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A hugely influential Aston Villa player is now believed to be close to signing a new contract at the club, in a significant new development.

Aston Villa fans banned from European game

The Villans return to Premier League action on Sunday afternoon, making the trip to Tottenham for a tough game, but a key update has emerged regarding the Europa League.

On Thursday, Villa’s official website released a statement confirming that supporters won’t be able to go to the home clash with Maccabi Tel Aviv next month, due to safety reasons.

“Aston Villa can confirm the club has been informed that no away fans may attend the UEFA Europa League match with Maccabi Tel Aviv on Thursday, November 6, following an instruction from the Safety Advisory Group.The Safety Advisory Group (SAG) are responsible for issuing safety certificates for every match at Villa Park, based on a number of physical and safety factors.

“Following a meeting this afternoon, the SAG have formally written to the club and UEFA to advise no away fans will be permitted to attend Villa Park for this fixture. West Midlands Police have advised the SAG that they have public safety concerns outside the stadium bowl and the ability to deal with any potential protests on the night.

“The club are in continuous dialogue with Maccabi Tel Aviv and the local authorities throughout this ongoing process, with the safety of supporters attending the match and the safety of local residents at the forefront of any decision.”

Away from safety issues and on-pitch matters, a huge update has now dropped regarding the future of one of the most popular players at Villa.

Aston Villa hero close to signing new contract

According to The Telegraph‘s John Percy, John McGinn is now “close” to signing a new deal at Aston Villa, also describing him as “one of the bargains of the decade” on X.

The 30-year-old’s current contract expires at the end of this season, but it looks as though his stay at Villa Park will now continue beyond 2026.

This has to be considered great news, considering the leadership, experience and quality that McGinn has flowing through him at this point in his career.

Granted, he may not be at the absolute peak of his powers now, which is no great shock at his age, but that’s not to say that he doesn’t still have a huge amount to offer.

McGinn has been a magnificent signing since arriving for only £2.5m from Hibernian in 2018, and as Percy alludes to, he has been an unbelievable bargain, and there is still plenty more to come.

Related Forget Rogers: Aston Villa's "explosive" star looks like another Grealish

One new signing is emerging as Aston Villa’s next Grealish-type creator under Unai Emery

Posts ByWill Miller Oct 17, 2025

If the midfielder can help Villa win a trophy or two before his time at the club is up, he has every chance of departing as a genuine legend in the future.

Big picture: RR’s problems keep getting bigger

That things haven’t quite gone to plan for Rajasthan Royals (RR) in IPL 2025 is known. Barring Yashasvi Jaiswal, their top order has underperformed, the bowlers have consistently struggled, and they are languishing in the bottom half of the points table. If that isn’t enough, they are sweating over captain Sanju Samson’s fitness as they get ready to host a resurgent Lucknow Super Giants (LSG).Samson was forced to retire after hurting his side in RR’s previous game, against Delhi Capitals (DC). Rahul Dravid confirmed at the pre-match press conference that Samson “experienced a bit of pain in the abdominal area”. He further said that Samson had undergone scans, and his availability would be decided based on the reports.If Samson does not recover in time, Riyan Parag is expected to take over the captaincy reins. Parag led RR in the first three games of the season, with Samson recovering from a finger injury. At the time, Samson had batted as an Impact Player and did not keep wicket.Related

• Samson set to miss RR's game against LSG; Parag to lead again

• Nitish Rana 'okay' to bat at any position for Royals

• Jaffer: Pant 'needs to get better at rotating strike'

• Mayank Yadav likely to play against Royals

• Royals unsure if Samson will play LSG game

If he is not fit, then who replaces Samson? There is Shubham Dubey, who has been coming in as an Impact Player for RR, but he isn’t a top-order batter. Then there is Kunal Singh Rathore, the 22-year-old wicketkeeper-batter. The other option is for one of Parag or Nitish Rana, or even Dhruv Jurel, to open the batting with Dubey slotting in the middle order.RR do have a readymade opener in Vaibhav Suryavanshi, but he is only 14 and untested. Will RR risk such a young player in a game where a loss could derail their season? They have just two wins in seven games so far and a loss would mean having to do a lot of catching up for the playoffs.For LSG, who started the season without Akash Deep, Mayank Yadav, and Avesh Khan, and lost Mohsin Khan, they have held their own quite brilliantly. After seven games, they have won four and lost three and a win will take them to ten points. With Mayank back in the mix, they now also have an almost full-strength bowling unit to choose from.It didn’t seem that way when the season started, but LSG now have a solid chance to make it to the playoffs. Nicholas Pooran and Mitchell Marsh have scored 652 runs between them. The middle order has been dependable, while spinners Digvesh Rathi and Ravi Bishnoi have been more than a handful.LSG are coming into the game having suffered a defeat to Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at home. They will want to make amends against a patchy RR side.2:43

Cricinformed: Nicholas Pooran, the unstoppable force

Form guide

Rajasthan Royals LLLWW
Lucknow Super Giants LWWWL

New loyalties

Yudhvir Singh was part of LSG in IPL 2024 and is now with RR. Avesh, who has been key in LSG’s fast-bowling lineup this season, was part of RR last year.

In the spotlight: Yashasvi Jaiswal and Mayank Yadav

Yashasvi Jaiswal‘s form was always going to be critical in RR’s fortunes but with the top order misfiring, it becomes even more crucial. Jaiswal had a poor start to his season with scores of 1, 29 and 4, but has since scored three fifties in his next four innings and looks fluent.Jaiswal scored 75 the last time he was in Jaipur on what was a tacky surface. He has a handy record here – two fifties and a hundred in 11 IPL innings – and would want to step up.Mayank Yadav had a breakthrough IPL 2024 where he touched the 156.7kph mark on the speed gun and regularly breached 150 clicks. He played just four matches, in which he picked up back-to-back Player-of-the-Match awards in his first two games, and seven wickets in all. It got Mayank an India debut against Bangladesh in October last year.However, since then, he has been down first with a back injury and then a toe injury. But he is now back and expected to play a pivotal part in LSG’s push for a playoffs spot. He joined the team on Tuesday and his express pace adds a new dimension to what has already shaped up to be a more than handy bowling attack.2:51

Pujara: Parag could open the batting for Royals

Team news and likely XIIs

Despite the loss against CSK, LSG are unlikely to make too many changes to their starting XI. Mayank is almost certain to make his IPL 2025 debut. He is likely to come in place of Akash Deep, who has seemed off the mark since returning from a back injury.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 Avesh Khan, 10 Mayank Yadav, 11 Digvesh Rathi, 12 Ravi BishnoiRR could bring in Akash Madhwal or Yudhvir in place of Tushar Deshpande, who has hardly inspired any confidence so far this season. If Samson is not fit, Jurel is likely to don the wicketkeeping gloves. Kumar Kartikeya is expected to come in as the impact sub.Rajasthan Royals: 1 Yashasvi Jaiswal, 2 Sanju Samson (capt, wk)/Vaibhav Suryavanshi/Shubham Dubey, 3 Nitish Rana, 4 Riyan Parag, 5 Dhruv Jurel, 6 Shimron Hetmyer, 7 Wanindu Hasaranga, 8 Jofra Archer, 9 Maheesh Theekshana, 10 Sandeep Sharma, 11 Tushar Deshpande/Akash Madhwal, 12 Kumar Kartikeya

The big question

Pitch and conditions

There has been only one game so far this season in Jaipur – a day game – where RR went down by nine wickets against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). The pitch felt a touch two-paced but eased out as the evening progressed. The Sawai Man Singh Stadium isn’t historically a high-scoring venue. Since IPL 2023, the average first-innings score here has been 179. There is a warning in Jaipur for excessive heat, but the temperatures should drop by the time the match gets underway. Dew could be a factor later in the evening.

Stats and trivia

• Pooran is just one away from 9000 T20 runs
• Pooran has fallen to Jofra Archer three times in seven T20 innings and averages just 13 with a strike rate of 108 against the quick
• Nitish Rana has fallen to Avesh twice in five IPL innings
• Bishnoi has the wood over Shimron Hetmyer in T20s, having dismissed him three times in six innings – Hetmyer has an average of 8.00 and a strike rate of 65 against the legspinner
• RR have the third-best run rate in the powerplay (9.69) and third-worst run rate in the middle-overs (7.39) in IPL 2025

Quotes

“We have suffered a little bit with our death bowling. I think that is another area for us that we need to get slightly better with, working with slightly more in execution. I think our plans have been pretty good. It is just more around the execution of some of those skills. A lot of teams are going for runs, but it is those extra 15-16 runs that we seem to go for. Even if, say, for example, a 57-60 is acceptable in the last five overs, it has become almost a norm now. We seem to go for 72-77. “

Big picture – CSK, RR search for right combination

This is a contest between two sides who’ve hit an early speed bump in IPL 2025.Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) biggest home defeat, to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on Friday night, has raised questions about team combination. Why is Ruturaj Gaikwad batting at No. 3? Can he open with Devon Conway, instead, with Rachin Ravindra dropping down a spot?Is No. 6 the best spot for Shivam Dube, who reinvented himself as a spin basher during their run to the title in 2023? And what exactly is the deal with MS Dhoni, who came in as late as No. 9 against RCB?These questions make it seem like CSK’s situation is dire, but they’re at least on the board unlike Rajasthan Royals (RR), who have suffered two back-to-back defeats. Yashasvi Jaiswal is yet to hit top form, stand-in captain Riyan Parag has a new role at No. 3.There’s also a question mark on Shimron Hetmyer’s batting position – and whether batting too low. Is their batting bench among the weakest? They don’t have another overseas batting cover, while their two Indian options – 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Kunal Singh Rathore – are inexperienced. What of their strategy of playing a batter less while taking first strike even with the Impact Player rule?These are unusually long lists of questions for teams to grapple with this early in the season. RR will draw solace from hitting 242 in their chase of 287 against Sunrisers Hyderabad. CSK, meanwhile, have little downtime considering they arrive in Guwahati only on match eve. The long flight to the far east could prove challenging.

New loyalties – Tushar Deshpande, Maheesh Theekshana

Seamer Tushar Deshpande, who went from being net bowler to Dhoni’s trusted ally, is now playing for RR. Dube, former RR player, is now a fixture in the CSK line-up. Then there’s Maheesh Theekshana, CSK’s powerplay specialist, now playing for RR in a similar role.Ruturaj Gaikwad has moved down to No.3 to accommodate Rahul Tripathi and Rachin Ravindra•AFP/Getty Images

Team news and likely XIIs

CSK are not known to chop-and-change, but there’s a case to bring in Conway for Sam Curran. This could potentially also lead to playing Vijay Shankar as the batting allrounder or Anshul Kamboj as the bowling allrounder, with Impact Sub Rahul Tripathi playing as a floater.Chennai Super Kings (probable): 1 Rachin Ravindra 2 Devon Conway, 3 Ruturaj Gaikwad (capt), 4 Rahul Tripathi/Vijay Shankar, 5 Shivam Dube, 6 Ravindra Jadeja, 7 MS Dhoni (wk), 8 Anshul Kamboj, 9 R Ashwin, 10 Noor Ahmad, 11 Khaleel Ahmed, 12 Matheesha PathiranaSanju Samson will likely be their Impact Player for a bowling option. Given the previous game in Guwahati was dominated by Kolkata Knight Riders’ spinners, maybe RR could consider bringing in Kumar Kartikeya.Rjasthan Royals (probable):1 Sanju Samson, 2 Yashasvi Jaiswal, 3 Riyan Parag (capt), 4 Nitish Rana, 5 Dhruv Jurel (wk), 6 Shimron Hetmyer, 7 Shubham Dubey, 8 Wanindu Hasaranga, 9 Jofra Archer, 10 Maheesh Theekshana, 11 Sandeep Sharma, 12 Kumar Kartikeya/Tushar Deshpande

Big question

Will Gaikwad slot back up to open the batting for CSK? In any case, he’s come in to bat in the second over in both the games so far.

In the spotlight – Riyan Parag and Rahul Tripathi

Riyan Parag’s first stint as IPL captain – albeit stand-in – has gotten off to a challenging start. He’s also now got the responsibility of being a pace-setter at No. 3, as against No. 4 where he had much success last year. He has scores of 4 and 25 in his first two outings, but needs no bigger motivation than another chance to score in front of his home crowd.Rahul Tripathi made his name in the IPL as an opener, when he came in midway through 2017 and spurred Rising Pune Supergiant’s run to the final. He has since moved to multiple teams – KKR, RR, SRH and now CSK – but is yet to find the stability he’d like. Two single-digit scores to kick off a new season has put him in a spot. CSK aren’t known to fiddle with their playing XI too much, and therein lies another opportunity for him to come good.Yashasvi Jaiswal is yet to hit top form this IPL•BCCI

Pitch and conditions

Moeen Ali saved KKR from missing Sunil Narine three nights ago in Guwahati. Varun Chakravarthy was able to get some assistance when he bowled a lot slower. CSK may find these conditions to be more like “home” than Chepauk, which coach Stephen Fleming believes hasn’t given them any “advantage.”

Key stats

• Wanindu Hasaranga’s 90 wickets are the most in T20s since 2024.
• Khaleel Ahmed’s 11 wickets are the best by a current CSK bowler in the powerplay in IPL since 2024.
• Dhoni is now CSK’s highest run-scorer. He surpassed Suresh Raina’s tally of 4687 runs during his 16-ball 30 against RCB.

Next three fixtures

This is Royals’ last game this season in Guwahati. They fly to Mullanpur and Ahmedabad to play a couple of away games against Punjab Kings and Gujarat Titans before flying home to Jaipur for their first match of IPL 2025 there, against RCB.CSK alternate between home and away fixtures after this. They fly home to host Delhi Capitals in an afternoon match on Saturday before taking on PBKS three days later. They then go back home to play KKR on April 11 in Chennai.

Quotes

“Just because we don’t swing from ball one and have a little bit of luck go away… we’ll see at the end who wins. It’s a positive brand of cricket, no doubt about it, but don’t discount us.”

Liam Scott’s brisk half-century boosted the home side’s total then the bowling attack was outstanding

AAP01-Mar-2025Nathan McSweeney’s game-changing cameo with the ball helped South Australia defeat Victoria by 64 runs to collect the state’s first one-day cricket title in 13 years.SA, with Harry Nielsen, Jake Lehmann and Liam Scott making half-centuries, posted 268 for 7 in Saturday’s battle for the inaugural Dean Jones Trophy.Victoria were bowled out for 204 in 43.3 overs in reply at Adelaide Oval as SA captured their first 50-over trophy since 2011/12.Victoria’s run chase, with Marcus Harris flying on 41 from 42 balls, was well on track at 74 for 1 in the 14th over. But McSweeney, who hadn’t taken a wicket all tournament with his gentle offspin, then provided an unlikely – and decisive – turn.Harris gave himself room to hit McSweeney through the offside, but smacked the ball straight to Jason Sangha at cover. In his next over, McSweeney dismissed dangerman Peter Handscomb for 1. The SA captain instinctively flung his right hand at a lofted straight drive, parried the ball, and completed a stunning catch on the second grab.Five overs later, Victorian opener Campbell Kellaway top-edged a pull shot from the bowling of Brendan Doggett and was caught by wicketkeeper Nielsen. Soon after, Sam Harper was taken by Nielsen when attempting a leg glance from Nathan McAndrew.Liam Scott struck an unbeaten 54 off 37 balls•Getty ImagesVictoria had lost 4 for 30 in a sudden slide to 108 for 5 in the 24th over and were never in the hunt thereafter, despite captain Will Sutherland’s 50 from 52 balls.McSweeney finished with figures of 2 for 14 from four overs, McAndrew took 3 for 47 from eight overs and Henry Thornton claimed 4-27 from 9.3 overs to be named the first winner of the Michael Bevan medal as player of the final.In SA’s innings, Nielsen top-scored with 68 from 93 balls, Lehmann made 67 from 75 and allrounder Scott, the player of the tournament, finished with a flourish with an unbeaten 54 from 37 deliveries.Victorian captain Sutherland took three of the initial four wickets and veteran Peter Siddle claimed 3 for 40.SA made a solid start with openers Nielsen and Mackenzie Harvey putting on 44 runs before Sutherland struck in the eighth over. Harvey, who hit two fours and a six in his 23 from 23 balls, chopped on to his stumps when attempting to force through the off-side.Sutherland claimed Daniel Drew in the 14th over and McSweeney soon followed. When Sangha fell to Sutherland, SA were wobbling 118 for 4 in the 26th over, before Nielsen and Lehmann steadied with a 56-run partnership.Lehmann later combined with Scott for a brisk 67-run stand, with the latter reaching his half-century from 36 balls in a flurry featuring seven fours and a six.

MatériaMais Notícias

Apesar das críticas da torcida corintiana ao lateral Fagner, o Timão não tem um bom aproveitamento quando o jogador começa no banco de reservas. No confronto diante do Flamengo, no último domingo (21), o Corinthians perdeu a sua segunda partida não tendo o camisa 23 na equipe inicial, que perdeu a titularidade para o uruguaio Bruno Méndez.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasFora de CampoRede Globo tem bom nível de audiência na transmissão de Flamengo x Corinthians; confiraFora de Campo22/05/2023ListasFlamengo x Corinthians bate recorde: veja os 20 maiores públicos do Brasileirão 2023 até aquiListas22/05/2023Fora de CampoCraque Neto diz que Corinthians ‘amassou’ o FlamengoFora de Campo22/05/2023

+ Com Luxemburgo garantido e elenco confiante, Corinthians prioriza Brasileirão em relação aos mata-matas

O Corinthians soma duas derrotas, uma vitória e um empate quando Fagner começa no banco. Mesmo sendo o garçom do time na temporada com seis assistências, o lateral vem sendo criticado pela torcida e deve ser mantido na reserva no próximo duelo do Timão caso Bruno Méndez tenha condições de jogo.

O zagueiro uruguaio, que vem jogando improvisado por escolha do técnico Vanderlei Luxemburgo, saiu no segundo tempo da partida contra o Rubro-Negro sentindo dores. Fagner entrou apenas nos minutos finais. Após o confronto, Luxa justificou a opção pela linha de quatro jogadores com Bruno Méndez, Gil, Murillo e Matheus Bidu.

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– Botei o Bruno, que já jogou de lateral, eu precisava de três zagueiros, o Flamengo é muito forte – disse Vanderlei Luxemburgo.

No Maracanã, o treinador do Timão mudou o esquema tático da equipe de 4-3-3 para 4-4-2. Luxemburgo alterou não só a linha defensiva, deixando Fagner e Fábio Santos no banco para as entradas de Méndez e Bidu, como também o ataque, já que optou por escalar Róger Guedes e Yuri Alberto juntos.

+ Corinthians: Luxemburgo volta atrás e tenta encaixar Yuri Alberto e Róger Guedes no time titular

O Corinthians se prepara para o duelo de ‘vida ou morte’ na Libertadores. O Alvinegro entra em campo nesta quarta-feira (24), contra o Argentino Juniors, pela quarta rodada da fase de grupos. A partida será realizada no Estádio Diego Armando Maradona, em Buenos Aires, às 21h30 (de Brasília).

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Na terceira colocação do grupo E com apenas três pontos somados, o Timão vai em busca da sua segunda vitória na competição continental visando a classificação para as oitavas de final.

+ Clique aqui e saiba como apostar em jogos de futebol

Tudo sobre

CorinthiansFagner

Lord Alan Sugar has accused Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp of being a "double barrel idiot". The Apprentice star took umbrage with the former Spurs midfielder's suggestion that the club under Lord sugar's leadership was in a "right mess". Redknapp made the comments while discussing Daniel Levy's exit from Tottenham ahead of the club's 3-0 victory over West Ham.

• What did Lord Sugar post about Redknapp?

  Lord Sugar, a lifelong Tottenham fan as well as chairman and part-owner of the club from 1991 to 2001, took to X to vent his frustration with Redknapp. As well as insulting the pundit, who represented Spurs from 2002-2005, the business magnate threatened legal action. 

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Lord Sugar's tenure at Tottenham

  Lord Sugar took over the north London club after a lengthy bidding war with media baron Robert Maxwell. Alongside the team's manager Terry Venables, he gained control of Tottenham in June 1991. Lord Sugar's time at the club was full of controversy, most notably, a public falling out with Venables in 1993, as well as star player Teddy Sheringham citing the chairman as the reason he left the club in 1997. In February 2001, Lord Sugar stepped down as chairman and sold his majority stake to current owners ENIC. In 2007, he sold his remaining shares, later describing his time at Tottenham as "a waste of my life". 

• Redknapp's time at Spurs

  Redknapp joined Spurs shortly after ENIC's purchase of the club.  He made 48 appearances for Tottenham, from 2002-2004. Over the three seasons he spent at White Hart Lane, the club finished ninth, 14th and tenth. 

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  What next for Redknapp and Lord Sugar?

  It is unclear on what legal grounds Lord Sugar feels he can pursue Redknapp, who was simply stating his opinion. For all of the negativity that has surrounded Levy's tenure over the past few seasons, it would take a particularly bitter or contrarian Spurs fan to suggest Levy has not left the club in a demonstrably better situation than he found it in. 

أعرب ماركوس راشفورد مهاجم برشلونة عن سعادته بقيادة الفريق للفوز على نيوكاسل يونايتد بهدفين لهدف واحد في الجولة الأولى بمرحلة الدوري لبطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا.

وقال راشفورد في تصريحات نشرتها “بي بي سي” البريطانية بعد اللقاء: “اللعب مع برشلونة تجربة رائعة ولطالما كنت من أشد المعجبين بالنادي، نريد الفوز بأكثر كم ممكن من المباريات”.

وأضاف: “يريد المشجعون رؤية الفريق يفوز ويلعب كرة قدم جيدة، هذا ليس ملعباً سهلاً للعب عليه، كان الشوط الأول حذراً، من الصعب جداً اللعب ضد هذا الفريق”.

أقرأ أيضاً.. فليك: ارتكبنا أخطاء كثيرة أمام نيوكاسل.. وتوقعت سيناريو المباراة

وواصل عن تسجيل الهدف الثاني الرائع :”للحظة، شعرت بوجود ثغرة، فكرت في محاولة التسديد، كان لاعبهم يحاول منع التسديدة، وحاولت أن أقوم برفع التسديدة وأتدرب على ذلك طوال مسيرتي”.

وأكد راشفورد: “أنا متحمس للغاية، متحمس وجودة الفريق تثير حماسي، من الممتع جداً اللعب مع هؤلاء اللاعبين”.

وأثنى المهاجم الإنجليزي على مدربه هانز فليك: “إنه مدرب من الطراز الرفيع، ومدير فني من الطراز الأول”.

وختم عن طموحات برشلونة في دوري أبطال أوروبا، قائلا: “الفوز به فقط، لا شيء آخر يشغل بالنا”.

Leeds United have now made an approach to sign an “incredible” goalkeeper, who has been identified as a leading target alongside Lyon’s Lucas Perri, according to a report.

Leeds looking for upgrade on Illan Meslier

It has become apparent that Leeds will look to find a replacement for the error-prone Illan Meslier this summer, and journalist Luke Entwistle believes Lyon shot-stopper Perri could be a suitable option.

Entwistle said: “He’s an interesting shout for Leeds in particular. They obviously need a goalkeeper, and I’m sure they’ll be wary of having someone who can’t use their feet, and I’m not saying that he’s in that category, but he did have a few hairy moments.

“I do think he would nonetheless be an upgrade on Meslier in that regard and also in terms of his shot-stopping.”

The Brazilian goalkeeper was identified as the Whites’ number one target to replace Meslier last week, and there have been suggestions that he could be available for a fee of around £20m, given Lyon’s significant financial issues.

Leeds want to sign "amazing" attacker who was once Europa League top scorer

The Whites have identified a new transfer target to bolster their midfield options.

ByBrett Worthington Jul 14, 2025

However, the 27-year-old is not the only option on the shortlist, with a report from TEAMtalk revealing that Leeds have also identified Angers SCO goalkeeper Yahia Fofana as a leading target alongside Perri.

Fofana may be available for a lower fee than the Lyon goalkeeper, with previous reports suggesting he could cost just £8m, and the Whites have now approached Angers to discuss a potential deal.

Perri remains Daniel Farke’s first-choice target, but the Ivorian goalkeeper moving to Elland Road is deemed more likely than Nick Pope, with the 33-year-old determined to stay at Newcastle United ahead of a Champions League campaign.

There is also interest in Meslier from France and Italy, with Leeds now actively trying to get the Frenchman off the books this summer, although none of the interested parties are currently in advanced talks.

"Incredible" Fofana could be solid Perri alternative

Having previously been lauded as “incredible” by U23 football scout Antonio Mango, the 24-year-old went on to have a very impressive 2024-25 campaign at Angers, with fellow scout Ben Mattinson singling him out for high praise.

With an average SofaScore rating of 7.28 in Ligue 1, the Paris-born goalkeeper was by far the best-performing Angers player last term, and his potential availability for just £8m means he would be a low-cost addition to Farke’s squad.

As such, if Perri is unattainable, Fofana could be a fantastic alternative, with the goalkeeper clearly ready to test himself in the Premier League.

Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin is now in the final month of his contract, although it remains to be seen whether he will stay with the club.

The striker has been with the Toffees since 2016, and if his near-ten-year association with the club was to end this summer, David Moyes will have big shoes to fill.

By all accounts, he endured a difficult 2024/25 campaign and, judging by that form, he might not be too much of a miss.

Why Dominic Calvert-Lewin must leave Everton

The centre-forward reportedly has other Premier League clubs showing interest in him, Newcastle among them.

Last season was a major struggle for the Englishman. Across 26 league matches last term, Calvert-Lewin scored just three goals and grabbed two assists.

He finished the season with an 8% goal conversion rate, while missing 16 big chances, averaging just 0.8 shots on target per game and creating one big chance.

In this form, moving on his massive £120k-per-week wages would surely give Moyes plenty of room for manoeuvre in the transfer window.

If so, the Scot would be looking to bring in a striker or two to replace the 27-year-old ahead of next season.

It appears as though the Merseyside outfit have enquired about the availability of a player who has attracted plenty of attention…

Everton looking at Calvert-Lewin replacements

Recent reports have suggested that Everton are looking at Villarreal striker Thierno Barry with an approach having been made to sign him last week. If a deal cannot be done there, who’s the alternative?

Transfer Focus

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

Well, according to the Mirror, Everton have made an enquiry regarding striker Adama Bojang, although West Ham United and Brentford are also keen on the youngster.

The Gambia starlet played for Swiss side Grasshoppers on loan last term and could be available for as little as £11m this summer.

Given his potential and room for development, this could be a shrewd move by Moyes, no doubt about that. But, might Bojang emerge as an ideal replacement for Calvert-Lewin?

The 21-year-old certainly impressed for Grasshoppers last term. Across 26 league games, he found the back of the net on six occasions, while registering two assists in the process.

Like Calvert-Lewin, he was hardly prolific, but a young fresh face could be precisely the direction Moyes needs to head in. After all, he’s already been hailed as the “Gambian hurricane” and also lauded as an “insane talent” by U23 scout Antonio Mango. So, Adama’s future looks incredibly bright.

He scored once every 212 minutes in the Swiss Super League last term, while finishing the season with a 15% goal conversion percentage, far better than Calvert-Lewin’s.

The striker also created five big chances for his teammates, missed just eight big chances and succeeded with 0.5 dribbles per game.

Raw, certainly, but it is evident that he has the tools required to make an impact in a big five European league.

£11m is a drop in the ocean for a club the size of Everton, and by signing Bojang, they will be getting a player who could see their value increase in a short space of time.

He might take a while to adjust to life in the Premier League, but as seen by his statistics last term, he performed better than Calvert-Lewin across several metrics. It is surely a no-brainer for Moyes.

Everton now eyeing £38m ace who Haaland thinks is "incredibly talented"

He’s impressed the Man City star.

By
Tom Cunningham

Jun 14, 2025

This summer presents a fresh start for Tottenham Hotspur, with Thomas Frank being appointed as the club’s new manager ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

Decisions in recent weeks have led to questions being asked of the hierarchy, after Ange Postecoglou was sacked despite winning the Europa League and ending their 17-year wait for a trophy.

Such an achievement was a remarkable one, but their Premier League form, which saw them lose 22 times and finish 17th, ultimately led to the Aussie’s dismissal in North London.

However, the arrival of the former Bees boss offers a new opportunity for fresh impetus within the first-team squad, as they look to build on their recent European triumph.

Frank will undoubtedly want to make the signings he desires to make a positive impact at the club, with numerous players already touted with moves away to free up potential funds this window.

The latest on players who could depart Spurs this summer

Despite starting in the Europa League final back in May, Brazilian forward Richarlison has been touted with multiple moves away from Spurs this summer, looking to recapture his best form, which saw the club fork out £60m for his signature.

The 28-year-old has since been linked with a move to rejoin former side Everton, with Frank potentially wanting to cash in on the attacker to raise money for any future additions.

However, another deal could soon be completed to see centre-back Cristian Romero depart and move to Atlético Madrid, that’s according to one report in Spain.

They claim that the Argentine, who earns £165k-per-week, is pushing for a move to join Diego Simeone’s side, that’s despite Daniel Levy’s desire to keep the defender.

It also states that he sees the LaLiga side as a stepping stone in his career to win titles and compete at the top level on a consistent basis – following in the footsteps of another fan-favourite.

Why Romero could see a repeat of Kane’s departure

Striker Harry Kane was adored by the fanbase during his time at Spurs, rising through the ranks and cementing his place in the first-team, reaching unthinkable levels in the process.

The English international became an important back in 2014/15, a season that would set him up for huge success in North London, being a key threat in the final third for nearly a decade.

He managed to register a total of 280 goals for the Lilywhites, breaking the record for the most goals scored by a player in the club’s history, sitting second in the all-time Premier League top scorer charts.

However, after failing to win a trophy during his stint, he would move to Bayern Munich in an £82m deal back in the summer of 2023, looking to further his career and cement himself as an elite forward.

After winning the Bundesliga back in 2024/25, it’s safe to say he’s made the right call, something which may be a harsh reality for the fanbase, but such a move allowed them to bank a huge profit in the process.

However, such a situation could reoccur this summer, with Romero the latest player who could depart the club to reach the next level and compete for league titles.

The 27-year-old has been a tremendous addition for the club, featuring 124 times since making the move from Atalanta back in August 2021 – often being the spearhead at the heart of the defence.

Minutes played

90

Touches

30

Passes completed

12/13 (92%)

Tackles won

1/1 (100%)

Clearances made

10

Headed clearances

5

Defensive actions

13

Duels won

6

Undoubtedly, losing the World Cup winner would be a huge blow for new manager Frank, but the subsequent funds raised from such a deal could allow him to make the additions he desires.

Whilst he’s only featured 26 times across all competitions this season, he’s still managed to star, keeping a clean sheet and winning the Man of the Match award in the Europa League final.

No supporter would want to lose such a talent, but ultimately the club shouldn’t stand in the way of a player who wants to depart North London, needing talents who are willing to play a part in the revival.

The next couple of weeks will be interesting for the club and Romero, with the hierarchy needing to negotiate the best deal possible if he is to depart during the off-season.

Better than Semenyo: Spurs open talks to sign "one of the best wingers"

Tottenham are looking to sign a new forward this summer.

ByAngus Sinclair Jun 14, 2025