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Tottenham Hotspur have really put their fans through the wringer so far this season.

One moment, the North Londoners put three past Manchester United at Old Trafford, and then the next, they hand Crystal Palace and Ipswich Town their first Premier League wins of the season.

Ange Postecoglou has certainly brought back the entertaining style of football that Spurs fans used to pride themselves on, but he hasn’t been able to iron out the inconsistencies that could ultimately cost him come May.

However, it’s not entirely his fault as he’s got to work with the players he has, and some of them, like Radu Dragusin, just don’t appear to be good enough, so Daniel Levy and Co should look to bring in a replacement in 2025, a player they could get for free.

Dragusin's season so far

Now, the first thing to say is that while Dragusin has been generally quite poor so far this season, he’s obviously not the sole reason that Spurs have struggled in games, but he certainly hasn’t helped either.

For example, on his European debut for the club against Qarabağ FK, a game which should have been a relatively easy one for the club, he managed to get himself sent off before ten minutes were played.

Fortunately, his teammates put in an impressive showing and came away with all three points and, in turn, protected him from what could have been a considerable level of backlash had they lost with ten men.

Unfortunately, he was much more at fault for the loss to Galatasaray last week, as he once again made countless foolish fouls, took a poor touch that led to Victor Osimhen’s first goal and generally looked out at sea in what was an extremely hostile environment.

It’s not just been in Europe where the former Genoa ace has struggled either, as he was notably poor against Ipswich Town in the Premier League last weekend as well and received a paltry 3/10 match rating from respected Spurs writer Alasdair Gold.

Overall, it’s hard to see Dragusin improving much as the season progresses, so it would be wise for Levy and Co. to look for an upgrade, and the good news is that they have already been linked with one.

The impressive defender who could replace Dragusin

So, while there are undoubtedly a whole host of talented defenders that Spurs could work on bringing to North London next year, one in particular would be an excellent addition to the team: Jonathan Tah.

The good news is that, according to a report from the Boot Room earlier this week, the club are interested in the German ace and have already talked with intermediaries about a potential deal.

However, it gets even better, as the 28-year-old’s surprisingly small £45k-per-week contract is set to expire in the summer, meaning he’ll be available for free and will be able to sign a pre-agreement with non-German clubs from January.

With all that said, why would the Bayer Leverkusen ace be a great signing?

Well, the first big bonus is that, as well as being 6 foot 5, which should help him adapt to the physical nature of the Premier League, the Hamburg-born “battleship”, as dubbed by former teammate Christoph Kramer, is vastly experienced.

Appearances

20

23

370

Goals

0

0

15

Assists

1

1

12

Goal Involvements*

0.05

0.04

0.07

Across his career, the defensive titan has made 20 appearances for Hamburg, 23 for Düsseldorf, 370 for Leverkusen, who he helped win a league and cup double last season, and has won 32 caps for the German national team, so it’s unlikely that there would be any situation in a Spurs shirt that would see him overawed and make silly mistakes akin to Dragusin last week.

Finally, he’s no slouch with the ball at his feet, either.

According to FBref, which compares players across Europe’s top five leagues, the Champions League and Europa League, the German ace sits in the top 1% of centre-backs for pass completion, the top 6% for total shots, the top 11% for touches in the opposition’s penalty area and the top 14% for attempted and progressive passes, all per 90.

Ultimately, given his incredible ability and experience, Spurs should be looking to sign Tah whatever he costs, so the fact he’ll be available for free when Transfermarkt values him at €30m – £25m – makes this potential transfer a total no-brainer.

Spurs may already have a bigger talent than Moore up their sleeve

The sensationally talented youngster could have a bright future at Spurs.

1 ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 15, 2024

We are now 12 games into the Premier League season, and while Ipswich Town are down in 18th place, there are clear reasons to be optimistic.

For example, the club picked up their first win earlier this month in a stunning 2-1 victory against Tottenham Hotspur and then came close to getting another against Manchester United over the weekend.

Moreover, there are several genuinely talented players in the squad, and with Kieran McKenna in the hot seat, there’s no reason they couldn’t lead the club to safety.

In fact, a few players could soon have important roles with their respective national teams, including one who could help solve a problem for the new England boss, Thomas Tuchel, and it’s not Liam Delap.

Liam Delap's recent form

So, before we get to the player in question, it’s worth examining Delap’s form this season, as while he may not solve a problem for England, he could end up as a Three Lions regular in the future.

We say this because, so far this season, the former Manchester City ace, who cost the Tractor Boys around £20m in the summer, has been utterly brilliant up top.

For example, while it took him a few games to get up and running, the 21-year-old has now found the back of the net on six occasions in 12 league appearances for McKenna’s side and provided one assist for good measure.

This means the Winchenster-born poacher is level on league goals with England international Ollie Watkins at the moment, and if the Villa ace is a regular for the national team, there’s no reason the Blues’ gem couldn’t follow suit.

However, with Harry Kane the team captain and starting number nine at present, and the likes of the Villa ace and others ready to step in for him, the emergence of Delap this season does not solve a problem for England.

In contrast, another of Ipswich’s inform stars could solve one of the Three Lions’ most significant issues.

The Ipswich star who could become an England regular

So, given the abundance of talent English football has produced over the last few years, it would be hard to argue that there are too many glaring weaknesses in the national team, save for one position: left-back.

Yes, while the right-back position is completely stacked, and the depth of talent at centre-back continues to grow, the same couldn’t necessarily be said of the left-back position, especially not at the Euros, when Kieran Trippier played most of the games before a still clearly unfit Luke Shaw returned.

In fact, it was seen as such an issue prior to the Euros this summer that journalists like the Telegraph’s Mike McGrath began referring to it as England’s ‘new Achilles heel.’

However, the solution to this problem area could be a player Ipswich signed from Leeds United in 2022 for a fee of around £1m: Leif Davis.

The Newcastle-born full-back has been utterly indispensable during the club’s recent rise up the football pyramid, producing 17 goals and assists in 43 League One appearances in 22/23 and then a sensational 23 in 43 Championship games last year, which was unsurprisingly enough to see him with the club’s Player’s Player of the Year Award.

Appearances

43

43

12

Goals

3

2

1

Assists

14

21

2

Goal Involvements per Match

0.39

0.53

0.25

This season has obviously been more challenging for the incredible full-back, but even still, the 24-year-old “animal”, as former manager Scott Parker dubbed him, has managed to score once and provide two assists in 12 Premier League games.

There is certainly an argument to be made that other players might be more defensively sound than the former Leeds gem, but should Tuchel want to play on the front foot when he’s in charge and make the most out of his incredible forward players, going with the “remarkable” full-back, as dubbed by football pundit Jobi McAnuff, seems like the obvious choice.

Moreover, should the German favour a back-three formation like he has in the past, then we can’t think of very many English left-backs better suited to a wing-back role.

Ultimately, while Davis might not be a big name just yet, his sensational form over the last few seasons means he undoubtedly will be, and once given the chance, will also solve England’s left-back problem.

Dream Delap rival: Ipswich lodge enquiry over £15m "bulldozing forward"

The exceptional forward would make Ipswich’s squad far stronger.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 22, 2024

Eintracht Frankfurt have shown interest in signing out-of-favour Real Madrid wonderkid Arda Guler as the Turkish midfielder seeks more game time.

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Eintracht Frankfurt want Guler from MadridTurkish wonderkid has struggled for minutesMadrid could loan out the youngster to a German clubFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Guler has struggled to find regular playing time under Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti, in the 2024/25 campaign. The 20-year-old was expected to find a prominent squad role after he turned heads at the EURO 2024 with Turkey. However, he has managed to play a little over 1000 minutes across all competitions thus far and has appeared in just one La Liga game out of the club's last five outings.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Amid the Turkey international's struggles at Stamford Bridge, Bundesliga side Eintracht are looking to sign the player in the summer transfer window, according to . Sport BILD had earlier reported that Los Blancos could consider loaning out stars like Endrick and Guler to German clubs ahead of the 2025/26 season, ensuring they receive consistent playing time.

DID YOU KNOW?

The Sky Sports report also added that along with Frankfurt, RB Leipzig are also monitoring the situation of the Turkish wonderkid and could launch a bid for the player, although a move to Leipzig is still not certain.

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR ARDA GULER?

Guler will hope to get some game time on Sunday as Ancelotti's men face Rayo Vallecano in La Liga at home.

In their final international before the Women’s World Cup starting next week, India managed to shake off their run of losses on New Zealand soil

S Sudarshanan24-Feb-2022It was an event in itself. Harmanpreet Kaur hit a six for the first time in ODIs since March 2021. In the 24th over of the chase, she came down the track to left-arm spinner Fran Jonas to smash one high and long over deep midwicket. The full swing of the blade was visible and it was punctuated by a bear-hug from batting partner Smriti Mandhana.Mandhana and Harmanpreet were involved in a 64-run partnership that took only 65 balls coming and it was part of the three successive half-century partnerships India stitched to successfully chase down the 252-run target in the fifth ODI at the John Davies Oval in Queenstown. In their final international before the Women’s World Cup starting next week, India had managed to shake off their run of losses on New Zealand soil, ending the five-ODI series 4-1.Mandhana, who played her first game on tour in the fourth ODI, was up and about even as India lost Shafali Verma early. She displayed her full array of strokes in a second-wicket partnership of 60, in which Deepti Sharma, promoted to No. 3 with Yastika Bhatia absent, appeared to be struggling to rotate the strike. The introduction of spin saw Deepti being stuck at the striker’s end, facing 11 dots out of the 16 leading up to her wicket.Mandhana set about milking the bowling, before hitting a powerful sweep off Amelia Kerr’s legspin to bring up her 20th half-century in ODI. The knock was not without its chances but the left-hander was quick to brush them aside and march forward.Harmanpreet is in the middle of a difficult phase in her career. Her place is under scrutiny. And she was “rested” for the previous game. On Thursday, she walked in with India still a fair distance from comfort. With Mandhana motoring along at the other end, she took her time to get her eye in before that six off Jonas got her going. A couple of overs later, she hit offspinner Frances Mackay for consecutive fours after being dropped a ball earlier.Mandhana fell an over later for 71 off 84, but Harmanpreet took the onus to push India forward in the company of captain Mithali Raj, who hit her eighth 50-plus score in her last 12 ODI innings. Harmanpreet got to her first half-century in a year but fell for a 66-ball 63 with India on the doorstep of victory. In the end, quite aptly, Raj shepherded her side to their first win of the tour.India would have been chasing much more than 252 had it not been for their spinners, who picked up seven wickets between them. Kerr continued her rich vein of form and hit her fourth successive fifty-plus score – to go with an unbeaten century – this series. There has been only one player who has made more runs than her 353 and taken more wickets than her seven in the history of all bilateral series cricket. Sri Lanka’s Tillakaratne Dilshan.Along with Sophie Devine, Kerr helped New Zealand progress rapidly, adding 68 off just 76 deliveries. Devine took the attack to India’s spinners, carting Rajeshwari Gayakwad for a six off her first ball in the game. But offspinner Sneh Rana got enough bite from the surface to apply the brakes on the hosts’ scoring and dismiss Devine for 34.Deepti then had Amy Satterthwaite and Kerr dismissed in the space of four overs to help India wrest back control. Lauren Down, though, found the going easy before Hayley Jensen’s cameo of 30 off 33 balls powered New Zealand towards 250.The spinners ended up bowling 38 of the 50 overs for India and barring Gayakwad, the trio of Rana, Deepti and Poonam Yadav had the economy rate well under five an over.

The allrounder’s ability to counterattack with the bat was sorely missed in Lahore

Danyal Rasool23-Mar-2022They were five wickets down, and there was little to worry about. In Alex Carey and Cameron Green, Australia had a wicketkeeper coming off a fine 93 in the last game and a generational all-round talent together at the crease. Naseem Shah might have been at his quickest, meanest best, but there was only so long he could keep up in these unforgivingly hot conditions. Besides, Australia might have lost five batters, but the idea that Pakistan were into the tail was exceedingly premature.And so it proved. Green scored 79, Carey 67, and all notions of a quick collapse were dismissed. They put on 391, a first-innings score that’s never resulted in an Australian Test defeat against Pakistan, and the hosts were left to grind once more.Related

Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc inspire Pakistan collapse of 7 for 20

Cummins and Starc finally blow the house down

Stats – Pakistan's worst collapse

Pakistan were five wickets down, and the sickening panic engulfing the Gaddafi Stadium felt fully justified. It’s Pakistan Day, a national holiday, and so for a Test held from Monday to Friday, today inevitably drew the biggest crowd. Today, when the sun disappeared behind a blanket of clouds and a fresh evening breeze began to blow just as Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins began their merciless assault on Pakistan’s lower order.Pakistan had an allrounder who, until as recently as the Karachi Test, boasted a superior batting average to Green’s, but Faheem Ashraf wasn’t out there. So, when Starc blew through Fawad Alam’s and Mohammad Rizwan’s defences in quick succession, the squinting crowd saw Sajid Khan shuffling out to join Babar Azam in the middle. Sajid might have a first-class hundred, but Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy don’t often face bowlers of Cummins’ pace and accuracy.It wasn’t a fair fight in the fading light. Ashraf would watch from the dugout as the second half of this lopsided Pakistan side collapsed on itself. While Australia’s last five added 211 to their first-innings total, Pakistan’s fell for four runs – the worst five-wicket collapse in their Test history. It left Australia with a 123-run lead; that Carey-Green partnership had put together 135 on its own.Which takes us back to the first morning, and the audible exclamations of surprise when Pakistan’s team sheet came out. It wasn’t so much that Naseem had been included but who he’d edged out into the XI. The merit of a selection decision cannot be assessed taking only the incoming player’s performance into account, but also what the side may lose in the value of the player who makes way.Faheem Ashraf has provided Pakistan’s Test side with a lot of balance. So why wasn’t he picked for this game?•AFP/Getty ImagesEver since Ashraf became a feature in the Pakistan Test side, after a couple of years out in the cold for reasons that never felt quite justified, his blend of nippy seam bowling and counterattacking lower-order batting has given Pakistan a balancing option no other player in the country provides. His contributions in either department – not to mention what he offers in the field – haven’t just been theoretical; there is yet to be a Test match where Ashraf hasn’t made a notable contribution to his side.And yet it’s this Test in Lahore, which Ashraf isn’t a part of, that advanced the case for his indispensability more than any runs or wickets he could chip in with. It showed what happens when Pakistan fudge an XI. The inclusion of the extra batter, the option Pakistan went with in Rawalpindi, left them hamstrung in the bowling department. And while they reaped the benefits of the extra bowler across the first two days in Lahore, it left them vulnerable to the sort of carnage Australia inflicted in that fateful final hour.There will be the usual scepticism around Ashraf’s ability to survive pace bowling of the class of Cummins and Starc, but then again, even Babar was visibly struggling when Australia’s two spearheads pushed past the ramparts after two sessions of laying siege to Pakistan’s batting line-up. That was the other aspect to the drama of that final hour, the asphyxiating hold Australia held over Pakistan even while the wickets didn’t come. It might have looked somnambulant, but the effect it had was stifling.Australia have conceded 2.78 runs per innings in Test cricket since 2020, making them comfortably the most economical side in world cricket. But this innings saw them take that parsimony to another level, allowing just 2.29 across 116.4 overs. Babar aside, no Pakistan batter managed a strike rate above 37.50, and Starc and Cummins’ combined figures read 44.4-14-89-9. A mere 69 and 68 runs were scored across the first two sessions. The wickets might only have fallen at the end, but Australia’s foot never left Pakistani throats all day.Of course all that might have proved too hot for Ashraf to handle, too, but that only further underscored the value of having him out there instead of the hapless Sajid. The unique threat Ashraf poses with the bat means any runs he made would have broken the shackles, a department where his pedigree outmatches those of his team-mates. South Africa don’t exactly possess a toothless fast-bowling attack either, but on a spicier pitch in Karachi, an attack comprising Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje and Lungi Ngidi was flayed for an 84-ball 64 as Pakistan took a commanding first-innings lead to set up a seven-wicket win. The following Test, an unbeaten first-innings 78 helped Pakistan obtain a 71-run first-innings lead, and a 95-run win. The idea it would have made little difference to have Ashraf out there instead of Sajid feels a touch far-fetched.Only the most miserable curmudgeon would refuse to enjoy the magically joyful display that young fast-bowling talent Naseem put on over the first two days, but the sacrifice required to make that happen mustn’t be forgotten. You don’t get to max out your credit cards while shielding yourself from the implications, and Ashraf’s exclusion left this Pakistan side in debt. In the lengthening shadows and the dimming sky, Starc and Cummins ensured that debt was paid tonight.

Bayern Munich’s frustration following their stalemate with Mainz has been compounded by the confirmation that Manuel Neuer will miss the final fixture of 2025 through injury, handing another crucial opportunity to backup option Jonas Urbig.

Bayern confirm Neuer blow

Following Bayern’s surprisingly gritless 2-2 draw against Mainz at the Allianz Arena on Sunday, the club confirmed that captain Neuer sustained a significant muscle injury during the contest.

The 39-year-old goalkeeper, who was visibly grimacing in the closing stages of Sunday’s match, underwent a detailed medical examination in Munich on Monday. The diagnosis – a muscle tear in his right thigh -officially rules him out of action for the remainder of the year. While the timing is unfortunate as Bayern look to consolidate their position at the summit of the Bundesliga, it forces a rotation at the back that sees Urbig return to the starting lineup for the third time in the league this season.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportThigh tear compounds Mainz misery

The injury adds a bitter postscript to a match that Bayern Munich will be eager to forget. Neuer was kept busy throughout the encounter, powerless to stop headers from Kacper Potulski and Mainz talisman Lee Jae-sung as the visitors exposed rare lapses in the Bavarian defence.

Medical staff have indicated that a muscle tear of this severity typically sidelines a player for several weeks. In the middle of a standard campaign, this would see Neuer miss a significant chunk of domestic action. However, the timing of the injury is arguably the only positive to be drawn from the situation. With the Bundesliga entering its traditional winter hiatus after the upcoming matchday, the actual impact on Neuer’s season is minimal. He will miss the trip to Heidenheim but is expected to be fully recovered and ready for the resumption of the league campaign in January.

Urbig returns for third Bundesliga start

Neuer’s enforced absence clears the path for 22-year-old Urbig to step back into the spotlight. The highly-rated young goalkeeper, who joined Bayern in January with an eye on eventually succeeding the veteran, has already been trusted with the gloves twice in the Bundesliga this season and has reportedly impressed the coaching staff with his displays in training. Vincent Kompany’s willingness to rotate him in earlier in the campaign showed a clear belief in his abilities, and Sunday’s match offers Urbig another chance to showcase his development.

Kompany is expected to hand Urbig the start for the final match of 2025 against Heidenheim. This fixture, however, poses a different challenge to his previous outings. Heidenheim, who sit second-bottom of the table, have built a reputation as one of the Bundesliga’s most uncomfortable opponents on their own patch at the Voith-Arena, known for their relentless pressing and set-piece prowess. While Urbig has looked composed in his limited minutes so far, a commanding performance away from home in such a hostile environment would be a significant statement of intent as he looks to cement his status as the heir apparent.

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AFPKompany demands defensive reaction

The loss of Neuer strips the Bayern defence of its most vocal organiser at a critical moment. Without his sweeping presence behind the high line, the tactical dynamic shifts, placing greater responsibility on the centre-back pairing to protect their younger goalkeeper.

The team's centre-backs will need to be flawless to ensure Urbig isn't left exposed. The focus in training this week will likely shift to defensive solidity and communication. Kompany knows that ending the year with a win is non-negotiable to keep the chasing pack at arm's length. 

While Neuer will be frustrated to miss the final game, the upcoming winter break serves as a perfectly timed reset button. Instead of rushing a return, the goalkeeper can focus entirely on his rehabilitation over the festive period. The club’s medical team is confident that with rest and treatment, the tear will heal completely, allowing Neuer to return to team training during the January camp in optimal condition.

For now, the spotlight shifts entirely to the collective. Bayern must navigate one final hurdle without their leader. If they can overcome the tough test in Heidenheim and secure a victory with Urbig marshalling the defence, it will prove that the squad has the depth and resilience required for a title charge. The Mainz result was a stumble, and the injury is a setback, but the response next Sunday will define the mood heading into 2026.

Marc Guehi continues to be mentioned as a transfer target for Newcastle United, but a new report suggests they are leading the race to sign a cheaper alternative.

Newcastle still eyeing Guehi signing

The Magpies have had issues at the heart of their defence throughout this year, not least because both Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles have been sidelined by serious knee injuries. Granted, the likes of Fabian Schar and Dan Burn have performed largely well together, but the need for reinforcements is still clear.

During the summer, it was Guehi who emerged as Newcastle’s priority transfer target at centre-back, but Crystal Palace held firm and demanded huge money for him, meaning the transfer didn’t materialise, and he remained at Selhurst Park.

Despite this, the England international has continued to be linked with a move to St James’ Park, with a £60m transfer in the January window mooted. Palace have struggled this season, and he may feel that finding a new challenge midway through the campaign is best for his development.

Guehi certainly won’t be the only player that Newcastle are looking at, however, especially if they want to sign a cheaper option, and it looks as though that may be the case, following a new update.

Newcastle lead the race to sign "skilful" defender

According to Calciomercato [via Sport Witness], Newcastle are in pole position to complete the signing of AC Milan centre-back Fikayo Tomori.

The Magpies are “at the forefront” to snap up the 26-year-old, with his current club now willing to sell him for less than the £25m they wanted during the summer transfer window, meaning somewhere around the £20m mark could get the deal done. He is out of contract in the summer of 2027.

This is an update that may frustrate Newcastle supporters, as it may point towards them looking to penny-pinch and spend less on an out of favour player, rather than going big on Guehi.

That’s nothing against Tomori, though, who has forged a good career for himself in Italy and gained plenty of admirers, not least all-time Milan and Italy centre-back legend Franco Baresi, who said of him back in 2021: “He is skilful and has great physical attributes. He is still adapting to the Italian league and I think he can only grow as a defender and help us out.

“He needs to be focused on the present and on doing well with AC Milan. The club will decide his future with the player and with Chelsea at the end of the season. There is great competition in England, but he is definitely one of the most promising prospects out there. His experience with AC Milan can certainly help him develop as a player.”

Tomori has only started six league games this season, however, and is seemingly considered an expendable figure, so should Newcastle look to pounce he could be an absolute bargain.

Appearances

8

Starts

6

Minutes played

551

Goals

0

Assists

0

Pass completion rate

93.3%

Clearances per game

2

Aerial duel wins per game

1.9

The Palace man still feels like the superior and strongest option for Eddie Howe to bring in, however, and fans may want to see the club be ambitious and sign him instead.

On Thursday, the opener will face Sunrisers Hyderabad for the first time since leaving the franchise

ESPNcricinfo staff04-May-2022David Warner has emphasised the need for the top three to contribute big runs as Delhi Capitals look to escape the lower half of the table and secure a playoffs spot in IPL 2022. Capitals are currently seventh among the ten teams with eight points from nine matches, but could move up as far as fourth, potentially, if they beat Sunrisers Hyderabad on Thursday.Given the sheer number of teams still in contention to finish among the top four, Warner believes Capitals may have to win all their remaining games to qualify.”Moving forward from where we are, we’ve obviously got to win every game to make it to the finals,” Warner said in an official Delhi Capitals release. “There’s strong competition, two teams we have got to come up against – Punjab Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad, who are pretty much similar points to us.”We could get that upper hand if we beat Sunrisers. We then go into the top four, but obviously, we need RCB [Royal Challengers Bangalore, who face Chennai Super Kings on Wednesday night] to start losing as well. It’s quite a congested table, but exciting for the rest of the tournament.”Warner is Capitals’ highest run-getter this season, with 264 runs at an average of 44.00 and a strike rate of 156.21. His opening partner Prithvi Shaw is just behind him, with 259 runs at 28.77 and 159.87. Both fell for single-digit scores in Capitals’ last match, a narrow defeat to Lucknow Super Giants.”We’ve got off to a good start,” Warner said of his partnership with Shaw. “In the last match, we’ve fallen cheaply, both of us, and that can happen in this game because we have to play that high-level brand of cricket in the power play.”He emphasised, however, that he, Shaw and No. 3 Mitchell Marsh would need to make big scores and win games for Capitals.”I think the most important thing is myself or him [Shaw] or Mitch scoring an 80 or 90 or even a hundred if we can, to post good totals or chase down big totals, and that’s the key,” Warner said. “I think that’s the focus for every other team. The teams who are doing well are scoring big runs at the top of the order. And, two players are actually scoring big in the games, they are the ones that you really need to shine to win these games.”Thursday’s match will be Warner’s first against Sunrisers since leaving the franchise at the end of a difficult 2021 season. Warner remains Sunrisers’ highest run-getter in the IPL, with 4014 runs in 95 matches at 49.55 and 142.59, with two hundreds and a whopping 40 fifties.”My thoughts are like every other game,” Warner said, “just keep going through your processes till you have to do it, training and just get ready for the game.”

Arsenal have held talks with a prolific striker’s representatives ahead of the looming January transfer window, and it is believed a winter deal could well be on the cards for him, as manager Mikel Arteta searches for an adept Kai Havertz alternative.

Arsenal return to scoring form with 3-0 Champions League win over Monaco

The Gunners had failed to score from open play since late November in the build up to their Champions League clash with Monaco on Wednesday, but their reliance on set-plays was finally put to bed as Arsenal ran out 3-0 victors over the Ligue 1 side in north London.

Arsenal in talks to sign "versatile" gem as they attempt Man United hijack

The Red Devils are also actively working on a deal.

ByEmilio Galantini Dec 11, 2024

Bukayo Saka’s brace and a late flick at the near post from Havertz sealed an all-important three points for Arsenal, who are firmly in contention to automatically qualify for the Champions League knockout rounds, with Arsenal creating many opportunities in the final third.

In truth, the Gunners could have racked up many more goals on the night, and while Arteta was thrilled by his side’s overall display, the Spaniard admitted in his post-match press conference that Arsenal should’ve bagged a few more.

Everton (home)

December 14

Crystal Palace (away)

December 21

Ipswich Town (home)

December 27

Brentford (away)

January 1

Brighton (away)

January 4

“Yeah, we should have obviously scored four or five in the first half,” said Arteta on Arsenal’s win over Monaco.

“This wasn’t the case and this is the Champions League. The level of opposition is really high. The way they play, they create quite a chaos, because there are so many players inside and the moment that you are not very well organised or neat in possession, the first two, three passes, you’re gonna struggle against them, but we will work on that situation. We scored the second one, after the game was in our control. I think the subs helped us as well in the right moments, so overall very positive.”

Unfortunately for Gabriel Jesus, despite his assist for Saka’s opening goal, Monaco was another stark reminder that the £265,000-per-week striker isn’t an answer for Arteta in terms of goalscoring.

Jesus missed two gaping chances running in on goal during the first-half, with Monaco keeper Radoslaw Majecki denying him through point-blank saves on both occasions as the former Man City star held his head in his hands.

Arsenal hold talks with Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic's agents ahead of January

A lot of pressure is on Havertz to deliver the goods amid Jesus’ mis-firing form, prompting Arsenal to look at potential new striker options in the build up to January.

Juventus star Dusan Vlahovic, who helped his side bury Man City in the Champions League last night with their opening goal against Pep Guardiola’s side in Turin, is a rumoured target for Arteta.

Arsenal believe Vlahovic would be an “ideal” striker to fit Arteta’s mould, something echoed by journalist Rudy Galetti, who shared his own update on their interest in the Serbia international in an article for TEAMtalk.

It is believed Arsenal have held talks with Vlahovic’s agents ahead of January, and the prospect of him transferring clubs next month is entirely possible, with the 24-year-old out of contract in 2026.

Juve won’t let him go on the cheap, though, considering he’s been the Old Lady’s star player with 10 goals in 18 appearances this term. It is believed they’re asking for around £58 million, regardless of his contract situation, so interim Arsenal transfer chief Jason Ayto and managing director Richard Garlick will have to dig deep into the Arsenal coffers.

“I’ve been saying it for a long time,” said former Juventus forward Roberto Boninsegna in praise of Vlahovic.

“He’s strong, massive, he fills up front, he’s a reference, he’s a ‘left-footer’ full of courage. A good centre-forward.”

The captain demonstrated his worth once more with a treble as Ruben Amorim's side booked their place in the last-eight in style

Bruno Fernandes underlined his importance to Manchester United with a hat-trick as the Red Devils thrashed Real Sociedad 4-1 to storm into the Europa League quarter-finals. Ruben Amorim's side got off to a nightmare start in the second leg when Matthijs de Ligt gave away a penalty and spot-kick expert Mikel Oyarzabal made no mistake, giving the Basques a 10th-minute lead.

Six minutes later Fernandes made amends from the spot down the other end and United should have gone into the half-time break at least one goal up. United took the lead in the second courtesy of another penalty from the captain and their path through was practically secured when Jon Aramburu was sent off for hauling down the electric Patrick Dorgu.

United were awarded a third penalty only for VAR to overturn it. But Fernandes would not be denied his hat-trick and banged a third strike in off the post before Diogo Dalot added an extra shine to the confidence-boosting win in added time.

GOAL rates Man United's players from Old Trafford…

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Andre Onana (6/10):

Had little to do, facing only one shot on top of the penalty. His slow goal kicks frustrated the crowd again.

Noussair Mazraoui (7/10):

Solid in defence and daring going forward.

Matthijs de Ligt (6/10):

Was a little clumsy to give the penalty away but from then on defended well.

Ayden Heaven (6/10):

Showed bags of confidence in his first senior start although had a couple of lapses of concentration.

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Diogo Dalot (6/10):

Ran into trouble when he gave Barrenetxea the ball and Casemiro had to bail him out. Ended a frustrating performance on a high by playing the through ball leading to Fernandes' third before scoring the fourth.

Casemiro (7/10):

His third impressive performance in a row. Read the game well, intervening when needed and playing some inviting passes.

Bruno Fernandes (8/10):

Got the win on track with two perfect penalties and orchestrated much of the play with his controlling passes from deep. Got a deserved hat-trick with a ruthless strike.

Patrick Dorgu (8/10):

What a difference it makes to have a natural left-back playing the position. His electric pace was a constant thorn in the visitors' side and it was his run which Aramburu halted, earning the red card.

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Joshua Zirkzee (8/10):

Turned on the style and played as if he were Zinedine Zidane. His passing and dribbling were outstanding and he got a rousing reception when he left the pitch.

Rasmus Hojlund (5/10):

His hold-up play was good but his shooting remains terrible, fluffing a decent chance in each half. At least he got an assist for Dalot.

Alejandro Garnacho (7/10):

Ran Real Sociedad ragged in the second half and although he was desperate to score, he made do with an assist for Fernandes.

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Toby Collyer (5/10):

Came on when the win was already on track.

Christian Eriksen (N/A):

Came on in the 89th minute and had a poor shot which went straight to Remiro.

Ruben Amorim (8/10):

The best performance of his tenure by far. The team played how he wanted and took their chances.