Seven no-balls from Southern Punjab highlighted the ill-discipline in a bowling attack that never seriously threatened to defend 174
ESPNcricinfo staff01-Oct-2021
File photo – Abdullah Shafique plays a sweep•AFP via Getty Images
An ill-disciplined bowling performance from Southern Punjab saw Balochistan take full advantage, romping home by eight wickets to condemn Sohaib Maqsood’s side to their fifth straight defeat.Southern Punjab got off to the worst possible start, losing three wickets in the first four overs while managing little over a run a ball in that period. A quickfire half-century from Maqsood steadied the innings somewhat, but Umaid Asif and Junaid Khan continued to plug away, removing Hassan Khan and Khushdil Shah, among others, just when they began to look dangerous. Cameos from those two, however, and 25 off 12 from Aamer Yamin at the death helped take Southern Punjab to 174, something that appeared unlikely after the start SP had endured.However, it needed a bowling performance to match if SP were to hold Balochistan off for their first win, and they expressly didn’t get that. Among general sloppiness, there were seven no-balls – five from Dilbar Hussain in two overs that went for 35, and unlike SP’s struggles, Balochistan flew to 57 inside four overs. Abdul Bangalzai and Abdullah Shafique put on 84 for the first wicket, and, in effect, broke the back of the chase there and then. Bangalzai went on to score a half-century, while an unbeaten 35-ball 47 from Haris Sohail ensured SP were frozen out altogether. In the end, Balochistan’s ruthless batting display got them home with eight balls and eight wickets to spare, leaving SP staring elimination in the face.
Negotiations continue over the quarantine conditions the England players and their families will face in Australia
Andrew Miller23-Sep-2021Boris Johnson, the UK prime minister, has made a personal intervention in a bid to ensure this winter’s Ashes tour is able to take place, after raising the issue of a travel ban on the families of England’s cricketers with his Australian counterpart, Scott Morrison, although any special dispensation seems unlikely.Johnson, who is currently on a diplomatic visit to Washington DC, met with Morrison over dinner on Tuesday where he sought assurances about this winter’s series. The first Test is due to get underway at Brisbane on December 8, but the trip remains in doubt after a number of England players expressed reservations about the strict quarantine measures that are likely to be in place for the duration of the tour.”I raised it [with Mr Morrison] and he said he was going to do his best for the families,” Mr Johnson told reporters in Washington. “He totally got the point that for cricketers it is very tough to ask people to be away from their families over Christmas. He merely undertook to come back and see if he could find a solution.”In response, Morrison said: “I would love to see the Ashes go ahead, as I shared with Boris last night. But there’s no special deals there. I don’t see a great deal of difference in skilled workers or students, who will be able to come to Australia when you reach the vaccination rates.”International travel is set to resume when Australia reaches 80% double vaccination for over 16s but, nationally, that figure is unlikely to be reached before the Ashes squad is due to arrive.The ECB has been in extensive negotiations with their counterparts at Cricket Australia in recent weeks, in a bid to find a workable solution to an impasse that could yet derail the tour. At this stage, the prospect remains that England will, at best, send an under-strength squad and, at worst, boycott the series entirely, due to the complex relationship between Australia’s state and federal governments, and the challenge of moving freely around the country through the differing quarantine measures that are currently in place at different venues.Related
Marnus Labuschagne: Important family can travel for the Ashes
Cricket Australia hopeful for fully vaccinated crowds at the Ashes
England could field under-strength Ashes squad as ECB resist postponement
Broad on Ashes tour – 'I would be happy to get on a plane to Australia'
It is understood that the prospect of families not being allowed to join has receded but the 14-day quarantine period could still make it unworkable for many to fly into the tour. One development on the horizon that could yet assist is the New South Wales government announcing they will trial a seven-day home quarantine system from the end of September for those who fit certain criteria although it remains a long way from being an option for the Ashes.With a number of England’s players set to travel direct to Australia from the T20 World Cup, which begins in the UAE next month, CA has promised to give a final update on the Ashes quarantine arrangements by Monday. Despite the threat of withdrawals, Stuart Broad is one player who has committed to travel – potentially even as captain – telling The Mail on Sunday that he “would be happy to get on a plane to Australia in November”.Jos Buttler is one England player who has indicated he may not make the Ashes tour•AFP/Getty Images
That sentiment was shared on Wednesday by Dan Lawrence, the Essex batter who featured in three Tests this summer, and who captained his side to a two-day victory over Northamptonshire in their final fixture of the county season. Afterwards told ESPNcricinfo that he would “go in a heartbeat” if selected for this winter’s tour.”It’s such an individual, case-by-case basis,” Lawrence said. “For me personally, I’ve got no reason not to go to Australia, and if I was selected, I’d go in a heartbeat. It’s above my pay grade to find out what’s going on – we haven’t had any information yet, there are still negotiations going on. But just to get on the trip will be my first goal and I’ll be doing everything I can in the next six-eight weeks, because it’s a massive tick in a player’s career to play in an Ashes in Australia.”According to The Times, government support for the Ashes tour has been tempered by frustration at the ECB’s withdrawal from their two-match tour of Pakistan, which was due to take place in Rawalpindi on October 13 and 14. The paper reports that the Prime Minister and senior officials within the Foreign and Commonwealth Office believe that the decision, which was made on player welfare grounds rather than issues of security, has damaged relations between the UK and the Pakistan government.On Tuesday, the British High Commissioner to Pakistan, Christian Turner, issued a statement via Twitter, distancing himself from the ECB’s decision not to tour, which he said had been made independently of the country’s government.”The British High Commission supported the tour, did not advise against in on security grounds, and our travel advice for Pakistan has not changed,” Turner said. “I have been a champion of international cricket’s return to Pakistan and will redouble my efforts in advance of England’s autumn 2022 tour. My thanks to all at the PCB who have worked so hard in support of that.”
da pinup bet： Chelsea should be eyeing an improvement on last season as they aim to return to the Champions League whilst also competing for major trophies.
da luck： Mauricio Pochettino was relieved of his duties at the end of the 2023/24 campaign after the Argentine boss failed to lead the team to a top four finish and did not lift a single piece of silverware.
Todd Boehly has brought in Italian boss Enzo Maresca, who won the Championship with Leicester City last term, to replace the former Tottenham Hotspur coach.
He is now tasked with getting the most out of the talented squad at his disposal, whilst there is also over a month left of the transfer window to make further additions to the group.
A new attacker is on the agenda for the London giants after they struggled with their finishing as a collective in the Premier League last season.
The Blues only scored 76 goals from their xG tally of 80.18 in the top-flight and 11 goals from their xG tally of 14.07 in the League Cup, which illustrates how wasteful they were in front of goal.
Chelsea's interest in Premier League marksman
According to Football Insider, Chelsea are preparing a bid to sign England international Ollie Watkins from Premier League rivals Aston Villa this summer.
The report claims that the club want to add a 'marquee' number nine to bolster their options at the top end of the pitch before the end of the transfer window.
It states that, as a result of that desire, they are now willing to push the boat out to secure a deal to sign the English star ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.
Ollie Watkins celebrates for England
Football Insider adds that Villa and Chelsea have already held extensive talks throughout the summer over different deals, as the Blues had previously been keen on Jhon Duran whilst the Villans tried to sign Connor Gallagher.
The outlet now reveals that the London giants are prepared to offer Gallagher to Unai Emery's side as part of a deal for Watkins, who was at the European Championship with the midfielder for England this summer.
However, it does not state how much Chelsea would be willing to offer in cash alongside the former Crystal Palace loanee, or if Villa are even open to entertaining the idea of such a transfer.
If Boehly and his recruitment team can get a move for Watkins over the line before the end of the window then he would come in as a big upgrade on Nicolas Jackson.
Nicolas Jackson's debut season with Chelsea
The Blues swooped to sign the Senegal international from Villarreal on a permanent deal last summer to lead the line for Pochettino last season.
He ended up enduring a mixed campaign in front of goal for the Premier League giants as he showed plenty of signs of promise whilst also leaving a lot to be desired from his performances overall.
A mixture of his electric movement in the final third and Chelsea's creativity, namely from Cole Palmer, meant that Jackson ended the season with the fifth-highest xG tally in the top-flight at 18.64.
Nicolas Jackson
However, the 23-year-old's finishing let him down too often as he was only able to find the back of the net 14 times and missed a staggering 24 'big chances'.
Jackson scored 17 goals and provided six assists in 44 appearances for the Blues in all competitions last term, which shows that he was not a complete flop as the 23-year-old forward still provided a decent goal threat.
23/24 Premier League
Nicolas Jackson
Appearances
35
xG
18.64
Big chances missed
24
Goals
14
Assists
5
Big chances created
8
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, the Senegalese forward was incredibly wasteful with the opportunities that did come his way in the top-flight.
19 goals and assists in a debut season in England for a 23-year-old striker is a fine debut campaign on paper but the underlying numbers suggest that it could, and perhaps should, have been so much better.
His inconsistency in front of goal could be why Chelsea are now looking for a 'marquee' centre-forward signing to lead the line under Maresca next season, and Watkins could be the dream signing to arrive as an upgrade on the ex-LaLiga attacker.
Why Chelsea should sign Ollie Watkins
Firstly, he is a homegrown and proven player who would have a good chance of hitting the ground running due to his experience in the league.
The 28-year-old star has scored 59 goals and provided 26 assists in 146 Premier League appearances for Villa throughout his career, after a return of 45 goals in 132 outings in the Championship.
19 of his top-flight goals came in the 2023/24 campaign under Emery at Villa Park, as the England international enjoyed a terrific year to help his team qualify for the Champions League – finishing above Chelsea in the process.
He ranked within the top 19% of forwards in the division for non-penalty goals per 90 (0.53) and the top 1% for assists per 90 (0.36), which illustrates how impressive his performances were in the league.
Watkins, who scored 27 goals in 53 games in all competitions for his club last term, would come in as a big upgrade on Jackson immediately for Maresca.
23/24 Premier League
Ollie Watkins
Nicolas Jackson
Appearances
37
35
xG
16.93
18.64
Goals
19
14
Big chances missed
22
24
Big chances created
11
8
Assists
13
5
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, the English attacker produced significantly more quality in the final third in comparison to the Chelsea striker.
The former Brentford star, who was hailed as "spectacular" by journalist Ryan Adsett, fired in five more goals despite having less xG created for him by his teammates.
This suggests that Watkins is a far better finisher than Jackson and would, therefore, turn Chelsea's fortunes around in that respect, as they could go from underperforming their xG to overperforming – making the most of Palmer's creativity.
The Villa sensation also created more 'big chances' and assisted more goals than the Senegal international, which means that he could provide more quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals.
This is why Chelsea must now press ahead and convince the Villans to part ways with the forward as he would be a huge upgrade on Jackson next season.
Perfect for Palmer: Chelsea could land "proflic" £100m David alternative
The Blues have admired the talent over the last 12 months.
أعرب حسام حسن، المدير الفني للمنتخب المصري، عن دعمه لقرار الوقوف دقيقة حداد مع عزف “سلام الشهيد” قبل انطلاق المباريات، احتفاءً بيوم الشهيد الذي يوافق التاسع من مارس، وتقديرًا لتضحيات أبطال مصر من القوات المسلحة والشرطة.
وأكد حسن أن هذه الخطوة تعكس روح الوطنية وتعزز قيم الوفاء والتقدير لمن ضحوا بأرواحهم دفاعًا عن الوطن، مشددًا على أن تكريم الشهداء واجب وطني ورسالة تضامن مع أسرهم.
طالع.. خاص.. حسام حسن يُبدي غضبه الشديد بسبب حلمي طولان ويشكو لـ اتحاد الكرة
من جانبها، أعلنت رابطة الأندية المصرية المحترفة تعميم القرار على جميع مباريات الدوري الممتاز خلال شهر مارس، حيث سيتم الوقوف دقيقة حداد قبل كل لقاء، تأكيدًا على دور الرياضة في إحياء القيم الوطنية والتذكير بتضحيات الشهداء.
بطولة الدوري المصري الممتاز، تقام بنظام استثنائي، حيث تم لعب مباريات الدور الأول كمرحلة أولى، ثم تم تقسم الأندية على مجموعتين، مجموعة من المركز الأول حتى التاسع للمنافسة على اللقب، وبداية من 10 حتى 18 للمنافسة على البقاء والهبوط، على أن يهبط فريقان فقط إلى دوري القسم الثاني.
da bwin： De maneira surpreendente, o técnico Felipe Conceição trocou a Chapecoense pelo Náutico e deixou o time de Santa Catarina após seis partidas no comando do Verdão.
– VEJA A TABELA DA SÉRIE B
A decisão pegou os dirigentes da Chape desprevenidos e o vice presidente da Chape, Paulo Pagliari revelou o bate-papo com Conceição na hora da sua saída.
‘Ele não abriu os valores para nós, mas disse que para continuar conosco teria que ser por uma proposta acima de R$ 100 mil. E a gente falou que não teria condições nenhuma de fazer um acerto desse valor. Acredito que ele esteja indo para ganhar um salário três vezes maior do que ele ganhava aqui’, revelou ao ge.
Assustados com a saída de Felipe Conceição, a Chapecoense garante que não vai abrir mão da multa contratual do técnico, que iria até dezembro de 2022.
RelacionadasBragantinoHyoran analisa postura do Bragantino em derrota fora de casaBragantino14/02/2022InternacionalMeio-campista Bruno Gomes chega a cidade de Porto AlegreInternacional14/02/2022SportGustavo Florentín projeta duelo contra o Ceará na Copa do NordesteSport14/02/2022
da apostebet： Rápida adaptação, capacidade de retorno técnico e financeiro e postura após o erro que marcará a sua trajetória: esses são alguns dos pontos que foram debatidos internamente e levaram o Flamengo a decidir investir alto para manter Andreas Pereira no elenco profissional. O acordo com o Manchester United (ING), de R$ 63 milhões, coloca o meia entre os mais caros da história rubro-negra, o que será mais um peso a ser lidado pelo atleta a partir de agora.
RelacionadasFlamengoAudax Rio x Flamengo: prováveis times, desfalques e onde assistirFlamengo09/02/2022FlamengoCom duas baixas, Flamengo finaliza preparação para o jogo com o AudaxFlamengo09/02/2022Flamengo‘Não fez mais que a obrigação’, diz VP do Flamengo após Fluminense pedir inquérito sobre caso de racismoFlamengo09/02/2022
da realbet： +Flamengo acerta ao desembolsar 10,5 milhões de euros por Andreas? Vote!
CAPACIDADE DE RETORNO
Ofertas, argumentos, conversas in loco e cessões de cada lado fizeram o Flamengo conseguir chegar aos 10,5 milhões de euros pelo jogador, com os Red Devils mantendo 25% do valor uma futura venda, baixando a opção de compra estipulada no empréstimo, de 20 milhões de euros, quase pela metade.
Além disso, a diretoria entende que Andreas , tendo um bom desempenho no Flamengo, poderá se valorizar e, no futuro, ter um valor de venda ainda maior, garantindo retorno técnico e financeiro ao clube. Nas últimas temporadas, o Rubro-Negro tem se notabilizado por operações como essa. Foram os casos do atacante Michael, do zagueiro Pablo Marí e do meia Gerson – relembre aqui!
Com o fim de ciclo aproximando-se para referências do elenco – como Diego, de 36 anos -, o projeto do Flamengo passa por garantir que nomes como Andreas, Arrascaeta, Gabigol e Pedro tenham contratos longos e formem a base do time. Os três citados também têm, ao menos, contrato até 31 de dezembro de 2025.
PRESSÃO A MAIS PELO INVESTIMENTO
Confirmado o valor da transferência, Andreas Pereira se tornará o quarto atleta que o Flamengo mais investiu: R$ 63,1 milhões, de acordo com a cotação atual. Acima dele, apenas Pedro (R$ 102.641 milhões), Gabriel Barbosa (R$ 90.824 milhões) e Arrascaeta (R$ 76.106 milhões), com os valores referentes à aquisição dos respectivos direitos econômicos, conforme balanços do clube.
Esta será uma pressão a mais a qual Andreas Pereira terá que se acostumar a lidar. Há exemplos no próprio elenco de como isso “pesa” no dia a dia. Em 2018, Vitinho foi contratado por 10 milhões de euros (R$ 53,9 milhões, na época), tornando-se o jogador mais caro da história do Flamengo naquele momento. O investimento só superado um ano depois, com a chegada de Arrascaeta, e o camisa 11 admitiu que havia tirado um “peso” de suas costas.
Os questionamentos a respeito do desempenho de Vitinho, contudo, seguem acompanhados do valor investido nele, e não deve ser diferente com Andreas.
Confirmado o valor da transferência, Andreas Pereira entrará no Top-5 de maiores investimentos do Flamengo:
1º) Pedro – R$ 102.641 milhões 2º) Gabigol – R$ 90.824 milhões 3º) Arrascaeta – R$ 76.106 milhões 4º) Andreas – R$ 63.171 milhões* 5º) Gerson – R$ 58.978 milhões pic.twitter.com/5Hc7RQ5hKY
— Matheus Dantas (@matheusdantasfr) February 9, 2022
EM BUSCA DA REDENÇÃO
O erro na final da Libertadores de 2021, no gol de Deyverson que garantiu o título ao Palmeiras, também sempre acompanhará Andreas Pereira. Entre os torcedores, o debate é grande se o clube deveria investir na permanência do jogador responsável pelo, talvez, maior erro individual da história do Flamengo.
Os relatos são de que Andreas ficou muito abalado com o erro, mas parte do seu desejo de permanecer no Flamengo – o que foi fundamental para o desfecho da negociação – vem daí. O atleta quer se redimir e iniciou esse trabalho imediatamente após o final, quando, liberado pelo clube, fez questão de estar em campo na partida seguinte à final, contra o Ceará, no Maracanã.
أكد أشرف نصار، رئيس نادي البنك الأهلي، أن فريقه تفاجأ بجدول مباريات الدور الثاني للدوري المصري الممتاز، مشيرًا إلى أن ضغط المباريات وتغيير نظام كأس الرابطة يمثلان تحديًا جديدًا، كما شدد على أن النادي نجح في الحفاظ على استقراره الفني، خاصة بعد تجديد الثقة في المدير الفني طارق مصطفى، وتلبية جميع احتياجاته.
قال أشرف نصار، في تصريحات عبر برنامج “الكلام المظبوط” على إذاعة “أون سبورت إف إم”: “فوجئت بأن الدور الثاني سينطلق يوم 11 مارس، متضمنًا مباريات كأس الرابطة وكأس مصر والتوقف الدولي، بالإضافة إلى تغيير نظام كأس الرابطة ليُقام بنظام الذهاب والإياب، لكننا سنتعامل مع الجدول، ولدينا مدير فني مميز هو الكابتن طارق مصطفى، يعاونه جهاز فني على أعلى مستوى”.
وأضاف: “في الموسم الماضي، لم تكن بدايتنا جيدة، وتعرضنا لخمس هزائم متتالية، ما اضطرنا لاتخاذ قرار التغيير، وتولى الكابتن طارق مصطفى المهمة في نوفمبر، لكنه لم يكن قد كوّن رؤية كاملة عن الفريق خلال فترة الانتقالات الشتوية، ورغم ذلك نجحنا في البقاء بالدوري الممتاز”.
وواصل: “بدأنا التخطيط مبكرًا للموسم الحالي، وجددنا عقد طارق مصطفى لضمان الاستقرار الفني، ولبّينا جميع طلباته بنسبة 100%، كما كانت فترة الإعداد جيدة، مما ساعدنا على انطلاقة قوية في الدوري”.
طالع أيضًا | رسميًا.. إيقاف أحمد شوبير ومنع ظهوره على قناة الأهلي
وأردف: “القرعة وضعتنا في مواجهات صعبة منذ البداية أمام الأهلي والزمالك وبيراميدز، لكن ذلك جعل الأمور أسهل لاحقًا، لأننا خضنا التحديات الكبرى مبكرًا”.
وتطرق إلى الحديث عن ياو أنور، قائلًا: “اللاعب معنا منذ يناير قبل الماضي، وتعاقدنا معه بالجنيه المصري وليس بالدولار”.
وعن الانتقادات الموجهة لإدارة الإسماعيلي بسبب التفريط في اللاعب، أوضح: “لا أتدخل في قرارات أي نادٍ آخر، لكن الأمر كان عرضًا وطلبًا، ولو لم نضمّه لكان قد انتقل إلى نادٍ آخر، مثلما حدث مع أسامة فيصل ونجحنا في التعاقد معه أيضًا.. في النهاية، التوفيق يكون لمن يجتهد”.
واستكمل: “ياو أنور لعب دورًا كبيرًا في بقاء الفريق بالدوري الممتاز الموسم الماضي، وخلال يناير الماضي تلقى عروضًا من أندية ليبية، لكننا رأينا أن الاستغناء عنه في هذه المرحلة سيكون قرارًا صعبًا، لأن لدينا طموحات وأهدافًا نعمل عليها”.
واختتم: “أعتقد أن العرض جاء من الاتحاد الليبي، الذي يضم محمود كهربا لاعب الأهلي السابق، حيث استفسروا عن موقف اللاعب، لكننا أكدنا صعوبة التفريط فيه، وبعد التشاور مع الكابتن طارق مصطفى، اتفقنا على الاحتفاظ به”.
Ronnie Irani voices concerns that off-field activity has caused downturn in performance
George Dobell18-Sep-2021
Essex’s celebrations after victory in last season’s Bob Willis Trophy attracted criticism•Getty Images
For most clubs, a season in which they effectively finish seventh in the County Championship might not be considered too bad.But such has been Essex’s success in recent years, their results in 2021 have sparked an internal review which is understood to focus on allegations of a drinking culture at the club.The catalyst for the review was a question asked by Ronnie Irani, who was, until recently, chair of the club’s cricket committee. He is understood to have raised the fear that the club, who won the Championship in 2017 and 2019, the T20 Blast in 2019 and the Bob Willis Trophy in 2020, had become a little complacent and that unhelpful habits – such as a propensity to relax over a few drinks – had crept into the team’s culture.Irani is understood to have suggested such behaviour was not conducive to an elite sporting environment and may be deemed exclusive to those who do not drink.The inquest may be related to Essex’s celebrations at the end of last season’s Bob Willis Trophy final at Lord’s, when photographs of beer being poured on the head of the young batter Feroze Khushi – a non-drinker for religious reasons – were circulated to widespread condemnation.Essex issued a statement shortly after the incident, acknowledging that it “did not meet the inclusive values” of the club, while Tom Westley, the captain, followed up with an apology on behalf of his team, and a determination to “be more responsible” in future.Related
Alastair Cook commits until 2023 season after Essex contract extension
Ronnie Irani steps down from Essex board
Essex captain Tom Westley issues apology after beer poured on Muslim player
While the suggestion of a drinking culture has infuriated some members of the staff, the executive board has resolved to hold a review into the matter. As a result, they will conduct interviews with players and members of the coaching staff on Monday before coming to a decision.Essex are likely to finish top of Division Two in the Championship this year. While they endured a disappointing T20 Blast campaign (they were seventh in their group), they made it to the semi-final of the Royal London One-day Cup.Although Irani recently stepped down as chair of the cricket committee citing the demands of his career away from the game, it is now understood he is keen to run for the position of chair of the club as a whole in the new year.His return is understood to be resisted by club stalwarts such as Graham Gooch, David Acfield and Keith Fletcher. A report in the Daily Mail also suggested that Sir Alastair Cook, who is out of contract at the club at the end of this season, may be reluctant to sign a new deal if Irani’s influence at the club is increased.
da fezbet： What can we say about Harry Kane that hasn't already been said? The man is simply a marvel, even if some of his Euro 2024 displays left a lot to be desired.
da bet vitoria： Was some of the criticism for the former Spurs man warranted? Yes, yes it was. Was some of it rather harsh? You could argue that point too.
However, there is no doubting what has made him such an elite talent down the years. No player in Tottenham's history has scored more goals for the club than he. No player in England's history – there have been 1282 of them – have scored more than Kane for his country. Yeah, he's a pretty good player.
That said, without him, England and Spurs have managed to get by. It was Ollie Watkins' remarkable last-gasp strike against the Netherlands without Kane on the pitch that sent Gareth Southgate's men to the final of the European Championships.
Ranking the 10 best English football players ever
We have ranked the top 10 football players to play for the Three Lions.
1 ByLuke Randall Jun 16, 2024
Heung-min Son, with his haul of 17 goals in 31 league outings last season proved they didn't miss him too much during Ange Postecoglou's first campaign in charge.
That said, with Kane in tow, perhaps a Champions League berth would have been secured ahead of Aston Villa.
So, a new striker would certainly go down a treat this summer.
Spurs in the race to sign new goal machine
Tottenham have been one of the more active clubs in the Premier League over the last few weeks, notably welcoming Archie Gray to the club from Leeds.
But what is next on the club's agenda? Well, they're allegedly looking at a striker currently plying his trade in Ligue 1.
Indeed, according to Football Insider this weekend, Spurs have joined the race to sign Lille centre forward Jonathan David.
Lille's Jonathan David
It's stated that if they were to bid a bargain £25m in an attempt to secure the Canadian's signature, it would be accepted.
Why is he so cheap? Well, as the report states, David is now entering the final year of his contract in France.
Postecoglou is said to be 'obsessed' with acquiring a new number 9 and the Canada international could well be his man.
Why David would be a good signing for Spurs
Described as "one of the best strikers in the world" by Canadian podcast host Tony Marinaro, that tells you all you need to know. Great, we can wrap this article up now, surely? Well, that would all be a little bit boring. Let's provide you with more insight.
As we said, Spurs didn't exactly struggle per se without Kane, but their options were limited. Son – who was given the captaincy – was often preferred in a central striking berth but that ultimately meant that Postecoglou's options on the flanks were not always too convincing.
Brennan Johnson did end the campaign well, registering three assists in his last four games but with five goals to his name across the entire campaign he wasn't bagging on a regular basis.
The same could be said for Timo Werner who only found the net on two occasions in 14 appearances. As for Dejan Kulusevski, he scored eight times. Decent but certainly not awe-inspiring.
So, by signing David, Ange could move Son into a menacing position out wide and add more goals to the squad.
Canadian striker Jonathan David
Besides Kane, Spurs have struggled to find a striker who can score regularly. That's hardly a surprise considering the lack of game time they have had but it's not as though they've even had a strong rotation option.
Richarlison – who did bag 12 last season – only scored three in his debut term, Carlos Vinicius scored just one league goal in 2020/21 and in 2018/19, Fernando Llorente fired home eight goals.
Now, let's compare that to the tallies of David.
Jonathan David – Season by season
Season
Games
Goals
2023/24
47
26
2022/23
40
26
2021/22
49
19
2020/21
48
13
2019/20
40
23
2018/19
43
14
Stats via Transfermarkt.
So, while the Lille sensation certainly isn't in the same bracket as Kane, who scored a jaw-dropping 44 times for Bayern last term, he is a great deal more prolific than any of the other centre-forwards Spurs have had at their disposal over the last six years or so.
If they could secure a deal for the £25m fee mooted, it would be phenomenal business, potentially handing Postecoglou his best striker yet.
Spurs confident of landing £20k-p/w "monster" who's like Watkins
The impressive striker has made it to the Euros final.
da 888： Manchester United’s summer transfer window of 2020/21 did not go the way they had intended it to at the start of the summer.
da winzada777： The club, then managed by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, were strongly rumoured to want to sign the likes of Jack Grealish and Jude Bellingham, but they ended up signing very different players.
Their marquee signing that summer was legendary striker Edinson Cavani, on a free transfer. The Uruguayan striker had left Paris Saint Germain just months before, with United eventually snapping him up in October, at the end of what was an extended transfer window.
Young wingers Amad and Facundo Pellistri were also signed during the summer window of 2020, from Atalanta and Penarol respectively. Both are slowly beginning to make a name for themselves in the first team and have enjoyed successful loan spells, with Amad scoring an incredible late winner against Liverpool in the FA Cup last April.
Amad Diallo scores for Manchester United
Brazilian left-back Alex Telles, who now plays for Saudi side Al-Nassr, was also brought in by United that summer, from Porto. He struggled to nail down a starting spot during his time at Old Trafford.
However, there was one other signing, who still remains at this club to this day, who has never settled in at Old Trafford and could well depart four years after he made the move to Manchester, to make room for potential incomings such as Manuel Ugarte.
Midfielder to leave Man Utd
The player in question here is Donny van de Beek, who joined United from Ajax in 2020, for an initial £34.6m, which could rise to £39m due to add-ons. However, after a tough time at Old Trafford, he could be in line to leave the club this summer.
At least, that is according to a report from Tyrone Marshall, a journalist for the Manchester Evening News. He reports that United are “working on a permanent exit” for the Dutchman, who himself would like to leave Old Trafford.
Manchester United'sDonnyvandeBeekapplauds fans after the match
A potential destination for the player has not been made clear at this stage, although his loan to Eintracht Frankfurt did not offer any clarity on his future.
The German side declined to turn his loan spell at the club permanent, deciding against activating the £9m buy-clause in his contract. However, United will search for a new club this summer, given Van de Beek’s contract expires in 12 months, with the club not willing to let him leave for free.
Why Man Utd should cut their losses
Van de Beek’s time at United has been very frustrating for all parties, given his lack of game time and injury record. He has played just 62 times for United in all competitions across his four seasons at the club, scoring twice and registering two assists. Not only that, but he has missed 52 games for the Red Devils due to injury.
Incredibly, the Dutchman is one of the top 15 highest earners at United and is currently within the top 10 highest pay brackets at the club. This is certainly a problem for United, given his lack of minutes at Old Trafford, hence why a sale is best for all parties, meaning United can reinvest that money.
Man United top 10 highest pay brackets
Amount per week
Player(s)
£350k
Casemiro
£300k
Marcus Rashford
£250k
Mason Mount
£200k
Antony
£195k
Jadon Sancho
£190k
Harry Maguire
£150k
Luke Shaw, Christian Eriksen
£120k
Victor Lindelof, Andre Onana, Lisandro Martinez
£90k
Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Donny van de Beek
£85k
Rasmus Hojlund, Diogo Dalot
Stats from Capology
The player who they could bring in as an alternative to Van de Beek is Ugarte. The PSG midfielder is thought to be “close” to joining the Red Devils, as reported by Diego Munoz of ESPN Uruguay.
The pair are nothing alike in terms of their midfield profile, with Van de Beek a number 10 who likes to pick the ball up in pockets behind the striker, and PSG’s number four a defensive midfielder who excels as a ball-winner, exactly what United are missing.
As per Fbref, he averages 5.97 tackles and interceptions and 8.14 ball recoveries per 90 minutes, both of which rank him in the top 1% amongst midfielders in Europe.
Incredibly, Van de Beek is worth substantially less than the Uruguay international, according to Football Transfers. The former Ajax man is valued at just £4.3m, compared to Ugarte’s valuation of £35m, a whopping £30.7m less than the PSG midfielder.
It really seems as though selling Van de Beek to make room for the likes of Ugarte might well be the best possible move for United to make this summer. Not only would they be allowing the Dutchman to rebuild his career elsewhere, but they would be saving money on wages and adding a profile to their squad that fits better.
Therefore, ten Hag must brutally ditch him from the squad before the end of the summer transfer window as he continues to reshape his midfield options.