Manchester United thought they had landed themselves a real talent back in the summer of 2023, after they secured a move for Danish striker Rasmus Hojlund.

The 22-year-old cost a fee in the region of £72m two years ago, but fast-forward to the present day, he’s struggled to demonstrate why the hierarchy forked out such a fee for his signature.

He only posted a tally of four league goals last season, taking his total tally of goals for the Red Devils to 26 in his 95 appearances since his big-money move.

Hojlund even went 21 games without a goal across all competitions at one stage last season, with new boss Ruben Amorim desperately needing a new talisman during the summer.

Numerous players have been on the board’s radar this window, but no new centre forward has been signed yet, despite progress appearing to be being made on a deal for one star.

The latest on United’s hunt for a new striker this summer

Ollie Watkins has been a player who’s been firmly in the club’s sights over the last couple of months, and, unsurprisingly so given his tally of 16 goals and eight assists in the Premier League last campaign.

However, any deal for the English international may prove to be an expensive one, with Aston Villa demanding a fee in the region of £60m for his signature this summer.

Moves have been made elsewhere for a new striker, with progress being made over a deal to land forward Moise Kean, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport.

They claim that the Red Devils have held talks with the side over a deal for the 25-year-old Italian international, who registered 25 goals across all competitions last campaign.

It also states that he has a €52m (£44m) release clause that remains active until the 15th of July, potentially facing competition from numerous sides in Saudi Arabia for his signature.

Why United’s £44m target could be a Hojlund & Osimhen hybrid

Victor Osimhen has been another player who’s been a constant target on United’s radar over the last couple of months, after he scored 37 times on loan at Galatasaray last campaign.

The Napoli forward looks certain to leave the Italian outfit this summer, with Antonio Conte not seeing the Nigerian forward as part of his plans going forward.

Despite the Red Devils’ interest, other sides in the Middle East and Europe remain in the race for the 26-year-old’s signature, potentially being a saga that could drag on throughout the summer.

Given his goalscoring record, there’s no denying he would be a superb signing, but there are concerns over his wage demands, which could prove to be out of United’s budget.

However, Kean could prove to be a viable option, with the Italian labelled as a similar player to both Osimhen and Hojlund back in the 2022/23 season in Serie A by FBref.

When comparing their respective stats to the aforementioned duo, the former Everton star managed to outperform them both, having the chance to take his career to the next level in Manchester.

Kean, who’s been labelled “world-class” by Statman Dave, managed to post a higher goal per shot on target rate, handing Amorim’s side that clinical edge they’ve been searching for.

Games played

28

32

32

Goals & assists

6

30

11

Goals per shot on target

0.5

0.4

0.3

Progressive carries

2.7

1.5

1.9

Take-ons completed

1.4

0.8

1.3

Carries into opposition box

1.8

0.9

1.5

Fouls won

1.6

1.3

1.5

He also completed more progressive carries per 90 and more carries into the opposition box per 90, having the ability to drive into the final third and create opportunities for other players alongside himself.

The Italian also completed more take-ons, whilst winning more fouls, having the all-round ability to cause problems for the opposition defenders on a consistent basis in the Premier League.

Given the time left on his release clause, the hierarchy will have to act quickly to secure a deal for his signature, potentially getting themselves a bargain transfer this window.

If they can complete a deal for the Italian, it would be one that would fill the needed position at the top end of the pitch, taking the club up a level in 2025/26 as a result.

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Still on the hunt for incomings even with Bryan Mbeumo seemingly on the way, Manchester United are now reportedly battling against clubs in the Saudi Pro League to sign a midfield ace.

Mbeumo waiting to undergo Man Utd medical

After going back and forth in negotiations with Brentford, it looks as though Manchester United have finally taken a step closer to signing Mbeumo this summer. The Red Devils are now reportedly finalising any add-ons in an offer that will exceed the £60m mark, while Mbeumo is now waiting for approval to undergo a medical at the club.

The forward is on course to become United’s second arrival of the window, but he’s unlikely to be the last. If recent reports are anything to go by then INEOS are still on the hunt for a goalkeeper and a striker this summer.

The big question on that front has been just who will arrive to fill that quota. The likes of Emiliano Martinez have been among the headlines on the goalkeeper front, but whether Aston Villa sell one of their star men to a rival even in the face of PSR troubles remains to be seen.

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ByEthan Lamb Jun 25, 2025

Meanwhile, when it comes to strikers, it did look as though Ruben Amorim could get a shock reunion with Viktor Gyokeres. United were certainly in the race, reportedly making the Swede their No.1 target, but ultimately he set his sights on Arsenal with negotiations still ongoing.

That may not be the last time that the Red Devils interact with his representatives, however. Reports are now suggesting that another one of their clients are on United’s radar this summer.

Man Utd now battling to sign Ndidi

According to talkSPORT’s Alex Crook, Manchester United are now battling to sign Wilfred Ndidi from Leicester City this summer. The experienced midfielder is attracting plenty of interest following the Foxes’ relegation, including from the Saudi Pro League, and is now free to leave the King Power Stadium if his £9m release clause is triggered this summer.

Represented by the same agent as Gyokeres, United shouldn’t find it too complicated to open discussions for a midfielder who could provide Amorim with a bargain solution to his Casemiro problem.

Starts

28

18

Progressive Carries

0.70

0.24

Interceptions

1.20

0.84

Ball Recoveries

4.92

6.20

While Ndidi’s arrival wouldn’t steal the same headlines as Cunha or Mbeumo, it would have importance in its own right. Carrying the ball at a far better standard while proving more effective off the ball, Ndidi is more athletic than the ageing Casemiro and could crucially offer the quality in depth that Amorim requires.

Earning around £75,000-a-week at Leicester, Ndidi wouldn’t exactly disrupt United’s wage bill either. That, alongside his £9m release clause, makes him a viable option for INEOS and the Red Devils in the coming months.

Hoping to end their search for a striker at long last, Newcastle United are now reportedly emerging as the favourites to sign a talented 27-goal target for Eddie Howe.

Isak asks to leave Newcastle

In the biggest blow of Newcastle’s summer, Alexander Isak has now asked to leave the club. As the Premier League season closes in, the Magpies could now face the prospect of finding a replacement for one of the world’s best forwards.

Left out of the Magpies’ squad for the Asia tour as a result of his transfer stance, Isak has now opened the door for the likes of Liverpool and clubs in Saudi Arabia to come swooping in to land a blockbuster deal.

The thigh injury only add smoke to the transfer speculation and, as ever, it turns out there’s no smoke without fire. Whether those at St James’ Park back down without a fight is now the big question.

The news also follows Eddie Howe’s decision to send Isak home from Newcastle’s trip to face Celtic amid speculation about his future. The Magpies boss told reporters: “I decided to send him home due to the speculation around him. The last thing he wanted is to be sat in the stand watching, that wasn’t fair to him.

“It is difficult for me to sit here and give 100% clarity on any player. I’d never sit here and do that. It is football and you never know what can happen. All I can say is that Alex is happy at Newcastle, he loves the players and staff, the team.

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“I have never had any issue with him other than seeing him express his talent and express himself. Certainly I am confident that he is going to be here at the start of the season.”

In a cruel twist to the tale, Newcastle must now draw up a shortlist of potential replacements which could already include one particular Ligue 1 star.

Newcastle now favourites to sign Biereth

As reported by Caught Offside, Newcastle are now in pole position to sign Mika Biereth from AS Monaco this summer. The forward is valued at just £40m and is coming off the back of a sensational 27-goal campaign, which saw him hit top form for Sturm Graz and then Monaco from January onwards.

Despite interest from Aston Villa and Everton, the Dane could yet be on his way to St James’ Park this summer. From Newcastle’s point of view, the move would also make perfect sense if they fail to sign Yoane Wissa from Brentford.

The Magpies are reportedly set to submit a £30m bid to sign the forward after seeing their opening offer rejected, but interest from Tottenham Hotspur and former Brentford boss Thomas Frank could yet scupper their plans.

If that proves to be the case, then signing Biereth, who scout Jacek Kulig dubbed “incredible” last season, would provide Howe with the perfect alternative.

This summer has been an exciting one for Arsenal fans to watch. Gone are the days of Edu dragging things out and missing out on key targets; Andrea Berta has come in and been aggressive in the window.

The Gunners have only played two pre-season games but have already signed six players.

That being said, the saga that revolved around new centre-forward, Viktor Gyokeres, was certainly a tiring one. That wasn’t Berta’s fault, however.

Arsenal had predominantly earmarked two strikers this window; Gyokeres and Benjamin Sesko. However, despite approval from most at Arsenal, Sesko’s agent priced him out of a move and the Swede was pursued instead.

The Gunners are no doubt happy with their business. This is a player who scored 54 goals in 52 games last season. Even half of that tally in 2025/26 and this will have been a successful acquisition.

But, what’s next? Well, Berta is already hard at work.

What's next for Arsenal after Gyokeres

It’s likely that for a short while, Arsenal will focus on moving players out of the club. The arrival of Gyokeres took their spending to over £200m this summer, so sales may well be necessary.

Fulham are said to be in talks to sign Reiss Nelson but there’s also interest from Crystal Palace, and that’s where Arsenal’s next deal could take them.

It’s no secret that the north Londoners are keen on signing Eberechi Eze this summer and according to journalist Ben Jacobs, they are now in talks with Palace over a move.

Up to this point, there had only been an agreement between Eze and Arsenal on personal terms.

There have been plenty of developments over the weekend, however, with Football Transfers noting that Mikel Arteta’s side have agreed to pay an initial £30m for the England international and talks are now focused around the payment structure of the remaining £38m of his release clause.

The Independent’s Miguel Delaney reports that sources close to the player believe that he will become an Arsenal player in the next few weeks, confident that a deal will get done.

The Emirates Stadium outfit are said to be Eze’s top choice this summer, but Berta and Co hope to be able to agree a fee of around £60m for his services.

Why Eze could be Arsenal's new Tomas Rosicky

During the days of Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal, the team was filled with technical geniuses. Not forgetting the likes of Dennis Bergkamp and Thierry Henry, the later years of the Frenchman’s tenure saw players like Jack Wilshere, Santi Cazorla, Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez come to the fore.

There were others too. Think Andrey Arshavin, the scorer of four goals at Anfield, Alexander Hleb and a player cut from a similar cloth, Tomas Rosicky.

Signed from Borussia Dortmund for a fee of just £6.8m, he arrived as one of the most exciting young attacking midfielders on the continent.

The Czech Republic international had a fierce ball strike on him, something we saw when he cracked home his first goal but he also possessed the ability to dazzle defenders, dribbling past them with ease and explosively driving forward.

As Wenger once said: “He always makes things happen, not with individual dribbling but with individual acceleration and his passing. I think when he arrived here he was less of a tactical player and more the ‘Mozart’ from Prague – he was purely a creative, offensive player.”

Injuries really destroyed Rosicky’s career in London, ultimately meaning his numbers didn’t look particularly impressive, scoring 28 goals and supplying 23 assists. Yet, his qualities are still remembered fondly by supporters of a certain generation.

Take injuries out of the equation, and Eze has been built in a similar lab. As The Telegraph’s Sam Dean says, the Palace sensation is a “magician” and the “exact sort of player Arsenal have been missing.”

It’s hard to dispute that claim. Like Rosicky, he’s creative, he’s a goalscorer and like Wenger noted, he’s a bit of a Mozart on the ball.

Eze’s first game of pre-season showcased exactly that, nearly scoring a remarkable solo goal. A little like Rosicky, he bursts forward in possession of the ball. What happened next was audacious, nearly chipping the goalkeeper.

£68m please, Berta, that’s all it’ll take to bring this creative genius to the Emirates Stadium this summer.

Arsenal have plenty of players who put fun into football. Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard are chief among them. Yet, what Arteta has done since arriving at Arsenal is build a team of giants.

Mikel Merino suggested that “we [Arsenal] look like a basketball team” when he first moved to the Premier League and within that, some of the technical aesthetics have been lost.

Eze’s Crystal Palace career (all comps)

Season

Games

Goals

Assists

2024/25

43

14

11

2023/24

31

11

6

2022/23

40

10

4

2021/22

19

1

1

2020/21

36

3

6

Stats via Transfermarkt.

Eze, however, would bring that back to Arsenal. He was the scorer of 14 goals and the creator of 11 assists in 2024/25.

That wasn’t a one-off either. He’s hit double figures throughout the last three campaigns and is only getting better. Last season was his finest in the red and blue stripes of Palace to date.

He’s a Premier League-proven star and like Declan Rice, would surely settle into things at the club with ease.

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Celtic’s winning start to pre-season continues.

On Tuesday evening, the Hoops beat Cork City 2-1 at Páirc Uí Chaoimh, with Luke McCowan breaking the deadlock, before young defender Colby Donovan forced home a late winner.

Next up, Brendan Rodgers’ side are in Portugal to face Estrela da Amadora behind-closed-doors on Saturday, before a green-and-white Clásico against Primeira Liga champions Sporting CP at Estádio Algarve next Wednesday.

Back at home, Peter Lawwell and the recruitment team continue to be busy in the transfer market, so could Celtic soon sign a new striker?

Celtic's search for a new striker

Fair to say, Celtic will need to add more attacking firepower in the coming weeks.

Transfer Focus

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

Kyōgo Furuhashi has not been replaced, after being sold in January, while Nicolas Kühn is on his way to Como for a reported fee of £16.3m.

Meantime, Benjamin Nygren has arrived from Nordsjælland for around £1.7m, but supporters are demanding more reinforcements, so could that be about to arrive?

Well, according to a report by Japanese outlet Hochi News, Celtic are ‘close’ to signing striker Shin Yamada from Kawasaki Frontale.

Martin McMillan of the Glasgow Times adds that a fee of £1.5m has been agreed between the two clubs.

The 25-year-old is currently representing Japan at the EAFF E-1 Football Championship, a tournament for East Asian nations, with the Samurai Blue facing China on Saturday and then hosts Korea Republic on Tuesday, after which Yamada will travel to Glasgow to finalise his move.

He will become the tenth Japanese player to represent Celtic, joining fellow new recruit Hayato Inamura, so will he be a massive success like new teammates Daizen Maeda, Reo Hatate and the aforementioned Kyōgo?

How Shin Yamada will improve Celtic

Yamada began his senior football career at college side Toin University of Yokohama, before joining Kawasaki Frontale in 2022, scoring 32 goals in 121 appearances for the Sky Blue and Blacks.

The club’s biggest achievement during this period came back in April, reaching the AFC Champions League Final for the very first time, dumping out Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr in the semis, before a 2-0 defeat to Al-Ahli in Jeddah, with Yamada introduced as a half-time substitute in that final.

Yamada’s own personal breakout campaign was the 2024 J League season, scoring 19 times in the league last year, bagging 21 goals throughout the calendar year across all competitions, so let’s assess his statistics.

Goals

19

3rd

Goals per 90

0.85

1st

Goals + assists per 90

0.98

1st

Shots

80

12th

Shots on target

37

5th

Shots on target %

46.3%

10th

Big chances missed

14

8th

As the table outlines, only two players, namely Brazilian duo Anderson Lopes and Leonardo, scored more J League goals than Yamada last year, with the Japanese forward averaging a goal every 105 minutes, an impressive tally for the team that finished tenth.

This form led to Ryo Nakagawara of Shogun Soccer describing him as “fantastic”, adding that he is a “natural finisher” who possesses “excellent movement” in the box, while also offering a threat in-behind due to his “quick acceleration”.

So, why might the Japanese international prove to be a better signing than Nygren?

Let’s take a look at their respective statistics.

Appearances

83

32

Minutes

4,212

2,995

Goals

26

19

Assists

8

4

Yamada was absolutely on fire last season, starring in, according to Global Football Rankings, the 23rd best league in the world, which is 20 places higher than the Scottish Premiership.

Japanese players Maeda, Kyōgo and Hatate have all arrived at Celtic and hit the ground running, and Yamada could surely do the same, considering he’s in the middle of his domestic season and currently playing at an international tournament.

Meantime, Nygren hasn’t been in action since Sweden’s 4-3 friendly win over Algeria at Nationalarenan on 10 June, so may require some time to get up to speed, while he also isn’t a guaranteed starter, if other winger targets were to arrive.

Indeed, it is centre-forward where Rodgers is truly in need of depth, amid Kyogo’s prior departure, hence why Yamada could prove to be a better and more important signing than the Swede.

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David Moyes has signed only three players for Everton this summer, but as the weeks progress, there will likely be several more making the move to Merseyside.

More importantly, however, is the news that Moyes managed to secure defender Jarrad Branthwaite down to a new four-year contract extension with the Toffees.

This could be crucial regarding Everton’s chances of breaking back into the top half of the Premier League table next season, especially with several clubs sniffing around the player.

It proves that the club are heading in the right direction, especially judging by the quality of their signings.

Carlos Alcaraz did spend time on loan at Everton last season, but his permanent move will improve Moyes’ midfield options.

With Dominic Calvert-Lewin leaving the club upon the expiration of his contract, signing another striker or two was a key priority for the manager.

As such, a deal to secure the signature of Thierno Barry was completed a couple of weeks ago.

The centre-forward may have cost the Toffees around £27m from La Liga side Villarreal, but this may just turn out to be a wise piece of business.

Why Everton signed Thierno Barry

While Calvert-Lewin didn’t exactly bring goals to the side last season – scoring only three all season – losing a forward meant Moyes had to be active in the transfer market.

Barry was the player earmarked as a major target, and for good reason. Last season, the French starlet scored 19 goals and grabbed four assists for Villarreal across all competitions.

Furthermore, the striker also showcased his creative side by creating seven big chances for his teammates, proving that he offers much more than just a goal threat.

He played in the U21 European Championship for France this summer, scoring once for his country as they reached the semi-finals before bowing out to Germany.

Despite averaging just 37 minutes per game for France, Barry also created two big chances, averaged two shots per game and missed four big chances.

If given more of a chance in the team, he may have had a bigger influence, no doubt about that.

This all sets him up nicely for the 2025/26 season, where he will be taking on some of the finest defenders in the world.

Should Barry live up to his potential, Moyes may have unearthed a stunning talent who will certainly secure them a stunning profit in the coming years.

While a promising signing, the Frenchman wont be able to lead the Toffees’ frontline on his own, especially with the pressure to score plenty during his maiden season.

Moyes must now be looking to bring in another centre-forward ahead of the new season, one who could offer similar sort of qualities to those of Barry.

With this in mind, it appears the Scot is targeting a move for someone who shone in what was their debut season in European football.

Everton enquire about move for new striker

Moyes was keen on signing Evan Ferguson from Brighton and Hove Albion, but that ship has now sailed with the Irishman bound for AS Roma. Additionally, Nick Woltemade was also a target, but Bayern Munich were also keen on the German.

One striker who has been on the club’s list for some time is Hamza Igamane, who shone for Glasgow Rangers last season.

Indeed, it was after his performance against Tottenham Hotspur in December 2024 that initially saw the Toffees linked with the Moroccan.

While a January move was never in the question, it looks as though Igamane could be on the move this summer.

It looked as though Lille were closing in on the youngster, but according to reports on the continent, Moyes might well be back in the frame for him.

The report read: “LOSC Lille struggling in their negotiations with Rangers for Hamza Igamane. Despite a personal agreement with the Moroccan, the deal’s still on hold. In the meantime, Feyenoord entered the race. Everton and Udinese have also made enquiries.”

Rangers have placed a £20m valuation on one of their prized assets, but this shouldn’t be an issue to the Merseyside outfit.

Should Everton win the race, Igamane could turn out to be Barry 2.0 given their similarities on the pitch.

Why Everton must sign Hamza Igamane

Igamane certainly made his mark for Rangers last season. Across 46 games in all competitions, he scored 16 goals, including strikes against Celtic, Spurs and Nice.

It is no wonder several clubs are chasing his signature after his performances for the Gers, especially in Europe.

Metric

Premiership

Europa League

Goals

12

4

Assists

1

1

Goal conversion percentage

13%

29%

Big chances created

10

1

Shots per game

2.6

1.4

In the Europa League, Igamane recorded an impressive 29% goal conversion percentage, while also registering 1.4 shots on goal.

Ben Mattinson hailed his character last season, saying: “Hamza Igamane is such a Barclaysman type forward. Completely unpredictable, tonnes of flair and trickery. The type of player to try outrageous moves/shots just because.”

Interestingly, both he and Barry offered similar traits last season. According to FBref, both players performed well in front of goal, registering 18 and 20 goal contributions across both domestic and European competitions.

Elsewhere, the duo also registered similar figures when it came to shots per 90 (3.88 vs 3.02), shot on target percentage (39% vs 36%), goal-creating actions (4 vs 6 ) and successful take-ons (17 vs 18) last season.

This proves that the pair won’t just offer Everton a threat in front of goal, but that they can also create chances for others and are willing to take on opposition defenders on a regular basis.

With both Barry and Igamane in the same team, there is no reason why Everton can’t make the top half of the Premier League next season.

Indeed, if both players take to the top flight with ease, can a European place perhaps be secured also? It is a long shot, but Moyes has finally rejuvenated the club after years of stagnation.

Another striker is crucial. By bringing in Igamane, Moyes will be able to replicate his Barry masterclass.

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Chris Guest, head coach of The Blaze, has been appointed as England Women’s U19 Performance Lead.Guest, 40, spent three years as head coach of Loughborough Lightning, and latterly The Blaze following the region’s move to Nottinghamshire in 2022, and guided the team to victory in this season’s Charlotte Edwards Cup.Alongside his regional commitments, he also led the England Women U19 World Cup programme as head coach in 2023, as well as the U19 tri-series between Sri Lanka, England and Australia earlier this year.He has also served as assistant coach at Northern Superchargers during the previous three editions of The Hundred.Guest’s new role will incorporate a coaching role, including overseeing the U19 Women’s T20 World Cup in Malaysia next year, while also leading on talent identification from the academy and senior programmes, which will feed into England’s U19 activity.Guest previously worked in ECB pathway coaching at both Derbyshire and Staffordshire.”The pride and excitement of wearing the Three Lions over last few years has been immense and to be able to do so in this new role is an incredible feeling,” Guest said.”With the growth of the women’s game, it’s a privilege to take on this role as it will focus on ensuring our young cricketers get the cricket they need at the right time which I am extremely passionate about.”I thoroughly enjoyed my time at The Blaze. It’s a great place to work and has been massive part of my development and I wish them every success in the future.Richard Bedbrook, the head of England Women Performance Pathways, said: “We are delighted to have Chris on board.”He has vast experience in the women’s game, strong relationships with and knowledge of all our domestic teams and this new full-time role will allow him to help shape the development of our highest potential players in a collaborative fashion before, during and after any international U19 activity.”His qualities have hugely affected the previous England Women U19 environments and we are all looking forward to his inspirational methods influencing future programmes and systems in a positive way.”Director of England Women’s Cricket, Jonathan Finch, added: “The ICC Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup provides fantastic opportunities for our young talent to experience tournament match play against their peers from other countries.”Chris’s appointment allows us to build on those experiences, through closer relationships with the counties, to enhance the support the players get at this age group.”Chris brings a wealth of experience from the women’s domestic game and will play a key role in shaping the experiences young players have on their journey to international cricket.”

India D are 311 ahead with five second-innings wickets left

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Sep-2024

File photo: Ricky Bhui’s unbeaten 90 took India D to 244 for 5 at stumps•PTI

Shreyas Iyer hit a quickfire fifty, Sanju Samson a brisk 45 and Ricky Bhui a stodgy unbeaten 90 as India D had the ascendancy over India B in the final Duleep Trophy fixture in Anantapur. Already out of reckoning for the title, India D are 311 ahead with five second-innings wickets left.Resuming on 210 for 6, India B stretched their total to 282. A majority of those runs came courtesy Washington Sundar, who top scored with 87. Left-arm spinner Saurabh Kumar picked up all four wickets to fall in the day, finishing with figures of 5 for 73, his 25th five-for in first-class cricket.India D’s second innings began with a flurry of wickets as Navdeep Saini and Mukesh Kumar reduced them to 18 for 3. It’s at this point that Iyer, who was out for a five-ball duck in the first innings, decided to counterattack. He hit seven fours and a six across 39 deliveries before becoming Mukesh’s third wicket.Samson, the first-innings centurion, kicked on to make his start count, putting together a 68-run stand with Bhui. The sixth-wicket stand between Bhui and Akash Sengupta was worth 94 when stumps were called.Currently second on the table, India B face an uphill task of trying to win the title. For them to have a shot, they need to win outright and then hope neither India C nor India A win outright.

حلل خورخي فالدانو، أسطورة نادي ريال مدريد، سبب معاناة فينيسيوس جونيور مع الفريق الملكي خلال الفترة الماضية، وذلك بعد الهبوط الذي حدث في مستوى الدولي البرازيلي.

فينيسيوس فشل في إثبات نفسه مع ريال مدريد هذا الموسم وإقناع المدرب تشابي ألونسو بقدراته، حيث جلس الدولي البرازيلي على دكة البدلاء في مباراتين هذا الموسم وتم استبداله في بعض المباريات الأخرى.

وغضب فينيسيوس بشكل كبير ، عقب استبداله خلال مواجهة ريال مدريد الأخيرة أمام إسبانيول ببطولة الدوري الإسباني للدرجة الأولى يوم السبت الماضي، والتي انتهت بفوز ريال مدريد 2-0.

ووضع ألونسو فينيسيوس في منافسة غير متوقعة مع رودريجو جوس على مركز الجناح الأيسر في ريال مدريد هذا الموسم.

أقرأ أيضًا .. تقارير: نجم بايرن ميونخ يرفض تجديد عقده ويعرض نفسه على ريال مدريد

ويرى فالدانو في حديثه إلى برنامج ”Fútbol en Movistar” ، أن فينيسيوس لم يعد اللاعب الذي كان عليه في السابق وعليه إقناع ألونسو بمستواه.

وقال فالدانو عن فينيسيوس: ”عليه الآن تحسين مستواه أولاً، ثم إقناع المدرب بقدراته”.

وعن اعتراض فينيسيوس على خروجه أمام إسبانيول أضاف فالدانو في حديثه: “هذه المواقف العلنية ليست صحية على أي حال”.

ويعتقد فالدانو ، أن مشكلة فينيسيوس الحقيقية تبدو مع ألونسو، ويجب على البرازيلي الحذر في التعامل مع مدربه.

وأوضح فالدانو: “فينيسيوس رجل يحظى بدعمٍ كبير من ريال مدريد، لقد ناضل ضد العالم، الناس وحتى النادي الذي وقف بجانبه كثيرًا”.

واختتم: ”هنا نبدأ بطرح مشكلة أخرى، لم يعد فينيسيوس غاضبًا من العالم بل غاضبًا من مدربه، ولطالما وضع ريال مدريد مصلحة النادي فوق مصلحة اللاعب، لذا عليه أن يكون أكثر حذرًا لأن هذا النوع من الإيماءات ينطوي أيضًا على عدم احترام للاعب الذي سيدخل الملعب بدلًا منه”.

Tottenham are now unlikely to sign a highly-rated player this summer after performing an internal U-turn, with Thomas Frank facing what is described as a key issue ahead of his first campaign in charge of the club.

Tottenham make Kudus promise as key Chelsea issue paves way for Spurs deal

Spurs are in talks to sign the Ghanaian from West Ham.

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By
Emilio Galantini

Jul 8, 2025

Spurs are looking to build upon their historic victory over Man United in the Europa League final at the back end of 2024/2025 – a result which ended their 17-year wait for silverware and clinched them a first European trophy since 1984.

Frank will be fighting on many fronts, including the Champions League, for the first time in his solid career, and the pressure on his shoulders is truly intensified being in charge of a ‘big six’ club.

Tottenham’s best-performing regulars in the Premier League – 2024/2025	Average match rating
Son Heung-min	7.00
James Maddison	6.98
Pedro Porro	6.95
Dominic Solanke	6.84
Dejan Kulusevski	6.83
via WhoScored

The Dane quite simply needs backing from chairman Daniel Levy and the board, but they’re yet to make a real statement signing so far this summer.

Kota Takai officially sealed a £5 million move from Kawasaki Frontale on Tuesday morning, coming after Mathys Tel also made his stay at Spurs permanent for around £30 million, but this is the sum of their transfer business as things stand.

Luckily for Frank, Tottenham are in talks to sign West Ham winger Mohammed Kudus, who is believed to be prioritising a switch to north London above all other potential options right now.

Kudus’ arrival would significantly bolster Frank’s attacking options. Only Man City’s Jeremy Doku completed more successful take-ons on average in the Premier League last season, according to WhoScored, and the 24-year-old can be a truly devastating player on his day.

While Spurs are not exactly in need of a new full-back, considering they already boast Pedro Porro, Djed Spence, Destiny Udogie and Ben Davies, reports claim a key UEFA rule has forced them to consider re-signing free agent Kyle Walker-Peters.

If Tottenham have fewer than eight ‘locally trained’ players to name in their 25-man Champions League squad, then their total of A-list players will be reduced, with Frank now facing the “headache” of being left short of stars in Europe’s most prestigious competition.

Tottenham decide not to re-sign Kyle Walker-Peters despite UEFA problem

That is according to The Telegraph, who report that, despite this issue, Spurs have decided not to re-sign Walker-Peters after internal talks over the matter.

The consensus last month, among many media outlets, was that Tottenham were in pole position to sign 28-year-old. The former Southampton star, who made over 200 appearances for the south coast club before leaving on a free, was also believed to be keen on a return to his boyhood club (Alasdair Gold).

Called a “beautiful footballer” by ex-Saints boss Russell Martin, Walker-Peters would still find it difficult to compete in a side already awash with full-backs, and signing a player just for the purpose of filling a quota would certainly be debatable.

Alas, it appears Tottenham have now U-turned over the prospect of a reunion with Walker-Peters, but Frank still faces being left short of senior stars for his Champions League debut in the dugout.