When it became clear that Liverpool would be crowned Premier League champions in Arne Slot’s first season at the club, well before the title was rubber-stamped and sealed, sporting director Richard Hughes suggested the summer transfer window would be significant.

After all, it was clear that Trent Alexander-Arnold was going to join Real Madrid at the end of his contract, and the likes of Darwin Nunez and Harvey Elliott and Luis Diaz were being linked with a move away. Liverpool needed a left-back.

And Liverpool have welcomed a sweeping array of new talent, shattering financial records as FSG added layers to Slot’s title-winning team.

But you’ll need no telling that the Reds have lost nine of their past 12 matches in 2025/26, thrashed in consecutive appearances at Anfield against Nottingham Forest and PSV Eindhoven.

The balance is all wrong, and the squad have been shorn of confidence. It’s hardly surprising that Hughes is gearing up for a return to the transfer market.

Liverpool's winter transfer plans

Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher has been among those advocating for FSG to pull their purses out and sign a centre-back this January. However, Ibrahima Konate’s wretched form has seen Real Madrid cool their interest, and talks are ongoing regarding the France star’s renewal on Merseyside.

The need for an out-and-out winger is more pressing, with Diaz not replaced when sold to Bayern Munich in August.

That’s why Liverpool have set their sights on Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo, who has been in fine fettle in the Premier League this season and is considered to be a top target on Merseyside, with his £65m release becoming active in January.

However, Hughes has compiled a list of multiple targets, and in Rafael Leao, Liverpool might even have an alternative who would prove a better pick, with stylistic similarities to the Ghana international.

According to Spanish sources, Liverpool are ready to rekindle their long-standing interest in AC Milan star Leao and place a formal winter offer worth €120m (about £105m).

This would be a significant outlay for Liverpool after their summer of spending, but desperate times call for desperate measures, and Cody Gakpo has not looked convincing on the left wing.

Why Liverpool should sign Rafael Leao

Leao, 26, is among the finest wide forwards in the world.

This season, he has enjoyed a clinical start, scoring five goals and providing one assist across all competitions. In Serie A, he hasn’t been as dynamic as in recent years, though he has been championing Maximiliano Allegri’s simplistic playing style, serving as a clinical outlet in the final third.

At Liverpool, Leao would probably be utilised in a different way, with Slot requiring more width and multi-facetedness on the flank to restore balance to his ailing frontline.

Among the most clinical wingers in Serie A this season, Leao is also maintaining such athleticism and creativity in his play. Gakpo, conversely, has consistently faced criticism for being overly one-dimensional,

League Stats 25/26 – Rafael Leao vs Cody Gakpo
Stats (per 90)	Leao	Gakpo
Goals scored	0.67	0.29
Assists	0.17	0.20
Shots taken	2.17	2.94
Pass completion (%)	75.8	71.3
Goal-creating actions	0.50	0.39
Progressive passes	3.01	3.43
Through balls	0.84	0.39
Progressive carries	3.35	4.41
Successful take-ons	0.84	1.47
Ball recoveries	2.17	3.13
Aerials won	1.17	1.86
Data via FBref

It is curious that Gakpo has been a bit more active in duelling situations than Leao, while also running more frequently with the ball. However, this season stands as an outlier for the Portuguese winger, as far as ball-carrying metrics are concerned.

Indeed, as well as being hailed as “one of the best left wingers in the world” by analyst Ben Mattinson, Leao has also been described as being “unstoppable” when on the ball by journalist Zach Lowy.

Gakpo might be running a fair bit in the Premier League this season, and his defensive metrics are impressive too, but he’s flattered to deceive in combination with left-back Milos Kerkez, who joined Liverpool from Bournemouth for £40m this summer.

The Dutchman, moreover, ranks among the bottom 39% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for take-on success rate.

In and of itself, this is not an egregious tactical sin, but Gakpo’s lack of dynamism has certainly been exposed since Diaz left Liverpool, amplified even more so by the 33-year-old Mohamed Salah’s deterioration on the alternate wing.

Given that Gakpo has only posted four goals and three assists across 18 matches in all competitions this season too, it’s clear that Liverpool need to make this move – for Leao or Semenyo – and add a dimension to their frontline.

There was a feeling that Liverpool opted against signing a like-for-like Diaz replacement in the summer due to the excitement around Rio Ngumoha, who became one of the youngest scorers in Premier League history when scoring the winner at Newcastle in August, but Slot has since used the 17-year-old sparingly.

Youngest Scorers in Premier League History
#	Player	Age
1	James Vaughan	16 yrs, 8 months, 27 days
2	James Milner	16 yrs, 11 months, 22 days
3	Wayne Rooney	16 yrs, 11 months, 25 days
4	Rio Ngumoha	16 yrs, 11 months, 26 days
5	Cesc Fabregas	17 yrs, 3 months, 21 days

Also dubbed “world-class” by Mattinson, Leao’s fleet-footed and ferocious style of play is exactly what Liverpool need going forward. He fits the same mould that has been sculpted for Semenyo by the powers that be at FSG.

It’s clear that Leao, in his finest form, would nail down a starting berth at Anfield, and Hughes must now make it happen.

Better than Isak: Liverpool join race for "one of the best RWs in the world"

Arne Slot’s Liverpool tenure is crumbling before him, and FSG are considering changes.

By
Angus Sinclair

Nov 28, 2025

The work done by Glasgow Rangers during the summer transfer window has come under plenty of scrutiny after a fairly dismal start to the season for the Scottish giants.

One win in the first seven games of the Scottish Premiership campaign led to head coach Russell Martin losing his job, having only been appointed in the summer as the long-term successor to Philippe Clement.

Danny Rohl arrived at Ibrox last month and has already delivered four wins from four matches in the Premiership, but he has also lost both of his Europa League games in the dugout.

The former Sheffield Wednesday tactician has won 100% of his league games in charge, most recently beating Livingston 2-1 at Ibrox thanks to goals from Emmanuel Fernandez and Mohamed Diomande.

Despite this upturn in results in the league, there will still be question marks over the summer recruitment due to poor form on the European stage from the Light Blues under both Martin and Rohl.

Who were the worst signings of the summer window by sporting director Kevin Thelwell before he was dismissed from his role on Monday? Here are our worst three…

3 Youssef Chermiti

It is almost impossible not to mention Youssef Chermiti as being among the worst signings made by Thelwell when you consider the context of the signing and the fee that was paid for him.

Firstly, Rangers had already signed proven Premiership goalscorer Bojan Miovski from Girona for a fee of up to £4.2m, which suggested that Martin already had his first-choice striker in the building.

Secondly, Chermiti cost a staggering £8m to sign him from Everton. That made him the most expensive Rangers signing in 25 years, since the £12m that was spent to land Tore Andre Flo in 2000.

Paying £8m to sign a 21-year-old striker who failed to score a single competitive goal in two years at Goodison Park is bad enough on paper, but even worse when you consider that Thelwell was the man behind the £15m deal to take him from Sporting to Everton in 2023.

The Toffees had to take a £7m hit on the striker without getting a single goal out of him because of Thelwell’s investment, and now Rangers look set to suffer a similar fate if his fortunes do not improve.

Chermiti has scored one goal and provided one assist in 13 outings in all competitions for the Light Blues this season, per Sofascore, which shows that he has already offered more than he did for Everton, but it is still not enough to justify the huge outlay.

25/26 Europa League

Youssef Chermiti

Starts

4

xG

1.29

Goals

0

Big chances missed

4

Big chances created

0

Assists

0

Pass accuracy

59%

Duel success rate

35%

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, he has particularly struggled in the Europa League this season, failing to offer quality in front of goal, in his general play, or physically, which is a big concern.

For the amount of money paid, the signing of Miovski made before his arrival, and how he failed when Thelwell signed him for Everton, he has to be among the ex-Gers man’s worst deals.

2 Joe Rothwell

Joe Rothwell also currently looks like one of the worst signings of the summer transfer window, in a move that was very different to the one that brought Chermiti to Ibrox.

Whilst the Portugal U21 international was signed for big money as a 21-year-old talent with room for improvement and potential to eventually hit, the English midfielder came in as an experienced 30-year-old operator who should have made an immediate impact.

Instead, the summer signing from Bournemouth has failed to hit the ground running at Ibrox and now looks to be out of favour under new head coach Rohl, after being brought in by Martin, whom he played for at Southampton in the 2023/24 campaign.

Joe Rothwell’s last 10 matchday squad appearances

Opposition

Minutes played

Livingston

0

Celtic

18

Hibernian

0

Kilmarnock

0

Brann

64

Dundee United

83

Falkirk

70

Sturm Graz

21

Livingston

17

Genk

10

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the Englishman has become a bit-part player for the Gers, failing to get on the pitch in the three league games that he has been available for under Rohl.

Given he was brought in as an experienced player for the here and now, it is hard to look past him as another one of Thelwell’s worst summer signings.

1 Thelo Aasgaard

Thelo Aasgaard looks to be another one of Thelwell’s worst pieces of business from the summer transfer window, as he has been as ineffective as Chermiti and Rothwell.

Rangers swooped to sign the Norway international from Luton Town for a fee of £3.5m to bolster their ranks in the attacking midfield positions, but he has been unable to provide a regular threat at the top end of the park.

Per Transfermarkt, Aasgaard has only produced one goal and one assist in 19 appearances in all competitions for the Light Blues, whilst Chermiti has one goal and one assist to his name in 13 outings for the club.

What makes that return even less impressive is that his assist was the pass to Djeidi Gassama in the clip above, where the winger does the majority of the heavy lifting for the goal.

The English-born number ten has not shown enough quality in his performances to suggest that he can be a difference-maker, aside from his stunning solo goal against Dundee United, which currently looks like it was a flash in the pan.

Heart & Hand content creator David Edgar described Aasgaard as “rotten” at the start of this month, and it is hard to disagree with that when he has many red cards as goals this season.

Aasgaard’s red card against Celtic in the semi-final of the League Cup is far from the only poor moment he has had in a Gers shirt, though, as the £3.5m signing was also hauled off at half-time against Livingston last weekend.

Rohl was clearly unhappy with his contributions in the opening 45 minutes, and it is hard to be happy with his contributions over the entire season so far, which is why he has been just as bad as Chermiti and Rothwell.

Related Antman upgrade: Rohl must unleash Rangers flop who Thelwell tried to replace

Danny Rohl should finally unleash this Rangers flop who Kevin Thelwell attempted to replace.

Posts ByDan Emery Nov 25, 2025

A goalkeeper’s role in football has evolved from just being a brilliant shot-stopper. Nowadays, ‘keepers have to be just as good with their feet, with plenty of managers opting to play out from the back, meaning their No 1s are their first point to build an attack.

But with coaches demanding so much more from their number ones, who takes the crown as the best goalkeeper in world football?

Ranking factors

To help rank the goalkeepers in order, we have considered the following criteria:

Current form – how well a player has performed in the past few months Importance to their teams – how influential they are to their teams’ performances Role – how unique their skillset is Reputation – what others say about them

Rank

Player

Age

Club

Nation

Gianluigi Donnarumma

26

Man City

Italy

David Raya

30

Arsenal

Spain

Thibaut Courtois

33

Real Madrid

Belgium

Alisson

33

Liverpool

Brazil

Jan Oblak

32

Atletico Madrid

Slovenia

Unai Simon

28

Athletic Club

Spain

Emiliano Martinez

33

Aston Villa

Argentina

Diogo Costa

26

FC Porto

Portugal

Gregor Kobel

27

Borussia Dortmund

Switzerland

Yann Sommer

36

Inter Milan

Switzerland

Manuel Neuer

39

Bayern Munich

Germany

Mike Maignan

30

AC Milan

France

Joan Garcia

24

Barcelona

Spain

Jordan Pickford

31

Everton

England

Mile Svilar

26

Roma

Serbia

15 Mile Svilar Roma and Serbia

Mile Svilar had a standout 2024/25 season, recording 16 clean sheets and the highest save percentage in Serie A which has seen him join the rankings for the first time.

The Serbia international, who joined Roma in 2022, is now 26 years of age and appears to be entering his prime for the Italian giants.

Liga Portugal

2019

Belgian Pro League

2017

Belgian Super Cup

2017

14 Jordan Pickford Everton and England

Everton’s No.1 Jordan Pickford has been first choice for England for almost eight years now, and he has impressed in recent weeks for the Toffees ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

Pickford starred in the 1-0 win at Old Trafford and has been a consistent performer who arguably goes under the radar when it goes to being labelled as one of the best in the world.

13 Joan Garcia Barcelona and Spain

Joan Garcia was a goalkeeper in demand during the summer of 2025 following his eye-catching performances for Espanyol.

The Spaniard looked as if he was heading to Arsenal to link up with compatriots Mikel Arteta and David Raya, however, Barcelona came in and secured a deal.

It has proven to be a smart decision, with Garcia first choice when fit, and he’s under contract at the Nou Camp until 2031.

12 Mike Maignan AC Milan and France

Mike Maignan’s impressive displays in Italy with AC Milan have resulted in recent rumours of a move to the Premier League, with the France No.1 linked with Chelsea and Man Utd.

Now captain of Milan, Maignan has made more than 150 appearances for the European giants and has won the Goalkeeper of the Year award in France and Italy during his career.

At the age of 30, Maignan appears to be approaching the prime of his career, and he has been hailed by Kylian Mbappe for his penalty-saving bailout following his Nations League heroics for France.

Ligue 1

2021

Serie A

2022

Nations League

2021

Italian Super Cup

2025

11 Manuel Neuer Bayern Munich and Germany

Despite turning 39 years of age in March, Manuel Neuer is still one of the best goalkeepers on the planet. He’s won everything there is to win in the game and has made more than 550 appearances for Bayern Munich.

The German icon has suffered with some injury issues over the last 12 months, but when fit, continues to be first-choice at the Allianz Arena. He’s also still under contract until 2026, so it looks as if he’ll continue playing into his forties.

Bundesliga

2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2025

World Cup

2014

Champions League

2013, 2020

FIFA Club World Cup

2014, 2021

UEFA Super Cup

2013, 2020

German Cup

2011, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2019, 2020

German Super Cup

2012, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022

U21 European Championship

2009

10 Yann Sommer Inter Milan and Switzerland

Another highly experienced shot-stopper who appears to be getting better with age is Yann Sommer.

The 36-year-old moved to Inter Milan in 2023 to replace Andre Onana and has starred in Serie A, keeping clean sheets in more than half of his appearances for the club in all competitions.

Approaching 100 caps for Switzerland as well, Sommer is another example of ‘keepers hitting their prime in the latter stages of their career, and it wouldn’t be a shock if he too ends up continuing for a long while yet.

Bundesliga

2023

Serie A

2024

Swiss Super League

2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

Swiss Cup

2007, 2012

Italian Super Cup

2024

Liechtenstein Cup

2008

9 Gregor Kobel Borussia Dortmund and Switzerland

Transfermarkt has €40m Gregor Kobel as the joint-most valuable keeper in the world today, with the Swiss shot-stopper waiting patiently to take over from Sommer as his nation’s No.1.

The 27-year-old has been an ever-present figure for Borussia Dortmund since 2021, with sporting director Sebastian Kehl calling him ‘a goalkeeper of world-class calibre who has attracted the interest of many top clubs in Europe’.

Under contract until 2028, it’ll be interesting to see if Dortmund can keep Kobel at the club in the years to come.

Bundesliga Team of the Season

2023, 2024

Champions League Team of the Season

2024

8 Diogo Costa FC Porto and Portugal

Diogo Costa, a Portugal international, made a name for himself at Euro 2024, saving three penalties in a shootout over Slovenia and has continued to impress with FC Porto.

Mikel Arteta has also hailed Costa’s consistency in recent years, and right now, he is the joint-most valuable ‘keeper according to Transfermarkt.

7 Emiliano Martinez Aston Villa and Argentina

A champion with Argentina, Emiliano Martinez has continued to star years on after helping his country to World Cup glory in Qatar.

With Aston Villa, Martinez played a key role in helping them into the Champions League and has been called a “more mature” and “better goalkeeper” by Unai Emery. Named as The Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper in 2024, Martinez has dipped slightly in 2025.

World Cup

2022

Copa America

2021, 2024

FA Cup

2015, 2017, 2020

Community Shield

2014, 2015, 2020

6 Unai Simon Athletic Club and Spain

Athletic Club had the best defence in La Liga for the 2024/25 season, with goalkeeper Unai Simon playing his part in a solid backing under Ernesto Valverde by recording the best save percentage in the league at more than 77%.

Despite missing the first half of the season through injury, Simon has been a regular in 2025 and has now made more than 200 appearances for his current employers.

European Championship

2024

Nations League

2023

Spanish Cup

2024

Spanish Super Cup

2020

MatériaMais Notícias

António Oliveira indicou que priorizaria o Brasileirão e preservou alguns titulares do Corinthians para o confronto desta terça-feira (7), contra o Nacional-PAR, pela fase de grupos da Copa Sul-Americana.

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➡️A boa do Lance! Betting: vamos dobrar seu primeiro depósito, até R$200! Basta abrir sua conta!

Raniele, Fausto Vera e Rodrigo Garro nao viajaram com o elenco do Corinthians para o Paraguai. Ainda não se sabe se o trio foi preservado ou algum dos jogadores sofreu uma lesão após o empate sem gols com o Fortaleza.

➡️ Siga o Lance! Corinthians no WhatsApp e acompanhe todas as notícias do Timão

Por outro lado, Gustavo Henrique, Igor Coronado e Yuri Alberto estão à disposição de António Oliveira para o duelo na Sul-Americana. O meia e o atacante devem retornar ao time titular do Timão, que soma quatro pontos e pode ficar em situação complicada no Grupo F caso não vença a partida.

continua após a publicidade

Uma provável escalação do Corinthians conta com: Carlos Miguel; Fagner, Félix Torres, Cacá e Hugo; Paulinho, Breno Bidon e Igor Coronado; Wesley, Matheuzinho e Yuri Alberto.

➡️ Veja tabela com datas e horários de todos os jogos da Libertadores

اعترف وكيل أعمال نجم نادي تشيلسي، أن اللاعب كان على وشك الانتقال إلى صفوف برشلونة في وقت من الأوقات، وذلك قبل الذهاب إلى البلوز.

برشلونة واجه تشيلسي يوم أمس الثلاثاء في دوري أبطال أوروبا، حيث تعرض لخسارة ثقيلة في ملعب ستامفورد بريدج بثلاثة أهداف مقابل لا شيء، وكان البلوز الطرف الأفضل في المباراة.

وشهدت مباراة الأمس تألق نجم نادي تشيلسي الشاب، إستيفاو ويليان، والذي قدم عرضًا رائعًا وسجل هدف النادي الإنجليزي الثاني.

وراوغ استيفاو لاعبي برشلونة داخل منطقة الجزاء، ليسدد الجناح الأيمن كرة قوية في شباك البلوجرانا عجز حارس المرمى، خوان جارسيا عن التصدي لها.

اقرأ أيضًا .. فرص برشلونة في التأهل إلى دور الـ16 من دوري أبطال أوروبا بعد الهزيمة أمام تشيلسي

وكشف وكيل أعمال استيفاو، أندريه كوري، أن برشلونة كان قريبًا من ضم اللاعب، لكن وضع البلوجرانا المادي منع حدوث الصفقة في نهاية المطاف.

وقال كوري في تصريحات نقلتها ”Barcauniversa”: “لطالما وافق المسؤولون عن الأمور الفنية في برشلونة على التعاقد مع استيفاو، لكن ديكو كان مقيدًا لأن الوضع الاقتصادي للنادي لم يسمح بذلك”.

واختتم كوري حديثه: “تحدثنا مع برشلونة بشأن استيفاو في أعوام 2021 و2022 و2023 و2024، عرضنا اللاعب على الأندية الكبرى لأنني كنت أعتقد أنه سيحظى بمستقبل باهر، لكن برشلونة لم يكن في وضع جيد اقتصاديًا”.

استيفاو بدأ مسيرته مع بالميراس، حيث تألق مع النادي البرازيلي ليوقع مع تشيلسي خلال صيف العام الحالي مقابل أكثر من 30 مليون يورو.

وبرزت موهبة استيفاو سريعًا مع تشيلسي وحصل اللاعب على ثقة المدرب إنزو ماريسكا والذي يعول على الجناح الشاب بشكل كبير.

Newcastle United have claimed their fans were "indiscriminately assaulted by the police" and are set to launch a complaint over how they were treated in Marseille. Following the 2-1 Champions League defeat on Tuesday at Stade Velodrome, the Magpies say officers utilised "unnecessary and disproportionate force" against their supporters, as well as using pepper spray, batons, and shields.

Newcastle to complain to UEFA

In a statement on the club's website, Newcastle said they will lodge a complaint with UEFA, Marseille, and French police off the back of the "unacceptable" fan treatment. The Toon added that many supporters were "visibly distressed" by how they were looked after when the game drew to a close. 

The post reads: "We will be formally raising our concerns with UEFA, Olympique de Marseille and French police in relation to the unacceptable treatment of our supporters by police at Stade Vélodrome following Tuesday's UEFA Champions League fixture. Following the final whistle, our supporters were required to remain in the stadium for a period of up to one hour on the instruction of local authorities to ensure their safety when leaving the stadium. 

"Plans were in place to move 500 supporters at a time, with a police escort to the Metro station for onward travel to Place de la Joliette. Our supporters were in good spirits despite the disappointing result and waited patiently and without incident during the holdback period. The post-match operation was observed at close quarters by our stewards and senior staff. 

"Once the first group of supporters was released, the police began using unnecessary and disproportionate force to stop the remainder of our fans from moving any further. This was actioned through a combination of pepper spray, batons, and shields, with numerous supporters being indiscriminately assaulted by the police. Many supporters were visibly distressed, particularly in the upper concourse area of the away sector, where crushing became apparent." 

AdvertisementAFPNewcastle call for investigation

Newcastle have also called for an investigation into this matter to ensure "lessons are learned" and this behaviour is not repeated. The Magpies added that there was a lot of "frustration and anger" amongst the club's staff for how this was handled.

The post adds: "Our staff immediately addressed the matter with the police, however this had limited impact on their excessive tactics. Fans leaving the stadium rightly shared their distress, frustration and anger with our staff, and we have subsequently received deeply concerning witness reports from supporters who were in attendance. Supporter safety and welfare should always be of paramount importance, and we strongly condemn the treatment of our supporters by the police during this incident. 

"We will be calling on UEFA, Olympique de Marseille and local authorities to formally investigate this matter to ensure lessons are learned and this behaviour is not repeated. We are continuing to liaise with the United Kingdom Football Policing Unit (UKFPU) as we gather evidence on behalf of our supporters."

Newcastle fans angry about treatment

Newcastle season ticket holder, Liam Phillips, vowed never to return to Marseille after what he witnessed on Tuesday. He added that the locals were "very friendly" but the police "whacked people indiscriminately". 

"To be cooped up from 4pm – and I didn't get back to my hotel until nearly 2am – that's almost 10 hours to watch 90 minutes of football," he told BBC Sport. "It just felt inhumane and felt to me like we were being treated like criminals when actually the vast majority if not everybody were just there to watch their team. There was no aggro. It was all good-natured. We just wanted to watch a game of football. There was no need for it."

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Getty Images SportNewcastle need fans' help

Ahead of Newcastle's trip to Everton in the Premier League this weekend, the club called on supporters to provide any information they had on the unsavoury scenes in Marseille this week. 

The club finished by saying: "We would like to hear from supporters affected by this incident as we collate as much supporting information as possible. This will also be shared with UEFA, UKFPU and the Football Supporters Europe organisation. Supporters who wish to share their witness report should email [email protected]."

Tottenham Hotspur have had a fair few talents that have been underappreciated over the years, but none more so than central midfielder Mousa Dembélé.

The Belgian joined the Lilywhites in a £15m deal from Fulham back in the summer of 2012, with many supporters unaware of the quality he possessed prior to his switch to North London.

He racked up a total of 249 senior appearances during his seven-year spell at the club, arguably cementing himself as one of their best ever midfielders.

From dazzling runs with the ball at his feet to dominant physical displays out of possession, the talent cemented himself as a key player during his spell in the Premier League.

Since his move to Guangzhou City in 2019, the Lilywhites have massively lacked a player of his quality, with Thomas Frank unable to rely upon one player to be his own version of the Belgian.

Why Bentancur has struggled with Spurs in 2025/26

After Frank’s arrival in the summer, there was a huge question mark around what system the Dane would operate with at Spurs after utilising various formations at Brentford.

However, it appears as though the 52-year-old has settled on a three-man midfield in a 4-3-3 system, which has seen Joao Palhinha operate at the base, with two box-to-box players ahead of him.

Rodrigo Bentancur has been one of the most utilised players in such an area, as seen by his tally of 10 appearances out of a possible 11 in the Premier League to date.

However, the Uruguayan has struggled to impress in those outings, even being benched against Manchester United in the final game before the ongoing international break.

The 28-year-old’s underlying stats from the 2025/26 season showcase his struggles of late, which could see him drop down the pecking order further in the months ahead.

He has only created 0.6 chances per 90 this season, which ranks him in the bottom 25% of all players in the division – often struggling to make a huge impact when in possession.

Such a skillset is vital when playing with Palhinha at the heart of the side, with the Portuguese international known to break up the play and allow those around him to provide the creative spark.

However, out of possession, Bentancur has also struggled under Frank, only making 0.5 interceptions per 90, which also places him in the lower quarter of all midfielders in England’s top-flight.

The aforementioned figures highlight his all-round struggles in North London, which could certainly put his long-term future at the club in jeopardy – that’s despite penning a new deal earlier this campaign.

The Spurs star who’s already showing 'shades of Dembele'

Top-level midfielders in the modern game cost a small fortune, with numerous clubs in the Premier League often forking out mammoth sums to land world-class talents.

Four teams in England’s top-flight have spent £100m or more on a midfielder in the last five years, with Chelsea doing so on more than one occasion, with deals for Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernández.

However, Spurs are a club that unfortunately aren’t in a position to willingly fork out such funds in the market, with more of a focus being directed to younger prospects.

Dominic Solanke remains the club’s record addition at £65m back in the summer of 2024, with no midfielder in Frank’s current first-team squad being bought for over £55m.

The likes of Lucas Bergvall and Pape Sarr both cost a combined £22m, with both now managing to establish themselves as key first-team members in 2025/26.

However, the academy system is another avenue for clubs to go down, with the Lilywhites desperately needing to put faith in youngster Tyrese Hall in the years ahead.

The midfielder joined the club at the age of just eight, subsequently spending 12 years in the youth ranks, before making the move to join Notts County on loan in the summer.

Such a move came after the youngster registered six goals and seven assists in 28 U21 appearances in 2024/25, with such a move being his first taste of senior football.

However, whilst it may appear a daunting task to many, Hall has taken it all in his stride, as seen by his impressive numbers at Meadow Lane over the past few months.

Central midfield

30

6 (5)

Defensive midfield

19

3 (4)

Attacking midfield

18

5 (3)

Centre-forward

6

3 (2)

Left midfield

3

1 (1)

Right midfield

1

1 (0)

The 20-year-old has already found the net on six occasions, with his latest strike proving to be the winner in the affair with Cheltenham Town at the beginning of the month.

Whilst he’s operated in a more advanced role with the Magpies, Hall has previously featured slightly deeper – even playing as a number eight for the Lilywhites in a post-season friendly back in 2024.

The youngster was brought on as a substitute in such a fixture and even impressed, with one of the commentators that day claiming he was showing “shades of Mousa Dembele”.

Such praise is huge given the levels produced by the Belgian during his own time in North London, with real hope that Hall can match such levels if given the opportunity.

At 20, he still has bags of time to reach his full potential, with his loan spell at Notts County undoubtedly helping him in his quest in the professional game.

However, Frank will need to keep a close eye on his progress and potentially hand him the opportunity to impress him in pre-season ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.

Dream Simons replacement: Frank has "one of England's best talents" at Spurs

Tottenham Hotspur already have an elite-level prospect on their hands in North London.

ByEthan Lamb Nov 18, 2025

Former USMNT star Brad Friedel has, in an exclusive interview with GOAL, explained why “workaholic” Mauricio Pochettino could walk away from international management after the 2026 World Cup. The Argentine tactician holds the honour of leading the United States into another major tournament on home soil, but inevitable questions are being asked of his future.

• Pochettino contract: When USMNT deal ends

  Ex-Tottenham, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain boss Pochettino stepped into a prominent post on American soil in September 2024. He was charged with the task of ensuring that a so-called ‘Golden Generation’ of talent is ready to fulfil undoubted potential on the grandest of stages.

  That process has not been without the odd challenge, but the USMNT are confident that they can compete with the very best in the business when the global elite descend on their own backyard. Pochettino is only under contract until the World Cup finals come to a close.

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  Stay or go: What will Pochettino do after the World Cup?

  Coaches in international football tend to work on tournament cycles, with clear beginnings and ends to any given era being easy to find, so will Pochettino follow that trend and bow out when his current deal comes to a close – regardless of how the U.S. fare next summer?

  When that question was put to Friedel, the ex-USMNT goalkeeper – speaking in association with – told GOAL: “That’s a great question. I’m quite close with one of his assistant coaches. I think that because he has had to come in and change the culture in the States, if they do well then I could see him staying for another cycle.

  “I know he is a guy that likes to build, he likes to have continuity and stability. But he also likes to know that he has quality. I don’t know what he thinks of the next four years on his paper, of what’s going to happen when – as happens with national teams – a few people age out, and are the wrong people ageing out to be successful for the next four years.

  “It’s a really good question. I would probably say this: If it doesn’t go well, probably ‘no’. If it goes incredibly well and they win it, I don’t think he stays. If it’s somewhere in the middle and it’s good and building, then I think there is probably a chance. That would be my guess.”

• Premier League return? What Pochettino misses

  Pochettino has admitted that he intends to head back to club management at some stage, telling : “The Premier League is the best league in the world. Of course I am missing it. I am so happy in America but also thinking one day to come back to the Premier League. It's the most competitive league.”

  On missing the day-to-day interaction of working at domestic level, with international camps often months apart, Friedel added on Pochettino’s professional drive: “He’s a workaholic, and his whole staff are. I can say from personal experience, not at the senior level but the U19 national team, you do miss the day-to-day because you are scouting and meeting with people and talking a lot more than you are on the pitch.

  “I can see how any manager, especially on the younger side, would miss club management. When the tournament comes around, then you want to be nowhere else except for there because it’s the big stuff. I can see two things. I can see, one, big clubs wanting him. And two, I can understand him wanting the day-to-day because he is a workaholic and very good at his job.”

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  World Cup focus: Pochettino and USMNT looking at draw

  Pochettino’s stock remains high, so there is every chance that a “big” club will come in for him during the summer of 2026. Teams around the world will be assessing their options at that stage, with many opting for a change in the dugout.

  The USMNT will not be worrying themselves about interest from afar just yet, though, as collective focus there is locked on the group stage draw for the 2026 World Cup – which is set to take place at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC on December 5.

Scott Boland says he’s not driven by comments that England’s batters don’t fear him

Alex Malcolm17-Oct-20252:25

Mitchell Starc backs Australia’s fast-bowling depth

Scott Boland could not hide the smirk on his face.Not long after he had scythed through New South Wales to take a match-winning 5 for 67 to go with his 3 for 59 in the first innings to help Victoria claim a thrilling Sheffield Shield win at the Junction Oval, Boland was asked the obvious question in his post-match conversation with a group of reporters.Boland was asked if he had seen former England captain Michael Atherton write in the that he “holds no fear” for England’s batting line-up based on how they played him in England two years ago.”I saw it. My cousin sent it to me. He [Boland’s cousin] was taking the piss,” Boland said. “I’m sure there’s going be so much banter between the former players in between now and the first Test and even the end of the summer.”Related

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He was asked if it motivated him at all ahead of the Ashes.”Not really,” Boland said. “I’ve got my own internal motivations for what I want to do for the summer. I’ve never gone into a game where I’m just middling along. I guess there’s always some motivation for me to try and either come into the team and try to put in a really good performance, to try and keep my spot. There’s so many good fast bowlers in Australia that you just don’t want to give anyone an inch. So that’s sort of my goal when I’m playing Test cricket.”Boland, 36, always speaks like a man on the outside looking in. But right now, he is actually an incumbent in Australia’s Test XI having played in their last Test match in Jamaica in place of Nathan Lyon as part of a four-man pace attack. In fact, he took a Test hat-trick in the last Test over he bowled.And it’s looking increasingly likely that he will retain his spot even though Lyon is set to return for the first Test against England in Perth, with skipper Pat Cummins saying it’s “less likely than likely” he will be fit to play as he continues a slow recovery from a back injury.Boland said he had not spoken to Cummins in several months. But he was not expecting the skipper to miss all five Tests.”Patty’s so resilient,” Boland said. “He can play through a little bit of pain if he has some. Those guys play so much cricket there’s bound to be games where someone misses out. But if Pat happens to not play the first game, we’ve got a pretty handy incoming in at some stage during the summer.”

“I just want to find my rhythm as quick as I can in the game. And sometimes it happens in half a spell. Sometimes it takes a bit longer”Scott Boland

Boland is primed if he is called upon for the first Test. Like a prized race horse ahead of the Melbourne Cup, he seems to have timed his preparation down to the minute. He is pain free and without strapping on his knees for the first time in several years after a block of strength work in the gym following the Caribbean tour. His former Victoria team-mate and now Australia coach Andrew McDonald had challenged him to rethink the way he trained to become even more resilient as he ages.He bowled impressively in the opening Shield game of the summer against South Australia at Adelaide Oval last week and then backed it up with eight wickets at the Junction Oval. But he was frustrated with his performance this week having been far more expensive than usual. He conceded a tick over 4.1 runs per over across 30.4 overs in the match as the New South Wales batters looked to attack him, with Sam Konstas reverse ramping him for six in the second innings.With 0 for 54 to his name from 9.5 overs in the second innings, Atherton’s words felt prescient. But Boland found another gear, snaking a stunning delivery back through the gate to bowl the dangerous Oliver Davies for 64. He took 5 for 13 from his final 35 deliveries, including clattering the stumps twice more, to win the game for his state.”I knew the game was on the line,” Boland said. “I didn’t feel like I’d… not that I’d let the team down, but I hadn’t bowled as well as I wanted to for the whole week.”I just think it’s just a minor thing in my run up. I’m probably just stressing a little bit too much from what I usually do. But I know sometimes that just happens. I just want to find my rhythm as quick as I can in the game. And sometimes it happens in half a spell. Sometimes it takes a bit longer. This game just took a little bit longer, but I still felt like I was able to hang in there enough to bowl some spells when I’m getting wickets for the team.”Scott Boland took eight wickets for Victoria in their last Sheffield Shield game•Getty ImagesHe also showed a rare sign of raw emotion. After knocking over Davies, he charged past him and glared at him with a guttural roar. It was out of character for a man who barely celebrated a Test hat-trick and it caught the eye of veteran New South Wales coach Greg Shipperd.”Yeah, interesting, wasn’t it,” Shipperd said. “I don’t know what might have led up to that, but it’s not the Scotty Boland I know.”Victoria coach Chris Rogers said Boland and Davies had some history and that Davies “likes to give as much as he gets” but Boland played a straight bat.”I was just excited to get a wicket,” Boland said. “I hadn’t got one for a while. But I know we’ve had some good contests. I played an Aussie A game with him last year. Really enjoyed his company. So nice fellow. We had some nice words for each other after the game.”Boland is set to rest from Victoria’s next Shield game against Tasmania but will return for round four against New South Wales at the SCG in a game that is likely to feature Steven Smith, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Lyon.”I’ve got two really good games of work into my body now,” Boland said. “My body’s feeling really good. No issues with any my knees or anything like that that have been little niggles in the past. So I’m really happy with how it’s tracking. It’d be nice to have a few days off now and get some strength back in, because I know that when I’m doing that, my body’s feeling great, and I feel like I can get through as many games as needed for the summer.”

Playing South Africa for the first time, and playing at the new Namibia Cricket Ground for the first time, the hosts won a last-ball thriller

Firdose Moonda11-Oct-2025

Ruben Trumpelmann took three wickets•Cricket Namibia

Namibia made history in more ways than one in the one-off T20I as they inaugurated the new Namibia Cricket ground, played their neighbours South Africa for the first time in any international format, and then beat them in a thriller for good measure.The upset came against a patchwork South Africa side, with most of the first-choice T20I players currently in Pakistan, where they will play a Test starting tomorrow. But Namibia won’t care what kind of South Africa team they earned their first win against. They celebrated in front of a 4000-capacity crowd at the NCG (you read that right), complete with a lap of honour. South Africa are the fourth Full Member to be defeated by Namibia, after Zimbabwe, Ireland and Sri Lanka.On a slow surface and sluggish outfield, batting was tricky for both sides and Namibia had South Africa in trouble at 82 for 6 in the 13th over thanks largely to good catching. South Africa left it late to string partnerships together and their most profitable stand was 37 off 35 balls for the seventh wicket between Jason Smith and Bjorn Fortuin. Smith was the highest scorer with 31.Similarly, Namibia’s innings started badly and they were 84 for 5 in the 13th over. In what was close to an exact mirroring of South Africa’s batting, their seventh-wicket pair put on 37 but off just 21 balls. Zane Green’s unbeaten 30 off 23 balls on his birthday sealed the win.De Kock’s short-lived comebackThe stage was set for one of the most highly anticipated returns in the global game when Donovan Ferreira won the toss and chose to bat with Quinton de Kock carded at No. 1. But his return was short lived. Namibia’s captain Gerhard Erasmus opened the bowling and de Kock brought out the pull first up. He got a single to midwicket, then missed one that went down leg, and then tried to smash it over square leg but miscued to Ruben Trumpelmann, who took a simple catch to end de Kock’s stay at the crease in the opening over. De Kock also returned behind the stumps and took the only chance he had, but it was off a no-ball in the first over of the Namibian chase.Jason Smith top-scored for South Africa with 31•Cricket Namibia

Namibia hold on to everything… until they don’tTrumpelmann’s catch didn’t require much more than being in the right place, but he created more difficult opportunities that his team-mates took. In his first over, Reeza Hendricks tried to hit him over deep square but Malan Kruger sprinted in from the rope to take a tumbling catch and remove Hendricks for 7. By his second over, Rubin Hermann, who looked in good touch for his 23, was rushed by extra bounce as he tried to hit Trumpelmann over deep midwicket. Ben Shikongo claimed a good low catch to give Trumpelmann a second.Debutant Max Heingo had Lhuan-dre Pretorius caught behind off the glove and Ferreira at midwicket before Shikongo was rewarded by smart bowling and smarter hands. He followed Andile Simelane as he backed away to clear mid-off and sent the ball high. Erasmus got the skates on again and took a stunning catch to his left to leave South Africa 82 for 6.Smith and Fortuin steadied things but with only one boundary in 30 balls between the 13th and 18th overs, had to try and force things. Smith tried to hit Heingo over long-on and should have been caught by Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton but he put it down. In the next over, Smith tried to clear him at long-off but again, didn’t have the distance, and JJ Smit took a simple catch.Later in the over, Fortuin offered Smit a similar chance but he shelled it. Namibia finished things off with another catch as Gerald Coetzee tried to go big but found Louren Steenkamp at deep third.Coetzee’s nightmare over ends in injuryCoetzee was brought on first change and made an early impact. He started off too straight and was flicked for four but quickly adjusted his length to Lourens Steenkamp and even surprised him with a bouncer before bowling him. Namibia were 28 for 2 after three overs.But then things started to go wrong for Coetzee. He started his second over with a wide down leg, then got hit for four by Erasmus, and then bowled three more wides. He had his hands on his hips in frustration and the next ball whizzed past Erasmus but avoided the edge.Whatever extra effort Coetzee put into that ball seemed to do some damage and he left the field with three balls remaining in the over. Ferreira completed it and in the end it cost 12 runs. A CSA update said the injury was likely of the pectoral muscle.A fitting finale Namibia stayed in the hunt with contributions from Erasmus (a run-a-ball 21) and Kruger (18 off 21 balls) but South Africa’s attack didn’t let any of them get too far away to set up the perfect finish.Namibia needed 32 runs off the last three overs with four wickets in hand. They took nine runs off the 18th over, with Trumpelmann getting four off an inside edge, and 12 runs off the 19th, as Green started with a lofted cover drive and then ran hard with three twos in the over.That left 11 to get off the final over and Simelane was tasked with defending it. His first ball was short, Green got underneath it and sent it over fine leg for six and then took a single. Trumpelmann ran hard for two and then drew scores level. Green sent the last ball – a low full toss – over midwicket for four to complete the win.