Tottenham Hotspur are eyeing a high-profile player this summer, and one who’s been seriously endorsed by the club’s all-time top scorer, Harry Kane.

Related Tottenham advancing move for £24m defender after 'emerging' as favourites

Spurs have been told what it would take to get a deal done.

Posts ByEmilio Galantini Jul 23, 2025

Spurs have already announced the signings of Mathys Tel on a permanent deal from Bayern Munich, Kota Takai in a J-League record £5 million move from Kawasaki Frontale and, of course, Mohammed Kudus from West Ham.

Kudus’ transfer marked the end of a 14-year-long unofficial transfer embargo between Spurs and their London rivals, with the Ghanaian seriously impressing on his debut against Reading last weekend.

Nottingham Forest playmaker Morgan Gibbs-White was set to immediately follow Kudus to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and a medical was even scheduled for July 11 (BBC), but Nuno Espírito Santo’s side blocked the transfer and threatened legal action for what they deem to be an unlawful approach.

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

Once the matter is resolved, Tottenham are hopeful that Gibbs-White will eventually seal his switch to N17, but the move has been significantly delayed.

In the meantime, it is reliably reported that Spurs are competing with Newcastle United and Forest to sign Brentford striker Yoane Wissa, who scored 20 goals in all competitions under Thomas Frank last season.

Despite the current abundance of holding midfielders in their squad, there are also suggestions that Tottenham are looking for another one, with £167,000-per-week Bayern Munich ace Joao Palhinha among their chief targets.

Palhinha endured a lacklustre debut campaign at Bayern last season after sealing his long-awaited move there in 2024.

The Portugal international – thanks to a combination of injuries, illness and suspension – eventually fell down Vincent Kompany’s pecking order, and reports claim he could make a return to the Premier League already.

Tottenham are reported to have contacted Palhinha’s agents, and while reliable journalist Alasdair Gold doesn’t mention this, he does back up Spurs’ interest in a piece for football.london.

Tottenham eyeing Joao Palhinha after Harry Kane praise

Gold states that Tottenham are targeting Palhinha and have the 30-year-old on their shortlist of potential midfield signings, but at least one of Yves Bissouma, Rodrigo Bentancur, Lucas Bergvall, Pape Matar Sarr and Archie Gray would need to depart first.

Amid Bissouma’s links with a move to Turkey and inconsistent form, the Mali international appears their most likely candidate to make way for Palhinha.

Interestingly, Lilywhites legend Kane has already endorsed a possible Spurs swoop for the robust, tough-tackling number six, who was also called a “leader” by Marco Silva during his Fulham days.

Kane is on record calling the ex-Sporting CP star an “animal”, citing his many tough battles against him.

“I think they suit our system really well,” said Kane after Bayern signed Palhinha and Michael Olise last summer, via Florian Plettenberg.

“Palhinha is an animal in that defensive midfield role. I’ve had many battles against him.

“Michael’s ability on the ball is fantastic. The way he moves, the way he goes around players – and his final product is at a high, high level. And he’s still very young, so there’s even more improvement to come.”

According to some reports, Bayern want around £30m to let Palhinha leave, while Spurs want a deal done closer to the £20m mark.

Essex skittled Notts for 96 in their first innings before the visiting captain’s century earned back some respectability

ECB Reporters Network11-Sep-2024

Jamie Porter took his third five-wicket haul of the summer•Getty Images

Jamie Porter and Simon Harmer shared nine first-innings wickets as Essex skittled Nottinghamshire for 93 on a morning of utter carnage at Chelmsford.Seam bowler Porter took his third five-wicket haul of the season, and second in consecutive Vitality County Championship matches, to finish with 5 for 35, season’s best figures that included three wickets in five balls.Simon Harmer also claimed his best bowling figures of the summer with 4 for 16 from 12.5 overs and then took the first two wickets of Nottinghamshire’s second innings. Allied with a season’s best 51 in Essex’s 457, it was a welcome return to form for the off-spinning all-rounder who has been dogged by persistent injury.Nottinghamshire’s inability to cope with Porter’s pace and Harmer’s guile on a wicket that had become less benign overnight, left them 364 runs adrift on first innings. When they followed on, captain Haseeb Hameed led the fightback with a patiently crafted unbeaten 100 from 151 balls and put on an unbroken 131 with Joe Clarke (62 not out) for the third wicket. At the close, Nottinghamshire were 180 for 2, still 184 runs from making Essex bat again.It was the perfect repost from Essex on the day the ECB confirmed their 12-point deduction after opening batsman Feroze Khushi was found to have used an illegally-sized bat in the reverse fixture at Trent Bridge in April. It does, however, end their dwindling hopes of challenging for the title.Nottinghamshire’s first innings fell apart spectacularly on a sunny, though chilly morning as 48 for 1 became 93 all out, with nine wickets clattering in 87 minutesThere was no sign of what was to come in the first half-hour as Ben Slater and Freddie McCann added 31 to their overnight score. But then Harmer came on and struck first ball when McCann moved forward half-cock and was the first of five LBWs in the morning. Harmer had two of the next three wickets to fall as Ben Slater was snaffled at slip and Jack Haynes was the second lbw victim.In between Porter replaced the unlucky Sam Cook, who had discomforted McCann on several occasions and might have had something to show for a venomous opening spell had Matt Critchley not dropped Joe Clarke at gulley. It did not prove too expensive as Porter had Clarke pinned lbw in his first over.Nottinghamshire’s South African wicketkeeper-batsman Kyle Verreynne came out all guns blazing, reverse-sweeping Harmer for four and driving Porter over the long-off boundary. However, his nine-ball cameo ended on 12 when he drove Porter uppishly into the covers.Lyndon James departed to a stunning full-length dive low to his left by Michael Pepper to spark Porter’s three-quick-wicket burst. Luke Fletcher, first ball, and Liam Patterson-White fell lbw before Harmer wrapped things up by having Rob Lord caught at bat-pad.Following on, Hameed and Slater looked comfortable for a dozen overs after lunch before Slater misjudged a delivery from Harmer that beat the outside edge and bowled him. The teenaged McCann was bamboozled for a second time by Harmer, the sixth player to go lbw during the day.Hameed was particularly strong off the back-foot, punching the ball through extra cover for a succession of boundaries, and reached his sixth fifty-plus score of the season from 70 balls. That Nottinghamshire made a better fist of it in the second innings was illustrated by the fact they had overhauled their first-innings total by tea for the loss of just two wickets.Hameed found a willing partner in Clarke and the pair steadied things by putting the first fifty of their stand in 14 overs, taking another 15 for the second fifty. As confidence grew, Clarke came down the wicket and smashed Harmer over midwicket for six on the way to reaching his half-century from 105 balls.A quick single took Hameed to three-figures just before stumps off his 151st ball.

Curran’s 86 counters Vaughan’s six wickets with Somerset 190 in front – for nine – in the second innings

ECB Reporters Network11-Sep-2024Tom Curran launched an extraordinary assault on the Somerset bowlers as Surrey turned up the heat on the third day of the crucial Vitality County Championship match at Taunton.Making his first appearance in the competition for two years, the all-rounder smashed eight sixes and six fours in a game-changing innings of 86 from 75 balls, which rescued the Division One leaders from a perilous 228 for 8 in their first innings and allowed them to post 321 all out.Eighteen-year-old off-spinner Archie Vaughan finished with 6 for 102, while Jack Leach claimed 4 for 105. But Surrey had gained a slender advantage of four runs and soon built on it, reducing their opponents to 194 for 9 by stumps on a rain-interrupted afternoon, which saw Shakib Al Hasan take 4 for 83.Craig Overton was unbeaten on 40, having added 41 for the last wicket with a stricken Tom Banton (28 not out), batting heroically with a runner after suffering an ankle injury playing football in the warm-up for the day’s play.Only the most optimistic of Surrey fans could have expected a first innings lead when their team lost five wickets for 32 runs from a promising 196 for 3. Ryan Patel had added nine to his overnight score of 61 when top-edging a sweep off Leach to short third-man.Shakib made 12 before being caught and bowled by Leach off a leading edge. Then Vaughan added to his three second day victims by having Ben Foakes caught at short leg for 37 off 122 balls.It was 228 for 7 when Jordan Clark chipped a catch to the diving Tom Abell at mid-wicket off Vaughan, who struck again two balls later as Cameron Steel played down the wrong line and was bowled off stump.Surrey trailed by 89 runs. But Kemar Roach played a key role in contributing just five runs to a stand of 54 with Curran, who had begun his blitz with a six over long-on off Vaughan.Two more maximums off the same bowler followed by a four through the covers took Surrey to their first batting point and the all-rounder was far from finished. When Somerset skipper Lewis Gregory took the decision to remove Vaughan from the attack and introduce part-time spinner Lewis Goldsworthy, the left-armer’s only over went for 18 runs.The first ball was a full toss, dispatched over the mid-wicket boundary by Curran, who followed up with two straight sixes of the fourth and fifth deliveries. The story of the day was being transformed and by the time Roach was pinned lbw by Leach, Somerset’s lead was only 35.Still Curran ran riot, a six off Leach taking Surrey to a second batting point, celebrated by another six in the same over. A four off Vaughan gave the visitors the lead before the memorable exhibition ended with a skyed catch to long-on.Surrey team-mates gathered on their dressing room balcony to cheer Curran off the field, while Vaughan followed holding up the ball to acknowledge applause for his outstanding contribution to Somerset’s bowling. Lunch had been delayed and was taken between innings.Momentum was with Surrey and their bowlers soon increased it, reducing the hosts to 85 for five by the time rain forced an early tea. Vaughan was bowled playing around a delivery from Shakib and it was 12 for 2 when Goldsworthy suffered the same fate attempting to pull a short ball from Roach.Shakib claimed the key wicket of Tom Abell, lbw for 18 and, with Banton absent, Jordan Clark bowled Kasey Aldridge with his second ball of the innings before pinning Tom Lammonby LBW for 24.The final session, starting at 4.05pm, saw Gregory fall leg-before for 13, pushing forward to Shakib after a stand of 35 with Rew, whose composed innings of 29 ended when he edged the Bangladesh left-arm spinner to Dom Sibley at slip.Brett Randell fell cheaply and when Curran’s great day continued by having Leach caught behind for 13, Banton hobbled painfully and slowly to the crease with the total 153 for 9.Incredibly, with little or no foot movement, he struck four fours in helping Overton give Somerset genuine hope for the final day.

Arsenal intend to remain active in the summer transfer window, even after their statement signing of Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres.

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Posts ByMatt Dawson Jul 27, 2025

After a near-two-month-long saga, sporting director Andrea Berta and manager Mikel Arteta welcomed the prolific centre-forward, with Arsenal finally agreeing an initial £55m deal which could be worth up to £64 million if add-ons are met.

Arsenal transfer spending under Arteta (via Sky Sports)

Money on new signings

19/20 – winter

£0

20/21 – summer

£81.5m

20/21 – winter

£900k

21/22 – summer

£156.8m

21/22 – winter

£1.8m

22/23 – summer

£121.5m

22/23 – winter

£59m

23/24 – summer

£208m

23/24 – winter

£0

24/25 – summer

£101.5m

24/25 – winter

£0

25/26 – summer

£208m

Gyokeres was unveiled as a new Gunners player to a delighted Singapore crowd just before Arsenal’s 3-2 friendly win over Newcastle, and there is a possibility of him debuting against Tottenham on Thursday.

“We are so pleased with the excellent deal we have completed to bring Viktor Gyökeres to the club,” said Berta in an official statement.

“Viktor is an exceptional talent and has consistently demonstrated he has the qualities and winning mentality required of a top-level centre-forward. His physicality, intelligence and work ethic make him a perfect fit for our vision.

“We are confident Viktor will have a major impact on the pitch and become an important figure in our dressing room. Welcome, Viktor!”

Gyokeres’ arrival perhaps comes as Arsenal’s most significant bit of transfer business in the last few years, with a proven goalscorer long viewed as the missing piece of Arteta’s potential title-winning jigsaw.

The 27-year-old scored an incredible 97 goals in 102 appearances for Sporting, and their president Frederico Varandas seriously dug his heels in over letting Gyokeres leave the Portuguese champions.

Gyokeres’ agent, Hasan Cetinkaya, was even forced to waive his commission fee to help facilitate the transfer, and following weeks of talks, Arsenal at long last reached a full agreement last week (Fabrizio Romano).

After Gyokeres, Arsenal are believed to be targeting a number 10 to complement club captain Martin Odegaard, with Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze firmly on Berta’s radar as a key option.

Arsenal offered Arda Güler and Raul Asencio in Real Madrid part-exchange deal

Now, according to reports from Spain, Arteta and co have been offered a different playmaker in Turkey international Arda Güler.

Indeed, it is now believed Real Madrid are proposing Guler and defender Raul Asencio, plus £78 million, in exchange for star Arsenal centre-back William Saliba.

In what is an audacious claim from Europe, Berta is said to be “seriously considering” this part-exchange bid from Real, even if Arsenal and Saliba are currently locked in talks over a contract extension.

Guler has struggled for consistent game time at the Bernabeu overall, but did manage six goals and 11 assists by the end of 2024/2025 whilst playing every game of Real’s Club World Cup campaign under Xabi Alonso.

However, while Guler has displayed flashes of real brilliance since bursting on to the scene at Fenerbahçe, even being dubbed the ‘Turkish Messi’, losing Saliba would be far too big of a price to pay, even if Asencio would also immediately come in his stead.

Despite admitting Liverpool are favourites, Kylian Mbappe believes Arsenal will go one step further this season and claim the Premier League title.

• Mbappe selects Arsenal as league winners
• Admits Liverpool are favourites
• Striker adds that Arsenal have maintained strong core

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Gunners have recorded three second-placed finishes in a row, losing out to Manchester City twice and Liverpool, and will be determined to get over the line this season. Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta will take heart from Mbappe's endorsement, but, having spent just north of £250 million ($338m) on incomings this summer, knows he must produce a stronger fight for the title than last campaign. Arsenal's title push was dented by a wonder strike by Dominik Szoboszlai against Liverpool last weekend, yet Mbappe still feels they are best equipped to become champions for the first time in 22 years.

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  WHAT MBAPPE SAID

  Asked by who would win the Premier League, Mbappe said: "Of course, Liverpool has to be mentioned first and foremost, as they're determined to win one title after another. But I also have high hopes for Arsenal, because the core of the team has known each other for a long time, and that's a crucial factor in football. And Manchester City is always at the forefront anyway, with Pep Guardiola and Erling Haaland.

  "Maybe Arsenal, maybe it will be their year. It would certainly be easier to say City or Liverpool."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Mbappe was on the losing end of both legs of the Champions League quarter-final against Arsenal in April and saw the threat of the Gunners up close. The Frenchman was shackled by William Saliba and Jakub Kiwior across the 180 minutes, unable to produce his usual magic. Arteta's side blitzed Los Blancos 3-0 at the Emirates before leaving the Bernabeu with a relatively straight-forward 2-1 victory – winning 5-1 on aggregate. The Gunners would go on to lose to eventual winners Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-final, but Arteta has maintained, and strengthened, the same core of players that oversaw their victory over Mbappe's side and the French striker sees them ending their major trophy hoodoo this season.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR ARSENAL?

  The Gunners return to Premier League action next weekend and will be desperate to bounce back from their disappointment at Anfield with a statement victory over Nottingham Forest. Arsenal then travel to Athletic Club to kick off their Champions League campaign the next Tuesday.

Ajaz and Phillips combined for nine wickets to defend 146 despite Pant’s 64 off 57

Sidharth Monga03-Nov-20241:40

Is this the greatest Test upset of the 21st century?

New Zealand withstood the sublime genius of Rishabh Pant to enter uncharted territory: a whitewash of India in India in a series of three Tests or more. Ajaz Patel and Glenn Phillips combined for nine wickets to defend 146 despite Pant’s 64 off 57 that took them from 29 for 5 to 106 for 6. Ajaz ended up with an 11-wicket haul, becoming the most successful visiting bowler at a single Indian ground.Apart from poor batting, of course, India were also left looking at a contentious DRS call from the third umpire Paul Reiffel. Pant had all the momentum with India taking six singles and two boundaries in the first two overs after lunch, but New Zealand managed to get a decision overturned in what appeared a desperate review. Pant had padded up to Ajaz after being beaten in the air, was given not-out on a bat-pad catch, the third umpire on first viewing seemed to be ruling that the murmur of UltraEdge came from the bat on the pad. Eventually, though, a possible deflection after the sound signature convinced the third umpire to overrule the on-field call.Related

Mitchell: 'We're just a bunch of Kiwis taking on the world'

Rohit: I was not at my best as captain, and with the bat

Take nothing away from Ajaz, though. Born in Mumbai, representing New Zealand, having taken an all-10 on his previous trip, Ajaz was having an ordinary series when he came into the final Test. Even though he found his groove post lunch on day two, taking five wickets in the first innings, even though he had taken three early wickets in the second innings, he was playing a different Test against Pant.At the moment of the Pant wicket, Ajaz had bowled 167 balls to rest of India for 112 runs and nine wickets, but 41 balls to Pant had gone for 75 runs. Pant was in the middle of an audacious effort that defied the treacherous conditions, asked for by the team management and duly delivered to them.The problem with batting on such tracks is the vast margin for errors bowlers have. Even if you bowl a rank long hop, you can protect the boundaries with in-out fields because the ball comes off the pitch at varying pace. Pant’s genius lay in still managing to manipulate shots enough to beat the deep fielders. A swivel almost onto the stumps to hit squarer. A collapse onto the knee to sweep finer. Almost always sweeping himself off his feet to impart that extra bit of power. All this while maintaining an 84% control rate at lunch.When Pant was not on strike, though, Ajaz was unplayable. Ever since lunch on day two, he bowled perfect lengths and carried it into the second innings. He bowled on a good length, drawing forward-defence from the batters without letting them reach the pitch of the ball.Rishabh Pant wasn’t happy with the review that sent him back•BCCI

Shubman Gill left one alone without covering the line of off, leaving himself open to the vagaries of the pitch. The ball didn’t turn, and took the off stump out. Virat Kohli was a sitting duck as he defended and edged into the big mitts of Dary Mitchell at slip. Ravindra Jadeja, who earlier completed his third career 10-wicket match haul and added 42 with Pant, finally got one that turned too much and was caught at bat-pad. Only Sarfaraz Khan’s wicket was a gift because of the gremlins in the minds. His two-ball innings consisted of two premeditated sweeps to what were otherwise boundary balls. One a single, and the other a full toss helped straight into deep midwicket’s welcoming hands.The openers fell to Matt Henry and Phillips. Rohit Sharma seemed like he wanted to get ahead of New Zealand while the roller’s effect was still fresh after New Zealand refused to get the pitch rolled as their last wicket added three runs to the overnight lead of 143. Two boundaries came, but the third attempt was to a ball not short enough, and Phillips caught the top-edged pull at midwicket.Phillips, who has far exceeded expectations as the second spinner of the side, continued the good work by not bowling any bad balls, and was duly rewarded by trapping Yashasvi Jaiswal lbw on the forward-defence.Pant, though, was playing a different game. His first thought was a boundary, then running, and then defence. He opened his account with a flat six back over Ajaz’s head. That forced Ajaz to bowl quicker and shorter to him, getting India a set of two bye boundaries. His reverse-sweeping got rid of short fine leg, and benefitted him when he top-edged a sweep precisely there.After losing Jadeja, he found the boundary two times in the last two overs before lunch to bring up his fifty and leave India hopeful of a miracle. Post lunch, New Zealand sat back. Six singles in the first over. Two fours in the second. Then came the desperate review, which turned it around for New Zealand again.Tom Blundell found something to celebrate with a superb catch off the R Ashwin glove on the reverse-sweep. Phillips found a moment to celebrate all the hard work when he bowled Akash Deep through the gate. Fittingly, Ajaz ended it all as Washington Sundar tried to slog him with not many options left.

كُشف النقاب منذ قليل عن هوية الفائز بجائزة أفضل فريق للرجال في العالم لعام 2025، التابعة لجوائز مجلة “فرانس فوتبول” الشهيرة، حسبما أُعلن مساء يوم الإثنين.

وتُقام مساء يوم الإثنين مراسم حفل توزيع جوائز الأفضل في العالم، المُقدمة من مجلة “فرانس فوتبول” الشهيرة، وعلى رأسها الكرة الذهبية (لمتابعة البث المباشر من هنا).

وتضم جوائز اليوم العديد من الفئات، بخلاف الكرة الذهبية لأفضل لاعب في العالم للرجال والسيدات، حيث هناك جائزة كوبا لأفضل لاعب شاب، وجائزة ياشين لأفضل حارس مرمى، جائزة كرويف لأفضل مدرب، إلى جانب جائزة أفضل نادِ للرجال والسيدات.

وتنافست 5 أندية على تلك الجائزة، وهم باريس سان جيرمان الفرنسي، ليفربول الإنجليزي، برشلونة الإسباني، تشيلسي الإنجليزي وبوتافوجو البرازيلي.

وحسبما أُعلن، حصل نادي باريس سان جيرمان على جائزة أفضل فريق للرجال في العالم لعام 2025، بعدما حقق العديد من البطولات الموسم الماضي تحت قيادة لويس إنريكي.

وحقق باريس سان جيرمان كل من الدوري الفرنسي، كأس فرنسا، كأس الأبطال الفرنسي، دوري أبطال أوروبا والسوبر الأوروبي.

من جانبه، قال رئيس النادي ناصر الخليفي: “يشرفني أن أكون هنا أمام أساطير ومدربين ومقدمين رائعين، هذه الجائزة تعني الكثير للنادي، وهي ما سعى إليه الفريق دائمًا”.

وأضاف: “أود أن أشكر جميع اللاعبين الذين لم يتمكنوا من الحضور اليوم، شكر خاص لماركينيوس، الأسطورة، وللمدرب والمسؤولين السابقين، ولللاعبين السابقين، هذه الجائزة تُمثل لهم شيئًا”.

وواصل: “كرة القدم ليست مهمة سهلة، عليك بذل الجهد والعمل الجاد، لدينا أكاديمية رائعة والعديد من النجوم هنا الليلة، لدينا أيضًا استراتيجية طويلة المدى، لدينا فريق عمل ممتاز، دوري أبطال أوروبا في النهاية مسألة تفاصيل، وهو حلم بالنسبة لنا، لدينا مدرب رائع، معًا، حققنا نتائج جماعية رائعة”.

Rachin Ravindra admits that winning a Test series in India is an extremely difficult task, but is hopeful that his recent white-ball success in the country coupled with New Zealand’s experience of playing in the subcontinent recently could stand them in good stead in the three-Test series, starting in Bengaluru from October 16.Ravindra had a breakthrough 2023 ODI World Cup in India where he scored 578 runs in ten innings, which included three hundreds and two fifties. An IPL contract with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) followed, and Ravindra suddenly found himself in the thick of things.”Although it is different formats, it gives you confidence that you can perform in this part of the world, although conditions will most likely be different,” Ravindra said on Monday. “It’s more, I guess, managing the crowd and the expectations of the people because we know how passionate Indian people are about cricket.Related

• Rain washes out first day in Bengaluru

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• Ben Sears ruled out of India tour; uncapped Jacob Duffy drafted into NZ's squad

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• O'Rourke's Canterbury Tales, ft. Fulton and Donkers

“It feels like if you’re able to do it a couple of times, hopefully you’ll be able to do it in a Test series and, look, I think it’s a different challenge entirely and it’s something I’m really looking forward to. It’s always special to come back to India and play. Those two tournaments [ODI World Cup and IPL] were amazing, the crowds and the passion and the hype and the buzz around them, so I’m excited to have a fully-fledged three-match Test series here.”After a bit of a false start to his Test career, Ravindra has had a fairly successful year in the longest format with 599 runs in six Tests in 2024 at 49.91, including a top score of 240 against South Africa.The same, however, can’t be said about New Zealand in general, whose World Test Championship (WTC) campaign has nosedived after the two wins at the start of the year against a second-string South Africa. They lost a home Test series to Australia before going down 2-0 in Sri Lanka. Spin has largely been New Zealand’s undoing in this WTC cycle, but Ravindra wants to take all the learnings and positives from the Sri Lanka series and is hopeful his side can come up with a better show in India.”India have always been a quality side, I guess the brand of cricket they play is very positive, especially in their own conditions, they know how to play,” Ravindra said. “They’ve grown up on these wickets and their players, the way they’ve evolved over the last few years has been amazing.”For us, it’s [about] playing our game and doing what’s true to us. I think we did some really good stuff during the Sri Lankan series as well, obviously came on the wrong end of the stick and the wrong side of the win-and-loss column there, but I think as a group there were times where we actually really pushed. That first Test was close and we played the way we wanted to in certain moments, but I think we’ve got to understand that we’ve got to do it for long periods of time because that’s what Test-match cricket is about.”As New Zealanders, we don’t necessarily try and look at the opposition too much; we know what a quality side they [India] are and what they bring to the table. But I think if we’re able to play our game and be consistent and put our best foot forward, hopefully that will result in a win, who knows?”While the pitches in India are unlikely to do New Zealand any favours, the weather in Bengaluru might help them feel at home. It’s been overcast and damp here over the last few days, and the forecast for the first Test suggests heavy cloud cover and rain. The pitch at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, too, has been under covers for a fair bit.Does that then bring New Zealand into the game a bit more?”I guess a bit of rain around, a bit of overcast conditions, looking at the wicket, it might not turn as much as what we might expect in Mumbai maybe, but I think the quality of the wicket, the quality of their bowlers, the quality of our bowlers, I think that will decide the make-up of the game,” Ravindra said. “Whether it turns, I don’t know, I guess we’ll only find out… it might not turn first, second day, we’ll only find out third, fourth, fifth day. It’s important for us as a group to play what’s in front of us and not come into this game with preconceived notions or ideas of what it looks like.”I think we did some really good stuff during the Sri Lankan series as well”•AFP/Getty Images

“We know what Test cricket in India is, but we know the quality of the Indian fast bowling set-up too, so it’s not like they’re just going to produce a rank turner, you know, they’re quality [fast] bowlers too.”It is a sort of homecoming for Ravindra. His father played a decent level of cricket in Bengaluru before settling down in New Zealand. Ravindra still has plenty of family in the city and expects them to turn up for the Test.”Yeah, it’s cool,” Ravindra said. “Obviously when I was here last, well I guess it was IPL and then before that it was the ODI World Cup, so two pretty cool experiences to have, part of two very good teams.”But I guess it’s something different about playing a Test match. You’re here for five days and it’s tradition, and I guess it makes it extra significant just because of the family connection. For me, I was born and brought up in Wellington, I’m a Kiwi all the way through. It’s amazing and I’m very proud of my Indian heritage and to be able to play where a lot of my family is based is something pretty special.”There’ll be a bunch of them in the crowd and I know Dad will be here watching, so those moments, you pinch yourself on the journey and for this, it’s definitely one of them.”

West Ham United really struggled to get going last season in the Premier League, even after Graham Potter took on the reins.

The Hammers did manage to bow out of their unmemorable 2024/25 campaign in the top flight with back-to-back away victories at Manchester United and Ipswich Town. Still, the ex-Chelsea manager will have his work cut out for him to turn his fortunes around, with those two away-day wins making up a large chunk of his meagre five wins as Irons boss.

He will hope he’s given adequate time to leave his mark on the Hammers set-up, having only lasted a rash 31 games in the Stamford Bridge hot seat, with the likes of Kyle Walker-Peters already entering the building this summer, marking the start of West Ham’s makeover.

Up next, the Hammers could welcome in some attacking additions, with one target already in mind who might well be the top-flight club’s second coming of Jarrod Bowen.

West Ham prepare offer for £6m sensation

Of course, the Hammers are likely to be on the hunt now for an immediate Mohammed Kudus replacement, after the one-time fan favourite in East London defected over to enemy lines to join Tottenham Hotspur for £55m.

James McAtee might well be the replacement for Kudus that West Ham have up their sleeve, alongside Potter and Co. also reportedly showing interest in the services of Shakhtar Donetsk ace Georgiy Sudakov as their net widens out to Ukraine.

A new, up-and-coming centre-forward might also be on their agenda – even after Potter’s recent comments played down the importance of bringing in fresh talent up top – with West Ham-oriented website Claret and Hugh relaying information that the Hammers are reportedly considering an offer for breakout Wycombe Wanderers star Richard Kone.

Already this summer, Kone has been subject to a £6m bid from Luton Town, on top of interest coming from Brentford, Celtic, and Crystal Palace, but it’s West Ham who now allegedly lead the charge for the former non-league attacker.

Hull City

131

54

14

Hereford Town

8

1

1

Bowen also once found himself in the non-league scene with Hereford Town, before going on to solidify himself as a Premier League-worthy talent in the EFL with Hull City, as Kone now braces himself for that next gigantic step in his own career after a whirlwind campaign with the Chairboys.

Why Kone can be West Ham's next Bowen

Nobody at the London Stadium would have anticipated how vital Bowen would eventually become to the West Ham cause when he first joined the camp for £22m back in 2020.

There was a lot of excitement in the air that he would be a success story, though, having fired home a clinical 54 strikes for the Tigers in the demanding Championship, but even Bowen wouldn’t have anticipated that after 238 clashes in East London, he would be captaining the side after amassing an astounding 125 goals and assists in total for his Premier League employers.

Bowen has even become a regular on the international stage for England, with Kone surely harbouring his own dreams of representing the Ivory Coast if a move to West Ham comes to fruition, off the back of a potent season leading the line for Wycombe.

Having still been on the books of non-league outfit Athletic Newham last year, it’s a remarkable rise Kone has undergone in such a short space of time, with Bowen acclimatising to the EFL equally well when jumping ship from Hereford to Hull.

Games played

41

Goals scored

18

Assists

3

Goal conversion %

18%

Touches*

34.0

Accurate passes*

11.1 (65%)

Total duels won*

5.9

As can be seen looking at the table above, the Ivorian excels when being utilised as a poacher, with his venomous 18 league strikes coming about from just 34 touches of the ball on average per League One affair.

Bowen might well be whipping in many a cross in for Kone to latch onto, therefore, with the 22-year-old’s prowess in the air – which saw him win an impressive 5.9 duels on average in League One – also making him a suitable fit for the Premier League’s intense nature.

Labelled as a striker who “has got everything” by Wycombe great Joe Jacobson, it wouldn’t be the wildest shout to expect Kone to grow even more confident if East London came calling, mirroring Bowen’s sharp ascent in the process.

Bigger talent than Elliott: West Ham pushing to sign "incredible" £35m star

West Ham United are weighing up a major £35m move for this incredible star.

ByKelan Sarson Jul 21, 2025

Aston Villa are on the verge of signing their first major signing of the transfer window with OGC Nice’s Evann Guessand. The deal is expected to be worth around £26m, plus more than £4m in add-ons.

Guessand has been with Ligue 1 side Nice since 2014 and rose through their academy to become a first-team player and earn himself a place in the Ivorian national team. Manager Unai Emery will be hoping that the goals and assists Guessand brings to the team will ensure they don’t have an end-of-season drop-off this time around, after the sale of Jhon Duran depleted their depth in the number nine position last term.

It won’t take long from Guessand’s debut for his versatility to be on full display for Villa fans. Last season, under Franck Haise, Guessand was utilised both as a centre forward and a winger. This fluidity in attack is similar to what Emery implemented in the latter half of last season with loan players Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio.

However, with the previously mentioned loanees returning to their respective parent clubs, Villa are still somewhat shorthanded up front. Due to this, Emery has identified a new striker target to help rectify the situation.

Emery "eager" to reunite with Jackson

Caught Offside have reported that Aston Villa have identified Chelsea and Senegal striker Nicolas Jackson as an ideal target. Jackson previously worked with the Villa boss while the pair were at Villarreal.

With the departure of Duran and an exit for Ollie Watkins still on the cards this window, Villa need to strengthen their attack, and Jackson is seen as a possible solution. Caught Offside’s source stated that “Villa are among the clubs most keen on Jackson. Unai Emery is eager to work with him again after their time together at Villarreal”.

Aston Villa don’t have a clear run at Jackson presently, with Newcastle United having held “informal talks” with Jackson’s representatives and Juventus monitoring the situation in the event they sell Dusan Vlahovic.

An even bigger hurdle for Villa will be finances, with owners Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens potentially needing to sell to buy, according to the same report. If Villa can navigate the PSR hurdles and retain Watkins however, they could have a very dangerous attack on their hands.

2024/25 Stats

Watkins

Jackson

Guessand

Games Played

38

30

33

Goals

16

10

12

Assists

8

5

8

Xg per 90

0.53

0.5

0.32

Goals Per 90

0.55

0.41

0.42

Stats via: FBREF

All three players are averaging close to a goal every other game. Watkins is the best in this regard, but he is the oldest and most developed player; there is still plenty of time for Jackson and Guessand to match him.

While it may look like Jackson is massively underperforming against his Xg compared to the others, there is an explanation for this. When evaluating Jackson as a Manchester United target, The Athletic’s JJ Bull explained how Jackson’s Xg underperformance has been misinterpreted as him missing a lot of goals he should score, when in reality it’s distorted by him taking a lot of shots he shouldn’t take and often shooting too early.

These three players, alongside the other attacking options they have in the squad, could see Villa push for Champions League football once again and help the club away from its financial issues.