After a slow start to the summer transfer window for Arsenal, they look as though they’re closing in on sealing two signings.

Kepa Arrizabalaga’s move from Chelsea to the Emirates Stadium won’t exactly be met with much fanfare considering he’s there to play second fiddle to David Raya, but it’s an important move nonetheless.

At just £5m, the Gunners have found a replacement for Neto and due to the price, it frees up money to spend elsewhere, hopefully on a wealth of attacking reinforcements.

The other arrival will see another Spaniard in the form of Martin Zubimendi head to North London. At just over £50m, that move is certainly a more exciting ones but he’s not the only midfielder who could arrive.

Arsenal looking to sign another midfielder after Zubimendi

Last summer, it looked as though Zubimendi was going to head to Liverpool. Sadly for the Anfield side, he did not. Whether or not he regrets that decision based on Arne Slot’s title success is unknown.

Transfer Focus

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

Well, a year on, he will now finally head to England, but it won’t be the red of Liverpool he’ll be donning. Instead, it’s the red of Arsenal.

The Gunners first made their move to sign the Spain international last January when they signalled their intentions to trigger his £51m release clause at Real Sociedad. Since then, an agreement has been tied up that will see the club spend a tiny bit more than that exit clause so they can pay it in instalments.

Zubimendi was reportedly in London over the weekend to wrap up the formalities of his move.

Yet, he could well be joined in the middle of the park next season by Brentford’s Christian Norgaard. That’s according to a number of sources, notably the Athletic’s David Ornstein.

He reported on Wednesday afternoon that Arsenal are “exploring” a deal to sign the Dane and have lodged their first offer, believed to be around €11m (£9m).

Fabrizio Romano furthered those claims by revealing on social media that the 31-year-old “wants to join Arsenal” this summer, so much so that personal terms have already been agreed between player and club.

Since then, BBC Sports’ Sami Mokbel has revealed that an agreement could be reached at £15m, including add-ons. A move appears to be advancing quickly, with Ornstein later reporting on Wednesday evening that the Gunners are now in the process of ‘finalising’ a deal to sign the player. A medical is also in the process of being planned.

Why Norgaard would be a good signing for Arsenal

With Jorginho having left the Emirates on a free transfer, heading to Flamengo, and Thomas Partey increasingly unlikely to sign a new deal, Arsenal need two midfielders.

Zubimendi ticks one box and in the form of Norgaard, although this would be a surprising move, it certainly makes a lot of sense.

Like Kepa, Arsenal would not be spending a bucket load on improving the squad and thus, would be leaving room to spend where it really matters this summer; on a new striker.

So, what could Norgaard offer to Mikel Arteta’s midfield? Well, like the departing Jorginho and Partey, he’s got a wealth of experience and, pivotally, he’s played in England for a long time now.

He signed for Brentford back in 2019 and has since gone on to feature 196 times for the Bees, playing 122 times in the Premier League.

34 of those top-flight outings came in 2024/25 where he scored five goals and also supplied four assists.

A holding midfielder who also chips in with goals and assists, there is reason to believe that Arteta could be signing a more experienced version of Declan Rice here.

Arsenal podcaster, Alex Moneypenny, who has appeared on Sky Sports and BBC Sport, outlines the Dane’s qualities perfectly. He’s a “search and destroyer”, a midfielder who specialises in “progressive passing”.

That’s backed up by the numbers with Norgaard ranking among the best holding midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues for progressive passing distance. In fact, he ranks almost identically to Zubimendi in this category.

The ability to turn the ball over from deep or in more advanced areas certainly makes him like Rice, as does the ability to progress play. Captain of Brentford too, he’s got the natural leadership skills that Arsenal’s record signing boasts.

But, what do the statistics say?

Goals

0.16

0.13

Assists

0.13

0.22

Goal-creating actions

0.42

0.32

Pass success rate

82%

83%

Progressive passes

4.92

6.11

Passes into final 3rd

4.38

4.36

Tackles

2.52

1.69

Succesful take-ons

0.22

0.42

With the benefit of playing further forward and taking set-pieces, Rice does better Brentford’s captain for assists and successful take-ons. It’s in the passing department where they are most alike.

They complete a similar percentage of their passes per 90 minutes and there’s not a huge difference between the number of those passes that are progressive in nature.

So, while a move of this nature is hardly going to blow supporters away, he’d be a steady pair of hands just like Jorginho was. If he hits the ground running like Rice did too, fans will soon take to the Bees star.

Better than Williams: Arsenal open talks to sign ex-Spurs player for £50m

The dynamic winger could provide Arsenal with another avenue of attack next season.

1 ByJack Salveson Holmes Jun 24, 2025

Liverpool are gearing up for the imminent exit of Jarell Quansah, who will sign for Bayer Leverkusen in a deal worth £35m after returning from the U21 European Championship with England, triumphant.

Nothing’s set in stone, but the anticipation is that Harvey Elliott will follow suit, coveted by a host of outfits both at home and abroad after his peripheral season under Arne Slot’s wing. The 22-year-old led the Young Lions’ charge and will fetch a pretty penny.

If and when both players part ways with the Anfield side, FSG will have banked just shy of £100m from player sales, offsetting somewhat the vast expenditure that has already been overseen this summer, Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez and Florian Wirtz the staple signings of a summer still in the making.

Darwin Nunez is still to be sold, the Uruguayan striker the heart of negotiations between Liverpool and Napoli. The two outfits want to get the deal done but reportedly sit far apart on agreeing on a price.

A slew of potential replacements have been bandied about, but there’s little question that Liverpool want Alexander Isak above all others.

The latest on Alexander Isak to Liverpool

Mohamed Salah was the only man to outscore Isak in the Premier League last season, and if that doesn’t underscore Liverpool’s interest, what will?

The problem is that Newcastle United know they have one of the world’s best strikers in their mix and have allegedly priced him at £200m.

The latest on Liverpool’s end is that a July bid should not be discounted, but it’s going to be a very tricky one to complete.

Indeed, signing him would drive Liverpool above the £400m mark, which is quite a startling thing to think about. As such, it’s no surprise that Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes has been tasked with capturing an alternative, one who would allow for the centre-back signing Liverpool still desire, Marc Guehi at the top of the list.

Isak is a “world-class” player, as said by pundit Alan Shearer, but he’s not the only talented number nine on the block.

Liverpool make Isak alternative a priority

According to Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, Liverpool have shortlisted Hugo Ekitike alongside Isak, with the Eintracht Frankfurt’s star singled out as being “very high on the list” of targets at Anfield.

The French forward, 23, has risen to prominence over the past year and has attracted the attention of every Tom, Dick, and Harry, although Die Adler are very much aware of this and have listed him at €100m (£85m) to ward off the rabble.

However, Liverpool need a centre-forward and appear keen on advancing their interest, especially as he’s dynamic, young and far cheaper than Isak.

Transfer Focus

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

For what it’s worth, Frankfurt are adamant that they aren’t negotiating with interested parties, at least until August, and that more concrete movements won’t occur for at least a month.

How Hugo Ekitike stacks up compared to Isak

Liverpool like to wrap up their summer business nice and early, but perhaps FSG would be willing to wait in the case of Ekitike, having placed him at the top of their list and conducted the lion’s share of their spending already.

Having finished his first full season in Germany, Ekitike has established himself as “one of the best strikers out there”, according to analyst Ben Mattinson, scorer of 22 goals and placer of 12 assists across all competitions.

He didn’t match Isak’s 27-goal haul, but the 23-year-old is undoubtedly emerging as a focal presence who could play the role Liverpool envisage for the Sweden striker.

Described as the “next Mbappe” by journalist Graeme Bailey, Ekitike is a relentless ball striker, but he’s also a silky and seamless dribbler, a creative partner for his teammates. Apt for a high-pressing team, Liverpool would surely raise their game with him in the ranks, especially when considering the current crop who would elevate the player’s game higher still.

And when peering at Ekitike and Isak’s metrics across the past campaign, it can be noted that Frankfurt’s man produces slightly more dynamic playmaking performances, and he’s more active in carrying the ball himself too.

Hugo Ekitike vs Alexander Isak (2024/25)
Stats (per 90)	Ekitike	Isak
Goals	0.51	0.75
Assists	0.29	0.20
Shots taken	3.74	3.10
Shot-creating actions	3.50	3.00
Touches (att pen)	6.73	6.17
Progressive passes	1.95	2.87
Progressive carries	3.04	2.71
Successful take-ons	1.90	1.37
Ball recoveries	2.75	1.80
Tackles + interceptions	0.96	0.49
Aerial won (%)	2.00 (50%)	0.85 (32%)
Data via FBref

Moreover, he’s a more commanding aerial presence. This is less important than in years past, Slot opting against the cross-heavy style of Jurgen Klopp, and especially so now that Trent Alexander-Arnold has signed for Real Madrid, but it still adds an important dimension.

We can nitpick who ranked higher than who across the past 12 months, but there are some caveats that are worth noting: namely, Isak plies his trade in the Premier League, widely regarded as a tougher division than the Bundesliga.

Isak’s slight inferiority in ball-carrying numbers also owes to his drop-back duties in Eddie Howe’s squad, influencing from deeper and progressing play forward with stroked passes and off-the-ball movements.

What does matter is Isak has been drawn by FBref as one of Ekitike’s most comparable players, indicating a stylistic approach that could see the France talent dovetail into Slot’s system, for Isak has been comprehensively profiled and would be the perfect fit.

But given the exorbitant price demands Newcastle have placed on the table, it surely makes more sense to go for the younger man, who has been praised for his “incredible” quality by teammate Rasmus Kristensen.

Though an uncut gem, Ekitike is still a jewel who could sit at the front of the Liverpool crown for many years to come, combining with Wirtz, Salah and the like. He’s the real deal, and do Liverpool not like to take exciting talents and shape them into something refined and world-class?

He's like Salah & Isak: Liverpool join the race to sign £43m "superstar"

Liverpool may need to enforce further change up top this summer.

By
Angus Sinclair

Jun 30, 2025

The second Test between Pakistan and Bangladesh in Karachi from August 30 to September 3 will be played without the presence of spectators because of ongoing construction work at the National StadiumThe development is part of an upgrade as the PCB renovates its venues ahead of the 2025 Champions Trophy in February-March. The Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore is also undergoing an upgrade ahead of Pakistan’s first ICC tournament since 1996, when they co-hosted the 1996 World Cup with India and Sri Lanka, which rules it out as a venue until February 2025.ESPNcricinfo understands a decision was taken to keep the Test in Karachi because the PCB was keen on spreading their seven home Tests, ODIs and domestic cricket across three venues in Karachi, Multan and Rawalpindi. Multan, which was the only other option, is slated to host Pakistan’s first Test against England from October 7. And with various payments having already been made, for hotels, flights and security arrangements, moving to another venue at late notice would’ve incurred losses on a series that is already not expected to be a lucrative one.There is no change in plans for the England Test scheduled in Karachi from October 15, with spectators expected to be in attendance.Related

• Pakistan set to play all-pace attack in a home Test for the second time in 28 years

• Naseem back in Test squad, Shakeel named vice-captain for Bangladesh series

• Mushfiqur, Taskin back in Bangladesh Test squad for Pakistan series

• Masood, Gillespie want more Test cricket for Pakistan

Calling it a “difficult decision”, the PCB has suspended ticket sales for the first Test between Pakistan and Bangladesh in Karachi with immediate effect. The board had advertised sales for tickets to the Karachi Test as recently as two days ago.”The health and safety of our fans is our utmost priority,” the board said in a statement. “After careful consideration of all available options, we have decided that the safest course of action is to hold the second Test in front of an empty stadium.”While we deeply regret any inconvenience this may cause, we want to assure our valued fans that the ongoing stadium upgrades are aimed at enhancing their experience.”The Bangladesh squad landed in Lahore four days earlier than planned to begin training after the players’ preparation had been disrupted due to the ongoing political unrest in Bangladesh. The team will train for three days at Gaddafi Stadium before travelling to Rawalpindi for the first Test that begins on August 21.The departure ahead of schedule was possible after an invitation from the PCB to the BCB to ensure the Bangladesh players had “adequate and fair training opportunities” ahead of the Tests.Bangladesh previous bilateral tour of Pakistan was in 2020, but that trip was cut short because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

لم يُخفِ نادي ريال مدريد استيائه من القرارات التحكيمية خلال منافسات بطولة الدوري الإسباني، وآخرها طرد لاعبه دين هويسن أمام ريال سوسيداد.

والتقى ريال مدريد وريال سوسيداد يوم السبت على ملعب “أنويتا” ضمن مباريات الجولة الرابعة للدوري الإسباني “الليجا” لموسم 2025-2026.

وتغلب ريال مدريد على ريال سوسيداد بهدفين لهدف، في مباراة شهدت طرد لاعبه دين هويسن ببطاقة حمراء مباشرة في الدقيقة 32 من اللقاء.

وذكرت تقارير صحفية أن ريال مدريد سيقدم استئنافًا ضد طرد هويسن بالأدلة التي يراها تدعم حجته، لإلغاء البطاقة الحمراء للاعب.

ويرى ريال مدريد أن قرار البطاقة الصفراء كان كافيًا في اللقطة التي تسببت بطرد هويسن، وهو ما وضحه المدرب تشابي ألونسو في تصريحاته عقب المباراة (طالع التصريحات كاملة من هنا).

ومع ذلك، تشير صحيفة “موندو ديبورتيفو” الإسبانية، إلى أن فرص إلغاء إيقاف هويسن ضئيلة للغاية، وأن جميع الدلائل تُشير إلى فشل ريال مدريد في مساعيه.

وتنص المادة 27 المتعلقة بتقارير التحكيم، على أن التقارير الموقعة من الحكم تُعتبر دليلاً مقبولاً وتُبرر موقفه، وتُقبل الطعون إذا أثبتت لقطات الفيديو بوضوح وجود خطأ جسيم يتعارض مع تقرير الحكم.

وإذا قُبل طعن ريال مدريد، فسترفع العقوبة عن هويسن، إذ لا يمكن للجنة تخفيض عقوبة الطرد إلى بطاقة صفراء.

ويمكن لريال مدريد اللجوء أولاً إلى لجنة الاستئناف ثم إلى المحكمة الرياضية الإسبانية، ومع ذلك يؤكد التقرير أن احتمالية خروج النادي الملكي بنتيجة إيجابية ضئيل للغاية.

ويستعد ريال مدريد لمواجهة أولمبيك مارسيليا الفرنسي غدًا الثلاثاء، ضمن مباريات الجولة الأولى لمرحلة الدوري في منافسات بطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا.

Sri Lanka captain also credits spinners and interim coach Jayasuriya for their first ODI series win against India in 27 years

Andrew Fidel Fernando07-Aug-2024

Avishka Fernando paced his half-century well in the ODI series decider•Associated Press

Sri Lanka’s top-order batters were good, and their spinners were even better. This was captain Charith Asalanka’s take on what had enabled his team to overcome India, a side which they had lost to 16 times since 2015, but beaten only on three occasions in ODIs.In this series, played on raging turners, Sri Lanka tied the first match, won the second game comfortably, and then trounced India in the third match by 110 runs.Three times they bowled out their opposition, and spinners took 27 of the 30 India wickets on offer. The three top wicket-takers in the series were all Sri Lanka spinners – Jeffrey Vandersay taking eight despite playing only two of the games, Dunith Wellalage claiming seven, and Asalanka himself taking six.Sri Lanka did not have their premier spinner Wanindu Hasaranga in games two and three either, after he was ruled out with a leg injury.”The biggest positive was winning a series against India after 27 years,” Asalanka said. “The other big positive were the spinners. We had relied on Wanindu Hasaranga, but we’ve had Vandersay and Dunith playing well here too.”Related

Stats – SL's spinners end India's 27-year streak

Wellalage five-for sends India crashing to 2-0 defeat

But while on such helpful tracks, the spinners were perhaps expected to thrive, Sri Lanka’s top order also provided the kinds of platforms they have frequently failed to provide, especially against India.The highest score of the series was Avishka Fernando’s 96 in the third match. But fellow opener Pathum Nissanka hit 101 runs in a low-scoring series, and Kusal Mendis also contributed 103, thanks largely to his 59 in Wednesday’s match.”On these pitches, until the ball gets a little older, it’s easier to bat, and it takes less spin,” Asalanka said. “What we planned was for someone in the top order to get a big score, and for others around him to play around him and get to a good score. Today that was really successful, as Avishka got to 96, which isn’t easy on a pitch like this.”But the coaching staff and me as the captain gave that challenge to the batsmen playing up the order, including me. If you look through the series the middle order was a little hit and miss, but the top order was successful, so we were able to get to those targets.”The top order gave great starts and that’s the biggest change I see in this team. If you look at our one-day cricket two or three years ago we weren’t getting good starts. As the No. 5 batter, I was coming in at the 10 over mark quite frequently. But now there’s a foundation, and that’s a sign of us maturing.”For turning things around after their 3-0 thrashing in the T20Is, Asalanka credited a team environment that prioritised freedom, for which he said interim coach Sanath Jayasuriya was also responsible.”As a team we tried to create a good environment, after talking to the coach,” Asalanka said. “We tried to give a lot of freedom to our players and to show their talent. We don’t put much pressure on them. We identify what the positives and negatives are and we back their strength. If they fail it’s not a problem. If you have that backing you can play against a good team like this. In the T20s though we lost there were positives in our top order. I knew as a captain that when we play to our potential, we can compete against the best.”

The Russell Martin regime is in full swing at Rangers, with the Ibrox side having already confirmed seven new signings this summer, with 21-year-old Djeidi Gassama the latest of those to arrive.

Following what was a largely miserable 2024/25 campaign for Rangers, excluding an encouraging Europa League run, a real overhaul is needed for the Light Blues, as they bid to close the gap at the Premiership summit.

The defensive unit, in particular, looks set to undergo noticeable change, with Martin having already brought in Emmanuel Fernandez, Nasser Djiga and Max Aarons thus far, with veteran centre-back Leon Balogun having departed on a free transfer.

With John Souttar attracting interest from abroad, alongside Turkish full-back, Ridvan Yilmaz, there looks likely to be further upheaval before the window is out, ensuring there could be a much-needed fresh look to the Gers’ backline next season.

While Martin’s free-flowing brand of football will put greater emphasis on the attacking ranks to shine, having a solid base to build from will be crucial, with recent reports indicating that a deal for experienced centre-back, Conor Coady could be in the works.

Capped ten times for England, the 32-year-old would be a worthy addition to the Ibrox dressing room, albeit with Martin and co perhaps having their eyes fixed on a far more exciting centre-back signing.

Latest on Rangers' search for a centre-back

Reports late last week revealed that the Gers were still showing an interest in bringing Coady to Glasgow, with that coming following prior claims that Rangers were actually in advanced talks for the one-time Wolverhampton Wanderers man.

A deal for the £75k-per-week star – who has a year left on his contract at the King Power Stadium – may not be too far from completion, albeit with the Gers still keeping their options open for potential alternatives in the centre of defence.

Indeed, transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has revealed that the Old Firm side are among the clubs interested in signing Xavier Mbuyamba from Dutch outfit, Volendam, with Gent also in the mix.

Transfer Focus

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

Romano reported that the 23-year-old – who was previously on the books at both Barcelona and Chelsea – is available for a fee of just €500k (£434k), having failed to agree to a new contract with his current side.

It is claimed that clubs in England are also keen on the former Celtic target, with the race now on to see if Rangers can secure the signature of a potentially game-changing signing.

Why Rangers need to sign Mbuyamba

As has already been explored, there is certain merit in bringing in a ‘leader’ like Coady, with the Englishman the type of figure who can replace the likes of Balogun, and Connor Goldson before him, as the centre-piece of the defence.

That said, the ageing star would be more of a short-term fix than a long-term solution, having also been part of a dismal Leicester side that slumped to relegation last time out, after making 22 Premier League appearances in 2024/25.

Mbuyamba, however, could be a star both for now and for the future, having previously been hailed as an “elegant and dominant centre-back” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, who also likened him to ex-Manchester City captain, Vincent Kompany.

For those in the Premiership, a more interesting comparison has been drawn in the past between the 6 foot 5 Dutchman and his high-profile compatriot, Virgil van Dijk, with Sky Sports stating back in 2023 that such likeness has been noted by ‘coaches and media in Holland due to his similar playing style and huge potential’.

That link to Van Dijk had come amid claims that Celtic were interested in signing the then-21-year-old, although two years on, it might well be Martin and Rangers who manage to finally bring Mbuyamba to Glasgow.

While he was operating in Holland’s second tier last season, the in-demand defender did enjoy a fine campaign in all, having showcased his brilliance in both boxes, after scoring five times in 34 league outings, while providing one assist and creating five ‘big chances’, as per Sofascore.

Defensively, the towering ace also helped to keep 12 clean sheets, while averaging 2.8 tackles and interceptions per game. That dominance also saw Mbuyamba win 61% of his total duels.

Games (starts)

34 (34)

Goals

5

Assists

1

Big chances created

4

Key passes

0.4

Pass accuracy

86%

Tackles & interceptions

2.8

Dribbled past

0.2

Total duels won

61%

As for Coady, while he was operating at Premier League level, the one-time Liverpool man scored once, while averaging just 1.2 tackles and interceptions per game, alongside winning just 45% of his total duels.

That represents a noticeable drop off from his final season at Wolves in 2021/22, with the then-Old Gold skipper – who was operating as part of a back three at the time – scoring four goals, while averaging 1.5 tackles and interceptions and winning 53% of his total duels.

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

Whether, at 32, Coady is merely now on the decline, or perhaps better suited to life in a back three, is up for debate, but either way, his recent woes should have alarm bells ringing for those at Ibrox.

As for Mbuyamba, the former Netherlands youth international still appears to be a player on the rise, with it an exciting prospect to consider whether or not “the new Van Dijk” – as described by journalist Tom Maston – could flourish under Martin’s watch.

On the evidence of his recent form, Coady has already hit his ceiling as a player. Mbuyamba’s potential is yet to be truly explored…

Sima repeat: Rangers working to agree deal for "fearless" star this week

Rangers could repeat their Abdallah Sima blinder by signing this star this summer.

ByDan Emery Jul 15, 2025

Tottenham Hotspur are making surprising strides in the transfer market this month in a bid to improve Thomas Frank’s squad ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

The Lilywhites officially completed the signing of Ghana international Mohammed Kudus from Premier League and London rivals West Ham United on Thursday night.

Kudus will be hoping to improve on his haul of five goals and three assists in 32 appearances in the top-flight for the Hammers last season, as he aims to provide a threat at the top end of the pitch for Frank.

The 24-year-old star could be joined by another attacking midfielder before long. Morgan Gibbs-White is expected to complete a move to Spurs, despite Nottingham Forest’s attempts to challenge the legality of their approach.

Whilst Spurs will be looking at players who can step in to immediately improve the team, Daniel Levy could also pursue players with a view to them being future replacements, as well as providing depth in the short-term.

Signing a player to replace Cristian Romero, for example, could be a shrewd move by the Europa League winners, given the speculation over his future and his availability record.

Why Spurs need a replacement for Cristian Romero

In terms of his future at Spurs, Fabrizio Romano claims that it has all gone quiet between Atletico Madrid and the club over a potential deal for the Argentina international.

The Italian reporter adds that the central defender is now expected to remain at Tottenham beyond the end of the summer transfer window, in what appears to be a boost for Frank.

However, the 27-year-old star’s contract at the club is due to expire in the summer of 2027 and it remains to be seen where his long-term future will be, which is why sourcing a longer-term replacement for him would make a lot of sense.

Even if Romero, as reported by Romano, remains at Spurs this summer, signing a player who can step in to replace him in the starting XI when needed would be incredibly useful for Frank.

24/25

27

0

27

23/24

3

3

6

22/23

9

1

10

21/22

28

2

30

As you can see in the table above, the World Cup winner has not been a reliable option for Tottenham in his four seasons at the club, missing 73 matches through either suspension or injury since the start of the 2021/22 campaign.

These statistics suggest that Spurs are in need of another high-quality centre-back option to play when Romero, who scored one goal in 18 Premier League games last season, is unavailable.

This may be why Tottenham are now being linked with an interest in a new central defensive option to come in and add to their options in that area of the pitch.

Spurs eyeing move for Premier League defender

According to The Boy Hotspur, Spurs are interested in a swoop to sign Crystal Palace centre-back Marc Guehi to come in and compete for a spot in the team.

The report claims that the club have made ‘fresh contact’ with the England international’s camp to discuss a potential transfer to North London this summer.

Transfer Focus

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

It states that the Eagles are prepared to negotiate a fee within the region of £39m for their captain because his current contract at Selhurst Park is set to expire at the end of next season, which means that they would risk losing him for nothing next year if they do not cash in on him before the end of this window.

The outlet adds that Chelsea, Arsenal, and Bournemouth are also keeping tabs on his situation, but the Gunners are not able to offer him enough guarantees of regular football because they already have William Saliba and Gabriel.

It is now down to Spurs to strike an agreement with Palace to bring the English titan to the club this summer, because he could be a dream replacement for Romero.

Why Guehi would be a dream Romero replacement

Guehi would be a dream signing for Tottenham to come in as a centre-back who can replace Romero when he is unavailable next season, whilst also having the potential to be a long-term replacement if the Argentine ace moves on in the future.

At the age of 24, he is still a young defender and could be a star at the back for Spurs for many years to come, which is one of the reasons why he would be a brilliant signing.

Another reason why Guehi would be a fantastic addition for the club is that he has a great fitness record. Since the start of the 2021/22 campaign, the English gem has only missed 13 games through injury, compared to Romero’s 67 matches missed through injury since that season.

This suggests that the Palace star, who was dubbed a “monster” by reporter Bobby Manzi, is more likely to be available week-in-week-out to start at the heart of the defence for Spurs in the Premier League, making him a very reliable option to have.

Appearances

34

18

Goals

3

1

Tackles + interceptions per game

2.6

3.1

Blocks per game

0.2

0.1

Clearances per game

4.6

2.9

Ground duel success rate

64%

61%

Aerial duel success rate

54%

61%

As you can see in the table above, Guehi and Romero produced similar statistics in a host of defensive metrics in the Premier League last season, which suggests that there may not be a big difference in quality between them.

This is yet another reason why the England international would be a dream signing to step in for the Argentine star next season, and potentially as his long-term replacement as a regular starter.

Guehi, who was described as the “ultimate” centre-back by Jamie Redknapp last season, appears to make a lot of sense for Spurs as a signing to make an immediate impact, as well as being a signing for the future, which is why the club should push to get a deal over the line.

Perfect with Gibbs-White: Spurs to make £60m bid for "phenomenal" talent

Tottenham Hotspur appear to be prepared to splash the cash under Thomas Frank this summer.

1 ByEthan Lamb Jul 12, 2025

Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy is facing the prospect of a key Spurs player asking for a transfer, according to reports, with one club said to have already made an offer.

£60m star sees "great opportunity" to join Tottenham with Levy in contact

Spurs have held talks.

3 ByEmilio Galantini Jul 3, 2025

Thomas Frank’s first-ever season managing a ‘big six’ club will be fraught with challenges, not least their European campaign, and there is a lot more expectation surrounding the north London club after they clinched the Europa League title in May.

Son Heung-min

7.00

James Maddison

6.98

Pedro Porro

6.95

Dominic Solanke

6.84

Dejan Kulusevski

6.83

via WhoScored

Ange Postecoglou, despite guiding the club to their first major trophy in 17 years, paid the price for Tottenham’s poor domestic form last term – with the Lilywhites losing more Premier League games in a single season than they ever had in previous years (22).

However, their 1-0 triumph over Manchester United in Bilbao has gifted Frank something hugely significant to build upon ahead of 2025/2026, and the significant financial windfall acquired from qualifying for the Champions League stands to seriously assist them in this summer’s transfer market.

As per Sky Sports reporter Micheal Bridge, Spurs won’t have to adopt a sell to buy policy, with their place in Europe’s most elite competition described as “huge” when it comes to their recruitment drive over the next two months.

That being said, there are certain big names who could still depart N17 over the coming weeks.

Son Heung-min is attracting serious interest from the Saudi Pro League, and there are suggestions that the 32-year-old may be sold for a profit. Levy will reportedly demand around £50 million to sell the Spurs captain, who’s entered the final 12 months of his contract, with star defender Cristian Romero also earning a few admirers from abroad.

The Argentine won last year’s Europa League Player of the Season and played a major role in helping Tottenham lift the trophy. Atlético Madrid are known admirers of his, as confirmed by Diego Simeone, but some reports they’ve reached an agreement in principle to sign Romero appear wide of the mark.

Their cross-city rivals, Real Madrid, are also believed to be keen on Romero, with Xabi Alonso’s side expected to make a “concrete” approach (CaughtOffside).

Cristian Romero to ask Daniel Levy for Tottenham exit

It does appear Atlético have advanced further along in a potential move for the 27-year-old, though, as explained by journalist Ruben Uria.

The reporter told ‘Derbi en USA’, via El Desmarque, that Simeone’s side have made an offer of around £56 million for Romero, including add-ons, but this is nowhere near Levy’s price tag.

Spurs have apparently slapped a £70 million valuation on the centre back’s head, but Romero will tell Levy he wants to leave Tottenham once he returns from holiday.

“He wants to come to Atlético,” said Uria.

“Cholo is in direct contact with him. What he’ll do is come back from vacation to talk to Daniel Levy and tell him he wants to leave. From there, we’ll see what happens. Tottenham are asking for €82 million to let him leave. They value him like Fofana or Van Dijk, with an expensive transfer fee.

“They’ve [Atletico] made an offer of €55 million plus €10 million in variables. I think it’s a very good offer.”

Romero has two years left on his contract, so acquiring £70 million for his signature would be excellent business by Levy, but the South American stalwart would also be a very tough figurehead to replace.

Frank surely won’t be keen on losing Romero, but as things stand, nobody is near Tottenham’s requirements to let him leave, so this will be an intriguing story to follow.

England spinner chooses to head north for new competition instead of stick with home county

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Sep-2024

Mady Villiers has been a stalwart of Oval Invincibles in the Women’s Hundred•ECB via Getty Images

Durham have strengthened their women’s squad ahead of next year’s launch of the new county competition, by signing the England offspinning allrounder, Mady Villiers, on a three-year deal.Villiers has represented England on 20 occasions, most recently on their tour of Ireland where her death-over bowling all but snatched two victories from the jaws of defeat.In all, she has taken 221 white-ball wickets in her professional career, having already surpassed 2000 career runs with eight half-centuries, and she’s been an ever-present for Oval Invincibles in the Women’s Hundred, helping the side to claim consecutive titles in 2021 and 2022.Her move to Durham is a coup for the club, which is due to take over from the Headingley-based Northern Diamonds to become the North-East regional representatives in women’s domestic cricket, ahead of Yorkshire’s accession to Tier 1 in 2026.A product of the Essex pathway, Villiers has, however, opted against staying with her home county, who will also have Tier 1 status from 2025 as they take over from Sunrisers, who last week claimed victory in the final of the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy. She will now be playing under the captaincy of her England team-mate, Hollie Armitage.”I’m really excited to be joining Durham ahead of the 2025 season,” Villiers said. “I was so impressed with the vision that the club and coaching staff have, and I knew it was definitely something that I wanted to be a part of.”It’s an incredibly talented group of players and I have always loved playing with Hollie as captain, so I’m confident making the move up north is the right one for me.”Having played in Essex for my whole career it was going to take a lot for me to leave, and I think that speaks volumes on how I feel about Durham and the potential we have as a collective. I can’t wait to get going and see where this team can go over the next few years.”Director of Cricket, Marcus North said: “We are thrilled to announce Mady has agreed to join Durham on a three-year deal. Our squad is coming together nicely and to be able to recruit an England international in Mady is huge for us and the region.”Mady has shown what a top performer she has been domesticity for several years for Sunrisers and the Oval Invincibles and we are now excited for her journey to continue with us in the North East.”Hopefully her move to Durham will see her thrive in the county as she looks to add more England caps to her name and further excel with bat and ball.”

Chelsea are in the market for more attacking options, with BlueCo looking to add to their summer contingent of Liam Delap, Joao Pedro and Jamie Gittens.

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John Terry expected “big things” from him.

Posts ByEmilio Galantini Jul 19, 2025

Enzo Maresca has reportedly identified the final third as a key area to improve after struggling against the low-block last season (Simon Phillips), and it is basically a foregone conclusion that they’ll face this time and time again next term.

Chelsea’s best performers in the Premier League last season

Average match rating

Cole Palmer

7.33

Moises Caicedo

7.02

Enzo Fernández

6.95

Nicolas Jackson

6.88

Noni Madueke

6.82

via WhoScored

The Blues do wish to improve other areas of their squad, like at centre-back, with Ajax starlet Jorrel Hato among their chief targets for the backline amid uncertainty surrounding the futures of Axel Disasi and Benoit Badiashile.

However, in the meantime, Maresca is believed to be prioritising another forward signing in his bid to mount a Premier League title challenge – which looks more and more likely after a very successful last few months.

Chelsea have money to spend after raising nearly £100 million through player sales and winning the Club World Cup, which brought in around £87.5 million worth of prize money to the Stamford Bridge coffers.

While they still need to sell players and balance out the squad, given Chelsea’s pact with UEFA after breaching FFP rules, there is still scope for them to bring in fresh attacking talent.

Chelsea are even thought to be weighing up ‘unofficial swap deals’ as a solution to offload surplus players whilst reinforcing Maresca’s ranks further, and some reports suggest that the west Londoners could let Nicolas Jackson head to Aston Villa in exchange for Morgan Rogers.

Multiple sources have also claimed that Chelsea are in dialogue with the representatives of Crystal Palace playmaker Eberechi Eze, who bagged 14 goals and 11 assists in all competitions last season, not to mention the FA Cup final-winning strike against Man City.

Eze is emerging as a key target for Maresca, and he could battle both Arsenal and Tottenham for the 27-year-old, amid some reports that their London rivals have fallen behind Chelsea in the race for his signature (TEAMtalk).

Chelsea expected to be offered Xavi Simons by super agent Ali Barat

However, according to newspaper BILD, via Get German Football News on X, another opportunity has come to light in the form of RB Leipzig star Xavi Simons.

Simons sealed a permanent move to Leipzig from PSG in January for around £43m, not including hefty add-ons, but he could already be on the move. The 22-year-old put pen to paper on a deal running till 2027, and Simons is prepared to leave Leipzig this window amid interest from both Chelsea and Arsenal (Fabrizio Romano).

BILD report that Chelsea are expected to be offered Simons by super agent Ali Barat, and the representative is set to work on finding him a new club.

The Netherlands international has racked up an impressive 21 goals and 23 assists in total for Leipzig since first joining them on loan in 2023/2024, with a move to England now firmly in his sights.

Simons is actually the highest-paid player in Leipzig’s history, on a reported £192,000-per-week, and he’s been praised as an attacker who “has everything”.

“He is a very good player. He had a very good European Championship and a great season with Leipzig,” Bayern Munich sporting director Christoph Freund said last year.

“He’s developed really well. I think he’s going to have a really good career at the highest level. He has everything, mentality, character and is just an exceptional player.”