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Manchester United have now held internal talks over signing a former Barcelona player on a free transfer this summer, according to a report.

Man Utd eyeing cut-price deal after Europa League disaster

Of course, winning trophies is always important for a club the size of Man United, but Europa League glory was arguably even more important from a financial point of view, given that success in the competition grants qualification to the Champions League.

Having failed to qualify for Europe’s elite competition next season, United are thought to have missed out on £85m, which could hamper their ability to bring in their top targets this summer, in what could be a very important window.

That is according to Jamie Carragher, who has insisted the Red Devils will need to splash the cash to rebuild Ruben Amorim’s squad, although the former Liverpool man has doubts over whether the former Sporting CP boss is the right man for the job.

Carragher said: “Backing him means getting behind a big idea; a system of play that is uncommon among the elite of Europe, requiring specialist footballers and a squad of back-up wing-backs and centre-halves so he can play three at the back.

“It means spending big on redesigning the squad to meet Amorim’s specific needs in the knowledge that, if he underperforms again next season, his successor will most likely revert to a flat back four.”

However, it appears as though INEOS are set to stand by Amorim, and they have now set their sights on a new target, who could suit the manager’s style of play, having internally discussed a move for Wolverhampton Wanders right-wing back Nelson Semedo.

That is according to a report from Football Transfers, which states Semedo’s name has been raised during talks over Matheus Cunha, with the full-back set to leave Molineux on a free transfer this summer.

Man Utd also ready to pay £44m release clause for "king of kings" after Cunha

The Red Devils are now willing to trigger the release clause for another striker to partner up with Cunha at Old Trafford.

ByDominic Lund May 26, 2025 "Outstanding" Semedo could be ideal for Amorim

The 31-year-old is accustomed to playing at right-wing-back, which could make him a good fit in Amorim’s three-at-the-back system, while his availability on a free transfer is ideal for Man United, having missed out on Champions League football.

Not only that, but the £80k-a-week Wolves star has proven himself in the Premier League over the course of a number of years, with Garth Crooks saying in the 2023-24 season: “Nelson Semedo deserved a mention as he was outstanding. His ability to get forward, but also defend with equal measure, was impressive.”

Admittedly, the former Barcelona man wouldn’t be the most exciting of signings, and there are other areas of the squad in more urgent need of strengthening, with the lack of goals from Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee a real problem.

However, Semedo could be a solid signing as a rotation option at the very least, and the fact the Portuguese defender is available on a free transfer makes him even more appealing.

Ask an Arsenal fan what the team needs this summer, and we reckon the vast majority will say a striker.

It’s undoubtedly true that Mikel Arteta’s side need more help up top to either replace or challenge Kai Havertz next season, but arguably just as important is a new left-winger.

Compared to Bukayo Saka on the right – who missed over three months of football – the Gunners’ options on the left weren’t able to have the same sort of impact on games.

Fortunately, reports have now linked the club with a renowned international who’s been compared to the incredible Lamine Yamal and would be a perfect upgrade on Leandro Trossard.

Arsenal's winger search

Arsenal seem to recognise their need for wide reinforcements this summer, as over the last few weeks and months, they’ve been linked with a host of sensational talents, like Bradley Barcola and Rayan Cherki.

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The former has been unreal for Paris Saint-Germain this season, scoring 21 goals and providing 19 assists in 58 games, but such a rate of return has seen the Parisian value him at a whopping £101m.

Fellow Ligue 1 superstar Cherki, on the other hand, could be available for around £30m this summer, and should Manchester City not get their man, then that’d be a bargain fee, as in 44 appearances, he’s scored 12 goals and provided 20 assists.

However, while both wingers would be brilliant additions to the squad, Arteta and Co may want someone more experienced to come in and replace Trossard, someone like Leroy Sané.

Yes, according to a recent report from The Athletic’s David Ornstein, Arsenal are one of several English sides interested in the Bayern Munich star this summer.

The report has revealed that ‘senior figures at the club have held talks with 29-year-old’ and that should he not decide to renew his contract with the German giants, the Gunners are a real option for him ahead of next season.

It might not be the most exciting transfer imaginable, but Sané is a proven winner, who’d not only be free but an upgrade on Trossard and someone who’s won comparisons to the phenomenal Yamal.

How Sané compares to Trossard and Yamal

Before looking at how Sané stacks up against Trossard, it’s worth examining this comparison to Yamal and where it has come from.

Well, in this case, it stems from FBref, which compares players in similar positions in Europe’s top five leagues, the Champions League and Europa League, and in this instance, has come to the conclusion that the Barcelona gem is the eighth most similar attacking midfielder or winger to the Bayern ace across the last 365 days.

The best way to understand how this conclusion was reached is by looking at some of the underlying metrics in which the pair rank closely, such as non-penalty expected goals plus assists, expected assists, key passes, live passes, switches, tackles and tackles won, blocks and more, all per 90.

Sané & Yamal

Statistic per 90

Sané

Yamal

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.87

0.75

Expected Assists

0.34

0.37

Key Passes

1.98

2.02

Live Passes

47.5

47.2

Switches

0.11

0.13

Tackles

1.26

1.32

Tackles Won

0.82

0.88

Blocks

0.44

0.38

Carries

43.2

46.9

All Stats via FBref for the 24/25 League Season

However, while a comparison to one of the most exciting players in the world is certainly encouraging, how does the former Manchester City star compare to the Gunners’ Belgian wideman, as he’d be one of his main competitors for game time next year?

Well, when it comes to their raw output from this season, it’s the German “superstar,” as dubbed by football scout Antonio Mango, who has the better record, as in just 2377 minutes across 45 appearances, he’s scored 13 goals and provided six assists.

That comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.36 games, or far more crucially, every 125.10 minutes, which is nothing to sniff at.

In contrast, the former Brighton & Hove Albion star has scored ten goals and provided ten assists in 56 appearances, totalling 3455 minutes this season.

Sané’s vs Trossard 24/25

Players

Sané’s

Trossard

Appearances

45

56

Minutes

2377′

3455′

Goals

13

10

Assists

6

10

Goal Involvements per Match

0.42

0.35

Minutes per Goal Involvement

125.10′

172.75′

All Stats via Transfermarkt

That comes out to an okay but far less impressive average of a goal involvement every 2.8 games, or every 172.75 minutes, which is not what you want in a title-chasing team.

Speaking of titles, the Essen-born dynamo would also bring with him a real know-how when it comes to winning them, as across his time with City and FC Hollywood, he’s won six league titles, the FA Cup, two League Cups and a handful of other trophies.

Ultimately, picking up Sané for nothing this summer would be an excellent decision by Arsenal, as he’d be an ideal upgrade on Trossard, he’d bring a winning mentality, and then there is the added bonus of his similarities to Yamal – it feels like a no-brainer.

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Nottingham Forest have now joined the race for an “excellent” AC Milan player, who is set to leave the Italian club in the summer transfer window, according to a report.

Forest stepping up summer transfer plans

Forest should be well-positioned to bring in some top-quality players this summer, given that they have a very good chance of qualifying for the Champions League, and Nuno is keen to bolster his options in a number of different areas.

The goalscoring burden has largely been on Chris Wood this season, and the Tricky Trees are eager to bring in a new striker to provide competition for the New Zealander, with Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Matheus Cunha and Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin among the targets.

There appears to be a heavy focus on strengthening in attacking areas, with Marseille winger Luis Henrique also of interest, alongside Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres, and there have been suggestions Jota Silva could be used as a makeweight in a deal for the Sweden international.

Contact made: Nottingham Forest make enquiry for £40m "one-man machine"

The Tricky Trees have now made a move for a midfielder, who is attracting widespread interest from across Europe.

ByDominic Lund Apr 16, 2025

Bringing in attacking reinforcements may be of key significance to Nuno, but the manager could also look to strengthen at the opposite end of the pitch, with a report from Italy revealing Nottingham Forest have now joined the race for AC Milan defender Malick Thiaw.

Thiaw will be allowed to leave Milan this summer, and the Serie A side are set to hold out for around €25m to €30m (£22m – £26m), amid widespread interest in his signature, with Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United and Arsenal also keen.

The asking price shouldn’t be a problem for any of the Premier League clubs, but Bayer Leverkusen’s interest could pose an issue, with the German club already making an approach for the 23-year-old.

"Excellent" Thiaw could be success at the City Ground

The German centre-back remained on the substitutes’ bench at the beginning of the campaign, but he has since gone on to establish himself as an important player for Milan, getting on the scoresheet in a 3-1 Champions League victory against Real Madrid.

That was not the first time the 6 foot 4 colossus put in an impressive performance in the Champions League, having previously received high praise from former AC Milan boss Arrigo Sacchi for a top display against Tottenham Hotspur in February 2023.

Sacchi said: “He played an excellent game. He often found himself in one-on-one situations and did not give up an inch to the opponent.”

It has not been the best of campaigns for Milan, with the Italian side sat ninth in the Serie A, but Thiaw’s exploits in Europe indicate he could be a fantastic signing for Forest, and a fee of £22m – £26m is very reasonable for a defender of his quality.

The Scottish Premiership season has perhaps gone as expected. Celtic are top of the pile after an excellent start to the season, and they look on track for a fourth league title in a row.

Glasgow Rangers are second despite some shoddy domestic form which cost Philippe Clement his job, while the chase for third is between Aberdeen, Hibernian and Dundee United.

The likes of Hearts, St Mirren and Motherwell are battling it out for a place in the top six ahead of the split, while St Johnstone look doomed at the bottom of the table.

Doing well in Scotland could see a manager secure a bigger job elsewhere – one that offers a great financial package, along with opportunities in better leagues.

As such, just how much are the managers paid in the Scottish top flight? Here, we rank each Premiership manager by their annual wage.

No salary information is currently available for Motherwell’s Michael Wimmer or Hearts boss Neil Critchley, with both managers joining their current clubs mid-season. The same applies to interim Rangers boss Barry Ferguson, with predecessor Clement thought to be on a salary of £1.5m per year.

Rank

Manager

Club

Salary per year

Brendan Rodgers

Celtic

David Gray

Hibernian

Jimmy Thelin

Aberdeen

Simo Valakari

St Johnstone

Stephen Robinson

St Mirren

Derek McInnes

Kilmarnock

Don Cowie

Ross County

Tony Docherty

Dundee

Jim Goodwin

Dundee United

9 Jim Goodwin (Dundee United) £180k per year

Dundee United have been the surprise package in the Premiership this season. Jim Goodwin was hounded out of Aberdeen after a dismal loss to Darvel in the Scottish Cup back in 2023, but he has proved everyone wrong so far at Tannadice.

The Arabs are still in with a shout of European qualification and have taken points off both Celtic and Rangers this term.

Goodwin earns £180k per year, which is perhaps undervaluing him compared to his counterparts.

8 Tony Docherty (Dundee) £180k per year

Tony Docherty is doing a solid job at Dundee since taking over the club ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

He led the Dens Park outfit to a wonderful top-six finish in the top flight last season, allowing them to play against the likes of Rangers and Celtic after the split, giving them a chance of qualifying for Europe.

Docherty developed players such as Luke McCowan and Lyall Cameron. The former joined Celtic last summer while Cameron has signed a pre-contact deal with Rangers.

Docherty is paid £180k per year at Dundee.

7 Don Cowie (Ross County) £200k per year

Ross County manager Don Cowie has a fight on his hands if he is to avoid another relegation playoff with the club.

Last season, the Highland side defeated Raith Rovers to maintain their top-flight status and hopes were high that they could move towards the top six. Instead, they are in the thick of another relegation battle.

Cowie has been in charge of County since 2024 and is thought to earn £200k per year at the club.

6 Derek McInnes (Kilmarnock) £200k per year

Derek McInnes led Aberdeen to their first trophy in nearly 20 years back in 2014, but things later turned sour, leading to his departure in 2021.

He has revitalised Kilmarnock during his spell in Ayr. He led the club back into the Premiership in 2022 before securing a superb fourth-place finish in 2023/24, including a victory over Rangers in the process.

For his troubles, McInnes takes home £200k per year.

5 Stephen Robinson (St Mirren) £225k per year

Stephen Robinson has done an excellent job since moving to St Mirren in 2022. He led the club to back-to-back top-six finishes in the top flight for the first time in the club’s history.

The Buddies have an outside chance of another placing in the top six at the time of writing, but they did enjoy European football at the start of the season. Robinson earns £225k per year at St Mirren.

4 Simo Valakari (St Johnstone) £250k-per-year

St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari has a huge job on his hands preventing the Saints from slipping out of the top flight this season.

They are stranded at the bottom of the table and it looks like a matter of time before their demotion is confirmed. It will take a remarkable recovery to move up the league table from here.

Valakari earns £250k per year in Perth, though that may not be the case in a few weeks’ time.

3 Jimmy Thelin (Aberdeen) £250k per year

Jimmy Thelin led Aberdeen to a stunning start in the 2024/25 season, earning a draw with Celtic while also securing three points against a disjointed Rangers side in October to threaten a top-two finish.

However, since a hammering in the League Cup semi-final by Celtic at the start of November, the Dons have been wildly out of sorts. Aberdeen remain in the race for third, but they will be frustrated to have taken advantage of their superb start.

The Swede earns £250k per year in the north-east.

2 David Gray (Hibernian) £275k per year

David Gray endured a difficult start as Hibs boss, but he was backed by the board and has since taken the club to the cusp of third place after some excellent results.

More positive results between now and May will see the Easter Road outfit secure a European spot. He earns £275k per year – the highest-paid manager outside the Old Firm.

1 Brendan Rodgers (Celtic) £2.5m per year

Brendan Rodgers is on the cusp of leading Celtic to yet another treble. He claimed all three trophies during the first two seasons of his initial spell at Parkhead.

The club’s narrow defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League proves that he is finally adapting to European football, evidenced by the fact the club secured qualification for the play-off round.

He currently earns £2.5m per year at the club, and if he does win all three domestic trophies, he could yet demand more.

Both men have great potential but they are yet to show the kind of numbers expected of them

Mohammad Isam15-Mar-2024Enigmatic. Over-rated. Talented. Misunderstood.These are generally the words that cricket fans, team-mates, coaches and journalists in Bangladesh use to describe Litton Das and Soumya Sarkar. On song, they are two of the most breathtaking strokemakers in cricket currently. Not on song, they are a source of frustration.Both happened in the second ODI against Sri Lanka in Chattogram. Litton hesitantly chipped the third ball of the match to be caught at square leg. His second duck in a row and third in the last five innings across formats. Soumya struck 68 with 11 fours, a playlist of punchy cover drives, leaned-into straight drives, sweeps and ramps. When he fell with the switch hit, caught brilliantly on the deep-point boundary, Soumya looked shocked. He often doesn’t get starts like this, so it was disappointing for him to give it away.Soumya reached 2,000 runs in ODIs during this innings. He has taken the fewest innings among Bangladesh batters to reach this mark, but it has taken him nearly 10 years. It sums up his international career. He is a force to reckon with, but only when the mood suits him.Related

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After a long time outside the team, Soumya has shown good form since December last year when he struck a career-best 169 against New Zealand. He threatened to break free in the T20Is in Sylhet but didn’t get a big one, not unlike his performances in the BPL for Fortune Barishal.Litton, meanwhile, is going through a prolonged funk. He hasn’t scored a fifty in the last ten ODI innings. He made two half-centuries in the World Cup after an ordinary first nine months in 2023. He hasn’t followed up on his 2022 form, his best year in international cricket.His mode of dismissals are worrying. Out of the 18 times he has been caught in the last 12 months, seven of them were to fielders inside the 30-yard circle.Litton has shown a tendency of not committing fully when attempting aggressive shots, which might explain why the timing and the power he usually has are not working quite so well right now. He has been caught behind six times, and that’s not because he has been reaching out away from the body. Litton has played switch hits and hooks to the wicketkeeper. He has been caught in the deep five times during the last 12 months. He sent catches to long-on and long-off against Australia and India in the World Cup when he looked set for a big score.Soumya Sarkar became the quickest Bangladesh batter to 2000 ODI runs•AFP/Getty ImagesLitton’s confidence is the biggest visible difference between his woeful present and his imperious 2022. He also curbed plenty of shots after he was dropped for a Test match against Pakistan in 2021. It was a sobering moment for him as he went back to first-class cricket and worked with one of his childhood mentors to fix things. Litton marshalling Bangladesh’s batting in their miraculous Mount Maunganui Test has now faded from memory.Litton’s downward spiral has come at a time of Soumya’s long-awaited upswing in form. He made a surprising comeback to the Bangladesh team last year. That it coincided with Chandika Hathurusinghe’s return to Bangladesh as head coach isn’t a huge surprise. Soumya had impressed Hathurusinghe very early in his first stint as the head coach, in 2014.Soumya has always struggled for consistency. Even so, selectors and team managements have always believed that he had potential, so they kept bringing him back time and again. In different formats, in different roles, in different batting positions.When Hathurusinghe returned last year, it is understood that he asked about Soumya early on. Soumya returned to the ODI side against New Zealand in September, but there was no sign of the old Soumya. He missed the World Cup squad, but in New Zealand in December, he finally played a knock that many had been waiting for.Soumya’s 169 is Bangladesh’s highest individual score in an overseas ODI. It was a magnificent effort in conditions where the side has often struggled. Soumya struck 22 fours and two sixes, while the rest of the side could muster 122 runs between them. Bangladesh lost the game but Soumya’s talent, after nine years, was vindicated.Litton, however, is going through another lull. Would it lead the new selection committee to drop him like he was dropped in 2021? It seems unlikely at this point but Bangladesh do have two more openers in their squad. If a break helps Litton, it could become a reality.

It’s been a while since he played such an impactful innings, and Titans will hope he carries this form deep into the tournament

Hemant Brar18-Apr-20222:04

David Miller: ‘It’s been encouraging to know that I am 100% backed’

Across the previous six IPL seasons, 58 batters faced 500-plus balls. Among those, David Miller is in 57th position in terms of strike rate.In 2020, when he was with Rajasthan Royals, the presence of Steven Smith, Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler and Jofra Archer meant he got just one game in the whole season. Next year he played nine matches but could score only 124 runs at a strike rate of 109.73.None of that seemed to matter on Sunday as he struck an unbeaten 94 off 51 balls and steered Gujarat Titans to a miraculous, last-over win against Chennai Super Kings in Pune.Titans were chasing 170 on a pitch where the ball was holding, gripping and turning. They were without their best batter, which further compromised their already-thin batting line-up. And when their second-best batter fell for a first-ball duck, things didn’t look pretty.By the time Miller walked in, Titans were reeling at 16 for 3, the asking rate had climbed past 9.50, and Maheesh Theekshana was asking all sorts of questions with his mystery spin. Apart from Theekshana, Super Kings had two more world-class spinners in their side: Moeen Ali and captain Ravindra Jadeja himself.It’s no secret that Miller prefers pace on the ball. He knew if he didn’t attack the spinners, they would end up bowling their full quotas, with seamers rotating around them. So he took them on but at the same time chose his areas and moments.Given the slow nature of the pitch, he decided to target the straight boundaries. And whenever he attempted a big shot, he gave it his all; there were no half measures. For instance, when Theekshana tossed one up in the fifth over, Miller hit it so hard that even though it went just over the bowler’s head, he had no chance to even get a hand on it.One advantage of having come in as early as the fourth over was he had the time to get his eye in against a relatively hard ball. By the tenth over, he was well set on 27 off 21 balls.He launched Moeen over long-on for his first six before repeating the shot against Jadeja in the next over. Jadeja then bowled fuller on the pads, only to be slog-swept over deep square leg. When he went wider, Miller dispatched him to the cover boundary.”I was trying to impose my presence and let them know that I was there to score,” Miller would say after the match.2:47

Was this David Miller’s best IPL innings?

That assault forced Super Kings to return to Chris Jordan, probably a little earlier than they wanted to. But Dwayne Bravo, using all his experience and variations, was making life difficult.With 48 required from the last three overs, even Miller needed a helping hand. He found one in the form of Rashid Khan, who whipped Jordan for three sixes and a four in one over.Still, Titans needed 13 from the final over. By now, Miller had Lockie Ferguson for company. In other words, he had to score all those runs on his own.Jadeja backed Jordan to do the job for Super Kings. The first ball was a dot. On the second, Miller refused a single, which meant now 13 were required from four balls. But with Miller in beast mode, a Titans win looked almost inevitable.He hit the next two legal deliveries for a six and a four, with a no-ball sandwiched between them. On the penultimate delivery, he picked up a couple to take Titans over the line.When asked about his mindset this season, Miller said being part of the playing XI in every match has made a big difference.”Unfortunately, in the last four to five years, I haven’t really played as much IPL cricket as I would have liked to,” he said. “The nature of the tournament is that there are only four overseas players [in an XI], and the other overseas players are always going to miss out. And I have sort of found myself in an in-between place where I have been sort of in and out, in and out of Kings XI [Punjab] and then Rajasthan [Royals]. I have played some decent games there but I felt I couldn’t really get going.”It has been really, really encouraging to be part of the Gujarat Titans and just know that I am 100% backed. We have a nice environment, we enjoy each other’s success and I think that goes a long way to doing well. But more importantly, it has been really nice to play every game.”Only the future will tell if Miller can carry this form deep into the tournament. For now, he has served a reminder that on his day, if it’s in the arc, it’s still out of the park.Titans will hope those days are not so far apart as they have been.

Where the Yankees go, calamity seems to follow.

While New York is still battling to get back atop the AL East standings, they have displayed some mental mistakes over recent games that have fans shaking their heads in dismay. Manager Aaron Boone has been doing what he can to keep things together, especially regarding Anthony Volpe’s recent spat of fielding errors, but after Austin Wells’s miscue on Wednesday night, it’s going to be a tough post-game press conference.

Wells was on first base with one out in the bottom of the ninth and the Yankees tied up with the Rays, 3–3. The Yanks’ tying run had come courtesy of a Volpe homer earlier in the inning, and the team was on the verge of walking the night off in feel-good fashion and hopefully turning the page to brighter days.

At the plate, Trent Grisham laid down a bunt as well as you can do it, advancing Wells to second base with two outs, and putting the Yankees just one hit away from taking the win.

But Wells didn’t stay on second. Instead, he wandered off the base, appearing to believe that Grisham’s out at first had ended the inning. He was caught in a run-down, clearly confused, and the inning was mercifully over.

Wells’s mistake is just an indictment of the Yankees’ fundamentals. You simply always have to know how many outs there are in the inning. Further, if your team had two outs and a man on first base, THEY WOULD NOT BE BUNTING TO GET YOU OVER TO SECOND BASE!!!

Fans online expressed their disbelief at Wells’s lack of awareness.

Luckily for the Yankees, this time they escaped, pulling out the win with a walk-off in the 11th inning.

But while leaving with the W makes for a good night, it’s clear New York has to figure something out and get these small mistakes out of their system if they want to make a run in the postseason.

Tottenham manager Thomas Frank has offered his thoughts on Xavi Simons and his performances in training, while addressing the decision to bench him in Spurs’ last four matches.

Thomas Frank set for Brentford reunion amid poor Spurs run

Spurs welcome Brentford to north London on Saturday, desperately needing to end a dismal run that has seen them plummet to 11th in the Premier League table with just 19 points from 14 games.

Frank’s side approach this clash winless in their last five league outings, including three defeats.

Cristian Romero’s dramatic late overhead kick salvaged a 2-2 draw against Newcastle United in their last match, with a controversial VAR penalty to Newcastle denying them all three points.

Their home form has completely collapsed too, with the club now going six consecutive league matches at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium without a single victory.

Premier League home form table

Team

Wins

Draws

Losses

Points

GD

16. Burnley

2

1

4

7

-2

17. Nottingham Forest

2

1

4

7

-5

18. West Ham

2

0

5

6

-9

19. Tottenham

1

2

4

5

-1

20. Wolves

0

1

6

1

-11

That shocking run includes 10 home defeats throughout the entire calendar year of 2025, matching the club’s worst-ever records for home losses in a single year.

Most concerning was their last appearance on home soil, where Fulham raced into a two-goal lead within the opening six minutes before securing a 2-1 victory.

The final whistle brought a cacophony of boos ringing around the stadium, aimed squarely at Frank and his struggling squad.

The ghosts of their 4-1 capitulation at Arsenal last month continue to haunt the team. During that humbling derby defeat, Tottenham managed an expected goals figure of just 0.07, one of their lowest outputs this season, highlighting their serious lack of creativity which has become a concern.

Injury problems compound Frank’s difficulties.

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Dominic Solanke and Dejan Kulusevski remain sidelined, robbing Spurs of crucial attacking impetus, with James Maddison not expected back until the new year. Meanwhile, Yves Bissouma also has no set return date yet.

The Lilywhites really need Simons to step up right now after his marquee £55 million move from RB Leipzig, but the Dutchman has scarcely been given a chance lately.

Simons’ highlights in a Spurs jersey are few and far between, with the ex-PSG sensation putting in a Player of the Match display against FC Copenhagen in the Champions League and notching an assist against West Ham way back in September.

That is, however, the sum of his contribution this season, with the ex-Eredivisie starlet attracting criticism.

Thomas Frank makes Xavi Simons training claim in response to Tottenham snubs

Simons could end up costing the club £125 million when factoring in wages, agent’s fees and other add-ons over a potential seven-year contract, but to be fair to him, it’s hard to justify that price with limited game time.

Speaking in his latest press conference, Frank addressed why he hasn’t been starting for Simons for Tottenham lately — claiming it is down to a matter of form with alternatives and different personnel for contrasting matches.

The Dane also shared how Simons has been impressing in Tottenham training lately, so it is absolutely not a question of work ethic.

With the pressure on Simons to perform, Saturday sets the perfect stage, and he could become a hero by helping to arrest the club’s barren home form through a convincing display against Frank’s former club.

West Ham United sent one of their top scouts to watch Josh Sargent in action for Norwich City against Birmingham City in the Championship this weekend.

The Hammers have commenced their search for a striker amid rumours that Niclas Fullkrug is likely to leave the club in the January transfer window. The towering German arrived fresh from an impressive Euro 2024 not so long ago, but has since scored just three goals for West Ham in what has been an incredibly disappointing move.

The forward’s agent recently added fuel to the fire by saying when asked about a potential exit for his client: “This always has to happen in cooperation with the club, but I believe it can make sense to change something there.”

As much as he’s struggled, however, West Ham will still need to replace Fullkrug if he departs in January. His exit would leave them with just one out-and-out striker in Callum Wilson and it’s no secret that he’s had his injury struggles throughout his career.

If Nuno Espirito Santo is to stand any chance of keeping the Hammers afloat in the Premier League, then the club must simply back him in the January transfer window. To that end, the likes of Adama Traore have already been mentioned as early winter targets and his arrival would certainly be a good start this winter.

West Ham dealt Jarrod Bowen blow as Nuno faces fresh concern about star winger

The England international is their most crucial man by some distance.

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Meanwhile, alongside Traore, West Ham have also set their sights on a key upgrade on Fullkrug, with their scouts sent to watch Norwich star Sargent this weekend.

West Ham send scouts to watch Josh Sargent

As reported by Football Insider, West Ham sent officials to watch Sargent against Birmingham City this weekend. The American has been the only bright spark in a disastrous few months for Norwich, scoring six goals in all competitions ahead of this weekend’s fixtures, and has more than done enough to earn a Premier League move.

Former Norwich boss Liam Manning was full of praise for the forward even as his short spell turned into a nightmare. He told reporters: “He’s a constant handful. I think he’s so intelligent with the positions he takes up, and he’s so sharp over the first metres. He’s the best nine at the level for me. We’re delighted to have him here, long may that continue.”

It’s hard to argue with Manning’s verdict, either. When fit, there’s not many better than sargent in England’s second tier and questions are gradually beginning to be asked about his potential ability to take that form into the Premier League.

West Ham need a consistent striker, Sargent has earned a big move in the face of Norwich’s struggles, and the January transfer window could now present an interesting saga as a result.

Ex-club chief shares why West Ham must avoid Adama Traore after working with him

Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim has been urged to steer clear of signing Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton as there is too much hype around him. United are in the market for a new central midfielder either in January or more likely in the summer of 2026 after prioritising strengthening in other areas in the squad last window such as attack and goalkeeper.

Baleba and Anderson heavily linked with Man Utd

The club held initial discussions with Brighton & Hove Albion over signing Carlos Baleba but turned away from the move after disagreeing with the Seagulls' £100m ($131m) valuation. The Red Devils have more recently been linked with a move for Elliot Anderson, who has established himself as an England regular in the last three months and whose statistics put him up there with Declan Rice and Moises Caicedo as the most impressive midfielders in the Premier League. 

Palace midfielder Wharton, who made his first England start last week against Albania, is another player who United are believed to be interested in. But former United striker Dwight Yorke does not think the 21-year-old is the player they should be targeting.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportYorke: Wharton not the answer

Yorke said, via "I’m not sure Adam Wharton is the answer. He's still not quite there for me yet and that's an area of concern we have to look to improve. It is a gap in this Man United team. You look at the history behind the football club in its most successful years and they always had a fantastic number six in that position.

"Casemiro has been hit and miss at times and it’s a key part of your team. You listen to all the great managers, that central area of your midfield is always so important. It’s a tough gig that one to find the right players and I think that's why they're struggling. They haven’t got that player who can set the floor of the game, as I always call it, and dictate the pace, who defends but passes the ball forwards, and can see the pass. 

"These types of players are rare which surprises me as on the face of it it’s not the most difficult job in the world but it’s the most crucial. Who I would like to see in that position more? I can’t think, honestly, because there’s too much hype around some of these players. Bring back Michael Carrick, maybe? There we go. He’d have done a job in this team!"

Casemiro future in doubt despite upturn in form

Amorim has settled on a midfield pairing of captain Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro, with the Brazilian staging a stunning revival after his worrying campaign in 2023-24, when he was told by Jamie Carragher to quit elite football and wind down his career in Saudi Arabia or the United States. However, neither players are long-term options. Fernandes' contract expires in 2027 while Casemiro's is up next June. The club have the option to extend both deals by an additional year but big investment is ultimately needed to refresh their midfield and make them future Premier League title contenders.

Amorim has said he wants the club to extend Casemiro's deal and Harry Maguire's by at least one year although the Brazilian's massive wages, believed to be £350,000 per week, are an obstacle. It has been reported that United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe was critical of Casemiro's contract when he bought his stake in the club in 2023 given his age. The former Real Madrid lynchpin turns 34 next February and was signed in 2022 for an initial fee of £60m rising to £70m.

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GettyUnited without Sesko for Everton test

United have drawn their last two games against Nottingham Forest and Tottenham Hotspur, interrupting their previous run of three consecutive wins. They will be hoping to return to winning ways at home to Everton on Monday although they will be without striker Benjamin Sesko, who is expected to be out for a month after hurting his knee in the 2-2 draw with Spurs.

Lisandro Martinez is hoping to make his first appearance of the season against Tottenham. He recently joined Argentina for training in Europe although he did not play any matches for his country. Maguire could also be back to face the Toffees. The Everton game will mark one year since Amorim's first game in charge of United against Ipswich Town.