Manchester City experienced an almighty fall from grace last season, as Arne Slot’s Liverpool took over the reins of being the Premier League’s classiest side with ease.

Heading into the 2024/25 season, Pep Guardiola’s unstoppable force had collected four Premier League titles in a row, with many wondering if the Sky Blue domination of the English top-flight could ever be stopped.

Yet, come the end of the 38-game marathon, City sat – bruised and battered – with 71 points next to their name and nine defeats picked up, 13 points off the Reds at the summit of the tough division.

Even the likes of Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne, who are both world-class operators in their own right, couldn’t spearhead a push up the punishing league, with that crash back to reality proving to be the revered Belgian’s final season at the club, after a FA Cup final loss to Crystal Palace only added more unbearable salt to the gaping wound.

Ultimately, losing Rodri for the entire campaign through injury was the sickener, with the Spanish enforcer experiencing a superhuman 2023/24 season for both club and country, which was then, unfortunately, met by injury heartbreak.

How Rodri became the best in the world at Man City

Rodri was a standout signing from the get-go, having cost a club-record fee in 2019 of £62.8m to bring to England from Atletico Madrid.

Swiftly, the Madrid-born midfielder would become the heartbeat of a frightening Citizens side gearing up for domestic domination, with only three top-flight games missed during his debut season as his new employers lost out on the title to the unstoppable train of Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool, who amassed a mighty 99 points.

Rodri would only get better and better from this point onwards, though, as his personal trophy collection at the Etihad started to overflow.

The assured number 16 would collect 13 goal contributions just in the Premier League alone to guide his untouchable outfit to back-to-back Premier League titles, before becoming an untouchable world-beater during the memorable 2023/24 season for both Guardiola’s men and his nation.

The signs were there that Rodri was about to undergo a Ballon d’Or-winning journey, considering the close of the 2022/23 campaign saw the calm 29-year-old confidently stroke this effort home to finally bring an elusive Champions League back to the Sky Blue half of Manchester. Clearly, he had got a taste for being the man of the moment.

A stunning tally of eight goals and ten assists in league action from the reliable Spaniard the following campaign would clinch a mighty four Premier League titles in a row, leaving Guardiola to hail his dependable hero as “the best midfielder in the world” at that point in time, and it was an argument that was hard to knock down.

It would lead to Rodri picking up the illustrious Ballon d’Or accolade late last year, with the award all but sealed for the 29-year-old to collect when he was the glue that Luis De La Fuente’s Spain needed to lift the 2024 Euros, at the cruel expense of England in the final.

While only one goal contribution would come his way in the fast-paced tournament, Rodri was crucial in other ways as the battling, yet composed figure Spain needed in some crunch moments, with a 93% pass accuracy average, as per Sofascore, matched by a hunger to win 5.2 duels per pain-staking match-up.

Consistently playing at the peak of his powers very much took its toll on the much-loved number 16, though, with a cruciate ligament tear sustained last season by Rodri, obviously devastating news for those with connections to Guardiola and Co. and La Roja.

The road to recovery saw him miss a colossal 53 games for both club and country, as City’s elite club status took a battering, but Rodri looks to be slowly getting up to speed now, as City attempts to challenge Liverpool again for major honours.

Even with the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner now back available for selection, Guardiola actually has another Rodri-like player in his camp at the moment, who is also considered one of the world’s best in his own spot on the pitch.

Man City now have another Rodri-type player

Having experienced such a turbulent season last time out, City clearly felt like splashing significant wads of cash in the summer would suture up their problems effectively.

It has worked out somewhat, too, with new recruit Tijani Reijnders already being branded as “unbelievable” by Guardiola after powering home a confident strike on his Premier League debut against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Having cost a sizeable £46.5m to obtain in the summer, the first impression is that this is money well spent.

For around £16m cheaper, though, City have arguably won themselves the steal of the transfer window when landing Italian favourite Gianluigi Donnarumma, with the brand-new number 25 playing at the very top of his game for some time now, since making his AC Milan debut at just 16 years of age a decade ago.

His agent, when he was just a teenager, in Mino Raiola, even wildly claimed that Donnarumma could go on to become “the best goalkeeper in the world”, with his outlandish comments now looking like unbelievable hindsight when you scan over his very successful career, leading up to his big Etihad move.

Games played

428

Goals conceded

439

Clean sheets

180

Major accolades

12

Current Ballon d’Or ranking

9th

The 6-foot-5 beast has become well-known for being a serial trophy winner off the back of collecting 180 career clean sheets – much like Rodri at City – with 12 major accolades coming his way when being the number one stopper for both the Rossoneri and PSG.

In a similar fashion to Rodri, too, he has broken Three Lions hearts for his beloved Azzurri on the international stage, with Donnarumma the penalty shootout hero that saw Roberto Mancini’s Italy upset England at Wembley during the 2021 Euros final.

Also helping PSG to the Champions League glory last season via “elite” saves such as this one tallied up against Arsenal – with Mikel Merino labelling the Italian as such after the close contest at the Parc Des Princes – it’s clear that Guardiola bringing in the 78-time Italy international was done to try and kickstart another patch of success in Manchester, much like what Rodri offered up all those years ago when deserting La Liga.

With just four goals surrendered during his opening three clashes in England, it’s clear that Raiola’s crystal ball prediction wasn’t just wild praise for the sake of it, with Italy legend Alessandro Costacurta reinforcing this notion that he is an elite stopper when calling him “the best in the world” after that standout Gunners showing.

Guardiola will hope he can be a thorn in the side of the Gunners in the Premier League, as well, as Donnarumma attempts to pick up more domestic silverware – having conquered both Italy and France – with City, knowing he has an equally trophy-hungry teammate next to him in Rodri.

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يعود ريال مدريد إلى ملعب “الأنفيلد” لخوض مباراة مساء يوم الثلاثاء في بطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا ضد خصمه فريق ليفربول، في إطار منافسات الموسم الحالي من مرحلة الدوري.

ويستضيف ملعب “الأنفيلد” مباراة ليفربول وريال مدريد في الجولة الرابعة من دوري أبطال أوروبا، مساء الغد، موسم 2025/26.

وتُعد تلك هي المرة الثانية على التوالي التي يواجه فيها ريال مدريد خصمه ليفربول على ملعب الأخير، في مرحلة الدوري من دوري أبطال أوروبا، بعدما تواجها الموسم الماضي.

وخسر ريال مدريد أمام ليفربول بهدفين دون رد، عن طريق أليكسيس ماك أليستر وكودي جاكبو، في شهر نوفمبر الماضي، في دوري أبطال أوروبا موسم 2024/25.

اقرأ أيضًا.. جرافنبيرخ: سنسأل لاعب ليفربول عن إيقاف مبابي.. والجمهور حُر في تعامله مع أرنولد

وذكرت صحيفة “آس” الإسبانية أن مباراة ليفربول وريال مدريد في إنجلترا لن تتكرر العام المقبل، حيث ينوي الاتحاد الأوروبي لكرة القدم إدخال قواعد جديد لتحسين المسابقة في ظل نظام دوري أبطال أوروبا المستحدث.

وأوضحت أن إحدى تلك القواعد، التي ستدخل حيز التنفيذ العام المقبل، هو منع لعب ثلاث مباريات متتالية في مرحلة الدوري على نفس الملعب، مما يعني عدم إمكانية استضافة “الأنفيلد” لمباراة ليفربول وريال مدريد الموسم القادم، حال وقوعهما سويًا حسب القرعة.

وستنطبق تلك القاعدة على جميع الفرق التي تلتقي في نفس الملعب لعامين متتاليين في مرحلة الدوري، ولكنها لن تنطبق على مراحل خروج المغلوب، لذلك إذا التقى ريال مدريد وليفربول في هذه المرحلة، فقد يلعبان مجددًا على ملعب “الأنفيلد”.

وأشارت إلى أن يويفا يجري تدريجيًا تعديلات على نظام دوري أبطال أوروبا الجديد، ومع مشاركة هذا العدد الكبير من الفرق، لا يريد أن يرى المشجعون الفريق نفسه يلعب على أرضه لأكثر من عامين متتاليين.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Sport recebe o Londrina neste sábado (23), às 20h45 (Brasília). A partida é válida pela 29ª rodada da Série B do Campeonato Brasileiro e terá transmissão do Premiere e da Band.

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COMO ESTÃO OS TIMES?
O Sport é o terceiro colocado do campeonato e, caso vença, pode chegar à liderança da Série B, encaminhando cada vez mais o acesso para a elite do Brasileirão. O adversário é o Londrina, apenas décimo oitavo na tabela. Afundado na zona da degola, o Londrina só pode pensar em vencer para se reerguer e não cair para a terceira divisão.

+ Condição especial para matrícula no curso Gestor de Futebol, aprovado por Dante, Petković, Léo Moura e outros craques. Saiba mais!

FICHA TÉCNICA
Sport x Londrina
SÉRIE B

+ Abel Ferreira, técnico do Palmeiras, é denunciado pela Associação Brasileira de Árbitros

Data e horário: 23 de setembro de 2023, às 20h45
Local: Ilha do Retiro, em Recife, Pernambuco
Onde assistir: Premiere e Band

PROVÁVEIS ESCALAÇÕES

SPORT
Denis, Rosales, Rafael Thyere, Sabino e Felipinho; Fabinho, Felipe e Jorginho; Facundo Labandeira, Peglow e Vágner Love.
(Técnico: Enderson Moreira)

LONDRINA
Neneca, Ezequiel, Gabriel, Rafael Vaz e Marcos Pedro; Moisés, João Paulo, Ariel, William Barbio e Paulinho Moccelin; Iago Dias.
(Técnico: Roberto Fonseca)

The former coach says Stubbs and Rickelton could be key to South Africa’s chances

Firdose Moonda07-Jun-20252:02

Boucher: WTC final appearance a massive achievement for SA

Reaching the World Test Championship (WTC) final proved South Africa’s continued ability to compete in the top echelons of world cricket but winning it could mark the start of an entirely new era, according to former national coach Mark Boucher.”A lot of people have criticised South Africa, which is not really fair,” Boucher told ESPNcricinfo during the IPL. “You play what’s in front of you and with all due respect, the sides that we’ve played against, we probably should have beaten and we’ve done that. So we find ourselves in a final. But I wouldn’t say that it has got the crowds going in our country. Everyone’s very excited about it now as the opportunity arises, a lot of people are going to travel over to London, spend all their Rands and go watch what should be a good match. If we win it, I think then that could be the turnaround for Test cricket in our country.”Boucher’s comments speak to those (like Michael Vaughan) who have said South Africa’s road to the final was too easy as they avoided both England and Australia, but such was the design of the FTP. It also points a finger at the South African public, whose belief in their team has wavered after decades of faltering in semi-finals and, most recently, losing three T20 World Cup finals (two women’s, one men’s) in succession. Do they think the WTC is the one South Africa can win?Related

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“We’re playing for a trophy, so I guess a lot of people are saying no [we can’t win] but I think it’s a different feel in Test match cricket,” he said. “It’s played over a longer period of time and you’ve just got to win big moments in the game as well. Yes, there will be that tag [chokers] that gets thrown our way until we win a trophy. You’re not going to get rid of the tag. Is it deserving on these youngsters coming through? No, it’s almost like they’re carrying the burden of what happened in previous years, which is always going to be tough on them but they’re the ones in control of their futures at the moment.”Boucher identified two of South Africa’s younger batters, who have never played a Test at Lord’s or against Australia, as key to their chances in this match. “Ryan Rickelton has been playing nicely for Mumbai Indians (MI) and he was actually on the tour that we went to England [in 2022] as well,” Boucher said. “He’s actually played quite a few games in England as well, so he’ll know the conditions. And Tristan Stubbs has come back and played a lot of domestic cricket and basically forced his way into the Test side because of the runs that he’s got. On paper, Australia will probably feel that they’ve got a better batting line-up than what we have, but have we got the attitude to go out there and in a one-off game, just leave it all out there? Absolutely.”Mark Boucher picked Tristan Stubbs and Ryan Rickelton as batters to watch out for•ICC/Getty Images

Boucher was in charge of South Africa the last time they played Tests in England in 2022, where they won the opening Test at Lord’s but lost in Manchester and at The Oval to go down 2-1. He cited their inability to score significant runs as the main reason for their defeat – “we just couldn’t really put together anything that’s substantial on the scoreboard with regards to runs and that’s where we really lost our way in the whole series” – but there was also a selection blunder at Old Trafford, where South Africa picked a spinner. It forced them to bat first on a green top, where they were bowled out for 151. They lost by an innings and 85 runs.Aiden Markram and Kyle Verreynne are the only batters from that tour that are still in the squad (Temba Bavuma was out injured) and that was Boucher’s final Test series in charge. He has not been involved in the South African structures since resigning after the 2022 T20 World Cup and went on to coach MI for two seasons before finding work as a pundit.As for Boucher’s point about in-stadium support, at least South Africa can look forward to plenty of that at Lord’s. It is expected to be filled with South African fans, with a healthy number of expats in the city and a number of travelling supporters due to land in London next week. The same vibe is not always seen at home, though there has been a revival post-Covid, especially at the SA20, which sees regular sell-outs, and at some Test venues. SuperSport Park in Centurion and Newlands in Cape Town tend to attract the most number of people, while Kingsmead in Durban and St George’s Park in Gqeberha remain a challenge. Some of that has to do with a lack of interest, another issue is with timing (Tests that start midweek mean the working and schooling population cannot attend) and a third, cost. Most South Africans live below the breadline and a day at the cricket, including transport, tickets and refreshments, is beyond their budget. But if South Africa win the WTC, will they come?Not this summer, with no home Tests planned as grounds are refurbished for the 2027 ODI World Cup but next summer South Africa host eight Tests (three each against England and Australia and two against Bangladesh) in a cycle that also includes away series in Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka. Given that South Africa reached the final this time, whatever happens at Lord’s, expectations will be high as they enter the 2025-2027 period with much tougher challenges in store.

Max O’Dowd’s 158 not out trumped George Munsey’s 191 as Netherlands pulled off the third-highest successful chase in ODI cricket in their World Cup League 2 match against Scotland in Dundee.Batting first after winning the toss, Scotland rode on Munsey’s record 191 off 150 balls to put up 369 for 6. It was the highest ODI score by an Associate batter, going past Paul Stirling’s 177 against Canada in 2010. Munsey had a great chance to score a double-hundred – when he fell, ten balls were still left in the innings.Captain Matthew Cross chipped in with 59 off 49 balls. He and Munsey added 150 off 101 balls for the fifth wicket and helped Scotland post a daunting total.O’Dowd, though, wasn’t frazzled. He and Michael Levitt added 67 in 9.2 overs before Safyaan Sharif dismissed Levitt. Two overs later, Sharif dismissed Zach Lion-Cachet as well to make it 75 for 2. O’Dowd and Scott Edwards put the chase back on track and took Netherlands to 143 in 21 overs.After Edwards and then Wesley Barresi fell, O’Dowd found an ally in Teja Nidamanuru. The two scored at a brisk pace and added 101 off 91 balls. With 91 needed from the last ten overs with six wickets in hand, Netherlands were the favourites. But on the very next ball, they lost Nidamanuru.Noah Croes, though, blasted 50 off just 29 balls to shut the door on Scotland. When he fell in the 48th over, Netherlands needed only a-run-a-ball 15. Fittingly, O’Dowd hit the winning runs – a six down the ground – to take his side home with four balls and four wickets to spare.

Wicketkeeper-batter impresses with century on her return to the top of the ODI order

Valkerie Baynes03-Jun-2025As Amy Jones raised her bat to celebrate reaching a long-awaited maiden international century, a broad smile spread across the face of England head coach Charlotte Edwards.Four days later, Jones couldn’t remember what Edwards had said to her after she walked off the pitch with 122 next to her name. But she could remember her coach’s smile, after setting up a resounding 108-run victory against West Indies in the first of three ODIs in Derby.It reflected a plan coming together to great effect for the team and Jones, who finally reached a landmark that had eluded her for 12 years and more than 200 games representing her country across formats.”In terms of the role suiting me, I definitely think it does,” Jones, the England Women’s wicketkeeper, beamed on the eve of Wednesday’s second ODI in Leicester. “I’ve always liked facing the new ball, the challenge of that, and then also having the chance to set the tone. That’s a really cool responsibility to have.”I remember when I moved down into the middle-order I was initially disappointed, so I guess I sort of tapped into that feeling and was happy to take that first opportunity.”It’s obviously been quite a long time coming with a couple of close ones, but a good few years ago. To get over the line, it’s a big feeling of relief, but a lot of pride and it was a very special day.”Related

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Jones had opened the batting 22 times previously in ODIs, but not since the 2019 Women’s Ashes, and 18 times in T20Is, most recently during the World Cup in Australia in 2020.But in all seven of her innings this season for The Blaze in the Metro Bank One Day Cup, Jones had opened with Tammy Beaumont, the pair reprising that partnership for England brilliantly with a 222-run stand and Beaumont posting a score of 107. In her previous three games for The Blaze, Jones had scored 41, 52 and 80 after starting with 30, 35, 0 and 8.”There was a lot of learning through that, times when I got off to good starts and got out in the thirties and I guess just figuring out a good tempo through an innings,” Jones said.”Going from batting towards the end or middle of the innings, typically your tempo’s quite consistent, you get in and then you try and accelerate throughout. Opening is a bit different and there’s the challenge of navigating trickier patches throughout, so I’d say that’s probably been the biggest learning from those games.”When Lottie said I was going to be opening, it definitely gave me a lot of confidence and belief that how I go about it could be a really good match for what she wants at the top of the order. So I think from that, definitely a bit of freedom just to go out there.”Something I worked really hard at in the middle order was almost ignoring the scoreboard and just playing the ball. So I think that all still applies at the top but I guess it’s setting the tone as opposed to reacting to a different situation.”Jones has found herself in another familiar-yet-unfamiliar role, being named in a three-player leadership group for the T20I series against West Indies last month to support new captain Nat Sciver-Brunt.Jones briefly captained England in the absence of Sciver-Brunt and her predecessor, Heather Knight, during India’s last visit in 2022, and was recently part of Knight’s support crew alongside then vice-captain Sciver-Brunt and Sophie Ecclestone.For the T20Is against West Indies, Jones shared those duties with vice-captain Charlie Dean and Sophia Dunkley but made way for Kate Cross to join those two as part of a more fluid leadership group under Edwards’ tenure.”It’s a really good thing and a good way of hearing different voices, giving responsibility to different players and I guess looking to the future as well,” Jones said. “We probably haven’t had that obvious list of potential captains really.”I think there’s a lot of people that would do a great job at it, but looking a bit further on, this is definitely going to improve everyone’s leadership and confidence in that area as well, which I think is huge, the belief that you can be a leader amongst the group. Sharing that out is a great way of spreading it wide, I suppose.”Ecclestone wasn’t named in either squad to face West Indies, instead playing domestic cricket after a knee injury.Fellow left-arm spinner Linsey Smith took a five-wicket haul on ODI debut in the first game against West Indies, six and a half years since making her T20I debut, illustrating Edwards’ willingness to test the growing depth in the women’s game in this country.Similarly, seam bowler Em Arlott put in a player-of-the-match performance in just her second international match, the second T20I in Hove, some four years after she was first called up to an England squad.Both have enjoyed strong starts to the domestic season, which Edwards had said, upon replacing Jon Lewis as head coach in April, would be rewarded and expected when it came to national selection.”On the whole, across all the different disciplines, we’ve just got so much competition within the squad now, which is brilliant and it’s where everyone wants to be,” Jones said. “It will improve us as a team and as individuals too.”

Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani stands alone.

Ohtani, who earlier this season joined the 40-home run, 40-stolen base club, has pushed MLB into uncharted waters after going 6-for-6 with three home runs and two stolen bases in Thursday's 20-4 win over the Miami Marlins. The Herculean effort gave Ohtani 51 homers and 51 stolen bases this year, making him the official founder of the 50-50 club.

Thirty-five years ago, former Oakland Athletics outfielder Jose Canseco did the same, pushing the envelope to author the first 40-homer, 40-steal season in MLB history.

Canseco on Thursday took to X (formerly Twitter) to offer his congratulations to the Dodgers superstar.

"35 years ago I created the 40/40 club," Canseco wrote. "Shohei Ohtani created the 50/50 club tonight. Congratulations to him."

Canseco belted 42 home runs and swiped 40 bags during the 1988 season, officially creating the 40-40 club on September 23, 1988 after stealing two bases to give him 40 on the year. Canseco would go on to win the American League MVP award that season.

Since 1988, five players, including Ohtani on August 24, have joined the 40-40 club. Ohtani accomplished the feat quicker than any player in league history, lending the belief that 50-50, an unfathomable statistic, could be possible.

With Ohtani, most things are.

Celtic picked up their first win of the league phase of the Europa League on Thursday night by beating Sturm Graz 2-1 at Parkhead in front of their home support.

A stunning goal from distance from Tomi Horvat gave the Austrian outfit the lead in the first-half, but the Hoops hit back through Liam Scales in the 61st minute with a well-worked corner routine.

Three minutes later, Benjamin Nygren scored a goal from a corner to put Celtic 2-1 up, which was enough for them to secure all three points.

Why Benjamin Nygren should have done more for Celtic

The Sweden international scored the winning goal in the game with an excellent header in the 64th minute, but the game could have been out of sight for the hosts if he had taken his other opportunities.

Nygren had a personal xG tally of 2.43 and had five ‘big chances’ to find the back of the net, per Sofascore, but only scored from one of those shots.

The left-footed star deserves praise for getting into positions to score, as he had five of the club’s seven ‘big chances’, but he needed to do more to finish those opportunities when they came his way.

This is why Nygren was not the star of the show, because he was too wasteful in front of goal. Instead, it was Arne Engels who deserves the headlines for Thursday night’s win.

Why Arne Engels was even better than Benjamin Nygren

Shunsuke Nakamura was a certified free-kick specialist during his time with Celtic, as shown in the clips below, and Engels did his best impression of the former Hoops star against Sturm Graz.

The Belgium international may not have scored a free-kick, but his delivery from deadball situations and from open play was outstanding throughout the game. Neil Lennon, commentating for TNT Sports, went as far as to say that his delivery was “world-class”.

Engels, as shown in the earlier clip, delivered a phenomenal corner in for Nygren to score the winning goal, and that was just one of a number of inch-perfect crosses from the former Augsburg man.

Vs Sturm Graz

Benjamin Nygren

Arne Engels

Minutes

90

90

Shots

7

2

Goals

1

0

Big chances missed

4

0

Key passes

0

5

Big chances created

0

3

Successful crosses

0/0

4/8

Ground duel success rate

30%

50%

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the Belgian starlet was incredibly unfortunate to end the match with only one assist to his name, as he created three ‘big chances’, whilst he also outperformed Nygren in his physical duels on the night.

There was one sensational open play cross from the right channel that was a thing of beauty from the central midfielder that Nygren failed to convert in the second half, whilst he also created other chances from his Nakamura-esque set-piece deliveries.

The £11m signing has only started three of his seven appearances in the Scottish Premiership this season, per Sofascore, and he should be kept in the starting line-up for the big game against league-leaders Hearts on Sunday.

If Engels can continue to create chances and deliver set-pieces with the quality that he displayed on Thursday, the Belgian will soon rack up assists and close in on the tally of 13 that he managed in his debut season in Scotland.

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He was the star of the show against Sturm Graz and Brendan Rodgers should provide him with another opportunity to impress against Hearts this weekend.

After Ange Postecoglou’s dismal season in the Premier League throughout 2024/25, changes simply had to be made if Tottenham Hotspur were to progress in the right direction.

His Europa League triumph certainly papered over the cracks, but former chairman Daniel Levy saw the bigger picture and decided a switch in manager was needed.

Such responsibility fell into the hands of Thomas Frank, with the former Brentford boss tasked with the responsibility of transforming the Lilywhites’ fortunes in England’s top-flight.

The backline was a real issue for the club last time around, but the 51-year-old has already made an immediate impact – as seen by their tally of six clean sheets across all competitions.

However, the upcoming January transfer window is rapidly approaching, which could see added quality being injected into the opposite end of the pitch.

Spurs’ hunt for new attacking talent in January

Over the last couple of days, Spurs have once again been linked with a deal to land Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo after previously wanting him during the summer.

The Ghanaian international has enjoyed a phenomenal start to 2025/26, scoring on six occasions and registering three assists within his first eight outings.

However, he’s not the only Premier League forward currently on their radar, with Sporting Director Fabio Paratici targeting a move for Everton star Iliman Ndiaye.

The latest report from TEAMtalk states that the Lilywhites see the 25-year-old as a top target for the winter window, but face competition from a fellow top-flight rival.

Newcastle United are also in the race to land the versatile forward in the coming months, which has seen a £60m price tag mooted to prise him away from the Toffees.

Why Spurs’ latest target is even better than Kudus

Landing an attacker from another Premier League side certainly isn’t alien to Spurs, as seen by their deal to land winger Mohammed Kudus from West Ham United.

The hierarchy forked out a fee in the region of £55m for the 25-year-old’s signature, with the Ghanaian seen as the player to take the frontline to the next level.

It’s safe to say he’s already had an immediate impact at the Lilywhites, scoring once and notching four assists within his first eight Premier League appearances.

Kudus has certainly nailed down the role on the right-hand side of the frontline, but he could be joined by another phenomenal talent in the form of Ndiaye.

The Toffees forward has rapidly progressed under David Moyes over the last couple of months, with the Senegalese international now one of the most potent attackers in the division.

When comparing his stats to those of the new Lilywhites addition, Ndiaye has managed to outperform him in numerous key areas throughout the early stages of 2025/26.

The Toffees star has achieved a better shot on target rate and a higher goal per shot on target average – which showcases the added goalscoring threat he possesses.

Games played

8

8

Goals & assists

4

5

Shot on target accuracy

83%

38%

Goals per shot on target

0.4

0.2

Pass accuracy

77%

73%

Key passes

1.8

1.7

Take-on success

47%

46%

Carries into final third

2.1

1.6

Fouls won

1.5

0.8

He’s also completed more passes and registered a higher tally of key passes per 90 – leading to one analyst labelling him as “one of the best” talents in the Premier League.

Ndiaye’s dominance over Kudus is further reflected in his higher take-on success and better tally of carries into the final third per 90 – highlighting his ability to progress the ball into dangerous areas whenever possible.

£60m would be another huge statement from the hierarchy, but it’s a deal that could add further quality into Frank’s frontline in his quest for success in North London.

The prospect of Ndiaye thriving with Kudus at the Lilywhites is truly one to behold, which could see the club be the home to two of the division’s best attacking talents.

However, the board will have to act quickly in January to complete a deal for his signature, especially given the interest from rivals Newcastle United.

Forget Spence: Frank can bin Porro by unleashing "future £100m" Spurs star

Tottenham Hotspur already have another phenomenal talent within their ranks in North London.

ByEthan Lamb Oct 24, 2025

Devon Conway has described being back in New Zealand’s T20I side as “great” after last playing for them at the T20 World Cup more than a year ago. Conway has since turned down a central contract and was initially omitted from the touring group to Zimbabwe but Finn Allen’s foot injury opened the door for his return and he is relishing the chance to represent the country again.”It’s great to be back in this environment. It’s been a while, so just getting the call-up to come back into the squad is fantastic,” he said at the post-match press conference. “Obviously Finn Allen’s injury is unfortunate but for me it’s nice to get that opportunity to be with the squad again and see a couple of faces who I haven’t seen in a long period of time. And it was nice to contribute today to the win.”Conway’s 59 not out and the half-century stands he shared in with Rachin Ravindra and Daryl Mitchell helped New Zealand cruise to an eight-wicket win over Zimbabwe and to the top of the tri-series points table. Though he top-scored, it was not until the latter part of his innings that he looked comfortable after several top-edges off short balls from Zimbabwe’s seamers. Conway was dropped on 1 when he edged a back-of-a-length delivery from Richard Ngavara to Blessing Muzarabani at short third and then miscued two pull shots, which fell safely.Related

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“There was a lot of steep bounce in the surface, which was a little bit unexpected, but we adjusted and thankfully we only had to chase 121 and managed to get across the line,” he said. “With the new ball, especially their left-armer [Ngarava] was a massive challenge for us as batters. They bashed that wicket really hard and got a lot of steep bounce out of it, so it made it pretty hard for us batters early.”This match was being played on a fresh pitch after two previous fixtures earlier in the week, where the ball seemed to stick in the wicket. There are still four more round-robin games to be played before the final, which New Zealand will be confident of appearing in after winning their first two matches. They will next play South Africa on Tuesday, where Conway will be wary of Kwena Maphaka, also left-arm, against whom he top-edged in New Zealand’s opening match on Thursday.This is Conway’s first experience of working under new coach Rob Walter, who gave up the white-ball job with South Africa to take on the all-format role for New Zealand. Walter will be in charge of New Zealand for three years, which includes the next T20 and ODI World Cups. While Conway has not indicated if he would like to be considered for those tournaments, he has enjoyed working with Walter so far.”It’s just been a couple of days we’ve been with him but his positive mindset around T20 cricket has been nice and clear for us batters,” Conway said. “He’s brought positive energy and a slightly new way of thinking so it’s nice to have him on board and experimenting as to how he operates as the head coach.”