Liverpool have been told that they have “one hell of a player” on their hands in Federico Chiesa, with the Reds yet to see the Italian forward’s “true qualities”. The European Championship winner was heavily linked with a move elsewhere in the summer transfer window, but the deadline passed with no deal done and he remains part of Arne Slot’s plans at Anfield.

• Limited game time in title-winning season

  Former Juventus star Chiesa moved to England in a cut-price deal ahead of the 2024-25 campaign. His debut season in England saw the 27-year-old winger become a Premier League title winner, but he took in just 104 minutes of top-flight action across six appearances.

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• Getty
  

  Staying put: No deal done in transfer window

  Many expected Chiesa to head home after attracting interest from Serie A, but no suitable option materialised. That means that he remains on Merseyside, but no place was found for him in Liverpool’s Champions League squad for 2025-26.

• Champions League snub is not an issue

  Ex-Italy international Roberto Di Matteo does not consider that to be too much of an issue, with the Reds set to take in plenty of fixtures across multiple competitions this season, and believes that Chiesa can still “prove a point” if given an opportunity to showcase his talent.

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  Di Matteo's take on Chiesa's situation

  Di Matteo, who spent time in England with Chelsea during his playing days and was speaking in association with , told GOAL when asked if Chiesa would have benefited more from another transfer: “It’s a very good question. I’m not sure how much he knew that he was going to be out of the squad. I think that depended on [Alexander] Isak’s signing. The fact that they signed him lastminute.com cost him the position in the squad.

  “He had plenty of suitors in Serie A. I think there are two or three clubs that would have loved to have signed him. Maybe he wants to stick around at Liverpool and prove a point.

  “If he stays fit, he’s one hell of a player. I know him very well. He just hasn’t been able to show his true qualities. Let’s not forget that Liverpool did pretty well last season – they had a settled team, [Luis] Diaz and [Mohamed] Salah on the sides. It wasn’t easy to break into that team.

  “He showed glimpses of what he can do. But there are so many games, he’s not in the Champions League squad but he might get more Premier League time. It’s just a shame that we don’t see more of him because he’s a quality player.”

India are grappling with a minor personnel crisis, meaning they will need to rely to some extent on fringe players. Cummins and Co will be looking to exploit that

Alagappan Muthu21-Nov-20241:54

Malcolm: BGT a chance for Cummins and Co to cement legacy

Big PictureYou run into fast bowlers everywhere in Perth. One of them was walking down Plain Street, which is a five-minute walk from the WACA, with a bag of groceries. Mitchell Starc will be a little less chill once the clock hits 10.20am on Friday.This Border-Gavaskar Trophy has been on simmer for a fair while. Rohit Sharma faced questions about it at the start of the India home season in September and the wrap-up press conference in November was in large part about easing the pain of a home series whitewash by trying “to do something special” in Australia. Pat Cummins has had a similar experience.Related

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For their legacy, Australia can't let this series slip away

Some of the best Test cricket in recent times has happened when these two teams meet, so it’s their own fault that everywhere they go they get asked questions about it. A day out from the first Test, most of them appear to have been answered. Australia have their new opening batter, Nathan McSweeney having made a late push for the job. India have KL Rahul, Devdutt Padikkal, Dhruv Jurel, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Harshit Rana primed and ready should they be needed. All that’s left is for the experience to take over.On Thursday evening, in front of an empty Perth stadium, the morning-of-day-one-drills were taking place. Regular people were pretending to be India and Australia captains to check how it’d look on screen. It was easy to be transported to the moment when all that will actually happen, and its just one sleep away. One sleep away until Jasprit Bumrah charges in. One sleep away until Steven Smith is back at No. 4. One sleep away until Virat Kohli brings the crowd to their feet. One sleep away until Rishabh Pant is broadcast all around the world via the stump mics.Jasprit Bumrah and Pat Cummins: two fast bowlers will be leading their team’s charge for first blood in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy•AFP/Getty Images

The cricket, fun as it will be, is likely to come with a fair bit of flavour added in from the outside. There’s already been a little bit of needle. Ricky Ponting’s quotes being taken out of context got Gautam Gambhir fired up. India’s efforts early on to train in private caused a stir. Josh Hazlewood did a fly by when he said he was happy not to see Cheteshwar Pujara in the Indian team. Every kind of fan will be satisfied with what the Border-Gavaskar Trophy will offer and the first ball is just one sleep away.Form guideAustralia: WWLWW (last five matches, most recent first)
India: LLLWWIn the spotlightIt’s been over eight months since Australia have played Test cricket and it seems Mitchell Starc has spent some of that getting into the best shape of his life. He’s 34 now. He shouldn’t be looking like a six-foot-tall brick wall. Nor should he be bowling at speeds that turns the red ball into a red blur. There has been an admission that in a five-Test series, no matter how fit they are, the big three Australian quicks might need to be managed extra carefully but right now, with the series starting at Perth stadium, where Starc averages 19, then moving to Adelaide for a pink-ball Test, in which Starc averages 18.72, they could very well set themselves up to take their time off with the series already in the bag.KL Rahul just can’t seem to get off this ride. Grew up as an opening batter but had to make his debut in the middle order. Then got that spot up top but started losing his stumps a little too often for someone to stay in that position. A shift back into the middle order, especially in white-ball cricket, seemed to indicate that’s where his future lies. An 86 against England at No. 4 in January 2024 furthered that notion, but since then he’s gone off the boil to the point that he lost his place in the side. Now he’ll be opening the batting in conditions that will not be in his favour against one of the world’s best bowling attacks.Team newsAustralia are as settled as can be, having put their trust in McSweeney, whose ability to stay calm and unflustered has earned him the nickname “Buddha”.Australia(probable): 1 Usman Khawaja, 2 Nathan McSweeney, 3 Marnus Labuschagne, 4 Steven Smith, 5 Travis Head, 6 Mitchell Marsh, 7 Alex Carey, 8 Mitchell Starc, 9 Pat Cummins (capt), 10 Nathan Lyon, 11 Josh HazlewoodIndia are of course without their full-time captain and grappling with a minor personnel crisis, meaning they will go into Perth relying on several fringe players. Padikkal (24), Jurel (23), Reddy (21) and Rana (22) are all in line for a spot in the XI. It is possible there will only be room for one spin bowler and R Ashwin might just make the cut ahead of Ravindra Jadeja.All this said, the last time India had a personnel crisis in Australia, remember what happened?India (probable): 1 Yashasvi Jaiswal, 2 KL Rahul, 3 Devdutt Padikkal, 4 Virat Kohli, 5 Rishabh Pant, 6 Dhruv Jurel, 7 R Ashwin, 8 Nitish Kumar Reddy, 9 Harshit Rana/Prasidh Krishna 10 Mohammed Siraj/Akash Deep, 11 Jasprit BumrahThe Optus Stadium witnessed some unseasonal rain in the lead-up to the first Test of the Australian summer•Getty Images

Pitch and conditionsAlthough some unseasonal rainfall two days ago denied the Perth stadium groundstaff from getting the pitch up to where they want it to be, there has since been a lot of sunshine, hardening the surface up and getting it to where it should offer excellent pace, bounce and carry. Head curator Issac McDonald and his staff have been working towards creating a “happy medium between bat and ball”.Stats and trivia Seven of Rahul’s eight Test centuries have come away from home but his batting average in these matches being 31 highlights how he can often be boom or bust. Nathan Lyon has more wickets at this venue (27) at a better average (18.00) with more five-wicket hauls (2) than any of his fast-bowling colleagues Bumrah’s bowling average in Australia is 21.25, which is only a shade better than Jadeja’s 21.78. One will make the XI. The other might not. Quotes”This is the toughest challenge. So I give this message to everyone: if you come and perform in this country then your cricket level will go up, and then your level will keep increasing. So we as a team are focusing to put ourselves in tough challenges so that we become better and take our cricket up.”
“It’s weird, you know, it’s basically been the same side for the last two or three years. So the week lead-in’s very normal, it’s all very relaxed. Everyone knows how they need to prepare. So it’s pretty seamless, you know, all the meetings, training, all those kind of things. We’ve done it heaps before with the same people. So, yeah, it’s just about kind of reaffirming what we do really well.”

The defending champions lead by just 72 runs with three wickets in hand and an injury concern over Ashton Agar

AAP17-Nov-2024Victoria were in sight of victory over Western Australia and the outright lead in the Sheffield Shield standings, despite resolute innings by Hilton Cartwright and Joel Curtis.Seamers Fergus O’Neill and Sam Elliott made regular inroads at Junction Oval on Sunday to have the visitors 278 for 7 at stumps, a lead of just 72 runs with a day to play.Related

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Western Australia wicketkeeper Curtis played a defiant knock to keep his side’s faint hopes alive. But WA spinner Ashton Agar has a shoulder injury and there is a question mark over whether he will bat.O’Neill ended Cartwright’s 166-ball vigil on 78 with a perfect cutter that tickled the outside edge. The 23-year-old, who also snared three wickets in the first innings, has proven to be a revelation for Victoria, and also starred for Australia A against India A.Cartwright held the three-time reigning Sheffield Shield champions’ innings together with support from skipper Ashton Turner and Curtis.The visitors resumed on day three at 34 for 1 and were made to battle before and after rain took the players off the field either side of lunch.Strapping allrounder Elliott hit the pitch hard and snared Sam Fanning and Jayden Goodwin in the morning session, both edging into the bucket hands of first slip Peter Handscomb.Victoria, with vital bonus points from the match, will go top of the ladder if they can secure victory.In four Shield matches this year Cartwright has scored 420 runs at an average of 70 in a reminder of why he played two Tests for Australia in 2017.His defiance may not be enough to salvage anything for his side from this match, but along with Curtis he has made the Victorians fight hard.

CSA Invitational XI 285 for 8 (Senokwane 79, Akhter 3-51) vs England LionsZaman Akhter’s pace and bounce was the feature as the Gloucestershire quick claimed three wickets on the opening day of the England Lions’ four-day match against a Cricket South Africa Invitational XI in Cape Town.After Tom Lawes struck twice with the new ball – including the first delivery of the day – Akhtar made the most significant inroads as the hosts reached stumps at 285 for eight.Akhtar broke a century stand for the third wicket when he found extra bounce off a good length and Jean du Plessis edged to James Coles at second slip. Nottinghamshire’s teenage spinner Farhan Ahmed then claimed Lesego Senokwane, the leading run-scorer in the ongoing CSA 4-Day Series, when he miscued a swipe to Akhtar at mid-on after adding 79.Skipper Dan Mousley and Coles both took a wicket each in the afternoon, but the Lions were made to toil before the reintroduction of Akhter in the final hour.The 25-year-old produced a brutish short ball that Sinethemba Qeshile could only feather behind as he took evasive action after an eye-catching 73. From the next ball Matthew Boast popped a simple catch to backward point.The four-day game is the Lions’ only match of a three-week tour that has focused on providing the 19-player squad with individualised and high-quality training.

Everton’s summer business has been nothing short of ambitious.

The arrival of Jack Grealish on loan from Manchester City has stolen headlines, but David Moyes isn’t content to stop there.

With the opening fixture against Leeds United at Elland Road just days away, the Scot is pressing to secure one final signing – a right-sided attacker to balance his frontline.

That position has been something of a headache for Everton in recent seasons.

Despite flashes of quality from the likes of Jack Harrison and Jesper Lindstrøm, the Toffees have lacked a consistent threat on the right wing.

Moyes has long favoured wingers who can carry the ball at speed, stretch defensive lines, and cut inside to shoot – traits that became a hallmark of Jarrod Bowen’s game at West Ham.

The club’s pursuit of Southampton youngster Tyler Dibling has been well documented, but negotiations have stalled. Multiple bids have been rejected, with the Saints demanding £45m plus £5m in add-ons and a 25% sell-on clause.

Dibling has trained away from the first team, and talks are expected this week, but the price tag is proving prohibitive.

In the meantime, Moyes has turned his focus to a player who could offer many of the same qualities and perhaps even mirror the impact Bowen had when he first joined Moyes’ West Ham side in 2020.

Everton's search for a winger

According to Sébastian Vidal, Abdul Fatawu has been “targeted” Everton this summer, with Aston Villa also now entering the race for his signature.

Known for his blistering pace and direct dribbling style, he has drawn comparisons to Bowen not only for his position but also for his playing profile.

Former Premier League goalkeeper Shay Given was unequivocal in his praise after Leicester’s win over Southampton last October:

“This guy is absolutely lightning… a brilliant talent.”

Transfer Focus

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

Fatawu’s journey has already taken him from Sporting Lisbon to Leicester, where he initially arrived on loan before signing permanently in 2024 for €16m (£14m).

His market value now sits at €11m (£10m), as per Transfermarkt, making him an attainable target in a summer where Everton have already spent wisely.

Why Fatawu could thrive under Moyes

Moyes has a proven track record of maximising the output of dynamic wingers.

When Bowen joined West Ham from Hull City, he was a promising Championship player with raw potential.

Under Moyes’ guidance, Bowen developed into one of the Premier League’s most reliable wide forwards, scoring 56 goals in 193 appearances for the Hammers and netting the decisive goal in the 2023 Europa Conference League final.

Bowen’s success came down to several tactical factors that could also suit Fatawu.

Firstly, Moyes built his attack to give Bowen space to run into, often with overlapping full-backs drawing defenders away.

Secondly, Bowen was encouraged to cut inside onto his stronger left foot, opening up both shooting and passing angles.

Fatawu, a left-footed right-winger, thrives in similar situations, using his dribbling to force defenders onto their weaker side before striking at goal or slipping through a teammate.

Moyes believes Fatawu’s pace, power, and ability to carry the ball into dangerous areas could transform Everton’s attacking play.

Matches played

40

Starts

33

Minutes

2,814

Goals

6

Assists

13

Progressive carries

144

Progressive passes

116

Shot on target percentage

20.0%

Pass completion rate

74%

Shot-creating actions per 90

4.26

His statistical profile backs up the hype – ranking in the 99th percentile for successful take-ons per 90 minutes (4.51) and progressive carries per 90 (6.53) last season, as per FBref.

For context, Bowen’s own numbers in the 2023/24 Premier League season sat at 1.01 and 2.69 respectively, making Fatawu one of the league’s most dangerous ball carriers.

What’s more, he’s not just quick in straight lines – he’s explosive over the first few yards, able to burst past a defender before they’ve had time to adjust.

That acceleration makes him ideal for counter-attacking football, a hallmark of Moyes’ best sides.

Fatawu’s ball progression numbers are even more striking when compared to Bowen’s.

His 6.53 progressive carries per 90 dwarf Bowen’s 2.69 from the 23/24 season, while his take-on success rate shows a player who can consistently beat his man.

That skill could be invaluable when breaking down deep, compact defences – something Everton struggled with throughout the last campaign.

Adding Fatawu to an attack that already features Grealish and Thierno Barry could give Moyes the balance he craves.

Barry’s aerial dominance and hold-up play would create space for Fatawu to drive into, while Grealish’s creative passing could feed him in behind.

The result could be a front line capable of hurting opponents both in transition and in sustained possession.

Fatawu’s similarities to other Premier League wide forwards are also worth noting.

His profile mirrors that of Nottingham Forest’s Dan Ndoye and Brentford-bound Dango Ouattara, as per FBref.

Of course, there are risks.

Fatawu missed 29 games last season due to his ligament injury, and his injury history will be under close scrutiny by Everton’s medical team.

But at just 21, his potential ceiling is significant, and his international experience – 19 caps for Ghana, with two goals – shows he can handle the demands of high-pressure football.

With Villa also monitoring him as a possible replacement for Leon Bailey, Everton may need to move quickly.

The Toffees’ recruitment team are understood to be preparing their approach, with the expectation that Leicester would want to at least recoup the £14m they paid for him.

Duncan Ferguson 2.0: Everton made "big move" to sign £26m "Ferrari"

Everton could be set to target their next Duncan Ferguson with one move having already been made

ByWill Miller Aug 15, 2025

It’s a massively exciting time to be a Nottingham Forest fan at the moment.

Nuno Espírito Santo has transformed a side that looked destined for relegation scrap after relegation scrap into a top Premier League side, one that’ll be playing in the Europa League this season.

While there are stars all across the team, from Matz Sels between the sticks to Chris Wood up top, the star of the team is undoubtedly Morgan Gibbs-White.

The England international is often at the heart of everything the Tricky Trees do in attack, so fans should be excited about reports linking them to a midfielder who’s won recent comparisons to him.

Forest target the new Gibbs-White

While Forest haven’t been as busy this summer as they’ve been in the past, they’ve still brought in several exciting additions to Nuno’s side.

Transfer Focus

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

Dan Ndoye, for example, scored nine goals and provided six assists for Bologna last season; Igor Jesus produced ten goal involvements in 29 games for Botafogo, and Jair Cunha looks like a promising pickup at the back.

However, with the window not closing until the start of next month, the Garibaldi appear determined to complete at least one more signing and bring in a player who’s been compared to Gibbs-White.

At least that is according to a recent report from the Daily Mail, which has claimed that Forest are one of several sides interested in Facundo Buonanotte.

Alongside the Tricky Trees, the report has revealed that West Ham United, Leeds United, Tottenham Hotspur, Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund have all shown an interest in the 20-year-old gem.

The good news is that Brighton & Hove Albion are happy to let the Argentine leave for a Premier League side this summer, but the bad news is that they want him to go on loan, although stories from earlier this summer suggested that the Seagulls could be willing to sell for around £30m.

Regardless of how Forest go about it, they should do what they can to sign Buonanotte this summer, as he’s a seriously exciting player and could become the new Gibbs-White.

How Buonanotte compares to Gibbs-White

In this instance, the comparison between Buonanotte and Gibbs-White stems from FBref, which looked at players in similar positions from Europe’s top five leagues and concluded that the Forest ace has been the ninth most similar attacking midfielder or winger to the 20-year-old over the last 365 days.

We can gain a better understanding of how this conclusion was reached by examining the underlying metrics in which the pair ranks closely.

In this case, these include statistics such as non-penalty expected goals, expected assists, progressive carries, key passes, interceptions, clearances and more, all per 90.

Non-Penalty Expected Goals

0.23

0.20

Expected Assists

0.14

0.15

Progressive Carries

2.31

2.22

Shots on Target

0.71

0.67

Passing Accuracy

76.4%

78.3%

Key Passes

1.42

1.64

Interceptions

0.71

0.74

Clearances

0.83

0.93

Carries into the Penalty Area

0.53

0.42

These key numbers help to paint the young Argentine as a midfielder who could match the Englishman when it comes to attacking output, while also being able to chip in with some of the defensive work he’d need to do in a Nuno system.

It’s not just their underlying numbers that are surprisingly similar, though.

For example, in his 3142 minutes of first-team football for last season, the former Wolverhampton Wanderers star scored seven goals and provided ten assists, which comes out as an average of a goal involvement every 184.82 minutes.

For his efforts, the Brighton “magician,” as he was dubbed by Rising Star XI on X, scored six goals and provided three assists in just 1701 minutes of football for Leicester City last season, which, amazingly, comes out as an average of a goal involvement every 189 minutes.

Ultimately, while fans probably shouldn’t expect Buonanotte to be on the same level as Gibbs-White right away, it does seem like he’s not too far off.

Therefore, even if it has to be on loan to begin with, Forest should be doing all they can to sign the 20-year-old dynamo this summer.

A dream for McAtee: Nottingham Forest plot swoop for "explosive" £40m star

The promising talent would be an excellent signing for Nottingham Forest.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Aug 12, 2025

Tottenham Hotspur’s 17th-placed Premier League finish last campaign showcases the job Thomas Frank has on his hands as he enters his first year in charge in North London.

He would’ve certainly faced an easier task had he had Harry Kane at his disposal, with the England international a player who is undoubtedly one of the best to ever ply his trade for the Lilywhites.

The 32-year-old rose through the ranks before making a huge impact on the first team, often being the man the supporters relied on for goals in crucial moments.

Kane ended up registering a total of 280 goals during his stint in the capital, the highest of any player in the club’s history, also slotting in at second place in the Premier League’s record books.

However, after his departure back in 2023, the club have ultimately failed to replace his goals, leaving Frank with such a task during his first window in charge.

The latest on Spurs’ hunt for a new striker this summer

After the Dane’s appointment, Brentford striker Yoane Wissa has been a player who has been hugely linked with a move to follow his former boss across the capital.

Such rumours are unsurprising given his tally of 19 league goals for the Bees last season, leading to Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest also interested in his signature this window.

However, he’s not the only attacker currently on their radar, with PSG star Randal Kolo Muani another player they’re pursuing, according to journalist Santi Aouna.

He claims that the Lilywhites have already entered talks over a deal to land the French forward, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Juventus.

Aouna also states that Frank’s side face competition from Manchester United for the 26-year-old’s signature this summer, but Daniel Levy is working hard to reach an agreement before the September 1st deadline.

Why Spurs’ latest target would be Frank’s answer to Kane

Two players have mainly shared the responsibility of providing the goals at the top end of the pitch for Spurs since Kane’s departure – Dominic Solanke and Richarlison.

Both have endured their injury struggles over recent times, posting respectable tallies, but ultimately, there’s still huge room for improvement in such an area.

The Englishman, who cost a club-record £65m last summer, and the Brazilian managed to net a combined tally of 13 league goals, whilst Kane scored double that figure on his own last campaign.

Replacing the record goalscorer was always going to be a near-impossible task, but the current lack of goals from the centre-forwards on the books highlights the need for a new talisman this summer.

Kolo Muani would provide the new boss just that, having the opportunity to claim the starting role as his own should he move to North London during the off-season.

He’s previously been labelled as a similar player to Kane by FBref, managing to match or better the former Lilywhites in key areas throughout the recent campaign.

The Frenchman, who’s been dubbed “extremely dangerous” by compatriot Bixente Lizarazu, posted a higher goal per shot on target rate, evidently being more efficient with his chances in front of goal.

How Kolo Muani & Kane compare in 2024/25
Statistics (per 90)	Kolo Muani	Kane
Games played	26	31
Goals & assists	12	35
Shot on target accuracy	48%	42%
Goals per shot on target	0.4	0.3
Key passes made	1.4	1.3
Take-ons completed	1.5	0.8
Carries into opposition box	1.2	0.7
Aerials won	1.2	1
Stats via FBref

Kolo Muani also completed more key passes per 90, along with more take-ons achieved, highlighting his all-round talent with the ball at his feet, something which could hugely benefit Frank in his quest for success.

However, whilst he’s a technically gifted forward, the former Eintracht Frankfurt star also bettered Kane for aerials won per 90, potentially being the perfect fit for the Lilywhites’ current side.

All the aforementioned stats are undoubtedly important, but ultimately, the fans and manager will want him to provide the goods in front of goal throughout 2025/26.

His tally of 10 goals in just 22 loan appearances in Italy last season showcases that there is certainly a player there, with Frank able to land his own version of the record scorer if he can unlock such talents out of Kolo Muani.

Frank's very own Mbappe: Spurs in talks for "one of the most prolific" CFs

Tottenham Hotspur look set to make a move for a star who could thrive like Kylian Mbappe.

By
Ethan Lamb

Aug 1, 2025

Tottenham Hotspur fell by the wayside last season, but they picked themselves back up when on the road in Europe and managed to win the Europa League.

It was quite a feat, with Ange Postecoglou securing himself some poetic justice after promising silverware right at the start of the season, unaware of the landslide in form that was forthcoming in the Premier League.

Though Tottenham finished 17th in the top flight, they struggled against an incredible amount of injuries that knocked Postecoglou’s vision so far away from course, and that ultimately led to his dismissal as a trophy-winning hero.

With Thomas Frank now at the helm, Spurs are ready to springboard toward new heights, using last season as a foundation for a sustained period of success.

However, despite adding Mohammed Kudus to the wings, joining from West Ham United for £55m, and reinforcing the midfield with the initial loan signing of Bayern Munich’s Joao Palhinha, the Lilywhites want more.

Spurs' outstanding summer transfer plans

James Maddison’s knee injury will see him sidelined for the majority of the imminent campaign. It’s a cruel blow, and it has added emphasis on the need for a creative midfielder, with Dejan Kulusevski still recuperating from an injury too.

However, with Yves Bissouma and Rodrigo Bentancur both anticipated to be leaving the club this summer, it’s not out of the question that Frank adds a deeper-lying midfielder to his ranks, even after signing Palhinha.

Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton has been earmarked as a long-term option for the Tottenham midfield, but the Eagles man will be hard to sign.

However, there’s another Premier League talent who has entered technical director Johan Lange’s radar.

Spurs lining up another midfielder

According to Caught Offside, Tottenham have joined the long list of clubs interested in signing Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Carlos Baleba this month.

The 21-year-old has emerged as one of the Premier League’s brightest talents, and the Seagulls have no intention to sell, having priced their midfielder at a jaw-dropping £104m.

Manchester United have already made their intentions known in the last week and have started direct contacts with the player’s camp as they look to pull off a sensational August signing.

However, Tottenham boast the allure of Champions League football, and could offer him a starring role, should their aforementioned midfielders be sold.

Why Spurs should sign Carlos Baleba

Tottenham need to add not just quantity but quality to their ranks this summer. Signings not for the sake of signing but for the graduation from one level to another, restoring a place among the big hitters on the Champions League stage and challenging for more silverware.

Baleba could be that player, having had a profound impact on Brighton’s football over the past two seasons, with analyst Ben Mattinson singling him out as a “one-of-a-kind” midfielder.

Though this is a physical beast of a player with a clear skill for protecting the backline and flying in with crunching challenges, he’s also a progressive and technically sharp midfielder, ranked among the top 12% of positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref.

He also knows his way around a thunderous strike, winning the Premier League Goal of the month for April 2025 after a powerful late winner against West Ham United.

His completeness in the middle of the park and underrated passing range, having completed 88% of his passes in the Premier League last season, could lead Baleba to prove an even better signing for Frank’s side than Wharton, whose deep-lying elegance for Crystal Palace has led journalist Henry Winter to declare him a “passing machine”.

As per Sofascore, Wharton also brought firm defensive roots to the table in the Premier League last year, averaging one interception and 1.7 tackles per game, but he also missed a large chunk of the season due to a groin injury, ultimately starting only 16 times in the top flight.

Given the defensive woes that Tottenham endured under Ange’s wing last season, it’s crucial that the midfield raises its level and eases the pressure on the defenders.

Premier League 24/25 – Most Goals Conceded

#

Club

Final Position

GC

1.

Southampton

20th

86

2.

Ipswich

19th

82

3.

Leicester

18th

80

4.

Wolves

16th

69

5.

Tottenham

17th

65

Data via StatMuse

The tough-tackling Palhinha will help in that regard, to be sure, but then Palhinha is 30 years old, almost a decade Baleba and Wharton’s senior.

Given that the marquee buy would cross the £100m threshold, it’s obvious that Frank and Levy would expect the player to cement themselves as one of the finest in the division across so many years. And given that Baleba has more of an all-encompassing profile about him, bringing it all together, it might just be that he’s the perfect player to replace the likes of Bissouma and Bentancur.

Content creator Ryan Adsett has hailed the Cameroon international as a “powerhouse”, who has also displayed a remarkable degree of intelligence, reading the game like a scholar and positioning himself just so.

His engine and strength would charge Frank’s system for an age, and if Spurs truly are in the running, they must get this one done.

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Posts ByEthan Lamb Aug 8, 2025

One thing’s for certain: Liverpool are primed for an eventful end to the summer transfer window.

FSG are diligent operators, with Anfield’s transfer strategy driven by two of the best in the business in Michael Edwards and sporting director Richard Hughes, and this was clear through the swift signings of full-backs Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong, and the British-record signing of playmaker Florian Wirtz, which was wrapped up in June.

However, the pursuit of Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak has been anything but expeditious, with the Reds having seen a British-record bid worth £110m plus add-ons rejected at the start of August, following weeks of intense speculation and suggestion that the Sweden international wants to move to Anfield.

Now, it’s getting messy. The 25-year-old is aggrieved about the way his and Newcastle’s transfer window has transpired, and is insistent that he has played his final match for the Magpies.

Liverpool need another striker, having sold Darwin Nunez to Al Hilal in a deal rising to £57m after parting ways with Luis Diaz, now garbed in Bayern Munich’s kit.

But did Liverpool’s Community Shield defeat against Crystal Palace make a comment on Arne Slot’s attacking line?

What the Community Shield told us

Last month, Liverpool signed Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike for a £79m fee, adding one of the most talented forwards in Europe to Slot’s squad.

Isak’s future broods in the background, but the French forward stepped up and scored during the Community Shield at Wembley, expertly converting following Wirtz’s fizzed pass just four minutes into his debut.

The 23-year-old told Liverpool and the fanbase that he’s ready to become a major player at Anfield and in the Premier League, bearing the potential to rival the likes of Isak for a place as one of Europe’s top strikers.

Though defensive fragility and thinness were clear against the Eagles, the Merseysiders also lack depth up top. And though Ekitike is the real deal, it’s imperative that Hughes and co welcome another forward to Liverpool’s mix this month.

Liverpool lining up Isak alternative

Liverpool want Isak, but they are ready to pounce on other attacking targets should the need arise. And according to transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano, Bradley Barcola sits right at the top of the shortlist.

Transfer Focus

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

Discussing the Premier League champions’ outstanding transfer plans this summer with GIVEMESPORT, Romano confirmed that internal discussions have been held behind the scenes over a move for Barcola, 22, who has emerged as a superstar at PSG.

Instrumental in driving Luis Enrique’s quadruple-winning 2024/25 campaign, the France international has been valued at around €100m (equating to around £87m) by the French giants, who hope to tie Barcola down to a long and lucrative new contract in Paris.

The Telegraph’s Chris Bascombe has suggested Liverpool could move to sign a left-sided forward along with a nine such as Isak, and with that in mind, could the Reds not pull off a stunning double swoop?

Why Liverpool want Bradley Barcola

Barcola has flaws in his game; he’s certainly not the finished product. But how exciting is that? The French winger, after all, posted 21 goals and 21 assists apiece across all competitions for PSG last season, winning four major titles, including the Champions League.

Already considered to be a “world-class player” by Liverpool and Romano, Barcola’s pace and potency down the left flank suggest he could be the perfect Diaz replacement and contrast to the more goal-focused Cody Gakpo. While the Frenchman may be the Swede’s alternative at the moment, we can envisage a team where they co-exist.

Isak is a striker of startling completeness, and that’s why he could work so fluently with Barcola, whose grasp of the technical side of the game would work well alongside the Scandinavian talent’s goalscoring qualities.

Last season, it was clear that Eddie Howe reduced the scope of Isak’s game, thus streamlining his prolific capacity and giving rise to his standout strength.

Alexander Isak’s Last Two PL Seasons
Stats (* per game)	23/24	24/25
Matches (starts)	30 (27)	34 (34)
Goals	21	23
Assists	2	6
Touches*	26.8	33.3
Shots (on target)*	2.4 (1.4)	2.9 (1.4)
Big chances missed	21	18
Pass completion	80%	77%
Big chances created	5	11
Key passes*	0.9	1.2
Dribbles*	1.4	1.2
Ball recoveries*	1.3	1.6
Tackles + interceptions*	0.4	0.5
Duels (won)*	2.4	2.8
Data via Sofascore

Even so, Isak still enjoyed plenty of creative moments, with that fact further substantiated through his ranking among the top 16% of positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for shot-creating actions and the top 13% for progressive passes per 90, via FBref.

Slot loves players who can do multiple things, and so Isak’s role at number nine would come with the ancillary duty of supplying teammates.

This would be helpful for Barcola, who enjoyed much success in front of goal last year, albeit not producing true clinical results. Indeed, across PSG’s league and European campaigns, the £109k-per-week talent might have scored 17 goals, but he also missed 33 big chances, highlighting ample room for improvement there.

Luckily, he’s got a knack for finding space and shooting, and his 21-goal return last year is hardly something to be sniffed at.

With great ball-carrying ability, creative focus and the potential to become a truly deadly goalscorer, Barcola is surely the perfect partner for a striker like Isak, whose intelligence and off-the-ball movement would accommodate the France star when he wants the headlines.

And when Barcola is the one tasked with supplying Isak? Well, expect a seamless connection, striking fear into the rest of the Premier League and indeed Europe.

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Angus Sinclair

Aug 12, 2025

MatériaMais Notícias

Após a vitória do São Paulo por 4 a 2 diante do Vasco pelo Brasileirão, o técnico Dorival Júnior reclamou novamente da sequência de jogos que o calendário impõe a sua equipe, e aproveitou a oportunidade para valorizar o esforço de seus jogadores no enfrentamento ao cansaço dos jogos consecutivos.

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O treinador ainda revelou que o São Paulo deve viajar rumo à Venezuela, onde enfrenta o Deportivo Puerto Cabello pela Sul-Americana, na madrugada de domingo para segunda (22), ao melhor estilo ‘corujão’, o que aumentaria este cansaço.

+ ATUAÇÕES: ‘Crias de Cotia’ garantem vitória do São Paulo diante do Vasco pelo Brasileirão

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– Eu acho que a gente só tem que ficar satisfeito (com o desempenho recente). Nos apresentaremos no aeroporto meia-noite, sairemos às 2h da manhã e chegaremos às 15h da segunda-feira para jogarmos na terça-feira. Para vocês verem que fica muito difícil cobrar tudo aquilo que uma equipe possa te apresentar.

Dorival também afirmou que a tabela é ‘terrível’ para todos os clubes, e que ela interfere tanto no desempenho dos times como na recuperação dos jogadores.

– O Vasco essa semana teve tranquilidade pra trabalhar, por isso tinha sempre um movimento (em jogo) mais rápido. Como eu disse, nós chegamos (de viagem do Recife) na quinta-feira às 23h aqui no aeroporto. Tudo isso aí gera um desgaste muito grande – iniciou.

+ VÍDEO: os melhores momentos da vitória do São Paulo sobre o Vasco pelo Brasileirão

O caso de Rodrigo Nestor foi citado pelo treinador como exemplo desse desgaste. O jogador deixou o campo durante o segundo tempo com um ‘início de lesão’, nas palavras de Dorival. O comandante tricolor revelou, no entanto, o que tem feito para minimizar os efeitos do calendário cheio no condicionamento físico do seu elenco.

– Isso vai acontecer com, no mínimo, um atleta a cada rodada. Não tem como como alterar esse processo todo, e nós temos que estar fortes para suportar essa condição. Vou buscando a todo momento (fazer) cinco, seis alterações pra dar uma oxigenada na equipe. É aquilo que a gente pode fazer – finalizou Dorival.

O próximo jogo da ‘tabela terrível’ do São Paulo está marcado para terça-feira (23), às 21h30 (hora de Brasília) diante do Deportivo Puerto Cabello, da Venezuela. O jogo é válido pela 4ª rodada da fase de grupos da Copa Sul-Americana.