It was too late for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) but Rishabh Pant was at his destructive best against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the last league game of IPL 2025. Batting at No. 3 on a mixed-soil pitch in Lucknow, Pant smashed 118 not out off 61 balls – a knock studded with 11 fours and eight sixes. RCB need 228 if they are to finish in the top two.After RCB opted to bowl, Nuwan Thushara shattered Matthew Breetzke’s off stump in the third over with the age-old bouncer-yorker trick. But Pant was off to a flying start. In the fourth over, he hit Yash Dayal for a six and two fours to move to 19 off just eight. This was already his third-highest score of the season.RCB’s decision not to bowl Bhuvneshwar Kumar until the fifth over of the chase was also baffling, especially after Thushara had found swing in the opening over. In the seventh over, with no swing on offer, Bhuvneshwar went short. Pant duly pulled him over deep midwicket for a six. On the next delivery, Livingstone failed to flick the ball back at deep square leg and ended up conceding a boundary. Soon, Pant brought up his fifty, off 29 balls.Mitchell Marsh, who was on 33 off 23 after ten overs, also joined in. Off his next eight balls, he smashed 20 to bring up his sixth 50-plus score of the season.Bhuvneshwar eventually broke the 152-run stand off 78 balls by having Marsh caught behind in the 16th over. But given that Marsh had started that over with two consecutive sixes and Pant ended it with a four, 20 came from it.Pant was unstoppable, though. He brought up his hundred with a Pant shot and followed it up with a Pant celebration. It was a full and wide delivery from Bhuvneshwar. Pant reached out to it and scythed it over extra cover for four. By the time he completed the shot, his front leg was in the air, beyond parallel to the ground, the toe pointing towards deep midwicket. He looked up, removed his helmet and gloves and did a frontflip to celebrate the landmark. The LSG dugout stood up to applaud, as did the home crowd.Jitesh Sharma, who once again stood in for Rajat Patidar, erred in the over distribution. Krunal Pandya, who had bowled the second over of the innings, sent down just one more and finished with 2-0-14-0, while Romario Shepherd registered 4-0-51-1.
Leeds United head back into Premier League action after the international break, eager to pick up their first win in the challenging division since the opening weekend.
Since that 1-0 success over Everton at Elland Road, Daniel Farke’s Whites have depressingly lost 5-0 away at Arsenal, drawn 0-0 with Newcastle United back on home turf, and have even been dumped out of the EFL Cup by a youthful Sheffield Wednesday.
Standing in their way of a first away win of the season will likely be Harry Wilson, with the deadline day target for the Whites no doubt ready to inflict more pain on Farke and Co. by terrorising the Leeds defence at Craven Cottage later today.
Why Leeds will need to contain Wilson
Despite having a deal in the works on deadline day, a last-gasp change of heart from Fulham would see a late move for the Welshman to swap London for Yorkshire fall through.
Having started Fulham’s last contest against Brighton and Hove Albion before this messy situation unfolded, Wilson might well get the nod to start against Farke’s men, too, with a desire to show Leeds what they heartbreakingly missed out on.
After all, despite all the talk about his future and Wilson’s inability to pick up a goal or assist so far this season, he does have a moment of magic like this flicked finish against Brentford up his sleeve.
In total, for the Cottagers, the ex-Liverpool man has a hefty tally of 25 goals and 38 assists next to his name, with his own personal record against Leeds also making him a worthy candidate to start later today.
From six career clashes against Farke’s men to date, Wilson has two goals and one assist to shout about, with one of those goals even coming about the last time the two teams tussled with each other in Premier League action.
The German will be hopeful that his own set of attackers can rain on the Craven Cottage parade, however, as faces such as Daniel James try to get one over on their former employers.
Leeds are even brewing their own homegrown version of Wilson in the U21 ranks currently, and while the starlet in question won’t be featuring this weekend, he is certainly one to keep an eye on for the future.
Leeds' "very talented" homegrown Wilson
After all, the Premier League newcomers are well-known for their conveyor belt of standout youngsters initially learning the ropes at Thorp Arch, before then exploding into life on the senior scene.
Harry Gray is definitely one who could make waves in the first team picture soon, having just been nominated for Premier League 2 Player of the Month after bagging a blistering four strikes from just three league encounters this season.
Alongside Gray, his fellow attacking teammate for the U21s, Josh McDonald is another name that could soon break into Farke’s first-team plans, having already been branded as “very talented” by Hamilton Academical academy director George Cairns when the teenager was still on the books of the Scottish side.
He has lived up to that high praise in West Yorkshire already, with a whirlwind return of seven goals and six assists for the U18s during his debut season in the youth ranks, bumping him up to the U21 fold.
LW
19
6 + 3
LM
9
1 + 3
RW
4
0 + 1
RM
2
0 + 1
In time, McDonald might well become Leeds’ very own Wilson to soften the blow of the Welshman staying put at Fulham, with his versatility to play down either wing – as seen in the table above – drawing immediate parallels to the adaptable former Liverpool youth product.
Moreover, with eight goals and eight assists next to his name for Leeds, it’s clear he possesses a similar eye for a goal and an assist to the Cottagers’ number eight, away from being dubbed a “lovely” talent to watch when bursting forward with pace by Whites-based content creator Conor McGilligan.
Leeds will just have to wait and see if their raw Scotsman does go on to have a celebrated career like Wilson, but the early signs are very promising.
Leeds brewing biggest homegrown talent since Gray in "exciting" 18-year-old
Leeds could look to bring their next Archie Gray into the first team this season
Shardul Thakur’s fighting half-century wasn’t enough for another Mumbai rearguard as the defending champions lost the Ranji Trophy semi-final to Vidarbha, last year’s finalists, in an absorbing contest that went into the final session of the final day in Nagpur.Leading Vidarbha’s run to the final – they’ve won two of three Ranji finals previously – against Kerala was left-arm spin-bowling allrounder Harsh Dubey, who picked up his seventh five-wicket haul of the season to take his wickets tally to 66. He’s now just two short of Bihar left-arm spinner Ashutosh Aman’s record for most wickets in a Ranji season.Victory on the final day seemed a mere formality when Mumbai lost Shivam Dube and Suryakumar Yadav early, as they quickly slipped to 124 for 6. Dube played outside the line of a sharp in-ducker and was bowled by Yash Thakur, while Suryakumar saw one from Dubey jump on to him to lob a catch to the slips.But from the depths of a crisis, Shardul rose to the occasion like he has a number of times this season. Typically aggressive, and batting with a sense of freedom and purpose, he quickly whittled down the runs during the course of a century stand with Shams Mulani.At one point, halfway into the second session, Vidarbha’s left-arm spinners even switched to a defensive line by bowling outside leg to Shardul to try and frustrate him into either slogging or stepping out against spread-out fields. Vidarbha missed a run-out opportunity to dismiss Shardul on 48 when Akshay Wadkar, their captain and wicketkeeper, failed to collect a throw cleanly from fine leg.Vidarbha appeared to wobble briefly, but it was at that point that Mumbai gifted them a wicket in the form of the set Mulani when Shardul attempted to steal a single to square leg. Mulani, who hesitated briefly, was well short of the crease despite the dive as Danish Malewar’s one-handed pick-up and throw with one stump to aim at hit the bulls eye to break a 103-run stand.Shardul then began to open up and look at boundary attempts, sensing the possibility of being stranded, but was out to a superb delivery from Yash. He was caught on the hop to a short-of-a-length delivery that cut back in to breach his defence and hit the stumps.Mumbai’s last-wicket pair of Mohit Awasthi and Royston Dias had some fun in putting together a quickfire 52-run stand to bring the requirement down to less than three figures, before an audacious reverse sweep from Awasthi had him lbw as Dubey celebrated his fifth to seal victory.
At Tottenham Hotspur, there’s never a dull moment. The last year has been so chaotic that you could probably divide it up into a trilogy of films.
Spurs crashed and burned in the Premier League but they were red hot in Europe, winning the Europa League.
“Season three is always better than season two”, barked Ange Postecoglou during the trophy celebrations back in London. Sadly for the craggy-faced Aussie, he didn’t last long enough to see season three.
He was killed off, not literally, by the producers, in this case Daniel Levy. The Spurs boss sacked Postecoglou and replaced him with Thomas Frank who has enjoyed and endured a rollercoaster first transfer window at the helm.
Eberechi Eze and Morgan Gibbs-White? No problem, the Lilywhites have landed one of Europe’s most exciting young playmakers in the form of Xavi Simons. Spurs also have six points from nine to start the new campaign too. Not bad indeed.
Yet, drama is never too far away when Tottenham Hotspur are involved; their Champions League squad list showcased that.
Spurs' Champions League squad list for the 2025 league phase
All the usual faces made Tottenham’s squad list for the league phase of their Champions League adventure.
New signings in the form of Simons and Mohammed Kudus made the cut but sadly for James Maddison, the club’s long-term injury absentee, there was no place.
Tottenham Hotspur'sJamesMaddisonreacts
The England international will be out for a long time and won’t be seen again until 2026 after damaging his ACL.
However, there were some notable absentees. Yves Bissouma, who was excluded from the UEFA Super Cup squad for being late by Frank, looks as though he’s set to leave the club in the not-too-distant future and his omission from the squad list only cemented that.
Also missing from the squad were Kota Takai, Radu Dragusin and Dejan Kulusevski, who joins Maddison on the treatment table currently.
The most high-profile exclusion was Mathys Tel. The Frenchman has long been seen as one of the most exciting young players in Europe. He’s only 20 and has the world at his feet, but it doesn’t look as though he’s impressed Frank a great deal.
Tel spent the back end of the 2024/25 campaign on loan in north London but only scored two goals in 13 Premier League outings. Still, that was enough to convince Levy and Co to splash out and sign the former Bayern Munich prodigy on a permanent deal.
Spurs spent £30m on the youngster and to think he won’t see a minute of Champions League football, at least during the league phase, is incredibly damning.
It remains to be seen how much action Tel sees domestically. He has only featured for a total of 19 minutes across the opening three games of the season and is alright fighting a battle to remain in Frank’s plans.
It looks like a big waste of £30m already, particularly when Spurs have a number of exciting starlets on their books.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
The youngsters who could end Tel's Spurs career
The Hotspur Way academy has produced a number of supremely talented players in recent years, not least Mikey Moore.
The England youth international is currently on loan at Rangers, where he started the Old Firm derby last Sunday, and will look to get a season of regular senior football under his belt.
Moore has already played 21 times for the Spurs first team, scoring once, and was notably compared to Neymar by Maddison after a European tie last campaign.
With so much hype surrounding Moore, it’s easy to forget about Will Lankshear, a forward with immense potential, someone who played a hand in 2024/25’s Europa League success.
During that run to the final, Lankshear appeared in three games, even scoring in the 3-2 defeat against Galatasaray in November 2024.
Spurs U21
35
26
West Brom
11
0
Spurs first team
6
1
Oxford Utd
5
2
Spurs U18
5
4
Sheff Utd U18
2
0
While he later endured a pretty awful goalless 11 games on loan at West Brom, he’s in form early on at Oxford United in the Championship.
To date, Lankshear’s loan in the second tier has been a roaring success, scoring twice in his four league outings.
This is set to be a significant campaign for the 20-year-old who has a genuine chance of making it at Spurs if he has a good campaign in 2025/26.
Richarlison’s stay in the capital has been hit and miss, absent for a number of games through injury. £65m man Dominic Solanke hasn’t always enjoyed the best of times either. He’s not played a single minute this term, courtesy of injury.
Thus, an opening could emerge for Lankshear, one that could really hammer the final nail in Tel’s coffin.
A good season, one where he regularly scores goals, will surely earn him game time at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and it could come further at the expense of Tel.
Described by one scout within the game as “a Harry Kane regen”, his playstyle and stature has already garnered similarities to the club’s top scorer.
England'sHarryKanecelebrates
The scorer of 26 goals in 35 games at U21 for Spurs, Lilywhites reporter Alasdair Gold is another to sing his praises, giving the young attacker a glowing endorsement back in February 2024: “He’s a very talented young player, he’s got a long way to go, but he’s got a little bit of the Kane physique about him.”
High praise indeed. Tel better watch out if Lankshear continues to develop at a quick rate.
Spurs signed their original Kolo Muani under Poch, now he's without a club
Tottenham Hotspur have already had their own version of Randal Kolo Muani in years gone by.
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.”
Manchester United's AlejandroGarnachoduring training
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.
Man Utd now make official approach to sign £40m PL star alongside Baleba
The Red Devils have stepped up their interest in an “unbelievable” player.
ByDominic Lund Aug 12, 2025
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.
Manuel Neuer’s agent has reignited the Germany goalkeeper debate, hinting the Bayern Munich star could come out of retirement for the World Cup.
Neuer retired after 124 Germany caps in 2024Agent Kroth hints Bayern star could returnTer Stegen’s injury fuels goalkeeper debateFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
The future of Germany’s No.1 shirt has been thrown into fresh debate after Neuer’s agent, Thomas Kroth, publicly hinted at the Bayern superstar’s potential return to international duty. Neuer, who officially retired from the national team in August 2024 after 124 caps, has found himself back in the spotlight as Germany grapples with an unsettled goalkeeping situation.
With Marc-Andre ter Stegen currently sidelined through injury and Oliver Baumann deputising, Germany’s search for stability between the posts has intensified. Neuer’s retirement appeared definitive just a year ago, but Kroth has left the door wide open, suggesting the 38-year-old World Cup winner could yet make a sensational comeback.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportWHAT NEUER'S AGENT SAID
Speaking to the , Neuer’s advisor was candid about the possibility of a comeback, albeit with caution.
“If I give a clear answer now, I'll be opening a can of worms," he admitted when asked directly whether Neuer was still good enough for the World Cup.
Yet his reluctance to confirm only fuelled speculation, as he continued: “He's in top shape and is absolutely performing. If Julian Nagelsmann sees a problem in that position, Manuel is healthy and is asked, then Manu certainly won't say no.”
THE BIGGER PICTURE
There is a growing debate about whether Neuer, who was expected to step aside for the next generation, could once again be the solution to Germany’s long-standing uncertainty in goal. Nagelsmann’s side has endured a turbulent 2025, losing 2-1 to Portugal and France in the Nations League before a 2-0 upset against Slovakia last week, throwing direct World Cup qualification into doubt. They have managed only two wins this calendar year – against Italy and Northern Ireland – and concerns over leadership have become louder following the retirement of the last remaining figures from the golden 2014 World Cup-winning generation.
Neuer’s possible return is emblematic of a broader problem that the Germany’s lack of identity and direction. While the goalkeeper position is far from the squad’s most glaring weakness, his presence would offer both unrivalled experience and leadership at a time when the team appears rudderless.
ENJOYED THIS STORY?
Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
GettyWHAT NEXT?
With Ter Stegen battling for fitness at Barcelona and Baumann considered a short-term solution, the pressure is mounting on Germany’s selectors to make a bold decision.
For now, Neuer’s priority remains Bayern, but if he maintains his form and Germany continue to struggle, the calls for a U-turn will only grow louder. The “withdrawal from withdrawal” narrative may soon become a reality, forcing Nagelsmann to decide whether to lean on the old guard once again.
Aston Villa are now “ready to make a move” for a “special” £60m star, with Unai Emery believed to be a “big fan”, transfer correspondent Pete O’Rourke has revealed.
Aston Villa eyeing striker amid Watkins uncertainty
Sky Sports reporter Sacha Tavolieri recently revealed that Villa have held talks over selling Ollie Watkins to Manchester United, and with the Englishman keen on a move to Old Trafford, Emery may need to bring in a replacement this summer.
Paris Saint-Germain’s Randal Kolo Muani is on the shortlist as a potential heir to Watkins, while the Villans have also set their sights on Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson, having made initial contact over a deal for the striker earlier this week.
There has now been a new update on Aston Villa’s pursuit of Jackson, with O’Rourke revealing that Emery is a huge admirer of his former player, and the Football Insider report states the ex-Villarreal man could jump at the move.
O’Rourke said: “Unai Emery remains a big fan of Nicolas Jackson, so it’s no surprise that Villa are in the market for him.
“We know Villa need reinforcements in attack – they still haven’t really replaced Jhon Duran – and Jackson’s future’s is up in the air at Chelsea as well.
“If he does become available before the end of the window, there’s no doubt that Aston Villa will be one of those clubs ready to make a move for him, because Unai Emery is a huge fan of his.”
The Chelsea forward is thought to be unsettled by the arrivals of Liam Delap and Joao Pedro, which could open the door for a move to Villa Park.
NSWE now prepared for bidding war to sign "underrated" star for Aston Villa
The Villans could light a fire in the transfer market.
BySean Markus Clifford Jul 18, 2025 Jackson could be "special" signing for Aston Villa
A deal for the Senegalese striker is unlikely to be cheap, with previous reports suggesting the Blues could hold out for £60m, but there are signs he could be an exciting signing for Villa this summer.
While the arrivals of Delap and Pedro suggest Enzo Maresca doesn’t fully trust the 24-year-old, he has maintained a solid goal and assist record since his arrival in the Premier League.
Nicolas Jackson
Journalist Rahman Osman was also left impressed by the improvements the Chelsea ace made to his game last season.
Jackson could be an exciting addition to Emery’s squad, but if possible, the manager should also hold onto Watkins, given that the England international has amassed a very impressive 87 goals and 42 assists in 223 games since arriving at Villa Park.
تحدث لويس كامبوس، المدير الرياضي لنادي باريس سان جيرمان عن ترشح لاعب الفريق الأول لكرة القدم عثمان ديمبلي، للفوز بالكرة الذهبية هذا العام.
وقدم ديمبلي موسمًا مميزًا مع باريس سان جيرمان بعد التتويج بالخماسية الدوري والكأس والسوبر الفرنسي ودوري أبطال أوروبا للمرة الأولى في تاريخ النادي وأخيرًا السوبر الأوروبي على حساب توتنهام هوتسبير.
وكانت تقترب السداسية من الفريق الباريسي إذ كان قاب قوسين أو أدنى من التتويج ببطولة كأس العالم للأندية في نسختها الجديدة 2025، لكنه خسر بثلاثية نظيفة أمام تشيلسي بقيادة إنزو ماريسكا.
وكان ديمبلي قد توج بجائزة الكرة الذهبية المقدمة من مجلة “أونزي مونديال” الفرنسية بتصويت الجمهور بنسبة 32.5% متفوقًا على لامين يامال بفارق صغير 30% ومبابي الذي جاء في المركز الثالث 12.5%.
ويقام حفل الكرة الذهبية لعام 2025 في مدينة باريس يوم الإثنين الموافق 22 سبتمبر الجاري لتحديد من هو الفائز الجديد بجائزة “بالون دي أور”.
اقرأ أيضًا | كامبوس: إنريكي أول من أبلغ نيمار بالرحيل.. وكان مُصممًا على التتويج بدوري الأبطال
وقال كامبوس، عن فوز ديمبلي بالجائزة في تصريحات نقلتها صحيفة “آس” الإسبانية: “لدى باريس سان جيرمان 9 مرشحين لجائزة الكرة الذهبية، نحن سعداء للغاية”.
وأكمل: “لاعبون آخرون يستحقون التكريم أيضًا مثل باركولا وباتشو لكن ديمبلي تم اختياره أفضل لاعب في دوري أبطال أوروبا، الأفضل في دوريه، لقد فاز بكل شيء، لو كان اسمه ميسي أو رونالدو لما كان هناك أي نقاش”.
وأردف: “إذا لم يفُز فذلك لأن المصوتين غير مؤهلين لاختيار الفائز بالكرة الذهبية، أتحدث عن الموسم الماضي وليس عن مستقبل لاعبين مثل لامين يامال”.
وأتم: “بناءً على الإحصائيات والتأثير في جميع المسابقات، كان ديمبلي الأبرز، قدم حكيمي وفيتينيا مواسم رائعة أيضًا لكن أفضل لاعب في دوري أبطال أوروبا والدوري الفرنسي كان ديمبلي”.
Newcastle United’s search for potential signings is underway. Eddie Howe must bolster certain areas of his squad, considering they will take on Europe’s best in the Champions League next season.
There has been reported interest in both Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon in recent weeks, and the thought of losing either of his star players must fill the head coach with dread.
Newcastle United's AlexanderIsakcelebrates scoring their first goal
If he can keep both of them at St James’ Park next season, while adding another couple of high-profile players, the club could make progress in the Champions League.
It appears as though the manager has eyes on someone who shone on Europe’s brightest stage last term…
Newcastle eye move for German star
According to journalist Lee Ryder, writing in the Chronicle, the Magpies have sent scouts to monitor Celtic winger Nicolas Kuhn throughout the winter months and remain keen on signing him during the current summer transfer window.
Brendan Rodgers has set a price tag of £15m on the German star, which is certainly more than affordable for the Toon, who are eyeing up the left-footed attacker.
RB Leipzig are also showing plenty of interest, but with the promised land of the Champions League set to grace St James’ Park once again, Kuhn has a big reason to favour a move to the north-east of England over a return to his former club.
Howe was keen on making a move for Anthony Elanga, but Nottingham Forest have placed a price tag of £60m on the winger.
On the surface, might Kuhn be a better signing than the former Manchester United starlet?
Why Nicolas Kuhn would be a better signing than Elanga
First and foremost, the price difference is staggering. Of course, Elanga has proven experience in the Premier League, scoring six times while grabbing 11 assists.
There is no doubt he could add something different on the right flank for Howe, but the winger has played just three Champions League games throughout his entire career.
Comparing Kuhn and Elanga statistics from 2024/25 (League only)
Metric
Kuhn
Elanga
Goals
13
6
Assists
9
11
Key passes per game
1.6
1.3
Big chances created
11
9
Shots per game
1.9
1.2
Successful dribbles per game
1.8
0.7
This is when a move for Kuhn becomes advantageous. In the competition last season, the German not only scored three goals, including one against Bayern Munich, but he also provided an assist.
Furthermore, he had a goal conversion percentage of 38%, while also creating five big chances, averaging 1.5 key passes and succeeding with 1.7 dribbles against the best Europe can offer.
Overall, Kuhn scored 21 times and recorded 15 assists in all competitions for Celtic last season. It is no wonder he was hailed as “breathtaking” by pundit Marvin Bartley amid his excellent 2024/25 campaign.
Yes, making the step up from the Premiership to the English top flight is difficult, but for just £15m, Howe must be keen on taking the gamble.
His form in the Champions League must make him a slightly more attractive option than Elanga, especially with Newcastle keen to do well next term.
Having scouted him in spells last year, it is clear there is serious interest. Will Howe make his move sooner rather than later?
Only time will tell.
Newcastle readying bid and fighting to land centre-back wanted by Real Madrid
The Magpies are well in the fight to land their man…
In an ideal reality, West Bromwich Albion would find themselves competing in the upcoming Championship playoff final after Tony Mowbray’s return had gone down as a rip-roaring success.
Unfortunately, that script hasn’t come to life, with Mowbray actually finding himself out of a job again after a dismal run of just five wins from 17 games led to the Baggies falling short of those coveted playoff spots.
West Bromwich Albion managerTonyMowbraybefore the match
West Brom do have plenty of time on their hands to assess who they would like to bring in as the 61-year-old’s successor now as the ongoing search shows no real signs of coming to a halt.
West Brom's list of manager targets
It’s been nearly a month since Mowbray was abruptly axed from the Hawthorns hot seat, meaning plenty of names have been linked to fill the vacancy.
Indeed, faces such as Stockport County manager Dave Challinor have been tipped to take on the reins, alongside ex-Southampton boss Russell Martin potentially getting back on the horse after his Saints dismissal.
Moreover, former Manchester United coach turned Minnesota United manager Eric Ramsay has also been regularly thrown about as a successor to Mowbray, but there’s one other name that looks to be the likeliest option away from any other rumoured bosses.
Indeed, journalist Graeme Bailey has revealed recently that West Brom still ‘really like’ Tottenham Hotspur background figure Ryan Mason, with his young and fresh approach one factor that ticks a lot of boxes for the Baggies hierarchy.
Tottenham's Ryan Mason
Ramsay is the same age as Mason – with both the fresh-faced managers only being 33 years of age – but the Spurs coach arguably has more experience of the hustle and bustle of the English game, meaning he might well be viewed as an upgrade on the left-field Minnesota boss.
Why Mason is an upgrade on Ramsay
There is a logic behind West Brom wanting to go down the route of appointing a youthful new manager, having been burnt by the experienced Mowbray returning and ultimately failing.
On top of that, the likes of Liam Manning – who is only six years older than Mason – managed to steer Bristol City to the playoffs just this season, whilst the equally blooming Danny Rohl improved on a near escape from relegation at the helm of Sheffield Wednesday by guiding them to a comfortable mid-table finish.
Whilst both of those figures will likely go on to achieve far more in their careers, Mason does hold an advantage over both of them currently – on top of also bettering Ramsay in this department – with the 33-year-old gaining experience on the job of what it’s like to be an interim boss of a Premier League team with Spurs.
Whilst Ramsay does have an impressive 24 wins under his belt in charge of Minnesota, he has no experience of what it’s like to be thrown into the deep end of Premier League action, having only ever watched from afar when situated at the Red Devils.
Mason’s overall record as Spurs interim manager
Stat
Mason
Games managed
13
Wins
6
Draws
1
Losses
6
Goals scored
26
Goals conceded
21
Biggest win
4-0 H (Sheffield United H)
Biggest loss
3-1 L (Leeds A)
Sourced by Transfermarkt
On the contrary, Mason has briefly shone when handed the reins of the North Londoners, with six wins collected during some testing and turbulent times after some notable managerial exits.
He could be what West Brom needs, therefore, to recover from the popular figure of Mowbray flopping, with Ange Postecoglou even going out of his way recently to label Mason as “outstanding” for his work at the Premier League side.
Tottenham's Ryan Mason
Clearly, the Baggies need to think somewhat outside of the box to bring success back to the Hawthorns after the tried and tested route of Mowbray unravelled.
Whilst Ramsay would fit that unorthodox label, he might well flounder attempting to adapt to the Championship. Whereas, the time could be just right for Mason to prove himself after a worthwhile education at Spurs.
Free transfer: West Brom in talks to sign 21 y/o with same agent as Fellows