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Blackburn Rovers have now registered their interest in signing a “pacey” £15,000-a-week ace who would replace Callum Brittain, according to a new report.

Derby agree deal to sign Callum Brittain from Blackburn

Rovers have already seen some big-name players leave Ewood Park in this transfer window, as Joe Rankin-Costello, Tyrhys Dolan, Andreas Weimann, Dilan Markanday, and Danny Batth have all left on free transfers, and now, while it may not be a free, another key individual looks set for a move away.

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EFL Analysis’ Graeme Bailey revealed earlier this week that Derby had agreed a deal with Blackburn to sign Brittain. Rovers placed a £3 million asking price on the defender’s head, and the Rams have agreed to pay that, including add-ons.

However, they are not the only side chasing the fullback, as Middlesbrough have already seen a bid rejected and are now expected to match Derby’s offer, meaning it will be down to the player where his future lies.

Brittain has been at the Lancashire side since 2022 and has been a key performer for the club in his three years there. However, with his time now coming to an end, Rovers are having to look at possible replacements for the defender.

Blackburn register interest in signing a £15k-p/w ace

According to EFL Analysis, Graeme Bailey, Blackburn are now keen on signing Bali Mumba from League One side Plymouth Argyle.

Bailey has revealed that Rovers have let their interest be known with an initial enquiry, but they could face competition from Boro, who looked at signing Mumba back in January.

Bailey said: “Plymouth want to keep hold of him, though. So again, unless someone comes up with the money there, it won’t necessarily be easy to get him out.

“But I’ve heard he’s wanted by Blackburn as well, maybe to replace Brittain. There are a few options for Mumba.”

It is unclear how much the Pilgrims would be looking to get for Mumba, but the versatile defender is under contract until 2027, so they are not under pressure to sell in this transfer window. The 23-year-old, who has been dubbed “pacey” by former manager Daniel Farke, has made a good impression in the last two Championship seasons despite Plymouth’s struggles, as he scored three goals and recorded five assists in 86 games combined.

Bali Mumba’s 24/25 League stats compared to Callum Brittain

Mumba

Brittain

Apps

43

33

Starts

37

30

Goals

0

2

Progressive carries

66

63

Progressive passes

121

90

Progressive runs

102

141

Shots per 90

0.58

0.61

Passes attempted

1465

1562

Passes completed

1156

1209

Tackles (won)

84 (55)

56 (34)

Blocks

31

36

Clearances

90

129

Since joining Plymouth, Mumba, who earns a weekly wage of £15,000, has been very impressive in the EFL, as in their 2022/23 League One campaign, where they earned promotion, Mumba scored six goals and registered seven assists. The fact he can operate anywhere across the back four as well as in midfield adds more appeal, as Blackburn look to strengthen in a few areas of the pitch.

Fulham have now made an approach to sign a “sensational” Chelsea player who is also wanted by Wolverhampton Wanderers, according to a recent report.

Fulham stepping up their transfer plans after quiet start

It’s been a very quiet transfer window for the Cottagers so far, as Marco Silva’s side have added just one new player to their squad, and that is goalkeeper Benjamin Lecomte, who has joined from French side Montpellier. And with the Premier League season underway in less than three weeks, the club are finally stepping up their transfer plans.

Muniz replacement: Fulham now make approach to sign £25m "top striker"

The Cottagers have now made contact over a deal for a centre-forward.

ByDominic Lund Jul 9, 2025

The Athletic’s David Orstein revealed on Saturday that Fulham are now in advanced talks to sign Reiss Nelson from Arsenal. The 25-year-old spent last season on loan at Craven Cottage, where he scored one goal in 11 Premier League matches.

The Whites want to bring Nelson back to Craven Cottage on loan with either a buy option or obligation included. Fulham and Arsenal are close to reaching an agreement, but work still needs to be done on both sides for the deal to go through.

Meanwhile, Fulham have also expressed interest in signing Raheem Sterling from Chelsea. The England international has no future at Stamford Bridge after spending last season on loan at Arsenal. The Blues have placed a £20 million asking price on Sterling, who has two years left on his contract, but his £300,000-a-week wages make any deal complicated.

Fulham submit approach to sign “sensational” £30m Chelsea ace

Sterling is not the only Chelsea player wanted by the Cottagers, as according to talkSPORT, Fulham have made a formal approach to Chelsea to sign Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.

The report states that the Blues value Dewsbury-Hall as a squad player, and while he is not someone they are actively looking to sell, he can leave Stamford Bridge for around £30 million

The 26-year-old, who has been dubbed “sensational” by former Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers, followed Enzo Maresca to Stamford Bridge last summer, but the Englishman hasn’t been able to establish himself as a key player.

Last season, Dewsbury-Hall played 13 games in the Premier League, the same number he played in the UEFA Conference League. A potential arrival at Craven Cottage would see Dewsbury-Hall join the likes of Emile Smith Rowe, Andreas Pereira, Sander Berge and Alex Iwobi as fighting for a place in Silva’s midfield department.

Apps

72

Goals

3

Assists

5

However, they are not alone in their pursuit of the midfielder, as Wolves are also interested in Dewsbury-Hall and have identified him as a potential target in what remains of the transfer window.

West Ham United have now submitted a £22m offer for an “exciting” player who turned down a move to Manchester United, according to a report.

Hammers set for busy summer transfer window

There are set to be plenty of changes at the London Stadium this summer, with replacements needed for the likes of Aaron Cresswell, Lukasz Fabianski, Danny Ings and Kurt Zouma, who have all been released following the expiration of their contracts.

It looks like some of the Hammers’ summer transfer business could be funded by another departure, with Mohammed Kudus emerging as a major target for two of their Premier League rivals.

The Hammers have already knocked back a £50m bid from Tottenham for Kudus, but with the north Londoners set to make another approach, it is looking increasingly likely that Graham Potter will need to bring in a new winger this summer.

Following Fabianski’s exit, a new goalkeeper will also be required, and West Ham have now made a €25m (£22m) offer for Parma shot-stopper Zion Suzuki, according to a report from Parma Live.

The Irons will have to submit a higher bid in order to get a deal over the line, however, considering the 22-year-old is happy to remain at Parma and the Italian club want to keep hold of him.

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Several Premier League clubs have also been named as potential suitors for Suzuki, including Chelsea and Man United, with the goalkeeper once turning down a move to Old Trafford because he didn’t want to be second choice behind Andre Onana.

"Exciting" Suzuki could be ideal signing for West Ham

Football scout Ben Mattinson was left impressed by the Japenese shot-stopper’s performances in the Serie A last season, saying: “Zion Suzuki pulled off a phenomenal save against Roma and he’s rightly making the headlines.

“Despite Parma’s struggles at times this season, Zion Suzuki has stood out for his performances in goal. Remains one of the most exciting young keepers right now.”

The New Jersey-born goalkeeper was a regular starter for the Serie A side throughout the campaign, indicating that he could immediately challenge for Alphonse Areola’s starting spot, and there are signs the Parma man could be an ideal signing for West Ham.

Having averaged 43.59 touches per 90 over the past year, which places him in the 89th percentile, Suzuki is clearly comfortable with his feet, which indicates he could be a good fit in a Potter system.

As such, the Hammers should return with a higher offer, especially given that a long-term replacement for Areola is needed, with the French goalkeeper now 32-years-old.

Manchester United’s hunt for a new striker this summer has constantly led them back to Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres, with the Swedish international firmly on their radar.

Ruben Amorim has previously managed the 27-year-old during his stint in Portugal, which has undoubtedly contributed to the rumours around his move to Old Trafford.

The Red Devils would be getting themselves a clinical option if his current goal record is anything to go by, after he registered a total of 54 goals in his 52 club appearances in 2024/25.

However, despite holding talks with the striker’s representatives, he’s currently involved in a dispute with the Liga Portugal side that could scupper any potential reunion with Amorim this summer.

As a result, other targets have been considered, with the manager working tirelessly with the board to secure the additions he needs to turn the current situation around.

The latest on United’s hunt for a new striker this summer

Whilst Matheus Cunha has already secured his move to join United, it’s expected that the Brazilian international is set to operate in a number 10 role behind the striker.

The likes of Dušan Vlahović, Jean-Philippe Mateta and Aleksandar Mitrovic have all been considered for the role, but appear to be backup options given the moves made elsewhere.

In recent days, it’s emerged that the Red Devils have made contact with Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt over a potential move for forward Hugo Ekitiké, according to Sky Germany.

They claim that the French star, who’s scored 22 times across all competitions this campaign, has a €100m (£84m) release clause in his current deal, with Chelsea and Arsenal also interested.

It also states that Amorim’s men have expressed concrete interest over a move for the 22-year-old, but doesn’t mention if they are willing to pay the clause in his current deal.

Why United’s £84m target could be their own Isak

The Premier League has become a brutal division over recent years, with many sides taking advantage of you if you fall below the required standard of England’s top flight.

Alexander Isak is a player who has been the thorn in many teams’ sides over recent seasons, netting a total of 54 Premier League goals in his last three seasons at Newcastle United.

Such form has led to him being one of the most sought-after talismen in Europe, with Eddie Howe’s side placing a £150m price tag on him amid interest from Liverpool and Arsenal.

If any side were to pay such a fee, it would make him the most expensive signing in the history of English football, but United could look to steer clear of any move in favour of a switch for Ekitike.

When comparing his stats to those of Isak from the 2024/25 campaign, the Frankfurt ace has managed to match or better him in numerous key areas – making the £84m fee appear somewhat of a bargain.

He’s been ranked as a similar player to the Swede by FBref, managing to register more shots on target per 90 – leading to talent scout Jacek Kulig labelling the French star as “world-class”.

Ekitike also completed more passes than Isak, whilst completing more of the take-ons he’s attempted, offering Amorim an all-round option in his attempts to take United back to their former glory.

How Hugo Ekitiké compares to Alexander Isak in 2024/25

Statistics (per 90)

Ekitike

Isak

Games played

33

34

Goals & assists

23

29

Progressive carries

3.3

2.7

Shots on target

1.5

1.3

Shots taken

4

3.1

Pass accuracy

76%

74%

Shot-creating actions

3.5

3

Take-ons completed

1.8

1.4

Stats via FBref

If he can transfer his form from the Bundesliga over to England in the coming months, it would be a deal that could be one of the best in the club’s history – allowing him to cement himself in the club’s history forever.

It may be a deal that will cost the club somewhat of a small fortune this summer, but the key is the limit for the youngster, with such a price tag being worth every penny if he can catapult them up the table in 2025/26.

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In mid-December, Chelsea moved within touching distance of leaders Liverpool after beating Brentford 2-1 in the Premier League. However, Enzo Maresca was quick to dispel claims that his team were title challengers.

Such words were met as being overly pragmatic, but there has been a fair bit of prescience through a number of the Italian’s comments, also calling for more productivity from his forwards to ease the burden on Cole Palmer’s shoulders.

Palmer, so effortlessly untouchable last season, has been in the mire over the past few months, with Saturday’s victory over Everton taking his goalless run to 17 matches in all competitions.

The England international will be back in the limelight before long, and no mistake, such is his top-grade quality. Maresca, in any case, has proven himself to be an expert tactician, albeit a tad set in his ways.

But he is open to change, which was perfectly illustrated by the decision to unleash Noni Madueke on the left wing at the weekend.

Noni Madueke's new role

Madueke has ebbed and flowed for Chelsea this season, starting off to a flyer but peeling away in recent months, only scoring twice across 13 recent Premier League outings.

He didn’t score, nor did he claim an assist, but Madueke was an absolute menace up and down that left channel, darting this way and that while getting stuck in to win balls off his opponents and beat them in the duel.

Noni Madueke – Performance vs Everton
Match Stats	#
Minutes played	78′
Goals	0
Assists	0
Shots (on target)	4 (4)
Accurate passes	20/25 (80%)
Key passes	0
Dribbles	4/6
Duels won	9/13
Tackles	2
Stats via Sofascore

Maresca will also have been pleased to note that the left-footer managed to hit the target with all four of his efforts on goal, certainly suggesting he could find himself featuring in this new role with regularity over the closing weeks.

The London Standard were impressed, giving the 23-year-old an 8/10 match rating after his excellent display, noting that he terrorised Toffees right-back Nathan Patterson throughout the afternoon.

This is all well and good, especially with Jadon Sancho not quite hitting his full stride and Mykhaylo Mudryk remaining unavailable for selection, but it’s not going to change Chelsea’s approach this summer.

The Londoners want a new left-sided winger, and they may well be circling in on an upgrade on Madueke.

Chelsea make contact for new winger

As per Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, Chelsea have made contact with Jamie Gittens’ management team as they look to complete a deal this summer.

Prepared to double the Borussia Dortmund prospect’s salary, Chelsea appear to have found the perfect player to strengthen their wide flanks, especially since the Bundesliga club would be willing to do business.

Former €100m (£87m) demands have been whittled down given sixth-place Dortmund’s struggles this season, with Chelsea confident they can get a deal done for €60m (£51m).

Why Chelsea should sign Jamie Gittens

A product of Manchester City’s youth academy, Gittens left his homeland and signed for Bor. Dortmund in 2020, when he was just 16.

It was a bold move, but one that has paid dividends for a rising talent now regarded as “England’s best winger in 2024/25” by Sky Sports’ Dougie Critchley, having made prolific headway this season.

Jamie Gittens – Bor. Dortmund Stats by Season (all comps)
Season	Apps (starts)	Goals	Assists
24/25	45 (33)	12	5
23/24	34 (18)	2	8
22/23	20 (5)	3	1
21/22	4 (1)	0	0
Data via Transfermarkt

Now 20, Gittens has added goals to his name, having demonstrated his creative flair in the past, and it’s frightening to think that he’s still so young.

The addition of goals to his game makes for a nice showcase, but Gittens’ nuts and bolts derive from his athleticism, his pace and running power. As per FBref, he ranks among the top 6% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for progressive carries and the top 2% for successful take-ons per 90.

His goalscoring sense, combined with the ferocious wheels, make Gittens a contender for superstardom down the line. It’s not out of the question to claim that he’s already performing above Madueke’s level, something echoed by the aforementioned Critchley.

Having outscored his compatriot, Gittens has also averaged 2.7 dribbles and won 5.2 duels per Bundesliga game this term, as per Sofascore.

These are skills that bespeak a successful career in the Premier League, with Madueke recording inferior metrics: 1.3 dribbles and 3.3 successful duels per fixture.

Gittens really does have the world at his feet, with his ball-striking catered toward various angles, capable of arcing efforts across goal or angling strikes into the close corner.

His quick feet and intelligent touches allow him to connect with teammates and burst through the lines to find space in the danger area. This is something which could work a treat with Palmer, whose central influence would appear to be perfect for such a darting wide partner.

He’s also proven himself in the Champions League, actually praised by Fabrizio Romano earlier in the campaign for his “special” game against Club Brugge to kick off the term, bagging twice off the bench in a 3-0 win.

The £49k-per-week prospect has everything in his locker to become a top-performing star for Maresca’s Chelsea, bearing a ball-playing capacity and smartness on the ball that echoes that of Madueke while developing a goalscoring sense that could tip the odds in his favour as he strives for that regular starting berth in the years to come at Stamford Bridge.

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Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers returned to Parkhead for a second spell at the club in the summer of 2023, after Ange Postecoglou left to join Tottenham Hotspur.

The Northern Irish head coach was met with immediate problems to deal with as Carl Starfelt and Jota were both sold in his first summer transfer window.

As you can see in the graphic above, the Portuguese forward had been brilliant for Postecoglou in the previous two Scottish Premiership seasons, but Rodgers was unable to enjoy his talents in his first season in charge as the winger joined Al Ittihad for £25m.

Thankfully, Celtic re-signed Jota from Rennes for £8m, six months after he had left Al Ittihad to join Rennes, and the Hoops boss has been able to call upon the exciting attacker in recent weeks.

The ex-Benfica starlet has scored four goals, created three ‘big chances’, and provided two assists in six Premiership starts since his winter return to Parkhead.

Jota is not the only talented Celtic winger who Rodgers was unable to see the best of upon his return to the club, though, as Liel Abada also falls into that category.

Why Liel Abada left Celtic

Whilst no exact reason was given for his departure from the Scottish giants, there are plenty of clues as to why the decision was made by all parties.

After playing nine times for Rodgers in the league during the first half of the 2023/24 campaign, Abada was left out of the squad and the manager explained that he was not ready to play due to the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

Around that time, the BBC wrote that ‘Abada faced pressure from compatriots to leave Celtic following some fans’ show of support for Palestinian people and has sat out the Scottish champions’ latest five games’, which provided further context around his departure.

Abada even admitted that leaving the club was not in his “plans”, suggesting that it was in reaction to the events that had occurred, rather than something that had been in the works for months.

The winger also stated that the “past six months” had been a “personal challenge” for him prior to his move to Charlotte FC in January of last year, with all of these factors leading to him deciding to leave the club.

Appearances

36

34

9

Starts

24

13

5

Goals

10

10

1

Big chances created

13

10

2

Assists

6

5

1

As you can see in the table above, the personal issues that Abada, unfortunately, dealt with meant that Rodgers did not get to see the best of his ability on the pitch, as he had previously proven his quality in the Premiership in his first two seasons at Parkhead.

Whilst it seems unlikely, for the possible reasons behind his exit from Glasgow, that the winger will return to Celtic in the same way that Jota did, the Hoops could sign Abada 2.0 this summer.

Celtic eyeing swoop for Stoke star

According to The Scottish Sun, the Scottish giants have identified Stoke City dynamo Million Manhoef as a potential target for the upcoming summer transfer window.

The report claims Rodgers is plotting a swoop to sign the 23-year-old forward from the English Championship side to bolster his options in the wide areas ahead of next season.

It states that the Potters signed the Dutch attacker from Vitesse for a fee of £3m, but does not mention how much they would want to cash in on him this summer – if they would just look to recoup the money they spent on him or if they would want a profit on that £3m outlay.

The Scottish Sun adds that Honduras international Luis Palma, who is currently on loan at Olympiacos, is set to move on from the club this summer and that the Hoops needed extra depth on the wing, which is why Manhoef has been identified.

Transfer Focus

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

Rodgers could, now, land his own version of Abada by swooping to sign the Championship whiz, whose performances have led to comparisons with the former Celtic star.

Why Manhoef could be Abada 2.0

As per FBref, the Charlotte FC star is the most similar player to Manhoef in the Men’s Next 14 Competitions (outside the five major leagues) based on their respective performances over the last 365 days.

As you can see in the chart above, both wingers peak in similar areas of the game as they both rack up non-penalty xG and like to progress play through carries and successful take-ons.

This suggests that they are both wingers who are exciting for supporters to watch because of their ability to commit opposition defenders and get fans off their seats with dribbles, whilst they also boast exceptional positioning to put themselves in high-quality positions to score.

Manhoef, who claimed he was pushed into “kickboxing” and even became a youth champion in the sport before pursuing football, joined Stoke midway through the 2023/24 campaign and hit the ground running in English football with a return of four goals and one assist in nine starts in the Championship.

He has not quite kicked on, pardon the pun, as a goalscorer in the current season but he has shown glimpses of his potential in the final third, particularly as a creative threat.

Appearances

31

Starts

25

xG

7.19

Goals

4

Big chances created

10

Key passes per game

1.6

Assists

5

As you can see in the table above, Manhoef should have more assists to his name this season and has been let down by wasteful finishing from his teammates, with just five assists from ten ‘big chances’ created.

However, he has also let his teammates down with his own wasteful finishing, scoring four goals from 7.19 xG, and that is an area of the dynamo’s game that has to improve.

At the age of 23, Manhoef has plenty of time left to develop and improve and could be a long-term signing for Celtic, as a player who could grow under Rodgers’ coaching.

His statistics over the past year already suggest that he could be Abada 2.0 for the Hoops, though, and that is why they should swoop to bring him in to compete for a spot on the flank next season.

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They registered their second straight win to seal their place in Qualifier 1, against St Lucia Kings

ESPNcricinfo staff15-Sep-2025

Shimron Hetmyer hit 68 off 39 balls•CPL T20 via Getty Images

Guyana Amazon Warriors 189 for 6 (Hetmyer 68, Sampson 50, Rutherford 2-35) beat Barbados Royals 125 (Rutherford 27, Motie 5-21, Joseph 2-18) by 64 runsGuyana Amazon Warriors shot up to second place to end the league stage of CPL 2025 with their second win on the bounce, this one by brushing aside bottom-placed Barbados Royals. Shimron Hetmyer turned his form around with 68 off 39 balls, Quentin Sampson continued his fine form with 50 from 36 deliveries, and Gudakesh Motie bagged his maiden five-for in T20s to script Amazon Warriors’ commanding 64-run win.By finishing second, Amazon Warriors will now face table-toppers St Lucia Kings in Qualifier 1 on September 18, a day after the Eliminator between Antigua and Barbados Falcons and Trinbago Knight Riders.Against Royals, Amazon Warriors started steadily after being put in to bat, moving to 41 for 1 in the powerplay. It was then that Sampson started hitting sixes regularly even as Amazon Warriors lost Ben McDermott and Shai Hope. Hetmyer, coming into this match after two consecutive ducks, also took the aerial route, not demotivated by Sampson’s dismissal for 50.Hetmyer also benefitted from a life, dropped by Kadeem Alleyne on 47 before reaching his fifty off 32 balls. Romario Shepherd and Dwaine Pretorius fell in consecutive overs but Hetmyer helped Mazon Warriors collect 30 runs off the last two overs to power them to 189.Royals’ chase never got going as their top four batters failed to score more than 15 each. Pretorius removed the openers, and Shamar Joseph uprooted Rassie van der Dussen’s leg stump with his first ball fired in at 143.3kph. That left them 28 for 3, and they were going at under run a ball.Shaqkere Parris and Sherfane Rutherford staged a comeback with a partnership of 55 off 46 balls, but Joseph struck again when he trapped Rutherford lbw. Once Imran Tahir had Rovman Powell caught for 1, it was all about Motie. He struck twice in the 15th over and twice in the 19th, when the wickets of Kofi James and Zishan Motara finished the game.

Newcastle United are now seriously considering a January bid for a new midfielder, who is being targeted by some of Europe’s top clubs.

Newcastle keen on midfielder likened to Sandro Tonali

Sandro Tonali has earned rave reviews this season, with Paul Scholes causing a stir when he chose the Italian ahead of Declan Rice as the best midfielder in the Premier League back in October, saying: “I love Sandro Tonali as well. He’s been brilliant. Very good. I would probably choose Tonali at this point.”

“I think he’s better than Rice. I really like Rice, don’t get me wrong, I think he’s got everything. Sometimes he takes a few too many touches of the ball and tries to look a bit more stylish than necessary. He can do everything but I just don’t think he does it enough. I prefer Tonali but they’re both good players.”

The central midfielder has remained a key player for Eddie Howe, making 19 appearances in all competitions, although there are some doubts over the future of midfield partner Joelinton, who received criticism for his performance in the 2-2 draw against Tottenham Hotspur.

With the Brazilian struggling, Howe may want to enter the market for a new midfielder during the January transfer window, and Newcastle are now seriously considering a bid for Ferencvaros midfielder Alex Toth, who is valued at around £13.5m.

A whole host of Europe’s biggest clubs have been eyeing the Hungarian, who has been compared to Dominik Szoboszlai, including Bayern Munich, Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund, but the PIF are now plotting a January move.

The 20-year-old excels as a box-to-box midfielder, and some of his performances for Ferencvaros suggest he may now be ready to test himself in one of Europe’s top leagues…

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He’s been in excellent form.

ByTom Cunningham Dec 3, 2025 Toth could be fantastic long-term addition to Howe's squad

Given his age, the young Hungarian still has plenty of time to develop, but he has already started to put in some very promising displays for Ferencvaros, chipping in with four goals and 15 assists in 56 outings for the Hungarian club.

Football talent scout Jacek Kulig has described the maestro as a “roaming playmaker”, while also comparing him to Newcastle star Tonali, which is a huge compliment, considering just how highly Scholes rates the Italy international.

Not only has the starlet impressed domestically, but he also earned huge praise for his performance against Genk in the Europa League earlier this season.

With Toth potentially available for a very affordable fee, Newcastle should undoubtedly make a bid this winter, and they should move quickly, given the rival interest from some of Europe’s biggest clubs.

Real Madrid forward Rodrygo has been at the centre of reports that he could leave the Bernabeu mid-season following a lack of game time under Xabi Alonso, and Tottenham are believed to be among the contenders for his signature.

Rodrygo finds himself at a career crossroads as his situation at Madrid continues to deteriorate.

The Brazilian, once considered a crucial part of Los Blancos’ attacking plans, has seen his role dramatically diminish since Alonso’s appointment, sparking widespread speculation about a potential January departure.

Rodrygo has played just 359 minutes this season, having started just two out of a possible 10 La Liga games, and is firmly behind Vinícius Júnior in the pecking order for his preferred left-wing position.

The 24-year-old, who was regularly linked with a summer exit, including to Spurs, has struggled for opportunities despite his previous contributions to the club’s success.

Rodrygo’s career at Real Madrid since joining from Santos

Appearances

283

Goals

68

Assists

53

Bookings

12

Red cards

0

Minutes played

16,512

ESPN Brasil have backed up the possibility that Rodrygo could leave in January, stating that the ex-Santos sensation is “dissatisfied with his situation” and “maintains the option” of leaving as early as the next transfer window.

This has put a host of Premier League sides on alert, including Tottenham once again, and there are suggestions that the north Londoners could go all out for his signature.

Now backed by the Lewis family as they attempt to usher in a post-Daniel Levy era, the club, led by co-sporting directors Fabio Paratici and Johan Lange are apparently prepared to pay a club-record £70 million for Rodrygo, according to reports from Spain.

The £283,000-per-week star would be a statement signing for the Lilywhites, and reports suggest that Real are prepared to slash his asking price from their original £88 million summer valuation down to around £53 million, amid rival interest from Arsenal and Chelsea (TEAMtalk).

This means that Spurs’ mooted £70m stance would be more than enough, but none of this means anything without the player’s approval.

Indeed, Rodrygo has now moved to speak out about his Madrid future, attempting to quell the noise surrounding his unrest in the Spanish capital.

Rodrygo breaks silence on Real Madrid future amid Tottenham interest

Speaking to the media, Rodrygo has hinted at his unhappiness surrounding game time right now, but also suggests he has no fears when it comes to inclusion in Brazil’s 2026 World Cup squad.

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He first dismissed Jitesh Sharma from over-the-wicket angle and then befuddled Krunal Pandya with a carrom ball

Shashank Kishore03-Apr-20251:54

Bangar: Sai Kishore has steely resolve

In 2016, when 20-year-old rookie R Sai Kishore found himself in a heated altercation with N Jagadeesan and exchanged angry words with R Ashwin during a Tamil Nadu Premier League match, his fiery intensity seemed misplaced. “If you want to take on Ashwin, bowl like him,” they told him at the time.Sai Kishore took that to heart and went on to earn the reputation of being not only a deep thinker of the game, much like Ashwin, but also a bowler who prides himself on constant reinvention and adaptation to the ever-evolving T20 landscape.Hardik Pandya, who captained him for two seasons at Gujarat Titans, once called him a “scientist” for his ability to out-think batters. Sai Kishore’s competitive energy during the game can, at times, spill over into a stare down, like the one he had with “good friend” Hardik last week, during GT’s win over Mumbai Indians.Related

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As a T20 bowler, Sai Kishore thrives when challenged. After last year’s IPL, while scrolling through X, he was intrigued by the insights from ball-by-ball and Hawk-Eye data and took away heaps of learnings from those.He studied his pitch map from the season and quickly swung into action. One of the many things he took away was the need to refine a mystery element that had been in the works but not seriously considered in the middle. On Wednesday, this “mystery” was amply on display when he dismissed Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s Krunal Pandya.At first sighting, it appeared a normal length delivery that he’d slowed down considerably to get some bite off the surface. But upon a second viewing, the release made it apparent he’d bowled a carrom ball – not unusual in Sai Kishore’s world but a novelty for left-arm spinners. Last year, his Tamil Nadu colleague and fellow left-arm spinner M Siddharth unusually swung the ball. Here, Sai Kishore was turning it away from a left-hand batter.

“It’s like a carom ball. I get more dip on it, so I don’t know what it is. I can call it anything, but I’m just trying to bowl the carrom ball”Sai Kishore on his mystery delivery

It is a ball Sai Kishore has sporadically bowled across formats. During the Duleep Trophy in Coimbatore in 2022-23, Sarfaraz Khan, an excellent player of spin who was seemingly trying to get outside the line and sweep him off his lengths, was caught by surprise with ones he didn’t expect to turn the other way.”Over the last three-four years, I’ve been practising that ball,” Sai Kishore said during the innings break. “I felt I was confident enough to bowl it in this IPL, so I just went with my instincts. It’s like a carom ball. I get more dip on it, so I don’t know what it is. I can call it anything, but I’m just trying to bowl the carrom ball.”The other element on display on Wednesday night was his use of angles. He bowled over the wicket to best Jitesh Sharma, who threatened a rapid rescue with Liam Livingstone. By slowing his pace down and bowling away from his arc, Sai Kishore had Jitesh hit against the line and hole out to long-on. He finished with figures of 2 for 22 off four overs.R Sai Kishore was at his inventive best against RCB•Associated Press”I felt when you bowled into the wicket, it was assisting the spinners, and I was getting decent purchase,” Sai Kishore said. “What I mean by into the wicket is having a good shape on the ball – bowling like a proper red-ball game and trying to spin it as hard as I can. Whatever pace I could gather into it, I was fine with it.”For the entire length of his stint with GT, Sai Kishore has often flown under the radar and in Rashid Khan’s shadows. In 2023, he also had Noor Ahmed to compete with as GT went to the latter as their fourth overseas following Kane Williamson’s injury in the very first match. This rejigging consigned Sai Kishore to the bench for the entire season, and it was during this time that he tried to experiment and develop consistency.On Wednesday, Sai Kishore wasn’t Rashid’s understudy. When one of the greatest T20 spinners had a rare nightmare of a game, delivering his joint-second-most expensive spell, Sai Kishore mitigated those effects with his variations and big strikes. Sai Sudharsan brought up Sai Kishore’s impact unprompted at the post-match press conference.

“There are many captains in modern-day cricket who are averse to the idea of a left-arm spinner bowling to a left-hander. If you have that carrom ball, then they might just be a bit more encouraged”Aakash Chopra

“Saiki, we definitely have to talk about him because he was one of the main contributors for this game and a few previous games as well,” Sudharsan said. “I feel in this game, Saiki’s was the most important spell because the wicket was very difficult to bat against the fast bowler. So as batters, even me, we were trying to maximise what we get out of the spinners.”I feel he was smart enough and used the right speeds on this wicket and right angles to Tim David and Liam Livingstone when he bowled there. I feel he used the speed really well in the angles. And that’s why I think he had a great game.”What about his variations and the different things he isn’t afraid to try? Has he faced them before at the nets?”I feel off the field, I can tell you the amount of effort he puts, the amount of preparation he does in terms of tactical advantages,” Sudharsan said. “I feel that is taking him a bit ahead than other bowlers because he understands the game, he understands the situation and uses his speeds, uses his angles. That is one of his strengths and I think that is why he is bowling the way he is.”On ESPNcricinfo T20 Time Out, former India allrounder and batting coach Sanjay Bangar was equally impressed, likening Sai Kishore’s skills to some of the best exponents of the craft.R Sai Kishore celebrates Jitesh Sharma’s wicket with Rahul Tewatia•BCCI”He has been a consistent performer now and has great control over the speeds he bowls, the lines he bowls,” he said. “He is someone who has a steely resolve. When Jitesh was going hard at him, was trying to line him up, he had the guts to go over the wicket, which is considered a defensive line, and then throw it slightly away from him – it takes some doing.”If you look at the past and see which bowlers have bowled in this particular fashion, deceiving by bowling slower balls, slower pace and not bowling defensive lines, you had Daniel Vettori, [Mitchell] Santner presently, [Harpreet] Brar does that to an extent for Punjab Kings, and then there is Sai Kishore.”Former India opener Aakash Chopra felt that Sai Kishore’s new variation could help set up a trend of left-arm spinners no longer being silent spectators against left-hand batters.”It’s incredible,” Chopra said of Kishore’s carrom ball. “They say necessity is the mother of invention. Offspinners tend to do that very often, because they are turning the ball into the right-handers, so they need that carrom ball. Very few left-arm spinners do that, even though it’s the same skill set. Sai Kishore is one of those guys and it’s something others can actually pick up as well.”There are many captains in modern-day cricket who are averse to the idea of a left-arm spinner bowling to a left-hander. If you have that carrom ball, then they might just be a bit more encouraged.”