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Manchester City’s mass-squad overhaul looks set to continue.

Kyle Walker has already departed, while Kevin De Bruyne will follow him out the exit door, with a few more sky blue stalwarts potentially set to leave this summer too.

Meantime, the Citizens spent £180m in January, that’s more than the other 19 Premier League clubs combined, recruiting Omar Marmoush, Abdukodir Khusanov, Nico González, Vitor Reis and Juma Bah.

However, they are far from done there, so does Pep Guardiola have his eyes on a future £100m sensation to upgrade on Jérémy Doku?

Jérémy Doku's up-and-down Manchester City career

When Doku arrived at Manchester City from Stade Rennais for a reported fee of £55.5m two summers ago, he did so with sky-high expectations.

Director of Football Txiki Begiristain described the Belgian winger as “a very exciting young player”, adding that he possesses “outstanding pace”, believing that he will “develop into a world-class attacking talent”.

Well, so far, the 22-year-old is yet to fulfil the potential promised, as the statistics below suggest.

Jérémy Doku’s Manchester City career
Statistics	Doku 23/24	Doku 24/25
Appearances	43	33
Minutes	2,171	1,686
Goals	6	6
Assists	11	8
All statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt

As the table shows, while Doku’s statistics are far from horrific, they aren’t outstanding either, while the fact the Belgian has not started any of Man City’s last five matches underlines that Guardiola still does not fully trust him.

Also, without wanting to be unkind to any of these teams, Doku’s six goals this season have come against Watford, Salford, Fulham, Nottingham Forest and Ipswich, the most recent of which was scored on 19 January, which isn’t the most eclectic list.

Thus, the Citizens could certainly upgrade out-wide, so has Guardiola identified his dream target?

Manchester City's dream new winger

According to a report by French outlet L’Équipe this week, Manchester City have “made enquiries” in an attempt to sign Monaco winger Eliesse Ben Seghir, with Liverpool, Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen also reportedly interested.

Get French Football News adds that the 20-year-old is likely to push for a move this summer after a falling out with les Monégasques’ manager Adi Hütter, which has seen him start just two of the last eight Ligue 1 games, refusing to celebrate the recent Derby de la Côte d’Azur victory over Nice, having been an unused substitute.

Despite this, Ben Seghir’s potential is undeniable, with analyst Ben Mattinson​​​​​​​ labeling him an “impressive talent”, while Euan Booth Robertson of Transfermarkt praises his outstanding ‘dribbling ability’.

Meantime, Liam Scahill​​​​​​​ of Breaking the Lines believes the youngster is ‘destined for big things’, while Alex Barker of the Athletic labels him a “future £100m” gem.

So, let’s assess how the young Moroccan compares to Doku.

Doku vs Ben Seghir 2024/25 comparison
Statistics	Doku	Ben Seghir
Appearances	33	43
Minutes	1,686	2,404
Goals	6	9
Assists	8	4
Take-ons attempted	200	115
Take-on success %	53.5%	38.3%
Progressive carries	202	102
Shots on target %	31%	34.2%
Progressive passes	68	138
Shot-creating actions	75	93
Goal-creating actions	13	8
Touches per 90	46	56
Statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt and FBref.com

As outlined in the table, both wingers are high-quantity dribblers; the pair racked up 25 take-ons each in this season’s Champions League, despite the fact Monaco and Man City were both eliminated quite early in the first knockout round.

While Doku may be the superior dribbler, Ben Seghir’s statistics prove that he is more of a goal-threat, scoring more goals, finding the target with a higher percentage of his shots and registering more shot-creating actions, while his substantially higher touches per 90 figure proves he is more involved in build-up play.

Thus, this all underlines that the Moroccan would be a great signing for the sky blues, as he would be a clear Doku upgrade.

​​​​​​​

The new Bernardo: Man City in contact to sign "ridiculously talented" star

With Bernardo Silva potentially set to leave Manchester City this summer, could Pep Guardiola have his eye on a “ridiculously talented” replacement?

By
Ben Gray

Apr 30, 2025

Leeds United have fallen into a sticky predicament within their promotion push, but that hasn’t stopped the club in pushing to land a high-profile summer target, per reports.

Leeds United risk failing to claim automatic promotion

Despite claiming a point at Luton Town courtesy of Daniel James’ first-half strike in a 1-1 draw, the Whites have won one of their last six Championship matches under Daniel Farke.

Frustratingly, Burnley now sit at the summit following their narrow victory over Coventry City, while Sheffield United remain in contention even after a shock loss to Oxford United on Saturday lunchtime.

On the eye, a sense of fragility has crept in at the wrong time for Leeds United. The situation is still salvagable as it stands, but they will certainly want to rectify their on-field issues to put forward the best picture possible to potential targets come the summer window.

Providing a marker of their ambitions in the market, the Yorkshire giants have made an opening approach for West Ham star Tomas Soucek in a deal that could see the Czechia international earn £120,000 per week.

Premier League promotion would need to be a certainty for the veteran to entertain the possibility, and the same goes for Leeds United’s pursuit of Chelsea goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic.

Related Leeds in contact to sign 6 ft 4 Farke target as 49ers ready £120k-p/w deal

He’s currently on £90,000-per-week.

Posts ByCharlie Smith Apr 4, 2025

Illan Meslier has been dropped due to a string of erratic performances, so it only makes sense that their recruitment team begin to do their homework on stoppers far and wide that could replace the Frenchman.

Looking to rectify the problem, Farke and company have now cast their eye on a Premier League veteran who could be on the move this summer.

Leeds United eye surprise move for Newcastle United stopper Nick Pope

According to The Sun, Nick Pope is being lined up by Leeds United as a replacement for Meslier following question marks over his form since recovering from injury.

Intriguingly, the Magpies’ pursuit of James Trafford could put the England international under ‘serious pressure’ at St James’ Park. However, the Whites also have Trafford in their sights should promotion occur at Elland Road.

Nick Pope key statistics in 2024/25 – Premier League

Saves

61

Save percentage

69.3%

Goals conceded

27

Error which leads to goal

2

High claim

28

Labelled “brilliant” by Pep Guardiola, there is no doubt Pope has lived up to that billing since arriving in the North East. The former Burnley man has kept 31 clean sheets in 86 appearances, playing his part in a top-four finish and EFL Cup triumph under the stewardship of Eddie Howe.

Nevertheless, the 32-year-old, who is a CAA Stellar client alongside Leeds United pair Joe Rodon and Jayden Bogle, may feel his best chance of continuing to receive first-team football could come elsewhere amid Newcastle’s desire to land a younger profile.

Saying that, it does feel unlikely that the £60,000 per week earner would drop down to the second tier, making promotion a necessary development before any serious talk of a move can take place.

By holding Mustafizur Rahman back till after the powerplay, Bangladesh had their bowling plan down pat, and then it just needed common sense to pull off the chase

Danyal Rasool21-Sep-20251:49

Chopra: You look at Saif Hassan and go ‘there’s some serious talent there’

When Sri Lanka beat Bangladesh in Abu Dhabi last week, it boiled down to the middle overs. Chasing 140 at a time when no one seemed quite sure what constituted a good total in the Asia Cup, Sri Lanka emerged from the powerplay with the fluidity of a car merging back on to the motorway. They barely changing gears from their belligerent start, motoring on as if a punctuation mark in the passage of play had never happened. The spread field held little meaning as they plundered 81 runs off the eight overs immediately following the easing of fielding restrictions. It remains, comfortably, the highest number of runs scored in that period all tournament.A week on, and Bangladesh inserted Sri Lanka. They had not let victory over Afghanistan defending a total play with their heads, aware that as the tournament goes on, chasing appears to proffer a clear advantage. Two days earlier, Sri Lanka had chased down 170 against Afghanistan – the highest successful pursuit of the tournament and one that Bangladesh owe their continued involvement in this tournament to. They had no intention of doing Sri Lanka any return favours here in Dubai.Sri Lanka may have been unbeaten this tournament, but all those wins came batting second. Even so, Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis started brightly, scoring 36 in the first four overs – the highest off the bat for them this tournament – but with Bangladesh holding Mustafizur Rahman back until after the powerplay, they understood exactly when to start applying the strangle.Related

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Saif and Hridoy fifties hand Sri Lanka their first Asia Cup defeat

Nissanka had fallen to Taskin Ahmed by now, and with Mustafizur bearing down, they found merging into post-powerplay traffic trickier this time. The seventh produced just three runs; Mahedi Hasan’s over that followed claimed the wicket of Mendis. He cleaned up Kamil Mishara in the next as Sri Lanka retreated into a shell they have not known in the middle overs this tournament, and one that offered them little protection.Mustafizur wouldn’t return until the 14th over, with Sri Lanka’s run rate scarcely above seven; it took him just four balls to end Kusal Perera’s run-a-ball innings. This time, in those same eight overs, Sri Lanka scored just 45 runs. Excluding matches involving Oman or UAE, it is the second lowest post-powerplay middle-overs effort of the tournament, bettered only by the chokehold India established on Pakistan in the phase that followed the first six overs. All this despite Sri Lanka being – by orders of magnitude – the most prolific side in overs 7-15, scoring at 8.12, with India a distant second at 7.68.It was a passage of play Dasun Shanaka tried to right in an astonishing lower-order onslaught, hitting six sixes in an unbeaten 37-ball 64, but acknowledged had hurt Sri Lanka decisively in the end.1:50

Chopra: Numbers don’t validate Bangladesh’s change in batting approach

“We had that momentum going on at the start,” he said at the press conference after. “But unfortunately we lost some momentum. Especially Fizz and Taskin bowled really well. We expected to score 180 but unfortunately we fell short. We fell 10-15 runs short.”That last remark can feel like the sort of catch-all cliché captains deploy post-match, primarily because any serious post-match analysis is yet to happen, and will take place behind closed doors rather than therapised to the media. But, in pursuit, Bangladesh knew those extra handful of runs were all that they really needed. Their own 7-15 over run rate is just a tick over seven. But having done their attacking in the first six, where they smashed 59, a number only India have bettered all tournament, that’s all they required.Anchoring is a much nicer gig chasing rather than setting a total, and especially if you are ahead of the rate. They scored 55 in the eight overs that followed. They hit a pair of fours and a pair of sixes. They lost a pair of wickets, but they had the luxury of hunkering down. They didn’t need to outrun the bear, only the snail-like pace Sri Lanka had established in that phase of the innings. Ten runs ahead was all the margin they needed.1:55

Chopra impressed with Hridoy’s cricketing smarts

“While we were batting in that phase, [Towhid] Hridoy and I had a good partnership,” Saif Hassan, who combined with Hridoy for all but three balls of that passage of play, said. “We had built our partnership knowing we were ahead in the game at that point.”From the vantage point other cricket nations have rather snootily opted to mount when viewing the new edge that Bangladesh-Sri Lanka contests have taken on, the perception is that this isn’t a rivalry to be taken quite as seriously. That it’s petty, overly emotional, and lacks a legitimate basis in cricket itself. In Dubai, though, Bangladesh shed all that with the clinical execution of a game plan they had brought to the game, one that aligned so well with their script that the fact that the chase went down to the penultimate delivery felt like a feature, not a bug.Sri Lanka’s caution in the face of Bangladesh’s accuracy through the middle might have reflected a belief that the side they had reprieved just two days earlier could be reeled right back in on command.But having regained control of their destiny, Bangladesh’s attack right through the middle demonstrated a clear understanding of the format they were playing: incremental, unspectacular improvement in any facet of a T20 innings might be all that’s required to turn defeat into victory.

They did many things right, but many things wrong in the semi-final too, and will go back and reflect on a World Cup campaign that could have ended very differently

Firdose Moonda16-Nov-20233:52

Walter: ‘Nothing even remotely close to a choke happened’

David Miller put his arms around Gerald Coetzee. Keshav Maharaj stood with his hands on his knees. Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen took their caps off and revealed expressions of disappointment. Quinton de Kock half-crumpled, half-crouched on the ground and then got up to meet Aiden Markram and Heinrich Klaasen’s high-fives of commiserations, but also congratulations on the end of a decade-long ODI career. Temba Bavuma led the team off Eden Gardens, looking their Australian counterparts in the eye and shaking their hands. This was defeat, yes, but not, as Coetzee had said in the lead-up, dishonour.South Africa fought, as Rabada had said before the semi-final, “tooth and nail”. And muscle and nerve and sinew and spirit. They gave it everything. That they had to is because of what may be called their own failings – some of the decisions they made and the way they started with the bat and the ball and dropped catches. But that would do a disservice to their own planning and performance and the way Australia’s new-ball bowlers and opening batters started.Related

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Starc credits Hazlewood for Australia's powerplay dominance

Bavuma: 'Way we started with bat and ball was turning point'

Did Bavuma make the wrong call at the toss by opting to bat? In hindsight, we may say yes, but history was on his side. At this ground, 13 of the 20 teams that chose to bat first had won, including all three at this World Cup. This year, before today, South Africa had won ten out of 11 matches batting first. Bavuma based his decision on numbers and played to South Africa’s strongest suit, but maybe there is room to consider if he made a crucial error.For one, he failed to look skywards.This match was played on one the cloudiest days of the tournament, cooler than most others but with significant moisture in the air. At 1pm, the temperature was 27 degrees with 83% humidity, so maybe the option to bowl first should have been considered more carefully. But only maybe. Given South Africa’s shaky record chasing – not just at this tournament – and that Pat Cummins would also have batted, or so he said, it’s reasonable to think Bavuma made the right call and that perhaps it was just a good toss to lose for Cummins.But did Bavuma make the wrong decision to play in the first place?Well, no, because it wasn’t his decision. Although he repeatedly said he was not “100%” fit, he would have had to be passed match fit by the medical team in order to be named in the starting XI.

And there it ends. Not with a bang or a whimper but with a bloody good game of cricket where so many things went right. So many, but not enough

So, did someone else make the wrong decision to play him? Not if you ask coach Rob Walter, who said he backed his captain “100%” and “having his [Bavuma’s] leadership and his presence on the field is everything”. And, in the end, Bavuma’s hamstring played no role in his fourth-ball duck. He got a good ball that nipped away and he played at it. It was unfortunate, but that’s all.Not to forget, all four of the top four failed.But the batting line-up as a whole did not.Known for what they can do in the last ten overs, Klaasen and Miller came together in the 12th over – at 24 for 4 – and took South Africa through almost 20 overs of rebuilding. They refocused after an almost-40-minute rain delay and made a decision to play within themselves and only aim for the boundary if they were absolutely sure they would find it. Klaasen lost his bearings against Travis Head, but Miller played arguably the innings of his career so far. He was on 48 when Jansen was dismissed and put on double-figure stands with batters seven, eight and nine. Five years and five days since he last scored an ODI century, Miller raised his bat to his bravest and gave South Africa a chance.It was that kind of day for Quinton de Kock and South Africa•Getty ImagesThen it was up to an attack that has had the benefit of big totals for most of this competition but, remarkably, they relied on a non-traditional strength to do it: spin. On a surface that turned, Markram took a wicket with his first ball, Maharaj did the same, and hope whispered.And that is the point at which the first seeds of hurt were planted.Had Australia knocked off the total in 35 overs and won by five or six wickets, South Africa would have had the mental space to deal with it. Instead, with each chance, there was a wave of optimism.But…In total, four catches did not go to hand. The first was off Coetzee’s first delivery – a short ball. Head swatted it to substitute fielder Reeza Hendricks at the deep-point boundary but he could not hold on. The Coetzee over went for 15 runs. By that point, he had watched as Jansen – his contemporary in terms of age – was again gnawed at by nerves, lost his lines and leaked 27 runs in three overs. Rabada was off the field with a bruised heel – which is why Hendricks was on – and the game was slipping away. Coetzee was taken out of the attack and had the time to think.1:43

Moody: ‘Bavuma’s form a big hole in South Africa’s campaign’

When he returned, he served up a spell of fire, spiced liberally with short balls and very nearly brought South Africa back from the brink. In the end, he did not win the game but his two wickets added to his record as South Africa’s most successful bowler at a World Cup, which only adds to the bittersweet flavour of this campaign.In a tournament where South Africa broke the record for the highest World Cup total and their batting line-up scored more hundreds than any other team, they have still not managed to break through the semi-final barrier. A sparkling sporting year for the country, in which the women’s team reached the final of the T20 World Cup and the Springboks lifted a fourth rugby World Cup title, will finish one twinkle short of a sporting gold star but there should be some perspective.From Eden Park in 2015 to Eden Gardens in 2023, it has not been a stairway to heaven for South African cricket. In some of those years, quite the opposite. They have been through administrative meltdowns, near bankruptcy, a near-miss at automatic World Cup qualification and coaching and captaincy changes that defied any chance at stability. And still, they reached the ODI World Cup semi-finals.And there it ends. Not with a bang or a whimper but with a bloody good game of cricket where so many things went right. So many, but not enough.

His link-up with Mizanur Rahman, the former fast bowler-turned-coach, helped him turn the corner

Mohammad Isam24-Jun-2021What is the opposite of dropping a player after the Test series in which he made the only half-century in the team’s most disastrous Test match in history? In Bangladesh’s selection vernacular, the answer seems to be to recall the same player in the Test, ODI and T20I sides three years later.Not that Nurul Hasan, the player in question, didn’t deserve his return to the senior side for the Zimbabwe tour. The Bangladesh selectors and team management are hoping that Hasan can reprise his match-winning knocks from this month’s Dhaka Premier League T20s, most of which came at a high strike rate that bailed out his side Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club. It is a situation Bangladesh have often found themselves in when it comes to ODIs and T20Is: someone at No. 6 or 7 unable to provide the final flourish without the help of a senior batter at the other end.”When I was dropped from the national team after the West Indies tour [in 2018] – to be honest with you – it played on my mind constantly for the first few months,” Hasan told ESPNcricinfo. “But I soon realised that selection was never in my control, and feeling bad about it would affect whatever cricket I was going to play from that point onwards. I no longer bother about these things. Now I am more worried about whether I am working hard enough, and [am] focused enough.”Related

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Shakib Al Hasan returns to Test and T20I squads for tour of Zimbabwe

Hasan’s Test inclusion for the upcoming solitary Test in Zimbabwe is an overcorrection by the selectors who had poorly handled his axing in 2018. But for the white-ball squads, he is the first in line among Bangladesh batters to have worked hard on the specific role of being a limited-overs finisher and he has also done well at it. It has, however, been a difficult road for Hasan, who said it took him a bit of time to get over being dropped from the Test side.”It is a difficult phase, and a sort of time when frustration sets in very easily,” he said. “But the senior players have supported me. I spoke a lot to Mushfiq [Mushfiqur Rahim] in Sri Lanka this April. He told me about his training methods and lifestyle. Riyadh [Mahmudullah] [also] checks up on me from time to time. They have really kept me going.”Bangladesh’s senior players have always admired Hasan for his fighting ability, but after being unceremoniously dropped, he had to find out what went wrong. His first-ball ducks in both innings of the second Test against West Indies on the 2018 tour was perhaps a catalyst for his soul-searching, but it was his link-up with Mizanur Rahman Babul, the former fast bowler-turned-coach, that helped him turn a corner.”I have been working on my batting with Babul sir for the last couple of years,” Hasan said. “I am comfortable working with him. I do my usual routine of batting practice and fitness work under him. Since I last played for Bangladesh three years ago, I have spoken with Babul sir about what needs to improve. He has helped me in all three formats separately ahead of every domestic tournament.So far, Nurul Hasan holds the highest strike rate among batters with 300-plus runs in the Dhaka Premier League T20s•BCBSpecifically for big hitting, for example, Babul worked on Hasan’s balance and shape when trying to apply power on the ball.”I have always worked hard, but I didn’t really understand why I was doing a lot of those things,” Hasan said. “Often I felt I was going through the motions. But now as I work with Babul sir, we also talk about what needs to be done specifically. His involvement gives me a lot of accountability. This especially happens when I get out for a low score; we discuss the dismissal, for instance. We always find time for a post-game analysis.”We spoke about finishing the innings, which I started working on with him before the last BPL [in 2019]. I had to work really hard on my balance when going for big hitting. Balance is as important as power when it comes to big hitting, so he helped me a lot in this aspect.”It was Hasan’s big hitting for Dhanmondi in the ongoing DPL T20 that brought him back on the selectors’ radar. So far, he has struck the most sixes (23) and holds the highest strike rate among batters with 300-plus runs. Also, most of his 346 runs have come in difficult chases against Mohammedan Sporting Club, Prime Bank Cricket Club and Legends of Rupganj.Hasan says that a bit of freedom to bat his way has worked well for him and his team.”Our team was more one-day oriented ahead of the tournament, which worried us a little,” he said. “I realised after the first two matches that I had to bat deep and basically finish the game for the team. Otherwise, it would have become difficult. But our supportive team management has given me the freedom to have a specific role, and be confident about it.”Hasan is going to have a similar role for Bangladesh, as he is most likely to bat in the lower middle order in both white-ball formats. The T20I side particularly suggests that Bangladesh have finally started looking for aggressive options rather than safe ones in the middle and death overs. Hasan and Shamim Hossain – who has earned his first Bangladesh call-up after being named in the T20I side for the Zimbabwe series – are rapid scorers, and could provide the much-needed thrust.Hasan’s big hitting, especially if it turns out to be match-winning, could quickly establish him in the side for the rest of the year. But as he very well knows, one or two poor knocks could see him return all the way to the back of the line. After all, such is the whim of Bangladesh’s decision-makers.

Federal authorities are investigating a youth baseball company owned by the MLB Players Association, ESPN reported on Thursday.

The company, named Players Way, was founded by the MLBPA in 2019. In a statement to ESPN, MLBPA executive director Tony Clark said the aim of the company "isn't to become just another cog in the youth sports machinery, putting profits over players. It aims higher: to meet players where they are, teach the game the right way, and to foster lifelong lessons creating lifelong fans."

The federal investigation was launched by an anonymous whistleblower complaint in which Players Way was cited. According to ESPN the complaint accused director Clark of "self-dealing, misuse of resources and abuse of power at the union," and of nepotism in regards to his dealings with Players Way. Additionally, sources told ESPN investigators were asking about "whistleblower allegations of excessive union spending on international and domestic trips for Clark and other senior union executives."

The MLBPA decried the allegations as "without merit" and Clark, who has not been charged with a crime, denied them and said they are "baseless" in a statement to ESPN.

ESPN reports the events Players Way puts on are few and sparsely attended. Consequentially the company has generated "barely six figures in revenue" since its founding. The union has invested $3.9 million into the company, according to the MLBPA's public documents, but the union declined to explain how that money was spent. ESPN further reports the true number is closer to $10 million, and that those funds "largely paid the six-figure annual salaries of its executives and consultants," which include "a handful of former major leaguers, some of whom were simultaneously working other full-time jobs outside the union."

Multiple former union officials said Players Way operates with "no standard accounting practices" and "no annual budget circulated among senior finance officials." Clark was idenitifed as the driving force behind the union's involvement with the company, but a former official said there were no events, actitivies, or partnerships with other youth baseball companies. ESPN sources said Players Way "appeared to be a landing spot for Clark's loyalists," and few players in the union knew about it.

Federal investigators declined to comment. ESPN reports this investigation is part of a larger inquiry into the MLBPA's financial dealings with another company called OneTeam Partners from last spring.

Manchester United are now on red alert in the race to sign a Real Madrid star ahead of Manchester City in a shock £69m deal next year.

Amorim "angry" at "frustrating" West Ham draw

Like the rest of Old Trafford, Ruben Amorim was left angered by Man United’s 1-1 draw against West Ham. The Red Devils were in control for the large part and deservedly got their opener through unlikely goalscorer Diogo Dalot in the second-half, but that’s when things started going wrong.

With seven minutes remaining, the visitors sent a timely reminder of United’s struggles courtesy of Soungoutou Magassa, who scored his first Premier League goal to snatch a point for West Ham.

Amorim, left frustrated at full-time, told reporters: “Yeah, it’s frustrating, it’s angry. That’s it.”

The former Sporting CP manager also pinpointed where things went wrong, saying: “Yeah, but there are second halves that we lose control of the game.

“Today, I think it was not that case. Maybe after the first goal, we lost some second balls and Matheus [Cunha] won one or two second balls there and made it a transition.

“We try to defend all the time far from the goal because we knew it. They tried to make a cross, win a corner. Like it happened, long ball, they win a second ball against three guys of us in the defence. So, we need to be better in the second half.”

Any assumption that United have turned a corner under Amorim is quickly evaporating and the Old Trafford boss desperately needs further reinforcements in 2026.

Midfield stars such as Conor Gallagher and Elliot Anderson have already been mooted, but United could still set their focus on welcoming Rodrygo from Real Madrid. The Brazilian is attracting plenty of interest and could yet swap the Bernabeu for the Premier League.

Man Utd on red alert in Rodrygo race

According to reports in Spain, Man United are now on red alert in the race to sign Rodrygo next year and could land the talented winger ahead of rivals Man City, as well as a number of other Premier League sides.

The Brazilian has struggled for game time under Xabi Alonso – starting just three La Liga games all season – and looks destined to leave Real Madrid next year.

Sparking a flurry of interest, Madrid reportedly value their winger at around €80m (£69m). Whether INEOS and others deem that fee reachable for a player who’s yet to impress Alonso remains to be seen, however.

Related Man Utd now rivalling Liverpool to sign £87m forward who Klopp loves

The Red Devils have joined the race for a new attacker, who has made an impressive start to the campaign.

Posts ByDominic Lund Dec 5, 2025

At his best, Rodrygo played a key part in Madrid’s success in the Champions League and in La Liga. Now, he’s been cast aside to hand United the opportunity to land arguably their best signing yet under Amorim.

Dubbed “spectacular” by former Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti in 2023, Rodrygo is still just 24 years old and is full of potential – even if he’s forced to realise it with a move to Old Trafford in 2026.

Amorim's £150k-p/w star just had his worst game for Man Utd vs West Ham

Tottenham Hotspur boss Thomas Frank has been hard at work this season, trying to instil his philosophy and foster a more stable environment for a club who went through all the emotions last year.

There have been signs of success, but it’s clear much more work is still ahead for an outfit who fancy themselves capable of settling at the top of European football, with the foundation and potential in up-and-coming talents to throw down with any of the continent’s heavyweights with a bit more work.

But Spurs could do with some more firepower right now, especially after selling Heung-min Son to Los Angeles during the summer.

Son’s sale emphasises the regression in terms of world-class forwards in north London over the past several years, and that’s something the club need to fix in 2026.

Where Spurs are looking to strengthen in Jan

Tottenham are heading into their first transfer window without Daniel Levy’s influence in a very, very long time. How intense Johan Lange hopes to make this winter window remains to be seen, but with Yves Bissouma ostracised and set to be sold, midfield is a priority.

More dynamism is needed in the centre of the park, but Spurs could do with some more creativity and sharpness in attack. Who, then, might be at the top of the Christmas shopping list?

Well, according to TEAMtalk, the Lilywhites still have a vested interest in Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo, and they are ready to break their wage structure in order to bring the 25-year-old over to N17.

Semenyo, a Ghana international, also has admirers in Liverpool and Manchester City, so this is going to be a tough one to pull off, with the versatile forward’s £65m release clause presenting itself in January.

Why Spurs must sign Antoine Semenyo

Semenyo is a potent goal threat, but his prolificness in the final third is built atop an unrelenting, tenacious work-rate that differentiates him from other wingers.

Justin Kluviert, Semenyo’s Cherries teammate, hailed his dance partner for his “world-class” quality, reaching such a level because of his hard work and consistency on the field.

With six goals and three assists to his name, the £75k-per-week Semenyo is already riding the crest of a wave, but given his likeness to Bryan Mbeumo, who excelled under Frank’s wing last season, he could reach a staggering new level by moving to Tottenham and assuming the role of attacking talisman.

Tottenham did try to convince Mbeumo to follow his old manager to north London this summer, but the Cameroonian’s heart was set on Old Trafford, where he is now shaping into something of a talisman for Manchester United.

However, if Spurs were to add Semenyo to their ranks, Frank would craft a new version of Semenyo who could reach levels that the 26-year-old Red Devil has never reached.

Matches (starts)

15 (15)

11 (11)

Goals

6

6

Assists

1

3

Shots (on target)*

2.5 (1.5)

2.4 (1.4)

Big chances missed

6

5

Accurate passes*

24.1 (79%)

19.8 (78%)

Chances created*

1.6

1.0

Succ. dribbles*

0.8

1.6

Tackles*

0.7

1.7

Duels won*

3.1

6.5

It’s clear that Mbeumo has failed to match Semenyo this season, and given the similarities between the two wingers, Frank could fashion the latter into his new talisman.

Semenyo is arguably performing at a higher level now than Mbeumo was last year for Brentford, where he posted 20 goals in the Premier League and dominated down the right wing. Certainly, he is outstripping the Red Devils iteration.

If Tottenham truly mean business this season, they need to make a statement and add some bona fide quality to their frontline. Semenyo would do the trick, dovetailing into Frank’s set-up.

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Tottenham Hotspur were hammered 4-1 by their arch-rivals in the North London derby on Sunday in the Premier League, as they were beaten 4-1 by Arsenal at The Emirates.

Thomas Frank started with a back five and two holding midfielders in an attempt to shut the Gunners out, yet it was still far too easy for the hosts to slice through their defence.

Whilst their overly-cautious approach did not prevent Arsenal from creating chances, it did prevent Spurs from creating chances. They only had three shots in 90 minutes, and one of them was Richarlison’s long-range goal from around 45 yards out.

Creating chances and playing forward-thinking football has been a problem for the Lilywhites in the Premier League since Frank came through the door from Brentford in the summer, as shown in the statistics below.

xG

11.0

17th

Non-penalty xG

11.0

16th

Progressive passes

413

12th

Shots

110

19th

Shots on target

40

15th

Average shot distance

15.6 yards

17th

The defeat to Arsenal will be even harder to take because Tottenham were chasing a deal to sign Eberechi Eze in the summer before the Gunners swooped in and hijacked the move, and he was the star of the show on Sunday.

Meanwhile, it has been a struggle for a few of the players whom the Lilywhites were able to get in the building in an attempt to bolster Frank’s squad in the summer transfer window.

Ranking Tottenham's summer signings for Thomas Frank

Looking at the positive additions first, it is hard to look past Bayern Munich loanee Joao Palhinha as the best signing of the summer, as the Portugal international has delivered four goals and three assists whilst also averaging 5.6 tackles and interceptions per game, per Sofascore.

Mohammed Kudus, who was signed from West Ham for £55m, is deserving of second-place after a return of one goal and four assists in 11 Premier League appearances so far this season.

As you can see in the table below, Mathys Tel and Kevin Danso then rank in the middle of the pack, which is because they were brought in as squad additions and have filled that role without any major issues so far this term.

1

Joao Palhinha

2

Mohammed Kudus

3

Luka Vuskovic

4

Mathys Tel

5

Kevin Danso

6

Koto Takai

7

Randal Kolo Muani

8

Xavi Simons

Koto Takai has yet to play a game for Spurs, due to injury, since his move in the summer, which makes it hard to rank him any higher or lower, whilst Kolo Muani is in seventh place with no goals and one assist in nine appearances for the club, per Sofascore.

Ranking in last place, then, is £52m summer signing Xavi Simons. He arrived at Spurs after a return of 21 goals and 21 assists in the last two seasons with RB Leipzig in Germany, yet has failed to live up to the hype that his form in the Bundesliga created.

The Dutchman was brought in as Tottenham’s alternative to Eze, after they failed to sign the England international, and has only managed two assists and no goals in 15 appearances for the club.

Meanwhile, the former Crystal Palace attacking midfielder has delivered five goals and three assists in 16 outings for Arsenal, per Transfermarkt, which shows that he has been far more influential for his side than Xavi has.

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Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

Spurs, though, may already be brewing their own homegrown version of Eze in their academy in the form of exciting teenage attacking midfielder Luca Williams-Barnett.

Why Luca Williams-Barnett could be Tottenham's own Eberechi Eze

The 17-year-old starlet’s form for club and country suggests that he is a player to watch for the future, as the Tottenham youngster has shown incredible promise as both a scorer and a creator of goals.

He has been with England’s U17s at the U17 World Cup in recent weeks, knocked out by Austria in the quarter-finals last week, and caught the eye with his performances at the tournament.

Appearances

5

Sofascore rating

7.38

Goals

2

Big chances missed

0

Key passes per game

1.4

Big chances created

3

Assists

1

Dribbles completed per game

3.4

As you can see in the table above, Williams-Barnett provided regular quality as a goalscorer, a creator, and a dribbler across his five appearances in the competition for his country.

One of his two goals, which came against Haiti’s U17 side, was also an incredible solo goal that showcased his composure, creativity, and quality, as shown in the clip below.

On top of his impressive form for England at youth level, the 17-year-old playmaker has also proven himself to be an incredibly prolific attacker for Tottenham’s academy.

Williams-Barnett, who U23 scout Antonio Mango described as an “underrated” player, has racked up 22 goals and 13 assists in 30 games for the club’s U18 side, per Transfermarkt, to go along with seven goals and five assists in eight U21 games.

These statistics show that the attacking midfielder has delivered goals and assists on a regular basis for both club and country, which is why he could be Tottenham’s own Eberechi Eze, who has scored five goals for Arsenal and two goals for England this season.

Como scout Ben Mattinson claimed that the Spurs youngster “scores bangers” and it is hard to disagree with that assessment, particularly when you see goals such as the ones in the clip above.

Like Eze, Williams-Barnett is a number ten with incredible footwork, finishing, creativity, and dribbling skills, but it is now down to him to make the step to senior level and prove that he can deliver consistent performances in the first-team.

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Thomas Frank has numerous glaring errors he needs to address at Tottenham Hotspur after the Arsenal defeat.

ByEthan Lamb Nov 24, 2025

If he can handle that step up, Frank could have his own version of Eberechi Eze and a possible upgrade on Xavi in the number ten position moving forward.

If the Los Angeles Dodgers seem looser than usual this spring training—well, a World Series title like the one they won in 2024 will do that.

Exhibit A: the ongoing prank war between designated hitter and pitcher Shohei Ohtani and manager Dave Roberts. After Ohtani pranked Roberts by gifting him a toy Porsche in '24, Roberts got his revenge Friday by filling his car with plastic balls.

Ohtani posted video to Instagram Saturday morning of his dog, Decoy, playing with the balls—with the caption, "Thank you, Doc (Roberts's nickname)."

The Dodgers also posted video of Ohtani discovering the prank for the first time.

"What did you think?" the Los Angeles staffer taking the video asked Ohtani.

"I don't know, a little troublesome," he laughed.

Ohtani was a little troublesome for his old team—the Los Angeles Angels—Friday. The three-time MVP went yard in his first spring training at-bat in his team's 6–5 exhibition win.