend back to its scheduled rain date of March 12-13.

The race was originally set for March 5–6.

“You obviously hate to start the new race season with a postponement, but with all of the moisture that’s fallen in the past week, and the additional rain forecasted for the upcoming week, this was definitely the best decision,” COMP Cams Super Dirt Series CEO Chris Sullivan said. “This time of year can be unpredictable weatherwise, so this is why we built the rain date in. We’ll now look ahead to March 12–13 and hopefully Mother Nature will be a race fan.”

The fifteenth COMP Cams Super Dirt Series season now opens on Friday and Saturday, March 12–13 with the annual Ronny Adams Memorial at Louisiana’s Boothill Speedway. A $3,000 top prize is posted for Friday’s opener and a $7,000 winner’s check is up for grabs in Saturday’s finale.

MECHANICSBURG, Pa. – Reigning Williams Grove Speedway track champion Freddie Rahmer may only be 25 years old, but he has the perspective of a driver 20 years his elder as he eyes the oval’s season opener in two weeks.

The Cumberland County track will open the new season with a 410 sprint car only racing program coming up on on Sunday afternoon, March 14 at 2 p.m.

The Lawrence Chevrolet 410 sprints will race in a $5,500 to win, 25-lap main event to cap off the afternoon.

Rahmer and his RBR Racing No. 51 sprint car team are ready to defend his track title when they hit the clay at Williams Grove in two weeks.

“I think we are in good shape. We might be a little more prepared than we’ve been the last couple years,” Rahmer says of his team’s readiness for another assault on the prestigious track laurels.

“We work as hard as you can all winter.  We don’t take too much time off at all.  If we don’t start off good, we’ll work at it and make it good.”

“We are gonna’ shoot for that,” Rahmer says of his intentions to put up back to back track crowns during the new season ahead.

“We’re gonna’ try to win races first but that’s a goal. We’re gonna’ try again for sure.”

Rahmer also took a track crown in 2017, his first in the sport.

“I don’t think I’ve shown what we’re capable of yet and hopefully this year me and my dad and everyone else can just break through and show what we’re capable of really,” he said of his past performances and how they might stack up against the races to come.

“I think we’ve been close in the last couple years, I know we’re capable of going to the next step up.”

Rahmer says mostly he thinks it all will come down to him, personally, as he sits in the race car, at speed.

“I don’t think we’re missing anything equipment-wise or anything you can purchase,” Rahmer said.

“I’m always focused when we’re there but to try to get the best we can out of every lap – I think things build on each other but I think It’s mostly me, being in a good mental spot at the race track and I think we’re in a good position to do that.”

According to Rahmer, all the extra purse money that Williams Grove announced for the 2021 season in December made it a, “no-brainer,” to decide to stay at Williams Grove on Fridays for the new season when the team was making its plans during the winter months.

“It’s a no-brainer. We’re 100 miles from the track,” Rahmer said. “They didn’t have to do it and they did and it’s the best paying local track and one of the best in the whole country so we’re definitely gonna’ support them.

“We’re lucky to race there.”

SEEKONK, Mass. – Tri Track Open Modified Series officials announced on Monday that All Phases Renovations has become the title sponsor of the series.

All Phases Renovation, which services customers in southern New England year-round, specializes in inground pool installation, decks, patios, pavilions, bathrooms, basements and more.

“We can’t thank the team at All Phases Renovations enough for coming on board to support the series for 2021,” said Wayne Darling, the Managing Partner of Tri Track. “We look forward to working with them to continue to grow the series and continue to give back to our great competitors and our fans. We’re excited for the season.”

Larry Westgate, the owner of All Phases Renovation, has been around the sport of short-track racing his entire life. Whether it was competing in a Street Stock at Seekonk Speedway or a Late Model at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park, Westgate’s tenure behind the wheel ended, and he decided to take a break from the support. However, upon his return in the last two years, Westgate has quickly jumped back in at full speed.

As sponsor of more than nine race cars this year, Westgate hopes to continue to further grow his business, which is already one of the top of its kind in the region, but also continue to enjoy his time at the track, where he feels at home.

“Tri Track is what I got started with in the Modifieds,, the first series I ever decided to run when I became a car owner,” Westgate said. “Seeing the purse structure, the way it’s growing, and the amount of money that is being passed out at each race — it’s drawing attention from all kinds of Modifieds and all kinds of fans in New England. It’s great to be a part of.”

The Tri Track Open Modified Series presented by All Phases Renovations has a six-race schedule for the new year, with two stops each at Monadnock Speedway, Star Speedway and Seekonk Speedway.

Collin Morikawa and Viktor Hovland made big moves in Ryder Cup points after strong performances at the WGC-Workday Championship.

Morikawa jumped four spots to No. 3 in U.S. points after his three-shot victory at The Concession Golf Club while Hovland, who was part of a three-way tie for second, climbed four spots of his own to No. 4 in World Points, which currently has him as Team Europe's first automatic selection off of that list.

Neither player has played in an international team competition since they each turned pro in Summer 2019.

Morikawa's rise knocked Tony Finau outside the top 6. Billy Horschel, also T-2 at the WGC-Workday, moved up five spots to No. 17.

Here is a look at the current U.S. Ryder Cup picture:

• 1. Dustin Johnson
• 2. Brooks Koepka
• 3. Collin Morikawa
• 4. Bryson DeChambeau
• 5. Xander Schauffele
• 6. Justin Thomas
• 7. Tony Finau
• 8. Patrick Reed
• 9. Webb Simpson
• 10. Daniel Berger
• 11. Patrick Cantlay
• 12. Harris English
• 13. Matt Wolff
• 14. Max Homa
• 15. Kevin Kisner

The top six players after the BMW Championship will make the U.S. team. Six captain’s picks will be made after the Tour Championship.

Here is a look at the current European Ryder Cup picture:

EUROPEAN POINTS

• 1. Tyrrell Hatton
• 2. Tommy Fleetwood
• 3. Jon Rahm
• 4. Rory McIlroy
• 5. Victor Perez
• 6. Bernd Wiesberger
• 7. Matt Fitzpatrick
• 8. Danny Willett
• 9. Lee Westwood
• 10. Bob MacIntyre
• 11. Matthias Schwab
• 12. Rafa Cabrera Bello
• 13. Marcus Kinhult
• 14. Paul Casey
• 15. Thomas Detry

WORLD POINTS

• 1. Jon Rahm
• 2. Tyrrell Hatton
• 3. Rory McIlroy
• 4. Viktor Hovland
• 5. Tommy Fleetwood
• 6. Victor Perez
• 7. Matt Fitzpatrick
• 8. Paul Casey
• 9. Danny Willett
• 10. Bernd Wiesberger
• 11. Lee Westwood
• 12. Bob MacIntyre
• 13. Rafa Cabrera Bello
• 14. Justin Rose
• 15. Sergio Garcia

The top four players in European Points and the top five players in World Points not already qualified via European Points after the BMW PGA on Sept. 12 earn automatic spots on the European team. Three captain’s picks will be made on Sept. 13.

The 2020-21 Premier League title race has now become a battle for second place with Manchester City stretching their lead at the top to 12 points over the weekend.

A win at home to Wolves on Tuesday would take City 15 points clear of the pack and register their 21st consecutive victory in all competitions, so the challenge of closing the gap next season is already focusing minds among rival clubs. And if City strike a deal to sign Lionel Messi this summer, their domestic challengers will have an even bigger task ahead of them in terms of beating Pep Guardiola's team to silverware next season.

But now is the time that plans must be made by the Premier League's top clubs to catch and overhaul City. They all have issues to address -- some with bigger problems than others -- but with this season's title race as good as over, what do they need to do to make themselves strong enough to win the league next year?

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MANCHESTER UNITED: Find a goal scorer

Although manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has moved United forward since he replaced Jose Mourinho in December 2018, there are still plenty of areas in need of strengthening at Old Trafford. If money were no object then a commanding goalkeeper, world-class centre-half and prolific centre-forward would all arrive this summer.

But with finances impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, it may be that United can only tick one of those boxes. If that's the case, they simply have to put all their resources into signing a centre-forward capable of scoring at least 20 league goals a season.

Don't be fooled by United's status as the Premier League's top scorers this season. Take away the nine they scored against Southampton and they would be fourth in the list. The best gauge of United's lack of potency is their return of just ONE goal in seven league games so far against Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City this season -- and that was a penalty in a 6-1 defeat against Spurs.

United have had great goal scorers during the Premier League era including Ruud van Nistelrooy, Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie. They now need to dig deep to fund a move for Erling Haaland, Harry Kane or, if a swap deal with Paul Pogba is on the cards, Cristiano Ronaldo because their current options simply don't deliver when it matters.

LEICESTER CITY: Keep finding nuggets and keep Vardy fit

Leicester's 2015-16 Premier League title triumph looks more miraculous with every passing season, but manager Brendan Rodgers has made the Foxes competitive again and they are now a genuine threat to the Big Six. Whether they can win the title again is debatable, but Leicester are a well-run club with a proven track record of finding top quality players for good value, so they will always be around the top six if they can maintain that formula.

Back in 2016, Leicester's title success was built around transfer gems such as Jamie Vardy, N'Golo Kante and Riyad Mahrez and the current team is following a similar pattern with the likes of James Maddison, Wesley Fofana and James Justin. But to have any hope of catching Guardiola's City -- who they beat 5-2 at the Etihad earlier this season -- Leicester must unearth more stars this summer and somehow find a long-term replacement for goal scorer Vardy, at the same time as ensuring that the 34-year-old can stay fit.

CHELSEA: Rebuild the midfield

Just like United, Chelsea have a number of holes to plug in their squad. Both clubs need better quality at centre-half and centre-forward, while manager Thomas Tuchel would also benefit from big-money signings such as Timo Werner, Kai Havertz and Christian Pulisic growing into match-winners.

But the biggest area in need of reinforcement at Chelsea is the midfield, which can no longer rely on N'Golo Kante to dominate the centre of the pitch as he did in his first season at the club in 2016-17. Jorginho and Mateo Kovacic are good Premier League players without being outstanding while Billy Gilmour, at 19, still needs time to develop into a regular starter.

Right now, Chelsea lack the power to dominate and control games from midfield as they did when they had the likes of Frank Lampard, Claude Makelele and Michael Essien in their prime. Finding a new Lampard, Makelele or Essien is a tough task, but a stronger midfield would directly improve the defence and attack, so Chelsea need to unearth a player capable of doing just that.

LIVERPOOL: Get Van Dijk fit and press reset

On paper, Liverpool are the most likely challengers to Manchester City next season, but everything revolves around Virgil van Dijk returning to fitness and his place in the back four. Liverpool simply haven't been the same since the 29-year-old centre-half suffered a cruciate ligament injury in October. Van Dijk's absence has affected every area of the pitch, with the defence losing its leader and organiser and full-backs Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold being exposed defensively.

It has also has knock-ons further up the pitch, with the midfield weakened due to manager Jurgen Klopp having to use Fabinho and/or Jordan Henderson as makeshift centre-halves. Without the drive of those two in midfield, Liverpool have been unable to dominate opponents, and chances for their forwards have reduced dramatically.

Getting Van Dijk back is crucial. Yes, there are other areas in need of attention, with Liverpool needing to find a younger version of Henderson, but everything revolves around Van Dijk. With him back in the team, Liverpool can challenge again.

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR: Replace Lloris and keep Kane

Jose Mourinho will hope that Spurs are now back on track this season after Sunday's 4-0 win against Burnley revived prospects of Champions League qualification, but if the club are to challenge for the title next season, there is plenty of work to be done.

The priority, as always, will be to ensure that centre-forward Harry Kane resists the temptation to move elsewhere. With Kane, Spurs can beat anyone, and his partnership with Son Heung-min is as potent as any in the Premier League. Mourinho has the quality within his squad to sustain a title challenge, but he needs the likes of midfielder Tanguy Ndombele and defender Davinson Sanchez to develop more consistency.

At the back, however, the time has come to find a replacement for captain and goalkeeper Hugo Lloris. The France No. 1 has been among the best in the world at times during his career, but he is no longer in that bracket. Spurs would be stronger, and more capable of sustaining a title challenge, with a better goalkeeper.

What about the rest? This season's title race has been enlivened by the likes of West Ham, Everton and Aston Villa challenging for a top-four finish, while Arsenal continue to under-perform in the league as they look set to miss out on the Champions League for a fifth consecutive season. But can any of those clubs do anything over the summer to take them to another level next season and make themselves serious top four contenders or even higher?

WEST HAM UNITED: Allow Moyes to build

West Ham are exceeding all expectations this season, with the Hammers sitting in fourth position, a point clear of Chelsea, with 12 games to play. The club harbours ambitions of becoming a force to rival London's traditional big three of Chelsea, Arsenal and Spurs, but it will need a period of growth and consistency to achieve that goal.

Patience has always been in short supply at West Ham, though, so the club needs to buck its own trend and allow manager David Moyes the time to build solid foundations and make the team as consistent and competitive as the Scot made Everton during his 11-year spell in charge at Goodison Park. Keeping Declan Rice and Tomas Soucek at the club this summer, when big-money offers are sure to come in, would be a big step in the right direction.

EVERTON: Back Ancelotti

Carlo Ancelotti has transformed the mood at Everton, on and off the pitch, since taking charge as manager in December 2019 and the three-time Champions League winner has put the team on course for a top-four finish this season.

Last summer, Ancelotti pushed the club to deliver the transfer targets he wanted and made sure that James Rodriguez, Abdoulaye Doucoure and Allan were added to his squad. All three players have made a big contribution this season, while Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Lucas Digne and Michael Keane have all improved dramatically under Ancelotti's management.

The Italian has proved his credentials beyond all doubt, so the Everton board and director of football Marcel Brands must, given Ancelotti what he wants this summer to take the team to the next level.

ASTON VILLA: Keep Grealish and strengthen

Despite battling with relegation until the final week of last season, Aston Villa have sustained a push for European qualification this time around. Villa are still a work in progress under manager Dean Smith and remain heavily reliant on the creativity of midfielder Jack Grealish, so the priority is to introduce enough new quality into the squad to convince the England international to stay at Villa Park.

Nobody expects Villa to challenge for the title anytime soon, but keeping Grealish and making improvements in all areas could certainly help the club become a consistent top six challenger.

ARSENAL: Trust the kids -- and be patient

It is now 17 years since Arsenal won their last title, with Arsene Wenger's Invincibles still the only side to win the Premier League without suffering a single defeat in a season.

Arsenal won't be winning the league anytime in the immediate future, but after more than a decade of drift at the Emirates, there are positive signs in the shape of youngsters Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe and Gabriel Martinelli. Manager Mikel Arteta has given them the chance to shine this season and all three have grasped their opportunity, but Arteta needs time to overhaul a squad that still has too many under-performing senior players.

If Arsenal can keep their best young players and replace the fading stars with similarly promising youngsters, they can look forward to a brighter future. But they might be approaching the 20th anniversary of the "Invincibles," in 2024, before they can seriously challenge for the title again.