For the second year running, frustrations bubbling from the summer transfer window have threatened to slam the brakes on Eddie Howe’s project. But Newcastle United are made of sterner stuff.

Blunted by the absence of Alexander Isak at Villa Park last weekend, Newcastle kept a clean sheet and played well, albeit shaking hands with Unai Emery’s Aston Villa after failing to move forward from parity. But there was much to like, the visitors showing signs of eliteness maintained.

Tougher tests lie ahead – not least the clash with Premier League champions Liverpool at St. James’ Park on Monday night – but there’s every reason that the Tynesiders will find success once again in their travels this season.

As Arne Slot’s side continue to pursue the wantaway Isak, so too does PIF’s resolve remain taut. We’ve only a week until the transfer window slams mercifully shut, but whether the Sweden international remains on Tyneside is anyone’s guess.

The latest on Isak's Newcastle future

Isak’s incendiary comments last week put to rest any confusion or hopes regarding his stance: he is desperate to leave Newcastle and sign for Liverpool.

But ‘I want’ does not always get. The 25-year-old is contracted for three more years, and while he believes it had been intimated that he could leave for a new challenge this year, external forces have made that difficult, and he has little power from which to leverage his position.

While Isak will not play a part against Liverpool, a fixture seemingly dated by fate, all things considered, Howe is firm in his belief that Isak can still be reintegrated, if and when.

And PIF? Their stance has not changed: Isak isn’t for sale. Many figures have been bandied about, but it truly seems like an offer in the region of £150m is required if Newcastle are to part with their prized piece.

But the transfer market is a vicious beast, and every eventuality remains on the cards. With this in mind, Newcastle continue to push for new recruits at number nine.

Newcastle's search for a striker

The protracted bid for Yoane Wissa still hasn’t come to a head. There are parallels to Isak’s situation, for sure, with the DR Congo forward desperate to leave Brentford and join Newcastle within the week.

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However, Isak’s future at Newcastle and the prospect of Wissa joining are not mutually exclusive; Callum Wilson left the Toon at the end of his contract last season, and so two strikers must be signed for Isak to leave.

And in the dreaded event of that happening, Italian outlet Tuttosport have claimed – via Sport Witness – that Newcastle have made a late approach for Paris Saint-Germain star Randal Kolo Muani, who has been slated to join Juventus after his recent loan spell.

Differences between French and Italian terms have proved a sticking point, with PSG looking for €70m (£61m), and if a breakthrough cannot be found, Newcastle could swoop in, having already made an official approach, along with an unnamed Saudi club.

What Randal Kolo Muani would bring to Newcastle

Newcastle need a striker. Kolo Muani would be a fantastic buy in replacing Isak, especially if welcomed along with Wissa, who is far less dynamic and athletic, yet a reliable marksman in front of goal.

In September 2023, Kolo Muani left his rich career at Eintracht Frankfurt and signed for PSG in a £76m deal, but his time back in his homeland has been disappointing, posting only 11 goals and seven assists over 54 matches.

However, a short-term move to Juventus in January has built the 26-year-old back up, eight goals scored in Serie A, 13 goal involvements racked up in all competitions, just 22 matches played.

The Les Bleus star’s big move to PSG hasn’t worked out, but that’s okay. He’s still one of the most dangerous strikers around, proven across other divisions, hailed as a “superstar” by German legend Lothar Matthaus during his Frankfurt days.

With Wissa adopting a more straightforward role in Howe’s system, Kolo Muani could step into Isak’s boots, taking the veritable form of the £120k-per-week sensation and preserving his presence, that style of play which has served United so well.

Nick Pope once described Isak as being “like a wizard” after setting up that goal against Everton, but Kolo Muani has a similarly creative slant to his game.

Across his 13 matches in the Serie A last year, the Frenchman averaged 1.1 key passes per game, as per Sofascore, and regularly sparked chances when taking on his man, beating him.

Actually, looking at Kolo Muani’s metrics across the past year in comparison to Isak’s, Newcastle’s interest becomes clearer. He’s the real deal, all right, and has the mobility and roundedness to replace the Swede, should he leave.

Goals scored

0.48

0.78

Assists

0.11

0.17

Shots taken

2.45

3.21

Touches (att pen)

6.28

6.31

Shot-creating actions

2.34

3.04

Pass completion

70.2%

75.3%

Progressive passes

1.49

2.94

Progressive carries

1.54

2.80

Successful take-ons

1.54

1.42

Ball recoveries

2.24

1.79

Tackles + interceptions

1.28

0.44

These are centre-forwards with skill beyond that of merely scoring goals, complete strikers both. While Isak is clearly the more confident and productive man, it’s worth noting that Kolo Muani spent the first half of the 2024/25 campaign languishing in Paris, scoring twice and assisting once across ten Ligue 1 games.

Would Kolo Muani replicate Isak’s output? Perhaps not. Isak scored 27 goals and assisted six more across all competitions last season, with his clinical edge a large part behind his billing as England’s record-breaking man, should Liverpool sign him.

But Kolo Muani would be a more than adequate replacement, retaining some of the Scandinavian star’s same style. With Wissa joining too, it could be a fantastic deal for Howe’s side.

He's perfect for Elanga & Gordon: Newcastle offered "monster" CF for £35m

Newcastle United offered chance to sign Juventus outcast who’s ideal for Elanga and Gordon.

ByWill Miller Aug 24, 2025

Kylian Mbappe scored twice for Real Madrid against Marseille in the Champions League on Tuesday to take his tally to 50 goals in 64 matches for Los Blancos. The France international has now become the fastest player to reach a half-century of goals for Real Madrid since Cristiano Ronaldo hit the landmark in 2010 by hitting his 51st goal in just 54 appearances.

• Mbappe penalties see off Marseille

  Real Madrid came from behind to beat Marseille 2-1 in their opening Champions League encounter. Tim Weah opened the scoring for the visitors but Mbappe equalised from the penalty spot after Rodrygo had been fouled. Los Blancos were then reduced to 10 men when Dani Carvajal was sent off for bumping heads with Geronimo Rulli, before Mbappe won it with another penalty after Facundo Medina was penalised for handball.

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• Fifty not out for Mbappe at Real Madrid

  The two goals mean Mbappe has hit his half-century for Real Madrid and is the second fastest player to hit the landmark since Ronaldo. Manager Xabi Alonso hailed his talisman after the game. He told Movistar: "Mbappé hasn't been bad… in his best shape… with two goals. He has a tremendous impact on the rest and is in a good moment personally and football-wise. Happy to be with him and working day to day. We have a lot left and we're just getting started."

• Mbappe needs the pressure

  Mbappe was quizzed on the pressure of taking penalties after the game and says he thrives in such situations. He told UEFA: "I need to feel it. I think I need to feel it. Every player needs to feel the pressure. I think it's important to be focused and to have to do your best. It's important to have the pressure. I feel the pressure and I often rise to it. At the end of the day, I was happy to have two penalties today and to score, to help the team win the first game in the Champions League.

  "This is the DNA of Real Madrid. Whatever happens you can always win. You have to trust yourself, you have to trust your team-mates. All the people around you, the stadium, they push you to win. That's what we did today. When we got the read card, nobody in the team was stressed. We wanted to push and be ready to get the win and give this pleasure to the fans."

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Real Madrid face surprise package next in La Liga

  Real Madrid return to La Liga action on Saturday and face surprise package Espanyol. The unbeaten Catalan team head into the match in third place in the table and can move above Los Blancos in the standings if they pull off a surprise win at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Australian cricket is watching the ECB’s introduction of private investment into the Hundred with interest as the Big Bash League looks to “stay ahead of the game” following a successful 2024/25 season.Hobart Hurricanes’ maiden title, on the back of Mitchell Owen’s 39-ball century, put the seal on a campaign that demonstrated the BBL’s “strong momentum and growth”, the league’s general manager Alistair Dobson told ESPNcricinfo. It has given both him and Cricket Australia the chance to think to the future after spending multiple seasons in “reset mode”.After four seasons of the Hundred, the ECB is selling 49% stakes in each of its eight teams to private investors in a process that got underway on Thursday, leaving the BBL – which is owned and run entirely by CA and its states – as an outlier. Dobson declined to comment on whether the BBL will follow suit imminently, but remains open-minded about the league’s future.Related

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• Higher honours, big pay day on the cards for Hurricanes hero

• London derby to launch fifth season of Hundred in August

“The BBL has been successful almost from the very beginning,” Dobson said. “It has been able to deliver a really strong product and return to Australian cricket, which has meant that the model we have has been really successful – hence why there has been limited momentum in changing that model historically, because it’s been so strong.”The world’s shifting, and we’re always looking at other leagues and other models around the world to make sure we still have the right one for us… Every part of the global game is evolving really quickly and we learn bits from everyone. The process that the ECB is going through with the Hundred looks like an interesting one – it’ll be fascinating to see how that unfolds.”Dobson travelled to the UK to watch several games of the Hundred’s 2023 season and has kept close tabs on the competition’s first four seasons. “We can and do learn from the Hundred around continuing to innovate, in the way that the Hundred was prepared to try something different,” he said. “We have plenty to learn from each other.”Both leagues have that philosophy of continuing to be fan-first. From the outside looking in, it appears that they’ve taken a lot of the BBL’s DNA – the colour, fun, new audiences, new brands – and have created a product that seems to have connected quite strongly with the fanbase, and is bringing new fans into the game.”The Hundred has changed the landscape of English cricket•ECB via Getty Images

CA’s decision to expand the BBL from 43 games to 59 (and later 61) from 2018/19 until 2022/23 brought several challenges, with attendances and TV viewership suffering. But since returning to a shorter window last season – squeezing into the school holidays – it has managed to hold its own through a “quality over quantity” approach, despite clashes with the ILT20 and SA20.”For the past three or four years, we’ve been building the competition back after some challenging years through Covid and otherwise,” Dobson said. “It’s not until the last 12 months where we’ve had the momentum to be able to look at the future… I wouldn’t comment on any specific opportunities, but the world’s moving pretty fast and it’s important that we stay ahead of the game.”The availability of the world’s best players – both from Australia and elsewhere – remains a sticking point for the BBL, with only three out of six overseas spots filled in Monday’s final and Test series against India and Sri Lanka at either end of the season. But Dobson believes that the player pool remains healthy, with competitive top-end salaries of AUD$420,000.”The global landscape is moving really fast,” he said. “We hear a lot from players that playing in front of big crowds in iconic stadiums with great wickets and facilities is still really important, so we feel like we’re in a good position on that front… The other leagues around our window have created some interesting challenges, we feel like we are in pretty good shape.”Guys like Chris Jordan for the Hurricanes and Sam Billings for the [Sydney] Thunder have become really engaged in their clubs. Combining that with the iconic players in our competition – whether that’s Glenn Maxwell, or increasingly Mitch Owen – and then when we get a glimpse of Steve Smith, or David Warner… our strength is the mix of all those player groups.”Owen earned worldwide attention in his breakthrough season – not only for his brutal hitting, but for his obvious affinity for the Hurricanes. He grew up supporting the club from the grass bank at Bellerive Oval in Hobart and described his starring role in their first trophy win, aged 23, as a “childhood dream”, underlining the BBL’s longevity compared to many T20 leagues.’You start to get kids coming through who grew up barracking for and supporting their BBL team, evolving from young fans into opening batters’•Getty Images

“It’s a great story for us,” Dobson said. “I mean that not just individually for Mitch and the Hurricanes, but also, it’s a really strong signpost for us on the maturity and evolution of our competition, where we now have kids that have grown up supporting their BBL team, and we’re old enough for those kids to see their way through to play – and win – for that team.”We see it in other codes around the world – whether that’s football or other sports – where you want to play for the team you grew up supporting… Once you get through 14 seasons, you start to get kids coming through who grew up barracking for and supporting their BBL team, evolving from young fans into opening batters. That’s a really cool place for us to be.”The BBL will again overlap with a major series next summer, with Australia’s Test players unlikely to be available until the second half of the season following the Ashes. And while the majority of boards now reserve a space for their short-form leagues in their international calendar, Dobson insisted that the BBL works best when it operates “in harmony” with headline Test series, allowing cricket to capitalise on its window in the Australian sporting calendar.”Test cricket is still the pinnacle for our fans and our players,” he said. “For the BBL to run alongside that with its own offering and its own strengths is still the right model for us… There’s always talk about whether the BBL and the Test season should be separated to allow more player availability, but there’s also an element where those two things can work in harmony to create a really strong offering.”

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O Palmeiras enfrenta o Santos neste sábado (20), às 21h, na Vila Belmiro, pela sétima rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro, e pode igualar uma marca importante no clássico e manter um tabu positivo contra o rival.

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+ Santos x Palmeiras: onde assistir, escalações e desfalques do jogo da 7ª rodada do Brasileirão

O Alviverde vem de oito vitórias consecutivas e 11 jogos de invencibilidade contra o Peixe (nove vitórias, dois empates, 19 gols marcados e oito gols sofridos). Logo, pode igualar a maior sequência de vitórias na história do clássico, de nove triunfos consecutivos, registrada duas vezes: entre 1921 e 1926 e entre 1940 e 1942.

A última vez que o Palmeiras foi derrotado pelo Santos foi em 2019. Na época, o Alvinegro Praiano era comandado pelo técnico Jorge Sampaoli e o Verdão tinha Mano Menezes como treinador. Com gols de Gustavo Henrique e Marinho, o Peixe fez 2 a 0 na Vila Belmiro em jogo válido pela 24ª rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro daquele ano. Vale lembrar que, no primeiro turno daquela competição, o Palestra aplicou uma goleada sobre o rival: 4 a 0, no Pacaembu.

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Jogando na Vila Belmiro, o Palmeiras tem bom retrospecto: são 127 jogos disputados, com 56 vitórias, 23 empates e 48 derrotas. Nesses confrontos, foram 224 marcados e 193 sofridos. Na última partida diante do Santos na Baixada, o Alviverde saiu com a vitória pelo placar de 1 a 0, com gol de Gustavo Gómez. Nesse jogo, Raphael Veiga ainda perdeu um pênalti.

+ OLHAR DO PORCO: Rios titular do Palmeiras? Calma que não é bem assim, porcada…

A provável escalação do Palmeiras para pegar o Santos tem: Weverton; Mayke, Gustavo Gómez, Luan e Piquerez; Zé Rafael, Gabriel Menino e Raphael Veiga; Artur, Rony e Dudu.

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Confira o retrospecto dos últimos jogos do Palmeiras contra o Santos:

Santos 2 x 0 Palmeiras – Brasileirão (09/10/2019)
Santos 0 x 0 Palmeiras – Paulistão (29/02/2020)
Palmeiras 2 x 1 Santos – Brasileirão (23/08/2020)
Santos 2 x 2 Palmeiras – Brasileirão (05/12/2020)
Palmeiras 1 x 0 Santos – Libertadores (30/01/2021)
Palmeiras 3 x 2 Santos – Paulistão (06/05/2021)
Palmeiras 3 x 2 Santos – Brasileirão (10/07/2021)
Santos 0 x 2 Palmeiras – Brasileirão (07/11/2021)
Palmeiras 1 x 0 Santos – Paulistão (13/03/2022)
Santos 0 x 1 Palmeiras – Brasileirão (29/05/2022)
Palmeiras 1 x 0 Santos – Brasileirão (18/09/2022)
Palmeiras 3 x 1 Santos – Paulistão (04/02/2023)

Tudo sobre

BrasileirãoPalmeirasSantos

GOAL US writers debate if Dembele deserved the Ballon d'Or and who could be the first American to win the award

So, the Ballon d'Or is sorted. Ousmane Dembele is the winner. The stats make for good reading: 53 games, 53 goal contributions. He won Ligue 1 and the Champions League. PSG made it to the Club World Cup final – and probably should have won the thing. His victory has drummed up a little controversy, though. 

There are some, in some corners of the internet, who believe that 18-year-old Lamine Yamal should have claimed it. Those of a Premier League persuasion have vouched for Mo Salah. And more broadly, there's a changing attitude. The Ballon d'Or, once a constant back-and-forth barometer to judge the relative greatness between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, used to be the pinnacle of soccer debate. 

Now, it's lost a little shine. Each year it provided some extra ammo for the truthers. These days, the Ballon d'Or is basically a yearly MVP. Still, it means , and in a soccer landscape starved of individual awards, the Ballon d'Or stands out.

GOAL US writers debate who should have won the award and if an American can ever claim it in the latest edition of… The Rondo. 

Was Dembele a deserving winner?

Tom Hindle: No. It really should have been Mo Salah. How do you break the Premier League single season goal contribution record, carry your team to a title, and not get the full acknowledgement for it? A lack of Champions League success certainly hurt him, but it was otherwise a season for the books. The reality for Dembele is that Ligue 1 is far too easy. 

Alex Labidou: Yes. He helped PSG finally win the Champions League, along with their usual dose of Ligue 1 and French Cup success. Ballon d’Or winners usually see their cases boosted by success in a major tournament, and Dembele is no different. Also, it isn’t said enough, but the Frenchman helped Luis Enrique implement a newer style of football, in which PSG combined elements from his success at Barcelona, while also instituting a hard-pressing style typically seen by German sides.

Ryan Tolmich: It's not a layup, but it was probably the right call. Dembele was one of the few candidates who had the right mix of everything required for the award. While it could have gone to one of those other candidates, that Champions League trophy clearly took him over the top. That made Demebele both a deserved winner and a feel-good underdog story, which is something that this award has had little of once the Messi-Ronaldo dominance ended in recent years.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportWho should feel most aggrieved by the results?

TH: Salah, but the absence of Virgil Van Dijk from the top 10 is also baffling. 

AL: For the first time in years, it seems as if all of the categories and their winners were correct. If one had to nitpick, it would be Viktor Gyokeres winning the Gerard Muller award over someone such as Erling Haaland or Kylian Mbappe. Yes, Gyokeres had more goals overall, but the Portuguese league – where he did the majority of his scoring – isn’t as challenging as the Premier League and La Liga. The European Golden Boot, for example, takes league coefficients into consideration. But overall, these awards were spot on.

RT: Salah made as a good a case as anyone this year. In terms of individual achievement, few can go toe-to-toe with the Egyptian, who, at times, singlehandedly carried Liverpool's title charge. That's not to discount guys such as Dembele or Raphinha, another legitimate candidate, but Salah could have been rewarded for his heroics at Anfield.

gettyWay-too-early prediction for next year?

TH: Yamal is perhaps the obvious shout here, but he may yet struggle with inconsistency – remember, he's 18. So, a word for Kylian Mbappe, who has been excellent thus far. Voters also tend to be skewed by the World Cup, and if France go far, then it might be his to lose. 

AL: Yamal came so close to winning it this year that he almost seems destined to lift the Ballon d’Or next year. All he needs is a club trophy and a good showing at next year’s World Cup.

RT: With this award being so tournament-dependent, it'll likely be someone who shines in both the Champions League and the World Cup, with the latter taking precedent if no one checks both boxes. Who can do both? Yamal with Spain and Barcelona, Mbappe with France and Real Madrid, Harry Kane with Bayern Munich and England or Raphinha with Brazil and Barcelona, to name a few. Given his continued growth, we'll lean Yamal, crazily enough – although the teenager will really need to show out in that tournament setting to get the nod.

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Getty ImagesDoes the Ballon d'Or still matter?

TH: These days? There's zero value. It's a bit of a popularity contest that doesn't really tell us much about the relative quality of footballers. Vitinha in third? Pedri outside the top 10? Victor Gyokeres 14th? Vinicius Jr, despite having a remarkably poor season, gets a nomination? Silly. 

AL: It matters, as it’s a reward for a season’s effort. Yes, they don't always get the winner right – remember Robert Lewandowski’s infamous snub a few years ago, sigh. And it would be great if the award came after the European club season, for example, as opposed to the weird split between seasons and international play. But overall, it's still something fans and observers appreciate and respect.

RT: Minimally? It's a decent way to remember years and eras, but it doesn't always capture the entire picture. Is it an award recognizing the best player of that season or the best player in the world? Even the voters themselves have often flip-flopped between the two, which are drastically different. Because of that, it's hard to quantify, even if it does, at the very least, recognize a great player just about every time.

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De malas prontas para atuar no Zenit, Du Queiroz postou uma mensagem de despedida do Corinthians nesta sexta-feira (16). O atleta de 23 anos foi envolvido no acordo com os russos que permitiu ao Timão comprar em definitivo o atacante Yuri Alberto. Ele assinará contrato de cinco com o Zenit, que ficará com 50% dos direitos econômicos do volante , e o Alvinegro manterá 40%.

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+ Lance! estreia nova marca e se reposiciona no mercado de mídia esportivas

– Saio com sentimento de gratidão que em todos os momentos e todos os dias eu vivi nesse clube como se fosse o último dia da minha vida. São mais de 10 anos aqui dentro, conheço desde as tias da limpeza até o presidente, passei mais tempo nesse clube do que na minha casa. Me sinto privilegiado de ter feito parte e ter sido criado aqui dentro desse clube, carrego no meu peito os momentos bons e momentos ruins, e sei que todas críticas e elogios fazem parte do meu crescimento como atleta – iniciou o atleta.

+ Todos os jogos doBrasileirãovocê encontra no Prime Video. Assine já e acompanhe o seu time do coração!

Na mensagem, Du Queiroz não fechou as portas para um retorno ao clube do Parque São Jorge no futuro e se declarou aos torcedores e elenco corintiano.

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– Agora chega de falar bonito. Papo reto família, amo todos vocês, torcida, atletas, staffs vocês sabem do meu sentimento, vocês são meu coração fora do peito falo! Kk espero um dia voltar pra minha casa. Corintiano, maloqueiro e sofredor ! Fé em Deus e nas criança da favela – concluiu o volante.

Du Queiroz parou de ser relacionado por Vanderlei Luxemburgo desde o empate com o Fortaleza, no dia 8 de maio. O treinador não queria ver o atleta lesionado antes de se transferir ao Zenit. Ainda no começo de maio, Du foi afastado e passou a treinar separadamente do restante do elenco.

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Desde que foi negociado ao clube russo, o volante de 23 anos participou de 17 dos 21 jogos do Timão. Em algumas ocasiões, foi utilizado por Fernando Lázaro e Cuca na lateral-direita, tendo em vista os problemas físicos de Fagner e Rafael Ramos. Du Queiroz disputou 99 partidas pelo Alvinegro e marcou três gols.

+ Timão se afasta do Z4? Veja tabela e os próximos jogos do Brasileirão

Former Australia Test cricketer Stuart MacGill knew he was taking part in a cocaine deal but was oblivious about the scale of the exchange that began under his restaurant.That is the verdict of a Sydney District Court jury that acquitted the former legspinner on Thursday of taking part in a large commercial drug supply in April 2021.The jury heard that the illicit exchange of Aus$330,000 for a kilogram of cocaine was struck between MacGill’s regular drug dealer and the former cricketer’s brother-in-law Marino Sotiropoulos.Related

• Stuart MacGill charged over drug deal tied to 'kidnapping'

The cricketer teed up a meeting under his restaurant on Sydney’s north shore but denied knowing the deal was to take place.Prosecutors argued the deal could not have occurred without MacGill’s prior involvement.While the jury dismissed the Crown’s claims about MacGill’s knowledge of a one-kilogram deal, it found him guilty of the lesser charge of taking part in drug supply.MacGill, whose 44-Test career came in the shadow of Shane Warne, showed little emotion as the verdicts were read.His sentencing hearing was adjourned for eight weeks.

Tottenham Hotspur’s antics in the transfer window over recent days have been constant, pulling off numerous high-profile additions throughout the summer.

Xavi Simons made his £52m move to join the Lilywhites at the end of last week, finally ending the club’s long-standing pursuit of a new attacking midfielder this summer.

Morgan Gibbs-White and Eberechi Eze were Thomas Frank’s main targets for the position, but the hierarchy decided to turn to the Dutchman to help bolster the club’s attack.

Mohammed Kudus and Mathys Tel have both already arrived in such an area this window, strengthening the options at the manager’s disposal ahead of his debut campaign in the role.

However, with just a few hours left in the window, the board could be set to back the manager once again, subsequently targeting a move for another top-level forward.

Spurs’ hunt to land a new attacker on deadline day

Despite having an offer rejected earlier this summer, Spurs haven’t given up hope on a move for Manchester City star Savinho before tonight’s 7pm deadline.

It’s been reported that the Brazilian youngster still remains as a priority target for Frank, with a £70m transfer being mooted for the 21-year-old’s signature.

However, he’s not alone on their list, with Atalanta star Ademola Lookman another option for the Lilywhites this evening, according to GIVEMESPORT’s latest update.

They claim that the player himself is pushing for a move to North London, after previously stating his desire to depart the Italian outfit before the end of the window.

It’s also been suggested that the Nigerian forward could be available for around £43m – a potential bargain for a talent who registered 20 goals throughout the 2024/25 campaign.

Why Spurs’ £43m target would be even better than Kolo Muani

In an attempt to bolster the front line, Spurs have turned their attention to PSG forward Randal Kolo Muani in recent hours – with a deal rapidly progressing throughout the day.

The Lilywhites have struck an agreement with Luis Enrique’s side to land the 26-year-old attacker, which will see the Frenchman join Frank’s side on a season-long loan.

It’s been reported that Spurs will pay a €5m (£4.3m) loan fee for his signature, with the deal not including any option or obligation to buy this time next year.

His tally of 10 goals in 22 appearances last season highlights the quality he possesses when in front of goal – hopefully handing the manager an option amid Dominic Solanke’s ankle injury.

However, a move for Kolo Muani may even be trumped in the remaining hours – especially if the hierarchy can strike up a late agreement for former Fulham star, Lookman.

The Nigerian has excelled in recent months – as seen by his goalscoring tally – which could make him a superb proposition for Frank and the rest of the frontline.

When comparing his underlying stats to those of Kolo Muani from 2024/25, he managed to outperform him in numerous key areas – highlighting why he’d be a better addition.

Games played

31

26

Goals & assists

20

12

Pass accuracy

73%

70%

Key passes made

2.4

1.3

Passes into final third

1.2

0.4

Take-ons completed

1.5

1.4

Progressive carries

5.7

1.7

Aerials won

57%

38%

Lookman, who’s been labelled “incredible” by Squawka Sport, outscored the PSG star, whilst also achieving a better goal per shot on target rate – subsequently highlighting his added threat in front of goal.

However, in terms of chance creation, the Atalanta star has further dominated, completing more key passes per 90 and more passes into the final third – offering more of an all-round threat in attacking areas.

His talent in possession is further showcased in his higher tallies of take-ons completed and progressive carries made – which could allow him to beat the opposition before finding the back of the net.

£43m for a player of Lookman’s quality in today’s market is an excellent price, subsequently handing Frank the added attacking quality he’s craved throughout the summer window.

If he does join, he could potentially form a deadly partnership with Kolo Muani in North London – which could allow the Lilywhites to build on their Europa League triumph.

Imagine him with Kolo Muani: £70m star Spurs' top target on deadline day

Tottenham Hotspur look set to make another move after agreeing a deal for Randal Kolo Muani.

1 ByEthan Lamb Sep 1, 2025

أعلن منتخب إسبانيا لكرة القدم، في بيان رسمي يوم الجمعة، استبعاد أحد لاعبي فريق برشلونة إلى النادي حيث تبين إصابته ومن ثم عدم جاهزيته للمشاركة في مباراتي شهر أكتوبر.

ويخوض منتخب إسبانيا مباراتين ضد جورجيا وبلغاريا، يوم السبت والثلاثاء المقبلين، في إطار تصفيات قارة أوروبا المؤهلة إلى كأس العالم 2026.

وأكد منتخب إسبانيا في بيانه استبعاد اللاعب داني أومو من المعسكر الدولي بسبب الإصابة، حيث يستعد للعودة إلى برشلونة.

اقرأ أيضًا.. دي لا فوينتي عن إصابة لاعب برشلونة: أكره ذلك.. ولاعبو إسبانيا الأفضل للفوز بكأس العالم

وقال المنتخب في بيانه الرسمي: “سيغيب داني أولمو عن مباراتي جورجيا وبلغاريا بسبب الإصابة، حيث وصل اللاعب إلى معسكر التدريب يوم الإثنين الماضي بعلامات إجهاد عضلي، وفقًا لما ذكره نادي برشلونة”.

وأضاف: “منذ ذلك الحين تحسنت أعراضه تدريجيًا مع العلاج وبرامج التدريب، لذلك كان من المقرر أن يشارك المهاجم اليوم في جزء من جلسة التدريب المقررة، حيث أبلغ عن انزعاج عضلي في ساقه اليسرى”.

وواصل: “بناءً على ذلك، خضع أولمو لفحوصات إضافية وتم تشخيص إصابته بإصابة عضلية، والتي تم إبلاغ الخدمات الطبية في نادي برشلونة بها”.

واختتم: “سيبدأ اللاعب فترة تعافيه في معسكر تدريب المنتخب الوطني، وسيعود إلى برشلونة غدًا عندما يسافر بقية الفريق إلى إلتشي لمواجهة المنتخب الجورجي”.

Manudi Nanayakkara, Rashmika Sewwandi and Chethana Vimukthi are the three uncapped players in the 16-member squad

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Feb-2025

Sri Lanka have left out left-arm spinner Inoka Ranaweera and seam-bowling allrounder Ama Kanchana for their upcoming New Zealand tour comprising three ODIs and three T20Is.Apart from them, batter Hasini Perera and 16-year-old left-arm wristspinner Shashini Gambini are also missing from the squad for the 2024 T20 World Cup, Sri Lanka’s last international assignment.There are several young additions to the squad. Manudi Nanayakkara and Rashmika Sewwandi, who turned out for Sri Lanka in the Under-19 World Cup earlier this year, have been called up. While it’s a maiden call-up for Nanayakkara, Sewandi was picked for the home T20Is against West Indies last year but did not get a game.Chethana Vimukthi, 23, is the other uncapped player in the squad, while Imesha Dulani and Kaushini Nuthyangana have five caps each and Sachini Nisanla has just 19.Sri Lanka will retain a familiar top order in their captain Chamari Athapaththu, Harshitha Samarawickrama and Vishmi Gunaratne, who despite being just 19 has already played 18 ODIs and 47 T20Is.Athapaththu is currently playing in the WPL in India where she is part of UP Warriorz. The tournament is scheduled to run until March 15.Sri Lanka’s squad will leave for New Zealand on February 22. They are scheduled to play two warm-up games in Lincoln, on February 27 and 28, before the ODI series starts in Napier on March 4. The other two ODIs will be played in Nelson on March 7 and 9. The teams will then go to Christchurch for the first two T20Is on March 14 and 16, and finish the tour in Dunedin on March 18.Sri Lanka Women squad for New Zealand ODIs and T20IsChamari Athapaththu (capt), Harshitha Samarawickrama, Vishmi Gunaratne, Nilakshika Silva, Kavisha Dilhari, Anushka Sanjeewani, Manudi Nanayakkara, Imesha Dulani, Achini Kulasuriya, Udeshika Prabodhani, Sachini Nisansala, Kaushini Nuthyangana, Inoshi Priyadarshini, Sugandika Kumari, Rashmika Sewwandi, Chethana Vimukthi