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Relinquishing the T20 World Cup has done nothing to weaken Australia’s standing in world cricket, according to Danni Wyatt-Hodge, the England batter who knows them best.She is set to contest her eighth Women’s Ashes series, and believes Australia’s batting depth, ruthlessness and home conditions will make them as dangerous as ever in the 2025 edition, which gets underway in Sydney this weekend.Since last year’s failure to reach the final of the T20 World Cup for the first time since 2009, Australia have won all five of their completed matches during the home summer so far – all ODIs – defeating India 3-0 and New Zealand 2-0. During that time, they unearthed the outstanding talent of 21-year-old opening batter Georgia Voll, who averages 86.50 and scores at a strike rate of 108.80, including a century in just her second international match, against India in December.The extent of Voll’s role in the Ashes remains to be seen after captain Alyssa Healy’s return from injury for the rain-affected tour of New Zealand in a batting-only capacity, with Beth Mooney keeping wicket. But Voll was drafted into the Ashes white-ball squads to replace injured allrounder Sophie Molineux after proving herself to be an excellent option for the hosts and a shining example of their still enviable depth, which also includes the more firmly established 21-year-old opener Phoebe Litchfield and 23-year-old allrounder Annabel Sutherland.So Wyatt-Hodge isn’t buying into any suggestion that Australia’s shock World Cup exit leaves them as a diminished side.Danni Wyatt-Hodge comes into the women’s Ashes after a strong finish to 2024 in South Africa•ICC/Getty Images

“No, not at all, they’re a quality squad,” Wyatt-Hodge said in Australia on Monday. “Anyone in their squad that comes in performs. Look at Georgia Voll, she’s had an outstanding start to her ODI career. Anyone in their line-up is capable of match-winning performances. So it’s going to be a massive challenge for us, but one that we really can’t wait for, and especially playing them in their conditions as well adds another challenge.”England proved that they could compete hard with Australia by winning both white-ball legs of the home series in 2023 after losing the Test, which meant points finished level on eight-all and Australia retained the trophy. During that series, Wyatt-Hodge was the second-highest run-scorer in the T20Is, trailing Mooney by just six runs.”We’re going to take confidence from what happened,” Wyatt-Hodge said. “But we’re starting a new Ashes, obviously it’s in their conditions as well. We all know how good the Aussies are, they’re a real quality team, full of world-class players, but we’re really looking forward to the big challenge ahead.”They bat so deep, don’t they, the Aussies? Anyone that comes in is capable of getting some valuable runs for their team. They’re just so ruthless, they just fight and fight till the end, and they are a very hard team to beat.”England went some way to overcoming their own World Cup disappointment when, having been knocked out in the group stages with an uncomposed performance against West Indies in October, they finished 2024 with a successful tour of South Africa. There, they comprehensively won the Test, swept the T20Is 3-0 and dropped just one of their three ODIs. Wyatt was the leading run-scorer in the T20Is and second on England’s batting charts for the tour overall.England won both white-ball legs in 2023 but Australia won the one-off Test and retained the Ashes level on points•Getty Images

On tight schedule: ‘We can’t moan about it’

The 2025 Ashes kicks off with three ODIs from January 12, followed by three T20Is, and then a four-day pink-ball Test at the MCG, which is due to finish on February 2.The schedule of seven matches – potentially 10 days’ play – in the space of 22 days with plenty of travel in between has come under criticism from Jon Lewis, the England head coach, who would have preferred more time to prepare, particularly for the Test. The only warm-up fixture, however, will be a 50-over match on January 9 between England and a Governor General’s XI, where Healy hopes to test recovery on her knee while taking the gloves.”We can’t moan about it, just got to embrace it and make sure that we are prioritising our rest and once we’re on it, we’re on it,” Wyatt-Hodge said of the tight schedule. “We always speak about wanting to be calm and relaxed, but everyone’s different. Someone might need to be the opposite, so it’s going to be a matter of what works for you at the end of the day.”But there’s a lot of hype around the Ashes and the first game. There’ll be a few nerves around, but I think it’s just going to be a matter of who stays calmest for sure and then get your head down. I definitely play a lot better when I’m feeling chilled and calm and relaxed. Obviously I get nervous and there’s a few nerves around, but yeah, definitely whoever stays the calmest will benefit more.”

Nottingham Forest are in “talks” with an “outstanding” player over a move to the club in the summer transfer window, according to Sky Sports journalist Florian Plettenberg.

Nottingham Forest willing to spend big in midfield

The Reds continue to be linked with moves to the City Ground before the new Premier League season gets underway, with AC Milan midfielder Yunus Musah seen as an exciting option before the window slams shut.

Forest are reportedly willing to pay as much as £26m for the USA international, with the Midlands outfit also hoping that they can “close the deal quickly”, enhancing Nuno Espirito Santo’s squad depth in the middle of the park.

Away from the Reds’ pursuit of Musah, other exciting options are also being targeted, including Ipswich Town winger Omari Hutchinson. Forest are said to be in talks over a summer move for the Englishman, with a £35m bid tabled.

Juventus ace Douglas Luiz has been heavily linked to the Premier League side, while RB Salzburg’s Mads Bidstrup has been mentioned as an alternative to the Brazilian.

Nottingham Forest in "talks" to sign midfielder

Now, according to Plettenberg on X, “talks have taken place” between Salzburg and Nottingham Forest over the signing of Bidstrup this summer, and with the player himself, who is open to a new challenge.

This is another encouraging update regarding the Reds acquiring the midfielder’s signature, with the Dane looking increasingly like a leading option to move to the City Ground before deadline day ends.

Bidstrup has now racked up 84 appearances for Salzburg, not to mention representing Denmark across five different youth age groups, and analyst Chris Kearney has heaped praise on him.

Still only 24, Forest would get the best years of Bidstrup’s career out of him, with his peak still likely to come, and he can provide welcome competition in midfield, as well as being compared in style to Luiz by FBref.

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Nottingham Forest are targeting attacking reinforcements

ByJoe Nuttall Aug 7, 2025

The fact that the Salzburg man has the same agent as Taiwo Awoniyi could be a bonus in smoothing negotiations along, and if the Reds can strike a deal, it could prove to be vital business as they prepare to shine in both the Premier League and Europe this season.

Liverpool’s attempts to sign an “incredible” player in the summer transfer window have now collapsed, according to a new update.

New Liverpool kit and squad numbers confirmed

The Reds are edging closer to beginning the defence of their Premier League title, starting with a home clash against a dangerous Bournemouth side on August 15th.

Liverpool will do so in their new Adidas kit, having officially started a 10-year deal with them on Friday, following a stint being sponsored by Nike. Supporters are clearly excited about the strip, getting to see their heroes donning it in the coming weeks.

Not only that, but the Reds’ squad numbers for the 2025/26 season have also been confirmed, with star signing Florian Wirtz being given the legendary No.7 shirt worn by the likes of Kevin Keegan, Kenny Dalglish and Luis Suarez, as well as the recently departed Luis Diaz.

Liverpool’s club shop have made a lovely gesture by including the late Diogo Jota in the squad list, too, following his tragic passing last month, as Arne Slot and his players prepare for an emotional campaign without the Portuguese attacker.

Liverpool's move for "incredible" defender collapses

Away from kit news, transfer updates continue to arrive, with The Boot Room claiming that Liverpool’s potential move for Nantes centre-back Nathan Zeze has collapsed.

FSG were willing to pay the £21.5m asking price to sign the defender as a replacement for Jarell Quansah, but he has accepted a huge offer with Saudi based Neom Sports Club instead.

Journalist Graeme Bailey shed further light on the situation, saying: “Neom are making waves following their promotion, but this deal has caught many in Europe by surprise. He is a player on the brink of the France senior squad, who could have moved to England or Spain, but he has opted for Saudi. Although not huge in terms of finances, this is a very big deal for the Saudi Pro League.”

A new centre-back is needed for Liverpool this summer, with Quansah’s move to Leverkusen leaving Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomez as the only genuine options, with the latter pair plagued by injuries during their respective careers.

Zeze could have been a strong young addition, with the 20-year-old pushing to be a fixture in France’s senior setup, but Neom have proved to be too good to turn down in a financial sense.

Bigger mistake than Diaz: Liverpool ready to sell Slot's "monster" for £47m

Liverpool sold Luis Diaz to Bayern Munich, and now face the exit of another star player.

2 ByAngus Sinclair Jul 31, 2025

Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi has always felt like the ideal centre-back signing for Liverpool this summer, though, and they should continue to pursue him.

This summer has to be one of Chelsea’s best in a very long time.

On the pitch, Enzo Maresca has led his men to Club World Cup glory, and off the pitch, they’ve been incredibly active in the transfer market.

The likes of Liam Delap, Joao Pedro and Jamie Gittens have all joined and improved the side, and yet the Blues continue to be linked with some of the most exciting players in the world, like Hugo Ekitiké.

In fact, one of the West Londoners’ current players is being linked with an exit, an exit that could free up space to sign the £85m Frenchman, although with Newcastle United and Liverpool both reportedly keen, they will have to move quickly.

Why so many teams want Ekitike

It was earlier this week that news of Newcastle’s interest in Ekitike began to gather pace, and then yesterday afternoon, more reports emerged claiming Liverpool were also looking at him as an alternative to an even more ambitious deal for Alexander Isak.

So are three of the biggest clubs in the Premier League all interested in signing the Eintracht Frankfurt forward this summer?

Well, simply put, he proved himself to be a lean, mean output machine in Germany last season and the sort of player who could help all three sides achieve their goals next season.

For example, in 48 appearances last season, totalling 3644 minutes, the prolific Reims-born forward scored a whopping 22 goals and provided 12 assists to boot.

That means the former Paris Saint-Germain prospect averaged a goal involvement every 1.41 games, or every 107.17 minutes – talk about world-class.

Moreover, that level of output would be incredible for a striker at the very peak of his career, but the Frenchman is nowhere near the peak, as he is still just 23 years old, and according to research carried out by The Athletic, he has another four years before he reaches it.

In other words, with the right coaching and the right team, we can expect his numbers to continue improving for some time, which is a scary yet exciting thought.

With all that said, due to his massive price tag and the hefty wages he’d probably demand, Chelsea would likely need to sell a player before moving for him, which, based on reports, they could do, and to a Premier League rival no less.

The star Chelsea could sell

With Delap and Pedro joining the side this summer and already impressing at the Club World Cup, it would make sense for Chelsea to consider selling a striker to facilitate room for Ekitike.

Transfer Focus

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

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Therefore, the player in question who could well depart Stamford Bridge this summer is none other than Nicolas Jackson, who, according to Sky Sports’ Dharmesh Sheth, is being monitored by several top sides, including Manchester United and Aston Villa.

In terms of the potential fee the Senegalese star could generate for the Blues, reports vary.

On Saturday morning, the Sun revealed that the club had placed a whopping £100m price tag on his head, but then later that same day, French journalist Nabil Djellit claimed that the West Londoners would be willing to let the player leave for around €70m, which converts to £61m.

Whatever the final price ends up being, it appears that Chelsea will make a sizable profit on the £32m they paid for the “unbelievable” forward, as dubbed by Peter Crouch, two years ago.

Moreover, it’d free up more funds to sign Ekitike, who would be a massive upgrade.

Jackson scored 13 goals and provided six assists in 37 appearances, totalling 2535 minutes last season, which comes out to an average of 1.94 goal involvements per match or one every 133.42 minutes.

Ekitiké vs Jackson 24/25

Players

Ekitike

Jackson

Appearances

48

37

Minutes

3644′

2535′

Goals

22

13

Assists

12

6

Goal Involvements per Match

0.70

0.51

Minutes per Goal Involvement

107.17

133.42′

All Stats via Transfermarkt

That is not a bad rate of return by any means, but it does pale in comparison to what the Frankfurt star was able to produce last season.

Ultimately, Jackson is a good player, but if selling him this summer allows the club to sign Ekitike, then Chelsea should be doing all they can to drum up even more interest, even if the fee ends up closer to £60m than £100m.

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LSG are keen on giving Zaheer a wider profile, involving him in the scouting and player-development programmes during the off season

Shashank Kishore21-Aug-2024

Zaheer Khan is in talks with Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) for a mentorship role, with the franchise keen on bringing in a top former India player well-versed with T20 cricket to have a strong presence within their coaching setup following the departure of Gautam Gambhir.Two other franchises are understood to have been keen on bringing on board Zaheer, who was until recently head of global development at Mumbai Indians (MI) – prior to that, he was director of cricket for the franchise from 2018-2022.LSG have been without a mentor since Gambhir’s departure late last year. Gambhir, who was part of the support group that helped Kolkata Knight Riders to their third IPL title in 2024, has since taken over as India head coach. Morne Morkel, the former South Africa pacer who was LSG’s bowling coach, has now joined Gambhir’s lineup in the India men’s team in the same role.Related

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Apart from the role of mentor, LSG are also keen on giving Zaheer a wider profile that will mean involvement with the scouting and player-development programmes during the off season.LSG’s backroom is currently led by Justin Langer, who replaced Andy Flower as head coach ahead of IPL 2024, with Lance Klusener and Adam Voges as his assistants. After securing playoff berths in their first two seasons, the KL Rahul-led side was pipped on net run-rate for a spot in the top four in 2024.Zaheer’s possible return to the IPL fold comes at a time when teams are preparing for a mega auction. The IPL is likely to announce the retention rules by early September.Zaheer was part of three franchises – MI, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Delhi Daredevils – during his playing career. In all, he featured in 100 games for the three teams across ten seasons, picking up 102 wickets at an economy of 7.59. He last featured in the tournament in 2017, when he led Daredevils, before retiring from all forms of cricket.Elsewhere, Punjab Kings are also on the lookout for an Indian head coach to replace Trevor Bayliss. They had reportedly been keen on bringing in VVS Laxman, but that is off the table with Laxman extending his term as head of the BCCI’s National Cricket Academy. They currently have Sanjay Bangar on their roster as head of cricket development.

It’s been another characteristically busy summer for Chelsea this year.

As well as making it to the quarter-finals of the Club World Cup – the only English side to do so – the Blues have been wheeling and dealing in the transfer market.

The latest star to be announced by the club was striker Joao Pedro, who took the now well-trodden path to Stamford Bridge from Brighton & Hove Albion for around £60m.

However, the West Londoners are far from done there, as a deal has reportedly now been reached to sign Jamie Gittens from Borussia Dortmund, and on top of that, a talent who could be the next Cole Palmer has also been linked.

Chelsea target young talents

The ethos at Chelsea over the last few years has been to buy young, up-and-coming talents, which is something they are continuing to do this summer.

Transfer Focus

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

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For example, Gittens, whose final price tag appears to be around £55m, is still just 20 years old, and based on his tally of 12 goals and five assists in 49 games last season, looks set for a bright future.

Likewise, Liam Delap, who joined the club from Ipswich Town for just £30m prior to the CWC last month, is still just 22, and already has a goal and an assist to his name in four appearances for the Blues.

And now, there is another promising gem that is on the club’s radar: Tyler Dibling.

Yes, according to a recent report from Football Transfers, Chelsea are incredibly interested in the Southampton prospect.

In fact, the report goes a step further, claiming that West Londoners have already begun talks with the youngster’s camp and are considering making an offer for him.

However, they aren’t the only ones interested in the 19-year-old, as Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool, Man Utd, Aston Villa, and RB Leipzig are all keeping an eye on him.

Moreover, the Saints reportedly value their exciting talent at a minimum of £55m.

In all, it could be a complicated and costly transfer to get over the line, but given Dibling’s ability and potential, it’s one worth fighting for, especially as he could be their next Palmer.

Why Dibling could be Palmer 2.0

So, the first thing to say is that we know this is a massive statement, but to be clear, we are not saying that Dibling is like Palmer at the moment, as he is not, and it’s not even close.

However, there are some clear similarities between them and their potential moves, should the Southampton gem move to Chelsea.

For example, he’d be another young, reasonably sought-after English talent moving to Stamford Bridge to test himself with regular football at a massive club.

Moreover, while the Exeter-born dynamo is primarily a right-winger, he has spent plenty of time playing in attacking midfield and has actually played in a multitude of positions.

Similarly, the Blues talismanic attacker tends to play in attacking midfield, but has spent plenty of time off the right, as well as in a number of areas on the pitch.

Finally, while he wasn’t able to have quite the same impact as Palmer did last season, in part because he’s younger and was playing in a terrible team, the teenager has the same determination to make things happen.

For example, FBref placed him in the top 13% of attacking midfielders and wingers in the Premier League last season for successful take-ons per 90, and in 38 games across all competitions, he scored four goals and provided three assists.

Dibling’s 24/25

Appearances

38

Minutes

2215′

Goals

4

Assists

3

Goal Involvements per Match

0.18

Minutes per Goal Involvement

316.42′

All Stats via Transfermarkt

It’s not just us either, as Dion Dublin argued that “he plays his game like Cole Palmer” last season, in part due to the way he “rolls players and takes the ball well.”

Ultimately, he’s clearly not yet at the level of Palmer, but Dibling looks like he could reach that level in the future, and therefore, Chelsea should do what they can to sign him.

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Manchester City are seeking to retain their FIFA Club World Cup crown this summer as the tournament takes on a new and exciting format, with 32 teams competing to be named football’s best club side.

After much excitement and intrigue, the revamped FIFA Club World Cup has begun, with stars like Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Michael Olise already taking centre stage in the United States.

Pep Guardiola’s side can become the first English team to be crowned the kings of world football on two occassions with a triumph this summer, and only the second side in history to retain the title, after Real Madrid’s three-peat between 2017 and 2019.

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The eight-time Premier League champions’ quest to reach the final, which takes place at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 13, starts this week on Wednesday June 18 when they take on Wydad AC, who compete in Botola Pro, the top flight of Moroccan football.

City earned their place in this competition via their UEFA Champions League triumph against Inter back in 2023, while Wydad were crowned CAF Champions League winners in 2022 after a heroic 2-0 win against Egyptian side Al-Ahly.

Watch the FIFA Club World Cup live and on-demand here

Ahead of what should be an action-packed opening fixture for two of the four sides in Group G, here’s everything you need to know on how to watch – and who to be looking out for – when Wednesday rolls around…

Where to watch Man City vs Wydad at the Club World Cup

63 games featuring the world’s best players all in the space of a month and all in one place, for free! Sound too good to be true? It isn’t.

Indeed, FIFA revealed back in December 2024 that the extended Club World Cup will be available for free globally, with the world’s largest sports streaming platform, DAZN, showcasing every game with unique coverage which will finally settle the debate – who is the best club side in the world?

Available globally in 14 languages, DAZN is the only place to truly celebrate the groundbreaking new tournament, with easy access provided to watch the likes of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham competing on the biggest stage.

If you are already a DAZN subscriber, then the Club World Cup action is already included in your membership. For those who haven’t yet signed up, all you need is an email address to register a free account on the DAZN website, with no hidden costs or added fees. You will then be able to watch every game on the DAZN app via your TV, computer, phone or even on your games console.

Man City vs Wydad AC (Wednesday 18 June – Philadelphia – 5pm UK time, midday local time)

FIFA Club World Cup Current Champions Manchester CityFounded 2000Most Championships Real Madrid (5)

DAZN

Watch all FIFA Club World Cup games free on DAZN. The biggest clubs and the best players in the world compete in the FIFA Club World Cup.

Watch Every Game Live on DAZN Man City vs Wydad – Who to look out for

Bouncing back from a challenging campaign, City have strengthened their ranks significantly in 2025, with several new signings included in their Club World Cup squad, like Tijjani Reijnders, Rayan Ait-Nouri and perhaps most excitingly of all Rayan Cherki.

All three new arrivals could make their Man City debuts this week, while we are also likely to be treated to more spectacular showings from Omar Marmoush, who has scored eight goals in 22 games since moving to the Etihad Stadium in January.

Marmoush and Cherki could form an unstoppable attack which of course already includes Norwegian superstar Erling Haaland. The 24 year-old will be looking to continue his incredible scoring rate since moving to England, becoming the fastest player to reach 100 Premier League goal involvements earlier this year, reaching the landmark with 84 goals and 16 assists in just 94 matches.

As for the underdogs, Wydad are the most successful team in Moroccan football history, winning 22 top flight titles, most recently in the 2021-22 campaign, when they also won their version of the Champions League and Cup Winners’ Cup to complete a historic treble.

Based in Casablanca, they had a poor season by their own lofty standards in 2024-25, finishing third in Botola Pro, but that is not to say they cannot pose a problem to their opponents in Group G this summer.

Undoubtedly their biggest threat is Dutch winger Mohamed Rayhi, who came through PSV’s academy and has been capped at youth level by the Netherlands. Rayhi scored 13 times this season and can play on either flank, but is best cutting in from the left onto his dangerous right foot.

A familiar face to MLS fans will be attacking midfielder Cassius Mailula. The South Africa international spent a year with Toronto FC before joining Wydad last summer, scoring five times and providing seven assists in his first campaign in Morocco. He will hope to be the creative force to unlock Man City’s defence on Wednesday.

Who else is in Group G?

Manchester City will fancy themselves as favourites to top Group G, but there is certainly some stern competition from Juventus, the 36-time champions of Italy, who qualified for this competition courtesy of their four-year UEFA ranking.

With two UEFA Champions League titles to their name, Juve have suffered a slight fall from grace in recent years, failing to win a league title since 2020 and finishing fourth in Serie A this season. Led by Serbia striker Dusan Vlahovic and Turkey wonderkid Kenan Yıldız, they can restore themselves as a global footballing superpower with success at the Club World Cup.

June 18

Man City vs Wydad AC

Philadelphia – (midday/5pm)

June 18

Al Ain vs Juventus

Washington – (9pm/2am June 19)

June 22

Juventus vs Wydad AC

Philadelphia – (midday/5pm)

June 22

Man City vs Al Ain

Atlanta – (9pm/2am June 23)

June 26

Wydad AC vs Al Ain

Washington – (3pm/8pm)

June 26

Juventus vs Man City

Orlando – (3pm/8pm)

The final place in Group G has been taken by Al Ain FC, who are based in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates and compete in the UAE Pro League. They finished 5th this season but gained access to this summer’s action after winning the 2023–24 AFC Champions League.

Could Wydad kick off the Group G action with one of the biggest upsets of all time? Find out on DAZN!

Already seemingly closing in on Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz, Liverpool have now reportedly opened talks to sign another Bundesliga star and one that would instantly solve their striker problem.

Frimpong travels to complete Liverpool move

With Trent Alexander-Arnold on his way to join Real Madrid as a free agent this summer, Liverpool have acted swiftly and are reportedly closing in on signing Jeremie Frimpong. The flying fullback has already travelled to complete his move to Anfield in what looks set to be the first of a number of fresh faces making their way to the home of the Premier League champions in the coming months.

Whilst Alexander-Arnold’s goodbye tears are still drying, the Reds have acted in rapid fashion to find his replacement. But they’re not done there. Reports have also revealed that Liverpool are in pole position to sign Frimpong’s Leverkusen teammate, Florian Wirtz.

It initially looked set to be a battle between Manchester City and Bayern Munich for the German’s signature, only for Liverpool’s call to push Wirtz towards rejecting other interested parties. Now, with their first offer submitted, it could just be a matter of time before those at Anfield land one of the earliest and likely one of the biggest deals of the summer transfer window.

Leverkusen sporting director Simon Rolfes has also confirmed Liverpool’s interest, recently telling reporters: “It’s currently an open subject with Florian. There is concrete interest from Liverpool, but there’s no more to say right now. Florian is our player.”

The Bundesliga seems to be where it’s at for Liverpool this summer too, amid rumours that they’re already lining up a move to sign what could be their third player of the summer from Germany’s top division.

Liverpool open talks to sign £84m Hugo Ekitike

According to Sky Sports’ Florian Plettenberg, Liverpool are also in talks to sign Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt this summer and are serious contenders to sign the Frenchman alongside rivals Chelsea.

Michael Edwards and Arne Slot are fans of the forward but, like Wirtz, the deal won’t come cheap with Frankfurt looking to receive around €100m (£84m) to sell their star.

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ByEthan Lamb May 28, 2025

Liverpool’s interest should come as little surprise. Slot, despite securing the Premier League title at the first time of asking, lacked a natural No.9 all season, with Luiz Diaz often asked to play the role amid Darwin Nunez’s continued struggles. Now, with the latter likely to depart, the Reds could make their move to sign a replacement that analyst Sam McGuire dubbed a “shot monster”.

After ending the season with 22 goals to his name for Frankfurt, all signs are pointing towards a top European move for Ekitike this summer and a deserved one at that.

With each passing week, Ange Postecoglou’s position as Tottenham Hotspur manager feels increasingly precarious.

Now, the Australian could still end the season with a European trophy in his hands, but should that not happen, then crashing out of both domestic cups and finishing in the bottom half of the Premier League table might cost him.

With that said, if he is still in the hot seat at the end of the season, he needs to oversee a serious shakeup of the squad to ensure next year isn’t as disastrous.

That means bringing more first-team quality players and shipping out the deadwood, including one of his own signings who was once tipped for greatness by Lionel Messi.

The Spurs stars who need to be moved on

So, before we get to the player in question, it’s worth looking at the other Tottenham players Ange and Co should be looking to sell or let leave in the summer window, such as Pedro Porro.

Now, it’s true that the Spanish full-back had a decent game on Thursday and can offer something in attack, but this season has made it abundantly clear that he’s a problem when it comes to defending.

For example, there have been multiple times this season where he’s been shown up, like away to Arsenal or at home to City.

It might sound harsh, but we are not the only ones to think this, as journalist Mitch Fretton described his display at home to Ipswich Town as a “horror show”, while one podcaster didn’t mince his words when he described his performance in the defeat to Bournemouth as “absolutely terrible.”

The former Sporting CP dud isn’t the only player who must be moved on this summer, though, as Yves Bissouma very much falls into the same camp.

Chalkboard

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

The former Brighton & Hove Albion ace has had a dreadful campaign this year and so far has featured in just 45% of the team’s Premier League starting lineups.

It’s not hard to see why Postecoglou opts to go with other midfielders these days either, as his last start came in the defeat to Fulham, a game he received a 3/10 match rating for from Alasdair Gold.

However, as bad as the Mali international has been, there is another player in the squad, an Ange signing, who’s proved to be even less effective and, therefore, must be moved on.

The Ange signing who needs to be moved on

When it comes down to the worst signing Postecoglou has made during his time in the Spurs dugout, some may go for Radu Dragusin, but for our money, it’s Timo Werner, and unsurprisingly, he’s the player who has to be let go.

Now, to give the manager and the club credit, while Andy Townsend described the decision as “astonishing,” it didn’t seem like the worst idea in the world to sign him on a short-term loan when they did last season.

After all, while he failed at Chelsea and didn’t exactly set the world alight on his return to Germany, he was once one of the most exciting forwards in Europe.

​​​​​

For example, in his final season before moving to Stamford Bridge, he managed to rack up a pretty sensational haul of 47 goal involvements in 45 games, and about five years before that, Messi named him among the ten youngsters he backed to become football’s next superstars.

Unfortunately, we all know what happened next, and while he did alright in the back half of last season, racking up six-goal involvements in 14 appearances, many were still surprised when his loan was extended for another season.

Appearances

14

27

Goals

2

1

Assists

4

3

Goal Involvements per Match

0.42

0.14

That decision has not panned out whatsoever, and as things stand, the former Stuttgart star has amassed just one goal and three assists in 27 games, which is hardly value for money when he’s making £165k-per-week.

The good news is that Fabrizio Romano has claimed that the club will not be looking to re-sign the former Chelsea flop in the summer, but until the club confirms this, there is always a chance.

Ultimately, while Werner has undoubtedly tried to make it work in North London this year, he’s been a failure at Spurs, and the sooner he is moved on, the better for all involved.

He's a lot like Dele Alli: Spurs want to sign £20m "freak of nature"

The incredible youngster would be a hit at Spurs.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Apr 10, 2025

Allrounder Matthew Spoors could become an option for Scorchers after reviving his career with Canada

Tristan Lavalette14-Dec-2024In the last BBL game played at Optus Stadium, a low-scoring knockout final back in January, Adelaide Strikers successfully deployed a spin-heavy attack that flummoxed Perth Scorchers and ended their dreams of a hat-trick of titles.It was a stunning turn, pardon the pun, of events and underlined that spin can have a major impact on a surface renowned for being fast and bouncy much like the nearby WACA.Scorchers, the competition’s most successful franchise, will be determined to bounce back but they could face challenges with their spin depth.Related

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Left-arm spinners Ashton Agar and Cooper Connolly have been in a race to be fit for Sunday’s season-opener against Melbourne Stars at Optus Stadium. While skipper Ashton Turner, a handy offspinner, has been managing a ribs issue since a recent hit-out for local team Fremantle. But all three have been named in Scorchers’ 14-player squad.Left-arm wrist spinner Hamish McKenzie departed in the off-season after taking up a two-year deal with Stars having struggled to regularly crack into a Scorchers attack usually featuring Agar as their sole frontline spinner.Agar has been a mainstay of Scorchers’ attack for years, relied upon to dry the scoring in the middle overs although he was expensive late last season. He has not played since suffering a shoulder injury during the Sheffield Shield last month.Having been blooded into Australia’s white-ball teams, there was a lot of excitement heading into this season over Connolly whose x-factor allround ability has seen him likened to Travis Head.But he’s been on the sidelines for the past month with a fractured hand after being whacked by a short delivery from Pakistan quick Mohammad Hasnain in the third ODI at Optus Stadium.Australia’s selectors are excited about Cooper Connolly’s potential with the ball as well as bat•Getty ImagesIt was a premature end to Connolly’s first innings in international cricket, but he appears a chance to take his place against Stars after playing in Scorchers’ intra-squad match on Thursday at the WACA.”I’m going to try and put my best foot forward to play on Sunday. But it’s up to the coaches to decide if I’m ready or not,” Connolly told ESPNcricinfo on Thursday. “It’s obviously frustrating [the injury], it wasn’t great timing. But it’s a small bump in the road and I’m just looking to keep a positive mindset.”Connolly is still developing his left-arm orthodox bowling, but does boast a three-wicket haul among his 15 BBL games. The 21-year-old Connolly is set to assume more responsibility if Agar is absent, while his cavalier batting makes him a potential match-winner.Connolly offers flexibility with the bat but failed to make an impact as an opener early last season. At this stage of his career, No. 6 is his preferred position and appears the best use of his ability to finish an innings as he memorably showed in the unforgettable final of BBL12 when he helped lift Scorchers to the title and became an instant cult hero.”I like to be very versatile and I’m happy to bat anywhere from one to seven,” Connolly said. “But at this point in time, I probably see myself at six and want to try to knuckle down in that role and finish off the innings.”With limited spare spin options, Scorchers could at some stage this season turn to new signing Matthew Spoors, a legspinning allrounder who like his friend and former team-mate Tim David has emerged off the canvas and ignited his career through Associate cricket. He isn’t part of the squad to face Stars but has already provided an impressive comeback story.Spoors, 25, was a highly touted top-order batter as a junior and received his first Western Australia contract while he was in high school. But he never played a senior game and was discarded in 2020 after three years on the list.”I probably didn’t know my game too well and chopped and changed my technique a lot,” Spoors told ESPNcricinfo. “I listened to too many people when I was younger and probably couldn’t say no to the advice.”With his cricket career in ruins, he tried his hand at Australian Rules Football, his other sporting passion, but the rough and tumble sport proved demanding for the diminutive Spoors.He decided to give cricket another serious crack, with a particular focus on the T20 format amid the sport’s shifting landscape to franchise leagues. But a reinvention was required if he was going to make a professional career out of it.Having always been able to bowl a “quick leggie”, Spoors focused on the craft of legspin and used Afghanistan talisman Rashid Khan as a blueprint.Matthew Spoors has revived his career•Getty Images”I could never really slow it up, that wasn’t really my game,” Spoors said about his legspin. “I’ve always been able to bowl a wrong’un and leggie, so being able to to do that fast…I’ve tried to utilise that and it’s the type of bowling that suits T20 cricket.”He’s also worked on his power-hitting in a bid to turn himself into a specialist finisher.Inspired by David, who rose from WA cricket discard to in-demand T20 player via a stint with Singapore, Spoors made use of holding a Canadian passport – the country his mother was born – and represented them in the uncompromising world of Associate cricket. He smashed 108 not out from 66 balls on T20I debut against the Philippines in Oman and played 10 T20Is and five ODIs in a 14-month period.”Playing Associate cricket helped my confidence,” he said. “I played on so many different pitches in different environments that it holds you in good stead. And meeting new people and being part of different cultures really expanded my horizons.”Spoors took that form into last season’s local cricket competition in Perth where he shared the Olly Cooley Medal with Renegades batter Jono Wells for the top player in WA Premier Cricket.He then impressed in August’s Top End T20 Series in Darwin to seal a contract with Scorchers before making his List A debut for WA against Victoria at the MCG last month. He didn’t get a chance to bowl and made just 4 off 12 balls at No. 6 in the rain-interrupted match, but more opportunities under brighter lights may be imminent.Spoors already has an enthusiastic supporter in the Scorchers ranks with Connolly, his Scarborough team-mate in local cricket, a firm believer in his skill-set.”I’m very close to him and we’ve had some good conversations about the game and being a spin allrounder,” Connolly said about Spoors. “I think if he gets an opportunity, he’ll be ready.”