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While their performances last year and at the start of the season suggest otherwise, West Ham United do have a talented squad.

The likes of Freddie Potts, Jarrod Bowen, Mateus Fernandes, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, El Hadji Malick Diouf and Kyle Walker-Peters are all good to great players who will help move the East Londoners away from a Premier League relegation scrap as the season goes on.

However, one area of the team that the Hammers have consistently failed to address is up top, with neither Niclas Füllkrug nor Callum Wilson good enough to lead the line.

Fortunately, West Ham are now being linked with an inform number nine who could end their striker curse and was even linked to Harry Kane as a youngster.

West Ham target Füllkrug and Wilson upgrade

Before his injury, Füllkrug had made seven appearances for West Ham this season, in which he failed to score or assist a single goal, which makes news of his likely departure in January rather welcome to most fans.

Transfer Focus

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

Wilson, on the other hand, has been able to find the back of the net twice, in fact, but even so, he has hardly blown anyone away in his nine appearances so far this season, and with his injury record being what it is, he cannot be relied upon.

So, with all that in mind, it’s clear that the East Londoners are in desperate need of a new striker once the window opens, and fortunately, that might happen.

According to a recent report from Turkey, West Ham are among several sides interested in man of the moment, Troy Parrott.

Alongside the Hammers, the report claims that Everton, Leeds United and Stuttgart are keen on signing the Irish international from AZ Alkmaar, who want at least €30m for him, which is about £26m.

It could be a tough transfer to get over the line, but with how well Parrott has played in recent years, and how much of an upgrade on Füllkrug and Wilson he’d be, it’s one worth fighting for.

Why Parrott would be massive upgrade on Wilson & Füllkrug

It’s the obvious place to start, but it’s also the most important: Parrott would be a huge upgrade on Wilson and Füllkrug because he’s simply the better goalscorer.

For example, while the two West Ham strikers have just two goals between them this season, the Irishman has already racked up an astounding tally of 13 goals and two assists in 14 appearances, totalling 928 minutes.

That comes out to a sensational average of 1.07 goal involvements every game, or one every 61.86 minutes.

Appearances

14

Starts

11

Minutes

928′

Goals

13

Assists

2

Goal Involvements per Match

1.07

Minutes per Goal Involvement

61.86′

Points per Game

2.21

Such an incredible rate of return makes the claim of one analyst, made over five years ago, that he was “reminiscent of Harry Kane” as a youngster look rather reasonable today.

It’s not just this season that the former Tottenham Hotspur gem has been on fire, though, as he ended last season with an excellent haul of 20 goals and five assists in 47 games.

With that said, the second reason he’d be an excellent upgrade on the Hammers’ ageing forwards is that he’s still just 23 years old, and therefore has plenty left in the tank.

Moreover, while he did have some injury problems early on in his career, he has not missed more than nine games for club and country in any of the last three campaigns.

Finally, as was made quite clear over the last week or so, the Dublin-born game-changer is someone for the big occasions.

For example, he scored both goals in Ireland’s 2-0 win over Portugal, and then followed that up with what is already a legendary hat-trick against Hungary, securing the country’s place in the World Cup play-offs.

Moreover, his third goal was practically the final kick of the game, suggesting he isn’t someone to flap under the most immense of pressure.

Ultimately, while it might be difficult to get ahead of the other interested parties, West Ham should be doing all they can to sign Parrott in January, as he might be the man to end their striker curse.

£67m spent & no Wilson or Fullkrug: Nuno's dream West Ham XI after January

This is the dream West Ham starting line-up that Nuno could build in the January window.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 15, 2025

Aaron Judge keeps making history.

Not only has Judge belted 33 or more home runs before the All-Star break for the third time in his career—a feat no other player has achieved in MLB history, but he now also stands alone in the Yankees record books.

Entering Wednesday's game, Judge had been intentionally walked 23 times, which tied Hall of Famer Mickey Mantle for the most intentional walks in a single season in Yankees history. That record was toppled in the bottom of the second inning of New York's 9-6 win over the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday.

With a runner on second and two outs, the Mariners elected not to pitch to Judge, intentionally walking the 6'7" slugger. And with the intentional walk, Judge passed "The Commerce Comet" in Yankees history with 70 games to go in the regular season.

Judge tied Mantle during the Yankees four-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays this past week, in which he was intentionally walked a franchise-record five times.

Clearly, teams are approaching Judge with caution—and for good reason. He's in the midst of arguably his best season, as well as one of the greatest seasons ever for a power hitter.

Judge owns a .360/.468/.737 slash line with 34 homers, 77 RBIs, 83 runs scored and 67 walks. He leads MLB in hits with 122. If his 224 wrC+ stands by season's end, it would be the sixth-highest in the history of baseball, behind only marks set by Babe Ruth and Barry Bonds.

It's no wonder that teams would rather take their chances with others in the Yankees lineup.

Manchester United are keen to strengthen their attacking ranks under Ruben Amorim and could now be set to raid South America for a bristling talent dubbed the next Neymar Jr.

Man Utd prepare to address squad issues in mid-season window

The Red Devils find themselves in the middle of the Premier League pack heading into a hectic run of fixtures between now and the New Year, which will offer Amorim some insight regarding where he needs to add steel to help his side continue their recent improvement.

Ultimately, setbacks are part of football, and Monday’s defeat against Everton will sting for the Manchester United support, especially given the difficulty their side had in breaking down the low block David Moyes deployed at Old Trafford.

Delivering an honest assessment of what needs to change going forward, Matthijs De Ligt urged his teammates to bounce back against Crystal Palace on Sunday and show improved urgency in South London.

He stated: “Overall, just a really bad performance. The next game, obviously, is really important now. We have to bounce back from this performance. We had some good performances over the last couple of weeks, and now we had a bad one.

“Now, it’s for us to come back, to stay together and to make clear what has to be better. We lacked maybe the urgency to score the goals, to create the chances – and then you know against a team like Everton, who drop back and are really strong in the air, it’s going to be quite difficult. That basically sums up the night.”

Man Utd to "complete" move and sign "the next Casemiro" in coming days

The Red Devils are now ready to open their transfer chequebook.

BySean Markus Clifford Nov 28, 2025

Wolverhampton Wanderers pair Andre and Joao Gomes have been identified by Manchester United as January targets. Casemiro’s potential contract expiry has led Amorim down the path of searching for a midfielder, and it is clear he is making inroads on that front.

Conversely, the Red Devils are now said to be leading the race for a talent who could become one of South America’s brightest stars in the next few years.

Man Utd leading race to sign Santos star Robinho Jr

According to reports in Spain, Man Utd are leading the race to sign Santos prodigy Robinho Jr, and they have made contact with his entourage over bringing the 17-year-old winger to Old Trafford.

Compared to Neymar by peers in his homeland, he is a recognisable name as the son of former Manchester City and Real Madrid star Robinho, and he may be allowed to leave his current club due to their financial situation.

Robinho Jr’s statistics at Santos

Appearances

13

Goals

0

Assists

1

Santos are unlikely to let the winger go for a modest fee, albeit Manchester United have been tracking his progress for months and see a unique opportunity to develop his talent in England.

This is something that the Brazilian giants are willing to seriously evaluate as they look to bring funds into the club, especially given they are at risk of relegation, potentially creating a scenario where everyone is a winner.

Sometimes a game is just that for a club; other times, it feels far more consequential, and for Chelsea, their draw against Arsenal on Sunday evening falls into the latter category.

Enzo Maresca’s side went into the top-of-the-table clash with a point to prove, and while they didn’t win, they certainly proved it.

The Blues were all over the Premier League leaders from minute one, and even with a man down, continued to go toe to toe with the Gunners.

However, while most of the team put in stellar performances and more than secured their places in the starting lineup for the next game, there was one Chelsea star who had a middling day at the office.

The Chelsea stars who cemented their places in the team

As if there was ever really any doubt anyway, Reece James once again demonstrated that he has to start every game he is fit for, be that at right-back or in midfield.

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On top of providing the assist for the Blues’ goal, the unplayable captain also won 11 of 12 duels, played two key passes, won four fouls and completed three of four crosses.

In all, as presenter Olivia Buzaglo put it, it was a “gargantuan” performance from the Cobham graduate.

Speaking of academy graduates, another player who now has to be one of the first names on Maresca’s team sheets is Trevoh Chalobah.

The 26-year-old once-capped international was monstrous at the back against the Gunners, won 100% of his tackles, made six clearances, recovered the ball four times, won five of seven duels and didn’t get dribbled past once.

As if that wasn’t enough, he also rose to meet James’ corner and head it home early in the second half.

Staying at the back, Robert Sanchez again proved that he’s transformed from a liability between the sticks into one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League.

Finally, while he didn’t get a goal or assist, Pedro Neto was undoubtedly the West Londoners’ best attacker on the night.

On top of doing his best to help out in defence, he was a constant threat on the counter and provided his side with a vital outball to relieve pressure towards the end of the game.

However, while most of the team should be starting the next game based on their performances, there was one Chelsea star who probably played himself out of the side.

The Chelsea player Maresca must axe

It seems harsh given the teams’ performance and the fact they held on with ten men, but there was one Chelsea player who underwhelmed on Sunday evening: Joao Pedro.

Now, there is absolutely no denying the Brazilian’s immense talent, nor the fact that, come the end of the season, fans will probably be more than happy with his efforts.

However, what is equally true is that, against Arsenal, the former Brighton & Hove Albion gem was really quite disappointing.

Even before the hosts went a man down, he offered little in attack, and when he was presented with a golden opportunity in the first half, he couldn’t sort his feet out in time. Joao Pedro

Then in the second 45, it quickly became clear that he was not holding the ball well enough for his faster teammates to counterattack, and he was therefore replaced by Liam Delap, who was far better at that.

Unsurprisingly, the watching press were not all that impressed with what they saw. For example, football.london’s Bobby Vincent gave him a 4/10 match rating and wrote that it ‘just wasn’t his day.’

That may sound a little harsh, but the 24-year-old’s match statistics prove it’s not.

Minutes

55′

Expected Goals

0.24

Goals

0

Total Shots

1

Big Chances Missed

1

Touches

21

Lost Possession

8

Total Passes

6/8

Ground Duels (Won)

5 (2)

Aerial Duels (Won)

3 (2)

Fouls

1

In his 55 minutes, the Brazilian took just a single shot, missed a big chance, took 21 touches – 43 fewer than Sanchez -, lost the ball eight times, failed in two of three dribbles and completed just six passes.

Ultimately, while Pedo is an excellent player, he was really quite disappointing against Arsenal and with Delap ready to step in, he should be dropped for Wednesday’s game.

Chelsea star who saved Caicedo is their "most underappreciated player"

The underrated Chelsea ace made sure Caicedo’s red card didn’t cost Enzo Maresca’s men against Arsenal.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 30, 2025

Real Madrid legend David Beckham has joined forces with current Blancos stars Jude Bellingham and Trent Alexander-Arnold to help launch the new throwback Predator Mania from adidas. The ex-England captain is mingling with Three Lions performers of the present as an iconic design is brought back to life in a stunning colourway that will stand out on the field.

Beckham & Zidane helped to make Predator boots iconic

Beckham, alongside the likes of Steven Gerrard and Zinedine Zidane, helped to build the Predator brand back in his heyday. While turning out for Manchester United, Real Madrid and England, the legendary No.7 sported the most recognisable of boots.

Known for setting trends and breaking the mould, Becks became synonymous with fabled footwear that has gone down in football folklore. He is now bringing an iconic boot back, as another era is defined by superstars of the present.

AdvertisementHistoric colourway delivered by adidas

The Predator Mania for 2025, which is delivered in ‘Gunmetal’ grey, is said to blend “early-2000s nostalgia with modern construction”. The colourway itself is steeped in history. Beckham sported it during his early days in Madrid – with a striking combination of siler, white and an "unmistakable red tongue” allowing him to stand out from the crowd.

Said boot is considered to have been “one of the most photogenic of its time” and adidas are reviving it with “care.” The modern Predator “once again features a steely, metal-optic sheen that reads as both polished and aggressive, contrasted sharply by crisp white Three Stripes”. Adidas also point out how “the fold-over tongue, a visual trademark of the Mania series, returns in vivid red leather with embroidered adidas detailing, completing a look that defined a generation of playmakers”.

Predators gracing the field at Santiago Bernabeu again

While the look of the latest Predator remains “faithful” to its roots, “the craftsmanship has been elevated”. The remake has been produced at the historic Scheinfeld factory in Germany, with said facility adding “a layer of authenticity that mirrors how high-end Predators were once built”.

The Mania has seen “subtle refinements in structure, comfort, and responsiveness” that make the boot “feel prepared for today’s game without losing the weight of its past”. It will be gracing the field at Santiago Bernabeu again as Bellingham and Alexander-Arnold form part of adidas’ current stable of talent.

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Bellingham helps return Real to winning ways

Bellingham has followed in the footsteps of legendary Frenchman Zidane at Real, inheriting the No.5 jersey that the World Cup winner once wore with such distinction. He has drawn comparisons to Beckham throughout his career, with both able to blend on-field ability with off the pitch marketing appeal.

All-action midfielder Bellingham wore the gunmetal Predators when Madrid returned to winning ways in their latest La Liga fixture – with a 3-0 victory away at Athletic Club ensuring that they remain just one point adrift of Clasico rivals Barcelona in another thrilling title race.

The news had been widely expected with Cummins yet to resume bowling

Andrew McGlashan26-Oct-20257:05

Advantage England if Cummins misses first Ashes Test?

Pat Cummins has officially been ruled out of the first Ashes Test in Perth due to his back injury but he will return to bowling this week in a bid to be ready for the second match in Brisbane.Steven Smith will captain Australia in the opening Test against England which begins on November 21. The second Test in Brisbane begins on December 4.Cummins’ absence had been widely expected since the news emerged earlier this month that he had not been able to return to bowling after being diagnosed with a lumbar stress injury in September having experienced discomfort after returning from the tour of West Indies.”We’ve run out of time,” head coach Andrew McDonald told reporters in Canberra. “We sort of flagged this a week or so ago that it would take sort of four plus weeks to get him up and running and we’ve run out of time, unfortunately, but really optimistic and hopeful for the second Test match.”So I suppose the next question is what’s the time frame? What does it look like for the second Test? Not really going to be able to answer that other than to say that he’ll be back bowling this week and that’s a huge step. That was the big variable that we wanted to add in and get that information. So we’re on the journey to that second Test and very hopeful that that will be a positive outcome.”How Cummins reacts to his early stages of bowling will now be critical to whether Brisbane is a realistic target or whether a return later in the series will be the aim.”[We’ll] see how he pulls up and then we’ll make decisions moving forward,” McDonald said. “I know that sounds really boring and everyone wants a time frame and what’s the risk associated with it. There’s better people than I to speculate on what that is.”With the nature of this injury, it’s never going to be a clear time frame and I think that’s what everyone here today wants is a time frame to say, this is definitely what will happen. We’re not in a position to do that and I’d never put the medical team under that sort of duress either.”Ashes race: Pat Cummins goes through a running session•Getty Images

Since the back injuries that Cummins suffered earlier in his career, leading to a five-and-a-half year gap between his first and second Tests, he has had a very impressive fitness record.Smith has captained Australia six times as Cummins’ understudy since 2021, winning five of those matches, including once in the 2021-22 Ashes when Cummins was a Covid close contact in Adelaide.Cummins’ absence from Australia’s attack for the first Test means that Scott Boland will likely keep his place from the team’s most recent outing in West Indies where he claimed a hat-trick.”Losing your captain’s not ideal, but when you talk about Scott Boland being the potential replacement, it’s not a bad position to be in,” McDonald said.
“Ideally we want the captain available for stability and decision making but…Steve Smith will slide into that position.”I suppose you get excited about when he does come back, what an injection that will be to the group, a fully fit Pat Cummins returning some stage during the Ashes and that’s what we’re hopeful for.”Australia’s squad for the first Test is due to be named next week following the third round of Sheffield Shield matches which begins on Tuesday. Cummins will travel with the team even when he is unable to play.”It’ll almost be one of those things where you’ll see him in work and it’ll almost be a question of why isn’t he playing in Perth?” McDonald said. “That’s where we think he’ll be placed by that stage. So we’re excited by getting eyes on him in a bowling capacity.”

Barcelona enter a decisive moment in their season with uncertainty surrounding Marcus Rashford, who left training for the second consecutive day due to a severe flu, casting doubt over his availability for the highly-anticipated return to Camp Nou against Athletic Bilbao. As Hansi Flick’s side prepares for their long-awaited homecoming, crucial injury boosts and a renewed push for confidence shape the narrative ahead of a demanding run.

• Rashford doubt for Bilbao clash

  Barcelona’s preparations for their landmark return to Camp Nou began on an uneasy note as Rashford left training early for the second straight day. According to , the English forward, who has featured in every match since he joined on loan from Manchester United, reported to the club's training ground with persistent flu symptoms and was advised to return home immediately.

  "Marcus has a fever. He couldn't train yesterday or today. I'm doubtful for tomorrow," Flick said of the Englishman at a press conference ahead of the weekend's match. Rashford’s absence would be significant as he has contributed significantly to the Catalan side with six goals, nine assists, and a central role in Barca’s attack this season. Furthermore, the timing of this illness particularly worrying as the club enters a demanding stretch of fixtures.

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• AFP
  

  Barcelona’s long-awaited Camp Nou homecoming

  Saturday’s match carries emotional weight beyond the footballing stakes as Barcelona finally return to Camp Nou after nearly three years away. Renovation delays, regulatory hurdles and phased construction forced the club to play at the Johan Cruyff Stadium and the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys across two chaotic seasons. The reopening, limited to 45,401 seats due to ongoing work, marks a symbolic reset for the team and supporters.

  The rebuilt areas, upgraded facilities, and the introduction of the new “Gol 1957” supporters’ section are intended to restore the stadium’s identity and energy. For a club that struggled to maintain fan connection during displacement, stepping back onto their own turf against Athletic is more than a logistical milestone.

• Yamal, Garcia and Raphinha all fit for Bilbao clash

  As uncertainty hovers over Rashford, Flick at least receives a rare wave of good news on the medical front. Lamine Yamal has returned to full training after recovering from pubalgia and is expected to feature against Bilbao, likely with controlled minutes.

  Joan Garcia, previously sidelined with a meniscus injury, has completed rehabilitation and is set to regain his role between the posts. Raphinha has also progressed through the final phase of recovery and is scheduled to rejoin full sessions immediately after the break.

  The only absentee among the returning group is Pedri, who continues separate training but is on track for a timely comeback in the Champions League clash against Chelsea on November 25. For a team that has endured continuous disruption across key positions, this development adds to the team's depth ahead of an intense fixture calendar.

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• Getty Images
  

  Flick's call for confidence and Camp Nou’s spark

  Barcelona’s biggest challenge may be rediscovering their conviction, a point Flick himself underlined after the uneven performance against Celta Vigo. The German manager acknowledged the current lack of confidence but expressed optimism that returning players and a more complete squad would steady the team.

  "Perhaps right now we lack the confidence we should normally have and need. But now some players are coming back, and that will help us a lot. We have a fantastic squad, and if we play at the high level we did in Vigo, everything will be fine," says Flick.

  The emotional spark of returning to Camp Nou further adds a layer of motivation that could also prove decisive for the campaign going ahead.

MatériaMais Notícias

Na manhã desta terça-feira (11), o CEO da SAF do Vasco Lúcio Barbosa e a CFO Kátia dos Santos entregaram seus cargos. A interferência do clube associativo e o comprometimento da dupla à governança da SAF seriam os principais motivos das saídas dos dirigentes.

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➡️ Tudo sobre o Gigante agora no WhatsApp. Siga o nosso canal Lance! Vasco

Após a audiência pública para a reforma de São Januário que ocorreu no ginásio do estádio, o presidente do Vasco, Pedrinho falou sobre os pedidos de demissões e mostrou incômodo de como as coisas aconteceram.

“Que fique claro que foi uma decisão pessoal. Obviamente me incomoda porque para estar no Vasco, tem que querer estar no Vasco. Na minha gestão só vai estar no Vasco quem quer viver o Vasco na sua essência. É sentir a dor do Vasco, é sentir a alegria do Vasco, é entender o que é o Vasco. Quando a atmosfera aqui embaixo flui, as coisas em cima acontecem de uma forma melhor. As vezes aqui embaixo que as coisas não estão da forma que a gente quer.” – disse Pedrinho.

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Confira declaração completa:

O presidente revelou que após a saída da dupla, a diretoria já tem nomes para os cargos, mas deixou claro que a decisão de saída foi de Lúcio e Kátia.

“Foi uma decisão dele, estranhamente logo depois do que aconteceu ontem no conselho deliberativo, e agora o Vasco continua. Nunca parou por ninguém, então o Vasco anda para frente sempre.”

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Quando Pedrinho anunciou a chegada de Felipe como diretor técnico, o presidente chegou a dizer que algumas mudanças seriam feitas no departamento de futebol. Com a saída de Lúcio Barbosa e Kátia dos Santos, o ídolo vascaíno respondeu se essas mudanças seriam aceleradas.

“Algumas mudanças seriam feitas, mas de forma mais natural, com uma avaliação do trabalho mais de perto. Nenhuma tomada de decisão foi tomada do lado de fora, a gente avalia, faz toda a observação e análise do trabalho. O planejamento esportivo, mesmo a distância, eu tinha uma observação do que estava sendo feito. Mas sempre respeitando o campo, sempre respeitando para que não tivesse nenhuma interferência na questão esportiva e fizemos isso com muita cautela.”

Desde a última semana, Felipe e o diretor executivo Pedro Martins se reportavam diretamente a Pedrinho. Nos bastidores, o futuro de Lúcio, contratado como homem de confiança da 777 Partners, já era tido como indefinido.

“Quando dois funcionários pedem para sair, não tem porque não aceitar. Você rende onde você tá satisfeito. Se uma pessoa não quer ficar, o que eu vou tirar de melhor dela se ela não quer ficar nesse ambiente? Só quero que respeite a instituição, respeite os torcedores, respeite esse clube, entenda a verdadeira história do Vasco para a gente começar a ter um caminho diferente.”

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Goalscoring, leadership and world-class quality are just three expressions used to describe the talents possessed by Harry Kane during his decade spell at Tottenham Hotspur.

The Englishman rose through the youth ranks in North London before making himself a staple of the club’s first-team setup between 2013 and 2023, before his move to Bayern Munich.

The centre-forward made 435 appearances and found the back of the net on 280 occasions – a tally which still sees him stand at the top of the club’s all-time goalscoring charts.

His goalscoring record, coupled with his link-up play and creativity, has made him one of the best players to ever play for the club – with Thomas Frank no doubt wishing he could rely on a player of his calibre.

Whilst Kane has moved on to pastures new in recent years, the new manager has already added one top-level talent to his ranks, with the summer addition making an immediate impact in North London.

The underlying stats behind Palhinha’s start to life at Spurs

Joao Palhinha joined Spurs on loan from Bayern Munich this summer, with such a deal that the fanbase wasn’t totally convinced by upon the announcement.

However, a couple of months on from his switch back to the Premier League, the Portuguese international has certainly proved a lot of the doubters wrong.

Despite his defensive midfield role, the 30-year-old has impressed in the final third, already registering four goals and two assists – two of which came in Tuesday’s Champions League win over Copenhagen.

However, out of possession is where the midfielder has thrived, as seen by his phenomenal tally of tackles won in the Premier League over the last few months.

He’s already made 44 tackles in his 10 league outings for the Lilywhites, with such a tally the highest of any player in the entire division at present.

Other figures such as 8.5 duels won per 90 – at a success rate of 63% – with his tally of 1.8 aerials won also highlighting his dominant ball-winning ability at the heart of the side.

Palhinha has immediately handed Frank the number six the side has greatly lacked over recent years, with such an addition one that has been their best in recent years.

The Spurs star who is becoming the best player since Kane

There’s little denying that Palhinha is rapidly making himself one of the first names on the Spurs teamsheet, with no other player in the squad able to do the job he does.

Many supporters have voiced concerns over his lack of progression with the ball at his feet, but ultimately, his main responsibility is to allow those ahead of him to create the magic in attacking areas.

Players such as Xavi Simons, Lucas Bergvall and Pape Sarr are more than capable of feeding off Palhinha and providing the goods with the ball at their feet – with the latter crucial in the Lilywhites’ three-man midfield.

However, his recent exploits in the final third showcase he is a lot more capable in forward areas than the fans give him credit for – with the 30-year-old now on more goal contributions than Mohammed Kudus.

He’s not alone in overperforming in forward areas, with centre-back Micky van de Ven another player who has taken his game to the next level in the attacking department.

The 24-year-old was brought to North London in a £40m deal back in the summer of 2023, undoubtedly being signed to provide needed quality to the backline.

However, in 2025/26, the Dutch international has massively impressed in the attacking department, already scoring five times this season – including a double in the Premier League win over Everton.

Van de Ven also managed to get on the scoresheet in the hammering of Copenhagen this week, running from the edge of his own box before coolly slotting him – just like Kane would do during his time in North London.

The centre-back, who’s been dubbed “world-class” by one analyst, has also dominated defensively this season – as seen by his tally of 1.1 tackles won and 1.3 aerials won per 90.

He’s been phenomenal at picking out a teammate too, completing 92% of the passes he’s attempted, subsequently contributing to his tally of 0.6 chances created per 90.

Games played

15

Goals scored

6

Pass accuracy

92%

Chances created

0.6

Tackles won

1.1

Aerials won

1.3

Dribble success

50%

Recoveries made

3.6

His all-round quality at both ends of the pitch has made him one of the best signings in the club’s recent history – arguably being their best player since Kane left.

Whilst the pair operate in hugely different positions, Van de Ven has assumed the role of being a crucial player in the first team and leading them to new heights in the process.

Spurs star is now "very similar to Saka" and he's better than Johnson

Tottenham Hotspur already have a star who could reach the levels achieved by Bukayo Saka.

ByEthan Lamb Nov 6, 2025

Memories of the loss against England were not far from the India allrounder’s mind, but there would be no repeat

S Sudarshanan31-Oct-2025

Jemimah Rodrigues and Amanjot Kaur embrace in the middle•ICC/Getty Images

As soon as she cut the ball past backward point, Amanjot Kaur exulted. She was hoisted by Jemimah Rodrigues, who then sank to the floor, covered her face and started to tear up. Amanjot just stood there and patted her on the back. Navi Mumbai erupted in joy. The Indian players sprinted to the middle. For those in the dugout, the hugs were the tightest. There were tears of joy.Beating Australia was one hurdle India had repeatedly failed to cross in knockouts of recent ICC tournaments. Not anymore. India were in the final of the Women’s World Cup 2025.Related

• Rodrigues opens up to help others: 'It's okay to ask for help'

• India make history as Rodrigues and Harmanpreet end Australia's reign

• Australia feel India's force as Rodrigues brings down the Death Star

• Rodrigues completes her redemption arc as the silence turns to roars

When do you actually go for the kill in a run chase? It forms the crux of our sport. Yet it is one of the most discussed, often debated and dissected, parts of the game – the timing of actually stepping on the pedal. A pure judgement call.India hadn’t got it right against England in Indore. An equation of 36 off 30 became 32 off 24. And then 27 off 18. Amanjot was in the middle then. She tried to take the game deep. But they ran out of time. India needed 23 off 12 balls and 14 off the last over; they lost by four runs. The final kick never arrived.This recent bit of history made every one of the 34,651 at the DY Patil Stadium – and those watching on the television – on Thursday twitch in their seats. The set Rodrigues, who scored her maiden World Cup century, was just offered a reprieve. India now needed 48 off 36 in their 339-run chase. Richa Ghosh hit Ashleigh Gardner, who she had taken apart in the WPL 2025 season-opener, for a six and a four in the space of three balls.Annabel Sutherland stood at the top of the mark for her penultimate over. Is there anything she can’t do? She gave away just five runs. More tellingly, she removed Ghosh for the second time in two meetings at this World Cup. The India wicketkeeper’s wild swing only resulted in a top edge to backward point.Jemimah Rodrigues eased the pressure with vital boundaries•Getty ImagesWhen Smriti Mandhana had been ruled out caught behind via the DRS, you could hear a pin drop even in one of the noisiest stands at the DY Patil Stadium. The Bucket Hat Cult, a fans’ group that enhances stadium experience at women’s cricket matches in India, had gone quiet in disbelief. Imagine being in that section of crowd with Amanjot walking in with India needing 7.25 per over.”Should I charge at the bowlers or will you do so?” was Amanjot’s first question to Rodrigues. Both Amanjot and Rodrigues’ physique may not scream out power, but they possess the ability to hit mean sixes. But that wasn’t the need of the hour.”She said, we are good runners. (we will get us home),” Amanjot said after the game. “‘You see the ball, the track is nice, and we should do it.’ It was a great surface. She said we should finish it with one over to spare.”Australia are one team you wouldn’t want to give a sniff. They had one now. Do India have to endure a heartbreak again? The tension was palpable. Stay unmoved. Don’t utter a line about the state of the game. Let’s not talk about the what-ifs. Instructions were going out left, right, centre. The sounds of keys being hammered away was audible in the media box, deadlines drawing closer and the finish unrelenting.This time there would be no heartache•Getty ImagesSutherland ran in for her tenth over but had to abort her run-up because Amanjot pulled away. A long chant from the crowd. Amanjot then took ran a two and a single on the first two legal deliveries, either side of a wide, and gave strike back to Rodrigues, who has seen a fair bit of Sutherland at Delhi Capitals.Sutherland’s slower ball arrived, Rodrigues was early but she waited and scooped it past the wicketkeeper. And then, after another wide, she hung back to a length ball to slash it past backward point. India had managed to take 15 off the 48th over. Now 8 off 12 was a walk in the park, and Amanjot hit two fours in three balls of the 49th over to set off wild celebrations.”After Richa fell, the game was in the balance,” she said. “I had the England game in my mind where I took the game deep but we were left needing 12 [14], which was too much. I did not want a repeat. If she would have asked me to charge [at the bowler], I would have charged. But she asked me to play carefully, and the pitch was good. We calculated and the nine [15] runs that came from Annabel Sutherland’s over helped us greatly.”On the India team sheet, Amanjot was slated to bat at No. 3 and Rodrigues at No. 5. But Rodrigues was informed that she would be one-drop for the day, and within five minutes – and ten balls into the chase – she found herself walking out. It was only a quirk of the day that Amanjot and Rodrigues were in the middle for the photo-finish.