Birmingham City’s summer spending has now officially kicked into gear.

A spree of new signings at St. Andrew’s has finally gone through after plenty of heated transfer conversation, with Demarai Gray and Bright Osayi-Samuel both joining on free transfers, alongside James Beadle and Tommy Doyle entering the building on loan.

The pick of the bunch, however, was reportedly splashing out £10m to land former Celtic star Kyogo Furuhashi from Rennes.

Still, there will be plenty of intrigue from Birmingham fans about the number of other signings made in quick succession away from just their new Japanese ace, with lots expected from Wolverhampton Wanderers loanee Doyle in particular, who has excelled near the top of the Championship previously.

Why Doyle is an exciting signing for Birmingham

Indeed, Doyle – whilst he has found the Premier League to be his more recent permanent home with Wolves – has lit up the second tier regularly when competing there.

Playing for both Cardiff City and Sheffield United on loan, Doyle would let loose with an impressive tally of five goals and seven assists coming his way from 57 Championship outings, which included a fine free-kick being floated home to help the Blades in their pursuit of promotion during the 2022/23 campaign.

His standout Bluebirds loan stint would even see scout Jacek Kulig brand the 23-year-old as “superb” as the ex-Manchester City youth product now looks to dust himself down after an up-and-down patch of his Old Gold career to try and get back to his second-tier peak with Davies and Co.

He might well be joined by some additional competition very soon if rumours are to be believed, as Birmingham’s busy summer activity shows no signs of relenting.

Birmingham could sign another "special" star

All competition for places will be seen as healthy next season, with Davies wanting the best possible squad he can to ruffle some Championship feathers.

Landing the services of Lewis O’Brien would be viewed as a statement in the middle of the park for sure, with journalist Darren Witcoop revealing, whilst writing for TEAMTalk last week, that the ambitious Blues still are keen on adding the wantaway Nottingham Forest man to their ranks, even with Doyle now at their disposal.

A deal would have to be won right from under Wrexham’s nose, with reports suggesting that the Red Dragons had agreed a £5m fee for the ex-Huddersfield Town man’s signature, only for wages to be an unfortunate stumbling block.

This unforeseen hurdle for Phil Parkinson’s men could see Birmingham come out on top for the seasoned Championship professional instead, with O’Brien even more of a well-versed presence than Doyle as to what it takes to become a top battler in such a difficult and taxing division.

Games

38

42

43

23

16

Goals

2

3

3

0

1

Assists

4

3

3

1

0

Touches*

50.6

58.0

56.7

54.8

56.6

Accurate passes*

24.4 (77%)

30.8 (77%)

29.5 (78%)

36.8 (87%)

30.1 (76%)

Big chances created

5

6

4

2

2

Tackles*

3.2

2.0

2.2

1.7

1.9

Total duels won*

6.1

5.8

7.5

4.0

6.1

Looking at the table above, it’s clear that the Forest outcast excels when plying his trade in the Championship as a well-rounded presence in the middle, with O’Brien desperate to get back to his Terriers best if he dons Birmingham blue shortly, as seen in him winning an imperious 7.5 duels on per Championship clash during Huddersfield’s promotion near-miss during the 2021/22 season.

Like Doyle, he has the goals and assists to back up his tenaciousness, with 20 goal contributions and counting next to his name at the daunting level. His midfield counterpart can only boast 12, on the contrary.

Once even hailed as a “special” player by his former Huddersfield boss in Carlos Corberan, this might well be the signing that makes those tipping Birmingham for greatness more secure in the fact they can challenge for those promotion spots, as Davies aims to deliver back-to-back promotions to please the St. Andrew’s masses even more.

Even more exciting than Kyogo: Birmingham City set to sign "silky dribbler"

Birmingham City are reportedly closing in on a deal to sign a star who is even more exciting than Kyogo Furuhashi.

2 ByDan Emery Jul 5, 2025

As the England midfielder leaves the Etihad Stadium for Everton, GOAL counts down the worst deals of the Manchester City coach's career

Jack Grealish and Pep Guardiola often felt like an odd couple, a strange alliance between the ultimate individual and a coach who insists on structure and rehearsed patterns of play. Now, four years after their unlikely relationship began with the player's Premier League record transfer from Aston Villa to Manchester City, it has come to a sad end. 

Grealish is set to join Everton on loan after effectively agreeing to leave City at the start of the summer when he was left out of the squad for the Club World Cup. The departure follows two bitterly disappointing seasons for the England international after the high of winning the treble in 2023. Guardiola desperately wanted to help Grealish return to those heady days, but back in January he effectively admitted he had given up on that aim, remarking: "Do I want the Jack that won the treble? Yeah, I want it, but I try to be honest with myself."

City have already moved on from Grealish, signing Jeremy Doku in 2023, Savinho in 2024 and Rayan Cherki this summer to compete with him, and the £100-million man's disappointing career at the Etihad Stadium underlines that Guardiola does not always get it right in the transfer market. 

So where does Grealish rank among the worst signings Guardiola has ever made? GOAL runs down the top 10:

Getty Images10Nolito (Man City, £14m)

Guardiola had known Nolito since the forward's days in Barcelona's reserve team and had watched his progress closely before bringing him to City from Celta Vigo during his first summer in charge of the Blues.

Nolito was a late bloomer, having only started to thrive in La Liga in his late 20s, and the move to City was simply to big of a step up for him. He scored twice against Stoke City in his second appearance, but could not build on his strong start and struggled to adapt to life in England, eventually making headlines by declaring that the lack of sunshine in Manchester had made his daughter's skin change colour and that she looked like she had been "living in a cave" as a doctor even advised him to give her vitamin D tablets.

Nolito lasted just one season at City, making only nine Premier League starts while scoring four times, before returning to his natural habitat by joining Sevilla.

AdvertisementGetty Images9Martin Caceres (Barcelona, £14m)

Martin Caceres was the first signing Guardiola ever made as a coach, but proved to be one of his worst. The centre-back joined Barca from Villarreal having spent the previous season on loan at Recreativo de Huelva, and despite arriving for what was a sizeable transfer fee at the time, Caceres barely got a look in as he quickly dropped down the pecking order to become fourth-choice centre-back.

He made just eight La Liga starts all season and Barca won just four of them, a miserable ratio considering they stormed to the title that season. His standing was so low that even when Dani Alves and Rafael Marquez were injured for the Champions League final, he still didn't get in the team, with Guardiola opting to play Yaya Toure at centre-back instead.

Caceres left for Juventus that summer, lasting just one season at Camp Nou.

Getty8Medhi Benatia (Bayern Munich, £22m)

Medhi Benatia had impressed as a goal-scoring centre-back for Roma, but suffered an acrimonious departure from Stadio Olimpico as he joined Bayern in the summer of 2015, ahead of Guardiola's second campaign in Munich. The coach, however, quickly lost trust in him, and over two seasons handed Benatia just 24 Bundesliga starts.

The Morocco international also became notorious for producing high-profile errors, such as getting sent off against City in a Champions League group-stage game and making costly lapses in both legs of the semi-final tie against Barcelona, which Bayern lost 5-3 on aggregate.

He subsequently had a reduced role in his second season, Guardiola's last, and then left for Juventus.

Getty7Joao Cancelo (Man City, £60m)

Joao Cancelo can be filed alongside Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the category of being a brilliant player but with a volcanic personality which ultimately ruined his relationship with Guardiola. The Portugal international had two fantastic seasons with City, but clashed too many times with the coach, and there was only ever going to be one winner.

It has been revealed that Cancelo got off to a rocky start just weeks after completing his £60m ($76m) move from Juventus and threatened to leave after losing his place in the line-up to Kyle Walker. Urged to change his ways by sporting director Txiki Begiristain, Cancelo reinvented himself as an inverted left-back and was instrumental to City's successive title wins in 2020-21 and 2021-22.

But he could not handle being dropped again after the 2022 World Cup and started disrespecting Guardiola, even wearing headphones during one of his team talks. The coach made it clear that Cancelo had to leave "for the good of the team" and was loaned out to Bayern Munich, where he also endured a disappointing spell.

He continued to underwhelm during a subsequent loan at Barcelona before he was eventually sold to Saudi side Al-Hilal in 2024.

da bet nacional： Liverpool have adopted the mantra that the best form of defence is attack. Certainly, this is true of their summer transfer window so far, having made sweeping changes after winning the Premier League.

da bet sport： Some expected Arne Slot to be relieved of his duties as helmsman before the end of the 2024/25 campaign, let alone win the title with such dispatch.

Always ahead of the rabble, the Reds will now look to defend their title and challenge for more silverware across tournament fronts, well-equipped to do so after signing Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez and goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili.

Though Liverpool are definitely interested in bringing in a centre-back – having attempted to sign Dean Huijsen before he joined Real Madrid and now setting their sights on Marc Guehi – many fans would agree that a centre-forward is more desperately needed.

Wirtz’s world-class playmaking would raise the level of any striker, but it won’t be enough to salvage Darwin Nunez’s Anfield career.

Why Liverpool are selling Darwin Nunez

When Liverpool signed Nunez from Benfica three years ago, they thought they had secured a superstar in the making. Jurgen Klopp led the bid.

However, the Uruguay international, 25, has only scored 25 goals across his three terms in the Premier League, routinely criticised for his wayward finishing.

The pace and pressure that English football applies has foiled many a talented up-and-comer, and though Nunez has had his moments – that winner at the City Ground, that match-winning brace against Brentford – personal triumphs have been few and far between.

Under Slot’s guidance, he has scored seven times in 47 matches. Presenting that data differently, Nunez failed to score across 42 fixtures in 2024/25.

The marriage is over, but it’s an amiable divorce. Serie A champions Napoli are currently pushing to sign the striker, and it’s a move that will benefit all parties involved.

Nunez will enjoy the slower pace of the Italian division. Napoli, then, have the chance to rekindle this maverick, turn him into a chaotic weapon.

And Liverpool? Well, Liverpool will sign someone better.

Liverpool set sights on Nunez upgrade

According to German reporter Christian Falk, Liverpool are still interested in Eintracht Frankfurt forward Hugo Ekitike. The sought-after star has been expected to leave Germany this summer, but his club are playing hardball.

Indeed, Liverpool have been joined by Chelsea and Manchester United in considering a deal, but Frankfurt seem set on sticking to their €100m (£85m) valuation, a figure no one will pay.

Falk believes Liverpool will not open contacts with Frankfurt until Nunez’s future has been sorted, and a resolution on that front appears to be imminent.

Why Liverpool should sign Hugo Ekitike

Time was when the ballpark of £85m would get you record-breaking players, those of the top brass. Now, such figures make for just another day for clubs looking to stay competitive at the highest level.

That’s not to discredit Ekitike’s skill set; the Frenchman has been called “one of the best strikers out there” by analyst Ben Mattinson, after all.

And he could reach some staggering standard, of course. Ekitike is tall and powerful and dynamic, endowed with pace and awareness to combine with a hunger to rattle shots off at goal.

You can only imagine the levels he could reach at Liverpool, combining with someone like Wirtz, whom Xabi Alonso had no qualms about labelling a “genius” of a playmaker for his vision and creative passing.

Florian Wirtz – Past Five Bundesliga Seasons

Season

Apps

Goals

Assists

24/25

31 (25)

10

13

23/24

32 (26)

11

12

22/23

17 (11)

1

6

21/22

24 (22)

7

10

20/21

29 (25)

5

6

Data via Transfermarkt

Wirtz’s ability to score and to assist with regularity would suit a modern-tailored striker like Ekitike to a tee, for he scored 22 goals and assisted 12 more across all competitions in 2024/25, going from strength to strength after arriving in Germany as a loanee in January 2024, scoring four times across the latter half of that Bundesliga season before wrapping the deal up by the end for €35m (£30m).

A lofty figure for a relatively unproven prospect at the time, but who can argue that Frankfurt haven’t got bang for their buck now? Ekitike will be sold for a mammoth figure, even if it doesn’t quite reach the ballpark that Die Adler are hoping for.

While some might have reservations over Ekitike’s age, and indeed his rawness, you can only imagine the heights he could reach in front of Liverpool’s new record signing, and that’s without even considering the magic of Mohamed Salah being sprinkled in from the right too.

Of course, Wirtz will certainly be helped by Ekitike’s instinctiveness, the forward’s sharp movements and clever flicks apt to cause mayhem for opposing defences when collecting one of Wirtz’s surgical passes, his angled crosses, his deft layoffs.

And, furthermore, the rangy talent boasts an underlying skill set to behold, bearing all the dynamism and roundedness that Liverpool typically like from their frontmen.

As per FBref, he finished the Bundesliga campaign ranked among the top 8% of strikers for pass completion, the top 16% for shot-creating actions, the top 6% for progressive carries and the top 3% for successful take-ons per 90.

No doubt, he’d be a dream for Liverpool’s new German superstar, actually praised for his “incredible” style of play by teammate Rasmus Kristensen.

Of course, Liverpool would get a more refined and established nine in Alexander Isak, who has demonstrable experience in the Premier League and Champions League, also scoring as Newcastle United beat Slot to the Carabao Cup in March.

However, Ekitike is more affordable and has the potential to grow into a bona fide sensation. Partnered with Wirtz over the coming years, whose elegant and intelligent performances would serve chances to the France talent on gleaming platters, Slot might just hit the jackpot.

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Posts ByAngus Sinclair Jun 27, 2025

Tottenham Hotspur salvaged their season in the most glorious fashion last month, beating Manchester United in the Europa League final to end 17 agonising years of searching for silverware.

However, it wasn’t enough to save Ange Postecoglou, who Daniel Levy dismissed at the start of the month following a wretched Premier League season that concluded with Spurs completing a miserable 17th-place finish.

But with Thomas Frank brought in to replace the Aussie, there’s hope yet that Tottenham can use the past year as a springboard for future success, having already targeted Bryan Mbeumo, who is expected to leave Brentford this summer and has expressed a preference to go to Old Trafford, although Spurs’ new manager could tempt him to change direction.

It’s the kind of signing that simply wouldn’t have been possible had Tottenham failed to clinch the Europa League. But now, the door is very much open for what would be a marquee move.

Why Spurs want Bryan Mbeumo

Mbeumo has truly established himself as one of the most threatening forwards in the Premier League, vital for Frank’s side’s success over the past several years.

His shooting marks the most salient part of his skill set, for sure, but Spurs would also be getting their hands on a dynamic and layered player who, as per Sofascore, created 17 big chances in the league, and averaged 1.3 tackles and 4.7 successful duels per game.

Brennan Johnson holds down the fort on the Tottenham right wing, but for all the Welshman’s potency in the final third, he’s shown to drift in and out of games, his influence waning all too often.

As such, a player like Mbeumo would prove a marked improvement, someone refined and talismanic who could serve as a leader and an example to follow.

However, while Tottenham will be buoyed by Mbeumo’s supposed change of stance in considering their offer now that Frank is at the helm, it would be foolish to put all their eggs in one basket after he previously made it clear that he wants to move to Old Trafford.

Premier League 24/25 – Top Scorers
#	Player	Apps	Goals
1.	Mohamed Salah	38	29
2.	Alexander Isak	34	23
3.	Erling Haaland	31	22
4.	Chris Wood	36	20
5.	Bryan Mbeumo	38	20
Data via Premier League

The Cameroonian has proved himself to be one of the most prolific forwards on English shores, but if he does opt to become a Red Devil, the Lilywhites may have found the perfect alternative.

Spurs lining up another Premier League forward

As per Caught Offside, Tottenham have been scouting Bournemouth star Justin Kluivert, with the report stating that the Londoners are currently weighing up an official offer.

Curiously, Man United are also interested in signing the Netherlands international, clearly following a similar train of thought as Spurs. Arsenal and Liverpool are also in the mix.

Bournemouth don’t want to sell their dynamic attacker but would, of course, for the right price, with that tag seemingly set at around €55m (£47m), although it remains to be seen whether or not Spurs would be willing to meet their demands.

Why Spurs want Justin Kluivert

Kluivert has proven himself across two seasons as being worthy Premier League material, instrumental for Bournemouth across their impressive campaign under Andoni Iraola’s wing.

Tenacious and technically talented, Kluivert, 26, brings a dribble-centric game that has been refined to establish him as one of the most impressive goalscorers in English football, scoring 12 times in the division last season.

The exciting part is that he is clinical with his chances, thus proving he could be the perfect Mbeumo alternative, with Frank labelling his star Brentford forward as being “unplayable” at times.

Justin Kluivert – Premier League Stats
Stats (* per game)	23/24	24/25
Matches (starts)*	32 (26)	34 (29)
Goals	7	12
Assists	1	6
Shots (on target)*	1.8 (0.6)	1.9 (0.9)
Big chances missed	7	6
Pass completion	72%	81%
Key passes*	0.7	1.4
Ball recoveries*	2.8	2.3
Dribbles*	0.8	1.1
Duels won*	2.9	2.9
Data via Sofascore

There’s no question that the Dutchman has gone up a gear over the past year, and who’s to say that he wouldn’t raise his game once again under Frank’s wing down N17?

Kluivert has truly become one of the most dangerous shooters in the Premier League, so economical and precise with his finishing, capable of drifting into space from close or indeed firing from range.

As per FBref, Kluivert actually finished the 2024/25 Premier League campaign ranked among the top 6% of attacking midfielders and wingers for goals and assists per 90 (0.69), which even led to him being considered a player of statistical likeness to Mbeumo.

Though Mbeumo is a right-sided forward, and Kluivert tends to operate in a central attacking midfield berth, the Cherries man has been singled out for his pace and energy in the past and indeed has a wealth of experience on the flanks, scoring 55 goals and providing 47 assists across 221 career appearances out wide.

Moreover, he’s been hailed for his “incredible” finishing this season by writer Ifreke Inyang, scoring Premier League hat-tricks against Wolverhampton Wanderers and Newcastle United.

If Frank can get the likes of Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison performing at the top of their respective playmaking games, Kluivert could find himself reaching even loftier tallies than he has so far achieved.

The versatile forward’s vibrant, physical style suggests he could be the perfect Mbeumo alternative, still providing Tottenham with exciting new qualities while playing in such a way that could see Frank turn him into his new version of Mbeumo.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.Override

It’s the kind of shrewd signing that might just see Tottenham go from strength to strength.

Their next Werner: Spurs in battle to sign "special" £25m man for Frank

Spurs would be making a massive mistake signing this player.

1

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Jun 13, 2025

The Gunners are showcasing serious ambition this summer, having already completed a host of major signings, and Arsenal are not slowing down with just under two months to go before deadline day on September 1.

Berta to offer "emerging star" in Arsenal swap deal for near-£70m signing

The Italian really wants to bring him to N5.

ByEmilio Galantini Jul 9, 2025

Arsenal confirmed the arrivals of Kepa Arrizabalaga and Martin Zubimendi recently, with the Spaniards poised to be joined by Premier League stalwart Christian Norgaard, who completed his medical earlier this week (David Ornstein).

19/20 – winter

£0

20/21 – summer

£81.5m

20/21 – winter

£900k

21/22 – summer

£156.8m

21/22 – winter

£1.8m

22/23 – summer

£121.5m

22/23 – winter

£59m

23/24 – summer

£208m

23/24 – winter

£0

24/25 – summer

£101.5m

24/25 – winter

£0

25/26 – summer

£65m

Zubimendi’s capture, in particular, was the result of a serious back and forth between Real Sociedad and Arsenal, which seemed to go on for several months, but Mikel Arteta at long last secured his new midfield star last Sunday.

“Martin is a player who will bring a huge amount of quality and football intelligence to our team. He will fit in really well and he has all the attributes to be a key player for us,” said Arteta about Zubimendi’s arrival, in official statement.

“The standard he has consistently performed at over the last few seasons for both club and country is exactly why we are so excited to have him with us. We all welcome Martin and his family to the club.”

After Zubimendi and Norgaard, it appears the players most likely to join Arsenal next are currently Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres or Chelsea’s Noni Madueke.

Arsenal are now in club-to-club talks with Chelsea over Madueke after agreeing personal terms (Fabrizio Romano), but supporters are clamoring for Berta to end the club’s search for a new number nine.

The Sweden international, according to various reports, is in advanced talks to join Arteta’s side after also agreeing personal terms, like Madueke, and if Berta has his way, the 27-year-old will be the man to end Arsenal’s pursuit of a prolific goalscorer.

Gyokeres’ 97 goals in 102 appearances for Sporting over the last two years is a massive draw for Arsenal, not least because of their trouble finding the net last season in comparison to their previous two campaigns.

Arsenal "will" sign Viktor Gyokeres after "positive" Berta talks

Understandably, updates on the 27-year-old’s potential move to north London are coming by the hour.

Football Transfers have chipped in with information of their own, sharing the timeline Arsenal supporters can expect when it comes to finalising a deal for the ex-Coventry City star.

Arsenal want to get Gyokeres over the line in time for their pre-season tour of Asia, with Arteta’s side set to take on AC Milan in Singapore on July 23. Berta has just arrived back in England after jetting out to Portugal for “positive talks” with Sporting, and FT move to reassure fans that Arsenal “will” get a deal done for Gyokeres, even if there is some light work to do on the final fee.

They’ve offered an initial £56 million, plus £4 million in add-ons, for the centre-forward – but Sporting want the £60 million to be a paid as an unconditional fixed fee.

Therefore, just £5 million separates the two sides right now, and there is an expectation that they will eventually reach a compromise, as Arsenal look to seal this deal within the next fortnight.

Throughout the years, Tottenham Hotspur supporters have been truly blessed with the chance to watch numerous elite-level attackers feature for the club.

Players such as Heung-min Son, Teddy Sheringham and Harry Kane all managed to make themselves club-legends in North London, with the latter breaking nearly every record in sight.

The 32-year-old currently sits at the top of the Lilywhites’ all-time scoring charts on 280, which saw 208 of his efforts come in the Premier League – with only Alan Shearer scoring more.

However, Spurs’ lack of success on the pitch ultimately led to his departure in 2023, which has left boss Thomas Frank unable to have the chance to work alongside the talisman.

He will no doubt want his own elite-level talent within the final third, potentially landing a player of that calibre during the upcoming January transfer window.

Spurs’ hunt for new attackers in January

Over the last couple of months, Spurs have been just one Premier League side linked with a potential deal for Porto star Sami Aghehowa in the winter window.

The Spaniard has been in tremendous goalscoring form during the early stages of 2025/26, as seen by his remarkable tally of 13 goals in his first 22 appearances across all competitions.

However, the Portuguese outfit don’t want to lose their star man anytime soon, subsequently slapping an €80m (£70m) asking price onto the 21-year-old’s head.

He’s not the only centre-forward in their sights ahead of the upcoming window, with Crystal Palace star Jean-Philippe Mateta another player being considered by Fabio Paratici.

According to one Spanish outlet, the Lilywhites are seriously considering tabling a bid for the Frenchman in January, as his contract talks at Selhurst Park look to have stalled in recent weeks.

It also states that the Eagles may be forced to offload the 28-year-old in the near future to avoid losing him for nothing, with his current deal set to expire in June 2027.

Why Spurs’ latest target would be Frank’s next Mbeumo

During Frank’s time in charge at Brentford before taking the Spurs job, he often had numerous top-level attackers at his disposal, which helped make the Bees an established top-flight club.

The Dane mainly relied on forward Bryan Mbeumo during the latter years of his spell at the GTEC, with the Cameroonian international providing a constant source of goals in the Premier League.

During the 2024/25 season, the 26-year-old netted a career-best 20 league goals, ending the campaign as just one of five players to achieve the feat in the division.

He no doubt thrived under the 52-year-old across the capital, so much so that the manager made a fierce attempt to land his signature after taking the reins in North London.

However, a reunion just wasn’t meant to be, as Mbeumo opted for a move to join Manchester United during the summer, subsequently leading Frank to hunt for a new talisman.

The likes of Mohammed Kudus and Richarlison have often provided the goods in attacking areas for Spurs this campaign, but Frank could get his new star forward with a move for Mateta this winter.

The Palace star has registered 30 goals in the last two full seasons in England’s top-flight, whilst already making huge waves during the first 15 games of the new campaign.

Mateta already has seven goals in 2025/26, but it’s his underlying stats from his outings at Selhurst Park that would make him Frank’s next star attacker in the capital.

The French international, who’s been dubbed “world-class” by one analyst, has registered 1.6 shots on target per 90 this season, which such a tally ranking him in the top 7% of all players in the league.

Games played

15

Goals scored

7

Shots on target

1.6

Dribbles completed

53%

Crosses completed

75%

Aerials won

2.5

Touches in opposition box

4.1

Recoveries made

3.5

Such a figure showcases his relentless nature in front of goal, handing the Spurs side the constant nuisance and goal threat they have lacked since Kane’s departure.

He’s also completed 53% of his attempted dribbles to date, whilst achieving a 75% cross completion rate – highlighting his all-round nature within the final third.

His biggest asset is his hold-up play, which could allow the Lilywhites to have the needed focal point they’ve craved, with the striker winning 2.5 aerials per 90 so far this season.

It could hand Frank the aerial presence needed to dominate in the 18-yard box, but also an option to help link the play and create intricate moves off a direct ball into the striker.

Whilst he operates in a different role to Mbeumo, the pair have both demonstrated their goalscoring prowess in recent times, with clinical goalscorers often hard to come by in the modern game.

Mateta could provide Frank with exactly what he wants in the January window, with such a move handing the Dane the perfect attacking option to kickstart his career in charge of the Lilywhites.

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Tottenham are looking to add fresh quality to their attacking flanks in 2026.

1 ByAngus Sinclair 3 days ago

West Indies will welcome back Akeal Hosein, Shimron Hetmyer, Nicholas Pooran and Andre Russell for their T20I series against England after they were named in a 15-man squad for the first two games, to be played in Barbados on Saturday and Sunday.The quartet missed West Indies’ previous T20I fixtures, in Sri Lanka last month, for personal reasons. Hetmyer was then recalled for the ODIs against England.The squad is otherwise largely the same as that which lost 2-1 to Sri Lanka. Alick Athanaze, Andre Fletcher, Fabian Allen and Shamar Springer were the players to drop out, while the uncapped Terrance Hinds kept his place. Matthew Forde comes in as cover after Alzarri Joseph received a two-match suspension for walking off the field in the third ODI.Related

• Holder: England's frequent tours are 'boosting WI's survival'

• Joseph suspended for two matches following 'unacceptable' behaviour

Romario Shepherd was fit to be included despite having to depart mid-over in the deciding ODI against England after suffering from cramps.”The T20 team is our most settled team with lots of experienced players,” West Indies head coach Daren Sammy said. “However, the difficulty will be picking the XI, as every single player is challenging for a spot. As we face a very good England team, I am confident that the selected squad will continue to play a brand of cricket that allows us to win games, and this ‘Rivalry’ series.”After the Barbados leg, the teams will move on to St Lucia, with West Indies due to confirm their squad for the remaining three games.

West Indies T20I squad for first two T20Is vs England

Rovman Powell (capt), Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Shimron Hetmyer, Terrance Hinds, Shai Hope, Akeal Hosein, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Evin Lewis, Gudakesh Motie, Nicholas Pooran, Andre Russell, Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd

Ruben Amorim has admitted Manchester United have lost their fear factor at Old Trafford, but insists he will turn the stadium back into a fortress. Ahead of their Premier League opener against Arsenal, the Portuguese coach vowed to make the Theatre of Dreams "an enjoyable place" again for Red Devils fans after last season's struggles.

Amorim admits Old Trafford lost its aura after last seasonMan Utd have spent £210m on Sesko, Cunha and MbeumoPortuguese coach vows to restore fortress mentalityFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Manchester United endured a miserable 2024-25 campaign, losing nine home league games and finishing 15th in their worst top-flight season in over five decades. Amorim, who replaced Erik ten Hag last November, has overseen a major summer rebuild with the arrivals of Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo. The trio were signed to inject attacking firepower and help restore confidence at Old Trafford.

AdvertisementAFPWHAT AMORIM SAID

Speaking to the media, Amorim said: "We’ve got to make it (Old Trafford) an enjoyable place for our fans. That is really important. We start with one game against Arsenal, a very good team. Everyone in this room thinks Arsenal are going to win. I know that. But we will be there on Sunday to change things.

"It’s not a mental thing – but it’s not just the players, it’s also the fans. In the (friendly) game against Fiorentina, you could feel it. The fans were a little bit nervous. This feeling, you cannot change it in one day or one game. It’s a feeling that we have to fight. Everyone together – the players, the coaches and the fans. Together, we are going to change things. If you want to win things and be a very strong team, then especially at home you have to win games.”

THE BIGGER PICTURE

The pressure is on Amorim after a £210 million ($285m) summer spend and the potential exits of the Red Devils' 'bomb squad'. United’s priority this season is to re-establish their home ground as a place opponents fear visiting. Amorim insists building momentum at Old Trafford is key to challenging for trophies again.

Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR MAN UTD?

The Red Devils host Arsenal at Old Trafford in their Premier League opener on Sunday, with Amorim targeting a statement victory. New signings Sesko, Cunha and Mbeumo are all expected to feature as fans hope to see a more ruthless United.

Defending champions take the long route to final after defeats in first three matches

Firdose Moonda06-Feb-2025Sunrisers Eastern Cape 177 for 2 (de Zorzi 78, J Hermann 69*) beat Paarl Royals 175 for 4 (R Hermann 81*, Pretorius 59) by eight wicketsSunrisers Eastern Cape will play in a third successive final after winning two matches in two days. They will take on first-time finalists MI Cape Town on Saturday, with memories of their wins over Pretoria Capitals (2023) and Durban’s Super Giants (2024) fresh in their minds. The defending champions have now won knockout matches both batting first and chasing on the Highveld, where MICT last played a week ago, and may fancy themselves as favourites.For now, they will celebrate another successful campaign, irrespective of whether they win the trophy or not. They have shown all the ingredients for a champion team, specifically that they have enough depth in the squad for sustained success.Less than 24 hours after beating Joburg Super Kings, SEC returned to Centurion with what looked like a completely different batting blueprint and new bowling plans.Liam Dawson, who has been both economical and attacking in the tournament so far, was only used when Ottneil Baartman had to leave the field with what looked like a hamstring concern and Aiden Markram bowled a full quota of four overs instead. That may be mostly to do with match-ups against a Paarl side filled with left-handers but also shows the versatility of SEC’s attack. Baartman will be a particular concern for them ahead of the final but he will have some time to assess the seriousness of the niggle.Importantly, their top-order, who were the least successful of the group stage, came together at the right time. David Bedingham and Tony de Zorzi posted 46 inside four overs against JSK in the Eliminator and de Zorzi’s 78 anchored their successful chase against Paarl in Qualifier 2.De Zorzi is a particularly interesting case because he is not really considered a T20 player. He was named as a replacement when allrounder Patrick Kruger was ruled out of the tournament with a calf injury and immediately displaced a misfiring Zak Crawley, who only contributed two scores over 20 in eight matches.Lhuan-dre Pretorius has been one of the finds of the tournament•Sportzpics

De Zorzi did not initially look the part with 24 runs in three innings and was doubting himself. “It is tough. We don’t play that many T20 games,” de Zorzi said in the post-match press conference. “I think you would obviously want to play a lot more and find your rhythm or your blueprint. Marco [Jansen] kept saying to me, ‘just keep your intent up’. There’s definitely times where you look in the mirror and you think, ‘Maybe I must put that [hopes of being a T20 player] in the cupboard.”Tonight was not one of those times. Against expectation, de Zorzi pulled off his highest score since his century in the 2018 Abu Dhabi T20. His was an innings that started riskily with a top-edge that fell safely and went for four, and an outside edge that evaded first slip, and then evolved spectacularly. There were drives and cuts but the shot of the night was when the ball became but a speck in the night sky as he pulled Mitch Owen high over deep square leg for six. That shot created distance between Sunrisers and the DLS par score as lightning strikes surrounded Centurion.The storm didn’t arrive but Paarl Royals were still blown away, and one family in particular will have felt they’d navigated changing winds. The Hermann brothers were on either side of this contest and their father, Marius, was in attendance in his custom-made half-and-half shirt and cap. One half is the pink of Paarl; the other is the orange of the Eastern Cape and on the back it says “Hermann supporter.”At least, he was rewarded for the surname. Rubin top-scored with 81 off 53 balls and was key to Paarl getting over 160 but Jordan was there at the end, when SEC won the match. By the end, Marius was in full SEC kit, which was as good a signal as any that Paarl’s race was run.Related

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• Sunrisers keep three-peat dream alive as Marco Jansen makes the difference again

• MICT into SA20 final as controversial no-ball call hurts Royals

In reality, it ended after their home stretch, where they became the first team to win all five of the games they’ve played, and when they lost Joe Root to national duty shortly after. “Him leaving left a little bit of a gap with that all-round role,” David Miller said. “That one or two overs of spin, or sometimes four and the kind of experience that he has batting through, or getting through the Powerplay, and just playing good cricket shots.”Paarl’s attack may also need a re-think after it was primarily set up for the slower, lower conditions of Boland Park and then struggled up-country. In particular, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, who was the leading wicket-taker at one stage of the tournament, has gone wicketless in the last three games, while Lungi Ngidi, their senior seamer, only played in five of their 12 games and no knockouts. Asked if they could have used him more, Miller concurred.”We definitely could have. It’s a very unfortunate situation… but the way the team is set up, there was only really one position between a couple of fast bowlers and, you know, we went with Kwena [Maphaka] with the extra pace and the left arm variation,” Miller said, also dousing any worries that Ngidi is not fully fit. “But Lungi has been bowling a lot outside of the games and really getting back to where he knows he can bowl. He’s been fantastic off the field for the squad.”But all is not lost for Paarl. Root’s opening partner, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, was the find of the tournament and is currently the leading run-scorer. Though he had a lean patch after his two big scores in his first three games, he struck a sweet 59 in the second qualifier and will be one to watch in future.”He’s unbelievable. He’s 18 years old so he’s got a lot of time,” Miller said. “He plays length really well, he’s got a really good head on him and he wants to do well so those are all very good things. He’s an incredible talent and I’m really looking forward to watching his progress and seeing what he can achieve.”Some will be saying the same about SEC as they wonder how much more they can win. They remain the only team to win the SA20 and their ability to step up when it matters means it would be difficult to bet against them.”They’re a team that never leaves you as an opposition, so you always have to be on your game. They’re clever cricketers and gutsy cricketers,” Miller said. “When you’ve got a squad like that and a never-say-die attitude, it often goes a long way in T20 cricket, especially in the field. They give absolutely everything. They’ve got a great thing going and I wish them all the very best.”

Jake Lehmann and Alex Carey made important second-innings runs to leave Victoria a tough chase

AAP03-Nov-2024Offspinning allrounder Ben Manenti starred with bat and ball to leave South Australia well placed heading into the final day of the Sheffield Shield match against Victoria in Adelaide.Victoria’s openers got through six overs unscarred, requiring a further 337 runs for victory. South Australia were able to declare late in the day and set Victoria a challenging 346-run victory target thanks to some typically lusty hitting from Manenti.Related

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Cartwright's ton, late wickets set up Western Australia victory push

Three huge sixes highlighted Manenti’s 62 not out from 71 balls.Coming to the crease with the home side having lost 3 fpr 4 and looking wobbly at 176 for 6, Manenti top-scored for his side having also completed career-best bowling figures of 5 for 73 earlier in the day.Victoria resumed on day three at 195 for 7, with Manenti having picked up four top-order wickets. But it was Harry Conway who claimed the most important dismissal during the morning session in dismissing Sam Harper.The wicketkeeper revived Victoria’s innings on day two and, after resuming on 68, had reached 89 when trapped lbw by Conway. He earlier knocked over Peter Siddle and Manenti ended the innings by bowling Doug Warren to leave Victoria with a 75-run first innings deficit.South Australia’s turn at the crease began with Henry Hunt caught behind without scoring for a second successive second innings duck for the otherwise heavy-scoring opener.Conversely Jake Lehmann posted a well-compiled 60 having been dismissed for a duck in the first innings. There were runs also for in-form Alex Carey, with the Test gloveman now boasting a Shield average of 88 after three matches of the season.Veteran paceman Siddle was the best of the Victorian bowlers for the second time in the match with 4 for 63, while rookie spinner Warren returned 3 for 74.