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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has now identified an “incredible” midfielder as one of his main targets in central midfield.

Guardiola looking to sign new midfielder with Gonzalez struggling

Nico Gonzalez is yet to establish himself as a key first-team player for Man City, often being limited to appearances as a substitute in the Premier League so far this season, and the midfielder has received criticism for some of his performances.

City’s first major setback of the campaign came in the 2-0 defeat at home against Tottenham Hotspur back in August, and former Chelsea man Frank Lebouef claimed Gonzalez was at fault for the visitors’ second goal.

The commentator said: “Yes, Trafford made a mistake of giving the ball, but what about Nico [Gonzalez]?”

“Why did Nico ask for the ball? And you can see that again when he really asked for the ball, when he has two guys behind him and forces the goalkeeper to give him the ball.”

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Since then, the Spaniard has continued to struggle, giving away the penalty in the 2-2 draw against AS Monaco in the Champions League, which was converted by Eric Dier in the 90th minute.

With fellow midfielder Rodri struggling on the injury front, Man City are now looking to strengthen their options in the middle of the park, according to a report from Spain, which claims Bayern Munich’s Aleksandar Pavlovic has been identified as one of Pep’s main targets.

The City manager is looking to revamp his midfield, and Pavlovic is described as his ‘favourite’ target, having put in some outstanding performances for Bayern, who are extremely reluctant to sanction a departure.

As such, a ‘significant offer’ will be required to prise the 21-year-old away from the German club, with it previously being revealed the Blues could be willing to shell out over £43m.

"Incredible" Pavlovic could be the "next Toni Kroos"

The central midfielder is held in very high regard by journalist Manuel Veth, who has suggested he could be capable of emulating a former Bayern Munich and Real Madrid star.

It is vital that any midfielder playing under Pep is an assured passer of the ball, and the Bayern star certainly ticks the box, having shown a remarkable ability to pick out his teammates over the past year.

Statistic

Average per 90 (past year)

Passes attempted

97.42 (99th percentile)

Pass completion %

92.6% (98th percentile)

Progressive passes

8.39 (95th percentile)

It is clear to see that Pavlovic could be the perfect signing for Man City, given that he shares similar traits to Rodri, who attempted 95 passes in just 60 minutes during the 2-0 win over Napoli, and the young German could be the ideal successor.

Benjamin Sesko’s form in a Manchester United shirt has taken a real upturn in the last couple of weeks. The Slovenian forward has scored twice in his last two games, scoring against Brentford in the 3-1 loss away from home, and the second in a 2-0 win at home to Sunderland.

United content creator Dev Bajwa has certainly been left impressed by the young centre-forward. He called his all-around play “impressive” and said that his “technical qualities are clearly there” in his game.

The United number 30 has certainly started life at Old Trafford well.

Interestingly, he has not had a faster start to the season than Rasmus Hojlund, the man he replaced.

Hojlund’s start to the season compared to Sesko

After struggling to nail down his spot in the starting lineup under Ruben Amorim, Danish striker Hojlund went out on loan to Napoli for the 2025/26 campaign. Like Sesko has at United, Hojlund has hit the ground running in Italy.

The 22-year-old, who was born in Copenhagen, has already found the back of the net four times for Napoli this season, in just six appearances, double Sesko’s tally. Half have come in the Italian top flight, and the other in the Champions League.

So, not only has Hojlund outscored Sesko this season, but the Dane is also bettering him when it comes to minutes per goal.

The on-loan Napoli star averages one goal every 117 minutes, with Sesko’s goals coming every 237.5 minutes.

Napoli’s Scudetto-winning boss, Antonio Conte, was full of praise for the striker. The Italian said that the 22-year-old “has great potential, he can grow and improve,” suggesting the best is yet to come.

So, a loan move away from United clearly worked for Hojlund, allowing him to get minutes under his belt and thrive. Another young Red Devils striker is currently on a similar path.

The United striker on the same path as Hojlund

It is a shame things did not work out for Hojlund at Old Trafford. Just looking at how well he’s playing this season is enough to be able to tell just how much of a talent he is.

He certainly could have been excellent at United if platformed well.

Well, United may have a striker headed down a similar path under Ruben Amorim. It has not been an easy season for 17-year-old Chido Obi. There are simply no opportunities for youth under Amoirm, which goes against the DNA of the club, and Obi has fallen foul of that.

In fact, the former Arsenal youth striker, who was described as a “monster” of a centre-forward by football analyst Ben Mattinson, has not even been on the bench for the first team this season.

That might be a surprise to many, given how much trust Amorim placed in Obi last term. The 17-year-old played eight games for the Red Devils, but did not manage to find the back of the net.

He also became the youngest ever player to start a Premier League match for United.

Let’s not forget how clinical Obi has been at youth level. The Dane, born in Glostrup, has an exemplary record for both United and Arsenal in academy football.

He’s currently sat on 49 goals across under-18 and under-21 level.

Obi goalscoring record per academy side

Team

Games

Goals

Arsenal u18s

21

32

Man United u18s

10

12

Man United u21s

11

5

Denmark u17s

19

12

Denmark u18s

4

2

Denmark u20s

4

2

Stats from Transfermarkt

It is easy to see how this situation is similar to Hojlund’s last season. The Napoli star fell out of favour under Amorim, and needed a loan move to revitalise his career.

Whilst Obi is only 17 and not at that sort of stage yet, he would surely have been hoping for more first-team minutes given his involvement last term.

Perhaps, like his compatriot, a loan move is the way forward for Obi. It will guarantee him regular first-team minutes, and if he is able to score a few goals like Hojlund has managed, it would do his confidence the world of good.

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Posts ByEthan Lamb Oct 11, 2025

Despite spending bigger than ever this summer, Liverpool could reportedly splash the cash once again next year to welcome a player who is ready to reject Real Madrid.

Slot sends reminder about "great" Liverpool business

Even after winning four from four in the Premier League, Arne Slot and Liverpool have faced plenty of criticism. The Reds have needed four, dramatic late winners to maintain the only 100% record in England’s top flight so far this season in a run that is yet to feature a goal or assist from big-money arrival Florian Wirtz.

As he continues to adjust to life in England, there’s been plenty of talk about whether he will prove his worth at Anfield and about Liverpool’s general spending. Slot, however, was quick to remind reporters that there were also a number of sales at Anfield this summer in his press conference before Liverpool’s meeting with Atletico Madrid.

The Dutchman also had his say on Wirtz, telling reporters: “There is so much focus on Florian, but those already here haven’t scored four goals or produced 12 assists either.”

The good news for Liverpool is that, whilst the former Bayer Leverkusen star is not at his best quite yet, they’ve won four games from four and should only get better as a collective.

Their spending may not be done after the summer just gone, either. Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes sent a statement of intent in the last transfer window, which could quickly see them return to the market in 2026. Reports are even suggesting that one player is now ready to reject Real Madrid in favour of an Anfield move.

Wharton ready to reject Real Madrid for Liverpool

According to reports in Spain, Adam Wharton is ready to reject Real Madrid in favour of joining Liverpool in 2026. The England international has been priced at around £70m by Crystal Palace, who could also lose Marc Guehi to the Reds next summer. In a double swoop, Slot could land two of the most important players at Selhurst Park.

Minutes

1,318

2,599

Progressive Passes

7.33

6.12

Tackles Won

0.96

2.01

Ball Recoveries

6.99

5.12

In Slot’s new double pivot, it could be argued that Wharton would be the perfect addition. Last season, the Englishman kept up with Alexis Mac Allister in possession and recovered possession more than the Liverpool star. That’s how talented Wharton is and that’s the level that he should be competing with every week.

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The Reds are set to turn their attention towards the Champions League.

ByTom Cunningham Sep 17, 2025

Dubbed “incredible” by former Crystal Palace teammate Eberechi Eze, Wharton is still just 21 years old and is yet to even reach the peak of his powers. If he continues his current rise, then £70m could quickly turn into a bargain deal for Liverpool next summer.

Zimbabwe veteran Sean Williams will make his return to the Test squad for the upcoming tour of Bangladesh, as the team prepare for a two-match series starting April 20.Williams had missed Zimbabwe’s previous Test, against Ireland, due to a back injury. Both he as well as the captain Craig Ervine, who pulled out of the Ireland game due to the birth of his child, have been included in the 15-man squad for the Bangladesh series. Wessly Madhevere, who had been a last-minute call-up to replace Ervine in the Ireland series, keeps his place for the Bangladesh Tests.Overall, Zimbabwe have made three changes from the squad that took on Ireland in February. Wicketkeeper-batter Joylord Gumbie makes way for Tafadzwa Tsiga, who returns to the national fold two years after making his Test debut against West Indies.Also returning is left-arm spinner Wellington Masakadza, whose most recent Test appearance came during that same series against West Indies in 2023. He replaces young pace bowler Newman Nyamhuri.Fast bowler Blessing Muzarabani, who made history in February by becoming the first Zimbabwe pacer to claim seven wickets in a Test innings, will spearhead the bowling attack alongside Richard Ngarava.The only uncapped player in the squad is legspinner Vincent Masekesa.”We are very excited to be heading into a period where Test cricket will be our sole focus,” Zimbabwe head coach Justin Sammons said.”I am certain this group of players will continue to grow as individuals and as a team as they face new challenges in different conditions.”Zimbabwe will take on Bangladesh in the first Test in Sylhet from April 20, before moving to Chattogram for the second Test on April 28.This is Zimbabwe’s first Test in Bangladesh since February 2020, when the hosts secured victory in a one-off match in Dhaka by an innings and 106 runs.Squad: Craig Ervine (Captain), Brian Bennett, Johnathan Campbell, Ben Curran, Trevor Gwandu, Wessly Madhevere, Wellington Masakadza, Vincent Masekesa, Nyasha Mayavo, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava, Victor Nyauchi, Tafadzwa Tsiga, Nicholas Welch, Sean Williams

After weeks of hunting for a new attacking midfielder, Thomas Frank looks finally about to land a new talent to his Tottenham Hotspur first-team squad.

Eberechi Eze and Morgan Gibbs-White were two players constantly on their radar, but ultimately, the Lilywhites missed out on the aforementioned duo for various reasons.

However, it may prove to be a blessing in disguise, after the hierarchy agreed a deal to land RB Leipzig talent Xavi Simons, despite the Dutchman previously agreeing terms with Chelsea.

It’s been reported that a €60m (£52m) deal has been agreed for the 22-year-old’s signature, with the youngster even completing his medical after travelling to North London yesterday.

Despite the agreement for Simons, it appears as though Frank and Co. aren’t done in this summer window, subsequently targeting other players before Monday’s transfer deadline.

Spurs’ hunt for new additions after Simons

Over the last couple of weeks, West Ham United star Lucas Paqueta has been strongly linked with a move to join Spurs – but no deal has yet been agreed for the Brazilian.

Talks have been held between the two clubs to try and reach an agreement, leading to the Hammers placing a £60m price tag on the 27-year-old’s head.

However, he’s not the only player who’s been on their radar during the summer window, with Leicester City star Bilal El Khannouss still in their sights, according to GIVEMESPORT.

They claim that Frank’s men could still make a move for the Moroccan, reporting that a late deal could be landed for the 21-year-old attacking midfielder on deadline day.

It also states that the manager and the staff behind the scenes are constantly monitoring his situation, with the youngster seen as a player who can add further quality to the current side – potentially being available for just £22m.

Why Spurs’ £22m transfer target is just like Paqueta

A deal for a star from West Ham may appear controversial, given the rivalry, but it wouldn’t be the first time this summer, after previously completing a deal for Mohammed Kudus.

The Ghanaian has already made an immediate impact in North London, registering two assists in his first two Premier League outings under new boss Frank.

Should they agree a deal for Paqueta, he would be the latest star from Graham Potter’s side to make the move, but it would be a huge investment given his £60m asking price.

The pending deal for Simons could potentially put such a move on the back burner, which could make El Khannouss a more cost-effective squad option for the 2025/26 campaign and beyond.

Whilst many supporters will raise their eyebrows at such a move, given the Foxes’ relegation last campaign, the Moroccan still managed to be labelled as a similar player to Paqueta by FBref.

When comparing his stats to those of the Brazilian from 2024/25, El Khannouss managed to outperform him in numerous key areas, potentially being a superb addition to the side this summer.

The Leicester star, who’s been labelled “exceptional” by analyst Ben Mattinson, registered more combined goals and assists, whilst also achieving a better shot on target rate in front of goal – a record that would hand the Lilywhites an added threat in the final third.

How El Khannouss & Paqueta compared in the PL (2024/25)

Statistics (per 90)

El Khannouss

Paqueta

Games played

33

33

Goals & assists

6

4

Shot on target accuracy

23%

7%

Progressive passes

5.9

5.8

Key passes made

1.7

1.3

Shot-creating actions

3.2

3.1

Take-on success

57%

44%

Progressive carries

2.9

0.9

Carries into the final third

1.9

1.2

Stats via FBref

However, an attacking midfielder is mainly responsible for chance creation – something which the Moroccan demonstrated in abundance throughout 2024/25.

He bettered Paqueta for both key passes made per 90, whilst creating more shooting opportunities for his teammates, having all the tools to thrive behind the striker in North London.

El Khannouss’ talents with the ball at his feet are further reflected in his higher take-on success rate, subsequently taking the ball into the final third on more occasions in the Premier League last campaign.

There’s no denying that all the Spurs faithful are hugely focused on a deal to land Simons – and rightfully so given his mammoth transfer fee, which has seen him edge closer to completing his move.

However, El Khannouss would be an excellent backup to the Dutchman, with his potential late arrival handing Frank the added squad depth he’s been craving since taking the reins.

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Posts 1 ByEthan Lamb Aug 28, 2025

Birmingham City’s opening Championship match of the season at home to Ipswich Town is growing ever closer.

It would be quite the statement to make on the end of the Blues if they were to get the better of the recently relegated Tractor Boys on the first, action-packed night of the division, with a win being the best possible way to storm out of the traps and to ease any potential nerves.

The aim for the reigning League One champions will be to achieve the unbelievable feat of back-to-back promotions up to the Premier League, with the first month of the season, and beyond, making it clear to everyone if Davies’ men are made of stern enough stuff to secure this wild goal.

If they were to triumphantly leap into the Premier League, this would be the first time the West Midlands side had played in the top division since the 2010/11 season, with forgotten heroes from Birmingham’s past, such as Nicola Zigic, leading the line all that time ago.

Zigic's heroics at Birmingham

Birmingham supporters have likely put Zigic’s exploits to the back of their mind for some time now, with the likes of Jay Stansfield and Alfie May being cheered on instead.

However, looking back on the 6-foot-8 Serbian’s career at St. Andrew’s will be tinged with lots of pleasant nostalgia, with his most memorable contribution in Birmingham blue coming when he headed home the opener against Arsenal in 2011 at Wembley, as Alex McLeish’s men surprisingly lifted the League Cup.

Across a varied career that saw him play in Spain for Valencia, alongside lining up for several different sides in his native Serbia, Zigic is likely most fondly remembered by Birmingham fans, with the towering giant ending his 158-game association with the club by netting 36 goals and picking up 18 assists.

Seven of those efforts would be picked up during his final full season in England as Birmingham bravely staved off relegation in the Championship, as his ability to be in the right place, at the right time to score a vital goal for the Blues won him cult hero status.

One brand new striker target on Birmingham’s rumoured shopping list will hope he’s remembered in a similarly glowing way down the line, as the experienced goal machine in question looks to secure a deal to join Davies’ ranks before the early September deadline.

The "extraordinary" star who could be Zigic 2.0

Adding in another striker to Davies’ camp might well feel like a wasted move, considering the Blues boss already has Kyogo Furuhashi and the aforementioned Stansfield ready for selection.

Yet, if Birmingham were to win the services of Werder Bremen star Marvin Ducksch – who the Championship side are ‘quietly confident’ about winning as per recent reports by GIVEMESPORT – the 31-year-old should be able to offer the second-tier newcomers something unique in attack, much like Zigic gifted the Blues all those years ago.

For starters, Ducksch would be entering into his new surroundings at St. Andrew’s as a seasoned attacking option that won’t be fearful of the testing Championship, with Zigic also possessing that same level of calmness when walking through the door in 2010 as a 29-year-old menace from Valencia.

Moreover, the 31-year-old would also be moving to England with lots of pedigree attached to his name. Zigic was very much in the same boat when he made the daring move from Spain to St. Andrew’s, having bagged 59 goals in total for Valencia, Racing Santander, and Red Star Belgrade.

Ducksch’s career numbers in Germany by division
Division played in	Games played	Goals scored	Assists
Bundesliga	130	34	28
2. Bundesliga	138	71	34
3. Liga	54	19	14
Sourced by Transfermarkt

His goal-heavy 6-foot-2 counterpart has even more strikes to shout about when plying his trade all across his native Germany, with a stunning combined haul of 124 strikes tallied up by Ducksch as he made his way up the German pyramid, all the way to the top in the Bundesliga.

This sublime goalscoring form for Bremen and many other sides has resulted in the robust attacker even being labelled as “extraordinary” by teammate Mitchell Weiser for what he can offer up top.

Zigic was often referred to in a similarly positive tone at St. Andrew’s – with one of his ex-Blues bosses Lee Clark dubbing him “extremely talented” – as Davies and Co. in the here and now hope their ongoing pursuit of Ducksch results in them winning an up-to-date iteration of the much-loved colossus.

Double deal: Birmingham and Brady want £43k-p/w duo; advanced talks for one

Brady wants the Blues to keep spending.

2

By
Charlie Smith

Jul 31, 2025

Marnus Labuschagne’s long-time batting mentor has cautioned him against over-training ahead of the second Test in Adelaide and be less rigid in his gameplan as he attempts to emerge from what is the most serious batting slump since he became an international cricketer.While collectively Australia’s top order is underperforming, Labuschagne is the one squarely in the spotlight after two ugly innings at Optus Stadium. On the first day he laboured to 2 off 52 balls before missing a straight delivery from Mohammed Siraj and on the third evening left a delivery from Jasprit Bumrah that would have smashed the stumps.Related

• Labuschagne wants to do to India what Pujara did to Australia

• Frazzled Australia left searching for answers

• Labuschagne faces vital week as Australia resist panic changes

The twin failures left Labuschagne with 123 runs from his last 10 innings of which 90 came in one knock against New Zealand in March. Overall this year he is averaging 24.50 in Tests to follow a 2023 where that figure was 34.91 having been above 60 in three of the previous four years.Labuschagne was already back in the nets while the opening Test drew a conclusion in Perth on Monday and was expected to train individually before the squad links back up a day earlier than planned in Adelaide.”I’d probably just half what he usually does. Just try and clear it up a bit,” Neil D’Costa told ESPNcricinfo. “Keep working on reacting more, not having such rigid plans. Every batter goes through this. Almost everyone around 30 years old – I don’t know why it’s that number – seems to have this glitch. He’s a guy we all know, he loves playing cricket. He never leaves a stone unturned. He’s super fit. Does he overthink things? I don’t know, possibly everyone does.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

“When someone gets to the stage where they are the No. 1 player in the world, they are going to become a target. He couldn’t keep going. He’d be averaging 80. At some stage, I don’t want to say it had to happen…it happens to a lot of players. They try a bit too hard and like [Virat] Kohli you have to keep trusting yourself, trusting your processes, trust what you do. Go back and find a way the next day.”Labuschagne’s lack of positivity at the crease came under significant focus after his first innings. “The manner that he’s been playing, for me it’s such a negative mindset, and he has been for a little while,” Aaron Finch said on . “What that does, when you’re coming up against great attacks – Jasprit Bumrah is as good as we’ve ever seen, Siraj a very good fast bowler – it just allows them to settle in, you’re not putting much pressure on them, so their margin for error becomes huge.”D’Costa, who has already spoken with Labuschagne since the Test, believed he was within his rights to think he could leave the delivery from Bumrah. “That ball was 8.3 metres [from the stumps], that’s going over the stumps all day, every day,” he said. “It just hit the top of the stumps. With a millisecond to make a decision, he saw the length and let it go and it skidded. Are we going to lose sleep over that? I’m not. Would you like him to score runs, absolutely.”Marnus Labuschagne left a lot of balls in the first innings…and fell leaving one in the second•Associated Press

Labuschagne’s two lbw dismissals in Perth come amid a period where a tendency to be caught playing away from his body had crept into his game which D’Costa partly attributes to him working on his white-ball batting.”If you look at how he plays, he lets a lot of balls go. He always has,” he said. “Think maybe he was working really hard at being a one-day player so for a little while he lost that. And he started nicking. Let me tell you, they [India] bowled so well. They knew exactly he wanted that ball on leg stump. They did not bowl there. If anything, they bowled wide. This team is really well prepared. They executed very well.”After the defeat, captain Pat Cummins acknowledged Labuschagne’s difficulties would be a focal point in the days ahead.”Marn, along with quite a few guys in the team, didn’t have the week we would have wanted,” he said. “It’s no secret how hard the batters, particularly Marn, works in the nets. He’s always trying to find those small marginal gains. This week will be a lot of conversation with the coaches around his approach and what he could be doing differently.”

Tottenham Hotspur appear to be making key moves in the transfer market ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, with Thomas Frank tasked with changing the club’s fortunes.

Whilst the Lilywhites won the Europa League, their showings in the Premier League were nothing short of embarrassing, resulting in a measly 17th-placed finish.

Ange Postecoglou was subsequently handed his marching orders, resulting in Frank’s appointment, which has also led to an increase in activity within the window.

£55m has already been spent on the signature of Mohammed Kudus, leading to rumours of added investment being injected into the club, helping the side in their quest for success.

Despite the first major addition of the summer, numerous other players remain key targets for the hierarchy, with efforts underway to secure players who will enhance the squad.

The latest on Spurs’ hunt for new additions this summer

Over recent weeks, Nottingham Forest star Morgan Gibbs-White has been the biggest name mentioned over a move to Spurs, unsurprisingly given that the club triggered his £60m release clause.

Whilst he was once set for a medical, a deal may now take some time to complete, after the Reds blocked the move and threatened illegal action over an alleged illegal approach for his signature.

However, he’s not the only midfielder currently on their radar, with Bayern Munich star Joao Palhinha emerging as a key target, according to TBR Football.

Their report claims that talks have been held with the 30-year-old in the last week, with the Portuguese international keen on a return to England after leaving Fulham for £47m last summer.

It also states that he could be seen as a replacement for Yves Bissouma, as Frank could cash in on the Malian international, given he only has one year left on his deal in North London.

Why Spurs’ £47m target would be perfect for Gibbs-White

Landing the signature of Gibbs-White this summer would be quite a coup for Spurs, especially considering he was strongly linked with a move to join Manchester City earlier this window.

The 25-year-old is seen as a consistent England international, unsurprisingly so given his form at the City Ground in recent times, which saw him end the 2024/25 campaign with 15 goal contributions.

He’s previously showcased his talents against the Lilywhites, registering the assist for Anthony Elanga’s goal in the clash back in December, securing the win for Nuno Espírito Santo’s side.

However, given the addition of Kudus, along with current attacking midfielders James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski currently on the books, a move for another number ten may need to wait.

As a result, attention could be turned to Palhinha, with any addition of the deep-lying Portuguese international allowing the side to have the anchor they’ve been craving, allowing him to regain possession before transferring the ball into forward areas.

His stats from the recent campaign highlight why he’d be an excellent ball-winning option within the heart of the side, potentially having the tools to link up with Gibbs-White ahead of 2025/26 if both deals are completed.

The Portuguese international, who’s been labelled “world-class” by compatriot Ivan Cavaleiro, won 1.9 tackles per 90 in the Bundesliga – a tally which put him in the top 2% of all players in the division, highlighting his ability to regain the ball for his side.

João Palhinha’s stats for Bayern in the Bundesliga (2024/25)
Statistics (per 90)	Tally
Games played	17
Minutes played	667
Pass accuracy	92%
Progressive passes	4.3
Passes into final third	6.3
Tackles won	1.9
% of tackles won	69%
Aerials won	2.7
Aerial success rate	65%
Stats via FBref

He also won 65% of the aerials that he entered, having the all-round dominance without the ball, whether that be aerially or on the ground, something which Spurs have greatly lacked in recent times.

However, in possession, Palhinha has been just as impressive, registering 6.3 passes into the final third per 90, a figure that could hand Gibbs-White the chance to carry over his tremendous form from Nottingham to North London.

It’s currently unclear whether any deal for his signature would be a permanent or temporary one, but it’s evident from his stats last season that he would be a superb addition to Frank’s side.

There’s no debate that Gibbs-White would add further depth in attacking areas, with the prospect of the Englishman linking up with Palhinha certainly being an exciting one, subsequently helping the side mount a charge up the table in 2025/26.

Their own Gyokeres: "Sensational" £50m striker now wants to sign for Spurs

Tottenham Hotspur could be edging closer to another big-money signing this summer.

1

By
Ethan Lamb

Jul 18, 2025

Liverpool have reportedly had a “phone call” with the representatives of a big-money attacking player, as they look to sign a replacement for Darwin Nunez.

Slot's beautiful Jota tribute before Preston

The Reds started their pre-season with a 3-1 win away to Preston North End on Sunday afternoon, on what was an emotional occasion after the tragic passing of Diogo Jota earlier this month.

Prior to the game, Arne Slot provided some beautiful words on the Portuguese, showing exactly why he was such a perfect successor to Jurgen Klopp.

“Nothing seems to be important if we think of what has happened. But we are a football club and we need to train and we need to play again, if we want it or not. What I’ve said to the players, I can say it here as well. It’s very difficult to find the right words because we constantly debate what is appropriate. What is appropriate in our actions? What is appropriate [for] what we have to say? Can we train again? Can we laugh again? Can we be angry if there’s a wrong decision?

“And I’ve said to them, maybe the best thing for us to do is handle this situation like Jota was. And what I meant with that is that Jota was always himself, it didn’t matter if he was talking to me, to his teammates, to the staff, he was always himself. So let us try to be ourselves as well. So, if we want to laugh we laugh; if we want to cry we’re going to cry. If they want to train they can train, if they don’t want to train they can not train. But be yourself, don’t think you have to be different than your emotions tell you.”

Now, it is a case of Slot and his Liverpool players trying to achieve lots of success with Jota in their thoughts, and further signings may help in that respect. A new update has now emerged regarding a potential addition in the final third.

Liverpool have "phone call" with £78m Nunez replacement

According to journalist Sebastien Vidal on X, Liverpool have been in contact with a “phone call” to RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko’s agents about a £78m move to Anfield, coming in to replace the likely-to-leave Nunez, who scored against Preston.

Sesko feels like an ideal option to come in and lead the line for the Reds, considering it looks increasingly unlikely that they will be able to sign Alexander Isak from Newcastle United.

The 22-year-old is already such a prolific and dominant striker, scoring 39 goals in 87 appearances for Leipzig, as well as 16 in 41 caps for Slovenia.

Slot's next Wirtz: Liverpool in contact to sign "the new Haaland" for £78m

Liverpool are planning to sign a new striker in the summer transfer market.

By
Angus Sinclair

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If Liverpool could sign Sesko on top of Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez this summer, it would be outstanding business, with a new backup centre-back potentially the next priority after Jarell Quansah’s move to Bayer Leverkusen.

India A suffered a morning collapse but fought back as offspinner Minnu Mani continued to shine

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Aug-2024

Kate Peterson claimed a five-wicket to earn Australia A a lead (file photo)•Getty Images

The ball dominated on the second day between Australia A and India on the Gold Coast as Minnu Mani took her match haul to ten wickets, after Kate Peterson had taken five for the hosts to earn a narrow first-innings lead, but Maddy Darke ensured what could be a tricky chase.Having taken a 28-run advantage, Australia A lost two wickets before scoring a run in their second innings with Mani striking in consecutive overs to remove Georgia Voll and Charli Knott – caught at slip and deep midwicket respectively – on her way to claiming the first four batters to fall.Related

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Nicole Faltum edged behind and Tess Flintoff was bowled by a big-spinning offbreak that ripped between bat and pad.However, Darke put together an unbeaten half-century to stretch the lead towards 200, adding 54 for the sixth wicket with Maitlan Brown before she became Mani’s tenth wicket, smartly caught off the face of the bat at short leg.Emma de Broughe also made a half-century in challenging conditions against India’s spinners before being given caught behind off legspinner Priya Mishra although she did not seem convinced by the decision.Earlier, India A had resumed on 100 for 2 but were soon in trouble as Peterson ran through the middle order. Her first wicket of the day came with a delivery that moved late to take Tejal Hasabnis’ off stump and then it was further away swing that did for opener Shweta Sehrawat who was caught behind.Peterson found herself on a hat-trick when Sajana Sajeevan got a leading edge to a full toss that looped up into the off side. Uma Chetry survived the next delivery but soon fell to Peterson as she edged to slip via a glance off the keeper.India A’s collapse became 5 for 27 when Raghvi Bist was run out but some handy lower-order contributions ensured they closed in on Australia A’s total.