Tottenham Hotspur have now reportedly tabled an offer in their pursuit of a playmaker to replace James Maddison, who’s now set to miss the majority of 2025/2026 after suffering an ACL injury.

The news zero Spurs fans wanted to see was confirmed in an official Lilywhites statement on Thursday morning.

Son Heung-min

7.00

James Maddison

6.98

Pedro Porro

6.95

Dominic Solanke

6.84

Dejan Kulusevski

6.83

via WhoScored

Maddison is set to undergo surgery on his right knee, which is expected to keep him out for a very lengthy period, and Thomas Frank now goes into their first competitive game of the season – a blockbuster UEFA Super Cup clash against PSG – seriously bereft of forward options.

The 28-year-old has returned to the sidelines almost immediately after recovering from a similar knee problem, which kept him out of the Europa League final. To add insult to injury, Frank is also minus club legend Son Heung-min – who waved an emotional goodbye before his switch to LAFC earlier this week – and fellow injured attacking threat Dejan Kulusevski.

It’s a sorry state of affairs for Spurs, and Frank’s only saving grace is that these absences come amid a transfer window.

Tottenham have made contact over a move for Man City’s Jack Grealish, as per Fabrizio Romano, but they’ll need to decide whether to pursue a move pretty quickly as Everton are currently in talks.

Spurs were on the verge of signing Nottingham Forest playmaker Morgan Gibbs-White this time four weeks ago, who would’ve been the perfect man to step into Maddison’s shoes, but Evangelos Marinakis was quick to ensure that solving their number 10 headache wouldn’t be so easy.

Their botched deal for Gibbs-White is now looking more significant than ever before, but according to Sky Italia reporter Gianluca Di Marzio, Tottenham are attempting to rectify it with a move for Como sensation Nico Paz.

Tottenham submit bid for Como star Nico Paz with response given

The Argentine attacking midfielder bagged six goals and nine assists in 35 Serie A appearances under Cesc Fàbregas last campaign, and footballing icon Lionel Messi has already lavished praise on his compatriot as a real one to watch.

“Nico has many qualities and understands the game perfectly,” said Messi, via Football Italia.

“He has an impressive mind and is working with a coach who is my friend (Cesc Fabregas) who will help him grow even more.”

Their pursuit of him comes after Maddison’s injury, as per Di Marzio, who also writes that Tottenham have submitted a £35 million offer for Paz already.

However, they’ll need to go back in again with an improved bid, with Como rejecting their approach out of hand. The Italians have set a public valuation of around £61 million for Paz, and an offer of at least £52 million will be needed to even bring Fabregas’ side to the negotiating table.

The 20-year-old joined Como from Real Madrid last summer after making eight senior appearances under ex-boss Carlo Ancelotti, including three in the Champions League, so he’s already familiar with the pressures of representing an elite-level club.

However, a price of close to £60m would make Paz one of Spurs’ most expensive ever signings, which could be seen as a major gamble considering he’s only had one full season of regular senior football.

With both teams in with a good shot of making the WTC final, there will be plenty at stake in Durban

Andrew Fidel Fernando26-Nov-2024Big picture: Two teams on an upward trajectorySri Lanka’s men are third on the World Test Championship table, with a win percentage of 55.56, and South Africa are right on their heels, on 54.17. Both are in striking distance of a top-two finish, for which presently, there are five serious contenders – India, Australia, and New Zealand being the other three.Ordinarily, this is enough to make this a tilt worth watching (there are distractions such as some Border-Gavaskar Trophy, plus a New Zealand vs England series elsewhere, apparently), but there are further layers of dramatic potential here. Sri Lanka, if you remember, are the only Asian team to ever have beaten South Africa at home in a series, back in 2019. Seven players from this current Sri Lanka squad had played roles in that 2-0 sweep.And in Durban, Sri Lanka have never once lost a Test, having played three there. In fact, they have won their two most recent games at Kingsmead, Rangana Herath’s wizardry having delivered their first triumph on South African soil back in 2011, before the Kusal Perera special sent them screaming to one of the most miraculous wins in Test history in 2019.Related

Sri Lanka's batting vs South Africa's bowling in the race to WTC final

Embuldeniya and Oshada Fernando return for Sri Lanka's Tests in SA

Bavuma, Coetzee, Jansen return for SA's home Tests against Sri Lanka

Bavuma battles 'mental demons' as he returns from lengthy injury layoff

South Africa not pushing for green tops for massive home season

But while the Sri Lanka team of that 2019 tour were held together by hope and kinesiology tape, this one seems to be building to something? (We ask tentatively, as this is a strange assertion to make for Sri Lanka teams over the last decade.) So far this year, they have won six Tests, the most impressive of which was their victory at The Oval. And they have what is increasingly beginning to seem like a seam-bowling outfit. Asitha Fernando, Vishwa Fernando, and Lahiru Kumara are the likely starters. But they have others like Kasun Rajitha and Milan Rathnayake who have had good showings in overseas conditions too.South Africa, meanwhile, are on an upward trajectory of their own. They’d sent what amounted to about an E-team to New Zealand for a pasting in February, but since then, their big dogs back in the XI, have won away series in West Indies and Bangladesh. They’re at the start of their home summer now, so presumably they are overflowing with confidence. The one wrinkle in all of this is that they haven’t especially loved playing at Kingsmead over the past 15 years. Since the start of 2010, they have lost five matches to the two they have won at this venue. While South Africa quicks revel in the extra bounce their home surfaces usually deliver, the coastal venues, and this one in particular, tends to play slower and lower in comparison.On top of which, South Africa captain Temba Bavuma has said that they will not be requesting made-to-order green tops on this tour, which will please Sri Lanka’s batters especially. That doesn’t mean there will be no bounce or movement. Shukri Conrad, South Africa’s head coach, said he expected “some good pace” at Kingsmead. But expect the surface to take turn on the later days, especially. South Africa have some skillful seamers, but their spin attack will be tested here too.Form guideSouth Africa WWWDL
Sri Lanka WWWLL (Last five completed matches, most recent first)Keshav Maharaj could end up playing a big role for South Africa in the home summer•AFP/Getty ImagesIn the spotlight: Keshav Maharaj and Kamindu MendisNo bowler in this match knows the Kingsmead surface better than Keshav Maharaj. He was born in Durban, has played all his first-class cricket for the KwaZulu Natal Dolphins, and averages 21.52 in Tests at the venue. Though he has 54 Tests on his resume now, he’s only played three in his hometown, though. Partly, this is down to Covid. But one of those matches was against Sri Lanka, on that 2019 tour, and he took three wickets for 87 runs in that match. This sounds like it wasn’t especially impressive, but when one of the greatest innings of all time is being played by the opposition, it’s not terrible. He is also five years down the road in his development now, and at 34, should be in his spin-bowling prime. How Maharaj fares against Sri Lanka’s batters will go a long way to determining this series, you suspect.When will the Kamindu Mendis fever dream end? Eight Tests in, he has five hundreds – in three different countries – and in September became the fastest player to 1000 Test runs in 74 years. That average of 91.27 has to come down at some point, surely? But then people said that about him when he was in England, in August. His average was only in the 80s then. Though he is an all-format player for Sri Lanka now, Kamindu’s prowess has been limited to Tests for now – he is only a decent white-ball player, though his being able to bowl with either arm is likely more useful in those formats. Can he take this rocket-fueled start to a Test career to a whole new continent? In any case, there has never been a Sri Lanka batter who has been this hot out of the gate.Team news: Sri Lanka ponder attack*South Africa named their XI on the eve of the Test and picked Gerald Coetzee over the left-arm spin of Senuran Muthusamy, to join the pace attack of Kagiso Rabada, Marco Jansen and Wiaan Mulder, with Keshav Maharaj the lone spinner.South Africa: 1 Aiden Markram, 2 Tony de Zorzi, 3 Tristan Stubbs, 4 Temba Bavuma (capt.), 5 David Bedingham, 6 Kyle Verreynne (wk), 7 Marco Jansen, 8 Wiaan Mulder, 9 Gerald Coetzee, 9 Keshav Maharaj, 11 Kagiso RabadaSeven Sri Lanka players have been in Durban for at least two weeks, and they should have a full complement of cricketers to choose from. They have decisions to make on the bowling front. They will likely go with Milan Rathnayake, for the batting value he adds. But do they pick Vishwa Fernando or Lahiru Kumara? Vishwa brings in the left-arm angle and has had success in Durban. But Kumara has the pace to trouble batters.Sri Lanka (possible): 1 Dimuth Karuanaratne, 2 Pathum Nissanka, 3 Dinesh Chandimal, 4 Angelo Mathews, 5 Kamindu Mendis, 6 Dhananjaya de Silva (capt), 7 Kusal Mendis (wk), 8 Milan Rathnayake, 9 Prabath Jayasuriya, 10 Asitha Fernando, 11 Lahiru Kumara/Vishwa FernandoPitch and conditions: A wet start to the Test?Some pace and bounce is likely early on, but if the sun falls on this Kingsmead pitch, expect it to become a little lower, and slower. Sun, though, might be in short supply early on in this match, with showers forecast for Wednesday, and overcast conditions predicted for Thursday.Stats and trivia Maharaj’s best-ever figures have come against Sri Lanka – his 9 for 129 in the first innings at the SSC, in Colombo, in 2018. Kamindu Mendis’ away average so far, from nine innings, is 79.25. Five of those knocks came in England, where he averages 53.40, his lowest in any country. In the nine Tests these teams have played since the start of 2015, South Africa have won five and Sri Lanka four. All but two of these Tests were in South Africa. If Prabath Jayasuriya gets three wickets in Durban – his 17th Test – he will become the joint second-fastest bowler to 100 Test wickets, behind George Lohmann, who made his debut in the 19th century. Among players active since 1950, only Yasir Shah has done it in 17 Tests.Lahiru Kumara is also closing in on 100 dismissals. He’d be the fifth Sri Lanka fast bowler to the milestone, behind Chaminda Vaas, Lasith Malinga, Dilhara Fernando, and Suranga Lakmal.Quotes”Neil [McKenzie]) was good. He was with us for a week. It was a good week, and we got some points from him. We went to a lot of batting sessions with him. He’s a very good cricketer and a very open person, so we took a lot of his information. How do we adapt to this bounce? How do we adapt to these conditions? How do we adapt to this seam? How do we adapt to this ground condition? We took a lot of things.”
*1100 hours: The story was updated after South Africa named their XI

MatériaMais Notícias

Após seis meses afastada por lesão no tornozelo esquerdo, a meio-campista Gabi Zanotti voltou com tudo ao Corinthians. Na manhã deste domingo (30), a jogadora foi responsável por marcar quatro gols na goleada corintiana por 7 a 1 sobre o Cruzeiro, pela nona rodada do Brasileirão Feminino, na Fazendinha, em São Paulo.

O triunfo foi fundamental após a derrota para o Internacional, na última segunda-feira (24) e as críticas às atletas por conta das manifestações em defesa do movimento ‘Respeita as Minas’ na mesma hora que o time masculino perdia para o Goiás, na estreia do técnico Cuca – condenado por atentado ao pudor com uso de violência contra uma garota de 13, na Suíça, no fim da década de 80.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasCorinthiansTécnico diz que jogadoras do Corinthians foram ameaçadas após manifestaçõesCorinthians30/04/2023Fora de Campo‘Time entregue, desmotivado e ruim’, dispara apresentador sobre o CorinthiansFora de Campo30/04/2023CorinthiansCorinthians fez contato com esposa de Tite, mas proposta de time europeu foi crucial para o ‘não’ do técnicoCorinthians30/04/2023

+Saiba os 20 clubes das Américas que receberam mais interações no Twitter em março

Antes do duelo contra o Colorado, na semana passada, o comandante das Brabas, Arthur Elias, havia dito que o posicionamento não tinha sido direcionado ao treinador da equipe masculina, mas não atenuou os ataques contra as jogadoras corintianas. O comandante do time feminino voltou a falar nos momentos que antecederam o duelo contra o Cruzeiro dizendo que as atletas têm sido ameaçadas tanto através das redes sociais, quanto nas ruas. Cuca pediu demissão do Corinthians na última quarta-feira (26), por conta da pressão contra ele. ]

O JOGO

Além de Zanotti, Yasmim, Jhennifer e Duda Sampaio também deixaram as suas marcas para o Timão. A goleada também fez com que a equipe corintiana voltasse a ter o melhor ataque do Brasileirão Feminino, agora com 38 gols.

As Brabas não tomaram conhecimento da Raposa e abriram o placar logo no primeiro minuto de jogo, com Yasmim empurrando para o gol vazio, após uma assistência de cabeça de Jaque.

E com menos de 20 minutos de jogo, o Corinthians já vencia por 4 a 0. Avassaladoras, as meninas do Timão marcaram três vezes em um intervalo de seis minutos, aos 10, 13 e 16 da etapa inicial. Zanotti marcou os seus dois primeiros neste período, e Jhennifer também deixou a sua marca. As Brabas ainda marcaram mais duas vezes ainda no primeiro tempo, com outros dois gols de Gabi Zanotti, que foi às redes aos 28 e 38 minutos.

Mesmo com o resultado elástico construído nos primeiros 45 minutos, o Timão seguiu pressionando no segundo tempo, mas foi menos efetivo. Após algumas chances perdidas, quem marcou primeiro na etapa final foi o Cruzeiro, com Vanessinha, aos 21 minutos. No entanto, antes do fim do jogo o Corinthians ainda fez mais um, com Duda Sampaio.

Com a vitória sobre a Raposa, as Brabas foram para a segunda colocação no Campeonato Brasieiro, mas ainda podem perder o posto para a Ferroviária e o Internacional. Ambos os times entram em campo neste domingo (30), às 15h. O Colorado visita o Santos, na Vila Belmiro, enquanto a Locomotiva encara o Grêmio, em Porto Alegre.

O próximo compromisso das meninas do Timão será contra o São Paulo, no dia 7 de maio, em Cotia.

continua após a publicidade

Aymeric Laporte’s dream return to Athletic Club fell apart over paperwork, but Besiktas are now set to hand him an Al-Nassr escape route.

• Besiktas reportedly agree loan deal with Laporte and Al-Nassr
• Defender's transfer to Athletic Club was blocked by FIFA last week
• The Turkish club will pay half of the Spaniard's salary

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Spaniard's hopes of leaving Al-Nassr have been revived after Turkish giants Besiktas stepped in with a loan offer. According to , the Black Eagles’ president Serdal Adali has agreed personal terms with the 31-year-old defender and formally offered a proposal to the Saudi Pro League side on Tuesday morning.

  Besiktas are ready to pay half of Laporte’s €13 million (£11m/$14m) annual salary, with no loan fee attached. The deal also includes an option to buy in May 2026 for €15m. 

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Laporte had been on the verge of sealing a return to Athletic Club for €10m, but the move fell apart at the last moment. Athletic had filed their paperwork with La Liga before the deadline, but Al-Nassr failed to submit the required documents to the Saudi federation in time. Without international clearance, FIFA blocked the transfer, ruling that the centre-back will have to wait until the winter window to get registered.

  Laporte's move to Besiktas would be a major blow for Athletic, who are already short in defence. With Unai Egiluz out injured and Yeray Alvarez suspended after a positive doping test, manager Ernesto Valverde has only Dani Vivian and Aitor Paredes available as experienced centre-back options.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Laporte is no stranger to San Mames, having come through Athletic’s academy before making a move to Manchester City in 2018. In five years in England, he won multiple titles before joining Al-Nassr in 2023. After two seasons in Saudi Arabia alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, he terminated his contract this summer in a bid to return to Spain, only for the move to collapse.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR AYMERIC LAPORTE AND ATHLETIC CLUB

  With his Athletic return blocked, Besiktas are moving quickly to finalise a loan that would give Laporte a fresh start in Turkey. The deal could be completed within 24 hours, handing the 31-year-old an immediate escape route from Al-Nassr. At the same time, the Basque club have not given up entirely. Los Leones have reportedly appealed their case to FIFA, with a ruling expected as early as Thursday, though the chances of a decision in their favour are slim. 

The experienced Otago batter has been in good form in domestic cricket of late

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Dec-2024

Bella James is the second-highest run-getter in the ongoing women’s domestic one-day competition•Getty Images

Bella James, the Otago Sparks top-order batter, has earned a maiden call-up to the New Zealand squad for the three-match ODI series against Australia in Wellington next week. Injuries have, however, ruled opener Georgia Plimmer and fast bowler Lea Tahuhu out of the series.James has represented Otago 137 times across formats since her debut in 2014, and has been in excellent form in the ongoing one-day competition (for the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield) at home. She is second on the run-scorers’ list with 293 runs at a strike rate of 85.17 from five innings. Her lowest score in these matches is 36, and she has a best of 101 not out.”We’re really excited to give Bella her first call-up to international cricket,” Sarah Tsukigawa, the chief selector of the team, said in a press release. “She’s been working hard at the domestic level for many years, and her current form in HBJ shows why she deserves this opportunity. Bella’s ability to hit 360 degrees around the ground with power is a valuable quality.”Rosemary Mair is back after an injury layoff•Getty Images

Plimmer has sustained a bone stress reaction in her left hip, “ruling her out of cricket until next year”, a New Zealand Cricket statement said. The statement added that Tahuhu has sustained a grade-two hamstring tear, and “is expected to be fit by early January”.”We’re gutted to not have Georgia or Lea for this series but injuries do create opportunities to explore how other players could fit in,” Tsukigawa said.Meanwhile, seamer Rosemary Mair has returned to the ODI squad for the first time since 2022, when she withdrew from the squad that faced England because of a back injury.This is the first time since 2020 that the two sides will compete for the Rose Bowl Trophy, which Australia currently hold.New Zealand squad for women’s ODI series against AustraliaSophie Devine (capt), Suzie Bates, Eden Carson, Lauren Down, Isabella Gaze, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Bella James, Fran Jonas, Amelia Kerr, Jess Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Molly Penfold

تحدث البرتغالي المخضرم جوزيه مورينيو المدير الفني للفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي بنفيكا، عن عودته مرة أخرى لملعب ستامبفورد بريدج لمواجهة فريقه القديم تشيلسي ضمن منافسات دوري أبطال أوروبا.

ومن المقرر أن يواجه بنفيكا نظيره تشيلسي مساء اليوم، الثلاثاء، على ملعب “ستامبفورد بريدج”، في إطار منافسات الجولة الثانية من مرحلة الدوري لبطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا.

وقال مورينيو، عن عودته مرة أخرى لملعب “ستامبفورد بريدج” في تصريحات نقلتها صحيفة “آس”: “إنه موطني، النادي عظيم، إنه من تلك الأندية التي يمر بها الناس لكنه يبقى في التاريخ، لا أحد يحاول محو التاريخ، فهناك أندية تفعل ذلك”.

وأضاف: “لندن لها معنى كبير داخلي لكن أعظم معانيه هو وجود ابني هنا ينتظرني، لم أعد أزرق أنا أحمر وأحمر جدًا الآن، أنا من بنفيكا أعمل مع بنفيكا. لقد حدث لي هذا مرات عديدة أثناء اللعب ضد فرق عريقة، ولا توجد أي مشكلة أثناء المباراة”.

وعن هتاف الجمهور باسمه قال: “أفضل ألا يحدث ذلك ولكن إذا حدث، فسيكون ذلك ثانيتين من الامتنان الصادق وسأركز على العمل الذي بين يدي، لم تكن مشاعري عند الوصول عميقة إلى هذا الحد فأنا أعيش هنا تقريبًا كل يوم، أعرف نفسي جيدًا لقد لعبت كثيرًا ضد تشيلسي مع فرق سابقة، سيكون بنفيكا هو الفريق الرابع الذي أتي معه إلى هنا، من حيث المبدأ لن أشعر بأي عداوة وهذا لن يضرني بأي شيء، يمكنني عزل نفسي عن هذا السياق دون أي مشكلة”.

اقرأ أيضًا | كاراجر: ما يحدث في مانشستر يونايتد “كارثي”.. ويجب إقالة أموريم

وعما قاله بيدرو نيتو إنه يرغب بالعمل مع جوزيه مورينيو: “هل أرغب في ضمه؟ بالتأكيد، أرغب في ذلك، إنه من أفضل لاعبي الأجنحة في العالم، روبرتو مارتينيز محظوظ لأنه يمتلك ثلاثة أو أربعة لاعبين بنفس مستواه بينما لا نملك مثله هنا بالطبع، أرغب في ضمه لكن وضعه المالي مختلف، وعلينا أن ننسى ذلك، آمل ألا يتعرض لإصابة”.

واستطرد: “سأظل دائمًا أزرقًا، أنا جزء من تاريخ تشيلسي وهم جزء من تاريخي، لقد ساعدتهم في أن يصبحوا أكبر وساعدوني في أن أصبح أكبر، عندما أقول إنني لست أزرقًا، فأنا أشير فقط إلى الوظيفة التي يتعين علي القيام بها غدًا، تشيلسي آلة فوز، في العامين أو الثلاثة أعوام الماضية لم يكن لديهم لحظات كثيرة بدون ألقاب”.

واسترسل: “عندما كنت هنا، استمر فريقي في الفوز، الآن كان هناك تحول ولم يفز المدربون الآخرون بالألقاب لفترة من الوقت، لقد فازوا قبلي ثم بدأوا في الفوز بالمزيد وما زالوا يفوزون، لديهم أكبر الألقاب لكن لا تخطئ تشيلسي آلة فوز كما قلت وحتى يفوز أحدهم بأربعة ألقاب في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز فلن يكون أحد أكبر مني في تاريخ هذا النادي”.

وعن عودته إلى تشيلسي مدربًا في يوم من الأيام: “لا أحد يعلم، بعد 25 عامًا، كنت أتمنى العودة إلى البرتغال مع المنتخب الوطني وليس مع بنفيكا، والآن أنا هنا في بنفيكا، لذلك ليس لدي أي خطط لمسيرتي المهنية، لا أفكر فيما قد يحدث والأهم من ذلك أينما كنت، أن أقدم أفضل ما لدي، يجب أن تترك الأندية دون أن تندم، لقد غادرت، وأنا سعيد جدًا في بنفيكا، حتى انطلاق المباراة، سيكون تشيلسي فريقي ثم خلال المباراة، سيكون بنفيكا فريقي”.

وعن عودته إلى دوري أبطال أوروبا مرة أخرى أتم: “لم تكن السنوات التي لم أشارك فيها في دوري أبطال أوروبا سيئة، فقد لعبتُ نهائي الدوري الأوروبي ودوري المؤتمر الأوروبي، من البديهي أن دوري أبطال أوروبا هو البطولة الأهم، البطولة التي تضم أهم الأندية في أوروبا، وهو يعني لي الكثير، لأن الفوز بلقب واحد حلم للجميع، والفوز بلقبين أفضل”.

Chelsea were dealt a seismic blow defensively in the last few days, with news that Levi Colwill will now miss the majority of 2025/2026.

He was meant to be one of the pillars of Chelsea’s defence next season, but the 22-year-old has now ruptured his ACL, ruling him out for the majority – possibly the entirety – of the new campaign.

Colwill sustained the problem at the end of his first training session back at Cobham earlier this week, and after he underwent successful surgery, the centre-back’s recovery timeline is expected to stretch to around six to nine months.

The injury is a brutal blow. Colwill was a mainstay last season, starting 35 Premier League matches and playing a key part in Chelsea’s Champions League qualification push – not to mention Club World Cup glory.

With him now sidelined for the foreseeable future, boss Enzo Maresca has declared that his defence is a top-priority position to strengthen during these final few weeks of the window – confirming that Chelsea will dip into the market amid their ongoing talks for Alejandro Garnacho and Xavi Simons.

“It is a priority for me,” Maresca told Channel 5, via Standard Sport. “Levi is a fantastic player. What we achieved last season is because of him. He played a lot of games with me, I love him. We are going to miss him.

“We are trying also to find different solutions.”

Jorrel Hato, signed from Ajax for around £36 million, steps into the spotlight. Despite being just 19, Maresca insists the Dutchman’s senior experience – over 100 Ajax games – makes him “mature enough” to slot into the backline immediately.

However, Chelsea are reliably believed to view the teenager as more of a left-back to cover for Marc Cucurella (Ben Jacobs), and even before Colwill’s injury, the west Londoners were looking at signing another centre-half (Simon Phillips).

Their need for another option has now intensified, with Benoit Badiashile also out till September.

Chelsea open talks with Ajax defender Aaron Bouwman

According to TEAMtalk, Chelsea could turn to another Ajax teenager – Aaron Bouwman – after Hato.

The 17-year-old is yet to make a senior appearance for the Eredivisie giants but is amassing quite the reputation as one of Europe’s rising stars defensively, impressing in the pre-season Como Cup, and Bouwman is a standout in Ajax’s prestigious youth set up right now.

It is unclear whether Chelsea plan to integrate him into the first team, but they’re serious about potentially capturing him.

TT state that Chelsea have opened talks with Bouwman’s agents in the last few days and are in pole position to sign the Dutch starlet ahead of both Man City and Arsenal – who are also looking at him.

If Bouwman isn’t exactly ready to reinforce Maresca’s senior defensive options, then other reports suggest that Chelsea could U-turn over selling Renato Veiga and give the Portuguese a chance to stake his claim in the squad.

Centuries from Travis Head and Steven Smith, those two great India tormentors, put Australia in control of the third Border-Gavaskar Test at the Gabba, on a fast-moving second day that produced 377 runs and seven wickets. Five of those wickets fell to the exceptional Jasprit Bumrah, who kept India in the contest almost singlehandedly while swelling his overall Test tally in Australia to 49; Kapil Dev (51) is now the only Indian bowler ahead of him.Almost singlehandedly, because Bumrah wasn’t the only India quick to trouble Australia here. Akash Deep kept landing the ball in testing areas and induced almost as many false shots (45) as Bumrah did (46), but ended the day wicketless. Mohammed Siraj put in a solid shift too, and for most of the first session India applied pressure from both ends and had Australia on a tight leash.The lack of depth in India’s attack began to tell as the day wore on, though, and Australia pulled away as Head and Smith added a rollicking 241 for the fourth wicket in 302 balls. The second new ball gave India some respite, with Bumrah dismissing Smith, Mitchell Marsh and Head in the space of 12 balls, but Australia were already in a superb position by then.Related

• Travis Head hits India like only he can

• Stats: Smith's latest feat against India and Bumrah's stellar form outside Asia

At stumps, they were 405 for 7, and in a position to dictate the shape of the rest of this Test match, although time (all but 13.2 overs of day one were washed out) and the weather may yet complicate their push for a win.India yet again had no answer to the thorny problem Head poses: how do you bowl to a batter whose stock response to the top-of-off line and length is a fast-hands square cut? They tried various options, but nothing really worked, and their attempts at going short proved particularly futile: their bouncers weren’t hostile or accurate enough to cramp Head consistently for room, and the pace and bounce of this Gabba pitch too true to cause indecision. Instead of tucking him up and making him look awkward, India typically allowed Head to lean back and ramp the ball away over the slips.The bigger issue for India was their lack of sustained wicket threat beyond their three main quicks. Nitish Kumar Reddy and Ravindra Jadeja, their fourth and fifth bowlers, gave away 141 runs over a combined 29 overs, while picking up just the one wicket. That wicket was a vital one, leaving Australia 75 for 3, but it was revealing that it was the result of a loose drive from Marnus Labuschagne rather than a genuine wicket-taking delivery.The problem of the fourth and fifth bowler was particularly pronounced after the tea break, when India resumed with a 70-over-old ball. It left them with a conundrum: they could either start the session with their best bowlers, or preserve them for the second new ball which was 10 overs away. They started with Reddy and Jadeja, and went on to concede 63 runs in the first 10 overs of the session.Steven Smith found his hands…and more•Chris Hyde / Getty Images

Smith, in particular, blossomed during this period, and surged in confidence after having had to struggle through his first half-century. He came into this innings with the big, back-and-across trigger movement that he had shelved following his first-ball duck in the first innings in Perth, and it took him a while to find any fluency. He was beaten numerous times in the corridor, particularly by Akash Deep, and had played 30 false shots by the time he’d reached his half-century.It was a measure of how much he was struggling, because each of the other 11 innings in Smith’s Test career with 30 or more false shots were centuries. But perhaps it was a portent too, and his wagon wheel blossomed after he brought up his fifty, with India no longer able to restrict him to just the leg-side scoring shots. Smith’s first fifty took him 128 balls, and his second just 57. And he only played eight false shots after reaching the half-century mark.The last of them was an expansive drive off Bumrah that he edged to slip after India had taken the second new ball. In his next over, Bumrah struck two more times to send back Marsh and Head, and like the wicket of Smith, these two also came from balls that landed in the perfect length to bring the batters forward without allowing them to drive safely, in the perfect channel to force them into playing, and with just enough seam movement to find the outside edge.It’s the most fundamental thing about bowling in Test cricket, but finding that right area for a particular pitch can be a long and arduous process for even the best of bowlers. Bumrah had himself taken his time finding it on day one.It was almost inevitable, however, that he would find it as soon as day two dawned. His six-over spell in the morning was all but unplayable, with 14 of his 30 balls inducing false shots, and two of them sending back Australia’s openers.He drew Usman Khawaja onto the front foot and got him feeling for the ball three times in a row, beating his bat with the last two balls of his first over of the day and finding his edge of the first ball of his second.An over later, Nathan McSweeney had fallen to Bumrah for the fourth time in his five-innings Test career, squaring up and edging an away-seamer to second slip, where Virat Kohli took the first of his three catches on the day. Bumrah had bowled five overs on day one, but McSweeney had only faced three balls from him. Now he was out, having been exposed to his nemesis for three balls in a row, leaving their overall Test-match head-to-head reading 52 balls, 12 runs, four dismissals.A tense period followed, with Labuschagne and Smith putting on 37 off 89 balls, with their doggedness at leaving the ball on length standing out as the main feature of their partnership. It may not have made the pulse race, but it served an important function for Australia, allowing Head to walk in when the ball was 33.2 overs old and doing significantly less than at the start of the day, and when the three main quicks had already bowled 29 overs between them.

While it might be something of a cliché, this season does feel like it’s going to be Nottingham Forest’s most important in a very long time.

Nuno Espírito Santo’s side will need to prove that their form in the Premier League last year was no fluke, and on top of that, they’ll want to go as far as they possibly can in the Europa League.

Fortunately, there’s no reason to suspect that the Tricky Trees won’t be as good as they were last season, especially since the talismanic Morgan Gibbs-White is set to remain at the City Ground for the foreseeable future.

Moreover, while losing Anthony Elanga isn’t ideal, the club now look set to land someone who could be the perfect replacement.

Forest target perfect Elanga replacement

While the Gibbs-White saga has understandably dominated the headlines when it comes to Forest this summer, the club have made several smart additions to Nuno’s team so far.

Transfer Focus

Jair Cunha, for example, looks like he could develop into a useful defender for the side, while Dan Ndoye and Igor Jesus produced a combined tally of 25 goal involvements last season, which could make all the difference this year.

However, there are still just over two weeks until the window slams shut, and the Tricky Trees seem intent on making the most of that time, reportedly set to welcome Ipswich Town’s Omari Hutchinson to the club, alongside Arnaud Kalimuendo.

Yet, according to a recent report from mainland Europe, Forest are also closing in on signing Dilane Bakwa.

The Belgian journalist has revealed that, while the club have seen their €26m + €5m (£22m + £4m) rejected by Strasbourg, the two clubs are now much “closer to an agreement” than before, and the transfer is now “almost there.”

While Tavolieri does not mention what the final fee for the French winger is likely to be, a story from L’Équipe from earlier this month claimed that the French side value him at up to €35m, which is about £35m, and while that is a lot of money, Bakwa would be worth it.

Why Bakwa would be a perfect Elanga replacement

So, while there is no debating that Elanga was brilliant for Forest last season and one of their most important attackers, it certainly appears that not only would Bakwa be a great replacement, but potentially even an upgrade.

For example, when it comes to their pure output last season, which is fundamentally what matters most for any attacker, it’s the Frenchman who comes out on top.

In his 31 appearances for Strasbourg, the dangerous “diamond,” as dubbed by journalist Zach Lowy, scored six goals and provided nine assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.06 games.

In contrast, the Swedish international scored six goals and provided 12 assists, but did so in 43 appearances, which comes out to a far less impressive average of a goal involvement every 2.38 games.

However, it’s not just their output that paints the 22-year-old in a better light, as he comes out comfortably on top when we take a look under the hood at their underlying numbers.

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.41

0.36

Progressive Passes

4.66

2.27

Progressive Passes Received

8.99

8.24

Progressive Carries

3.86

3.67

Shots

1.87

1.58

Shots on Target

0.79

0.86

Passing Accuracy

72.9%

65.3%

Key Passes

1.70

1.80

Passes into the Final Third

2.42

1.15

Passes into the Penalty Area

1.44

0.94

Crosses into the Penalty Area

0.36

0.29

Live Passes

34.7

25.1

Shot-Creating Actions

3.97

3.67

Goal-Creating Actions

0.58

0.65

Tackles

0.94

0.68

Blocks

0.76

0.40

Interceptions

0.54

0.22

Clearances

0.97

0.90

Successful Take-Ons

1.81

0.90

In fact, it’s not even close, as the Créteil-born gem comes out ahead in almost every single relevant metric, including but not limited to non-penalty goals plus assists, progressive passes and carries, shot-creating actions, tackles, interceptions and more, all per 90.

In other words, the Ligue 1 ace looks to already be a relatively complete winger, who is as capable of creating chances as he is scoring them, and has no problem tracking back to do his defensive work either.

Ultimately, while he might cost them a little more than they were planning, Forest should be doing all they can to sign Bakwa as soon as possible, as not only does he look like the perfect replacement for Elanga, but he is also a potential upgrade.

Their new Gibbs-White: Nottingham Forest in race to land £30m star on loan

The hugely exciting gem could be a game-changer for Forest this season.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Aug 14, 2025

It’s been a frustrating transfer window for Newcastle United so far.

The Magpies have signed Anthony Elanga from Nottingham Forest for £55m, but have missed out on countless other targets.

Now though, could Eddie Howe be about to land his second addition of a key summer, as he prepares to lead his side back into the Champions League?

Newcastle's search for a new attacker

As outlined by Luke Edwards of the Telegraph, this transfer window has been a complete ‘nightmare’ for Newcastle United so far.

With James Trafford seemingly set to return to Manchester City, this would be the seventh transfer target the Magpies have missed out on already, after failed attempts to bring Liam Delap, João Pedro, Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Dean Huijsen to Tyneside.

The most high-profile pursuit was of Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitiké, with David Ornstein of the Athletic reporting that the two clubs had agreed a £65m fee for the forward, but the Frenchman is now poised to join Liverpool instead.

Transfer Focus

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

Thus, as they continue their search for a new attacker, Ben Jacobs of Give Me Sport is reporting that Newcastle have had a £25m bid rejected for Brentford striker Yoane Wissa, although they are “optimistic” a deal can be finalised for around £30m, with the player “open” to the move.

Elsewhere, Sam Dean of the Telegraph notes that the DR Congo international has left the Bees’ pre-season training camp in Portugal, suggesting he will soon be on the move, continuing the mass exodus from West London, following Thomas Frank, Mbeumo, Christian Nørgaard and Mark Flekken out the exit door.

Wissa has previously netted three times against Newcastle, two of which came last season, but could he soon be turning out at St James’ Park bedecked in black and white stripes?

How Yoane Wissa would improve Newcastle

Since joining Brentford from Lorient in the summer of 2021, straight after the Bees’ promotion to the Premier League, he has scored 49 goals in 149 appearances for the club.

Last season, by virtue of netting 19 times in the Premier League, his best-ever haul in a single campaign, he very much ranked amongst the division’s very best strikers, as the table below documents.

Yoane Wissa 2024/25 Premier League statistics
Statistics	Wissa	PL rank
Minutes	2,919	55th
Goals	19	6th
Non-penalty goals	19	=2nd
Shots	90	10th
Shots on target	51	5th
Goals-per-shot	0.21	8th
Expected goals	18.5	4th
All statistics courtesy of FBref.com

As the table outlines, Wissa ranked highly for all attacking metrics last season, with only Mohamed Salah scoring more non-penalty goals, joint alongside Erling Braut Håland and potential future teammate Alexander Isak for this metric.

Then-Brentford boss Frank labelled his form “remarkable”, adding “I definitely think he is best as a number ninw” given that he has “got that nose for goals”.

Meantime, David Astill of Total Football Analysis describes him as ‘prolific’, while analyst Ben Mattinson asserts that he is “massively underrated”, impressed by his dynamic runs in-behind and excellent “finishing” ability.

The key question still remains: how does he compare to Ekitiké? Let’s find out.

Yoane Wissa vs Hugo Ekitiké 2024/25 comparison (league only)
Statistics	Wissa	Ekitiké
Minutes	2,927	2,578
Goals	19	15
Non-penalty goals	19	14
Goals – xG	+0.5	-6.6
Shots	69	87
Shots on target %	62.32%	55.17%
Shot conversion rate	27.54%	17.24%
Big chances missed	17	16
Touches	1,020	1,155
% of touches in the box	16%	18%
Average Sofascore rating	7.16	7.27
Statistics courtesy of Squawka and SofaScore

As the table outlines, while Ekitiké’s statistics are impressive, hence why he is on his way to Liverpool for a reported fee of £79m, it’s actually Wissa who is the more clinical centre-forward.

Ekitiké ranked dead-last across all of Europe’s top five leagues last season when it came to goals – xG, with a figure of -6.6, according to FBref.com, which has to be a slight concern.

Wissa, on the other hand, overperformed his xG, albeit only by +0.5, while scoring more goals and finding the target with a higher proportion of his shots.

Of course, Wissa is 28 years old, 29 in September, while Ekitiké’s 23rd birthday came as recently as last month, so Liverpool are paying a premium for potential, but if Newcastle want a striker to come in now and improve their options, Wissa is surely their man.

Their new Ba: Newcastle confident of signing "remarkable" £50m star

Newcastle are weighing up a move for Brentford’s star man after move for Ekitike falls through.

By
Will Miller

Jul 23, 2025