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MatériaMais Notícias

Técnico do Grêmio, Renato Gaúcho ficou ilhado no hotel em que mora em Porto Alegre, no Rio Grande do Sul, por conta das chuvas que afetam a região. No entanto, o comandante foi resgatado em um vídeo publicado por Carol Portaluppi, filha do ex-jogador.

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

– Estou postando aqui meu pais, porque eu estava tão angustiada que não queria compartilhar com vocês o que eu estava sentindo! Deus, obrigada, não estou em contato com ele porque ele está sem telefone – disse Carol em uma de suas redes sociais.

No último domingo (5), o treinador do Imortal estava sem energia e com pouca bateria no celular, o que dificultou sua comunicação com outras pessoas. No entanto, o profissional está bem apesar do susto vivido.

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Devido as fortes chuvas que atingem o Rio Grande do Sul, Grêmio, Internacional e Juventude não disputaram a última rodada do Brasileirão. Além disso, as equipes tiveram seus confrontos da Copa do Brasil adiados.

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Porto AlegreRenato Gaúcho

Sunderland are now keen on a January move for an “unreal” defender and could make a £12m approach for his services.

Black Cats looking to strengthen this winter

The Black Cats have fared very well upon their return to the Premier League, currently sitting just three points off the Champions League places, and 10 clear of the bottom three, but they are not out of the woods just yet.

With only 15 games played, Regis Le Bris will be well-aware there is still a long way to go, and some January additions could strengthen his side’s chances of preserving their Premier League status, or perhaps even making a surprise push for Europe.

Although the Mackems have had some tough matches in recent weeks, taking on Arsenal in November, before facing reigning champions Liverpool and title contenders Manchester City, they have looked a little more shaky defensively.

Nine of the 17 goals Sunderland have conceded in the Premier League this season have come in the last five matches, most recently suffering a 3-0 defeat at the Etihad Stadium, and they are now keen on signing a new centre-back.

That is according to a report from Calciomercato (via Sport Witness), which states the Black Cats are still interested in signing Bologna defender Jhon Lucumi, after submitting a €28m (£24m) bid for his services during the summer.

Having maintained their interest, the 2024-25 Championship play-off final winners could make an approach at half the price during the upcoming transfer window, with a €14m (£12m) bid on the cards.

Lucumi is out of contract with the Italian club in 2027, and with Bologna struggling to tie him down to a new deal, the defender’s future is up in the air heading into the January transfer window.

"Unreal" Lucumi could be bargain signing at £12m

It would be a steal if Sunderland were able to sign the centre-back at the heavily discounted rate of just £12m, given just how impressive he has been in Italy, being lauded as “unreal” by journalist Ethan Todd courtesy of his performances across the three previous campaigns.

Sunderland now eyeing move to sign midfield ace who Chelsea wanted to sign

Regis Le Bris could hold one key advantage.

By
Tom Cunningham

Dec 7, 2025

Not only has the 27-year-old put in some solid performances in the Serie A, but he has also established himself at international level, picking up 34 caps for Colombia, most recently helping his side pick up a clean sheet in a 3-0 win against Australia.

The Bologna star is comfortable with the ball, while he is also strong at winning back possession, as showcased by his performance across some key statistics over the past year, when compared to other centre-backs.

Sunderland are already in a strong position to avoid the drop, but they would be boosting their survival chances even further if they were able to sign Lucumi next month.

Not that it wasn’t before the short-lived return of Cristiano Ronaldo to Manchester United, but the centre-forward berth has been an even bigger problem in the years since.

Indeed, the 2022/23 season saw Anthony Martial score just nine times in all competitions, including just six in the Premier League, while January arrival Wout Weghorst netted just twice following his surprise switch from Burnley.

The following campaign saw an injury-hit Martial score just twice himself in all competitions, while new man Rasmus Hojlund did fire 16 times, albeit with just ten of those coming in the league.

Hojlund then followed that up with ten goals across all fronts last term, with just four of those coming in the top-flight. £36.5m arrival Joshua Zirkzee, meanwhile, netted seven times, of which only three were in the league.

The fact of the matter is, United simply don’t have a proven goalscorer to rely upon, with the recent defeat to Everton highlighting why that man Zirkzee – who hasn’t scored a league goal for almost a year – just isn’t the solution.

The latest on Joshua Zirkzee's future

In the absence of Benjamin Sesko – who himself has scored only twice following his £74m switch from RB Leipzig – it was Zirkzee who got the nod against the Toffees, having featured for just 90 minutes in total all season prior to that.

Rusty or not on his first start of 2025/26, the Dutchman looked painfully out of his depth at times, so at odds with the rampant speed and physicality of Premier League football.

There were moments of quality, including two well-guided headers and an inviting cross across the box, but the 24-year-old was largely ineffective up against the wily James Tarkowski, notably losing the ball 12 times from just 35 touches.

Provided a rare opportunity to flourish, the former Bologna man showcased just why he has been a bystander to proceedings for much of the campaign so far, further throwing into doubt his long-term future at Old Trafford.

Indeed, the latest reports have suggested that the 6 foot 4 enigma might have already said yes to joining AS Roma on an initial loan deal in January, having previously been named Serie A’s Young Player of the Year back in 2023/24.

While United’s options in attack will be limited even further by Amad and Bryan Mbeumo’s upcoming AFCON commitments, it would not be a surprise for Zirkzee to depart upon their return in the New Year, with seven goals in 55 total games for the club making for grim reading for any centre-forward.

There is a talent in there, with his fleet of foot and silky touch sparking comparisons to a figure like Dimitar Berbatov, although in United’s current period of flux under Ruben Amorim, they desperately need an out-and-out goalscorer.

Thankfully, INEOS have already signed one.

Man Utd's "homegrown Osimhen" can replace Zirkzee

With Sesko and Matheus Cunha both sidelined, it was stark how little attacking depth United had in reserve, with Mason Mount the only real senior forward for Amorim to turn to on the bench.

While 18-year-old starlet Shea Lacey was featured in the matchday squad, there were eyebrows raised at the decision to overlook his academy colleague, Chido Obi, with Zirkzee ultimately playing the full 90 minutes.

Obi was parachuted into the first-team set-up as a drastic measure last season, amid United’s injury crisis, having made eight senior appearances in total 2024/25, albeit without scoring.

Frustratingly for the 17-year-old – who did score on the post-season tour against Hong Kong – he hasn’t been seen since in the senior set-up, with Amorim suggesting that he had been promoted “too soon” last term.

There’s no denying that Obi did look raw, not least on his solitary start against Brentford, but he also showed flashes of his undeniable talent, having come close to converting from the angle in the FA Cup clash with Fulham at Old Trafford.

Signed from Arsenal in the summer for 2024, the free-scoring forward has ripped it up at youth level in recent times, scoring 32 times in just 21 U18 games for the Gunners, as per Transfermarkt, while following that up with 12 goals in ten U18 games for United.

With five goals in 13 this term in the age group above, Obi is again showing just why he deserves a second chance under Amorim, with the teenager representing the orthodox centre-forward option that Zirkzee simply isn’t.

Described as a “homegrown Osimhen” by Arsenal content creator Will Balsam, the Danish youth international might be the perfect understudy to Sesko, rather than Zirkzee, with Amorim’s set-up demanding a more mobile, dynamic option to run the channels.

Of course, Amorim is wise to be careful with the development of such a talent, but at a time when a string of centre-forward signings haven’t worked out, why not dip into Carrington again?

Not Lammens: Man Utd flop is becoming their biggest liability since Onana

Manchester United have a player who has massively failed to deliver at Old Trafford since his transfer.

1

By
Ethan Lamb

Nov 27, 2025

A legal settlement has been reached related to the disruptions at the 2024 Copa América final, with organizers and venue operators agreeing to pay $14 million to fans affected by access and safety issues at Hard Rock Stadium. The class action was filed after security problems prevented some ticket holders from entering the venue and created unsafe conditions for others inside.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Settlement provides compensation for fans

  A settlement has reportedly been reached in the class action lawsuit filed by fans following the 2024 Copa América final between Argentina and Colombia at Hard Rock Stadium. The lawsuit cited access and safety issues that left some ticket holders unable to enter the venue and prompted others to leave early. ESPN reported that affected fans are expected to make up the majority of claimants.

  CONMEBOL, CONCACAF, Best Security, and South Florida Stadium LLC – the owner and operator of Hard Rock Stadium – were named as defendants. Under the terms of the agreement, the defendants will collectively contribute more than $14 million to a compensation fund for eligible fans, with the final payout dependent on the number of claims submitted.

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• Chaotic scenes at Hard Rock Stadium

  The July 14, 2024, final was delayed for roughly 82 minutes after large numbers of ticketless individuals attempted to enter Hard Rock Stadium, prompting a security lockdown and the later reopening of gates to reduce crowding outside the venue. Authorities reported multiple arrests and ejections, and Miami-Dade Fire Rescue responded to numerous medical incidents at the stadium.

  As a result of the disruptions, many paying ticket holders were unable to enter or chose to leave early, and those individuals are expected to make up the majority of claims under the settlement.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Liability, damages and more

  Under the settlement terms reviewed by reporters, eligible claimants will fall into two main categories. Fans who were denied entry may seek up to $2,000 each to cover ticket costs, with an additional allowance of up to $300 for travel expenses if the ticket value was below the cap.

  A secondary category covers patrons who were denied full access to stadium facilities or services, such as concessions and merchandise, with awards capped at $100 per person. The final total paid out will depend on the volume of claims submitted against the roughly $14 million fund.

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• Looking ahead

  The settlement outlines how fans affected by the access and safety issues at the 2024 Copa América final can seek compensation. Hard Rock Stadium is also scheduled to host matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup next year.

Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris admitted to making a sly tactical tweak to try and prevent Arsenal's long throws. It was one of those epic Premier League encounters that saw Arsenal’s title charge momentarily halted by the fearless Black Cats, who matched the intensity of their more illustrious rivals in every department and also employed some unusual help.

• A thrilling night at the Stadium of Light

  Dan Ballard gave Sunderland a surprise lead midway through the first half. He headed home from close range after Arsenal failed to clear a corner. It was absolutely deserving for the hosts to have their noses in front after a spell of intense pressure that rattled Mikel Arteta’s men. 

  Arsenal regrouped after the interval and eventually found their rhythm as they pinned Sunderland back. Bukayo Saka drew the visitors level with a poacher’s finish in the 54th minute, and 20 minutes later, Leandro Trossard produced a moment of brilliance by curling a stunning strike into the top corner to give Arsenal a 2-1 lead. At that point, it looked like the league leaders would grind out yet another comeback win. However, Sunderland had other ideas. In the fourth minute of stoppage time, Ballard flicked on a hopeful long throw into the Arsenal area. Fortunately, it fell for Brian Brobbey, who contorted his body mid-air to steer a bicycle kick past the onrushing David Raya. The excitement hit the roof as the Dutch striker had secured a point for Sunderland out of nowhere, as Arteta looked on in despair. 

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Le Bris spills the beans

  After the game, Le Bris revealed that the Black Cats had moved the advertising boards closer to the touchline before kick-off. This drastically cut down the run-up space that Arsenal’s players use to hurl the ball deep into the penalty area from a throw-in. Hence, the Gunners were robbed of one of their growing set-piece weapons. And, as it turned out, the tactic actually worked. Arsenal had limited potency in their aerial assaults and failed to take advantage of their usual dominance from throw-ins. After the game, Le Bris could barely hide his satisfaction when asked about the subtle act of gamesmanship.

  He told BBC Sport when quizzed about the hoardings: "Yeah, we tried to find the details to win the game. They are really strong on set-pieces, and we were good as well. It was absolutely obvious this threat was really important for this game, and in the end, it was balanced."

  For Le Bris, the result was a validation of his team’s belief: "The lads worked hard to the end. They believed it was possible to change the dynamic. It was a tough game, as we expected. They are probably one of the best teams in Europe. We struggled, but we still believed it was possible to score one more goal. Our fans helped a lot. We showed before that it was possible [to score late goals], so now we have this faith, this belief that until the final whistle, anything is possible. We were on the edge sometimes, but we’re a new squad, we’re young. We felt their pressure, their intensity. We felt the quality. We were on the edge during the second half."

• Arteta was frustrated but proud

  Arteta was visibly frustrated after the final whistle. Arsenal had dominated large stretches of the match and appeared poised to claim another victory before Brobbey’s late strike.

  "Really tough test, we knew that. The way they set up, credit to them because they made it difficult for you," he said.

  "They take the game constantly to the areas that they want. You have to deal with that and very unfortunately, at the end, we conceded a goal. The time that was added tells you the story of the game. It's normal, each team tries to do their best and we do the same. Yeah, it is two direct balls and we lose the flicks – it is the same action. Credit to the opposition, it is not the first time they've done it. They committed a lot of players forward at the end with Ballard and created chaos – in any moment they can score a goal. That is the reason they are where they are."

  Yet, Arteta lavished praise on his players for their efforts and said, "So overall, we’re disappointed with the result, but so proud of the players because putting into perspective what they’ve done in the last 10 games, winning all of them with the amount of clean sheets that they had, with seven players injured."

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  A history of smart tactics

  Interestingly, this wasn’t the first time Sunderland have used this advertising-board trick, as they reportedly employed the same tactic during last season’s Championship play-off clash against Coventry City. It worked then, too. Sunderland went on to beat Coventry and later Sheffield United, sealing promotion to the Premier League. Next up, Sunderland face a tricky trip to Fulham, while Arsenal prepare for the north London showdown with Tottenham after the international break.

Having already enjoyed great success by signing players from Old Trafford, Napoli are now reportedly working on a 2026 deal for yet another Manchester United ace.

Hojlund thriving at Napoli

It’s a rotten case of de ja vu for Man United, but the reality is that one of their struggling players is once again thriving at Napoli.

Last season, it was Scott McTominay, who even earned himself a Ballon d’Or nomination, and this time around it’s Rasmus Hojlund, who’s found his golden touch away from Manchester.

The Dane has been in electric form since joining Napoli, whilst United’s big-money signing Benjamin Sesko is only gradually beginning to find his feet after scoring two goals in his last two games.

Speaking about the £66m man, Ruben Amorim told reporters after he scored in a comfortable victory over Sunderland last time out:

“The most important thing is to win games.

Amorim loves him: Man Utd now readying January offer to sign £50m+ midfielder

Amorim could get his man…

ByTom Cunningham Oct 11, 2025

“That will give confidence for everybody in the team. Of course, he was anxious for his first goal. The thing I like most in Ben is, even when things are hard for him with the ball, he is working hard in every minute of the game. That is the most important thing in the moment.”

Although Hojlund’s sudden burst of form may look frustrating from afar, United should be more than happy with Sesko’s start. Napoli, meanwhile, don’t look likely to go away anytime soon. Reports are now suggesting that the Italian giants are already working on a 2026 deal to sign another Man United star.

Napoli already working on Mainoo deal

According to Italian journalist Emanuele Cammaroto, Napoli are already working on signing Mainoo in the January transfer window and are waiting to see if the midfielder is available to complete a loan move.

“The strong temptation is to sign Mainoo,” the reporter told Napolimagazine live on Radio Punto Zero, via Area Napoli.

“But there we need to understand whether United are open to a loan with an option to buy. The parties are working on it.”

The Carrington graduate was very open about his desire to leave on loan in the summer, only for Amorim to deny him that chance and instead tell him to fight for his place. Since then, though, Mainoo has not started a single Premier League game.

Previously dubbed “special” by Paul Scholes, the 20-year-old will be desperate for the game time that Napoli could offer him. He, like everyone else, would have noticed their impact on Hojlund and McTominay and may want to follow suit in the new year.

That said, former Man United scout Mick Brown still has faith that Mainoo is being readied to replace Bruno Fernandes if he leaves for Saudi Arabia in the near future.

He told Football Insider: “It seems to me like Mainoo is being lined up as the perfect choice to step into his place, because the manager has been clear that he sees them as competition for the same role.”

Aston Villa have now opened talks with the agents of a goalkeeper, who’s in red-hot form, amid doubts surrounding Emiliano Martinez’s future.

Martinez's Villa future up in the air after failed Man Utd move

Martinez was widely expected to leave Villa in the summer, with it being revealed that he wanted to join Manchester United, but the Argentina international ultimately ended up staying put, and has since been reintroduced to the squad.

Indeed, the 33-year-old, who is regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the world, has started the last four Premier League matches, during which time the Villans are undefeated, having won their last four games on the spin in all competitions.

However, the goalkeeper’s future remains up in the air, with Ruben Amorim personally requesting that Man United sign him in the January transfer window, which means Unai Emery may be tasked with bringing in a replacement.

According to a report from WinWin (via Sports View), Aston Villa have now made their first approach to sign a new goalkeeper, having opened talks with the agents of AS Monaco goalkeeper Yanis Benchaouch-Marty.

Villa are making contingency plans, in case Martinez departs next summer, and Benchaouch-Marty has caught their eye, having recently impressed for national side Morocco, guiding them to the semi-finals of the Under-20 World Cup following a fantastic display against South Korea.

Emery’s side are expected to make moves to sign the 19-year-old once the tournament ends, with Morocco U20s set to take on France U20s in the semi-final this evening.

Aston Villa set to make January approach for £52m Champions League "monster"

Villa are expected to make a move for a “freak athlete”.

ByDominic Lund Oct 14, 2025 Benchaouch-Marty could be long-term Martinez heir

The AS Monaco youngster has certainly put himself in the shop window with some of his performances at the U20 World Cup, perhaps most notably putting in a fantastic display in Morocco’s statement 2-1 victory against Brazil.

The Moroccan came very close to keeping a clean sheet, with Brazil scoring a 92nd-minute penalty, which ultimately ended up being nothing more than a consolation, but he still achieved a 8.6 SofaScore match rating, the highest of any player on the pitch.

Statistic

Number completed

Saves from inside the box

4

High claims

1

Long balls (accurate)

12 (7)

Accurate passes

32/37 (86%)

The teenager is showing signs he could be a long-term heir for Martinez, but the young goalkeeper is clearly still in the infancy of his career, given that he is still yet to make a senior appearance for AS Monaco.

As such, Emery will be hoping his current first-choice goalkeeper sticks round a little while longer, potentially as a mentor for Benchaouch-Marty, and Villa are currently under no pressure to cash-in, with Martinez under contract until the summer of 2029.

Manchester City are rebuilding, and while Pep Guardiola’s current iteration of talent isn’t quite as complete and devastating as years past, there’s a sense this team might be capable of challenging for a slice of silverware or two this term.

It’s been a stop-start few months in the Premier League, but City have claimed ten points from 12 and their 15-goal haul after seven matches eclipses every other side in the division.

Erling Haaland’s brilliance cannot be put into words, and Gianluigi Donnarumma has been immense between the sticks so far. Pep’s team is populated with talented individuals, and there’s enough there to make this a special year.

However, Rodri remains a way below full fitness after his long-term anterior cruciate ligament injury at the start of last season, having been forced off at the weekend, a number of setbacks inflcited on him already.

Rodri's Man City future

Rodri is 29 and has been at Man City since arriving from Atletico Madrid for a club-record £63m fee in 2019. He has bloomed over the years and become one of the greatest midfielders of his generation and a pillar of Pep’s legacy. In 2024, he was the Men’s Ballon d’Or winner.

He hasn’t been at his best so far this season, and that marks the key point of difference for the Sky Blues as they fight to reclaim their Premier League title.

Efforts have been made to package the midfield with more quality, differing skills and a presence which aligns with Rodri’s own.

Nico Gonzalez joined City from Porto for £50m in February as Guardiola fought to rewrite his team amid an abject decline. However, the Spaniard, 23, remains an enigma, clearly talented but not quite bringing it all together in the Premier League.

Many aspiring midfielders have risen through the youth ranks in recent years, most finding their way elsewhere. Romeo Lavia would be a case in point, but injuries have ruined his two-year star at Chelsea.

Lavia had initially left for Southampton, and there he thrived. Saints have had their issues over the past year, but they have struck gold through the £15m signing of Shea Charles in 2023.

The former Citizen prospect looks to be one who got away.

Man City may regret selling Shea Charles

Charles is still only 21, but he’s showing all the skills of a high-level midfielder in the making. Southampton may actually regret their decision to loan him out to Sheffield Wednesday last term; his robust midfield style might have been useful in the Premier League.

But he developed his skillset across the 2024/25 campaign, and he received praise from Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill for his progress last year, with the coach saying he “blows players away” with his quality on the ball and his skill in progression.

We are young into the campaign, but the Green and White Army talent is showing faculties that are perfect for Pep’s Man City side. As per FBref, he ranks among the top 17% of midfielders in the Championship this term for shot-creating actions, the top 12% for pass completion, the top 6% for progressive carries and the top 10% for successful take-ons per 90.

And the table below emphasises the rising star’s defensive qualities and his combative side. This level of completeness and athleticism underlines his potential, for sure, with EFL expert Ali Maxwell tipping him to become a “£60m player” in the future, should he keep going from strength to strength.

Matches (starts)

9 (9)

Goals

0

Assists

0

Touches*

67.7

Accurate passes*

42.9 (86%)

Chances created*

0.9

Dribbles*

1.1

Tackles + interceptions*

3.4

Duels (won)

7.7 (59%)

Rodri is irreplaceable, but here is a midfielder who shares the Spain superstar’s tactical outlook, and under Guardiola’s wing, he might become an elite player indeed, certainly capable of thriving in the Premier League.

Hailed by one Southampton content creator for being a “Rolls-Royce” of a player, City chiefs may well be casting their gaze back to the buyback rights inserted when he was sold a few years ago.

For him to return to the Etihad in the near future wouldn’t be the greatest surprise in the world.

Man City goal machine who's out on loan could be Pep's next Erling Haaland

As Haaland rediscovers his best form, Man City’s striking future looks secure.

ByWill Miller Oct 7, 2025

MatériaMais Notícias

Por meio de nota divulgada nas redes sociais, Paulo Roberto Falcão declarou que não é mais coordenador esportivo do Santos. Neste mesmo dia, o, agora, ex-representante do clube foi denunciado por importunação sexual. O ex-jogador negou a acusação.

No cargo desde o final do ano passado, Falcão disse que sua saída foi motivada por “recentes protestos diante do desempenho em campo” e declarou que sua atitude teve o propósito de “defender a imagem da instituição”.

+ Já atualizou sua camisa de 2023? Confira os novos uniformes do Peixe!

Sobre a denúncia de importunação feita pela funcionária do apart hotel, o ex-coordenador do Peixe negou o ocorrido e se declarou surpreendido com a notícia.

Veja nota divulgada por Falcão, na íntegra:

‘Em respeito à torcida do Santos Futebol Clube, pelos recentes protestos diante do desempenho do time em campo, decidi deixar o cargo de coordenador esportivo nesta data. Meu sentimento, em primeiro lugar, é defender a imagem da instituição. Sobre a acusação feita nesta sexta-feira, que recebi com surpresa pela mídia, afirmo que não aconteceu’.

O Santos também reforçou a saída do coordenador esportivo do clube. A equipe do litoral paulista não se pronunciou sobre as denúncias feitas. Veja comunicado:

‘O Santos Futebol Clube comunica a saída do profissional Paulo Roberto Falcão, que ocupava o cargo de coordenador esportivo desde o dia 15 de novembro de 2022’.

Before the international break, Tottenham Hotspur’s fast start to the season was stunted at home to Bournemouth, who claimed a 1-0 win down N17.

But fears of that same plague of inconsistency have been pushed aside after an emphatic 3-0 victory over West Ham United at the London Stadium, shifting Spurs into second place in the Premier League ahead of Liverpool’s clash against Burnley on Sunday afternoon.

Three wins from four marks an impressive start to life for Thomas Frank, who replaced Ange Postecoglou in the summer after the Australian coach slumped with his side down to a 17th-place finish in the Premier League.

Even the Europa League triumph couldn’t save him, but in spite of all the upheaval – including the shocking exit of Daniel Levy – Tottenham are reshaping into a force to be reckoned with.

The exciting signing of Xavi Simons bears testament to that.

Xavi Simons' Spurs debut

Simons, 22, looked Chelsea-bound for much of the summer transfer window, but Tottenham ended up winning the race and now they boast one of the most exciting playmakers in the business.

Against West Ham, the Netherlands international impressed across his 71 minutes on the field, making the assist for Pape Matar Sarr’s opening goal after the interval, curling a corner in and over the rabble and onto the unmarked Senegalese’s head.

Then the Lilywhites’ task was made easier by Tomas Soucek’s red card after a reckless challenge on Joao Palhinha. Two more goals ensued, and while Simons didn’t land a debut strike for himself, he looked very much at home on the Premier League stage.

Finer displays will follow, but this was very promising indeed, especially when considering he was deployed out wide instead of his natural berth at number ten.

Simons has what it takes to effectively replace the injured James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski, maybe even rivalling such stars as being Tottenham’s finest attacking midfielder since the days of Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen in their pomp.

Spurs' new version of Dele Alli

In January 2024, Tottenham beat off fierce competition from Barcelona to sign teenage midfielder Lucas Bergvall. In fact, all the pointers previously claimed the Sweden prospect would join La Blaugrana, but he was convinced by the Lilywhites project after a hijack.

An elite talent, Bergvall has since settled into life as a Tottenham senior, and he’s still only 19 years old. In this regard, he’s somewhat like the aforementioned Dele, and might even come to be Frank’s own version of the fallen England sensation.

Dele, now 29, is clubless after being released by Como in Serie A, but it’s not hard to remember those days of old when he played with such rarely-seen gusto, a true wonder-kid after joining Spurs from MK Dons in League One in 2015.

His first three seasons in the Premier League were beyond spectacular, and had he continued in that thread of form throughout his career, Dele would surely be hailed now in conversations similar to that of the division’s greatest.

23/24

0

0 (0)

22/23

2

0 (0)

21/22

10

1 (0)

20/21

15

0 (1)

19/20

25

8 (4)

18/19

25

5 (3)

17/18

36

9 (11)

16/17

37

18 (9)

15/16

33

10 (9)

Bergvall is not the same as Dele, but his athleticism and intelligence and movement and application all bespeak the skill set of a top-level talent.

And against West Ham, the Scandinavian’s goal-and-assist performance carried shades of Dele back in his heyday.

Cristian Romero arced an aerial pass through to Bergvall moments after Soucek’s red card, and the youngster’s success in timing his run and turning the ball beyond the hapless goalkeeper with a precise header underlined his Dele-esque performance.

Because, after all, such headed goals were staples of the Three Lions star’s skills when he was in his prime at Tottenham. Who remembers that performance against Chelsea back in 2017, for example?

But the similarities don’t stop there. Bergvall’s success at such an early age is bringing him into direct comparison with a young Dele, and it’s something Spurs can now use to deepen their connection with the fanbase as this new era gets up and running.

After all, at 19 years and 223 days old, Bergvall is Tottenham’s youngest scorer in the Premier League since… You guessed it, Dele, who was 19 years and 205 days old when he scored in a 3-1 win over Aston Villa in November 2015.

There’s no question that Tottenham landed one of Europe’s prized up-and-coming midfielders when beating Barcelona to his signature, and now, with Frank at the helm, there’s a sense that Bergvall is coming into his own.

He’s a European champion, and he’s now showcased his ability to produce a rounded display in the Premier League, with data from Sofascore revealing that he won five duels, made two tackles and created a key pass against struggling West Ham.

He also completed 100% of his dribbles, demonstrating a progressiveness that will help Tottenham to no end.

Football.london handed him an 8/10 match rating, drawing attention to his neat interplay and clever touches, as well as his intelligent involvement in the build-up to Tottenham’s third, when Van de Ven sealed three excellent points for the north Londoners.

Bergvall remains a young midfielder making his way in the Premier League, but already, he is so accomplished within Tottenham’s squad.

He has featured 50 times for the Londoners and is starting to show in Frank’s system an ability to stand out among his peers, something Dele did with such prodigious aplomb during the early days of his time in a Tottenham shirt.

He'll be Frank's own Bale: Spurs have hit gold on "phenomenal" £20m star

Tottenham Hotspur have unearthed themselves a new gem over the last couple of months.

ByEthan Lamb Sep 12, 2025