Category Uncategorized

The youngest player to start a Women’s Champions League group game also cites Neymar and Eden Hazard as role models, and it shows in her creativity

When a young player steps up into the first team at any club, it might take the senior players a bit of time to trust them, to give them the ball in pressure situations, to see them as a player who can contribute right now at the top level. But when 16-year-old Lily Yohannes was integrated into Ajax's first team at the start of this season, there was little hesitation from the group. They knew almost straight away that she was a special talent.

That's how Ajax captain Sherida Spitse remembers it, anyway. "You feel directly, 'Okay, I can play her the ball. That is a player that can do something with the ball, to create something for us'," she told GOAL this month when asked about Yohannes' early days with the team. "She's a good player, she's a nice person and she can learn a lot of things, but she's doing a really good job and I'm happy that she is in my team and our team."

Yohannes will be glad that she is in Spitse's team, too, because the way she speaks about the teenager indicates a true captain. "She just needs to play," the 33-year-old, and only player over 30 in Ajax's team, added. "She is 16 and she is good because she is just playing and doesn't think so much about everything around her. That is the responsibility for other people around her, like for me, the other captains, the team. She just needs to do what she can.

"Of course, you cannot lose the ball too easy, too often, and we say that to her. But in the end, she needs to focus on her football. She is just only 16 years old so just let her play football. That is the most important thing, I think, and the rest is our responsibility."

With a leader like that around her every day, Yohannes might be in the best place possible for her development. Her first senior season certainly indicates as much, with her thriving in the Eredivisie and the UEFA Women's Champions League.

Now, she is set to show that talent on the international stage after winning her first United States women's national team call-up ahead of the SheBelieves Cup, making her the youngest player to be included in a full camp since Sophia Smith back in 2017.

• Getty
  

  Where it all began

  Born in Springfield, Virginia, Yohannes always had soccer in her blood thanks to her Eritrean grandfather, Bokretsion Gebrehiwot, who scored a famous halfway-line goal at the 1968 Africa Cup of Nations. That passion for the sport is shared throughout the family, with the Ajax teenager spending her childhood training with her father and her two brothers in the basement of their house.

  Aged 10, the family had a change of scenery when Yohannes’ father’s work took them from the United States to the Netherlands. It was in Europe that the youngster started to play regularly for a boys’ team for the first time, but she hardly struggled to adapt and her stand-out efforts would soon attract the attention of Ajax, who offered her a trial.

  Having successfully navigated that, Yohannes started with the club’s talent academy, playing with boys’ and girls’ sides, before moving into the women's reserves aged 15. The youngest player in that team, she continued to shine and signed her first professional contract at Ajax in April of last year, two months before her 16th birthday.

Advertisement

• The big break

  Having trained with them a few times before, Yohannes was integrated into Ajax’s first team ahead of the 2023-24 campaign, debuting as a starter in the Super Cup back in September. She’s rarely relinquished her role in the XI since, and it has been in the Champions League that the 16-year-old has really broken through and marked herself out as one to watch.

  She became the youngest player ever to start a UWCL group-stage match when she lined-up against Paris Saint-Germain in November, an occasion she rose to when her pass through to Romee Leuchter kickstarted the attack that saw Ajax break the deadlock in a famous 2-0 victory.

  From there, Yohannes continued to catch the eye on the European stage, and her performances helped the Dutch side cause a serious upset by out-qualifying Bayern Munich and Roma, both quarter-finalists last year, to reach the last eight of the UWCL for the first time in club history.

• How it's going

  As well as starring for Ajax in Europe, Yohannes has racked up four goals and three assists in 15 appearances during her first season in the Eredivisie, 12 of those starts, and those contributions look set to help secure the club’s place in Champions League qualifying next season.

  On the international front, Yohannes has gone two years without a call-up to the United States youth teams and, with the 16-year-old eligible for a Dutch passport, Netherlands head coach Andries Jonker told in January that the process of getting her to play for his team was “underway”. “All possible steps are being taken in that," he said. "I hope she gets to play for the Netherlands as a football star, especially because she feels Dutch.”

  However, nothing is done quite yet. In late March, the USWNT announced its SheBelieves Cup roster and, for the first time, Yohannes was included. A debut would not tie her to the U.S. as it is only a friendly competition, but it would be a step in the right direction for the four-time world champion when it comes to securing her international future.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty
  

  Biggest strengths

  A confident, attack-minded midfielder with bags of tricks, Yohannes loves to pick the ball up and drive at defenders. She poses a real threat with her eye for a pass and ability to get involved in the goals, too. When watching Ajax, you’ll often see the teenager drift into those inside channels and link-up with the wide players, especially on the left. From there, she can cut inside onto her preferred right foot and catch a look at goal.

  But while her most eye-catching traits reside in that final third, Yohannes can also be a real asset on the other side of the ball. Regular exposure to boys’ football over the last few years has made her stronger and she can more than hold her own in her duels as a result, even though she can still develop physically given her young age.

Barcelona face yet another setback as its financial vice president, Eduard Romeu, has tendered his resignation.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Romeu resigns from Barcelona
• The departure leaves a void in Barcelona's leadership
• Club struggling with severe financial challenges

• Getty
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Romeu's resignation, confirmed by a Barcelona statement released on Thursday morning, cited "incompatibility with full dedication to his professional work" as the reason for his departure. However, sources close to Romeu, speaking anonymously, revealed to that Barcelona's deep-rooted financial problems played a significant role in his decision to step down.

Advertisement

• WHAT ROMEU SAID

  Speaking to reporters, Romeu said: "The enemy is outside the club. When we started this it seemed that nobody could save it, but the courage that Laporta has given us has allowed us to fight.

  "To see a great Barcelona, we still need to make complex decisions. But there is still that final point that we must reach and we will follow our path with the same strength.”

  However, Barcelona President, Joan Laporta remains optimistic that the existing economic team would continue his work.

  “Eduard’s functions can continue to be carried out by the economic team. Romeu leaves a great team that is capable of continuing his work," he said.

  “He has been key in the economic work of the club and we will continue to follow his advice. He leaves an economic area department who are prepared to continue his work.”

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The financial woes at Barcelona have been exacerbated by a €30 million budget shortfall for the current season which is attributed to lower-than-expected matchday revenues. Moreover, La Liga's decision to reduce Barcelona's salary cap to €204 million further complicates matters, marking a substantial €66 million reduction from the previous cap.

  With Barcelona's real squad cost for the season officially budgeted at €492 million, the club faces pressure to make cuts to adhere to La Liga regulations. This may necessitate the sale of key first-team players to alleviate the burden of the club's historic debts, which exceed €1 billion.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Barcelona's efforts to navigate these financial challenges have been met with difficulties, as traditional strategies such as leveraging economic 'levers' face constraints imposed by evolving La Liga regulations. Despite significant cost-cutting measures, including the departure of several high-profile executives over the past year, including sporting director Jordi Cruyff and director of football Mateu Alemany, the club continues to grapple with financial challenges.

Having reached the last eight of the Champions League for the first time since 2020, the Blaugrana have nothing to lose and so much to gain

There is no doubt that Barcelona's 3-1 win over Napoli in the Champions League knockout stages felt crucial in the context of Xavi's career. Although he has already won one major trophy, he needed this show of strength in continental competition. Barca did too.

No teams have a divine right to success – even if serial winners do exist. But Barca, as a brand, team and institution, feel too big to be sitting on the sidelines while the biggest games of the season play out. But the Catalans have known little but disappointment in Europe in recent years.

Not since Lionel Messi stood before the Camp Nou prior to the 2018-19 season, promising the club would win the Champions League, have they been serious challengers. A legendary collapse at Anfield in 2019, the infamous battering at the hands of Bayern Munich in 2020, and consecutive group-stage exits in 2022 and 2023 made the Blaugrana a laughing stock in Europe.

The game with Napoli, then, was a chance to show that the Blaugrana can – if only temporarily – recover on club football's biggest stage. And there was enough about Barca here to suggest that they might just be able to do something special in this season's Champions League – even if they remain massive underdogs.

The Blaugrana were convincing at both ends of the pitch, utilising a blend of exciting youth and timely experience to piece together a composed win. And although they may not be widely back to progress past the quarter-finals, this youthful team seems set to finally give Cules something to get excited about.

Getty Images A solid performance

A fair criticism of Barca this season – regardless of the result – has been the poor quality of their performances. This isn't necessarily a new thing. Barca weren't particularly watchable last year, their European-best defence carrying them to a league title, rather than the magical tiki-taka football associated with the club. Only this campaign, their legs have gone, their injuries have multiplied and the goals against tally has sky-rocketed.

But there was a real bounce to Barca here. They scored twice within 17 minutes, Fermin Lopez bagging the first, and Joao Cancelo scoring the second. Raphinha played chief orchestrator of both, assisting one and seeing his fizzing effort ping off the post and into the feet of Cancelo – who couldn't miss from a tight angle.

After that – and for long stretches throughout – it was all about Yamal. The winger cut, chopped and cut again on the wing, creating chances for an active Barca front line. Napoli were good value for their goal when Amir Rrahmani sauntered into the box and finished on the half hour mark. But the Blaugrana were otherwise relatively untroubled, surviving a scare or two yet staying in control throughout. Their late third was perhaps overdue – but entirely deserved.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesLamine Yamal: The Messi regen?

Yamal was always likely to be the difference-maker here. The 16-year-old winger has been Barca’s most dangerous attacking threat for months, scoring six goals and assisting seven to round off a memorable start to life in Catalonia. And while he didn’t find the scoresheet here, Yamal was at the centre of all the good things Xavi’s side did.

He made Mario Rui’s life a nightmare throughout, a blur of sharp cuts and deft turns often fooling one of the most experienced players on the pitch. And he will need to do more of the same going forward. Perhaps Yamal’s best skill is his relentless unpredictability. He can go left or right, cut onto either foot, and exploit the smallest of spaces. The Lionel Messi label might be unfair, but no one can quite figure out Europe’s brightest talent.

Xavi will have to manage his minutes carefully here. Perhaps he is benched more regularly in La Liga to keep him fresh for European competition. He should probably get the occasional night off. Either way, there's a real star power about Adidas' latest signee. When he's on the pitch, Barca always have a chance.

Fermin Lopez: the midfield engine

Lopez offers something different. He was a surprise inclusion in Barca’s preseason squad, and worked his way into the first team largely thanks to a memorable long-range strike in a summer Clasico that tied up a resounding victory. His performances have been admittedly mixed, the buzzing midfielder falling in and out of the starting line-up.

But against Napoli he was at something nearing his best. He managed an hour of relentless running, finishing his shift with only 39 touches, but two chances created, and one wonderfully taken goal. On another night – with a more clinical aim – he could have scored three.

His spot would seem to be up in the air. Frenkie de Jong and Pedri are working their way back from injuries, and a full-strength Barca would seem to include both of them over the vibrant youngster. But even if he is to function in a reserve role, the academy graduate has the kind of energy, creativity and drive that can change a game.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

GettyPau Cubarsi: the next great centre-back?

Cubarsi is the surprise actor here. Not highly regarded until recently, the lanky centre-back has revived a beleaguered and shaky back-line. He offers something different to the physical and embattled Ronald Araujo. Cubarsi is all about finesse. An excellent passer of the ball and refined dribbler, he serves as the connective tissue between an often rigid Barca defence and active midfield unit.

But against Napoli he played the role of bruiser, turning in a memorable man-of-the-match performance in his first Champions League start. The centre-back won 100 percent of his aerial duels, completed 90% of his passes, created one chance, made three clearances, five defensive recoveries, and almost completely nullified one of Europe's most highly rated No.9s in Victor Osimhen.

There are still some inconsistencies to his game. For all of his composure on the ball, Cubarsi can be rather erratic off it. A harsher VAR official might have seen him give up a penalty at a crucial juncture in the second leg.

Still, Barca might just have their centre-back pairing of the future set up before them. His partner summed it up. "Pau Cubarsi is spectacular. We complement each other very well, and we hope it lasts for many years. He's the future of the club," Araujo said.

To their credit, Wolverhampton Wanderers have steadied the ship after a rocky summer saw them lose Ruben Neves, Raul Jimenez, and Julen Lopetegui. The arrival of Gary O'Neil may not have been eye-catching, but the former Bournemouth boss has got off to a solid start, culminating in a shock win over reigning Premier League champions Manchester City in their most recent outing.

The Midlands club may well have a keen eye on January reinforcements, too, but will be well aware of the fact that the transfer window can spark danger when it comes to keeping hold of their best players. And, after losing Ruben Neves in the summer, they could be desperate to keep hold of their best assets come the winter window. That may not be an easy task, however, with reports suggesting that one star player is interested in a exit.

What's the latest Wolves transfer news?

During the summer transfer window, Wolves weren't exactly the most active club when it came to incomings. In total, the Midlands club spent a reported €94m (£82m), welcoming the likes of Santiago Bueno and Jean-Ricner Bellegarde in the hope of securing their survival in the Premier League. It was their outgoings that stole the headlines, though, with Neves, Joao Moutinho, and Matheus Nunes, among others, all sealing their exits away from the club.

Following Nunes' exit, in particular, it was easy to worry about Wolves' survival chances, but wins over Manchester City and Luton Town have since eased those fears, and put them on course for mid-table comfort. One more exit could yet do the damage, and reports suggest that those at Molinuex could suffer heartbreak once more.

According to reporter Pete O'Rourke of Football Insider, Pedro Neto is "interested" in quitting Wolves to join a club pushing for major honours, amid links of a move to Arsenal. However, Neto may well be forced to wait until the summer of 2024, when Wolves could sanction a sale to help avoid any Financial Fair Play problems.

How has Pedro Neto performed this season?

After a difficult time with injuries in the last couple of years, Neto has finally bounced back, and looks back to his best at Wolves, epitomised by his role in their wins over Manchester City and Luton Town. The stats certainly suggest that he has been a step above last season, too. According to FBref, the winger has improved in a number of areas.

Season

Progressive Passes Per 90

Progressive Carries Per 90

Goals

Assists

Pedro Neto 2023/24

3

5.71

1

4

Pedro Neto 2022/23

2.4

3.46

0

0

It has been a superb start to the season for Neto, and he has earned deserved praise from O'Neil as a result. The Wolves manager said, via Birmingham Mail: “I have always liked him. His attitude and approach since I have been here has been top notch. I can’t speak highly enough of him at the minute, I think he has been incredible. He has played off both sides. I thought he would get some joy down this side today, that was the reason for the switch. He did get some joy but the big story is we leave with nothing which is disappointing.”

Alastair Cook, in need of early-season runs to strengthen his conviction that he still has a Test future, will miss the first two Specsavers Championship games of the season before returning for the defending champions, Essex, against Hampshire at the Ageas Bowl on April 27.Cook’s second match will come against a Yorkshire side also likely to include Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow, one of the stand-out fixtures in the first weeks of the county season as Yorkshire attempt to avenge a 376-run thrashing at the end of 2017.Cook has passed 50 only twice in his last 24 Test innings, stretching back to late July, although when he did so he went on to make a double century on each occasion.But Root, his successor as England captain, has already stared down his worrying sequence and predicted that he will be back in an England shirt against Pakistan and India this summer.Six members of the England Test squad who will shortly head home from New Zealand have been made available to get straight back into action on the opening day on April 13.James Vince and Liam Livingstone are due to be the first to enter the fray, with their counties in action in the opening round of Division One fixtures which start on Friday week – Vince for Hampshire against newly-promoted Worcestershire at the Ageas Bowl, and Livingstone in his new role as Lancashire captain at home to Nottinghamshire at Emirates Old Trafford.Then Mark Stoneman and Ben Foakes are set to face Vince’s Hampshire when Surrey begin their Division One campaign at the Kia Oval on Friday April 20 – when the Somerset pair of Craig Overton and Jack Leach will make their first county appearances as England players at home to Worcestershire at the Cooper Associates County Ground.All six players will remain available for the three further rounds of Championship matches that are scheduled before the start of the Royal London One-Day Cup on May 17.The England management have yet to make a decision on the early-season availability of James Anderson for Lancashire.England player early-season availability:Alastair Cook (Essex): Hampshire (April 27-30), Yorkshire (May 4-7), Worcestershire (May 11-14)
James Vince (Hants): All games from April 13
Liam Livingstone (Lancs): All games from April 13
James Anderson (Lancs): TBC
Dawid Malan (Middlesex): Glamorgan (27-30 April), Sussex (4-7 May), Gloucestershire (11-14 May)
Eoin Morgan (Middlesex): All games
Stuart Broad (Notts): Worcestershire (27-30 April), Hampshire (4-7 May), Lancashire (11-14 May)
Mark Stoneman and Ben Foakes (Surrey): All games from April 20
Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow (Yorks): Essex (4-7 May), Surrey (11-14 May)
Liam Plunkett, Gary Ballance, and David Willey (Yorks): All matches.

Celtic appear to be close to bringing in a new midfielder before tomorrow evening’s deadline, with an update emerging from abroad.

What’s the latest Celtic transfer news?

Brendan Rodgers hasn’t begun his second stint in charge at Parkhead in perfect fashion, with the Hoops already being dumped out of the Scottish League Cup by Kilmarnock. Points have also been dropped in the Scottish Premiership, which has led to plenty of speculation over a late transfer window spree.

Reports last week claimed that Celtic could bring in five new players before the window closes, and since then, they have sealed a move for Honduras international Luis Palma in a deal worth £3.5m, with Rodgers delighted at the news, saying:

“We are really pleased to bring Luis to the club. He is a player who had a lot of options but, of course, we are delighted he has chosen to come to Celtic, an opportunity which really excites him.

“He is a very talented player who likes to play attacking football, so we hope he will be a very good fit for the team.”

After Palma, it appears as if Celtic are about to bring in a new defender following injuries to Maik Nawrocki and Cameron Carter-Vickers. Liverpool’s Nat Phillips looks likely to be the centre-back brought in on a season-long loan, whereas progress appears to have been made on a move for Paulo Bernardo following talks.

According to reports from Portugal, relayed by Football Scotland, Benfica have now given the green light for Bernardo to move to Glasgow on a season-long loan.

The midfielder is expected to arrive in Scotland at some point today to undergo a medical and is on course to become a Hoops player over the next 24 hours.

Who is Paulo Bernardo?

Bernardo is a product of Benfica’s academy and is now 21 years of age who actually has a €100m release clause in his current contract.

Primarily a central midfielder who can also turn out in an attacking midfield role if needed, Bernardo is already sponsored by Adidas and has played 16 times in total for Portugal at U21 level.

At club level, Bernardo has made 13 senior appearances during a loan spell with FC Pacos de Ferreira and has turned out on 26 occasions for Benfica, five of which have come in the Champions League.

The midfielder's mentor, Renato Paiva, recently said Bernardo is "intelligent" and was identified as an "elite midfielder".

“Paulo had a beautiful history with us. He was identified at Benfica as an elite midfielder, but I told him there was a difference between an elite midfielder and a high-quality midfielder, scoring goals.

“If he didn’t score goals, he would never become an elite midfielder. The truth is that Paulo, being the intelligent kid that he is, knew how to listen, be patient and work accordingly.”

He would offer a versatile option for Rodgers in midfield, should a move go through as expected, and by the looks of things, there could be more to come before the deadline if the previous claim of five potential late arrivals is accurate.

Fulham have now made contact with Racing Club over Juan Ignacio Nardoni, and a new report has revealed they may have to shell out a huge fee for the midfielder…

Who are Fulham signing this summer?

Liverpool have now made it clear they are interested in signing Joao Palhinha, meaning Fulham may have an even more pressing need to bring in a central midfielder, having targeted a player in that area of the pitch earlier in the window.

The Cottagers were priced out of a move for Fred, with Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth claiming Manchester United were "asking for too much money", and the Brazilian has since gone on to join Fenerbahce.

An alternative option for Marco Silva's side was AC Milan's Charles De Ketelaere, however he is now poised to join Atalanta, meaning they could be forced to move on to other targets, and they have now identified a surprising new option.

According to reports from Italy (via Sport Witness), Fulham have shown the "most interest" out of all the clubs to come forward for Nardoni, and they are now "seriously thinking" about making him their latest summer signing.

Contact has already been made with both Racing Club and the 21-year-old's entourage to discuss a deal, and negotiations could even be set to start in the next few days. If the west Londoners are to prise the youngster away from Racing Club, they will have to be prepared to spend big, with it being reported the Argentinian side value him at around €25m (£21m).

More recent updates from Argentina (via Sport Witness), state that Racing are trying to price Silva's side out of a transfer, as they are not keen on selling the midfielder this summer because he is considered an important player.

Who is Juan Ignacio Nardoni?

Born in Nelson, Argentina, the starlet has burst onto the scene in his home country, after coming through the youth ranks at Club Atletico Union, making a total of 35 appearances for Racing Club, during which time he has amassed two goals and five assists.

Although he has shown he is capable of posing a threat on the front foot, the maestro often plays in a more defensive central midfield role, indicating that he is a very well-rounded player.

Journalist Fabian Godoy has previously spoken very highly of the Racing star, praising him for his physical attributes, as well as his passing ability, while also branding him a "top player."

However, the Argentine's contract is not currently set to expire until December 2025, leaving Racing in a strong negotiating position, and it would probably be unwise for Fulham to meet their demands and shell out £21m.

A fee of €25m (£21m) would make the former Club Atletico Union man the Cottagers' second-most expensive signing of all time, which would be a huge risk, considering Nardoni is unproven outside of Argentina.

If Fulham choose to accept Al-Hilal's £46m bid for Aleksandar Mitrovic, they will have the funds to strengthen multiple areas of their squad, but they should target players who have more experience at the top level.

Jorginho made the move across London from Chelsea to Arsenal back in January. There have been rumours of him moving on from the Emirates already but Ryan Taylor of the Daily Express has offered an update to GIVEMESPORT.

Will Jorginho stay put?

Since arriving in North London, Jorginho, who was hailed for being a "top guy", has hardly had the smoothest of journeys. Arsenal may have enjoyed a successful 2022/23 season but the Champions League winning midfielder remained on the outskirts of the team.

As a result, there have been rumours swirling that point towards his imminent departure. The most likely destination is said to be Turkey with Fenerbahce leading the charge.

Granit Xhaka already left the club though, returning to the Bundesliga to join Bayer Leverkusen and Thomas Partey also faces an uncertain future as well. This means that Mikel Arteta can hardly boast loads of midfield depth and will need contributions from as many players as possible as they take on European football in the coming season, after they of course came second and secured a Champions League spot.

What is Ryan Taylor's update?

"I expect him to stay 100%. I think the only way that would probably change is if Arsenal decided they wanted to bring in another midfielder.

"But even still, I can't really see Jorginho leaving, he's only just joined. I think long term, he will probably depart in the next year or so.

"But I think it seems to have been quite settled in pre-season and there's not really anything concrete.

"There's talk of interest from Fenerbahce, but from what I understand that's not genuine at the moment and his agent has ruled out a return to Italy on a lot of occasions this summer.

"So unless something changes, I think he'll be remaining with the club."

What else is going down at the Emirates?

The Arsenal starting XI was more or less perfect last year and so a lot of the transfer business this summer was geared towards adding further depth.

One position of note is in between the sticks where Aaron Ramsdale thrived last term. USMNT number one Matt Turner was his deputy but, as per Sky Sports’ Dharmesh Sheth, a move to Nottingham Forest is “advanced and progressing” for him. Brentford’s David Raya is the man being touted as the next goalkeeper to join Arsenal although given the fee and his ability, he is more likely to push than Ramsdale for the starting spot as opposed to settling for the rotation role.

Declan Rice, Jurrien Timber and Kai Havertz are the notable new arrivals already through the Emirates’ door and they all started the Community Shield success over title rivals Manchester City. Rice and Timber in particular played really well and have showed positive signs of what Gunners’ fan can expect from them this season.

Folarin Balogun is a final name worth mentioning when it comes to his potential departure from Arsenal. Turner’s international teammate excelled on loan with Stade Reims in Ligue 1 last season and, according to reports from The Daily Mail, a sizable offer has been rejected by Arsenal from another French team. The English side are holding out for £50 million which is more than Monaco are willing to offer at the time of writing.

Tottenham Hotspur are set to make a long-term contract offer to Bayer Leverkusen defender Edmond Tapsoba after sealing a deal for Wolfsburg's Micky van de Ven.

Who will Spurs sign?

Ange Postecoglou, as reported by reliable media sources like Fabrizio Romano, are closing in on the signings of both van de Ven and Rosario Central striker Alejo Veliz.

The former, who will sign from Wolfsburg for around €50 million (£43m) including add-ons, is travelling to London on Saturday ahead of a medical with Spurs as chairman Daniel Levy finally captures a centre-back.

Meanwhile, Romano has also given his famous "here we go" to a Tottenham deal for Veliz, with the highly-rated South American striker coming in as a potential star for the future.

There are suggestions that this could well be a busy final month of the window for Spurs with some reports even claiming they could sign two senior centre-backs before September 1 – not including Blackburn starlet Ashley Phillips – whose arrival has just been announced by Tottenham.

Read the latest Tottenham transfer news HERE…

Postecoglou, after his new side conceded 63 league goals last season, has admitted to the media that signing a new defender or two is one of their summer agendas.

"That's definitely our intention, absolutely," said the Spurs head coach when asked about centre-backs.

"We've been working on it for a while and we'll definitely try to get it done as quickly as possible.

"I don't think it's any secret about some of the areas we needed to strengthen. Some of it I identified early on. The goalkeeper was one and central defence is another.

"In terms of the other boys, we've got a big squad but my view is I wanted to bring them along and just work with them, get some clarity in my head and give clarity to them."

After van de Ven, it appears Spurs are indeed aiming for at least one more option in that area. Indeed, Football Insider saying they're still in the hunt for Tapsoba, with a "long-term contract" currently in the offing.

The Burkina Faso international, who played more Bundesliga minutes than any other Leverkusen outfielder last season, is at the centre of interest from Spurs.

They will apparently turn attention to prising him away from Germany following van de Ven and are set to offer him a long-term contract in a bid to tempt him towards Tottenham.

This comes as Postecoglou aims to sign two centre-backs before deadline day, with Spurs pushing to complete a number of deals, according to the outlet.

How good is Edmond Tapsoba?

An untouchable member of Xabi Alonso's starting eleven last campaign, Tapsoba has been praised for his composure on the ball and even likened to former Bayern Munich star defender Jerome Boateng.

The Bundesliga website wrote:

"The legendary Bayern Munich defender, who made 364 appearances across 11 seasons for the Bavarian giants, was as cool and calm as it gets both on the ball and in the tackle while he was also famed for his pinpoint long passing that set up many an attack for the record champions.

"Tapsoba has similar traits and such is his eagerness to start forward thrusts, he has often been referred to as a defensive playmaker."

Dominic Sibley wanted a written assurance that he would bat in thre top three in all three formats – and that was too much for Alec Stewart

David Hopps02-Aug-2017

Dominic Sibley has turned down a new three-year contract at Surrey to join Warwickshire after receiving promises that he would bat in the top order in all three forms of the game.Alec Stewart, Surrey’s director of cricket, admitted that Sibley’s decision was “bitterly disappointing” and stressed that he had a philosophical resistance to giving players guarantees in the unpredictable world of professional sport.Stewart said: “Dom was offered a very good three-year contract but has told me the reason he is leaving is that he feels his opportunities at Warwickshire would be greater, given the written assurances he has received that he will be batting in the top three in all forms of the game next year.”In performance sport, this was not something that I was prepared to do – for him or any of our players – as we will always select the best possible XI for each occasion and it would be wrong to give anyone these guarantees.”We’ve had numerous conversations with Dom and his advisors over the last eleven months and I’m comfortable in knowing that we could not have done any more in showing how much we wanted him to be a big part of this club.”We believe we were moving Dom in the right direction and are bitterly disappointed he has chosen to leave us at this stage of his career.”Warwickshire have not commented on the matter of where Sibley will bat but Ashley Giles, the club’s sport director, welcomed the latest addition to an “exciting young squad” at Edgbaston.”At 21-years-old, Dominic is an outstanding cricketer with England potential, having already scored two first-class centuries whilst also being an accomplished white-ball batsman,” Giles said.”He has a big role to play for the club across all forms of the game and we’re delighted that he has chosen to take this great opportunity to become a Bear and be part of this exciting young squad that we are building.”What is apparent is that Warwickshire are rebuilding an ageing squad with young and somewhat unproven players. Sibley follows Will Rhodes, the former Yorkshire allrounder, who never claimed a regular place at Headingley and Somerset batsman Adam Hose, who was in his breakthrough season.Sibley first played for Surrey at Under-9 level and has since come through the Academy system. In 2013, he became the second-youngest English player – behind WG Grace – to score a first-class double-hundred, when he made 242 against Yorkshire. He was first offered a three-year deal at the end of last season, which remained on the table for the entirety of this summer but has now been turned down.This season, he has played seven of Surrey’s eight Specsavers County Championship matches, averaging 33, with no centuries and four fifties. He started four of the ten games played in the Royal London Cup and has so far played every match of the NatWest T20 Blast campaign.