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Ange Postecoglou cemented his legacy at Tottenham Hotspur when he led his side to glory in the Europa League last season, ending 17 years of searching for silverware down N17.

However, Spurs’ 17th-place finish in the Premier League pass judgment on Postecoglou’s tenure, ending his time in the dugout after two campaigns that were fraught with setbacks but charged by excitement.

Now, with Thomas Frank at the helm, Tottenham will hope to build on last year’s success and establish themselves as one of the most dangerous clubs in England once again, having sealed their place in the Champions League too.

Matches

76

152

Wins

31

54

Draws

11

38

Losses

34

60

Goals scored

138

228

Goals conceded

126

224

Points

104

200

PPG

1.37

1.32

Daniel Levy will no doubt be doing some soul-searching after making the contentious call, but in Frank, the Londoners have bagged a manager capable of shaping talented players into shining stars.

The Danish tactician will relish the chance to work with Tottenham’s crew, but he will need to be backed this summer, strengthening the squad with one or two attacking additions.

Spurs lining up attacking signings

Sure, Tottenham need reinforcements across the park, but with Heung-min Son entering the autumn of his career and attracting interest from suitors in the Middle East, fresh recruits are needed.

The 20-year-old Mathys Tel’s loan move has been wrapped up for £30m, which could prove a shrewd deal indeed, but there’s little question that more is needed, both out wide and as support for striker Dominic Solanke.

Looking at the flanks, West Ham United’s Mohammed Kudus is available after a difficult campaign in east London, while L’Equipe have recently reported Lilywhites interest in AS Monaco’s Maghnes Akliouche, who is valued at around €60m (£51m).

Bryan Mbeumo has also been at the centre of talks, and Frank would love nothing more than a reunion with his Brentford talisman. However, the prolific Cameroon international’s preference is to sign for Man United this summer.

No matter, Tottenham appear to have found their dream alternative.

Spurs make contact for Premier League star

The Athletic’s David Ornstein has confirmed that Tottenham have made an official enquiry for Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo. However, Daniel Levy has no intention of meeting the £70m asking price.

Man United are also keen but are in the same camp as Spurs, albeit they are leaning toward Mbeumo. With Semenyo thought to be keen on the move to north London, though, this one’s hardly dead in the water.

Saying that, the Cherries are under no pressure to sell after offloading Dean Huijsen and Milos Kerkez.

Why Spurs should sign Antoine Semenyo

Bournemouth signed Semenyo from Bristol City for a smart £10.5m fee in January 2023, and has since gone from strong to stronger under the wing of Andoni Iraola.

Indeed, across the past two Premier League campaigns, the versatile winger has scored 19 goals and provided nine assists, underlaying his output with sharp, dynamic movements and a tenacious defensive attitude.

His completeness suggests Semenyo could even prove an upgrade on Brennan Johnson, 24, who is one of Tottenham’s most prolific players but is guilty of drifting in and out of games, waning at points.

Two seasons into his career down N17, the Welshman posted 18 goals and seven assists last term, the most notable of which was the bundled-in winner to seal the Europa League title.

But he needs to do more across the wider game. As per Sofascore, Johnson averaged just 0.6 dribbles, 2.8 successful duels, and 0.6 key passes over last year’s top-flight season, also creating just four big chances across his 33 appearances (24 of which were starts).

Transfer Focus

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

Semenyo, however, is far more complete. Not only did he score 11 goals and add five assists in the league (Johnson’s haul was as follows: 11 goals, three assists), but the forward also averaged 1.9 dribbles, 6.1 duels, and 4.3 ball recoveries per game.

This suggests that the Cherries sensation could offer more to the team with his all-round game on the flank in comparison to Johnson’s limited performances.

Described as a “duel monster” and a “workhorse off the ball” by analyst Ben Mattinson, the Bournemouth man is perfectly aligned with Frank’s vision, especially when considering he plays in a similar fashion to Mbeumo.

Indeed, FBref record the Englishman to be of a statistical likeness to the Bees star, ranked as he was among the top 5% of the Premier League’s attacking midfielders and wingers last year for shots taken, the top 20% for successful take-ons and the top 8% for aerials won per 90.

Right winger

46

13

3

Left winger

29

7

5

Centre-forward

6

1

0

Semenyo’s versatility has seen him provide a potent output both on the left and the right wing for Bournemouth, with his teammate Lewis Cook hailing his “aggressive” and “clinical” qualities.

Such praise underlines the Ghana international’s suitability for a place in a Tottenham team hoping to cement themselves among Europe’s elite for years to come while challenging for major honours with a newfound taste for triumph.

Of course, Johnson is hardly allergic to playing a definitive role in sealing silverware – just hark back to the Europa League final – but across the wider span of the campaign, Tottenham supporters cannot contest the fact that there was a consistent lack of consistency and fluency that led to the lowly Premier League finish.

Semenyo would change that, dovetailing into Frank’s new Spurs system and rising to become the astute manager’s new version of Mbeumo.

This wouldn’t necessarily relegate Johnson to the backbenches, for the transfer target is competent across both wings, but there’s no doubt that he would add a dimension which his counterpart has yet to unlock in its entirety.

Much depends on whether Levy can whittle down Bournemouth’s hefty £70m fee. If the shrewd businessman can do so, he would strengthen the new Tottenham project and then some.

Dream Son heir: Spurs set to enter bidding war for "generational" £50m star

The talented youngster could be a superstar at Spurs.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jun 20, 2025

With Hardik Pandya losing the India vice-captaincy, and set to lead T20I captain Suryakumar Kumar at the IPL, could it make for a strained relationship? Not at all, says Suryakumar

Sreshth Shah21-Jan-20251:16

Manjrekar: India’s transition in T20Is has ‘happened quite easily’

Axar Patel has been promoted to being India’s vice-captain, and Hardik Pandya is no longer this team’s deputy. Could that affect T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav’s dynamics with Hardik, who, come the IPL, will be captaining Suryakumar? Not at all, Suryakumar said on the eve of the first T20I in Kolkata. He might not have the tag of vice-captain, but his “good friend” Hardik remains a key member of India’s T20I leadership group, Suryakumar said.”The relationship with him has been really great. We’ve been playing [together] for a really long time. I still remember that from 2018, when I went back to Mumbai Indians [we first played together] and [it’s the same] till today,” Suryakumar told the media in Kolkata. “It’s just that the added responsibility that I’ve got [here]. When we go back to franchise cricket, I can get to be quiet and relax for a little bit.”But we’ve been good friends on the field and we know what we want going forward with the India team. Axar has been given that added responsibility. We saw what he did in the 2024 T20 World Cup, he’s been with the team for a very long time. At the same time, Hardik is also part of the leading group. When we sit, we decide what we want to do with the team going forward and even on the field, he is always around. We have a lot of captains on the ground.”Related

• Powerhouse line-ups clash in a series that could test T20's limits

• Axar hints at flexible middle order as India gear up for England

• Buttler: We're blessed with bowlers that are capable batters

• McCullum promises entertainment as England white-ball era begins

• Shami puts in the hard yards at India's first training session ahead of England T20Is

Suryakumar – who also took his first steps towards being one of the great T20I batters of his generation under Gautam Gambhir’s captaincy at Kolkata Knight Riders – feels the working relationship he has with Gambhir is rock-solid. Since Gambhir took over as coach in mid-2024, India have T20I series wins in Sri Lanka, at home against Bangladesh, and in South Africa, losing just one game across those three series. While their Test form might be under scrutiny, in T20Is, Suryakumar believes they are moving in the “right direction” with Gambhir.”I’ve played under Gambhir for four years, so I know how he works,” Suryakumar said. “Even without speaking to him, we know what we need to do. He wasn’t there on the tour of South Africa since he was preparing with the Test team, but we are moving in the right direction with him. He gives freedom, he allows players to express. He keeps things simple, he knows what is going inside a player’s head. He keeps things light and maintains a good atmosphere.”Sanju Samson is currently India’s first-choice keeper in T20Is, Suryakumar Yadav confirmed•AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.

India’s T20 team is building towards a home World Cup – hosting rights for the tournament in February-March 2026 are split with Sri Lanka – where they will be defending champions. But Suryakumar doesn’t want to think that far ahead for now and instead “enjoy the journey”.”For me it is important that the T20 World Cup is one year away but I don’t want to think about that,” he said. “We want to enjoy the journey to that event instead. We want to make a team, understand which batters work well in which position, which bowlers can win you games single-handedly.”It’s important for a group to play lots of games in the lead up. That’s what Gauti and I will think about. We want to play with this group until the Asia Cup and the T20 World Cup.”

No Pant in India’s T20I plans?Neither Rishabh Pant nor KL Rahul is part of this T20I squad, with Sanju Samson – who scored three T20I centuries and maintained a strike rate of 180.16 in 2024 – the incumbent gloveman and Dhruv Jurel his understudy. Suryakumar said that’s a position which is sealed for now.”Currently, there’s no question mark on the wicketkeepers,” he said. “Sanju has done really well in the last 7-10 games and has shown what he’s capable of. It’s what we want from all our players, not just the wicketkeepers but from everyone – to keep the team first. He’s got that opportunity, he’s made full use of it. And I’m happy for him.”Generally, the atmosphere is great. We had a team dinner yesterday. This group has been together for 2-3 series now. The boys know what their team-mates like and don’t like. This camaraderie will reflect on the field as well.”

South Africa’s batter embraces the pressure of series-decider at The Oval

Firdose Moonda05-Sep-2022Batting in England, according to Sarel Erwee, can feel like being at the top of a slide you’ve been down many times before. You know your head will spin when you survey the journey below, your stomach will turn as it begins, your ears will pop somewhere en route and you will scream, probably all the way. Even though intellectually you know to expect all these things, when they’re actually happening they will surprise you. Then you will steel yourself and want to go through it all again.”In these conditions, the ball moves and swings and nips and you know it’s going to do that,” Erwee told ESPNcricinfo. “It’s almost like going to India where the ball turns and you know it’s going to turn. When you see a lot of movement, sometimes that plays on your mind a little bit. The challenge is to stay in the moment and not let the one or two balls that swing a lot play on your mind.”Erwee talks from some experience. Although this is his first tour to England as an international, he has spent several seasons at Weybridge Cricket Club, playing in the Surrey Premier League, where he faced the moving ball. It may have caused him some difficulty then but it’s definitely asking much more of him now. “The English attack – just two of them [James Anderson and Stuart Broad] – have got over 1,000 wickets between them and it’s quite nice to face experienced bowlers in bowler-friendly conditions,” Erwee said.For the record Anderson and Broad together have 1,223 Test wickets and while Erwee is in awe, he is not intimidated. “It’s tricky but you wouldn’t want it any other way as an opening batter,” he added. “This is where you learn your Test cricket and what you’re about. To face these guys in their conditions is tricky but a nice experience. It’s something we will take with us into many more series to come, or even just to franchise cricket when we go back home. It’s all a learning curve really.”The issue is that South Africa’s batters have been in the knowledge-seeking phase for what seems like too long. In the last three years, only West Indies and Bangladesh have a top six that averages lower than their figure of 30.84, and they have only scored seven centuries between them, more than only Zimbabwe and Afghanistan.Erwee is one of those century-makers, and one of only two South African batters to have scored a Test hundred this year – Kyle Verreynne is the other – but he doesn’t see the individual numbers as the most important statistic right now. “The key thing for us is partnerships,” he said. “Everyone wants to score runs and hundreds but when you face tricky conditions it’s all about fighting for the next ball and fighting for your partner. That’s a focus.”Erwee’s partnership with Dean Elgar has been one of the highlights of South Africa’s recent batting•AFPOn that metric, Erwee has had done everything right so far. His partnership with Dean Elgar, though still in its infancy, is South Africa’s most successful in average terms since Graeme Smith and Neil Mckenzie in 2008-09.Smith and McKenzie shared in five hundred and eight fifty stands in 27 innings together; Erwee and Elgar have had two hundred and three fifty stands in 11 innings. They average 47.09, which suggests they are giving the middle-order something to build on. The real dilemma stems from them not always being able to, but Erwee has faith in players he has spent more than a decade playing alongside and against in domestic competitions.”They are excellent,” he said. “Watching them in domestic cricket and watching them train here, facing our bowlers – we’re talking about our four seamers who are world-class – for us to be facing them and watching these guys train against them, they are definitely the future of this batting line-up. I’m sure these guys are close to getting onto a good run and I look forward to watching that in years to come. Once I am done playing, I am sure they’ll still be playing. They are class players.”For someone only six matches into a Test career, and 32 years old, talking about no longer playing seems too soon but it’s part of Erwee’s ideology of not looking too far ahead. “I haven’t really thought of [my] long-term prospects. I just try and play my best game so that I have a good foot to stand on in the following game,” he said. “If I score the runs, I’ll stay.”

You don’t want to run away from pressure. You want to go towards it. If you run towards it, when pressure does hit, it becomes easier to face

So far, so good. Erwee is currently the only South African batter with more than 100 runs in the ongoing series and the only one with a half-century. But the expectation on him in an inexperienced line up – which will only get more inexperienced now that Rassie van der Dussen has been ruled out with a broken finger and one of Ryan Rickelton (two Test caps) or Khaya Zondo (one) will replace him – is immense. Asked how he copes with the scrutiny, Erwee offered a philosophical answer: “It’s Michael Jordan who said something about he has failed so many times but he has still become successful,” he said.The exact Jordan quote is: “I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games, 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed,” and the message holds: success is not only measured in numbers but in the someone responds in tough times.”You don’t want to run away from pressure. You want to go towards it. If you run towards it, when pressure does hit, it becomes easier to face,” Erwee said. “I don’t really feel I am under pressure every game. I’ve just got to enjoy and make the most of each game that I have, I try to embrace it as much as possible.”The attitude of in-the-moment living comes from the work Erwee has done on his mental health, which hit a low that almost led him to quit cricket, and has now seen him to commit to having as much fun as he can, while he can.And it shows. When he dropped Ollie Pope at slip in England’s first innings at Lord’s, juggling and then falling as he tried to take what should have been a routine catch, he brushed it off as ‘one of those things’ and then saw the lighter side of juggling and taking the catch that ended Joe Root’s innings in the second Test. “When I dropped the first one, I heard the crowd play up a bit. I was like, ‘oh my word, this is crazy’,” Erwee remembered, with a laugh. “But luckily I held on to the second one because that could have been another interesting reaction from the crowd.”Related

Dean Elgar shrugs off injury scare as Ryan Rickelton prepares to take his chance

Sarel Erwee's maiden Test ton makes it South Africa's day

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'Freak' injury puts Bairstow out of third Test and T20 World Cup

Charl Langeveldt urges South Africa to join the dots in pursuit of Test series win

In all seriousness, fielding in the slips is not as straightforward as it may seem in these conditions, for exactly the same reason batting is challenging. “It’s quite tricky with the ball that wobbles a bit once it’s past the bat. It’s not something I’ve experienced before,” Erwee said. “We train our slip catching quite intensely. You’ve just got to train it over and over again to get used to the wobble of the ball once it comes past the bat. It’s just about keeping your body as relaxed as possible and your head nice and still so that if something happens you can move quickly.”South Africa routinely do their fielding sessions last in training, when the players are already quite fatigued, to challenge their concentration levels in the same way a Test match might. It’s about forcing them to be as present as possible. “You’ve always got to be switched on. I have really enjoyed the challenge of that,” Erwee said.And that means that, even if he knows exactly what to expect on the field, he is also always ready for a few surprises.

Fonseka adds half-century as Rossouw takes five to keep South Africa in contention

ECB Reporters Network04-Feb-2025England U19s 251 for 8 (Sawant 83*, Fonseka 52, Roussouw 5-62) lead South Africa U19s 224 (James 84, Hansen 63, Jack 3-42) by 27 runsAaryan Sawant guided England Men U19s into a first-innings lead with a patient unbeaten 83 on day two of the second Youth Test against South Africa Men U19s in Cape Town.The Middlesex right-hander batted for over five hours, with the support of a Kesh Fonseka half-century, as the Young Lions reached 251 for eight at stumps.Left-arm finger spinner Nathan Rossouw impressed with five for 62 on a spin-friendly surface, but Sawant remained to usher his side into a 27-run lead.Sawant joined Foneska at 52 for two after Rossouw, who sent down 36 overs today after opening the bowling last night, removed openers Archie Vaughan (24) and Ben Dawkins (22). The pair added 70 for the third wicket with Fonseka crunching leg-spinner Chad Mason for six over cover before bringing up his fifty with a straight four from the spin of Jason Rowles.Fonseka was run out by a Bandile Mbatha direct hit as he went back for a second – the only wicket of the day not to fall to spin. The Young Lions then lost four for 16 as Rossouw reached his five-wicket haul which threatened to give the hosts a first-innings lead.Sawant steadied matters and reached the close having hit five fours and a six in his 228-ball stay, while Yorkshire debutant Alexander Wade was also unbeaten on seven from 58 balls.

Marseille are making a last-ditch effort to secure striker Igor Paixao, pushing negotiations amid heavy pressure from Leeds United and Feyenoord.

• Marseille locked in Paixao bidding war
• Leeds have matched Feyenoord’s demands
• French side increase offer in response

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  According to French and Italian media reports, Marseille are staging a late push to sign Feyenoord’s Paixao despite heavy competition from Leeds. The Brazilian forward has already agreed personal terms with Marseille, but an agreement between the clubs remains elusive. Leeds have reportedly tabled a €30 million (£26m/$35m) offer that matches Feyenoord’s demands, momentarily putting the English side in pole position to seal the deal. However, Marseille are preparing a third, increased offer believed to exceed the €30m (£26m/$35m) threshold, with figures close to €32m (£28m/$37m) being cited. Sources including and journalist Nicolo Schira indicate Leeds might even have submitted a €35m bid, which Feyenoord appear ready to accept.

Advertisement

• Getty Images
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Despite advancing first, Marseille now find themselves trailing Leeds in the race for Paixao. Leeds’ willingness to match the Dutch team's asking price has shifted momentum, but Pablo Longoria, Marseille’s president, is intent on making another attempt. With the player keen on a move to Marseille and an agreement on personal terms, the outcome now centres solely on the financial package.

• MARSEILLE PREPARE NEW BID

  Facing mounting competition and rejecting an early exit, Marseille are preparing a fresh bid that could surpass Leeds’ current offer. Negotiations remain active and, according to , a decisive response from Feyenoord is expected imminently. The transfer is being closely watched as the French side looks to secure Paixao as part of an ambitious attack alongside Mason Greenwood and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

• Getty
  

  WHAT NEXT?

  Roma, previously in the running, have exited the contest, citing the risk of a bidding war. Pressure is mounting on the player himself as he waits for a resolution and prepares for a potentially record-breaking move. All sides expect clarity within hours as Marseille make their final approach.

The storm that has clouded Newcastle United’s early summer transfer window is perhaps showing signs of abating, even if Eddie Howe’s outfit have seen bids rejected for three top targets.

That’s according to the Times, whose revelation that offers for Anthony Elanga, Joao Pedro and James Trafford were rebuffed will no doubt have been met by a chorus of frustration over on Tyneside.

At the very least, United are showing ambitious intent, and though slapping a £200m price tag on Alexander Isak to ward off interest from Liverpool might have proved a double-edged sword, for clubs will hardball the Toon in their own dealings henceforth, there’s no doubt breakthroughs will be achieved in the coming months.

However, it might be wise for Howe and co to pin some alternative names to the board. Indeed, in Pedro’s case, an exciting backup has been found, and he might even prove the better pick.

Newcastle open talks for elite forward

As per GIVEMESPORT, Newcastle have opened talks with Xavi Simons’ representatives as they look to welcome some attacking additions this summer.

Expected to depart RB Leipzig after they failed to qualify for Europe, the 22-year-old playmaker has a £60m price tag and has expressed a desire to move to the Premier League.

Arsenal, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur have all had discussions with the player’s camp too, so this one’s wide open at the present stage.

Why Newcastle want Xavi Simons

While dynamic, Simons isn’t as out-and-out an attacker as Pedro; instead, the Dutchman merges the creative with the incisive to an emphatic effect.

He’s the real deal, all right, and given the finances involved, would perhaps go on to prove an even better signing than Pedro, if push comes to shove.

Such masterful versatility is hardly something Howe’s going to say no to, and Simons would add a new creative dimension to a side which finished the 2024/25 Premier League season ranked sixth in the division for big chances created (112) after finishing joint-second with Manchester City (97) the term before.

It’s clear Howe needs such a virtuoso to take that next great step, and given that Simons finished the campaign ranked among the top 12% of attacking midfielders and wingers for passes attempted, the top 14% for progressive passes, the top 18% for shot-creating actions and the top 7% for ball recoveries, as per FBref, he clearly knows his stuff.

Athletic and driven, Simons would add a wealth of quality to the Magpies fold, with his haul of ten goals and seven assists across just 25 Bundesliga matches further highlighting his clinical nature.

Left winger

41

10

11

Right winger

17

5

5

Attacking midfield

17

6

7

Centre-forward

1

–

–

Moreover, he missed just two big chances and averaged two key passes and 5.4 successful duels per game. Though Pedro would be a brilliant attacking addition, Simons might just have that little bit more, with his versatility both through positional and prolific value likely to add so much to the United project.

Pedro, sure, is a steady supplier of goal contributions, posting 30 goals and ten assists across 70 matches, but he’s not quite so refined, indeed operating in a more advanced berth that you’d have to think will be occupied by Isak.

Howe makes sure his players know their duties and toe the line, but Simons’ expansiveness is part of what makes him special, a “superstar”, as has even been remarked by analyst Ben Mattinson.

Newcastle need to beat off Premier League opposition to secure this man’s signature, prioritising a deal over the likes of Pedro.

Better than Elanga: Newcastle open talks to sign £43m "game-changer"

Newcastle are beginning to ramp up the gas in the summer transfer market.

ByAngus Sinclair Jun 26, 2025

da esoccer bet： Manchester United have now opened talks over a deal for a “world-class” Barcelona player, with the La Liga champions willing to sanction a departure this summer, according to a report.

Man Utd's summer rebuild underway

da 888casino： After one of the worst seasons in their modern history, no Man United player has been safe from criticism, and Jamie Carragher has suggested that Bruno Fernandes doesn’t fit into Ruben Amorim’s system.

Carragher said: “I’ve always described Bruno Fernandes as a great talent but not a great player. Where does he play?

“He’s a bit mad in that he just runs all over the place, like a kid in the school yard. The best player in the school yard doing everything but in a really poor team. I don’t think he’s ever had any discipline in those No. 10 positions.”

It has since been confirmed that Fernandes is set to remain at Old Trafford, but the rebuild is very much underway, with Matheus Cunha arriving at the start of the month, while Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo has also emerged as a major target in attack.

Related Forget Gyokeres: Man Utd have had talks to sign "world-class" £50m+ striker

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Posts ByDominic Lund Jun 10, 2025

Having been the subject of widespread criticism throughout the campaign, there have also been indications that Amorim could look to bring in an upgrade on Andre Onana this summer, and an initial approach has now been made for a Barcelona star.

Indeed, according to a report from Spain, Man United have now opened talks over a deal for Marc-Andre ter Stegen, submitting an enquiry about the goalkeeper, and they may have discovered that Barca are now willing to sanction a departure.

Onana is no longer part of Amorim’s plans, which means the manager will be tasked with bringing in a replacement, and Ter Stegen is very much of interest, although there could be competition for his signature from Galatasaray and Al-Hilal.

The German is in no rush to leave, but Joan Garcia’s arrival could unsettle him, as reduced game time may impact his chances of going to the 2026 World Cup.

"World-class" Ter-Stegen has track record of success

The 33-year-old has won 20 trophies for club and country across a glittering career, most recently playing a minor role in Barcelona’s La Liga triumph by making eight appearances throughout the 2024-25 campaign.

However, the £103k-a-week shot-stopper missed the majority of the season through injury, and given his age, there are questions over whether he would be a viable long-term replacement for Onana.

Having been lauded as “world-class” by Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann, Ter Stegen is clearly a top goalkeeper, but the rival interest coming from Galatasaray and Al-Hilal, rather than some of Europe’s top clubs, speaks volumes.

As such, it may be wise to go all out for a younger goalkeeper on the shortlist, having previously identified a number of potential targets.

Target

Current club

Potential cost

Vanja Milinkovic-Savic

Torino

£17m

James Trafford

Burnley

£30m

Emiliano Martinez

Aston Villa

?

Bart Verbruggen

Brighton

£34m

Arsenal are now in “advanced” talks to sign a marquee player ahead of interest from Premier League champions Liverpool, with new sporting director Andrea Berta reportedly making an eventful start to life as Edu’s successor.

Mikel Arteta's future questioned after trophyless Arsenal season

Discounting the Community Shield, it has been five years since Arsenal last won a major trophy.

Arsenal risk Huijsen repeat after Zubimendi update involving Real Madrid

The Gunners have already been hijacked by La Liga’s heavyweights.

By
Emilio Galantini

May 16, 2025

Mikel Arteta guided them to FA Cup glory during the COVID pandemic in 2020, clinching a piece of silverware amid his first campaign in charge of the club, but there has been precious little in the way of honours since then.

Arsenal transfer spending under Arteta (via Sky Sports)	Money on new signings
19/20 – winter	£0
20/21 – summer	£81.5m
20/21 – winter	£900k
21/22 – summer	£156.8m
21/22 – winter	£1.8m
22/23 – summer	£121.5m
22/23 – winter	£59m
23/24 – summer	£208m
23/24 – winter	£0
24/25 – summer	£101.5m
24/25 – winter	£0

You can make a serious argument that this is largely down to Man City’s invincibility over the last few years, barring this campaign, with Arsenal racking up a brilliant 89 points last term only for Pep Guardiola’s side to eventually take all the plaudits.

As per the above table, Arsenal have invested significantly in the squad, and some debate is even beginning to arise over whether Arteta is the right manager to end the club’s two-decade-long-plus wait for a league title.

They’ve undoubtedly evolved into an elite-level side under Arteta’s tenure, as their run to the Champions League semi-finals highlights, so reports of a potential exit for the 43-year-old have been few and far between, with the consensus being that Arsenal are continuing to show faith in him.

“It’s a great achievement, in 2025, to not win a trophy for five years and still be the manager at a top club that isn’t under pressure – from us, from anybody in the football community or even anyone in the Arsenal fanbase,” said Sky pundit Gary Neville.

“That’s an incredible achievement because we thought those days were gone whereby you can have this type of patience being afforded to you. I think it’s a good thing: normally with five years without a trophy you’d ordinarily see a manager be under pressure.

“That’s significant in that you think there is progression.”

Arsenal in advanced talks to sign Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres

However, this may not last for long if Arsenal don’t end their trophy drought soon, and Berta has every intention of backing Arteta with key signings that will reinforce the squad and hand Arteta the best possible chance of achieving glory. Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres is a top target, according to widespread reports.

The “massively underrated” Sweden international appears destined to leave Sporting after a haul of 50 goals in all competitions, and some media sources suggest Arsenal have already offered him personal terms worth £135,000-per-week to join them (A Bola).

Now, CaughtOffside shares some more intriguing news about the saga. The outlet reports that Arsenal’s talks to sign Gyokeres are at an “advanced” stage, and they are currently leading the chase for his signature ahead of both Liverpool and Man United.

Arteta’s side are apparently closing in on a five-year deal for the striker, but CO claim it is actually worth around £9 million-per-year, rather than the previously mooted £7 million.

While Liverpool and United are still contending, it is reiterated that Arsenal are in pole position, with the ex-Coventry City star, who has an £84 million release clause in his contract, seemingly nearing a return to England.

Eoin Morgan has categorically denied reports that he could replace Matthew Mott as England men’s white-ball coach after their semi-final exit at last month’s T20 World Cup.Morgan was linked with the job on Tuesday but passed it off as nothing more than “speculation” while commentating on the Hundred for Sky Sports. “This news is actually news to me,” he said. “It’s obviously not nice when a coach comes under fire and there is a lot of speculation about his future, but only time will tell what will happen.”Mott, who is halfway through a four-year contract, won a T20 World Cup only six months after his appointment, but is under scrutiny after England’s underperformance in the last two global tournaments. Both Mott and Jos Buttler came under pressure after England won three out of nine games at the 50-over World Cup last year, two of which came after their elimination.At the T20 World Cup, they reached the semi-finals but were thrashed by India in Guyana, and only won once in their four matches against Test-playing opposition. Rob Key, England’s managing director, said he would review that tournament “in the next few weeks” after their elimination and that process is now underway.Related

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The reported that Mott is likely to leave his role and that Key was sounding out potential candidates. Those include Morgan, who earlier this month backed both Mott and Buttler to continue, and he added on Tuesday that he has no interest in the role due to his young family and his broadcasting work.”I’ve been asked a lot [in the media] over the past couple of months about the role, and if I would take it on,” Morgan said. “My answer has simply been that the timing for everything in my life at the moment is not right. Yes, I want to coach down the line. But I have a young family, and I spend a lot more time at home and watching cricket doing this [commentary]. I’m absolutely loving what I’m doing.”Meanwhile, Buttler is expected to miss the Hundred this year after undergoing scans on Monday, having injured his calf while preparing for the tournament. He has not yet been ruled out definitively but ESPNcricinfo understands Manchester Originals have been lining up potential replacements.”He’s our captain, a huge player for us at the top of the order, England captain as well,” Simon Katich, their coach, told Sky. “If he does happen to be ruled out, it’s a big loss for our team. Fingers crossed, he’s alright… if he isn’t, we’ve got a history of giving young players an opportunity.”

Kent survived some occasional alarms to bat out a draw with Worcestershire on the final day of their Vitality County Championship at Canterbury.The captains shook hands just after five o’clock, with Kent on 146 for four in their second innings, still 65 runs behind Worcestershire’s mammoth first innings core of 618 for seven declared.Ben Gibbon claimed two for 38, but the visitors used nine different bowlers during Kent’s second innings and failed to break down some stiff middle order resistance, spearheaded by Harry Finch who was unbeaten on 48.Earlier Jack Leaning made an unbeaten 179 as Kent were all out for 407 in their first innings, still 211 behind, with Joe Leach taking three for 37 and Matthew Waite three for 51.A draw was widely expected before the start of play, after three days that begged a number of questions.There are many worse places to be than the St Lawrence on day four of a meandering county championship game, but when the balance is tilted so far in favour of the batters, just how useful an exercise is it when it comes to preparing battle-hardened, subcontinent-ready cricketers? And is a neutered four-day game just collateral damage?Worcestershire didn’t bowl at all badly, but took just six wickets during the whole of day three. Kent’s analysts said their bowlers were hitting exactly the same lengths they’d hit during the win at Old Trafford, but it took them five sessions to take seven wickets.There was competing pessimism beforehand. Away pessimists thought the pitch would win, while their home counterparts worried about mental lapses: you shouldn’t lose 12 wickets in a day on this surface, but that didn’t mean you wouldn’t.The visitors needed an early breakthrough but Nathan Gilchrist lasted for nearly an hour on his way to 12, before he eventually tried to hook Leach and was caught, at the third attempt, by Waite on the square leg boundary, perhaps lured by some inventive field settings.When Kashif Ali bowled Matt Parkinson for two to wrap up the innings, Leaning was left unbeaten after a 403-ball innings that lasted nine-hours and 48 minutes, the second-longest recorded innings by time in Kent history after David Fulton’s ten and a half hours vs Yorkshire at Maidstone in 1998.There were still 73 overs remaining however and the loss of Zak Crawley early in Kent’s second innings suggested the game might yet flicker into life.Crawley lasted 15 balls before Jason Holder had him caught behind, leaving the England man with just 67 runs from six sub-optimal county innings this season.It was 18 for one at lunch, during which the temperature dropped and clouds emerged. Gibbon then strangled Compton down the leg side for 11 and Nathan Smith had Joe Denly lbw for 10, reducing Kent to three for 36 with 55.4 overs remaining.Bell-Drummond and Finch calmed home nerves by surviving till tea, at which point it was 104 for 3 but visiting hopes flared again when Gibbon clean-bowled the former, off-stump, for 41.Evison joined Finch however and took the sting out of the contest, batting for nearly an hour and facing 47 balls on his way to an unbeaten eight.When the occasional leggie Rob Jones became the ninth bowler Worcestershire to try and break through it was a sign the end was nigh and the teams eventually shook hands with potentially 16 overs remaining.