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.

Everton considering shock move to sign £40k-p/w ace likened to Messi

The Toffees could cause a shock…

BySean Markus Clifford Jun 29, 2025

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.

Glasgow Rangers’ transfer model over the years has been remarkably inconsistent, with players arriving from various leagues and countries to different degrees of success.

One area tends to stand out, however, and that is south of the border. Since the Light Blues secured promotion in 2016, very few players have arrived from England and shone.

Of course, there have been a few exceptions, such as Joe Aribo, Calvin Bassey and Connor Goldson, but the overwhelming majority failed to shine.

Joey Barton, Jordan Rossiter and Matt Crooks arrived in the summer of 2016, but they all struggled in Glasgow. As did Graham Dorrans and Declan John, who signed the following season.

Elsewhere, Ben Davies, Tom Lawrence and George Edmundson failed to transition well from English football, never quite living up to expectations north of the border.

While there have been a few successes, Martin must tread carefully in English waters, especially if he wishes to sign players who will improve the squad.

Emmanuel Fernandez has been signed from Peterborough, but first impressions suggest he could turn out to be like Bassey rather than another Davies.

One of the worst signings made by Rangers in recent years is Kieran Dowell. The midfielder was brought to Glasgow by Michael Beale in the summer of 2023, but he turned out to be a waste of a wage.

Kieran Dowell's dismal Rangers record

On the surface, securing Dowell’s signature on a free transfer appeared to be a decent bit of business for the club.

The midfielder made his breakthrough with Everton, playing twice in the Premier League during the 2015/16 season.

Loan spells with Nottingham Forest, Derby, Wigan and Sheffield United saw him prove his worth in the second tier and he eventually made the move to Norwich City in 2020.

He made 75 appearances for the Canaries between 2020 and 2023, which included 19 games in the top flight, before swapping East Anglia for Glasgow.

The attacking midfielder won the U20 World Cup with England in 2017, before making 16 appearances for the U21s, but a senior cap never came.

Metric

2023/24

2024/25

Goals

2

0

Assists

2

0

Big chances created

1

3

Touches per game

33.8

16.6

Key passes per game

0.7

0.7

A move to Rangers was the chance for Dowell to reinvent himself, but he didn’t get the chance. Indeed, the 27-year-old played just 16 times for the club during the 2023/24 campaign.

The first half of 2024/25 saw Dowell feature 17 times for the Ibrox side, yet only three of those came in the starting XI, and he was loaned to Birmingham City for the second half of the season.

Across his 12 Premiership matches last term, he created just three big chances, while winning less than 50% of his total duels per game and averaging 16.6 touches per match.

Dowell spent the second half of last season out on loan at Birmingham City, helping them return to the Championship.

With Martin needing to move players on this summer, the former Everton starlet must surely be offloaded in order to raise funds and free up the wage bill.

In the future, the Gers must be wary of the English market, but it looks as though they have been linked with another midfielder from down south recently…

Rangers eyeing up move for former West Brom midfielder

Both Joe Rothwell and Fernandez have secured moves to Rangers over the previous few days, as Martin seeks to bolster his first-team squad.

Transfer Focus

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

He won’t be finished there, however, especially with major surgery required this summer.

Luton Town’s Norwegian midfielder Thelo Aasgaard is reportedly in talks with a move to Ibrox according to the Scotsman, while Nasser Djiga of Wolves is also another transfer target.

A new name has appeared, according to Sports Boom, with former West Bromwich Albion midfielder John Swift reportedly being eyed for a move north of the border in the coming weeks.

The Englishman – who is also attracting interest from a raft of EFL clubs – is out of contract and wouldn’t cost the club a penny should he move to Glasgow.

Given the fact Martin has already signed Rothwell, plus is looking to bring Aasgaard to Scotland, a swoop for Swift certainly appears unnecessary.

Indeed, he could turn out to be another Dowell-like signing. A player who fails to truly showcase his true class if he made the move to Rangers.

Why Rangers should avoid a move for John Swift

Swift did impress significantly at Reading, having made the move from Chelsea in 2016. Across 202 games for the club, he scored 34 goals and grabbed 37 assists in all competitions.

His form saw Leeds prepare a bid for the midfielder in 2019 and journalist Billy Meyers even said that Swift is the “perfect type of player that Bielsa should be targeting” upon the link. Former Baggies boss Tony Mowbray has also hailed him as an “amazing footballer” at his best.

While his numbers in the second tier have been decent – 15 goal contributions in 2022/23 and ten during 2023/24 – the midfielder is now 30 and isn’t exactly at his peak.

Last season, he only managed three goals and one assist for the Baggies in 36 league matches. Furthermore, he only created one big chance last term for the club, while averaging just 0.3 dribbles and one key pass per game in the second tier.

He even ranked in the lowest 30% for progressive carries (1.55) and successful take-ons (0.62) per 90 when compared to his positional peers in the Championship last term.

Additionally, Swift also ranked in the lowest 23% for assists (0.05) and in the lowest 8% for touches in the attacking penalty area (1.6) per 90 for West Brom.

Considering he spent the campaign playing as an attacking midfielder, these figures are worrying, to say the least. As such, avoiding a move for Swift, despite the fact he is available for free, is perhaps the best course of action.

Martin will be able to use that sort of wage on a player or two who are not only younger, but who could potentially make the Gers a profit in the years to come.

Swift could turn into Dowell 2.0, that’s for sure.

Perfect for Rothwell: Rangers in advanced talks to sign £3m "machine"

Following Joe Rothwell’s arrival at Rangers, could the Glasgow giants sign another midfielder, labelled a “machine” by a former Scotland star?

Jul 3, 2025

Chelsea’s summer spending spree is showing no sign of slowing down.

So far, the Blues have made eight new signings this summer, including bringing in Liam Delap, João Pedro, Jamie Gittens, Estêvão Willian and others.

However, they’ve still got plenty to do in the transfer market.

Right now, by our count, the Blues have 46 senior players on their books, but one could be on the way out, making way for another exciting young talent to arrive in West London.

Chelsea set to bolster their attacking options

As already alluded to, Chelsea are seeking to offload at least a dozen high-profile players in the next month or so, with Mike McGrath of the Telegraph reporting that Raheem Sterling could be on his way to Fulham.

One player who is closer to the exit door is João Félix who, according to David Ornstein and Simon Johnson of the Athletic, is set to join Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Nassr for around £26.2m, amid interest from boyhood club Benfica.

The Portuguese only joined Chelsea permanently from Atlético Madrid for £45m a year ago, but has scored just 11 goals in 40 appearances for the Blues across his two spells, spending the second half of last season on loan at AC Milan, thereby very much not in Enzo Maresca’s plans.

So, with Félix on his way out, Chelsea are on the cusp of bringing in a replacement, with journalist Ben Jacobs noting that they are “advancing talks” to sign Xavi Simons, with “terms now broadly in place” to bring him to England. Club-to-club talks are ongoing to find a full agreement over a fee.

James Olley of ESPN claims that the Blues are willing to spend around £50m, with Leipzig holding out for closer to £60m.

So, will he soon become the 15th Dutchman to call Stamford Bridge home, following in the footsteps of Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Ruud Gullit, Arjen Robben and others?

How Xavi Simons will improve Chelsea

Simons is certainly a highly-rated player, with Sultan Babajide of Breaking the Lines asserting that he is ‘destined for the top’, noting how he is ‘brilliant between the lines’.

Meantime, Bart Vlietstra of the Guardian believes there has always been ‘something irresistible’ about a player he labels a ‘precocious’ talent, while Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout agrees, describing him as a ‘fascinating player’.

Simons’ career breakthrough came at PSV Eindhoven, scoring 22 goals and registering 11 assists in just 48 outings for the Dutch giants, while he has also racked up 21 goals and 23 assists in 76 appearances since making the move to RB Leipzig.

So how does he compare to the player he’s set to replace in the Chelsea squad Félix? Let’s find out.

Simons vs Félix season-by-season

Statistics

Simons

Félix

2024/25

Appearances

33

41

Goals

11

10

Assists

8

3

2023/24

Appearances

43

44

Goals

10

10

Assists

15

6

2022/23

Appearances

48

40

Goals

22

9

Assists

11

3

All statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt

As the table outlines, ever since Simons became a regular first-team player at PSV, his statistics have been more impressive than those of Félix.

The Portuguese international’s £113m move to Atlético Madrid back in 2019, making him the fourth-most expensive player of all-time, has turned out to be one of football’s great what if moves, with Jack Lang of the Athletic noting that he is widely-regarded as having ‘wasted his talent’, never able to fit into the playing style or system at any of the clubs he’s featured for since Benfica.

Simons, in contrast, is a player on the way up, likely to get even better, so he could have an enormous impact at Chelsea, potentially elevating them to a level where they’re fighting for the Premier League title and Champions League supremacy once again.

Related Better signing than Simons: Chelsea could see bid accepted for £34m star

Chelsea will need to improve their defence this summer

Posts ByRoss Kilvington Jul 27, 2025

As Chelsea continue to assess their wide options in the transfer market, their focus has returned to one long-standing target.

While efforts remain ongoing to secure Xavi Simons, the club are also monitoring a dynamic winger who combines the explosiveness of Noni Madueke with the creativity of Pedro Neto.

Having emerged as a Premier League force in recent seasons, this forward’s statistical output paints a compelling picture.

Not only does he rival Madueke for goalscoring impact and Neto for progression and movement, but he also offers a unique blend of the two that could fit Chelsea’s evolving attacking blueprint.

As relations with his current club continue to sour, and with his valuation falling significantly, Chelsea are understood to be keeping close tabs, ready to move if circumstances allow.

Chelsea looking at Premier League star

Alejandro Garnacho has long been touted as a future star.

Since arriving from Atlético Madrid in 2020, the Argentine has impressed at every level, from leading Manchester United’s youth side to FA Youth Cup glory, to making a smooth transition into the senior setup.

Transfer Focus

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

Senior figures at Old Trafford have long spoken about Garnacho’s ability to spark games into life.

After a Europa League match in 2022, Paul Scholes drew early comparisons with one of United’s most iconic players. “I think this lad was really entertaining. Almost like a young Cristiano at that age.”

Former Manchester United winger Febian Brandy echoed the sentiment, labelling Garnacho a “full-back’s nightmare. He can go either side, cut inside, he makes it difficult for defenders all game.”

Despite all of that, it looks as though he could be on his way out of Old Trafford this summer. According to Fabrizio Romano, the 20-year-old wants to remain in the Premier League, with Chelsea and Aston Villa among those monitoring his situation.

Initially priced at £70m, United have now dropped their asking price to £40m according to other reports, a valuation that may tempt Chelsea if they wish to act before his value rebounds.

How Garnacho compares to Madueke and Neto

According to data from FBref, Madueke and Neto are the first and fifth most similar players in European football to Garnacho across the last year.

More generally, across his senior career, Garnacho has averaged 0.27 goals per 90 minutes, behind Madueke (0.39) but ahead of Pedro Neto (0.16). In terms of total goal involvement per 90, he sits between the two as well: 0.40 for Garnacho, compared to 0.58 for Madueke and 0.42 for Neto.

Garnacho’s directness is a defining trait. He averages more shots per 90 (3.50) than either Madueke (3.09) or Neto (2.12), though his shot accuracy (31.3%) is lower than Madueke’s 42%.

Those numbers reflect a player still learning to pick his moments, but with a clear intent to impact games regularly. In terms of progression, he also offers plenty. Garnacho averages 5.93 progressive carries per 90, again, sandwiched between Madueke (6.56) and Neto (5.10), underlining their ability to get at their full-back.

His passing numbers are more modest: 2.19 progressive passes per 90, compared to Madueke’s 3.90 and Neto’s 2.32. But he still maintains a healthy pass completion rate (77.2%), while registering a solid 3.77 shot-creating actions per 90.

While he attempts fewer take-ons than his Arsenal and Chelsea counterparts, with just 1.45 successful dribbles per 90, Garnacho’s overall attacking involvement is consistent. He touches the ball in the attacking third 27.3 times per 90, just behind Neto (28.5) and Madueke (30.4), suggesting a player fully embedded in the final-third phase.

Crucially, Chelsea are weighing his profile not just against their current squad, but against their future vision.

Garnacho’s combination of aggression and youthful energy offers a stylistic contrast to more intricate wingers like Cole Palmer.

For a side seeking to sharpen its transitions and threaten on the break, he offers a compelling solution.

Yet despite that promise, United are keen to let him go.

A strained relationship with manager Ruben Amorim has meant Garnacho, along with Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Antony and Tyrell Malacia, has reportedly been told to find a new club this summer.

Rashford has already joined Barcelona on loan, while Garnacho’s own future appears to lie away from Old Trafford.

He may not be the finished product, but the underlying data, coupled with a proven ability to excite and influence matches, makes him one of the more intriguing options on the market.

Whether Chelsea firm up their interest may depend on the Simons deal and their broader squad strategy. But in Garnacho, they could secure not just a winger but a player who, if harnessed correctly, could help reshape their attack for seasons to come.

Chelsea star says yes to joining Madrid; his exit can fund Simons & Rodrygo

Losing the international star would be far from ideal for Chelsea.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jul 23, 2025

Counties will be increasingly discerning in issuing No-Objection Certificates (NOCs) to their players as the number of franchise leagues “encroaching” on the English summer grows. That is the view of Daryl Mitchell, the interim chief executive of the Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA) which represents the interests of English players.The number of overseas leagues clashing with the English summer has grown significantly in the last five years. English players have featured in leagues in India, Sri Lanka, the US, the Caribbean, the Cayman Islands and Zimbabwe this year, while a late start to the Pakistan Super League (PSL) will add to the logjam next season.Fourteen English players made appearances in PSL 2024, including white-ball specialists Sam Billings, Alex Hales and David Willey who are all likely to return in 2025. But other players will not be available, with the tournament running parallel to the IPL for the first time, and with counties reluctant for their players to miss the start of the season.Liam Dawson, who has featured in five PSL seasons, will not play in the tournament next year. “I’ll be playing for Hampshire at that time,” Dawson said at Tuesday night’s cinch PCA awards, where he was named men’s player of the year primarily for his performances in the County Championship.Alec Stewart, Surrey’s departing director of cricket, told the on Wednesday that the ECB should take the lead. “Money talks, and if they are earning five times what they earn at our place, their heads will get turned,” Stewart said. “We need the ECB to stand firm on this and not say, ‘It’s up to the counties’, and to bring in regulations.”As things stand, counties have the power to withhold or withdraw NOCs for players who are not centrally contracted – as Surrey did earlier this year, to pull Jamie Overton out of the PSL. But others believe that if they do not meet players’ demands in the middle, then they will lose them altogether – either to other counties, or to the franchise circuit.”The global landscape and how things are shifting there is obviously pretty important to our members – or at least, the top 20% of our membership, who go around playing global tournaments,” Mitchell said. “NOCs are always on the agenda as well, and how that’s going to look moving forwards.Related

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“It’s a challenge, isn’t it? That’s something we are going to have to work through. It’s a bit too early to say what that will look like by the time we get to April next year. The challenges are there. Obviously there’s a lot of tournaments that encroach onto our season now, and we have to work through that, possibly on an individual basis, to see how that aligns.”Daniel Gidney, the Lancashire chief executive, said last month that NOCs and standard county contracts have been “diluted” over the last decade and criticised player agents, saying they “don’t care” about the Championship. Mitchell said he was “confused” by the criticism: “Some of that didn’t actually make sense, particularly around the NOCs.”Instead, Mitchell predicted that counties will increasingly look to wield their power to ensure that the best English players are available throughout the season, rather than skipping Championship games in order to play overseas.”At the moment, they’ve got the right to [deny NOCs] within the summer months – and actually, for some of the smaller competitions in the winter as well… They probably haven’t used their rights as much as they could have done, which is obviously to the benefit of some players when they do go away.”It’s up to the counties, and their discretion… The global landscape is shifting so quickly and the game, players, counties, the ECB – we have to evolve with it and try to find the best fit that works for everyone.”Mitchell said that the PCA’s other main focus during the English winter will be lobbying on the players’ behalf in a bid to resolve the long-running debate around the domestic schedule, with an ambitious aim to have a plan in place for the 2026 season by the start of next summer. “The debate needs to start pretty quickly, in truth,” Mitchell said.”Counties ideally would like to know exactly what they’re playing for. If there are going to be any structural changes come 2026, they want to know what they’re playing for in ’25, I would imagine. It’s really challenging. There’s loads of moving parts in there, and ultimately, the counties will decide what they want the structure of the county season to look like.”Recent changes to the IPL’s regulations are likely to encourage a swathe of English players to enter the mega-auction for the league’s 2025 season. Where, previously, players have been able to pick and choose whether they will enter a certain season, the BCCI have now stipulated that a failure to register for a mega-auction will make that overseas player ineligible for the following season too.

كشف آدم وطني وكيل إمام عاشور لاعب فريق الكرة بـ الأهلي، عن وجود عروض خارجية لموكله من أجل الرحيل عن القلعة الحمراء بالفترة المقبلة، موضحًا تفاصيل علاقته مع النادي بعد صدور قرار سابق بقطع التعامل معه.

وكان أحمد جاب الله، طبيب النادي الأهلي، قد أعلن أن نتائج التحاليل والفحوصات الطبية التي خضع لها إمام عاشور أثبتت تعرضه لعدوى فيروسية “فيروس A”، مما يؤثر على تواجده مع الفريق بالفترة المقبلة.

وقال هاني حتحوت عبر “أون سبورت إف إم”: “تواصلنا مع آدم وطني وكيل أعمال إمام عاشور، وقال (إمام عاشور هو أفضل لاعب في مصر وإفريقيا وهو يستحق أن يُحترم في هذا الإطار، ضعوا هذا في بالكم)”.

وأكمل: “إمام عاشور تم التعاقد معه من خلال واحدة من أفضل إدارات التعاقدات في أوروبا، ميتلاند، وعودة إمام إلى مصر كانت بسبب قراره بالعودة وليس بسبب فشله في أوروبا، والكثير من الأندية ترغب في ضمه، والفكرة هي ليست في استقدام 20 عرضًا للأهلي، ولكن لاختيار المشروع الأنسب للاعب لينتقل له من الأهلي”.

وواصل: “العملية أخذت وقتًا أطول بسبب إصابة إمام عاشور في كأس العالم للأندية، أنا لا أهتم بقرار الأهلي الخاص بمقاطعة العمل معي، أنا أمثل اللاعب، وقرار الأهلي بعدم التعامل معي هو يعتبر عدم احترام الأهلي للاعب نفسه، ولذلك إمام عاشور لا بد أن يُعامل بالاحترام الذي يستحقه”.

طالع| طبيب كبد يُحدد موعد تعافي إمام عاشور من فيروس A وجاهزيته لمباريات الأهلي

وزاد: “وطني قال أنا أحضرت للأهلي هذا العام 650 مليون جنيه دون أن أطلب جنيهًا واحدًا، أنا أحارب من أجل مصلحة اللاعبين الذين أعمل معهم، وطبعًا أحترم النادي، ولو استطعت إفادة الأهلي سأفعل ذلك، ولكن أنا بشر وبالتالي الاهتمام الأبرز بالنسبة لي هم اللاعبين الذين أمثلهم، ولو استطعت أن أستخدم قوتي لكي أقدم لهم حياة جيدة واحترافية وفرص إيجابية بالطبع سأفعل ذلك”.

وأضاف: “إذا كان الاختيار لأي لاعب منهم هو البقاء في الأهلي بالطبع سأفعل ذلك، أما إذا كان الأفضل عدم بقائهم في الاهلي، فعلى النادي أن يحترم رغبة اللاعبين في الانتقال للأندية الأخرى”.

وأتم: “الأندية الكبيرة (مش بتعمل بلوك للاعبيهم) ولا تمنعهم من تحقيق أحلامهم، مثلما حدث مع رونالدو عندما قرر الرحيل عن ريال مدريد، بيريز تركه يرحل وفتح الأبواب له، ومثلما حدث مع بنزيما أيضًا”.

ويستعد الأهلي لمواجهة سيراميكا كليوباترا يوم الجمعة 19 سبتمبر، ضمن منافسات الجولة السابعة من المسابقة المحلية.

The system was previously used in the Hundred and IPL 2024

ESPNcricinfo staff02-Oct-2024

The TV umpire will have the benefit of the Smart Replay system at the T20 World Cup•BCCI

The 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup, starting October 3 in the UAE, will be the first ICC event to feature the Smart Replay System. The technology was previously used in the Hundred and IPL 2024.”The coverage will feature a minimum of 28 cameras at every game, and will be complemented by a variety of analytical and visual enhancements. The Decision Review System (DRS) will also be available at all matches, with a Hawk-Eye Smart Replay System in place that enables the TV umpire to instantly review synchronized multi-angle footage for accurate decision-making,” the ICC stated in a release.Related

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Under the Smart Replay System, the TV umpire will receive inputs directly from two Hawk-Eye operators who will be sitting in the same room as the umpire and provide her with images captured by Hawk-Eye’s eight hi-speed cameras across the ground. The TV broadcast director, who used to be a conduit between the third umpire and the Hawk-Eye operators until now, will no longer be involved under this system. This also allows the TV umpire to refer to more visuals than she previously had access to, including split-screen images.In case of a stumping referral under the Smart Replay System, the TV umpire can ask the Hawk-Eye operators for split-screen visuals. In case there is a visible gap when the ball passed bat, the TV umpire will not ask for the UltraEdge (to see if it was a caught behind) and instead directly proceed to check the side-on replay for the stumping. If the TV umpire doesn’t see a clear gap between bat and ball, only then will she refer to UltraEdge.For stumpings, the new system will show the TV umpire tri-vision – essentially footage from side-on cameras as well as from front-on in a single frame. The front-on camera angle is important because it gives an accurate picture of bails being removed. Previously the broadcaster would show the side-on angle from each side along with footage from Stump Cam. But Stump Cam records the action at a low speed of approximately 50 frames per second, as opposed to the Hawk-Eye cameras which record at approximately 300 frames per second, meaning there will now be more accurate footage for the umpires to base their decision on.Like it was at the T20 World Cup last year, this tournament will also have an all-female panel of umpires and match officials.

The left-arm quick first played for them in 2023 and then helped them to the Division Two title in 2024

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Oct-2024Jaydev Unadkat will continue his association with Sussex after extending his contract with them for the 2025 and 2026 County Championship seasons. He will be available for the final run-in in both seasons.”When I came to Hove last year, I wasn’t sure what was on offer in the County Championship and how would I adapt to it. But after a few games now, I can definitely say Hove is my home away from home and Good Old Sussex by The Sea has my heart,” Unadkat was quoted as saying in a release by the team.”Everyone at Hove is very pleased and excited that Jaydev [Unadkat] has signed a two-year extension and will be returning to the Club for the next two seasons,” Sussex head coach Paul Farbrace said.”Jaydev’s quality on the pitch has been so evident for everyone else to see, but just as importantly his qualities as a person make him one of the most popular and nicest guys any team could wish for.”Unadkat first signed for Sussex in 2023, and took 11 wickets in three matches. He returned to the team in 2024 and took 22 wickets at an average of 14.40 in five games, helping Sussex win the Division Two title.Unadkat is currently leading Saurashtra in the Ranji Trophy, which got underway on Friday.

Tottenham Hotspur ended 17 years without silverware in May, defeating Manchester United to lift the Europa League. The cabinet has not only received a new ornament, but the road to next season’s Champions League has also been unlocked for the Lilywhites.

This wasn’t enough to save Ange Postecoglou, though. The Australian manager was dismissed weeks after his incredible triumph due to the wretched domestic campaign, finishing 17th in the Premier League.

Now, with Thomas Frank at the helm, Tottenham can begin anew, working from the foundations set by the craggy-faced Aussie and building a sustained period of success.

However, there’s no question that the pace has dropped in the market down N17. With pre-season underway, this is the perfect time for Daniel Levy to reel in a few impactful additions across the park.

And it seems to be the engine room that Tottenham desire an extra bit of quality.

Spurs in contact for new midfielder

Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White was Tottenham’s dream signing to strengthen the midfield this summer, although after accusations regarding an illegal approach by the Lilywhites, the Englishman has since quashed any speculation by penning a new deal at the City Ground.

With both Rodrigo Bentancur and the routinely under-fire Yves Bissouma potentially on the move this summer, however, a more defensive midfield addition could be the more necessary addition anyway.

Well, as Fabrizio Romano has confirmed, Tottenham have made an approach to Joao Palhinha’s camp, though Bayern Munich have not received official contacts at this stage. Bayern would be looking to bank at least £30m for the 30-year-old.

Though Spurs would rather an initial loan for the Portugal international, these recent advancements suggest there could be some leeway on Levy’s part.

Why Spurs want Joao Palhinha

It hasn’t worked out for Palhinha at Vincent Kompany’s Bayern Munich, who he joined from Fulham in a move worth an initial £42m.

Bayern, in any case, were getting their mitts on one of the Premier League’s most underrated stars, he who had played under the wing of Marco Silva for a number of years at Craven Cottage, making 79 appearances and scoring eight goals.

Widely regarded as one of the division’s most unrelenting ball winners, Palhinha had been described as a “defensive monster” by data analyst Marcus Bring and a “tackling machine” by Sky Sports’ Adam Bate.

This is evidenced through his data from the 2023/24 season, winning a shedload of tackles, far more than anyone else in the division.

1.

Joao Palhinha

Fulham

152

2.

Joao Gomes

Wolves

128

3.

Vinicius Souza

Sheffield Utd

125

4.

Emerson Palmieri

West Ham

106

5.

Tyrick Mitchell

Crystal Palace

105

This level of tackling intensity is something that Tottenham will need to add to their ranks if Frank is to achieve a level of unity and coherence that wasn’t quite there last year.

Someone like Bissouma has been supposed to perform that role at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, but his rash temperament and inconsistencies on the field limited him to a minor role in Postecoglou’s plans.

The Telegraph claimed earlier this month that the 28-year-old is expected to leave London this summer, one year away from the expiration of his contract. Turkish Super Lig side Fenerbahce have engaged in talks as they weigh up an official bid.

Tottenham signed Bissouma from divisional rivals Brighton & Hove Albion for £35m in June 2022, and he’s since completed 100 games, scoring two goals, failing to register a single assist and picking up two red cards.

In Palhinha, Tottenham would sign themselves a far more composed and reliable man, whose impact in the Premier League at a lower level with Fulham speaks for itself.

And the Iberian star, even having lost his way somewhat in a Bavarian shirt, still ranked among the top 3% of central midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues last year for pass completion and the top 3% for tackles won per 90, as per FBref.

Bissouma is strong in the challenge, to be sure, but there’s little question that the Malian is error-riddled and unconvincing as a whole, having made six errors in the Premier League last season, as per Sofascore, in spite of only starting 16 times.

By contrast, Palhinha didn’t make a single error over the 2023/24 English league season, and just one last term in the Bundesliga.

There’s something to be said about Palhinha’s ball-playing skills. Though he’s crisp and calm, his progressive passing leaves something to be desired.

However, this is a foible that Frank could surely abide. After all, the Danish manager has used no player more across his managerial career than Christian Norgaard at Brentford, playing him 262 times. The Danish defensive midfielder has recently signed for Arsenal in a £15m package.

Norgaard is not a forward-thinking distributor, but his rooted defensive principles in the middle of the park worked a treat for Frank over so many years.

Palhinha could emulate this, maybe even taking a more complete and wider-ranging approach at Tottenham. With the likes of James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski already residing within the Lilywhites ranks, it makes sense that such a profile should be signed.

Bissouma has played his part at Tottenham, and indeed leaves having won a trophy, but to keep him on the books after such unconvincing and irrational performances in recent years would be negligible.

Luckily, Spurs are forging ahead with plans for a new midfielder, and Palhinha could be the man for the job.

Perfect alongside Palhinha: "Phenomenal" star has agreed terms with Spurs

Tottenham Hotspur have been handed a boost in their pursuit of one talent this summer.

2 ByEthan Lamb Jul 26, 2025

Glasgow Rangers continued their preparations for the 2025/26 campaign with a behind-closed-doors friendly clash at St. George’s Park on Saturday.

The Light Blues were held to a 1-1 draw, as Danilo scored the only goal for the Ibrox side.

There is still plenty of work left to be done before Rangers face their Champions League qualifiers later this month, not least on the transfer front.

Sheffield Wednesday winger Djeidi Gassama looks set to be the next player through the door. When asked about the forward’s arrival, Russell Martin said: “We’re waiting on their end to be sorted but we fully expect Gass to be our player hopefully fairly, very, very soon. We need to try and strengthen as many areas as possible.”

The 21-year-old attacker, who predominantly plays on the left flank, appears to be on the verge of joining the likes of Thelo Aasgaard, Nasser Djiga, Joe Rothwell, Emmanuel Fernandez, Max Aarons, and Lyall Cameron at Ibrox.

What Djeidi Gassama could bring to Rangers

Gassama is far from the finished article and supporters should not expect him to immediately be an incredible talent who is going to produce 20 goals and assists in his first season.

At the age of 21, he has plenty left to learn and plenty of time left ahead of him to develop and improve, which means that the winger will be a long-term signing for the Gers on a permanent deal from the Owls.

However, that does not mean that Gassama will not be a useful player for Martin to call upon at Ibrox next season, because he produced a decent amount of quality in the final third in the Championship last season.

In the 2024/25 campaign, the French dynamo scored seven goals and provided one assist in 43 appearances for Sheffield Wednesday, who were not competing for promotion from the division.

24/25 Championship	Gassama	Percentile rank vs wingers
xG	5.92	Top 16%
Goals	7	Top 14%
Shots on target	23	Top 14%
Chances created	38	Top 23%
xA	2.54	Top 32%
Assists	1	Bottom 27%
Touches in the opposition box	153	Top 6%
Stats via FotMob

As you can see in the table above, he ranked well among his positional peers as a goalscorer and was unfortunate to only have one assist, as his teammates let him down with wasteful finishing.

These statistics suggest that he could be an exciting player for supporters to watch as a winger who constantly gets himself into high-quality goalscoring positions by taking plenty of touches in the opposition’s box.

Gassama will not be the only winger to arrive at Ibrox this summer, though, and the Light Blues are reportedly eyeing a forward who is even better than the Owls sensation.

Rangers battling to sign Premier League forward

According to The Scottish Sun, Rangers are one of the teams eyeing up a deal to sign Crystal Palace winger Jesurun Rak-Sakyi before the end of the summer transfer window.

The report claims that Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers have joined the race to land the left-footed forward, who spent the 2024/25 campaign on loan at Sheffield United.

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It states that Wolves are looking to reinvest some of the cash that they brought in from the sale of Matheus Cunha to Manchester United, and they have identified the Eagles youngster as a target.

The Scottish Sun reveals that Rangers, who are now battling the Old Gold for the winger, would like to bring the 22-year-old star to Ibrox on a season-long loan, as they are not prepared to pay the £10m asking price for a permanent move.

However, it remains to be seen whether or not Wolves will stump up the £10m required to sign Rak-Sakyi, which means that the Gers are still in the race at this moment in time.

Why Rak-Sakyi is even better than Gassama

The English forward would be an even better signing for Rangers next season than Gassama with the immediate future in mind, as he could hit the ground running as a star for the Light Blues in the coming months.

Rak-Sakyi, who was hailed as “wonderful” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, only started 22 games in the Championship for Sheffield United last term, but racked up seven goals, 3.48 xA, and two assists for the promotion-chasing Blades.

Despite his limited game time, the right-sided winger showed that he can make a big impact in front of goal, which suggests that he could thrive at Ibrox as a regular starter under Martin if he arrives in Glasgow this summer.

The £10m-rated star, who delivered 15 goals and nine assists for Charlton in the 2022/23 campaign, could offer more in the final third than Gassama at the start of next season, as he heavily outperformed the Sheffield Wednesday man in the Championship when on the pitch.

24/25 Championship per 90	Djeidi Gassama	Jesurun Rak-Sakyi
xG	0.18	0.32
Goals	0.21	0.36
xA	0.08	0.18
Assists	0.03	0.10
Chances created	1.14	1.51
Dribbles completed	1.99	2.44
Touches in the opposition box	4.60	7.69
Stats via FotMob

As you can see in the table above, Rak-Sakyi outperformed the French whiz as a scorer, a creator, and as a dribbler in the second tier of English football, in terms of what he offered per 90.

These statistics suggest that the left-footed star is more likely to offer consistent quality in front of goal as a scorer and a creator of goals for Rangers if given regular game time than Gassama is next season, given their respective performances at the same level last term.

Therefore, Rak-Sakyi could be a terrific signing for Rangers to immediately add goals and assists to the team on the right flank ahead of the Champions League qualifiers later this month.

Bad news for Souttar at Ibrox: Rangers plotting move to sign "great leader"

Having already made six summer signings, plenty more are forecast to follow at Rangers, so will they secure a deal to sign a “great leader”?

By
Ben Gray

Jul 13, 2025

It is now down to the Gers, though, to convince Palace to send the winger to Ibrox on loan for the season, despite interest from Wolves in a permanent deal for the young attacker.