انتهت منذ قليل باراة الأهلي أمام نظيره الجيش الملكي، الآن ضمن منافسات بطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا 2025-2026.
وحل الأحمر، ضيفًا على الفريق المغربي، ضمن منافسات الجولة الثانة من دور مجموعات دوري أبطال إفريقيا، على ملعب استاد مولاي الحسن.
طالع.. تشكيل الأهلي أمام الجيش الملكي في دوري أبطال إفريقيا.. زيزو وتريزيجيه أساسيان
وتعادل الأهلي مع الجيش الملكي بهدف لكل فريق، حيث سجل محسن بوريجة هدف أصحاب الأرض قبل أن يتعادل تريزيجيه لصالح الأحمر.
وتصدر الأهلي المجموعة برصيد 4 نقاط بالتساوي مع يانج أفريكانز بينما الجيش الملكي في المركز الثالث برصيد 3 نقاط.
وضمن نفس المجموعة التقى شبيبة القبائل مع يانج أفريكانز، ضمن منافسات الجولة الثانية من دور المجموعات من بطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا 2025، على ملعب “حسين آيت أحمد” في اللقاء الذي انتهى بالتعادل السلبي. ترتيب مجموعة الأهلي في دوري أبطال إفريقيا
Sunderland returned to Premier League action after the international break with a whimper, instead of a bang.
Indeed, Regis Le Bris’ men lost 1-0 away at Fulham, which doesn’t seem like the demoralising result on first glance. But, on another day, Marco Silva’s hosts could have run away with the clash as resounding winners, having notched up a colossal 23 shots, to the Black Cats’ meagre five.
Le Bris will hope his side can return to winning ways in the top-flight when AFC Bournemouth come to Wearside next, before December kicks into gear, which sees huge contests such as the Tyne-Wear Derby arrive on the jam-packed calendar.
Before you know it, the January transfer window will also reopen to give Sunderland an apt opportunity to improve their ranks, ahead of a tough second part of the season, with some high-profile names already being linked to the Stadium of Light.
Transfer latest at Sunderland
Sunderland were very busy in the summer before jumping up to the big time in the Premier League, with a whopping £162m forked out on the likes of Granit Xhaka and Robin Roefs.
Therefore, it isn’t the wildest shout to suggest they could break the bank again if a tempting move comes their way in January, with recent reports from Spain suggesting that the Black Cats could boost their forward line with the acquisition of Real Madrid hotshot Gonzalo Garcia.
The biggest rumour of them all comes in the form of Matteo Guendouzi, the former Arsenal midfielder who worked under Le Bris at Lorient.
Keith Downie reported last week that the Mackems boss has not ruled out a move for the Frenchman as they potentially go about bringing another former ex-Gunner to the Stadium of Light.
He isn’t the only Lazio midfielder catching the eye, with concrete rumours emerging involving the Premier League newcomers being in the hunt for Lazio outcast Fisayo Dele-Bashiru.
As per reports from Italy, Sunderland are named as one suitor taking a look at the ex-Sheffield Wednesday midfielder this January, with the centre of the park a clear priority position to improve.
Sunderland will hope, even if a move for Guendouzi isn’t forthcoming, that they can still clinch a deal for Dele-Bashiru to leave Serie A behind, as Le Bris potentially works his magic on another diamond in the rough, much like he did with Wilson Isidor.
How Dele-Bashiru can be Le Bris' next Isidor
Isidor hasn’t had the smoothest career up to this point, even if he is now four Premier League goals down in Sunderland red and white.
Unfortunately, the 25-year-old attacker has had to bounce back from a lot of adversity already, so early into his playing days, with the Rennes-born striker never going on to score a senior goal for AS Monaco, before many loan moves to the likes of Lokomotiv Moscow came to fruition.
Thankfully, the nomadic marksman has now found a home that suits him in Wearside, after such a well-travelled career, with Dele-Bashiru’s career path looking very similar.
Like Isidor, the “special” midfielder as he’s been labelled in Nigeria, is well-travelled, having already played in countries such as Turkey and Italy, after failing to make the grade at Manchester City at youth level.
Much like Isidor, though, he has shone in the EFL previously – which is where the 6-foot-1 striker bagged 13 goals to seal Sunderland’s promotion out of the Championship – with seven goal contributions coming his way on the books of the Owls in League One, as a rising youngster in South Yorkshire.
The nine-time Nigeria international has also shone in spurts for Lazio, even if only four appearances have come his way this season, with five goals and three assists from 33 appearances perhaps standing him in good stead to acclimatise to the Premier League effortlessly, as Isidor has managed.
Away from possessing a similar eye for a goal and assist like his Rennes-born counterpart, Dele-Bashiru would also be a useful buy when you consider his versatility across his up-and-down career to date, with his Lazio teammate in Boulaye Dia even hailing him as a talent who “can do everything”, whether that be from a central role, down the flanks, or even as an unorthodox defender.
Dele-Bashiru’s career by position
Position
Games
Goals + Assists
CM
99
14 + 9
AM
41
7 + 6
RW
7
1 + 0
LW
7
2 + 1
RM
2
0
DM
2
0
RB
2
0
Sourced by Transfermarkt
Valued at around the £4.7m mark, which is the amount he officially joined Lazio for, this is a deal that would be really worth exploring, with Dele-Bashiru lining up across seven different positions during his bumpy career to date.
Isidor only cost around the £5m price range, as well, and in January, another Isidor-style deal could soon be wrapped up.
Sunderland chief in contact with 14-cap midfielder who Cesc Fabregas "loves"
The Black Cats could land another transfer coup in 2026.
Ali Tareen has been critical of the PSL management over the last year
ESPNcricinfo staff23-Oct-2025The PCB has threatened to “blacklist” Multan Sultans owner Ali Tareen for his criticism of the PSL management unless he makes a public apology, the franchise has said in a statement.The ownership rights of the teams in the PSL expire in December, a decade after the league began, with the existing owners required to re-bid to keep their teams. A blacklist would prevent Tareen from doing so.Over the last year, Tareen has been critical of the PSL management for what he feels is a lack of communication or transparency, especially around the rebidding for franchise rights and the entry of two new teams from next season. ESPNcricinfo understands Multan Sultans responded to the PCB rebutting the charges against Tareen.”The PCB last month sent a legal notice to Multan Sultans, demanding that our owner Ali Tareen retracts all recent critical statements and issues a public apology to the PSL management,” the franchise said in a statement. “The notice threatens termination of our franchise agreement and a lifetime blacklist of Mr. Tareen from owning any cricket team in the future.”The statement in defence of Tareen said: “For the PCB management to treat constructive criticism as a crime is outrageous.”It demonstrates the pettiness of the current management and clearly shows that the PSL is not open to questions or accountability, even from those who have given the most to make it stronger. Silencing honest feedback is not how great leagues are built.”His commitment to Pakistani cricket is unwavering, and his only goal is to help the PSL reach the level its players and fans deserve.”ESPNcricinfo has reached out to the PCB for a comment.
Stobo the first injury replacement under CA’s new trial rule after Abbott split the webbing on his right hand while fielding in his follow through
Alex Malcolm15-Oct-2025
Sean Abbott was the first man subbed out for an injury in Shield cricket•Getty Images
New South Wales seamer Sean Abbott became the first player to be subbed out of a Sheffield Shield match for an injury other than concussion under Cricket Australia’s new trial rule after he split the webbing in his right hand while fielding a ball off his own bowling on the opening day against Victoria at the Junction Oval in Melbourne.Charlie Stobo was subbed in as the first-ever injury replacement player under the new rule that is being trialed across the first five rounds of the 2025-26 Sheffield Shield competition.Abbott, who is among the contenders to be part of Australia’s extended Ashes squad if Pat Cummins is ruled out of the early part of the series, split the webbing in his right hand while stopping a firmly struck straight drive from Victoria batter Peter Handscomb in the 43rd over of the opening day.Related
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Abbott left the ground immediately, and team-mate Ryan Hadley completed the over. After being assessed in the rooms, New South Wales made an application to the match referee to have Abbott replaced by another bowler and that request was immediately granted.Stobo bowled his first over of the match immediately after tea having warmed up during the interval.Handscomb is not a fan of the new rule which CA hope will provide insights for the ICC who are considering subs for international cricket.”Not really,” he said after play on Wednesday. “I think first-class cricket and Test cricket is a game of attrition. And if you pick a team and then you can just sub a bloke out halfway through, it takes that factor away.”This is a bloody hard game for four days, and you’ve got to keep backing up and fronting up and doing everything. So I’m all aboard the concussion sub. I think that’s a really good rule. But injuries are part of the game. I think unfortunately, you just kind of have to deal with them and they haven’t.”New South Wales fast bowler Liam Hatcher didn’t mind the new rule. “I’d much rather have Stobes in than be a man down, especially when you get a flat wicket and stuff that’s out of your control like that,” he said. “Yeah, I don’t mind it.”As part of the new rule, Victoria also now have the opportunity to make a tactical substitution of one like-for-like bowler if they feel they need to but can only do so before stumps on day two of the match.”That’s an interesting one, because we’ve got one free hit basically,” Handscomb said. “A bowler gets to bowl his heart out and then we can sub them out if we want to. But we’ve obviously gone into this game under the assumption that we’re going to use just the 11 players and everyone’s ready to go. We know how we can rotate our bowlers through.”We’ve got four seamers and a spinner. Unless something really drastic happens, I’m not sure we’ll be using it and we’ll just be backing in the guys that we picked first up.”The injury to Abbott is untimely. He had missed out on Australia’s ODI squad to face India in part to give him the chance to play a rare first-class game to press his Ashes case before being part of Australia’s T20I squad.As part of the injury substitution rule, Abbott has to undergo a mandatory 12-day non-playing period from the start of day three of the match he was subbed out of, which is October 17, before being allowed to play again. It means he would still be available for Australia’s first T20I against India in Canberra on October 29 provided his hand has recovered in time. But if he was not in the T20I squad he would not have been eligible to play in New South Wales’ next Shield game against Queensland which starts at the Gabba on October 28.”He’s got a few stitches in it, but I think he’s fine,” Hatcher said.Abbott had bowled very impressively in the first session on day one at the Junction Oval in seam-friendly conditions. He picked up the wicket of Victoria opener Harry Dixon caught behind. He also ruffled Handscomb with some hostile short balls with one gloved over the keeper and another glancing off his shoulder and helmet.
Luiz Gustavo, Bobadilla, Erick, Ferreirinha e André Silva. Todos os reforços contratados pelo São Paulo no mercado tem em comum algo que a diretoria vem pregando na contratação de novos jogadores: a vontade de vestir o manto tricolor.
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➡️ Tudo sobre o Tricolor agora no WhatsApp. Siga o nosso novo canal Lance! São Paulo
Desde a temporada passada o recado é claro. Para jogar no São Paulo, precisa querer estar no Tricolor. É necessário dar tudo de si dentro de campo e se mostrar incomodado com a reserva.
O elenco criou um espírito de luta e identificação muito forte, e a diretoria foi atrás de jogadores com os mesmos valores. Além disso, reforçou setores carentes no elenco, como volantes, pontas e um reserva para Calleri.
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A lateral-esquerda foi a única lacuna não preenchida, já que Wellington está com a renovação travada e o reserva, Patrick Lanza, é jovem e oscilou no profissional.
Mesmo assim, a diretoria do São Paulo qualificou o elenco de Carpini, e o Tricolor possui armas para bater de frente com Atlético-MG, Flamengo e Palmeiras, brigando em todas as frentes do futebol brasileiro.
Mohamed Salah’s future at Liverpool has been thrown into fresh doubt after Arne Slot dropped the Premier League icon for consecutive matches, prompting renewed interest from the Saudi Pro League. The division’s leadership is reportedly prepared to fund a major bid for the 33-year-old, with previous negotiations and Salah’s strong ties to SPL officials viewed as key factors in a possible move.
Saudi Pro League ready to fund Salah move
Salah has found himself on the bench for Liverpool’s last two Premier League matches, a decision that has stunned fans and reopened questions regarding his long-term future at the club. Slot’s call to leave out the Premier League’s top active goalscorer comes during a period of inconsistency for Liverpool, adding to speculation about the winger’s relationship with the under-pressure head coach. In the background, the Saudi Pro League has made clear that funding will be available should Salah signal an openness to leaving Anfield, as per .
Liverpool previously rejected a £150m bid from Al-Ittihad in 2024 and Salah himself has admitted negotiations with SPL officials were “serious” before he chose to renew his deal at Anfield last summer. This means that any revived move would now require a transfer fee rather than a free signing, making the timing of Salah’s current benching even more significant. His contract, which runs until 2027, ensures Liverpool remain in control, but the optics of Salah being dropped have shifted the power dynamic.
With the Saudi Pro League still aiming to attract superstars with the 2034 Saudi Arabia World Cup in mind, Salah fits the profile of a transformational signing. Four clubs are majority-owned by the country’s Public Investment Fund, meaning financial backing for a marquee arrival remains available even after last summer’s restrained spending. If Salah expresses willingness, the Saudi Pro League’s hierarchy is prepared to act quickly.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportSalah benched in two sraight games as form dwindles
The sudden sidelining of Salah has magnified Liverpool’s internal tensions during a difficult start to the season under Slot. Captain Virgil van Dijk’s admission that no player has “unlimited credit” underscores the shift in standards and the manager’s attempts to impose a new tactical identity. Slot has acknowledged that Salah is “not happy,” yet has persisted with benching him to address structural issues in the team’s performances.
For the Saudi Pro League, this moment represents a rare window to acquire one of the most globally marketable players of the last decade. Previous attempts failed because Liverpool were unwilling to break up their attacking core, but the current scenario gives Saudi clubs renewed confidence that a deal could be revived. Crucially, Salah’s own words about his positive relationship with SPL officials suggest a pathway remains open.
Saudi Arabia’s transformation of its league has slowed following the initial wave of superstar signings in 2023, yet officials continue to insist they will invest heavily again for strategic, image-defining transfers. Salah fits that brief perfectly, given his Arab heritage, international profile and elite pedigree. With several high-earning imports nearing contract expiry, the SPL sees 2026–27 as the next phase of targeted big-name recruitment.
Saudi Arabia want more star power ahead of 2034 World Cup
Salah’s frustrations this season have been visible, with the 33-year-old producing just five goals in all competitions. His reduced productivity, combined with adjustments under Slot’s system, has created an unfamiliar situation where Liverpool feel compelled to prioritise collective balance over Salah’s long-established attacking freedom.
The timing also matters because Salah is now more than halfway through his contract, making the next 12 months crucial for Liverpool’s long-term planning. If the club believes Salah’s role will diminish under Slot, selling him for a substantial fee before 2027 becomes a logical financial decision.
Conversely, failing to resolve tensions risks entering the final year of his deal with declining leverage and uncertainty over reinvestment. From Saudi Arabia’s perspective, Salah’s age and elite fitness profile make him an ideal headline signing as they look to increase the star power in the Pro League in the lead-up to the 2034 World Cup.
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Getty Images SportSalah set for AFCON duties later this month
Much depends on Salah’s response to being dropped and the conversations that take place between him, Slot and the Liverpool hierarchy in the coming weeks. If the reigning Premier League champions reintegrate him into the starting XI and restore his confidence, the Reds may successfully delay Saudi interest until 2027. But if the benching becomes a trend, or if Salah feels under-appreciated, the SPL will be ready to strike with a renewed, fully funded offer in the summer of 2026, or maybe even in January.
However, the first hurdle for Salah stands away from England as he is set to travel away for the Africa Cup of Nations later this month as he looks to lead Egypt to their first AFCON title since 2010.
Legendary former West Ham United and Charlton Athletic player Billy Bonds passed away on Sunday, aged 79. Bonds started his career at Charlton in 1964 and spent three seasons at the club before heading to the Hammers, where he spent the remainder of his professional career. Two years after his retirement, Bonds returned to West Ham as a manager and led the club for four seasons.
Billy Bonds passes away aged 79
West Ham shared the news of the passing away of their beloved icon with profound grief on Sunday. In an official statement, the club shared a message from Bonds' family that read: "We are heartbroken to announce that we lost our beloved Dad today. He was devoted to his family and was the most kind, loyal, selfless, and loving person. “Dad loved West Ham United and its wonderful supporters with all his heart and treasured every moment of his time at the Club. "He will always be in our hearts and eternally missed. We take comfort knowing that his legacy will live on forever."
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West Ham paid heartfelt tribute
The tribute from the Hammers read: "One of the greatest competitors English football has ever seen, Billy passed away peacefully on Sunday morning, at the age of 79. He stands unrivalled as the longest-serving player in the Club’s 130-year history, having made a total of 799 appearances across a magnificent 21-year career that saw him captain us to two FA Cup triumphs and a Second Division title, win four Hammer of the Year awards, and awarded two testimonials, a PFA merit award and an MBE for services to football.
"After hanging up his boots at the grand age of 41, Billy was handed a coaching role by the great John Lyall, working alongside Tony Carr with the Club’s Youth Team. In February 1990, he was appointed as first-team manager, leading the club to promotion from Division Two and an FA Cup semi-final in 1991. After relegation in 1992, Bonds immediately led the Hammers back into the top-flight in 1993, as we became a Premier League Club for the first time. Signed from Charlton Athletic in May 1967 for just £47,000, Bonds made his league debut for the Hammers in August that year against Sheffield Wednesday and went on to become one of the greatest figures in the Club’s history.
"He left Upton Park in 1994 after 27 years of impeccable service, and in 2013 was presented with the Club’s first-ever Lifetime Achievement award. In 2018 he was voted by fans as West Ham United’s greatest-ever player, and a year later made an emotional appearance at London Stadium when the Billy Bonds Stand was opened in his honour. An extremely private and loyal man, Billy was completely devoted to his family – wife Marilyn, who sadly passed away in 2020, daughters Claire and Katie, and grand-daughters Eloise and Elissa. Never one to crave the limelight, he was universally loved, respected and admired by his team-mates, players and supporters, who will forever consider themselves ‘Billy Bonds’s Claret and Blue Army’.
"The thoughts and sincere condolences of everyone at West Ham United are with Claire, Katie, Eloise and Elissa as they come to terms with their loss, and we kindly ask that the family’s privacy is respected at this sad and difficult time. A period of appreciation to honour Billy will be held before kick-off at today’s Premier League home fixture v Liverpool, and a full tribute will take place at our next home fixture against Aston Villa, on Sunday 14 December. Further tributes will also appear across Club channels in the coming days. Rest in peace Billy, our courageous, inspirational, lion-hearted leader."
London Stadium stand named after Billy Bonds
In 2019, West Ham paid the ultimate tribute to their legend by naming a stand at London Stadium after his name. At that moment, an emotional Bonds had said: "It's a great honour and means so much to me and my family. To think that I am only the third West Ham player to receive this honour after Bobby Moore and Trevor Brooking – you can't get better than that."
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Tributes pour in for legendary footballer
Bonds' boyhood and first professional club Charlton Athletic wrote: "We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former player Billy Bonds MBE. Our thoughts are with Billy's family and friends at this extremely difficult time."
Liverpool's message read: "Deepest condolences from all of us at Liverpool FC. Our thoughts are with Billy’s family, friends and everyone at West Ham United."
Arsenal wrote: "The thoughts of everyone at Arsenal are with Billy’s family, friends and all at West Ham United. Rest in peace, Billy."
The England national team paid tribute as they wrote: "One of the greats of our game. Rest in peace, Billy."
Fran Wilson, the former World Cup-winning batter, has been named as Gloucestershire Women’s head coach after ending her playing career with Somerset.Wilson, 33, made 64 international appearances across formats between 2010 and 2021, including eight of England’s matches at the 2017 World Cup, en route to their victory over India at Lord’s in the final.She also featured in the 2020 T20 World Cup in Australia, and made the last of her international appearances on England’s tour of New Zealand in February 2021.Domestically, Wilson made her Somerset debut in 2006, before joining Western Storm in 2016, and also represented Gloucestershire in the 2022 and 2023 Vitality Women’s County T20 competitions while developing her coaching skills through the county’s Girls Emerging Players Programme.In the course of her career, she also represented Sunrisers, Middlesex, Kent, Hobart Hurricanes, Sydney Thunder, Welsh Fire, Trent Rockets, Oval Invincibles and Birmingham Phoenix.Now, she will be taking full-time charge of Gloucestershire in Tier 2 of the new women’s county structure, having worked with the first team on a consultancy basis during the 2025 season.”I’ve done a lot of coaching alongside playing over the last five or six years, but it’s really exciting to now step into that journey fully,” Wilson said, “especially with Gloucestershire, a great club that I’ve been involved with for a long time.”We all want results, but the real goal is to build sustainable success and to put the foundations in place that allow us to compete and thrive as a Tier 1 Club.”A huge part of my role is about building those foundations from the first team right through to the age groups, having a genuine influence across that pathway.”By developing the resources we already have in the county and creating a strong network and structure around the players, I believe we can achieve long-term success.”Jon Lewis, Director of Cricket at Gloucestershire Cricket, added: “Everyone at Gloucestershire is really excited about the appointment of Fran Wilson as Women’s Head Coach.”We went through a thorough recruitment process, and Fran was the standout candidate throughout. With strong roots in cricket across the South West, a deep passion for Bristol and Gloucestershire, and a long-standing connection with the Club, that understanding of the region was an important factor for us.”Fran demonstrated an exceptional range of qualities during the process and this marks a hugely significant appointment in an area where we have serious ambition. It also comes at the start of a landmark year for the Club, with Bristol set to host England Women v India in May, followed by six matches during next summer’s ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in June.”An outstanding playing career, a history of success at both club and international level and a deep understanding of elite performance make this an appointment we are extremely proud of. The environment Fran will build will be welcoming, driven and true to the ‘Gloucestershire way’.”Our aim is to provide the best possible environment for our players to learn and develop and we believe Fran is the ideal person to lead that journey.”
The New York Mets beat the Washington Nationals at Citi Field on Thursday, but it was a tight squeeze for the home side.
The Mets entered the ninth inning up 4–0 and hoped to quickly and cleanly close out the visitors after Kodai Senga limped off the field earlier in the game. That hope dissipated quickly with Washington working Ryne Stanek and getting men on the corners with zero outs. Edwin Diaz came in to put the fire out but wound up loading the bases on four-pitch walk . Manager Carlos Mendoza did not agree with the called ball that resulted in the bases-loaded jam.
He made his opinion quite clear to umpire Chad Whitson, who fired back from behind home plate. The two's heated exchange got loud enough that mics picked up Whitson's hilarious retort as Mendoza continued to rip him for calling a ball: "I'm not a magician!"
It's a funny line and one other umpires should borrow when a manager accuses them of concoting an incorrect call out of thin air. Even if we've definitely seen worse calls from home plate umpires this year.
The Nationals would rally for three runs in the top of the ninth but Diaz earned the save and the Mets won, 4–3.
It is not controversial to say that Tottenham Hotspur have struggled in the Premier League this season, though, adopting a glass-half-full mentality, it could also be suggested that Thomas Frank’s project, in its infancy, has the potential to be a success.
However, we need to see a more synergised frontline and a sharper overall build-up strategy. Spurs have struggled for stable home form and fluency in their creativity this season, and that has formed the crux of their struggles.
Many players have flattered to deceive, but Johnson’s poor performances have perhaps gone somewhat under the radar as Frank continues to hand the Wales international a second-string role.
Brennan Johnson's struggles at Spurs
In keeping with the wider narrative at Tottenham, Johnson has ebbed and flowed since joining the club from Nottingham Forest for around £47.5m in 2023. However, he will be desperate for an uptick in form after a tough start to the Frank era, peripheral after scoring 17 goals across all competitions last year.
Johnson may have an eye for goal, but Frank clearly doesn’t fancy him as a regular starting option for the Lilywhites at the moment, with the Welshman only starting three of the past 11 fixtures in the Premier League.
Despite scoring in both of Tottenham’s opening league outings, he has offered very little in regard to ball-carrying and creative metrics, clinical when afforded space in the danger area but offering very little else for an outfit desperate for more dynamism.
See below for how Johnson’s data from the top-flight terms matches up against the form of Mohamed Kudus, and you’ll get a sense of why Frank is loath to give him a starting berth.
Matches (starts)
13 (13)
13 (6)
Goals
2
2
Assists
5
0
Touches*
52.4
17.8
Shots (on target)*
1.5 (0.5)
0.4 (0.2)
Accurate passes*
20.9 (87%)
6.7 (70%)
Chances created*
1.6
0.4
Succ. dribbles*
3.1
0.2
Ball recoveries*
5.1
0.9
Tackles + interceptions*
1.9
1.1
Duels won*
6.5
1.8
This isn’t good enough. Johnson has the physicality and electric nature to provide much more. After all, he has been hailed by content creator HLTCO in the past for his “frightening” pace and directness down the flank, right or left.
But time is surely running out for him to nail down a regular starting berth. He’s unlikely to displace Kudus, and while most Lilywhites have left something to be desired this season, there’s a lot of quality there.
And there’s more still to come, with an out-on-loan star sure to be eyeing a place above Johnson in the north London pecking order next season.
The Spurs star who could replace Johnson
Analyst Ben Mattinson has described Mikey Moore as a prospect with “superstar potential”, having taken his first steps in Tottenham’s first team last season, scoring his first senior goal in the Europa League and racking up two assists besides across 19 matches in all competitions.
Moore is currently sidelined with a muscular injury, approaching one month since last playing in the Scottish Premiership, and though he struggled to impose himself throughout the early weeks of the campaign, Rangers’ abject form made it difficult for the youngster to hit the ground running.
His natural potency in the final third and underlying athleticism suggest that he might be the perfect Johnson heir, especially since he is comfortable playing across both flanks.
Spurs writer James Harris has even said that he could “bring back the old Aaron Lennon” to north London, so dangerous and dynamic when running with the ball.
Lennon racked up 364 appearances as a right winger for Tottenham, and pace and potency were staples of his game. Like Moore, he was an incredibly direct winger; though he offered far more from a creative standpoint than, say, Johnson, there’s a sense that Moore might share the retired England star’s protean threat.
Though it hasn’t been plain sailing for Moore in the highlands this season, it’s probably fair to say that the experience has toughened him up some, and that could prove instrumental in nailing down a starting spot down the line at Tottenham.
Already, he is showing that he has more in his locker than Johnson, a wider and more threatening array of skills.
Expect big things from this kid in the future, even if that comes at Johnson’s expense, it will help elevate Frank’s project.
The new Son: Spurs prepared to pay £65m to sign "world-class" talent
Tottenham Hotspur could be about to fork out a hefty sum to land a new attacker for Thomas Frank.