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Tottenham are after a few more key summer signings before deadline day on September 1.

£43m star "clear" he wants to join Tottenham in talks with club chairman

He’s expressed his desire to seal a Spurs switch.

3

By
Emilio Galantini

Jul 15, 2025

Preferably for new manager Thomas Frank, they’d secure their desired targets before taking on European champions PSG in their looming UEFA Super Cup final, but it is rarely that straightforward when it comes to Spurs.

The Lilywhites are currently embroiled in a lengthy transfer saga involving Morgan Gibbs-White, who was due to have a medical on July 11 before Nottingham Forest blocked the 25-year-old’s move and threatened legal action against Spurs.

Tottenham’s best-performing regulars in the Premier League – 2024/2025	Average match rating
Son Heung-min	7.00
James Maddison	6.98
Pedro Porro	6.95
Dominic Solanke	6.84
Dejan Kulusevski	6.83
via WhoScored

This has caused an unceremonious delay, but Tottenham are optimistic they can still sign Gibbs-White behind-the-scenes (Fabrizio Romano), even if they may have to wait a bit longer before announcing the England international as their fifth major signing of the summer after Kevin Danso, Mathys Tel, Kota Takai and Mohammed Kudus.

If Spurs’ £60 million deal for Gibbs-White goes through, then it would take Daniel Levy’s summer spending to around £172 million, providing they don’t have to pay Forest more compensation to sweeten the deal.

“The end result is that to get this deal done, Tottenham are probably gonna have to negotiate with Nottingham Forest a fee that includes not just the £60m release clause, but a little extra to effectively buy themselves out of the dispute, or walk away,” said Football Finance expert Stefan Borson to Football Insider.

“Now, we’ve seen in the past other teams have walked away. Of course, we know Liverpool walked away from Van Dijk and came back in January.

“I still think the most likely scenario is that Spurs are the only team that want to buy the player right now, that they’ll pay an extra, let’s say, £5-10m, maybe an extra £5m plus £5m, and the deal could get done. That would be the most likely outcome.”

As well as Gibbs-White, Tottenham are targeting a new number six, with Bayern Munich midfielder Joao Palhinha on their list of potential targets, as reliably reported by Alasdair Gold.

The north Londoners are also contenders to sign Brentford striker Yoane Wissa, alongside Newcastle United and Forest, with the Congolese recently travelling to London for talks over his future (Ben Jacobs).

Tottenham's four-word transfer promise to Thomas Frank

Whatever the outcome of these pursuits, it appears Levy and co are very active in the market right now, which links in to an alleged promise they’ve made Frank about recruitment this summer.

According to Spanish news outlet Diario AS, Tottenham have given Frank an encouraging four-word message in regard to their transfer plans before 2025/2026 – simply stating “investment and more investment” – as quoted by the outlet.

This comes as Levy looks to make a “statement” to the rest of the Premier League this summer, which comes as a promising bit of news for supporters who are about to watch Frank’s attempts to compete on multiple fronts.

They were once tipped for a ‘sell to buy’ summer at one stage, but their advancing talks over a stadium naming rights deal and rumoured cash injection from ENIC appear to have negated the need for high-profile players to depart.

Now, Frank is set to benefit, and as things stand, Levy is making good on the club’s pledge.

تعرض محمد النني، لاعب منتخب مصر والجزيرة الإماراتي، لإصابة قوية خلال مباراة فريقه أمام الوحدة الجارية الآن في الدوري الإماراتي.

ويلتقي الجزيرة مع الوحدة، في المباراة التي تجمعهما ضمن منافسات الجولة الخامسة من مسابقة الدوري الإماراتي 2025-2026، على ملعب محمد بن زايد.

طالع.. الجزيرة الإماراتي يرد عبر “بطولات” على أنباء اهتمامه بالتعاقد مع مارسيل كولر

وتعرض النني لإصابة قوية خلال المباراة، حيث سقط في الدقيقة السادسة ممسكًا بركبته قبل أن يغادر الملعب على نقالة.

ويحتل الجزيرة المركز الخامس في جدول ترتيب مسابقة الدوري الإماراتي برصيد 8 نقاط، بينما الوحدة في المركز الرابع برصيد 9 نقاط.

ويتواجد إبراهيم عادل الجناح المصري، في التشكيل الأساسي للجزيرة خلال مواجهة الوحدة. إصابة محمد النني

Glasgow Rangers manager Russell Martin has now directly held talks over an Ibrox deal for a “fearless” forward, according to a report.

Rangers vying to sign forward to boost title push

Barry Ferguson believes the Gers will be real Scottish Premiership title contenders next season, although they may still have to make a number of additions to the squad if they are to close the gap on Celtic.

When the former manager was asked who he thinks will win the league, he said: “I have to go with Rangers. At some stage, it has got to change. Russell coming in as the new manager. Got a certain type of way that he wants to play.

“I still think he is going to add another three or four players. There is no doubt in my mind about that. I think one or two of them will certainly be the experienced ones. We keep looking back at the one he brought in, Rothwell, who I think is going to be a brilliant signing. You can tell that he is a proper football player.”

Rangers: "Fearless" gem wants to move to Ibrox with Gers in negotiations

The Gers have been handed a major boost.

ByTom Cunningham Jul 28, 2025

With Vaclav Cerny not returning to Ibrox, it may be particularly important for Martin to bring in a new forward, and the manager is now directly involved in the Light Blues’ pursuit of a Premier League forward.

According to a report from The Boot Room, the Rangers boss has now personally held talks with Tottenham Hotspur over Mikey Moore, in order to convince them to let the 17-year-old move to Ibrox this summer.

Moore has attracted widespread interest from the Championship, but the Scottish Premiership is now looking like his most likely destination, with a loan move to the Gers very much on the cards.

The youngster is said to be open to a move to the 55-time Scottish champions, and Tottenham have liked what they have heard from Rangers, meaning a move is looking increasingly likely.

"Fearless" Moore could kick on at Ibrox

The £5k-a-week forward is yet to establish himself as a first-team regular at Spurs, given his age, but there are plenty of signs that he could be capable of making a real impact at Ibrox.

Tottenham’s James Maddison has singled the starlet out for high praise in the past, saying: “[He has] that young, fearless mentality and you never want to take that away from him. He’s a young kid, a brilliant lad, a lovely boy. He takes in information, and he’s got bags of ability.”

Not only that, but the young forward has been prolific at youth level, amassing 32 goal contributions in 24 games for Spurs U18s, which led to former manager Ange Postecoglou giving him a run in the first team.

As such, Moore may now be ready to be a consistent starter at Rangers, so it is exciting news they are in the driving seat for his signature.

Newcastle United are finally making headway in the summer transfer window, with their long-game efforts to sign Nottingham Forest winger Anthony Elanga finally coming to fruition.

The Tricky Trees don’t want to sell the right-sided forward, whose pacy and creative style of play has proved so instrumental in qualifying for European football against the odds, but then Newcastle have tabled a series of offers and are getting close to sealing the deal.

Though Eddie Howe will have been delighted with his side’s Premier League campaign last term, winning the Carabao Cup besides, there’s no question that improvements are needed. Newcastle have been trying to add some depth, but have been foiled in recent weeks.

Newcastle pushing to complete deals

Newcastle have been buffeted by setbacks in recent weeks, failing to convince Chelsea-signed Joao Pedro to join them after missing out on Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha.

The latter has signed for Manchester United, while Brentford’s talisman has expressed his desire to move to Old Trafford this summer.

However, that could all change with Elanga. Although saying that, PIF won’t want more misery, and according to Sky Sports, are exploring a move for PSV Eindhoven’s Johan Bakayoko as a contingency.

Bakayoko, 22, was wanted by Liverpool in a £43m deal last summer, and bears the thrilling approach which could see Howe hit the jackpot with a right-sided signing.

Why Newcastle want Johan Bakayoko

Though Elanga has established himself as one of the most exciting young wingers in the Premier League, he’s only scored 11 times across 82 matches for Nottingham Forest, assisting 21 further goals.

In Bakayoko, Newcastle could sign themselves a player of greater sharpness in the final third, one who could yet reach a much higher level.

The Belgium international has made 131 appearances for PSV since graduating from the club’s youth academy, scoring 33 goals and supplying 22 assists for his teammates.

His recent Eredivisie campaign left something to be desired, but he has still demonstrated over the past couple of years an aptitude that puts him up there with the world’s most exciting prospects.

Matches (starts)

33 (29)

30 (17)

Goals

12

9

Assists

9

1

Shots (on target)*

2.9 (1.0)

2.0 (0.9)

Big chances missed

7

6

Pass completion

87%

86%

Big chances created

12

4

Key passes*

2.1

1.2

Dribbles*

2.8

1.6

Ball recoveries*

3.4

2.0

Tackles + interceptions*

1.3

0.9

Duels won*

4.7

2.8

Bakayoko’s development might have been stunted somewhat over the past year, but there’s no doubt that he’s one of the most exciting young wingers around, with a prolific potential which could see him eclipse Elanga, who is a talented player in his own right.

One theme across both Bakayoko’s league terms has been his keen-edged striking skills, with journalist Antonio Mango singling out his “clinical” qualities.

Partner this with his athleticism and playmaking and you’ve got yourself a winger who could become one of the finest in the business, worldwide.

Praised for an “insane” amount of talent by analyst Ben Mattinson, Bakayoko might be an unpolished gem but he is still a diamond of a prospect, one who could prove to be an upgrade on Elanga in the long run.

After all, he ranked among the top 6% of positional peers in the Netherlands’ top flight last year for goals scored, the top 2% for progressive carries and the top 7% for shot-creating actions per 90, as per FBref.

With Jacob Murphy playing so industriously for Howe, this might be the perfect move to make, adding depth and competition with a player who could skyrocket over the coming years.

Howe's next Tonali: Newcastle preparing bid for £43m "monster"

Newcastle may need to sign a midfielder this summer.

ByAngus Sinclair Jul 4, 2025

FSG’s transfer ethos – getting their work done nice and early – often leaves Liverpool somewhat in the corner of the room while rivals party late into the market, enjoying the thrill of Fabrizio Romano and the rest’s transfer updates.

There are worse problems to have, it must be said. And the real success is found on the field. Liverpool are on the verge of signing Florian Wirtz and Milos Kerkez, having already added Jeremie Frimpong.

Now, it’s time to sign a centre-forward, for Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota left plenty to be desired as Arne Slot’s focal frontmen last season, actually paling in comparison to Liverpool’s wider forward.

Mohamed Salah

38 (38)

29

18

Luis Diaz

36 (28)

13

7

Cody Gakpo

35 (23)

10

5

Diogo Jota

26 (14)

6

4

Darwin Nunez

30 (8)

5

3

Federico Chiesa

6 (1)

0

0

Luis Diaz was even called into play as a makeshift number nine for much of the campaign, his false-nine-type qualities proving invaluable for the Reds as they marched toward the Premier League title.

Who, then, to sign? Targets like Hugo Ekitike, Viktor Gyokeres and Victor Osimhen would all do a job, but Alexander Isak is the cream of the crop, and sporting director Richard Hughes would rake in the plaudits if he got that one over the line.

The latest on Alexander Isak to Liverpool

It’s pretty clear Liverpool will sign a striker this summer. However, who that player might be is less certain. Liverpool can dream, though, and signing Isak would be an incredible way to cap off a wonderful summer.

As per transfer insider Ben Jacobs for GIVEMESPORT, Liverpool are prepared to break the British transfer record to sign Isak this summer, with Newcastle United valuing their striker at over £150m.

The “unstoppable” Isak, hailed by pundit Ally McCoist as “the best out-and-out forward in the league”, was outscored only by Mohamed Salah in the Premier League last season, his 23-goal return illustrating his elite ability.

However, Newcastle’s position on their talisman’s unavailability has been absolute (insofar as any stance can be absolute in the transfer market). Liverpool can dream, and it appears they will try, but don’t hold your breath.

Luckily, Liverpool are one of the most astute transfer operators, and they’ve already lined up the perfect alternative.

Liverpool line up Isak alternative

As per TEAMtalk, Liverpool have sounded out a potential move for Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez this summer, and while the La Liga side would be looking for an unrealistic £160m figure, Anfield hold a trump card.

Indeed, Diego Simeone is interested in bringing Nunez to the Wanda Metropolitano this summer, and previous reports even suggest personal terms have been agreed for around a month. As a result, TEAMtalk suggest that a swap deal is an avenue they are exploring this summer.

This would no doubt be a difficult one to get over the line, but Liverpool’s interest is long-standing and the Argentina forward would be perfect for Slot’s system.

Why Julian Alvarez would be perfect

Alvarez had been tracked by Liverpool during his time at Manchester City, where he scored 36 goals and laid on 19 assists across two trophy-laden campaigns, earning an £81.5m transfer to Atletico Madrid last summer.

His first term in Spain was his finest yet, posting 29 goals and seven assists across 55 matches, blending newfound potency with his robust and dynamic attacking style. Making a direct comment on his exploits in Spain, journalist Roy Nemer even described the player as “the best forward in the world.”

As per FBref, he ranked among the top 6% of strikers across Europe last year for passes attempted, shot-creating actions and progressive carries, the top 8% for progressive passes and the top 12% for successful take-ons per 90.

Already something of a nomad, the 25-year-old has demonstrated continual development and would now prove the perfect alternative to Isak, who is actually considered by the data-driven site as being one of Alvarez’s most comparable players.

River Plate

122

54

31

Manchester City

103

36

19

Atletico Madrid

53

29

6

Argentina

44

12

33

Liverpool need a new goalscorer to perch at the front of their ship, but they also need a centre-forward who will play with flair and bring the attacking players together.

One of the Merseysiders’ attacking staples is that when the frontline clicks, they perform in concert, effectively unplayable. Isak aligns perfectly in this regard, but Alvarez too could dovetail into Slot’s set-up and provide a higher level of goalscoring threat while using his technical skills and off-the-ball intelligence to open up a new dimension.

Isak’s completeness is echoed by Alvarez, but the roots of the South American’s style are shaped by a natural quality in front of goal. As per Sofascore, he only missed seven big chances in La Liga last season, scoring 17 goals and creating nine big chances too.

And this isn’t a simple anomaly. Across his two campaigns in the Premier League, the 2022 World Cup winner scored 20 goals from 44 starts, only missing 14 big chances.

It’s pretty clear he’d prove an upgrade on Nunez, and while Isak is FSG’s first-choice pick, Alvarez might just be the perfect fallback if ambitious efforts to bring Isak over from St. James’ Park don’t pull through.

The winds of change are blowing at Anfield, all right, but there’s more still to come for the Premier League champions, who are packaging a proven squad with exciting additions who might just solidify Slot’s early success, shaping it into a dynasty.

Huijsen was better: How Spanish media rated Trent's first game post-Liverpool

Trent Alexander-Arnold made his debut for Real Madrid in the Club World Cup.

ByMatt Dawson Jun 19, 2025

Liverpool’s title success may have been unexpected at the start of the campaign, but it highlights the excellent work done by Arne Slot in his first year at the helm.

The Dutchman has created a seamless transition after taking the reins from the departing Jürgen Klopp, claiming the club’s second-ever Premier League title.

Whilst they’ve failed to win any of their last three outings after claiming the trophy, the hard work in the early stages has allowed them to enjoy the last few weeks of the season.

However, with just one game left in 2024/25, attention will now undoubtedly switch towards the transfer market, with key additions needed in multiple areas to aid the manager in replicating the success.

The manager has already wasted no time in strengthening his squad, with Jeremie Frimpong edging ever closer to a switch to Anfield, potentially being joined by various other stars in the coming months.

The latest on Liverpool’s hunt for new signings

Alexander Isak has been a name constantly touted with a switch to Liverpool this summer, understandably so given his record of 23 goals in 33 league outings this campaign.

However, such a player comes at a premium, with Eddie Howe’s side demanding a fee in the region of £150m to part ways with their star attacker during the off-season.

Such a figure could lead the hierarchy to different targets ahead of the summer, with work already being done to land RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko, according to DAVEOCKOP.

The report states that the Reds have been in talks with the Bundesliga outfit over a move for the Slovenian international, who currently has a £84m release clause in his contract.

It also claims that the 21-year-old would be open to a move to Merseyside, but no formal approach has yet been made despite the keen interest in his signature.

Why Liverpool’s £84m target could be Slot’s own Firmino

Brazilian forward Roberto Firmino was an unknown quantity to many Liverpool supporters before his switch from Hoffenheim back in 2015, but it didn’t take long for him to adhere himself to the fanbase.

The Reds forked out £28m for his services, a fee that proved to be a bargain given his stint at Anfield, registering over 100 goals in his 362 appearances.

He often operated in a false nine position, with his best campaign coming in 2017/18, when he registered 27 goals and 16 assists in his 54 appearances across all competitions.

However, he departed in the summer of 2023 on a free transfer, joining Saudi side Al Ahli, with the Reds desperately missing a centre-forward of his calibre since his move away from Merseyside.

That could all be about to change this window, with Slot able to replicate such a move if they land the services of Sesko – following suit of Firmino in joining the club from a Bundesliga outfit.

If he manages to get anywhere near close to the levels produced by the Brazilian for the Reds, he would be one hell of an addition, already showcasing his talents despite his tender age with Leipzig this campaign.

The 21-year-old, who’s been labelled a “monster” by talent scout Antonio Mango, has registered 21 goals in all competitions this season, with four of which coming in the Champions League – highlighting his ability to thrive at the top level.

Arnaud Kalimuendo

Stade Rennais

33

17

Hugo Ekitiké

Eintracht Frankfurt

33

15

Emanuel Emegha

Strasbourg

27

14

Benjamin Sesko

RB Leipzig

33

13

Mika Biereth

Monaco

16

13

Liam Delap

Ipswich Town

36

12

Thierno Barry

Villarreal

34

11

Joao Pedro

Brighton

27

10

His underlying stats have been just as impressive, registering 1.2 shots on target per 90 and a dribble success rate of 55%, handing Slot an excellent all-round option in the final third.

Sesko has also won 57% of the aerial duels he’s entered, handing the side the focal point they’ve often lacked despite their success throughout 2024/25.

It’s likely that the club would be able to negotiate a deal below his £84m clause, with the youngster having all the tools to develop further and become a leading player for the side for many years to come.

If the Reds are to take the next step under Slot and maintain their first-season success, additions will need to be perfect, with the Slovenian offering the manager a sensational option in forward areas.

Time to forget Kerkez: Liverpool chasing "one of the best young talents"

Liverpool are moving fast to wrap up some statement signings after a title-winning campaign.

ByAngus Sinclair May 20, 2025

Leeds United will be playing Premier League football next season after they won the 2024/25 Championship title with an extraordinary 100-point haul.

The Whites, who secured the crown with a stoppage-time winner against Plymouth Argyle on the final day, will now have to think about how the squad will shape up ahead of a campaign in the top-flight.

Daniel Farke and his staff need to decide who will and who will not be up to the task of stepping up to the Premier League, and Isaac Schmidt is one player whose future is up for debate.

Why Isaac Schmidt may not be deemed ready for the Premier League

Leeds swooped to sign the Swiss full-back from St. Gallen at the end of the summer transfer window last year to bolster their options in the full-back positions.

Unfortunately, though, Schmidt has been unable to force a way into the side over Jayden Bogle at right-back or Junior Firpo at left-back, and did not start a single match in the Championship this season.

The 25-year-old defender played 71 minutes over 12 substitute appearances in the second tier, and was an unused substitute on 22 occasions.

Leeds were recently linked with an interest in Bournemouth right-back Max Aarons, whom he worked with at Norwich City, and that could mean that the club are looking to improve on Schmidt, which could be bad news for his future at Elland Road.

There is another star, however, who played even fewer minutes than the Swiss defender in the Championship for the Whites, and they must never play at Elland Road again.

Why Leeds should release Josuha Guilavogui

Josuha Guilavogui was brought to West Yorkshire as a free agent in October 2024 after injuries to Ethan Ampadu and Ilia Gruev left Farke particularly light in the middle of the park.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

The former France international, who previously played for Atletico Madrid, Mainz, and Wolfsburg, provided an experienced presence on and off the pitch throughout the season, but was rarely used on the pitch.

James Debayo

1

0

Charlie Crew

4

0

Harry Gray

4

0

Joe Gelhardt

9

0

Sam Chambers

16

0

Josuha Guilavogui

58

0

Isaac Schmidt

71

0

Georginio Rutter

90

1

Patrick Bamford

235

0

Max Wober

332

2

As you can see in the table above, only five players played fewer minutes in the league, and they are all academy graduates, rather than nailed-on first-team players, which shows that he was not viewed as a frontline option for the team.

Guilavogui did not start any of his 16 appearances in the Championship, playing even fewer minutes than Schmidt, and should now be released ahead of promotion to the Premier League.

His contract is up this summer, and all parties should shake hands and part ways. He came in and did a job for the team when called upon off the bench as an emergency option, but his lack of minutes in the second tier do not suggest that the midfielder is likely to be a good enough option in the top-flight.

Therefore, Leeds should ruthlessly part ways with the 34-year-old veteran this summer and look to replace him with a player who can fulfill his role effectively at Premier League level.

Pablo Hernandez 2.0: Leeds seriously eyeing move for "dazzling" £35m star

Leeds are interested in signing a Premier League star who could be the club’s new Pablo Hernandez.

ByDan Emery May 4, 2025

Celtic found themselves on the receiving end of a loss in the Scottish Premiership for the second time in their last three matches on Sunday afternoon.

The Hoops were beaten 1-0 by bottom-of-the-league St. Johnstone in a shock result at McDiarmid Park, as they conceded to Daniels Balodis after just four minutes.

It was an incredibly frustrating afternoon for Brendan Rodgers and his side because they had 26 efforts on goal and created two ‘big chances’, but failed to find the back of the net a single time.

The Premiership leaders did not convert the quality opportunities that they fashioned throughout the match, as their star attackers did not step up to showcase the best of their abilities.

Daizen Maeda, who has scored 30 goals and provided nine assists in all competitions so far this season, only had 19 touches of the ball and two of Celtic’s 26 shots, whilst he did not create a single chance for his teammates during his time on the pitch.

Rodgers has some difficult decisions to make ahead of the clash with Kilmarnock at Parkhead next weekend, and one star who must be ruthlessly ditched from the team is winger Nicolas Kuhn.

Why Nicolas Kuhn should be dropped

The German forward was withdrawn from the action as part of a double substitution at half-time after a frustrating first half of action on the right wing.

Kuhn has left himself in a position where supporters and the management team expect big things from him because of his form earlier in the campaign, having racked up 18 goals and 14 assists in all competitions.

He established himself as a star performer for the Scottish giants and that is why it is so noticeable when he is not at his best, because the team suffers as a result of his lack of impact.

Goals + assists

0

0.67

Shots

2

1.8

Shots on target

0

0.8

Key passes

1

1.7

Big chances created

0

0.4

Pass success rate

72%

76%

As you can see in the table above, Kuhn has averaged a goal or an assist more often than not, and a shot on target more often than not, in the Premiership this season, but he managed neither against St. Johnstone.

Put simply, more is expected of the former Rapid Vienna star than he showed in the 1-0 defeat on Sunday, which is why it was a disappointing display and why the manager must, now, drop him for the clash with Kilmarnock.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Rodgers does have plenty of options at his disposal to make alterations to the starting line-up, and one possible replacement for Kuhn would be Hyun-jun Yang.

Hyun-jun Yang's improvement at Celtic

The South Korean whiz joined on a permanent deal from Gangwon in the summer of 2023 and endured a difficult first season with the Scottish giants.

Yang ended the 2023/24 campaign with a tally of just one goal and three assists in 31 appearances in all competitions, as he failed to offer much of a threat at the top end of the pitch.

Given that paltry return in front of goal, it would not have been a surprise to have seen the forward moved on from Parkhead in the summer transfer window last year. Instead of leaving, though, the 22-year-old ace stayed to fight for a place in the squad, and has earned one.

Appearances

24

20

Starts

10

8

Goals

1

4

Conversion rate

5%

27%

Pass accuracy

81%

86%

Assists

3

3

As you can see in the table above, Yang has been as creative as he was in the Premiership last season, but has offered far more of a threat as a goalscorer for the Hoops.

The South Korea international has racked up five goals and six assists in 30 matches in all competitions, which means that the winger has provided five more goals and three more assists than he did last term.

Despite that obvious improvement from Yang in the final third, it is Adam Idah who should be brought in to replace Kuhn in the starting line-up next weekend.

Why Adam Idah must be unleashed

The Ireland international should come in to start ahead of the German winger, with Maeda moving out wide on the left and Jota moving over to the right, to play as the number nine.

Idah’s pace and power was on full display in the defeat to St. Johnstone after he came off the bench to throw his hat in the ring to start next time out with a strong showing.

The Irish marksman should have had an assist for an equalising goal when he brilliantly burst down the right channel and produced an inch-perfect cross for James Forrest, who fired his shot down the middle of the goal to be blocked by the goalkeeper.

Idah, who won five of his six duels, ended his 29 minutes on the pitch with one dribble completed, two chances created, one ‘big chance’ created, five shots, and one shot on target.

These statistics show that the former Norwich City centre-forward, whose talent was once dubbed “incredible” by Rodgers, made an impact off the bench on Sunday, which is why he should now be brought in to show what he can do from the start against Kilmarnock.

The 24-year-old attacker, who has scored 14 goals in all competitions, has scored eight goals and created six ‘big chances’ in 15 starts in the Premiership so far this term.

Idah’s finishing has not always been good enough, with 13 ‘big chances’ missed, but he causes opposition defenders problems with his pace and power, as he did off the bench against St. Johnstone, which is why Rodgers must bring him into the XI next weekend.

Not Engels: Rodgers has already found Celtic's new McGregor in teen star

Celtic may already have their next Callum McGregor and it is not Arne Engels.

ByDan Emery Apr 5, 2025

It is now down to the former Liverpool and Leicester boss to ruthlessly ditch Kuhn from the team to unleash Idah, whilst moving Maeda back out to the wing.

When he came to the crease, RCB were slowing down. By the time he left it, they were on course for 200-plus

Karthik Krishnaswamy26-Apr-20241:40

Moody: RCB bowlers did their homework and executed well

When someone is really, really good at something, they can make that thing look so simple that it becomes difficult to pinpoint exactly why they’re so good at it.Rajat Patidar’s ability to hit spin bowling is like this. He hit Mayank Markande for five sixes on Thursday night, four of them in a row, and he made each of them look so simple as to be inevitable. So precise and unfussy were his movements, and so sure and unhindered his bat-swing, that he made each ball look like a hit-me ball.This wasn’t quite the case, of course, and it most certainly wasn’t when Markande bowled the last ball of that 6, 6, 6, 6 sequence. It wasn’t a ball, but it was an extremely difficult one to hit, dangled so far from off stump that it would have been called wide if Patidar hadn’t hit it.Rishabh Pant could have hit a mirror image of this ball for six, but he would probably have fallen to the floor while doing so. Patidar launched it over extra-cover without showing the slightest strain of having to reach for the ball. His front foot moved a long way to enable the shot, but he didn’t lose his upper-body shape even momentarily.It was an extraordinary shot, and you need to play shots like that if you’re racking up numbers like these:Of all batters who’ve faced at least 50 balls of spin in IPL 2024, Patidar has the second-best strike rate (225.00) behind Abhishek Sharma (243.10). Patidar has hit 14 sixes against spin this season, which puts him in joint-second place alongside Heinrich Klaasen, with Abhishek (16) once again in the lead.It was fitting, then, that the defining performance of Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s 35-run win over the record-shattering Sunrisers Hyderabad of Abhishek and Klaasen came from Patidar’s bat.Rajat Patidar slammed a fifty off 19 balls•Associated PressEven before Patidar’s arrival, there had been a sense that RCB weren’t just playing an IPL game but playing one against Sunrisers team. They had chosen to bat, with Faf du Plessis admitting that the decision had been made with their opponents’ strengths in mind. They had begun their innings with palpable urgency, with Virat Kohli and du Plessis flexing their pace-hitting credentials in a 61-run powerplay.But by the time Patidar came to the crease, RCB had slowed down significantly. Their top three has a distinct preference for pace over spin, and Sunrisers were beginning to exploit it. Shahbaz Ahmed had conceded just two runs in the fifth over, and Markande just four in the seventh while dismissing Will Jacks.R Ashwin recently suggested on his YouTube channel that there’s a growing belief within the game that “wicket-taking is becoming irrelevant in T20 cricket.” Whether you agree or disagree with that sentiment, you will probably agree that it’s sometimes beneficial for a batting team to lose a particular wicket at a particular moment in a game. The wicket of Jacks was like that.With Patidar’s entry, RCB had, for the first time in their innings, a batting pair with complementary strengths. Its impact on the scorecard was unambiguous. RCB’s other batters combined to score 15 off 24 balls against Shahbaz and Markande; Patidar hammered them for 40 off 12.This ability against spin makes Patidar a key player in RCB’s middle order – Mahipal Lomror is probably their only other spin-hitter with Glenn Maxwell sitting out – and there appears, at this stage, to be no style of spin that genuinely ties him down. Over his IPL career, he’s struck at 161.53 against offspin, 139.68 against left-arm orthodox, and a ridiculous 219.31 against legspin. Suyash Sharma and Markande have felt the force of Patidar’s disdain for legspin this season, and Ravi Bishnoi when he smacked an unbeaten 54-ball 112 in the Eliminator of IPL 2022.Patidar has only batted 19 times in the IPL, of course, so these numbers remain the outcomes of relatively small sample sizes. Small enough that he’s yet to face any left-arm wristspin in his IPL career. But three of RCB’s next four games are against Gujarat Titans and Delhi Capitals, so keep an eye out for Patidar vs Noor Ahmad and Patidar vs Kuldeep Yadav. You can be sure those two teams and those two bowlers are already drafting their plans.

The unsaid competitiveness between these two Mumbai players was such that if one scored 200, the other wanted to score 300

Nikhil Sharma19-Jun-2022The tales of competitiveness in Mumbai’s school cricket are well known. Stories of players scoring 200, 300 and even 500 have set high standards in the school circuit, and are often heard about in the corridors of Mumbai’s schools. The same players who score big there go on to play for Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy, but at school level they have a unique sense of competitiveness between them.The case of Sarfaraz Khan and Armaan Jaffer is one such example. Once competitive team-mates at school, they are now scoring runs in heaps together for the Mumbai Ranji team.Sarfaraz and Jaffer – one year apart in age – met for the first time in 2008 when they were at Rizvi Springfield High School, and the unsaid competitiveness between them was such that if one scored 200, the other wanted to score 300; and if one crossed 300, the other wanted to smash 400.Related

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The pressure to do so also came down from their fathers who coached their sons. So it was no surprise that in the 2009 Harris Shield tournament, Sarfaraz had smashed 439 off 421 balls to break Sachin Tendulkar’s 45-year-old record, and the very next year in the Under-14 Giles Shield, Jaffer scored a mammoth 498.”I met Armaan for the first time in 2008; he was already at Rizvi School, and I joined a year later,” Sarfaraz tells ESPNcricinfo after Mumbai’s semi-final win over Uttar Pradesh in Bengaluru. “That’s when we started playing together. He used to bat wearing keeping pads because batting pads were too big for him. He used to knock the whole day in the nets. Even when the match was on, he used to continue knocking on the side.”Even though neither will admit the competitiveness that existed between them at the time, they used to spend the whole day on the pitch out of fear of their fathers, because if Sarfaraz had scored less than Jaffer, he had had it.”There was no competitiveness as such, but it was about who was going to score more,” Sarfaraz said. “Armaan’s father did not hit him but Prithvi [Shaw]’s father and mine were hard task masters, so we were always under pressure to score.”Now Sarfaraz and Jaffer are so close that they call each other “slow local” and “fast local”, after the famous local trains that run in Mumbai. Their bond is also such that they try to take adjacent hotel rooms when they go for matches.”Armaan is the same as he was before – he plays slow,” Sarfaraz said. “That’s why we used to call him ‘slow local’ because that’s how he used to bat then and that’s how he bats now. The others used to get out but once Armaan would go out to bat at No. 3, he would bat the whole day. In Under-14, he scored 101 and 105 not outs at the end of the day.”

“It feels like we’re still playing school cricket. We don’t think or talk about pressure, bowlers, Ranji Trophy, and such things.”Sarfaraz on batting with Jaffer

The soft-spoken Jaffer said, “There was no such pressure to score from my family. And no competition either that he will score more or me. Sarfaraz used to score quickly then and that’s how he bats even today. So he’s called the ‘fast local’. We both have bonded a lot since our school days and we know each other very well.”After all these years, Sarfaraz and Jaffer also understand each other’s game very well now.”Against Odisha we lost two wickets in two balls, but Armaan played a crucial knock of 125. When I go out to bat with him, it’s a different level of comfort because it feels like we’re still playing school cricket,” Sarfaraz says.”We don’t think or talk about pressure, bowlers, Ranji Trophy, and such things. We never get negative either. We just discuss with each other how to plan against what kind of bowler and so on. We don’t even think or talk about getting out.”When asked what changes had he seen over the years in Jaffer’s batting, Sarfaraz said, “The only change I’ve seen is that now he hits sixes (laughs), and he has also started scoring quickly now. He has just come back to Ranji Trophy, and it’s only his seventh game in the tournament. He was injured earlier so now he is looking to cement his place by scoring runs. Once he scores 100 [or] 200, then he can also hit big sixes. If he plays his natural game, he can hit sixes.”When Jaffer was asked the same question about Sarfaraz, he said, “Whatever the team’s situation, Sarfaraz always keeps the atmosphere light. He says such things that people end up laughing. And he’s always been like this since school days. The atmosphere is always great when he’s in the dressing room.”