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Tottenham Hotspur have made two high-profile additions to their playing squad during the summer transfer window in an attempt to improve Thomas Frank’s squad.

Mohammed Kudus was signed on a permanent deal from West Ham United earlier in the summer, and Joao Palhinha recently joined from Bayern Munich on an initial loan deal.

The Lilywhites will be hoping that the Portugal international can provide a solid presence in front of the back four, sweeping up to win possession back for his side on a regular basis.

There is still more work to be done by Daniel Levy and Frank before the summer transfer window slams shut, though, after the injury to James Maddison.

The England international is set to miss the majority of the 2025/26 campaign after he suffered an ACL injury, which has left Spurs light in the attacking positions.

Fabrizio Romano recently reported that the Europa League champions will be “looking at the market” to find a potential replacement for Maddison for the upcoming season.

Why Spurs need to replace James Maddison

The Lilywhites are right to be looking at possible replacements for the former Norwich and Leicester star because his absence will be felt within the squad.

Maddison ended the 2024/25 campaign with a haul of ten goals and 12 assists in all competitions for Spurs, and he has hit double figures for goals in four of the last five seasons for Tottenham and Leicester combined.

The English playmaker has proven that he can deliver goals and assists on a fairly regular basis, and he offered a leadership presence as one of the vice-captains behind Heung-min Son last term.

Maddison’s performances in the Premier League under Ange Postecoglou last season show how important he can be to the team with his contributions at the top end of the pitch from an attacking midfield position.

24/25 Premier League	James Maddison per 90	Percentile rank vs AMs
xG	0.29	Top 4%
Goals	0.45	Top 3%
xA	0.29	Top 4%
Assists	0.35	Top 4%
Chances created	2.03	Top 10%
Successful crosses	1.09	Top 8%
Stats via FotMob

As you can see in the table above, the 28-year-old star ranked highly among his positional peers in a host of key attacking metrics, as the English ace provided quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals.

These statistics illustrate how big a blow it was to lose Maddison to an ACL injury for most of the upcoming season, because he is an effective attacking force who has proven himself over many years at the top level.

That is why Spurs need to find a replacement for him before the end of the summer transfer window, and they are reportedly keen on a star who plays for one of their Premier League rivals, and it is not Morgan Gibbs-White…

Spurs eyeing deal for Manchester City midfielder

According to GIVEMESPORT, Tottenham Hotspur are interested in a deal to sign Manchester City attacking midfielder James McAtee this summer.

The report claims that the Lilywhites have identified the England U21 international as one of a number of potential replacements for Maddison, and that the club are now weighing up who to go for.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

It adds that teams in Germany and England are also eyeing up the former Sheffield United star, but they have been put off by the £40m price tag on his head.

GIVEMESPORT reveals that McAtee is interested in a move to North London and is currently waiting to see if Spurs are prepared to formalise their interest with an offer.

The outlet states that Tottenham are not put off by the £40m asking price, suggesting that they are prepared to pay the asking price, but they have yet to decide whether or not McAtee is the player they are going to make a big push for.

Why Spurs should sign James McAtee

The Manchester City youngster could be a shrewd addition to the squad as a replacement for Maddison, as he could be the ideal player to fill the gap in the squad.

A potential issue with ‘replacing’ Maddison is that the club also have to be aware that he will, hopefully, return to action before the end of the 2025/26 campaign and will be an option moving forward.

McAtee, at the age of 22, may be happy to play regularly for most of this season before competing with Maddison for a starting role next year and beyond. Whereas an established, 28-year-old, £60m+ signing may expect to start every week even when Maddison is back fit, which could be a difficult situation to manage in the future.

The left-footed attacking midfielder only played 27 matches in all competitions as a bit-part player for City last season, but still managed to find the back of the net seven times.

McAtee, who was described as a “special” player by Pep Guardiola, only started three of his 15 appearances in the Premier League for City, but showed glimpses of the quality that he can offer.

24/25 Premier League	James McAtee per 90	Percentile rank vs AMs
xG	0.74	Top 1%
Goals	0.79	Top 2%
xG on target	0.70	Top 3%
xA	0.21	Top 24%
Assists	0.00	Bottom 3%
Touches in the opposition’s box	5.79	Top 27%
Stats via FotMob

As you can see in the table above, the English whiz ranked highly among his positional peers in per 90 metrics, which shows that he produced quite a lot in his limited minutes on the pitch.

Whether he is able to maintain that output as a consistent starter is still up in the air, but Cole Palmer is the prime example that being a reserve player at Manchester City does not mean you cannot shine elsewhere.

McAtee also scored one goal and provided two assists in five starts at the U21 Euros for England, winning the tournament, during the summer, which shows what he can do when given regular minutes as well.

Frank's answer to Palmer: Spurs enter talks to sign "exceptional" £40m gem

Tottenham Hotspur appear to be about to make another huge move in the market to bolster Thomas Frank’s squad.

By
Ethan Lamb

Aug 9, 2025

Overall, McAtee’s potential to deliver goals and assists, or at least the xA that should result in assists, as an attacking midfielder in the Premier League could make him a dream signing for Spurs, along with his age meaning that he still has plenty of room left to grow and develop.

Chelsea legend Florent Malouda says the Blues should do everything they can to make Raheem Sterling "feel at home" again & not terminate his contract.

Sterling not in Chelsea's plansBlues told to reintegrate wingerUrged to not terminate contractFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Despite interest from Fulham, among others, Sterling ended up staying at Chelsea when the transfer window shut, and now he is set for a season on the sidelines. But ex-Blues winger Malouda feels that the 30-year-old may still have a part to play in Enzo Maresca's team going forward.

AdvertisementGetty/GOALWHAT MALOUDA SAID

He told Boyle Sports: "The first thing about Raheem Sterling is that he earned this contract through his performances. So I believe at this moment, he is not part of the plan, but he's still a good player.  We will mention injuries; it's not like there was an issue where you'd say: ‘OK, let's cross this player. We don't want him anymore'. I don't like the topic of his wages or the money involved. He earned his contract, and everybody was fine with it. Now it's more about how, as a club, you consider your players and how you bring them back to full confidence. I'm sure Raheem Sterling, in full confidence, without injury problems, terminating his contract wouldn’t be an option. The perspective must change. That comes with conversations, honest conversations, because you need players like him, but at his best level. While he's still a Chelsea player, we should do everything as a club for him to feel at home. I think that's the best way to get the best out of a player like Sterling."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Sterling is said to be on wages in excess of £300,000 a week and the England international still has two years left to run on his contract. A January transfer move makes sense but the ex-Manchester City man may have to lower his salary demands. Ultimately, the winger's career is seemingly taking a turn for the worse.

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT?

Former Liverpool ace Sterling, who had an underwhelming loan stint at Arsenal last season, will continue to train but not with Chelsea's first-team squad. Maresca's side return to Premier League action on Saturday away at Brentford. 

Derby County are in a race with fellow Championship side Wrexham to sign an experienced international defender, according to a reliable reporter.

Derby complete the signing of striker Patrick Agyemang

On Tuesday, the Rams announced they had completed the transfer of striker Patrick Agyemang, who joins the club from MLS side Charlotte FC. According to the BBC, Agyemang has cost Derby £5.8 million, which could rise to £7.3 million with add-ons, as the 24-year-old has signed a four-year contract at Pride Park.

Derby County now keen to sign £30k-a-week star who has won 3 league titles

The Rams are eyeing experience as they prepare for another season in the Championship.

1 BySean Markus Clifford Jul 13, 2025

The forward has just finished playing in the Gold Cup with the USA, where they were beaten in the final by Mexico, and unfortunately for Derby supporters, they may have to wait a bit before they can see their new signing in action, as the club confirmed in their statement that Agyemang has to undergo routine surgery to address a long-standing hernia problem, meaning he could miss the opening matches of the season.

The American is “excited” to join the Rams and was interested in the move to the Championship side as soon as he heard of their interest: “It’s exciting. I have been hearing good things about the club and the fans as well. I always wanted to be a part of something special. To finally be here, it’s amazing.

“I’ve heard about [the move] once I was getting into the national team for the Gold Cup. In the moment, you’re like: “That’s something I’m interested in!” However, you want to focus on what you’re doing.

“As it starts to progress, you start to look more into it. I knew this was a project I’d love to be a part of. I just hoped for it to get across the line. Happily, it did.”

Derby in race with Wrexham for Egan signing

Agyemang becomes the Rams’ fifth signing of the summer, but he could soon be joined by number six, as according to Pete O’Rourke, Derby are interested in signing defender John Egan from Hull City.

The 32-year-old, who has been capped 36 times by the Republic of Ireland, joined the Tigers in February of this year after six months at Burnley, who he joined on a free transfer after leaving Sheffield United. Egan is still under contract with Hull until 2026 but could be on the move this summer, as Wrexham and Stoke City are also keen on him, as well as the Rams.

Apps

18

Started

9

Clean sheets

1

Interceptions per game

0.2

Tackles per game

0.1

Dribbled past per game

0.1

Clearances per game

3.9

Don Goodman has backed Egan to be a great signing for any of his suitors, saying he was “one of the best central defenders in the Championship for Sheffield United”, albeit urging caution due to the injuries which have limited him to just “24 games over the past three years”.

Their knocks helped Markhors pile up 284 before Agha and Imran picked three-fors to bowl out Dolphins for 192

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Sep-2024

Kamran Ghulam followed up his 115 last week with another century•Getty Images

Kamran Ghulam’s second century in three outings, backed by three wicket-hauls from Mohammad Imran and Salman Agha handed Markhors their third consecutive win, as they beat Dolphins in Faisalabad. The win helped them consolidate their lead at the top of the points table.It was an all-round show from Markhors with Ghulam making 113 off just 110 balls, which included a 122-run third wicket stand with Mohammad Rizwan. That helped Markhors pile up 284 for 9 in their 50 overs. In reply, Dolphins lost wickets at regular intervals and were bowled out for 192 with Markhors winning by 92 runs.After Dolphins decided to field, Mir Hamza removed Markhors openers Bismillah Khan and Mohammad Faizan inside five overs. But Ghulam, fresh off a 115 against Panthers last week, continued his good form. He stabilized the innings with Rizwan, who also scored a half-century.Faheem Ashraf picked four wickets for Dolphins but Markhors managed to put up a big score on the board.Dolphins never really got going in the chase. Opener Mohammad Hurraira fell for a 12-ball duck while Muhammad Akhlaq was dismissed by Naseem Shah. Captain Saud Shakeel tried to hold his end up with 41, but got little support from the others.Asif Ali hit a quick 43-ball 50, but the Dolphins batters failed to stitch a solid partnership. Eventually, they were bowled out in 43.5 overs. Markhors employed six bowlers, and each one of them managed to pick at least a wicket.This was Dolphins’ second defeat of the tournament and they are now the only side to not register a single point on the table.

Manchester United finished 15th in the Premier League last season, with emphasis on the word ‘last’.

Ruben Amorim didn’t mince his words when talking about the need to turn things around and use the 2024/25, and all the baggage that came with it, as a springboard for the future, finally ending these endless years of frustration for one of the game’s biggest superpowers.

Fixing the frontline was always going to be among the chief priorities for the Old Trafford side, and INEOS started on a strong footing there, signing Matheus Cunha from Wolverhampton Wanderers for a £62.5m fee, the Brazil forward rejecting interest from a host of Premier League suitors to join the Red Devils.

Efforts for Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo are ongoing, but the pointers suggest that the right-sided forward will join up with Amorim’s squad in the coming weeks, having expressed a burning desire to make the switch.

This is all well and good, but Man United still need to sign a central striker.

Why Man Utd need a new striker

By all accounts, Amorim wanted to commence pre-season with Marcus Rashford, Antony, Jadon Sancho and Alejandro Garnacho all sold. That hasn’t happened, and they have all informed the hierarchy of their wish to depart.

More concerning, perhaps, is Rasmus Hojlund’s continued presence in the Man United senior squad.

The Danish striker, 22, was well out of sorts last term, and has been heavily linked with a summer exit, Inter Milan showing the most interest in his signature.

​​​​​

Hojlund is clearly a talented forward, but after such an abject run across the recent campaign, it might be a good idea for him to leave, not least because Sir Jim Ratcliffe openly admitted that the young talent was inherited from the past regime, and that he would “have to sort that out”.

Well, whether Hojlund goes or not, United’s movements in the market thus far suggest that a central frontman is on the agenda.

And they’ve been locked in talks for one of the best that Europe has to offer.

Man Utd open talks for new striker

According to talkSPORT, Manchester United have made a fresh enquiry for Eintracht Frankfurt centre-forward Hugo Ekitike, who is one of the hottest commodities in the market this summer.

Ekitike has been coveted by a host of Premier League sides this summer, with United joined in their interest by Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool.

However, with the Gunners closing in on Gyokeres, Jason Wilcox might feel he has a good shot at securing the talented Frenchman’s signature.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Frankfurt value their man at €100m (£85m), a figure they are unwilling to budge on and suitors are as yet unwilling to meet.

What Hugo Ekitike would bring to Man United

Ekitike is only 22 years old, but he’s already established himself as “one of the best strikers out there”, as said by analyst Ben Mattinson.

After leaving Paris Saint-Germain for Frankfurt in January 2024, initially on loan, he’s only gone from strength to strength, scoring 22 goals and supplying 12 assists across 48 matches in all competitions last season.

Ekitike’s natural finishing ability is neat and all, but his high-speed movements and all-round presence in the final third have led journalist Graeme Bailey to dub him “the next Mbappe”, with such a skill set surely perfect for the frontline Amorim is trying to build, namely with Mbeumo circling in on the Theatre of Dreams.

Runners – and confident ones at that – were in short supply at Old Trafford last season. Adding Mbeumo and Ekitike would do wonders, building back up a will to win and work which would pour over to the rest of the squad.

He’s certainly performing at a superior level to Hojlund, and could in that sense prove the perfect centre-forward for Mbeumo to combine with and rekindle the United attack.

Goals scored

0.53

0.18

Assists

0.28

0.00

Shots taken

4.00

1.44

Shot-creating actions

3.55

1.53

Touches (att pen)

6.88

3.32

Progressive passes

1.86

0.82

Progressive carries

3.27

1.26

Successful take-ons

1.83

0.40

Ball recoveries

3.06

1.57

Tackles + interceptions

0.81

0.22

Quite comprehensively, Hojlund was outstripped by his French counterpart, like bark from a sun-weathered tree.

Ekitike’s dynamic movements and innate creative flair suggest he could be perfect for a pair of goal-focused wide forwards such as Cunha and Mbeumo.

Of course, Mbeumo isn’t only about goalscoring. The Cameroonian racked up seven assists in the Premier League last season, creating 17 big chances across the campaign and averaging 1.8 key passes per game, as per Sofascore.

He also finished the campaign ranked among the top 9% of Premier League attacking midfielders and wingers for crosses completed per 90 (FBref), so he would be well equipped to turn provider for the rangy striker when required.

The fact that the Red Devils have tweaked their strategy and appear to be intent on signing Prem-proven quality alongside the rising phenoms from overseas like Ekitike bespeaks the new era, incipient but inspired by the struggles of recent years, of ensuring that a corner will be turned.

United were at their nadir last season, and no mistake. However, Amorim is a tactician worth his salt, and he might just piece together a squad capable of competing at the top once more, with the likes of Mbeumo playing with the perfect frontman in Ekitike.

Let’s see how this one pans out over the coming weeks.

Cunha 2.0 for Amorim: Man Utd in talks to sign "unstoppable" £35m star

Manchester United are still planning to make some attacking signings this summer.

2 ByAngus Sinclair Jul 8, 2025

Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta and his ‘scattergun’ approach to the transfer window continues, with a fresh report claiming that discussions are now being held over a marquee Serie A star.

Arsenal told key Benjamin Sesko transfer condition as agent makes statement

He’s expressed what it will take for the Slovenian to leave Leipzig this summer.

ByEmilio Galantini Jun 19, 2025

Berta operates a different transfer strategy to his predecessor, Edu. Rather than identifying one key target to seriously pursue, the Italian is known to work on numerous deals simultaneously before landing on the best one for a key position.

“The best way of describing it is that Andrea Berta’s approach is different to Edu. If he was going to a party, he would lay out three or four outfits, try them all on and finally decide what to wear,” said reliable journalist Ben Jacobs on talkSPORT recently.

19/20 – winter

£0

20/21 – summer

£81.5m

20/21 – winter

£900k

21/22 – summer

£156.8m

21/22 – winter

£1.8m

22/23 – summer

£121.5m

22/23 – winter

£59m

23/24 – summer

£208m

23/24 – winter

£0

24/25 – summer

£101.5m

24/25 – winter

£0

“With this race for a number nine, what’s happening is that both deals, for Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres, are being advanced or ‘tried on’ before a bid is made. Andrea Berta is out in the market, effectively lining up both deals, whereas Edu tended to pick one and be very meticulous, and then discreetly try and get it over the line, often with a series of bids.

“It was either a very smart tactic because Arsenal had confidence that they would get that man, or it dragged on, and we got more summer sagas. We won’t see that with Andrea Berta.”

This was echoed by Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg last month, who revealed that Berta held talks over “numerous” transfer targets for the wide area.

Recent reports from Turkey state that one of the many wingers on Berta’s Arsenal radar is Juventus sensation Kenan Yildiz.

Yildiz was said to have emerged as a “prime” Arsenal target recently, and a further update has now come to light on their interest.

Arsenal in discussions with Juventus over signing Kenan Yildiz

As per news outlet Juve FC, the Turkey international commands a valuation of around £85 million, following an excellent 2024/2025 campaign where he finished the Serie A campaign as the Old Lady’s best-performer by average match rating, according to WhoScored.

It’s also reported that Arsenal have entered discussions with Juventus over signing Yildiz, despite their unwillingness to sell the 20-year-old, as they also try to tie him down with a new deal which could run until 2031.

Juve view Yildiz as a future star and cornerstone of Igor Tudor’s team, while the player himself isn’t exactly chomping at the bit to leave either, despite some contact made with his “close” circle.

The Turk is currently starring at the Club World Cup for Juve, scoring in their 5-0 win over Al Ain, and with £97 million worth of prize money on offer to the victors, Tudor won’t want to lose one of his star men before the tournament ends.

Will Celtic clinch yet another domestic treble?

Last weekend, the Hoops were presented with the Scottish Premiership trophy, their 13th in just 14 seasons, following a dramatic 1-1 draw with St Mirren, in which James Forrest scored a 94th minute equaliser, meaning he’s now netted in 16 successive seasons.

This forthcoming Saturday, the Celts will convene on Hampden, taking on Aberdeen in the 140th Scottish Cup Final, firm favourites for victory, having already steamrollered the Dons 6-0 in November, 5-1 in February and then 5-1 again, this time at Pittodrie, as recently as last Wednesday.

Should Brendan Rodgers’ side prevail in Mount Florida, it would secure Celtic’s sixth treble in just nine seasons, having only won three trebles in their first 122 seasons in existence beforehand.

Ahead of the final, is one unsung Celtic hero becoming reminiscent of a star from the not too distant past?

Giorgos Giakoumakis' Celtic career

Giorgos Giakoumakis has been in the news this week after revealing to the Daily Record that he “would love to play for Celtic again”, adding “I don’t know if that’s a utopia or if it could happen… when you’ve already been there, you know exactly what it means”.

The Greek international arrived in Glasgow in the summer of 2021 for a reported fee of £2.5m, having won the Eredivisie Golden Boot, an achievement made all the more impressive by the fact his team VVV-Venlo were actually relegated that season.

Well, Giakoumakis would actually make it back-to-back golden boots, sharing the Premiership award with Regan Charles-Cook, bagging 13 league goals during his debut campaign in Scotland, netting 26 times in just 57 appearances in hoops overall, thereby averaging a goal every 97 minutes.

However, unable to regularly usurp Kyōgo Furuhashi in Ange Postecoglou’s pecking order, Giakoumakis departed after just 18 months in Glasgow, sold to Atlanta United for around £4.3m in February 2023.

The centre-forward then spent just one season in Major League Soccer, quickly moving to current club Cruz Azul for around £7.5m, thereby becoming los Cementeros’ fourth-most expensive signing of all time.

With Giakoumakis now plying his trade in Liga MX, a return to Parkhead does seem unlikely. The Glasgow giants do already boast a like-minded number nine in the form of Adam Idah, who’s notched 20 times this season, but is it another member of the current squad showcasing similar prolific qualities?

Celtic's new super sub

Fair to say, after arriving from Gangwon FC for around £2m in the summer of 2023, Yang Hyun-jun didn’t make much of an immediate impression, scoring just one goal in his first 48 appearances for the Cetls.

However, since mid-January, he has scored five times in only 16 outings, most recently on target during the 5-1 win at Aberdeen last mid-week.

In March, Yang bagged a brace off the bench at St Mirren, after which Rodgers credited his upturn in form with the fact “his girlfriend is here at the moment”, jokingly adding that he’ll do everything he can to make sure she “can stay in the country”.

So is Yang – who former club president Kim Byung-ji claimed “could easily become a world-class player like Son Heung-min” – really Celtic’s new super sub? Let’s take a look at the numbers to find out.

Georgios Giakoumakis

26

6

23%

Yang Hyun-Jun

6

3

50%

Adam Idah

20

8

40%

Daizen Maeda

33

1

3%

Jota

5

2

40%

Nicolas Kühn

21

4

19%

James Forrest

1

1

100%

Note: Table includes Giakoumakis’ Celtic career. All other players are 24/25 only.

As the table shows, none of Celtic’s forwards – not even Idah – score a higher proportion of their goals off the bench than Yang, a trait associated with Giakoumakis from his time in hoops.

So, having already scored against Aberdeen home and away this season, if Celtic need a goal in Saturday’s Scottish Cup Final, the South Korean could be the man Rodgers turns to.

Celtic could sign record-breaking star who'd be their next Giakoumakis

Celtic could find Giorgos Giakoumakis 2.0 by swooping for this star in the summer.

ByDan Emery May 21, 2025

Liverpool fell to a 3-1 defeat against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge this afternoon, with Arne Slot’s side failing to impress after their Premier League triumph last weekend.

A goal from Enzo Fernández, an own goal from Jarell Quansah and Cole Palmer’s late penalty secured all three points for Enzo Maresca’s side in their hunt for a Champions League place.

Virgil van Dijk’s header provided a late consolation goal for the Reds, but it wasn’t to be for the heavily rotated side in West London – with the manager giving numerous fringe players the chance to impress.

With the title in the bag, it was an excellent opportunity for Slot to evaluate the players at his disposal, giving him a clearer picture of what’s needed ahead of what’s likely to be a huge summer.

Whilst some players took their chance with both hands, many failed to grasp the opportunity handed in their direction – putting their future at Anfield in huge jeopardy.

Liverpool’s poor performers against Chelsea

Midfielder Curtis Jones was handed a rare start for Liverpool as part of the reshuffle, but was unable to extract his highest levels of performance – looking way off the high standards he’s set for himself.

The 24-year-old featured for the entire of the contest, only completing 33% of the dribbles he attempted, along with a 36% duel success rate – showcasing his lack of impact on the clash.

He wasn’t the only player to disappoint at the Bridge, with centre-back Quansah scoring an own goal and giving away the penalty that led to Palmer’s stoppage-time effort.

His disappointing showing didn’t end there, winning just two of the six duels he contested, whilst committing two fouls which led to him being booked.

However, despite the showings of the aforementioned duo, one other first team member failed to deliver in the capital – with Slot desperately needing to sell him in the coming months.

The Liverpool star who needs to be sold after Chelsea

Slot has done a remarkable job in 2024/25 to lead Liverpool to the success they’ve endured, a feat that was unthinkable when he took the reins from Jürgen Klopp last summer.

The Dutchman has lost just three league matches out of a possible 35, showcasing the incredible job he’s done, with only one of the losses coming on home soil.

However, the real task awaits him in 2025/26, needing to sustain the levels they’ve produced this year if they are to have any chances of making it back-to-back titles.

If they are to achieve their goal, changes will need to be made, including the sale of striker Diogo Jota, who’s been unable to impress over the last couple of months.

The Portuguese international was handed a start against the Blues this afternoon, but like so often this campaign, he failed to deliver – undoubtedly contributing to the defeat.

He featured for 58 minutes before being withdrawn, understandably so given his lack of impact during his near hour spent on the field.

Jota only registered a measly tally of 13 touches – the lowest of any player who started the game – whilst only posting a tally of four passes, showcasing how quiet and ineffective he was.

Minutes played

58

Touches

13

Passes completed

4/5 (80%)

Dribbles completed

0/1 (0%)

Ground duels won

2/8 (25%)

Fouls committed

4

Shots on target

0

His poor showing didn’t stop there, failing to complete any of the dribbles he attempted, whilst only coming out on top in 25% of the ground duels he entered.

The forward also committed four fouls, and was unable to direct any of his efforts on goal, subsequently struggling to provide the goods needed within the final third.

As a result of his dismal showing, the striker was handed a dismal 5/10 match rating by the Liverpool Echo’s Ian Doyle – further showcasing how disappointing he was throughout.

Given his showing, Slot must be left with no choice but to sell Jota this summer, desperately needing another forward to help them in their ambitions of retaining their title.

He and Quansah need to be the first out of the door, with the pair’s potential exit allowing for added investment across various areas of the squad – handing the depth needed for another title charge.

He'd be amazing with Gravenberch: Liverpool preparing £34m bid for new CM

Liverpool could make a shrewd addition to their midfield this summer.

ByAngus Sinclair May 4, 2025

Tottenham Hotspur face the very real possibility of losing star defender Cristian Romero this summer, amid interest from La Liga, with chairman Daniel Levy and co already identifying an “interesting” replacement for the World Cup winner.

Cristian Romero's strong links to Atlético Madrid

Romero is almost certainly a target for Atlético Madrid and Diego Simeone this summer, going by the plethora of reports linking Spurs’ defender with a switch to the Wanda Metropolitano.

Tottenham plan "surprise" move for Chelsea star as Maresca sanctions exit

The Lilywhites are big fans.

ByEmilio Galantini Apr 8, 2025

Broadcast giant Sky Sports have backed Atletico’s serious interest in Romero, while some reports even claim that Simeone has personally reached out to the 26-year-old in an effort to present him with the Spanish side’s project.

Tottenham were hoping to agree a new contract with Romero, but it is now believed that the South American is “pushing” to leave N17 amid interest from Atlético, prompting Levy to postpone all new contract talks (Graeme Bailey).

Wolves (away)

April 13th

Nottingham Forest (home)

April 21st

Liverpool (away)

April 27th

West Ham (away)

May 3rd

Crystal Palace (home)

May 10th

While the former Atalanta star is apparently keen to embark on a new chapter away from the north London side, Spurs won’t be selling him to Atlético or any other interested party on the cheap.

It is believed by some that Tottenham want around £60 million to sell Romero, so Atlético would need to fork out a hefty sum as Levy eyes a profit off his exit. Simeone may also face competition from his cross-town rivals, as it has also been reported that Real Madrid are considering Romero as an option to reinforce their own backline.

The centre-back was a sore miss for Ange Postecoglou before he finally came back from injury, and he’d be a sore miss next season unless Levy can find an adept replacement.

Tottenham identify "interesting" target to replace Cristian Romero

According to reports in Spain, Spurs could actually raid Atalanta again for Romero’s heir. Indeed, it is believed Tottenham have identified Isak Hien as a potentially “interesting” option, and the club are acting “quickly” to draw up their ideal transfer targets for the centre-back position ahead of next season.

Hien, who’s started 22 Serie A matches under Gian Piero Gasperini this season, has averaged an impressive 90% passing accuracy out of the back and Atalanta’s joint-highest number of blocks on average (WhoScored).

The Sweden international would also cost around £26 million for any club interested in his signing this summer, just over a year and a half after Atalanta signed him from Hellas Verona for just £8 million.

Hien’s value has more than tripled in just a season, highlighting how much he’s impressed, and perhaps why Tottenham are thinking of him to fill the potential Romero void.

He has proved himself a clear-headed captain, able to manage the many personalities in the country’s cricket, but he’s currently staring down the biggest test of his captaincy

Mohammad Isam29-May-2024Delhi, November 6, 2023. Sri Lanka are 135 for 4 against Bangladesh when Angelo Mathews saunters in looking at his helmet strap. Najmul Hossain Shanto notices something that will change cricketing relations between the two sides forever. He tells his captain, Shakib Al Hasan, that if he were to appeal, Mathews could be dismissed timed-out. Shakib does a double take but then goes to umpire Marais Erasmus. The rest is history.It takes courage to stand up in the hierarchical inner world of Bangladesh cricket, and it was perhaps a sign of Shanto’s burgeoning confidence and his leadership qualities that Shakib was open to taking inputs from him. Shanto improved significantly in 2023, emerging from a five-year slump in which he was barely hanging on to his place in the team. He also grew in stature in the side, first by becoming a reliable No. 3, and by the time the Delhi game came around, ascendinging to the vice-captaincy.In 2023 he scored 1650 runs at an average of 42.30, a stark jump in his stocks, compared to the 1603 runs at 22.90 he made between 2017 and the end of 2022.Related

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Impressed by his form last year, the BCB made him captain shortly after Bangladesh’s disastrous 2023 World Cup. Shanto’s comeback from the doldrums of five years had impressed some in the board, but the BCB also wanted to take the pulse of the Bangladesh dressing room by placing a new captain in charge and seeing how the senior cricketers, especially, responded.Appointing a captain outside of Bangladesh’s big five – Shakib, Tamim, Mashrafe Mortaza, Mahmudullah and Mushfiqur Rahim – has been problematic over the years. Mominul Haque led them to the miraculous Mt Maunganui Test win against New Zealand but within six months he was out, unable to handle the pressure. Litton Das captained Bangladesh to the ODI series win against India in 2022, but he then admitted to the BCB that he was not looking forward to leading long-term.Shanto’s stopgap captaincy in the Tests and white-ball matches against New Zealand last year even impressed their taskmaster coach Chandika Hathurusinghe. Subsequently the BCB appointed Shanto full-time captain in all formats earlier this year.Mischief managed: Shanto’s shrewd eye for detail caused Angelo Mathews’ timed-out dismissal in the 2023 ODI World Cup•Associated PressHis leadership credentials were tested hard just a week before the T20 World Cup, when Bangladesh played USA for the first time and lost the T20I series 2-1. Shanto’s batting form had taken a dip, and coupled with the loss, the pressure is well and truly on him to turn things around, and fast, for the team.

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We meet on a relatively mild morning in Dhaka, the day after Bangladesh beat Zimbabwe in the fourth T20I in Mirpur earlier this month. I mention to Shanto his save on the boundary in the 19th over that ultimately made the difference for his side. He couldn’t hold on to Blessing Muzarabani’s lofted shot towards wide long-off, but his boundary-line juggling saved at least four runs. Bangladesh won by five.Shanto doesn’t quite agree with me and quickly changes the topic, a subtle reinforcement of his “team first” mantra.”The team culture is better now,” he says when I ask how his team-mates have reacted to his captaincy. “I think it is important for everyone to know that when we lose a match these days, we don’t go down emotionally. In the same way, when we win these days, we don’t jump high into the sky. We try to evaluate how we can play better even after we win the game. We also try to pick the positives when we lose.”This is how we are trying to grow the team culture in the last six or seven months. I think every player tries to help each other. For example, you will always see Taskin [Ahmed] helping the other bowlers. Even someone as young as Rishad [Hossain] tries to help the senior team-mates in the field.”Shanto looks up to Shakib and MS Dhoni, two very different captains, as his leadership role models.”I like Shakib ‘s captaincy. He is very attacking, taking brave decisions. I think it has helped me as a captain so far. I have been successful emulating him in many ways.Shanto has the confidence of famously hard-to-please coach Chandika Hathurusinghe•AFP/Getty Images”I also admire MS Dhoni’s captaincy. From what I could see on TV, he is very calm in tough moments. I don’t know what goes on inside him. He makes clear decisions. They could be right or wrong, but he makes them calmly.”Shanto learned the value of having a calm head on one’s shoulders in the World Cup last year. Apart from leading the side for a couple of games due to an injury to Shakib, Shanto’s form took a hit as the team management shuffled him and everyone else around in the batting order in a madcap strategy.”I think a captain has to remain calm at these big events. People will have huge expectations, so without focusing on those things, I want to focus on motivating my team. I also have to look to contribute as a batter. It will take the team to a better position if I can execute the plans without thinking too much,” he says.He is also trying to keep his batting and captaincy separate, which is easier said than done, especially in a high-pressure environment like Bangladesh cricket.”When I am batting out there, I think like a batter. I don’t think that I have to score all the runs just because I am the captain. I feel like a captain when I am fielding: who to bowl at what time. I also have to handle a lot of things off the field. I am enjoying those responsibilities,” he says.Challenges came early in Shanto’s life. Khaled Mashud, the former Bangladesh captain, first saw Shanto as a 12-year-old in the nets at his cricket academy in Rajshahi.”He had a tough time travelling every day,” Mashud says. “He lived far away. He used to cycle for two or three kilometres from his home to reach the main road, where he left the cycle in a shop. From there he would take the bus to come to Rajshahi city. And then he needed an auto-rickshaw ride to get to the academy.”He never missed a day of practice, come rain or shine. He was very hardworking and talented from a very young age.”I have loved watching Shanto grow into such a good cricketer. He has made lots of sacrifices. He has given his all to come to this stage. I want to see him become a top-level performer who has a long career. I think he has it in him. He is aware of the arithmetic of scoring runs.”Shanto seems to have successfully navigated the challenges of captaining a team of big-name players•AFP/Getty ImagesAfter his time under Mashud’s tutelage, Shanto spent the last eight years working with Khaled Mahmud, another former Bangladesh captain and the coach of Abahani Limited, for whom Shanto has been playing in the Dhaka Premier League since 2016.Mahmud thinks Shanto is a once-in-a-generation cricketer in the mould of Michael Hussey.”I call him a full-time cricketer,” he says. “He doesn’t think about anything other than cricket. He always wants to improve. He is a calm, sensible person. He keeps things under control. He is captaincy material.”Shanto spends hours in the nets under the watchful eyes of Mahmud at the Shere Bangla National Stadium and listens to his advice keenly. During his lean years from 2018 to 2021, Mahmud championed him to the BCB and to Bangladesh’s team management.”He has to work much harder to express himself fully. Captaining Bangladesh is not easy. I always tell him that he has to make his own decisions,” Mahmud says. “The coach will only play a supporting role. At the end of the day, it will be your decision that counts. If you make a wrong decision, you can reconcile it with yourself. If the coach or someone else is heavily involved, you won’t be able to.”He is a confident guy, but consistency is becoming a hurdle for him. I spoke to him recently. I told him that it looks like you are in a lot of hurry in the middle. It is not written anywhere that you have to hit a six every ball in T20s.”When Shanto’s form dipped between 2018 and 2022, Mahmud was impressed by how he kept hitting the nets and sharpening his fielding.”It was such a tough time for him, the way he was trolled on social media. I used to tell him that you have to prove it in the middle. He vowed to come back strongly. He trained hard on his skills and fitness. He is a gun fielder and a fast mover on the ground. I think those tough times really made him the cricketer he is today,” says Mahmud.Shanto knows exactly when the tide turned for him – at the 2022 T20 World Cup, where he struck two fifties. No one else saw it as a major achievement at the time, but for Shanto it meant the world. His training methods were finally yielding results.Shanto made 71 against Zimbabwe and 54 against Pakistan in the 2022 T20 World Cup, which he sees as a turning point in his career after a years-long batting slump•ICC via Getty”I wasn’t that confident before the T20 World Cup. I worked very hard on my skills and they improved a lot. Once I realised that, it gave me confidence. I changed my thought process, which helped me do well in that tournament.”When I was playing in the World Cup, I got positive results. If it hadn’t been that way, it would have been difficult. The most important thing is to keep improving my skills. It gives a better mentality. I can believe in myself,” he says.Shanto’s opposite number during the Zimbabwe series, Sikandar Raza, a keen observer of Bangladesh cricket, says Shanto needs support to build himself into his captaincy. Interestingly the Bangladesh captain is the player Raza has bowled to the most in T20Is.”Every captain has their ideology and philosophy,” says Raza “If I have the wellbeing of everyone in my team at heart, then my captaincy will become easier. If I am only thinking about myself, captaincy is hard.”I hope Bangladesh give him time. Allow him to make mistakes. He has won some series, he has lost some series. That’s how a captain is formed. His personal performance will play a huge role in him making the right decisions.”Mashud, who led Bangladesh during some of their worst times, famously the 2003 World Cup, believes Shanto will be best served if he enjoys the upcoming challenge of the T20 World Cup.”Bangladesh captaincy, or captaincy in any team for that matter, is tough when you don’t have the right soldiers,” Mashud says. “It is not like Shanto is leading a team like India. He has to lead like he has nothing to lose but also enjoy his time in the middle. The likes of [Towhid] Hridoy, Tanzid [Hasan] and Rishad can suddenly become match-winners. Shanto should look to best utilise them. He shouldn’t worry too much about what people are saying or what’s happening outside.”Ahead of his biggest assignment, Shanto reflects on his early days in Rajshahi. He believes that getting out of his neighbourhood to become a cricketer was an achievement in itself, but as he rose rapidly through the age-group ranks and into the world of international cricket, his goals got bigger.”I wouldn’t have reached where I have without Allah’s blessings. Where I grew up, nobody had any idea that cricket could be taken up as a profession. You have to love the game and then you have to do hard work with honesty. I faced a lot of noise from people around me in my early days. They didn’t trust me, or believe in me. I had to practise correctly and work hard every day. I believed in myself strongly. If a cricketer does these things, they can do even better than me,” he says.