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Taskin took three wickets to restrict Sri Lanka to 235 before the batters navigated a tricky chase

Mohammad Isam18-Mar-2024

Tanzid Hasan came on as a concussion substitute and struck a crucial 84•AFP/Getty Images

Tanzid Hasan and Rishad Hossain blazed quick runs to help Bangladesh overcome some mid-innings chaos to beat Sri Lanka by four wickets. The hosts clinched the ODI series 2-1 after three players got injured in the last three overs of the first innings in Chattogram. Tanzid, who was approved as Soumya Sarkar’s concussions substitute, struck a career-best 84 before Rishad went berserk, slamming four sixes and five fours in an unbeaten 18-ball 48.Rishad came to the crease with Bangladesh needing 58 runs to win in 13.5 overs. He opened his account with a first-ball six off Wanindu Hasranga, before pasting him for a four and another six in the same over. He slammed two more sixes, off Hasaranga, in the 40th over that cost Sri Lanka 24 runs. In all, Rishad took 40 runs off Hasaranga, from just 11 deliveries.Sri Lanka couldn’t muster up a big total in the deciding game but youngster Janith Liyanage’s maiden ODI century got them past the 200-run mark. Liyanage made an unbeaten 101 off 102 balls with eleven fours and two sixes. But as the Sri Lanka innings was closing, Bangladesh kept losing players to injuries.Related

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Tanzid comes on as concussion sub after Soumya hurts his neck while fielding

Madushanka to miss rest of Bangladesh tour, initial stages of IPL 2024

Mustafizur Rahman cramped up in the 48th over before Soumya injured his neck and knee in a boundary line crash on the advertisement boards. In the last over, substitute fielder Jaker Ali collided with Anamul Haque, who completed the catch. Jaker had to be hospitalized with a concussion.It wasn’t just the players whose fitness was tested in this game, with umpire Tanvir Ahmed taking Richard Kettleborough’s place after the latter fell sick due to the heat.Bangladesh openers Anamul and Tanzid calmed things down, adding fifty for the opening stand.Anamul however became the first of Kumara’s four victims from his first spell. Anamul lofted a drive to cover after making 12. Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto fell in Kumara’s next over, edging behind after just making one run.Tanzid batted serenely meanwhile, hitting six of his nine fours through cover and mid-off. He dealt well with the fast short ball too, hitting two boundaries slightly fine of the square-leg fielder, and two more through midwicket. Tanzid took a liking to Kumara, slashing him for a six as he took 30 off 19 balls from the fast bowler.Janith Liyanage smashed his maiden ODI century•AFP/Getty Images

Soon after reaching his second ODI fifty, Tanzid survived a run-out chance in the 17th over when a throw from mid-off struck the stumps but the bails didn’t fall with Tanzid well short of the crease. He added 49 runs for the third wicket with Towhid Hridoy, to steady the Bangladesh chase.Kumara removed Hridoy and Mahmudullah in his third spell, to get his first four-wicket haul in ODIs. Hasaranga got into wickets in the 26th over when Tanzid mistimed one to long-off. It was a reckless dismissal as Bangladesh were 130 for five.Mushfiqur Rahim and Mehidy Hasan Miraz had to shut down shop, adding 48 runs for the sixth wicket. Mehidy made 25 before holing out in the deep midwicket boundary, leaving the stage for Rishad to do his thing.Earlier, Liyanage saved Sri Lanka from getting bowled out for a low score. Coming to bat when they were 77 for four, he batted steadily while the rest of the batters around him crumbled. He struck a couple of lovely cover drives and got two fours through midwicket gracefully. He was also cool with fours through short third, especially when he leant back to a Taskin Ahmed bouncer to guide it past Mushfiqur. He struck eleven fours and two sixes, one over long-on and the other swivelled off Shoriful Islam over fine-leg.Taskin had opened up the Sri Lanka innings with the wickets of openers Pathum Nissanka and Avishka Fernando. While the latter was caught behind clearly, Nissanka strangely didn’t take a review when he was given lbw. Replays showed that the ball would have headed down the leg-stump.Fernando was caught behind the wicket for the third game in a row, before Mustafizur Rahman removed Sadeera Samarawickrama for 14. Sri Lanka captain Kusal Mendis carelessly edged legspinner Rishad Hossain after reaching 29.Liyanage added 43 runs for the fifth wicket with Charith Asalanka, before Sri Lanka lost their way, slipping to 154 for seven in the 35th over. Liyanage however didn’t allow the innings to slide down, instead adding 60 runs for the eighth wicket with Maheesh Theekshana.The pair batted out thirteen overs before Theekshana holed out in the square-leg boundary after Soumya replaced the injured Mustafizur to finish the 48th over.Pramod Madushan’s catch caused a collision between Anamul and substitute Jaker. In between these two injuries, Soumya hurt his neck and knee in a boundary-line collision with the advertisement board. Bangladesh however overcame the panic of all these injuries and the six wickets, with the big win.

The defending champions play their next three games at home, but won’t have it easy against an LSG side that has experience playing on slow, spinning surfaces

Hemant Brar22-Apr-20242:21

Moody: Chepauk pitch will suit LSG

Match detailsChennai Super Kings (P 7 W4 L3; 4th) vs Lucknow Super Giants (P 7 W4 L3; 5th;)
Chennai, 1930 IST (1400 GMT)Big picture – CSK vs LSG, round twoA big reason for CSK’s stellar record over the years has been their dominance at home. Continuing that trend, they have won all three home games so far in IPL 2024. However, they have had just one win in four away games, which makes it even more important for them to win at home.Fortunately, starting Tuesday, they will get three successive games at Chepauk. If they can win all three, they will have one foot in the playoffs.Their biggest challenge, arguably, will come in the first of those games against LSG. Chepauk can produce a slow, spinning surface when needed, like for the game against KKR, but LSG have experience of such pitches at their home ground in Lucknow. Moreover, LSG will carry the confidence of beating CSK as recently as Friday, in the previous game for both sides.It will be interesting to see what type of pitch CSK prepare. Do they play to their strengths, or try to deny LSG what they are used to?Related

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Form guideChennai Super Kings LWWLL (last five matches, most recent first)Lucknow Super Giants WLLWWPrevious meetingCSK posted 176 for 6 in Lucknow, thanks to a half-century from Ravindra Jadeja and another cameo from MS Dhoni. In response, KL Rahul scored a superb 82 off 53 to lead his side to an eight-wicket win.Team news and impact player strategyChennai Super Kings
Ajinkya Rahane has recovered from the calf niggle and could move down the order after opening the innings in the previous two games. This could also mean that Shivam Dube once again plays as an Impact Player if CSK bowl first. If they bat first, Matheesha Pathirana could perform that role.Probable XII 1 Rachin Ravindra, 2 Ruturaj Gaikwad (capt), 3 Ajinkya Rahane, 4 , 5 Moeen Ali, 6 Ravindra Jadeja, 7 Sameer Rizvi, 8 MS Dhoni (wk), 9 Deepak Chahar, 10 Tushar Deshpande, 11 Mustafizur Rahman, 12 Lucknow Super Giants
Mayank Yadav is still not fully fit but LSG could bring back Devdutt Padikkal. While he was out in the single digits in each of his five innings so far in IPL 2024, he has a good record against most CSK bowlers.Padikkal and Mohsin Khan can be LSG’s Impact Players, depending on whether they are bowling first or batting.Probable XII 1 Quinton de Kock, 2 KL Rahul (capt, wk), 3 , 4 Nicholas Pooran, 5 Marcus Stoinis, 6 Deepak Hooda, 7 Ayush Badoni, 8 Krunal Pandya, 9 Matt Henry, 10 Ravi Bishnoi, 11 , 12 Yash ThakurKL Rahul was the aggressor in the powerplay when these two sides last met•AFP/Getty Images

In the spotlightIn the absence of Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra has been opening the innings for CSK. He gave them blazing starts in the first two games, but his form tapered off after that and in the next five innings, he scored only 50 runs at a strike rate of 108.69. CSK generally back their players, and Ravindra is likely to get a few more games, but in a tournament with unprecedented scoring rates, they may not be able to afford slow starts for too long.KL Rahul has gone the other way around. He started slowly but has really picked up the pace in the last few games. In the first four games of the season, he scored at a strike rate of 125.49 in the powerplay. Since then, he has smashed it at 185.11 – something he has always been capable of. It’s a great sign for LSG, not so for the other teams.Stats that matter Rahul vs Deepak Chahar has been a one-sided contest. Rahul has smashed Chahar for 157 runs off 96 balls without getting out even once. Nicholas Pooran has done something similar against Mustafizur Rahman: 88 runs off 45 balls, one dismissal. Moeen Ali has scored 33 runs off 22 balls (strike rate 150.00) against Ravi Bishnoi but has got out to him three times. Krunal Pandya has been able to keep Jadeja (24 off 22, two dismissals) and Dhoni (17 off 24, no dismissal) quiet. Ruturaj Gaikwad, though, has smashed him for 22 off 12 without any dismissal. Dube has a strike rate of 157.14 against Bishnoi – 33 runs off 21 with one dismissal.Pitch and conditionsIn three games at Chepauk so far, three different types of totals have been posted by teams batting first: 173 for 6 by Royal Challengers Bengaluru (lost), 206 for 6 by CSK (won) and 137 for 9 by Kolkata Knight Riders (lost). While a lot depends on how the pitch plays on the given day, both CSK and LSG will aim for a total of around 200.Quotes”He [Mustafizur Rahman] has got that wonderful slower ball, which is hard to hit particularly here in Chennai. We will be sad when he goes [back to Bangladesh], but his country is calling. We want to keep him for as long as he can. We’ve been delighted with his output so far.”

Liverpool have reached the business end of the 2024/25 campaign and are sitting pretty at the top of the Premier League, 12 points clear of second-place Arsenal.

It would take a Herculean effort from the Gunners to topple Arne Slot’s side, and even perfection likely wouldn’t be enough, with the Reds in need of just four wins from eight remaining matches to seal the title.

A sensational campaign under the Dutch coach, who replaced Jurgen Klopp last summer, took its first bruising blows before the March international break, when successive games against Newcastle United and Paris Saint-Germain resulted in exits from the Carabao Cup and the Champions League.

However, few – if any – foresaw such performances from the Anfield side this term, such consistency, such confidence. Now, FSG need to repay Slot’s slick tactics and firm coaching to inculcate in Klopp’s squad a winning mentality that is going to result in gold.

The forthcoming summer transfer window, for sure, is going to be a busy one for Liverpool.

Liverpool's transfer priorities

In regard to the upcoming season, it feels like sorting out the contractual issues down Anfield Road marks the first port of call as far as sporting director Richard Hughes is concerned.

Hope lingers that the 32-year-old Mohamed Salah and captain Virgil van Dijk, 33, will renew their Liverpool vows and stay put for the next couple of years, though there are complexities aplenty and fears are rising.

However, multiple sources have confirmed that the Reds are going to target a striker – Newcastle’s Alexander Isak is the golden choice, albeit unlikely to leave St. James’ Park this year.

An alternative option may be pursued, but, in any case, it appears to be the end of the line for Darwin Nunez, who is reaching the end of his third campaign after a club-record £85m deal and has just 25 Premier League goals to his name.

With Trent Alexander-Arnold set to leave at the end of his contract this summer, Liverpool will surely need to target a replacement, even though Conor Bradley will look to stake his claim.

It’s not just Liverpool but the Premier League, too, whose future will lack some of the awe-inspiring creativity it’s been treated to over the past few years. In fact, with Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne also leaving the division in a few months, a residency for a new playmaking superstar has opened up.

He’s not a right-back, and it’s not Liverpool’s transfer priority, but Fabrizio Romano recently confirmed that FSG are in the running for one of the most exciting number ten prospects in the business.

Liverpool lining up star signing

When Romano speaks on a transfer rumour, you know it carries substance. Discussing the potential summer deals on his YouTube channel earlier this week, the esteemed transfer insider revealed Liverpool are in the running for RB Leipzig’s Xavi Simons.

While Leipzig could demand as much as €75m (roughly £63m) for the sale of the attacking midfielder, who is 21, it’s understood that Liverpool have kept themselves informed on the situation, albeit Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester United are keen too.

The Bundesliga club disappointingly sit in sixth this season and may be forced to cash in if they fail to qualify for Europe – something they are not averse to given the huge profit they could turn on a player signed from PSG for £42m.

What Xavi Simons would bring to Liverpool

Data analyst Ben Mattinson has described Simons as an “artist” in the past, and it’s clear to see why.

A diminutive player at 5 foot 6, Simons nestles into spaces in the attacking third and wreaks havoc using a number of different tools, ranking among the top 12% of positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for passes attempted, the top 10% for progressive passes and the top 8% for shot-creating actions per 90, as per FBref.

The data-driven site reveals that Premier League maestros Bruno Fernandes and Martin Odegaard are among Simons’ most comparable players, but it’s actually De Bruyne that he could emulate by ending his time in Germany and moving to the Premier League.

De Bruyne, hailed as “one of the greatest” by his Man City manager Pep Guardiola, failed to cut the mustard as an up-and-comer at Chelsea before moving to Wolfsburg, where he went from strength to strength and earned a return to English soil in 2015, for a club-record £55m fee.

Now 33, he’s about to leave the Sky Blues but does so having immortalised his name as a Premier League hall-of-famer, having won all the biggest prizes, the Champions League, and six league titles.

Premier League – All-time Assist Leaders

#

Player

Assists

1.

Ryan Giggs

162

2.

Kevin De Bruyne

118

3.

Cesc Fabregas

111

4.

Wayne Rooney

103

5.

Frank Lampard

102

Stats via Premier League

Simons wouldn’t be expected to reach the same inimitable heights, but if anyone’s going to emerge as the leader of this new wave of attacking talent, it might just be the Dutchman.

Sofascore record that he has notched 12 goal involvements from 19 Bundesliga matches this season, averaging 2.2 key passes and 5.3 successful duels per game.

It’s quite the impressive haul, not least because he’s indeed still only 21. Simons, so versatile, so capable across every angle of the frontline, might just be the perfect piece to fit into Liverpool’s midfield, giving it a new-found creative sheen and setting him up to take De Bruyne’s mantle.

Simons boasts creative ingenuity à la De Bruyne. He’s ferocious in his ranged attacking ability and he’s tenacious besides. Simons’ spirited performances against Real Madrid in the Champions League last season highlight a penchant for the big occasion, and there’s every chance that he would thrive in the Premier League, as the division’s replacement for the Belgian wizard.

Under the wing of Slot, his countryman, Simons could become a true superstar for Liverpool, drilling the spark into a team set to lose its chief inventive source and looking to make his name as one of the standout attacking midfielders, perhaps achieving that feat now that De Bruyne is set to drape the curtain on his career in English football.

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Posts ByAngus Sinclair Apr 5, 2025

Last night might have been a real reprieve for Tottenham Hotspur, but it doesn’t take away from the fact that this season has been a difficult one for the fans.

Ange Postecoglou’s side crashed out of both domestic cups and have lost 17 games in the Premier League.

While injuries have undoubtedly played their part, it would also be fair to say that the team have simply not performed to the required level.

So, it’s not surprising to see Daniel Levy and Co working to find new recruits ahead of the summer, with recent reports touting a standout striker for a move to the club, someone who could be a dream upgrade on Dominic Solanke.

Tottenham Hotspur transfer news

Before we get to the player in question, it’s worth looking at some of the other attacking stars that Tottenham are reportedly interested in, such as Tyler Dibling.

Transfer Focus

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

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The Southampton gem could be available for around £35m in the coming months, and while that might seem like a lot for someone who is still just 19 years old, it’s because a lot is expected of him in the coming years, with the Saints’ academy manager Andy Goldie dubbing him a “world-class talent.”

A more developed star Spurs are also keen to sign in the summer is Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo, who could be available for a fee of about £70m.

Now, while that is an enormous sum of money, it might well be worth it, as even though he’s playing for an upper mid-table side in the Cherries, the Ghana international has still been able to amass a total of ten goals and six assists in 36 appearances this term.

However, when it comes to potentially replacing Solanke, the North Londoners will want someone even more prolific, which is where Jonathan Burkardt comes in.

According to journalist Christian Falk’s Daily Briefing via Caught Offside, Spurs are one of several sides interested in the Mainz striker.

Alongside the North Londoners, Falk has revealed that Liverpool, Manchester United, Newcastle United and Brighton & Hove Albion have all scouted the German international.

It could be a complicated transfer to get over the line, but given Burkardt’s goalscoring ability, it is worth pursuing, especially as he could be a dream Solanke upgrade.

How Burkardt compares to Solanke

So, if Spurs are to get their man this summer and bring Burkardt to North London, his main competition for game time would be Solanke, but who would come out on top?

Well, when it comes down to their raw output, which is what matters most for a striker, it’s the German international who comes out ahead, and by quite some way at that.

For example, in just 24 league appearances, totalling 1679 minutes, he’s scored 15 goals and provided three assists, equating to a goal involvement every 1.38 games or every 93.27 minutes.

In contrast, the former Cherries star has scored just seven goals and provided three assists in 23 league appearances, totalling 2033 minutes, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.3 games, or every 203.3 minutes.

What about their underlying numbers, then? Is it just as one-sided a comparison when we take a look under the hood? Unfortunately, for the Lilywhites’ record signing, it most certainly is.

Burkardt vs Solanke

Statistics per 90

Burkardt

Solanke

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.76

0.57

Actual Non-Penalty G+As

0.86

0.44

Progressive Passes

1.95

2.00

Progressive Passes Received

6.86

3.78

Progressive Carries

1.35

1.29

Shots

2.76

2.49

Shots on Target

1.19

0.98

Key Passes

0.81

0.62

Passes into the Penalty Area

0.81

0.40

Live Passes

21.0

13.4

Shot-Creating Actions

2.05

1.64

Goal-Creating Actions

0.32

0.36

Ball Recoveries

3.24

1.56

Aerial Duels Won

0.97

1.82

All Stats via FBref for the 24/25 League Season

For example, in almost every metric, the Darmstadt-born ace, whom talent scout Jacek Kulig has dubbed “one of the best strikers in the Bundesliga”, comes out on top, including but not limited to expected and actual non-penalty goals plus assists, progressive carries, key passes and passes into the penalty area, shots and shots on target, shot-creating actions and more, all per 90.

Ultimately, Solanke is a good striker, but he hasn’t been prolific this term and from output to underlying numbers, Burkardt looks to be the better player, so Levy and Co should do all they can to sign him this summer.

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Posts ByJack Salveson Holmes Apr 18, 2025

After putting on five-star display against Crystal Palace, the good news could be short-lived for Manchester City amid reports that one midfield star is willing to take a pay cut to get his move this summer.

Man City put five past Crystal Palace

When Eberechi Eze and Chris Richards struck to hand Crystal Palace a shock 2-0 lead at the Etihad, it looked set to be an all too familiar story for Pep Guardiola’s side. That is, until Kevin De Bruyne took a hold on proceedings.

The Belgian, into his last six games of his Manchester City career, scored a stunning free-kick before playing his part in Omar Marmoush’s swift equaliser midway through the first period.

Putting on a show, Manchester City then hit three goals without a response to seal all three points against an in-form Crystal Palace side. Speaking after an excellent display, De Bruyne told TNT Sports: “I thought the first 20 minutes, it was actually alright. We had a couple of chances but they pounced on two chances, one a corner and then obviously the Eze chance.

“I was wondering, ‘What’s going on here?’, but I think the reaction was really good. Obviously, scoring very quickly the first and the second changed the feeling of the game. I think overall we played really well.”

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Posts ByTom Cunningham Apr 11, 2025

It may well prove to be an all-important victory for the Citizens as they battle to secure Champions League qualification, with De Bruyne hoping to ensure of a fitting farewell in the process. That said, the Belgian may not be the only one saying his goodbyes in the coming weeks if recent reports are anything to go by.

Benfica eyeing Bernardo Silva move

According to Portuguese outlet A Bola, as relayed by Sport Witness, Benfica are now plotting a move to sign Bernardo Silva, who is reportedly willing to take a pay cut in order to secure an exit away from Manchester City.

In doing so, the midfielder would be going full circle back to his boyhood club. Now 30 years old and a player who’s been past his excellent best at times this season, Silva would be completing a fitting move.

If that is to be that for the Portugal international in Manchester, there’s no doubt that he’ll be bowing out as a modern-day legend at the home of the Premier League champions. Guardiola’s praise has often reflected that legend status, too.

The Spaniard told reporters in December: “We are lucky with the players we have, for example, like Bernardo. I know he’s a special player for me, but how he puts his heart into those positions.

“He is an incredible winner and example for us in how he behaves in different positions and always tries to help and read what happens in certain positions. Playing attacking midfield, holding midfield, always defensively he makes an incredible effort.”

While their Premier League form remains inconsistent at best, there is an undeniably positive sentiment around Arsenal at the moment.

This is, of course, thanks to the club’s upcoming Champions League semi-final against Paris Saint-Germain, which they demolished Real Madrid in the quarter-finals to qualify for.

Mikel Arteta’s men were utterly superb home and away against the Kings of Europe, but if we had to single out one player, it’d have to be Declan Rice, who scored two unreal free-kicks at home and then bossed the midfield at the Bernabeu.

There is no doubt that the Englishman is currently playing the best football he has since his £105m move to the Emirates in 2023, so fans should be excited about recent reports linking Arsenal to a young midfielder who could be the next Rice.

Arsenal looking to sign new midfielder

Plenty of incredible stars are already being linked with moves to Arsenal this summer, so before looking at the player in question, it’s worth looking at a couple of them, such as Florian Wirtz.

Transfer Focus

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

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The Bayer Leverkusen gem is one of the most exciting talents in world football and has already racked up a tally of 15 goals and 13 assists in 41 games, but with a reported £111m price tag, we’d be surprised to see the Gunners act on this rumour.

An altogether more affordable target might be Anthony Elanga.

The former Manchester United prospect has been linked with a £43m move to N5 this summer, and considering he’s managed to rack up a haul of 16 goal involvements in 37 appearances for Nottingham Forest this year, that might not be a bad deal.

However, perhaps one of the most intriguing emerging links is to Andrey Santos despite Arsenal’s plans to sign fellow midfielder Martin Zubimendi.

Yes, according to a recent report from Caught Offside, Arsenal are now one of several sides who are on ‘alert for a surprise potential transfer raid’ and are ‘interested’ in signing the Chelsea loanee this summer.

The Brazilian midfielder is currently thriving on loan with Strasbourg and, per the report, is not ‘entirely committed to going back to Chelsea next season.’

This means there is now a chance that the Blues could be willing to sell the youngster for a fee of up to €50m, which is about £43m.

It might be a complicated transfer to get over the line, but given Santos’ ability and potential, it’s one Arsenal should fight for, especially as he could be another Rice in the making.

Why Santos might be the new Rice

Okay, so before getting into some of the other reasons why Arsenal might want to go out and sign Santos this summer, it’s worth going over his similarities to Rice and why he could develop into another version of the Englishman.

So, the first and most obvious point of comparison is that, like the former West Ham United captain, the Chelsea loanee can comfortably play as either a defensive or central midfielder but has found more success this season as the latter, racking up ten goals and five assists in 30 appearances.

On top of this positional versatility and eye for goal, the Rio de Janeiro-born gem is tenacious in the middle of the park, with respected football analyst Ben Mattinson describing him as a “duel monster” who is “brilliant at screening the backline” and possesses real “aerial prowess” – who does that sound like?

Furthermore, like the Gunners’ number 41, Mattinson also praises the Brazilian for how he “progresses the ball,” the fact he frequently “wins 2nd balls”, and, finally, that he “crashes the box” from his deeper position on the pitch, which once again sounds alarmingly similar to the player Arteta has coached Rice into since he arrived in North London.

Finally, away from the glaring similarities to the North Londoners’ own midfield monster, the 20-year-old has some seriously impressive underlying numbers to his name.

Santos’ FBref scout report

Statistics

Per 90

Percentile

Goals per Shot

0.25

Top 1%

Tackles Won

2.25

Top 2%

Non-Penalty Goals

0.32

Top 2%

Goals

0.32

Top 3%

Tackles

3.33

Top 4%

Goals + Assists

0.41

Top 6%

Long Pass Completion

79.2%

Top 6%

Dribblers Tackled

1.46

Top 10%

Ball Recoveries

6.24

Top 12%

All Stats via FBref

For example, FBref places him in the top 1% of midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues for goals per shot, the top 2% for non-penalty goals and tackles won, the top 3% for overall goals, the top 4% for overall tackles, the top 6% for long pass completion, the top 10% for dribblers tackles and more, all per 90.

Ultimately, while it might be a lot of money to spend on someone so young, Santos looks like a genuine superstar in the making, so Arsenal should do what they can to bring him to the Emirates this summer, as he might just develop into another Rice.

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Posts ByJack Salveson Holmes Apr 24, 2025

Tottenham Hotspur are potentially two games away from doing something seriously special in the Europa League.

However, while Ange Postecoglou could lead his side to continental success, the club’s domestic form cannot be described as anything other than shambolic.

With three games left to play in the Premier League, the North Londoners have been on the losing side 19 times and sit just a point above West Ham United in 16th place.

Unsurprisingly, such wretched form has led to reports suggesting that Postecoglou is set to be replaced in the summer, regardless of what happens in the Europa League.

There have been a whole host of names linked with the club in recent weeks, but there has been one which would represent a massive coup for the Lilywhites: someone who’s an even bigger name than José Mourinho and would be an enormous upgrade on Ange.

Tottenham's manager search

The last few weeks have seen a variety of managers linked with the Spurs job, and while there have been some underwhelming ones, like Scott Parker, there have been some more exciting ones as well, like Marco Silva and Andonio Iraola.

Transfer Focus

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

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The former has helped turn Fulham from a yo-yo club into a mid-table Premier League side that can give anyone a game on their day.

It’s been an even more impressive transformation down at the Vitality Stadium, with Iraola taking the Cherries from relegation favourites near the start of last season to genuine contenders for a European place this season.

Moreover, the Spaniard helped to get the financially minuscule Rayo Vallecano promoted to La Liga during his time in the Spanish capital.

However, even with the aforementioned managers, there is an element of risk, as none of them have taken over a club as big as Spurs, so there will always be lingering questions over how they’d cope with it.

So, with this in mind, reports from GIVEMESPORT late last month that claimed the Tottenham board had held international discussions about hiring Carlo Ancelotti are so exciting.

It would be an incredibly ambitious move, and one that might not pan out if reports linking the Italian to the Brazilian job are accurate, but if it paid off, the club would have themselves a significant upgrade on Postecoglou and a bigger name than Mourinho.

Why Ancelotti would be an incredible hire

So, before we look at how he stacks up against Postecoglou, let’s delve into just why we think he’s now a bigger name than Mourinho, as we’re sure it’s a point that the ‘special one’ would wholeheartedly disagree with.

Firstly, timing is crucial in this argument, as during Mourinho’s peak years at Chelsea, Inter Milan and, to some extent, Real Madrid, he’d undoubtedly be the ‘bigger name’, but in the last seven years or so, that has completely changed.

For example, since the start of the 16/17 season, the Portuguese coach has only won the League Cup and Europa League with Manchester United, and the Conference League with AS Roma.

In comparison, the Real boss has won the Bundesliga and two German Super Cups with Bayern Munich and three Champions Leagues, two La Liga titles, one Spanish Cup, two Spanish Super Cups, two UEFA Supercups, the FIFA Club World Cup and the FIFA Intercontinental Cup, all with Real Madrid.

Moreover, the Reggiolo-born mastermind also won the Champions League in his first stint with Los Blancos and twice with AC Milan, so there is a very genuine case for him being the greatest manager in the world.

With all that said, it should come as no surprise that when we compare his recent record to Postecoglou, he comes out so far ahead that it is almost pointless.

For example, in his current stint with Real, the “elite” 65-year-old, as dubbed by talkSPORT host Adrian Durham, has won 161 games, drawn 34 and lost 35, which comes out to an average of 2.25 points per game.

Ancelotti vs Postecoglou current clubs

Manager

Ancelotti

Postecoglou

Games

230

96

Wins

161

45

Draws

34

14

Losses

35

37

Points per Game

2.25

1.55

All Stats via Sofascore

In contrast, the Australian has overseen 45 wins, 14 draws and 37 losses, resulting in a far worse average of 1.55 points per game.

Ultimately, if there is any chance whatsoever for Spurs to sign Ancelotti in the coming weeks, they have to take it, as he’d be a monumental upgrade on Ange.

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Tottenham Hotspur sunk to another defeat, their 20th of the season, in the Premier League when they were beaten 2-0 by Crystal Palace on Sunday.

A double from Eberechi Eze, who scored just before and just after the half-time break, put Spurs to the sword, and it could have been even more if not for eight saves from Antonin Kinsky between the sticks.

The Czech star was given a rare run-out in goal as he is not eligible to play in the Europa League, but the shot-stopper was not the only player who was given a rare chance to impress, as Ben Davies also came in at centre-back.

Why Ben Davies should not start the Europa League final

The Wales international came in to start in the left-sided centre-back position against Palace, after he was an unused substitute in both legs of the semi-final clash with Bodo/Glimt.

Davies won seven of his 13 duels against the Eagles, just over half, and put in a decent, but unimpressive, display at the heart of the defence. He certainly did not do enough to suggest that the manager should keep him in the team for the Europa League final after the clash with Aston Villa next weekend.

24/25 Europa League

Ben Davies

Micky van de Ven

Appearances

8

7

Tackles + interceptions per game

1.3

2.0

Duels won per game

2.9

4.5

Ground duel success rate

50%

54%

Aerial duel success rate

50%

86%

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Micky van de Ven has been far more defensively dominant than him in Europe, which is why the Dutchman should be in line to start against Manchester United.

Davies is not the only player from Sunday’s starting XI who should be ditched from the team after the Aston Villa game, though, as Djed Spence must also be binned for the final.

Why Djed Spence should not start the Europa League final

The English defender lined up at left-back against Palace and did not cover himself in glory for either of the goals with his positioning on that side of the pitch, whilst he also gave the ball away 12 times and only completed 76% of his attempted passes.

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Football.london handed him a player rating of just 3/10 and wrote that he was ‘all over the place’ and that Palace took ‘advantage’ of his poor positional play throughout the match, despite winning eight of his ten duels.

It is not the first time that his positioning has been questioned. When playing in his more natural right-back berth, Football FanCast suggested that he should have been dropped after the 5-1 defeat to Liverpool because he was allowed his market to get in behind on at least three occasions, once leading to a goal, on that day.

Ange Postecoglou, therefore, should not select Spence at left-back for the Europa League final because his unreliable positioning could cost them big time against the Red Devils.

Spurs will not want to gift chances away, as they did against Liverpool and Palace, with Spence at full-back because his positioning lets the United wingers in too many times down the flanks, which is why he should be dropped.

Destiny Udogie, meanwhile, has averaged 3.6 tackles and interceptions per game and won 66% of his duels in the Europa League, whilst also offering a naturally left-footed option to progress the ball in possession down that side.

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It is now down to Postecoglou to take Spence out of the XI, whether that is for Villa next week or after the clash with the Villans, in order to play Udogie at left-back in the Europa League final.

Tottenham Hotspur have made contact over signing an “outrageous” forward as chairman Daniel Levy and the Spurs recruitment team consider a potential bargain summer deal, with his mooted price tag called “too good to be true”.

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Ange Postecoglou’s full focus is on their looming Europa League final clash against Man United on May 21 – an encounter which could single-handedly rescue Spurs’ season from the depths of despair.

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He’d be an ideal replacement for Postecoglou.

Posts 1 ByEmilio Galantini May 14, 2025

Qualification for next season’s Champions League, not to mention Tottenham’s first major trophy in over 17 years, is on the line against United with both sides looking to end their dismal campaigns in the best possible fashion.

Reports claim Postecoglou is highly likely to leave Spurs regardless of whether they win the final in Bilbao (David Ornstein), but the Australian could still etch his name into history by becoming the first Lilywhites boss to win a trophy in nearly two decades.

Tottenham’s best-performing regulars in the Premier League

Average match rating

Son Heung-min

7.05

Pedro Porro

6.98

James Maddison

6.98

Dominic Solanke

6.88

Dejan Kulusevski

6.83

via WhoScored

He could also fulfill his early-season pledge of ‘always’ winning silverware during his second season in charge, so a lot is personally riding on the line for Postecoglou, even if a departure from N17 seems more and more inevitable.

The 59-year-old’s future will have a knock-on effect when it comes to Levy’s transfer plans for the fast-approaching summer window, and it is believed that Tottenham are targeting a new forward among their recruitment priorities.

Liverpool forward Federico Chiesa is apparently attracting interest from Spurs, while Man City playmaker James McAtee is another attacker admired by Tottenham. Both players are not expected to break the bank in terms of cost, amid claims Tottenham are set for a ‘sell to buy’ summer (The Telegraph).

However, one very highly-rated forward, and one who could be one of the bargains of 2025, is Lyon star Rayan Cherki.

Tottenham make contact over signing Rayan Cherki this summer

The Frenchman has bagged 12 goals and 18 assists across his total appearances in Ligue 1 and the Europa League this term, marking himself out as a star player for Lyon, but his contract is said to include a tantalising £19 million release clause.

That is according to Le Parisien, who also report that Tottenham have made contact over a move for Cherki, alongside some Premier League rivals.

The 21-year-old falls into Spurs’ recruitment policy perfectly, given he’s young with world-class potential at a very reasonable value. Cherki will surely be a player in very high demand this summer, with journalist Dean Jones previously explaining why clubs need to consider swooping for him.

“Rayan Cherki, who is just absolutely unbelievable,” said Jones on the Ranks FC Ultras Podcast (via TBR). “You see figures around Cherki and there’s like 25 million pounds talked about, which just seems like too good to be true. He’s just different, this player.

“If you haven’t seen Cherki play, then just either stop the pod and go and watch him on YouTube for 10 minutes and then come back or just go watch him while we’re talking right now. Because his skill level is outrageous. He feels like he could become one of the best players in the world.”

Given Cherki’s mooted fee has now dropped below £25m to £19m, it makes Jones’ statement all the more relevant, and we wouldn’t be at all surprised to see him emerge as a top target for Levy.

Leeds United are making a move for an “incredible” striker, who knows he would be guaranteed to play every week under Daniel Farke next season, according to a report.

Leeds eyeing new signings with top-level experience

Ipswich Town, Leicester City and Southampton all suffered relegation in their first season back in the Premier League last season, underlining the need for Leeds to bring in proven players, and they have now set their sights on several options with top-level experience.

Amid doubts over Illan Meslier, Bayern Munich goalkeeper Daniel Peretz, who is “proven” in the Champions League, has emerged as an option between the sticks, while recent Premier League title winner Kostas Tsimikas may replace Junior Firpo at left-back.

Ipswich being relegated, despite Liam Delap’s form, goes to show that having a top striker is not always enough to avoid the drop, but Farke will be under no illusions about the need to sign a proven goalscorer, and the Whites are now stepping up their pursuit of a new striker.

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According to a report from The Sun, Leeds have made a move for Newcastle United striker Callum Wilson, who has been widely linked with a move away from St. James’ Park upon the expiration of his £46k-a-week contract this summer.

Since arriving at Newcastle from AFC Bournemouth in a £20m deal, Wilson has maintained a solid goal record for the Magpies, but there is now growing interest from rival Premier League clubs, with Everton boss David Moyes thought to be keen to snap him up.

Despite the interest from the Toffees, the Championship title-winners are hopeful they can win the race for the striker, ‘as he would be guaranteed to play every week under Farke.’

"Incredible" Wilson could reignite career at Leeds

Almost any striker in world football would find it difficult to displace Alexander Isak in the starting XI, which is one of the reasons why the Englishman has found game time hard to come by in recent times, alongside various injury issues.

However, should the former Bournemouth man be able to put his injury problems behind him, there are plenty of signs he could play a major role in helping Leeds avoid the drop next season.

Prior to the 2024-25 campaign, the 33-year-old, called “incredible” by Eddie Howe, was a consistent source of goals for both Bournemouth and Newcastle, regularly finding the back of the net in the Premier League.

Season

Appearances

PL Goals

2019-20

35

8

2020-21

26

12

2021-22

18

8

2022-23

31

18

2023-24

20

9

However, there will, understandably, be concerns about Wilson’s age and injury record, with the forward sidelined for over half of Newcastle’s games throughout the 2024/25 campaign, so he will only be a worthwhile addition for Leeds if he is able to improve his fitness, making this one to keep an eye on.