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Tottenham Hotspur continued their preparations for the 2025/26 campaign with a trip to Reading to face the League One side in a friendly on Saturday.

Thomas Frank’s side beat the third tier outfit 2-0 on the day and there was a second-half debut for new signing Mohammed Kudus, who created four chances and assisted a goal.

The left-footed forward arrived from fellow Premier League side West Ham United earlier this month, and caught the eye with an impressive showing in his first outing for the club.

Kudus cleverly cut the ball back for Luka Vuskovic to wrap the ball into the far bottom corner, whilst it was also his corner that led to Will Lankshear’s goal.

It was an excellent first showing by the former Hammers star against Reading, but he was not the only ‘new’ player to catch the eye as the scorer in the post above has created excitement among Spurs supporters.

Tottenham agreed to sign the centre-back from Hajduk Split in 2023 but had to wait until this summer for it to officially go through, and he looks to be an exciting talent.

Why Luka Vuskovic is an exciting talent

Vuskovic got Spurs fans excited with his performance against Reading on Saturday, as the central defender scored and assisted a goal from the heart of the defence.

Supporters may also be excited about the 18-year-old talent because of his performances on loan with Westerlo in the Belgian Pro League during the 2024/25 campaign.

Incredibly, the teenage defender ended the season with a haul of seven goals and two assists in 36 league appearances as a centre-back for the Belgian side, suggesting that his attacking exploits against Reading were not a surprise to those who knew about his talents.

Appearances

36

Goals

7

Assists

2

Tackles + interceptions per game

1.6

Error led to shot

1

Penalties committed

1

Ground duel success rate

57%

Aerial duel success rate

69%

As you can see in the table above, Vuskovic did not make tackles and interceptions at a particularly eye-catching rate, but he was dominant in his duels on the ground and in the air.

Whilst these statistics, in terms of his goal output and dominance in duels, are largely impressive, the Croatia international is yet to prove himself at the top level, as he has only been capped once by his country and has yet to play in a major league.

Overall, Vuskovic is a player who supporters can get excited about for the future, but they may also have to be realistic about what his role could be in the short-term, given his lack of experience at the top level.

Meanwhile, Spurs are reportedly interested in signing another player in his position who could come in as an even bigger talent for Frank to work with.

Spurs lining up move for Italian defender

Speaking on the Last Word on Spurs podcast, as relayed by The Boy Hotspur, journalist Ben Jacobs revealed the club are eyeing up a potential swoop for Atalanta centre-back Giorgio Scalvini.

The reporter said: “Tottenham Hotspur are interested in signing the Italian defender Giorgio Scalvini during the summer transfer window. The 21-year-old is highly rated across Europe, and he’s on the radar of multiple clubs this summer… He is likely to cost around €60 million (£52m).”

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

However, Jacobs did not reveal whether or not Spurs are prepared to meet Atalanta’s £52m asking price, or if they are likely to make an official approach for the Italy international, but they are seemingly lining up a move if they decide to act on their interest.

They could face competition for his signature if they do decide to make a move for him, though, as Newcastle United have also been linked with an interest in the 21-year-old colossus.

If Tottenham are able to strike an agreement with the Serie A outfit for the £52m-rated star, Frank could have an even bigger talent than Vuskovic to work with.

Why Scalvini is an even bigger talent than Vuskovic

Scalvini is three years older than the Croatian defender but was already playing in a major league and had been capped multiple times by Italy at the age of 18.

He made his debut against Germany at the age of 18 and was capped three times by his country before his 19th birthday in December 2022, whilst the centre-back also made his Serie A debut at the age of 17.

Scalvini played over 50 games in the Serie A before turning 20 and has played 89 times in the division to date, despite missing 58 matches through injury in the last two seasons combined.

The 21-year-old star, who was once described as a “dominant” defender by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has proven his quality in one of Europe’s major leagues and been capped eight times by Italy, whilst Vuskovic has played once for Croatia and is yet to play a minute of football in a major European league.

In fact, as you can see in the post above, Atalanta described him as a “19-year-old veteran” in his second season at first-team level, whilst posting some of his impressive highlights whilst playing in the Serie A as a teenager.

Scalvini started 31 games in the Serie A in the 2023/24 campaign, before missing the majority of last term through injury, and showcased his defensive qualities with 3.4 tackles and interceptions per game and a 56% duel success rate.

This means that he made more than twice as many tackles and interceptions per match as Vuskovic did whilst playing in the Belgian Pro League last season, which is not one of the top five major European divisions.

Overall, Scalvini would arrive at Spurs as an even bigger talent than the Croatian centre-back because of the quality of his performances in the Serie A, as well as his exposure to top level football, domestically and internationally, at a similar age to the Tottenham man.

Frank's own Xavi Simons: Spurs hugely keen on signing "magic" £50m star

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ByAngus Sinclair Jul 20, 2025

Whilst Vuskovic may go on to be an incredibly impressive centre-back for Spurs in the future, Scalvini is a young centre-back who has proven that he has the quality to make an instant impact, whilst also being one for the future.

Sunderland are days away from clashing with Sevilla in a pre-season friendly match that will show what Regis Le Bris’ camp are made of ahead of moving up to the Premier League, with the Spanish titans no pushovers.

A 4-0 victory was picked up against South Shields to get the run of pre-season fixtures kick-started convincingly. Yet, Sevilla and then a trip to face off against Sporting will be far tougher tests, as the whole barrage of new Black Cats signings get up to speed with what is expected of them in their fresh environment.

One player that won’t be linking up with Le Bris and Co. anytime soon is Jordan Henderson, with all the rumours surfacing of the ex-Liverpool midfielder wanting to return to his boyhood club falling to the wayside when his move to Brentford was recently confirmed.

This doesn’t mean Sunderland won’t be chasing after more Premier League-experienced bodies, however, as another former top-flight regular is eyed up.

Sunderland make contact with £17m star

Aaron Ramsdale has regularly been linked with a switch to the Stadium of Light this summer, with Le Bris perhaps wary about Anthony Patterson’s goalkeeping credentials moving up to such a taxing division.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

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On top of that, there does need to be some more Premier League prowess present when reviewing their whirlwind transfer activity to date, with all of the signings entering the Black Cats camp so far primarily coming from far-off European leagues, minus Simon Adingra moving to Wearside from Brighton and Hove Albion.

That’s where Granit Xhaka could come in and be a standout purchase for the newly promoted side.

Reports from Sky Sports earlier this week revealed that the Mackems were interested and exploring a move for the Swiss midfielder but an update has since emerged.

Indeed, according to German outlet BILD, Sunderland have contacted Bayer Leverkusen regarding a £17m deal for the ex-Arsenal battler, although they are yet to formally submit their first offer.

The Black Cats were facing competition for his signature from Saudi club Neom but they have now been ruled out of the race after refusing to submit a bid of more than £7m.

Why Xhaka is a far better signing than Henderson

Away from his Premier League experience with the Gunners, Xhaka has managed to forge a far more successful career post the English game when weighed up next to a declining Henderson, meaning he should be able to return to the high-pressure scenarios ahead of him reinvigorated and ready to go.

Indeed, it only took the Switzerland international one season in the Bundesliga to lift the German top-flight title, with the 6-foot-1 enforcer very much playing his part in the success story under Xabi Alonso by notching up 50 games and tallying up six goal contributions.

Last season saw his game be elevated even more at the BayArena with seven assists next to his name from 33 Bundesliga clashes, meaning he should be able to slot back into the Premier League with ease, knowing he’s still at the top of his game, despite being 32 years of age.

Henderson, on the other hand, hasn’t quite aged like a fine wine in contrast. The 35-year-old veteran only picked up five assists in all competitions last season, next to Xhaka’s far sturdier amount.

Moreover, only 2.3 duels were won on average per Eredivisie clash last season for Ajax by the former Reds captain, with Xhaka winning a more forceful 3.9 at Leverkusen to do his bit for the cause. It’s hardly a surprise he’s been described as a midfield “monster” in the past, notably by Arsenal writer Connor Humm.

Xhaka’s overall Premier League numbers for Arsenal

Stat

Xhaka

Games played

225

Goals scored

17

Assists

24

Completed passes

14,865 (88%)

Tackles

368

Duels won

1,001

Stats by the Premier League

Away from regaining his confidence out in Germany after a topsy-turvy stay at the Emirates, Xhaka is also well-versed in what it takes to be a fiery and combative option in the demanding English top-flight, even if his career at Arsenal was sometimes bumpy.

When looking at the table above, it’s clear that the 32-year-old would be a valuable addition as a well-rounded option centrally, with a standout 17 goals and 24 assists coming his way in North London, on top of a mighty 1001 duels being won in total across his 225-game span in the top league. Henderson would win 1337, in contrast, but he did have the added boost of 431 appearances on his side.

Hailed as a “leader” by German football expert Raphael Honigstein for what he has given Leverkusen, on top of also possessing the necessary quality to be a success in England, it does feel as if landing Xhaka would be the perfect pick-up to offer both quality and experience to Sunderland’s survival mission.

If he were to join the Black Cats ranks shortly, Henderson would just be put to one side as an afterthought.

Related More exciting than Xhaka: Sunderland make contact to sign £34m star on loan

Sunderland could seal a deal even more exciting than Granit Xhaka returning to the Premier League with this world-class capture.

Posts ByKelan Sarson Jul 17, 2025

Chelsea are now stepping up their efforts to sign a “prolific” striker, who is also being targeted by Premier League rivals Arsenal, according to a report.

Blues still battling Arsenal for Sesko

Both Chelsea and Arsenal should be well-positioned to sign Benjamin Sesko this summer, given that the Slovenian has previously made it clear he would be keen on a move to London, and they continue to battle it out for his services.

Last week, it was revealed the Blues were leading the race for Sesko, despite Andrea Berta already holding direct talks over a deal for the RB Leipzig star, however, the Gunners still remain confident they will be able to get a deal over the line.

The race for the 22-year-old remains open, with the Gunners yet to make a formal bid, but he is not the only striker of interest to both Mikel Arteta and Enzo Maresca, with the London rivals also both vying to sign FC Porto’s Samu Aghehowa.

That is according to a report from Caught Offside, which has revealed that Premier League clubs, including Chelsea, are now stepping up their efforts to sign the Porto centre-forward, with the likes of Aston Villa and Arsenal also in the race.

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1

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A deal could be on the expensive side, however, with the Portuguese club looking to receive around €70m – €75m (£59m – £63m), and they are by no means looking to force the Spaniard out the door this summer.

"Prolific" Aghehowa could be ideal Sesko alternative

With Arsenal now feeling positive about securing a deal for Sesko, the Blues may be forced to move on to alternative options, and the Porto star’s exploits in the Liga Portugal last season indicate he could be an exciting signing.

The Spain international reached the 25-goal mark in all competitions, with six of those coming in the Europa League, and at just 21-years-old, the forward is likely to have plenty of room for development.

In light of his stellar goal return last season, football talent scout Jacek Kulig also heaped praise upon the starlet, describing him as “one of Europe’s most prolific players” back in December.

That said, there may be concerns over the fact that Aghehowa is yet to prove himself in a major European league, and Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres, who netted a remarkable 39 goals in 33 Liga Portugal games last season, is available for a similar price.

Aston Villa have plenty of work to do in the market under Unai Emery this summer and could now bring a familiar face to Villa Park to replace Marcus Rashford, according to a report.

Marcus Rashford staying at Aston Villa is looking unlikely

In a January transfer window where the Villans had to cope with the loss of Jhon Duran, Marcus Rashford was brought in on loan to soften the blow and certainly made an impact upon arrival from Manchester United.

Four goals and six assists in 17 appearances from the Three Lions international helped Aston Villa claim a European place. However, Gabriel Agbonlahor believes Unai Emery should look for an alternative to Rashford due to his exorbitant wages.

He stated: “The main reason why I don’t think he should come is he’s going to upset the changing room. If you’re Morgan Rodgers, you’re Watkins, you’re Konsa, you’ll say ‘Rashford’s coming in on £300,000 a week.

“Okay then, well, I want £300,000 a week. That’s what happens in changing rooms. The £40 million is not the problem, it’s the wages.”

Without putting too fine a point on it, Aston Villa are under pressure to meet PSR regulations and could sell Emiliano Martinez by the end of the month to ease the gravity of their situation.

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Salaries and transfer fees are accounted for, so any swoop for Rashford is starting to become more unlikely as the days go by, especially when you factor in Barcelona’s keen interest in the Carrington graduate.

Making a swift decision, Aston Villa look to be proactive in their search for a replacement, who is a face many from the Premier League sphere will be familiar with.

Aston Villa become contenders to sign Jadon Sancho

According to TEAMtalk, Aston Villa are now in the mix to sign Jadon Sancho from Manchester United after Chelsea opted to pay the £5 million penalty in his loan agreement to send him back to Old Trafford.

The Blues had an obligation to buy the former Borussia Dortmund man for £25 million, but he wasn’t willing to cool his £300,000 per week wage demands, and Villa have quickly joined the race in recent days as they expect Rashford to depart.

Labelled “amazing” by Ian Wright, the 25-year-old registered five goals and ten assists last term in 42 appearances, showing glimpses of the form that earned him a £73 million move to Manchester United in summer 2021.

Creating 38 chances and compeleting 45 dribbles in the Premier League, Sancho has shown he still has plenty more to give at the elite level this season and capped his mini-revival with a goal in Chelsea’s 4-1 triumph over Real Betis to claim continental glory.

If Aston Villa can fit him into their wage structure, there is every chance the London-born star could be a key player at Villa Park amid Manchester United’s desire to sell high earners.

It might be something of an understatement to say that this season hasn’t gone quite how the Tottenham Hotspur faithful would have hoped back in August.

Yet, while they sit 16th in the Premier League, Ange Postecoglou’s side are in with a real chance to lift the Europa League, although before they can think about that, they need to secure passage to the final by keeping or extending their two-goal advantage away to FK Bodø/Glimt on Thursday night.

Unfortunately, they will be without James Maddison, and as things stand, Dominic Solanke could also be set to miss out.

While he’s been effective here and there, the club-record signing has not blown anyone away this season, and that might explain recent reports linking the team to a new centre-forward, who may well be an upgrade on the Englishman.

Tottenham's striker search

Before getting to the player in question, it’s worth looking at some of the other strikers linked with Spurs in recent months, such as Daizen Maeda and Jonathan David.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

The former may spend a lot of time on the wing, but he’s no stranger to playing down the middle, and with a tally of 45 goal involvements this season and a potential price tag of £25m, he could be an incredible signing.

The latter has racked up a sensational haul of 25 goals and 12 assists in 47 games this season and, thanks to his contract expiring at the end of the campaign, will be available on a free.

However, another international striker has now caught the attention of Daniel Levy and Co: Tim Kleindienst.

According to a recent report from Caught Offside, Tottenham are one of several teams interested in signing the German forward this summer.

In fact, the report claims that the Lilywhites are now ready to pay up to £30m for the goalscorer, but so are West Ham United, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Everton.

Moreover, AC Milan, AS Roma, and Bayern Munich are also keeping close tabs on the Bourrusia Mönchengladbach star.

It could be a complicated transfer to get over the line, but it’s one worth fighting for, especially as Kleindienst could be a big upgrade on Solanke.

How Kleindienst compares to Solanke

So, if Spurs are going to go out, get ahead of the competition and splash the cash on Kleindienst, would he come straight into the starting lineup?

Well, when we compare him to Solanke, as he’d be his main competitor, the answer is a pretty resounding yes.

For example, when it comes to the pair’s raw output from this season, which is, of course, the most important metric for a striker, it’s the German who comes out comfortably on top.

In just 32 appearances for Mönchengladbach, totalling 2835 minutes, the “remarkable” 29-year-old, as dubbed by ESPN reporter Archie Rhind-Tutt, has scored 16 goals and provided ten assists.

In other words, the Jüterbog-born poacher is currently averaging a goal involvement every 1.23 games, or every 109.03 minutes.

Appearnaces

32

41

Minutes

2835′

3131′

Goals

16

14

Assists

10

8

Goal Involvements per Match

0.81

0.53

Minutes per Goal Involvement

109.03′

142.31′

In contrast, the North Londoner’s record signing has scored 14 goals and provided eight assists in 41 appearances, totalling 3131 minutes.

That means the Englishman is currently averaging a goal involvement every 1.86 games, or every 142.31 minutes, and while that isn’t bad, it is noticeably worse than his potential competitor.

Furthermore, while the former FC Heidenheim ace has scored four goals and provided one assist in his six senior caps for Germany, the former Bournemouth striker has no goals or assists to his name in three caps.

Ultimately, while Solanke has been a useful player for Spurs so far, it’s clear that Kleindienst is the better goalscorer, and therefore, Levy and Co should go out and sign him this summer.

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Arsenal were finally back in action on Tuesday night, and after months off with a hamstring injury, so was Bukayo Saka.

The Hale End icon didn’t start the Premier League game against Fulham, but he did come off the bench midway through the second half and then, just seven minutes later, scored what ended up being the winning goal.

It was a cameo that reminded everyone of just what the Gunners have been missing since December, and if they are to get past Real Madrid in the Champions League, it’ll no doubt be in part down to him.

In even more exciting news, Andrea Berta seems intent on supporting Saka next season by signing an international star who’d be his dream teammate next season.

Arsenal's transfer targets

Following what is likely to be another season without any silverware, it’s no surprise that the transfer rumours around Arsenal are already coming thick and fast, with one of the most significant in recent days concerning Matheus Cunha.

The Brazilian is supposedly another one of Berta’s targets, as not only has he seriously impressed for Wolverhampton Wanderers this season, producing 19 goal involvements in 29 games, but he worked with the Italian during his time with Atlético Madrid and has a release clause of around £62.5m in his contract.

Someone who could join for free in the summer is Bayern Munich ace Leroy Sané, as his contract is set to expire at the end of the season and has reportedly held “concrete” talks with the North Londoners.

However, with the German set to turn 30 midway through next season, fans might want the club to sign a younger winger for the long term, which is what appears to be happening with Nico Williams.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

According to the Guardian’s Ed Aarons, Arsenal are currently “exploring a summer move” for the Athletic Bilbao gem, who has a release clause worth about £48m in his current contract.

In fact, he goes a step further, revealing that, as one of “his first acts as the club’s sporting director”, Berta has already “held talks” with the player’s representatives.

It could still be a complicated transfer to get over the line, but given Williams’ incredible ability and potential, it’s one worth fighting for, especially as he’d be unreal alongside Saka.

Why Williams would be a dream for Saka

When it comes down to it, there are a couple of intertwined reasons why Williams would be such a good signing for Arsenal and, specifically, Saka, with the first being his raw output.

For example, in just 37 appearances last season, the “world-class” talent, as dubbed by journalist Zach Lowy, scored eight goals and provided 16 assists, which comes out to a sensational average of a goal involvement every 1.54 games.

Appearances

37

38

Goals

8

9

Assists

16

7

Goal Involvements per Match

0.64

0.42

Then, this season, he’s scored nine goals and provided seven assists in 38 appearances, which comes out to a slightly reduced but nonetheless impressive average of a goal involvement every 2.37 games.

Having a player who is this productive on the left wing will not only reduce the burden on the Gunners’ mercurial number seven, but with how frequently the Spaniard scores or assists, he will likely see his own tally increase.

Moreover, the fact that he’s so dangerous will force opposition defenders to focus on both wings instead of doubling up on the Englishman as they do today, which should open up space for the 23-year-old, which is the second reason he’d be a dream teammate.

Finally, according to FBref, the Bilbao dynamo sits in the top 2% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues, the Champions League and Europa League, for successful take-ons per 90, which again, should see him pull defenders away far more than the North Londoners current left-wing options do.

Ultimately, Arsenal should be doing all they can to sign Williams this summer, as his output is spectacular, and even when he’s not scoring or assisting, he has the ability to make things happen, which will make him a dream to play with for Saka.

Their best CF since Aubameyang: Arsenal in talks to sign £58m "powerhouse"

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Valkerie Baynes and Firdose Moonda chat to Jhulan Goswami ahead of the WCPL

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Aug-2024Former India star turned mentor Jhulan Goswami talks to Firdose Moonda and Valkerie Baynes on this week’s ESPNcricinfo Powerplay about her new role at the WCPL, nurturing India talent and calls for franchise windows to protect the future of the women’s game.