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Manchester United and Ruben Amorim bounced back with a win against Sunderland on Saturday, and a key update has now emerged over the manager’s future.

Amorim's future still in doubt after Sunderland win

Admittedly, opting to relieve managers of their duties over the years hasn’t necessarily made Manchester United a better side. Still, pressure is continuing to grow on Amorim as he attempts to arrest his side’s slump in form.

Gareth Southgate has been linked to the Old Trafford hotseat and could be a safe option in light of his steady progress with England, and Peter Crouch believes that if a change is coming in the dugout, the ex-Three Lions boss is an ideal fit to step in.

He said via The Mirror: “I love Gareth (and) he’s had some stick unfairly. He took us to the finals. It was frustrating, you know, not to get over the line. If he won one game, then would there be a statue of him.

“He’s gone from a statue to people thinking he’s not good enough for the Man United job. It’s such a fine line in football. I think he’s someone that could build something there. You keep getting managers over that are here for the short term, like I think Gareth Southgate is someone who can build something big.”

Reportedly, Manchester United would need to pay £12 million to sack Amorim, which would be a hefty price to pay if they decide he is not the right man to take them forward, and a cost which they can now avoid at least a little longer after Saturday’s rather comfortable 2-0 victory against the Black Cats at Old Trafford.

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Ruben Amorim is under increasing pressure…

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Either way, there needs to be some clarity one way or another; something that Ornstein now looks to have provided in his latest update on events at Old Trafford.

David Ornstein shares how Man Utd feel about Ruben Amorim

Speaking to NBC Sports, Ornstein made it clear that Man Utd are keeping faith in Amorim and both parties want to keep moving forward in the right direction, while he still retains the backing of the squad.

He said: “Ruben Amorim is under major pressure, but I think most of that pressure is applied on him by himself, as well as the burden of being Manchester United manager. Manchester United themselves, as I understand, they’re not planning to sack him. They don’t want or intend to, and I don’t think he’s planning to walk away from this.

“Last season, I think he really felt the strain, and people I speak to say he was questioning if he could succeed there. But I do think, incrementally, there is a bit of improvement felt, however small, especially with some of the new signings, and it is still very early.”

Later, he added: “Results will need to improve; we can’t get away from that, and we know how this industry operates, but I think they would like to give him more time.”

Ultimately, giving managers more time is a game of risk versus reward. Manchester United know that the grass isn’t necessarily always greener, but the impact of a bounce under a new coach could also spark their season into life.

There will be plenty of conflicting opinions on Amorim’s future, though he appears to be safe for now as Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS favour continuity over instability.

The first international break of the 2025/26 campaign may have come at the perfect time for Glasgow Rangers head coach Russell Martin after a difficult start to the season.

Four draws in four Scottish Premiership matches and a 9-1 loss on aggregate in the Champions League play-off qualifying round has already put pressure on the Ibrox boss.

Some supporters made their frustrations clear after the 6-0 loss in Belgium, placing a banner at Ibrox asking for Martin to be sacked.

A two-week break for international games has provided Martin with time to clear his head and reassess how he wants to tackle matches, tactically, in the coming weeks to ensure that his side picks up enough results to get fans back onside.

The international break has also been a welcome distraction for some of the players, who have been able to get away from the toxicity around Ibrox, brought on by the performances and results, to play for their countries.

Nicolas Raskin and Derek Cornelius scored for Belgium and Canada, respectively, but it was Thelo Aasgaard who grabbed the headlines with his immense display.

Thelo Aasgaard showed Rangers supporters what he is about

Rangers signed the attacking midfielder from Luton Town on a permanent deal earlier this summer to bolster their options at the top end of the pitch.

They have not seen too much of him on the pitch yet, though, because the 23-year-old star missed the start of the season through injury, which is why he has only played two games in the Premiership so far.

Aasgard’s performance off the bench for Norway against Moldova on Tuesday night, however, shows the kind of quality that supporters can look forward to seeing from him once he is at his best at Ibrox.

Minutes played

26

Sofascore rating

9.8

Shots

6

Goals

4

Pass accuracy

70%

Passes made

7

Possession lost

3x

As you can see in the table above, the Norwegian sensation produced an unbelievable cameo for his country with four goals in just 26 minutes as part of an 11-1 win against Moldova.

Aasgaard now has five goals in three caps for Norway. He also scored 12 goals in 31 appearances for Wigan Athletic last season before his move to Luton in January, per Transfermarkt, which shows that the youngster can offer a big threat as a goalscorer.

Hopefully, his incredible four-goal haul against Moldova will provide him with the confidence that he needs to return to Rangers and hit the ground running on the other side of the international break against Hearts on Saturday.

Whilst Aasgaard needs to start showing what he is capable of at Ibrox, there is another Light Blues star who could become an elite player for the club if he learns a thing or two from the Norwegian midfielder.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Rangers signed Oliver Antman from Go Ahead Eagles in a deal worth up to £4m this summer to bolster their options out wide, and he could become a truly elite figure for Martin’s side if he can become a goalscorer as potent as Aasgaard is.

Why Oliver Antman needs to be more like Thelo Aasgaard

When you think of the best wingers in the world, your mind likely goes to Mohamed Salah, Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, Bukayo Saka, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and others like them.

What do they all have in common? They can all score goals as well as assist them. They are not one-dimensional players who can be silenced by cutting off their threat as either a scorer or a creator, because they can be both.

A month into his career at Ibrox, Antman has been too one-dimensional for Rangers on the right wing. If the opposition find a way to shut down his threat from crosses or passes, he does not make much of an impact on the game.

The Finland international showcased his creative quality on his debut for the club against Viktoria Plzen in a Champions League qualifier at the start of August, as he delivered a top-quality ball into box for Djeidi Gassama to score.

Antman, who reporter Chris Jack claimed has “feet like drumsticks”, was signed by the Scottish giants after providing a huge threat as a creator from the right flank during his time with Go Ahead Eagles in the Eredivisie during the 2024/25 campaign.

Starts

28

Goals

6

xG

6.99

Key passes per game

1.6

Big chances created

16

xA

6.54

Assists

15

As you can see in the table above, the 24-year-old attacker was an exceptional creator for the Dutch side, but did not provide goals on a regular basis, with just six strikes in 28 matches.

In order for Antman to take the next step in his career, and to become an elite player for Rangers, he must learn from Aasgaard’s ability to find space and chances inside the box to become a threat as a scorer.

One way for the Finnish star to do that could be to operate on the left flank. Go back to the names listed among the best wingers in the world, they are all predominantly play as inverted wingers, cutting in on their favoured foot.

Meanwhile, Antman has played on the right wing as a right-footed player. Playing him on the left would provide him with the option to cut infield to take shots with his stronger foot, whilst still being able to go down the line to put crosses in with his left foot, or by chopping back to cross with his right.

This subtle, but potentially game-changing, tactical change, coupled with a bit of learning from Aasgaard on how and when to arrive in the box at right time, could help Antman to become a complete forward who can consistently impact games with goals and assists.

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At this moment in time, the Finnish whiz is too predictable and easy to mark out of games, hence why he has zero goals and zero assists in his last six games for the club, which is why these tactical and player mindset changes need to be made to make him truly elite.

Arsenal are a club that have been utterly transformed over the last five years or so.

Mikel Arteta has taken a side that were spiralling down into mid-table mediocrity and has helped craft one of the best teams in Europe, let alone the Premier League.

While his philosophy and tactics have played a significant role in the North Londoners’ rejuvenation, so have the signings they’ve made.

Under previous Sporting Director Edu Gaspar and Andrea Berta today, the Gunners have become far more effective at identifying and signing brilliant players in the transfer market.

However, Arsenal still have a problem selling stars, and have seen more than their fair share leave for nothing, including an international who could be described as being Arteta’s own Alexander Isak.

Arsenals players who left for nothing

There were signs of improvement with the likes of Eddie Nketiah, Emile Smith Rowe and Aaron Ramsdale all leaving for decent money last summer, but in the previous four or five years, Arsenal have had too many players leave for nothing.

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For example, perhaps the most exciting signing the club have ever made, the player whose arrival promised the ushering in of a triumphant period for the club that never arrived, Mesut Özil, ended up leaving for nothing.

The German superstar famously agreed to a bumper £350k-per-week contract renewal in January 2018, and it was pretty much downhill from that moment until he left for Fenerbahçe three years later.

Another big-money signing who left for free was Nicolas Pepe.

The Ivorian was a better player for the Gunners than people gave him credit for, racking up 48 goal involvements in 112 games, but he could never live up to his £75m price tag and, after several middling loans, had his contract terminated by mutual consent.

Going further back, to Unai Emery’s time at the club, and Aaron Ramsey’s exit was another disaster from a financial perspective.

After 369 games for the club, in which he scored 64 goals, provided 60 assists and played a significant role in several FA Cup triumphs, the Welsh legend left the Gunners to join Italian giants Juventus.

With all that said, none of these stars could realistically be compared to Liverpool’s new superstar Isak, which isn’t the case for another ace who left for nothing under Arteta’s watch.

The Arsenal star who was Arteta's Isak

Since taking the job at Arsenal, Arteta has overseen the exits of some notable players, including the aforementioned Ozil, but perhaps the most controversial one was Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

The Gabonese international was the club captain for part of the Spaniard’s tenure, but following a drop in form and his late arrival for a North London derby in March 2021, the writing was on the wall for his Gunners career.

The former Borussia Dortmund star was eventually let go for nothing in January 2022, and while he endured a lacklustre year and a half with Barcelona and Chelsea, he quickly found his form in the south of France.

In one season with Marseille, the Laval-born monster scored 30 goals and provided 11 assists in 51 appearances, which was enough to earn him a big-money move to the Saudi Pro League.

The 36-year-old was able to amass an impressive tally of 24 goal involvements in 36 games for Al-Qadsiah last season, but has now returned to Marseille, where he is already outperforming Viktor Gyokeres, producing three goal involvements in three games.

Appearances

51

36

3

Minutes

4005′

3196′

186′

Goals

30

21

2

Assists

11

3

1

Goal Involvements per Match

0.80

0.66

1.00

Minutes per Goal Involvement

97.68′

133.16”

62′

With all of that said, then, what was it about Auba that meant we could describe him as being like Arteta’s Isak in the past?

Well, the first reason is that, prior to going off the boil somewhat, the “world-class” striker, as dubbed by Behdad Eghbali, was a lean, mean goalscoring machine for the manager.

For example, in the 19/20 season, he racked up a sensational haul of 29 goals and three assists in 44 appearances, totalling 3725 minutes.

That comes out to an outrageous average of a goal involvement every 1.37 games, or every 116.40 minutes.

Moreover, like the former Newcastle United star, he’s a lanky striker but undeniably elegant centre-forward, who was capable of a plethora of finishes, but was particularly adept at coming in from out wide and slotting home.

In fact, like the Swede, he may be a striker first, but he has spent a considerable amount of time in his career playing out wide on the wings.

Finally, just as the Reds’ new star helped his former side with the League cup, the former Gunners star played a crucial role in Arteta lifting the FA Cup in his first season as manager.

Ultimately, while there were valid reasons for getting rid of Aubameyang, we can’t help but wonder how useful he’d be in this Arsenal squad, as he clearly still has an excellent ability to put the ball in the back of the net.

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It is fair to say that the opening game of the 2025/26 Scottish Premiership season did not go exactly how reigning champions Celtic wanted it to.

The Hoops had to battle hard to break the deadlock against a stubborn St Mirren side that sat in and defended well in a low block for the majority of the game.

However, substitute Luke McCowan was able to finally break through by firing in a shot from the edge of the box that deflected into the bottom corner in the 87th minute.

They were a fortunate deflection away from dropping two points on the opening day of the season, though, which Brendan Rodgers will not have been pleased with.

The summer transfer window is still open for a few more weeks and there could be further incoming business for the Hoops, who appear to need attacking reinforcements.

One player whose future in the starting XI remains uncertain, due to potential transfer activity, is Adam Idah, after his dismal showing against St Mirren.

Why Adam Idah's starting spot is in danger

The slow nature of Celtic’s recruitment work this summer has provided the Ireland international with a big opportunity to show the manager that he has what it takes to be the main number nine this season.

Unfortunately, though, he failed to step up against St Mirren on Sunday, as the former Norwich City attacker put in an incredibly wasteful showing, as you can see in the graphic below.

It is fair to say that the Irish number nine has not done enough to prove that he has the clinical finishing to be a reliable goalscorer for the Hoops this season, as further evidenced by his 19 ‘big chances’ missed in 19 Premiership starts last season.

This is why Idah’s starting spot in the team is in danger because he needs to show that he can be ruthless with the chances that come his way in games.

xA

2.60

Top 11%

Chances created

19

Top 25%

Pass accuracy

76%

Top 19%

Assists

0

Bottom 3%

Touches in the opposition’s box

144

Top 9%

Possession won in the final third

14

Top 15%

However, as you can see in the table above, the Ireland international also has a lot of creative qualities that sometimes go under the radar because of his finishing struggles and a few touches that go awry.

Idah is not perfect, that is obvious, but he is also not useless for Rodgers. His creative statistics from the 2024/25 league season suggest that the Hoops need to surround him with clinical finishers who can make the most of the chances that he creates.

The former Canaries star still needs to improve his finishing and show that he can be relied upon by Rodgers in front of goal, but the manager can do his bit to help the forward unlock his true potential by bringing in goalscoring midfielders around him.

This is why the Northern Irish boss should be pushing the board to get a deal done for Go Ahead Eagles star Jakob Breum before the end of the summer transfer window.

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Celtic have had multiple offers turned down for the Danish midfielder, who is valued at £5m by the Eredivisie side, and they should stump up the cash required to bring him to Parkhead to unlock Idah’s creative potential.

Why Celtic should sign Jakob Breum

One of the many reasons why the Hoops should pay up to bring Breum to Glasgow before September’s transfer deadline is that he is a versatile star who could be used in a host of different positions by Rodgers.

The Denmark U21 international has started 11 matches or more as a central midfielder, a right winger, an attacking midfielder, and as a left winger in his club career to date, which means that he can play across the frontline behind Idah or another striker.

At the age of 21, Breum would also come in as a young player with the potential to grow and develop throughout his time in Glasgow. This means that he would be a signing for the here and now as well as for the future, given his scope to improve further.

His performances for Go Ahead Eagles in the Eredivisie during the 2024/25 season also suggest that he has the quality to come in as an ideal signing for Idah.

Breum, who was nominated for the young player of the season award in the Netherlands, is a ruthless finisher who has the potential to make the most of the Irish forward’s creativity.

xG

6.27

Top 8%

xG on target

8.35

Top 5%

Shots on target

22

Top 7%

Goals

10

Top 5%

xA

5.60

Top 8%

Assists

5

Top 17%

Chances created

44

Top 7%

As you can see in the table above, the Danish forward ranked incredibly highly in a host of goalscoring metrics in the Dutch top-flight, as he outperformed his xG with both the quality of his shots and his goal tally.

These statistics suggest that the 21-year-old star, who was described as an “exciting” talent by Sport Republic video scout RDF Tactics, would be the perfect attacking midfielder to unlock Idah’s potential as a creator.

As aforementioned, the Irish striker was one of the most creative forwards in the Premiership last season, but was not rewarded with the assists that he deserved. Breum is a player who could finish off the chances that Idah creates, based on his form last term.

Along with being able to provide quality as a finisher, the £5m-rated star also ranked highly for his own creative output, and could create high-quality opportunities for Idah, to help him overcome his finishing woes.

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Overall, Celtic should be pushing to sign the Go Ahead Eagles star because he has the potential to be an attacking signing that could complement Idah’s style of play, potentially helping the Irishman to keep his place in the XI.

Jack Edwards took 5 for 41 in each innings as NSW defeated WA with just 13 balls left in the match

AAP09-Dec-2024

Jack Edwards was the hero with the ball•Getty Images

Jack Edwards has bowled New South Wales to a thrilling Sheffield Shield win over Western Australia, taking the final wicket with 13 balls to spare.Edwards claimed his second five-wicket haul of the match on Monday to help the Blues win by an innings and 68 runs, with Western Australia all out for 184.But while the margin may have sounded as if Edwards had helped the Blues to a comprehensive victory, it was anything but. Western Australia entered the final session with six wickets in hand, looking likely to hold on for a draw at the SCG.But when Edwards inspired a collapse of 4 for 7, the visitors looked spent with almost 21 overs to survive and only two wickets in hand.Edwards then had Brody Couch caught behind with 9.1 overs left, leaving Lance Morris and Corey Rocchiccioli with 53 balls to face.The two tail-enders looked likely to effect Western Australia’s great escape, before Rocchiccioli edged Edwards to second slip just before 6pm on the final day to concede defeat.NSW’s win capped a near perfect performance from Edwards as captain, with the seamer taking 5 for 41 with both innings.”Great win, especially with the rain taking time out of the game [on day two],” Edwards said. “I feel like I’ve been bowling well this year, and it’s nice to get the reward for it.”It was just about sticking at it. I thought we just had to make them play a bit more. When we did that, we were creating chances.”After Kurtis Patterson’s unbeaten 167 allowed NSW to declare at 463 for 9 overnight and with a lead of 252, wickets fell in clumps on the final day.Jackson Bird removed Sam Whiteman and Jayden Goodwin in the first session to move to 500 first-class wickets.Tanveer Sangha also claimed the crucial wicket of Cameron Bancroft on 48, skidding one on and trapping the opener lbw in the middle session. A furious Bancroft threw his gloves to the ground in frustration as he crossed the boundary rope, having appeared the man most likely to save Western Australia.Sangha also spun a ball across Hilton Cartwright to draw his edge and have him caught at slip seven overs later. But Western Australia were still able to spend the majority of the day looking likely to hold on, before Edwards’ late heroics.NSW had started the day in last place on the ladder headed into the BBL break, but now sit third. Western Australia are fourth.

Instantly turning their focus towards further incomings following Mark Travers’ arrival, Everton are now reportedly set to submit an opening bid to sign a midfield star for David Moyes.

Travers welcomes Pickford battle

Displacing Jordan Pickford at this stage of his Everton career would take some doing, but Travers has instantly welcomed the battle that lies ahead. Following an impressive loan spell at Middlesbrough last season, the shot-stopper has completed a permanent move away from Bournemouth to become Everton’s third signing of the summer.

After putting pen to paper, he told Evertontv when asked about battling Pickford for a starting role: “Jordan [Pickford] is an outstanding goalkeeper for Club and country. I’m looking forward to competing with everyone here and being a Premier League player.

“Being in this environment is huge. We’re going to push each other every day in training and whatever happens on the weekend, we’re going to be there for each other and make the most of every opportunity that comes.

“It’s always really exciting to work with a new group and being able to help the younger lads as well. I’ll give it everything. I’ll take pride in doing the right things on and off the pitch and representing this club with a lot of pride.”

League stats 24/25 (via FBref)	Travers	Pickford
Starts	22	38
Clean Sheets	5	12
Saves Per 90	3.82	3.08
Save Percentage	76.9%	73%

Although Pickford’s place is unlikely to be at risk anytime soon, there’s no denying that Travers recorded some impressive numbers last season – even outperforming the England No.1 in certain areas. His arrival won’t steal every headline, but it will add key depth to Moyes’ side in the coming season.

The former Bournemouth man is unlikely to be the last to arrive at The Hill Dickinson Stadium, either, with another name now firmly on Everton’s summer radar.

Everton set to submit imminent Soucek bid

According to TeamTalk, Everton are now set to submit an imminent £12m bid to sign Tomas Soucek from West Ham United. Other clubs have shown interest in the midfielder this summer, but he is reportedly only interested in reuniting with former Hammers boss Moyes in Merseyside next season.

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For just £12m, the Toffees will be hoping to reach an agreement with West Ham and welcome an experienced Premier League midfielder, who’d be the perfect replacement for Abdoulaye Doucoure.

Premier League stats 24/25 (via FBref)	Soucek	Doucoure
Minutes	2,567	2,564
Goals	9	3
Tackles Won	21	28
Ball Recoveries	63	150

With nine goals to his name in the Premier League last season, Soucek could even provide Everton with an unexpected goalscoring boost, whilst also handing Moyes another physical presence at the heart of his side.

The Everton boss was full of praise for the 29-year-old even when he scored against the Toffees for West Ham last season, telling reporters: “Tomas Soucek is a really good goalscorer. We signed him as a goalscoring midfielder. He’s great in both boxes. He’s a top lad as well. I’m pleased for him but not for us.”

Everton are now close to signing a “strong” £34 million player after agreeing personal terms, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.

Everton set to turn to alternative targets after missing out on Tete

Signing a new right-back has become one of David Moyes’ priorities in this transfer window, as the club decided to let Ashley Young leave, following the expiration of his contract. Seamus Coleman has signed a new one-year deal to remain, but Moyes wants more competition in that area of the team and earmarked Fulham’s Kenny Tete as a target.

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The Toffees were confident of landing the defender after discussing details over a contract, but instead, Tete decided to sign a new contract at Fulham and remain at Craven Cottage. The right-back has extended his stay until 2028 and believes Fulham is a “special club where he can develop”.

This news means Everton have to continue their search for a new right-back, and the BBC have reported that alternative targets for the Toffees could include Kyle Walker-Peters, who is a free agent after leaving Southampton, or Vladimir Coufal, who is also a free agent and knows Moyes well from their time at West Ham.

While they assess their options for a new right-back, the Premier League side appear to be closing in on their second signing of the summer.

Everton close to signing £34m Barry after agreeing personal terms

According to Romano, Everton are now close to signing striker Thierno Barry from Spanish side Villarreal.

The Italian states that the deal has advanced, as the Toffees and the player have now agreed personal terms; all that remains are the final details, and then this transfer is complete.

It’s been widely reported that Barry has a release clause worth £34 million, and Villarreal’s sporting director, Fernando Roig Nogueroles, has been clear that if the player is to leave, it will be for around that price.

He said: “We want the player, and if he were to leave, it would have to be, if not for the release clause, something very close to it. If not, he won’t leave.”

Apps

35

Starts

25

Goals

11

xG

12.41

Goals per game

0.3

Shots on target per game

0.7

Goal conversion

15%

Assists

4

xAG

1.95

Big chances created

7

The Toffees are said to be prepared to pay that sum of money but may look to pay in installments to reach that figure in total. The arrival of Barry, who has been dubbed a “strong physique”, has just got more important for Everton, as on Monday, Dominic Calvert-Lewin announced that he was leaving the club following the end of his contract, meaning options at the top end of the pitch have just become even lighter.

Barry’s expected arrival will likely see him become Moyes’ regular striker, as his physical presence and stature make him the perfect striker in a Moyes team.

Tottenham Hotspur are in the market for another new forward this summer after sealing a permanent deal for Mathys Tel, with Thomas Frank reportedly eager to reinforce his brand-new squad ahead of the tactician’s debut campaign in the Champions League.

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It will be Frank’s first-ever season managing in Europe’s most illustrious competition, and far more eyes will be on the Dane in comparison to his successful stint at mid-table Brentford.

The pressure that comes with leading a ‘big six’ side will be very new to the 51-year-old, but it is something that Frank will need to take in his stride over the course of this three-year contract.

“Thomas Frank has done a brilliant job at Brentford, but this is a whole different kettle of fish,” said BBC Radio 5 Live pundit Chris Sutton.

Son Heung-min

7.00

James Maddison

6.98

Pedro Porro

6.95

Dominic Solanke

6.84

Dejan Kulusevski

6.83

via WhoScored

“Because of the expectation at Tottenham, Frank won’t get time to get his feet under the table. He will be under pressure from the off. Postecoglou has just won them their first major European trophy for 41 years and has gone. So already you have to wonder what does Frank need to do this season to keep his job?

“The aim for Frank will be to keep them in the Champions League, and whether that is by making the top four or five, that is not going to be easy. That is a big ask for this squad, to compete on both fronts. We know this Tottenham team is better than 17th place, because they finished fifth in Postecoglou’s first year, but other Premier League teams have improved since then.”

Above all, Frank will need backing in the transfer market, and their indefinite deal for Tel simply won’t be enough.

Son’s very possible move to Saudi Arabia, which would put an end to his legendary 10-year stay at N17, has exacerbated Frank’s need for another proven winger, with Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo among their key targets in that regard.

Tottenham make contact over signing Antoine Semenyo

Tottenham have already been tipped to make a £65 million bid for Semenyo, but that won’t be enough, as journalist Pete O’Rourke explains to Football Insider this week.

According to the reporter, Spurs have made contact over a deal for Semenyo, with the Cherries having placed a £70 million valuation on their star front man. However, if Frank’s side meet this price tag and make the Ghanaian their club-record signing, Bournemouth are confident they can sign a “swift” replacement and have a “contingency plan” in place.

O’Rourke adds that there is a “real possibility” that Bournemouth could lose Semenyo amid Spurs’ approach, and he could be their fourth high-profile exit of the window after Dean Huijsen, Milos Kerkez and potentially Illia Zabarnyi, who’s in advanced talks to join PSG.

The 25-year-old bagged 13 goals and seven assists in all competitions last season, playing a decent mixture of roles on the left and right-hand side.

Semenyo’s versatility and proven Premier League experience would be invaluable for Frank, but Daniel Levy will need to dig deep into his pockets.

USA, playing in their first T20 World Cup, have qualified for the Super Eight stages

Sidharth Monga14-Jun-20243:17

O’Brien: USA deserve to be in the Super Eight

It didn’t come around with a final dot ball or a wicket or a final scoring shot. The fans didn’t get to celebrate in the stands. There was no drama. After about five hours of hard work from the ground staff, it was during a fresh shower that it was finally decided there wasn’t going to be a match in Lauderhill on Friday. And with that, amid almost no fanfare, USA qualified for the Super Eight.USA will take it whatever way they get it, but they came wanting to play cricket. “As a cricketer, me coming to the ground today, and the boys coming to the ground today, I think that you don’t want to leave home and not play cricket,” the USA vice-captain Aaron Jones said. “That’s for me personally, I want to play. But at the end of the day, the rain… it’s nothing that we can control. So we are grateful that we got to the Super Eights. But we left the hotel this morning thinking about playing cricket, we wanted to play cricket.”Jones is not one for doing cartwheels. “Yeah, definitely we are celebrating,” he said. “Everybody’s happy right now. Obviously qualifying for the Super Eights is a big thing, so everybody’s happy right now.”Related

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Of course, the qualification didn’t come around just because there was no play on Friday, leaving Pakistan no chance to draw level with USA let alone going past them. They qualified because they beat Pakistan and Canada, something Jones at least had warned the world about when he said USA were not there just to make up the numbers.”Yeah, I definitely believed that earlier this year when I spoke about it,” Jones said when reminded of his comments. “To be honest with you, a lot of people don’t really pay much attention to US cricket. So probably the whole world don’t already know how much talent we have here and how good the players that we have here are. I think that could be a little advantage to us, but definitely I think that on any given day, once we play proper cricket, we believe that we can beat any team in the world for sure.”USA will now get three big matches in the Super Eight, facing West Indies, South Africa and possibly England. Their prize money will jump by at least $150,000. The biggest boost will hopefully be more interest in cricket in the country after such an impressive showing in their first T20 World Cup. Especially given how this automatically qualifies them for the next T20 World Cup too.”It’s a big thing for us to be honest,” Jones said. “Over the last couple of years, we’ve been speaking about playing in the World Cup, playing more games against the Full Member nations and stuff like that. And here we are doing it right now. And obviously qualifying for the Super Eights is really good. Not only for us right now in the moment but I think we’ll qualify for the 2026 World Cup as well so I think it’s a big thing for us. Not only for us but the fans around America as well. We really appreciate them for sure and not only for the fans but for the younger generation in America as well.”Even their rivals Canada have been rooting for USA because this brings the spotlight on the whole of North America. “I saw them last month in April, those guys were working really hard and I’m happy for them, how they qualified,” Shreyas Movva, the Canada wicketkeeper said. “It’s a motivation for us going into the next tournaments that USA have done it so we can do too.”Jones himself will be going back to the land of his birth, Barbados, to play two of the three matches. “It’s really good for me to go back home,” Jones said. “I’m really happy right now. I think I’ll get a lot of support for sure, especially in Barbados. So definitely looking forward to it.”

Preparing for life in the Championship, Wrexham are now reportedly pushing to seal a bargain deal to sign a Premier League veteran who’s scored over 70 goals in England’s top flight.

Reynolds: Wrexham ready to be "aggressive"

After a third-straight promotion created history, anything is possible for Wrexham. The Hollywood show has become better by the season, but now the Welsh club are in need of their best characters yet as they aim to cause further shocks in the Championship.

Up into England’s second tier and just one step away from the Premier League, whilst owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney will be in dreamland, they won’t want to stop here.

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The Welsh club are preparing for life in the Championship.

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Speaking on the RobRyanRed fan podcast recently, Reynolds claimed that Wrexham are ready to be “aggressive” in the market this summer, saying: “We’re coming to win. I can’t give you a dollar figure, but I can tell you that we are going to be as aggressive as we can possibly be while being mindful of sustainability. We have a stadium to revamp, but will still maintain its character and culture.”

On that front, there have already been several rumours as to who could arrive at Wrexham this summer with Tom Cairney among those rumours. The experienced Fulham midfielder has been offered a new contract at Craven Cottage, but it remains to be seen whether he decides to put pen to paper or join up with Phil Parkinson’s Wrexham side this summer.

The Premier League midfielder isn’t the only name on The Red Dragons’ radar though. Rangers’ Tom Lawrence has also been the subject of reported interest in recent months, whilst another top-flight veteran could also arrive.

Escaping the Championship will be Wrexham’s toughest challenge yet but if the reports are anything to go by, Reynolds and McElhenney are once again ready to back the Welsh side.

Wrexham pushing to sign Danny Ings

According to Sky Sports’ Anthony Joseph, Wrexham are now pushing to sign Danny Ings, who is set to become a free agent at the end of his West Ham United contract this month.

It’s reported that talks have already been held with the player’s representatives ahead of a summer switch.

The veteran striker has played for the likes of Liverpool, Southampton and Aston Villa, but could now be on his way to Wrexham at 32 years old.

Appearances

240

Goals

72

Assists

24

Whilst many will be quick to point out his injury record, there’s no denying that Ings knows exactly how to find the back of the net at the top level. If Wrexham not only secure his signature but also keep him fit, then the former Liverpool man could spearhead their biggest shock yet.

Ings has earned plenty of praise during his time in the Premier League, including from former Aston Villa boss and Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard who described the striker as “selfless” during his time at Villa Park.

In what could be one of his last moves in English football, Wrexham should roll out the red carpet for Ings this summer and welcome an experienced, talented goalscorer.