After officially appointing Russell Martin as their new manager, Rangers and sporting director Kevin Thelwell are reportedly prioritising a move to sign a 20-goal striker who their new manager is a huge fan of.
Rangers appoint Russell Martin
From Steven Gerrard to Davide Ancelotti and all of the names in between, Rangers’ search for a new manager is finally over and the Martin era is officially underway. Taking his first job since being sacked by Southampton last season, the young manager arrives with a new ownership to work with at Ibrox and a fair few tasks to tick off this summer.
Speaking for the first time since arriving at the club, Martin told Rangers’ media channels: “It is a privilege to be named Head Coach of Rangers Football Club at the beginning of this exciting new chapter.
“I know what this club demands. From my time here, I had a taste of how special this club is, the expectation, the passion and the history. Now, as I return, I’m determined to bring success back, for the supporters, the players, and everyone inside this club. I’m here to set standards, work hard and do my very best to earn the respect of the Rangers fans.
“There’s a lot to be done, but the goal is clear: win matches, win trophies, and give Rangers fans a team that they can be proud of. We want to play with bravery, to take the ball, to be aggressive, and to stand up in the big moments. Preparations for pre-season are already underway. I look forward to meeting the players and building a squad that our fans can believe in.”
Rangers official in South America today to watch 6-cap international live
Rangers have sent an official to South America to take a closer look at a midfielder.
ByBrett Worthington Jun 5, 2025
Alongside new sporting director Thelwell, Martin may not have to wait long before welcoming his first fresh face, either. Reports are now suggesting that the Gers have instantly turned their attention towards an impressive goalscorer.
Rangers prioritising Turgeman move
According to Daily Record, Rangers and Thelwell are now prioritising a move to sign Dor Turgeman from Maccabi Tel Aviv, who demanding around £4m to sell their impressive forward. What’s more, Turgeman is already a player that Martin is familiar with and a fan of, having set his sights on his signature during his time at Southampton.
Dubbed a “strong carrier of the ball” by scout Kai Watson, Turgeman is primed to hand Rangers the forward talisman that they’ve so desperately lacked at times after scoring 20 goals throughout the 2024/25 campaign.
As first signings go, Thelwell and Martin could do a lot worse than the talented striker at the bargain price of just £4m this summer.
Manchester United’s recent fortunes would suggest that a place in the Europa League final isn’t quite guaranteed, not just yet, although Ruben Amorim’s men certainly have one foot in the showpiece following a stunning first-leg triumph on Thursday night.
Up against an Athletic Bilbao side who had conceded just 12 goals at home all season in LaLiga and in European competition combined, the Red Devils romped to a brutal 3-0 win in San Mames, maintaining their unbeaten run in this year’s edition.
Bruno Fernandes
After a nervy opening – which saw Inaki Williams notably guide his effort over the crossbar – the visitors took control through Casemiro’s backpost header, before ever-reliable skipper, Bruno Fernandes, converted from the penalty spot following a last-ditch foul on Rasmus Hojlund.
With Dani Vivian dismissed for the action that led to the spot-kick to compound matters for the home side, United swiftly extended their advantage just minutes later, with that man Fernandes rounding off an intricate team move just before the break.
A fourth and potentially tie-clinching goal did not emerge after the interval, although Amorim can have few complaints on a night in which his experienced heads, in particular, kept their cool.
Casemiro and Fernandes rise above the rest
If the former Sporting CP boss is to have any reason for negativity following Thursday’s convincing win, the Portuguese tactician may be concerned at the shaky start which his side endured, with Victor Lindelof notably among those to have needlessly squandered possession in the early exchanges.
Touches
Casemiro (109)
Accurate passes
Victor Lindelof (97)
Key passes
Bruno Fernandes (3)
Crosses
Bruno Fernandes (5/7)
Shots on target
Bruno Fernandes (3)
Successful dribbles
Ugarte & Sannadi (2)
Defensive actions
Casemiro (9)
Duels won
Casemiro (10)
Possession lost
Nico Williams (20)
The Swede did, thankfully, redeem himself soon after with a vital goal-line block, with Manuel Ugarte also enjoying his own in-game redemption, having shaken off a careless beginning to ultimately register two assists on the night, including a clever backheeled flick for Fernandes’ second.
Some initial nerves may have been understandable, although in the case of the captain and Casemiro, the experienced pairing proved to be “the difference again”, in the words of journalist Samuel Luckhurst, having been head and shoulders above the majority of their teammates.
For Fernandes, such a performance has simply become the norm, with the influential skipper now boasting 37 goals and assists this season in all competitions, including seven goals and four assists in the Europa League alone.
To see the 30-year-old pulling the strings is no surprise, although for his veteran teammate, this recent resurgence has been a welcome one, not least considering it appeared as if he was approaching the end of a storied career not too long ago.
Casemiro
Once looking like “he is playing in Soccer Aid” under Erik ten Hag last term, as per pundit Jamie Redknapp, Casemiro has been reborn in the Amorim regime, with the return to Spain seeing the former Real Madrid warrior win ten of his 12 attempted duels, alongside getting on the scoresheet.
A starter in every knockout stage game in the competition, this redemption arc continues for the 33-year-old – much like it does for Harry Maguire.
The Man Utd hero who's now undroppable again
The importance of Fernandes and Casemiro was evident as even at 3-0, Amorim opted not to rest the star duo despite making a raft of changes, with the two men simply pillars in this developing 3-4-3 system.
Performance in Numbers
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In a similar manner, the fact that Maguire was withdrawn just after the hour mark was also a sign of his growing stature under the new regime, with Amorim unable to afford an injury setback to the 6 foot 4 Englishman.
The 32-year-old hasn’t been a stranger to periods on the sidelines this season, having actually only featured on 34 occasions, although at present he looks the real bedrock in a back three that repeatedly chops and changes with each passing game.
Harry Maguire
A player his manager previously described as “perfect” for this setup, following the extension of his contract by a further 12 months, Maguire looks at home in the centre of the defensive trio, having been largely untroubled against the Basque outfit.
There was one hairy moment just prior to his withdrawal, amid appeals from the home crowd for a red card following a ‘foul’ on Maroan Sannadi, although it was otherwise plain-sailing, with the former Leicester City man spraying passes with ease after racking up a 97% pass accuracy rate in total.
Much like last month and his stoppage time heroics to clinch victory over Lyon, it was actually his impact in the final third that was most memorable from Maguire’s outing, with the towering defender proving an unlikely menace down the right flank, before whipping in a cross that eventually found its way to Casemiro, via the head of Ugarte.
The sight of the big man twisting and turning truly was a joy to behold, with that marking another “glorious” moment – as per The Athletic’s Laurie Whitwell – in the revival of a player who was memorably stripped of the captaincy by Ten Hag back in 2023.
There were even suggestions that a move to West Ham United was on the cards that summer, yet now the £190k-per-week powerhouse looks a key cog in the Amorim machine – with the aforementioned Luckhurst noting his ‘solid’ 8/10 performance on the night.
In an era of pursuing younger and younger signings, with the aim of looking to the long-term, the likes of Maguire, Casemiro and Fernandes are proving that experience and class are simply priceless.
Man Utd may have found the new Scott McTominay in an unlikely source
Man Utd have found a new figure who may soon emulate McTominay…
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.
It took him just 17 balls to pick up four West Indies wickets, and no matter the kind of pitch, this feat was impressive
Danyal Rasool18-Jan-2025Theatre actors have often spoken about guarding against losing respect for the art. Arriving on stage night after night to produce the same high standard of performance has a jading effect, and one where the performer has much more to lose than they have to gain. A good performance is just another day at the office, a bad one the stuff of bad reviews and blooper reels that acquire a life of their own – and with the threat of reputational damage. Especially when it feels as if people have been waiting to stick the boot in, anyway.That is what it must feel like to be Sajid Khan, who, unlike his partner-in-crime Noman Ali, identifies as something of a performer.The first Test against West Indies, in Multan, was something of a no-win situation, his success explained away as a masterstroke in pitch curation than the magic in his fingers. Surely, he can’t have been that good on his own merits, the reasoning goes, or why else was he omitted from Pakistan’s squad for the Tests in South Africa immediately prior?Related
Noman, Sajid share nine WI wickets as Pakistan dominate day two
Do well, and the theory gets even further validation; or don’t, and be written off as a one-series wonder. That was Sajid’s window of possibilities. So what might just be another low-profile Test to an observer was reputational to him. Pakistan’s selection panel had huge expectations of him; when Pakistan folded for 230 on the second day, Aleem Dar, now a member of the selection committee, reckoned it was near 400, factoring in the difficulty of the pitch. The expectation placed upon Sajid was clear.And Sajid knows the talk has to be walked to retain its potence. His in-your-face celebration rubbed a few players in the England camp the wrong way, and needs to be fed by regular wickets. Against West Indies, on Saturday, it took him just seven balls to get his first, what he later called “an offspinner’s dream wicket”, flighting the ball outside off stump, lulling Mikyle Louis into the drive, and sneaking through the gate and rattling the stumps.Eleven balls later, Sajid had four wickets to his name, West Indies’ top order being cut to ribbons. No matter the kind of pitch, this was impressive; it took West Indies’ collective spin attack nearly 62 overs to match what Sajid had managed in 17 deliveries. Indeed, if what Sajid was doing wasn’t exceptional, there would be no point in preparing these surfaces – because anyone could then match him toe-to-toe.West Indies, in contrast, have held off operating spin from both ends, preferring to give Jayden Seales a longer spell first. That may just have to do with Seales’ excellent showing in each innings – far superior, indeed, to anything a Pakistan seamer has managed in these conditions. But bowling wicket-taking spin with the new ball isn’t as easy as Sajid makes it look, either.
“As an offspinner, I have a bit of a complicated bowling style. I can’t introduce too many new things to it”Sajid Khan on his bowling
“I’ve worked with my head coach in Peshawar, Zohaib Khan, to prepare with the new ball,” Sajid said after the second day’s play. “I’ve bowled with him a lot with the new Dukes ball, and worked on it a lot. We used to work on bowling with the new ball for one to two hours on end. The plan was to keep the run-scoring tight. If I concede [runs] off a good ball, [Mohammad] Rizwan doesn’t mind. But the expectation is we’ll continue to hit good areas on this wicket.”Sajid has also continued to add arrows to his quiver. He comes in wider of the crease to exploit footmarks when required, or simply to change the angle to discomfit a batter. His action, which he admits is “difficult”, allows him to vary the pace and trajectory without letting batters pick it up, something he believes is essential to his game.”As an offspinner, I have a bit of a complicated bowling style. I can’t introduce too many new things to it,” Sajid said. “Every coach I work with has said my strength is my sleight of hand. Batters find it hard to read my flight or variation in pace because my front arm moves very quickly – even if I’m bowling in the nets to our own batters.”Sajid Khan removed West Indies’ top four•PCBNo matter the assistance from the pitch, though, there came a reminder that a drop in levels comes with consequences. With Pakistan hunting for the final wicket, the intensity dropped as Sajid went in search of his fifth, greedily flighting it and pitching it up to force the issue. But it wasn’t the right length, and was much too predictable; and though West Indies’ No. 10 and 11 batters were at the crease, Sajid was dismantled. Two sixes and four boundaries came off his final three overs, which leaked 37 runs to mar his figures slightly.Those overs, perhaps more than any of Sajid’s wickets, demonstrated the rarefied nature of his skill: it wasn’t just the pitch, but what he made the ball do on it, that was bringing him success. There will be times it doesn’t work, as is true for every skillset on any surface.For now, Sajid turns it on day-in and day-out, with no signs of losing respect for the art, or his hunger for more. And as he mentioned last year, while people have jumped at the chance to write him off in the past, his continued refusal to play to that narrative means the ink on those pens may have begun to dry.
Philadelphia Phillies star Bryce Harper was the latest player to vent his frustrations at an umpire after some very questionable calls but somehow he was able to avoid being ejected for his actions on Sunday.
With the Phillies trailing the Angels by six runs, Harper worked a 3–0 count in the bottom of the eighth inning. A pitch that seemed to be out of the strike zone made it a 3–1 count and then a few moments later a similar pitch was called for strike three by Steven Jaschinski.
Instead of earning a walk, Harper headed to the dugout. But before he did that he shrugged his shoulders and waved his hand in disgust at Jaschinski two times.
This is often enough to get you tossed from the game:
A former Barcelona midfielder has urged Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes to join the Catalan giants amid positional restrictions under Ruben Amorim at Old Trafford. The Portugal international has been deployed in a restricted role at the centre of the park alongside Casemiro in Amorim's starting lineup this season, instead of playing a part in a more attacking area of the pitch.
Fernandes' change in role at Man Utd
Fernandes was the only shining light at United's worst campaign in the Premier League's history last season. The Portuguese midfielder was the team's best performer and highest scorer with 19 goals and as many assists in 57 matches across all competitions.
Despite a stellar campaign, Amorim decided to experiment with Fernandes' role in the team as in the current campaign, he has been placed in a two-man central midfield role alongside Casemiro. With the arrivals of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo in the summer and Mason Mount's revival, Fernandes has been forced to play in a more defensive position this season, mostly in a 3-4-2-1 system.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportFernandes told to join Barcelona
Speaking to , former Barcelona and Spain midfielder Gaizka Mendieta said: "Look at Ilkay Gundogan. He came to Barca also in his thirties, so in terms of age, not too much to worry about if Bruno Fernandes wants the move. Talent-wise, he has all the time that he needs for a player to succeed in La Liga. It's obviously about how he feels about it. He's obviously the captain at Man Utd. Maybe the fact that he's not playing in a position where he would prefer could influence him. I cannot see why he couldn’t go to La Liga, to Barca, especially.
"Again, I think players love those challenges, different countries, different leagues, winning trophies in different leagues, and I'm sure it crossed his mind many times. But again, it's about ambition, it's about his situation there. In the same way I would love to see Vinicius Junior in the Premier League, I would love to see Fernandes in La Liga. Barcelona fans would love him, 100%. His character, both talent-wise and personality-wise."
Fernandes linked with move to Saudi league
Saudi Pro League clubs have shown interest in Fernandes for a long time now, although interest in the midfielder was fended off in the last window, with United’s club captain making no push for an exit from Old Trafford. He is tied to a contract through to 2027 that includes the option for a further 12-month extension.
Amid his transfer links to the Middle East, United have been told that they should not ignore any transfer offers from the Saudi Pro League. Former Red Devils star Wes Brown – speaking in association with – told GOAL: "I think he will be. Regardless of what happens with Bruno, I know that he would really love to stay. At the same time, if stupid offers get brought in, what can you do? He’s getting to that age now where he still wants to be part of it, but you can’t just dismiss everything because that’s not how the world works. I don’t think anyone would take it too personally if that did happen.
"He’s done everything he can to try and help the team. At some point it will come to that crunch if someone comes in – probably talking Saudi with that money. If that happens again, whatever happens you can’t blame Bruno. You have to accept that he did right by what he needed to do and then move on again. You need a player with that same energy. That’s what people don’t get – the same energy. Sometimes my mates say ‘he does this, he does that’, which is because sometimes nobody else is doing anything! He’s trying to do something. People don’t understand that and get it, which is fine. But he is definitely a player that you need, or need someone like that. Not necessarily to replace, but in the same category. If he was to go, it would be a big miss."
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Getty Images SportAmorim's update on Fernandes' injury
The 31-year-old suffered a late injury scare during United's comeback victory over Crystal Palace last weekend. However, Amorim eased concerns after the game, as he told TNT Sports: "It was a kick. I was shouting at him, we made a substitution in the end. He needed to talk to the bench but he said it was just a kick so everything is okay."
Fernandes is likely to return to action in the club's upcoming Premier League game against West Ham on Thursday at Old Trafford.
Chelsea are beginning to reap the rewards of their ambitious spending since Todd Boehly and his private equity firm Clearlake Capital replaced Roman Abramovich in 2022.
It’s been a twisting road for the Blues over the past several years, but Enzo Maresca has advanced after a promising, trophy-winning 2024/25 campaign to establish his side as budding Premier League title contenders.
Maresca leads a young squad. A hungry group of talented players yet to reach the top of the game.
Chelsea
2nd
24.0
Brentford
13th
24.7
Man City
3rd
25.0
Bournemouth
8th
25.0
Sunderland
7th
25.2
There are ostensible drawbacks to employing such a strategy, but it’s bearing dividends, and the success will only grow over the coming years, with more set to follow in Estevao Willian’s footsteps.
Estevao's start to life at Chelsea
In May 2024, Chelsea finalised a deal for Brazilian youngster Estevao, an initial £29m deal which could eventually rise to £52m with performance-related add-ons.
18 years old, Estevao has enjoyed a dream start to his Chelsea career, having notched five goals from his first 17 senior outings for the Londoners.
With three goals in his past three Champions League outings, the hype is growing around his skilful and dynamic youngster, who outshone Lamine Yamal in the Blues’ romping 3-0 win over Barcelona in midweek.
So intense is the hype around Estevao’s potential that Como scout and analyst Ben Mattinson has labelled the Brazil international a “future Ballon d’Or winner”, and that’s definitely not out of the equation.
Estevao has what it takes to become London’s most talented wide forward, for sure, perhaps taking that crown from Arsenal talisman Bukayo Saka.
But the fact that Chelsea have landed themselves another Estevao-esque talent who could rival these cream-of-crop players is a perfect illustration of Chelsea’s burgeoning strategy.
Chelsea have a talent "just like Estevao"
Arsenal have the lead in the Premier League title race, and there’s no question that Mikel Arteta is deeper into his project than Maresca at Stamford Bridge.
But Chelsea are building something special, and they would welcome another poster boy to further strengthen Maresca’s system. Well, that player could have already been signed in Geovany Quenda, with a £40m deal in principle agreed at the end of last season to welcome the Portugal U21 international in 2026.
Hailed as “one of the most exciting teenage prospects in Europe” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Quenda has “been on fire” for Sporting Lisbon this season, coming into his own on the right wing.
The 18-year-old’s energy, pace and skill on the ball have seen him hailed as having a mentality “just like Estevao” – as per Alex Goldberg – that will see him succeed in the Premier League, endowed with an athletic underbelly to complement his blistering pace and skill on the ball.
Goals scored
0.09
0.43
Assists
0.35
0.16
Shots taken
1.72
2.92
Shot-creating actions
4.62
4.69
Touches (att pen)
3.39
6.74
Pass completion (%)
72.9
73.8
Progressive passes
5.11
2.45
Progressive carries
3.30
4.34
Successful take-ons
1.58
1.85
Ball recoveries
4.75
3.90
Tackles + interceptions
1.54
2.05
His sharp-minded approach and combativeness on the ball could indeed see him emulate Saka. Sofascore record that Bissau Guinean-born Quenda has won 52% of his ground duels in Liga Portugal this term, and for one so young, this bodes well for a future in the harsh climate of the Premier League.
Furthermore, he is developing a ball-playing game that suggests he has the natural talent on the ball to emulate someone like Saka, having also followed in the Englishman’s footsteps by shining at both full-back and wing-back, prior to cementing an attacking role on the flanks.
Whether the Portuguese talent would hit the ground running in the same way that Estevao has is uncertain, of course, but there’s no denying he has the potential to rival his soon-to-be teammate.
A big factor in a winger like Saka’s success (and Estevao’s) is that he is able to merge the many elements together, forming something complete.
Quenda is already proving that he has similar qualities in the locker, and it is for this reason that there is such excitement brewing around his signature.
Chelsea, truly, are rebuilding themselves toward superstar status.
Hazard 2.0: Chelsea lead race to sign "best player on the planet" for £100m
Enzo Maresca and Co could deliver Chelsea fans their next Eden Hazard by signing the international superstar.
Real Madrid forward Rodrygo has been at the centre of reports that he could leave the Bernabeu mid-season following a lack of game time under Xabi Alonso, and Tottenham are believed to be among the contenders for his signature.
Rodrygo finds himself at a career crossroads as his situation at Madrid continues to deteriorate.
The Brazilian, once considered a crucial part of Los Blancos’ attacking plans, has seen his role dramatically diminish since Alonso’s appointment, sparking widespread speculation about a potential January departure.
Rodrygo has played just 359 minutes this season, having started just two out of a possible 10 La Liga games, and is firmly behind Vinícius Júnior in the pecking order for his preferred left-wing position.
The 24-year-old, who was regularly linked with a summer exit, including to Spurs, has struggled for opportunities despite his previous contributions to the club’s success.
Rodrygo’s career at Real Madrid since joining from Santos
Appearances
283
Goals
68
Assists
53
Bookings
12
Red cards
0
Minutes played
16,512
ESPN Brasil have backed up the possibility that Rodrygo could leave in January, stating that the ex-Santos sensation is “dissatisfied with his situation” and “maintains the option” of leaving as early as the next transfer window.
This has put a host of Premier League sides on alert, including Tottenham once again, and there are suggestions that the north Londoners could go all out for his signature.
Now backed by the Lewis family as they attempt to usher in a post-Daniel Levy era, the club, led by co-sporting directors Fabio Paratici and Johan Lange are apparently prepared to pay a club-record £70 million for Rodrygo, according to reports from Spain.
The £283,000-per-week star would be a statement signing for the Lilywhites, and reports suggest that Real are prepared to slash his asking price from their original £88 million summer valuation down to around £53 million, amid rival interest from Arsenal and Chelsea (TEAMtalk).
This means that Spurs’ mooted £70m stance would be more than enough, but none of this means anything without the player’s approval.
Indeed, Rodrygo has now moved to speak out about his Madrid future, attempting to quell the noise surrounding his unrest in the Spanish capital.
Rodrygo breaks silence on Real Madrid future amid Tottenham interest
Speaking to the media, Rodrygo has hinted at his unhappiness surrounding game time right now, but also suggests he has no fears when it comes to inclusion in Brazil’s 2026 World Cup squad.
While the attacker appears to be presenting the front of ‘I’ll work hard for the manager’, behind-the-scenes whispers tell a different story, and we wouldn’t at all be surprised if a Premier League club manages to tempt him across the channel.
Meanwhile, football finance expert Stefan Borson is convinced that Tottenham could sign Rodrygo on loan.
Tottenham take on Arsenal in a mouth-watering North London derby clash this weekend, with all eyes on that and the looming January window as Frank looks to put his stamp on the squad.
Tottenham were denied a first Premier League win at home since the opening weekend this afternoon, as Man United defender Matthijs de Ligt broke Spurs hearts with a dramatic added-time equaliser, despite Thomas Frank’s side briefly snatching a late 2-1 lead.
Tottenham 2-2 Man United as poor Spurs home form continues
Bryan Mbeumo had put United ahead in the 32nd minute, with the October Premier League Player of the Month continuing his excellent form by nodding past a helpless Guglielmo Vicario at the far post.
The visitors dominated for large periods as Spurs looked disjointed and lacked overall creativity at home once again. Tottenham did have one chance before the interval, but striker Richarlison failed to capitalise — missing a golden opportunity when presented with a free header from 12 yards out.
He somehow completely missed the ball, leaving every Spurs fan in the stadium stunned, and those same supporters booed the home side off at half-time after a very disappointing first 45.
United looked on their way to three points, managing the game well after the restart, even if the brilliant Senne Lammens was forced into a couple of excellent saves to maintain their advantage.
However, the equaliser eventually did come, with substitute Mathys Tel’s shot in the 83rd minute deflecting off de Ligt and finding the back of the United net.
Wilson Odobert
7.4
Matthijs de Ligt
7.3
Amad Diallo
7.3
Mathys Tel
7.1
Patrick Dorgu
7.1
via WhoScored
Frank’s player introductions changed the game, with fellow sub Destiny Udogie setting up the Frenchman for his brilliantly taken equaliser inside the box. Yet another sub, Wilson Odobert, then chipped into the late drama.
Richarlison directed Odobert’s ball outside the box past Lammens and into the bottom corner on 91 minutes, sparking wild celebrations as the Brazilian removed his shirt in jubilation. Tottenham appeared to have completed a sensational comeback, yet there was one final twist.
A United corner to the back post was headed home by de Ligt, who was completely unmarked, in the 96th minute — silencing Spurs’ celebrations and rescuing a dramatic point for Ruben Amorim’s side.
The draw maintains United’s four-match unbeaten streak while Tottenham’s home woes continue. Spurs have now won just four of their last 20 home league games, with their excellent away record masking real struggles at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Peter Crouch takes aim at "lackadaisical" Djed Spence in Man United draw
For United’s first goal, so much went wrong.
Pape Sarr made the bizarre decision to play a very difficult pass to Micky van de Ven just outside Spurs’ penalty area, rather than just clearing the ball, and the Dutchman was then rushed into a botched clearance before United capitalised and opened the scoring.
Right-back Djed Spence also failed to close down the cross for Mbeumo’s header quick enough, with ex-Tottenham striker Peter Crouch telling TNT Sports at half-time that his defending simply wasn’t good enough.
Crouch said that Spence looked “too calm” when going to press Diallo, insisting that the defender was “lackadaisical” at that moment which cost Spurs the first goal of the game.
Djed Spence for England
Overall, the north Londoners were arguably the weaker side and a victory for them would’ve been quite harsh on United, even if their brief comeback sparked real hope of a perfect last Premier League result before the November international break.
Their next two matches after the break are actually away from home, but they’re against very tough opposition in Premier League leaders Arsenal and European champions PSG.
ESPNcricinfo UK editor Andrew Miller buckles up to recount the big moments that kept England fans going through the small hours
Andrew Miller21-Nov-20254:01
Speed of England’s collapse gave them better bowling conditions
Ashes first-day dramas have been a staple of England’s winters for more years than most fans would care to count. But this latest opening gambit might just have taken all the biscuits, and every other snack needed to stay awake all night. Andrew Miller tries to fight sleep long enough to remember the madness he just watched…Full disclosure. I am writing this at 11.19am on [checks notes] Friday, November 21, which is, of course, the day that every England cricket fan has had in their calendar for months. But, unless you happen to be one of the 40,000-strong crew to have made the long journey down under – and well done you if you are – you’ll by now have realised that that date is completely wrong.Because, of course, for the purposes of Ashes nightowl action, everything in Australia actually happens on the day before it happens. This phenomenon gets me every time, just like the changing of the clocks (including – full, full disclosure – as recently as last month, when I set my sights on a 1am start for England’s ODI debacle in New Zealand, only to discover the 1am in question was the one that jumped backwards an hour at 1.59am).And so, in short, I am a borderline catatonic mess right now. My 2025-26 Ashes experience started at roughly 8pm on Thursday, November 20, when I said goodnight to my family, lay in bed for three fitful hours of non-sleep, then got up again early to pace around the living room, confuse the dog, watch the first hour of because TNT’s bolt-on coverage hadn’t factored in any sort of extended build-up, then settle in for the longest, wildest night of my sports-watching life.Related
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That’s quite the statement, I know. But, hell, I’ve been doing this Cricinfo ball-by-ball business for a fair old while now, and cocking my ear to Ashes first-night bedlam for significantly longer still. And even by the (almost universally) horrific standards of my previous experiences, the opening night of Bazball Down Under was a doozy.Here then, before I expire, is a barely coherent stream-of-consciousness intended to weave its way through my very personal Ashes first-day history before landing on a spectacle in which 19 wickets tumbled in 71.5 overs, or at a rate of one every 22.68 balls.My first Ashes first-night came way back in November 1994, in typically clichéd fashion: via , under the covers in the dead of night at school, with Michael Slater mashing Phil DeFreitas through the covers to trigger that knowing dread that has probably never fully left any England fan of a certain age.My first first-night in a professional capacity came eight years later in 2002, in a post-student hovel in Finsbury Park, where we collectively punched the ceiling upon Nasser Hussain’s correct call at the toss, only to sink into our sofas and tinnies and despair in equal measure after you-know-what call.My “job” back then was to watch the first session from home, jump in a cab to Shepherd’s Bush in the lunch break, grind through the pre-diluvian gears of Wisden.com’s formative internet commentary service, and bash out some words at the close before crashing out to rinse and repeat. They truly were the Golden Years…He did it again: Mitchell Starc struck in the first over to remove Zak Crawley•Getty ImagesFour years later still, in 2006, I’d made it to Australia for the first time, in the overflow press-box high in the gantries of the Gabbatoir, where I was actually too far away from either the action or a replay screen to tell for certain that Steve Harmison’s first ball had landed in the hands of, not first, but second slip. But I was close enough to feel that dread descend once more, across both the fans in the stands and more importantly the England team.Next on this indulgent whistlestop witter-tour, it was back to the Gabba to watch Andrew Strauss cloth his third ball to point and for Peter Siddle claim a birthday hat-trick. Then, on through various miserable iterations, it was back to Blighty during Covid, for Rory Burns’ spectacular first-ball faux-pas, which is memorable to me only because my wife romantically offered to stay up to midnight to share the occasion, then laughed uproariously, and headed straight to bed.Which brings us, not exactly directly, to November 21 (sort of 20), 2025, and a hotch-potch of already fading vignettes that might just be my eyelids drooping. I’ve got a fairly well-set routine for nights such as these. Lots of tea. Enough fruit to sedate a fruit-bat. As few carbs as possible (because they are heavy and send you to sleep) and tons of emergency chocolate biscuits because fruit is boring and sugar rushes are very useful if you need to sound exciting/excited at 5am.Well, that wasn’t exactly a problem on this night of nights. Although, it has to be said, that first-over wicket of Zak Crawley turned out, in my line of work, to be a strangely dislocated affair.It’s hardly the fault of TNT’s equally dislocated commentary team that their paymasters have chosen not to dispatch them on an actual Ashes tour. But – for the purposes of ball-by-ball text commentary – the audio cues of a properly embedded commentator who can actually see the full context for a moment of sporting drama is really rather crucial. When, instead, the moment is relayed by a slightly confused third party who sounds like he’s talking through a locked bathroom door, it does somewhat draw the sting. Apologies if I sounded flat in that remarkable moment. I was too busy trying to join my own dots to colour in the picture.
“England’s brutal, blunt-instrument bowling response was hard and fast, like a Tony Greig parody tribute, as Jofra Archer, then Gus Atkinson, then Mark Wood, then Brydon Carse, took it in turns to crank up the wheels and rattle the pads, lids and elbows of Australia’s line-up”
But, fear not, because the drama just kept on coming, and coming, and coming. And so, too, did the vital support network of an overnight cricket hack – the bellicose/surrender-monkey bleatings of my various and varied WhatsApp groups.These fall into three broad categories. ESPNcricinfo colleagues in Australia and elsewhere in the globe, exchanging match updates and expletives in equal measure, as well as more prosaic news about who is actually driving the site at any given moment. Next there are the friend groups, many of whom are former colleagues (certainly the ones who are conditioned to stay engaged with an Ashes Test all night, and with whom all exchanges are a variation on the word “brawling”), and finally, my Camel Cricket Club compadres who are, for the most part, defeatist Englishmen, trolling Kiwis, meme-addicted South Asians and off-duty first-responders, drowning in too many tequila shots in far too few overs.The chaos was real, on the pitch and in the ether. Starc was bowling left-arm swing from the Gods – unrelenting in his pace and carry, harassing the pads and outside edge of every man in his sights, simply by existing in that freakish slingy left-arm manner of his. But in between whiles, Ollie Pope was everything he’s not supposed to be, continuing his life-long Ian Bell impersonation by producing an innings every bit as good (and destined to be forgotten) as Bell’s first-day 76 at the Gabbatoir in 2010 – when his greatest contribution to England’s Ashes-winning cause was to curl his lip up at a post-match suggestion that England were cooked, and shoot back: “Of course not”. There and then, the Shermanator became an Ashes Panzerfaust.And then there was Harry Brook. Yeegads. I know Bazball is not everyone’s cup of tea, but the utter chutzpah of dancing down the track to Scott Boland’s second ball after tea, to smoke an inside-out six over extra cover. By now, it really didn’t matter that TNT were gargling in their bath-tub. The inner monologue was taking over for the purposes of bashing out the BBB action, fuelled by the paranoia and bravado of the nightowls pinging on my phone – not to mention the army of commentators on feedback. What we were witnessing was magnifique (until Brook’s limp glove down the leg-side, whereupon England pretty much opted to autocomplete their innings) but was it actually la guerre? I think, by the close of play, even the sceptics were having to accept that England have rewritten their own rules of Ashes combat, and don’t really give a monkey’s what anyone outside their dressing-room thinks.Ollie Pope was England’s surprising mainstay on a nervy first morning•Getty ImagesAnd so to the final act of a fevered night-sweat of an Ashes shift. England’s brutal, blunt-instrument bowling response. Hard and fast, like a Tony Greig parody tribute, as Jofra Archer, then Gus Atkinson, then Mark Wood, then Brydon Carse, took it in turns to crank up the wheels and rattle the pads, lids and elbows of an Australia line-up that barely knew its batting order two days out from the series and somehow ended up even more confused mid-match.It was relentless, it was magnificent, it made the guzzling of emergency chocolate so redundant that I forgot it was even in the fridge. And then, swaggering into the mix came the maker-of-things-to-happen Ben Stokes, channelling the best/worst of Ian Botham to burgle a six-over five-wicket haul cut from the purest, most eye-boggling vibes ever smuggled through Australia’s customs.Somehow, despite batting with a sense and responsibility that England couldn’t bring themselves to locate if they tried, Australia somehow managed to produce at least three of the five worst dismissals of the day – starting with Travis Head’s limp welly to mid-on and culminating in Starc’s heave through the line.And now, somehow, we’re all meant to park this now, shake off the caffeine/sugar/tequila and go again tonight? Preposterous sport.Postscript (and not a word of a lie): As if the night’s batting was not enough of a car-wreck already, just as I was finally preparing to flake out and get ready to go again I heard, from over my garden wall, the unmistakeable sound of a lorry striking the infamously low bridge near my house in East London that has been luring unsuspecting truckers to their doom for generations. If you don’t believe me, check TFL for Mildmay Line updates. It’s been a deeply weird night, and I’m not sure which part of me is pointing up anymore.