Harry Kane has been offered “is it the same” advice as a 2026 transfer for the prolific England international striker continues to be mooted. Ex-Tottenham star Stephen Carr has been discussing future plans for the Bayern Munich talisman, with GOAL being told why a stunning return to Spurs is unlikely but a switch to “somewhere else in Europe” could happen.
Transfer clause: Fee that will trigger exit talks
It has been revealed that Kane has a clause in his contract at the Allianz Arena which can be triggered in upcoming windows. If a bid of £57 million ($76m) is tabled, then the 32-year-old frontman will be allowed to enter into talks with interested parties.
Tottenham have the option of matching any offers, having stipulated as much when sanctioning the sale of their all-time leading goalscorer in 2023, and would love to welcome a home-grown icon back to familiar surroundings in north London after seeing him break his trophy duck in Germany.
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Spurs return: Will Kane head home?
Kane is, however, happy at Bayern and has been linked with other heavyweight outfits such as Barcelona and Real Madrid. With that in mind, a retracing of steps to the Premier League is not considered to be a top priority.
Quizzed on whether Kane will ever don a Spurs jersey again, Carr – speaking with Casino.org, where you can review online gambling – told GOAL: “I’m not sure. He’s having unbelievable success in Germany. He’s a goalscorer and will score goals wherever he goes.
“I’m sure he will have other offers. He has the buyout and do Tottenham have first refusal? Is it ever the same when a player comes back again? Not really. The team he left, he had a great relationship with him and [Heung-min] Son playing together – that worked really well. It would be a completely different team that he came back to if that evolved. I think he will have offers from big clubs if he wants to move on. He has proven that he just scores goals. He’s phenomenal.”
Never go back: Kane remains a legend at Tottenham
Football folklore dictates that you should “never go back”, with Kane aware that a return to Tottenham – if things did not work out as planned – could lead to his legacy being tarnished somewhat. That will be factored into his thinking.
He will also be turning 33 next summer, with Spurs likely favouring more long-term solutions. Carr added on what happens next for a fan favourite at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium: “He left and even the fans in the end understood that he needed to leave in order to win something. He deserved to win something, which he has now. I’m sure he will win more this year.
“He had unbelievable success there [Spurs], is a legend there, and I think he is still looked at like that. He scores goals regardless but whether he would have that same success, I don’t know. It would be great if he did go back, but I think he will be looking at it differently. After leaving Tottenham, giving up on the English goal record – he would have caught [Alan] Shearer the way he was going – he’s not going to get younger, he does adjust his game, but I get the feeling he will stay there or go somewhere else in Europe. He might want another challenge, rather than going back to Tottenham.”
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Kane contract: New challenge or extension at Bayern?
Kane has offered no indication that he is considering a change of scenery, having spoken on a regular basis of how happy he and his family – including wife Kate – are in Bavaria. He is tied to a contract through to 2027 that may yet be extended.
Bayern are understandably reluctant to part with their free-scoring No.9. They have seen Kane register 110 goals through 117 appearances – winning back-to-back Golden Boots. He became a Bundesliga title winner last season and is ready to chase down more major honours in 2026 – including the World Cup crown as captain and record-shattering all-time leading marksman of the England national team.
From comebacks to spin questions, Litton Das and Scott Edwards eye answers before bigger competitions around the corner
Abhijato Sensarma29-Aug-2025
Litmus test for skipper Litton
While the T20 World Cup early next year remains a focus for Bangladesh, it is some way down the horizon. They will be looking at this series to tighten their own line-up for the more immediate T20 Asia Cup, set to begin on September 9 in the UAE.That tournament will be the first major assignment for captain Litton Das, in charge of the T20I side since earlier this year. He has already shepherded them to their maiden T20I series wins against Sri Lanka and Pakistan, and will be expected to extend the winning streak before the Asia Cup.Nurul Hasan has been in the middle of a purple patch in T20s•GSL/Getty Images
Bangladesh’s comeback men
The series is also a storyof comebacks on both sides. Bangladesh have recalled wicketkeeper-batter Nurul Hasan and top-order batter Saif Hassan, both of whom last played for Bangladesh over two years ago.Nurul has accumulated 514 runs in the 2024-25 season across T20 leagues, and also led Rangpur Riders to the inaugural Global Super League title in 2024. Saif, meanwhile, struck a couple of impressive half-centuries at the recent Top End T20s in Australia. They will be looking to push for spots in the first XI.Scott Edwards will be without two of his key allrounders from the Europe qualifiers•Matthew Lewis/ICC/Getty Images
Unfamiliar territory for Netherlands
They won the Europe qualifier for the 2026 T20 World Cup earlier this year, but were set to play in subcontinental conditions only when they landed in India for the World Cup next year. Game time in the region has been rare for them. In Bangladesh, too, they have only ever played once before, way back in the 2014 T20 World Cup.The pitches in Bangladesh have made for lower-scoring encounters than the ones in India in the recent past. Nonetheless, this tour will allow Netherlands to start figuring out their best combination on surfaces quite different to the ones they played on to win the Europe qualifiers.Bas de Leede misses this tour but should be back for the World Cup•AFP/Getty Images
Netherlands are without their stars
A couple of spots in Netherlands’ eventual World Cup squad might be reserved for two of their top allrounders – Bas de Leede and Roelof van der Merwe – who could not make it to this tour because of their County commitments. Both played major roles in the Europe qualifiers. But left-hand opener Vikramjit Singh (dropped for the qualifiers), right-arm quick Sebastiaan Braat (last played in 2021), and allrounder Sikander Zulfiqar (in 2019) will be looking to back up their recent domestic numbers as they fill up the vacant spots.In unfamiliar conditions, a lot of the responsibility for leading the side might fall on the shoulders of their captain and middle-order lynchpin, Scott Edwards.Rishad Hossain’s form has dipped of late•AFP/Getty Images
Spin headache for Bangladesh
Bangladesh will be less than thrilled with their incumbents in the spin department. While their pacers have been impressive on their way to 51 wickets in T20Is in 2025 – 60.71% of all wickets they have taken this year – their spinners have had uneven returns.After a spell out of the XI, Mahedi Hasan made a comeback in the final T20I against Sri Lanka, and took 4 for 11 to bowl them to victory. His numbers were less remarkable in the series against Pakistan, where he took just three wickets at an average of 32.66 and an economy of 8.90.Rishad Hossain, the legspinner who is also a handy bat, has not been as potent either in 2025 with an average of 32.70 and an economy of 8.75.With the only other bowler who bowls spin in the side being Nasum Ahmed, who hasn’t played T20Is this year, Bangladesh will be hoping the spinners up their game if they are to mount a serious title challenge in the Asia Cup or next year’s T20 World Cup.
Performances in the tri-series featuring Pakistan and Afghanistan saw them squander advantageous positions in about every game
Danyal Rasool06-Sep-2025United Arab Emirates (UAE) are set to play their second Asia Cup which begins later this month. ESPNcricinfo takes a look at how the home team shapes up ahead of the tournament.How did they make it?UAE qualified for the Asia Cup by winning the ACC Men’s Premier Cup 2024. The tournament in Oman featured ten sides, with the top three guaranteed qualification for the eight-team Asia Cup. After finishing second in their group, UAE defeated Nepal in the semi-finals, before going on to beat Oman – the side they lost to in the group – in the final.Recent resultsUAE’s recent results show quite a gap between their floor and ceiling. Since May 2025, and before the recent tri-series with Afghanistan and Pakistan, they had won six out of nine. That included a come-from-behind series win over Bangladesh. It was followed by an inconsistent tournament in Uganda, where they won three of their five games, but were ultimately pipped to first place by the hosts. The tri-series has seen them squander advantageous positions in just about every game, demonstrating flashes of quality even against the more decorated sides, without quite the experience to sustain it over 40 overs.Who are their key players?As with most sides on the fringes of the elite, match outcomes depend heavily on individual stars having good games. Sides like the UAE do not quite have quality running through each position in the way the more established teams do. The first name on the team sheet is their talismanic captain and opener Muhammad Waseem, whose explosiveness up top is instrumental to useful starts with the bat. He strikes at over 155 in 2025, and has proved a focal point of quality for the Asia Cup hosts.Left-arm spinner Haider Ali could be key if the tracks in UAE are slow and low•Emirates Cricket BoardThe only batter in the side with a more explosive record is Asif Khan, more specialised at finishing the innings off with his big hitting straight down the ground. On lower, slower tracks like the kind the UAE is likely to throw up for the tournament, left-arm spinner Haider Ali has the record to instil optimism. He was the leading wicket-taker in that tournament in Uganda, and the pick of the bowlers in the team’s second fixture against Pakistan in the tri-series.Who do they play at the Asia Cup?UAE have been placed alongside defending champions India, Pakistan and Oman in Group A. They take on India to start off in Dubai, before a fixture against Oman in Abu Dhabi, and then one versus Pakistan in Dubai two days later. They will need to finish in the top two to make it to the Super Four.How have they fared in the Asia Cup before?The UAE has only ever played one T20 Asia Cup in the past – in 2016 in Bangladesh. That year, the qualifying stage was melded in with the tournament proper, and the UAE eased through that first stage with wins over Afghanistan, Hong Kong and Oman. In the second stage, they finished bottom, losing all four games.UAE squadMuhammad Waseem (capt), Alishan Sharafu, Aryansh Sharma (wk), Asif Khan, Dhruv Parashar, Ethan D’Souza, Haider Ali, Harshit Kaushik, Junaid Siddique, Matiullah Khan, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Jawadullah, Muhammad Zohaib, Rahul Chopra (wk), Rohid Khan, Simranjeet Singh and Saghir Khan
He has racked up five hundreds in his last six List A innings to lead Vidarbha into the semi-finals of the Vijay Hazare Trophy
Shashank Kishore14-Jan-2025Karun Nair laughs at the prophecy of a casual quip from a podcast he was a part of in September 2024. Robin Uthappa, his former Karnataka team-mate, had asked what more Nair needed to do to get noticed.At the time, Nair had just returned from summer in England with Northamptonshire, scoring 487 runs in 11 innings, including a best of 202 not out. It hurt him that he wasn’t considered for BCCI’s season-opening Duleep Trophy.”Funnily enough I said I think I need to score a hundred in every single innings to kind of get noticed,” Nair laughs during a chat with ESPNcricinfo from Vadodara. He remembers that light-hearted quip as he sits on top of the run-scoring charts in the ongoing 2024-25 Vijay Hazare Trophy.Related
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Karun Nair sets new List A record for most runs without being dismissed
Nair has stacked up scores of 122*, 112, 111*, 163*, 44* and 112* in his last six innings. Prior to being dismissed for 112 against Uttar Pradesh, Nair had set a new List A record of scoring 542 runs without being dismissed, going past former New Zealand allrounder James Franklin. This glorious run has helped Vidarbha make the semi-finals, with Nair playing a key role as batter and captain.”I think I may have manifested something like this unknowingly in that chat with Robbie, and that’s coming into fruition,” Nair laughs. “At the time [of recording the podcast], I was hurting a bit. After scoring runs in England and scoring nearly 700 runs [690 at the 2023-24 Ranji Trophy] to take Vidarbha into the finals, I did feel I could’ve got a look-in for the Duleep Trophy.”Initially, right through the first half of the Ranji season I kept thinking about missed opportunities when I couldn’t convert a few of my starts. But coming into the Vijay Hazare Trophy, I had completely forgotten about it, but I’ve just kept playing and have kept getting hundreds.”Nair’s fall after being India’s second triple-centurion in Test cricket was quite steep. He not just slipped out of national contention but also fell out of favour with the selectors from his own state, Karnataka. After more than a year of not having a team, his comeback began at the DY Patil tournament in early 2023.Karun Nair has turned his career around after moving to Vidarbha•PTI A chat with former India pacer Abey Kuruvilla during the tournament helped him find a new team in Vidarbha. It helped that Nair had a rapport with Kuruvilla, who was India Under-19 selector when he was coming through the ranks.Nair joined Vidarbha ahead of the 2023-24 following a season in the minor counties for Burbage & ER Cricket Club in East Wiltshire, for whom he made two hundreds and a half-century in eight innings. It was a step down, but Nair simply wanted any game time he could.As he reflects on his runs and form he describes as “surreal and humbling”, Nair remembers the struggles of those dark days and the time when he yearned to simply get bat on ball after sitting at home for nearly seven months not knowing where his next opportunity would come from.”I think, quite honestly, it’s even amazing to myself also to look at the results that are coming about currently,” he says. “But I would say the only thing I’m focused on is cherishing each moment and being present in that particular game. I’m not thinking about the past or the future; I’m thinking about only that game and playing as though that is the most important innings of my career.”I don’t think in these six matches, it’s ever come across to my mind that I have so many runs so I can play however the way I want. Yes, obviously, I would be lying if I say I haven’t thought about the dark days, but I’ve managed to control those thoughts and kind of rein myself in and say the team needs something else for me and I need to stay there till the end and make sure that I cross the line.”As soon as there’s a stage where I know I’m confident that we are through, then that’s when I play a little more freely and attacking. So really, I would say it’s the process that I followed this year and the last probably is 12-16 months where I’ve been very thoughtful in each and every game that I’ve played. I’ve made sure that it is the most important moment in my career and made sure that I’ve taken that to every single innings that I’ve played.”Along the way, Nair has also found a new IPL home at the Delhi Capitals, a team he once captained all too briefly, after having gone unsold at the previous auction. The tough times, Nair says, is over. He likens it to seeing light at the end of a dark tunnel.Karun Nair has captained the Delhi franchise in the past in the IPL•BCCIInevitably, runs and records of this magnitude have brought with it plenty of attention. With India due to tour England later in the summer, Nair’s experience of two county seasons at Northants and runs at the Ranji Trophy could potentially keep him in the conversations.Nair chuckles at the prospects of a possible comeback, nearly seven years after he was left out following spending the entire summer in England being in the reserves.”I’m quite relaxed actually,” he says. “I wouldn’t be lying if I forgot about everything. But I don’t know, the way I feel about my game, in the mind, the way I go about things – it’s just different. I just feel different every single day I wake up.”I’m only trying to shift my focus on winning games for my team and performing along the way. Basically, I’m only thinking about that at the moment, which is kind of the right thing to do. Quite honestly, I don’t know how close I am [to being in contention for the national. team]. Like I said, again, I just want to take it one game at one time. But yeah, I don’t know.”What Nair does know is he’s rediscovered his penchant to score big, and score hundreds – “the only currency in cricket I heard growing up.” Now to try and top it off with a trophy winning season for Vidarbha.
Manchester United have now reportedly sent scouts to keep close tabs on an Elliot Anderson alternative who Ruben Amorim once called a “natural leader”.
Roy Keane slams "schoolboy" Man Utd star after West Ham draw
Just when it seems like Man United are making progress, the Red Devils are hit with more frustration. This time, it was West Ham United who took full advantage to snatch a point at Old Trafford thanks to Soungoutou Magassa’s late equaliser.
It’s now one win in five for Ruben Amorim’s side and club legend Roy Keane couldn’t hold back his criticism any longer following the draw against West Ham.
It was another game in which United failed to make their attacking prowess count as Keane questioned midfielder Mount following his cameo from the bench.
It’s not the first time that Amorim’s midfield has been questioned and it certainly won’t be the last. INEOS are well aware that additions in that area should be next on their list of priorities, having reinforced the frontline in the summer.
18x ball lost: Amorim must ruthlessly bench overhyped 5/10 Man Utd man
This Man Utd ace struggled in their 1-1 draw at home to West Ham
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As such, names such as Elliot Anderson and Adam Wharton have emerged as 2026 targets. The former is quickly becoming one of the most sought-after midfielders in the Premier League, with United among the chasing pack to land his signature.
But the Nottingham Forest star isn’t the only name on their shortlist. Instead, they could yet form a reunion between Morten Hjulmand and Amorim.
Man Utd keeping close tabs on Hjulmand
According to Caught Offside, Man United scouts are now keeping close tabs on Hjulmand in case they miss out on both Anderson and Wharton. The Sporting CP star is valued at £50m – making him a cheaper alternative to Anderson – and is someone that Amorim knows well from his time in Lisbon.
Minutes
1,067
1,260
Progressive Passes
91
119
Tackles Won
16
20
Ball Recoveries
79
115
Although Amorim was quick to dub Hjulmand a “fantastic player” at Sporting, there’s no denying that Anderson should remain Man United’s top option.
The Nottingham Forest star has blown the Dane away, statistically speaking, so far this season and has done the same comparison to a number of Premier League stars.
He won’t come cheap and United must overcome the hurdle of competition from Manchester City and others, but INEOS simply have to go all out for the England international in 2026. If the Red Devils are to rise again, they cannot settle for second best.
"Pretty torrid" – Samuel Luckhurst slams Man Utd star vs West Ham
Liverpool splashed the big bucks and then some over the summer, hopeful of retaining their Premier League title in style.
However, the majority of the whopping £415m spent now looks as if it has gone down the drain, with both Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak remaining goalless, despite costing a combined £225m to bring to Anfield.
Arne Slot thankfully has the January transfer window coming into view now to try and turn around his side’s lacklustre campaign, with Liverpool all the way down in eighth position at the moment, as Manchester United are even ahead of the Reds on goal difference.
Liverpool planning to spend big again
You would think that the Merseyside giants might be more cautious in the transfer department after such a wild summer spending spree.
However, reports suggest that the underwhelming reigning champions could go all out to try and win Michael Olise from Bayern Munich for an astronomical £177m fee.
Moreover, one of the best players in the top-flight this term in the shape of Antoine Semenyo is reportedly also on their radar as they try to upgrade on an attack that looks short on confidence, even with Mohamed Salah starting week in, week out.
On top of flashy recruits being rumoured to join the Anfield ranks in attack, an update from Liverpool-based writer DaveOCKOP has also revealed that the Reds are holding initial talks with Crystal Palace over midfield star Adam Wharton.
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It is stated that the move is more likely for the summer of 2026 than the upcoming January window, but never say never when it comes to Liverpool’s ambition in this department, with it also being revealed back in September that the English international’s preference – if he were to leave the Eagles behind – was a switch to Slot and Co.
Having just made his first start for the Three Lions during this international break, the sky really does appear to be the limit for Wharton currently, with a mammoth £100m price tag also above his head.
How Wharton can become Slot's own Gerrard
As Slot looks to reshape his midfield in 2026, he could find a new beating heart at the centre of his team in the form of Wharton, much like a certain Steven Gerrard was back in the day.
By the close of his distinguished career at the very top, Gerrard was showered with some immense praise, with Gabriel Agbonlahor notably once describing him as the best midfielder in Premier League history, even ahead of Kevin De Bruyne.
Indeed, away from bagging a stunning 186 goals and picking up 155 assists for his boyhood club, the well-rounded servant also closed out his long-standing career on Merseyside with a Champions League title.
As Liverpool’s website affectionately put it when Gerrard hung up his boots, the Englishman was a revered “gladiator” for his boyhood side.
Of course, it would be crazy to expect Wharton to be as impactful from minute one of his own Anfield journey, but in time, he could be Gerrard 2.0, displaying a similar level of composure and ball manipulation from midfield.
Wharton for Palace by season
Stat ( *= per 90 mins)
23/24
24/25
25/26
Games played
16
20
9
Goals scored
0
0
0
Assists
3
2
0
Touches*
49.6
45.7
43.9
Accurate passes*
28.5 (81%)
26.7 (79%)
25.2 (78%)
Key passes*
1.3
1.3
1.6
Big chances created
5
5
5
Tackles*
3.0
1.7
1.3
Ball recoveries*
4.8
5.1
4.0
Total duels won*
4.9
3.2
3.2
Stats by Sofascore
The data above displays Wharton’s similar well-roundedness from the middle of the park, which is very much like the Liverpool great, with the 21-year-old only getting better with time, as he becomes more and more used to the demands of the Premier League.
Unfortunately, he hasn’t quite uncovered a goalscoring mojo in the top-flight yet, like Gerrard, but with the likes of Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai next to him if he takes on this huge Anfield opportunity, there is a possibility that he enhances his varied game to that next level.
Hailed as a “genius” at a very early age at Blackburn Rovers by ex-boss Tony Mowbray, and now an “incredible” star by former Selhurst Park teammate Eberechi Eze, it does feel as if a big move soon awaits Wharton.
If all clicks into place for the 21-year-old at Liverpool, he might well be the second coming of Gerrard; a powerful English midfield technician who has all of the tools to be a Three Lions mainstay for years to come.
It will take some big bucks to land his services, but if Slot can win a new legend in the process, it’s a bold investment that’s definitely worth making.
New Trent: Liverpool star is "one of the most underrated players in England"
Slot could find a shrewd solution to Liverpool’s problems in this talent.
Liverpool were condemned to another damaging, dreadful defeat as Arne Slot’s side were thumped 4-1 by PSV in a Champions League horror show at Anfield. The Reds' shambolic defence was exposed time and again, with captain Virgil van Dijk conceding an early penalty while Ibrahima Konate was at fault for the third as their season hit another depressing low.
Slot’s side made the worst possible start with just six minutes on the clock after Van Dijk needlessly raised his arm high above his head, referee Alejandro Hernandez rightly pointed to the spot and former Tottenham full-back Ivan Perisic sent Giorgi Mamardashvili the wrong way to hand the visitors the lead. But there was huge relief just 10 minutes later after PSV keeper Matej Kovar saved a fierce shot from Cody Gakpo, but only succeeded in palming the ball into Dominik Szoboszlai's path to fire home from 12 yards out.
Anfield was briefly raucous as Slot’s side mounted wave after wave of attack in the first half, playing with a confidence and style that has been sorely missed for large swathes of the domestic season, with Gakpo, Mohamed Salah and Hugo Ekitike all seeing shots saved by Kovar.
But the home crowd was silenced 10 minutes into the second half after an inch-perfect through-ball from Mauro Junior found Guus Til running through the middle of Liverpool’s box to fire past Mamardashvili. And there was more punishment after a shocking error from Konate, who allowed a lofted ball to bounce under his feet, and PSV substitute Couhaib Driouech fired home after an initial shot which had rebounded off the post.
Driouech completed the rout in time added on as boos rang out around Anfield following another diabolical performance which leaves them 13th in the league phase table with three games to play.
GOAL rates Liverpool's players from Anfield…
Getty Images SportGoalkeeper & Defence
Giorgi Mamardashvili (4/10):
Returned to starting line-up after injury to Alisson, but will be wishing he had stayed on the bench after being left awfully exposed time and again by his defence. Was not at fault for any of PSV's four strikes.
Curtis Jones (4/10):
Asked to cover in at full-back and was kept busy all evening by PSV's industrious attack. One of the few players in the back-line to not commit a howler.
Ibrahima Konate (3/10):
A number of question marks over his place in the team, and had a decent chance to score with a header from a corner saved in the second half. But it was his basic error, allowing the ball to bounce under his feet which let PSV in for their third. Was hooked with 10 minutes to go.
Virgil van Dijk (3/10):
Dreadful evening for the Liverpool captain after conceding a needless penalty and was shown a yellow card for a reckless challenge a few minutes later. Saw a header crash off the crossbar on the half-hour, but it was a poor evening for him.
Milos Kerkez (4/10):
For the first hour was enjoying one of his better evenings, marshalling PSV's many attacks down the Liverpool left, and had his hands full up against Man. Will be disappointed he failed to match Til's run for PSV's second goal.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesMidfield
Alexis Mac Allister (5/10):
Played way too much of the game in his own half. Cut a frustrated figure when he made it into PSV's box after having a couple of penalty appeals waved away.
Ryan Gravenberch (5/10):
Plenty of running, but not enough final product. Another Liverpool player who will need to do some soul searching after a flat performance.
Dominik Szoboszlai (6/10):
Asked to move into midfield by boss Slot and the decision paid dividends as his run began the build-up to his equaliser. Ran non-stop all match, was there at the vital moment to break up play and was dangerous around the opposition box, too.
AFPAttack
Mohamed Salah (4/10):
A shadow of his former self once again. Surviving on scraps and a virtual passenger for too much of the game.
Hugo Ekitike (5/10):
Given the nod in front of Isak and was a constant threat to PSV, but failed to take any of the chances that came his way. Worrying scenes after he signalled to the bench he was injured and was hobbled off after 60 minutes.
Cody Gakpo (5/10):
Facing his boyhood club, the Dutchman was full of running and created a host of chances for the Reds, but will be ultimately frustrated by his performance.
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Alexander Isak (4/10):
Slot said before the match that Isak was rested due to the number of minutes he's played, but was given his chance on the hour following the injury to Ekitike. Barely had a touch
Federico Chiesa (4/10):
Came on to replace Konate with 15 minutes to go, but had little impact, creating little with his handful of touches.
Arne Slot (3/10):
The Champions League had been a relative sanctuary among the carnage of the Premier League campaign, but the same deficiencies raised their head and he had no answer. Number one issue is the defence; it's a shambles, he must fix it.
Sunderland have a habit of finding gems in the transfer market and could now look to sign another Moroccan star following their summer capture of Chemsdine Talbi.
The Black Cats have been the surprise package of the Premier League campaign, and the example they have set is up there with the best newly-promoted sides to enter the top-flight.
Regis Le Bris has been a breath of fresh air against the elite in English football, and his side maintained their unbeaten home record in some style on Saturday evening, claiming a dramatic last-gasp draw against Arsenal courtesy of Brian Brobbey.
Sparking scenes of jubilation at the Stadium of Light, the Frenchman’s post-match interview paid tribute to his players and supporters as they battled until the end against one of Europe’s in-form clubs.
He told Match of the Day: “The lads worked hard to the end. They believed it was possible to change the dynamic. It was a tough game, as we expected. They are probably one of the best teams in Europe. We struggled, but we still believed it was possible to score one more goal. Our fans helped a lot. We showed before that it was possible, so now we have this faith, this belief that until the final whistle, anything is possible.”
Admittedly, it would be difficult to imagine a better start for Sunderland in their long-awaited return to the Premier League. Granit Xhaka’s leadership in midfield has offered an excellent base to build from, while figures such as Dan Ballard, Wilson Isidor and Enzo Le Fee have led the charge.
Whether from the start or off the bench, the Black Cats have a healthy balance to their squad and will be keen to bolster the ranks in January, something that could see them enter an untapped market for a player who retains considerable potential.
Sunderland bid for Moroccan talent Hossam Essadak
According to AfricaFoot, Sunderland have submitted an official offer for Union Touarga Sport midfielder Hossam Essadak after his leading role in Morocco claiming glory at the recent Under-20 World Cup in Chile.
Leading his side all the way to the final and collecting the trophy from Gianni Infantino, the 20-year-old is also wanted by Scottish Premiership champions Celtic, and there could be scope for a transfer battle between two of British football’s notable clubs for his services.
Should he opt for Sunderland, Essadak may follow similar footsteps to those of compatriot Chemsdine Talbi, albeit he would likely be viewed as one for the future in the North East.
Amid growing speculation over the prodigious star, scouts from both the Black Cats and Celtic are set to watch him in action before the January window.
Either way, Essadak has two attractive options to pick from after a run of four goals and four assists in 35 appearances for Union Touarga Sport. Wydad Casablanca and RS Berkane have also expressed their interest, but he is likely to be sold to a European counterpart.
Tottenham Hotspur are now preparing a January move to sign a £53m “monster” who plays in the Champions League, having identified him as their top target in defence.
Spurs looking to sign new centre-back amid defensive struggles
Thomas Frank is well-known for being more of a pragmatic manager than predecessor Ange Postecoglou, but Tottenham have been very poor from a defensive point of view over the past few weeks, conceding 13 goals in their last four matches in all competitions.
Most recently, Spurs came unstuck against Fulham at home, with Kenny Tete and Harry Wilson finding the back of the net within just six minutes, and the Cottagers ultimately held out for a 2-1 victory, despite Mohammed Kudus pulling one back just before the hour mark.
Following a run of one win, one draw and five defeats in the last seven outings, Frank is now under real pressure, with it recently being revealed that Xavi could be brought in if results don’t improve by the end of December.
It remains to be seen whether the Dane makes it to the January transfer window, with a tough trip to Newcastle United up next, but plans are already being formulated, and ENIC are particularly keen to strengthen in defence.
That is according to a report from Caught Offside, which states Tottenham are now preparing a €60m (£53m) move for Juventus defender Gleison Bremer, who has now risen to the top of the north Londoners’ shortlist of defensive targets.
It could be difficult to get a deal done, given that Bremer is regarded as one of the Italian club’s prized assets, but they may be tempted to cash-in if they receive a bid that is simply too good to turn down.
A whole host of Europe’s top clubs could also be set to rival Spurs for the Brazilian’s signature, with Chelsea, Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich being named as potential suitors.
Tottenham & Lange now pushing hard to sign "powerful" £30m Rodri-esque maestro
Spurs are keen to strengthen their options in the engine room, and there has been a new update on their pursuit of a midfielder.
By
Dominic Lund
Nov 30, 2025
"Monster" Bremer could be ideal addition for Spurs
It is clear that Tottenham could do with some fresh options in defence, given the sheer number of goals they have conceded recently, and the Juventus star could be the ideal addition to the backline.
Lauded as a “monster” by scout Ben Mattinson, the five-time Brazil international, who is under the same agency as James Maddison and Pedro Porro, has put in some solid performances this season, most notably in Juventus’ 2-0 Serie A victory against Parma.
Gleison Bremer’s key statistics vs Parma
Number completed
Clearances
8
Ground duels (won)
3 (2)
Passes completed
46/52 (88%)
Clearances off line
1
Not only that, but the 28-year-old is also very impressive on the front foot for a defender, having picked up eight goals and four assists in 96 outings for Juventus, setting up two goals in his side’s 4-3 victory against Inter Milan earlier this season.
Bremer has spent the majority of the current campaign out injured, and missed 45 games last season due to an ACL injury, so there may be some concerns about his fitness, but the centre-back has proven himself as a top defender on his day.
Tottenham are planning to back manager Thomas Frank with a bold January transfer swoop which would smash their winter spending record, according to a new report.
Tottenham target attacking signings amid creativity struggles
Spurs’ inconsistency and lack of creativity has been there for all to see since the Dane replaced Ange Postecoglou, with north London rivals Arsenal compounding their struggles by putting them to the sword on Sunday.
Frank’s side failed to get anywhere near troubling David Raya often enough, bar Richarlison’s stunning goal of the season contender from half way, which can be put down to a moment of individual brilliance out of nowhere.
Xavi Simons, who was brought in as the Lilywhites’ statement new playmaker signing last window, has struggled to make a consistent-enough impact in the final third with James Maddison out for most of 2025/2026 due to an ACL injury sustained in pre-season.
Dominic Solanke remains out injured as well as he continues his very slow recovery from an ankle problem, which required minor surgery, with Dejan Kulusevski also still unavailable.
Mohammed Kudus and Randal Kolo Muani returned to the matchday squad against Arsenal following their recent injuries, but co-sporting directors Fabio Paratici and Johan Lange are apparently keen to bolster Frank’s forward line.
Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo has dominated headlines ahead of the January window, following news of his £65 million release clause which can be triggered right after the turn of the year.
Tottenham preparing January bid for £75m star who Frank thinks is the "perfect fit"
The Dane absolutely loves him.
ByEmilio Galantini Oct 9, 2025
Spurs are contenders for Semenyo in light of this contract revelation, while other reports suggest that FC Porto striking sensation Samu Aghehowa is a ‘dream’ target for Tottenham as well.
Now, according to TEAMtalk, Lange and Paratici are plotting a very bold double-swoop for both men.
Tottenham plan record-shattering January swoop for Semenyo and Aghehowa
As per their information, Tottenham want to sign Semenyo and Aghehowa in January, and they’re prepared to spend a whopping £145 million to make that happen.
This ambitious swoop would ‘shatter’ their previous January spending records, but given the club’s lack of real menace going forward, a source claims that Frank has made his wish for more firepower “crystal clear”.
xG
11.0
17th
Non-penalty xG
11.0
16th
Progressive passes
413
12th
Shots
110
19th
Shots on target
40
15th
Average shot distance
15.6 yards
17th
Spurs’ manager also views both Aghehowa and Semenyo as ‘perfect’ additions to his frontline, believing they can provide both quality and a real injection of pace to help exploit opposition defences.
Semenyo, who has contributed six goals and three assists for Bournemouth this term, stands out as one of the Premier League’s most in-form attacking stars right now.
The Ghanaian’s direct style and ability to terrorise defenders on the left flank has attracted strong interest, with Liverpool also monitoring his situation closely.
Porto’s Aghehowa, meanwhile, represents the clinical finisher that’s been missed from Frank’s squad this term.
The 21-year-old Spain international has been sensational this season, scoring nine goals in 15 appearances thus far and 27 goals in 45 appearances last term.
Aghehowa was once on the verge of joining Chelsea before he pulled out of a move to Stamford Bridge, but Enzo Maresca’s loss could be Frank’s gain.
Porto value their prized asset at £80 million — the value of his release clause — and are reluctant to sell mid-season, though a bid matching his clause will force their hand.