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It is non-negotiable that Tottenham Hotspur need to recruit new signings this summer ahead of Thomas Frank’s first full campaign in charge, with the Dane looking to build on Ange Postecoglou’s historic Europa League triumph.

Frank holds Tottenham talks over signing £300k-p/w ace who's open to joining

The Spurs boss has been discussing him with Lilywhites hierarchy.

1

By
Emilio Galantini

Jun 18, 2025

Spurs’ memorable night in Bilbao at the end of last month ended their 17-year-long wait for a piece of major silverware whilst simultaneously gifting them a spot in next season’s Champions League draw.

Tottenham’s best-performing regulars in the Premier League – 2024/2025	Average match rating
Son Heung-min	7.00
James Maddison	6.98
Pedro Porro	6.95
Dominic Solanke	6.84
Dejan Kulusevski	6.83
via WhoScored

Their place in Europe’s most prestigious competition has been described as “huge” in terms of their recruitment plans, and it means that chairman Daniel Levy no longer has to adopt a ‘sell to buy’ policy (Sky Sports).

The Lilywhites have already put their European financial windfall to good use, striking a permanent deal for Mathys Tel last weekend for a cut-price £30 million fee, and he’s unlikely to be their last winger signing.

Tottenham have apparently approached West Ham over signing Mohammed Kudus, who they’re prepared to pay £50 million for, whilst the likes of Man City star Jack Grealish, Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo, Southampton’s Tyler Dibling and Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo have all been linked this week.

Grealish’s £300,000-per-week wages are a stumbling block in potential Spurs talks for the England international, while West Ham are thought to want around £65 million for Kudus as well.

Even the teenage Dibling could cost as much as £51 million to prise away from St. Mary’s, so quality wingers with Premier League experience are likely to come at a premium.

The need for another wide player is exacerbated by reports that Son could leave Tottenham this summer, and Mbeumo in particular is believed to be a “priority” target for Frank.

Tottenham have "firm offer on the table" for Bryan Mbeumo

That is according to inews, who also report that Mbeumo has a “firm offer on the table” to join Spurs before deadline day on September 1.

While Man United remain in pole position to sign the Cameroonian as things stand, the Red Devils still need to “significantly” increase their opening bid of £55 million, which has been called nowhere near Brentford’s valuation of their top scorer last season.

inews echo a recent report by Fabrizio Romano that Spurs made Mbeumo’s signing a priority as soon as Frank came through the door, and the 25-year-old is still tempted by the prospect of a reunion with his former manager amid United’s pursuit.

Mbeumo’s 20-goal haul in all competitions last term makes him a very attractive potential signing for Levy, especially considering Son’s links with a move to Saudi Arabia, but other reports claim the Bees value their star man at around £70 million.

“The big praise goes to Bryan,” said Frank during their time together at the Gtech Community Stadium, via The Athletic.

“He has grown more and more to be a key player for us. He works so hard, he’s a fantastic pressing player and can score goals and get assists, but maybe lacked enough goals. He works very hard on his finishing.”

Arsenal’s season of disappointments has finally come to an end.

While it would be fair to say that they probably exceeded expectations in the Champions League, Mikel Arteta’s side certainly underdelivered in the Premier League.

Now, injuries and suspensions certainly played their part in this, but many of the Gunners’ first-team stars have been seriously underwhelming, including the reigning Player of the Year, Martin Odegaard.

In fact, if recent reports are to be believed, the Norwegian’s lacklustre form could cost him his place in the team next season, as one of the league’s most exciting midfielders has now been touted for a move to the Emirates.

Arsenal transfer news

With yet another trophyless season under their belt, it seems as if Arsenal are determined to make significant additions to the team this summer, as the last few weeks have seen them linked to a number of seriously talented players, such as Eberechi Eze and Kaoru Mitoma.

Transfer Focus

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

The former has a release clause worth around £68m in his current contract, and while that is a lot of money, he’s certainly worth it, as on top of playing a key role in Crystal Palace’s FA Cup triumph, the Englishman has scored 14 goals and provided 11 assists in 43 games this season.

Mitoma could end up costing the Gunners around £80m and has amassed a reasonable enough tally of ten goals and four assists in 36 games.

However, another name has now entered the picture, someone who could end up being the perfect upgrade on Odegaard: Morgan Gibbs-White.

Yes, according to a recent report from former scout Mick Brown via Football Insider, Arsenal are now interested in signing the Nottingham Forest star this summer.

The report claims that Arteta views the Englishman as the ‘perfect option’ to add some added drive and tenacity to the Gunners’ midfield next season, although he could be an expensive addition, with prior stories claiming he could cost around £100m.

It would likely be a complicated and costly transfer to get over the line, but given Gibbs-White’s immense ability, it’s one worth pursuing, especially as he could be the perfect upgrade on Odegaard.

How Gibbs-White compares to Odegaard

So, the first thing to say is that even though Gibbs-White is talented and capable enough of playing in several different positions, from right-wing to central midfield, his best and most played position is undoubtedly attacking midfield.

Moreover, the ten position is where he has truly excelled and reached another level for Forest this season, so were he to move to Arsenal in the summer, it seems like a sure bet that he would come in to play as the most attacking player in the midfield.

Therefore, his most significant competition for game time at the Emirates would be Odegaard, so how do the pair stack up against one another?

Well, when it comes down to their pure output from this season, which is ultimately what matters most and what the Gunners need to focus on, it’s the Tricky Trees star who comes out on top.

For example, in 38 appearances across all competitions, totalling 3142 minutes, the “exceptional” 25-year-old, as dubbed by Pep Guardiola, scored seven goals and provided ten assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.23 games, or every 184.82 minutes.

Appearances

38

45

Minutes

3142

3447′

Goals

7

6

Assists

10

12

Goal Involvements per Match

0.44

0.4

Minutes per Goal Involvement

184.82

191.5′

In contrast, the North Londoners’ captain scored six goals and provided 12 assists in 45 games, totalling 3447 minutes, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.5 games, or every 191.5 minutes.

Unfortunately for the Norwegian star, the difference is even more stark when we just look at their Premier League record, as his tally of 11 goal involvements in 30 games comes out to an average of one every 2.72 games.

In contrast, the Forest ace’s haul of 17 in 34 appearances comes out to one every other game.

Ultimately, Arsenal need to add more goals and assists to their midfield next season, and while Odegaard may well get back to his best, Gibbs-White has shown that he can do just that.

Therefore, even though it’ll cost a king’s ransom, the North Londoners should do what they can to bring him in.

£45m star who's shades of Patrick Vieira must never play for Arsenal again

The international ace has served Arsenal well, but it’s time to go.

ByJack Salveson Holmes May 27, 2025

Glasgow Rangers went into Sunday’s clash already at Ibrox knowing that the result was more or less immaterial as their second-placed finish has already been confirmed.

Since their city rivals won the Scottish Premiership title at the end of last month, Rangers have known that they cannot finish as low as third and they cannot win the division, leaving the Light Blues stuck in second place with little to play for in the remaining games of the season.

The Light Blues should already be focused on what they need to do in the upcoming summer transfer window in order to turn the tide and compete for the title in the 2025/26 campaign.

A new first-team head coach will be a big part of their plans because Barry Ferguson is currently in interim charge until the end of the season, having come in to steady the ship after Philippe Clement was dismissed earlier this year.

However, the Scottish giants will also know that they will have some difficulties on their hands when it comes to dealing with interest in their stars from elsewhere.

For example, Premier League sides Aston Villa and Leeds United are reportedly lining up moves for Nicolas Raskin, who is valued at £20m by the Gers, ahead of the summer window.

Why losing Nicolas Raskin would be a big blow for Rangers

If Leeds or Villa are able to complete a deal for the former Standard Liege star, losing the Belgium international would be a big blow for Rangers and the next manager to walk through the doors at Ibrox.

Raskin recently won the Player of the Year and the Players’ Player of the Year at the club’s awards night, which speaks to how highly the supporters and his own teammates value his performances this season.

The central midfielder has combined impressive play on the ball, scoring two goals and providing nine assists, with dominant defensive work out of possession, making 3.6 tackles and interceptions per game and winning 58% of his duels, across 31 appearances in the Premiership.

Raskin also caught the eye with his fantastic performances for the Light Blues in the Europa League before the club were knocked out by Athletic Club in the quarter-finals.

24/25 Europa League

Nicolas Raskin

Appearances

12

Tackles per game

3.7

Interceptions per game

1.3

Ball recoveries per game

7.4

Ground duel success rate

50%

Aerial duel success rate

55%

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the 24-year-old dynamo excelled at winning the ball back for his side, with a whopping five tackles and interceptions per game on average, and more than held his own in physical battles.

These statistics reinforce how much of a blow it would be to lose the midfielder to Villa or Leeds this summer because of how impactful he can be in both the Premiership and the Europa League.

However, a fresh report has emerged on the club’s interest in a new central midfielder who could come in as a dream replacement for Raskin.

Rangers lining up move for £4m star

According to The Scottish Sun, the 49ers have Basel loanee Metinho at the top of their list of targets ahead of the summer transfer window, once their takeover is finalised.

The report claims that the Light Blues are lining up a move for the central midfielder ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, and that he is valued at £4m at this moment in time.

Metinho is currently on loan at Basel from Troyes, having spent the first half of the year at Sparta Rotterdam, and the Gers are hoping to reach an agreement with the French side in the coming weeks.

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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The Scottish Sun adds that there is also interest from several teams in the English Championship and that the 49ers want to fast-track a deal for the young star, which could mean that they bring him in before they even appoint a new manager.

Why Rangers should sign Metinho

Rangers must push to sign Metinho ahead of those teams in England because he could come in as the dream replacement for Raskin in the upcoming summer transfer window.

Signing the 22-year-old star from Troyes could soften the blow of losing the Belgium international, should he move on from Ibrox in the coming months.

The Brazilian midfielder struggled for game time with Sparta Rotterdam in the first half of the season, starting two of his 12 appearances in the Eredivisie, before a loan move to Basel sparked his campaign into life.

Since joining the Swiss giants, the £4m-rated star has been a key figure in the middle of the park, starting eight of his ten appearances in the Super League, and has caught the eye with his defensive work.

24/25 Super League

Metinho

Appearances

10

Pass accuracy

86%

Tackles per game

3.1

Interceptions per game

1.1

Ball recoveries per game

4.7

Ground duel success rate

69%

Aerial duel success rate

45%

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Metinho has averaged 4.2 tackles and interceptions per game, which is more than the 3.6 that Raskin has averaged in the Premiership for Rangers this term, and won an eye-catching 69% of his ground duels.

Clearly, the Troyes starlet still has areas for improvement, including his success in aerial contests in the middle of the park, but he appears to have the raw defensive materials to be an excellent signing for the Scottish giants.

Metinho could be the dream replacement for Raskin by arriving at Ibrox to provide a similar level of defensive quality in midfield by breaking up attacks with tackles, interceptions, and ball recoveries at a similar rate.

In possession, the Brazilian star also ranks within the top 2% of midfielders in the Men’s Next 14 competitions over the last 365 days for progressive carries (3.49) and successful take-ons (1.83) per 90, which shows that he can provide quality as a progressive midfield player as well as being an excellent defender.

Related He'd be Gerrard 2.0: 49ers could hire "special" manager for Rangers

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Posts ByDan Emery May 9, 2025

At the age of 22, he is also two years younger than the Belgian star and still has time left on his side to develop and improve further, which is another reason why the youngster could be a fantastic signing for the 49ers to make, irrespective of who the next manager is going to be.

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

Tottenham face losing key first-team players this summer

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

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

It’s been officially confirmed.

By
Emilio Galantini

Apr 12, 2025

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

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

Tottenham’s next five Premier League fixtures	Date
Wolves (away)	Today
Nottingham Forest (home)	April 21st
Liverpool (away)	April 27th
West Ham (away)	May 3rd
Crystal Palace (home)	May 10th

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

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

Barcelona open talks with Tottenham star Rodrigo Bentancur

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Former Manchester City financial advisor Stefan Borson says he still expects a verdict on the club's 115 Premier League charges "before Christmas". City were charged by the Premier League in early 2023 for allegedly breaching financial fair play (FFP) rules between 2009 to 2018, but fast forward to the present and a decision is yet to be handed out.

• Man City verdict 'imminent'

  City have been under this cloud of suspicion for a very long time now but for now, they have not been punished despite all these charges. The club have strongly denied any wrongdoing, but they have also been accused of failing to comply with the Premier League's rules on profit and sustainability (PSR), breaching UEFA's financial fair play regulations, and not cooperating with the English top-flight's four-year investigation. The hearing began more than a year ago, but the public is still waiting to hear a decision from the independent commission. According to Borson, it should happen very soon. 

  He said on , alongside presenter Jim White and pundit and ex-Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan, "I think Simon thinks it's going to come out next year, I think it still could come out before Christmas. The decision has been imminent for quite some time, there's not a lot that they can do. It doesn't take that long."

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• Getty/GOAL
  

  Reason for delay revealed

  Earlier in their chat, Borson said that the independent commission are responsible for the lengthy delay and not City or the Premier League. Indeed, the hearing began just over 14 months ago.

  Borson added: "Nobody knows because even the parties themselves expected to have been told by now. All the lawyers are surprised there is no decision at this stage, and that's on both sides. I'll tell you who's holding it up – the panel making the decision. They hold the pen. They are the people who everybody waits for to deliver the decision. Well, nobody knows. We know the long list – you can cobble it together from all of the people on the judicial panel – but we don't know who is on that list. We can make some guesses that it's probably two lawyers and maybe one accountant. But we don't know who is on the panel and what they were told to produce by when. We can now assume I think, given how long it has been and that everybody is so surprised that they don't have a decision, that actually there's very little guidance given to them and they weren't effectively paid for their time from the moment the case ended. Arguably, the Premier and Manchester City together, with the panel, should have agreed a process whereby the hearing ends and then effectively they are exclusively paid to deliberate and produce, over let's say three months or at worst six months, the decision during the closed season."

• Neville furious over long charges wait

  Earlier this year, Manchester United legend Gary Neville said the delay over this verdict is a "disgrace" and a "stain" on football. A result has repeatedly been delayed, something the Sky Sports pundit branded as a "joke".

  He said on The Overlap Fan Debate in May: "That Manchester City case is a disgrace; it’s an absolute stain to the game. I have a lot of admiration for City, but I don’t buy into this theory that clubs do really well, and City have, but it is still a stain to the game. It has just been dragging on for years and years, it’s an absolute joke. Yes, City have been defending themselves, but they’ve been pushing it so far into the long grass that you end up losing the will to live on it and you forget about it. It just needs to be dealt with."

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  What comes next for Man City?

  While these charges hang over City, the players and manager Guardiola will be focusing on returning to winning ways this weekend after being beaten 2-0 by Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday in the Champions League. And a home game against struggling Leeds United in the Premier League on Saturday presents a good opportunity to do just that.

Brentford and Sunderland are reportedly eyeing AC Milan striker Santiago Gimenez ahead of the January transfer window, despite the Mexican international failing to score in his first nine Serie A appearances this season. Milan's pursuit of a new number nine is said to be contingent on Gimenez's departure, with the Rossoneri evaluating a potential swap deal with West Ham for Niclas Fullkrug.

• Premier League interest in AC Milan striker Santiago Gimenez

  Premier League clubs have reportedly made inquiries regarding AC Milan striker Gimenez, with a potential January transfer on the cards. This development could significantly influence AC Milan's transfer strategy for the upcoming winter window, according to Calciomercato.

  Gimenez, 24, joined AC Milan from Feyenoord in February 2025. While he registered six goals and three assists in 19 matches during the second half of last season, his current form has seen him struggle to find the back of the net in Serie A. Despite making nine league appearances this season, he is yet to score, contributing only one assist in 627 minutes of top-flight action. In all competitions, he has one goal and two assists from 11 matches.

  Both Brentford and Sunderland are reportedly looking to strengthen their attacking options and see Gimenez, known as 'El Bebote,' as a potential fit for the intensity of British football. It remains unclear whether their inquiries have been directed at Gimenez's representatives, AC Milan, or both.

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  Milan's January transfer strategy hinges on Gimenez's future

  Milan's pursuit of a new striker in the January transfer window is directly linked to Santiago Gimenez's future at the club. Manager Massimiliano Allegri has expressed a clear need for a "double-digit striker" with characteristics akin to Dusan Vlahovic, a long-term target for the Rossoneri.

  According to , Milan's primary objective for January is to recruit an experienced central defender. However, adding a new number nine is a "close second" priority, a move that will only materialise if Gimenez departs. Sporting director Igli Tare would then "press ahead with the market to find a player who fits his manager's footballing vision."

  This scenario suggests that AC Milan's management is open to selling Gimenez in the upcoming window, which would make the interest from Brentford and Sunderland a welcome development for the Italian club. Despite the club's apparent willingness to consider his departure, Gimenez remains confident in his ability to succeed at San Siro and views Milan as his priority for the present and future. Therefore, any interested Premier League clubs would need to convince the player to make the move.

• Gimenez swap deal with West Ham for Niclas Füllkrug emerging

  Beyond direct transfers, a potential swap deal involving Santiago Gimenez and West Ham's German forward Niclas Füllkrug has also emerged, as reported by various European outlets. AC Milan are reportedly "evaluating changes to its attack for January," and Gimenez has been identified as a key uncertainty.

  Milan are reportedly losing confidence in Gimenez, whose "profile has not fully convinced Massimiliano Allegri," and whose system has been a "difficult fit" for the Mexican striker. This is not the first time Milan have considered his future; a similar swap proposal was explored last summer.

  Niclas Fullkrug, valued at approximately $11.6 million (€10 million/£8.7 million), is significantly cheaper than Gimenez, whose market value stands at $29.1 million (€25 million/£21 million). This financial disparity, coupled with an eight-year age difference, makes Fullkrug an "attractive" option for Milan. Fullkrug, 31, has endured a difficult spell at West Ham, scoring just three times in 27 matches since his move from Dortmund. His agent has "already opened the door to a January exit" as he seeks to regain form. Milan reportedly views Fullkrug as the "physical, traditional No. 9 Allegri wants to pair with Christopher Nkunku."

  A move to West Ham for Gimenez would place him in the Premier League spotlight, offering a new challenge, though it would also mean competing for European places in a highly competitive league.

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• Other striker targets for AC Milan

  Should Gimenez depart, AC Milan have several other attacking targets on their radar. Among them, Franculino Djú from Midtjylland has garnered significant attention. The Guinean striker, born in 2004, has been prolific this season, scoring 14 goals and providing 3 assists in 14 appearances in the Danish league. Roma are also reportedly keen on Djú for January, with Bayern Munich monitoring him for next season.

  Other names mentioned include Jonathan David of Juventus, though that deal remains "unclear," and Robert Lewandowski, a "complicated" target due to high salary concerns. Milan's sporting director Igli Tare is also "keeping in touch" with the agent of Dusan Vlahovic, a long-term target for the Rossoneri, amid Juventus and Spalletti's efforts to renew the Serbian striker's contract.

Arsenal’s 18-game unbeaten run is over. In that time, they have defeated their arch-rivals 4-1, defeated one of the most in-form sides in Europe in the shape of Bayern Munich 3-1. They have also been to St James’ Park and to Stamford Bridge without losing.

It’s typical, therefore, that the man who Mikel Arteta succeeded, Unai Emery, brought it to an unsavoury end.

This game will always be Emery’s cup final and that showed on Saturday. The Gunners were far from their best. They looked tired, shaky at the back. A 2-1 loss occurred and after Manchester City won later in the day, the gap at the top of the table was narrowed to just two points.

How Emery got the better of Mikel Arteta

A week ago, Arsenal looked like the runaway leaders in the Premier League. They’ll definitely win the title, some cried. Well, how quickly things can change.

While Arteta’s side are still in the driver’s seat to win it next May, they will need to improve on their last two away games with Chelsea and Villa.

This match was classic Emery. He loves facing his former employers and despite amassing plenty of possession in the Midlands, Arsenal seemed powerless to stop the Villans.

While Arsenal were missing Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba due to injury, Villa’s swift transitions, counter-attacking football and their willingness to get runners in behind really made life difficult for Arteta’s side.

Ollie Watkins – who was once the subject of a bid from the Gunners – didn’t score but several times he was able to get in behind. Jurrien Timber, who was playing at centre-back, was made to look rather silly.

Watkins could well have scored the opening goal of the game when he got in behind Timber and Piero Hincapie, turning them inside out before forcing a strong save from David Raya.

The combination play between him and Morgan Rogers, as well as Youri Tielemans, posed a colossal threat. Between them, they made three key passes.

Usually an offensive line would be met with a brick wall in the shape of Saliba and Gabriel but Arsenal’s centre-backs were a shadow of what we’ve come to expect with Arteta’s usual centre-back pairing on the sidelines with injury again.

That said, it was a moment of pinball that led to the winning goal. Arsenal failed to clear their lines and despite throwing several bodies in the way, Emilio Buendia was the calmest man in the Midlands, firing the ball past Raya. Bedlam erupted inside the stadium.

Arsenal's summer signing costs them big time

The defensive line of Arsenal has undoubtedly been the best in the country this season. Before their clash with the Villans, the Gunners had shipped just seven goals in the top-flight. Make that nine now.

Any team in world football would miss players of the calibre of Saliba and Gabriel but the league leaders have found out in recent matches just how tricky life is when both of them are unavailable.

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Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Cristian Mosquera was forced off with injury in the 2-0 win against Brentford in midweek which meant Arteta was forced to select Timber at centre-half at Villa Park. Smaller, not as physical, and keen to go to ground, he was no match for Watkins and Co.

Equally, Hincapie – who could sign permanently in a £45m deal – endured a topsy-turvy afternoon in what was just his fourth start in the Premier League. The Ecuador international is a physical beast but arguably lacks the same level of composure we’ve so often seen from Gabriel and Saliba in recent years.

He is, of course, new to the English game but his performance levels in the last two away fixtures have left something to be desired.

Against Chelsea last week, he and Mosquera looked rather unsettled and nervous. Fair enough, really, particularly when you consider they had only played together as a pairing once before.

Hincapie improved against Brentford and for the most part against Villa, he looked strong. Against a robust offensive unit, he won all three of his aerial duels, made a whopping seven clearances, six recoveries and won 50% of his ground duels.

This was not a bad performance until one mistake cost Arsenal the game. It was a moment you’d typically associate with the later days of Arsene Wenger’s reign, or even the Unai Emery era.

During those years, you’d associate Arsenal’s defenders with lapses in concentration and mistakes. Hincapie wasn’t riddled with errors on Saturday but his blunder deep into injury time cost Arsenal.

In the words of The Athletic’s Aaron Catterson-Reid, he has been “pretty poor since Spurs” and while that may well feel harsh, the inability to clear his lines late on was certainly poor.

Timber & Hincapie vs Villa
Stat	Timber	Hincapie
Mins played	90	90
Touches	66	68
Pass accuracy	94%	82%
Tackles won	3/3	1/3
Interceptions	2	1
Clearances	3	7
Recoveries	4	6
Duels won	4/8	6/9
Stats via Sofascore.

GOAL’s Charles Watts handed the defender a 6/10 rating at full-time and called out his lack of awareness at the end. He had a chance to clear his lines, but instead ran the ball out of play. It was from the Villa throw-in that they ultimately scored the winner.

It felt insignificant when it happened but there was a lack of game awareness. It was like something out of the Emery era. Saliba and Gabriel wouldn’t do that. The dogged defence Arteta has created wouldn’t do that. It could subsequently cost him his place in the team against Brugge in midweek.

Perhaps it’s time to see what Riccardo Calafiori can do at centre-half with Myles Lewis-Skelly at left-back?

Fewer touches than Raya & only 7 passes: Arsenal star must be dropped

Arsenal’s title charge got a whole lot trickier after defeat to Aston Villa at Villa Park.

By
Angus Sinclair

5 days ago

He may be the unglamorous option, but Hampshire spinner comes with a compelling first-class track record

Matt Roller22-Jul-20253:29

What can England expect from Liam Dawson?

What do the following players have in common: Moeen Ali, Mason Crane, Jack Leach, Dom Bess, Adil Rashid, Matt Parkinson, Will Jacks, Liam Livingstone, Rehan Ahmed, Tom Hartley and Shoaib Bashir? The answer is that between Liam Dawson’s third Test cap (eight years ago) and his fourth (against India on Wednesday), England have picked all 11 as spinners ahead of him.Dawson’s recall, aged 35, is so ordinary as to be extraordinary. England have spent the last three years talking about attributes and upsides while trying to fashion Test-match spin bowlers out of T20 allrounders and the rawest of rookies. Now, they have settled for pragmatism, with the recall of a seasoned professional who has become the County Championship’s most valuable player.Dawson has long been a solid performer for Hampshire but has reached new heights in his mid-30s. He has scored seven centuries and taken ten five-fors in the last two-and-a-half Championship seasons, averaging 47.59 with the bat and 25.63 with the ball: “He’s been a huge player for us,” Adi Birrell, Hampshire’s coach, told ESPNcricinfo. “He’s actually got better and better, too.”Related

• Eight years, five PMs and one pandemic later, Dawson returns with a wicket

• Lord's needling promises explosive series ahead

• Carse: Attritional Lord's win proves this team can adapt

• 'England came out 90 seconds late' – Gill on Lord's scrap

His comeback is a fillip for county cricket, as was his decision to prioritise playing for Hampshire ahead of the Pakistan Super League in the spring. “It goes to show that if you consistently perform, the door will open at some stage,” Birrell said. “It shows that there is still the option of being [picked as] a county stalwart. It is great that England have selected him.”It is even more remarkable given his apparent breakdown in relations with England’s management. Dawson was frustrated – understandably so – by England’s miscommunication in 2023: “Luke Wright basically told me I was going to go to the World Cup, and to get a little bit fitter,” he explained to the podcast. “And I received a call the next day to say that I wasn’t going.”He was then overlooked for the Test tour to India, which enabled him to play in the SA20 instead. Dawson had been a regular in international squads for years but rarely played, including during their triumphant 2019 World Cup campaign; once the novelty had worn off, it made little sense for a player who has never held a central contract to sacrifice significant franchise deals just to pick up a tour fee as England’s 12th man.Dawson admitted last year that Test cricket was “completely off the radar” for him, and said that he was at peace with the likely end of his international career. “It’s not something that I want to be doing, running drinks, at my age.” Now, he is not only back in the Test team, but likely to play a significant role at next year’s T20 World Cup. In that sense, his recall is a win for player power.1:14

Brook: ‘Dawson is always willing to fight for the team’

Dawson’s comeback for June’s T20I series against West Indies has proven to be a soft launch for his Test comeback: he took 4 for 20 on his return, and left a positive impression on Brendon McCullum and Harry Brook, his coach and captain. “He’s a wily, old fox,” Brook said this week. “He’s willing to always fight for the team, he’s very competitive, and it’s good to have him here.”It was instructive that Ben Stokes, England’s Test captain, picked out that same attribute as one of his strengths. “I’ve known Daws for a long time. I know the cricketer he is, but what does go under the radar is his competitiveness,” he said on Tuesday, as well as citing the relevance of Dawson’s white-ball return under McCullum. “He showed he can come back in and get to work straightaway.”Birrell believes that Dawson has become a more complete bowler since Graeme Welch’s appointment as Hampshire’s bowling coach, challenging both edges of the bat. “They’ve worked very well together,” he said. “He used to undercut it, but now he’s getting better at overspin… He bowls an off-stump line: one slides, one turns, so he’s got all dismissals available to him.”1:38

Harmison: Dawson might help with Stokes workload

A 5ft 8in left-arm bowler, Dawson could hardly be more different in profile to the 6ft 4in offspinner he is replacing in Bashir. Brook believes Dawson should have some footholes to work with outside the left-hand batters’ off stump, but Ravindra Jadeja’s returns for the series – 3 for 331 across 99 overs – should prompt a level of caution as to how much can be expected from him.He also comes into this Test on the back of six T20 Blast games for Hampshire, and bowls very differently between formats. “In T20, I try to drag my length back by two, three or four feet and bowl short,” he told the podcast last year. “It’s probably the biggest thing I struggle with in my career, chopping and changing formats, especially going from white ball to red ball.”But his defensive skills may yet come in useful if India look to take him on – as Rishabh Pant surely will – and his batting should ensure that he adds value across disciplines. He made a half-century on Test debut in Chennai back in 2016, and has centuries for Hampshire in every position from opener to No. 7; in fact, his first-class average (35.29) compares favourably to that of Zak Crawley (31.90).As such, he is the ultimate plug-and-play pick, a selection based not on philosophy but practicality. Dawson has already jumped ahead of two England-contracted spinners in Leach and Rehan to be selected in Manchester. Now, he has the chance to show that he is not just a fill-in for Bashir, but a compelling alternative to him.

تحدث محمود عبد الرازق شيكابالا، لاعب منتخب مصر ونادي الزمالك السابق، عن تعادل المنتخب أمام الكويت في مباراة الجولة الأولى التي أقيمت بينهما اليوم الثلاثاء، في كأس العرب 2025.

والتقى منتخبا مصر والكويت، في المباراة الأولى من افتتاح مشوارهما بدور المجموعات من بطولة كأس العرب المقامة في قطر.

وانتهى اللقاء بالتعادل الإيجابي بين المنتخبين، بهدف لمثله، حيث تقدم منتخب الكويت عن طريق فهد الهاجري وتعادل لـ مصر محمد مجدي أفشة.

طالع | ترتيب مجموعة مصر في كأس العرب 2025 بعد التعادل مع الكويت

وقال شيكابالا خلال تصريحات عبر قناة “إم بي سي مصر 2”: “أهدرنا فوزًا سهلًا، محمد شريف لديه مشكلة في إنهاء الهجمات”.

وأضاف: “أنا لا أحب أن لاعب يمسك الكرة لكي يسدد ضربة الجزاء ولاعب آخر يأخذها منه، محمد النني كان سيسدد الكرة ولكن عمرو السولية أخذها منه ولا أحب ذلك، قلت أفشة سيسجل الكرة في وسط المرمى، صعبنا المباراة على أنفسنا جدًا”.

وأتم: “نحمد الله فرصة الكويت التي تصدى لها محمد بسام ولولا تعامله معها بشكل جيد المباراة كانت ستخرج بشكل غير جيد بالنسبة لنا”.

Tottenham winger Mohammed Kudus has seriously impressed since arriving in a £55 million deal from West Ham in the summer window, and he’s now drawing comparisons with a Spurs legend.

Kudus made headlines this summer as the first player to transfer from West Ham to Spurs since Scott Parker in 2011 — effectively ending a 14-year unofficial transfer embargo between the fierce London rivals.

The move generated plenty of buzz, and with it, a weight of expectation that Kudus has so far handled with a blend of flair, work rate and dynamism.

Since then, Kudus has set about proving he belongs at the heart of Tottenham’s rebuild under Thomas Frank.

His first telling contribution on paper came at Leeds, where a deflected low finish from the Ghanaian opened his goal account and delivered the Lilywhites a crucial 2-1 win — all whilst ending their pre-international break curse and the home side’s year-long unbeaten run at Elland Road in the league.

Used primarily as an inverted right-winger, Kudus has routinely tormented full-backs with an outstanding dribble completion rate — quickly becoming the side’s most dangerous attacking outlet.

Kudus has completed more successful take-ons per 90 than any other winger in the Premier League, according to WhoScored, and is currently the division’s fifth-best performer by average match rating.

Premier League’s most dangerous dribblers	Successful take-ons per 90
Mohammed Kudus	3.6
Iliman Ndaye	2.7
Yankuba Minteh	2.6
Jeremy Doku	2.4
Bukayo Saka	2.3
via WhoScored

The former Ajax sensation also has five assists to show from his opening nine Premier League matches, outshining fellow new arrival Xavi Simons, who has struggled to match Kudus’ scintillating form in the final third.

The early signs are that Spurs have acquired a genuine difference-maker, and he’s now drawn a very intriguing comparison with ex-fan favourite Mousa Dembélé, even if the latter played a completely different role.

Supporters look back on Dembele and remember him fondly as a real linchpin of Mauricio Pochettino’s midfield, with the Belgian making nearly 250 appearances before he departed for the now-folded Guangzhou City in China.

Mohammed Kudus draws Mousa Dembele comparison at Tottenham

Speaking to Tottenham News, pundit John Wenham explained exactly why Kudus is a regen of Dembele at Tottenham — specifically talking about his strength on the ball.

Frank has been equally blown away by Kudus since his arrival at N17, calling his one-v-one ability “crazy”.

Like Dembele, Kudus is remarkably difficult to dispossess, with the agility to spin away from challengers and the power to carry the ball through deep midfield areas or wide channels.

The feeling among coaches and analysts is that Kudus could become a more advanced and goal-threatening Dembele, with journalist Alasdair Gold also making that comparison in early October.

The sky appears to be the limit for him right now, and midfielder Joao Palhinha has some stern competition for the ‘best summer signing’ accolade as we slowly approach the halfway point of 25/26.

Tottenham told Xavi Simons "reality" as Thomas Frank already gets one thing wrong