Tag Futebol

Tottenham Hotspur are now ready to trigger an “unbelievable” player’s release clause this summer, according to reports, with chairman Daniel Levy and co apparently eager to make him a Spurs player before 2025/2026.

Tottenham kickstart summer transfer plans regardless of Postecoglou

Right now, the uncertainty surrounding Ange Postecoglou and his long-term future at Spurs is taking centre stage.

Manager officially quits club after Paratici urges Tottenham to hire him

The ex-Lilywhites director is widely rumoured to be nearing a return to Spurs.

1 ByEmilio Galantini May 20, 2025

Postecoglou’s immediate focus is on ending Spurs’ 17-year wait for a major trophy and guiding them to a place in the Champions League draw for next season, but even if he seals a fairytale ending to an otherwise dismal campaign, the Australian is still expected to part company.

Son Heung-min

7.00

Pedro Porro

6.98

James Maddison

6.98

Dominic Solanke

6.85

Dejan Kulusevski

6.83

via WhoScored

David Ornstein and other reliable media sources report that Postecoglou will likely leave Tottenham, even if they win the Europa League, so Levy and the Lilywhites could soon have a managerial conundrum to resolve before next term.

That being said, there are suggestions that the club have still kickstarted summer transfer plans, regardless of who is eventually confirmed as their head coach.

French newspaper Le Parisien recently stated that Tottenham are in talks with Lille star Jonathan David, after the striker confirmed that he’ll be leaving when his contract expires this summer.

The north Londoners could sense a real opportunity here to strengthen their ranks at zero transfer cost, which is made all the more imperative by credible information that Tottenham could be set for a ‘sell to buy’ summer (The Telegraph).

Davie’s potential arrival would also allow Spurs to free up funds for other targets, like Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze.

The England international has enjoyed another terrific campaign at Selhurst Park, ending it by scoring the FA Cup final-winning goal for Palace at Wembley on Saturday, which clinched the club’s first ever piece of major silverware at the expense of Man City.

Tottenham ready to trigger Eberechi Eze's release clause

Eze added to his tally of 13 goals and 11 assists in all competitions against City, and it seems pretty inevitable that an elite club will make a serious effort to prise him away from south London.

His contract expires in 2027 too, and the attacking midfielder hasn’t committed his long-term future to Palace, indicating that he could be open to another opportunity away from Palace, five years after he joined from QPR.

Tottenham are believed to be contenders for Eze this summer, with one Spanish media source sharing a pretty significant update on the matter.

Indeed, the report from Spain states that Tottenham are ready to pay £68 million for Eze and trigger his release clause, and the £100,000-per-week forward could be living out his “final months” at Palace.

Postecoglou’s side will, of course, have competition for his signature, so it is by no means a certainty that they win the race for Eze, but there is little doubt he’d be a serious upgrade to the squad.

“Who’s a better player than Eze? For me he’s absolutely top, if he was luckier this season he would have five or six goals,” said Oliver Glasner about Eze at the very start of the season.

“He’s always dangerous because he has the quality and ability at 1-1, he’s such an unbelievable finisher. In some situations, he can improve, he’s a guy who can always score, and he’s someone who everyone likes.

“This is why he’s on the pitch, because he’s able to score goals.”

Chelsea made it two wins on the bounce in the Premier League at a very important time, beating Everton 1-0 at Stamford Bridge. The Blues are chasing down a Champions League spot, and three points goes a massive way towards that in their run-in.

Enzo Maresca’s side kept 55% possession, having a good stamp of authority and control of the game, especially in the first half. Chelsea took 10 shots in the game, generating 0.98 xG and creating one “big chance”, whilst limiting Everton to just 0.52 xG from six shots taken.

There were plenty of strong performers for the Blues against Everton in another must-win game, with Nicolas Jackson getting his first goal in 2025, Noni Madueke thriving in a new position, and Robert Sanchez making some key saves at the back end of the game to secure all three points.

Robert Sanchez's performance against Everton

Sanchez has been criticised heavily this season, making some mistakes leading to goals, conceding 34 goals and only keeping seven clean sheets before the game today. However, the 27-year-old Spaniard was able to add his eighth clean sheet of the campaign against the Toffees, playing his part in a huge victory.

The Spanish shot-stopper only made three saves in the match, but was on high alert after not being tested much throughout the 90 minutes, making a huge save from inside the box and making five high claims, especially important when Chelsea were seeing out the game in the final minutes.

Sanchez being ready to make those saves at the back end of the match was vital to gaining all three points for the Blues, but Chelsea had some even more important performers, especially at the back, to limit Everton to minimal chances throughout the game.

Chelsea's 7/10 star is now undroppable

Trevoh Chalobah was excellent against Everton, earning himself a 7/10 match rating from GOAL, who praised the English defender for ‘picking Beto’s pocket’ in the build-up to Chelsea’s opening goal, regaining possession, allowing for Enzo Fernández to set up Jackson.

Trevoh Chalobah’s performance vs Everton

Stat

Chalobah

Minutes

90

Touches

80

Accurate Passes

61/68

Clearances

9

Tackles

2

Ground Duels Won

2/2

Aerial Duels Won

1/2

Stats taken from Sofascore

The 25-year-old was brilliant against Everton, winning 100% of his ground duels, making sure he made first contact whenever Everton played long balls out to their outlets, allowing Chelsea to sustain pressure and attack at pace.

Chalobah has made 23 Premier League appearances this campaign for Crystal Palace and Chelsea combined, scoring three goals, providing one assist, and totaling 1,809 minutes played. Since returning to the Blues back in January, Chalobah has started eight league games for Maresca’s side, contributing to four clean sheets.

Maresca may have landed on his best centre-back pairing to end this season, especially as Wesley Fofana is out injured, with both Chalobah and Levi Colwill putting in big performances in their last two games together, getting Chelsea two big victories and earning six huge points, which is why he should now be undroppable.

Related Chelsea reporter reveals Liverpool "sniffing around" shock Cole Palmer move

The Reds are an appealing destination for prospective arrivals…

Posts BySean Markus Clifford Apr 26, 2025

The maulings in the dead rubbers notwithstanding, South Africa have done many things right across the Australia and England ODI series

Firdose Moonda08-Sep-2025South Africa have won back-to-back ODI series and, despite the aberration in the two dead rubbers, have begun the process of building to the 2027 World Cup. While their success marks significant progress – their win in Australia was their fifth successive bilateral ODI series triumph over them, while victory in England was their first since 1998 – there are still some issues to iron out.Most pressing is the long-time concern of chasing. South Africa have not successfully chased over 200 since December 2023, and have failed to chase a score of that magnitude eight times, including twice across the Australia and England tours. Both times, with the series already won, South Africa conceded over 400 before being blown away, which may not worry them too much except for what it says about their obvious strength in batting first. Since 2023, South Africa have won 16 out of 23 matches when defending a total, but need to address the approach fielding first, especially when it matters. Here are five things to note on the road to 2027.Breetzke must playIt could, and maybe should, become a campaign slogan after Matthew Breetzke stamped his name in the stars-to-watch list with five successive ODI fifties. That it took Breetzke eight months to play those five matches speaks to how difficult it has been for him to get into the XI, but he has now made the case for staying there. You could even argue that he should be batting higher than No. 4 given that he has spent most of his career as an opener. Breetzke’s aggressive approach fits in with how South Africa want to play and his square-of-the-wicket strength makes him difficult to stop. With Quinton de Kock and Heinrich Klaasen both retired from this format, Breetzke has the potential to take over the match-winning mantle and, injuries aside, should play in as many games as possible.Matthew Breetzke continued his prolific start in ODIs•AFP/Getty ImagesUncertainty over the top orderThe jury’s still out on whether the Aiden Markram-Ryan Rickelton opening pair is the one to continue with after they came together in Australia. In six matches, they have shared one century stand, two half-century partnerships and three without getting past 11. Neither has looked entirely fluent, though Markram has been in better touch in 50-over cricket than in T20Is. Rickelton has battled for rhythm throughout so the efficacy of their partnership may best be judged when both are in better touch. Given the top-order options in the squad, South Africa may also want to experiment with other combinations, including moving Breetzke up or introducing Lhuan-dre Pretorius.Another factor that will affect the top two will be the availability of Temba Bavuma at No. 3, especially if injuries continue to interrupt his playing time. After going on tour with a mandate to manage his workload, Bavuma started five out six matches and suffered a calf strain in the fifth. While the captain has made plain his desire to lead the side at the 2027 tournament, his body may not agree and South Africa will need to start thinking of solutions. A potential one is to move Markram down to No. 3, creating an opening at the top.ESPNcricinfo LtdA middle-order of Dewald Brevis, Tristan Stubbs (who is also searching for form), and potentially David Miller promises much, especially with a wealth of allrounders to follow.Getting Jansen back inCorbin Bosch and Wiaan Mulder have each made significant contributions as the fourth seamer – Bosch with two T20I three-fors in Australia, Mulder with one in the ODIs in England – and they help lengthen the batting line-up. But will there be room for one or both of them when Marco Jansen is back? Jansen has not played since the World Test Championship final where he broke his thumb, but is expected to return for the Pakistan series.Jansen offers the left-arm variation, bounce and the ability to hit boundaries at will, which means he will likely slot straight back into South Africa’s XI and that will require a rejig.Bosch also has genuine pace and is a dangerous batter and Mulder’s ability to swing the ball and move up the order as needed may result in South Africa employing a horses-for-courses approach among the three and rotating them as conditions allow.There is also the option of the left arm-spin bowling allrounder Senuran Muthusamy, which gives South Africa additional resources.Related

South Africa's T20 concerns: Markram's spot, bowling combo, injury management

Stats – England record the biggest win in men's ODIs

Bethell, Root tons, Archer four-for see England hand out record thrashing

Concern for South Africa as Bavuma suffers calf strain

Maharaj grabs lead spinner’s roleAll the talk about age may escape Keshav Maharaj, who is 35 now and will be 37 when the 2027 World Cup is played but continues to improve with experience.Maharaj took his first ODI five-for in Australia and became the No. 1-ranked ODI bowler the next day. He went on to take eight wickets in the England series to finish as South Africa’s most successful bowler and was named Player of the Series on both occasions.While accuracy has always been his strength, Maharaj has introduced more frequent changes of pace and gives it more flight in the shorter formats, as he actively goes in search of wickets in a more attacking role than before. Maharaj’s 50-over form earned him a recall to the T20I side and his performances have all but ensured he will be part of South Africa’s next two World Cup squads across 2026 and 2027.Ngidi’s resurgenceThe numbers are not going to make this seem like a good argument especially as 2025 has been Lungi Ngidi’s most expensive in ODIs, but that’s not the full story. Ngidi’s bowling strike rate of 26 is his best in the format in five years and points to a resurgence across formats. It was only three months ago that Ngidi played his first Test in ten months at the WTC final and recovered from a poor first innings to bowl a match-changing spell of 3 for 38 in the second innings. He has since played four of South Africa’s five T20Is in Zimbabwe, all six white-ball games in Australia, and nine out of South Africa’s 11 ODIs this year.Considering that between 2021 and 2024, Ngidi only played 36 out of 56 ODIs and struggled (with a strike rate of over 30 each year), the consistency of this comeback has been impressive, especially in Kagiso Rabada’s injury-enforced absence. Ngidi’s slower ball continues to be his ace and the delivery that bowled Jos Buttler at Lord’s and effectively won the series was one to remember.What’s next?South Africa’s focus will shift to T20Is with the series against England, which starts on Wednesday, in what is the more immediate concern as next year’s World Cup draws closer. Then they return home for a few weeks before heading to Pakistan for an all-format tour, including the start of their WTC title defence.

Manchester United’s midfield department has so often been littered with quality, but it’s clear that Ruben Amorim is yet to stumble across his best partnership at the heart of the side.

The 40-year-old has been constantly shuffling his pack, often utilising various different players together, with Bruno Fernandes now seemingly his starting number eight.

He’s started every Premier League game in 2025/26 to date, but has often had to adapt to different combinations with other first-team members in recent times.

Casemiro has been the most consistent player to partner the Portuguese international, with the pair helping the club maintain a five-game unbeaten run for the first time in Amorim’s tenure.

However, with the Brazilian now aged 33 and set to leave in the summer, it’s crucial the hierarchy line up numerous targets to strengthen such an area in January and beyond.

The latest on United’s hunt for a new midfielder

Ahead of the upcoming January window, a whole host of young and talented midfielders have been linked with a big-money move to join Amorim’s United side.

Adam Wharton has been a star who has constantly been on the Red Devils’ radar over the last couple of months, with the Crystal Palace star just one option being considered.

It’s unclear how much a deal for his services would cost this winter, but it’s safe to say it wouldn’t be a surprise if the hierarchy made a beeline for his signature in the coming months.

However, he’s not the only player they’re targeting, with INEOS reportedly now said to be eyeing up a move for the signature of Atalanta midfielder Ederson.

A report from one source claims that the Red Devils is the most likely destination for the Brazilian star, with the hierarchy at the club expected to commence talks with the player and the two clubs.

It also states that such a deal could reach around €50m (£43.7m) this winter, with personal terms not expected to be an issue given his previous agreement with Amorim’s side.

Why United’s latest target would be a huge upgrade on Gomes

As part of the club’s hunt for a new central midfielder this winter, numerous players have appeared on their radar – with Wolverhampton Wanderers star Joao Gomes just one option being considered.

Over the last couple of days, it’s been reported that the 24-year-old would be extremely keen on a move to Old Trafford in the coming months, with his current side sitting bottom of the Premier League.

As a result, a £44m price tag has been mooted for the midfielder’s signature in recent times, which could be a potential bargain for a proven English top-flight talent.

However, given the nature of the hunt for a new deep-lying option, the supporters will no doubt be hoping for a more high-profile and top-level addition to bolster the ranks.

Whilst many fans may crave a deal for a player of Wharton’s calibre, a winter deal may be somewhat unrealistic, with the Eagles potentially demanding up to £100m for his signature.

As a result, a deal for Ederson certainly could be on the cards for Amorim’s men, with the Brazilian certainly a better option than Gomes in the upcoming window.

When comparing their stats from the ongoing campaign, the Atalanta star has dominated in numerous key areas, showcasing why he would be the better addition at present.

Ederson, who’s been dubbed “out of this world” by former England boss Fabio Capello, has completed more of the passes he’s attempted, with more of his efforts per 90 going into the final third.

Such numbers highlight the Brazilian’s ball-playing ability, which could allow him to dictate the play for United for a deep-lying position – allowing Bruno to take up a more advanced role as a result.

How Ederson & Gomes compare in 2025/26

Statistics (per 90)

Ederson

Gomes

Games played

8

12

Minutes played

588

925

Progressive carries

1.4

1.2

Progressive passes

7.5

5.6

Pass accuracy

90%

84%

Passes into final third

6.6

4.1

% of tackles won

53%

51%

Interceptions made

1.6

1.1

Take-on success

50%

47%

Stats via FBref

Out of possession, the Atalanta star has been just as dominant over Gomes, as seen by his higher tackle success rate and more interceptions completed per 90.

The aforementioned tallies could certainly provide Amorim with the ball-winning option he’s been craving, at a bargain, too given his current asking price.

All-round, Ederson is a more complete option for the Red Devils, with his higher take-on success and progressive carries per 90 tally reaffirming his incredible ability to transition the play.

£43.7m for a player of the 26-year-old’s quality in the current market is an excellent price, with the hierarchy needing to work tirelessly to complete a deal for his signature.

There’s no denying Gomes would be an impressive addition too, but when a player of Ederson’s quality is currently available, it’s a no-brainer as to who the club should pursue in the coming weeks.

Related Shades of McTominay: Man Utd star is now their "most underrated player"

Manchester United now have a player who has certainly gone under the radar over the last couple of months.

Posts ByEthan Lamb Nov 28, 2025

MatériaMais Notícias

O Flamengo encaminhou a venda do zagueiro Fabrício Bruno ao West Ham, da Inglaterra. A equipe londrina ofereceu cerca de 15 milhões de euros (R$ 83,6 milhões, na cotação atual) pelo jogador de 28 anos. As informações foram divulgadas pelo portal “Ge”.

continua após a publicidade

Aposte R$100 no Lance! Betting e garanta R$288 se o Flamengo vencer o Amazonas nos dois tempos pela Copa do Brasil

O zagueiro, que foi convocado por Dorival júnior para defender a Seleção Brasileira nos amistosos contra Inglaterra e Espanha, está relacionado para o duelo desta quarta-feira (22), contra o Amazonas, pela partida de volta da terceira fase da Copa do Brasil, e iniciará a partida ao lado de Léo Ortiz.

Em fevereiro deste ano, o Flamengo renovou o contrato de Fabrício Bruno, que passou a ser válido até dezembro de 2028.

Contratado junto ao RB Bragantino em 2022, por aproximadamente R$ 15 milhões, o jogador permaneceu no banco de reservas a maior parte da temporada. No ano seguinte, porém, aproveitou as brechas deixadas no setor e se transformou em titular absoluto.

continua após a publicidade

Caso o jogador acerte sua ida aos Hammers, ele terá a companhia dos brasileiros Lucas Paquetá e Emerson Palmieri. Ao todo, Fabrício Bruno disputou 113 jogos pelo Flamengo, marcou cinco gols e conquistou três títulos, incluindo a Copa Libertadores (2022).

Tudo sobre

FlamengoFutebol NacionalWest Ham

He was sharp on the field, making batters overthink, and off the field, spoke out against petty-minded administrators

Suresh Menon25-Jun-2025At a Rolling Stones concert in Bengaluru many years ago, Dilip Doshi, then an ex-India cricketer, spotted Rahul Dravid, a current player, and escorted him towards the stage. Mick Jagger, Doshi’s good friend, was performing. I was sitting with my family nearby and saw this as entirely natural. Doshi was a team man and saw colleagues as family.It was the attitude that saw him stand up for Dilip Vengsarkar after a misunderstanding at Sharjah airport in the 1980s that led to Vengsarkar being deported to India. A bunch of Indian stars who were with the team then didn’t raise any objections. It was a commentary on the times in which Doshi played his cricket in India: it was every man for himself and the devil was assisted in his effort to take the hindmost.Of the left-arm spinners who had the misfortune to play under the huge shadow of Bishan Singh Bedi, Doshi was probably the most gifted and understood his craft better than most. He made his debut at around the same age that Bedi played his last Test (past 30) and still claimed over a hundred wickets, a tribute as much to his competitiveness as his resilience. It helped that he played first-class cricket in England; it kept him fit and saw him bowl to the best batters on the international circuit.Related

• Dilip Doshi – The man apart (2006)

• Doshi: 'Spin bowling is a battle of wits' (2008)

• Dilip Doshi, former India left-arm spinner, dies aged 77

His strike rate (81.7) was only a whit behind Bedi’s (80.3), but in the era of Bedi, Erapalli Prasanna, Bhagwat Chandrasekhar and Srinivas Venkataraghavan, it was generally considered sacrilege to look beyond the quartet. Every spinner who followed was expected to combine the aesthetics and effectiveness of that generation.Doshi was his own man. He gave the ball a rip that spun it alarmingly on helpful wickets and confused batters on good ones – batters who were taken in by the apparent effort. In this he was a bit like Clarrie Grimmett, who spun it the least when he seemed to be putting in the most effort. As that great left-arm spinner Wilfred Rhodes said, it is enough if the batter it’s spinning. Doshi was not only a thinking bowler himself, he was the cause for overthinking in batters.With his thick glasses and slightly distracted air, Doshi reminded many of the absent-minded professor who knew he had found the solution to the problem the previous day but couldn’t recall where he had left his work. But in fact, he was sharp and knew exactly what was happening around him. Some of his powers of observation found release in his autobiography Spin Punch, which earned praise from the likes of Garry Sobers, but didn’t find too many cheering in his own team.Doshi was not afraid to speak his mind, even during his playing career•AFP/Getty ImagesHe played for India at a time when the authorities kept players in check by injecting individuals with large quantities of insecurity. You had to be in the right camp, support the right official, and engage in public-relations work all the time. Doshi was unafraid to speak his mind. In Spin Punch, he went public with how team meetings were invariably about money and how much could be made how; cricket was discussed if at all only incidentally. He saw the BCCI as a self-aggrandising body, and his one-time friend Sunil Gavaskar as a “petty tyrant”.I am not sure he wanted to play a role in Indian cricket after his retirement, but if he did, he had trodden on too many toes for that to happen. Toes, his own, played an important role in the Doshi legend, when, bowling with broken ones that needed much medication, he bowled India to victory in the Melbourne Test of 1981. Fans love a performer who cuts through the pain barrier, and for a while Doshi, India’s leading spinner, became a national hero despite the fact that he was not Bedi.Yet, in the end, Doshi might have echoed Jagger to sum up a career that gave “Satisfaction” as much to himself as to lovers of the game of which he was a shining representative.

Former AC Milan defender Emerson Royal opened up about his difficult spell at the San Siro, revealing that the negative attention he received in Italy made him a more talked about figure than Cristiano Ronaldo. The lack of appreciation from supporters, combined with a lengthy spell on the sidelines, ultimately influenced his decision to leave Milan. However, the Brazilian admitted that he is now happy at Flamengo, where he has settled back into life in his home country and rediscovered his confidence.

• Emerson struggled at Milan

  Emerson arrived at Milan from Tottenham in a €16 million (£13m/$18m) deal, brought in to strengthen the right flank. Under Paulo Fonseca, he initially became the starting right-back ahead of Davide Calabria, but his time at the club quickly turned turbulent. Although he showed flashes of quality, his performances were marked by inconsistency, positioning errors and a struggle to adapt to Milan’s tactical demands, leading to a mixed and ultimately disappointing spell.

  He did enjoy one high point, winning the Supercoppa Italiana under Sergio Conceicao after Milan’s victory over Inter. However, the relationship between player and coach deteriorated soon after, pushing Emerson further down the pecking order. A move to Fenerbahce was close, but an untimely injury caused the transfer to collapse.

  Eventually, Milan decided to move him on, and Emerson joined Flamengo in a permanent €9 million deal in the 2025 summer window bringing an end to a difficult chapter in his career.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Emerson opens up about his difficult life at Milan

  In an interview to , Emerson recalled the negative attention he received after arriving in Milan, explaining that no matter how hard he tried, he struggled to gain acceptance from the fans. 

  "I arrived in Italy with a slightly strange feeling right from the start. From the beginning, every time I said or did something, people talked about me more than they talked about Cristiano Ronaldo, but in a negative way. I felt like I always had to do twice as much to be accepted, and then still not be accepted anyway," he said.

  "It all started with me and my request. I spoke to my family and my agent, and the idea of leaving had already become a priority. I couldn't continue with that feeling. The same thing had happened to me at Tottenham, but there I managed to change their minds: you arrive, people talk, then they don't want you to leave. It's always a matter of time and adaptation. Initially, I thought I would do the same at Milan, stay to really prove who I am. But after the injury and months on the sidelines, that feeling grew even stronger. And when I realised that my relationship with the environment had worn thin, I realised that staying would not be the right choice."

  However, things have turned around for Emerson since his move to Flamengo. The Brazilian has settled back into his home country and is thriving, with Flamengo leading the Brazilian Serie A by two points. Reflecting on his resurgence, he said: "Today I am well and finally happy again. Coming back here after so many years away has been special. We are competing in two important competitions and one of the reasons I chose to return was to make myself better known to the people of my country, because I have been abroad for so long. It is a wonderful feeling to feel appreciated."

• Milan recovering all their players from injury

  Milan appointed Massimiliano Allegri as head coach in the summer, and his arrival brought a shift to a 3-5-2 system with Alexis Saelemaekers operating effectively as the right wing-back. The team has responded well to the new structure, sitting third in the table after crucial wins over Napoli and Roma, and now just two points behind rivals Inter. An injury crisis in October disrupted their rhythm, but Milan have since recovered key players, including Christian Pulisic, Ardon Jashari, Adrien Rabiot and Pervis Estupinan. Their return comes at the perfect moment as Allegri prepares for a decisive derby clash against Inter.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Top of the table Derby clash

  With Milan recovering key players over the international break and Pulisic scoring in a friendly against Virtus Entella, Allegri will now look to use his returning starters to make important adjustments to his style of play, with Milan set for a virtual six-pointer against Inter on Sunday.

Tottenham Hotspur will look to kick on once the January transfer window opens and could be willing to put their money where their mouth is to sign Napoli midfielder Scott McTominay, but circumstances will need to align.

The Lilywhites have become a thorn in the side of many Premier League outfits this campaign due to their physicality and new-found ability to convert from set-pieces, making them a dangerous opposition to come up against on any given day.

Mohammed Kudus has shone in the forward areas and Spurs have earned a new lease of life after their domestic form last term, with Thomas Frank deserving of credit for managing to solidify the Lilywhites in all areas.

Despite his mixed start to life in North London, the Dane made clear before his side took on Chelsea that Xavi Simons is another figure he expects to come to life in the heart of his side.

He said: “Yes. No doubt about that. I’m not in doubt that Xavi will perform very well for us. That is down to him, to me, to the team, to everyone to get it done. The one thing you don’t have in football is time, but it will take time.

“It’s completely natural. Sometimes we can’t talk about processes and time and all that, but the reality is you need it, everyone needs it. I’m confident. I’m sure it will happen.”

Frank’s outfit appear to be solid from middle to front, that much is true, but there is always room for improvement when you are eyeing a slot in the Champions League places.

With that in mind, Spurs are now plotting a January bid for a star who they may be set to put their large transfer kitty towards.

Tottenham line up Scott McTominay amid huge Napoli demands

According to Football Insider, Tottenham will look to put their sizeable transfer kitty towards signing Napoli midfielder Scott McTominay, who could be at the centre of an intriguing saga involving both parties.

Fabio Paratici has set his sights on the Scotland international and the money on offer could be a lure for the former Manchester United man to return to the Premier League. However, Pete O’Rourke believes it would take a ‘huge’ statement of intent from Spurs to push a deal over the line.

Scott McTominay’s time at Napoli
Appearances	47
Goals	17
Assists	7

He said: “Napoli won’t want to weaken their squad by losing such an important player like Scott McTominay. He’s under contract until 2028, so, to even consider selling him would be a huge fee as well.”

Intriguingly, the same report has floated the idea of Kobbie Mainoo joining Napoli, which could pave the way for movement to take place elsewhere, albeit that remains unlikely for now.

Tottenham are also eyeing another Serie A goalscorer

Still, McTominay has been a titan since joining the reigning Serie A champions in 2024 and has continued that form into this term, placing seven of his 16 shots taken on target, per Fotmob, hence why Frank is keen to do a deal.

Manchester United are now in pole position to complete the signing of Ajax youngster Jorthy Mokio, as they look to find a long-term replacement for the ageing Casemiro and exiled Kobbie Mainoo.

The futures of both Casemiro and Mainoo are key talking points at Old Trafford currently, with the Brazilian’s current contract expiring at the end of this season, at which point he will be 34 years of age.

In fairness, the Real Madrid legend has shown improved form this season, but Fabrizio Romano has claimed that a new deal is unlikely, especially on his current £350,000 wages, which make him United’s highest-paid player.

“Casemiro is working hard and is becoming once again in his career a crucial player for the manager. So, in this moment, he is really important for Ruben Amorim, but there will be a conversation about his contract because at the moment, the numbers of his contract, salary is way too high for Manchester United to extend that.

“Or they find a solution on the contract, and this is Casemiro and for Harry Maguire, or the player could leave on a free.

It looks increasingly likely that a replacement for Casemiro will need to be found next summer, especially with Ruben Amorim seemingly not fancying Mainoo in the role.

Man Utd "leading the chase" for Mokio

According to Caught Offside‘s Mark Brus, Manchester United are the front-runners to sign Mokio from Ajax, with the 17-year-old considered a prodigious talent at the heart of midfield.

“Manchester United are leading the chase for Jorthy Mokio. They are already working on a project that could offer Mokio guaranteed minutes and a clear development path.”

Mokio is a huge talent with so much to offer in the coming years, proving to be the latest great youngster to emerge from Ajax’s famous academy recently, and he should be the type of profile United are looking for in a player.

The defensive midfielder has already made 29 appearances for the Eredivisie giants, highlighting his maturity at such a young age, while scout Jacek Kulig has described him as a “special” player.

Mokio has also now been capped once at senior level by Belgium, and will hope to see his star rise further at next summer’s World Cup, but United should be looking to seal a deal for him before them, before the competition increases further for his signature.

Antoine Semenyo chooses between Man Utd and Liverpool

What a signing this could be…

1 ByHenry Jackson Nov 22, 2025 Wildcard Casemiro replacement: Man Utd star can "become a world class DM"

Smith has recently returned from New York and will play two Sheffield Shield matches for New South Wales ahead of facing England

Andrew McGlashan21-Oct-20251:14

Mitchell Starc: Smith ‘has been a great sounding board’ for Cummins

Steven Smith had his first hit against bowlers since the Hundred finished in late August on Tuesday, but declared he was already “ready” for the Ashes after his break in New York.Smith, who is set to captain Australia in the first Test due to Pat Cummins’ back injury, returned to Sydney last week and had three nets against throwdowns before facing the New South Wales attack during training at Cricket Central as he ramps up towards the start of the Ashes.Related

Australia's top order: What are the selectors' options?

Boland: 'I've got my own internal motivations'

Confidence growing that Cummins will play 'major part' in Ashes

Ashes tracker: Weatherald makes a statement as Boland primes for Perth

He will play two Sheffield Shield matches – against Queensland at the Gabba and Victoria at the SCG before facing England – but believed he was already good to go having in recent times found downtime from the game more profitable than endless training or extra matches.Unlike earlier in the year when he was recovering from a finger injury sustained in the World Test Championship final and left the tour of West Indies, Smith did not hunt out a baseball cage in New York and only picked up a bat on his return home.”Honestly, it takes me two hits to get sorted,” Smith said. “I feel like I’m ready to go now. I feel like I’m moving really nicely. I feel in a good place.”I’ve been training quite hard. I’ve been doing a lot of lifting, trying to get a bit stronger. And I did all my strength tests yesterday and they’re all as good as they’ve ever been. So I feel like I’m going good.”Cummins has yet to be officially ruled out of the opening Test, but time is quickly running out and Smith said on Tuesday that he had still yet to start bowling. “Things can turn around pretty quickly so we’ll see where everything lands with him,” Smith said.”He’s obviously got a few things to tick off and get into his bowling, but he was in good spirits and the team’s obviously better with him in it for sure. Hopefully he can get right and if he plays three Tests or five Tests or two Tests, as many as we can get out of him, it’s the best for the team.”Steven Smith speaks to reporters as he ramps up his Ashes preparation•Getty Images

The duo have worked well as a captain-vice captain combination with Smith standing in on six occasions since Cummins’ promotion, winning five of those Tests. His tactical nous has particularly come to the fore on the subcontinent and, although Smith himself played it down, his head-to-head with Ben Stokes looms as a fascinating aspect of the early Ashes exchanges.Even if unable to play, Cummins is expected to travel with the Australia squad and Smith was confident the change of leadership would prove smooth but added he would do things in his style.”It’s nothing out of the ordinary,” Smith said. “I know how the team operates. We’re in a good place. So if it happens, I’ll look forward to it. I think the important thing is doing it my way. I think when I get out on the field, I’ve got a certain style and the way I like to do things and I need to be authentic.”I think it’s worked well when I’ve stood in over the last few years. It’ll just be a seamless sort of transition if that comes around.”Smith has rarely had a problem with the dual responsibilities of captaincy and batting: his average when captain is 68.98 against 49.90 when in the ranks. One of the six Tests where he has filled in was during the 2021-22 Ashes when Cummins was a Covid close contact in Adelaide with Smith making 93 in the first innings.”It’s interesting how the brain works, I suppose,” Smith said when asked whether he’s aware of how the captaincy makes a difference. “I feel like I kind of go to another level and try and set a standard.”I think I’ve chilled out a lot over the last probably four or five years, just a bit more relaxed out in the middle and maybe not as cranky at times. I like to listen to people, get their opinions, and then obviously make a decision when I’m in charge.”In terms of losing Cummins’ bowling, Smith was of little doubt that Scott Boland could fill the breach. “I mean, we’ve got a pretty good replacement in Scott Boland who I think is arguably one of the best bowlers in the world,” he said. “His record in Australia is outrageous, so we’re good there.”Then the other two [Starc and Hazlewood] obviously have done a wonderful job for a long time as well. So I don’t think it disrupts too much.”