Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has explained the club's decision to let Nicolas Jackson join Bayern Munich on a season-long loan. The striker secured a deadline day move to the German giants, just when it looked like a switch to the Bundesliga might not happen. Now, the Senegal international's current team are set to face his old employers in the Champions League.
Jackson set for swift Chelsea reunion
The 24-year-old swapped Chelsea for Bayern on loan earlier this month, with the move only being made possible by the Blues cancelling Marc Guiu's own loan to Sunderland in light of Liam Delap's injury. Ahead of the forward potentially facing the west London team in the Champions League on Wednesday, Maresca has lifted the lid on Jackson's departure, and more.
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What Maresca said on Jackson
The Italian told reporters: "I am thankful to Nico because if we achieved what we achieved last year, it is because of all of the players including Nicolas who was with us. I texted him after he left the club to thank him for last season and wished him all the best. He is a good guy, with us he was good and working well.
"[Chelsea] bought two strikers, Liam Delap and Joao Pedro, and two strikers is a good number – that is enough".
Maresca wary of Bayern's threat
The Italian is expecting a stern examination of his Chelsea players when they travel to Bayern for their Champions League opener. They will hope Jackson, who has scored 30 goals in 81 games for the Blues and helped them win the Conference League and Club World Cup, does not come back to haunt them in this upcoming encounter.
He added: "At this moment they are one of the favourites [to win the competition] but we will try to do our best. They showed last year that they can compete in this competition and win it."
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What next for Jackson and Chelsea?
Jackson joined Bayern for a loan fee of £14 million ($19m), plus there is a £54m ($71m) conditional obligation to buy him next year. The clause supposedly requires the ex-Villarreal star to start 40 games during the 2025-26 campaign, something Bayern chief Uli Hoeness described as "impossible". The striker himself is not focused on that, but he will want to impress against parent club Chelsea this week.
Chelsea’s pursuit of yet more attacking players this summer suggests Enzo Maresca is looking to challenge for both the Premier League and Champions League next season.
Given their performances at the Club World Cup, where they defeated PSG to win the title, the Blues could be a force to be reckoned with throughout 2025/26.
Alexander Isak has been linked with a move amid the news that he is exploring options away from Newcastle United, with the Blues said to have the budget to lodge such an ambitious swoop.
While a transfer seems unlikely, it would signal another huge statement of intent by the Blues if they managed to land him.
RB Leipzig'sXaviSimonsreacts after the match
As to a deal to secure the signature of Dutch sensation, Xavi Simons, this move does appear to be close.
Chelsea are closing in on next move
According to Caught Offside, Chelsea have reportedly reached an agreement on personal terms with Simons as they seek to sign him from RB Leipzig.
In terms of the fee, the German side are demanding €80m (£70m) to sanction a sale and, given Chelsea’s spending this summer, that shouldn’t pose too much of a problem.
Simons would add something extra to an already stacked Chelsea frontline next term, but imagine how better they would be should Isak secure an unlikely move to London.
Why Chelsea want to sign Xavi Simons
The Dutchman offers plenty of positional flexibility, which is an added bonus for Maresca. Indeed, last term, he played 16 games on the left wing and 15 as an attacking midfielder.
Across those two positions, Simons registered nine and ten goal contributions, respectively, proving that he can shine no matter where he is deployed.
Isak, of course, would operate through the middle as the lone centre-forward, but the Dutch youngster would thrive playing behind the Swede, no doubt about that.
When compared to his positional peers in the Champions League last season, Simons was sublime across several metrics.
Not only did he rank in the top 9% for successful take-ons per 90 (1.88), but the 22-year-old also ranked in the top 2% for shot-creating actions (5.91) and in the top 11% for progressive carries (3.22) in Europe’s premier club competition.
Xavi Simons’ stats in the Bundesliga last season
Goals
10
Assists
7
Key passes per game
2
Shots per game
2
Total duels won per game
5.4
Big chances missed
2
Via Sofascore
Producing the goods in the biggest tournament on the continent proves that Simons is a man who would generate plenty of opportunities for Isak should the unthinkable occur.
Indeed, in the Bundesliga, Simons created an impressive 12 big chances for Leipzig, while also averaging two key passes per game.
It is perhaps no wonder that the Dutch starlet has been hailed as a “game-changer” by talent scout Jacek Kulig recently, following a performance for the Netherlands against Spain.
Netherlands'XaviSimonscelebrates scoring their third goal
Making a move for Isak would be the cherry on the cake for Maresca this summer. While Liverpool lead the race for the striker, nothing can be counted out at this stage.
Should he have the talents of a player such as Simons operating behind him, Isak would reach new heights at Stamford Bridge; that much is certain.
£80m Chelsea star tells agents to find him new club after becoming "unhappy"
Babar Azam will be the biggest name casualty as Pakistan make significant changes to their squad for the second Test, two days after a chastening innings loss to England in Multan. ESPNcricinfo has learned Babar’s dropping was recommended by the newly formed selection committee, which met in Lahore within hours of the loss in the first Test on Friday. They met for a second time on Saturday in Multan, in a session which included chairman Mohsin Naqvi, as well as the five mentors appointed by the PCB on three-year deals.In the immediate aftermath of the defeat, Pakistan captain Shan Masood publicly backed Babar, calling him “Pakistan’s best batter” and repeating his call to give players more time. That sentiment, for continuity, has been backed by Test coach Jason Gillespie too. Privately, though, it is understood the selection panel collectively felt Babar would benefit from time away from the national side as runs remain elusive; he has not scored a Test half-century since December 2022.The newly configured selection panel comprises Aaqib Javed, Asad Shafiq, Azhar Ali, former ICC umpire Aleem Dar, analyst Hassan Cheema and the captain and head coach of the format for which the squad is being selected. However, it is understood neither Masood nor Gillespie were part of the selection committee meeting on Friday. Selectors traveled to Multan on Saturday to meet with the captain and coach, as well as the PCB curator Tony Hemming. At the meeting on Saturday, it is believed some of the mentors were in favour of keeping Babar in the squad, but majority opinion was in favour of the dropping.Related
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It is not yet clear whether Babar – who has struggled for form for the best part of two years – will make himself available to play the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, which is scheduled to begin on October 20. Babar has not played a game in that first-class cricket competition since 2019.The scrutiny around Babar’s form has been magnified with each subsequent failure with the bat. He appeared especially out of sorts against England, on a flat wicket, scoring 35 runs across two innings. beaten on the inside edge in the first innings and the outside in the second. It extended his run without a half-century in Test cricket to 18 innings; just four specialist batters in Pakistan’s history have gone more successive innings without a score in excess of 50. Since the start of 2023, Babar averages under 21 in nine Tests.The loss of form has dovetailed with a turbulent time in terms of his leadership status. Following Pakistan’s elimination at the ODI World Cup in 2023, he reluctantly resigned as captain from all formats. Just four months later, the T20I and ODI captaincy were returned to him, with Shaheen Afridi sacked after just one series.The second stint was ill-fated. Pakistan won one of three T20I series – against Ireland 2-1 – and were eliminated from the T20 World Cup in 2024 in the first round after defeats to the USA and India. Just six months after he was reappointed, he quit captaincy once more, citing a desire to focus on his batting.Babar’s omission will not be the only change. Abrar Ahmed, for one, remains in hospital and is extremely unlikely to recover. Selectors are understood to be considering a couple of other spinning options, with Noman Ali and Sajid Khan in contention. There is also a chance that Afridi does not play the second Test as his struggle to return to his pre-knee injury form continues. Afridi has played in two of Pakistan’s last four Tests, and missed one in each of the previous two series.But it is Babar’s omission that will send shockwaves through Pakistan cricket and its followers. He remains, despite his recent struggles, the biggest name in Pakistan cricket by some distance, having built up an enormous, doting individual fanbase quite separate from the Pakistan team as a whole. Though his ability as captain split opinion and was hotly debated throughout his tenure, there has never – up until very recently – been a debate about his value to the team; even without the armband, he remained an automatic selection and the first name on the team sheet.While consistency came to Babar more easily in the white-ball formats, he was comfortably among the world’s best Test batters during his prime. Between November 2019 and the end of 2022, he averaged just shy of 62 in 25 Test matches, including eight hundreds and 15 half-centuries. His consistency led to speculation it was only a matter of time before the ‘Fab Four’ quartet became a quintet, with Babar pushing his all-format case.The second Test against England begins on October 15 in Multan. England won the first Test by an innings and 47 runs to consign Pakistan to a sixth Test defeat on the trot, one that puts them at the bottom of the World Test Championship table.
Private investment into the Hundred may not be finalised by next year if the right bids and suitors are not found, according to Vikram Banerjee, director of business operations at the England & Wales Cricket Board, and the man tasked with selling off stakes in the Hundred franchises.The ECB announced at the start of September that they had officially opened the process to secure private investment into the eight Hundred teams. Though the initial plan was to have sales ratified ahead of the 2025 edition of the tournament, the process could roll on to find appropriate valuations and owners.Each of the eight hosting counties are set to be given a 51 percent stake, which they can hold or sell, with the remaining 49 percent in each side available to be sold by the ECB. Any money raised from that 49 percent will then be distributed between first-class counties, Marylebone Cricket Club and the recreational game. Financial advisers Deloitte and Raine Group have been recruited to ensure fair market value, with legal co-counsel provided by Latham & Watkins and Onside Law LLP.Though the ECB are collaborating with host venues to assess the suitability of prospective partners, they are doing so with vigilance. A report in City AM on Tuesday stated the governing body have warned Hampshire they will be stripped of their stake in Southern Brave if their prospective new buyers GMR Group – owners of IPL side Delhi Capitals – do not pay a fair market price for the Hundred franchise.The Telegraph reported in August that GMR Group had agreed a £120 million deal to buy Hampshire, which could see them pocket the 51 percent gifted to the county as part of that deal. If that were the case, investors could view purchasing counties outright as a cheaper gateway into the competition, although that would first require a process of demutualisation by the member-owned clubs concerned, with Hampshire and Durham the only exceptions at present.Yorkshire, who host Northern Superchargers at Headingley and are subject to a bid from Sun Group, who own Sunrisers Hyderabad, are currently seeking to undergo a process of demutualisation, with a super-majority of 75 percent in favour required from at least 50 percent of the club’s 6,000 members.The ECB are understood to have had promising conversations with investors throughout the summer. A number from India and from further afield, including the US, were entertained at Hundred matches this season. As well as capital, the ECB want buyers to bring their expertise to the table, particularly around global engagement, sporting operations and in-ground experience.While the plan remains to announce investments into the Hundred in early 2025, Banerjee explained that the onus on finding the right price and partner for the teams lends itself to a longer, more drawn-out process.Lord’s-based London Spirit is expected to be the most lucrative team in the Hundred•Alex Davidson/Getty Images
“The most important thing is we get the right partners,” Banerjee told the Business of Sport podcast. “If that takes a bit of time, that takes a bit of time. I think it’s fine.”We have been running for four years and so, if in this first round, we [find that] either the values aren’t there for one or all of the teams, or the right partner isn’t there for one or all of the teams, it’s fine. We’ll just carry on running it, we’ll do another year. My priority is to get the eight partners and make them amazing and help us grow.”Banerjee did not rule out a partial sale, whereby only some of the teams are under new ownership, though he believes the scale of interest at this stage suggests that will not come to pass.”I don’t think so, at this point of where we are in the process,” he said. “You know, the amount of people, the amount of interest, the breadth of interest – there’s some really exciting names in there, some of which haven’t been leaked to the press, funnily enough.”London Spirit is expected to be the most sought-after component of the Hundred, given the prestige of its host venue Lord’s, but Banerjee insisted the ECB would not be rushed into a decision for any of its teams.Related
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“But if we don’t get the right partners for [eg] London Spirit, we’ll hold it and we’ll work with the MCC for another year and try again in a year’s time. I think that’s possible.”Having said that, in terms of a timeline on what we’re looking for, we are hoping these are done over the next six months, so that whatever this new world looks like for the competition, those deals have transacted by the 2025 season.”Having all investors on board by next summer is integral to ensuring next summer’s competition is as seamless as possible, not least ahead of the opening of ticket sales and the player draft, which are expected in February and March, respectively. Though a partial sale of teams is far from ideal, the competition’s current media rights – which make up around 80 percent of the revenue for the competition – are fixed until 2028, and the presence of a salary cap should in principle ensure a level playing field for the coming seasons.Banerjee also revealed any expansion of the number of teams in the Hundred is only likely to take place in 2029. Durham and Somerset were two host venues mooted for an introduction as early as next year to give the competition a greater presence in the North-East and South-West. However, the need to see how the Hundred evolves after investment has shifted the goalposts.”We’ve talked about 2029 being the earliest to give us time to bed in and see how this thing grows and there’s a whole set of criteria to make sure a) that the player pool is there so it’s still best versus best on men’s and women’s, and b) the competition has grown.”So an investor today doesn’t lose out, but actually benefits from that, as well as the whole game. And then see that, if a venue wants to come in to be a new team, it’s ready.”
La Liga giants Real Madrid have started their brand-new era under Xabi Alonso, and following their disappointment of a 2024/2025 season, Los Blancos are apparently setting their sights on a Tottenham star to help with the rebuild.
Spurs are expected to undergo somewhat of a rebuild themselves, with the Europa League champions ushering in their fifth new manager since 2019.
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1 ByEmilio Galantini Jul 2, 2025
Thomas Frank arrives in N17 with the goal of building upon his new side’s triumph in Bilbao against Man United, a result which also gifted them a place in next season’s Champions League draw.
A major thorn in the cap of his predecessor, Ange Postecoglou, was the plethora of injuries his squad sustained last term. The Australian was forced to cope without many key players for extended periods throughout 24/25, and Frank will be keen to avoid a similar scenario as he braces for an equally congested fixture calendar.
Son Heung-min
7.00
James Maddison
6.98
Pedro Porro
6.95
Dominic Solanke
6.84
Dejan Kulusevski
6.83
via WhoScored
They’ve already moved to reinforce the squad with a permanent deal for Mathys Tel and a £5 million move for Japanese sensation Kota Takai, with Tottenham also widely reported to be in talks for West Ham winger Mohammed Kudus.
However, Spurs do face the prospect of losing some key big names before deadline day as well.
West Ham's Mohammed Kudus
Son Heung-min is a reliably claimed target for the Saudi Pro League (The Telegraph), and there is a serious belief that last season could’ve been his final campaign at Spurs – 10 years after he joined from Bayer Leverkusen.
“Son could very well have played his last game for Tottenham, and well, if it was the Europa League final, it would be fitting,” journalist Graeme Bailey told TBR Football last month.
“I am told he still believes he is more than capable of recapturing his best form – but Spurs are ready to make moves this summer and Son leaving could materialise.”
Alongside Son, it is believed star £165,000-per-week defender Cristian Romero is attracting serious interest from Spain.
While reports that Tottenham have reached an “agreement in principle” to sell Romero look wide of the mark, Atlético boss Diego Simeone has publicly confirmed the club’s admiration for him.
Real Madrid expected to make "concrete" move for Cristian Romero
Now, as per CaughtOffside, Atlético are joined by their cross-town rivals in pursuit of the “sensational” Argentine.
Real are “now expected” to make a “concrete” approach to sign Romero from Tottenham, but chairman Daniel Levy won’t be letting him go on the cheap, even if last season’s Europa League Player of the Year has just two years left on his current contract.
Spurs want a minimum £60 million to consider letting him leave, with both Real and Atlético viewing this price tag as excessive for the time being.
The former are boosted by Romero’s openness to joining Real, as is mostly the case when Alonso’s side come knocking, but Tottenham won’t be bullied aside in potential negotiations and are determined to keep hold of him.
It feels like it’s going to be a hectic summer for Tottenham Hotspur this year.
The Europa League champions sacked Ange Postecoglou on Friday afternoon due to his horrific Premier League record, and while it’s not been confirmed by the club, Thomas Frank looks set to replace him.
Despite the talent in the squad, the Danish manager will have a lot to do to ensure their domestic campaign is more of a success next season, and the best way for Daniel Levy and Co to help him with that is by bringing in the right players in the coming weeks and months.
One of those players linked with a move to the club has been Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo, but recent reports have now touted another wide talent for a move to Spurs, someone who could be the perfect alternative.
Tottenham's interest in Semenyo
Spurs have been linked with a host of talented players in recent weeks, from Crystal Palace’s Eberchi Eze to Brentford’s in-demand Bryan Mbeumo, but earlier this week, Semenyo became one of the latest Premier League stars to be touted for a move to N17.
It’s not hard to see why the Lilywhites might be interested in the Cherries star, as even though he’s playing for a mid-table side, the Ghana international was able to rack up an impressive tally of 13 goals and seven assists in 42 appearances.
However, with his price tag potentially being as high as £70m and interest from other Premier League sides like Arsenal and Liverpool, this might be a transfer both too expensive and too challenging to get over the line, in which case, Levy and Co might be after an alternative, like Dorgeles Nene.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Yes, according to a recent report from TEAMtalk, Spurs are now one of several top-flight teams now ‘considering a move’ for the RB Salzburg gem this summer.
Alongside the North Londoners, the report has revealed that Lazio, Fiorentina, Freiburg and Bayer Leverkusen are all interested in the 22-year-old dynamo who has been seriously impressive in Austria this season.
Moreover, while the competition might be a problem, the fee shouldn’t be, as the report claims that an offer of up to £21m should be enough to tempt Salzburg to sell.
Nene might not be a well-known name or sound like a particularly inspiring signing, but should Semenyo be out of reach, the youngster would certainly be worth bringing in for Spurs.
Why Nene would be a good signing for Spurs
So then, in a market where there are countless wide talents available, why would Nene be a good signing for Spurs?
Well, first and arguably most importantly, his output this season was seriously impressive and made more so by the fact he was primarily playing off the wings.
For example, in 46 appearances, totalling 3043 minutes, the “terrifying” threat, as dubbed by U23 scout Antonio Mango, was able to score 15 goals and provide nine assists for the Austrian outfit.
Appearances
46
42
Minutes
3043′
3562′
Goals
15
13
Assists
9
7
Goal Involvements per Match
0.52
0.47
Minutes per Goal Involvements
126.79′
178.10′
That comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.91 games, or every 126.79 minutes, which is better than Semenyo’s average of one every 2.1 games or every 178.1 minutes.
Secondly, with him still being just 22 and not turning 23 until December, there is so much room for growth and development, as according to research carried out by The Athletic, wide players do not hit their peak until 26.
Finally, even though the Kayes-born dynamo is primarily a left-winger, he’s just as capable of playing down the middle or off the right, which would give Frank so much more tactical flexibility next season.
Ultimately, Semenyo will understandably be many Spurs fan’s first choice here, but if he’s unattainable, then Nene would be an excellent alternative, although with a price tag of £21m, why not try to sign both?
Kulusevski upgrade: Spurs "definitely" want to sign £68m star for Frank
The dynamic talent would help make Spurs tick next season.
Arsenal’s search for a striker is set to dominate headlines as we enter the first mini-summer transfer window, and it’s an area of the squad which sporting director Andrea Berta is working hard to address.
Arsenal in ongoing talks for Benjamin Sesko in search of striker
Gabriel Jesus’ ACL rupture in their FA Cup defeat to Man United, and Kai Havertz’s lengthy absence due to a hamstring injury, crippled Mikel Arteta’s options up front during the second half of 2024/2025, prompting the Spaniard to utilise Mikel Merino in an emergency striker role.
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Merino performed well, but that injury crisis up front brought yet more attention to Arteta’s glaring need for a prolific centre-forward.
Arsenal transfer spending under Arteta (via Sky Sports)
Money on new signings
19/20 – winter
£0
20/21 – summer
£81.5m
20/21 – winter
£900k
21/22 – summer
£156.8m
21/22 – winter
£1.8m
22/23 – summer
£121.5m
22/23 – winter
£59m
23/24 – summer
£208m
23/24 – winter
£0
24/25 – summer
£101.5m
24/25 – winter
£0
A proven number nine has long been touted as the final missing piece of Arteta’s jigsaw, and Berta is said to be laying the groundwork on deals to bring Arsenal’s long search for a new striker to an end this summer.
Arsenal have held talks over signing Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike, according to some reports, and they were heavily linked with a move for Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres, until this week at least.
Now, RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko has entered pole position to become Arsenal’s answer to their goalscoring woes, and “concrete” talks are underway after Berta’s meeting with Leipzig director Marcel Schafer in London.
The Gunners are said to be putting their focus on a deal for Sesko, and discussions are centered around a payment structure for his £67 million release clause.
While Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg claims Gyokeres is still high on Arsenal’s list despite these Sesko talks, Spanish media sources claim their negotiations for the Slovenian have put an end to their chase for Sporting’s serial goalscorer.
Arsenal pull plug on Viktor Gyokeres deal after opening Sesko talks
According to reports from Spain, cited by Football 365, Arteta has now ‘ruled out’ an Arsenal move for Gyokeres, and they’ve now ‘withdrawn from the bidding’ to sign him – which could open the door for other linked sides like Man United and Barcelona.
This follows their decision to up the ante in pursuit of Sesko, so going by this update, it appears the 22-year-old is now their priority target.
Given the costs involved when it comes to a deal for Sesko, we wouldn’t be surprised if Arsenal pull a U-turn on this call, especially considering that Gyokeres could leave Sporting for just £60 million.
The “quality” ex-Coventry City star is fresh off the back of an exceptional campaign, scoring 54 goals in all competitions, and there are reports in Portugal that Arsenal have already offered Gyokeres a contract, so he could just be on the back-burner for now.
“I have said this before, and I will continue to say it: he brings a lot to the team, and his teammates are aware of what he contributes, which is why they look for him during games,” said Sporting boss Rui Borges about Gyokeres.
“The collective effort also plays a role, as no one can succeed alone. Viktor is a game-changer, and he will continue to be, whether with us or elsewhere. His quality is undeniable; it is phenomenal.”
Ange Postecoglou declared in August that he always wins a trophy in his second season.
Well, despite the fact his team are 15th in the Premier League table, he’s still on course to deliver on his manifesto.
On Thursday night, Tottenham Hotspur reached the Europa League semi-finals, with Dominic Solanke’s spot-kick enough to oust Eintracht Frankfurt at Waldstadion.
Spurs will now face Bodø/Glimt in the semi-finals, they have become the first-ever Norwegian club to reach the last four of any UEFA competition, with the Lilywhites thereby firm favourites to reach the final in Bilbao.
If Tottenham are going to end their 17-year wait for silverware, aiming to capture the UEFA Cup for the first time since 1984, one player in particular will be key, given that he’s reminiscent of a Spurs star of yesteryear.
How good Mousa Dembélé was at Tottenham
When one thinks of Tottenham at their peak under Mauricio Pochettino, the players who immediately spring to mind might be Harry Kane, Son Heung-min, Dele Alli, Hugo Lloris, Toby Alderweireld or Jan Vertonghen.
However, no Spurs supporter will overlook or ever forget Mousa Dembélé’s importance to that side.
adam-wharton-mousa-dembele-tottenham-opinion
Back in the summer of 2012, the Belgian joined Tottenham from Fulham for a reported fee of £15m, going on to make 249 appearances for Spurs, before departing for Guangzhou City in the Chinese Super League in January 2019.
During his time at the club, Tottenham went from being a mid-table Premier League outfit to regular top four finishers and Champions League Finalists, and the pivotal role Dembélé played in this transformation cannot be forgotten.
Charlie Eccleshare of The Athletic described him as the ‘lynchpin of Pochettino’s’ team, praising his ‘ball-carrying skills’ and ‘ability to evade pressure’.
Meantime, Bart Vlietstra of the Guardian believes that, in his prime, Dembélé was ‘the best midfielder in the world’, while his former teammate Kyle Walker would agree, stating that he was “probably the best player I have ever seen play football”.
How Postecoglou would love to have Dembélé at his peak patrolling and controlling his midfield, something Spurs have severely lacked throughout this season, but is one current Spurs star showcasing some of the same qualities?
The current Spurs star who could be replicating Dembélé
Earlier this season, it would’ve been inarguable Dejan Kuluševski was Tottenham’s most dangerous attacker, scoring in five successive matches just before Christmas, on target against Chelsea, Rangers, Southampton, Manchester United and Liverpool during this sequence.
However, more recently, the Swede has spent a few weeks on the sidelines due to a foot injury suffered against Manchester City in February, before making his return at Molineux last Sunday.
This is a major boost for Postecoglou, ahead of the aforementioned Europa League semi-final against Bodø/Glimt, and the table below illustrates why.
Son Heung-min
79
28
22
Brennan Johnson
78
21
18
Dejan Kuluševski
83
18
13
Richarlison
47
16
5
James Maddison
73
15
20
Dominic Solanke
38*
12
8
*joined in summer 2024
As the table outlines, since the start of last season, only Son Heung-min and Brennan Johnson have been involved in more Spurs goals than Kuluševski.
However, his similarities to fellow left-footer Dembélé come stylistically.
Jay Harris and Anantaajith Raghuraman of the Athletic praise the 24-year-old’s ‘impressive running power’ as well as his ‘durability’ and ‘defensive work’ rate while, according to FBref.com, only nine players have recorded more progressive carries in the Premier League this season.
Ben McAleer of the Guardian adds that Kuluševski is ‘absolutely vital’ for this Tottenham team, asserting that he has been their ‘most consistent player’ of the Ange-era.
Following Tottenham’s 4-0 demolition of Manchester City in November, speaking during Sky Sports’ coverage, Gary Neville labelled Kuluševski as “brilliant” and a “serious player”, adding that he uses his “strength and running power” to “subtley beat players” with ease.
So, while there are stylistic similarities to Dembélé and Kuluševski, the biggest overlap between the duo could be the fact they go under-the-radar a bit as Spurs’ pivotal unsung heroes.
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The former PL ace would be a fine addition to Spurs’ squad.
Liverpool are believed to be “ready to knock on the door” to sign an impressive midfielder in the summer transfer window, a new report has claimed.
Liverpool need signings despite imminent title win
With Virgil van Dijk still not signing a new Reds deal yet, it is only natural that potential replacements are being looked at, with Barcelona star Ronald Araujo emerging as a reported target.
Liverpool are set to hold talks with the 26-year-old over a summer move to Anfield, with Barca’s financial issues meaning they could possibly be forced into selling one of their most talented players, who has struggled to kick on his career due to injuries.
Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo
Meanwhile, Royale Union Saint-Gilloise attacker Mohamed Amoura has also been linked with a summer move to the Reds, as they look to strengthen Arne Slot’s options in the final third. He has scored 10 goals and registered eight assists in the Bundesliga this season, enjoying a fruitful spell out on loan at Wolfsburg.
Trent Alexander-Arnold feels likely to move to Real Madrid currently, so a successor for Liverpool’s vice-captain needs to be found, and Freiburg ace Kiliann Sildillia has been mentioned as an option to come in. At 22, he would be considered a long-term addition to battle with Conor Bradley for playing time.
Liverpool keen on signing "versatile" £50m+ ace
Now, according to Tutto Atalanta [via Sport Witness], Liverpool are “ready to knock on the door” and push to sign Atalanta midfielder Ederson this summer. Offers for the Brazilian are expected to be around £50.7m.
They are far from the only big club showing an interest in the 25-year-old, however, with Manchester United, Juventus and Atletico Madrid all thought to be in the picture.
Ederson has arguably been one of Europe’s leading defensive midfielders in recent years, playing a key role in Atalanta winning the Europa League last season.
He has continued in a similar vein in 2024/25, averaging 1.5 tackles and 1.3 aerial duel wins per game in Serie A, as well as scoring three goals. South American football expert Tim Vickery has also spoken of his appreciation for him.
“24-years-old, strong, well-built central midfielder. Strong on the ball, versatile, box-to-box. Strong personality as well. The first time I remember him was his professional debut really. He was thrown in the deep end in a big team called Cruzeiro, who were really on the slide. They were relegated in dreadful form and even in this bad context, he stood out, so a lot of virtues.”
Appearances
29
Starts
26
Minutes played
2326
Goals
3
Assists
1
Tackles per game
1.5
Aerial duel wins per game
1.3
Pass completion rate
1.0
While Liverpool’s midfield feels well-stocked, there is still an argument to say that a player of Ederson’s ilk would add even more balance, with Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister not necessarily possessing natural defensive traits.
Liverpool set to hold intense transfer talks to sign £40m+ Barcelona star
Liverpool are in the market for statement reinforcements this summer.
BySean Markus Clifford Apr 4, 2025
The Atalanta ace could add more protection in front of the defence, but he is more than just a midfield shield, having lots of quality and an ability to chip in with goals.
The pitch was difficult for batting once again but Bangladesh’s openers overcame the challenge to help win the series decider
Mohammad Isam24-Oct-2025A failing batting line-up and a long run of poor results in ODIs prompted Bangladesh to throw up their version of the Hail Mary this series: a dark, cracked pitch in Mirpur, where the ball spins, spits and makes run-scoring difficult. The highest total in the first two matches was only 213, and Bangladesh and West Indies set a new world record by bowling 92 overs of spin in the second ODI.So when Saif Hassan and Soumya Sarkar walked out to open the innings in the series decider, the focus was on how they would cope with the surface. Bangladesh hadn’t won an ODI series for 18 months, which is a bad place for a team targeting direct qualification to the 2027 World Cup.It was the batting that had consistently let Bangladesh down, so the pressure was on once again. But over the next 25 overs, Saif and Soumya gave their team hope.They added 176 runs in 25.2 overs for the first wicket; Saif scoring 80 off 72 balls and Soumya 91 off 86. Their attacking approach was in contrast to the struggle of batters in the previous two games, and none of the batters that came after them from either side managed to emulate their success.The partnership helped Bangladesh score 296 for 8, a total that was 179 runs too many for West Indies. Daren Sammy, the West Indies coach, praised the mentality Saif and Soumya had shown in such conditions.Related
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“I think it’s a mindset,” Sammy said after the game. “You know, for us, when we explain in the dressing room what this game means, you know, we’re looking for automatic qualification [for the World Cup]. We have got two teams fighting for that last spot before the cut-off period, and then you have a series decider on the line. Your mindset must be I’m the one to do that. You saw the mindset of the [Bangladesh] batters.”They were like, ‘You know what? I’m gonna be brave on that wicket, I’m gonna set the tone’. The score didn’t reflect what the wicket was. The batsmen came in, decided to be brave in the powerplay, and that put us under pressure. And then we, we just took so long to answer. We were not consistent enough in the areas that would challenge the batters and then we paid heavily for it.”Bangladesh captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz said the Saif-Soumya partnership was a long time coming. “The start is very important for a team. We haven’t had such a partnership from the top order for a long time. The team mentality changes when you get such a start from the top order.”We have to give credit to Saif and Soumya for the way they batted today. They batted aggressively on this wicket, which made it easy for the rest of the team.”Mehidy said he liked how Soumya and Saif went for their favoured shots whenever presented with the opportunity. “It feels good. We have been struggling with our batting for a long time. We however believed that we could make a comeback any time. We have to give them some time.”This wasn’t an easy wicket but they played their go-to shots. Soumya Sarkar played reverse sweeps against their spinners. Saif Hassan attacked their right-handed bowlers. They played with calculative risks.”A batter will do well in three out of five innings. The team will benefit if those three knocks are substantial. It becomes difficult if the batter falls in the thirties after getting set. We have to be more patient with these batters. A good top-order partnership usually helps the batting line-up.”For now, the Saif-Soumya stand is a one-off event. It was Bangladesh’s first 100-plus opening stand in two years. After their dismissals, the rest struggled to maintain the tempo. But Saif and Soumya provided an example of how a bit of courage can overcome the most difficult of batting conditions.