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After missing out on Eberechi Eze in the most frustrating way possible, Tottenham Hotspur have now reportedly held talks to sign a Champions League-winning alternative for Thomas Frank.

Frank issues "key message" after Eze snub

Earlier this summer, it looked as though Morgan Gibbs-White was destined to become a Tottenham player after they triggered an unexpected release clause, only for Nottingham Forest to step in and keep hold of their star man. As a result, the Lilywhites shifted their focus towards Crystal Palace’s Eze, seemingly jumping ahead of Arsenal.

Tottenham identify "cheaper" Savinho alternative after Man City decision

Spurs have been struggling to agree a deal with the Sky Blues.

ByEmilio Galantini Aug 23, 2025

Alas, just when they were nearing an agreement, Spurs missed out on their second big target of the summer and this time in the most frustrating fashion as Arsenal swooped in.

Losing out on Gibbs-White was a blow, but losing out on Eze to their North London rivals after doing everything to secure his signature would have handed Spurs fans a sickening feeling. Frank, however, has chosen to remain positive and reiterated his stance that he only wants to sign players who want to play for his side.

Frustrated or not, Daniel Levy and Spurs must simply go again in the transfer market. Following James Maddison’s lengthy injury, the Lilywhites undeniably need a No.10 to fill the England international’s role, and now that Eze is off the table, they must seek alternatives.

To that end, names such as Como’s Nico Paz have already been mentioned, as well as a Champions League winner who could yet arrive from PSG.

Tottenham hold talks to sign Kang-in Lee

As reported by Football Transfers, Tottenham have held talks to sign Kang-in Lee from Paris Saint-Germain in a deal worth around €50m (£43m) this month.

The South Korean winger recently showed Tottenham fans exactly what they would be getting after scoring an impressive effort to get PSG back in the game before they overcame Frank’s side on penalties to win the Super Cup.

What’s more, Lee has already earned the approval of countryman and former Tottenham captain Heung-min Son, who told reporters in 2023: “Kang-in Lee’s talent is incredible. I believe he could grow even further. We have to help him not to get too much pressure.”

Given that the winger is likely to lose out to the likes of Ousmane Dembélé and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia for a starting place at PSG, Tottenham could have the perfect opportunity to come swooping in and offer him a main role late on in the transfer window.

The start of Celtic’s competitive season is right around the corner.

A week on Sunday, the Hoops begin their Scottish Premiership title defence when they welcome St Mirren to Parkhead.

After that, they’ll travel to Pittodrie for a Scottish Cup Final rematch against Aberdeen, while there’s plenty more for supporters to get excited about throughout August, with an Old Firm derby at Ibrox and a Champions League play-off tie to come later in the month.

Thus, with the new season rapidly approaching, Brendan Rodgers is doubly eager to get his new recruits over the line.

Celtic's search for a new centre-forward

Ever since Kyōgo Furuhashi was sold to Stade Rennais for a reported fee of £10m in January, the Hoops have been in the market for a new striker.

Following last mid-week’s pre-season friendly victory over Stade Rennais, Rodgers stated that he wants “to add to our front line” having “lost a lot of goals” in recent months, given that Nicolas Kühn has also departed for Como for around £16.5m.

In terms of pure centre-forwards, Shin Yamada has arrived from Kawasaki Frontale for around £1.5m, so will challenge Adam Idah for the starting number nine spot, but Rodgers will still want more.

Mathias Kvistgaarden appeared to be their top target since January, but he has instead decided to join Norwich City from Brøndby for a reported fee of £6.9m, leaving the Scottish champions searching for an 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, Rodgers does have previous when it comes to unearthing unknown strikers as Celtic manager, namely signing Moussa Dembélé nine years ago, so could he be about to do something similar?

Could Celtic sign a highly-rated young striker?

As Celtic scour far and wide for a new striker, Sky Sports pundit Don Goodman claims they should go all in and sign Richard Kone from Wycombe Wanderers.

He believes, should he make the move to Glasgow, Kone “would thrive massively at that level” adding, given that Celtic “dominate games and create chances”, he would score plenty of goals.

Back in January, Luton Town had a £6m bid rejected by the Chairboys for Kone, according to Pete O’Rourke of Football Insider, likely to cost even more than that now.

To support this, a week ago, it was documented that Celtic have an interest in Kone, with the young marksman believed to be worth around £7m.

Speaking on CBS’ Morning Footy, Wycombe legend Adebayo Akinfenwa noted that “if Hollywood was going to have a script for a story, this would be it”, given that Kone arrived in England to represent Côte d’Ivoire at the Homeless World Cup in 2019.

He then represented Athletic Newham in the Essex Senior League, England’s ninth tier, for five years, before being scouted and signed by Wycombe in January 2024, following an extended trial.

Well, what a find this has proved to be, with the 22-year-old scoring 25 goals in 73 appearances for the Buckinghamshire-based EFL League One outfit, named both the division’s Player and Young Player of the Season, having netted 18 times in the league.

Let’s assess his statistics from League One last year to underline why he scooped up both accolades.

Goals

18

3rd

Shots

100

5th

Shots on target

40

5th

Shots per 90

3.28

3rd

Successful dribbles

44

16th

Big chances missed

16

6th

As the table notes, only two players, Charlie Kelman and Jay Stansfield, both of whom were playing for clubs who got promoted, scored more goals than Kone, while he ranked highly for every attacking metric included.

His performances certainly impressed writer Kai Watson, who labelled him a “mentality monster”, adding that “aggression, positioning and work rate” are amongst his strengths.

So why could he be a repeat of Dembélé’s arrival from 2016?

Well, before joining Celtic, the Frenchman had made just 64 senior appearances for Fulham, the vast majority of which had come at Championship level, so few could’ve forecast that he burst onto the scene as he did, scoring 32 goals during his first season at Celtic, five of which came in the Champions League.

Thus, there is certainly precedent for a young, inexperienced striker joining Celtic from the EFL and exploding into a top-class centre-forward.

If you’re not yet convinced by the déjà vu, listen to this; Kone’s non-league Athletic Newham are based on Atlético Madrid, they wear the same kit and their badge is nigh on identical, and with whom did Dembélé win La Liga? You guessed it!

Celtic now submit £1.5m bid to sign 17 G/A forward, they've had a response

The Hoops have made a formal approach for an attacker, who was regularly among the goals in the 2024-25 campaign.

ByDominic Lund Jul 23, 2025

After submitting an opening offer in pursuit of a key defensive reinforcement, Celtic have now reportedly received an instant response from a Serie A club.

Simpson-Pusey "over the moon" to join Celtic

Of course, it’s not just the one defensive reinforcement that the Bhoys are looking to welcome this month. They’ve already signed Jahmai Simpson-Pusey on loan from Manchester City. The 19-year-old centre-back impressed when called upon by Pep Guardiola last season and now has the chance to improve even further with more game time at Celtic.

After putting pen to paper, the Man City loanee told Celtic’s official website: “I had a long conversation with the manager and I liked what he was saying to me about the club.

“He told me how much he appreciates the club and how much Glasgow appreciates the club. I wanted to go somewhere where, if I’m playing, I’ll be appreciated, so I felt like this was the best option for me.

“This is a big opportunity. I want to come here and show my talent and my levels. It’ll be good for me to come and hopefully help the team to win the league again and do well in Europe. I’m over the moon really. I just want to come in here and get some wins.”

Simpson-Pusey represents Celtic’s seventh signing of the summer transfer window as they look to defend their Scottish Premiership title once again this season.

Celtic could unlock Idah's full potential with swoop for "exciting" £5m gem

Celtic could help to unlock Adam Idah’s full potential by signing this reported transfer target.

1 ByDan Emery Aug 7, 2025

On that front, Brendan Rodgers’ side enjoyed a dramatic, but solid start against St.Mirren. In a game that required Luke McCowan to emerge from the bench and find an 87th-minute winner, the Bhoys instantly took advantage of Rangers’ earlier draw to get their campaign off to a bright start.

It wasn’t a game without alarm bells, however, and it looks to have sent Rodgers and co. back to the transfer market for another defenisve addition this month.

Celtic receive response after Obert offer

According to CagliariNews24, as relayed by Sport Witness, Celtic have now seen their offer to sign Adam Obert rejected by Cagliari, who are looking for a significant offer to sell their 22-year-old centre-back this summer.

There is belief within Cagliari that Obert’s valuation will increase this season following an impressive campaign last time out. It is, therefore, a waiting game for Celtic, who may only be able to land the Slovakian international at a hiked price this summer.

Celtic’s interest in the young defender should come as no surprise. Having already featured in Italy’s top flight, Obert would form an impressive partnership with fellow youngster Simpson-Pusey. What both players lack in experience, they more than make up in potential and quality.

That said, after Cagliari instantly rejected their opening offer, it remains to be seen whether the Scottish champions will come back in with a second bid this month.

Newcastle United are preparing for life back in the Champions League in the 2025/26 season after a positive 12 months at St James’ Park.

Eddie Howe’s side ended the Magpies’ long wait for a trophy by lifting the EFL Cup, whereas they also finished in the top five in the Premier League to ensure a return to Europe’s biggest club competition.

As a result, PIF and co could be busy in the transfer market ahead of the new season, looking to ensure Newcastle can cope with their return to Europe.

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By
Charlie Smith

Oct 5, 2025

Now, Grok, the AI tool on X, has predicted Newcastle’s starting line-up ahead of their first Premier League game against Aston Villa on August 16.

AI predicts Newcastle’s 2025/26 line-up

1

GK: James Trafford

Expected to finally arrive at St James’ Park this summer after months of rumours is goalkeeper James Trafford.

The Englishman starred at Burnley in 24/25, conceding just 16 goals in 46 games, and his ‘ball-playing ability suits Howe’s evolving style’, so he has been backed to cost £30m and start ahead of Nick Pope.

2

RB: Tino Livramento

After helping England win the U21 European Championships this summer, Tino Livramento is set to keep his place in the XI ahead of Kieran Trippier.

Grok says ‘Livramento has emerged as a dynamic option’ for the Magpies and is still under contract for another three years.

3

CB: Sven Botman

Described as a ‘cornerstone’ in Newcastle’s side, Sven Botman’s place in the side looks nailed on when he is fit.

The Dutchman only made eight Premier League appearances in 24/25, though, so he’ll be looking to put his injury woes behind him.

4

CB: Marc Guehi

Partnering Botman, Grok have predicted Marc Guehi to sign for Newcastle in a £46m deal this summer, despite interest from a number of other clubs.

The Crystal Palace captain has been on Howe’s radar for a long time now and may depart Selhurst Park with 12 months left on his contract.

5

LB: Lewis Hall

After making his loan move permanent in 2024, Lewis Hall has been a regular at left-back for Newcastle and has been predicted to keep his place in the XI.

Lewis Hall’s 24/25 stats
Games	34
Assists	5
Yellow cards	4
Minutes played	2,661

Grok says Hall’s ’development into a key starter’ has been noticeable, chipping in with five assists last year.

6

CM: Bruno Guimaraes

Despite being linked with a move away from Newcastle once again this summer, Grok have predicted Bruno Guimaraes to remain at St James’ Park and play an important role once more.

The Brazilian’s ‘leadership and all-action style are vital’ in Howe’s side, and he still has three years remaining on his contract.

7

CM: Sandro Tonali

Alongside Guimaraes is a player he knows well in Sandro Tonali. The Italian ‘has proven indispensable’ under Howe and missed just two league games in 24/25.

Grok adds that Tonali’s ‘box-to-box energy complements Howe’s system’, but there may be no place for Joelinton in the XI.

8

AM: Eberechi Eze

Completing a three-man midfield in an attacking role is potential new signing in Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze, with Newcastle keen on the Eagles star.

The Englishman has a release clause of £68m which may need to be triggered, and Grok have stated that Eze’s ‘versatility as a No. 10 or winger fits Howe’s fluid attack’.

9

RW: Mohammed Kudus

Another star linked with a move to Newcastle this summer is West Ham winger Mohammed Kudus, who has been backed to start on the right-hand side for the Magpies.

With the Hammers open to offers in the region of £60m, PIF may need to act fast with Tottenham and Chelsea also showing an interest in Kudus.

10

ST: Alexander Isak

Arguably Newcastle’s most important piece of business this summer will be keeping hold of star striker Alexander Isak.

After qualifying for the Champions League, Grok thinks Isak won’t be going anywhere, labelling him as ‘untouchable’ at St James’ Park.

Everton manager David Moyes will be aiming to bolster his squad ahead of the club’s first season at their new stadium.

So far, the Toffees have yet to make a signing this summer, but there are several positions that need improving ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

Much will depend on just how much money Moyes has to spend during the transfer window, and he might have to make a sale or two in order to fund potential moves.

It looks as though the club have been linked with a Juventus star who could turn into the next Iliman Ndiaye for Everton…

Everton eyeing up Serie A star

According to news outlet Foot Mercato, the Toffees are among the clubs interested in making a move for Juventus midfielder Timothy Weah this summer.

The report states that four European clubs are keen on the American, including Tottenham Hotspur, along with a couple of unnamed clubs.

No price tag is mentioned regarding a move, but with Weah having three years left on his current deal with the Serie A giants, Moyes would have to pay a decent fee to sign him.

It is evident that the club need some more attacking reinforcements, particularly on the right wing, and Weah fits the bill.

Not only that, but he could turn out to be another Iliman Ndiaye for Moyes.

Why Everton must sign Timothy Weah

Ndiaye was arguably one of the bright sparks of a season which won’t exactly be remembered fondly.

The Senegal international scored 11 goals for the Toffees last season, and without him, who knows where they would have finished?

When compared to wingers across Europe’s top five leagues, Ndiaye is the tenth-most comparable player to Weah.

The pair registered similar statistics over a range of metrics last term, including goals and assists (seven vs nine), shots per 90 (1.15 vs 1.3), shot-creating actions per 90 (1.98 vs 2.41), shot on target percentage (both 42.9), and crosses (44 vs 38).

This range of statistics proves that Weah could replicate the success Ndiaye enjoyed at the club should he make the move to the Premier League.

Goals

5

Assists

2

Big chances created

4

Key passes per game

0.6

Successful dribbles per game

0.4

Shots per game

0.7

Having another attacking option like the Senegal star would be highly advantageous for Moyes; that much is certain.

Despite his talent, Weah didn’t settle at a club until he moved to Lille in 2019. Across 107 games for the club, he registered 16 goal contributions, and this sealed a move to Juventus.

The 2024/25 season was his most productive. Not only did he find the back of the net six times, but the American also recorded five assists for the Old Lady.

Brendan Rodgers once hailed Weah as “wonderful” during a loan spell at Celtic. Could a fresh start in England finally see the player live up to his potential?

With Ndiaye on the left and Weah on the right, Moyes could have the perfect formula to cause havoc whilst attacking defences throughout the 2025/26 campaign.

Everton's new Richarlison: TFG line up move to sign "clinical" £17m CF

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ByAngus Sinclair Jun 21, 2025

Arsenal have been told exactly what it will take for Benjamin Sesko to leave RB Leipzig this summer, as his agent speaks out about reports linking his client with a move away from the Red Bull Arena.

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Posts 2 ByEmilio Galantini Jun 19, 2025

Sesko has just finished a career-best Bundesliga campaign, bagging 21 goals in all competitions, but he couldn’t quite guide Leipzig to a European spot – with the Germans missing out on a place in the Conference League, Europa League and Champions League.

Arsenal transfer spending under Arteta (via Sky Sports)

Money on new signings

19/20 – winter

£0

20/21 – summer

£81.5m

20/21 – winter

£900k

21/22 – summer

£156.8m

21/22 – winter

£1.8m

22/23 – summer

£121.5m

22/23 – winter

£59m

23/24 – summer

£208m

23/24 – winter

£0

24/25 – summer

£101.5m

24/25 – winter

£0

It is the first time Leipzig haven’t qualified for Europe since their top-flight arrival in 2016, and this will surely get Sesko thinking about his immediate future as Arsenal reportedly circle to offer him a route out.

The Slovenia international is a top target for Gunners manager Mikel Arteta, who’s been chasing his signature for 12 months.

Arsenal had a proposal rejected for Sesko last summer, who instead put pen to paper on a contract extension to remain at Leipzig and further his development, with the north Londoners also having an attempt rebuffed in January (Ben Jacobs).

They’re now trying to make it ‘third-time-lucky’ with another move for Sesko, and “concrete talks” have been taking place since late May (Florian Plettenberg). However, as things stand, Sky Germany are reporting that Arsenal are unwilling to match Leipzig’s financial demands for the centre-forward.

With plenty of work still to do, the 22-year-old’s own representative, Elvis Basanovic, has now provided an update on his client’s future in an interview with GiveMeSport this week.

Arsenal told key transfer condition by Benjamin Sesko's agent

Speaking to GMS, Basanovic has revealed the key condition for Sesko to depart Leipzig before summer deadline day on September 1.

The agent claims he’ll only leave Leipzig for a “special” new destination, refusing to clarify whether Arsenal fall into this category. When asked if the plan for Sesko is to find a new club, Basanovic said: “Well, his numbers at his age compared to some strikers with already great careers at his age are confirming my words.

“He will move from RB Leipzig only when we recognise a special club, a special project with a special coach.”

More worryingly for Arteta, the intermediary even suggested that Sesko could stay at Leipzig for years if they deem it the right call.

“It can be next week, or next year, or in 3 years,” Basanovic continued.

“Even if there may be – or will be – a strong desire of the player to move to a certain club, we will never force or blackmail RB Leipzig. I believe this is not the right way, because the way you actually exit from the club shows your values. Values that you are bringing into a new club.

“I can understand in very big transfers, there are a lot of different interests, but no matter what, I believe in the football world ‘there’ should be more respect. So that’s why we do things in the right way, or we don’t do them. It’s very simple, even maybe in the media it looks very complicated.”

This summer is massive for West Ham United if they are to right the wrongs of this season and push on under the guidance of manager Graham Potter.

The Hammers currently sit in 17th place in the Premier League, just one place above the relegation zone, and are lucky not to be in a scrap to maintain their top-flight status.

It’s certainly been a year to forget, with the 49-year-old unable to change the club’s fortunes after taking the reins from Julen Lopetegui, who was sacked after just six months in charge.

The former Chelsea boss has the summer window to try and transform the Hammers’ fortunes and push the side back up towards the European spots in 2025/26.

With the opening of the market rapidly approaching, groundwork is already being laid ahead of a huge period for the club – needing to make the right signings if they are to progress.

The latest on West Ham’s hunt for signings this summer

In the last couple of days, West Ham have entered negotiations with the representatives of left-back Junior Firpo over a potential deal this summer.

The Dominican international is currently on the books of Leeds United, but looks set to depart the Whites with his contract set to expire at the end of June.

The defender, who’s registered 14 combined goals and assists this season, isn’t the only player on their shortlist, with midfielder Morton Frendrup also on their radar, according to GIVEMESPORT.

Their report claims that the Hammers’ hierarchy have already made contact with Genoa over a deal for the 24-year-old, who could be available for £17m this summer.

It also states that he’s one of a number of options being considered for the upcoming window, but face competition from fellow Premier League outfit Brentford for his signature.

Why West Ham’s £17m target would be an upgrade on Soucek

Tomas Soucek has been a regular in the heart of the West Ham midfield this season, registering 35 appearances across all competitions, scoring on eight separate occasions.

However, despite his excellent record for the Hammers, he could be set to depart East London during the off-season, with newly-promoted Leeds just one potential destination.

It’s unclear if Potter will be wanting to cash in on the Czech international during the coming months, with his future in the capital certainly up in the air to say the least.

Should he leave, it would be a blow given his output across the field, but it would allow the manager to land an upgrade in the form of Genoa star Frendrup.

When comparing their respective figures from the current campaign, the Dane has managed to outperform Soucek in various key areas – highlighting how much of a bargain he would be at £17m.

How Frendrup compares to Soucek in 2024/25
Statistics (per 90)	Frendrup	Soucek
Games played	33	32
Goals & assists	2	9
Pass accuracy	85%	73%
Progressive passes	3.1	2.7
Tackles won	3.1	1.6
Interceptions made	1.4	0.7
Blocks made	1.9	1.3
Stats via FBref

Frendrup, who’s been labelled a “midfield machine” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has starred in possession, completing more of the passes he’s attempted along with more progressive passes – aiding other players within the final third.

He’s also dominated without the ball, winning nearly double the number of tackles per 90, along with more interceptions made – handing Potter the added quality he desires out of possession.

Since the departure of Declan Rice, the side have desperately needed the ball-winning presence in front of the back four, undoubtedly having an impact on their league standing.

Frendrup could provide just that for the Hammers, but the hierarchy will need to act quickly to avoid missing out on such a talent given the interest from elsewhere.

The £17m fee touted is a bargain in today’s market, with the Dane having all the tools to push the club back towards the European spots in the 2025/26 campaign.

He'd make Bowen unplayable: West Ham in the hunt for £30m "wrecking ball"

West Ham are eyeing up a new striker this summer

By
Joe Nuttall

May 8, 2025

Aston Villa have made contact over the signing of an attacking player who is enjoying a superb return to form this season, according to a new transfer update.

Aston Villa eye signings after Champions League exit

Unai Emery’s team produced a brave performance at home to Paris Saint-Germain in midweek, beating the Ligue 1 champions 3-2 but crashing out of the Champions League on aggregate at the quarter-final stage.

It was another sign of the strides that this team had made under Emery, and while going out of Europe was hard to take, it shows that they are capable of holding their own against the best teams. Now, it’s a case of knuckling down in the Premier League and ensuring that they are back dining at the top table next season.

In terms of Villans transfer news, Club Brugge centre-back Joel Ordonez has emerged as a target, following an impressive campaign for the Belgian giants. He made 12 appearances in the Champions League, completing 90.9% of his passes and standing out as one of the best young ball-playing defenders in Europe.

Rosenborg teenager Sverre Nypan is another rumoured target for Villa, having caught the eye with his performances at the heart of his side’s midfield. He would be considered one for the future, but a hugely exciting option nonetheless.

Aston Villa enquire over £44.5m Moise Kean deal

According to Tuttomercato journalist Marco Conterio [via Sport Witness], Aston Villa have “already made enquiries” about signing Fiorentina attacker Moise Kean this summer.

The 25-year-old has a £44.5m release clause that is only valid between July 1st and July 15th this summer, so the Villans will need to act fast when that time arrives, with West Ham also credited with interest.

Kean is a player who has really kicked on over the past 12 months or so, enjoying a brilliant season for Fiorentina and threatening to reach his potential. The Italian has scored 17 goals in Serie A, which is three more than Ollie Watkins has managed in the Premier League, as well as netting once for Italy in the UEFA Nations League.

Kean has experience of the Premier League, which may be seen as an added bonus for Emery, admittedly only scoring twice in 32 appearances in the competition, but he has matured as a player since then.

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The Villans are set to battle it out for a centre-back…

ByDominic Lund Apr 18, 2025

For that reason, he could be an excellent addition for Villans, coming into his prime years and showing that he can score regularly in one of Europe’s top leagues.

With Watkins turning 30 this year and Marcus Rashford not certain to join permanently, the Midlands outfit should look to snap him up.

Aston Villa face a transfer fight with Manchester United to sign an “incredible” £67m star this summer, according to a new report.

Aston Villa chase new defender as Rogers gains admirers

The Villans strengthened their bid to finish in the top four over the weekend as they beat Nottingham Forest 2-1. Unai Emery will be keen to secure another season of Champions League football, as it will help their finances when it comes to the summer, and perhaps more importantly help them keep players such as Morgan Rogers.

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He’s a wanted man.

ByTom Cunningham Apr 7, 2025

The midfielder has been one of Villa’s best players this season, and that has earned him the reward of an international stage. It may also not be a surprise to see Rogers’ performances have “attracted admirers”, according to The Athletic’s David Ornstein. No specific teams are mentioned, but it is clear that huge clubs have taken notice of the Villa midfielder.

On the incomings front, Villa are looking to make an offer to sign Ousmane Diomande from Sporting CP. Emery is keen on signing a new defender this summer, and Diomande has emerged on their radar, as Sporting are willing to sell as long as they receive a £50 million fee.

Aston Villa looking to beat Man Utd to Maignan deal

As well as looking to sign a new defender, Emery is also planning on strengthening his goalkeeper department, as according to journalist Niccolò Ceccarini, relayed by Sport Witness, Aston Villa are interested in signing AC Milan’s Mike Maignan, gathering information on the player and the chances of a deal.

The report states that Villa have taken an interest in Maignan and could now make a concrete approach to sign the France international this summer, as he will enter the final 12 months of his contract at San Siro. Maignan has agreed a new contract with Milan in principle but has yet to sign the deal, so he could be moved on by the Italian team this summer, but would still cost around £67 million.

Villa, who already have Emi Martinez between the sticks, are not the only team from the Premier League to take a close look at the shot-stopper, as Chelsea are also interested, despite having several goalkeepers on their books.

Manchester United are also keen on Maignan and are said to be preparing an offer to bring the Frenchman to Old Trafford as a replacement for Andre Onana. Maignan, who has been hailed “incredible” by former Republic of Ireland manager Stephen Kenny, was asked about his future on Saturday after Milan’s 2-2 draw with Fiorentina.

Apps

154

Goals conceded

163

Clean sheets

55

The Frenchman was unwilling to talk about his contract situation at AC Milan: “As I said, I feel good at Milan; I give everything for the shirt every time I put it on, every day. At this moment, I tell the truth; I don’t want to talk about the contract; I want to talk about football.

“Milan deserves more; we want more. My personal case is not the most important thing at this moment.”

The centuries from Samson and Tilak showed how India’s changed mindset is taking them to untouched heights

Hemant Brar16-Nov-20244:49

India sign off on stellar T20I year in style

As Marco Jansen ran in to bowl the last ball of the 16th over in the fourth T20I in Johannesburg, there was a strange curiosity. In the first five deliveries, he had not conceded a single boundary. Another such delivery would make it the first boundary-less over since the opening over of the innings. And the first since the eighth to not feature a six.It wasn’t to be. Tilak Varma got underneath the full-length ball and deposited it into the stands beyond deep midwicket. That it was a free hit did not help either. But then India treated all 20 overs of their innings as slog overs, and posted a gargantuan 283 for 1, the fifth-highest total in men’s T20Is. Tilak finished with an unbeaten 120 off 47 balls, his second successive century. Sanju Samson, after two ducks in the last two games, smashed 109 not out off 56 to make it three hundreds in five outings. Abhishek Sharma, who was dismissed in the sixth over, contributed 36 off 18.This was a game of such glorious absurdities that Samson, with a strike rate of 194.64, was the slowest of the three India batters. Jansen, who went for 10.50 an over, was the most economical of the seven bowlers South Africa used.Related

• Tilak asks Suryakumar for No. 3 spot and owns it with dazzling century

• Samson, Tilak smash records like it's nobody's business for 3-1 series win

• Stats – Samson and Tilak show no T20 record is safe in India's brave new world

If India were caught in a perfect storm during their infamous 36 all out in Adelaide, South Africa were hit by its batting equivalent on Friday. The Wanderers is at a height of 1.8km from the sea level, the air so thin that the cliche “when they hit, it stays hit” is probably truer here than at any other international ground. The small square boundaries, 62 and 66 metres, further aided batters.South Africa, too, shot themselves in the foot by failing to grab their chances. Abhishek was dropped on the first ball he faced and Tilak was put down twice. Apart from that, multiple mishits landed safely.But make no mistake, a total of such magnitude would not have been possible without batters’ skills, and Abhishek, Samson and Tilak showed plenty of it. After an uncharacteristic slow start of 10 off nine balls, Abhishek hit Andile Simelane for three sixes in one over. For the first and the third, he charged down the track, gave himself room and launched Simelane over extra cover.Samson’s method was exactly the opposite. He went deep in his crease and converted even marginally short balls into boundary opportunities. The two shots in Gerald Coetzee’s opening over exemplified it. There was not much wrong with Coetzee’s length on either occasion. Still, Samson managed to pull him over deep midwicket and then cut him past point.ESPNcricinfo LtdTilak’s approach was closer to Samson’s than Abhishek’s. He bent his left leg and leaned backwards to get underneath the ball and find elevation. Often, he ended up with his back knee almost touching the ground.Samson and Tilak dominated not only their favourable match-ups but also the supposedly unfavourable ones. Samson crunched Keshav Maharaj inside-out for four twice; Tilak hit Aiden Markram for 4, 6, 6, 4 off successive balls.The duo took India to 200 in just 14.1 overs, their ninth total of 200 or more in 2024. No team has had more in a single year. India hit 23 sixes during their innings, the most in a T20I involving two Full Members. Their 135-run victory meant they finished the year with 24 wins in 26 T20Is, a win percentage of 92.3 – the best ever for a Full Member who played at least ten T20Is in a year.These are staggering numbers. But until a year ago, India were hardly the trendsetters in T20Is. Despite owning the world’s best T20 league, their only World Cup title in the format had come before the IPL came into existence. Then, at the start of 2024, in desperation to end their ICC trophy drought, they finally embraced T20 cricket. Winning the T20 World Cup in June was a just reward.ESPNcricinfo LtdThe change that was initiated by Rohit Sharma is being carried forward by the current lot. This is the first generation that did not grow up trying to keep their shots down. These guys have been training to hit sixes on demand for years now, and they don’t have the unlearning to do which the older generation did.At the same time, the team management has backed the players, which is essential given the high-risk nature of this style of cricket. Despite his failures in Sri Lanka, Samson was told that he would play the next seven games. When Tilak asked to be promoted to No. 3, captain Suryakumar Yadav did not take long to sacrifice his spot.This is also the closest India have come to recognising that T20 is a different sport and not just a different format. Barring a name or two, their T20I batting line-up is completely different from the one in Tests and ODIs.Another thing that has helped Indian batters unlock their latent potential is the Impact Player rule in the IPL. The cushion of an extra batter allowed them to attempt what they were previously afraid of. The IPL may or may not do away with the rule in the future, but it has changed the mindset of the batters forever.And that changed mindset is changing the trajectory of India’s T20 cricket and taking it to new, untouched heights.