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Tottenham Hotspur have reshaped their squad this summer, and with Thomas Frank now at the helm, it feels like the Londoners can challenge toward the top end of the Premier League once again.

It’s been a fruitful start for the Danish coach, taken from Brentford after the dismissal of Ange Postecoglou. Not without blots on the copybook, the Lilywhites have marched steadily through the early stages of the campaign, third in the league with ten points from five fixtures and having beaten Villarreal in their opening match back in the Champions League.

The new recruits are blending in nicely, but not all are firing on all cylinders. Indeed, despite having spent the latter half of the 2024/25 term on loan at the club, Mathys Tel continues to leave plenty to be desired.

Mathys Tel's struggles at Spurs

It was not Frank’s decision to activate a £30m permanent option to reel Tel over to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for good, but Daniel Levy’s. Now, Levy has stepped down, and the original bid, led by Ange, has left Tel somewhat adrift, having lacked quality on the field.

Aged 20, it’s clear that confidence is a factor, having featured five times across all competitions, yet to score or assist, following an indifferent start to life in London last season, posting three goals and two assists across his five months on board.

His only starting berth in the Premier League so far came during the 3-0 romp over West Ham United, and Tel was handed a 5/10 match rating by football.london, who acknowledged his hard work but drew attention to the luckless performance at number nine.

No one can doubt the France U21 forward’s commitment, and having been hailed by analyst Ben Mattinson as being the “long-term Heung-min Son replacement”.

That’s all well and good, but Spurs actually have another rising winger in Mikey Moore, and there may not be room for both in Frank’s system.

Mikey Moore's Spurs future

Moore left Tottenham this summer, relocating to Rangers in the Scottish Premiership on a one-year loan deal.

Hailed as a “superstar” in the making by journalist Fabrizio Romano, Moore only turned 18 in August but has already featured 21 times for Tottenham’s senior side, bypassing the road into U21 territory after an incredible start to life with the U18s.

Tottenham U18

24

19 (13)

Tottenham

21

1 (2)

Rangers

7

0 (1)

Tottenham U21

5

2 (2)

Tottenham U19

5

0 (0)

His development was deemed to be best served away from the Premier League, gaining invaluable experience in a prominent role at Rangers.

Moore has endured a somewhat difficult start to his time in Scotland, but this is hardly his fault. Most of the blame can be apportioned to Russell Martin and the dysfunctional first-team system at Rangers, who have started the season wretchedly.

But the boy’s talent cannot be disputed, having gone from strength to strength among the Tottenham seniors last season before his 18th birthday.

Given that Moore tends to occupy that left-sided flank, he and Tel might come to blows in a tussle for the ascendancy down the line, and the teenager’s pace and power and potency will soon be translated to the senior stage, especially if Rangers manage to click into gear in the coming months.

Given that Moore is two years Tel’s junior and already looking every bit the same calibre of player, albeit raw and unpolished, it might just be that both prospects cannot cohabit in Frank’s set-up, not in the long run.

If push comes to shove, Moore might just emerge on top.

Worth even more than Kudus: Spurs have struck gold on "phenomenal" talent

Tottenham Hotspur have demonstrated their excellent work in the transfer market in recent years.

ByEthan Lamb Sep 26, 2025

Manchester United have had some world-class centre forwards in the history of the club, but it’s been somewhat of a problem position in recent years.

Short-term fixes have been brought in, such as Odion Ighalo, Edinson Cavani, and even Zlatan Ibrahimovic, but only the latter put his stamp on the side.

In the summer, Rasmus Hojlund was purchased for £72m from Atalanta, with the transfer being viewed as a long-term solution.

However, United are once again on the hunt for a number nine, one that can provide support for Dane while also serving as a rotation option.

Man Utd want a new striker

According to a report from German outlet SportBILD, via the Manchester Evening News, United are interested in signing Serhou Guirassy.

Prior to this season, the striker was relatively unknown to those outside of Germany, but he’s certainly been making waves this campaign.

The Stuttgart ace has an extremely good value-for-money £17m release clause in his contract this summer, with plenty of clubs keeping an eye on him due to that, including West Ham United.

However, it seems that Sir Jim Ratcliffe views the striker as the perfect replacement for Anthony Martial, who looks set to walk on a free this summer.

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ByTom Lever Apr 17, 2024 Guirassy stats compared to Hojlund and Rashford

Prior to the season, Man United fans were licking their lips at the prospect of Hojlund and Marcus Rashford combining in the final third.

However, the duo haven’t been quite as prolific as anticipated, scoring seven Premier League goals each this season, one behind Bruno Fernandes in pole position.

Across all competitions, their combined tally does reach 21 goals, with the number ten contributing to eight of those, which is a huge decrease compared to last season’s incredible 30.

However, United target Guirassy has been far more clinical in the final third than Ten Hag's duo, and as you can see by the table below, he’s been a level above the duo on almost every front.

Goals

1.28

Top 1%

Goals/shot

0.30

Top 1%

Key passes

2.04

Top 3%

Passes completed

25.46

Top 3%

Shot-creating actions

3.57

Top 14%

Touches (mid 3rd)

23.37

Top 3%

The Guinea international has been one of the most in-form strikers on the planet in 2023/24, and his goal-per-game record of 1.28 is simply unbelievable, which equates to 25 Bundesliga goals in 23 matches.

It’s clear that Guirassy is the definition of a clinical “finisher,” as dubbed by reporter Josh Bunting, but he also provided much more than just that, due to his ability to link up play and act as a creative outlet.

The fact that the 28-year-old ranks in the top 3% for touches in the mid-third proves that he likes to drop deep and get involved in build-up, but he’s also clearly a major threat in the box, where he’s a threat with both feet and with his head.

Not only is he comfortable receiving the ball with his back to goal, but he can also be a danger in behind the backline, which would make the United attack far less predictable.

Unlike what Rashford and Hojlund have shown this season, he’s also the type of player to grab a game by the scruff of the neck and lead his side to victory, as shown by the fact that he’s scored in all of Stuttgart’s last six games.

Overall, based on his performances this season and the data, it would be expected that Guirassy – who has enjoyed an "outrageous hot streak", as per The Athletic's Seb Stafford-Bloor – would cost a hefty fee, but for just £17m, United should do everything they can to secure the forward.

With the club's current number nine, Martial, scoring just 12 league goals since the start of 2020/21, a clinical new replacement is certainly needed.

Trent Alexander-Arnold can see the funny side of Liverpool transfer talk, with the Real Madrid-linked defender cracking a joke about his own future.

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Full-back is into final year of contractHas seen move to Spain speculated onReluctant to discuss his future in publicWHAT HAPPENED?

The England international right-back is among those to have entered the final year of their respective contracts at Anfield. No extension has been agreed as yet, which is helping to keep the rumour mill ticking over with another window open.

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Alexander-Arnold dined with fellow Three Lions star Jude Bellingham on the back of their exertions at Euro 2024, with the pair meeting up during summer breaks in Los Angeles. Bellingham is already on the books at Santiago Bernabeu and was said to be sounding out a familiar face regarding a similar career call.

WHAT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD SAID

Alexander-Arnold is playing cards close to his chest when it comes to what happens next for him, with the 25-year-old reluctant to enter into any debate. He was the last player to walk through the press zone after Liverpool’s 2024-25 opening day win at Ipswich, but said to waiting reporters with a smile on his face: “I don't know what you'd possibly want to speak to me about!”

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GettyWHAT NEXT?

The Merseyside native did not stop before clambering onto the Reds’ team bus, with those seeking answers to obvious questions left hanging. Alexander-Arnold has spent his entire career to date with Liverpool – taking in 311 appearances while helping them to Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, Carabao Cup, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup honours.

Manchester City have sold defender Yan Couto to Borussia Dortmund, with the defender moving on an initial loan with an obligation to buy.

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Man City sell defender to DortmundBrazilian full-back never played for the Premier League sideLeaves on initial loan deal with obligation to buyWHAT HAPPENED?

The Brazilian full-back joined the Cityzens from Coritiba in 2020 on a five-year deal but never made a single appearance for the club. He spent the last four seasons out on loan, out of which three years were with City Group-owned La Liga side Girona, and has now completed a switch to Germany.

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Now, Dortmund have confirmed that the English champions have agreed to let the player leave on an initial loan with an obligation to buy him for a fee of €30 million (£25.3m/$32.6m) next summer. Couto was an integral part of Girona's historic 2023-24 campaign where they finished third in La Liga. He appeared in 34 league games last season where he scored once and provided 10 assists.

DID YOU KNOW?

The reigning English champions could also see two of their star players Ederson and Kevin De Bruyne leave the club this summer amid interest from Saudi Pro League teams.

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR MANCHESTER CITY?

Pep Guardiola's side will play their final pre-season friendly in the United States against Chelsea on Saturday before they face Manchester United in the Community Shield on August 10.

Tottenham have hardly been in contact over a move for one of their summer targets in recent weeks, despite reports of a deal being broadly agreed.

Spurs aiming for late top-four push

Ange Postecoglou's first season at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is looking likely to result in a return to Champions League football, with Spurs currently nine points clear of Manchester United and occupying what is likely to be a fifth Champions League spot for English teams come the end of the campaign.

A 1-1 draw with West Ham dented their hopes of leapfrogging Aston Villa into fourth, and despite knowing that they face the top three sides between now and the end of the season, Ange will be hoping a strong end to the Premier League campaign will see them take fourth spot.

The Run in for Tottenham

Matchday

Opponent (Home/Away)

31

Nottingham Forest (H)

32

Newcastle United (A)

33 – TBD

Man City (H)

34

Arsenal (H)

35

Liverpool (A)

36

Burnley (H)

37

Sheffield United (A)

38

Newcastle United (A)

No Spurs contact in recent weeks despite striker rumours

One man currently left in the dark over his future is loanee Timo Werner. The former Chelsea striker was signed on loan in January, in a deal that contains an option to sign the 28-year-old on a permanent deal for around 17m euros this summer.

However, that option has to be exercised before the beginning of EURO 2024 (June 14th), giving Tottenham a hard deadline before which to make a decision on the German.

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The north Londoners are hoping to beat Brighton at their own game.

ByBen Browning Apr 2, 2024

Werner has impressed since his arrival, and grabbed an assist against the Hammers, teeing up Brennan Johnson for the opening goal. Speaking on potentially signing the German permanently, Postecoglou was in no rush but sounded positive about the prospect.

"In terms of his future, like most players, the decisions will be made at the appropriate time," said the Tottenham boss. "I think he's been a great signing. He's been a really important part of our structure and I think he can also improve."

Meanwhile, on the other side of the divide, Marco Rose has also spoken on the prospect of the deal being done: "We are not in contact, but of course I am following his development. He starts scoring again, this is a result of being comfortable and feeling good. He should keep riding the wave. Basically, he is one of our players, but Tottenham obviously have the opportunity to sign him completely."

Despite this, Sport Witness claim that though the player 'definitely wants' the move to north London, there has been 'no contact’ between Spurs and Leipzig in recent weeks to communicate longer-term plans.

One theory that they put forward is that Spurs may be wanting a discount on the deal, something which seems unlikely given his renaissance in north London. Of course, it needs little more than a single call to activate the pre-agreed deal, so a lack of contact isn't something to be massively concerned about.

But with reports that Tottenham want to sign another striker and a winger this summer, could they be having second thoughts about making Werner's deal permanent?

England trio Alessia Russo, Beth Mead and Ella Toone were among the women's football stars spotted partying in Ibiza.

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Lionesses stars partied at IbizaToone, Russo and Mead enjoyed vacation togetherEngland last played against Sweden earlier this monthWHAT HAPPENED?

The Lionesses stars are currently enjoying a well-earned rest after a hectic season of club and international football. The three of them were accompanied by Women's Super League colleagues Anna Patten, Maya Le Tissier and Katie McCabe – among several others.

AdvertisementWHAT THEY SAID

Russo took to Instagram to share the photographs from the vacation as she wrote in the caption, "Had a ball."

McCabe, on the other hand, shared her photographs with a funny caption that read, "Any taxis?"

Getty ImagesTHE GOSSIP

Sarina Wiegman's side were recently in action as they played their final two Euro 2025 qualifying matches. While they managed to beat Ireland 2-1, they were held to a goalless draw against Sweden. Despite the draw in the final match, the Lionesses managed to book their place in the final competition next year after finishing second in their group behind France.

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The players will shortly return to their respective clubs to get ready for the new 2024/25 season which kicks off on September 22.

The Australia captain acknowledges it could be tough for teams to get enough cricket

Andrew McGlashan22-Jul-2020With a decision around whether the 2021 Women’s ODI World Cup goes ahead in New Zealand expected in the next couple of weeks, Australia captain Meg Lanning has acknowledged one of the issues will be whether all teams will be able to have adequate preparation due to Covid-19.While New Zealand has led the way in coping with the pandemic, and Australia has done well albeit there are now worries over the second wave, a number of countries either already qualified or hoping to be involved are currently far more severely hit.The qualifying tournament, which had been set for Sri Lanka in July, was postponed in May although ESPNcricinfo understands that if the World Cup still goes ahead, the plan would be to stage the qualifiers in the UAE during November.As things stand there remain three spots up for grabs in the World Cup, between Bangladesh, Ireland, Pakistan, West Indies, Ireland, Thailand, Zimbabwe, Papua New Guinea, USA and Netherlands.”It’s something the ICC will have to weigh up in whether the tournament goes ahead,” Lanning said. “Will every team in the competition have the opportunity to prepare adequately for a World Cup? There are still a few teams that have to go through the qualifying process so I’m not sure how that will pan out.”There’s a few more decisions to be made around it rather than whether it can just go ahead or not. It’s a pretty difficult position to be in, but as a player you want things to be as equal and fair as they can be heading into a big world tournament and I’m sure the organisers will make sure that happens.”It had been hoped that India would be able to travel to England for a tri-series also involving South Africa but the BCCI has said that won’t happen although there is belief South Africa will still tour.While Australia and New Zealand are scheduled to play each other in late September, and India are due to tour Australia in January, there is no other women’s cricket currently in the calendar.New Zealand’s trip across the Tasman is due to include three T20Is, all play in Sydney, followed by three ODIs played across Townsville, Cairns and the Gold Coast in Queensland.”The planning is for that to still go ahead as scheduled, there needs to be flexibility around things if they change but from what I’ve heard still planning for that to happen which is really great for the players to look forward to and an end point to pre-season,” Lanning said.

West Ham United are planning a move to sign a "very quick" forward, with his club now deciding they may need to sell this summer.

West Ham set sights on new attacker and defender

Hammers technical director Tim Steidten's planning for the transfer window is reportedly well underway already, and it is believed the German has a few key transfer targets already.

West Ham make approach to sign defender tipped to become "one of the best"

The Hammers want to bolster their backline.

ByEmilio Galantini Mar 28, 2024

West Ham are keen to strengthen in both attack and defence, with Fulham defender Tosin Adarabioyo apparently turning heads at the club as his Craven Cottage contract ticks down to expiry.

The Englishman could be available for free this summer, amid uncertainty surrounding the futures of Nayef Aguerd and Kurt Zouma. Both of manager David Moyes' starting centre-backs are being linked with moves to Saudi Arabia, with Aguerd in particular displaying real inconsistency throughout 2023/2024.

The Morocco international has been prone to errors this season, potentially leading to West Ham setting their sights on fresh faces to bolster their back line. Juventus starlet Dean Huijsen is another defender linked with a West Ham move, according to recent reports.

Further forward, West Ham are in need of more quality attacking options, and they've sensationally been plunged into the race for Brentford striker Ivan Toney lately.

Jarrod Bowen

14

Mohammed Kudus

6

Tomas Soucek

6

James Ward-Prowse

5

Lucas Paqueta

3

The England international is set to be a sought-after name this summer, having scored 20 league goals last season and with his contract expiring just next year.

He is still likely to command a significant fee, though, and it is perhaps prudent for West Ham to scour the market for cheaper forward options across their attacking line.

This is where their new transfer target comes in, as Football Insider report interest in Juventus starlet Samuel Illing-Junior.

West Ham planning Iling-Junior move as Juve make sale decison

The 20-year-old, a product of Chelsea's academy, has been a bit-part player under Massimilano Allegri this season, but the Irons could offer him an escape route.

Pete O'Rourke writes for FI that West Ham are plotting a move for Iling-Junior as Juventus concede they may need to sell this summer, as his deal expires in 2025 and the Serie A heavyweights have little time to make any back off his exit.

The winger, last rumoured to cost around £15.5 million, has been revered for his pace and even likened to AC Milan star Rafael Leao.

“Iling Junior is a very quick player, who loves to take on opposing full-backs and attack the vertical spaces, in a very direct way,” Michele Neri explained to TNT Sports.

“He is a left winger who can also play as a right winger if needed. He has a great sense for dribbling and a speed from a standing start that other Juventus players do not have. In these qualities you can absolutely see shades of Rafael Leao when the AC Milan superstar was a bit younger. The fans went crazy for him after the Benfica game where he played 20 minutes and really shone, providing an assist to Milik."

One high-profile event likely to replace another, while the WTC will have to be considerably reworked

ESPNcricinfo staff20-Jul-20203:33

ICC CEO: Stature of T20 World Cup, people’s safety both important

.Brace yourself for the IPLReplace one high-profile T20 tournament with another. The prime beneficiary of this postponement will be the IPL, itself indefinitely postponed in May this year because of the impact of the pandemic in India. But the tournament is now very likely to be held in its entirety in the UAE, with a tentative window set from September 26 to November 7. The BCCI had been waiting for a public announcement from the ICC about the T20 World Cup, and the path is now clear for the BCCI to confirm those arrangements.Given the IPL’s place in the international calendar and the fact that very little bilateral cricket is played when it is on ordinarily, as well as that the window was originally cleared in the calendar for the T20 World Cup, there is likely to be very little – if any – other cricket on at that time. “It won’t change anything for us immediately,” said CSA’s acting CEO, Jacques Faul. “If they play the IPL in that window, then it blocks out bilateral cricket anyway.”Will we see a World Test Champion next year?After the T20 World Cup and the IPL, the status of the World Test Championship (WTC) is arguably of most interest. Given that it is essentially bilateral cricket squeezed into a league format, this will take longer to figure out. Each member will have to take stock of the situation in their own country and work out what feasible timelines are for a return of bilateral cricket.The league stage of the WTC was originally scheduled to end by March next year, before a one-Test final between the top two teams in the table next summer in the UK. England’s ongoing series with West Indies and one with Pakistan are, for now, part of the WTC. India’s trip to Australia at the end of the year will also, presumably, be part of it. But given the number of bilateral series that have been hit by the pandemic and the short amount of time left between now and next March, the league will have to be reworked considerably for it to be completed.There does remain a broad commitment to it among members and with the question of the T20 World Cup out of the way now, attention will switch to resolving the WTC.We will still see an ODI Super LeagueThe ODI Super League was supposed to start in May this year, another league format squeezed onto the framework of bilateral cricket. But it was one of the early casualties of the pandemic. The 13-team league (12 Full Members and Netherlands), in which members play eight series against each other over two years, will stay, though when it starts and when it concludes is yet to be decided.The top seven teams in the league, will join the hosts, India, at the 2023 World Cup. The remaining sides will play in a qualifier with five teams from the lower tiers, with the top two from there going to the World Cup, which has been shifted from a February-March window to October-November, allowing more time for the league and the qualifying tournament to be played out.Members still get paidOne of the main concerns of a group of smaller boards outside the Big Three was of the financial fallout if the T20 World Cup did not go ahead this year. The ICC makes revenue distribution payments to all members twice a year based on a financial model agreed on in 2017. While those payments happen every year and are not dependent on ICC events, there was a worry that this year’s second payment – in July (the first comes in January) – may be affected by the unusual circumstances created by the pandemic.ESPNcricinfo understands, however, that the July payments have gone through, a relief to boards such as CWI, PCB, SLC and BCB, who rely heavily on these distributions. On current projections, each round of payments come to around USD 7-8 million for each of these boards. The BCCI and ECB receive a bigger share.

It's been a long and eventful Premier League season for Crystal Palace fans this year. However, the appointment of Austrian manager Oliver Glasner in February signaled the start of a new era at the club.

The 49-year-old has five points from his first four games in charge and started winter signing Adam Wharton in each one.

The youngster looks like he could have an incredibly bright future at Selhurst Park, although he's still worth significantly less than one of his teammates.

What Crystal Palace paid for Adam Wharton

After a month of back-and-forth negotiations, the Eagles finally completed the £18m signing of Wharton from Blackburn Rovers on February 1st, agreeing to a five-and-a-half-year deal with the highly-rated youngster.

Despite being 19 at the time, the Blackburn-born gem had already made 51 appearances for Rovers' first team and was described as "one of the most exciting English U-19 talents around" and the "The English Cambiasso" by talent scout Jacek Kulig.

The now 20-year-old has already made six appearances for the south Londoners in his short time at the club, five of those starts, and looks relatively comfortable in the Premier League.

His rapid rise from academy gem at Ewood Park to first-team regular at Palace has been mirrored by the rise in his valuation, with Football Transfers' Expected Value model pricing the young Englishman at just around €1m – £860k a year ago. The £18m man still has a way to replicate the rise of homegrown talent, Tyrick Mitchell, however.

Tyrick Mitchell's valuation at Crystal Palace

Mitchell joined Palace as a youngster after Brentford dissolved their youth setup in 2016. After spending a few years working his way up through the various youth sides, he made his full debut for the first team in a 2-0 Premier League defeat away to Wolverhampton Wanderers in July 2020.

In the three and a half years since that game, the Brent-born full-back has made 134 appearances for the south Londoners. In September 2023, he became the youngest player in the club's history to make 100 Premier League appearances.

The 24-year-old's importance to the team has been undeniable in recent seasons, and with new boss Glasner continuing to start him since taking over, it looks as if the "technically super-gifted" left-back, as ex-youth coach Gabriel Flores described him, will keep his place in the team for some time to come.

Appearances

134

Goals

2

Assists

7

Goal Involvements per Match

0.06

His consistent performances in arguably the toughest league in world football have also impacted his valuation. In January 2021, Football Transfers' Expected Value model priced him at just €3 – £2.5m, whereas he's now valued at around €25m, which is about £21m, or more than Wharton's £18m transfer fee.

Crystal Palace were rinsed by £170k-p/w signing who earned more than Eze

The highly-rated star cost the clubs millions and offered nothing in return.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Mar 22, 2024

Ultimately, Palace have a young star on their hands in the former Blackburn gem, but they have arguably done even better in nurturing Mitchell from the academy up to a £21m Premier League-level left-back.