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Celtic are taking stock ahead of another busy transfer window and could now be set to field interest in one of their star players from the Premier League, according to a report.

Celtic set to pursue reinforcements in the wide areas

By now, everyone knows that Celtic are in the market to buy a striker this summer and several names have began to crop up on their radar to address the position, including Telstar forward Youssef El Kachati.

However, their pursuit of a winger over the coming months is arguably just as important, especially when you factor in that Jota is a long-term injury casualty at Parkhead.

The iconic Portuguese winger is set to be out for another six months, give or take, meaning there is plenty of room to secure another body or two to prop up Brendan Rodgers’ range of options.

Sarpsborg talent Sondre Orjasaeter was a Celtic target in January and there is every chance the reigning Scottish champions could return to bid for the Norwegian during the window, albeit he won’t be the only name on their shortlist.

Royal Antwerp’s Michel-Ange Balikwisha has also been mentioned in connection with a move to Glasgow and could be available due to his current employers’ wish to cut costs drastically during the summer.

Jeremie Frimpong repeat: Celtic eyeing move for "outstanding" £1m star

Celtic are lining up a move for an English full-back who could be a repeat of Jeremie Frimpong.

By
Dan Emery

Jun 2, 2025

Daizen Maeda had to feature out wide and as a centre-forward during the second half of the campaign, and it would be wise for Rodgers to provide cover for the Japanese attacker in light of his extraordinary 33-goal campaign for the Bhoys.

Nevertheless, Celtic are also aware that everyone has their price; something that could now be put to the test if recent developments are to be believed.

Brentford emerge as frontrunners to sign Nicolas Kuhn

According to TEAMtalk, Brentford are now frontrunners to sign Nicolas Kuhn from Celtic as they search for potential replacements in light of developments that could point Bryan Mbeumo in the direction of Manchester United, while he also has interest from Arsenal.

The outlet claim a bid of around £20 million could be difficult to reject for the Bhoys, who have made a habit of regularly selling players for profit down the years.

Mbeumo could be set for Old Trafford if the Red Devils pay in excess of £60 million, and Brentford have turned their attention to the former Germany Under-20 international alongside Brighton & Hove Albion and three other unnamed English top-flight clubs.

Fashioning 52 chances on Scottish Premiership duty, Kuhn was a thorn in the side of opposition defences and has previously been labelled “breathtaking” by Marvin Bartley due to his excellent attacking displays.

Celtic won’t want to lose one of their prize assets. However, they usually do make a signature sale at this time of year, so it is a scenario that cannot be ruled out.

Leeds United are reportedly in pole position to sign a £20m+ attacker who Chelsea wanted to sign last year.

Leeds on the search for attacking additions in Premier League

The Whites are yet to make their first signing of the summer transfer window following promotion to the Premier League, despite the 49ers promising a busy market.

Talking after their Championship title win, chairman Paraag Marathe said that the club would “spend to be competitive in the Premier League”.

Daniel Farke and those behind the scenes at Elland Road have a lot to do before 2025/26 season, and attacking additions are required in Yorkshire.

A new number 10 is wanted with Emiliano Buendia, Gus Hamer and Gabriel Sara all linked with moves to Leeds in recent weeks, whereas it remains to be seen if winger Manor Solomon will return on a permanent basis from Tottenham.

Leeds make contact to sign free agent star who scored 23 goals this season

The Whites are looking for some attacking flair after claiming promotion to the top-flight.

By
Sean Markus Clifford

Jun 2, 2025

When it comes to a new striker, Leeds have had their reservations over Championship Golden Boot winner Joel Piroe and the experienced Patrick Bamford, leading to rumours of a new centre-forwards arriving.

Forwards with Premier League experience such as Callum Wilson and Jamie Vardy have been mooted as targets, and there has been a new Leeds update on another attacking addition.

Leeds in pole position to sign £20m+ Christantus Uche

According to reports from SER journalist Jose David Palacio, relayed by MOT Leeds News, Leeds are in pole position to sign Getafe attacker Christantus Uche.

The La Liga ace is looking to leave his current employers, and alongside the Whites, Brentford are also at the front of the queue for Uche, who has a £21m release clause in his current contract.

The Nigeria international is primarily an attacking midfielder but can also drop deeper as a central midfielder or turn out slightly further forward as a second striker. At the age of 22, Uche has a career-high €8m Transfermarkt valuation and has been catching the eye over the last 12 months, with Chelsea making contact over a deal last year.

As can be seen, Uche, who actually doesn’t have a weak foot, has had quite the rise in recent years, playing amateur football at the age of 19, but by the looks of things, a move to the Premier League with Leeds could now be on the cards.

Wolverhampton Wanderers finished their 2024/25 season with a 1-1 draw against Brentford on Sunday.

This result meant the Old Gold finished 16th, 17 points clear of the relegation zone. Vitor Pereira’s opening few months have been largely promising, but there must be some improvements made to the squad during the summer transfer window.

Several players failed to shine against the Bees, however, which could impact their futures.

Wolves' best and worst performers against Brentford

Marshall Munetsi scored a screamer to rescue a point for the Molineux side, and it was an excellent overall display.

He lost possession just seven times and succeeded with 100% of his dribbles during the game.

Sadly, with a move to Manchester United on the horizon, Matheus Cunha looks to have played his final game for the club but he did put in a decent display, registering five total shots while delivering nine crosses into the box as he looked to make the difference.

Elsewhere, Rayan Ait-Nouri, who also may have played his final game for Wolves, struggled throughout. Not only did he give the ball away for Brentford’s opener, the defender also lost the ball nine times before being subbed off in the 65th minute.

The worst performer, however, was Goncalo Guedes, and it is almost certain that the Portuguese forward will be on his way out of Molineux this summer.

Why Wolves must sell Goncalo Guedes this summer

Guedes was deployed as a lone centre-forward against Brentford, but failed to make an impression in the final third.

The former Valencia man lasted just 65 minutes. During his time on the pitch, he registered two shots off target, succeeded with three of his six dribble attempts and completed only 20 passes.

There was a moment that left the manager “furious” in the words of Old Gold reporter Liam Keen, when Munetsi cut the ball back but the Portuguese made a mess of the chance and sent it wide.

Across his 29 league matches this season, Guedes scored just twice while grabbing four assists and if Pereira is aiming to take the club into the top half of the Premier League table next season, he should not be the main attacking option, particularly when Cunha departs.

He’s lacked so much pizazz in the final third, notably recording a goal conversion percentage of just 7%, while he averaged 0.5 key passes per game, created two big chances and averaged just 0.3 shots on target per game in the top flight.

Those are hardly the statistics of a player who can make a difference for the club in the final third next season, and this must ensure his departure in the coming months.

Dubbed as “lightning quick” by European football expert Andy Brassell upon his arrival at Molineux, it’s fair to say that he failed to live up to his massive £27.5m transfer fee.

With two years left on his current contract at the club, now is the perfect time for Pereira to cash in on him when the transfer window opens.

It is unlikely he can recoup the near £30m that was spent on him, but any decent fee would bolster the club’s transfer kitty, no doubt about that.

With Cunha departing too, Pereira must bring in another attacker or two.

Wolves can sign their new Raul Jimenez with "extraordinary" £29m star

Wolves will need to replace Matheus Cunha this summer

By
Ross Kilvington

May 25, 2025

Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Vitor Pereira is looking to significantly strengthen his squad ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

One player who is on the club’s radar is Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who could be set to leave Chelsea this summer after just one season at Stamford Bridge.

The Old Gold have been linked with a move for the midfielder, who would fit the profile of what the manager is looking for in his midfield.

He won’t be the only name to be linked with a move to Molineux in the coming weeks, especially as they need some added firepower up front.

The latest Wolves transfer news

Matheus Cunha looks destined to leave the Midlands this summer. Manchester United look to be the club that are set to trigger his £62.5m release clause when the window opens.

This means Pereira will need to look for another forward or two, especially if he looks to take Wolves into the top half of the Premier League table next season.

According to reports in Italy, the club are preparing to line up a move for Lazio striker Valentin Castellanos. They aren’t the only English side to be monitoring his performances, however, as Nottingham Forest and West Ham United are also set to battle it out.

A price tag of £29m has been placed on the striker’s head, and much will depend on how much money the manager has to spend this summer.

If he could secure moves for him and Dewsbury-Hall, the pair could form a dream partnership, that’s for sure.

Why Wolves must sign Valentin Castellanos

Dewsbury-Hall may not have enjoyed the finest of seasons at Chelsea, yet he has still registered seven goal contributions.

It was his spell in the Championship for Leicester City during 2023/24 that saw him secure the move to London. Across 44 Championship games, he created 20 big chances and averaged 2.5 key passes per game.

If this sort of form was on show at Molineux, he and Castellanos would be perfect together.

The Argentinian striker rose to prominence during a spell with New York City, scoring 59 goals in 134 appearances for the MLS side.

His four-goal haul against Real Madrid, however, during the 2022/23 season saw him secure a move to Lazio, where he has shone this term.

A tally of 14 goals and eight assists in 38 matches has put several teams on high alert this summer, and he could be set to leave Serie A, amid interest from Wilshere.

Lauded as “extraordinary” by Lazio manager Marco Baroni in October, the 26-year-old looks as though he is entering the peak years of his career.

This suggests he would be an excellent signing for Pereira next season. With Dewsbury-Hall playing just behind him, creating chances and openings in the attacking penalty area, the pair could sparkle.

It could be a massive coup to sign both players this summer, but if the club are serious about working their way into the top half of the table, then money will have to be spent on stars of their calibre to take the team to the next level.

He'd be amazing with Joao Gomes: Wolves interested in £30m "top talent"

Wolves are looking to boost midfield options

By
Joe Nuttall

May 16, 2025

After taking the reins back in November, Ruben Amorim has injected the feel-good factor back into Manchester United – helping the side qualify for the Europa League final.

However, there’s only so much success the 40-year-old can achieve with the players who were at the club after he took over from former boss Erik ten Hag.

The attacking department is the area in need of desperate attention in the coming months, with the hierarchy needing to back the manager with funds if he is to improve the lack of goals currently plaguing his centre-forwards.

Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee are the two senior options at his disposal, but the pair have only netted a combined tally of seven goals in the Premier League after costing the Red Devils upwards of £100m.

If they are to take the next step under Amorim, a new striker is a must during the upcoming window, potentially ending the spells of either of the aforementioned talents in the process.

An update on United’s pursuit of new strikers this summer

Even though the summer window is yet to be open, United have already wasted no time in targeting new talent to strengthen the current first-team squad.

Liam Delap was once seen as the Red Devils’ main target for the centre-forward role, especially considering his £30m relegation release clause – but look set to face tough competition from Nottingham Forest in the coming months.

The 22-year-old will certainly remain on the shortlist, but potentially not at the top, with Moise Kean now the club’s main priority, according to one Spanish outlet.

The report claims that Amorim believes he is the perfect option to fit into his 3-4-2-1 system at Old Trafford, having the right profile given positioning, pace and clinical nature.

Kean, who’s netted 23 goals in all competitions this season, is said to cost a fee in the region of £42m, given the release clause in his contract at Serie A outfit Fiorentina.

Why United’s £42m target would be unplayable with Amad

Amad Diallo has been a shining light for United this campaign in what’s been a year to forget in the Premier League, often providing the goods within the final third.

The Ivorian has registered 10 goals and seven assists across all competitions, with his latest coming against Brentford after his recent three-month injury lay-off.

His underlying stats at Old Trafford have been just as impressive, with his output handing other attacking options around him the ammunition to be a success at the club.

Amad has registered 2.2 chances created per 90 this campaign, whilst also completing 2.1 dribbles – often liking to take the ball into attacking areas at any given opportunity.

Such tallies could fall perfectly into the hands of transfer target Kean, who could well turn out to be the attacking saviour the Red Devils have been crying out for over the past few months.

The Italian, who’s been labelled “sensational” by content creator Elliot Hackney, has resurrected his career in the last couple of months after flat-lining following his breakthrough at Juventus.

The 25-year-old currently sits as Serie A’s second top scorer, registering 1.6 shots on target per 90 – benefiting from Amad’s service within the final third should he move to Manchester.

He’s also completed 72% of the passes he’s attempted, whilst also completing 1.5 dribbles per 90, having the tools to return the favour to the Ivorian in the final third should he need to.

Kean’s talents don’t stop there, winning 51% of the aerials he’s contested, notching 4.7 touches in the opposition box per game – handing the manager the ‘fox in the box’ style forward he’s lacked since he joined the club.

The £42m fee touted would be an excellent deal for the club, potentially getting themselves a bargain and a player who can provide the goods for the club for many years to come.

The thought of the Italian forming a partnership with Amad is certainly an exciting one, handing the club the platform to recapture their success endured in previous years.

The new Amrabat: Amorim must axe 4/10 Man Utd man who lost the ball 15x

Manchester United booked their place in the Europa League final last night, setting up a clash with Tottenham Hotspur.

6

By
Ethan Lamb

May 9, 2025

Everton have improved since David Moyes replaced Sean Dyche at the helm, but recent results have underscored the need for new attacking quality.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin is expected to leave as a free agent at the end of the season, while Jack Harrison, Jesper Lindstrom and Armando Broja’s loan deals all conclude in two months.

However, while The Friedkin Group are going to sign forwards of various shapes and sizes, Moyes is also keen to strengthen his midfield, already focusing on a specific profile.

The target in question has plied under the Scotsman’s leadership for several years, and could prove an astute piece of business.

Everton transfer news

Despite the transfer window not yet open for business, the Toffees have already started putting plans into motion with the likes of Monaco’s striking sensation, Mika Biereth, linked with a move to Goodison Park.

Also on their radar is Liverpool’s Ben Doak, yet on this occasion, it looks as though Moyes is targeting experience.

Transfer Focus

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

Indeed, as per Football Insider, Moyes is targeting a reunion with West Ham United’s Tomas Soucek, having fielded the 30-year-old 207 times during his time at the Irons helm, more than any other player.

Though newly-promoted Leeds United are also chasing a deal for Soucek, who is valued at £10m, it’s understood that Everton have the lead in the race given the Czech international’s relationship with Moyes.

Why Tomas Soucek would be perfect for Everton

Soucek has been at West Ham for half a decade, signing on an initial loan from Slavia Prague in January 2020 before completing a £19m deal that summer.

The 6 foot 3 ace would bring physicality to the Everton midfield and might prove to be the perfect replacement for Amadou Onana, who was sold to Aston Villa for £50m last summer.

Described as a “midfield powerhouse” by journalist Antonio Mango, Onana’s presence has been missed on Merseyside, but Soucek could bring his own take on the role next year, working hard in the duel while making darting runs into the danger area to complement the frontline.

As you can see, Onana might be more rounded than Soucek, but the latter man has a killer instinct in the final third, which scant few Toffees players have showcased with regularity this year.

West Ham have only created 50 big chances in the Premier League this season, with just the relegated trio making fewer. This actually shines a positive light on Soucek, whose skill at finding space and striking true has seen him score eight times.

It’s no surprise he’s been called a “machine” by former West Ham correspondent Tom Clark, adding intensity and initiative to his fold.

In fact, the £90k-per-week talent ranks among the top 2% of central midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for non-penalty goals scored and the top 1% for aerial duels won per 90, as per FBref, further illustrating his combativeness and indeed goalscoring strength.

Everton fans have tasted first-hand the midfielder’s goalscoring ability and must now forge ahead to make a shrewd signing which might just pay dividends, adding an Onana-esque presence at Bramley Moore.

Soucek may not be the fluid ball player that Graham Potter wants at the heart of his West Ham system, but Moyes enforces a different type of brand, one which the veteran midfielder would dovetail right into if Everton make their move in the coming months.

He was worse than Harrison: 5/10 Everton dud proved that TFG need to spend

Everton have lost back-to-back matches in the Premier League.

By
Angus Sinclair

Apr 28, 2025

Leeds United are believed to be readying a move to sign of a player who Daniel Farke has described as “brilliant”, according to a new transfer report.

Leeds one step closer to Premier League return

The Whites picked up another priceless three points in the Championship promotion tussle on Good Friday, battling their way to a 1-0 victory away to Oxford United.

Manor Solomon’s second-half goal proved to be the difference between the two sides, and with Burnley and Sheffield United also winning on the day, victory was imperative.

It means Leeds are now within touching distance of sealing a return to the Premier League from the Championship, sitting five points clear of the third-place Blades with only three matches remaining. It would need a capitulation at this point to prevent the Whites from getting back into the top flight.

If Farke’s side do earn promotion, the manager and the 49ers Enterprises will know that lots of reinforcements are required in the summer transfer window, with the gap between England’s top and second-best league never feeling greater, with the three promoted teams set to go straight back down again for the second year in a row. Now, a new Leeds transfer rumour has emerged.

Leeds pushing to sign "brilliant" goalkeeper

According to Football Insider, Leeds and 49ers Enterprises are “readying a move” for Norwich City goalkeeper Angus Gunn this summer, seeing him as a replacement on the error-prone Illan Meslier.

The Scot is “yet to be offered a contract extension” by the Canaries, meaning he could leave the club on a free transfer at the end of the season.

Gunn could be an astute addition for Leeds ahead of next season, with the Norwich stopper now an experienced head who has proven himself over an extended period of time.

The 29-year-old has 164 appearances to his name in the Championship, showing that he can perform in an extremely competitive league, and he also has 15 caps for Scotland.

Meanwhile, Jackie McNamara has hailed Gunn as an “excellent” player, while even more promisingly, Farke is an admirer, having worked with him in the past, saying:

“Angus is very highly-rated and a really talented goalkeeper. He’s brilliant with his feet as well as his hands and is tall too. We’re happy to have him here for the next season and are thankful to Manchester City for helping us with this deal. I’m looking forward to working with such a great talent.”

The fact that Gunn would be available on a free transfer makes this even more of a no-brainer for Leeds, meaning that it wouldn’t even be much of a risk if it ended up not working out.

Fewer touches than Darlow: Leeds need to upgrade on £15k-p/w star & Gnonto

Leeds moved one step closer to the Premier League, although work still needs to be done

By
Robbie Walls

Apr 19, 2025

There is nothing to suggest that that would be the case, however, and while Meslier has had good games this season, his penchant for making mistakes has been costly too often, so an upgrade such as the Norwich ace is required.

While he hasn’t got everything right since taking the job at Arsenal, it would be fair to say Mikel Arteta has signed some incredible players.

The likes of David Raya, Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Magalhaes and Jurrien Timber have all played their part in taking the club forward, but when it comes to the Spaniard’s best signing, one name stands out above all others: Declan Rice.

There was plenty of pressure on the former West Ham United captain’s shoulders when he moved to the Emirates for a club-record £105m in 2023, but since then, he’s more than proven his worth, as exemplified by his two Man of the Match Awards against Real Madrid in the Champions League this month.

So, fans should be excited about recent reports suggesting the manager could be about to make his best signing since the Englishman.

Arsenal transfer news

Regardless of what happens in Europe, this summer looks set to be a massive one for Arsenal, and as such, the club have been linked with a whole host of extraordinary players, such as Nico Williams.

According to reports from late last week, the Gunners have maintained their intense interest in the Spanish international and would be willing to activate his £50m release clause, which could be a fair price considering he’s scored 11 goals and provided seven assists in 42 games this term.

Another talented winger from Spain who has reportedly caught the North Londoners’ attention in recent weeks is Real Betis youngster Jesús Rodríguez, who has a release clause of around £42m in his current deal.

However, while there is plenty of excitement around the 19-year-old, he is far rawer than the Athletic Bilbao star, and with just four goal involvements in 25 senior appearances this season, he might be too big of a gamble, which some might have said about Benjamin Šeško a couple of years ago.

Yes, according to a recent report from journalist Graeme Bailey, it’s now claimed that the RB Leipzig dynamo, who was also a target last summer, is said to hold ‘strong interest’ in joining the Gunners this summer.

In fact, the report goes a step further, revealing that talks have already taken place between the player’s camp and new Sporting Director Andrea Berta as the Gunners look to make a fast start to the upcoming transfer window.

Regarding a potential fee, the story reiterates reports that the Slovenian has a £58m release clause in his current deal, which, given his age and output this season, may prove to be a bargain a few years from now.

Transfer Focus

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

It would still require a significant investment from Arsenal, but Šeško looks like a player worth bringing to the Emirates, and he could even end up being Arteta’s best signing since Rice.

Why Šeško would be Arsenal's best signing since Rice

So, when it really comes down to it, there are two reasons why Šeško would be Arsenal’s best signing since Rice, and the first is his output.

For example, despite it being his first campaign in a top-five league, the Slovenian “monster,” as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, managed to rack up an impressive tally of 18 goals and two assists in 42 first-team appearances, totalling just 2057 minutes.

That means the Radeče-born phenomenon managed to maintain an average of a goal involvement every 2.1 games or every 102.85 minutes, which, again, is undeniably impressive for his first season in the big-time.

This season, he’s managed to score 20 goals and provide six assists in just 41 appearances, totalling 3041 appearances, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.57 games, or every 116.96 minutes.

Just imagine the level of output at the tip of this Arsenal side, with the likes of Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and a recently rejuvenated Gabriel Martinelli, or even Nico Williams, around him – he’d surely be the 20-goal-a-season striker the team so desperately need.

Now, that alone could be what makes the former RB Salzburg gem the Gunners’ best signing since Rice.

However, what makes him an even more attractive acquisition is that he’s still just 21 years old and 6 foot 5, so not only could he get exponentially better over the next five to six years, but he also should have the physicality to thrive in the Premier League.

Ultimately, while he’s not going to be cheap, Arsenal should do what they can to sign Šeško this summer, as he might be just the player they need to reach that next level.

Worth £37m more than Huijsen: Arsenal hit gold on "monster" Emery signing

The sensational international is one of Arsenal’s best players.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Apr 18, 2025

Last night was arguably Tottenham Hotspur’s biggest game of the season so far, and things did not entirely go to plan.

Ange Postecoglou’s side played host to Eintracht Frankfurt in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final, and instead of building up a lead ahead of the second leg, they played out a 1-1 draw.

Unsurprisingly, given the scoreline, it was a night of mixed performances from the hosts, with some starters putting in a real shift while others have given the manager a decision to make ahead of next week.

In fact, one of Ange’s own signings was particularly poor, and truth be told, they let the manager down in a game which could seriously impact his job security.

Spurs' standout performers

So, before getting to the offender in question, it’s worth going over a couple of the starters who did at least put in a real effort and arguably deserved to come away with a win, such as Micky van de Ven.

The Dutch defender was immense at the back, making his trademark lung-busting runs on more than one occasion to completely snuff out counter-attacks.

Had it not been for the former Wolfsburg gem, there is a very real chance that Frankfurt could’ve got one or two more goals, and so he’s more than deserving of the 8/10 match rating he got from the Standard’s Dan Kilpatrick.

Performance in Numbers

Want data and stats? Football FanCast’s Performance in Numbers series provides you with the latest match analysis from across Europe.

James Maddison was another of Ange’s signings who put in a decent performance last night.

Now, he did lose the ball that led to the visitors’ opener, but after the first 15 minutes or so, he really found his feet and looked a genuine threat for much of the game.

The former Leicester City star got the assist for Pedro Porro’s goal and could have had one of his own in the second half, which, again, justifies the 7/10 match rating he got from Kilpatrick.

Unfortunately, one of Postecoglou’s other signings was far less influential last night, and as such, they let the fans and manager down.

The Spurs star who let Ange down

While the likes of Dominic Solanke and Son Heung-min were underwhelming last night, Brennan Johnson was arguably the worst Spurs player on the pitch.

It was only on Sunday that the Welsh international scored a brace against Southampton, so it made sense for Postecoglou to start him, but unlike then, the former Nottingham Forest star was utterly anonymous against Frankfurt.

In fact, it felt like whenever the “frustrating” wide man, as dubbed by former professional turned pundit Jamie O’Hara, did have the ball, he either lost it or played it safe, and then when he had a golden opportunity towards the end, he fired the ball well over the crossbar.

It might sound harsh, but Kilpatrick shares our opinion, awarding the winger a paltry 4/10 match rating at full-time and writing that aside from his big miss, he ‘was otherwise quiet.’

Unsurprisingly, his statistics only further back up this narrative, as in 95 minutes of action, the 23-year-old ace amassed a combined expected goal plus assists figure of 0.15 and failed to have a single shot on target.

To make matters worse, the Welshman only had 32 touches, completed just 13 passes – three fewer than goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario – and failed with 100% of his crosses during a really wasteful evening.

Ultimately, it was a middling night for Tottenham overall but a particularly bad one for Johnson, and if Postecoglou wants to see a better performance from his side in the second leg, he’d be better off dropping the Welshman.

He's a lot like Dele Alli: Spurs want to sign £20m "freak of nature"

The incredible youngster would be a hit at Spurs.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Apr 10, 2025

India have selection dilemmas in all departments as they look to firm up their side for the ODI World Cup

Shashank Kishore15-Jul-2025With a home ODI World Cup looming in September, India have just six matches left to fine-tune their combinations. The upcoming three-match series in England, beginning Wednesday in Southampton, offers a glimpse into the team’s evolving plans.Captain Harmanpreet Kaur believes the growing competition for spots is a “healthy headache” to have, which she attributes to improved depth and balance. Here are some of the tricky decisions the team management may have to make.Rawal vs Deol?
Pratika Rawal may have racked up 638 runs in 11 ODIs at an average of 63.80, including five fifties and a century, but this series holds deeper significance for her with the World Cup looming. The reason? Shafali Verma.Related

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• Harmanpreet embraces 'happy headache' with India's depth on the rise

Shafali’s ability to dismantle attacks in the powerplay makes her an irresistible asset, even if her high-risk approach can come with bouts of inconsistency. Rawal, by contrast, builds her innings, and accelerates as she settles in. She is also a handy spin option, while Shafali is strictly just part-time.As impressive as Rawal’s initiation has been, the runs have mostly come against Ireland, West Indies, Sri Lanka and a depleted South Africa. This, in a way, will be her first big test in international cricket.A good series for Rawal will make it harder for the selectors to displace her from the opening spot alongside Smriti Mandhana, but her style of play and method of run accumulation could also make her a useful proposition at No. 3 if Shafali’s resurgence in the England T20Is convinces the team management to back her to reclaim her opening spot in ODIs, a format she last played in October 2024.The only problem with that reshuffle could be that Harleen Deol, who has transformed her game and has been in excellent form across formats lately, may have to be benched. Since her comeback from injury in December 2024, Deol has hit 230 runs in six innings, including a maiden ODI century. She also played a sparkling knock in the T20I series opener in England.Deol’s form, Rawal’s run glut and Shafali’s X-factor leaves India with a tough choice to make. The next three games could indicate which way the team management will be inclined towards ahead of the Australia series, their final audition before the World Cup opener on September 30 against Sri Lanka.Who partners Amanjot in the seam department?
Pooja Vastrakar hasn’t played since the T20 World Cup last October. She missed the WPL as well, and there has been no official update from the BCCI or selectors, on her rehab or possible return. In her absence, Amanjot Kaur has emerged as a capable replacement, even if not like-for-like.Arundhati Reddy played in all five T20Is against England•SLCWhile Amanjot lacks Vastrakar’s pace and ability to hustle batters, she brings her own strengths to the table: gentle swing, accuracy, and an ability to stem the flow of runs, as seen in the recent T20I series. She picked up six wickets in two matches in the tri-series against Sri Lanka and South Africa this April.Her batting, too, has come into its own. A prime example was her unbeaten 63 under pressure, rescuing India from 31 for 3 in the second T20I against England in Bristol. This means the tussle for the one remaining seam-bowler’s slot is likely to be between Arundhati Reddy, Kranti Goud and Sayali Satghare. The selectors will also have an opportunity to look at Titas Sadhu, who will be on the A tour to Australia having recovered from injury. There is no update yet on Renuka Singh.Among the contenders, Reddy looks the frontrunner currently, having featured in three games in the tri-series and each of the five T20Is after being dropped for the home series against Ireland and West Indies earlier in the year. Goud brings with her pace, but is largely untested, while Satghare is a swing bowler.The make-up of the spin attack
Deepti Sharma appears to be a lock-in. So the tussle will be between Sneh Rana, N Shree Charani and Radha Yadav for two spots.Rana announced herself in the WPL for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, after initially going unsold at the auction. Then, after having not been in the scheme of things for nearly a year-and-a-half, she received a lifeline when she was picked for the ODI tri-series in Sri Lanka.N Shree Charani was the leading wicket-taker in the T20Is against England•Andy Kearns/Getty ImagesThere, she was named Player of the series for her 15 wickets in five games, including a career-best 5 for 43 in a match-winning spell against South Africa. The T20I series in England was her comeback to the shortest format after over two years.Charani, who was also on that tour in Sri Lanka, has been named Player of the series in the England T20Is for her chart-topping 10 wickets. The team management is impressed by her ability to bowl across phases. She also performed exceedingly well in the tri-series, picking up six wickets in five games at an economy of 5.39, and was the perfect spin twin to Rana.The allure of playing two genuine spinners and Deepti could make it tough for the team management to include Radha Yadav, arguably one of the best fielders in the women’s game today. Her improved left-arm spin and ability to wield the willow lower down the order makes her hard to ignore. But such is the competition that there’s only space for two, unless the toss-up boils down to one between Deepti and Rana.India’s likely ODI combination
1 Smriti Mandhana, 2 Pratika Rawal, 3 Harleen Deol, 4 Harmanpreet Kaur (capt), 5 Jemimah Rodrigues, 6 Richa Ghosh (wk), 7 Amanjot Kaur, 8 Deepti Sharma, 9 Arundhati Reddy, 10 Sneh Rana/Radha Yadav, 11 N Shree Charani