Manchester United have submitted an opening offer for a “spectacular” midfielder, which is now being considered by his current club, according to a report.

Man Utd keen on new midfielder with Baleba the main target

INEOS and Man United are looking to sign a new central midfielder before the transfer deadline, and Carlos Baleba has emerged as one of their main targets, with it recently being revealed they could be set to make a bid for the Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder this week.

However, given that a deal for Baleba could amount to over £100m, the Red Devils may have to make some sales to raise funds, and Fabrizio Romano has now revealed that Alejandro Garnacho is edging closer to a move to Stamford Bridge.

Romano said: “Chelsea and Man Utd are now in active talks to reach an agreement for Alejandro Garnacho. The contract for the player is done 100% already. Chelsea will accelerate now. Garnacho will become a Chelsea player in the summer transfer window. We’re entering the final stages. Garnacho, Chelsea player, very soon.”

While Ruben Amorim’s side are clearly looking to reinvest the potential £50m made from the sale of Garnacho on Baleba, the Brighton star is not the only target, and an offer has been submitted for a different central midfielder…

That is according to a report from Spain, which states Man United have now tabled an offer of close to €80m (£69m) for Barcelona midfielder Fermin Lopez, which the La Liga club are currently considering.

Hansi Flick has been unable to guarantee Lopez a key role in his side, which could open the door for the midfielder to depart, and the Red Devils believe he would be the perfect addition to the squad.

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There is also a feeling the Barcelona ace could be enticed by a move to Old Trafford, given the prospect of playing a leading role, and he is now considering whether to embark on a new challenge in the Premier League.

"Spectacular" Lopez could kick on at Old Trafford

The 22-year-old has predominantly featured in an attacking midfield role over the past year, and he has certainly caught the eye with his performances, performing very well across some key metrics, when compared to his positional peers.

Statistic

Average per 90

Non-penalty goals

0.37 (79th percentile)

Assists

0.42 (95th percentile)

Pass completion %

82.2% (88th percentile)

However, the Spaniard is also a versatile player, as displayed by the fact he has most often played in central midfield throughout his career to date, and Xavi once praised his former midfielder for his attitude, stating he has a “spectacular mentality.”

Lopez is a different type of player to Baleba, given that the 21-year-old is well-known to have more of a defensive mindset, so it would be fantastic if Man United were able to bring in both midfielders, although it is unclear whether their budget would allow that.

That is due to the fact Gianluigi Donarumma has also emerged as a target, with Amorim’s side making an approach for the Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper, who now looks set to leave.

Only 9.2 overs of play was possible after rain had reduced the contest to 28-overs-a-side

Ashish Pant17-Dec-2024

Azmatullah Omarzai rattled Zimbabwe with four wickets before rain stopped play•AFP/Getty Images

Match abandonedRain played spoilsport as the opening ODI between Afghanistan and Zimbabwe was called off after just 9.2 overs of play.Earlier, persistent rain had delayed the start by close to four hours with the game reduced to a 28-overs-a-side affair. When the weather finally cleared, Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi had no hesitation to bowl considering the overhead conditions.For Afghanistan, Rahmanullah Gurbaz was ruled out of the series due to a Grade 2B quadriceps injury along with a bony hip flexor injury, while Mujeeb Ur Rahman was rested from the series. Zimbabwe, meanwhile, handed debuts to left-hand batter Ben Curran and left-arm seamer Newman Nyamhuri.Shahidi’s decision to field was vindicated with both Azmatullah Omarzai and Fazalhaq Farooqi getting oodles of movement both off the pitch and in the air. It was a tough initiation for Curran, who was beaten by Farooqi’s away movement in the opening over. He got off the mark in international cricket with a clip to deep fine leg, but batting was always going to remain a task.Tadiwanashe Marumani got Zimbabwe’s boundary counter running with a neat cover drive off Farooqi but was undone by a peach of an in-dipper from Omarzai that saw his middle pole flattened. Brian Bennett, the highest run-scorer in the preceding T20I series, then fell first ball to Omarzai with Mohammad Nabi holding onto a sharp chance to his right at second slip.Dion Myers got a couple of drives away but was trapped in front of the stumps when he misread a AM Ghazanfar carrom ball and stayed back. Omarzai then removed Curran in the eighth over, who went for a flashing drive, only to get a thick outside edge through to the wicketkeeper. Three balls later, it was Sean Williams’ turn to depart. He hung his bat out to a fuller-length ball from Omarzai only to get a thick edge to Ikram Alikhil.The floodlights were switched on right from the start and once rain arrived two balls into the ninth over, it was curtains for the game. Even in his short burst, Omarzai left a mark picking 4 for 18 off his four overs.The second ODI will be played at the same venue on December 19.

MatériaMais Notícias

Nesta terça-feira (2), o São Paulo encara o Tolima pela terceira rodada válida pela fase de grupos da Copa Sul-Americana. O confronto acontecerá na cidade de Bogotá, na Colômbia. Porém, mesmo jogando fora de casa, o Tricolor pode ter algo a seu favor: a má fase que o adversário enfrenta.

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O Tolima vive tempos complicados. Recentemente, demitiu o treinador Hernán Torres, e às pressas, trouxeJuan Cruz Real para substituir. Mas acontece que a equipe atravessa um jejum complicado sem conseguir vencer.

Saiba os 20 clubes das Américas que receberam mais interações no Twitter em março

Veja tabela da Copa Sul-Americana

Até agora, são seis jogos sem vitória. Destes, um empate e cinco derrotas. Inclusive, a derrota mais recente aconteceu neste sábado (29), contra o Santa Fé, por 2 a 0. No ano todo, disputou 21 jogos. Ao todo, foram seis vitórias, oito empates e sete derrotas.

Na tabela da Copa Sul-Americana, é o penúltimo colocado do grupo D, com três pontos somados – conquistados após vencer o Puerto Cabello, por 2 a 0, no começo do mês. Já no Campeonato Colombiano, o Tolima está na 13ª posição, com 19 pontos somados.

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Este será a primeira vez que o São Paulo e a equipe colombiana se encontram em toda a história, entretanto, o Tolima já encarou alguns times grandes brasileiros nos últimos anos. Inclusive, em 2022 jogou contra o Flamengo na Copa Libertadores e foi eliminado após uma goleada da equipe carioca.

Pelas oitavas de final do continental, perdeu o primeiro jogo por 1 a 0. No duelo de volta, foi derrotado por 7 a 1 e deu adeus para a competição. Vale lembrar que o Rubro-Negro também eliminou o São Paulo no último ano, mas na semifinal da Copa do Brasil.

Embora nunca tenha encarado o Tolima, o São Paulo já jogou contra times colombianos 39 vezes. Foram 16 vitórias, 10 empates e 13 derrotas. Quanto a gols, 74 marcados e 47 sofridos. O Tricolor não viaja até o país há sete anos. A última vez foi em 2016, contra oAtlético Nacional, quando perdeu por 2 a 1 e foi eliminado na semifinal da Copa Libertadores.

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Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique showed off a new shaved look ahead of Les Parisiens' Ligue 1 clash with Lens on Sunday. The Spaniard was seen with his arm in a sling after undergoing surgery for a broken clavicle he sustained in a bike accident during the international break. It had previously been reported the manager could miss the game as he recovers, but he said he is "ready".

Luis Enrique's new look on return from injury

The 55-year-old cut a resilient figure in his pre-game press conference with a shaved head and his arm in a sling. He arrived with PSG's sporting director Luis Campos and president Nasser Al-Khelaifi.

AdvertisementResilient Luis Enrique determined to play part against Lens

Despite fears the serious injury and subsequent surgery could have sidelined Luis Enrique for three games, he will be present for Sunday's fixture. Despite his ongoing rehabilitation, he insisted he is ready to lead his team against Lens and beyond. 

What Luis Enrique said

Luis Enrique said: "I’m doing very well. I’m happy to return home. After an international break, these matches are always tricky. We are ready and focused solely on the game against Lens.

"I trained today, and I’ll be ready for the match tomorrow against Lens. Whenever something negative happens in my life, I try to find the positive side of it." 

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AFPA crucial week in PSG's season

Les Parisiens are of course favourites to win the French title again, but they face pressure from a Lyon side that has yet to concede a goal. A victory over Lens, as well as a strong startin the Champions League against Atalanta, as well as a marquee matchup against Marseille on September 21 represents a tricky period in this young season. Having their treble-winning manager on the sideline will be crucial for the players and fans. 

Leeds United made the perfect start to life back in the Premier League on Monday night with a 1-0 win over Everton under the lights at Elland Road.

Lukas Nmecha, who signed on a free transfer from Wolfsburg this summer, came off the bench to score the winning goal from the penalty spot on his debut for the Whites.

Daniel Farke went with Joel Piroe, who scored 19 goals in the Championship last season, as the main number nine from the start against the Toffees, but the Dutchman did not enjoy much success.

The former Swansea player showed some nice touches at times when he dropped deep to get involved, but his lack of mobility and physicality were issues against James Tarkowski and Michael Keane.

Piroe lost all three of his ground duels and lost four of his five aerial battles in the match, per Sofascore, which speaks to his lack of quality in physical tussles.

It will now be interesting to see what happens with the number nine position in the weeks to come, especially after Nmecha made a fast start to life in West Yorkshire.

What Lukas Nmecha's role could be this season for Leeds

The former Germany international was an interesting signing when he arrived from Wolfsburg earlier this summer, because he has struggled for form and fitness in recent seasons.

Nmecha has not scored more than four goals in a single season since the 2021/22 campaign, per Sofascore, and only managed three goals in 20 appearances last season for Wolfsburg.

Injury issues played a significant role in that, as the 26-year-old striker has missed 64 games due to injury over the last three years, according to Transfermarkt, which impacted his ability to deliver consistently on the pitch.

The former Manchester City academy graduate’s performances in the Bundesliga when he was fit and available in the 2024/25 campaign also left plenty to be desired.

Nmecha struggled in front of goal, as a finisher and a creator, and did not produce performances that made a move to the Premier League seem very likely for this summer.

Appearances

19

Starts

3

xG

4.54

Goals

3

Big chances missed

5

Big chances created

0

Assists

0

As you can see in the table above, the German forward underperformed against his xG, missed five ‘big chances’, and did not create any ‘big chances’ for his teammates in his 19 appearances in the division.

Despite his underwhelming goalscoring form and persistent injury issues, Farke opted to take a gamble on him this summer, and it is one that is already starting to pay off after his debut goal.

However, Nmecha’s time with Wolfsburg in recent seasons suggests that the role he played against Everton is most likely to be his main one at Elland Road – coming off the bench to make an impact when needed.

Leeds in the mix to sign new striker

The Championship champions are reportedly interested in adding another striker to their squad, despite having Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Nmecha, and Piroe.

Transfer Focus

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

According to El Chiringuito TV, Leeds United are one of the sides that are competing to sign Villarreal centre-forward Karl Etta Eyong before the end of the summer transfer window.

Supporters may recognise his name because the 21-year-old marksman scored against the Whites in a 1-1 draw at Elland Road earlier this month, nodding in from a couple of yards out in the 62nd minute.

This latest report claims that Leeds, Rangers, and Levante are all in the race to sign the Cameroonian forward, who currently wants to stay at Villarreal.

It adds that the Spanish side have already rejected a loan offer from Championship outfit Swansea, but it is unclear as to whether Farke’s team are keen on a loan or permanent deal for the striker.

Why Leeds should sign Etta Eyong

Leeds should push to convince Etta Eyong to want to move on from Villarreal this summer because he could arrive at Elland Road as a very interesting addition to the squad.

As aforementioned, Piroe may not have the physicality, as backed up by his performance against Everton, to be very effective in the Premier League, and there are still a lot of question marks over Nmecha.

Etta Eyong could come in as a striker who is an even better option than Nmecha to start games in the top-flight for Leeds, to provide serious competition for Calvert-Lewin as the main number nine for Farke.

The 21-year-old attacker, who was described as a “powerful” star by analyst Kai Watson, does not have heaps of senior experience under his belt, but he has shown plenty of promise in his short career to date.

Etta Eyong earned his place in the first-team at Villarreal towards the end of last season and scored three goals in seven games in pre-season, including goals against Arsenal and Leeds, per Sofascore.

Appearances

5

Starts

1

Minutes

136

xG

0.74

Goals

2

Duels won

5

Pass accuracy

80%

As you can see in the table above, the 21-year-old talent has shown plenty of promise in the very limited minutes he has been given in LaLiga, scoring two goals from 0.74 xG in just 136 minutes of football.

Prior to his emergence in the first-team with Villarreal, Etta Eyong also scored 18 goals in 30 matches for the B team in the third tier of Spanish football, which shows that he can find the back of the net on a regular basis.

Unlike Calvert-Lewin and Nmecha, the promising talent also has a clean injury record, with no notable injuries in his career, per Transfermarkt, which suggests that he is more likely to be available week-in-week-out.

This could make him a more valuable centre-forward option than Nmecha for Farke, purely because of his potential to be available for more matches in the Premier League.

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Putting all of this together, Etta Eyong could be even better than Nmecha for Leeds because of his fitness record and his potential as a goalscorer, having caught the eye in a major European league after delivering prolific performances for Villarreal’s B team.

كشفت صحيفة موندو ديبورتيفو اليوم الأحد، عن موقف ثنائي نادي ريال مدريد، كيليان مبابي وفرانكو ماستانتونو، من اللعب خلال فترة التوقف الدولي المقبل.

مبابي تعرض للإصابة خلال مواجهة ريال مدريد أمام نظيره فياريال يوم أمس السبت، لحساب منافسات الجولة الثامنة من بطولة الدوري الإسباني للدرجة الأولى.

ريال مدريد نجح في استعادة سجل انتصاراته في الدوري الإسباني وتمكن من الفوز على فياريال بثلاثة أهداف مقابل هدف على ملعب “سانتياجو برنابيو”.

وأصيب مبابي على مستوى الكاحل ضد فياريال، حيث خرج وحل محله رودريجو، وسط مخاوف كبيرة من قبل مشجعي ريال مدريد على الدولي الفرنسي.

كما أصيب ماستانتونو في أوتار الركبة، حيث عانى الدولي الأرجنتيني من آلام خفيفة ليخرج ويحل محله إبراهيم دياز.

أقرأ أيضًا .. برشلونة يستهدف تدعيم مركز الجناح من الدوري الألماني

وأكدت الصحيفة، أن إصابة مبابي لن تمنعه من المشاركة مع منتخب فرنسا خلال فترة التوقف الدولي المقبل، حيث يواجه الديوك آيسلندا وأذربيجان خلال تصفيات قارة أوروبا المؤهلة لبطولة كأس العالم العام المقبل في المكسيك وكندا والولايات المتحدة الأمريكية.

وعلى الجانب الآخر أفادت الصحيفة، أن ماستانتونو أيضًا سيشارك بشكل طبيعي مع الأرجنتين خلال فترة التوقف الدولي، حيث لا تبدو أن إصابة الجناح الأيمن خطيرة.

الأرجنتين سوف تواجه فنزويلا وكذلك بورتوريكو، في لقائين وديين استعدادًا للاستحقاقات المقبلة.

There’s a huge buzz of excitement at Manchester United football club at the moment, and understandably so, given the backing shown by the hierarchy this summer.

The board have already completed the big-money additions of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, but the attack looks set to have landed another talent during the recent overhaul.

Striker Benjamin Sesko has flown to Manchester for his medical, after he rejected Newcastle United in favour of a £74m switch to Old Trafford ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

The trio will add 48 combined goals to the side, that’s based on their league figures from last season, a tally that is four more than the rest of the Red Devils squad managed in the Premier League in 2024/25.

However, now attention must turn to other areas of the pitch if Ruben Amorim is to have the best chance of leading the side back up England’s top-flight next season.

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

Carlos Baleba has emerged as a surprise option for United this summer, after the club’s hierarchy made an approach to land the Brighton and Hove Albion star.

Any deal for the Cameroonian international would be yet another huge investment, with Fabian Hurzeler’s side currently demanding a fee in the region of £100m for the 21-year-old.

However, other options are currently being considered by higher-ups at Old Trafford, leading to Javi Guerra being named as a target once again by TBR Football.

Their latest report claims that the Valencia star remains keen on a move to join Amorim’s side this summer, after previously making their interest known during the summer window.

It also states that the 22-year-old could be available for as little as £25m during this window, with Carlos Corberan’s side needing to raise funds due to their current financial situation.

Why United’s £25m target would be a better signing than Baleba

Over the last couple of months, Brighton star Baleba has been one of the standout talents in the Premier League – with his mammoth price tag no surprise given their previous dealings.

He was brought in from Lille back in 2023 as a replacement for Moises Caicedo, after the Ecuadorian star completed his own £115m move to Chelsea.

Such a move to the AMEX has allowed the youngster to take his career to the next level, featuring in 34 league outings last season as the Seagulls finished the season in 8th place.

His two-year experience in England’s top division would be a massive asset to any move to Old Trafford, but there’s no denying that his current price tag has been put in place to fend off interest.

Undoubtedly, there are cheaper and more effective options out there, with Guerra potentially providing just that for United between now and the closure of the window on September 1st.

When comparing his stats to those of Baleba from the most recent campaign, the Spaniard has managed to outperform him in numerous areas, potentially being a just as effective option for the Red Devils.

Guerra, who’s been dubbed “special” by analyst Ben Mattinson, is much more comfortable in possession, completing more progressive passes per 90, with more of which being made into the final third – aiding the new trio with chances to impress at Old Trafford.

How Guerra & Baleba compared throughout 2024/25
Statistics (per 90)	Guerra	Baleba
Games played	36	34
Goals & assists	6	4
Progressive passes	4.8	3.9
Progressive carries	1.8	1.4
Passes into final third	4.2	3.6
Interceptions made	1.7	1.5
Clearances made	1.7	1.4
Recoveries made	6.8	6.6
Stats via FBref

However, he’s also showcased his excellent tallies without the ball, completing more interceptions and making more clearances per 90, able to hand Amorim the deep-lying defensive option he’s hunting for as a result.

The youngster’s dominance over the Cameroonian is further shown in his tally of recoveries made per 90, able to get himself into better defensive positions per 90 – arguably being a more well-rounded option for the Red Devils.

Guerra has constantly shown in LaLiga in recent months that he’s a huge talent with bags of time to improve further on his impressive start to his professional career.

His ability to outperform Baleba further indicates how impressive he’s been, allowing United to land a better talent at a fraction of the price in their hunt for a return to their former glory.

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Manchester United’s senior players were forced to stage an intervention to address Alejandro Garnacho’s attitude before the winger’s exile from the first team and eventual move to Chelsea. Garnacho’s self-centred behaviour, both on and off the pitch, left Ruben Amorim and Red Devils players frustrated, ultimately leading to his Old Trafford exit just months after tensions began brewing.

Man Utd leadershp group confronted Garnacho

The Sun has reported that Bruno Fernandes, Casemiro, and Harry Maguire were among the leaders who confronted Garnacho over his selfish attitude. Despite repeated attempts to get him to focus more on the team, the winger refused to change his ways. His clashes with Amorim, alongside temper tantrums and outspoken behaviour on social media, pushed him closer to the exit door.

AdvertisementAFPAmorim was hoping to make Garnacho central to his plans

Amorim initially hoped Garnacho would be central to his plans after arriving in November, but their relationship soured quickly. A series of flashpoints, including his conduct in Plzen, convinced the manager that the youngster was damaging the squad’s harmony. By January, it was clear that a parting of ways was unavoidable, with Amorim confident in his decision to exile Garnacho from the first-team squad.

Garnacho's negative attitude affected Man Utd dressing room

Garnacho’s mood swings and inability to handle setbacks only deepened the rift between him and the club. Senior players felt his negative energy was beginning to influence the dressing room. His eventual move to Chelsea came as little surprise to those who had witnessed the breakdown firsthand.

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Getty Images SportGarnacho returns to Old Trafford with Chelsea

Garnacho returns to Old Trafford with Chelsea this weekend, just three weeks after leaving Manchester United. The reception he receives is expected to be frosty, given the circumstances of his departure. Amorim, meanwhile, has turned his focus to improving performances with his job now on the line.

Tottenham Hotspur have not had a summer to remember since Ange Postecoglou lifted the Europa League after beating Manchester United at the end of last season.

The Lilywhites have only brought in two new senior players to bolster the squad, on top of Kevin Danso and Mathys Tel signing permanently, as Joao Palhinha and Mohammed Kudus have both been snapped up, from Bayern Munich and West Ham United respectively.

Thomas Frank has, therefore, not had many reinforcements come through the door to bolster a squad that finished one place above the relegation zone in the Premier League in the 2024/25 campaign.

On top of the lack of recruits coming in, the new head coach has also lost James Maddison for the majority of next season after he suffered an ACL injury.

The England international is not the only player who is currently out injured, though, as Dejan Kulusevski is set to miss the first month of the new season after undergoing patella surgery.

Why Kulusevski's injury is a blow for Spurs

Whilst the Sweden international will not be out for anywhere near as long as Maddison will be, the left-footed star’s absence for the next four weeks or so will still be a blow for Frank.

The former Juventus winger is a quality operator on the wing and in the number ten position, which means that Spurs have lost a versatile, as well as a quality, option in the short term.

Kulusevski made 43 appearances in the Premier League and the Europa League combined last season, and showcased his ability on the ball in both competitions.

The 25-year-old magician has the quality to carve open opposition defences to create high-quality opportunities for his teammates on a regular basis, particularly in the Premier League.

Appearances

32

11

xG

4.23

0.87

Goals

7

1

Big chances created

9

2

Key passes per game

2.1

1.1

Assists

4

3

As you can see in the table above, Kulusevski created just over two chances per game on average for the team in the top-flight, but was only rewarded with four assists.

Meanwhile, no other Spurs player created more than 1.7 chances per game on average in the Premier League last season, which speaks to how important the Swedish star was as a creative force at the top end of the pitch.

That is why losing him to an injury is a blow for Frank heading into the opening month of the season, and also why the club need to be in the market for more attacking players.

Spurs place Ligue 1 star on their radar

Tottenham Hotspur fans should be pleased to read that the club are reportedly looking to bring in a player who could be a Kulusevski clone this summer.

Transfer Focus

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

According to journalist Sebastien Vidal, Spurs have placed Monaco winger Maghnes Akliouche on their radar as they look to bolster their squad before the end of the transfer window.

The reporter claims that the Europa League champions want to add more creativity to the group in the coming weeks because of the injury to Maddison, which will see him miss most of next season.

Vidal adds that Akliouche is viewed as a versatile and quality attacking option and that the club are monitoring his situation, but they have not submitted an official offer for his services as of yet.

It has previously been reported that Arsenal are also interested in the 23-year-old talent, who is valued at around £60m by Monaco, which shows that there could be some competition for his services.

Why Spurs should sign Akliouche

The Lilywhites should formalise their interest with an official bid for the French whiz because he could come in as a Kulusevski clone to ease the blow of losing him to injury, and to compete with the former Juventus man when he is fit.

Like the Swedish maestro, Akliouche is a versatile attacking player who can play centrally as a number ten or out wide on the right, drifting infield onto his favoured left foot.

As partially evidenced by his incredible overhead kick in the clip above, the £60m-rated star also brings outstanding technical quality at the top end of the pitch, much like Kulusevski does.

Akliouche, whose technical skills were hailed as “majestic” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, scored five goals and created a whopping 15 ‘big chances’ in 27 starts in Ligue 1 for Monaco last season, which means that he created six more ‘big chances’ than the Spurs man did in the Premier League.

Goals

5

Top 30%

Chances created

49

Top 10%

xA

7.85

Top 5%

Pass accuracy

84.9%

Top 20%

Successful dribbles

50

Top 9%

Assists

10

Top 5%

As you can see in the table above, the Spurs target was one of the most creative players in the French top-flight last season, as he ranked highly among his positional peers in a host of creative metrics.

These statistics suggest that Tottenham would be signing a player who can unlock opposition defences on a regular basis to create high-quality chances for the likes of Dominic Solanke, Kudus, Richarlison, and Tel to stick in the back of the net.

Akliouche appears to have the potential to fill the creative gap left by the injuries to Maddison and Kuluveski, whilst being a clone of the latter for Frank to call upon throughout the season.

When both are fit, Akliouche and Kulusevski could fight for the same position and push each other to improve in training, creating real competitions for places within the squad to ensure that there is no complacency in the XI.

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ByEthan Lamb Aug 9, 2025

It is now down to Spurs to act upon their interest by swooping in with an offer to sign the French talent before the end of the summer transfer window.

Dimuth Karunaratne is set to retire from Test cricket after playing his 100th game this week, against Australia in Galle.Three factors have played into the decision. With Sri Lanka set to play only two further Tests until May 2026, there is barely any cricket for a long-format specialist such as Karunaratne to focus on. Karunaratne, 36, has also struggled for runs over the past 14 months, averaging 27.05 since the start of 2024. This is also Sri Lanka’s final Test of this World Test Championship cycle.”It was the right time to go, considering there are three or four younger players who could come in for the next WTC cycle,” Karunaratne told ESPNcricinfo. “Plus, this match was in Galle, where I made my debut, so it will be nice to finish things there.Related

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“After the first Test against Australia ended, I told SLC that the next Test would be my last.”Karunaratne had made his Test debut in November 2012 against New Zealand, at the same ground where he is now set to retire. He was dropped from the team briefly in 2014, but struck his first Test hundred towards the end of that year. He has hit 15 centuries since, more or less enjoying a consistent place in the Test team, until becoming one of its senior-most players.Through the course of his 12 years in Tests, Karunaratne has scored by far the most Test runs for a Sri Lanka opener, hitting 7079 at an average of 39.99 in that position. He will also become Sri Lanka’s seventh cricketer to 100 Tests, following Sanath Jayasuriya, Muthiah Muralidaran, Chaminda Vaas, Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara and Angelo Mathews.”Playing 100 Tests is a tough thing to accomplish, especially when you’re an opening batter and you’re doing the dirty work for the team,” Karunaratne told ESPNcricinfo. “If I have regrets, one of them would be not being able to get to 10,000 Test runs. I thought the way that I was going in 2017, 2018 and 2019, that I’d have the chance to get there. But then Covid hit, and Sri Lanka don’t play as many Tests anymore.”I’d also have loved to make it to a World Test Championship final and experience that feeling of being in a final. We were close twice, but it never happened.”Karunaratne captained Sri Lanka in 30 Tests. His first brush with the captaincy was his most fruitful. In early 2019, he was elevated unexpectedly to leadership after the previous captain, Dinesh Chandimal, was dropped from the side. Sri Lanka immediately claimed one of their great series victories, under Karunaratne, beating South Africa 2-0 away from home. He also captained Sri Lanka in the ODI World Cup later that same year, and has played 50 ODIs in all, but has never appeared in a T20I.Now based in Melbourne, Karunaratne hopes to pursue coaching after his retirement. “I’ll take a bit of a break for myself after spending so many years playing cricket,” he said. “But eventually, I’d like to get involved again.”The second Test against Australia – now Karunaratne’s last – begins on Thursday.