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Tottenham Hotspur managed a late comeback last night in Norway to secure a 2-2 draw with Bodo Glimt in their second Champions League outing of the 2025/26 campaign.

At one stage, it looked certain as though Thomas Frank’s men would be heading for a defeat after the hosts established a two-goal lead with just 24 minutes remaining.

However, Micky van de Ven’s goal and an own goal from Jostein Gunderson secured a point for the Lilywhites to maintain their unbeaten European record this season.

It was far from an impressive display by Frank’s men, but the Dane will no doubt be impressed by his side’s ability to come back from an almost certain defeat.

Despite the fightback, numerous starters failed to take advantage of the chance that had been handed to them, with the manager desperately needing to drop multiple of them from his side.

Brennan Johnson’s performance against Bodo Glimt

Over the last couple of weeks, Brennan Johnson has been dropped to the Spurs bench in somewhat controversial fashion, after scoring twice in his first two outings of the Premier League campaign.

However, the Welsh international was handed a recall to the side for the clash in the Champions League last night – subsequently having the perfect chance to stake his claim for a regular starting role again.

The 24-year-old was unable to take advantage of the opportunity handed his way, producing a performance to forget against the Norwegian outfit.

He featured for an hour of the contest, but failed to create any chances for his teammates, whilst only registering one effort on goal, but failed to direct it on target.

Johnson also failed to complete any of his attempted dribbles, whilst also being unable to find a teammate with any of his crosses – subsequently being replaced by Mohammed Kudus.

However, despite the winger’s dismal showing, he wasn’t alone in failing to impress, with one other starter unable to make the impact he would’ve craved.

The Spurs star who produced a 3/10 display

After winning the Europa League last season, it has handed a generation of Spurs supporters the chance to endure a new and memorable adventure across the continent following their team.

The victory on the opening day may not have been the most convincing display, but it did manage to kickstart their ambitions of going deep in one of the world’s biggest competitions.

However, the performance against Bodo Glimt was one the manager will want to forget in a hurry, but their ability to come back will please the manager somewhat.

However, just like Johnson, numerous players failed to deliver during the draw, with centre forward Richarlison another talent who had an evening to forget.

The Brazilian has been the Dane’s main talisman during the opening weeks of the season, but he may need to experiment with his options after the latest showing from the forward.

During his 90-minute display, the 28-year-old only managed a total of 10 touches – an average of one every nine minutes, with such a tally lower than goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, who notched 46.

Richarlison also only managed to complete two passes, whilst also losing possession five times – an average of once every two times he made contact with the ball.

Richarlison – stats against Bodo Glimt

Statistics

Tally

Minutes played

90

Touches

10

Passes completed

2

Possession lost

5

Big chances missed

1

Chances created

0

Fouls committed

1

Match rating

3/10

Stats via FotMob

To further rub salt into his wounds, the attacker also missed a big chance, highlighting his wasteful nature despite having limited chances to make an impact in the final third.

As a result of his showing, the Brazilian was handed a measly 3/10 match rating by The Standard journalist Matt Verri – further highlighting his lack of quality in Norway.

After such a display, Frank simply must be left with no choice but to finally drop the attacker from his starting eleven, with Richarlison unable to build on his impressive form early on in the season.

It’s clear that reinforcements are still needed in such a department, but if the club are to be successful in the short-term, the boss desperately needs to come up with an immediate solution to the current centre-forward issue.

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Posts ByEthan Lamb Sep 30, 2025

Crystal Palace are now looking to sign a £25m centre-back, who is viewed as a ready-made replacement for Marc Guehi, with the captain still expected to sign for Liverpool.

Guehi left fuming after deadline day Liverpool move falls through

Guehi was expected to complete a move to Anfield on deadline day, but the deal fell through, as Palace were unable to bring a suitable replacement through the door in the summer, despite tabling a club-record £37m bid for Inter Milan’s Yann Bisseck.

It has since emerged that the Englishman has been left fuming with the move not going through, despite doing everything right by continuing to honour his contract and play for the Eagles amid widespread speculation over his future.

With less than one year remaining on his contract, the 25-year-old is now poised to leave the South London club on a free, which will be a difficult pill for Steve Parish to swallow, given that he was valued at £60m not too long ago.

According to a report from Caught Offside, Guehi is still edging towards a move to Liverpool, which means Crystal Palace have now set their sights on Chelsea defender Axel Disasi, who is viewed as a ready-made replacement for the centre-back.

It is deemed ‘inevitable’ that Disasi will leave the Blues during the January transfer window, given that he is not a part of Enzo Maresca’s plans, and a move to Selhurst Park could now be on the cards.

The Eagles are thought to be looking to sign the 27-year-old on loan, with previous reports stating Chelsea value the defender at around £25m.

How Disasi compares to Guehi stylistically

The Frenchman could be an improvement on Guehi in some departments, given that he appears to be more comfortable in possession of the ball, although the England international has outperformed the Chelsea man across some key defensive metrics over the past year.

Average per 90

Axel Disasi

Marc Guehi

Passes attempted

58.50

51.02

Pass completion %

87.9%

83.2%

Tackles

1.84

1.85

Blocks

1.01

1.50

That said, while the former AS Monaco man has been lauded as “incredible” in the past, it does not bode well that he is a part of the Chelsea ‘bomb squad’, while he is also thought to have turned down a late move to Selhurst Park.

Theoretically, another four months without playing any football may change his mind, but it remains to be seen whether Disasi is even interested in a move to Selhurst Park this January.

In what was a year to forget for Manchester United football club, captain Bruno Fernandes endured a season to remember on a personal level – producing numerous moments of magic despite the team’s failures.

The Portuguese international racked up a total of 37 combined goals and assists across all competitions – by far and away the highest tally of any member of the first-team squad.

However, he was unable to catapult Ruben Amorim’s side to any form of success, as the Red Devils ended the 2024/25 Premier League campaign in a measly 15th place.

The first team desperately needed reinforcements over the summer, something which the board provided with the likes of Matheus Cunha, Benjamin Sesko and Bryan Mbeumo.

Despite the additions in forward areas, a new midfielder was desperately needed, subsequently adding further quality to the side – but also pushing another talent down the pecking order.

Kobbie Mainoo’s future at Manchester United

During the 2023/24 campaign, academy graduate Kobbie Mainoo was a breath of fresh air to the United side – popping up in key moments during his breakthrough campaign at Old Trafford.

The 20-year-old scored multiple times that year, including a last-minute winner against Wolves – before netting the crucial effort in the FA Cup final triumph against rivals Manchester City.

However, in recent times, the Englishman has struggled for consistent action, starting just 19 times last season, with minutes even harder to come by this campaign.

Mainoo hasn’t started a single league game in 2025/26, with his only starting outing coming in the embarrassing Carabao Cup second round defeat to Grimsby Town.

He’s spoken about wanting to leave his boyhood club on loan in recent times to gain valuable game time elsewhere – but his request was denied, subsequently needing to fight for his place in the side.

Such a situation has been a disappointing one for both the player and the club, with a resolution needed, but they may have made a mistake in allowing one former youngster to depart.

The former United star who was the original Mainoo

United’s hunt for a new midfielder was evident during the summer transfer window, targeting numerous talents throughout Europe to offer further quality in the middle of the park.

Bruno, who’s primarily an attacking midfielder, has been forced to operate in a deeper role this campaign – especially after the arrivals of Cunha and Mbeumo in the number ten positions.

Hopefully, such a decision doesn’t take away from the numbers he produced last season, already getting off the mark with his last-minute penalty against Burnley last weekend.

However, a new partner alongside him has been desperately needed in recent times, potentially making a mistake in allowing former youngster James Garner to depart the club.

The Portuguese international has previously praised the Englishman, labelling him a “good player” after the Red Devils’ pre-season tour back in 2021.

He rose through the youth levels at Old Trafford, just like Mainoo, but would only make seven first-team appearances – with his spells away from the club catapulting him to stardom.

Garner would spend 18 months on loan at Nottingham Forest, catching the eye with his box-to-box displays, registering eight goals and 10 assists over his two separate loan spells at the City Ground.

He subsequently helped the Reds secure promotion back to the Premier League in 2022, in a spell that would catch the eye of a side already plying their trade in England’s top-flight.

The 24-year-old joined Everton on a permanent basis for an initial £9m in the summer of 2022, with Erik ten Hag not seeing the player in his plans – with the Toffees getting themselves a bargain given his form on Merseyside over the last couple of seasons.

James Garner’s stats for Everton in the PL (2024/25)

Statistics (per 90)

Tally

Games played

21

Goals & assists

1

Pass accuracy

82%

Tackle success rate

66%

Tackles won

2.4

Duels won

4.5

Interceptions made

1.3

Recoveries made

4.2

Stats via FotMob

Garner has since made 88 appearances for the Toffees, showcasing his versatility, operating in the middle of the park, as well as right-back, but still thriving despite the unnatural role.

He scored his first goal of the new season in recent weeks, with his beautiful strike from outside the box securing the Toffees a victory in their first outing at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

The £9m fee now appears to be way too cheap, given his recent success away from Old Trafford, potentially being able to cement his place in Amorim’s side had he stayed at the club.

There’s no denying he was the original Mainoo, rising through the club’s youth levels, but ultimately, their loss is Everton’s gain – with Bruno missing out on starring alongside the Englishman.

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Tottenham are widely reported to be in talks with Man City over a deal for Brazilian winger Savinho, but Thomas Frank still needs to strengthen other areas of the Spurs squad.

Late Sunday evening, reliable transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano broke the news that Spurs opened club-to-club negotiations with City to sign Savinho – coming soon after they lost club legend Son Heung-min to LAFC.

Son brought an emotional end to his 10-year stay in N17, waving goodbye to the club during an emotional final game against Newcastle in Seoul, with the South Korean since being unveiled to MLS supporters as the division’s most expensive ever arrival.

The 33-year-old was both a standout attacking linchpin on the field and leader behind-the-scenes, but Frank is now forced to cope without Son’s presence ahead of his first full campaign in charge of the north Londoners.

Tottenham quite simply need an out-and-out replacement for the winger, and Savinho fits the bill.

The South American is adept at playing both in Son’s position and on the right-wing, bagging 13 assists in all competitions for Pep Guardiola’s side last season over 48 appearances.

Savinho helped to set up two goals across two games against north London rivals Arsenal last season as well, and only Jeremy Doku managed more successful dribbles per 90 out of every City player in the Premier League last season.

The former Girona star’s pace and directness could be a major asset to Frank as the Dane looks to compete on four fronts next term, and despite reports of a rumoued Tottenham bid for Barcelona forward Ferran Torres, it appears Savinho is now their priority wide target.

However, given James Maddison will be out for the majority of 2025/2026 after rupturing his ACL, Spurs are also in need of a natural number 10.

Savinho actually played the role for City on two occasions last campaign – against Salford City in the FA Cup and Al-Hilal at the Club World Cup – but he isn’t exactly an experienced, proven playmaker.

Eberechi Eze forced to consider joining Tottenham as Arsenal deal stalls

According to TEAMtalk, £100,000-per-week Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze remains on Spurs’ radar as a potential option.

There are credible reports that Savinho may not be Tottenham’s only late summer deal (Fabrizio Romano), and their glaring need for a CAM means we surely cannot rule out a deal for Eze.

The 27-year-old has been repeatedly linked with a move to Arsenal for the last month, but the Gunners are hesitating to make a formal bid for him – meaning the door is still open for Tottenham to submit an offer of their own.

Despite his eagerness to join Arsenal, TT claim Eze is ‘forced to consider’ other clubs as Mikel Arteta’s side stall – and Tottenham have apparently gained significant momentum as an alternative.

Daniel Levy is also informed of the conditions of a possible deal for the England international, and the club have shown a growing willingness to explore it in recent days.

Eze managed more shots at goal, key passes and successful takes-ons per match than any other Palace player last season, and he’s arguably perfect to fill the void left by Maddison considering he’d also help to fill Tottenham’s ‘locally trained’ Champions League quota.

The ex-QPR sensation would cost in excess of £60m, according to TT, and given Tottenham were once ready to splash a similar amount on Morgan Gibbs-White, it could be a cost that Spurs are open to paying.

أعلن جوليان ناجيلسمان، المدير الفني لمنتخب ألمانيا، عن قائمة فريقه والتي سوف تخوض غمار فترة التوقف الدولي المقبل في شهر أكتوبر الجاري.

ألمانيا تستعد لخوض مباراتين في منافسات تصفيات قارة أوروبا المؤهلة لبطولة كأس العالم، والتي سوف تلعب في كندا والولايات المتحدة الأمريكية والمكسيك.

ويسعى منتخب ألمانيا إلى تحقيق الفوز على لوكسمبورج وكذلك أيرلندا الشمالية، وذلك من أجل تحسين الصورة السلبية عن الفريق والتي كانت خلال فترة التوقف الدولي في شهر سبتمبر الماضي.

ألمانيا تعرضت لهزيمة قاسية أمام سلوفاكيا بهدفين دون مقابل ، ثم فازت على أيرلندا الشمالية بثلاثة أهداف مقابل هدف.

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ولم تشهد قائمة ألمانيا مفاجآت تذكر، حيث تواجد نجم نادي ليفربول، فلوريان فيرتز، على رأس القائمة على الرغم من مستوى اللاعب السيئ منذ بداية الموسم مع الريدز.

فيرتز فشل في تسجيل أو صناعة أي هدف مع ليفربول، منذ توقيعه مع النادي الإنجليزي هذا الصيف قادمًا من نادي باير ليفركوزن مقابل أكثر من 100 مليون يورو.

واستمر مهاجم نيوكاسل يونايتد، نيك فولتيماده، في التواجد مع ألمانيا، بعد المستوى المميز الذي يقدمه اللاعب مع الماكبايز. قائمة منتخب ألمانيا لمباراتي لوكسمبورج وأيرلندا الشمالية

حراسة المرمى: أوليفر باومان، فين داهمين، ألكسندر نوبل.

خط الدفاع: جوناثان تاه، روبرت أندريش، فالديمار أنطون، ريدل باكو، ناثانيال براون، روبن كوخ، ديفيد راوم، نيكو شلوتربيك.

خط الوسط: كريم أديمي، نديم أميري، سيرجي جنابري، ليون جوريتسكا، جوشوا كيميتش، جيمي ليولينج، فيليكس نميشا، ألكسندر بافلوفيتش، أنجيلو ستيلر، فلوريان فيرتز.

خط الهجوم: نيك فولتيماده، ماكسيمان بيير، جوناثان بوركاردت.

The 25-year-old got Heat home in an innings of composure and character.

AAP22-Dec-2024Brisbane Heat 175 for 7 (McSweeney 78*, Renshaw 54, Pope 2-17) beat Adelaide Strikers 174 for 6 (Jamie Overton 45*, Prestwidge 2-16) by three wicketsNathan McSweeney has rebounded from his Test axing to inspire Brisbane to a last-ball BBL victory over Adelaide Strikers with a brilliant and unbeaten 78. He was “devastated” on being dropped from Australia’s side for the remainder of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy but the 25-year-old got Heat home in an innings of composure and character.Heat spinner Mitchell Swepson hit the final delivery of the chase off Liam Scott for a single over point to secure a three-wicket win, but the hero was McSweeney. After being put under pressure by India spearhead Jasprit Bumrah in the Test series, he found himself in a high-pressure chase after Strikers had posted 174 for 6.Related

McSweeney 'devastated' by Test omission

McSweeney took 16 runs off the second over of the power surge, off Henry Thornton, and celebrated with a six off Matthew Short in the next before guiding Heat to victory. McSweeney received a huge cheer from the 23,681 fans at the Gabba when he came to the crease and initially played second fiddle to a rampant Matt Renshaw.Renshaw (54 off 27) was in scintillating form with his placement, power and purpose all elite. He launched three sixes over the on side and an assortment of exquisite cuts and drives before flicking a Lloyd Pope delivery onto his shoulder and then the stumps.His 66-run partnership with McSweeney for the third wicket off just 39 deliveries got Heat back in it.Earlier, Strikers pace bowler Thornton bowled Jimmy Peirson (8) in his first over but then dropped a sitter at midwicket when Heat skipper Colin Munro skied one off Jamie Overton. Thornton made amends immediately when he cleaned up Munro (7) with the first ball of his next over.Strikers’ English contingent of Pope and Overton fired with the bat to lift the visitors to a competitive total.Overton hit hard and often in the latter overs in his unbeaten 45 off just 24 deliveries. At 196cm, the allrounder has a long reach and immense power and he utilised both to put the hosts’ bowlers off their length and crunch three sixes.Pope (34 off 29), fresh from two half-centuries in the Test series against New Zealand, started with consecutive boundaries off rookie seamer Tom Whitney before holing out to McSweeney in the outfield. Heat pace bowler Xavier Bartlett gave his side the perfect start by snaring D’Arcy Short (1) in the first over.That brought former Gabba favourite Chris Lynn to the wicket and he opened his account with his 209th BBL six, a cracking flick over midwicket. Lynn (24) was well caught attempting his 210th at long-on by Bartlett.Impressive 22-year-old Will Prestwidge (2 for 16) hit the pitch hard and picked up the key wickets of Pope and Lynn.

Speaking in his first press conference during pre-season a few days ago, there was perhaps a sense of frustration from Mikel Arteta that Arsenal hadn’t strengthened more in the transfer window.

“We are short”, he said, even despite the fact that the Gunners have signed four players and are on the verge of adding two more this week in the form of Cristian Mosquera and Viktor Gyokeres.

Well, as their pre-season festivities kicked off with a 1-0 win over AC Milan in which they had 27 shots, it was perhaps evident why the Gunners have moved to land Gyokeres, a man with 54 goals in 52 matches last season.

Despite the fact that Gyokeres is yet to be officially confirmed, we did get to see a glimpse of the club’s new signings with Christian Norgaard starting, while Martin Zubimendi and Kepa Arriazabalaga appeared for the second half as substitutes.

There was even a customary goal for Bukayo Saka who looked as though he’d never been away.

How Arsenal's new signings fared on debut against Milan

Noni Madueke, signed from Chelsea for £52m, is yet to join up with the squad following their Club World Cup exploits in America. As a result, the Gunners’ attack had a rather similar feel to it.

There was something different in midfield, however, with Norgaard handed his first Arsenal start on Wednesday evening in the Singapore heat.

While the Dane lost possession a few times, on six occasions in fact, there was a tidiness to his play that shone through in his pass completion of 88%. As far as £15m signings go, he will more than hold his own in central areas when acting as Zubimendi’s deputy.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Speaking of the Spaniard, his debut was certainly a bit more eye-catching. Supporters have longingly waited for their first glimpse and while he didn’t have too much to do, the former Real Sociedad man was also tidy, completing 89% of his passes and providing two key passes.

There were standout moments for a number of young stars, too. Max Dowman was given his first senior outing and was outstanding in his brief cameo.

His ability to pick up the ball and evade the opposition is already first-class. It’s astonishing to think he’s only 15 years of age.

There was also a debut for fellow 15-year-old Marli Salmon. The centre-back may have missed a penalty in the novelty penalty shoot-out that took place at full-time but he dazzled in possession during normal time, completing 94% of his passes.

That said, it wasn’t a positive runout for everyone in an Arsenal shirt.

The areas Arsenal must work on

While it’s still early in pre-season, the Gunners’ need for new recruits in their offensive line was blatant.

Saka was lively on the right-hand side and carved out a number of opportunities, but as usual, not too many in Arsenal blue were willing to get on the end of things.

You can excuse Kai Havertz who has returned from a lengthy injury lay-off but the need for a presence like Gyokeres is clear for all to see.

The need for a left winger was also rather obvious. Arsenal have been linked regularly with moves for Eberechi Eze and Rodrygo over the summer and the display for a certain Gabriel Martinelli will have left fans begging for their arrival.

We’ll excuse an early pre-season performance, but the Brazilian’s showing in Singapore was all too familiar. He was timid in possession on the left and lacked the explosiveness required to pose a constant threat to the Milan backline.

Playing the opening 45 minutes, Martinelli could only manage 19 touches and he completed just six passes. His only shot, one that was blocked, summed up that timid nature.

The winger got the ball on the left and looked to press into the area but his indecisiveness and lack of quick feet around the box meant that Milan found it easy to prevent a goalscoring opportunity from occurring.

His efforts on the night were well summed up by The Standard’s Simon Collings who handed Martinelli a 5/10 rating and wrote: ‘Had one mazy run, which included a cheeky nutmeg, but the final ball was lacking at times, especially with a chance late on in the first half.’

As a consequence, Arteta needs a more explosive figure to partner the likes of Gyokeres and Saka in his forward line this season.

If the board have any sense, they will look to replace Martinelli’s regular starting spot with someone like Eze or Rodrygo.

A better signing than Eze: Arsenal hold talks to land £52m "superstar"

The £52m ace would be a better signing for Arsenal than Eze.

2

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Jul 21, 2025

Brits and Bosch lead South Africa’s batting charge; Deepti impresses with the ball for India

Shashank Kishore07-Jul-2024No result A potentially engaging contest was robbed of its conclusion as the second T20I between India and South Africa was abandoned halfway through courtesy a steady evening drizzle in Chennai.It was the kind of rain that wouldn’t take players off most times. However, the sharpest spell of the evening – a steady five-minute drizzle – coincided with the innings break – forced the ground staff to cover the playing surface. But it continued to mizzle on and off for the next hour, forcing the umpires to pull the plug.It left India, who made as many as four changes to their XI, with more questions than answers, while South Africa could be fairly satisfied after a second good workout with the bat, having followed their 189 for 6 two nights ago with a compelling 177 for 6 on Sunday evening.They go into the series finale on Tuesday with an opportunity to seal the series, a significant result if it comes to fruition given this is their last assignment before the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh in September.Hello, Uma ChetryAssam played their first domestic tournament in 1948-49. It took them nearly 76 years to produce the first India player (Riyan Parag), but on Sunday, they doubled that tally as Uma Chetry, the 21-year-old wicketkeeper, was handed a cap in Richa Ghosh’s absence due to concussion.Chetry was in action almost immediately. Everyone thought she had effected a smart stumping when Tazmin Brits, the top scorer from two nights ago, ran down to a Sajana Sajeevan slider. Even as an ecstatic Chetry celebrated her first dismissal, the third umpire brought her some agony.A tiny fraction of Chetry’s glove was in front of the stumps when she collected the ball, which meant Brits wasn’t just not out but also had a free hit. On 5 then, Brits built on to make a 36-ball half-century, looking in sparkling touch for most parts.It was in sharp contrast to her struggles in the series opener, where she took nine balls to get off the mark and had limped to a run-a-ball 25 after 10 overs, before a sensational late acceleration brought her 81 off 56 balls.Wolvaardt’s blazing startSouth Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt offset any early pressure there may have been on the team with three back-to-back boundaries off the third over. Each of them was high on aesthetic appeal, her timing and placement precise enough to thread the tiniest of gaps on the off-side ring.She would also be lucky to survive a leading edge that nearly popped to point as Arundhati Reddy, who replaced Renuka Singh in the XI, had a tough beginning.But Wolvaardt’s innings was cut short soon enough, when she found the safe hands of Radha Yadav at backward point as Pooja Vastrakar struck in the fifth over to break a dangerous opening partnership. Wolvaardt’s contribution to the 43-run stand was a robust 12-ball 22.Deepti Sharma picked up the key wicket of Marizanne Kapp•BCCIDeepti leads India’s spin chargeMarizanne Kapp didn’t take long to settle in like she did the other night. She welcomed Delhi Capitals team-mate Yadav by muscling two hits down the ground in her opening over as South Africa ended the powerplay on 66 for 1. But India weren’t throwing in the towel, ably hitting back courtesy their spinners, especially Deepti Sharma.Deepti did what the other spinners couldn’t – get balls to bounce off a length while also cleverly varying her pace – and Kapp fell in trying to step out and hit through the line to one such delivery, only to find Sajana at mid-off. Then India slipped in a few tight overs with Shreyanka Patil, who replaced legspinner Asha Sobhana, joining in.Anneke Bosch took a while to adjust to the pace of the surface, but it helped that South Africa had Brits bring up a half-century. Then, Chetry redeemed herself with a stumping to dismiss Bosch as she charged Deepti, only to be beaten by sharp turn. To Chetry’s credit, she stayed low and collected the ball at shin-height to effect the stumping.It was a near double-strike as India then prised out the dangerous Chloe Tryon as she tamely lobbed a return catch to Radha. At 131 for 4 in 15 overs, South Africa needed a big finish to get near the 189 they made on Friday. It wasn’t until the 19th that they got that, when Shreyanka was hit for four fours in a 20-run over by Bosch, who more than made up for a sluggish start to finish with a 32-ball 40.Annerie Dercksen then finished the innings off in a blaze of boundaries, three of them off Vastrakar, to take South Africa to 177 before the rain came down and killed what could’ve been an exciting chase.

Liverpool are gearing up for the imminent exit of Jarell Quansah, who will sign for Bayer Leverkusen in a deal worth £35m after returning from the U21 European Championship with England, triumphant.

Nothing’s set in stone, but the anticipation is that Harvey Elliott will follow suit, coveted by a host of outfits both at home and abroad after his peripheral season under Arne Slot’s wing. The 22-year-old led the Young Lions’ charge and will fetch a pretty penny.

If and when both players part ways with the Anfield side, FSG will have banked just shy of £100m from player sales, offsetting somewhat the vast expenditure that has already been overseen this summer, Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez and Florian Wirtz the staple signings of a summer still in the making.

Darwin Nunez is still to be sold, the Uruguayan striker the heart of negotiations between Liverpool and Napoli. The two outfits want to get the deal done but reportedly sit far apart on agreeing on a price.

A slew of potential replacements have been bandied about, but there’s little question that Liverpool want Alexander Isak above all others.

The latest on Alexander Isak to Liverpool

Mohamed Salah was the only man to outscore Isak in the Premier League last season, and if that doesn’t underscore Liverpool’s interest, what will?

The problem is that Newcastle United know they have one of the world’s best strikers in their mix and have allegedly priced him at £200m.

The latest on Liverpool’s end is that a July bid should not be discounted, but it’s going to be a very tricky one to complete.

Indeed, signing him would drive Liverpool above the £400m mark, which is quite a startling thing to think about. As such, it’s no surprise that Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes has been tasked with capturing an alternative, one who would allow for the centre-back signing Liverpool still desire, Marc Guehi at the top of the list.

Isak is a “world-class” player, as said by pundit Alan Shearer, but he’s not the only talented number nine on the block.

Liverpool make Isak alternative a priority

According to Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, Liverpool have shortlisted Hugo Ekitike alongside Isak, with the Eintracht Frankfurt’s star singled out as being “very high on the list” of targets at Anfield.

The French forward, 23, has risen to prominence over the past year and has attracted the attention of every Tom, Dick, and Harry, although Die Adler are very much aware of this and have listed him at €100m (£85m) to ward off the rabble.

However, Liverpool need a centre-forward and appear keen on advancing their interest, especially as he’s dynamic, young and far cheaper than Isak.

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For what it’s worth, Frankfurt are adamant that they aren’t negotiating with interested parties, at least until August, and that more concrete movements won’t occur for at least a month.

How Hugo Ekitike stacks up compared to Isak

Liverpool like to wrap up their summer business nice and early, but perhaps FSG would be willing to wait in the case of Ekitike, having placed him at the top of their list and conducted the lion’s share of their spending already.

Having finished his first full season in Germany, Ekitike has established himself as “one of the best strikers out there”, according to analyst Ben Mattinson, scorer of 22 goals and placer of 12 assists across all competitions.

He didn’t match Isak’s 27-goal haul, but the 23-year-old is undoubtedly emerging as a focal presence who could play the role Liverpool envisage for the Sweden striker.

Described as the “next Mbappe” by journalist Graeme Bailey, Ekitike is a relentless ball striker, but he’s also a silky and seamless dribbler, a creative partner for his teammates. Apt for a high-pressing team, Liverpool would surely raise their game with him in the ranks, especially when considering the current crop who would elevate the player’s game higher still.

And when peering at Ekitike and Isak’s metrics across the past campaign, it can be noted that Frankfurt’s man produces slightly more dynamic playmaking performances, and he’s more active in carrying the ball himself too.

Goals

0.51

0.75

Assists

0.29

0.20

Shots taken

3.74

3.10

Shot-creating actions

3.50

3.00

Touches (att pen)

6.73

6.17

Progressive passes

1.95

2.87

Progressive carries

3.04

2.71

Successful take-ons

1.90

1.37

Ball recoveries

2.75

1.80

Tackles + interceptions

0.96

0.49

Aerial won (%)

2.00 (50%)

0.85 (32%)

Moreover, he’s a more commanding aerial presence. This is less important than in years past, Slot opting against the cross-heavy style of Jurgen Klopp, and especially so now that Trent Alexander-Arnold has signed for Real Madrid, but it still adds an important dimension.

We can nitpick who ranked higher than who across the past 12 months, but there are some caveats that are worth noting: namely, Isak plies his trade in the Premier League, widely regarded as a tougher division than the Bundesliga.

Isak’s slight inferiority in ball-carrying numbers also owes to his drop-back duties in Eddie Howe’s squad, influencing from deeper and progressing play forward with stroked passes and off-the-ball movements.

What does matter is Isak has been drawn by FBref as one of Ekitike’s most comparable players, indicating a stylistic approach that could see the France talent dovetail into Slot’s system, for Isak has been comprehensively profiled and would be the perfect fit.

But given the exorbitant price demands Newcastle have placed on the table, it surely makes more sense to go for the younger man, who has been praised for his “incredible” quality by teammate Rasmus Kristensen.

Though an uncut gem, Ekitike is still a jewel who could sit at the front of the Liverpool crown for many years to come, combining with Wirtz, Salah and the like. He’s the real deal, and do Liverpool not like to take exciting talents and shape them into something refined and world-class?

He's like Salah & Isak: Liverpool join the race to sign £43m "superstar"

Liverpool may need to enforce further change up top this summer.

ByAngus Sinclair Jun 30, 2025

Aston Villa are set for a busy summer after missing out on Champions League football, but they may now be in position to strike for a talented winger from the continent.

Aston Villa run rule over Rashford and Asensio alternatives

Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio were both instrumental signings from Unai Emery in January, though landing either on a permanent basis may prove difficult after having to settle for a place in the Europa League next term.

Admittedly, Emiliano Martinez departing to ease pressure on Aston Villa’s PSR situation could create some room for manouvre on that front if he leaves before the June 30th deadline.

Talks have been held to sign Asensio and both parties feel a return to Villa Park for the Spain international makes sense, though it remains to be seen if the financial realities of such a scenario stand the test of time.

In the meantime, seeking out alternatives appears to be a smart move from Aston Villa, who have placed Tyler Dibling high on their radar and watched him several times in a campaign where he became a shining light at Southampton.

Similarities have been cited between the Saints’ playmaker and Villans target Jack Grealish amid news that Emery is interested in bringing the Three Lions international back to his former stomping ground.

Aston Villa’s top five scorers in 2024/25 – should they add to their forward line?

Ollie Watkins

17

Morgan Rogers

14

Jhon Duran

12

Marco Asensio

8

Youri Tielemans

5

Such a move would be bound to provoke a mix of excitement and trepidation in equal measure. However, plenty of other names will begin to circulate in connection with Aston Villa as the window begins to heat up.

Like clockwork, Emery’s men are now interested in yet another wide-man and have reportedly started to make advances on that front.

Aston Villa register interest in Real Betis star Jesus Rodriguez

According to Spanish reports, Aston Villa are circling for Real Betis winger Jesus Rodriguez and have moved to register their interest, therefore making contact with the Europa Conference League finalists regarding his situation.

The outlet relay that RB Leipzig have submitted an offer mooted to be in the region of £16.8 million for his services. However, it is noted that he has a release clause of £29.4 million, which is possibly a more realistic price-tag. Manchester United and Liverpool have also been mentioned as suitors.

Aston Villa now ready to offer major deal to sign £50m Mozambique winger

He could replace Marcus Rashford.

ByTom Cunningham Jun 4, 2025

Monchi and company don’t want to miss a market opportunity like Rodriguez, and the Spain Under-21 international’s running style has been likened to Gareth Bale’s unique presence, giving an inkling of what fans could expect if he does end up at Villa Park.

This campaign, the Seville-born talent has registered five goals and four assists in 44 appearances and is very much one for the future at 19-years-old.

With Aston Villa set for changes this summer, Rodriguez could provide some youthful exuberance on either flank as Emery looks to challenge the elite and make strides in Europe.