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Mohammed Kudus became Thomas Frank’s first major signing since taking the reins at Tottenham Hotspur, joining in a £55m deal from West Ham United last week.

The Ghanaian will offer key quality and depth in numerous key areas within the Lilywhites squad next season, having the versatility to star in numerous positions.

He can operate in any of the wide areas, whilst also being able to operate in the number ten role, leaving Frank to determine which role the 24-year-old is best suited to.

However, it’s likely that the new boss will want further additions to help bolster his side to aid any chances of immediate success in the Premier League.

Countless names have been touted with a move to North London in recent days, with multiple players appearing to be subject to more than just interest from the Lilywhites.

The latest on Spurs’ hunt for new additions this summer

Over recent days, reports have emerged linking Crystal Palace star Adam Wharton with a move to join Spurs, but they could be priced out of a move for his signature.

Claims were made that the 21-year-old could be available for a fee in the region of £100m this summer, a figure undoubtedly way beyond what he’s worth after registering just 36 Premier League appearances in his career.

However, another name has entered the mix over the last couple of days, with Club Brugge star Ardon Jashari a key target for the club, according to TBR Football.

Their latest report claims that the Lilywhites have made an enquiry to sign the 22-year-old central midfielder this window, with the Swiss star currently valued at £32m.

It also states that numerous other Premier League sides, such as Nottingham Forest and Everton, remain in the race for his signature after he failed to agree a move to AC Milan earlier this window.

Why Spurs’ £32m target is a better signing than Wharton

Given his rapid rise to stardom over the last couple of months, it’s no surprise to see Eagles star Wharton touted with big-money moves away from Selhurst Park this window.

Despite his tender age, he was named in the Euro 2024 squad 12 months ago, having the ability to be a monster hit in North London should he make any move to join Frank’s squad.

However, the £100m fee that’s been touted for his signature is nothing short of extortionate, with the Lilywhites paying for the potential he holds given his youthful years.

Other players will need to be considered if the side are to improve within the middle of the park, which could see cheaper alternatives put forward by the hierarchy.

It’s safe to say Jashari could be the perfect star in such a department, that’s if his figures in Belgium last season are anything to go by – hopefully transferring such tallies across to England with him.

The midfielder, who’s been labelled “seriously talented” by analyst Ben Mattinson, managed to register a 61% take-on success, along with 2.2 carries into the final third – showcasing his ability to get the ball into attacking areas.

He’s managed to add the final product to his mazy runs, completing 7.3 passes into the final third per 90, 1.3 of which were defined as key passes, with both of his tallies higher than those of Wharton during the 2024/25 campaign.

Games played

35

20

Goals & assists

7

2

Pass accuracy

87%

75%

Progressive passes

7.2

6.3

Passes into final third

7.3

5.3

Key passes made

1.3

0.7

Take-on success

61%

20%

Carries into final third

2.4

1.5

Progressive carries

1.4

0.9

Jashari’s excellent numbers don’t stop there, completing 87% of the passes he attempted, helping him post a tally of seven combined goals and assists last year – handing Frank’s side a superb talent that’s arguably a better addition than the Palace star.

£32m may appear to be a hefty sum splashed out on a player who may not be proven in England’s top-flight, but from the aforementioned stats produced, it’s evident he’s a player with huge potential.

If he can carry such form over to the Premier League, it could allow the hierarchy to forget about a move for Wharton, subsequently avoiding the added tax around English players and landing another huge talent for Frank’s side in the Dane’s hunt for success in North London.

Shades of Mbeumo: Spurs set to enter talks to sign "outrageous" £40m star

Tottenham Hotspur appear to be making a move for a talented star who could emulate Bryan Mbeumo.

ByEthan Lamb Jul 17, 2025

Tottenham have now entered advanced talks to sell one player with “a lot of character”, and the Lilywhites are said to have reached an agreement on the fee.

Player's camp in talks with Tottenham, Frank convinced he'd join Spurs

The Dane is personally confident they can secure his signature.

2

By
Emilio Galantini

Jul 18, 2025

Spurs boss Thomas Frank has seen Mathys Tel arrive on a permanent deal from Bayern Munich, to the tune of £30 million, with Kota Takai and Mohammed Kudus following the Frenchman as they anxiously wait for a potential Morgan Gibbs-White move to go through next.

Nottingham Forest have written a letter to Spurs and the player’s agent threatening legal action, following what they perceive to be an ‘illegal’ approach for the 25-year-old (Sky Sports), but Frank’s side remain hopeful they’ll be able to sign Gibbs-White before deadline day on September 1 (Fabrizio Romano).

In the meantime, attention is turning to other transfer targets, and Brentford star Yoane Wissa remains chief among them amid a reported preference to reunite with Frank in north London.

Tottenham are also yet to make a single sale this summer, despite uncertainty surrounding the futures of many squad members.

Bryan Gil has already confirmed his intention to leave Spurs, while Manor Solomon’s sale would count as pure profit in the eyes of PSR after he signed as a free agent two years ago.

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

Richarlison is attracting interest from Turkey and Saudi Arabia as well, with club captain Son Heung-min also tipped to leave this summer as he enters the final 12 months of his contract.

Alejo Veliz re-joined Rosario Central on loan, but this has been the sum of Daniel Levy’s business in terms of outgoings, at least until now.

Tottenham in "advanced talks" to sell goalkeeper Josh Keeley

Indeed, according to reliable journalist Alasdair Gold, Tottenham are now in “advanced talks” to sell goalkeeper Josh Keeley.

The 22-year-old is now on the verge of a move to Kenilworth Road, and if all goes to plan, he’ll be playing in League One next season following Luton’s back-to-back relegations.

Tottenham apparently couldn’t agree a new contract for the Irishman, who spent last season on loan at Leyton Orient, with Levy opting to part company despite rave reviews by managers who’ve worked with him.

“His reputation is growing all the time,” Leyton Orient boss Richie Wellens told BBC Radio London after their win against Derby County.

“I’m a big believer that goalkeepers, it’s not making great saves from penalties, it’s about having the character about you to believe you can save it. Josh has got that personality and that swagger.

“The fact that he comes up and keeps us in the competition with that header is the extreme, but the kid has got a lot of character and will go far in the game.”

Sky Sports add that the fee agreed is around £1 million, and there will be no buy-back clause.

Glasgow Rangers manager Russell Martin and sporting director Kevin Thelwell are hard at work behind the scenes at Ibrox as they look to cultivate a winning squad for next season.

The Light Blues have failed to win the Scottish Premiership title in each of the last four seasons, and the new boss has been brought in to turn their fortunes around.

Steven Gerrard was the last Rangers manager to lift the Premiership trophy after the Liverpool legend led the team to an incredible unbeaten season in the 2020/21 campaign.

Of course, that season was behind closed doors, though, and this meant that supporters did not get to enjoy that amazing success in the stands each week.

Martin will now be hoping to replicate that success with supporters able to enjoy it in the flesh, and he could draw inspiration from how Gerrard’s team was built.

One of the stars of that side was electric left winger Ryan Kent, who provided quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals for the Scottish giants that season.

Why Ryan Kent was so influential for Rangers

The former Liverpool forward was an influential figure for Gerrard at the top end of the pitch, and was trusted by the manager, as shown by his 36 starts in 38 league matches.

Kent came off the bench just once in the Premiership season, making 37 appearances in total, which shows that he was a consistent starter and reliable option for the Gers on the left flank.

The English speedster rewarded Gerrard for his faith in him by delivering terrific performances out wide for the Light Blues, leading them to the title with his haul of goals and assists.

Kent ended the campaign with a return of ten goals and nine assists to his name in the Premiership, which earned himself a place in the Premiership Team of the Season, illustrating just how impressive he was in the division.

xG

8.28

Top 11%

Goals

10

Top 9%

xA

8.17

Top 6%

Assists

9

Top 9%

Chances created

68

Top 6%

Successful dribbles

70

Top 1%

Touches in the opposition box

162

Top 1%

As you can see in the table above, the Rangers star was an incredibly influential forward for the team because he finished his chances efficiently, created high-quality opportunities at an impressive rate, and was a constant threat in the opposition box.

Rangers could do with another electric winger in the same mould as Kent to propel them back to the top of the Premiership next season, and they may be on the verge of finding one.

Rangers closing in on new winger

According to The Star journalist Joe Crann, Rangers are closing in on a deal to bring Sheffield Wednesday winger Djeidi Gassama to Ibrox this summer.

The reporter claims that a move to Glasgow is “imminent” after the 21-year-old dynamo agreed terms on a four-year contract with the Scottish giants.

Transfer Focus

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

Crann claims that a fee has been agreed with the Championship side to snap up the left-sided attackers, and that they have already agreed personal terms with the French speedster.

Meanwhile, The Scottish Sun reports that the Owls sensation is valued at around £2.5m and back up Crann’s claim that the winger is closing in on a transfer to Rangers to bolster Martin’s options on the flanks.

At this moment in time, though, it remains to be known exactly how much money the Light Blues have agreed to pay for the exciting young forward, who appears to be on course to be the club’s latest addition.

Why Gassama could be the new Kent for Rangers

Martin could unearth his own version of Ryan Kent at Ibrox next season by helping the Sheffield Wednesday star to unlock his true potential on the left flank.

The 21-year-old gem is still in the early stages of his career and has plenty of time left ahead of him to develop and improve over the years to come, which means that he should not only be judged on the numbers behind his Championship season last term.

Although, that is not to say that there were no promising signs from the French star last season, because the Owls whiz did catch the eye at times with his blistering displays.

Gassama was described as an “exciting” player by teammate Barry Bannan, and that comment is backed up by some of the data behind his performances for the Championship side.

xG

5.92

Top 16%

Goals

7

Top 14%

Shots on target

23

Top 14%

Chances created

38

Top 23%

xA

2.54

Top 32%

Assists

1

Bottom 27%

Touches in the opposition box

153

Top 6%

As you can see in the table above, the potential Rangers signing ranked highly as a goalscorer and constantly got into the opposition’s box, just as Kent did in the 2020/21 Premiership term, but the creative side of his game could be worked on at Ibrox.

Whilst these are not mind-blowing statistics, as he was only directly involved in eight goals at league level last term, Gassama’s form for PSG at youth level suggests that he has another gear to find in the future.

The impressive youngster produced a staggering 22 goals and seven assists in 27 matches for PSG’s U17 team in the 2021/22 season, along with five goals and two assists in eight games for their Youth League side.

This means that Gassama ended that season with a haul of 27 goals and nine assists in 35 games for the French giants at academy level, which is a sensational record and suggests that he has the potential to be as influential as Kent for Rangers if he can get anywhere close to those numbers at first-team level.

Dessers upgrade at Ibrox: Rangers join race to sign "complete number 9"

Rangers are reportedly interested in a deal to sign a big upgrade on Cyriel Dessers.

ByDan Emery Jul 9, 2025

It will now be down to Martin to work with him on the training pitches to help him to fulfill his potential and finally fill the hole that has been left on the wing since Kent’s departure in 2023.

نجح منتخب تونس في تحقيق فوز مُثير على نظيره غينيا الاستوائية بهدف دون رد، في اللقاء الذي جمع بينهما ضمن تصفيات إفريقيا المؤهلة لكأس العالم 2026.

والتقى منتخب تونس مع غينيا الاستوائية على أرضية ملعب مالابو، في إطار مباريات الجولة الثامنة بـ تصفيات كأس العالم.

وشهدت المباراة محاولات عديدة من جانب كلا المنتخبين من أجل تسجيل هدف في اللقاء لضمان الثلاثة نقاط، وفي الدقيقة 90+4 قبل نهاية المباراة بثوان نجح المنتخب التونسي في تسجيل هدف قاتل.

وجاء هدف فوز تونس عن طريق محمد علي بن رمضان، بعد خطأ دفاعي استغله هجوم نسور قرطاج ثم وصلت الكرة إلى بن رمضان ليضعها داخل الشباك.

طالع | ترتيب مجموعة تونس في تصفيات كأس العالم 2026 بعد الفوز على غينيا الاستوائية

ويقع منتخب تونس في المجموعة الثامنة إلى جانب منتخبات ليبيريا وناميبيا وغينيا الاستوائية ومالاوي وساوتومي وبرينسيب.

بتلك النتيجة يحتل منتخب تونس صدارة ترتيب المجموعة الثامنة من تصفيات كأس العالم برصيد 22 نقطة ويحصد بطاقة تأهله رسميا إلى مونديال 2026، بينما تتواجد غينيا الاستوائية بالمركز الرابع بـ 10 نقطة. هدف محمد بن رمضان القاتل في مباراة تونس وغينيا الاستوائية

بهدف قاتل في الدقائق الأخيرة.. المنتخب التونسي يحجز بطاقة العبور إلى المونديال 🇹🇳🔥#التصفيات_الأفريقية | #SSC pic.twitter.com/pZQLNBKwr0 — SSC (@ssc_sports) September 8, 2025

Aston Villa faces an important summer ahead. Throughout the transfer window, Unai Emery will be keen on attracting yet more high-profile players to the Midlands.

While it will be the Europa League, rather than the Champions League, that the club will partake in next season, Villa’s stature as one of the Premier League’s elite sides will help massively when the window opens.

Despite a promising season, the club failed to end its 29-year wait for a major trophy, and this is clearly the next step in the Spaniard’s project.

A solid core has been built, no doubt about that, but there are several positions which need to be strengthened before the start of 2025/26.

As such, what could the club’s dream starting XI look like when the league season begins in August? Well, we’ve taken a deeper look.

1 GK – Lucas Chevalier

It appears as though Emiliano Martinez is set to leave the Midlands after five years as the club’s number one.

Throughout that time, he has kept 70 clean sheets across 212 matches, helping Villa qualify for the Champions League in the process. Manchester United have shown previous interest in the goalkeeper, and he will have no shortage of offers this summer.

His replacement could be Frenchman Lucas Chevalier. Emery has targeted the £40m Lille shot stopper as the ideal man to replace the enigmatic Argentinian from next season onwards.

Given his excellent form in Ligue 1, it could be a shrewd move by the manager.

2 RB – Matty Cash

Cash may not be the flashiest player, and in time, he will be replaced as the starting right-back. This summer, however, Emery may well focus on other positions.

He made 38 appearances last season, registering three goal contributions. The English-born full-back will turn 28 in August and still has a few years left at the very top.

3 CB – Diego Coppola

Jacob Tanswell of the Athletic claims that the club could prioritise signing a right-sided centre-back this summer. According to reports, Emery has earmarked Italian defender Diego Coppola as a player who could fit his system well.

His superb displays for Hellas Verona – winning 60% of his total duels and making 5.7 clearances per game in Serie A – have led to Villa showing plenty of interest in him.

The best part? He would only cost £8.5m.

4 CB – Pau Torres

Pau Torres will likely continue to be one of the starting centre-backs for Villa next season.

The 28-year-old is at the peak of his career and could continue to go from strength to strength under Emery in 2025/26.

5 LB – Ian Maatsen

The Dutchman made 45 appearances for Villa last term, playing in ten of their Champions League fixtures.

Emery must ensure he is the starting left-back from next season, as Maatsen will only continue to get better.

6 CM – Youri Tielemans

Throughout the whole squad, Tielemans was arguably Villa’s most improved player last season.

Indeed, he was named Supporters’ Player of the Season and Players’ Player of the Season at Aston Villa’s End of Season Awards.

15 goal contributions were registered across 53 matches. If he carries that type of form into next term, he will be unstoppable.

7 CM – Amadou Onana

The Belgian midfielder showed glimpses of his quality after moving from Everton, but he will be keen to avoid injury issues next term.

He managed just 34 games for the club, but he still managed to score five times in all competitions.

8 RW – Tyler Dibling

Villa have shown interest in Southampton winger Tyler Dibling, who could cost around £55m this summer.

Despite the Saints suffering relegation from the Premier League, the 19-year-old was one of their brightest sparks. Across 38 games, he scored four goals and registered three assists.

He succeeded with 1.4 dribbles per game in the top flight while also creating three big chances. Despite the price demanded by the Championship side, the teenager could turn out to be an impressive long-term star for Emery as he bids to improve his options out wide.

9 AM – Morgan Rogers

Rogers’ 2024/25 season was arguably one that turned him from a talented attacking midfielder into a player in high demand.

Not only did he score 14 goals in all competitions for the club, but the Englishman also recorded 15 assists for Villa.

Four goals were netted in the Champions League, proving that he has what it takes to perform at the very highest level. Chelsea are reportedly keen on signing the player, but Emery will be doing all he can to keep hold of Rogers for as long as possible.

10 LW – Jadon Sancho

Marcus Rashford spent the second half of last season on loan at Villa, but it doesn’t look as though he will return permanently, amid his desire for a switch to Barcelona.

They are looking to target a move for Jadon Sancho instead according to reports, with the winger returning from his temporary stint at Chelsea.

With his future at United all but over, Sancho could gain plenty of game time should he choose a move to the Midlands this summer. Interest is also high from the likes of Napoli and AC Milan.

No price has been mentioned as yet, but if Emery can work out a deal that benefits all parties, signing Sancho – who is valued at £31m by Football Transfers – may be a wise piece of business.

Form Virgil van Dijk to Alan Hansen, Liverpool have had some of the greatest centre-backs of all time, but striker Chris Wood once revealed the toughest defender he’s ever faced is not one of their decorated legends.

The role of the enforcer in football has changed as the game has changed, with referees nowadays taking a much sterner view on two-footed tackles and late challenges.

‘Let them know you’re there’ was once a common phrase used in football dressing rooms up and down Britain, whether it be Sunday league or the Premier League, as dominant centre-backs and tough-tackling midfielders used intimidation as a tactic.

Premier League's toughest players in pictures

For Liverpool, those tackles were often performed by the likes of Jamie Carragher and Javier Mascherano, with former Manchester United winger Nani once revealing why a tackle by Carragher left him in tears: “When I saw my leg for the first time, I thought my season was finished. That is why I was crying.

“Afterwards, the doctor saw my leg and said I had been lucky because it just needed stitches and I would be out for two or three weeks. He is surprised that I could recover even quicker.”

The Sky Sports pundit only received a yellow card for the tackle on Nani, which in today’s game would have been met with a straight red and a hefty ban.

Toughest players in Premier League history ranked by Alan Shearer

10. Diego Costa

9. Jaap Stam

8. Vinnie Jones

7. David Batty

6. Stuart Pearce

5. Patrick Vieira

4. Nemanja Vidic

3. Roy Keane

2. Julian Dicks

1. Duncan Ferguson

Towards the end of Carragher’s Liverpool career the Reds signed several centre-backs with a view of becoming his successor, and perhaps one of the most beloved by fans was a 23 year-old from Slovakia called Martin Skrtel.

Chris Wood: Skrtel the toughest defender I've ever faced

Manager Rafael Benitez was thrilled when Liverpool signed Skrtel in January 2008 for a transfer fee of £6.5m, telling fans their new defender was “aggressive” and “very competitive”.

Wood, who played against Skrtel when he was a young striker at Leicester, went one further in an interview on the Premier League’s YouTube channel in 2021. He said that for all of the legendary centre-backs to grace Anfield and the Premier League as a whole, it wasn’t greats like Van Dijk who gave him his toughest test.

Skrtel left Liverpool in 2016 to sign for Fenerbahçe, and despite not winning many trophies during his time on Merseyside, is remembered fondly by Liverpool fans.

Related 20 Best Centre-Backs in Premier League History Ranked

Where does Virgil van Dijk rank?

Posts ByCharlie Smith May 9, 2025

The former Slovakia international played 320 times for Liverpool, scoring 18 goals and winning the League Cup in the 2011-12 season. Interesingly, despite being yellow carded 51 times, he only ever received one red card in England, as he was sent off in a 4-0 defeat at Tottenham in September 2011.

Chelsea would have been expecting a tricky contest against Arne Slot’s Liverpool, but would have remained hopeful of a positive result off the back of the Reds potentially dropping the ball after being crowned Premier League champions a week ago.

The Dutchman would make considerable alterations – seen in the likes of Jarell Quansah starting at the back ahead of Ibrahima Konate – yet the manner in which Enzo Maresca’s Blues brushed aside the Reds 3-1 was still impressive, considering that was only Liverpool’s third loss of the season to date.

Now, Chelsea are only four points off Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal in second spot, away from their pursuit of a Champions League position.

To clinch a top-five place though, Maresca will know he needs Cole Palmer and Enzo Fernandez performing at the same unbelievable levels they managed against Liverpool for the rest of the campaign to come.

Fernandez & Palmer's importance to Chelsea

Before exploring Fernandez’s superb day at the office further, Palmer would end up clinching the three points right at the death for Chelsea, meaning he’s now in an illustrious list of past Blues goalscorers.

It was a top-drawer showing from the former Manchester City attacker throughout, with Palmer notching up four key passes as a constantly creative menace, on top of beating Alisson from the penalty spot with an ice-cold finish.

Whilst it’s expected that Palmer will be able to bury chances considering he’s up to 15 Premier League strikes now, Fernandez’s composure was a joy to behold too during the 3-1 win, with this perfect touch and finish after just three minutes setting the tone for Chelsea to collect all three points.

Much like his electric teammate, however, the South American is a team player for the Blues cause, with four duels won, displaying the ugly side of his game, away from nearly adding to this seven assists in the league when collecting two key passes.

Both players are stalwarts under Maresca and for good reason, but there’s another standout performer who is equally as paramount to Chelsea right now, away from this spectacular duo.

Performance in Numbers

Want data and stats? Football FanCast’s Performance in Numbers series provides you with the latest match analysis from across Europe.

The Chelsea star who is as important as Fernandez & Palmer

The West Londoners really do seem to be entering their stride at the best possible time, considering the Blues have now won their last three Premier League clashes on the trot, even with Slot’s intimidating Liverpool in their way.

These victories are made to look even more impressive when you take into account Moises Caicedo – who usually lines up in the centre of the park – has had to be drafted into the right-back position as of late, but the £115m star’s versatile nature has just managed to shine through regardless.

Minutes played

90

Goals scored

0

Assists

0

Touches

53

Accurate passes

29/31 (94%)

Key passes

1

Accurate crosses

1/1

Accurate long balls

1/1

Clearances

5

Blocked shots

1

Interceptions

1

Tackles

2

Total duels won

7/10

The expensive 23-year-old is beginning to prove his worth as a full package, with Caicedo exiting the field of play after the 3-1 win with only two misplaced passes next to his name, leading to a 94% pass accuracy being calculated.

But, he also battled well – much like Palmer and Fernandez – when necessary, with a high seven duels won across the course of his stellar 90 minutes, away from winning the hosts that late decisive spot-kick when moved back into the midfield areas.

Handed out an 8/10 post-match rating by London Evening Standard journalist Malik Ouzia, it looks as if Maresca will continue to pick Caicedo alongside Palmer and Fernandez for the foreseeable, knowing full well this trio are ready for the potential Champions League challenge that awaits.

Before anything is set in stone, however, Chelsea will just need to keep picking up the wins, with a very tough fixture away at Newcastle United up next, one that will show off the character of Maresca’s camp.

Their own Isak: Chelsea make approach to sign "tremendous" £60m talisman

Chelsea could be about to land a star who could be their own version of Alexander Isak.

ByEthan Lamb May 3, 2025

Kathryn Bryce and Vishmi Gunaratne tell the Powerplay podcast what it means to qualify

ESPNcricinfo staff08-May-2024Scotland captain Kathryn Bryce and Vishmi Gunaratne of Sri Lanka talk to Firdose Moonda and Valkerie Baynes about what it means to qualify for the T20 Women’s World Cup in Bangladesh in October.