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In Sandro Tonali, Newcastle United are enjoying the rise of a truly special player. Walk around the city and ask fans for their opinion of the Italian maestro, and many would say he is the very best they have witnessed at St. James’ Park.

It’s just one masterclass after another. Tottenham Hotspur couldn’t cope on Wednesday evening, dumped out of the Carabao Cup following Tonali’s brilliant midfield performance.

Eddie Howe engineered a covert contractual renewal when the star was serving a suspension for betting breaches, and so the Magpies need not worry about their central talisman playing elsewhere any time soon.

But Tonali alone cannot uphold the midfield, and it looks like change is afoot in the engine room, with United gearing up to sign a new central midfielder.

Newcastle angling for new midfielder

Joelinton has been a stalwart at Newcastle for many years, but the 29-year-old has come under fire at times already this season, with his questionable performances leaving some, such as blogger Thomas Hammond, to question whether this is “the start of the end” for the powerful Brazilian, who seems the weak link in this evolving midfield.

The emergence of Lewis Miley certainly suggests Joelinton’s place in the starting line-up is not as secure as it once was, and the continued question marks over Joe Willock’s long-term future in the Newcastle midfield add fuel to the fire.

Well, given that Howe is determined to re-sign Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest, it does seem the cabinet could be set for a reshuffle.

As per Spanish sources, Newcastle are rivalling the mighty Real Madrid for the Three Lions star, who has been valued as high as £120m by Evangelos Marinakis. Technical director Ross Wilson will know he needs to act swiftly.

Moreover, Football Insider have followed reports with the claim that Liverpool and Manchester United have both placed the 22-year-old at the top of their lists.

Why Howe wants Elliot Anderson back at SJP

In the summer of 2024, Newcastle were being pressured by the Premier League’s PSR parameters, and sold two top talents – Anderson and Yankuba Minteh – to divisional rivals, easing away from financial bother.

Anderson signed for Nottingham Forest in a deal worth around £35m, and he’s only gone from strength to strength at the City Ground, with analyst Ben Mattinson hailing him as a “powerhouse” of a “midfield warrior”.

Indeed, you need only look at the metrics to see how he has evolved in his short time in red, with the current campaign seeing him take so many touches of the ball, creating and defending and leading by example.

Matches (starts)

37 (33)

9 (9)

Goals

2

0

Assists

6

1

Touches*

54.2

98.2

Accurate passes*

28.7 (82%)

66.4 (88%)

Chances created*

1.0

1.3

Dribbles*

1.0

1.3

Ball recoveries*

5.6

7.9

Tackles + interceptions*

2.5

3.7

Duels (won)*

6.5 (52%)

7.8 (56%)

He is the complete number eight, and in this, just like Tonali, who is now considered “the best midfielder in the Premier League” by English legend Paul Scholes.

Anderson isn’t there – yet. However, he is earlier in his development and surely on track to rival the likes of Tonali if he continues to add strings to his bow.

Now part of Thomas Tuchel’s England set-up, Anderson is finding a home alongside the more adventurous Declan Rice. Perhaps Bruno Guimaraes could serve as this type of partner, with Tonali elegantly keeping things moving from the side.

This is all to say that Anderson could be a stunning addition to Howe’s team, and maybe even come to surpass Tonali down the line.

Pulling him back over to Tyneside won’t be easy, but Howe has already shown his hand, speaking of his desire to bring the talent back home in a press conference last month, and must now hope that Anderson is swayed toward the nostalgia of returning to his boyhood club.

In any case, that aside, Newcastle might actually be able to canvass the most compelling proposal to the English talent.

New Tonali: Newcastle's 8/10 ace has been an "incredible piece of business"

Newcastle have proved their skill in the transfer market once again this summer.

ByAngus Sinclair Oct 30, 2025

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has backed Lamine Yamal to find his best form despite an ongoing groin problem. The German also looked to diffuse any further disagreement between La Blaugrana and the Spanish national setup, sharing his belief that Luis de la Fuente's coaching staff will "take care" of the 18-year-old superstar when he hooks up with La Roja for their upcoming World Cup Qualifiers.

• Yamal's niggling groin injury a cause for debate

  The wonderkid has missed seven games this season due to pubalgia; a chronic injury that comes from a tear to the small tissue in the groin or lower abdomen. While he has returned to the starting lineup in the past few weeks, Barcelona were without their young superstar for the majority of September, with Yamal also missing a La Liga tie against Sevilla in early October due to a recurrence of the injury. Flick's comments would suggest his young star is close to being back to his scintillating best. 

  Yamal's selection for Spain's upcoming fixtures against Georgia and Turkey set up a fractious exchange between club and country, with Flick previously suggesting the Spanish federation (RFEF) had previously failed to look after young stars. 

  De La Fuente bristled at that idea, pointing out that the winger has started his previous six games for the Catalonian club,  saying the winger is in "perfect condition." 

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  Flick calls on RFEF to protect Yamal

  Speaking ahead of Barcelona's Sunday night fixture against Celta Vigo, Flick said: "I ask the same of the national team we're making here: that they take care of him. He's changed, he's much better, he's training very well, he does daily treatment in the gym.

  "He can return to his best level, he's not at one hundred percent yet. We have to take care of him, here and with the national team. And I think they're doing that too."

• Yamal still performing at a high level despite injuries

  A recurring soft tissue injury is obviously a cause for concern, but not necessarily a surprise for a young player that has played an extraordinary number of games before his 19th birthday. Yamal has been able to rack up 116 games for La Blaugrana without any real injury concerns. 

  Despite his problems this term, he has continued to perform at a high level, scoring five goals and logging six assists in 10 performances for Barcelona this season. He was instrumental in saving his side's blushes in midweek, setting up a goal and bagging one of his own in the Catalonian club's disappointing 3-3 draw away to Club Brugge in the Champions League. 

  Reports in Spain also hinted at the Ballon d'Or runner up being unhappy at Camp Nou due to his injury issues, but he dismissed such fears after the midweek match, saying: "There has been a lot of talk about my groin injury, about me being sad, and it was all lies. I was the same as always, I was very happy, I was focused on my work, trying to get back to work and be able to play at this level, which is how I feel best and how I enjoy myself most."

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  International duty beckons for Yamal

  As De La Fuente has pointed out, Yamal has had a consistent run in the starting lineup of Flick's side of late. He will almost certainly be included from the off against Celta Vigo this weekend, before heading off for international duty. 

  Spain currently sit top of their group, winning all four of their games without conceding a goal. They can all but secure qualification to next summer's World Cup in North America with a win away against Turkey on November 15. That would require Turkiye to overturn a mammoth goal difference on November 18, provided they can beat Bulgaria. 

  Should Spain beat Georgia, it will be interesting to see if De La Fuente will play the 18-year-old, or try to smooth out relations with Barcelona by resting Yamal. 

We're two months into the season now, and it feels like things are starting to take shape around Europe. Some title races are looking like they will be closer than others, with some surprise contenders in the mix, while other presumed challengers are beginning to struggle, casting doubt on the futures of their managers and star players.

In terms of headlines, there were shock defeats for some of the Premier League's biggest fish, a dramatic Clasico in Spain and lead changes at the top of both Serie A and Ligue 1. The top two teams met in both the Netherlands and Scotland, too, meaning there were plenty of winners and losers for GOAL to pick from when looking back at the weekend's action…

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  WINNER: Arsenal

  Surely – – this is Arsenal's year to get over the hump. After three successive second-placed finishes in the Premier League, the Gunners came into the campaign under pressure to finally deliver a first league title since the Invincibles reigned supreme in 2004, and they could hardly have put themselves in a better position through the first quarter of the campaign.

  Mikel Arteta's side have looked a class apart, especially over the past month, though they have also been helped by the failures of others. That was certainly on display over the weekend as, while the Gunners laboured to a 1-0 win over Crystal Palace that again came about thanks to a set-piece, all three of Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea slipped to defeats. Arsenal subsequently find themselves four points clear at the top, with surprise package Bournemouth their nearest challengers, followed closely by Tottenham and newly-promoted Sunderland.

  There is obviously still a long way to go, but given Arsenal have already got daunting trips to Anfield, Old Trafford and St. James' Park out of the way and come out the other side with a healthy lead, it already feels like it would take an almighty collapse for them to throw this one away.

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  LOSER: Arne Slot

  The most damaging of those defeats for Arsenal's title rivals was undoubtedly Liverpool's 3-2 loss at Brentford. There had been hope that the Reds had turned a corner following their 5-1 thrashing of Eintracht Frankfurt in midweek, but the Reds' frailties that have dogged them throughout the opening months of the campaign returned on Saturday as they again defended shambolically while showing little to no cohesion in attack.

  Four successive league defeats has left the defending Premier League champions seven points off the summit and, in some quarters, cast doubt on the future of manager Arne Slot. The Dutchman could do no wrong in guiding Liverpool to the title in their first post-Jurgen Klopp campaign last term, but Slot has looked short of answers so far this term, with it clear he neither knows his best starting combination nor is able to avoid panicking when it comes to trying to change games with his substitutions.

  Liverpool have regularly finished games with five forwards on the pitch this season as they chase winning or equalising goals, and things came to a head at the Gtech Community Stadium when, having already made four attacking substitutions, Slot was forced to withdraw Florian Wirtz for the final five minutes and replace him with Joe Gomez as his previous changes had ended up neutralising Dominik Szoboszlai's impact, with the Hungarian having been shifted to right-back in the shuffle.

  With games against in-form Aston Villa and Manchester City to come in the league before the November international break, Liverpool will have to massively raise their game to not fall totally out of the title race – that is, if they haven't already.

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  WINNER: Jude Bellingham

  The biggest game of the European weekend was undoubtedly El Clasico between Real Madrid and Barcelona, and it was Los Blancos who ran out 2-1 winners to stretch their lead atop La Liga to five points as Xabi Alonso's revolution begins to take shape at Santiago Bernabeu.

  One player who has had to wait patiently to get their season going is Jude Bellingham, but if his performance on Sunday was anything to go by, then the England midfielder is set to become a key piece of what Alonso is trying to achieve in the Spanish capital. For the third time in five La Liga meetings with Barcelona, Bellingham scored the winning goal, though his strike – much like his winner against Juventus in midweek – owed more to being in the right place at the right time to tap home rather than any individual brilliance.

  His assist for Kylian Mbappe's opening goal, however, was Bellingham at his best. Picking up the ball just inside the Barca half, the Madrid No.5 produced a turn that sent Pedri for a hot dog and gave himself the time and space to produce an inch-perfect through-ball for Mbappe to run onto and fire past Wojciech Szczesny.

  That was the highlight of an all-action display from Bellingham, who is showing few signs of any lasting damage from his shoulder surgery over the summer. With that in mind, it is crazy to think that there are those who believe England might be better off without him at this summer's World Cup. Surely Thomas Tuchel isn't one of them?…

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  LOSER: Lamine Yamal

  On the other side of the Clasico divide, all eyes were understandably on Lamine Yamal ahead of kick-off. Not only did the teenage sensation carry with him Barcelona's best chance of victory, especially with Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski out injured, he also poked the Madrid bear by claiming in the days leading up to the game that Real are a team who "steals and complains", which many felt was Yamal referencing the pressure Los Blancos regularly put on referees and match officials.

  Unsurprisingly, the Bernabeu faithful did not take well to such comments, and Yamal was mercilessly booed whenever he picked up the ball. Whether that affected the 18-year-old, or whether he is still not fully fit after a couple of injury issues of his own, only he will know, but Yamal was miles off his best level on Sunday. His passing and shooting was wayward and he was mostly locked down by Alvaro Carreras when he attempted to dribble inside and create an opportunity for the visitors.

  Yamal's miserable day was capped when he became the target of Madrid's post-match wrath, as Dani Carvajal, Thibaut Courtois and Vinicius Jr were all seen berating the youngster at full-time, presumably because of the slanderous nature of his pre-match comments. Yamal will be the hero of plenty of Clasicos in his career, but this was one he will look back on with plenty of regrets.

A much-changed Manchester City side still had enough in their tank to comfortably breeze past Huddersfield Town 2-0 in the third round of the EFL Cup on Wednesday night.

The Terriers used to host Premier League matches, but the hosts now find themselves in League One, with the gulf between the two teams very much evident come the final whistle as City’s quality inevitably shone through.

In particular, Phil Foden had a sublime night in West Yorkshire as the six-time Premier League title winner reminded everyone of how superb he can be when on top form.

Foden's standout performance in numbers

It shouldn’t be the greatest shock in the world that Foden showed up and performed with the swagger he did, considering the 45-time England international does have 102 goals for the Citizens at a senior level.

Still, in recent times, Foden hasn’t always performed at his exquisite best, but he very much turned on the style under the John Smith’s Stadium floodlights to spearhead the youthful XI picked by Pep Guardiola to a straightforward win.

It would be Foden who would break the deadlock after an uneventful start to the Cup clash, with the tricky number 47 linking up with young prospect Divine Mukasa with a quick exchange of passes, before hammering home this fierce effort past a helpless Lee Nicholls.

He would then turn provider late on for Savinho to bag a confidence-boosting effort, with three key passes and two successful dribbles by his name come the full-time whistle, as per Sofascore, only reinforcing how hard he was to contain from the home side’s perspective.

With a further goal and assist also coming his way against Manchester United and Napoli, too, it appears that Foden is back to his stylish peak, after losing his way somewhat with niggly injury setbacks.

Foden’s obvious class made up for other attackers underperforming with the spotlight on them, with one promising City starlet – in particular – just lacking that final end product that the Stockport-born ace showed off in abundance against Lee Grant’s men.

The Man City star in danger of being axed

That isn’t to say that none of Guardiola’s rotated team didn’t perform against their lowly opposition, with Mukasa presumably proud of his efforts come the end of the 2-0 victory, having assisted Foden’s opener. On his senior debut, it was a memorable night for the teenage attacker.

Moreover, Nathan Ake stood firm throughout against the League One hosts, having just been a substitute against Arsenal, with a staggering 120 accurate passes standing out, alongside the Dutchman winning two aerial duels when rarely tested.

Oscar Bobb also showed flashes of his excellence in West Yorkshire, but it’s unfortunately unlikely to be enough for the Norwegian youngster to remain in the first team fold for Premier League clashes to follow.

After all, while the slick winger did burst forward and complete three successful dribbles, he very rarely tested Nicholls in the same way Foden did, with the 22-year-old needing to find his shooting boots to guarantee more regular senior minutes.

Bobb vs Huddersfield
Stat	Bobb
Minutes played	90
Goals scored	0
Assists	0
Touches	87
Shots	1
Accurate passes	58/62 (94%)
Accurate crosses	0/3
Possession lost	17x
Successful dribbles	3/7
Total duels won	3/9
Stats by Sofascore

Indeed, despite lasting the full 90 minutes and amassing a hefty 87 touches of the ball, Bobb would only manage to register one limp effort at the home side’s busy goal.

Moreover, on the creative front, the hot-and-cold number 52 would also give up the ball a high 17 times, leading to City content creator Steven McInerney stating that the Oslo-born forward “created absolutely nothing” of note.

Manchester Evening News’ Simon Bajkowski was a tad more complimentary with his post-match musings, having handed out a 7/10 rating to Bobb after the dust had settled slightly on the Cup win.

Still, despite hailing the 22-year-old as ‘tricky’, Bajkowski did also emphasise that the Scandinavian attacker must have been left with the feeling after the game that he could have offered more to make a compelling case for consistent first-team minutes moving forward.

Having only been present on the pitch for a mere 18 minutes across City’s last three games heading into this Cup encounter – after starting against Brighton and Hove Albion at the close of August – it does feel as if Bobb will just return to the bench now, while Foden aims to impress even more.

Pep requests Man City sign "special" star, £105m opening bid now being prepared

The Manchester City manager has instructed the club’s hierarchy to sign a midfielder.

By
Dominic Lund

Sep 24, 2025

انتهت مباراة بيراميدز أمام التأمين الإثيوبي بالتعادل 1-1، في المواجهة التي جمعت بينهما ضمن منافسات بطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا.

وأقيمت مباراة بيراميدز والتأمين الإثيوبي، على أرضية استاد الدفاع الجوي، في ذهاب دور الـ32 من دوري أبطال إفريقيا.

وكان نادي بيراميدز قد تأهل إلى دور الـ32 من بطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا، على حساب الجيش الرواندي، بمجموع المباراتين 5-0، ليضرب موعدًا مع فريق التأمين الإثيوبي.

ومن المقرر أن يخوض بيراميدز مباراة العودة أمام التأمين الإثيوبي، مطلع الأسبوع المقبل، في إياب دور الـ32 من دوري أبطال إفريقيا.

طالع.. فيديو | بيراميدز يسقط في فخ التعادل الإيجابي أمام التأمين الإثيوبي بدوري أبطال إفريقيا

بيراميدز توج بلقب دوري أبطال إفريقيا للمرة الأولى في تاريخه الموسم الماضي، بالفوز على صن داونز الجنوب إفريقي، بجانب لقب كأس السوبر الإفريقي على حساب نهضة بركان المغربي. موعد مباراة بيراميدز والتأمين الإثيوبي في دوري أبطال إفريقيا

يلتقي بيراميدز أمام التأمين الإثيوبي، يوم الخميس الموافق 30 أكتوبر 2025، في تمام الساعة 7 مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية.

Akash Deep is fit again and expected to play his first match of the season

Himanshu Agrawal03-Apr-20252:11

Can Rohit Sharma find form against LSG?

Big picture – Batting yet to click for both LSG and MISince they came into existence in 2022, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) have the joint-best head-to-head record against Mumbai Indians (MI). LSG have a 5-1 record against the five-time champions, but face them in Lucknow with problems to solve.With the bat, Nicholas Pooran and Mitchell Marsh have played impactful knocks. But the others, including Rishabh Pant, are yet to perform. Pant has only made 17 runs in three innings, while Ayush Badoni, whom LSG had retained, has made 51. Aiden Markram has also had a slow start to the season, and that compounds LSG’s woes after they were hit by injuries to fast bowlers Avesh Khan, Akash Deep, Mayank Yadav and Mohsin Khan. Akash is now fit to play his first game of the season.Related

Manjrekar: 'Things are slipping away' for Rohit Sharma

Pant 'still figuring out a lot of things for the team'

MI began their season with back-to-back losses before bouncing back with a comprehensive win against Kolkata Knight Riders. Even without Jasprit Bumrah, MI have been among the best bowling sides this season: they are second-best in terms of wickets taken, average and economy rate.As for their batting, Suryakumar Yadav seems to be back in form, while Ryan Rickelton made a rapid half-century against KKR. But Rohit Sharma’s low returns – just 21 runs in three innings – remain a concern. This contest, then, could be a test of both teams’ batting.Form guideLucknow Super Giants: LWL
Mumbai Indians: WLLTeam news and likely XIIs – Akash Deep set to returnAkash is ready to go for LSG after recovering from the back injury he suffered last December. He could replace Avesh, who has gone for 75 runs in seven overs this season, and taken just one wicket.Lucknow Super Giants: 1 Aiden Markram, 2 Mitchell Marsh, 3 Nicholas Pooran, 4 Rishabh Pant (capt & wk), 5 Ayush Badoni, 6 David Miller, 7 Abdul Samad, 8 Shardul Thakur, 9 Digvesh Rathi, 10 Akash Deep, 11 Ravi Bishnoi, 12 M Siddharth.Will MI include an extra spinner in Mujeeb Ur Rahman if Lucknow is expected to be spin-friendly? The only game Mujeeb has played this season came on a black-soil pitch in Ahmedabad, where he was taken for 28 runs in two overs. If Mujeeb is back, it could be at the expense of Will Jacks.Mumbai Indians: 1 Rohit Sharma, 2 Ryan Rickelton (wk), 3 Suryakumar Yadav, 4 Tilak Varma, 5 Hardik Pandya (capt), 6 Naman Dhir, 7 Mitchell Santner, 8 Deepak Chahar, 9 Trent Boult, 10 Ashwani Kumar, 11 Vignesh Puthur, 12 Mujeeb Ur Rahman.Rishabh Pant has scored just 17 runs in his first three innings this season•BCCIBig questionMI have a history of unearthing young Indian talent. Even Bumrah and Suryakumar first grew their T20 game at MI. This season, MI have unleashed left-arm wristspinner Vignesh Puthur and left-arm quick Ashwani Kumar to telling effect. While Puthur has four wickets in two games, Ashwani has four in one.In the spotlight: Ravi Bishnoi, and MI’s spinnersRavi Bishnoi is LSG’s highest wicket-taker since 2022. LSG retained him for INR 11 crore, but he has been expensive so far this season. He has three wickets in 11 overs at an economy rate of 12.54. In the middle overs, Bishnoi’s eight overs have for gone at 12.25 per over. The next highest for anyone to have bowled at least that many overs during that phase is Ravindra Jadeja’s 8.32. LSG will hope Bishnoi, their prime spinner, is back in rhythm before it’s too late.Mitchell Santner (left-arm orthodox), Puthur (left-arm wristspin), Mujeeb and Jacks (both offspinners) lend plenty of depth and variety to MI’s spin department. MI have the second-best economy rate (8.12) and the third-best average (27.28) of all spin-bowling teams this season, and could field three of their four spinners in Lucknow, where, if the pitch provides turn, LSG’s batters might not have it easy.Pitch and conditions: LSG to use black-soil pitchThis IPL, home advantage has become a hot topic. The red-soil pitch LSG played on against Punjab Kings did not impress their mentor Zaheer Khan, who went on to say that it looked like the opposition’s curator prepared it. Against MI, LSG will switch over to a black-soil surface, which is expected to be more spin-friendly. That could help LSG’s spinners, but they will be wary of the move backfiring against MI’s own spin contingent.Temperatures in Lucknow could touch 38 degrees Celsius during the day, but could cool down considerably by the time the game starts at 7.30pm. There’s no chance of rain.Key Stats Since 2017, 15 batters have at least 2500 runs in the IPL. Of them, Rohit Sharma has the lowest strike rate (130.09). His team-mate Suryakumar Yadav is third best at 147.98. Since the start of 2024, Nicholas Pooran comfortably leads the six-hitting charts in all T20 cricket. He has smashed 202 sixes in this period, and is far ahead of Heinrich Klaasen (121) in second place. Of the regular home grounds of the ten IPL teams since 2022, Lucknow has been the second-best spin-bowling venue behind Mullanpur in terms of both economy rate (7.44) and average (26.07).

Tottenham remain in the market for key additions before deadline day on September 1, with the clock against Daniel Levy who has just five days to make three major signings for Spurs.

Thomas Frank has made an excellent start to life in his first ever job managing one of the Premier League big six, overseeing impressive wins against Burnley and Man City with a hamstrung squad.

However, the new manager bounce is unlikely to continue indefinitely, and it is inevitable that Spurs will suffer new injuries amid their task of competing on four different fronts.

James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski are two big attacking absentees for Frank, and it was made worse by club legend Son Heung-min’s departure to the MLS. Radu Dragusin also won’t be back for a while, meaning Tottenham would ideally like to sign a new centre-back, number 10 and winger in the next few days (Sky Sports).

Of course, with time against the Lilywhites, this could change, and their main priority right now is bringing in a playmaker.

This has resulted in Tottenham now making a last-gasp attempt to sign Xavi Simons from RB Leipzig, and they could hijack Chelsea in the process after their lengthy talks for the Dutchman.

Credible reports suggest that Simons is open to joining Tottenham, despite reportedly agreeing personal terms with Chelsea, so a north London leapfrog in the race for his signature is very much alive.

The former PSR sensation is in London right now amid Spurs and Chelsea’s race to sign him, with talks ongoing behind-the-scenes as a late battle ensues.

In terms of their wide targets, a player they’ve been struggling to land thus far is Man City winger Savinho.

The Brazil international was subject to a £42 million bid from Spurs, which was rejected out of hand, and Frank’s side were reportedly prepared to make another bid closer to the £60 million mark.

However, City are clear – Savinho is not for sale.

This has resulted in Tottenham being forced to go back to square one in pursuit of a Son replacement, but Savinho himself hasn’t exactly thrown the towel in.

Savinho "really" wants to join Tottenham and hopes for Man City deal

According to TBR Football and journalist Graeme Bailey, the 21-year-old “really” wants to join Tottenham and is still hoping that a deal can be struck before September 1’s deadline – even if it is unlikely.

The former La Liga forward, who City value at £69m, was a key member of the Girona side that surprisingly challenged for a 23/24 title, with Savinho also registering 13 assists in all competitions for City last season.

He hasn’t been able to feature so far this term due to injury, but Pep Guardiola believes he is an extraordinary player.

Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly submitted a blockbuster £80m+ offer to sign a new left winger after saying an emotional goodbye to Son Heung-min.

Son plays final Tottenham game

Having revealed the news that he wants to leave Spurs this summer and bring an end to an iconic 13-year run last week, Son has now played his final game for the North London club. Bidding his farewell, the winger bowed out in the Lilywhites’ friendly draw against Premier League rivals Newcastle United in his home country, South Korea.

Next up for the 33-year-old seems to be MLS side LAFC, who have reportedly reached a verbal agreement with Son and with Spurs over a summer switch.

As for Spurs, their next task is to replace a player that some may deem irreplaceable. Already this summer, they’ve welcomed Joao Palhinha on loan from Bayern Munich, Mathys Tel in a permanent deal and Mohammed Kudus.

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Now, however, they could be about to pull off their most impressive signing yet amid reports that Daniel Levy and co. have submitted a stunning opening offer.

Tottenham submit Rodrygo offer

According to Spanish media outlets, Tottenham have now submitted an opening offer to sign Rodrygo worth as much as €100m (£87m) this summer. The Real Madrid winger has been the subject of interest from both Arsenal and Liverpool in recent months, and even agreed personal terms with the Reds recently, but with their focus elsewhere, the Lilywhites are reportedly attempting to steal the headlines with a shock move.

Interestingly, Rodrygo’s statistical profile matches up with another Liverpool signing – Florian Wirtz. Both players rank highly against their positional peers for non-penalty goals, shot-creating actions and succesful take-ons, as per FBRef.

Florian Wirtz

Liverpool

Kenan Yildiz

Juventus

Nico Williams

Athletic Club

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia

PSG

Amad Diallo

Manchester United

Replacing Son is no easy task for all involved in North London, but Rodrygo is arguably the best candidate to do exactly that and more. The Brazilian is a serial winner who has played a pivotal part in Real Madrid’s success in recent years. Now, he could yet become the star of the show under Thomas Frank in what would become Spurs’ record signing by a considerable margin.

However, although Real Madrid have given them permission to speak to Rodrygo, convincing the 24-year-old to swap the Spanish giants for North London will reportedly be a tough task for Tottenham chiefs. And overcoming that obstacle is likely to be the turning point to any deal getting over the line this summer.

Dubbed “special” by former Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti, Rodrygo continues to be linked with a summer switch to the Premier League, with Spurs the latest of a growing list of clubs to pursue his signature.

Everton’s new ownership have wasted no time flexing their financial muscle in this summer’s transfer market.

The Friedkin Group, fresh from completing their takeover of the club, have already sanctioned high-profile deals – most notably a season-long loan for Manchester City star Jack Grealish.

They’ve also added 22-year-old French striker Thierno Barry in a £27.6 million move from Villarreal and made Carlos Alcaraz’s loan from Flamengo a permanent deal.

It’s a window that has seen a shift in ambition at Goodison Park. David Moyes, back in charge for his second stint, has been given resources that far exceed the budgets of recent seasons.

Everton are now positioning themselves to compete for targets that would have been considered out of reach not long ago. Yet the Merseyside club aren’t finished.

Reports in Italy and England claim Everton have sounded out a forward with genuine pedigree. A towering, left-footed centre-forward whose physicality and presence evoke memories of Goodison cult hero Duncan Ferguson.

Like Ferguson, he has an uncompromising edge to his game, and relishes aerial duels.

While Everton’s new No. 9 Barry will be learning the ropes in the Premier League, this potential arrival could bring not only goals, but valuable advice for the Frenchman’s development.

Everton make approach for Serie A striker

According to journalist Sébastian Vidal, that target man is none other than Juventus forward Dusan Vlahović.

The Serbian international, still just 25, has been on Everton’s radar since the opening weeks of the window. With a reported price tag of around £26m, his signing would represent a major coup.

According to Vidal, Everton made a “big move” for the former Fiorentina man, only for Vlahović to turn it down, signalling his intent to see out his contract in Turin.

Juventus finished last season in fourth place with 70 points, securing a return to the Champions League after missing out the previous year.

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Vlahović was a key contributor, registering 10 goals and four assists in Serie A, and adding two goals in three matches at the Club World Cup.

Valued at €35m (£30m) by Transfermarkt – down from a peak of €85m (£73m) in 2022 – Vlahović still carries a reputation as one of Europe’s most complete strikers. If they can change his mind, Everton would be securing a significant coup…

Why Vlahović could have been Ferguson’s heir

Standing at 1.90m, he combines physical dominance with a sharp football brain, able to drop into channels, hold up the ball, and turn defenders with deceptive agility.

He’s particularly effective inside the penalty area, where his movement pins defenders before he darts into space to meet a cross or latch onto a through ball.

According to data from FBref, his 2024/25 campaign underlines his all-round ability: 14 goal contributions in 29 games, 1.3 shots on target per 90, and 2.1 shot-creating actions.

He wins nearly half of his aerial duels, while his dribbling and link-up play allow his side to retain possession in high-pressure areas.

It’s no surprise ournalist Emmet Gates previously described him as a “Ferrari” with the potential to be “a generational talent.”

For Everton, the attraction goes beyond numbers. There’s a symbolic appeal – a forward with Ferguson’s stature, swagger, and menace.

The fans still idolise “Big Dunc”, who scored 60 of his 68 Premier League goals in Everton colours and was handed “Everton Giant” status in 2011.

Ferguson, at 1.93m, made a career out of bullying centre-halves, thriving in physical contests and using his body to protect the ball.

Vlahović mirrors that approach, but with a modern twist – adding superior ball-carrying ability, more varied movement, and a knack for combining with runners from deep.

Both are left-footed, both thrive in the air, and both carry a streak of competitive aggression that unsettles opponents.

For Everton, this was not just a chase for a name, but for a tactical fit.

Moyes’ system demands a focal point up top – a striker who can bring wide players and attacking midfielders into the game, hold possession under pressure, and still carry a goal threat in and around the box.

Vlahović would have ticked every box, and his presence could have eased the adaptation period for Barry, giving the youngster a role model in training.

The refusal doesn’t spell the end of Everton’s ambition in this window.

With funds available and a clear strategy, the club are already assessing alternatives who can deliver a similar blend of physical presence and finishing ability.

They may yet return for Vlahović if Juventus’ stance changes later in the summer, particularly if the player has a rethink about his next career move.

For now, the Friedkin Group’s intent is clear.

Landing Grealish, strengthening across the spine of the team, and targeting players of Vlahović’s calibre signals a club aiming to leave behind years of underachievement.

Supporters, long starved of a side capable of competing for Europe, have reason to believe this is the start of something more ambitious.

While Vlahović won’t be walking out in blue this weekend, the fact Everton were in the conversation for a player of his quality says plenty about the club’s new trajectory.

He's like Dibling: Everton looking at signing "special" £35m English star

Everton target former Chelsea and Arsenal star after Dibling pursuit goes cold.

ByWill Miller Aug 15, 2025

The show must go on at Crystal Palace even as they await their European verdict, and that show could yet feature a fresh character as the Eagles reportedly step up their chase to sign a £20m midfielder.

CAS confirm Crystal Palace appeal

As expected, the Court of Arbitration for Sport has now confirmed the news that Crystal Palace have appealed UEFA’s decision to demote them to the Europa Conference League for violating multi-club ownership regulations.

A decision is now expected by August 11, at which point Crystal Palace will be hoping for a different outcome. Whether that is a realistic possibility remains to be seen, however. Club chairman Steve Parish, as well as many others involved at Selhurst Park, has already shared his disappointment at the situation and he’ll be desperate to see his side take the spot they earned by winning the FA Cup last season.

Alas, as ever, the world keeps on spinning and Palace must still keep one eye on the transfer window. On that front, the South London side have already welcomed left-back Borna Sosa and goalkeeper Walter Benitez, but their best signing could yet be on the horizon.

Crystal Palace confident they'll win Hackney race

As reported by Graeme Bailey for The Boot Room, Crystal Palace are now set to accelerate their move to sign Hayden Hackney from Middlesbrough this summer. The Championship side are reportedly keen to get any business done early so they can focus on incomings of their own, and have set a £20m price tag for their impressive midfielder.

Despite interest from Everton, Palace are confident that they’re in position to win the race for Hackney’s signature even as the likes of Bayer Leverkusen and Porto set their sights on the England U21 international.

The £20m star earned plenty of praise last season, including from former Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder, who told reporters: “We were playing against two very good central midfielders. I’ve watched Hayden Hackney from afar, seeing his career flourish.

“There’s no better teacher for him than Michael, and he’ll enjoy the way Middlesbrough play. He’s a super player, and Morris is a good player in there too.”

AC Milan now moving to sign £50k-a-week Crystal Palace star open on exit

His departure would be a major blow.

ByTom Cunningham Jul 18, 2025

A player who is Premier League-ready, Crystal Palace could at least welcome some good news and an impressive signing if they manage to secure Hackney’s signature ahead of fierce competition this summer.