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Tottenham Hotspur may end up waving goodbye to another fan-favourite star before the summer transfer window slams shut at the start of September.

At the start of June, The Telegraph reported that club captain Heung-min Son could move on from London after leading the team to the Europa League trophy this season.

The outlet claimed that the South Korea international could be sold by Spurs in order to generate funds to bolster the squad ahead of their return to the Champions League, amid interest from teams in the Saudi Pro League.

Son has racked up an eye-catching haul of 173 goals and 101 assists in 454 appearances in all competitions for the club since signing from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer of 2015.

The experienced forward’s departure this summer would mean that all three of Mauricio Pochettino’s iconic attacking line-up will have moved on, following Dele Alli and Harry Kane’s exits from the club in recent years.

All three stars were key players for the former Spurs head coach at the top end of the pitch, and Alli’s contributions should not be overlooked.

Why Dele Alli was a star for Spurs

The London-based club reportedly splashed out a fee of £5m to sign the attacking midfielder from League One outfit MK Dons in 2015, and Pochettino brought him into the first-team squad for the 2015/16 campaign.

Alli hit the ground running in the Premier League, bypassing the Championship, with a return of ten goals and eight assists in 33 top-flight games in his first season with Spurs.

The England international went on to plunder 67 goals and 59 assists in 269 appearances in all competitions for Tottenham before his move away from the club in 2022.

These statistics show that the former MK Dons talent provided plenty of quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals for Spurs during his time in London, whilst he also offered Pochettino a lot of flexibility in the way that he could be deployed within the starting line-up.

Attacking midfield

158

42

40

Central midfield

48

9

5

Left midfield

36

14

8

Centre-forward

8

2

1

Defensive midfield

2

0

2

As you can see in the table above, Alli was deployed in several different positions for Tottenham, mainly playing as a central or attacking midfielder, or off the left flank.

The 29-year-old midfielder, who now plays for Como in Italy, was a star for Spurs due to both the quality he provided at the top end of the pitch and the versatility he offered the manager.

Spurs may now be about to unearth their next version of Alli, who was a key member of the attack that included Son and Kane under Pochettino, as they are expected to sign a Premier League star.

Spurs expected to sign Premier League midfielder

West Ham United outlet HammersNews reports that the Premier League side expect Aston Villa attacking midfielder Jacob Ramsey to sign for Tottenham this summer.

The Hammers are interested in a deal to sign the former England U21 international to bolster their own squad this summer, but the club believe that the 24-year-old talent is on his way to another team in London.

Transfer Focus

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

Speaking to HammersNews, the ‘top spokesman’ for the West Ham owners said: “I think the player (Ramsey) is going to Spurs.”

Spurs were recently linked with an interest in the Villans starlet, who could be on his way out of Villa Park this summer, and this latest update suggests that they are set to win the race for his signature.

Earlier this year, The Boot Room reported that Manchester City are also interested in the attacking midfielder, who is valued at a fee of around £50m by Aston Villa.

However, it remains to be seen exactly how much Spurs will end up paying for the English talent if they do end up signing him, as West Ham expect.

Why Spurs should sign Jacob Ramsey

The Lilywhites should push ahead with a deal to sign the 24-year-old star in the coming weeks because he could arrive at the club as Thomas Frank’s own version of Dele Alli.

Ramsey may not seem like an obvious signing for Spurs, given that he has only scored two Premier League goals since the start of the 2023/24 campaign, but his form in the past for Villa suggests that there is a quality player who could be unearthed.

The Villans maestro’s performances in the 2021/22 and 2022/23 campaigns suggest that he has the potential to develop into a top performer for Tottenham if Frank can get the best out of him.

Ramsey, who was once dubbed “sensational” by Seb Stafford-Bloor, plundered 12 goals and eight assists in those two seasons, and was particularly impressive in front of goal in the 2022/23 campaign, with six goals and seven assists to his name that term.

Non-penalty xG

0.20

Top 16%

Non-penalty xG

0.17

Top 14%

xAG

0.17

Top 14%

Assists

0.24

Top 6%

Shot-creating actions

2.77

Top 40%

Progressive carries

3.21

Top 9%

As you can see in the table above, the English star caught the eye as both a scorer and a creator of goals for the Villans, ranking highly among midfielders in the Premier League in several key attacking metrics.

Like Alli, Ramsey’s top three most played positions are central midfield, attacking midfield, and left midfield, which means that he can offer Frank the same positional flexibility that the former Spurs star did for Pochettino, as a playmaker who can play centrally or come in off the left.

His form in the 2022/23 season also suggests that he has the potential to provide an impressive threat as both a scorer and a creator of goals from those three positions, which is exactly what Alli did throughout his time in North London.

Therefore, Frank could unearth his own version of the former England international by securing a deal for Ramsey, before helping him to get back to the kind of form he displayed at the start of his Villa career.

A bigger talent than Eze: Spurs make enquiry for "sensational" £40m star

Tottenham Hotspur appear to be making a move for another Premier League talent.

1 ByEthan Lamb Jun 28, 2025

Glasgow Rangers are moving swiftly in the summer transfer window, having already signed Emmanuel Fernandez, Thelo Aasgaard, Joe Rothwell, Max Aarons, and Lyall Cameron.

Journalist Anthony Joseph recently revealed that Rangers are set to sign central defender Nasser Djiga on loan for the 2025/26 campaign.

The 22-year-old central defender is closing in on a loan that would not include an option to buy, though, which means that he may only be at Ibrox for one season.

Nasser Djiga

Rangers are, however, also interested in a deal to sign another centre-back who could be an even better signing for Russell Martin moving forward.

Rangers closing in on English defender

Despite having already signed Fernandez and the report that they are closing in on a deal for Djiga, the Light Blues would like to add another central defender to their squad.

Transfer Focus

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

According to the Daily Record, it is ‘believed’ that a deal to sign former England international Conor Coady from Leicester City is ‘close’ to being completed.

The report claims that the Scottish Premiership giants are currently in talks with the Foxes to get a deal over the line for the experienced titan in the coming days.

It adds that Coady is ‘keen’ to make the move to Ibrox to link up with Martin’s squad, in what would be a permanent transfer for the 32-year-old veteran.

Why Coady would be an even better signing than Djiga

The English centre-back would come in as an even better signing than Djiga for several reasons, firstly because he is closing in on a permanent move, rather than a loan.

This means that Martin could count on Coady to be a key player for several seasons, rather than just one, which means that the former Wolves captain would provide Rangers with more value over time.

The fact that the English ace, who was described as an “infectious” character by Gareth Southgate, was the captain for Wolves before his time at Leicester and Everton also suggests that the centre-back could bring key leadership skills to Ibrox, which may not be the case for Djiga, who is only 22 and still starting out in his career.

Their respective performances in the Premier League during the 2024/25 campaign also suggest that Coady could provide more quality on the pitch in the here and now.

Appearances

22

5

Tackles + interceptions per game

1.2

0.4

Dribbled past per game

0.1x

0.2x

Clearances per game

3.2

0.8

Ground duel success rate

53%

25%

Duels won per game

1.3

0.4

As you can see in the table above, the Leicester defender offered more to his team in the top-flight than the Wolves youngster, who did not get many opportunities in his defence, with his defensive contributions, which suggests that he would be the better immediate option for Martin at Ibrox next season.

Whilst Djiga, at the age of 22, may have the potential to improve in the future, Rangers may not get to see the best of that when they will only have him for a season.

Coady, meanwhile, is a known quantity and looks set to provide a reliable presence and a strong voice at the heart of the defence for multiple seasons, which is why he is on course to be an even better signing for the club.

Therefore, a move for the veteran English colossus could be a shrewd piece of business for the Gers, snapping up a star with ten caps for England and 198 appearances in the Premier League under his belt.

The dream squad Rangers can build: £19.5m quartet & "sublime" star all sign

Rangers will be eyeing plenty more signings this summer

4 ByRoss Kilvington Jul 5, 2025

Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy has sacked Ange Postecoglou. After supposedly a week of deliberation, it was determined the Aussie coach’s Europa League triumph was not enough to save him.

There’s no question this has been one of the most dramatic years in the club’s modern history, certainly one of the most chaotic and turbulent seasons across Europe’s myriad clubs.

All have been watching, though. Watching with glee or compassion, but with eyes riveted on the drama as it unfolded.

Postecoglou made a promise, and that promise was delivered in the most resounding fashion as Spurs won the Europa League in their manager’s second season, salvaging a wretched domestic campaign that has seen the club finish 17th in the Premier League.

Sadly, there will be no season three in this series. There could, however, be an exciting new face in the dugout.

Spurs hold talks for Ange replacement

According to TBR Football, Levy has held talks with a number of candidates for the Tottenham manager’s position, and while Brentford’s Thomas Frank is the leading contender, there’s another Premier League boss who could make the move.

That’s Oliver Glasner, who led Crystal Palace to glory in the FA Cup this term. Earmarked as a potential option, Glasner stated he was “100% committed” to Selhurst Park after the Wembley win against Manchester City, but Tottenham present a compelling long-term project.

The Austrian coach, 50, is even thought to be leading the race to succeed Postecoglou, alongside Frank.

What Oliver Glasner would bring to Spurs

Making the move from a divisional rival below the league’s ‘big six’, Glasner could prove to be Tottenham’s next Mauricio Pochettino, especially since both bosses employ expansive attacking games.

Former Eintracht Frankfurt boss Glasner took the Eagles reins in February 2024, replacing Roy Hodgson after ten defeats from 17 matches. Palace were 15th but lacked inspiration and direction.

Hailed for his “incredible” work in south London by AFTV’s James B, Glasner has led Palace to a 12th-placed finish, but with the highest points total in the club’s Premier League history.

24/25

Glasner

12th

53

23/24

Hodgson/Glasner

10th

49

18/19

Hodgson

12th

49

14/15

Pardew

10th

48

21/22

Vieira

11th

48

His high-intensity, hard-working tactical approach is something that could see him emulate Spurs’ one-time gaffer, who was actually criticised once for working his players too hard during Tottenham training.

Of course, Glasner’s FA Cup lift didn’t mark the first major trophy in his managerial career, having won the Europa League with Frankfurt, so he’d bring his own brand down N17, simply aligning with some of the principles that have convinced Spurs to make appointments in the past.

In that regard, he’s proven himself capable of outstripping Pochettino, making the move from a divisional rival but with the winning mentality already constructed.

The truth is, there’s a very solid argument behind Levy’s decision to dismiss the man who ended 17 endless years of searching for a major trophy.

And if he moves to appoint Glasner, whose football is entertaining and whose trophy-winning credentials have been illustrated through victory in the FA Cup last month, Tottenham might just go from strength to strength next term.

He's another Bergvall: Spurs enter race to sign "extraordinary" wonderkid

The promising youngster could be a star at Spurs.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jun 7, 2025

Arsenal need a striker. Andrea Berta knows it, Mikel Arteta knows it, the fanbase knows it, the whole world knows it.

So, who will that man be? Well, with dream target Alexander Isak out of the running, it looks like it has come down to two candidates.

The first of which is Viktor Gyokeres. The Swede ended the 2024/25 campaign as the most goal-laden striker in Europe but there are doubts. Strange doubts at that considering how many goals he’s scored.

He is a beast, a physical player who can throw a defender to the floor and most importantly, he certainly knows where the back of the net.

Gyokeres is the finished article but clearly, Arsenal are thinking about the bigger picture too. That’s where Slovenian powerhouse Benjamin Sesko comes into the equation.

The latest on Arsenal's pursuit of Benjamin Sesko

A year ago, Arsenal were incredibly interested in bringing the RB Leipzig centre forward to the Emirates Stadium.

However, the striker decided to pen a new contract in the Bundesliga, which has seen him stay for another year.

Now, it would appear as though he’s ready to move on. Reports revealed nearly a week and a half ago that initial talks had begun and a deal has begun to accelerate in recent days.

Indeed, according to Sky Sports Germany reporter, Florian Plettenberg, the player is now ‘keen’ on signing for Arsenal this summer with advanced talks concerning personal terms in motion.

Transfer Focus

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

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That said, actually agreeing on a transfer fee is where the deal could get challenging. Plettenberg reveals that Sesko has a €80m (£67m) release clause but the Gunners cannot ‘simply trigger’ it.

That’s because the structure of a deal is said to be ‘complicated’, meaning a fee is now being negotiated freely.

Why Sesko would be a dream signing for Martin Odegaard

The 2024/25 campaign was undoubtedly the nadir of the club captain’s time at the Emirates to date.

After suffering an ankle injury early in the season, Martin Odegaard missed the best part of two months and simply wasn’t the same since.

Odegaard scored just six times in 45 games and only three of those goals came in the Premier League. It’s a far cry from the 15-goal term he enjoyed in 2022/23, where no midfielder scored more top-flight goals in England than him.

While the Norwegian still provided 12 assists, that number could soar to dizzy heights with a proper out-and-out centre-forward leading the line, not a Mikel Merino or Kai Havertz.

With Sesko described as “the new Erling Haaland” by scout Jacek Kulig, perhaps Odegaard could strike up a relationship akin to the one he enjoys with his fellow countryman at international level.

Indeed, it was only this weekend that we got to see the very best of the Arsenal playmaker, who enjoyed a fabulous game for Norway as they beat Italy 3-0.

Odegaard was the one who supplied Haaland’s goal in the tie, sliding a lovely ball in behind for the Manchester City forward to run onto.

It’s safe to say we’ve not seen enough of this in an Arsenal shirt. Why? Two reasons, really. Odegaard’s injury has undoubtedly hampered him but the biggest reason is that Arteta’s system hasn’t relied on a striker getting in behind.

Havertz and Merino are cut from a similar cloth in this regard. They come short to bring others into the game and it largely works. Yet, the Gunners need someone playing on the shoulder of the last man.

Odegaard alongside Haaland (for Norway)

Matches

36

Wins

21

Draws

5

Defeats

10

Times Odegaard assisted Haaland

6

Minutes played

2,831

Stats via Transfermarkt.

That’s where Sesko comes into the equation. Possessing a similar build to Haaland, the Slovenia international combines pace with brute force to burst past defenders.

He’s far from the finished article, scoring 21 goals last season, but that’s a great deal better than anyone at Arsenal; no one in red and white even found the net in double figures this season.

Odegaard is one of the most creative players in the division, ranking in the top 5% of positionally similar players in Europe’s top five leagues for assists per 90 minutes and the best 4% for progressive passes. Thus, he needs someone he can actually feed.

As the captain showcased with Haaland in front of him just a few days ago, he can thrive when he’s got someone willing to make runs beyond the defence. Sesko is definitely that man. This could be a match made in heaven for Arsenal.

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Posts ByJack Salveson Holmes Jun 7, 2025

England’s ego-less attack leader found a way to stay relevant but it wasn’t the cut-and-thrust of old

Vithushan Ehantharajah12-Jul-20252:12

Manjrekar: ‘Pretty mediocre how England bowled in first session’

There are a few for fast bowlers. Two of them are bowling with the wicketkeeper up and celebrating wickets down the leg side.Chris Woakes has ticked off both in India’s first innings. On Friday, looking to keep Shubman Gill in his crease, Jamie Smith donned a helmet to intercept Woakes’ deliveries at the earliest point. Here on day three, Smith was sprawled out on the Lord’s turf while Woakes continued in his follow-through, not even bothering with a cursory turn to the umpire for his appeal.Icks are broadly nonsense, of course. Merely an alert that anyone who uses the term sincerely is emotionally stunted and void of empathy. But there’s something to be said for the fact that Woakes – the leader of this England pace attack, for so long a standard-setter on skill, whose aesthetics have evolved with a hint of Captain America with silverfox tints – would be willing to indulge in turn-offs others may seek to avoid.”Sometimes as a bowler, you’ve got to take your ego out of it,” Joe Root said of Saturday’s keeper-up scenario. If ever there was a man willing to park ego for the good of the team, it’s Woakes.A decent wobble-seam delivery to Gill, who was clearly tetchy with Smith breathing down his neck, was nicked. The India captain, leading runscorer in the series by a distance already, was dismissed for just 16, of the back of his twin scores of 269 and 161 at Edgbaston last week.And in the dregs of Saturday, with India 13 behind, on Woakes came with the second new ball 29 overs old. Another attempt at a wobble-seam came out on the wrong line, nipping up the slope and down Ravindra Jadeja’s leg side. Except the left-hander’s lazy flick brought the end of his knock on 72, ending a frustrating 113-ball stand on 50.It would be the first of India’s final four wickets to fall for just 11 runs, a collapse that ensured the first three days of this Test have been, largely, for nothing. Not for Woakes, mind. Another in the cascade – Jasprit Bumrah caught behind – gave him 3 for 84, and a doubling of his dismissals for the series.It was a deserved haul in many ways. Woakes was typically un-shy of doing his bit. No bowler on either side sent down more than his 27 overs in the first innings, and only the spinner Shoaib Bashir has delivered more than the 109 he has so far this series. Bumrah, rested for the second Test, ticked over to 27 in this match with one second-innings over this evening.Related

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• Gill loses temper as England run down the clock

When Woakes was not bowling, he was assisting with advice or simply just encouragement from mid-on and mid-off, as well as taking on ball-shining duties. And yet, to watch Woakes operate in India’s first innings was to slowly realise we might be witnessing the beginning of the end.That, primarily, is down to pace. Woakes averaged 81mph on Friday, with the delivery that snared Gill clocking in at 80mph. The awry 79mph ball that brought about Jadeja’s downfall was one of the quickest he sent down on Saturday, during which he averaged 78.9mph.The snap seems to be missing. It was evident in patches over the last two Tests, notably the first morning on his home ground. His misfortune in Birmingham – a solitary wicket in an opening spell worthy of three – proved to be England’s as they eventually fell to defeat. Now, that energy into and off the surface is absent, and it is not squarely on a Lord’s pitch that has been too dry to be sprightly.After Woakes had bowled just six of the opening 20 overs with the first new ball, the second was given to Jofra Archer and Brydon Carse. Both represent a not-too-distant future beyond Woakes. In his first appearance in more than four years, Archer has already shown he has the consistency and zip off the surface to do what Woakes does, allied with high pace.Carse, having impressed with his new-ball skills at Edgbaston, has also offered plenty with the bat. His maiden half-century was a measured and timely knock, and has already eclipsed Woakes’ exploits. Despite a handy 38 at Headingley, Woakes has offered little of the protection he was supposed to bring as the third ‘allrounder’, after Ben Stokes and Smith. A first-innings golden duck reduced Woakes’ series average to 12.50 in the series – No.11 Shoaib Bashir’s is 14.Of course, it is no great leap to suggest a 36-year old may be moving to the end of his career. That a bowler who laughed at the suggestion he might last as long as James Anderson – 41 upon his retirement at the start of last summer – is realising his mortality in front of our eyes.That Anderson was given a swansong on this very ground brings a little more context to all this.It is here at Lord’s that Woakes has adorned all three honours board. His duck ironically put him in even more exclusive company as one of four to register a first-baller, after making it onto all three honours boards, for five-fors, 10-fors and hundreds.A bowling average of 12.90 here coming into this match has now risen to 14.20, which is not all that dramatic. But beyond the context of the series, his career average is trending the wrong way (29.33 at the moment), having forced it down to 27.84 last summer.When Anderson followed Stuart Broad into retirement in back-to-back home Tests spanning the summers of 2023 and 2024, Woakes was handed a double promotion of sorts. The opening-bowler slot came with the job of pack leader. He has been more than worthy of both roles, but he was never truly going to occupy them for more than a couple of years.The Ashes this winter looks increasingly unlikely. His average of 51.68 in Australia tells a story of overseas struggle that the man himself has acknowledged. But the suggestion from the England management was that he could yet provide a valuable role on spicier pitches Down Under, with a “friendlier” Kookaburra ball for English fingers. He seemed to have a role to play.Alas, it might be that Woakes has walked into the sunset before England walk onto the plane for their trip to the other side of the world. He is far too humble to assume any occasion as his own – Anderson did so reluctantly, of course – but that has made these last two days feel like a game occasionally looking at the clock while a career grips its coat. These have been the first hums of a subdued goodbye.Two-and-a-half Tests remain, enough time to bow out on his own terms. Those terms, rather than choosing if or when to announce any goodbye, are primarily geared towards affecting this series in a meaningful way.Even this Test, with runs now at a premium in a second-innings shootout, requires Woakes to provide, especially given the importance of the new ball. The end might be coming, but it’s not here yet.

Fitness, preparation and wickets in abundance as death-overs specialist finds peak form

Vithushan Ehantharajah25-Aug-2023Half an hour after ticking off a must-win game with Southern Brave against Manchester Originals to reach Saturday’s men’s Hundred Eliminator at The Oval against the same opponents, Tymal Mills reaches into his pocket and pulls out a folded piece of paper. “I’ve got a little cheat sheet,” he says with a smile.On the sheet are three columns. The first contains a list of all Originals’ batters in order. The second, headed “SCOOP” is followed by ticks and crosses. The third – “PACE”- has “ON” and “OFF” alternating all the way down.You don’t need to know of this “cheat sheet” to appreciate how diligently Mills prepares for every match (his handwriting, by the way, is immaculate). Doing your homework is part of the job for fast bowlers like Mills who operate primarily at the death. But carrying notes onto the field is a recent development for a cricketer eight shy of 200 T20 appearances.”I started doing it in the Blast this year [playing for Sussex Sharks] because there were more guys playing that I don’t know,” he explains. “There were a few times batters would come out towards the back end and I didn’t really know them. So I’d be shouting to our analyst or those on the bench: ‘Does he ramp or not?’ That’s all I really want to know – if a guy ramps, do I need fine-leg back, or should I keep him up?”Since then, I’ve adopted it. I know Mark Watt did it during the T20 World Cup last year [for Scotland]. I don’t know what he had written on his, but that’s just for me; whether they scoop and whether pace on or pace off is a better option for that person, just so I am not going into things blind.””Cheating” works, kids. Mills bowled balls 76 to 80 and 91 to 95 against Originals, removing Jamie Overton and Tom Hartley in the latter set to finish with 3 for 27. Their opponents were restricted to 130, which Brave knocked off with five balls to spare. According to CricViz, Mills’ 10 dismissals at the death (categorised as the final 25 deliveries) are the most in the competition, four clear of second-placed Daniel Sams. He takes a wicket every 7.5 balls in that phase, with a dot-ball percentage of 30.6. His 15 wickets overall are the most in the competition.Mills has been in form and at full fitness all competition•ECB via Getty ImagesThose impressive numbers are nothing out of the ordinary for Mills. You only need to look at the last three seasons of the Blast – 30 wickets at an average of 13.50 between overs 16 and 20 – to see this is merely a continuation of his excellence at the business end. Similarly, his deliveries at this stage of an innings – 62.9 percent are slower balls – are nothing new. The surprise is that, although batters now set themselves for change-ups, his are still effective.”I haven’t changed an awful lot,” he says. “I bowl a legcutter more now than I did back then, just to have a third variation as such. The legcutter is a bit quicker than the back-of-the-hand-er, so I’m using that as a bit of a middle ball.”We’ve played on some wickets which have been decent to bowl on. And by that I mean pretty slow. I prefer slower wickets to faster wickets. My pace often travels for runs on quick decks so I don’t mind bowling on tough wickets in terms of used wickets.”Towards the back end, it’s just trying to predict what the batter is going to do as much as I can, and mixing it up between back-of-the-hand slower balls, legcutters and pace-on deliveries. Just trying to outfox the batter and so far it’s been pretty successful.”All being well, Mills should double the eight dismissals he managed when Brave won the inaugural men’s Hundred back in 2021, which followed a winter in which he spent three months in a back brace following a stress fracture. It was a stint that earned him a call-up to England’s 2021 T20 World Cup squad. He played four matches, taking seven wickets, which was the team’s joint-highest, before suffering a thigh strain against Sri Lanka.Mills was disappointed to miss out on the T20Is against New Zealand, but says he ‘gets it’•Francois Nel/Getty ImagesHe missed 2022’s edition of the Hundred but found himself on the other side of the ledger as an injury alternate for 2022’s T20 World Cup. Reece Topley, Mills’ replacement in 2021, suffered an unfortunate ankle injury when he tripped over an advertising cushion during a fielding drill. Mills replaced him in the squad but did not play a game as England triumphed.A stint in the Big Bash League with Perth Scorchers last winter was cancelled in harrowing circumstances when Mills’ two-year-old daughter Delphi suffered a stroke at the airport before the flight to Australia. Thankfully, after 11 days in hospital following the incident, she has made a rapid recovery. Mills has entered this season’s BBL draft and is expected to be listed at the Platinum band (AUD$420,000).He should be in demand given form and fitness. Wednesday’s final Hundred group game was Mills’ 26th short-form match in the space of 90 days. The first 12 came in the Blast (22 wickets at 21.11) then a six-game stint for Bulawayo Braves in the Zimbabwe Afro T10 (six at 20.50) ahead of the Hundred.”I hate saying it out loud, but I’ve been fit all summer,” says Mills. “I played a full Blast campaign, went to Zimbabwe and played the T10 and now here. It’s just nice not worrying about my body, going about my business and having a nice routine.”I don’t believe in the gods and stuff, but I’m reticent to say yes,” he answers, when asked if he is operating at 100 percent. “But I haven’t missed a game through injury all year, which has been great. I struggled with a bit of a freak injury with my big toe, the skin and a bad laceration that kept reopening. I got that sorted and played 12 out of 14 Blast games for Sussex, and the two I didn’t play was just rest and rotation.”Related

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Rehan Ahmed, Tymal Mills set up emphatic victory for Southern Brave

Devon Conway sees Brave home after Tymal Mills keeps lid on Originals

All this makes the timing of England’s T20I series against New Zealand, which begins next Wednesday, and Mills’ omission from the squad frustrating. Ahead of the 50-over World Cup in October, limited-overs coach Matthew Mott and captain Jos Buttler are opting to use those four matches, and four ODIs that follow, as a tuning-up period ahead of India. As such, T20 staples like Mills and Brave team-mate Chris Jordan were not selected.Mills gets it. Conversations with Mott and men’s selector Luke Wright, a former Sussex team-mate, have been upfront and honest. Nevertheless, Mills rues being unable to add to 13 international caps before the summer is out.”It was disappointing because, as I say, I’m bowling well, feeling great and there are England games coming up and I haven’t been selected. You feel like they’ve come at a perfect time and you want to play.”Luke Wright and Motty were clear with CJ (Jordan) and myself. We both had separate conversations and they’re using these T20 games as part of the whole month to prepare for the 50-over World Cup. With CJ and myself not featuring in the 50-over World Cup, they weren’t going to consider us for the T20 games.”It’s still disappointing and frustrating. I want to play for England as much as I can. But they said I’ll come back into consideration for the games in the Caribbean in December.”Mills emphasised that final point – loyalty to the national team – to Mott and Wright. The global franchise circuit may offer greater remunerations, but Mills has eyes for the T20 World Cup next June in the Caribbean and United States.”That was one of the reasons I was a bit disappointed. I understand, if everyone’s fit, I’m not guaranteed to be in that 15. So I want to try and get opportunities to get on there. I want to do what I can to try and be in the mix for World Cup selection next summer.”

At one stage in his career, the fast bowler played just three T20 matches in more than 2000 days

Jarrod Kimber15-Nov-20213:12

Moody: Credit to Langer and Finch for galvanising this Australian team

Josh Hazlewood dismisses Daryl Mitchell with immaculate line and length. That shouldn’t surprise you. Line and length at decent pace is Hazlewood’s talent. Taking wickets is what he does.The weirdest thing is that Hazlewood is at the World Cup at all. In 2019, at an ODI World Cup in England, Hazlewood was overlooked for the squad twice. The first time, Cricket Australia said he wasn’t fit enough, but there was an injury where they could have inserted him, and they still didn’t choose Hazlewood. Despite the fact that he was in the country playing for Australia A during the tournament.Although, in 2016, it was nearly as confusing that he playing in the T20 World Cup hosted in India.On February 5, 2014, he had played a match for Sydney Sixers. On January 5, 2020, he played for the Sixers again. In that almost six-year window he played three T20s. All three were in 2016. The first was in a high-scoring game in Johannesburg, and then two World Cup matches in India. One against Pakistan in Mohali where he did well, and then Virat Kohli destroyed him at the same ground.Australia had two years to prepare him for a World Cup in India. In two years coming into that tournament, he played one game. Kohli in that same period played 45 matches. If you look at pure talent, these are both A-list players. But one had spent a generation working on his T20 game, and the other had been overlooked by his own team.How on earth can Hazlewood only play three T20s in 2161 days?Related

• 'I can't wait to keep playing with this team' – Stoinis, Langer, Maxwell, Cummins and others reflect on Australia's win

• Mitchell Marsh proves his doubters wrong

• Toss played 'a big part', admits Aaron Finch, but so did Australia aggression

Welcome to Australian cricket over the last few years, where their planning seems to be very last minute, or not at all. But the talent, well, we saw again, it’s off the chart.Look at the players that didn’t do much in the final. Steven Smith never even made it to the crease, and while his T20 credentials may not be as special, he’s still Steven Smith. Aaron Finch just had perhaps the quietest World Cup of any winning captain ever. But he is the fourth-leading scorer in men’s T20I history. And Mitchell Starc, usually Australia’s – and sometimes the world’s – best white-ball bowler, just had the worst T20 match of his entire career, allowing ten more runs than he ever has in a game before. Glenn Maxwell had a quiet tournament as well. The same Maxwell who was in the UAE during the IPL destroying bowling attacks. He is one of the true batting freaks with the ability to hit boundaries and not take up dot balls. None of these players starred in this World Cup, and it just didn’t matter.Josh Hazlewood was the pick of Australia’s quicks•Getty ImagesDid Australia plan for this tournament? Not like other teams. Matthew Wade is fitting into this side wherever they need him, not where he’s suited. Yet he still played his best-ever middle-order innings the other day. That’s testament to the talent of Wade, not any great preparation.None of this is new either. In 2016 David Warner was asked to not open. In 2014, Hazlewood wasn’t in the team, despite having a great BBL season. Back in 2012, Xavier Doherty found himself bowling at the death for Australia in the semi-final to Chris Gayle and Kieron Pollard.Wade’s partner for the semi-final victory was Marcus Stoinis, who recently decided to try and become the world’s best finisher. Australia were toying with him as a No. 3 only last year. Stoinis became a late-overs enforcer through the necessity of his IPL team, Delhi Capitals.

Cricket on ESPN+

Match highlights of the Men’s T20 World Cup final is available in English, and in Hindi (USA only).

Even the Mitchell Marsh decision was random. Australia have tried eight No. 3 batters in the last two years. Even in this tournament, they have used Maxwell and Smith. Marsh was dropped from one game; in another he was demoted. Those are three pretty important batters in Australia’s finals.This team arrived knowing they had plenty of talent, but experience, role definition, strategy, and planning wasn’t their thing.But when Marsh saw a short ball from Adam Milne first delivery and pulled it into the crowd, that was talent smacking preparation in the face. This team has assembled accidentally, but with some incredible players.You can focus on some of their luck; they won six tosses, and six matches. They were a wicket from going home just after halfway in their innings against Pakistan. And for the final, they went up against the team that seems to have a mental block against them.But you cannot argue with the talent of this team.Not many countries would ignore a player like Hazlewood as a white-ball bowler. But not many could.Josh Hazlewood delivered for his captain using a lot of his Test skills•AFP/Getty ImagesHazlewood’s comeback to T20 is because Australia had given up on him as a white-ball bowler. So he played some BBL, had some decent games, and was then brought in the IPL auction. In his second season for CSK this year he did well – partly because of the form of Lungi Ngidi and injury to Sam Curran.Giving a player of this talent the financial imperative to become good and some experience playing games really improved him. He may never be an all-time T20 great, just because of how little he will ever play. And at times in this tournament he certainly showed that he still has a lot to learn, especially at the death.In his bad moments, you can see why Australia were never completely sure of Hazlewood the T20 bowler. He is metronomic in the style of Mohammad Abbas or Vernon Philander. In T20s, those bowlers get lined up; everyone knows where he is going to land them. But Hazlewood is taller and faster than most bowlers of his accuracy. And he’s been working on his variations, including a knuckleball and a decent cutter.The Daryl Mitchell wicket was accurate. Hazlewood had delivered three consecutive deliveries just outside off stump on a hard length. Mitchell played the first two well, timing both of them perfectly but straight to the ring. Had he picked the gap with either, he would have had four.What might Hazlewood have done in 2016, with no experience behind him? Here he chose to deliver the third ball in exactly the same spot. Mitchell decided to change his plan of attack and run it fine for a boundary. But while the ball was near identical in line and length, it was not just a standard Hazlewood delivery. He bowled it with a cross seam and then ran his fingers down the back.Mitchell gave himself some room, opened the blade a little, and the ball deceived him off the deck by stopping. He wasn’t in the right place, and he ended up running it through to the keeper. It was a skill Hazlewood doesn’t need in Tests and, two years ago, probably wouldn’t have been in control of. But here he was so much in control he used it to dismiss the batter who put New Zealand into the final.Think of this as the new Josh Hazlewood, who has been perfecting his T20 bowling in the IPL – playing more than 50% of his career matches in the last two years. And becoming a good T20 bowler in spite of his country.But, very much like Australia, Hazlewood worked it out at the right time, and because of his talent he, and they, won. Line and length at decent pace is what Hazlewood does. Winning is what Australia does.

MatériaMais Notícias

No Grupo D da Libertadores, o Botafogo encara LDU, Junior de Barraquila e Universitario em busca de uma vaga no mata-mata do torneio continental. Nesses adversários, Fábio Matias encontrará atletas rivais conhecidos e que precisará ter atenção redobrada.

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LDU

Uma das mais tradicionais equipes do Equador, a LDU sempre foi uma pedra no sapato dos times brasileiros. Em 2023, conquistou a Copa Sul-Americana e foi vice da Recopa Sul-Americana – perdendo para o Fluminense.

Apesar dos resultados expressivos, o time do Equador sofreu com a saída do treinador Luis Zubeldia, no final de 2023, e do já conhecido pelos brasileiros, Paolo Guerrero.

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A grande aposta para essa temporada se chama Jan Hurtado. O atacante, de 24 anos, chega à equipe equatoriana, emprestado pelo Boca Juniors. O empréstimo chega ao final no dia 30 de junho, porém a LDU deve pagar 900 mil Euros, para ficar com o atleta, em definitivo.

Hurtado surgiu como uma promessa no Boca Juniors, mas acabou não vingando como o esperado. O mesmo teve uma passagem apagada pelo RB Bragantino e agora tenta reencontrar o seu futebol na equipe equatoriana.

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JUNIOR DE BARRANQUILLA

O Junior de Barranquila conta com mais destaques individuais. Na linha de meio, a equipe colombiana conta com a volta de Cantillo, ex-jogador do Corinthians, que voltou ao clube em que se destacou, após três temporadas sem conseguir se firmar no Brasil.

No setor ofensivo, o clube conta com o folclórico Yimmi Chára, que atuou pelo Atlético Mineiro, em 2018 e 2019, e com o craque Carlos Bacca. O experiente centroavante, de 37 anos, já passou por grandes clubes europeus como: Villareal, Sevilla e Milan. O mesmo também disputou as copas de 2014 e 2018 e sem dúvidas é a grande esperança de gols da equipe.

UNIVERSITARIO

O Universitario, assim como, a LDU também não conta com muitos destaques individuais na sua equipe. O time deposita todas as suas fichas em Edison Flores. O ponta esquerda, que chegou em 2023, disputou a Copa D Mundo da Rússia, em 2018, e estava em campo na final da Copa América, em 2019, no Brasil.

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BotafogoFutebol NacionalLibertadores

كشف الاتحاد الإسباني لكرة القدم، عن حكم مباراة برشلونة وأتلتيكو مدريد، المقرر خوضها غدًا الثلاثاء ضمن مباريات بطولة الدوري الإسباني لموسم 2025-2026.

ويستقبل برشلونة خصمه أتلتيكو مدريد على ملعب “سبوتيفاي كامب نو”، وذلك في إطار مباريات الجولة التاسعة عشر للدوري الإسباني “الليجا”، والتي تم تقديم موعدها بسبب إقامة كأس السوبر الإسباني في يناير.

ويتولى الحكم ريكاردو دي بورجوس إدارة مباراة الثلاثاء بين برشلونة وأتلتيكو مدريد، وسيتولى بابلو جونزاليس فويرتيس إدارة تقنية الفيديو المساعد (فار).

وكان الحكم دي بورجوس قد أدار مباراة الأحد في مونتيليفي بين جيرونا وريال مدريد، والتي انتهت بالتعادل 1-1.

الحكم كان محل انتقادات من ريال مدريد، في المؤتمر الصحفي الذي أعقب المباراة مع مدربه تشابي ألونسو وأيضًا عبر قناة النادي.

ويأتي ذلك بسبب ركلة جزاء لم تحتسب لصالح رودريجو لاعب ريال مدريد، ولم يتم الرجوع لتقنية الفار، مما تسبب في انتقادات للحكم.

طالع | تشابي ألونسو: تصرف الفار مع رودريجو مثير للدهشة.. ولن ألوم لاعبي ريال مدريد

سبق وأدار دي بورجوس مباراة لبرشلونة فاز بها على خيتافي 3-0 في الجولة الخامسة من الموسم الحالي.

كما أدار مباراة أتلتيكو مدريد التي فاز فيها 1-0 على أوساسونا في الجولة التاسعة من الدوري الإسباني هذا الموسم.

اقرأ أيضًا | غياب غامض لـ أراوخو قبل مواجهة برشلونة وأتلتيكو مدريد.. واجتماع مع ديكو يزيد الشكوك

وتولى دي بورجوس إدارة مباراة برشلونة وأتلتيكو مدريد في الموسم الماضي، والتي انتهت بهزيمة البلوجرانا بنتيجة 2-1.

كما أدار مباراة الإياب على ملعب ميتروبوليتانو، حيث فاز برشلونة 4-2 في الجولة 28 من الليجا، وهذه هي المرة الرابعة التي يتولى فيها دي بورجوس فيها مباراة بين الفريقين.

وكان الحكم خلال مباراة ذهاب نصف نهائي كأس ملك إسبانيا في موسم 2016-2017، والتي فاز بها برشلونة 2-1.

الجدير بالذكر أن دي بورجوس أدار 33 مباراة لبرشلونة، حقق خلالها الفريق 27 فوزًا وتعادلًا واحدًا وتعرض لخمس هزائم، وأدار 35 مباراة لأتلتيكو مدريد، محققًا 24 فوزًا و7 تعادلات وأربع هزائم. 

Manchester City are firmly in the Premier League title race and could bring a high-profile star to the Etihad Stadium in January after Pep Guardiola hatched a plan to land his signature.

Manchester City move on after seeing off Leeds United

Truthfully, Manchester City didn’t put on their best display against Leeds United. However, they will be delighted by the end result as Phil Foden’s classy winner prevented back-to-back defeats after losing out at Newcastle United.

Title races are never straightforward and always require steel in the face of uncertainty, albeit Guardiola reserved special praise for the scorer of the Citizens’ crowning strike as they kept on track in pursuit of the top-flight crown.

“It’s not the first time we saw that. A thousand, thousand, million times he’s done it. The quality, shooting, strong. Like his goal against West Ham to win the Premier League. Phil has to be around the box. Shoot or pass. His finishing is so quick. Phil is doing a really good season.”

Back-to-back blanks in front of goal for Erling Haaland may be a sign that more needs to be done in the way of recruiting someone to plug the gaps at the top end of the field. Still, Omar Marmoush is likely to be given more opportunities as the season continues to unfold.

Keeping pace at the top will require investment in January, especially given the Citizens’ rivals are likely to strengthen after a bruising festive period, which is set to stretch everyone’s squad to the limit.

Finding solutions when certain sources of goals dry up will be the challenge for all title contenders, not just Manchester City, but they could be the ones set to benefit early on in the January window if the Sky Blues can wrap up an exciting deal.

Elliot Anderson is one of their main targets but there are other irons in the fire.

Man City keen to activate Antoine Semenyo's release clause

According to The Times, Manchester City are exploring a move for Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo.

They are considering activating the winger’s £65m release clause on New Year’s Day, potentially beating other suitors to sign the Ghana international.

Although not set in stone, there is a feeling at the club that bringing in the Cherries attacker could be the difference in their hunt for the Premier League title, an opinion that many will share after his flying start to the campaign.

Semenyo’s 2025/26 record – all competitions

Appearances

13

Goals

6

Assists

1

Dubbed “talented” by Jamie Redknapp, Semenyo has also created 15 chances and completed 21 dribbles on Premier League duty, per Fotmob, showcasing his appeal to suitors keen to tempt him away from the South Coast.

Now, it will be over to City officials as they aim to convince Semenyo that moving to Manchester is the best course of action for his career. On the face of it, playing a part in a title chase could be an appealing prospect.

Alongside Anderson: Man City open talks to sign "top-drawer" £70m star

The Citizens are in the market for attacking reinforcements and have now identified a Premier League star.

BySean Markus Clifford Nov 30, 2025