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And so Tottenham Hotspur are not there yet. This much we can tell.

Residual problems from the dysfunction of the Ange Postecoglou era were always going to creep into the new campaign, but there’s an undeniable air of frustration as Aston Villa grew into the game on Sunday afternoon and left Spurs’ ground with all the spoils, having fallen behind early in the first half thanks to Rodrigo Bentancur’s strike.

Tottenham have enjoyed a steady start to Thomas Frank’s tenure, but one win from four in the Premier League of late has emphasised the scale of the task.

Creatively, Tottenham weren’t at their sharpest on Sunday, and this played into Villa’s hands as the hosts retreated, pulled deeper as they sought to group and defend their advantage.

They succumbed to the pressure, and questions were asked post-game of Xavi Simons, whose duty as playmaker-in-chief was left unfulfilled against Unai Emery’s side.

Xavi Simons still leaving something to be desired

At the base of midfield, Joao Palhinha and Rodrigo Bentancur did a fine job of protecting the Tottenham backline, winning between them 19 duels on the afternoon, as per Sofascore.

But Villa finished the match having won 53% of the duels, speaking of issues from other areas of the field.

And there’s no denying Simons struggled. Signed from RB Leipzig for £51m this summer, the diminutive creator has yet to get going in the Premier League, with Villa’s assured build-up and robustness in the challenge reducing Simons to an inconsequential display.

The 22-year-old has arrived in a new environment and is hardly getting the best service at this early stage of his Tottenham career, but neither is he covering himself in glory with impactful performances. Both things can be true.

Minutes played

79′

Goals

0

Assists

0

Touches

36

Shots (on target)

0 (0)

Accurate passes

20/24 (83%)

Chances created

1

Dribbles

0/1

Recoveries

3

Tackles won

2/4

Duels won

5/14

Frank discussed after the defeat his side’s issues in creating chances, and despite retaining the majority of possession – as is typically the case when Tottenham play at home – there was little of impetus and authority from the talented number ten, and though he dropped deep to contribute more, there has hardly been enough on show throughout these opening months.

In fact, football.london branded the Dutchman with a 5/10 match rating, writing about his work rate and willingness to get stuck in but also acknowledging his lack of attacking flair and impact.

There is anticipation and expectation, however, that Simons will grow into his skin and thrive in the Premier League. However, he’s not the only summer signing who’s struggling to bring it all together so far, with Randal Kolo Muani still to announce himself.

Randal Kolo Muani may be wasted money

From an attacking standpoint, centre-forward remains a problem for Tottenham Hotspur. It’s an age-old problem, for the scale of Harry Kane’s brilliance means that his departure only two years ago very much feels a lifetime ago.

Quite simply, Spurs are not creating anywhere near enough chances, and though they sit sixth in the standings, two points behind second-placed Manchester City, more offensive influence and cohesion is required if Spurs are to finish strongly in the Premier League and challenge for silverware once again.

(1) Crystal Palace

12

17.1

(2) Man United

11

14.9

(3) Man City

17

14.4

(4) Arsenal

15

13.6

(5) Liverpool

14

13.6

(14) Tottenham

14

8.3

Kolo Muani certainly has the talent and goalscoring ability to contribute toward that goal, but injuries have limited him to a bit-part role so far.

The Paris Saint-Germain forward arrived in north London on a one-year loan deal on transfer deadline day, arriving with a weight of expectation after reviving his career on loan with Juventus last year, scoring ten goals and providing three assists across 22 matches for the Italians, demonstrating sharp and athletic movements and ranking among the top 7% of Serie A forwards for goals scored per 90, as per FBref.

Once hailed as a “superstar” by German legend Lothar Matthaus, the 26-year-old has what it takes to be a star at Tottenham, but injuries have limited him to just two outings so far this season, and though he only featured briefly against Aston Villa, he did indeed leave much to be desired.

Football.london saw it fit to brand Kolo Muani with a 5/10 match rating in spite of his brief cameo, and that’s because he missed a sitter late on, fluffing his lines during a goalmouth scramble with only moments left on the clock.

It was an “incredible” miss, as former Premier League goalkeeper Rob Green put it, and one which might have served as a springboard for the France international’s career in London, but it wasn’t to be. Moreover, he lost both of his contested ground duels, and will need to be more convincing in the challenge going forward.

Though there’s plenty of time to right the wrongs and nail down a starting spot at number nine this season, Kolo Muani is pitted against thick competition at the front of the ship, and if Dominic Solanke clicks into gear, he might have a tough task ousting the Englishman.

For now, we must reserve judgement on a player who has suffered an injury-hit start to his Tottenham career, and who has a proven pedigree that suggests he could be the man Frank and Spurs are searching for.

But if he doesn’t take the chances that fall his way, especially with Tottenham lacking creativity and the fitness of two linchpins in James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski, then it could be a long and difficult campaign for the Les Bleus star.

The new Dele Alli: Frank must unleash Spurs' £97m-rated "game changer"

Ahead of Tottenham Hotspur’s clash with Aston Villa on Sunday, Thomas Frank must start his new “game changer” centrally as he’s the new Dele Alli.

ByBen Gray Oct 19, 2025

The 2025 summer transfer window was a crazy period for Newcastle United. Eddie Howe’s side lost their star player, Alexander Isak, at the 11th hour, and whilst they had already replaced him with Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa, it took them some time to land their new pair of number nines.

The two strikers were not the only additions the Magpies made in the summer, but they were arguably the most important. With Isak and Callum Wilson leaving, there was certainly a need to add quality depth up front to combat the loss of their former strikers.

Whilst Wissa is yet to play a game due to injury, Woltemade has really hit the ground running.

How Woltemade and Isak’s Newcastle starts compare

There was always going to be lots of pressure on German striker Woltemade. The former Stuttgart star was a target for Bayern Munich too, but Newcastle ended up paying a club-record fee of £69m to secure his services.

However, it has been a fast start to life in the Premier League for the 23-year-old.

He’s only played four Premier League games so far, but has already bagged three goals in that time, including a strike on his debut against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Interestingly, that is the exact same start that Isak had in that famous Black and White shirt. In the same number of Premier League games, the Swede had bagged three goals, which included a strike on his debut.

To build on that even further, they both scored on their debut, a game in which both players came off the bench. They didn’t find the back of the net on their second appearance, but in the two that followed, each of the strikers scored.

There are certainly some interesting parallels between Woltemade and Isak’s first four games as a Newcastle player.

Despite Bayern’s honorary president, Uli Hoeness, suggesting the German “isn’t worth” the money they spent – having also been criticised by Karl-Heinz Rummenigge for their ‘idiotic’ deal – he’s made a fast start to life at St James’ Park.

However, the same cannot be said for another of their summer signings, who hasn’t performed at his best yet.

Newcastle’s summer signing who has struggled

Moving to a club the size of Newcastle is always going to be a challenge, especially after the PIF takeover back in 2021. Yet, Woltemade seems to have dealt with that pressure well, and Magpies fans will be hoping he can continue that form.

One of their summer signings hasn’t quite hit the ground running in the same way. Anthony Elanga, the Magpies’ “mega money” signing, as Statman Dave put it, has certainly not found his best form at St James’ Park yet.

Elanga cost the North Eastern giants £55m this summer, a fee which Jamie O’Hara said was an “inflated valuation” of the Swedish star.

Indeed, in ten games so far for the club, the former Manchester United academy graduate is yet to score or set up a goal. He did pick up the player of the match award in the Champions League, gameweek two.

Yet, the winger certainly has lots to offer his new club, despite the slow start he’s made in that famous Black and White shirt. He was excellent for Forest last season, racking up 17 goals and assists in 38 top-flight games.

That included this sublime solo effort against Man United.

On top of that, his underlying numbers from last term highlight his quality.

For example, Elanga averaged 1.8 chances created and made 3.2 ball recoveries per 90 minutes, showing how good he is both on and off the ball.

Goals and assists

0.7

17

Chances created

1.8

49

Take-ons completed

0.9

25

Fouls won

1.7

47

Ball recoveries

89

3.2

So far, Elanga has not lived up to the huge price tag that Newcastle spent on him, with there perhaps a feeling that the club and PIF might have overpaid, considering his current market value only rests at €42m (£36m), as per Transfermarkt.

Certainly, though, Newcastle fans will be hoping the Swede’s Magpies career can take more of an upward trend and he can start chipping in with goal involvement.

Newcastle's "monster" duo are becoming their best pairing since Gordon & Isak

Newcastle have found a new elite partnership to lead them to success.

ByAngus Sinclair Oct 7, 2025

When it comes to the definitive Tottenham Hotspur player of the last decade or so, most people will think of Son Heung-min.

After all, the South Korean international was captain of the club when they won the Europa League last year and wore the shirt for a decade.

However, another Lilywhites star who at least has to be in contention for the title is, of course, Harry Kane.

While the England captain did leave the club, he is their all-time top goalscorer and was arguably the key player in the side that came painfully close to Premier League glory.

Unfortunately, he’s now blowing people away in Germany and is an early contender for next year’s Ballon d’Or. Worse yet, another striker Spurs sold is now starting to emulate the world-class forward.

Why Kane could win the Ballon d'Or

While there was a 15 year period in which the Ballon d’Or would generally go to either Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, things are a lot more open these days.

Where Are They Now

Your star player or biggest flop has left the club but what are they doing in the present day? This article is part of Football FanCast’s Where Are They Now series.

For example, Rodri won the award in 2024, and Ousmane Dembélé won it last month. So with this in mind, there is no reason Kane couldn’t be holding that golden ball next year.

In fact, in his usually humble way, the former Spurs star has already made it clear that he would “love to win” it.

Moreover, with the consideration for next year’s award beginning at the start of this season, it would be fair to say that, as things stand, the 32-year-old stands a great chance of getting his wish.

For example, in just ten appearances for Bayern, totalling 827 minutes, the Walthamstow-born machine has already scored 18 goals and provided three assists.

Appearances

10

Starts

10

Minutes

827′

Goals

18

Assists

3

Goal Involvements per Match

2.1

Minutes per Goal Involvement

39.38′

Minutes per Goal

45.94′

In other words, the “generational” talent, as dubbed by former manager Ange Postecoglou, has been averaging 2.1 goal involvements per game this season, or one every 39.38 minutes, which is utterly incredible.

Another way to look at those numbers is that, when you take away those three assists, the Englishman is averaging a goal every 45.94 minutes, which is undeniably world-class.

At the end of the day, there wasn’t really much Spurs could have done to keep hold of Kane in 2023, but they certainly could have retained another striker sold the following summer who is putting up numbers similar to his this season.

The former Spurs gem emulating Kane

As with all big clubs, Spurs have gotten rid of their fair share of players they should’ve kept over the years, and one international who is starting to fit that category is Troy Parrott.

The Irish international joined the club’s academy setup in 2017, but made just four competitive appearances for the first team before being sent out on several loans to Millwall, Ipswich Town, MK Dons and Preston North End.

Then, in the summer of 2023, Postecoglou sent him abroad for his fifth loan spell, to Dutch side Excelsior, and it was a brilliant move as, in just 32 appearances, he notched up 17 goals and five assists.

That was enough to convince fellow Eredivisie side AZ Alkmaar to come in with a £6.7m offer, which was enough to tempt the North Londoners into selling, a decision that, based on how things have gone since, might have been a mistake.

In his first season with De Kaasboeren, the 23-year-old poacher found the back of the net 20 times and provided five assists in 47 appearances, totalling 3432 minutes, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.88 games, or every 137.28 minutes.

However, this season, the “phenomenal” forward, as dubbed by former manager Ryan Lowe, has taken things to a whole new level.

In just eight appearances, totalling 509 minutes, the Dublin-born goal machine has put the ball in the back of the net ten times and provided two assists for good measure.

Appearances

47

8

Minutes

3432′

509′

Goals

20

10

Assists

5

2

Goal Involvements per Match

0.53

1.5

Minutes per Goal Involvements

137.28′

42.41′

That comes out to a brilliant average of 1.5 goal involvements every game, or every one every 42.41 minutes, which is a rate of return that is pretty much on parity with Kane’s.

Ultimately, it’s impossible to say how Parrott would have gotten on had he not moved to the Netherlands two years ago, but given his incredible form since then, he certainly feels like a player Thomas Franks would appreciate.

Tottenham Hotspur's most expensive sales of all time

A look at Spurs’ record departures in their history.

ByCharlie Smith Oct 7, 2025

Thomas Frank’s success at Brentford over a seven-year period undoubtedly led to his appointment at Tottenham Hotspur, often relying on one player during his time with the Bees.

Bryan Mbeumo was often the Dane’s star man across London, with his final season working with his former manager undoubtedly the best of his professional career.

The Cameroonian international netted 20 times last campaign, helping the side secure a top-half finish in Frank’s final campaign at the helm in West London.

After his appointment with the Lilywhites, the 51-year-old attempted to land the 26-year-old attacker, but he had his heart set on a transfer to Manchester United.

Missing out on the £71m star would have been a bitter blow to the manager, but he delved into the market to land another big-money Premier League star to provide the quality he hunted for.

Mohammed Kudus’ time at Spurs so far

During the summer transfer window, Spurs splashed £55m on the signature of Mohammed Kudus, with the Ghanaian winger the player Frank chose in his hunt for success.

Such a deal was part of the Lilywhites’ over £100m spending spree, already nailing down the right-wing role in the manager’s 4-3-3 system in North London.

The 25-year-old has wasted no time in impressing the fanbase, with his subsequent transfer fee now looking like an excellent piece of business by the hierarchy.

Whilst he’s yet to open his account for his new club, Kudus has already registered two assists, with both coming on the opening day in the 3-0 triumph over Burnley.

His recent showing against Villarreal in the Champions League also highlighted his immediate impact – completing four dribbles, the most of any player within the encounter.

However, despite his recent impressive displays, it appears as though the manager has found his new Mbeumo at Spurs, but in an unlikely source that not many fans would expect.

The Spurs star who’s becoming Frank’s next Mbeumo

In the last three years, Spurs have spent over £400m on new additions, highlighting the hierarchy’s ambitions to take the club to the next level.

Their Europa League triumph is evidence that their investment has been worthwhile, allowing a generation of supporters to experience a once-in-a-lifetime European success.

Brennan Johnson, who joined in a £47.5m deal from Nottingham Forest in 2023, scored the winner in such a game, further reflecting the impact of their big-spending in the transfer market.

However, centre-back Micky van de Ven has also showcased his excellent form since his own move, making himself a household name on the teamsheet – just like Kudus has in recent weeks.

The Dutchman joined the Lilywhites in a £40m deal from Wolfsburg in the same summer as Johnson, subsequently going on to make over 50 appearances in England.

He’s built an unbreakable partnership at the heart of the defence alongside club-captain Cristian Romero – with the duo keeping a clean sheet during the Europa League final triumph.

Van de Ven has taken his performance levels to new heights since Frank’s arrival, arguably being the Dane’s most important player in the early stages of the 2025/26 campaign.

The 24-year-old has been a part of the backline which has kept four clean sheets in the first five competitive outings, helping the side secure the win in the opening Champions League clash last night.

The Dutchman, who’s been labelled “incredible” by one analyst, has shown glimpses of being the manager’s own Mbeumo, following a similar pattern of moving to England from Europe at a young age.

Games played

13

Goals & assists

2

Pass accuracy

91%

Dribble success

50%

Tackles won

60%

Aerials won

1.7

Interceptions made

1.1

Recoveries made

5.6

While he operates in a hugely different position, he’s still managed to star at both ends of the pitch, even netting a goal in the recent Premier League victory over West Ham at the London Stadium.

His rise in market value is also similar to that of the Cameroonian international, subsequently being valued at £58.3m by FootballTransfers – an increase of £18.3m on the fee paid for his signature.

It’s clear that Frank wants to build a defensive foundation for any future success, as seen by their incredible record of just one goal conceded in 2025/26 across all competitions.

Whilst Kudus has the star qualities in attack to provide added ammunition, the presence of Van de Ven at the back is arguably just as important – further highlighting why he’s rapidly developing into the manager’s most important player at present.

Forget Kudus & Simons: Spurs star is becoming a "superstar" under Frank

Tottenham Hotspur have unearthed yet another top-level star in the Champions League last night.

ByEthan Lamb Sep 17, 2025

MatériaMais Notícias

O Concórdia chega na última rodada da fase de grupos da Série D do Brasileirão na luta por uma vaga na próxima fase da competição. A goleada sobre o Caxias por 4 a 0, na última rodada, deu um gás a mais para o Galo do Oeste que visita o Brasil de Pelotas, na última rodada.

Nome que chamava atenção por suas apresentações no sub-20, o meio-campista Pedro Cella ganhou mais espaço na reta final da Série D (mais precisamente, desde o último mês de junho) e não decepcionou. Com ótimas atuações, ele vem ajudando o Concórdia a manter as esperanças por uma vaga na próxima fase.

– Estou muito feliz com o momento. É importante para um jogador jovem, como eu, esse tipo de sequência e em um torneio tão equilibrado como a Série D. Com muito trabalho e pés no chão, consegui buscar meu espaço e fico grato por ajudar o Concórdia – afirmou.

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>Assista aos jogos do seu clube do coração com aquela gelada! Copo Stanley a partir de R$120,00

Pedro Cella também analisou o confronto decisivo diante dos gaúchos onde, na visão do jogador, o importante é o Concórdia fazer a parte dele sem pensar nos demais resultados:

– É uma decisão. O Brasil de Pelotas está atrás da nossa equipe na tabela, mas ainda tem também chances de avançar. Precisamos ter foco total no jogo, sem ansiedade pelo o que acontece nos outros jogos. Um jogo onde precisamos de muita concentração e aproveitar as chances que tivermos. Estou preparado e o elenco também para buscarmos essa vaga.

Tendo atualmente 19 pontos e estando na quinta posição do Grupo 8, a equipe catarinense está atrás no saldo de gol de outro clube do estado, o Camboriú, última equipe da chave atualmente classificada.

Além disso, o CAC tem apenas um ponto a menos do que o terceiro (São Joseense) e o segundo colocado da chave, o Caxias, sendo que ambos se enfrentam na rodada derradeira da primeira fase. Com isso, basta vencer e o Concórdia estará, inevitavelmente, na próxima fase da Série D.

أشاد لاعب نادي ريال مدريد السابق، بقدرات أسطورة الفريق الملكي ومهاجم النصر السعودي الحالي، كريستيانو رونالدو، موضحًا أن الأخير قدم له الكثير من النصائح خلال فترته مع النادي الإسباني.

رونالدو يعتبر من أهم اللاعبين الذين مروا على تاريخ ريال مدريد، حيث استمر الدولي البرتغالي مع النادي الإسباني لمدة تسع سنوات وسجل العديد من الأهداف مع الروخي بلانكوس.

وانتهت رحلة رونالدو مع ريال مدريد خلال صيف عام 2018، حيث غادر اللاعب صفوف الميرنجي ليوقع مع يوفنتوس مقابل 100 مليون يورو.

اقرأ أيضًا .. راشفورد: سأصل إلى أفضل مستوياتي في تلك الحالة .. وبرشلونة جعلني أستمر مع منتخب إنجلترا

وأكد مدافع ريال مدريد السابق وألباسيتي الحالي، خيسوس فاييخو، أن رونالدو له فضل كبير عليه حقًا في مسيرته الكروية.

وقال فاييخو في تصريحات نقلتها صحيفة ماركا: ”أكثر ما أثار إعجابي في غرفة ملابس ريال مدريد هو كريستيانو. ثباته ومثابرته جعلته مميزًا ومختلفًا، هو لاعب استثنائي وكان له تأثير علي ودعمني بكل ما أوتي من قوة، وأسدى لي الكثير من النصائح”.

كما كشف فاييخو عن تلقيه عرضًا من أتلتيكو مدريد، عندما كان لا يزال في صفوف ريال سرقسطة، حيث أضاف: ”لم يطلب مني ذلك من قبل، ولكن عندما كنت في صفوف شباب سرقسطة تلقيت عروضًا من فياريال وأتلتيكو مدريد، راهن سرقسطة علي وشعرت بالحب وقررت البقاء”.

وعن صعوبة ملعب سانتياجو برنابيو على الفرق المنافسة أوضح فاييخو: “رأيت كيف بدأ منافسون مثل باريس سان جيرمان أو مانشستر سيتي يرتكبون الأخطاء. الملعب يثير إعجابك، لقد شعرت بأن هناك مباريات يمنحك فيها اللعب على البرنابيو الصعود والفوز”.

وعن مدرب ريال مدريد السابق ، جولين لوبيتيجي والذي غادر الفريق الملكي عام 2019 لسوء النتائج، أجاب فاييخو: ”من المؤسف أنه لم يبق لفترة أطول، إنه مدرب رائع لكنه وصل في وقت صعب للغاية، كان ذلك العام صعبًا للغاية، عندما عاد زيدان أخبرنا أنه سيأتي ليعاني معنا”.

وعن مشاركته الشهيرة في إياب نصف نهائي دوري أبطال أوروبا عام 2022 أمام مانشستر سيتي اختتم فاييخو: ”عانى ميليتاو من بعض الانزعاج وشعرت أنه قادر على اللعب، شعرت بالقوة والاستعداد وكانت فرصة رائعة، وقد استمتعت بها كثيرًا”.

Head and bowlers will not feature while Carey, Konstas, Webster and Marsh are fully available prior to Sri Lanka tour

Alex Malcolm07-Jan-2025

Steven Smith is set to play three BBL games prior to the Sri Lanka tour while Marnus Labuschagne and Usman Khawaja will only be allowed to play one, as part of individual plans worked out with Cricket Australia’s high-performance team. Travis Head and Australia’s bowlers, meanwhile, are all set to rest before heading overseas.While Smith, Labuschagne and Khawaja will be restricted in their appearances, Alex Carey, Sam Konstas, Beau Webster, Mitchell Marsh and Jhye Richardson have all been cleared to play in the remainder of the BBL.Head, along with Scott Boland, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon and Mitchell Starc will not play any part in the BBL season despite all being contracted.Australia are likely to announce a 16-man touring party for two Tests in Sri Lanka in the coming days and the squad is set to depart for the UAE for a pre-tour camp on January 19 or 20 meaning none of the touring party will be available for the BBL finals series which runs from January 21-27.Related

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Cummins likely to miss Sri Lanka tour but no end in sight for captaincy

Marsh set for BBL return after losing Test place

It remains to be seen whether all of the squad members from the Sydney Test against India are taken to Sri Lanka, with Josh Inglis, Peter Handscomb, Todd Murphy and Matthew Kuhnemann all coming into the mix. Glenn Maxwell is also a chance to head to Sri Lanka but with Australia already securing a spot in the World Test Championship, the need for his subcontinental experience has diminished and there is a chance the selectors might look towards the 2027 tour of India with how they shape the squad.Smith will miss Sydney Sixers clash with Melbourne Stars at the MCG on Thursday but is set to be available to play against Perth Scorches at the SCG on Saturday, with Marsh and Richardson also set to feature after they were included in Scorchers squad to face Renegades at home on Tuesday night.Smith will then be available to play against Adelaide Strikers on January 15 and Sydney Thunder on January 17, where Konstas will also play. Despite the fifth Test finishing a few days ago, Konstas is set to play for Thunder against Hobart Hurricanes in Sydney tomorrow night and in Thunder’s last four games.Khawaja and Labuschagne will only be made available for Brisbane Heat’s home clash with Hurricanes on January 16 after having 10 days off. They will not be made available for Heat’s last clash in Melbourne against Renegades on January 18 given they will likely head overseas the next day.Curiously, Carey has been made available for Adelaide Strikers’ last three matches, including a match in Perth on January 18. Webster is supposedly available for Stars on January 19 at this stage. It is understood that those players could make a staggered departure to the UAE in order to play in those BBL games if required.Head is contracted to Strikers but spoke of his need for a rest in the immediate aftermath of the Sydney Test and will not play any of those matches. Head also has an IPL contract and looks set for a near non-stop touring schedule from Sri Lanka onwards with trips to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy, India for the IPL, England for the WTC final and the Caribbean for three Tests and some white-ball matches set to keep him on the road until July.Starc, Hazlewood and Cummins are staring at a similar schedule in the face although Cummins is likely to miss both Sri Lanka Tests for the birth of his second child while Hazlewood might be ruled out due to a calf injury.Lyon has been rested from the BBL despite a very light workload during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. But at 37, having had a major calf injury in 2023, he is being managed ahead of two Tests in Galle where he looks likely to be Australia’s most relied-upon bowler.CA’s high-performance team and the BBL have long been discussing the availability of the Test stars during this short window between the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and the Sri Lanka tour, with the BBL keen to have all players available for as many games as possible while the national selectors, coaches and medical staff were very keen to have as many of their stars rest during this precious window without international cricket. CA’s head of National Teams Ben Oliver said the decision on each player’s BBL availability had been made based on each individual program.”A five-Test match series is gruelling, and this was amplified by the intensity of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy,” Oliver said. “The players and staff deserve great credit for their preparation and management which has enabled sustained performance through what is a full international schedule.”We have worked with each player to form individualised plans which will best support recovery from the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and preparation for upcoming international commitments including the tour of Sri Lanka and ICC Champions Trophy. Wherever possible, this includes players representing their clubs in the ongoing BBL season over the coming fortnight.”BBL general manager Alistair Dobson was pleased to get some of the Test stars playing in the competition over the next fortnight.”We are delighted to have number of Australian Test players entering the competition from tonight off the back of their historic Border-Gavaskar Trophy victory, and thank them for their commitment to the BBL,” Dobson said.

In a few weeks, Arsenal will begin the 2025/26 Premier League campaign, and their eyes will be riveted on the prize.

Having fallen short in each of the past three seasons, the Gunners know that this is a big one, with Mikel Arteta’s side having gone five years without silverware.

But the improvements have been vast, these recent years. A lack of trophies aside, this has been an incredible resurgence for a giant who had been cast to the wayside before.

There’s a strong case for Arsenal’s unfortunate injury record across the 2024/25 term to have impeded them in their pursuit of glory, but Arteta has revised the issues and made some impactful summer signings to take his squad to the next level.

And the months of work have now been crowned by the addition of Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyokeres.

Why Arsenal signed Viktor Gyokeres

Technically, Gyokeres isn’t yet an official Arsenal player, but the centre-forward has been the subject of an agreed £64m deal that will see him stand as Arteta’s chief goal-getter over the coming years.

The Sweden international scored 97 goals and added 28 assists across 102 matches for Sporting, winning the Liga Portugal in both of his seasons at the club.

Aged 27, he’s in the prime of his career, described by former Coventry City coach Adi Viveash as being a “physical machine”. He has what it takes to become one of the leading Premier League strikers of his era, rivalling the best over the coming years.

There’s no question that Gyokeres will be a fantastic signing for Arsenal, but there remains that slight uncertainty, for he has yet to ply his trade in the Premier League.

However, Arsenal are lining up another star who could prove to be an even better signing – and that’s not to Gyokeres’ discredit.

Arsenal agree fee for Premier League star

According to Football Transfers, Arsenal are confident that they will complete the signing of Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze this summer, having agreed to pay his £68m release clause through a series of manageable instalments.

Eze scored the winning goal as Palace won the FA Cup final against Manchester City last season, and has been expected to leave for a new challenge, having already agreed personal terms with the Gunners.

The £100k-per-week talent has also attracted interest from Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur, but it’s Arteta’s side who are set to enjoy his qualities next season and beyond, should the finer details of the transfer go through without a hitch.

What Eberechi Eze would bring to Arsenal

Like Gyokeres, Eze is 27, and would provide the Gunners with maturity and completeness of development. The Three Lions star’s 2024/25 season proved to the world that he has what it takes to become a star member of one of Europe’s elite outfits.

Pundit Rio Ferdinand hailed his “unique” style of play back in March, going on to claim he could “play for one of the top teams” in the world.

A dribble-happy attacking midfielder, Eze’s low centre of gravity, immense core strength and skilled passing game make him a difficult opponent indeed, with so many different ways to hurt his opponents.

Typically used as a left-sided midfielder by Oliver Glasner over the past 18 months, Eze completed 82% of his passes in the Premier League last term, as per Sofascore, while averaging two dribbles, 1.7 key passes and 4.8 successful duels per game, underscoring his roundedness.

His ability to shift, seamlessly, between the left flank and a more central attacking position bespeaks his sharpness and intelligence. Eze, in this regard, could plug two holes for Arteta, with both Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli linked with moves away this summer.

While Eze has become more potent over the past few years, he remains a robust physical profile who could dynamise the club’s overall attacking build-up.

As per FBref, he ranked last season among the top 11% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe for shot-creating actions, the top 10% for successful take-ons and the top 14% for ball recoveries per 90.

There’s no question that Gyokeres would bring to Arsenal a newfound degree of goalscoring quality, but there’s also no doubt that Eze has a skill set so impressive that he could come to nail down a starting berth on the left flank and emerge as one of Arteta’s most trusted lieutenants.

Will Arsenal’s soon-to-be-sealed striker hit the ground running in England’s top flight? Will he manage to retain that same level of destructive brilliance in tougher conditions, against steelier defenders?

These are the questions, and we shall soon find out. In any case, Eze has built himself up over a number of years in Europe’s highest-quality division, and, of course, with Gyokeres as a target man in the middle, both could enjoy the fruits of each other’s labours.

In Gyokeres, Arsenal will secure the centre-forward they have desired over the past several years. However, Eze might prove to be the better signing, all things considered.

His higher fee reflects that, and so does the consistency for Palace in the Premier League over the past five years, even leading analyst Ben Mattinson to call him a “superstar”.

Worth more than Isak & Gyokeres: Arsenal struck gold on "world-class" star

Arsenal have a bigger talent than all of the high-profile names floating about due to this summer’s transfer window.

By
Angus Sinclair

Jul 26, 2025

Mahmudullah will retire from T20Is at the end of Bangladesh’s ongoing bilateral series in India. He made the announcement on Tuesday, at a press conference on the eve of the second game in Delhi. Mahmudullah, 38, said that he had informed the relevant people in Bangladesh cricket about his decision, and will continue playing ODIs.”I am retiring from T20I cricket after the last game of this series. I was pre-decided before coming here,” Mahmudullah said. “I had a chat with my family. I spoke to the coach [Chandika Hathurusinghe], captain [Najmul Hossain Shanto], chief selector [Gazi Ashraf Hossain] and the board president [Faruque Ahmed] as well. I think it is the right time to move on from this format for me and the team. Especially with the World Cup coming up in less than two years. I will concentrate on the one-day game.”Three years ago, Mahmudullah had retired from Tests during a game against Zimbabwe. His white-ball career went off the rails somewhat when he was dropped for two years from the T20I side, missing 27 matches between 2022 and 2023. He returned in T20Is with a 54 against Sri Lanka earlier this year, but had an ordinary campaign at the T20 World Cup, before falling for 1 in the first T20I against India in Gwalior.Related

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• Bangladesh are behind the curve in T20I cricket, and it shows

A former captain in the format, Mahmudullah will retire as the join third-most-capped T20I player in history. He has played 139 matches and two more matches will take him level with George Dockrell at 141. He is also Bangladesh’s second-highest run-scorer in the format, only behind Shakib Al Hasan. Mahmudullah has also played in the most defeats in this format, and earlier this year he became Bangladesh’s oldest player in T20Is.Mahmudullah’s T20I career will be remembered for his transformation as a big-hitter almost a decade after his debut. At the start of 2016, Hathurusinghe had given him the role of finisher. He took up the challenge, adding more aerial shots to his repertoire.”Back in 2016, there was a T20 World Cup in India. Before that, we had a training camp in Khulna. I changed my batting approach from that camp,” Mahmudullah said. “I had to bat at No. 6 or 7, so I decided to change my approach and style. It was the team’s finisher role. It was a very tricky place to bat. Not always you could finish the game. People would usually highlight the ones you didn’t finish, rather than the ones you were there for. But it is part and parcel of this game.”He raised his strike rate for the following couple of years, culminating in his best T20 knock in 2018. His unbeaten 43 off 18 balls against Sri Lanka took Bangladesh to the Nidahas Trophy final, and it was played with an umpiring controversy around, which led to then captain Shakib nearly calling off the Bangladesh innings. Despite all that – during the last over of an already tense chase – Mahmudullah held his nerve and won the match off the penultimate ball when he whipped Isuru Udana for a six.Mahmudullah called the innings a career “highlight”, and identified Bangladesh’s defeat against India in the 2016 T20 World Cup match in Bengaluru as the most “frustrating moment” in his career. He said that although Bangladesh didn’t win a major trophy during his T20I career, the team did take strides forward in the 17 years since his debut.”Definitely we didn’t win a major trophy, but I don’t agree that we don’t have any achievements,” he said. “I think if a trophy is the only benchmark then many legends wouldn’t be called legends. The situation is very different from the time I made my debut in 2007 to now. It is not just due to the [‘five Pandavas’ from the , a reference to the combination of Shakib, Tamim Iqbal, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah and Mashrafe Mortaza]. Every player, coach and team management involved, have all contributed to this change in Bangladesh cricket.”Mahmudullah said that there were several players in Bangladesh who could replace him in the finisher’s role, but it was a batting position that required patience and support from the coach and captain. “Jaker Ali, Shamim [Hossain], Afif [Hossin] and Yasir Ali can be good choices at No. 6 or 7,” he said. “It is not easy to bat there in T20Is. You have to be brave. You can’t think about failure. You have to go out there, and hit the ball as hard as you can. Coach and captain has to back the batter in that position.”

South Africa 271 for 9 (Rickelton 91, Stubbs 79, Adair 4-50, Young 3-45) beat Ireland 132 (Dockrell 21, Williams 4-32, Fortuin 2-28, Ngidi 2-35) by 139 runs Career-best ODI scores from Ryan Rickelton and Tristan Stubbs respectively and career-best List A figures of 4-32 from Lizaad Williams helped South Africa crush Ireland by 139 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.Rickelton and Stubbs put on a 152-run partnership in the middle of two mini-collapses to help South Africa get to 271 before Williams’ three-for in an eight-over opening spell left Ireland five down inside 14 overs. Ireland eventually only got to 132.South Africa got off to a watchful start, with Rickelton doing a majority of the scoring early on. He cut Mark Adair through point for a boundary off the first ball of the match before hitting a couple of cover drives off Graham Hume and Adair.In between, Hume induced the outside edge from him but was dropped by wicketkeeper Stephen Doheny.But Adair got the breakthrough in the seventh over, when he changed tactics and banged one in short. Tony de Zorzi got a top edge as he looked to pull and was taken at deep backward square.Temba Bavuma was then given out lbw first ball as a length ball jagged in from outside off, but was reprieved as he reviewed and ball-tracking showed the ball going over middle stump.But it was short-lived relief for the South African captain, as Craig Young got another inducker to beat his defence and crash into the stumps.Two wickets in two overs became three in three as Adair ended his first spell by getting Rassie van der Dussen to edge to second slip.Once the first powerplay ended, spin came in and that led to more chances. Stubbs tried to reverse-sweep Andy Mcbrine but hit it straight to short third where Craig Young shelled a catch in the seventeenth over. One ball later, Rickelton lofted debutant legspinner Gavin Hoey down the ground and just cleared long-on, who was standing a few yards inside the ropes and had to track back.Hume came back into the attack in the 22nd over, and was launched over long-on by Stubbs as he brought up a half-century stand with Rickelton.Rickelton brought up his maiden ODI half-century off 74 balls in the 26th over and immediately put his foot down on the accelerator.Hoey bowled a couple of half-volleys and Rickelton first lofted him down the ground before slog-sweeping him over midwicket. When Hoey shortened his length, Rickelton adjusted to steer it past the wicketkeeper for a boundary in what was an 18-run over.Stubbs brought up a 62-run fifty in the next over, before Rickelton slapped Campher through backward point for another boundary to bring up the century stand. While the first fifty runs of their partnership took 73 balls, they took just 39 balls to get the next fifty.Stubbs then came down the ground to Craig Young for a six over long-on that brought up 150 for South Africa in the 30th over, before Hoey was swept behind square by Rickelton next over.Even as Stubbs hit McBrine and Adair for boundaries, that was the last one Rickelton hit. After facing ten balls without a boundary, Rickelton tried to go after a full and wide delivery from McBrine but ended up dragging the ball on, falling nine runs short of a maiden ODI century.File photo: Lizaad Williams ended with 4 for 32•ICC via Getty Images

That dismissal sparked another mini-collapse as Adair combined with Balbirnie for two wickets in his next two overs. Stubbs pulled the fast bowler to Balbirnie at short midwicket before Phehlukwayo was done in by a slower ball and ended up spooning it short cover.A slower ball brought about another wicket as Wiaan Mulder was early in his attempt to pull Young and holed out at deep midwicket.Young then had his third when Williams skied his pull to deep midwicket, as South Africa lost five wickets for 38 runs.Bjorn Fortuin took South Africa past 250 as he hit Young for two boundaries before pulling Hume to midwicket for a 34-ball 28. Ngidi then hit a four and a six to take South Africa to 271.Ngidi continued giving South Africa momentum when the chase began, as he got Paul Stirling to chop on.Balbirnie and Curtis Campher then rebuilt for Ireland, adding 35 runs including top-edged sixes from both batters, before Williams drew an inside edge from Balbirnie that hit the stumps.Harry Tector brought out two gorgeous drives, one through point and one down the ground, off consecutive balls from Williams before he was trapped in front next ball.Williams then got one to stop on Campher, who was early into a shot and ended up offering a simple catch to cover.Debutant Ottneil Baartman then had his maiden ODI wicket when he got one to jag in and go through Doheny’s defence. George Dockrell and Adair hung around before the latter got a feather edge off Ngidi in the 21st over.Four overs later, Dockrell chopped on off Mulder before Fortuin trapped Hoey in front next over to ensure all of South Africa’s bowlers got on the wickets column.Williams returned to complete his quota and bounced McBrine out in his final over before Fortuin had Hume caught at mid-off to wrap up the win.