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Southampton are thought to be looking at appointing Tony Mowbray as their new manager on a short-term deal after a twist emerged on a return for Russell Martin.

Southampton manager latest

The Saints are on the search for another permanent manager after what has been a torrid 12 months at St Mary’s. Will Still is the latest full-time boss to have tried and failed on the south coast, with Southampton winning just two of their opening 13 Championship games.

A number of managers have been linked with the Saints vacancy, including former manager Russell Martin, who was thought to be the top target and was open to talks.

Other names mooted to be of interest include former Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick, ex-Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers and Stoke City’s Mark Robins.

Taking to X on Tuesday, Sky Sports reporter Lyall Thomas revealed that Johannes Spors’ search for a new Southampton manager has seen him look in Germany, with returns for Ralph Hasenhuttl or Russell Martin unlikely.

With the Saints taking their time, it has even been claimed that a new interim manager could be appointed.

Southampton eye Mowbray on short-term deal

According to reliable reporter Alan Nixon, relayed by Football League World, Southampton are looking at a move for Mowbray on a short-term basis.

It is claimed that Mowbray could be brought in if things don’t improve under interim head coach Tonda Eckert. Within the report, it is also stated that there is some opposition within Southampton to a Martin return, backing up Thomas’ claim of a move for the ex-Saints looking unlikely.

Mowbray, a Championship winner during his time at West Brom and plays a 4-2-3-1 system, has been out of work since April after a brief second stint at The Hawthorns.

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The 61-year-old, when in charge of Sunderland, embarrassed Martin’s Southampton side, winning 5-0 at the Stadium of Light in 2023.

Mowbray has plenty of experience in the second tier, so could therefore be a safe pair of hands if Southampton’s manager search is going to continue into and even after the international break.

Approaching 500 games as a manager in the second tier, Mowbray’s name could be one to keep an eye on at St Mary’s.

Southampton now eyeing Mark Robins after using latest data-driven recruitment model

Jason Roy, Sam Curran, Chris Jordan play key roles to set up then secure seven-run win over Glamorgan

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay03-Jun-2025Surrey 149 for 8 (Roy 69, Douthwaite 3-23) beat Glamorgan 142 (Curran 3-18, Jordan 3-31) by seven runsSurrey picked up their first win of the Vitality Blast with a disciplined bowling display that sealed a seven-run win over Glamorgan in Cardiff.Sam Curran impressed with the ball, taking 3 for 18 to secure his first win as Surrey captain. Earlier, Jason Roy scored a second consecutive half-century to lift Surrey to a competitive 149 for 8 before the experienced, international-filled bowling contingent took charge.Glamorgan’s bowlers had done a decent job to restrict Surrey, with Dan Douthwaite’s 3 for 23 the highlight. A 58-partnership from Kiran Carlson and Will Smale set the hosts on their way in the chase, before key wickets through the middle overs left them 142 all out off the final delivery.Surrey’s win gives both sides four points (one win, one loss) after two matches at this early stage in the South Group.For the second time in this T20 campaign, Surrey were put into bat by their toss-winning hosts. Ollie Pope showed his creativity early, scooping Timm van der Gugten for a six in the first over, disregarding the deep-third fielder in the process.Dom Sibley took a while to get going, with just two from his first 11 balls before finding a boundary to kickstart his eventual 26 from 27 balls. Glamorgan’s regular bowling changes led to a 23-ball boundaryless spell after the Powerplay until Roy pushed up a gear, hitting Andy Gorvin for a destructive straight six. It was a feat that Sam Curran and Laurie Evans couldn’t replicate, both falling caught at long-off in the same, eventful over.After Roy brought up 50 in 37 balls, Tom Curran, Ollie Sykes and Jordan struggled to make headway on a seemingly slow pitch which rewarded bowlers who hit the pitch from back-of-a-length. However, after Roy’s dismissal, Smith found a key six in the penultimate over.In reply, Glamorgan’s wicketless powerplay set them up for a strong platform in a manageable chase. Although the openers rode their luck with a few outside edges racing to the boundary and landing fortunately, the 50 partnership came up in the seventh over with some strong running and a notable Smale ramp for six off after a failed earlier attempt.However, the introduction of Jordan and Sam Curran changed the tempo of their chase. Ben Kellaway struck two boundaries including a reverse-sweep in his seven-ball stay, and with Colin Ingram unable to get going, tied down by the impressive Curran, Glamorgan slumped through a spell of three wickets for 11 runs in three overs.With momentum against them, the hosts were left needing 55 from six overs, before a Douthwaite blow sailed over the biggest boundary on the ground off the final ball of the 15th over.The task, hoewever, was too much to ask with a series of Sam Curran slower balls contributing to three late wickets in his four-over allocation.

Tottenham Hotspur are finding their feet in the Premier League this season and there is a swell of internal belief surrounding one of their most promising stars.

Tottenham's resilience leaves Frank delighted

Over the years, external narratives involving Spurs have questioned their mentality to grind out results when the pressure is on, but Thomas Frank appears to be in a position to reverse that trend.

Speaking after Tottenham’s hard-fought 2-1 victory over Leeds United last weekend, the Danish boss made it clear that his side have the dig needed to secure momentous victories even in testing circumstances.

He stated: “I think if you want to build any successful team you need mentality and character and cohesion and togetherness. No matter if you play like Inter or Barcelona or whatever style of play, you need that willingness to do everything to win, and I think we are building that more and more in the team.”

Of course, stiffer tests are to come and Frank’s men will need to show they have the mettle to claim a regular stream of points. Regardless, one loss in seven Premier League fixtures is a marked improvement on last term.

Ambition inside the building will lead that charge, and Spurs’ reported move for Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen is a sign that they aren’t willing to settle for just being part of the chasing pack.

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Putting that aside, Frank will need to focus on the talent he has at his disposal for now, even if the January window offers an opportunity to add new faces to his collective.

Listening to that advice, the Spurs manager now believes he has a player that can rival some of the world’s best in his position over the coming years.

Frank makes exciting Archie Gray prediction

Profiling his role, Frank believes Archie Gray could one day be as good as Declan Rice or Ballon d’Or winner Rodri, and has urged the former Leeds United man to take his game to the next level under his stewardship.

He stated: “I see him as a midfielder who can play six or eight. That is his position and these days midfielders need to be more complete.

Five similar players to Archie Gray (FBRef)

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“You need to be a little bit of a six, a little bit of eight and 10 and two of the best in the world right now are probably Rodri and Declan Rice. They can do a little bit of everything. I see Archie, and they are big names to compare him to, but I see he has got the same potential.”

Making 51 appearances for a club of Tottenham’s standing at 19 years of age is a commendable achievement, though it remains to be seen if the England Under-21 international can one day rival two of the Premier League’s most established midfielders.

Manchester United are reportedly preparing to make sweeping changes to the Old Trafford pitch layout following the heartbreaking death of former Arsenal academy player Billy Vigar, who tragically passed away after suffering a fatal head injury during a non-league match. The 21-year-old forward, who came through Arsenal’s youth system before moving into non-league football, died last month after colliding with a concrete wall during a match for Chichester City at Wingate & Finchley FC’s Maurice Rebak Stadium.

Man Utd consider major pitch redesign

The horrific incident has prompted immediate discussions within Premier League circles about stadium perimeter safety. According to United will reassess the entire perimeter setup at Old Trafford, including the gap between the playing surface and advertising hoardings. The pitch was upgraded back in the 1990s and currently features a raised playing surface bordered by a shallow ditch and a brick retaining wall that separates the turf from a rubber-surfaced walkway used by staff and photographers. Following the recent tragedy, concerns have been raised over the proximity of hard surfaces and advertising boards to the field of play, especially in high-speed collisions where players are sent tumbling out of bounds.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportUnited’s response: ‘Player safety is paramount’

During a recent United fans’ forum, one supporter directly questioned club officials about whether the club would “invest in transparent, soft materials” to cover or cushion the advertising boards. In response to the growing safety concerns, a club spokesperson issued a strong statement underlining United’s commitment to protecting players at all levels. The official said, "The health and welfare of all players is of paramount importance. We will look into this risk and take appropriate action.”

Now, it remains to be seen when talks between stadium engineers and safety consultants will take place about how to reduce impact risks, including potentially replacing brick barriers with padded materials or extending buffer zones between the pitch and hoardings. It marks one of the first major safety reviews of Old Trafford’s playing environment in decades.

Tragedy that shook the game

Vigar suffered what was described as a “significant brain injury” in September. He was rushed to the hospital but tragically succumbed to his injuries days later. It is believed that Vigar collided with a concrete wall running close to the pitch, a structure that has since been demolished by the host club following the fatal incident. The Football Association has announced it will conduct an urgent safety review into barriers and structures surrounding playing areas at lower-league and non-league stadiums across the country.

Tributes poured in and Arsenal posted a message that read: "Everyone at Arsenal is devastated by the shocking news that former academy graduate Billy Vigar has passed away. All our thoughts are with his family and loved ones at this time. Rest in peace, Billy."

Meanwhile, Derby County wrote: "All at Derby County are deeply saddened by the passing of Billy Vigar. Billy spent the second half of the 2022/23 season with the Academy on loan from Arsenal, making several appearances for the Under-21s. The thoughts of everyone at the club are with his family and friends at this incredibly difficult time."

The Professional Footballers' Association said: "Everyone at the PFA is shocked to learn of the tragic passing of Billy Vigar. This is devastating news, and our immediate thoughts are with Billy’s family, friends and teammates. The PFA will be offering all the support and services we have available to them at this time."

The FA added on X: "We are devastated to hear that Billy Vigar has passed away. We send our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, loved ones, and everyone at Chichester City FC at this incredibly difficult time."

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GettyPainful parallels at Old Trafford

United’s decision to act comes not only in light of Vigar’s death but also after several high-profile near misses at Old Trafford itself. In 2019, during a heated Champions League clash between United and Paris Saint-Germain, former Red Devil Angel Di María was violently bundled off the pitch by Ashley Young, crashing shoulder-first into the advertising hoardings. The Argentine winger received treatment on the sidelines but was fortunate to escape serious injury. And that wasn’t an isolated case. Over the years, numerous players have found themselves hurtling into Old Trafford’s rigid pitch-side structures after losing balance or being shoved off the ball at full speed. With United now expected to lead Premier League clubs in implementing new safety designs, the move could signal the start of a broader transformation in how stadiums across England are built and maintained. The tragedy of Vigar has cast a harsh light on an issue too long overlooked, but it may yet bring lasting change that saves lives.

Pakistan, meanwhile, rode on half-centuries from Muneeba and Aliya to go to the top of the table

Firdose Moonda11-Apr-2025West Indies survived a major scare against Ireland on their way to their first points of the Women’s World Cup Qualifier. Chasing 182 in a match reduced to 33 overs a side, Ireland were 57 for no loss in the 11th over, then lost 4 for 23 and needed 98 runs from 96 balls with six wickets in hand. The required rate ebbed and flowed as wickets fell, and at nine down, Ireland needed 26 from 23. That became 15 off 12 and eight off the last over, but Hayley Matthews once again had the decisive say and claimed the final wicket to finish with figures of 4 for 24.Ireland will rue their batting effort in the immediate aftermath, but once the dust has settled will know the game was lost in the field, where they dropped six catches and allowed West Indies to post a challenging target. At least in the batting department, West Indies had contributors other than Matthews as they shook off a slow start in the tournament, following defeat to Scotland two days ago, and criticism over the lack of contributions from other senior stars. This time, a pair of 46s from Stafanie Taylor and Chinelle Henry anchored the innings.Related

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Matthews did provide a rapid start. She hit five boundaries in the 18 balls she faced and was on 23 when Orla Prendagast dismissed her in the fifth over, taking a tumbling catch off her own bowling. Qiana Joseph followed in the next over when tried to hit her way out of trouble but skied Jane Maguire straight up for Arlene Kelly to take a simple catch. Joseph had already been dropped once in her short time at the crease.Zaida James could have gone cheaply for 2 but Ava Canning was unable to hold on and James went on to score a composed 36 off 54 balls and shared in an 87-run stand with Taylor, who was put down on 22. Just as the pair were looking settled, Maguire removed both in the same over. Taylor slashed at a wide ball and was caught at extra cover and James was undone by a slower ball and bowled.From there, Ireland could have run through West Indies’ middle order but they gave Henry chances on 1, 11 and 38 and had to content themselves with wickets at the other end. Henry finished unbeaten on 46 off 36 balls and hit the innings’ only six, and both she and West Indies seemed to have left some runs in the middle.That sentiment was confirmed with the way Ireland started. Gaby Lewis and Amy Hunter put on 57 for the first wicket inside 11 overs before Matthews made a telling double-strike. She bowled Lewis with the fourth ball of her third over and then gave Prendagast a taste of her own medicine, taking a catch in her follow-through. Hunter was bowled 19 balls later for 48 by Afy Fletcher, and when Leah Paul fed Matthews a chance at slip, Ireland looked done and dusted.Laura Delany and Christina Coulter Reilly steadied them with a 42-run fifth-wicket stand and the game was slipping away from West Indies. Ramharack didn’t let it. She was at point when Delany cut with little control. The ball reached Ramharack at chest height and she held on. That wicket sparked another collapse as Ireland slipped to 146 for 7, but still stayed in the hunt.Matthews brought herself back at the death when Ireland needed 32 runs off 30 balls, and trapped Ava Canning lbw though the Irish No. 9 seemed to suggest she thought the ball was missing leg. A run-out off the next ball left Ireland teetering, and it was Matthews who had the final say when Arlene Kelly slashed her to Henry at long-on and left Ireland seven runs short of a first win over West Indies since 2003.File photo – Muneeba Ali’s 71 set up Pakistan’s successful chase of 187•Asian Cricket CouncilIn the day’s other match, also reduced (but to 32 overs a side), Pakistan secured a second win to go top of the points table and a step closer to the World Cup. They beat Scotland by six wickets, with eight balls to spare, in a batting display that started nervously and became more assured as it went on.Chasing 187, Pakistan’ were 36 for 2 in the eighth over after both Gull Feroza and Sidra Amin were out stumped, but half-centuries from Muneeba Ali and Aliya Riaz, who put on 93 for the third wicket, steered them towards victory. Muneeba’s passed 50 for just the fourth time in her 45-match career and her innings was crucial to Pakistan’s cause. She was particularly strong on the pull shot, scored at almost a run a ball – she finished with 71 off 72 – and combined well with Aliya. When Chloe Abel had Muneeba caught at mid-wicket trying to clear the inner ring, Scotland’s chances were all but gone. Though Fatima Sana was dismissed cheaply, Aliya (68* off 70) and Sidra Nawaz eased Pakistan to victory.Pakistan will also be fairly pleased with their bowling performance as only Kathryn Bryce and Aisla Lister put any real pressure on them. Sadia Iqbal and Diana Baig made the early breakthroughs and had Scotland in trouble on 17 for 2 before the Bryce sisters shared a 51-run third-wicket stand. After Sarah was dismissed for 21, Kathryn and Lister put on 55 and were separated by Sadia Iqbal, and only then did the captain see fit to bring herself on. Sana bowled from the 24th over and challenged Scotland’s middle and lower order with her yorkers, one of which bowled Megan McColl. Kathryn stood alone and delighted with excellent footwork and confident sweeping before her opposite number dismissed her nine short of a century. Sana picked up 4 for 23 in five overs.Pakistan have now won matches defending what seemed a below par score of 217 against Ireland and chasing what looked a tricky target of 187 in 32 overs against Scotland, and will feel ready for their big match against West Indies on Monday.

Noor Ahmad and Michael Bracewell net £200,000 deals; David Warner and Rachin Ravindra set for first Hundred gigs

Vithushan Ehantharajah12-Mar-2025

James Anderson has gone unselected for the 2025’s men’s Hundred after the veteran quick was overlooked in Wednesday’s draft.The 42-year-old, who retired from international cricket at the start of the 2024 summer, had put himself forward in the draft after signing a one-year contract with Lancashire for the upcoming season. Anderson has not played T20 cricket in over a decade, though his new deal will see him play in the T20 Blast. Despite going into the draft without a reserve price, he missed out on one of the 26 available domestic spots across the eight teams. He could still feature in The Hundred if he is selected as a Wildcard pick.Afghanistan left-arm wrist spinner Noor Ahmad and New Zealand allrounder Michael Bracewell were the big winners as far as overseas signings were concerned, each securing £200,000 deals. Ahmad will join Manchester Originals, whose new owners RP Sanjiv Goenka Group also own his SA20 franchise Durban Super Giants.Bracewell was picked up by 2024’s defeated finalists Southern Brave, and his huge price tag reflects his displays for the Black Caps in their recent Champions Trophy campaign. As a vital part of their spin attack and their lower-order batting, he came to the fore in last Sunday’s final with 2 for 28 after a crucial unbeaten 53 which made India work for their victory.Related

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David Warner earned his first deal in the Hundred, selected by London Spirit at £120,000 after being overlooked in last year’s draft. The move sees him reunite with his former Australia head coach, Justin Langer, who replaced Trevor Bayliss at Spirit in January. Warner is one of five Australians – along with Ashton Turner (Spirit), Riley Meredith, Chris Green (both Welsh Fire) and Jason Behrendorf (Oval Invincibles) – to take up the 10 remaining overseas player slots after clubs made 14 direct signings between them, as per new regulations brought in for this season.Another Hundred first-timer Rachin Ravindra was selected by Manchester Originals for £120,000. Fresh from being named player of the tournament at the Champions Trophy with 263 runs and three dismissals, Ravindra’s stock has never been higher and his presence is an undoubted boost for the Hundred in a transitional year following the recent sale of its teams. Fellow Kiwi Lockie Ferguson joins Trent Rockets in the same pay bracket, having previously featured for Originals and Fire.England players also earned big, with Jamie Overton securing a £200,000 deal with Spirit following a year in which he has established himself as the designated seam-bowling allrounder across ODIs and T20Is. He will be joined at Lord’s by Jamie Smith as their England centrally contracted pick. Zak Crawley, released by Spirit, landed a £120,000 contract with Northern Superchargers.How they stack up: The men’s Hundred squads for 2025•ECB

Elsewhere, Chris Woakes’ acquisition by Fire as their designated England player created a domino effect that saw David Willey secure a lucrative £200,000 deal with Rockets, with fellow left-arm seamer David Payne picking up Willey’s vacated £120,000 contract in Cardiff.Fire had initially planned to play their right-to-match card for Willey. However, they were unable to use that option when Rockets opted for Willey in the top bracket as they had filled both spots with Steve Smith (a direct overseas signing) and Jonny Bairstow. Bairstow had previously been Fire’s central contract player before they moved him to a £200,000 slot to acquire Woakes. Payne, who entered this year’s draft seeking an improved deal having joined Fire for £40,000 in 2019’s inaugural draft, came up trumps.Harry Moore, Derbyshire’s highly-touted 17-year-old quick, has been acquired by Birmingham Phoenix for £41,500 while Durham batter Ben McKinney was rewarded for a strong winter with the England Lions by Manchester Originals, who selected him as their £78,500 pick. His Lions teammate Rocky Flintoff, son of Lions and Superchargers head coach Andrew, went undrafted.All in all, 270 domestic and 350 overseas cricketers registered for the men’s Hundred draft. The eight teams will be able to add two more players to their squads in May’s wildcard draft, ahead of the start of the competition on August 5.

Leeds United now hold a strong interest in signing a “phenomenal” 2024/25 title-winner, who is “open” to leaving his club this summer, according to a report.

Leeds keen on defender despite resilient performance vs Everton

Leeds have already made major improvements to their defence this summer, bringing in the likes of Jaka Bijol and Sebastiaan Bornauw at centre-back, but Daniel Farke had to stick with the old guard in the Premier League opener against Everton.

With Bijol serving a suspension and Bornauw only recently returning from injury, Pascal Struijk and Joe Rodon were given the nod in defence, and the Championship promotion-winning duo certainly delivered, with the Whites collecting a clean sheet.

Gabriel Gudmundsson was the only new signing to start for Farke’s side in defence, having been brought in as a replacement for Junior Firpo at left-back, and the 26-year-old achieved a 7.5 SofaScore match rating, the highest of any player on the pitch.

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Despite Gudmundsson putting in an excellent performance on his Premier League debut, Farke clearly remains keen to bring in more depth at left-back, and the newly-promoted side have now set their sights on a 2024/25 title-winner.

That is according to a report from Caught Offside, which states Leeds now hold a strong interest in signing Liverpool’s Kostas Tsimikas, who could be ready to move, amid widespread interest from within the Premier League.

Nottingham Forest and Fulham are also named as potential suitors for the left-back, who has fallen down the pecking order at Anfield since the arrival of Milos Kerkez, meaning he is now ready to consider a move to a new club.

A CaughtOffside source said: “As for Tsimikas himself, he hasn’t made a final call yet. He’s open to joining a project where he can play regularly, with clubs competing in European competitions likely to be his top choice.”

"Phenomenal" Tsimikas could be solid signing for Leeds

It would be fair to say Gudmundsson enjoyed a fantastic competitive debut for Leeds, making a number of important defensive contributions to keep the Toffees at bay, while also contributing on the front foot.

Statistic

Number completed

Duels won

7

Clearances

4

Interceptions

2

Dribbles completed

4

However, Farke is arguably light on quality back-up options in that area of the pitch, with Sam Byram the natural alternative, and the 31-year-old has spent the majority of his career in the Championship.

Tsimikas, on the other hand, has experienced winning trophies with a top club, making 115 appearances for the Reds, during which time he has been lauded as “phenomenal” by football writer Leanne Prescott.

Earlier this summer, it was suggested that Liverpool could accept bids of around £12m – £15m for the Greek defender, meaning a deal would not break the bank, and he could be capable of pushing for Gudmundsson’s starting spot.

Who are the big-ticket players to find no bidders at the two-day IPL auction?

ESPNcricinfo staff25-Nov-2024

David Warner, 38, was arguably the biggest name to go unsold at the IPL 2025 mega auction in Jeddah. Warner, who retired from international cricket in June, had entered the auction at a base price of INR 2 crore. After going unsold on Sunday, his name came up again in the accelerated round on Monday, but there were no takers for him.Over the years, Warner has been one of the star performers in the IPL. His 6565 runs from 184 matches are the most by an overseas batter, and the fourth-highest overall at the tournament behind the Indian trio of Virat Kohli (8004), Shikhar Dhawan (6769) and Rohit Sharma (6628). Warner crossed the 500-run mark in a season seven times – a record he holds jointly with Kohli. But he had a lukewarm IPL 2024 for Delhi Capitals (DC): 168 runs in eight outings at a strike rate of 134.40.Warner’s last competitive game was in August, at the MAX60 tournament in the Caribbean. He was the highest run-getter there, with a tally of 297 at a strike rate of 181.09. He will be in action for Dubai Capitals at the ILT20 early next year.Related

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Among Indians, Shardul Thakur was the most high-profile player – with a base price of INR 2 crore – to not attract a bid. A seam-bowling allrounder, Thakur was with CSK last season. He played nine games, picking up five wickets at an economy of 9.75. He got to bat only three times and scored 21 runs.Thakur, though, hasn’t played for India in any format since December 2023 and underwent foot surgery in June this year and returned to competitive cricket only in early October in the Irani Cup for Mumbai.Shardul Thakur has only just returned after a long injury layoff•AFP/Getty Images

Prithvi Shaw, who was retained by DC ahead of IPL 2022, also did not get a bid at his base price of INR 75 lakh.Shaw struggled with form in the last two seasons and was dropped for Abishek Porel during IPL 2024. More recently, he was dropped from Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy squad for poor fitness and “general conduct”.England’s Jonny Bairstow was another big name that went unsold. Bairstow was with Punjab Kings (PBKS) from 2022 to 2024, and scored 551 runs in 22 innings at a strike rate of 148.92 for them in that period. No bids for him – from a base price of INR 2 crore – at this auction, though.The same was the case for Daryl Mitchell, who was bought by Chennai Super Kings (CSK) for INR 14 crore at the IPL 2024 mini-auction and has been one of New Zealand’s best performers across formats in recent times. He also came in with a base price of INR 2 crore.

West Ham United have now submitted an offer for a £34m “revelation”, who is also a target for Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur, according to a report.

West Ham set sights on midfielder amid Soucek uncertainty

Tomas Soucek has been a key player for West Ham ever since his arrival, with the midfielder featuring in a minimum of 35 Premier League games in each of the last five seasons, but there has been speculation over his future at the London Stadium for quite some time.

With the Toffees now set to make a bid for the 30-year-old, the Hammers have started running the rule over potential replacements, and Bayer Leverkusen’s Granit Xhaka was recently identified as a target.

The former Arsenal man could be a solid option, given that he has already proven himself in England, but the Switzerland international is not the only ex-Premier League player on the Irons’ shortlist.

According to a report from Gazzetta Dello Sport (via West Ham Zone), West Ham have now tabled an offer for Juventus midfielder Douglas Luiz, having emerged as one of the clubs most keen on securing his signature, alongside Everton.

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The Italian club had been hoping to receive a fee of £34m for the former Aston Villa man, but given that he has failed to impress since making the move to Italy, they may be forced to cash-in at a lower price.

In order to get a deal over the line, the Hammers may also have to fend off interest from bitter rivals Tottenham, who recently held internal talks about signing Luiz.

Luiz could be "revelation" at West Ham

Any club would find it difficult to replace Declan Rice, although Soucek has stepped up in the England international’s absence, recording the third-highest average rating of any West Ham player in the Premier League last term.

However, with the Czechia international now edging closer to Everton, it could make sense to bring in a new midfielder with similar qualities to Rice, and the Juventus midfielder certainly fits the bill in that regard.

Much like Rice, the 27-year-old is a very well-rounded midfielder, impressing in both an attacking and defensive sense for Villa during the 2023-24 campaign.

Having also been lauded as a “revelation” by Garth Crooks, Luiz could be the perfect signing for West Ham this summer, but the rival interest from Tottenham could pose a major problem.

Leeds United now hold an advantage in the race for a £17m midfielder, who Red Bull will know “all about”, transfer expert Graeme Bailey has revealed.

Leeds eyeing midfielder after missing out on Diarra

After being promoted from the Championship alongside Sunderland, it is no surprise that Leeds have identified similar targets to the Black Cats, and they will be extremely disappointed to have lost out to the play-off final winners in the race for two midfielders.

Habib Diarra had been on the Whites’ shortlist prior to the 21-year-old’s move to the Stadium of Light, and they now appear to have missed out on a deal for Noah Sadiki, with the Union Saint-Gilloise maestro set to complete a move to Wearside.

As such, Daniel Farke’s side will now be forced to move on to different options in the middle of the park, and Bailey has dropped a more promising update on their pursuit of Hoffenheim midfielder Anton Stach.

The transfer expert told Leeds United News that the Whites’ Red Bull connection should give them the edge over their Premier League rivals in the race for the German’s signature, given their minority owners’ involvement in the Bundesliga.

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ByDan Emery Jul 2, 2025

Bailey said: “He’s on the list I’m told. Hoffenheim are not keen for him to go. Leeds aren’t the only ones interested from what I’m told. A very good player and obviously through Red Bull, Leeds are well-versed on him.

“They’re ahead of many other Premier League teams when it comes to German-based talent. So, it’s not a surprise, you know, it’s not going to be a huge surprise. If there’s a good one, Leeds know all about it.”

"Underrated" Stach could be better signing than Sadiki

Leeds will be frustrated that Sunderland were able to pip them to Sadiki’s signature, but there are signs that Stach could be a better signing than the Belgian-born midfielder.

Firstly, the two-time Germany international is more experienced in a top league, having made 122 Bundesliga appearances, while Sadiki remains unproven outside Belgium.

Not only that, but the “underrated” Hoffenheim star excels defensively, outperforming the new Sunderland signing across a number of key metrics over the past year.

Statistic

Anton Stach

Noah Sadiki

Interceptions

1.65 (93rd percentile)

1.08 (55th percentile)

Blocks

1.60 (85th percentile)

1.34 (64th percentile)

Clearances

3.65 (99th percentile)

1.34 (38th percentile)

Aerials won

1.83 (88th percentile)

0.30 (8th percentile)

Stach should be available for a fee of around £17m, which seems a reasonable fee, given the level of his performances for Hoffenheim, and it could be a blessing in disguise that Leeds missed out on Sadiki and Diarra.