Category Uncategorized

Tottenham Hotspur chiefs hold a very real belief that they can now sign a “sensational” England international following their Europa League triumph on Wednesday, with the player himself also entertaining talks behind-the-scenes.

Ange Postecoglou makes Tottenham history after precious European win

Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou came under serious fire for his early-season comment that he ‘always’ wins silverware during his second season in charge, but the Australian’s decision to back himself with a bold statement was ultimately proved correct on a glorious night in Spain.

Tottenham: Ornstein shares Postecoglou sack update after Europa League win

His future is set to be a major talking point after the Australian’s triumph in Bilbao.

2 ByEmilio Galantini May 23, 2025

Spurs parked the bus and shut up shop against a dominant but largely unthreatening Man United side in the Europa League final on Wednesday, following Brennan Johnson’s scrappy opener just before half-time, with Postecoglou’s side displaying a resoluteness we’ve scarcely seen this season.

Guglielmo Vicario

7.7

Yves Bissouma

7.6

Cristian Romero

7.4

Bruno Fernandes

7.4

Destiny Udogie

7.2

via WhoScored

The heroics of shot-stopper Guglielmo Vicario in goal, not to mention the stellar performances of Pedro Porro, Destiny Udogie, Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero, helped Spurs to keep a rare clean sheet and end the club’s 17-year wait for a major trophy.

Their 1-0 win over United in the Europa League final also marked their first European trophy since 1984, with the Lilywhites squad and Postecoglou celebrating long into the night after what was a monumentous occasion at Ruben Amorim’s expense.

The trophy drought is now officially over, and to put the cherry on top of an already-sweet cake, Tottenham are set to play Champions League football next season.

The significance of Wednesday evening cannot be overstated, with Spurs’ qualification for the Champions League handing the north Londoners a seismic financial windfall whilst also making them a far more appealing destination for the continent’s top talents.

The summer transfer window is right around the corner, and Tottenham have dramatically increased their odds of tempting world-class targets by hoisting the Europa League aloft in Spain.

According to reports, a centre-back signing is on the cards this summer, and they retain a keen interest in Crystal Palace star Marc Guehi.

Spurs actually made an ambitious £70 million bid for the England international in January, which was rejected by Eagles chairman Steve Parish, but the consensus is that Tottenham are still eyeing a move for Guehi as he enters the final 12 months of his contract.

Marc Guehi prepared to hold Tottenham transfer talks

According to GiveMeSport, who shared a new update on his future this week, Guehi would be keen to hold talks with Tottenham and find out what they have to say – providing a boost for Postecoglou’s side in pursuit of the defender.

As per their information, Spurs have been given “fresh” belief they can seal a deal for Guehi after their European conquest, and Palace may have to sell him for £50 million or less considering the player’s contract situation.

Club chiefs are also “adamant” behind-the-scenes that qualification for the Champions League could tempt the 24-year-old to N17, and it is clear why they wish to sign Guehi this summer.

He’s been a pivotal member of Palace’s backline for years, and is now an established England regular following his impressive performances in place of Harry Maguire during Euro 2024 last year.

A “skilful” Leeds United player’s time at Elland Road could come to an end this summer, with “interested parties” emerging to snap him up.

Farke future in doubt ahead of busy summer at Leeds

The Whites are still basking in the glory of sealing promotion from the Championship to the Premier League earlier this week after their 6-0 win at home to Stoke City, followed by Burnley beating Sheffield United at Turf Moor.

It’s now a case of trying to be crowned champions ahead of the Clarets in the final two matches of the season, amid ongoing doubts over Daniel Farke’s future, despite the excellent job he is doing. In fact, Sean Dyche has already emerged as a possible replacement, should the German be relieved of his duties.

In terms of potential summer signings for Leeds, West Ham midfielder Tomas Soucek has been linked with a move to the club, with the Czech reportedly open to the idea of sealing a switch to Elland Road.

The Whites are also said to be keen on signing Ipswich Town striker George Hirst, who has struggled for playing time in the Premier League this season, starting only three matches in the competition. For that reason, a fresh challenge may appeal, especially as the Tractor Boys are almost certainly heading back to the Championship.

"Skilful" Leeds player wanted by "interested parties"

According to Blick [via Sport Witness], Isaac Schmidt could leave Leeds at the end of the season, potentially not being seen as an important player upon the Whites’ return to the Premier League. The need to strengthen will make it hard for him to earn regular minutes and there are claimed to be “numerous interested parties” in the 25-year-old.

This summer does feel like the right time for Leeds and Schmidt to part ways, even though the two-cap Switzerland international did feature in the aforementioned thumping of Stoke, playing for 13 minutes after coming on as a substitute.

He hasn’t started once in the Championship all season, instead coming on 12 times and playing just 71 minutes in total in the competition, so it’s hard to see his situation changing when the Whites are playing at an even higher level next season.

Appearances

12

Starts

0

Minutes played

71

Goals

0

Assists

0

Tackles per game

0.4

Clearances per game

0.3

Interceptions per game

0.3

Aerial duel wins per game

0.1

Schmidt’s move to Leeds simply hasn’t worked out to date, having arrived from St. Gallen later year, even though Siwzrterland manager Murat Yakin has spoken positively about him, saying: “I really liked Isaac! He was skillful, he won all his duels and he was good offensively.”

For Leeds, it’s now a case of the Whites nailing their summer transfer business, hopefully aided by plenty of funds being made available by 49ers Enterprises.

Leeds could axe Farke by hiring "the most underrated manager in the PL"

Leeds United could be set to make a huge decision over the future of Daniel Farke this summer.

ByEthan Lamb Apr 24, 2025

A big decision needs to be made regarding Farke’s future, too, either retaining his services or hiring a replacement who has enough time to bring in the right players.

Chelsea are involved in a three-way transfer race for a “sensational” forward who is now set to cost £75m this summer, according to a report.

Blues set for attacking reshuffle

With Noni Madueke looking increasingly likely to leave Stamford Bridge in the summer window, amid interest from Aston Villa and Newcastle United, some additional reinforcements may be needed in wide areas, and a new target has entered the frame.

The Blues have now submitted a £29m offer for Atletico Madrid winger Giuliano Simeone, who has been a “revelation” in La Liga this season, which means the Spanish are taking their time to assess the bid.

A dream target for Enzo Maresca is Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams, with the west Londoners now beginning to lay the groundwork for a potential deal, having recently made fresh contact over a summer move.

Related Chelsea now set to bid to sign Barcelona star with £837m release clause

The Blues could make a big offer for a defender, who is protected by an astronomical release clause.

Posts ByDominic Lund Mar 30, 2025

Maresca has set his sights on a number of targets from Spain, but there have also been suggestions a player from much closer to home could be on his way to Stamford Bridge.

According to a report from The Sun, Chelsea are now eyeing a move for AFC Bournemouth Antoine Semenyo, but they are not the only Premier League club in the race for the forward’s signature, with rivals Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool also in the picture.

Semenyo has emerged as a key player for Bournemouth this season, and given that he has played a major role in the Cherries’ push for Europe, they are hesitant to green light a sale this summer, although they would be willing to listen to big offers.

Bournemouth have now set an asking price of £75m in a bid to ward off the interest from elsewhere, which they believe is fair given the vast sums of money that have been spent on players like Mykhailo Mudryk and Antony.

Chelsea fans will know all about "sensational" Semenyo

The Ghanaian is enjoying an impressive campaign, picking up nine goals and six assists in 33 matches in all competitions, and perhaps his finest moment came at Stamford Bridge, netting a wonder goal in the 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge in January.

Lauded as “sensational” by members of the media, the Bournemouth star has managed to kick on in his second full season in the Premier League, having already eclipsed the number of goal contributions he managed to record in the 2023-24 campaign.

That said, a £75m asking price seems far too high for a player who hasn’t long proven themselves at the top level, with the 25-year-old yet to make an appearance in a European competition.

If Bournemouth are willing to drop their asking price, there is every indication Semenyo could be a worthwhile signing, but a fee of £75m should be reserved for players in the world-class category, and the Ghana international is not there just yet,

New Zealand batting coach Luke Ronchi highlights how Williamson adapts his game as per opposition and conditions

Alex Malcolm06-Mar-2024Luke Ronchi remembers vividly the first time he realised Kane Williamson was truly special. The former Australia and New Zealand wicketkeeper-batter, now batting coach of the country of his birth, had played with a generation of Australian greats, including Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke, Michael Hussey, Justin Langer, Damien Martyn and Simon Katich.But he had heard nothing like what he did from Williamson after his 140 at the Gabba in 2015 against Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Johnson, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon.”He was talking about the technique he was starting with in his innings, and what it was,” Ronchi told ESPNcricinfo. “He said he had worked out how they were trying to get him out by bowling across him and trying to get him to nick off. He said, ‘I had to change my grip on the bat and my bat swing, [and] the motion I was making. I just had to make it a little bit different and do it this way’.”I was like, ‘Mate, that’s just freaky. How do you have the ability to go and change technique mid-innings?’ And he was just like, ‘That’s what I needed to do’. He was just so calm and clear about it. A lot of guys have their technique, and it is what it is. But sometimes, conditions, bowlers and whatever it is – they just can’t change what’s in front of them. When you can see the greats of the game just adapting on the fly, I think that’s what sets those greats apart from other great players.”Williamson is preparing to bring up yet another century at the Hagley Oval. This one will be his 100th Test.He is preparing in the same way he has for his previous 99 – methodically and calmly. He’s still striving for perfection after all these years of near-perfect batting. Although he now knows after 99 Tests of trying that perfection is impossible, so he is simply trying to be better than he was the day before.”When you’re younger, you’re looking for something that’s perfect,” Williamson said two days out from the milestone match. “And after trying really hard to define something, you realise that you’ve probably searched in all corners and it doesn’t really exist.”As a player, it’s trying to get some clarity on your strengths and your weaknesses, and while putting time and effort into improving those, also accepting that things won’t be perfect and it’s about how can we be effective. I think trying to help the team move forward is a really motivating factor for me. The art of batting, I’m still learning. Every day you have different conditions; you have different opposition.”Kane Williamson on his Test debut in 2010: “It was Tendulkar and Laxman and Dravid, and it was like, ‘How am I here?'”•AFPWilliamson has every right to rest on his laurels. Coming into the series against Australia, he had scored seven Test centuries in 13 innings – including three in four against South Africa. But Williamson is still searching to get better, as Ronchi highlighted how Williamson has adapted to the different pitches during New Zealand’s home season this year.”We played at Hamilton against South Africa, and the wicket was playing a certain way, and then we come to the Basin Reserve against Australia on a wicket that’s bouncing back of a length, [and] it’s turning from full [length] for [Nathan] Lyon, and he’s like, ‘What do I need to do here?'” Ronchi said.”‘What are my hands doing? What’s my body and my head doing? How do I make it work so that I know I can face any ball I need to?’ Then it’s like, ‘I need throws here. I need the flicker here. I need pace on the ball here’. And then he just gets into a zone. He gets into a place… when you see it, you’re like, okay, he’s ready to bat and bat and bat. If it’s at training, I know we’re in for a long haul. But if it’s in a game, he’s zoned in and he’s going to do something special against anyone.”While Williamson drives forward in pursuit of becoming a better player, the milestone has caused him to look back momentarily at how far he has come from the first time he walked to the crease in a Test match back in Ahmedabad in 2010.”I remember walking out and looking around the field and seeing all my heroes,” Williamson said. “I used to love playing backyard cricket as a youngster, and all those guys were in that team that I would try and select. It was Tendulkar and Laxman and Dravid, and it was kind of like, ‘How am I here? I’d better start watching the ball and try and compete’.”The Test Championship final [against India in 2021] is something that stands out for a number of different reasons” – Kane Williamson•Alex Davidson/Getty Images”It was quite surreal. I remember being quite eager to try and get into the opposition’s dressing room and chat to some of those guys if I could. Then a few grey hairs later and [after] a number of different experiences over that time, there’s not been many days – probably any – where I haven’t tried to improve and get better as a player.”It’s never a perfect journey. You go through so much. The format of Test cricket in particular really takes you through that. The learning – physically, [and] mentally – the reflection, [and] the memories of almost every Test that when you sit down and dissect it, there’s so much that you do recall.”The Test Championship final [against India in 2021] is something that stands out for a number of different reasons. But it’s a journey, and the highlights aren’t there without the other. They’re all experiences that you value and learn from. To perhaps reflect on hundred of those, it’s something I never could have imagined.”

Bangladesh were reeling at 24 for 5 before the two got together

Sampath Bandarupalli24-May-2022272 The Mushfiqur Rahim-Litton Das partnership is Bangladesh’s first-ever double-century stand for the sixth or lower wicket in Test cricket. The previous best was 191 between Mohammad Ashraful and Mushfiqur for the sixth wicket against Sri Lanka in 2007. The 272-run stand is also the third-highest for Bangladesh in Test cricket for any wicket.ESPNcricinfo Ltd0 Instances of a 200-plus stand for the sixth or lower wicket in Test cricket after a team lost its first five wickets for 25 or less. The previous highest was a 100-run partnership for the seventh wicket between Nkrumah Bonner and Joshua Da Silva against Sri Lanka in Galle in 2021 after West Indies were reduced to 18 for 6. The previous highest sixth-wicket stand from a team score of 25 or lower was 86 by Wallis Mathias and Shujauddin for Pakistan against West Indies in 1959.0 Previous instances of a team reaching the 300-run mark after losing their first five wickets for less than 25 runs in Test cricket. The previous best was India’s 266 against New Zealand in the second innings of the Ahmedabad Test in 2010.