West Ham United’s pre-season schedule is now underway.

On Saturday, in a behind-closed-doors fixture in Zürich, the Hammers beat Grasshoppers 3-1; Andy Irving, Callum Marshall and Lucas Paquetá the scorers.

Next up for Graham Potter’s team, they’ve travelled stateside for the Premier League Summer Series, facing Manchester United in New Jersey this weekend, before games against Everton in Chicago and then Bournemouth in Atlanta.

With the start of the proper season fast approaching, will the Irons get their hands on a new attacking midfielder?

Latest on West Ham's transfer activity

Fair to say, West Ham supporters were not best pleased about the news that star winger Mohammed Kudus had joined fierce rivals Tottenham Hotspur for £55m, the first player to make the controversial move since Scott Parker 14 years ago.

In terms of arrivals, the Hammers have bolstered their full-back options, signing El Hadji Malick Diouf from Slavia Prague for a reported fee of £19m, while Kyle Walker-Peters has joined from Southampton on a free transfer.

Nevertheless, Kudus’ departure means Potter will be demanding new signings in forward areas, hence why Sébastien Vidal of Weekend Sports is reporting that West Ham “have opened initial talks” to sign Georgiy Sudakov from Shakhtar Donetsk.

They add that the “creative midfielder” is valued at around £30m by the 15-time Ukrainian champions, with the Hammers “looking to accelerate the deal” and finalise the move as soon as possible.

Transfer Focus

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

So, could he soon become the third Ukrainian to represent West Ham United, after current national team head coach Serhii Rebrov and the country’s second-highest goalscorer of all time, Andriy Yarmolenko?

How Georgiy Sudakov would improve West Ham

After spending three years in Metalist Kharkiv’s academy, Sudakov joined Shakhtar Donetsk as a 15-year-old, before making his senior debut in 2020, this coming off the bench during a famous Champions League victory over Real Madrid at Estadio Alfredo Di Stéfano no less.

Subsequently, the 22-year-old has accumulated 140 appearances for Shakhtar, scoring 35 goals and registering 24 assists, including netting against Barcelona, Young Boys and Stade Brestois in Champions League ties.

Despite being linked with a move away, Sudakov featured in both legs of his team’s Europa League qualifying victory over Ilves earlier this month, starting the first leg, a 6-0 demolition in Ljubljana; it’ll therefore be interesting to see if he’s involved in Thursday night’s second qualifying round match against Beşiktaş in İstanbul.

Having also already won 29 international caps, starting all three of Ukraine’s fixtures at Euro 2024, Sudakov has earned plenty of high praise.

Andy Jones of the Athletic labels him one of the ‘most exciting prospects’ and ‘brightest young talents’ in Eastern Europe, adding that he is a ‘versatile midfielder’ who operates best as a number ten, given that he is ‘technically gifted’ and poses ‘creative threat’.

Meantime, Shakhtar Donetsk sporting director Serhiy Palkin stated back in April that his star man “will definitely move to a top European club this summer”, with aforementioned national team manager Rebrov asserting that he has “a bright future”.

On top of this, analyst Ben Mattinson describes him as “exciting” and “unpredictable”, tipping him to replace Florian Wirtz at Bayer Leverkusen. The 22-year-old German has just joined Liverpool for £116m, a Premier League record fee, so let’s assess how the duo compare.

Appearances

8

9

Minutes

702

764

Goals

2

6

Assists

1

1

All statistics below are on a per-90 basis:

Shots

1.3

2.6

Shots on target %

40%

63.64%

Chances created

1.5

3.0

Passes

46.3

52.4

Pass completion %

83.1%

88.29%

Forward passes

11.2

9.8

Take-on success %

66.67%

46.15%

Touches

62.2

75

Of course, Wirtz does come out on top for the vast majority of statistics included, but this shouldn’t be too surprising, given that he is the one making a record-breaking move to the Premier League champions.

The caveat for the table above is of course the fact that Sudakov was playing for a Shakhtar Donetsk side who finished 27th in the gigantic Champions League table, winning only two matches, while Bayer Leverkusen ended up sixth with five victories to their name.

Nevertheless, Sudakov does have the edge when it comes to forward passes and take-on success %, and his numbers are pretty comparable to those of Wirtz across the board, especially in terms of chances created.

Thus, it is clear that the Ukrainian international is a player of vast potential and one West Ham should do everything in their power to get their hands on, before an even bigger European juggernaut comes calling.

Bowen 2.0: West Ham plotting offer for £6m star who “has got everything"

West Ham United could be about to land their second coming of Jarrod Bowen by making an offer for this £6m attacker.

ByKelan Sarson Jul 22, 2025

Glasgow Rangers manager Russell Martin knew that he had to make a fast start to the summer transfer window, especially with the Champions League qualifiers zooming into focus.

Indeed, his first competitive match against Panathinaikos is just a few weeks away, leaving no margin for error.

Date

Opposition

Competition

July 22

Panathinaikos

Champions League qualifiers

July 30

Panathinaikos

Champions League qualifiers

August 2

Motherwell

Premiership

August 9

Dundee

Premiership

August 23

St Mirren

Premiership

Lyall Cameron had agreed a pre-contract agreement with the Ibrox side back in January, but Martin has moved to bring in Max Aarons, Joe Rothwell and Emmanuel Fernandez to bolster his squad.

Of course, there will be several outgoings as well. Cyriel Dessers looks like he is set to leave Glasgow this summer. Hamza Igamane is another player who could be departing, with French side Lille reportedly agreeing personal terms with the young striker.

These potential sales will raise funds for the manager to further strengthen his squad as the weeks go on.

Aarons will add plenty of competition for James Tavernier at right-back next season, while Rothwell has played under Martin before, therefore knows his style of play well and won’t take long to get settled in.

Fernandez is a curious signing, however. He played in a Peterborough side that finished 18th in League One last season.

Aged just 23, there is plenty of room for growth, but can the Englishman turn into the next Calvin Bassey at Ibrox?

Why Rangers signed Emmanuel Fernandez

The first port of call for Martin upon his arrival at Rangers was to sort out the defence. Last season, the Gers conceded 71 goals across 58 competitive matches, which works out as 1.2 goals conceded per game.

Transfer Focus

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

This figure has to improve if the Light Blues wish to challenge for domestic supremacy this season, no doubt about that. In comparison, Celtic conceded 59 goals in 57 matches last season.

Leon Balogun has already left, and it looks like Robin Propper could well be off in the coming weeks, leaving Martin with work to do.

With Aarons already signed, the announcement of Fernandez came as no surprise. The Ibrox side reportedly spent £3.5m to sign the centre-back and, at that price, Martin will be hoping he can settle quickly at the club.

The manager will utilise a possession-based style of play, encouraging his defenders to play out from the back, hence the move for Fernandez.

In League One last term, Fernandez succeeded with 67% of his dribbles, while also averaging a pass success rate of 87% for the Posh.

He even ranked in the top 17% when compared to his positional peers for touches in the opposition box (41), proving that he finds himself in dangerous positions on a regular basis.

These statistics certainly fit in with Martin’s style of play, and he could be a decent signing, provided that he contributes from the start.

Rangers haven’t had much success recently with players from the EFL, as they have largely struggled to adapt to Scottish football.

Fernandez will be the first of a few defenders through the door this summer. Recent news indicates that Martin is closing in on another centre-back in the coming days…

Rangers closing in on Premier League defender

The former Posh defender will surely be the first of several centre-backs making the move to Ibrox.

Leicester City defender Conor Coady has been linked with a move to Glasgow, although it remains to be seen whether he swaps the Foxes for Rangers.

Harry Darling was also linked with a reunion with Martin at Ibrox earlier in the transfer window, but he has decided to join Norwich City instead.

Journalist Anthony Joseph has given an update on the club’s chase for new signings, saying that Rangers are “close to agreeing a loan deal” for Wolves centre-back Nasser Djiga.

Joseph went on to add that the move would be a “straight season-long loan”, with the Ibrox side hoping to have the player booked in for a medical “in the coming days”.

An initial temporary deal could work out well for both parties and Djiga could even turn out to be an instant upgrade on Fernandez, that’s for sure.

Why Rangers must sign Nasser Djiga

The African defender only joined Wolverhampton Wanderers during the winter window from Red Star Belgrade, but he found game time hard to come by in the Premier League.

Indeed, the 22-year-old only played five times for the Old Gold in the top flight and experience north of the border will surely bolster his long-term ambitions at Molineux.

His performances at the Serbian outfit were impressive, however, especially during the first half of the season. While Fernandez can play out with the ball, it appears as though the 6 foot 4 Burkina Faso international is even better.

Across 17 Serbian top-flight matches, Djiga not only succeeded with 95% of his passes, but the defender also succeeded with 80% of his dribble attempts, showcasing his desire to burst forward from the heart of the defence.

When compared to his positional peers in the Champions League last term, Djiga ranked in the top 5% for progressive carries (1.63) per 90, while also ranking in the top 23% for touches in the opposition penalty area (1.13) per 90.

Considering these statistics were recorded at the highest level of the game, Djiga should have no problem settling in at Ibrox.

Judging by his performances in Europe’s top club competition, the Wolves centre-back appears to be an instant upgrade on Fernandez and this could see him slot straight into the starting XI once he seals his move to Rangers.

Scottish analyst and content creator Kai Watson profiled the youngster amid his links to Ibrox, saying:

“He hasn’t been given a chance at Wolves but at Red Star he was a strong passer of the ball with a good understanding of the game. He seems like the ideal CB for Russell Martin.”

Martin’s aim is to bring in players who might not be massive names, but who fit his style of play perfectly.

Only then, can Rangers truly begin to challenge for domestic superiority.

The dream squad Rangers can build: £19.5m quartet & "sublime" star all sign

Rangers will be eyeing plenty more signings this summer

4 ByRoss Kilvington Jul 5, 2025

Aston Villa are slowly building towards another successful window and are now closing in on another signing to further strenghten their squad at Villa Park, per a report.

Aston Villa continue to build under Unai Emery

Yasin Ozcan, Marco Bizot and Zepiqueno Redmond have arrived in the West Midlands in low-key deals as Unai Emery gets to work on incomings. However, most supporters are of the impression that the best is yet to come for their side.

Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson has been prominently linked with Aston Villa, given his situation at Chelsea is uncertain, making him a potential marquee arrival if circumstances align.

Adding some context to the situation, Sky Sports journalist Dharmesh Sheth delivered a Jackson update on X, stating: “Number of clubs keeping eye on Nicolas Jackson’s situation at Chelsea. Told Manchester United among them. Focus currently on Bryan Mbeumo & sales. Villa boss Unai Emery long-term admirer. Gave him debut at Villarreal. AC Milan keen but gap in valuation.”

Now, that may depend on whether Ollie Watkins joins Manchester United, a scenario no Villans supporter would be too keen on amid his goalscoring exploits for the club, even if he is in the prime of his sell-on value at 29 years of age.

Jacob Ramsey may be a more realistic candidate to sell as Aston Villa would inherit pure profit due to his homegrown status. However, Unai Emery will be keen to keep the bulk of his side that achieved Europa League qualification together this term.

With plenty of scenarios starting to unfold, the Villans look set to get their hands on a talented youngster who is now on the verge of signing for the club.

Aston Villa close to signing Modou Keba Cisse

Per The Express & Star, Aston Villa are close to signing LASK defender Modou Keba Cisse for a fee in the region of £4 million and he is set to be loaned straight back to his current employers once a transfer is agreed.

The Senegalese youngster made 20 appearances across all competitions last season, scoring a solitary goal as his side secured qualification for the Europa Conference League playoff round.

Talks opened: Aston Villa now strong contenders for "phenomenal" £35m star

The Villans believe they can win the race for an attacking midfielder.

By
Dominic Lund

Jul 16, 2025

Viewed as an exciting talent for the future, the 19-year-old fits Aston Villa’s mould of bringing in stars with potential that can develop at their own pace into valuable squad members.

Showcasing his dominance, Cisse won 71.6% of his duels in the Austrian Bundesliga last term and appears primed to continue his upward trajectory in familiar surroundings.

Aston Villa haven’t been able to spend what they would’ve liked this summer, but the opportunity to land someone with plenty of growth still to go is never to be sniffed at.

يستعد الفريق الأول لكرة اليد بنادي الزمالك، لمواجهة نظيره توباتي، ضمن منافسات بطولة كأس العالم لكرة اليد “سوبر جلوب”.

وتستضيف مصر، بطولة كأس العالم للأندية لكرة اليد خلال الفترة من 26 سبتمبر وحتى 2 أكتوبر 2025، بمشاركة 9 أندية من مختلف القارات، على صالة نادي النادي بالعاصمة الإدارية الجديدة.

ويتواجد فريق كرة اليد بنادي الزمالك في المجموعة الثالثة، رفقة كل من برشلونة الإسباني وتوباتي البرازيلي.

طالع.. تاريخ مشاركات الأهلي في كأس العالم لأندية اليد

يتأهل متصدر كل مجموعة إلى نصف النهائي، برفقة أفضل فريق يحتل المركز الثاني، فيما تتنافس الفرق الأخرى على المراكز الشرفية. موعد مباراة الزمالك وتوباتي في كأس العالم للأندية لليد

تنطلق مباراة الزمالك أمام توباتي لكرة اليد الساعة السادسة إلا ربع مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة والسعودية القناة الناقلة لمباراة الزمالك وتوباتي في كأس العالم للأندية لليد

ومن المقرر أن تنقل قناة أون سبورت 1 المباراة معلق مباراة الزمالك وتوباتي في كأس العالم للأندية لليد

وأسندت القناة الناقلة مهمة التعليق للمباراة لـ محمد عفيفي.

ويمكنكم مطالعة مواعيد ونتائج جميع المباريات لحظة بلحظة عبر مركز المباريات من هنا

Tottenham manager Thomas Frank has just watched Spurs legend Son Heung-min confirm that he will be leaving the club in an emotional press conference, with the north Londoners poised to continue making headlines this transfer window.

Related Tottenham talks "underway" to hijack deal for PSG player alongside Palhinha

Spurs are after another player after sealing the Portugal international.

Posts 1 ByEmilio Galantini Aug 1, 2025

It has been a fairly eventful summer at N17 thus far, having spent over £110 million in total on the signings of Kevin Danso, Mathys Tel, Kota Takai and Mohammed Kudus.

Their recruitment expenditure would’ve been £170 million if Morgan Gibbs-White had sealed his £60 million move to Spurs – as was widely expected around three weeks ago. However, after a very unexpected chain of events, including legal threats from Nottingham Forest, his transfer was blocked, and he’s since signed a new contract at the City Ground.

Tottenham’s best-performing regulars in the Premier League – 2024/2025

Average match rating

Son Heung-min

7.00

James Maddison

6.98

Pedro Porro

6.95

Dominic Solanke

6.84

Dejan Kulusevski

6.83

via WhoScored

Tottenham are still in the market for a new playmaker and alternative to Gibbs-White, with chairman Daniel Levy also reportedly considering an audacious move for Real Madrid forward Rodrygo.

Their need to sign a new left-winger is also emphasised by Son’s now-imminent departure.

The South Korean burst into tears after he announced that this year would be his last in a Tottenham shirt, and the Lilywhites must now begin the search for his potential replacement after Son’s stellar decade in north London.

“Before we start, I just want to share the information that I have decided to leave this club this summer,” said Son.

“Respectfully, this club is helping me to make my decision. It was the most difficult decision I have made in my career. The main reason is I have achieved everything I can at Tottenham. I need a new environment for a fresh challenge.

“I have been here for 10 years. It’s a beautiful club with beautiful fans. I have such amazing memories. I just felt like I need a new environment to push myself to get more out of me. I think I need a little bit of change. Ten years is a long time.”

As one big name looks set to depart, another comes through the door.

Joao Palhinha completes Tottenham medical with "formal steps" to follow

According to Fabrizio Romano, midfielder Joao Palhinha is on the verge of completing his move to Spurs on loan from Bayern Munich.

The Portugal international agreed a temporary deal with an option to buy for around £26 million next summer, and Romano claims that Palhinha has now completed his Tottenham medical with “formal steps” to follow between the clubs.

Palhinha’s debut campaign at Bayern, after he sealed a long-awaited move there from Fulham last year, wasn’t exactly ideal.

The 30-year-old fell down Vincent Kompany’s pecking order following a season blighted by injury and suspension, with Palhinha now returning to London just 12 months after waving goodbye to Craven Cottage.

Spurs will cover his full £166,000-per-week salary, but Frank is apparently “really excited” about signing Palhinha as he’s exactly the type of player Tottenham’s new head coach has been looking for (Fabrizio Romano).

Former PSV full-back Matteo Dams revealed Al-Ahli’s strong push and financial incentives convinced him to make the move to Saudi Arabia.

• Dams moved to Al-Ahli for €10 million in January
• Al-Ahli coach and exponential salary reasons for his move 
• Won the 2025 AFC Champions League in his debut season

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Dams completed a €10 million (£9m/$11m) move from PSV to Al-Ahli in January, with his salary receiving a massive boost in the process. The full-back was in the final six months of his PSV contract and negotiating an extension when Al-Ahli swooped in to seal the deal.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Dams featured 15 times across all competitions for Al-Ahli last season, registering one assist and contributing to seven clean sheets. His solid displays were key in helping the club lift the prestigious 2024-25 AFC Champions League title. 

  The Belgian admitted that he initially said he would not move to Saudi Arabia if an offer came in, especially at just 20 years old, but the salary on offer was too high for him to turn down, with reports in Netherlands claiming he went from earning €2,500 per month to €250,000.

• WHAT DAMS SAID

  "It was the end of January. I was in full talks with PSV, where the plan was actually to extend my contract. One phone call changed everything," he told

  "I'm not usually much of a caller, but I was in the car and saw a message from Jorik [Benoit], my agent, come in: 'Matteo, I have to call you, this is really important.' On the phone, he told me about Al-Ahli's interest. At first, I thought it was a joke. It turned out to be serious. I initially assumed it was a summer transfer, but they wanted me right away. So I barely had a week and a half to think about it.

  Honestly? I was already convinced after the phone call with Jorik. Obviously, because I knew what I could earn in Saudi Arabia, but also because Al-Ahli really wanted me. I felt that immediately, and I thought that was very important. The coach was completely behind my arrival.
  I was just afraid of what people, especially those around me, would say. You know the prejudices: that I'd choose the money, that I'd throw my career away, that the level here is terrible. But in the end, it was me who had to come here to play football, so I had to be completely committed to my decision. So I said yes."

  Asked for his reaction after seeing the contract, he said: "I just started laughing. Because those were ridiculously high amounts for a 20-year-old. Not just for a 20-year-old. I never discuss amounts. I understand why people ask the question; I would have been curious too if one of my friends went to Saudi Arabia. But actually, the questions about that aren't that bad. It's rarely, if ever, discussed in the locker room.

  Take Riyadh Mahrez, for example. Of course, all his teammates know he earns an incredible amount of money, but it's never discussed."

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• AFP
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR DAMS AND AL-AHLI?

  Dams will be aiming for another successful season with Al-Ahli, chasing more trophies while also hoping his performances secure him a spot in Belgium’s 2026 World Cup squad.

West Indies broke a 13-match losing streak and topped Group B to set up a semi-final against New Zealand

Firdose Moonda15-Oct-2024West Indies pulled off the biggest heist of this T20 World Cup and qualified for the semi-finals, against all expectation, and knocked one of the favourites, England.Having last beaten England in 2018, West Indies broke a 13-match losing streak and topped Group B to set up a semi-final against New Zealand in Sharjah. That year was also the last time West Indies played in a semi-final of the T20 World Cup.This is only the second time England have missed out on the knockouts of a T20 World Cup after being eliminated in the group stage in 2010. After wins in their first three matches, they were confident of making the final four this time. Instead, it is South Africa who join West Indies, with England’s net run-rate leaving them third in the group.West Indies win was made all the more remarkable because they were without former captain and veteran batter Stafanie Taylor, who is struggling with a knee injury. In her absence, Hayley Matthews and Qiana Joseph, found form and wiped away the bulk of the 142-run target. Matthews, playing in her 100th T20I, scored her 14th half-century in the format while Joseph, who had a career-best of 34 before this game, scored a 38-run 52. The pair shared an opening stand of 102 inside 13 overs and West Indies were on their way. This is the sixth time West Indies have successfully chased a total of 140-plus, and the second time since their record chase of 213 against Australia last December.England may have thought they had enough after Nat Sciver-Brunt’s half-century but lacked contributions from the rest of the order. To add to their worries, Heather Knight retired with a calf-injury on 21, with the score on 80 for 3, which halted the momentum England regained after they slipped to 34 for 3 in the seventh over. Afy Fletcher and Deandra Dottin, bowling for the first time in the tournament, took four wickets between them and conceded 37 runs in seven overs, which gave West Indies an advantage they carried through the game.West Indies’ whirlwind start West Indies’ youngsters Zaida James and Ashmini Munisar spoke to ESPNcricinfo a few days ago about their commitment to building a new legacy for West Indies cricket and almost combined to start that today. James, recovered from a blow to the chin, tossed her second ball up to Maia Bouchier, who tossed it up to Munisar at cover point but she shelled a straightforward chance. Bouchier went on to hit the first boundary of the innings and England were up and away until Matthews brought herself on to bowl. Danni Wyatt-Hodge hit her behind point for four but when she tried that a second time, Dottin lunged forward to take a low catch and West Indies had a breakthrough. In the next over, Alice Capsey was run out for one, chancing Dottin’s arm at her peril, and immediately after the powerplay, Bouchier skied Afy Fletcher to Qiana Joseph at extra cover. England were 34 for 3 in the seventh over and stunned.Nat Sciver-Brunt’s fifty was in vain for England•ICC/Getty ImagesKnight and Nat: steady then surge Sciver-Brunt survived an lbw review when she was on 2 when Fletcher pitched it outside leg, and went on to open her boundary count with lap over Shemaime Campbelle and that got England going. Knight bisected the extra cover and mid-off fielder for two overs in succession to take England to fifty and beyond. The pair then brought out the sweeps and England were running away with it at 79 for 3 after 12 overs when injury struck. Knight had treatment during that over but then left the field with a calf concern. At the time, the partnership was worth 46 off 36 balls, which was the only stand of more than 30 in the innings. Sciver-Brunt watched Amy Jones hand Dotting a catch at backward point and Charlie Dean pick out Matthews at mid-off as the 17th over started. She played an almost lone hand in scoring 14 runs off the 18th over and 13 off the 20th to register her 14th T20I half-century and taking England over 140.Most runs in an over and the highest powerplay score It took until the final group stage match to see some proper aggression upfront and it came from the team with the reputation to hit big, but not always the results. Matthews, who has registered scores of 10, 8 and 34 in the tournament so far and has not been as much of a presence with the bat, hit Lauren Bell over long leg for six off the second ball. She went on to score fours through fine leg and mid-off and the first over cost Bell – the most expensive of the tournament so far. Matthew owned opening over and her and Joseph rode their luck to take charge of the rest of the powerplay but not without some nerves.Joseph got off the mark with a thick outside edge between backward point and short third that went for four, then hit Sciver-Brunt to deep mid-wicket, where the ball went through Sophia Dunkley’s hands for four more. She settled in the next over and hit Charlie Dean for six before taking on England’s trump card Sophie Ecclestone for back to back boundaries. West Indies were 67 without loss in the powerplay, the highest of the tournament so far.England’s drops add up Dunkley’s drop was the start of one of England’s worst fielding performances recently as they put down five catches. In the fifth over, Joseph was on 31 when she skied Sciver-Brunt into the night sky and though Alice Capsey settled herself underneath it at point, she tried to catch it reverse-cup and dropped it. Then, on 35 in the eighth over, Joseph hit Sarah Glenn to mid-wicket, where Bouchier ran to her left but let it slip through her fingers. The ball followed Bouchier for a little while after that, and she did not collect cleanly at mid-wicket when Campbelle called Dottin through for a run. Bouchier berated herself and England were falling apart. According to ESPNcricinfo’s ball-by-ball data, there have been 75 dropped catches in the group stage of the tournament, and England have been responsible for nine, the third most of any side.

With less than two weeks to go until they get their Premier League campaign underway, Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly in pole position to jump ahead of Juventus and sign an attacking star.

Frank pays tribute to "fantastic" Son Heung-min

It’s been a mixed first summer for Thomas Frank in North London. Whilst he hasn’t seen Daniel Levy hand him a major overhaul at Tottenham, he has still welcomed some key reinforcements.

Mohammed Kudus and Joao Palhinha have been the most impressive arrivals on that front, whilst Kevin Danso and Mathys Tel have also turned their loan moves permanent to take Spurs’ list of incomings to four for the summer.

After Heung-min Son announced his decision to depart this summer, though, the Lilywhites must turn back towards the transfer market to replace an irreplaceable Tottenham icon.

The South Korean leaves as one of the greatest Premier League players to ever play for Spurs and an undeniable club legend.

Whilst he didn’t get the chance to enjoy Son’s magic beyond this summer in the early days of his tenure, Frank had nothing but praise for his departing captain – telling reporters: “For me, personally, I would have loved to have worked with this fantastic person and player.

“He is a true Spurs legend in every aspect, one of the greatest players to play in the Premier League. It is never easy to find the perfect timing and me coming in from the side, it makes it a bit easier to end on a high.”

As irreplaceable as his moments to remember are, Spurs must attempt to find the heir to Son’s throne this summer and that has reportedly seen them turn towards a Ligue 1 star.

Tottenham in pole position to sign Kolo Muani over Juventus

According to The Boot Room’s Graeme Bailey, Tottenham are now in pole position to sign Randal Kolo Muani ahead of Juventus, who have so far failed to get their deal over the line for the Paris Saint-Germain forward.

The Frenchman spent the second half of last season on loan at the Serie A club and enjoyed a rejuvenated spell. So far, however, talks between those in Turin and PSG have not gone well and are not advancing – leaving the door ajar for Spurs to enter.

After scoring 10 goals in 22 appearances for Juventus, Kolo Muani sent a timely reminder of his quality last season and finally backed up the previous praise of fellow Frenchman Kylian Mbappe.

Once sold to PSG for £77m by Eintracht Frankfurt, Kolo Muani is still capable of reaching those levels if Spurs take a gamble this summer.

Manchester United are in desperate need of investment during this summer transfer window if they are to avoid a repeat of the 2024/25 campaign in the Premier League.

The Red Devils ended the year in a measly 15th place last time around, only picking up 42 points in their 38 league outings, highlighting the terrible season they endured.

Ruben Amorim was unable to transform the club’s fortunes during the second half of the campaign, evidently needing added investment from the hierarchy if he is to be successful at Old Trafford.

£62.5m has already been spent on Matheus Cunha, potentially being joined at the club by Bryan Mbeumo after a £70m deal was agreed for his services in recent days.

Such deals would see them spend over £120m in the early months of the window, but more signings are to be expected to help add further strength to the forward line.

The latest on United’s hunt for new attackers this summer

Juventus striker Dušan Vlahović continues to be linked with a move to United this summer, potentially being available for a bargain fee given his desire to leave the Serie A outfit.

The Serbian could be put on the market for just £15m, a deal that could be a bargain given his tally of 17 goals in 44 appearances across all competitions last campaign.

However, he’s not the only forward currently on Amorim’s radar this summer, with RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko once again linked with a move, according to GIVEMESPORT.

Their latest report claims that the Slovenian international would be keen on a move to Old Trafford this summer, after Arsenal decided to pursue a move for other targets.

It also states that the 21-year-old has been closely monitored by the club’s hierarchy over the last couple of seasons, potentially costing a staggering £78m during the current window.

Why United’s £78m target would be a better signing than Watkins

Alongside the names previously mentioned, Aston Villa star Ollie Watkins has also been thrown into the mix as a potential addition for United this summer.

The England international has become a viable option after it was confirmed that Unai Emery’s side may want to part ways with the 29-year-old if his £60m asking price is met.

He could provide an experienced Premier League-proven option for Amorim this side, with the forward netting 16 league goals in England’s top-flight last season.

However, the major downside of a deal for Watkins would be his age, with the forward entering the back end of his professional career, potentially being unable to receive any sell-on value after securing a move for his signature.

Such reasons could see them make a move for Sesko as a result, handing the Red Devils a much younger option within the final third, with the Leipzig star eight years younger than his fellow target.

Age is one thing, but when comparing their respective figures from the 2024/25 campaign, the Slovenian has managed to better him in numerous key areas, further showcasing why the hierarchy should make the move for him this summer.

Sesko, who’s been labelled “phenomenal” by talent scout Antonio Mango, posted a higher goal per shot on target rate last year, making the most of more chances that fell his way in front of goal, handing Amorim that clinical edge he’s greatly lacked.

Games played

33

38

Goals & assists

18

24

Shot on target accuracy

44%

43%

Goal per shot on target rate

0.4

0.3

Take-on success

52%

24%

Carries into final third

1.1

0.7

Shot-creating actions

1.9

1.8

Aerials won

59%

42%

The youngster also completed more of the take-ons he attempted throughout the recent season, having the all-round ability to create chances for himself rather than relying on teammates around him.

His dominance over the Villa star doesn’t end there, coming out on top in more aerial duels, subsequently offering the side the focal point needed to play off and improve their link-up play next campaign.

Whilst Sesko would cost £18m more than Watkins this summer, it’s evident that he has the tools to make an immediate impact whilst also having the chance to improve in the years ahead.

If he can continue to build on the excellent progress he’s made in the game, he would be a sensational signing, potentially playing a pivotal role in any future success achieved at Old Trafford during the Amorim era.

He's perfect for Mbeumo: Man Utd discussing move to sign £100m-rated CF

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World Cup winner backs ex-teammates to rise to occasion if paths cross with tournament favourites

Andrew Miller14-Oct-2024

Anya Shrubsole says that England’s victories in the white-ball leg of last year’s Ashes will have proved to the players that they are capable of ending Australia’s stranglehold on the Women’s T20 World Cup.Shrubsole, 32, was England’s matchwinner at Lord’s in 2017, famously claiming figures of 6 for 46 to defeat India by nine runs in a thrilling final and claim the 50-over World Cup as their most recent global title.Since then, Heather Knight’s team has reached the last four on four separate occasions across the 20- and 50-over World Cups, including two finals in 2018 and 2022. However, Australia have lifted the trophy on each occasion, most recently in South Africa in February 2023, where they claimed their sixth T20 title in seven stagings since 2010.The Aussies remain the strong favourites for this year’s event in the UAE, having marched through to the semi-finals in an unbeaten start to their campaign. However, England are also flying high on the other side of the draw, and will remain on course to meet Australia in the final if they can avoid defeat to West Indies in their final group match on Tuesday.”England are pretty well placed,” Shrubsole told ESPNcricinfo. “Australia just have that belief that they’re going to win, and more often than not, they do. But I sense from this group, they really do believe that they can beat Australia. And I would argue, at times previously, that out-and-out belief maybe wasn’t there. I think that Ashes [last summer] gives them a huge amount of confidence.”That remarkable series in June and July 2023 ended as an 8-8 draw, with Australia’s victory in the one-off Test at Trent Bridge meaning that England went into the white-ball leg of the series realistically needing at least five victories in the six matches to reclaim the Ashes. In the end, they came agonisingly close, landing 2-1 wins in both the T20I and ODI series, which still amounted to Australia’s first losses in a white-ball bilateral series since 2017-18.Related

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“It’s one thing doing it in a bilateral series, compared to doing it in a World Cup final, and that’s one of the things that Australia have in their favour,” Shrubsole said. “But that Ashes performance showed that, if England put them under pressure and play really good cricket, they can go toe-to-toe with them.”England’s first three matches of the ongoing T20 World Cup were in Sharjah, where the slow, low surfaces played very much into the squad’s strengths, with no fewer than four frontline spinners featuring in their opening wins over Bangladesh and South Africa. They tweaked that formula a touch in their most recent match against Scotland, with Lauren Bell slotting in as an out-and-out seam option, but Shrubsole is impressed with England’s willingness to dispense with convention and back the options that suited their requirements.”England have got to be agile, but that quartet of spinners has been working really well,” she said. “Linsey Smith bowls so well in the powerplay, it allows Sophie Ecclestone to bowl more through the middle and at the death. But those four spinners are outstanding, and a real asset to England.”England’s captain, Knight, is now approaching her ninth year in the role, having taken over from Charlotte Edwards in June 2016. It’s a tenure that has coincided with the exponential growth of the women’s game, meaning she has needed to be a spokesperson off the pitch as well as a leader on it, and for the most part Shrubsole believes she has balanced those requirements with impressive agility.Nat Sciver-Brunt and Heather Knight are key to England’s hopes at the T20 World Cup•Getty Images

“She’s had to grow as women’s cricket has grown, and she’s been a real figurehead for that,” Shrubsole said. “She speaks about the game really well, and tries to push the agenda, which can be pretty time-consuming and draining at times, and she’s had to work through a couple of coaches as well in that time. She seems to have really embraced the change that Jon Lewis has brought in. And she’s someone who keeps evolving her game as well, and leading from the front in that perspective.”Knight is one of two survivors from the 2017 final: the other being Nat Sciver-Brunt, who has developed in recent seasons into arguably the most complete batter in the women’s game, and one of the foremost allrounders. She was instrumental in England’s Ashes fightback with back-to-back centuries in the ODIs, while her personal ability to carry the fight on the biggest stage was shown by her heroic 148 not out in the 2023 World Cup final in Christchurch.”One of her biggest strengths is her calmness,” Shrubsole said. “She’s pretty unflappable. She’s the sort of person you’d want in a sticky situation, especially a run-chase. She thinks really clearly about what she’s doing in the game, and when she’s at full flow, she’s pretty hard to bowl at.”She hits the ball harder than probably than any cricketer in the women’s game, especially off the back foot. But she’s just a really calming presence. She’s the sort of person that, when she’s batting, you think everything’s going to be okay.”Shrubsole herself retired from professional cricket at the end of last summer, bowing out in glory at Lord’s once more with victory in the Women’s Hundred final. This month, however, she renewed her association with the ground as she took up a new role as chair of MCC’s Women’s Players and Fixtures sub-committee, with a remit to drive female playing membership at the club.”I’m honoured to be able to give back to cricket a little bit, and hopefully do something that has a meaningful impact,” Shrubsole said, with Lord’s set to host its first women’s Test, against India, in 2025.Lord’s did not admit its first female members until 1999, and last year the club was criticised by the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket (ICEC) review for its failure to do more for the women’s game, with the report finding that “the home of cricket was principally a home for men”. However the club’s female playing base has been growing year on year, and Shrubsole hopes that her involvement can help to accelerate that change.”Everyone is aware of the need for MCC to change things a bit with regards to gender equality, but some huge strides have been made in that space, which is really exciting, and hopefully I can help push things on,” Shrubsole said.”In the 14-15 years I was playing for England, if we don’t count the World Cup, we had maybe two or three games at Lord’s, which doesn’t feel like enough. It feels like there should be a Women’s International at Lord’s every summer, but with the Test next year, that seems like it’s moving in the right direction.”Anya Shrubsole is the new chair of MCC’s Women’s Players and Fixtures sub-committee. Anyone interested in joining MCC should contact the Club by emailing [email protected]