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Sunderland’s rapid-fire business so far this summer has certainly entertained those watching on.

To date, the Premier League newcomers have welcomed in eight fresh faces that have cost an alleged £140m in total, with their ninth purchase now in the offing as a deal to bring in Marc Guiu on loan from Chelsea for the season edges nearer to being completed.

With Regis Le Bris also now tied down to a contract until 2028 in the Stadium of Light dug-out, this summer has been an extremely smooth operation for the most part, with Jobe Bellingham’s exit to Borussia Dortmund also swiftly forgotten about.

Guiu might not be the only striker addition signed off on before September’s looming deadline, however, as a deal to bring in an experienced free-agent forward might also be on the cards.

Sunderland made ambitious move for free agent

Sunderland could well be looking to add in more Premier League experience to their ranks, away from Guiu’s addition, with Granit Xhaka the only presence in their squad who has tasted the harshness of the division previously.

They have certainly tried to bring in some seasoned heads, with a new report from talkSPORT revealing that the Black Cats had lined up an ambitious play to bring Dominic Calvert-Lewin in on a free transfer, after his Everton contract had expired.

Unfortunately for Le Bris and Co., despite their obvious ambition being on full display, the injury-prone striker has decided to keep his options open for the time being, in the hope that a team higher up the Premier League standings decides to gamble on his free agent services.

After all, if he were to wrestle free of his injury concerns and get back to his Toffees goalscoring peak, he would be a real asset to Sunderland, or any other side, as the Wearside outfit potentially battle against the drop.

He could even become the Black Cats’ next iteration of Darren Bent, with Bent’s goalscoring exploits on Wearside somewhat slipping under the radar, much like Calvert-Lewin’s best days on Merseyside have been shoved to one side amid his constant issues in the treatment room.

How Calvert-Lewin could be the next Bent

Unfortunately, when strikers go off the boil, it often receives the most attention.

Bent’s playing days would unfortunately fizzle out by the time he was lining up for lowly Burton Albion in the Championship, but he will still be well remembered at the Stadium of Light for being an absolute menace at the peak of his powers.

Of course, his most infamous strike for the Wearside club would come against Liverpool in 2009, as a beachball inexplicably got involved with play, but he would score another 35 goals donning Sunderland red and white, away from this bizarre moment in isolation.

Bent would close out his esteemed career with 106 Premier League efforts next to his name. Calvert-Lewin is only 49 strikes shy of matching that bumper amount, despite being dismissed as an injury-plagued, wasteful presence in recent seasons.

The 11-time England international was even once viewed as a “monster” in front of goal – as he was labelled by football talent scout Jacek Kulig – for the Toffees before his career at Moyes’ side unravelled, with his output during the 2019/20 and 2020/21 seasons in the top-flight seeing him bag a clinical 29 strikes.

Both the campaigns in question saw Everton comfortably sit in mid-table, but his reasonable seven goals during the 2023/24 season had a far more pivotal impact on proceedings, resulting in the Merseyside outfit surviving in 15th spot.

The concern will be whether or not Calvert-Lewin can wriggle free of those consistent knocks to be that same impactful presence for Le Bris’ men, with Guiu no doubt boosted subsequently by having such an experienced figure by his side as he learns and grows out on loan.

Bent’s goalscoring heroics for the Black Cats once upon a time enabled mid-table finishes in the Premier League to be a regular occurrence.

The Sheffield-born forward will hope he can offer up the same for his potential new employers as they boldly reenter the promised land.

Better signing than Xhaka: Sunderland make £26m "warrior" their top target

Sunderland is still interested in the prospect of landing this £26m star.

ByKelan Sarson Aug 6, 2025

There is just over a month to go until the transfer window slams shut, and so far, Arsenal fans have had a lot to shout about.

Mikel Arteta and Co have been quick to announce the signings of Christian Norgaard, Martin Zubimendi, Noni Madueke and Kepa Arrizabalaga.

They aren’t finished there, though, as Spanish defender Cristhian Mosquera has already been pictured in the club’s training kit, and talks for Viktor Gyokeres appear to be in the final stages.

Moreover, the Premier League runners-up have also been linked with Eberechi Eze, although, based on reports, they may now be after another international who would be an even better signing.

Arsenal target Eze upgrade

This summer hasn’t been the first time Arsenal have been linked with Eze, as you only have to look back to last summer to see stories touting the Crystal Palace star for a move back to the club that released him as a child.

Transfer Focus

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

However, it would be fair to say that the stories this year have felt more concrete, with some claiming that talks had been held with the player’s camp and personal terms had been agreed upon.

However, as things stand, the links appear to have quieted down somewhat, and as far as we can tell, no agreement was reached with the South Londoners, who still want the Englishman’s full £68m release clause to sell him.

Yet, fans shouldn’t worry about missing out on a talented midfielder, as it now looks like they could turn their attention to another, someone who’d be a better signing than Eze.

At least that is according to Arsenal insider Hand of Arsenal, who revealed that the club had been in contact with Xavi Simons’ agent, Ali Barat, who has offered them the chance to sign the Dutch talent.

This news aligns with reports from earlier this month, which claimed that the Gunners are interested in the RB Leipzig star, who could be available for around £52m.

While it could be a complicated and costly transfer to get over the line, it’s one Arsenal should pursue, as Simons is already a brilliant player who could further improve, and someone who’d be a better acquisition than Eze.

Why Simons would be a better signing than Eze

So, the first reason Arsenal would be wise to sign Simons over Eze this summer is that, when we take a look under the hood, at their underlying numbers, the Leipzig ace comes out on top.

It’s not even a close comparison, as in practically every relevant metric, the former Paris Saint-Germain gem comes out on top, demonstrating exactly why some in the game think he’s “one of the best 10s in the world”.

These numbers show that not only is the Dutchman a more creative force for his team, but also someone capable of contributing more when it comes to the less glamorous defensive side of things, which we know is a trait loved by Arteta.

Non-Penalty G+As

0.67

0.52

Progressive Passes

5.86

3.37

Progressive Carries

3.56

2.40

Shots

2.09

3.48

Shots on Target

0.96

0.94

Passing Accuracy

78.6%

74.2%

Key Passes

2.13

2.01

Passes into the Penalty Area

2.51

1.35

Passes into the Final Third

3.31

1.70

Tackles Won

0.88

0.76

Shot-Creating Actions

4.52

4.69

Goal-Creating Actions

0.50

0.35

Successful Take-Ons

1.38

2.33

The second reason the Premier League runners-up should sign the Amsterdam-born ace is that he’s even more positionally versatile than the Eagles star, being capable of playing across the entire frontline as well as in the ten.

Finally, “superstar”, as he has been described by analyst Ben Mattinson, is also five years the Englishman’s junior, which means he has far more upside and, according to research carried out by The Athletic, could get far better as he likely won’t reach the peak of his powers until he’s 26 years old.

Ultimately, Eze and Simons are both extraordinary players and would be unreal signings for Arsenal.

However, due to his versatility, superb underlying numbers, and age, Arteta and Co. should opt for the latter if they can only get one.

He's a dream for Xavi Simons: Arsenal expect to sign £55m star "soon"

Arsenal could seal a dream partnership by signing Xavi Simons and this centre-forward.

1 ByJack Salveson Holmes Jul 21, 2025

Tourists have avoided defeat at Lord’s for 33 years and counting. Can they rise to the occasion again?

Andrew Miller28-Aug-2024Big picture: Sunny weather, sunny times?Is there a danger that a competitive Test series might break out in London over the coming fortnight? This is a city where Sri Lanka, remarkably, have not lost a single Test in six visits since August 1991. Admittedly, five of those have been draws at Lord’s, although next week’s return to The Oval for the first time since Murali’s match in 1998 will be a reminder that one of the more disparaged of touring teams have long had the ability to confound expectations on their infrequent England visits.Related

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Switch Hit: UnBazballian

Which is, to a greater or lesser extent, what Sri Lanka managed to do over the course of four improbably competitive days at Emirates Old Trafford. England eventually landed their fourth Test win out of four this summer, but not before they’d been made to struggle for the upper hand with ball and, latterly, bat, as Joe Root dropped anchor in a distinctly unBazballian 62 not out from 128 balls to oversee a taxing 205-run chase.The subplots along the way were many and varied. What might have happened on the first evening, for instance, if England hadn’t bowed to the umpires’ assertion that it was too dark to bowl their quicks, and simply gone off for bad light instead of offering Milan Rathnayake 12 overs of spin in which to move towards the highest score by a No.9 on Test debut?England assemble for their team photo at Lord’s•Getty Images

Conversely, what might have happened had England not managed to wrangle a ball-change after 41 overs of Sri Lanka’s second innings, by which stage Angelo Mathews was channelling his 2014 glory days while Kamindu Mendis was on course for his third Test hundred in the space of four calmly authoritative Test appearances?As had been the case in the Oval Ashes Test 12 months earlier, England had made their bed and deserved to have to sleep in it with their treatment of their original ball. They had sacrificed new-ball swing in the quest for a scuffed-up surface and some of the prodigious reverse that Asitha Fernando in particular had harvested. And even if their replacement ball was the same age as the original, it was like comparing a 41-year-old Hollywood actress with a vagrant who’s lived his adult life in a ditch. Dhananjaya de Silva, Sri Lanka’s captain, confirmed he had spoken to the match referee about the ball-change after the Test, and with such issues an increasingly frequent aspect of the English Test summer, this is clearly a loophole that deserves to be tightened up for future engagements.All things being equal, however, it was hard to argue that Sri Lanka were robbed in the course of the first Test. Few sides that struggle to 6 for 3 in the first innings, then 1 for 2 in the second, can expect to get away unpunished, although seeing as one of the reasons for those scorelines was a notably fallow display from the otherwise sturdy Dimuth Karunaratne, who averages a tick below 41 in his 92 Tests, and who made 87 runs for once out on his last trip to Lord’s in 2016, there is reason to believe that history won’t repeat itself this week.For starters, the team as a whole are now better acquainted with English conditions. Their preparation prior to the Old Trafford Test had been a low-key warm-up against England Lions in Worcester, which unsurprisingly proved insufficient to get them fully up to speed. And, after an intermittently damp experience in Manchester, the weather for London over the coming few days should be distinctly sunnier. There is no proven correlation between warm weather and heightened Sri Lankan performances, but anecdotal evidence from the past 40 years would tend to back up the suspicion that they tend to like it hot.Either way, Sri Lanka have been granted the window in the calendar that they have been crying out for since their first forays to England in the 1980s. Here we are, in the thick of a full Test series at the sharp end of the English summer, as opposed to a one-off afterthought, as was the case from 1984 to 1998, or an early-season trial by seam and swing, as per 2002 onwards. The onus is on the class of 2024 to live up to the billing they’ve been afforded. And in spite of most expectations, that’s more or less what they managed in the first match of three.Dan Lawrence, Brendon McCullum and Harry Brook arrive at practice•Getty Images

Form guideEngland WWWWL (last five Tests, most recent first)
Sri Lanka LWWWLIn the spotlight: Ollie Pope and Asitha FernandoOllie Pope has made a winning start to his Test captaincy career, which is not to be sniffed at – many great leaders, including his England predecessor, didn’t manage that feat. But when it comes to his day job as England’s No.3, Pope’s main challenge is compartmentalisation, and two glaringly sub-par performances reinforced the sense that his game isn’t quite where he wants or needs it to be. In the first innings he was bowled neck-and-crop by an admittedly excellent ball from Asitha; but in the second, his tendency towards skittishness in the early stages of an innings resulted in an ill-conceived reverse-sweep to slip – the very same shot that underpinned his GOAT-contender innings at Hyderabad in the winter. On the face of it, he’s still in credit this summer, with 251 runs at 41.83 after four Tests. However, there’s been something intangibly unsettled about his batting post-Hyderabad. Whether it’s a mindset or technical issue, only he can truly say, but he won’t get a chance to focus fully on a remedy in his current stand-in role.Asitha Fernando was phenomenally good at Old Trafford. He led the line for Sri Lanka in each innings, easing past 50 Test wickets in the space of 15 Tests as he mixed conventional seam and swing with prodigious amounts of reverse – which in itself was quite the feat given how lush the outfield had been all match long. His challenge now is to back that performance up at Lord’s (and The Oval) in the coming days. England will no doubt be better prepared for his unassuming threat, having had a good sighting of his probing methods, but Aaqib Javed, Sri Lanka’s bowling coach, likened his effortless each-way movement to that of Pakistan’s Mohammad Asif, and for Test cricket’s connoisseurs, there really is no higher praise. Just ask Kevin Pietersen. If he can keep England guessing with new ball and old, so much the better for Sri Lanka’s hopes of keeping the series alive.Team news: Stone in for Wood, SL consider KumaraAs ever, England were proactive in their team announcement, confirming on Tuesday that they would be making one enforced change to their XI from Old Trafford. Mark Wood is out of the series with a thigh strain, so Nottinghamshire’s Olly Stone slots back in as the like-for-like option, ahead of the uncapped 20-year-old left-armer, Josh Hull, who will be using this week to soak up the international atmosphere. Stone hasn’t played a Test since 2021, having since had two screws inserted in his back, but he’s been fit and firing across formats all summer long, and has tended to look the part in his limited England appearances to date. In three Tests since 2019, he’s picked up ten wickets at 19.40.England: 1 Dan Lawrence, 2 Ben Duckett, 3 Ollie Pope (capt), 4 Joe Root, 5 Harry Brook, 6 Jamie Smith (wk), 7 Chris Woakes, 8 Gus Atkinson, 9 Matthew Potts, 10 Olly Stone, 11 Shoaib BashirSri Lanka have also confirmed their playing XI ahead of the game. They had put up a good fight in the end, of the first Test with Kamindu and Asitha their stand-out performers, but their main issue came right at right at the top of the order. Nishan Madushka has retained his role as opener but could muster only four runs across both innings in the first Test. Pathum Nissanka will slot in at No. 3 as Kusal Mendis lost his place despite deputising well in England’s second innings. Dinesh Chandimal has recovered from a gruesome blow to the thumb at Old Trafford to retain his spot. On the bowling front, Lahiru Kumara has been recalled to provide some extra muscle, at the expense of the left-armer, Vishwa Fernando.Sri Lanka: 1 Dimuth Karunaratne, 2 Nishan Madushka, 3 Pathum Nissanka, 4 Angelo Mathews, 5 Dinesh Chandimal, 6 Dhananjaya de Silva (capt), 7 Kamindu Mendis, 8 Milan Rathnayake, 9 Prabath Jayasuriya, 10 Asitha Fernando, 11 Lahiru KumaraSanath Jayasuriya talks to his Sri Lanka team before the second Test•Getty Images

Pitch and conditions: Sun set to shineThe weather is set fair, and Lord’s in the sunshine can be tough place for a bowler. There have been some formidable snore-draws in the County Championship this summer, with Middlesex passing 600 twice and 550 once and Glamorgan’s Sam Northeast surpassing Graham Gooch’s 333 as the highest individual scorer at the venue. That said, West Indies didn’t detain England’s bowlers for long in their visit in July, thanks to Gus Atkinson’s 12 wickets on debut. Pope noted that the pitch had a grassy tinge to it on the eve of the match, but expected to play pretty slow while the sun was out.Stats and trivia This will be Sri Lanka’s ninth Test at Lord’s since 1984, which will draw the ground level with Harare as their most frequent overseas venue. They have played at least that many Tests in six home venues, with the SSC in Colombo top of the pile on 45. Sri Lanka have never won a Test at Lord’s … but they very rarely lose at the venue either. They famously drew on their initial visit in 1984, while the most recent of their two defeats came in 1991, at the hands of Graham Gooch, Phil DeFreitas and Phil Tufnell. Since then, Sri Lanka have secured draws in all five of their visits to Lord’s, with their defiance in 2006 and 2014 proving critical in landing a series draw in the first instance, and a series win in the second. Despite his second-innings century at Old Trafford, Kamindu’s average has slipped from its previous heights … though not by much. His mark at the start of the series was 107.00 from three Tests; it is now 92.16 from four, with three hundreds and two further fifties in his seven innings to date. Dimuth Karunaratne needs 72 more runs to reach 7000 in Tests.Quotes”It’s good we’re getting pushed. Sri Lanka were impressive last week, especially the way they batted. When you come to England, you expect different conditions and the conditions weren’t your classic English-style pitches but at the same time, for the guys to go and put together some good scores and set us a chase from a hundred deficit is a credit to them.”
Ollie Pope expects England to come out on top but respects the challenge that Sri Lanka have posed “Overall, Pathum is the best batter in the country at the moment. He has a good mindset and he has a good technique. If we can get him into the team, that’s great. I have been talking about it for a while now. I think he will adjust to any format.”
Dhananjaya de Silva is all confident about Pathum Nissanka’s skills

Glasgow Rangers have now identified a £6.5 million forward as a potential replacement for Hamza Igamane, who looks set to leave Ibrox, according to a new report.

Hamza Igamane closing in on Lille transfer

The Scottish giants signed Igamane from AS FAR Rabat last summer, a transfer that fans were not sure what to expect from. It took a while for the 22-year-old to get going in Scotland, but once he found his feet, he showed his true qualities.

Rangers bid made: 49ers table offer to bring "spectacular" 22 y/o to Ibrox

The Gers want a permanent transfer.

ByCharlie Smith Jun 26, 2025

Igamane scored 12 goals in 33 Scottish Premiership games last season, as well as netting four times in the Europa League. The Moroccan scored two goals in the final four league games, and, unfortunately for Rangers, they could be the final goals he scores for the club.

That is because, according to Sacha Tavolieri, Rangers are now in talks with Lille over the sale of Igamane. The French side have made the Rangers forward their top target to replace Jonathan David, and they have already agreed personal terms with the striker. All that remains is for the two clubs to work on finding an agreement for a transfer fee, with separate reports stating that the Gers would want around £20 million to part ways.

His departure now feels expected, and therefore, Rangers will need to enter the market to find a suitable replacement for Russell Martin as he bids to get the Gers through the early stages of the Champions League, which starts in a few weeks.

Rangers identify £6.5m forward to replace Igamane

According to TEAMtalk, Rangers are keen on signing Matija Frigan after identifying him as the player to replace Igamane.

The report states that Rangers are preparing for a summer overhaul of the squad, and they have now accepted the fact that Igamane is set to leave at some point in this transfer window. Frigan is a potential target, as he fits the club’s policy of buying talent at a low price and then potentially selling for a big profit.

The 22-year-old currently plays for Belgian side KVC Westerlo and has done so since 2023. The forward netted nine goals in 29 league games last season, and that has put him on the radar of Rangers, whose recruitment team have been left impressed by his finishing and work rate.

Apps

72

Goals

19

Assists

5

Frigan is valued at £6.5 million, but Rangers believe they could get a deal done for a lower price, with add-ons taking it to that figure.

The Gers have already been handed a boost in their pursuit of the player, as he is set to be ‘enthusiastic’ about joining Rangers, given the history of the club and the fact they can offer European football. Frigan is unknown to English football, but scout Jacek Kulig has likened the forward to Italy striker Ciro Immobile, which shows how promising his career could be.

Celtic are enjoying a hard-earned break during the off-season, but they may now have an opportunity to offload one star who has recently made an impact under Brendan Rodgers, according to a report.

Celtic set to alter defensive line this summer

The reigning Scottish Premiership champions are usually slow starters in the window, taking a measured approach before deciding where they need to strengthen ahead of the new campaign. Nevertheless, the world already knows that the complexion of their backline will change significantly once Kieran Tierney arrives at Celtic on a free transfer from Arsenal.

With the Scotland international’s emotional homecoming taking pride of place, his compatriot Greg Taylor could opt to leave Parkhead amid interest from Greek giants PAOK.

Formerly of Kilmarnock, the 27-year-old has a two-year deal on the table that is said to be a significant upgrade on his current terms at Celtic, potentially spelling the end to his extremely successful six years in Glasgow.

It remains to be seen if Taylor will accept a new challenge elsewhere. He is still someone the club want to keep around, though they have already started to seek out potential contingency options.

Rodgers could sign Celtic their new Giakoumakis in 25-goal sensation

As Celtic continue their search for a new forward this summer, should the sign a “technically gifted” striker for free, reminiscent of Giakoumakis?

1 ByBen Gray Jun 6, 2025

Peterborough United’s Harley Mills is a Celtic target and the Bhoys have reportedly made an approach for the youngster, indicating that any incoming figure to replace Taylor may be of a youthful mould.

From the outset, Rodgers appears to have settled options in the middle and on the right-hand side of his backline. Cameron Carter-Vickers, Liam Scales and Auston Trusty are established figures and are expected to be around next term.

However, peripheral figures may depart to make room for new blood and Celtic may now have an opportunity to offload one of their fringe stars.

Celtic defender Maik Nawrocki could now exit Parkhead

According to wSzczecinie.pl, Celtic defender Maik Nawrocki could join Pogon Szczecin on loan for the forthcoming campaign despite his growing rapport with supporters due to some encouraging displays of late.

Brought in for £4.3 million back in 2023, the former Legia Warsaw man has struggled for consistent minutes in Glasgow, making only 18 appearances across two seasons in green and white.

Maik Nawrocki’s Celtic statistics in 2024/25 – Scottish Premiership (Fotmob)

Pass accuracy

95.7%

Successful passes

308

Duels won

17

Tackles won percentage rate

100%

Recoveries

11

Dribbled past

1

Labelled “very highly-rated” by Rodgers after joining the club, there has clearly been a breakdown somewhere along the line that has led to limited appearances for the Bremen-born man.

Injuries haven’t helped his case, though many would argue he has been value for more starts at times throughout the campaign. Either way, a return to his homeland would offer that luxury if he were to stay fit.

In turn, Celtic would surely be expected to secure cover at centre-back, unless Stephen Welsh is re-integrated into the first-team squad upon his return from a loan spell at KV Mechelen.

Birmingham City are now “pushing hard” for the signing of a League One forward this summer, according to Sky Sports reporter Rob Dorsett.

Blues summer transfer plans taking shape

While the Blues were always expected to secure promotion this season, having spent big on the likes of Jay Stansfield and Christoph Klarer last summer, they managed to do so in spectacular fashion, amassing a whopping 111 points to win the title.

Promotion to the second tier was the first task for Tom Brady and co, but the long-term goal is to seal promotion to the Premier League, as underlined by the fact the American owners are set to target similar players to Ipswich Town, Southampton and Leicester City this summer.

Although the season only recently came to a close, work has already started on signing new players, with a move for AFC Bournemouth goalkeeper Mark Travers being plotted, while Torino striker Che Adams is also of interest.

Birmingham are also looking to strengthen their wide options this summer, according to Dorsett, with the reporter recently taking to X to reveal they are now “pushing hard” to sign Peterborough United winger Kwame Poku.

Poku’s contract is set to expire this summer, but given that he is just 23-years-old, compensation will be required, should the two clubs be unable to agree a fee, and arbitration is a situation everyone involved is looking to avoid.

Peterborough chairman Darragh MacAnthony has also endorsed the winger making the move to St. Andrews, saying: “If he went there it’s probably the best move of his life and he could go to the Premier League in a year.”

He'd be amazing with Adams: Birmingham make move for "unplayable" EFL star

Birmingham City would scare Championship defences stiff if they picked up this top EFL talent alongside Che Adams.

ByKelan Sarson May 8, 2025 Poku could be "outstanding" signing for Birmingham

With Birmingham looking to kick on in the Championship next season, it could be a solid strategy to recruit some of the third tier’s top players, and the Peterborough star could well be in that category, given his impressive attacking record this season.

Competition

Appearances

Goals

Assists

League One

27

12

8

EFL Trophy

2

0

1

FA Cup

2

0

2

Having amassed a combined 23 goals and assists in all competitions, there are clear signs the Ghana international could be capable of making the step-up to Championship next season, and potentially the top flight if he continues his current trajectory.

Not only that, but the Peterborough star was named as the Posh’s player of the year, which led to high praise from members of the Ghanaian media.

Poku could be a fantastic signing for Birmingham this summer, with Davies looking to build a squad capable of winning another promotion.

La Liga giants Barcelona have opened initial talks with the representatives of a Tottenham star as Hansi Flick’s side register a serious interest ahead of the looming summer window.

Tottenham face losing key first-team players this summer

Alongside the uncertain future surrounding their manager, Ange Postecoglou, a few key first-team players could also be on their way out.

Tottenham seal "major coup" in "dramatic" shake-up, raises Levy question

It’s been officially confirmed.

ByEmilio Galantini Apr 12, 2025

Recently, Atlético Madrid have become increasingly keen on defender Cristian Romero, with reports from Argentina even claiming that Diego Simeone has already reached out to him personally in an attempt to sway him towards the Wanda Metropolitano.

The 26-year-old, for his part, is keen to leave Spurs for pastures new this summer (Graeme Bailey), which has resulted in chairman Daniel Levy postponing talks over a new deal for Romero.

Wolves (away)

Today

Nottingham Forest (home)

April 21st

Liverpool (away)

April 27th

West Ham (away)

May 3rd

Crystal Palace (home)

May 10th

As well as Romero, Man City are also posing a real threat when it comes to left-back Destiny Udogie, with Pep Guardiola’s side adding the Italian to their shortlist of potential new left-back signings.

Further upfield, Atlético have also been keeping an eye on mainstay Spurs midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur, who is now attracting interest from Barcelona.

Barcelona open talks with Tottenham star Rodrigo Bentancur

That is according to a report from The Boy Hotspur, with the outlet claiming that Barca have reached out to Bentancur’s camp for early transfer talks, alongside Simeone’s side.

The Uruguay international is about to enter the final 12 months of his contract at Spurs, prompting Levy to open talks over an extension for the midfielder, but the European heavyweight duo are threatening to turn Bentancur’s head by making contact.

Keeping him at the club should be considered a top priority for Spurs, as the 27-year-old is a consistent performer when fit and available, not to mention one of the more senior players in a relatively young squad.

Bentancur has been praised for his performances since joining the club from Juventus, with former Spurs keeper Paul Robinson calling him “sensational” (Football Insider), and while the club haven’t put a recent price on Bentancur, some sources in the past have suggested they value him at up to £50 million.

“Him and Kulusevski have been fantastic signings,” said Robinson in 2022.

“Players take different amounts of time to settle into the Premier League. Bentancur was given a berth in the team early and has since made himself undroppable. He is one of the first names on the teamsheet. He has offensive and defensive capabilities.

“Bentancur is a player that goes under the radar, but he’s been sensational. His all-round performance is excellent, it really is.”

Tottenham head coach Thomas Frank risks losing the dressing room if he fails to trigger a turnaround in fortunes in the club's upcoming fixtures. It has been claimed that several players are starting to lose faith in the Dane due to his tendency to make late tactical adjustments, which often leaves the players confused about their responsibilities during games.

Frank could lose Spurs dressing room amid poor run

According to a report from , sources close to the Tottenham Hotspur dressing room have indicated that there is growing uncertainty and confusion among players under the stewardship of head coach Frank. The report highlights the frequent last-minute changes to player roles – with tactical adjustments made just before kick-off or even scrapped entirely in the early phases of the match – as the primary factor behind Frank's waning authority in the dressing room. The Tottenham players are not happy with Frank's managerial style and the recent stretch of poor results has only exacerbated the situation.

In the aftermath of Spurs' 2-1 defeat to Fulham, the former Brentford boss insisted that he continues to retain the backing of the club's hierarchy, but there's no denying that he is under mounting pressure to turn things around, starting with Wednesday's visit to St. James' Park against a resurgent Newcastle.

Furthermore, he will also be tasked to maintain unity within the dressing room and continue steering the ship with leadership and authority. Several senior players are said to be unsure of their roles and responsibilities during games, with last week's edge-of-the-seat 5-3 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League highlighted as an instance when a late tactical tweak caused confusion. Even though some squad members are understood to enjoy working under Frank, there is concern that he risks losing the broader dressing room unless performances and results improve soon.

AdvertisementAFPFrank blanked by Van de Ven and Spence

Following Spurs' narrow 1-0 home defeat to London rivals Chelsea at the start of November, defenders Micky van de Ven and Djed Spence headed straight to the tunnel without greeting the supporters, much to the surprise and disappointment of Frank. He was left rooted to the spot after seeing two of his players leave the pitch without showing appreciation to the fans in a moment that could be pointed to as the first signs of fragmentation between the squad and the coach.

“All the players are, of course, frustrated. They would like to do well, they would like to win, they would like to perform. I understand that," the Dane told reporters after the game.

“I think it’s difficult to be consistent in good times and bad times, that’s why I went around to the fans as I did, it’s more fun when we win, I can tell you that.”

When asked whether it was "acceptable" for both players to ignore him, Frank responded: “I understand why you ask the question. But I think that’s one of, how you can say, small issues.

“We have Micky van de Ven and Djed Spence doing everything they can. They’ve performed very well so far this season. Everyone is frustrated. We do things in a different way, I don’t think it’s a big problem.”

Signs of a divide between Spurs and their fans

The loss to Fulham was a bitter blow to Spurs' aspirations this season, as well as their overall morale as the season heads into the second half. The Cottagers raced to a two-goal lead within the first six minutes, and Marco Silva's side would have Spurs goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario to thank for his howler. 

The Italian's blunder drew a cacophony of jeers and boos, which angered the Spurs boss after the game. “I didn't like that our fans booed at him straight after and a few times he touched the ball," he defiantly stated. "They can't be true Tottenham fans because everyone supports each other when you are on the pitch. And we do everything we can to perform. After, fair enough, boo, no problem. But not during. That's unacceptable in my opinion."

In fact, even Pedro Porro couldn't hold himself back from lashing out at the fans. Taking to Instagram, he leapt to the defence of his team-mates, writing that "what I will not tolerate is hearing disrespect from the fans to my teammates, hence my frustration at the end of the game.”

Amid a difficult run of form, the last thing Spurs’ players and Frank need is a strained relationship with the fans. Their unwavering support, as it has been through the years, could be the catalyst needed to turn things around, even against all odds.

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Getty Images SportFrank's job at Spurs not under scrutiny

November was an extremely difficult month for Spurs. They lost four games and drew once, with their only win coming in the Champions League against Copenhagen. After capturing 17 points from their first nine league games, the London-based outfit have gone four Premier League games without a win. What's more, only four teams have earned as few, or fewer, points than Spurs' total of four from the last five league games.

Regardless, reports suggest that the 52-year-old retains the backing of the Spurs hierarchy, who remain adamant on giving Frank more time to lay his tactical imprint on the squad. 

Tough fixtures in the form of Newcastle, Liverpool, and Crystal Palace await Frank and Co. in the month of December. It’s crucial for Spurs to secure some positive results, not only to relieve Frank of the inevitable pressure if progress isn’t made, but also to dispel any doubts the players may have about the manager’s tactics and management.

Tottenham number one Guglielmo Vicario faces an uncertain long-term future amid reports of Inter Milan’s interest, with his personal stance on an exit now also coming to light.

Guglielmo Vicario criticised after recent Tottenham outings

Vicario’s tenure at Tottenham appears increasingly uncertain following his costly error against Fulham, which added to the concerns surrounding his capability as their first-choice goalkeeper.

The 29-year-old endured a nightmare moment during Spurs’ 2-1 home defeat to Fulham last Saturday, rushing needlessly off his line before playing a weak clearance straight to Josh King.

Harry Wilson capitalised spectacularly, curling home from near the touchline to double the visitors’ advantage inside six minutes.

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The blunder sparked an immediate negative reaction from frustrated Tottenham supporters, who booed Vicario throughout the remainder of the first half.

Thomas Frank defended his goalkeeper afterward, questioning whether those jeering could be considered true Spurs fans, with damage to the relationship between keeper and supporters appearing pretty significant.

Much was already made of the Italy international’s weak command of his area, with pundits suggesting that opposition teams should target Vicario as a weak link in Spurs’ side.

Frank has also been urged to drop the ex-Empoli star by former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy, who called Vicario ‘nervous as a kitten’ with his distribution.

Despite his torrid time lately, Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that Inter hold a serious interest in Vicario, and the prospect of a 2026 transfer back to Italy isn’t ruled out.

Now, Italian newspaper La Gazetta dello Sport have shared their own update on the matter.

Guglielmo Vicario yearns for Tottenham exit and sends message to his agents

Indeed, Vicario has apparently communicated his growing frustration with life at Tottenham to his representatives, revealing his weariness and how he’s ‘yearning’ for a Serie A return.

La Gazzetta claim the shot-stopper has grown tired of difficult seasons at Spurs and has informed his agents that the current term could mark his final year in English football.

The newspaper suggests a powerful emotional pull toward his homeland is driving his thinking, with a permanent return to Italy now firmly on his mind.

Inter have emerged as the frontrunners for his signature, with reports in Italy indicating the Nerazzurri have already opened discussions with Vicario’s representatives.

The Serie A champions are said to view him as an ideal long-term replacement for veteran Yann Sommer, whose contract expires at the end of the season.

Meanwhile, Tottenham are reportedly already scouring the market for potential replacements.

Brighton’s Bart Verbruggen has been identified as a potential option, with TEAMtalk reporting earlier this week that Spurs have made contact over the keeper who Bayern are also looking at as an heir to Manuel Neuer.

Pakistan lost their last five wickets for just 17 runs during a dramatic collapse

Danyal Rasool21-Oct-2025

Keshav Maharaj now has the best bowling figures for a South African in Pakistan•Getty Images

Sometimes, when Test cricket is played well, it can be slightly dull and the pair of Tony de Zorzi and Tristan Stubbs made no apologies for prioritising good cricket over entertaining cricket for the second half of the day. South Africa were much better placed going into the third day than they have been at any time this series, 148 runs short of Pakistan’s first innings 333 with six wickets still in hand. That they were not further adrift came thanks to a heroic shift early in the morning from Keshav Maharaj, who took all five Pakistani wickets to top up his two overnight, inducing a 17-run collapse for Pakistan’s bottom half.It might have been all so different if Pakistan – usually so trigger-happy when bringing the third umpire into the game – had done so in the 26th over. Asif Afridi had pushed de Zorzi, batting on 5, onto the back foot as the ball flicked him just above the knee roll. Short leg held onto it and Pakistan, distracted by an appeal for the catch, failed to consider lbw might be a more plausible shout. Down to just one review, they passed it up only for HawkEye to show three reds.It was a rare chance either de Zorzi or Stubbs offered as they settled into the tedium of steady accumulation, aware that one wicket could bring a surge from Pakistan that might wash away their challenge entirely. The first eight overs post-tea brought just 17 runs, but time wasn’t a factor in the game at the moment. The pair waited patiently to earn their right to score runs, and had the humility to opt for survival when good deliveries shut down scoring options, eventually adding 113 runs for the third wicket.Related

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From time to time, Pakistan offered the odd poor delivery, gifts both accepted with alacrity. A waist-high full toss from Sajid was dispatched away for four, while Noman darted one in that de Zorzi slapped over long-on after dancing down the track. Both used their feet superbly to neutralise and unsettle the spinners, and it was a ploy that, for the most part, Pakistan appeared to lack clear responses to. When Stubbs misjudged and came down too far on a rare occasion, he smacked the ball straight back at Sajid, who was defeated by the pace of the ball. Soon after, de Zorzi made amends, skipping out of his crease to Sajid. He lifted the ball over his head for a six that took him to fifty. The milestones were being ticked off now. Two balls earlier, Stubbs had got there, and in the following over, the 100-run partnership – South Africa’s first this series – was brought up.It was in the final half hour that Pakistan dragged it back far enough to prevent South Africa unequivocally laying claim to the day. The 38-year-old debutant Asif Afridi didn’t exactly look Pakistan’s most threatening bowler for the most part, but hit a spot that caused the ball to dive, trapping de Zorzi halfway up the shin. This time, Pakistan made sure to review. South Africa required a vulnerable Dewald Brevis to stick it out until the end, but Asif broke through once more. This time, it was a lovely conventional orthodox left-armer’s delivery which got him the wicket. Salman Agha at first slip made no mistake pouncing on the edge.Pakistan’s penchant for collapses had continued at breakneck speed in the morning, with South Africa removing Pakistan’s last five for 17 runs to dismiss them for 333. Maharaj, who had earlier called the first session in this series the “moving session”, did most of the moving himself, taking all five of the morning’s wickets for a seven-wicket haul.Pakistan will content themselves with the fact that Agha and Saud Shakeel put on 57 brisk runs in the morning to continue their sixth-wicket stand. They were in complete control during the first hour, milking the spinners while picking up the occasional boundary. Kagiso Rabada’s opening spell was seen off without damage. Until Maharaj began his rampage, there were no visible signs of discomfort against him either. In the over before the first wicket fell, Shakeel had scored eight runs off him as Pakistan moved their score past 300.Tristan Stubbs and Tony de Zorzi added 113 runs for the third wicket•Associated Press

But things unravelled quickly – within 18 Maharaj deliveries, to be precise. An arm-ball slid onto Agha, who played for the turn and found himself trapped in front. The following Maharaj over, Shakeel softly guided one into the palms of first slip, with South Africa making no mistakes in the field. Shaheen Shah Afridi’s attempted wafts over midwicket were meat and drink for the spinner, who guided one through the gate to rattle his stumps. Maharaj would need just four more balls to dispense with Sajid and Asif.Pakistan’s early threat with the ball came all down to Shaheen. In the first Test, he found ways to be effective with the old reversing ball, but in the first half hour here, it was the new ball in his hand that proved to be a menace. Aiden Markram was worked over in his second over after lunch, surviving an lbw review and nearly nicking off. But Shaheen’s reward came against Ryan Rickelton in the over that followed, finding seam movement to kiss the outside edge and Mohammad Rizwan to take a straightforward catch.After that six-over burst, Pakistan turned to spin, and both sides settled into a steady grind. There were streaks of dot deliveries, the monotony broken occasionally by a dance down the ground to loft spin over the top. It proved a largely successful plan on a pitch that hasn’t yet opened up to spinners, but as lunch neared and Pakistan turned to Sajid, Markram tried his luck once too often.Sajid delivered the wicket ball with a bit of flight outside off, and Markram’s drag over long-on didn’t have the power he was targeting. Shan Masood had stationed Shakeel about eight yards on from the boundary, who barely had to move to gratefully pouch it.It was a rare shot of irresponsibility from a South African side that has struck an excellent balance between run-scoring and survival. In the end, thanks to Stubbs and de Zorzi, they found a way to do both today.