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Tottenham Hotspur are in the market for another proven winger to complement Thomas Frank’s current squad, following Timo Werner’s return to parent club RB Leipzig and reports that Son Heung-min may have played his last competitive game for Spurs.

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Despite a fairly promising first six months in north London, Werner ultimately proved to be a flop after chairman Daniel Levy decided to extend his loan spell by a further season, with former boss Ange Postecoglou publicly criticising the German for lacklustre displays.

“He wasn’t playing anywhere near the level he should,” said Postecoglou after Spurs’ draw with Rangers in the Europa League.

Tottenham’s best-performing regulars in the Premier League – 2024/2025

Average match rating

Son Heung-min

7.00

James Maddison

6.98

Pedro Porro

6.95

Dominic Solanke

6.84

Dejan Kulusevski

6.83

via WhoScored

“When you’ve got 18-year-olds [playing], it’s not acceptable to me and I said that to Timo. He’s a senior German international.

“The moment we’re in right now, it’s not like we’ve got many options. I need everyone to at least be going out there trying to give the best of themselves. His performance in the first half wasn’t acceptable.”

With the ex-Chelsea forward ending his brief Spurs stay, Frank could be left even more short in the wide area if Son does leave N17 after 10 years.

Saudi sides are expressing a keen interest in the South Korean star, and the Lilywhites may well decide that now is the right time to cash-in on him, taking into account his age and the fact he’s about to enter the final 12 months of his deal.

Spurs did seal a permanent deal for Mathys Tel, who put pen to paper on a £30 million move from Bayern Munich, but the club cannot afford to leave their new manager short of attacking options given their status as a Champions League club next term.

They’ve been linked with a host of big-name forwards in the last week, including Man City’s Jack Grealish, Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo and Frank’s former star at Brentford, Bryan Mbeumo.

All of these players are likely to command a marquee price tag, alongside fellow reported target Mohammed Kudus.

The West Ham winger has an £85 million release clause in his contract, which becomes active in July, but Graham Potter’s side could sell for around £65 million.

Tottenham initiate talks to sign West Ham star Mohammed Kudus

That is according to GOAL, who also report that Tottenham have “initiated” talks with West Ham over signing Kudus.

Frank’s side have apparently told the Hammers that they’re keen on striking a deal for the Ghanaian, but both clubs haven’t dealt with eachother when it comes to transfers since Scott Parker’s move to Spurs in 2011.

Both clubs most commonly refuse to do business, and for this reason, it is believed that West Ham would much rather Kudus join Chelsea instead, who are also keen on the African winger.

There is also some negotiating left to do, as Daniel Levy only wants to pay £50 million for Kudus as things stand, so they’re some way short of West Ham’s current asking price.

Only Man City’s Jeremy Doku completed more successful take-ons per 90 in the Premier League than Kudus last season, highlighting his devastating dribbling ability, with the former Ajax star also attempting more shots at goal than Dominic Solanke on average (WhoScored).

He would be a truly excellent addition, but Levy will still need to invest significantly here.

Talks are now underway as Aston Villa look to complete the signing of a “world-class” player this summer, according to a new transfer update.

Asensio happy to stay at Aston Villa

Unai Emery’s side ultimately missed out on Champions League qualification this season, but it was still another productive campaign overall, with loanees Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio making a good impression.

The 29-year-old Spaniard added proven quality and end product to Villa’s attack, scoring three goals in the Premier League and Champions League, and he spoke of his admiration for Emery.

“Unai is a coach that I’ve known for a while. He’s had a great career, he’s a top coach, he’s been key in me being able to come here because of his idea of how he wants to play football. I love it, it suits me perfectly and he’s a really important person as to why I’m here right now.”

Thankfully, Asensio is reportedly open to staying put at Villa and signing for good this summer, which will go down well with many supporters, considering the impact former Real Madrid man has made at times. Now, a new update has provided further news on the situation.

New Asensio to Aston Villa update emerges

According to Birmingham World, Aston Villa have held talks with PSG over the permanent signing of Asensio this summer, in a positive update. The Villans are “eager” to snap him up as soon as possible, no doubt to ensure that another team doesn’t get there first, and it is even claimed that Emery is “obsessed with the idea” of retaining his services.

Villa signing Asensio permanently is a no-brainer, with the Spain international still very much in his peak years, and capable of being a talismanic attacking player moving forward.

The £6m-a-year attacker is a match-winning footballer with a winning mentality, having scored in the 2017 Champions League final and won the competition three times during his Madrid days, and Matthew Upson has heaped praise on him.

“Marco Asensio is clever in where he positions himself. It’s a nightmare really. He comes on the pitch, and he has the knack to pick up the right areas. You need to get yourself in a mentality that, when it’s your turn to play your part, you’re at your best, and you’re delivering. That’s what world-class players do. He’s in that bracket. He’s a great signing for Villa, and he’s going to play a big part in the exciting finish to the season they have ahead.”

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Signing Asensio would feel like a statement of intent by Villa, showing that they are capable of tying down world-renowned players on a permanent basis, even without Champions League football.

Hopefully, he can play a huge part in the next three or four years, potentially even becoming one of the Villans’ best attacking players of the Premier League era.

Glasgow Rangers are still in the process of finding a new head coach to lead them into the next era at Ibrox under the new ownership that is set to come in.

Patrick Stewart and Kevin Thelwell are tasked with finding a permanent replacement for Philippe Clement, who was relieved of his duties in February, after Barry Ferguson’s interim stint came to an end.

The former Scotland international only won five of his 16 matches in charge of the Gers during his time in the dugout, and it was then confirmed that he would not be offered the job on a full-time basis.

Then, rather bizarrely, the Daily Record reported that Ferguson was planning to get rid of Nils Koppen, the technical director, if he had been given the job, despite the Belgian chief being in a position above his.

The focus is now on finding an external candidate who can come in to bring success back to Ibrox after a season without any major trophies.

One coach who has been linked with a move to Ibrox this summer is former Real Madrid assistant manager Davide Ancelotti, who has been working with his father Carlo Ancelotti.

Why Rangers should avoid Davide Ancelotti

It is first worth acknowledging that there are reasons why the Gers are right to have taken an interest in the Italian coach, because he is vastly experienced at the top level of European football.

As you can see in the graphic above, his father has won the Champions League five times and lifted a league title in all five of the major European leagues.

Davide has not worked with Carlo for all of those achievements, of course, but he has been either a fitness coach or an assistant manager to the legendary manager in his last six jobs.

Real Madrid (Assistant manager)

Carlo Ancelotti

233

Everton (Assistant manager)

Carlo Ancelotti

67

Napoli (Assistant manager)

Carlo Ancelotti

73

Bayern Munich (Assistant manager)

Carlo Ancelotti

60

Real Madrid (Fitness coach)

Carlo Ancelotti

119

PSG (Fitness coach)

Carlo Ancelotti

77

As you can see in the table above, the Rangers target has plenty of experience coaching at the top level under his father, at massive clubs like Bayern Munich and Real Madrid.

However, Davide Ancelotti has not managed a single game as a first-team head coach or manager in his own right, which means that he would also arrive at Ibrox as an incredibly inexperienced boss in that respect.

This means that appointing him would be a huge gamble for Rangers because he is yet to prove that he can successfully coach a winning team on his own, which is why it may come as good news that there is a fresh report detailing the club’s plans to speak with another candidate.

Rangers set for talks with Davide Ancelotti alternative

According to The Scottish Sun, Rangers are set to hold talks with former Scotland international Russell Martin over a deal to be the next head coach at Ibrox.

The report claims that the ex-Southampton manager will meet with Gers chiefs at some point this week to discuss a potential move to Glasgow ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

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It states that Ancelotti, Steven Gerrard, and Brian Priske are also in the running, as Stewart and Thelwell have a shortlist of candidates that they are working through to find the new Rangers head coach.

The Scottish Sun claims that there have already been initial talks held with Martin, but they are set for further discussions when they will allow him to outline how he would bring success back to Ibrox as a coach.

However, the outlet adds that he is also a strong contender for the Leicester City job in the English Championship, which could mean that the Light Blues need to move quickly if they want him as their next boss.

Martin should, with this in mind, be a strong candidate for the role because he could be an even better option than Ancelotti and Priske this summer.

Why Russell Martin would be a good appointment for Rangers

On paper, Priske looks to be an excellent option for the job because he has won two titles with Sparta Prague and one title with Midtjylland in Denmark, which shows that he can coach a winning team.

However, the Danish tactician has typically favoured a 3-4-3 shape throughout his career, which worked in Czechia and Denmark to win titles, but he had to adapt at Feyenoord and switched between 4-4-2, 4-3-3, and 4-2-3-1 formations, with little success, before being sacked shortly after losing 6-1 to Lille in the Champions League.

With Rangers typically playing against teams sitting in a low block, a 3-4-3 formation that is more suited to transitional games and playing on the counter with wing-backs bombing on may not suit a tilt at the Scottish Premiership title, and his Feyenoord performance suggests that he is not successful at coaching four at the back formations.

This is one key reason why Martin could be better than him for this job, because he plays an attacking 4-3-3 formation that is well-suited to dominating and breaking down low blocks, as evidenced by his side’s performance in the Championship in the 2023/24 campaign when they won the play-offs to earn promotion to the Premier League.

Pass accuracy

87.7%

1st

Passes into the penalty area

594

1st

Progressive passes

2556

1st

Shot-creating actions

1255

1st

xG

79.8

2nd

Points per game

1.89

4th

As you can see in the table above, the former Rangers loanee successfully deployed a team that dominated the ball whilst creating high-quality chances at an exceptional rate.

Analyst John Walker described Martin’s style as “exciting” and “total football” and those statistics back that up, as the manager has proven that he can coach a team to be incredibly dominant and creative when he has the players to do so.

Of course, he was sacked by Southampton earlier this season after a dismal run of 13 losses in 16 Premier League games, but the Saints went on to lose 30 times in 38 matches, suggesting that Martin was not the only problem there.

The Scottish tactician also showcased his coaching ability in the lower leagues in England with MK Dons, helping to coach this incredible goal below.

Martin could bring an enjoyable and successful style of play to Rangers that could help them compete for trophies again, and could be a better option than Priske, due to his stylistic issues, and Ancelotti, who is an unknown quantity.

Offers on the table: Rangers must now cash in on "anonymous" flop & Dessers

Rangers will be hoping to sell a 2024 summer signing in the next transfer window.

ByRoss Kilvington May 24, 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.

Goals

10

Assists

3

Shots per game

3.6

Goal conversion percentage

10%

Goal frequency (minutes)

222

Big chances created

6

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.

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ByJoe Nuttall May 16, 2025

Tottenham Hotspur are potentially two games away from doing something seriously special in the Europa League.

However, while Ange Postecoglou could lead his side to continental success, the club’s domestic form cannot be described as anything other than shambolic.

With three games left to play in the Premier League, the North Londoners have been on the losing side 19 times and sit just a point above West Ham United in 16th place.

Unsurprisingly, such wretched form has led to reports suggesting that Postecoglou is set to be replaced in the summer, regardless of what happens in the Europa League.

There have been a whole host of names linked with the club in recent weeks, but there has been one which would represent a massive coup for the Lilywhites: someone who’s an even bigger name than José Mourinho and would be an enormous upgrade on Ange.

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The former has helped turn Fulham from a yo-yo club into a mid-table Premier League side that can give anyone a game on their day.

It’s been an even more impressive transformation down at the Vitality Stadium, with Iraola taking the Cherries from relegation favourites near the start of last season to genuine contenders for a European place this season.

Moreover, the Spaniard helped to get the financially minuscule Rayo Vallecano promoted to La Liga during his time in the Spanish capital.

However, even with the aforementioned managers, there is an element of risk, as none of them have taken over a club as big as Spurs, so there will always be lingering questions over how they’d cope with it.

So, with this in mind, reports from GIVEMESPORT late last month that claimed the Tottenham board had held international discussions about hiring Carlo Ancelotti are so exciting.

It would be an incredibly ambitious move, and one that might not pan out if reports linking the Italian to the Brazilian job are accurate, but if it paid off, the club would have themselves a significant upgrade on Postecoglou and a bigger name than Mourinho.

Why Ancelotti would be an incredible hire

So, before we look at how he stacks up against Postecoglou, let’s delve into just why we think he’s now a bigger name than Mourinho, as we’re sure it’s a point that the ‘special one’ would wholeheartedly disagree with.

Firstly, timing is crucial in this argument, as during Mourinho’s peak years at Chelsea, Inter Milan and, to some extent, Real Madrid, he’d undoubtedly be the ‘bigger name’, but in the last seven years or so, that has completely changed.

For example, since the start of the 16/17 season, the Portuguese coach has only won the League Cup and Europa League with Manchester United, and the Conference League with AS Roma.

In comparison, the Real boss has won the Bundesliga and two German Super Cups with Bayern Munich and three Champions Leagues, two La Liga titles, one Spanish Cup, two Spanish Super Cups, two UEFA Supercups, the FIFA Club World Cup and the FIFA Intercontinental Cup, all with Real Madrid.

Moreover, the Reggiolo-born mastermind also won the Champions League in his first stint with Los Blancos and twice with AC Milan, so there is a very genuine case for him being the greatest manager in the world.

With all that said, it should come as no surprise that when we compare his recent record to Postecoglou, he comes out so far ahead that it is almost pointless.

For example, in his current stint with Real, the “elite” 65-year-old, as dubbed by talkSPORT host Adrian Durham, has won 161 games, drawn 34 and lost 35, which comes out to an average of 2.25 points per game.

Games

230

96

Wins

161

45

Draws

34

14

Losses

35

37

Points per Game

2.25

1.55

In contrast, the Australian has overseen 45 wins, 14 draws and 37 losses, resulting in a far worse average of 1.55 points per game.

Ultimately, if there is any chance whatsoever for Spurs to sign Ancelotti in the coming weeks, they have to take it, as he’d be a monumental upgrade on Ange.

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Tottenham Hotspur “would like to sign” a “sensational” forward, who has now expressed his desire to leave his current club this summer, according to Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg.

Spurs pursuing a forward

In truth, Tottenham may feel the need to strengthen in a number of positions in the summer transfer window, after what has been a disastrous Premier League campaign, but they appear to be particularly keen on strengthening their attacking options.

West Ham United’s Mohammed Kudus has recently been revealed as a potential target, with Spurs joining Paris Saint-Germain and Al-Nassr in the race for the Ghanaian winger, who has an asking price of £74m.

A new striker is also of interest to the Lilywhites, given that Dominic Solanke and Richarlison haven’t exactly been prolific when fully-fit, and they have now held talks with Ipswich Town’s Liam Delap, after the Englishman’s impressive breakout campaign.

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Delap is expected to leave Ipswich this summer, with his side almost certain to be relegated from the Premier League, and one of Europe’s big-name wingers could also be on the move, according to Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg.

In a recent update on X, Plettenberg revealed Coman has now “internally expressed his desire to leave” Bayern Munich this summer, which has led to interest from Saudi Arabia, with multiple clubs now planning to hold talks over a deal.

Following the winger’s transfer request, Tottenham have also been named as potential suitors, but his high salary could be a stumbling block, which means they currently remain in a “waiting position”.

Arsenal could also provide competition for the 28-year-old’s signature, with a move to the Emirates Stadium viewed as “the most concrete option” in England, indicating they are currently ahead of their north London rivals in the race.

Tottenham Hotspur’s upcoming Premier League fixtures

Date

Nottingham Forest (h)

April 21st

Liverpool (a)

April 27th

West Ham United (a)

May 3rd

Crystal Palace (h)

May 10th

Aston Villa (a)

May 18th

"Sensational" Coman has track record of success

Tottenham still have a chance to make this season a success, should they prevail in the Europa League, however, they are at serious risk of missing out on yet another trophy.

As such, it could make sense to pursue new players with a track record of success this summer, and the Bayern Munich winger certainly fits the bill in that regard, having won 10 league titles, as well as the Champions League in 2020.

The Frenchman has also proven himself as a reliable source of goals and assists during his time with Bayern, having picked up 138 goal contributions in 329 appearances for the German club.

Previous reports have revealed that Coman could be available for a fee of £38m this summer, and having also been lauded as “sensational” by members of the media, there are plenty of indications he could be a fantastic signing for Tottenham.

Tottenham Hotspur defender Cristian Romero is attracting serious interest from Atlético Madrid, but he isn’t the only Spurs star who could quit this summer after a truly abject Premier League campaign.

Ange Postecoglou receives fierce backlash at Tottenham

Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou was pictured picking a fight with supporters in the away end during their 1-0 defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Thursday night, specifically over Pape Matar Sarr.

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Supporters initially booed Sarr’s introduction off the bench in place of Lucas Bergvall, with the Mali international then briefly grabbing an impressive equaliser, which resulted in Postecoglou cupping his ears to the away end only for VAR to intervene.

This scene has sparked even more backlash for Postecoglou, who is under more pressure than ever before after Tottenham’s sixteenth Premier League defeat of the campaign.

The Australian is on course to become Spurs’ worst ever Premier League manager by league finish and points, with their torrid league form also making players think about their own long-term futures at the club.

Romero’s name has been doing the rounds this week, as Atlético are believed to hold a very serious interest in signing the Argentine this summer.

It is also reported that Romero is pushing to leave Tottenham as Diego Simeone’s side emerge as a new landing spot for the defender, with South American teammate Richarlison also tipped to go this summer.

Called a “goal-mouth monster” by Postecoglou, the 27-year-old hasn’t been able to showcase his best due to unavailability throughout 2024/2025, and his future is looking away from N17.

Richarlison "going to leave" Tottenham alongside Cristian Romero

Journalist Jorge Nicola stated on his YouTube channel that Spurs are discussing the sale of Richarlison, following a season blighted by injury, and now Sky Sports pundit Paul Robinson has shared his verdict.

Speaking to Tottenham News, Robinson says that the Brazil international’s exit would be a “disappointing” one, but says he fully expects it to happen.

“I think he’s potentially going to leave,” said Robinson. “It’s disappointing because I like him. I think he’s a good player. He has not hit the heights that you would have expected when he came from Everton.

“I think what you get from Richarlison, the passion, the pride, the love of football, is quite apparent. I think the first time that he played in the Champions League, you could see him; he had tears in his eyes. It’s not quite worked for him. I’ve said it before, but I think he’s been a victim of being able to play in multiple positions. He’s also been a victim of being an impact off the bench.

“He’s that type of player that gives you that impact. Harry Kane left, obviously got the opportunity to be a No. 9, where he potentially prefers playing. Didn’t really get the goals that were needed. But then Son got in there, scored the goals, and then he played in wide areas and played deeper.

“The problem for Richarlison as an attacking wide player who can play almost anywhere, he hasn’t really nailed down his position in that Tottenham side. He’s an easy drop for a manager. If he’s not scoring goals or the manager’s rotating his team with wide players, he’s an easy drop.

“There’s no point in Richarlison’s Tottenham career where he’s put his hand up and gone, that’s my shirt, I’m scoring goals, I’m playing well, you’re keeping me in the side. That’s obviously been his downfall as well.”

Leeds United are now seriously interested in signing an “excellent” £25 million ace to replace Illan Meslier should they be promoted to the Premier League, according to a new report.

Farke remains confident Leeds' promotion will be sealed

It looked as though it was going to be another successful weekend for the Whites on Saturday afternoon, as they were closing in on another three points to move them a step closer to promotion. However, a mistake by goalkeeper Meslier was punished not once but twice, as his fumble allowed Harry Darling to equalise at 1-1 and then Zan Vipotnik’s shot in the 96th minute snuck under the Leeds goalkeeper.

It is not the first time that Meslier has cost his side all three points this season, but despite the fact the Whites have only won one of their last five matches, their worst form of this campaign, Daniel Farke remains confident that Leeds will still win promotion to the Premier League.

“We have gone many, many steps, and right now it’s the final step. That’s always the most difficult,” the boss said this weekend.

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“There’s never a guarantee of success, but we have been in this situation before. I know how tricky it sometimes is to lead from the front, but also what is necessary to bring it over the line, and we will try everything to make sure the lads have the best chance to make the final step. If you ask me right now, I’m 100% convinced that next season we will play in the Premier League.”

Leeds looking to replace Meslier with Southampton star Ramsdale

Given Farke is confident that his side will be a top-flight team next season, it may be no surprise to see plans are already being worked on for the summer, and a new goalkeeper seems to be high on the agenda. According to TEAMtalk, Leeds have now placed Southampton goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale on their transfer shortlist should promotion be sealed.

The report states that the Whites are now seriously looking to sign a new number one this summer, given the mistakes that Meslier has made this season, despite Farke’s public backing of the Frenchman. Meslier’s contract expires in 2026, so Leeds will have a decision to make on his long-term future, and this summer could be the only realistic chance to cash in and upgrade.

However, Leeds are not the only team interested in signing Ramsdale, as AFC Bournemouth are also keeping an eye on things and could make a move once the Saints are relegated.

Newcastle United are also fans of the goalkeeper and could move for him as they eye a long-term replacement for Nick Pope. The also adds that Ramsdale has a relegation clause in his contract, and any club wanting to sign him will have to offer him the guarantee of football, as he wants to compete for the England number one spot.

Aaron Ramsdale’s Premier League record

Apps

174

Goals conceded

262

Clean sheets

40

Leeds’ chances of signing Ramsdale, who cost the Saints £25 million in the summer, do rest on them securing promotion to the Premier League, as the Englishman is looking to remain in the top flight. Despite the fact that Southampton have been terrible in the Premier League this season, Ramsdale has impressed many, with former England goalkeeper Joe Hart labelling his performances as “absolutely excellent”.

Having already ticked a few significant boxes at just 21, he has made quite an impression with the bat and ball in the Duleep Trophy

Srinidhi Ramanujam06-Sep-2025At 21, Nishant Sindhu has already ticked a few significant boxes. He was part of India’s Under-19 World Cup-winning squad in 2022, got picked by Chennai Super Kings in the IPL the following year, and was signed by Gujarat Titans in IPL 2025. In the ongoing Duleep Trophy semi-final, the left-arm spin-bowling allrounder delivered the kind of performance that demands attention.After bowling 47.2 overs across two long days in humid conditions at BCCI’s Centre of Excellence ground – more than any other spinner in the match – Sindhu picked up five wickets for North Zone to wrap up South Zone’s massive 536-run total on Friday. His first bowled 12 overs on the trot, then three separate spells of eight overs each finished with an 11.2-over spell.And on Day 3, with North Zone in early trouble and Ayush Badoni falling six overs before lunch, leaving the team at 101 for 3, it was Sindhu who steadied the innings alongside Shubham Khajuria. He took his time, punished the loose balls and controlled the tempo. The highlight was a beautifully timed slog-swept six off Tanay Thyagarajan in the 56th over, a quiet flare of aggression in an otherwise composed innings of a 148-ball 82.Related

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“I was trying to take it till the end,” Sindhu, who got dismissed late on Saturday after a rash upper-cut off left-arm quick Gurjapneet Singh, said. “But unfortunately, I couldn’t do it. Let’s see tomorrow.”Sindhu believes in sticking to his strengths, even if that means doing the “same thing in every match”.”[It’s about giving] 100% for the team,” he said about his preparation. “In any field, whether it’s bowling, batting or fielding. I try the same thing. When I feel I am weak or have a problem in a match, I work on that more during practice.”His transition to senior cricket was quick after the 2021-22 Under-19 World Cup, where he picked up six wickets in five matches and scored an unbeaten 50 against England Under-19 in the final. He made his debut for Haryana across formats in 2022. In his first Ranji Trophy against Tripura, Sindhu made an unbeaten 93 at No. 7 and picked up two wickets. In a first-class career spanning 29 matches, he has scored six centuries and six half-centuries. In the Duleep quarter-final against East Zone, he made scores of 47 and 68.But he’s been making an impression at the domestic level even before getting to the senior level. In the Under-16 Vijay Merchant Trophy in 2019, he scored 572 runs in seven matches including two hundreds and four half-centuries. He also led Haryana to victories in Vinoo Mankad Trophy (Under-19 one-dayers) in October and then the Under-19 Cooch Behar Trophy (four-day competition) in April 2022. At the senior level, he was part of the Haryana side that clinched the Vijay Hazare Trophy in 2023.Shubham Khajuria and Nishant Sindhu put up a century stand in the Duleep Trophy semi-finals•PTI That progression has been made smoother by the support around him, especially from the Haryana Cricket Association and his coaches, he says. He was initially trained by his father Sunil, who is a state-level boxer, before joining Shri Ram Narain Cricket Club in Rohtak, run by former Haryana first-class batter Ashwani Kumar.”The association has backed us a lot,” Sindhu said. “After the Under-19 World Cup, I came straight away to the Ranji Trophy. They have backed us a lot from there. That’s the reason. When someone backs you so much, like Ashwani [Kumar] sir, I try not to let them down.”Sindhu’s evolution from impressing in age-group cricket to becoming a mainstay in Haryana’s setup has been fast. Though he’s been part of CSK and GT at the IPL, he’s yet to play a single game. But he said it gave him a window into the mental side of the game, how the top players prepare, manage pressure and keep it simple.”I’ve spoken to players like Virat [Kohli] about how they handle pressure situations,” he said. “I get knowledge from there, and I try to apply it in my game.”Senior players have told me, ‘Work on small parts. If you feel that you are weak, work on that in practice and in the nets.’ In the match, you should not think that you are weak. You have to express yourself. I try to play my natural game.”He’s determined to keep impressing to reach his ultimate goal: (I just want to play for India). Step by step.”

Ravindra Jadeja also joins elite list among Indian spinners at the World Cup

Sampath Bandarupalli05-Nov-202349 Number of centuries for Virat Kohli in ODIs, equalling the world record held by Sachin Tendulkar.119 Fifty-plus scores for Kohli in ODIs, the second most after Tendulkar’s 145. Kohli surpassed Kumar Sangakkara’s 118 fifty-plus scores on Sunday.Sachin vs Kohli – Innings per century in ODIs•ESPNcricinfo Ltd83 South Africa’s total is the second lowest by a team against India in the men’s ODI World Cup, after Sri Lanka’s 55 all out on Thursday.It is also South Africa’s lowest total at the men’s ODI World Cup, and their joint-second lowest in men’s ODIs.4 ODIs in 2023 in which India have dismissed their opponents for less than 100, the most by a team in a year in men’s ODIs.Quinton de Kock will have to wait for his fifth ODI century of this World Cup•ICC via Getty Images138 Runs conceded by India in their previous two ODIs – 55 vs Sri Lanka and 83 vs South Africa, the fewest runs conceded by a team in successive men’s ODIs. West Indies’ 152 runs in 1992-93, when they bowled Pakistan out for 81 and 71 in consecutive ODIs, was the previous lowest.243 South Africa’s margin of defeat against India is their biggest by runs in men’s ODIs.Related

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5 ODI wins for India by a margin of 200-plus runs in 2023. No other team has won more than three men’s ODIs in a year by a margin of 200-plus runs.2 Ravindra Jadeja is only the second Indian spinner to take a five-wicket haul at the men’s ODI World Cup. Yuvraj Singh was the first, with 5 for 31 against Ireland in 2011.2 Batters with a century on their birthday in the men’s ODI World Cup before Kohli. Ross Taylor’s 131* against Pakistan in 2011 came on his 27th birthday, while Mitchell Marsh scored 121 against Pakistan on his 32nd birthday last month.