Manchester City are now targeting an “unbelievable” attacking midfielder as a potential replacement for Kevin de Bruyne this summer, according to a report.
Man City searching for De Bruyne replacement
De Bruyne’s 10-year stay at the Etihad Stadium is set to come to an end at the end of the season, with Inter Miami among the potential suitors for the Belgian, which means Pep Guardiola will be tasked with bringing in a replacement in the summer window.
A number of targets have already been identified, and one midfielder Guardiola is particularly fond of is FC Barcelona’s Dani Olmo, with City now willing to launch a £50m move for the Spaniard.
Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Larsson, Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze and Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz are also among the targets, although a move for the latter player could be very expensive, with the German side set to hold out for over £100m.
Bigger talent than De Bruyne: Man City lead race to sign £87m "superstar"
Manchester City have a huge task in replacing Kevin De Bruyne this summer but have wasted no time in the window.
ByEthan Lamb Apr 8, 2025
According to a report from Football Transfers, the Sky Blues remain comfortable financially, but a deal for Wirtz may prove to be out of their budget, given PSR concerns, which means they could make a move for a cheaper alternative.
Lyon’s Rayan Cherki is the player in question, with the 21-year-old set to be available for a fee of just €30m €40m (£26m – £34m), given that his contract is due to expire in 2026, and City are targeting a move.
Rayan Cherki for Lyon.
Lyon need to raise funds, which means Cherki could be sold this summer, and there is a feeling that City could swoop, with Wirtz set to cost as much as €150m (£129m), should the German be available at all, given that he is in advanced contract talks with Leverkusen.
Guardiola could bring in up to five players this summer, with the manager looking to rebuild his squad, and the Lyon star’s availability for a low fee makes him an intriguing option.
"Unbelievable" Cherki likened to Lionel Messi
Lyon are making a late push for the Champions League places, and the attacking midfielder has been key to their success, chalking up a remarkable nine goals and 18 assists in 36 matches in all competitions.
Transfer expert Dean Jones has lauded the young Frenchman as “unbelievable”, while former Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas described him as “comparable to (Lionel) Messi in terms of technical quality.”
Not only that, but the starlet ranks extremely highly across some key attacking metrics over the past year, when compared to other attacking midfielders and wingers.
Statistic
Average per 90
Assists
0.66 (99th percentile)
Shot-creating actions
7.01 (99th percentile)
Progressive passes
9.45 (99th percentile)
Successful take-ons
2.93 (93rd percentile)
Cherki could be available for a fee as low as £26m this summer, and based on his recent performances, a deal in that price range could be an absolute steal.
In a fairytale return to Test cricket, the allrounder demonstrated just how far he has come as a red-ball offspinner
Deivarayan Muthu24-Oct-20241:56
Manjrekar: Small sample but Washington shows promise as Ashwin’s successor
Washington Sundar wasn’t supposed to be in Pune for the second Test against New Zealand. He was supposed to be in Coimbatore with his Tamil Nadu team-mates for the Ranji Trophy. He was not in India’s Test squad three days ago. Before Thursday, he had last played a Test match three-and-a-half years ago. As it turned out, he made a serendipitous return to Test cricket, bagging career-best figures of 7 for 59.”It was all God’s plan,” Washington said.Washington. Pune. God’s plan. Sounds familiar?Related
Shastri: Washington Sundar 'is the future' for India
Washington Sundar: 'I consider myself a top-order batter'
Washington added to India's squad for second and third Tests
Washington's career-best 7 for 59 spins out New Zealand
In 2017, Washington wasn’t supposed to be part of the IPL, but after an injury to R Ashwin, he bowled Steven Smith at a trial with Rising Pune Supergiant, and they picked him to replace the senior offspinner. At 17, Washington emerged as a powerplay specialist in T20 cricket.Seven years later, at the scene of his T20 emergence, Washington showed he could grow into an all-format player. Ravi Shastri certainly saw it coming, telling ESPNcricinfo he would go on to become India’s “premier allrounder across all three formats of the game.”But even Shastri couldn’t have seen Thursday coming.Washington Sundar exactly matched R Ashwin’s career-best Test figures of 7 for 59•AFP/Getty ImagesIt’s fairly unusual for this India team to make additions to their squad in the middle of a home Test series unless there are any concerns around players’ fitness or availability. While there were hints on Tuesday that Washington might play on a low-bounce, black-soil pitch in Pune – he had a long bowling stint alongside Ashwin in the nets – it still felt like a stretch that he would replace Kuldeep Yadav in India’s attack. And no one could have expected him to do that, and then outshine Ashwin.Washington ended up matching Ashwin’s career-best Test figures exactly, with the senior offspinner clapping his potential successor off the field at the end of New Zealand’s innings.At the start of the day, it was all about Ashwin. Midway through the seventh over, bowled by Jasprit Bumrah, Rohit Sharma gestured Ashwin to be ready to bowl. Ashwin got his fifth ball to turn and pin New Zealand captain Tom Latham lbw. Ashwin then had Will Young caught down the leg side with another offbreak that turned. It felt like Ashwin and India were onto something. Fans scrambling for shelter from the sweltering heat quickly filled up the stands.Washington wasn’t having quite the same effect on the Pune crowd, but he was quietly working his way back into Test cricket. There were signs of rust, especially when he bowled short and wide of off stump to Young with the leg side packed with six fielders.Then came the ball to Rachin Ravindra.Washington went wide of the crease from around the wicket and put more revs on the ball, which led first to dip and then turn. There was also inward drift, which led Ravindra to play down the wrong line. The ball slid past the outside edge and hit the top of off, providing a flashback to Ashwin’s dismissals of Alastair Cook in both innings of the 2018 Edgbaston Test.2:47
Washington opens up on Ashwin’s influence
For much of his career, Washington’s bowling has been tuned to the demands of white-ball cricket, and has generally been characterised by pace through the air and flatter trajectories often delivered with undercut. Of late, he has worked on refashioning himself into a more conventional offspinner. After IPL 2024, where he finished with zero wickets and zero runs in all of two games for Sunrisers Hyderabad, he called up S Sriram, the former India and Tamil Nadu allrounder who has worked with Australia and Bangladesh as a spin consultant, for his inputs on how he could become an all-format bowler. Having already worked with Washington at Royal Challengers Bangalore, Sriram suggested a few technical tweaks.”So one thing we spoke about was his run-up speed, you know, just get more energy into his run-up rather than just ambling, and more of overspin,” Sriram, who was following Washington’s spell from Chennai, told ESPNcricinfo. “He had a little bit of a finger issue also recently, so he was recovering from that. So one of the things we spoke about is always going back to that overspin, which gives him more bounce. And overspin is possible only when you have that momentum in the run-up.”If you don’t have momentum in the run-up, it’s very difficult to get that overspin. One of the things we discussed was obviously bounce was his main weapon. And how he can use that to his advantage in both white ball and red-ball cricket.”In his next over, Washington got the ball to drift away from Tom Blundell, then dip and rip through the gate. Washington is usually a man of few emotions, but this wicket meant so much to him that he brought out an animated fist pump. Washington was primarily picked to counter a left-hander-heavy New Zealand line-up. This was evidence that he could pick off the right-handers as well.”I think once he gets that seam angle right and the release right, and with the revs, automatically the drop and the drift takes care of itself,” Sriram said. “He used the shine to get the drift with the right seam angle. And also, if the seam is upright, it drops. Like that Blundell one, it dropped on him a little bit. He went to play with the spin, but the slight drift and drop got the wicket.”Washington then kept hitting the drier, good-length band on the pitch with laser-like precision and kept the stumps in play. He was rewarded with five more wickets in nine overs.Tom Blundell was bowled by Washington on the stroke of tea•BCCI”The first two spells, I think he was settling in,” Sriram said. “He was finding the right pace and also the right sort of rhythm. But once he got those two wickets around tea, his confidence also built up. It just happened so quickly for him, which made it look casual. But it wasn’t that casual.”Gautam Gambhir welcomed Washington back into the dressing room with a round of applause and a big smile. Like Shastri, Gambhir sees an all-format player in Washington. He had trusted him with bowling the Super Over in the Pallekele T20I in July, and Washington responded by bowling India to victory from out of nowhere.Gambhir then promoted Washington up the order to No.4 in the next match – the first ODI in Colombo. He didn’t score too many in that game, but his batting potential is clear: he already has three Test fifties, including match-turning interventions in Brisbane and Ahmedabad, and his Pune call-up came on the back of a Ranji Trophy 152 while batting at No. 3.Sriram is hopeful of Washington coming of age as an allrounder under Gambhir, with whom he worked as an assistant coach at Lucknow Super Giants.”Yeah, I think credit to Gauti also,” Sriram said. “Because I think he always rates him high. Whatever little conversations I’ve had with Gauti in LSG also, he always rated Washy very high. And he is someone, I think, he’ll use him very well as an allrounder. Both with bat and ball, he’ll promote him in certain times with the bat. And he’ll make best use of him with the ball as well and give him the ideal situations where he can succeed in all formats of the game.”Perhaps that, then, is God’s long-term plan.
All the important numbers from India’s emphatic 88-run win over England in Canterbury
Sampath Bandarupalli22-Sep-2022333 for 5 – India’s total in Canterbury is their second-highest in women’s ODIs, behind 358 for 2 that they recorded against Ireland in 2017. It is also the second-highest score by any team against England in this format, second only to Australia’s 356 for 5 in the World Cup final earlier this year.143* – Harmanpreet Kaur’s score in the second ODI is now the highest by an India captain in women’s ODIs. Mithali Raj’s 125* against Sri Lanka in 2018 in Katunayake was the previous best for. Harmanpreet’s score is also the third-highest individual score for India in this format.ESPNcricinfo Ltd1999 – The last instance of India Women winning an ODI series against England in England. India lost all six bilateral series played between the two sides in the country since then.2- India are only the second team to win an ODI series in England in the last 15 years after Australia, who won in 2015 and 2019. England have been victorious in 17 of the 20 bilateral ODI series they have played at home in this period.1 – Harmanpreet’s 143 not out is the highest individual score in an ODI against England in England. Sophie Devine’s 117* in 2018 was the previous highest, while Debbie Hockley and Lizelle Lee also scored 117 against the hosts in 1996 and 2018 respectively.
390.91 – Harmanpreet’s strike rate after she completed her century. She smashed six fours and three sixes off her next 11 balls collecting 43 runs.5 – ODI hundreds for Harmanpreet, the joint second-most by a batter for India Women. Raj leads the list with seven, while Smriti Mandhana also has five centuries. All five of Harmanpreet’s centuries have come batting at No. 4 or lower, joint-most with Nat Sciver.17.75 – The run rate during the 71-run partnership for the sixth wicket between Harmanpreet and Deepti Sharma is the highest for any 50-plus stand in women’s ODIs (where ball-by-ball data is available). The previous highest was 15.75 by Heather Knight and Sciver, when they added 84 off 32 balls against Pakistan in 2016.82 – Runs conceded by Freya Kemp, the second-most by any bowler on debut in women’s ODIs. Ireland’s Cara Murray leaked 119 runs on her debut against New Zealand in 2018, which is also the most runs leaked ever in the format.1 – Kemp’s 82 runs are also the most conceded by an England bowler in a women’s ODI. Lauren Bell, who also conceded 79 runs in this match, recorded England’s second-most expensive spell.
‘Best’ training session, cutting out external noise helps bring back the punch
Hemant Brar26-Oct-20201:16
‘Wish I started playing like this three games ago’ – Ben Stokes
Coming into Sunday’s clash against the Mumbai Indians, Ben Stokes had managed just 110 runs from 103 balls in IPL 2020. He hadn’t hit a single six in the tournament and was struggling for the timing. If Shane Warne, the Rajasthan Royals’ mentor, had his way, Stokes would have been batting at No. 4.The Royals though decided to stick with Stokes as opener. The move finally paid dividends as he made a 196-run chase, against possibly the best bowling attack in the tournament, look like a canter. Their best batsman, Jos Buttler, wasn’t even needed.During his unbeaten 107 off 60 balls, Stokes hit 14 fours and three sixes, and doubled his run-rally for the tournament in just one knock. But before the madness, there was some method to his innings.So far, bowlers had kept Stokes quiet by hitting the hard lengths at the stumps or just outside off, thereby not allowing him any room. Trent Boult too had a similar plan. Except, Stokes had a ready counter. He defended Boult’s first ball bowled, a length delivery on the stumps, but the moment he drifted, Stokes punished him. Boult kept attacking the stumps but the length was too full. Stokes, meanwhile, also started creating room for himself by moving towards the leg side.Later in that over, he backed away, even as Boult followed him and presented the full face of the bat. Whether it was the confidence in his shot, or a streak of arrogance that every maverick carries, or just a sign frustration about how his tournament had gone till then, Stokes didn’t bother looking at the result after hitting the ball. By the time the ball reached the boundary line, he was gearing up for the next ball. No fist-bump with his partner at the other end, no customary gardening on the pitch. Nothing.As he often does after making an impact, Ben Stokes pays tribute to his dad with the folded finger celebration•BCCIInitially, he looked more focused on the timing than power. That isn’t to say the timing didn’t elude him at all. He chipped one over Boult’s head that the chasing mid-off and mid-on fielders couldn’t get to even though Stokes hadn’t middled it. Off the last ball of that over, he again backed away and smashed one through covers. With 16 off six balls, with the help of four boundaries, Stokes was off.One reason to prompt the Royals to open with Stokes could have been his not-so-good record against spin. Since 2018, he had averaged 18.76 and struck at 114.55 against spin. But here two things worked in his favour. Firstly, he was already 20 off nine balls when spin was introduced. Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, both Mumbai Indians spinners – Krunal Pandya, the left-arm orthodox, and Rahul Chahar, the legspinner – were bringing the ball in to Stokes, therefore, making it easier for him to line them up.The Mumbai Indians ensured both Pandya and Chahar bowled their overs with the longer boundary on Stokes’ leg side. But it hardly mattered as he slog-swept Chahar over deep midwicket for his first six off the tournament. He also peppered the shorter boundary by using reverse sweep to great effect against both against Krunal and Chahar.The way Stokes was going also allowed Sanju Samson to get his eye in. With the Royals needing 89 from 48 balls, the madness began. In the next four overs, Stokes and Samson plundered 65 runs, hitting a combined seven fours and three sixes to bring the equation down to a run-a-ball 24.
“I am a bit taken aback by why it has taken me so long to get into the tournament for the team. I would have preferred to get this form two-three games ago when we weren’t relying on other results to get us through to the qualifiers.”Stokes at the post-match presentation
The dew meant the ball was also coming on to the bat much better than it did in the first innings. Only when the bowlers really dug it into the pitch, it caused some difficulty. That, however, was offset by a couple of edgy fours Stokes got through the third man region.”It was sort of bittersweet, to be honest,” Stokes said at the post-match presentation. “I am a bit taken aback by why it has taken me so long to get into the tournament for the team. I would have preferred to get this form two-three games ago when we weren’t relying on other results to get us through to the qualifiers. But it’s always nice to get back into form. But yeah, we are relying on a few other results at the moment. So a bit of bittersweet.”But how did he turn it around?”The training yesterday [Saturday] was the best I have had for the time I have been here. So I came into this game with a bit more confidence than the other games. It was nice to spend some time out in the middle and finish the game off.”Later, when Samson asked him on how he dealt with the ups and downs he has faced as a cricketer in the last couple of years, Stokes said: “Outside noise can affect people in different ways. When I was younger, it affected me. It took me a while to understand that outside noise isn’t what matters. It’s all about what’s within the team and the people who have an influence on you at a certain time in your career. I found the backing from everybody in the [Royals] franchise in the last three years.”I know that I haven’t delivered on the expectations but having the backing from the people that matter in this franchise is really the thing that I sort of pride everything on. So it was good to return a little bit of faith tonight.”
اختار مارسيلو، أسطورة نادي ريال مدريد، لاعبه المفضل في تشكيل الفريق الملكي الحالية، موضحًا أنه كان يعاني من زيادة في وزنه خلال مسيرته.
مارسيلو يعتبر ضمن أفضل اللاعبين في تاريخ ريال مدريد، وقدم الظهير الأيسر عروضًا لا تنسى مع الملكي قبل الرحيل بنهاية موسم 2022 ومن ثم التوقيع مع فلومينينسي.
وقرر مارسيلو في نهاية المطاف وضع حد لمسيرته الكروية واعتزل في وقت سابق من هذا العام.
وأشاد مارسيلو في حوار مع أسطورة ريال مدريد، إيكر كاسياس، والذي نقلته شبكة ”Madridxtra” بنجم ريال مدريد، فينيسيوس جونيور، موضحًا أن الأخير هو لاعبه المفضل في جيل الفريق الملكي الحالي.
وقال مارسيلو عن مواطنه فينيسيوس: “أنا دائمًا أشجع فريقنا الحالي وسعيد لأجلهم، وخاصة فينيسيوس، لأنني رأيته منذ صغره”.
وعن تعرضه للانتقادات، أضاف: ”كنت دائمًا ممتلئ الجسم بعض الشيء، لم أملك عضلات كريستيانو طوال حياتي (يضحك)”.
اقرأ أيضًا .. حقيقة إصابة كامافينجا أمام أتلتيك بلباو
وأوضح: ”عندما تسوء الأمور يقولون إن السبب هو زيادة وزني، كان ذلك طبيعيًا، سألني ابني ذات مرة وقال لي أبي، لماذا أنت ممتلئ الجسم في فيديوهات نهائي دوري أبطال أوروبا؟ ثم أجبته وقلت له هذا الرجل الممتلئ دائمًا ما كان يلعب بنفس الجسم ويفوز بالألقاب ويلعب في النهائيات، وكان حاسمًا فيها (يضحك)”.
وأردف: “كان رفع الكؤوس كقائد من أفضل التجارب، لأنك تتذكر ما كان عليه الحال مع سيرجيو راموس”.
ثم رد كاسياس على مارسيلو، وقال: “أتذكر، لم أحمل الكأس إلا لعشر ثوان”، وعاد مارسيلو ليرد على كاسياس: “كان سيرجيو يأخذها، ويضع عليها وشاحًا”.
كما كشف مارسيلو عن موقف طريف جمعه مع جوزيه مورينيو، مدرب ريال مدريد السابق، حيث أوضح: “لعبت بشكل رائع في هذه المباراة ثم جاءني جوزيه وقال، أنت الأفضل، رائع، ثم عدتُ إلى المنزل وكنت سعيدًا جدًا بكلام مورينيو”.
وأردف: ”في المباراة التالية قدمت أداءًا سيئًا، فقال لي أنت سيء، ماذا تفعل؟ (يضحك)”.
واختتم مارسيلو في حديثه: ”كما تعلم، عندما قال لي ذلك أعجبني كثيرًا، لأنني تعلمت منه الكثير”.
Andrew Flintoff has credited his friend and former team-mate Rob Key for creating the conditions that have allowed the England men’s set-up to flourish under Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum, and says that the team’s positive outlook is a key reason why he wanted to come on board as England Lions head coach.Speaking to the Beard Before Wicket podcast, Flintoff reiterated that Key’s friendship had been a crucial factor in his return to public life, following the horrific car-crash on the set of Top Gear in December 2022.However, it was Key’s vision for English cricket that persuaded Flintoff to make a full return to the sport in a coaching capacity, initially as a consultant for the men’s white-ball squad, and latterly as Lions coach, including for this winter’s tour of Australia, which will run parallel to the main Ashes campaign.The pair have been close friends since their days in the England Under-19 set-up, and Flintoff declared that Key was “England’s best captain never to a captain the side”.”His cricket brain works in a different way to a lot of other people,” he said. “He’s similar to Shane Warne and people like that, they see the game differently.”You’re always going to have your critics. You can go into Wetherspoons down the road, and there’ll be 15 people who know better than Pep Guardiola. Everyone’s got an opinion, but I think he enjoys being the one making the decisions. He loved playing, but by doing this job, he can make an impact, and he wants to do it his way.”I think what they’ve done – himself [Key], Brendon, Stokes, now Harry [Brook]’s taken over in one-day cricket – as a fan, it’s been amazing. The way they play and the players they pick, they seem really good lads from the outside. I suppose that’s one of the reasons I wanted to be involved in this.”English cricket’s going forward. We’re leading the way in a lot of respects, and I want to be a part of that. By doing the Lions, I’m getting a chance to get involved and hopefully bring the next lads through. I’m very much on the same page of what they’re trying to do with England, and I feel fortunate to be a part of it.”England head into this winter’s Ashes with Ben Stokes looking to cement his legacy as captain with a first series win in the country since 2010-11. Flintoff himself captained England to a 5-0 loss in the 2006-07 campaign, and while he recognised there were similarities between the two men as players, he insisted Stokes was on a different level as a leader.”I do see similarities, but as a leader, he’s incredible,” Flintoff said. “I captained England, and I was terrible. I really was. It wasn’t for me, but you see him … he’s got that atmosphere. He’s got that aura.Three lions: Steve Harmison, Rob Key and Andrew Flintoff celebrate England’s 2004 series win against West Indies•Getty Images
“One of the things which I prided myself on as a player was, when the game’s on the line, that’s when the best of me came out. And I see that with Ben. Playing against Zimbabwe in Harare, I’m probably not going to at be my best, you know, but in the big moments, that’s when I came alive, and that’s when Ben does.”Both players have been prone to bowling long, punishing spells as captain – with Flintoff once bowling more than 50 overs in a drawn Test against Sri Lanka in 2006.”I just ran myself into the ground,” he said. “I’ve seen him do that a little bit as well, but Ben’s got Baz and good people around him, just to save him from himself. I never had that.”Elsewhere in the interview, Flintoff recalled how Key had helped to coax him back into the public domain, first by inviting to attend the 2023 Ashes series in a private capacity, and then by offering him a chance to work behind the scenes with England’s squads.He admitted that he had been “bricking it” prior to his first involvement with the men’s squad, for their white-ball series against New Zealand in September 2023, at which stage he had still not been seen in public since his crash.However, the welcome he received from the squad reminded Flintoff that “actually, this is this is where I want to be, this is where I feel comfortable”.”Cricket did save me,” he added. “It got me out of the house, and it got me focused on something, but more importantly, surrounded by people who have got something in common. I genuinely love it. I love the culture. It’s so much fun.”
Watching Tottenham Hotspur’s 4-1 defeat to their bitter rivals in the Premier League on Sunday made it clear where Thomas Frank’s priorities need to be moving forward.
Whilst you could look at that loss and suggest that they need to improve defensively, which would be a fair comment after they conceded four goals, it is in possession where they really need to improve.
xG
11.0
17th
Non-penalty xG
11.0
16th
Progressive passes
413
12th
Shots
110
19th
Shots on target
40
15th
Average shot distance
15.6 yards
17th
As you can see in the table above, Spurs are one of the worst teams in the Premier League at progressing play with passes, creating shooting opportunities, and creating high-quality chances.
The Lilywhites ended the match against Arsenal with three shots on goal and 0.07 xG, per Sofascore, with their goal coming from Richarlison’s stunning long-range lob over David Raya.
Tottenham’s struggles at the top end of the pitch explain why the club are reportedly considering a move to sign Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo.
The Ghana international has a £65m release clause that can be activated at the start of the January transfer window, and Spurs are one of the teams vying for his signature.
How Antoine Semenyo could solve Tottenham's attacking problems
Whilst a lot of Tottenham’s problems could come down to coaching issues, with how players are asked to play, the team selections, and the patterns that are or are not coached in training, having a top talent in the final third can make up for some coaching problems.
Semenyo is the kind of forward who can create things for himself with his incredible speed, power, ball control, and ability in front of goal when he gets near the opposition’s box.
The former Bristol City striker’s goal against Liverpool at Anfield earlier this season is the perfect example of the kind of quality that he could bring to North London in the second half of the campaign.
With Tottenham’s lack of progressive passing and high-quality chances this season, having a player who has runs and goals like that in his locker would be invaluable for Frank.
That strike against Liverpool was also not a flash in the pan for the versatile attacker, who can play out wide or through the middle, because he has been in impressive form in the Premier League this term.
xG
4.58
Top 1%
Goals
6
Top 1%
Shots
23
Top 10%
Shots on target
14
Top 1%
Assists
3
Top 6%
Successful dribbles
21
Top 5%
Touches in the opposition’s box
45
Top 12%
As you can see in the table above, Semenyo has been one of the most productive wingers in the division for Bournemouth this season, with more goals than any other winger in the league.
These statistics, and the nature of his goal against Liverpool in particular, suggest that signing the Cherries star would go a long way to solving some of the attacking issues that Frank’s side have.
Therefore, Spurs should push hard to win the race for his services by activating his release clause at the start of the January transfer window and trying their hardest to convince him that a move to North London is the best next step in his career.
£65m, though, would make him the club’s joint-record signing alongside Dominic Solanke, who also came from Bournemouth, so it would take a big financial commitment from the Lilywhites.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
In order to make a move for the 25-year-old star viable, sporting director Fabio Paratici should look to ruthlessly sell some of the club’s current players to fund a transfer for Semenyo.
One of the sellable assets who should be cashed in on by Paratici to create funds for a swoop for the Cherries sensation in January is right-back Pedro Porro.
Why Spurs should sell Pedro Porro
Ahead of the summer transfer window, CaughtOffside reported that the Spain international was attracting interest from Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and Manchester City.
It was claimed that Spurs were not interested in selling the full-back at the time, which was in May, but that they would have changed their tune if an offer of around £57m came across their desk.
Whilst Porro ultimately remained in North London, that report in the summer shows that there are some top clubs across Europe who would be interested in him if he became available, although it remains to be seen if any of them would pay the £57m price tag.
The Spaniard attracted interest from those teams after a return of four goals and nine assists in 51 appearances in all competitions for Spurs in the 2024/25 campaign, per Sofascore, but his form this season has left a lot to be desired.
Polish journalist Michał Okoński described his crosses into the box as a “disaster” earlier this month, and it is hard to disagree with that assessment when you consider that he has lost possession 222 times and delivered one assist in 12 Premier League games, per Sofascore.
Appearances
33
12
Possession lost per game
17.5
18.5
Key passes per game
1.7
1.2
Big chances created
10
2
Assists
6
1
Pass accuracy
76%
73%
Cross accuracy
31%
17%
As you can see in the table above, the Spain international’s use of the ball has regressed since the end of the 2024/25 campaign. He is currently giving the ball away more frequently whilst creating less for his team.
Porro has been far too wasteful with the ball at his feet at right-back for Tottenham. That is evident in his regressing creative stats, but it is also evident in that he has made four errors leading to shots for the opposition in the Premier League, twice as many as he made in 33 matches last season.
As well as his struggles on the ball, the former Sporting star has gone from averaging 3.1 tackles and interceptions per game last season in the Premier League to averaging just 1.7 per match in the current campaign, per Sofascore.
These statistics show that Porro has regressed in and out of possession at right-back for the Lilywhites, which is why it could be the right time for Paratici to cash in on him in January, amid interest from City, Barcelona, and Bayern, to avoid his value dwindling if his form does not improve.
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Whilst it remains to be seen how much teams would be willing to pay for him, any fee in the region of the quoted £57m would go a long way to funding a deal for Semenyo, who has a £65m release clause.
When Celtic return to action on 22 November for a rare Saturday night extravaganza against St Mirren, who will be sat in the away dugout in Paisley?
Well, interim manager Martin O’Neill has done a pretty good job since being parachuted in following Brendan Rodgers’ shock resignation, winning both Premiership matches 4-0, with goals from Johnny Kenny, Kieran Tierney, Daizen Maeda and Arne Engels downing Kilmarnock on Sunday.
Now, as we head into an international break, the Celtic board are surely intensifying their search for a permanent head coach, with last Thursday’s 3-1 Europa League hammering at the hands of Midtjylland perhaps underlining O’Neill’s shortcomings.
So, which of the leading candidates for the Parkhead hot seat should they prioritise appointing?
What Wilfried Nancy would bring to Celtic
In recent days, the surprise, left-field candidate who has emerged for the Celtic job is Wilfried Nancy.
The 48-year-old’s entire coaching career, to date, has come in North America, his first managerial role coming in 2021, succeeding Thierry Henry as CF Montréal head coach.
With the Impact, who are one of the lowest spending teams in Major League Soccer, Nancy miraculously led them to second in the Eastern Conference in 2022, thereby third in the overall standings, having also won the Canadian Championship the year before.
Manager Focus
However, he has seriously made a name for himself since joining Columbus Crew.
Since swapping Québec for Ohio, Nancy has enjoyed huge success in charge of the Black and Gold, winning MLS Cup in his first season and then Leagues Cup in 2024, also leading the Crew to their first-ever CONCACAF Champions Cup Final, ousting two Mexican juggernauts en route, ultimately beaten 3-0 by Pachuca in the final.
At the weekend, Columbus’ 2025 campaign came to an end, dumped out of the MLS play-offs by Hell is Real rivals FC Cincinnati, which may mean Nancy is more available now than he would have been a week ago.
This though should not denigrate what Nancy has achieved in Columbus.
Joe Lowery believes he is the most talented coach in MLS history, describing the Crew’s “patient possession” play as “so much fun to watch”, but does this mean the Frenchman would succeed in Glasgow?
Well, the step from Major League Soccer to top-level European football is massive.
Other coaches such as Gerhard Struber, Jaap Stam, Raphaël Wicky, Bob Bradley and Patrick Vieira, who have made the jump, have often struggled to make their mark at the top level, meaning it is impossible to tell if the 2024 coach of the year would fare any better.
So, who knows, appointing Nancy would certainly be a massive risk, so is there another manager already operating at the top level in Europe the Celts should chase first?
Who should be Celtic's first choice to replace Martin O'Neill
Given the current economic climate in European football, it is increasingly difficult for clubs outside Europe’s big five leagues to compete, a reality Celtic supporters experience every season, despite the fact their side have won 13 of the last 14 Premiership titles.
Well, a club who have continued to punch above their weight are Bodø/Glimt, hence why, as reported by Sky Sports, Celtic’s managerial shortlist features Kjetil Knutsen, with the report outlining that he still remains among their lengthy list of targets.
The 57-year-old has been in charge of the Yellow Horde since 2018, when they were still a second-tier outfit, but has transformed them into Norway’s dominant force.
Bodø/Glimt, who had never won the league before, have picked up four of the last five Eliteserien titles, including setting the league’s single-season points record of 81.
With two matches remaining of this campaign, which concludes on 30 November, they are second, one point below Viking, who are seeking their first title since 1991, but the race will go down to the wire.
This domestic domination has given Bødo/Glimt a platform on which to shine in Europe, which is where their most eye-catching results have come.
Bodø/Glimt European record 21/22-present
Season
Competition
Outcome
2021/22
Conference League
Quarter-finals
2022/23
Europa League
Group stages
2023/24
Conference League
Knockout stages
2024/25
Europa League
Semi-finals
2025/26
Champions League
League phase
Info via Transfermarkt
As the table documents, Bodø/Glimt have been European regulars over the last five seasons, most notably reaching the Conference League quarter-finals and last season’s Europa League semi-finals, before qualifying for the Champions League proper for the first time ever earlier this year, smashing Sturm Graz in the play-off round.
These are performances Celtic can only dream of, considering the Hoops have not won a European knockout tie since 2004, one of their numerous defeats coming at the hands of Bodø/Glimt in February 2022, Knutsen’s team demolishing Postecoglou’s side 5-1 on aggregate.
The Norwegian champions have also enjoyed noteworthy victories over Roma, Beşiktaş, Crvena zvezda, Porto, Olympiacos and Lazio, while they have lost only seven of their last 38 European home matches, winning 29 of them, making Aspmyra the fortress that Celtic Park yearns to become once more.
Looking at Knutsen specifically, across his 351 matches in charge, he has always deployed an attacking 4-3-3, with width provided by adventurous full-backs, allowing wingers, including current star Jens Petter Hauge, to drift inside and score goals.
Former Norway international Jan Åge Fjørtoft praised Knutsen’s “clear philosophy” and “attractive” style of play, forecasting that he is destined to land one of the biggest jobs in European football.
So, as Celtic aspire to be as competitive on the continent as Bodø/Glimt have become, Knutsen would be a statement appointment, surely one an entire divided fan base could get behind.
Nancy has his own credentials, but it is Knutsen who might just be the ideal pick.
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Superchargers join Invincibles on 20 points, both vying for direct qualification to the final
ECB Media23-Aug-2025
Harry Brook led the way with 56•ECB/Getty Images
Northern Superchargers 198 for 4 (Brook 56, Crawley 49) beat Oval Invincibles 182 for 7 (Ferreira 41, Lawes 2-22) by 16 runsThe blockbuster tie at Headingley between the Hundred’s top two saw Northern Superchargers overcome the Oval Invincibles with a spectacular six-hitting blitz from Harry Brook and Zak Crawley.In a competition which has tended to favour teams who chase, the Superchargers bucked the trend, going hard immediately to set an ultimately insurmountable target. Crawley was irresistible, smacking three maximums and five fours in his 25-ball stay, only miscuing a Nathan Sowter legbreak to long-off with a fifty at his mercy.He dominated an opening stand of 76 with Dawid Malan, the two yet again complementing each other beautifully to careen to 49 from the Powerplay, before Brook took over the latter stages with another display of outrageous strokeplay, with a one-handed scythe for six over the deep-third boundary one of five sixes struck from his 27 balls at the crease.Brook tumbles across to scoop•ECB/Getty Images
Sowter was the pick of the Invincibles bowlers, going for just 29 from his 20, but the Curran brothers, Tom and Sam, were treated mercilessly, giving up 83 runs between them from just 35 balls.In reply, Will Jacks and Tawanda Muyeye got off to a flyer, but when Jacks miscued a leg-side flick to be caught on the offside for an 11-ball 25, giving Jacob Duffy the first of his two wickets, the game shifted back to the home side.The combination of Jordan Cox, one of the breakout stars of this year’s competition, and Sam Curran briefly threatened another extraordinary heist. But when Cox was outfoxed by Tom Lawes to hole out in the deep for 24 and Curran edged Matthew Potts to Michael Pepper, the task became impossible. Even a violent 15-ball 41 from the big-hitting Donovan Ferreira was not enough.Tellingly, Ferreira’s four sixes made up half of the Invincibles’ total tally of maximums, against 14 struck by the Superchargers – which also featured a hat-trick of sixes from David Miller in the final set of five. In a game of monstrous hitting, the home side prevailed to take a statement win.”I thought the boys batted beautifully on a good pitch with a fast outfield, and to get a score near enough to 200 was the perfect start to the first innings,” Brook said. “I’m not one – and the team isn’t one – for searching for scores, we assess the conditions as quick as possible and try and communicate off the field what we think is the best score.”I thought our bowlers did a great job there. We were a bit unlucky at times, but they toiled really well there. It’s a beautiful win tonight and we’re happy with the momentum we can take into the next game.”
Aston Villa have now overtaken Liverpool in the race to sign an “outstanding” new defender, with Newcastle United also keen.
Villa still keen on new additions amid uptick in form
Villa endured a slow start to the Premier League season, with the 3-0 home defeat against Crystal Palace likely to be considered a low point, but they have really managed to turn things around over the past few weeks.
Indeed, the Villans have now won five matches on the spin in all competitions, most recently defeating Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 on the road, courtesy of a first-half stunner from Morgan Rogers, which was followed up by a winner from Emi Buenda with a little under 15 minutes remaining.
Unai Emery will be very pleased about the recent uptick in form, which has seen his side rise to 11th in the Premier League table, but the manager clearly still feels a fresh injection of quality is needed, with a new centre-back of interest.
That is according to a report from Caught Offside, which states Aston Villa have now overtaken Liverpool in the race for Club Brugge defender Joel Ordonez, given that Arne Slot’s side have recently decided to cool their interest.
Alongside Villa, Newcastle are also credited with a strong interest in the defender, but the Premier League sides may need to shell out a relatively high fee to get a deal over the line, with it being revealed he could command a fee of around €50m (£43m).
Both English sides should be well-positioned to get a deal done, however, with it previously being revealed that Ordonez is keen on a move to the Premier League.
"Outstanding" Ordonez could excel at Villa Park
Lauded as an “outstanding young footballer” by journalist Graeme Bailey, the Ecuadorian is a key player for Club Brugge, having made ten appearances in all competitions this season, during which time he has put in some eye-catching performances.
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One of the 21-year-old’s best displays actually came in the Champions League, which is an encouraging sign, with the youngster making a number of important defensive contributions to keep AS Monaco at bay and help his side secure a comfortable 4-1 win last month.
Statistic
Number completed
Duels (won)
6 (5)
Clearances
4
Tackles
3
Scout Ben Mattinson has hailed the Brugge star for his ability in possession too, describing him “secure on the ball”, while also adding he “anticipates well” and “has the pace to recover”.
Villa’s defence has not been a major problem this season, having shipped just eight goals in eight Premier League games, but there are plenty of signs that Ordonez could be a solid long-term addition to Emery’s backline.