India’s spin allrounders add 99 runs in the session – 100 for their partnership – to erase England’s lead
ESPNcricinfo staff27-Jul-2025
Ravindra Jadeja celebrates his fifty as Washington Sundar looks on•AFP/Getty Images
Tea Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja batted through the afternoon session, frustrating England and helping India creep towards a doughty draw. Washington and Jadeja both made battling half-centuries as England’s bowlers toiled without reward, adding exactly 100 in an unbroken fifth-wicket partnership that took India into the lead.Washington batted at No. 8 in India’s first innings, below Shardul Thakur, but was promoted to No. 5 for the first time in their second. He brought up his half-century by hooking Ben Stokes for six, then pulling him for four, and Jadeja raised his later in the same over thanks to Zak Crawley’s misfield.Dropped first-ball by Joe Root at slip off Jofra Archer’s bowling, Jadeja brought out his trademark sword celebration to mark his fifth half-century in his last six innings. He also became the seventh Indian – and the third this week, following KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant – to reach 1,000 Test runs in England.England’s close fielders were occasionally excited by tight leaves or half-chances, but there were far fewer genuine opportunities than they would have anticipated. Liam Dawson and Root both wheeled away between spells from the four seamers, but found little joy from a pitch which has not deteriorated as much as they must have hoped.India’s slender lead means that England will have to chase down a target if they do manage to run through the lower order, but the draw is the clear favourite. The two captains could shake hands at the start of the last hour if they wish, though Stokes will be reluctant to accept what would be only the second draw of his tenure as captain.
A chuva deu as caras desde o início deste sábado (7) em São Paulo. Assim, o clássico nacional entre Corinthians e Flamengo foi debaixo de muita água, o que não prejudicou a partida pela 26ª rodada do Brasileirão, na Neo Química Arena. Em um confronto equilibrado, o placar terminou empatado em 1 a 1.
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Os dois gols foram marcados no segundo tempo. Primeiro pelos cariocas, em um chute no ângulo de Gerson, que foi um dos destaques da partida. Mas quando o duelo já caminhava para o final, Léo Pereira colocou a mão na bola dentro da área, e Fábio Santos converteu a penalidade marcada a favor dos corintianos.
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> TOMAR UM BANHO DE CHUVA! O sábado foi muito chuvoso e isso não mudou durante toda a partida. No entanto, a água que caiu na Neo Química Arena não prejudicou a partida.
> JÁ FOI, FAGNER?! Lateral começou entre os reservas, mas entrou ainda no primeiro tempo, pois Bruno Méndez sentiu dores nas costas. Pouco após ingressar na partida, tomou um drible seco de Ayrton Lucas, ficando no chão. Na sequência, o lateral flamenguista finalizou em cima do goleiro Cássio.
> PROTESTO: durante o intervalo, a torcida do Corinthians cantou músicas criticando o presidente Duílio Monteiro Alves e o elenco. Durante a tarde teve manifestação na frente do Parque São Jorge, sede social do Timão.
> É VAPO! Gerson, que já era um dos melhores atletas em campo, foi o responsável por abrir a lata na Neo Química Arena. Giuliano, que havia entrado no intervalo, errou um passe, o camisa 20 flamenguista recebeu, avançou e bateu no ângulo esquerdo de Cássio.
> CRITICA AGORA! Quando o jogo caminhava para o fim, o criticado lateral Fábio Santos foi responsável pelo empate corintiano. Em um bate e rebate na área flamenguista, o camisa 6 finalizou e Léo Pereira cortou com o braço. Fábio assumiu a responsabilidade da cobrança e converteu.
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COMO FOI O PRIMEIRO TEMPO
O Corinthians até tentou impor o seu ritmo de jogo no início de jogo, mas pouco agrediu o Flamengo, que foi tomando as rédeas do jogo após os 15 minutos do primeiro tempo e criou as melhores oportunidades da etapa inicial. Na primeira, Ayrton Lucas deu um corte seco em Fagner, mas finalizou em cima de Cássio. Na sequência, Éverton Ribeiro tentou encobrir o goleiro corintiano e mandou na trave. A melhor chance corintiana no primeiro tempo foi um chute de Renato Augusto para fora.
Bruno Méndez foi substituído ainda na primeira etapa. Em fim de contrato com o Timão e monitorado pelos flamenguistas, o defensor uruguaio sentiu as costas e deixou o campo após atuar somente 22 minutos.
E A ETAPA FINAL
O Flamengo voltou para o jogo bombardeando o Corinthians. Primeiro, Bruno Henrique parou em Cássio. E não demorou muito para os cariocas marcarem. Giuliano errou passe na saída de bola, Gerson avançou e bateu de fora da área no ângulo esquerdo de Cássio. Após sofrer o gol, o Timão, aos poucos, foi crescendo, mas pouco criava chances claras. Mas na base do abafa chegou ao empate com Fábio Santos. Em um bate e rebate, o lateral finalizou e Léo Santos cortou com o braço. O próprio Fábio converteu a cobrança. No fim do jogo, o Timão teve a chance de virar com um gol antológico do garoto Felipe Augusto, que tentou encobrir Rossi do meio de campo, mas o chute foi torto e perdeu direção.
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Corinthians e Flamengo terão 11 e 12 dias de folga, respectivamente, por conta do período de datas Fifa. O Timão voltará a campo no dia 18 de outubro, contra o Fluminense, no Rio de Janeiro, enquanto o Fla vai encarar o Cruzeiro, em Belo Horizonte, no dia seguinte. As duas partidas serão válidas pela 27ª rodada do Brasileirão.
FICHA TÉCNICA CORINTHIANS 1 X 1 FLAMENGO CAMPEONATO BRASILEIRO – 26ª RODADA
Local:Neo Química Arena, São Paulo (SP) Data e hora:7 de outubro de 2023, às 21h (horário de Brasília) Árbitro:Anderson Daronco (FIFA-RS) Assistentes:Bruno Boschilia (FIFA-PR) e Alessandro Alvaro Rocha de Matos (BA) Árbitro de vídeo:Wagner Reway (FIFA-PB) Público e renda:40.800 pessoas; R$ 2.629.857,00 Cartões amarelos:Fagner, Lucas Veríssimo e Gabriel Moscardo (Corinthians); Léo Pereira, Pulgar e Bruno Henrique (Flamengo) Cartões vermelhos:
CORINTHIANS Cássio; Bruno Méndez, Gil, Lucas Veríssimo e Fábio Santos; Gabriel Moscardo (Felipe Augusto, 29’/2T), Maycon e Renato Augusto (Giuliano, intervalo); Matías Rojas (Ángel Romero, 13’/2T), Yuri Alberto e Wesley (Pedro, 13’/2T). Técnico: Mano Menezes.
FLAMENGO Rossi; Wesley (Matheuzinho, 30’/2T), Fabrício Bruno, Léo Pereira e Ayrton Lucas; Thiago Maia (Victor Hugo, 30’/2T), Erick Pulgar, Gerson (Arrascaeta, 18’/2T) e Éverton Ribeiro (Luiz Araújo, 41’/2T); Bruno Henrique e Pedro (Gabriel Barbosa, 16’/2T). Técnico: Mário Jorge.
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca lavished praise on a fringe member of his squad ahead of their Champions League clash with Ajax on Wednesday.
Chelsea back to winning ways after straight victories
Chelsea’s resurgence in form since their tepid loss at home to Brighton has been a welcome boost for the club amid their real injury woes.
Despite major concerns over defensive depth, the Blues have managed to steady the ship and produce encouraging results that suggest they are finding some rhythm under Maresca.
A key storyline behind this revival has been Chelsea’s ability to cope with a severely depleted backline.
Benoit Badiashile and Levi Colwill, two important players, are sidelined with injuries, leaving the squad very thin at the back, with youngster Josh Acheampong repaying Maresca’s faith so far.
Chelsea injury worries
Problem
Potential return date
Enzo Fernández
Knee
Ajax
Cole Palmer
Groin
December
Dario Essugo
Thigh
Early 2026
Benoit Badiashile
Muscle
December
Liam Delap
Hamstring
November/December
Levi Colwill
ACL
Spring 2026
Tosin Adarabioyo and Wesley Fofana only recently returned to fitness after their own spells out, meaning Chelsea had to navigate a tricky period with very limited defensive options, with the latter not even selected for Maresca’s last matchday squad at Nottingham Forest.
Trevoh Chalobah was also available once again after his suspension and immediately returned to the starting line-up against Forest.
While Chelsea looked far from resolute — giving the ball away carelessly in their own half on three separate occasions in the first 45 at the City Ground — Maresca’s tinkering at half-time shored his side up as the west Londoners eventually secured all three points, a clean sheet and Ange Postecoglou’s sacking in the process.
This vital win followed a statement 2-1 victory at home to Premier League champions Liverpool and all three points against José Mourinho’s Benfica in Europe, with Chelsea expected to continue this trend against Ajax.
As Maresca turns to Acheampong to provide cover for his backline, summer signing Jorrel Hato will perhaps feel quite hard done by.
The Netherlands international could face-off against his former club this evening, but has hardly been given a full game by Maresca since arriving at Stamford Bridge from the Eredivisie.
Primarily viewed as a left-back to cover Marc Cucurella, a role he shone in last season for Ajax, Hato can also operate as a centre-back when required and attracted long-term interest from Arsenal before his move to the other side of London.
The 19-year-old finished Chelsea’s 2-1 win over Lincoln City in the Carabao Cup but is yet to make a single Champions League appearance, starting just two of Chelsea’s eight Premier League games so far as well.
Enzo Maresca praises Jorrel Hato after Chelsea performances behind-the-scenes
According to Maresca, via his pre-Ajax press conference, Hato struggled at Chelsea initially, mainly due to the physicality of English football.
However, since then, Hato has got “better and better” behind-the-scenes and Maresca is thrilled with the teenager’s steady progress.
This is echoed by Tosin, who told reporters that Hato is impressing in Cobham training and working tirelessly every day.
The Dutchman, regardless of his very young age, was given the captain’s armband on occasion during his time at Ajax, and Maresca could well gift Hato his first European appearance for Chelsea against the club who nurtured him.
Coming to England with a stellar reputation as one of Europe’s rising defensive stars, he’s found it hard to battle his way into the first team so far, but according to Maresca, he’s doing all the right things.
كشفت تقارير صحفية تطورات جديدة في نبأ رحيل فلورنتينو بيريز، رئيس نادي ريال مدريد، عن رئاسة النادي الملكي العام المقبل.
ونشرت تقارير إسبانية أمس، الجمعة، اتخاذ بيريز قرار التنحي عن رئاسة ريال مدريد العام المقبل، والتي من المقرر أن تستمر حتى عام 2028.
ووفقًا للصحفي ألبرتو بيريرا، فقد نفى كل الأخبار المتداولة حول تنحي بيريز عن منصبه وأوضح أنها إدعاءات ليس لها أي أساس من الصحة.
اقرأ أيضًا | مفاجأة.. فلورنتينو بيريز يتنحى عن رئاسة ريال مدريد
وبحسب الصحفي الإسباني، فإن بيريز لا ينوي مغادرة النادي أو التنحي عن منصبه قبل انتهاء ولايته الحالية في عام 2028.
وبدأ عهد بيريز مع ريال مدريد في سنة 2000 واستمرت ولايته الأولى حتى عام 2006، ثم جاء في ولاية ثانية عام 2009 ومستمرة وفقًا للانتخابات الأخيرة حتى عام 2028.
من المقرر أن ينتهي عهد بيريز مع ريال مدريد خلال تلك الولاية نظرًا لأنه يبلغ من العمر 78 عامًا ومن الصعب للغاية أن يستمر بعد عام 2028.
O confronto entre Corinthians e Bahia, pela 35ª rodada do Brasileirão, estava marcado para sábado (25), dia da eleição presidencial e do Conselho Deliberativo do Timão. O clube alvinegro pediu a mudança de data e teve a solicitação atendida pela CBF, que remarcou a partida para sexta-feira (24), às 21h.
continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasFutebol NacionalSão Paulo x Corinthians: onde assistir ao vivo, horário e prováveis escalações do jogo pelo Paulistão FemininoFutebol Nacional18/11/2023Fora de CampoCom medalhões, Neto monta lista de dispensa no Corinthians: ‘Fazer uma limpa’Fora de Campo15/11/2023CorinthiansLucas Veríssimo fica no Corinthians? Veja o que se sabe sobre futuro do zagueiroCorinthians15/11/2023
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A solicitação do Corinthians foi meramente logística, para ajudar os funcionários e torcedores que estarão envolvidos tanto no duelo na Neo Química Arena quanto na votação no Parque São Jorge. A eleição definirá o presidente corintiano dos próximos três anos, como também as oito chapas que irão compor o Conselho Deliberativo pelo próximo triênio.
O presidente Duílio Monteiro Alves não consultou André Negão, candidato da situação, nem mesmo Augusto Melo, candidato da oposição, sobre a mudança de data. O Bahia foi procurado e concordou com a alteração, assim como o Grupo Globo, detentor dos direitos, que mudou o horário da partida por um ajuste na grade de transmissão. Antes, o jogo em Itaquera seria às 19h, mas a bola vai rolar às 21h.
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+ Veja tabela e simule os jogos do Timão no Brasileirão
Corinthians e Bahia estão na luta contra o rebaixamento no Brasileirão. A situação do Timão é mais confortável, pois a equipe de Mano Menezes está na 11ª posição, com 44 pontos. Já o Tricolor de Aço tem 38 pontos, com apenas um ponto de vantagem para o Cruzeiro, primeiro time dentro do Z4. No primeiro turno do Brasileirão, Bahia e Corinthians empataram sem gols na Arena Fonte Nova.
Allrounder adds another century to deepen Kent misery in clash of top versus bottom
ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay29-Jul-2025
Rehan Ahmed scored his fifth hundred of the summer•Getty Images
Leicestershire 386 for 9 (Rehan 119, Patel 85) vs Kent Rehan Ahmed hit a brilliant 119 as Division Two leaders Leicestershire reached 386 for 9 at stumps on day one of their Rothesay County Championship match against Kent at Canterbury.Rishi Patel, dropped in the first over when he was on nought, made 85 in a stand of 164 for the second wicket with Rehan, who hit three sixes and 17 fours in a flamboyant innings that defied the gloomy conditions and a green wicket. Matt Parkinson took 7 for 104 and is on course for career best figures, if he can better the 7 for 126 he took for Lancashire against Kent at this venue in 2021.Tom Scriven and Josh Hull were not out on 39 and 12 respectively at the close.Kent’s decision to bowl looked reasonable given the weather and the hue of the wicket, but less so when Leicestershire reached 120 for 1 for at lunch, by which time the hosts learned they’d been docked eight points for repeated infractions of the disciplinary code.Given they were already 18 points adrift at the foot of the table, this did little to lighten the mood among the St Lawrence ultras in a crowd of 1200 and the tone was set when Ben Compton dropped Rishi off the fifth ball of the morning, after he’d edged Agar.The only wicket came in the 11th over, when Sol Budinger played on to Agar for 27 and Rishi got a second life when he was on 26 and cut Evison. The ball hit keeper Harry Finch on the glove before falling short of Tawanda Muyeye at first slip.Both Rishi and Rehan reached their half-centuries with sixes, the former with a pull off Agar that flew over square leg, the latter hooking the same bowler over backward square, but the afternoon session was more of a contest.Parkinson broke the partnership when he duped Rishi into charging down the wicket and Finch stumped him and with his next delivery he had Lewis Hill brilliantly caught by a diving Tawanda Muyeye at slip.Rehan reached his century when he nudged Parkinson for a single, but Joey Evison then had Peter Handscomb lbw for 18 and Parkinson got Rehan when Muyeye took an ankle-high catch.By tea Kent were a bowler down, as stand-in skipper Grant Stewart had limped off with a hamstring injury, but Louis Kimber went for 17, caught by the sub Kashif Ali after he’d holed out to Parkinson and for the second time in the match the bowler found himself on a hat-trick when Ben Green went to the next ball, caught by debutant Ben Dawkins at silly point trying to sweep.Logan van Beek survived it comfortably enough but had made just 5 when Parkinson had him caught by George Garrett at short third man. Ian Holland went in almost identical fashion for 49 before the players went off for bad light at 5.49pm.Almost everyone in the ground had left when the umpires called the players back for a 6.25pm restart and Leicestershire added 20 useful runs in the 5.5 overs that remained.
O Flamengo não irá fazer nenhum movimento nesta janela de transferências mercado para repor a saída de Matheuzinho, que se transferiu para o Corinthians. A diretoria rubro-negro quer ter um elenco competitivo para a temporada e confia tanto em Varela quanto em Wesley.
continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasFlamengoTite abre o jogo sobre disputa entre Pedro e Gabigol no Flamengo e nega ‘fama’ de retranqueiroFlamengo21/02/2024FlamengoArrascaeta brilha, Flamengo goleia Boavista e se aproxima do título da Taça GuanabaraFlamengo20/02/2024Fora de CampoFlamengo: veja o desempenho das escolas de samba ligadas a torcedores rubro-negrosFora de Campo20/02/2024
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– Não até o meio do ano, mas o ano todo. A gente confia no elenco. Nenhum atleta vai conseguir jogar sozinho, na sua posição todos os minutos de todos os jogos – afirmou Bruno Spindel, diretor executivo de futebol do Rubro-Negro.
Durante o Campeonato Carioca, Tite não definiu um titular um titular para a posição e vem revezando bastante os dois atletas. Segundo a plataforma Ogol, Varela possui seis jogos na temporada e 398 minutos em campo pelo Flamengo, enquanto Wesley também jogou seis vezes no ano, com 341 minutos.
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REFORÇO PARA OUTROS SETORES
Embora a diretoria do Flamengo não veja necessidade em reforçar a lateral-direita, o clube deve fazer algumas movimentações até o dia 7 de março, quando a janela de transferências fecha no Brasil. O principal nome é de Léo Ortiz, e o Rubro-Negro tenta superar um impasse financeiro com o RB Bragantino para contratar o zagueiro.
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– Até dia 7 de março a gente vai tentar fazer uma qualificação no elenco. A gente confia muito no Tite, no elenco, a gente confia que o trabalho vai render frutos e que o Flamengo vai ter grandes conquistas nessa temporada. A gente precisa fazer um esforço para qualificar mais o elenco, são 80 jogos no ano, tem Copa América, data FIFA, lesões, suspensões… vamos fazer o esforço para trazer mais uma ou outra peça – declarou Spindel.
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O Flamengo volta a campo no domingo (25), em clássico contra o Fluminense, pelo Campeonato Carioca.
كشف الدكتور جيرارد أوسو مانزانيت رئيس الجهاز الطبي للفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي الزمالك، عن نتيجة الفحوصات الطبية والآشعة التي خضع لها نبيل عماد دونجا لاعب الوسط بعد إصابته أمام زيسكو الزامبي في الكونفدرالية.
وأقيمت المباراة بين الزمالك وزيسكو يونايتد على أرضية استاد القاهرة، في إطار لقاءات الجولة الأولى بمرحلة المجموعات ببطولة الكونفدرالية.
وأوضح رئيس الجهاز الطبي أن الفحوصات أثبتت إصابة دونجا بجزع في الرباط الداخلي للركبة.
طالع | الزمالك يكشف تفاصيل إصابة عبد الله السعيد أمام زيسكو الزامبي
وأضاف أن اللاعب غادر المستشفى بعد الخضوع للفحص الطبي والآشعة، وسيخضع لبرنامج تأهيلي وعلاجي في الفترة المقبلة.
وفاز فريق الزمالك على زيسكو الزامبي بهدف دون رد، في المباراة التي أقيمت بينهما على استاد القاهرة الدولي، في الجولة الأولى لمباريات دور المجموعات لبطولة كأس الكونفدرالية ليحصد الفريق أول 3 نقاط له في المجموعة.
ويحتل نادي الزمالك، المركز الثاني في ترتيب المجموعة الرابعة من بطولة كأس الكونفدرالية، خلف النادي المصري البورسعيدي المتصدر لكل منها 3 نقاط، ذلك بعد نهاية الجولة الأولي من دور المجموعات.
Somerset opener peels off boundaries during century stand with James Rew
ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay08-Sep-2025
Tom Kohler-Cadmore led the way with 76•Getty Images
Somerset’s Tom Kohler-Cadmore hit a typically aggressive half-century against his old club as only 42 overs were possible on the opening day of the Rothesay County Championship Division One match with Yorkshire at Taunton.The home side had reached 155 for 3 after losing the toss when a thunder and lightning storm engulfed the Cooper Associates County Ground at shortly after 2pm, Kohler-Cadmore having made 76 and James Rew 54 not out. George Hill claimed two of the wickets.Heavy rain left the outfield saturated. Umpires Rob Bailey and Mark Newell inspected at 4.30pm, but decided conditions were not fit for play to resume.Yorkshire’s decision to field first looked set to reap dividends when Hill struck twice in the opening ten overs of the match. Archie Vaughan edged through to wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow and departed for 10 with the total on 20. Then Tom Lammonby played down the wrong line to a ball angled into him and saw his off stump sent cartwheeling.That was as good as it got for the visitors in the morning session. Rew overcame a scratchy start, while Kohler-Cadmore was not afraid to advance down the pitch to seam and spin alike in moving to a 55-ball half-century.Twice the former Yorkshire player lofted ex-Somerset offspinner Dom Bess back over his head for six as he and Rew took the total to 114 for 2 off 30 overs at lunch. The shortened afternoon session saw Rew bring up his fifty, off 91 balls, with eight fours.Kohler-Cadmore took one chance too many when advancing to a delivery from Jordan Thompson and edged a sharp shoulder-high catch to Hill at first slip to make 147 for 3. He had faced 110 balls and extended his boundary count to 11 fours and two sixes.Tom Abell made a watchful start and only eight more runs were added before the first crash of thunder sent the players to the pavilion with black clouds closing in.
It’s a new week, and Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank will be gearing up for a return to Premier League action at the weekend, when his side travel to Arsenal.
Tottenham have been a mixed bag this season, certainly more secure and steely than last year under Ange Postecoglou’s leadership, but lacking the snap and verve that the fanbase associates with the core of the club. To dare is to do, after all.
Someone embodying that mantra right now is Troy Parrott, whose stunning hat-trick at the weekend saw Ireland defeat Hungary and seal a World Cup play-off spot, having only days before bagged a brace to sink Portugal.
The AZ Alkmaar centre-forward, 23, is shaping into quite the goalscorer, becoming the player Spurs knew he could be after he graduated from the academy.
Parrott's record at Spurs
In July 2024, Tottenham sold Parrott to AZ Alkmaar for around £7m. The Republic of Ireland international had made his Premier League debut aged 17, but only ended up featuring three further times across all competitions before leaving for good, having completed no less than five stints out on loan.
Troy Parrott – Goal Record by Club
Club
Apps
Goals
AZ Alkmaar
61
33
MK Dons
47
10
Preston
34
4
Excelsior
32
17
Ipswich
18
2
Millwall
14
0
Tottenham
4
0
Data via Transfermarkt
In fact, each of the goalscorer’s four senior outings for the Lilywhites came during the 2019/20 campaign, and while Spurs knew when they sold him last year that he had untapped potential, it was clear he was going to struggle for minutes given the club’s attacking pecking order.
There was plenty of chatter regarding Parrott and his potential, even at that nascent stage. Of course, comparisons against Harry Kane were drawn, and talent scout Jacek Kulig has since praised him for his “incredible” performances over in the Netherlands, making good on that potential that was stunted by injuries.
There was always the promise of success. While he didn’t enjoy a prolific spell with Preston North End in the Championship, the player’s tenacity could not be questioned. His former manager Ryan Lowe said: “His work rate is phenomenal. For the size of him, he is a bit of a unit inside. He’s not massive, but very strong, uses his body very well & he got down the sides plenty of times.”
If this tells us anything, it’s that development in football is not linear, and it can take talented prospects a time to find their footing after showing initial promise at the foot of their professional career.
Tottenham must learn from their past mistake – if selling Parrott for a small fee could be called an error – and devote plenty of time to their new version of the Irish hero, who arrives in London at the start of 2026.
Spurs have a bigger talent than Parrott
Parrott is growing into his skin, so sharp and dynamic in the final third. There is an expectation that he should kick on and enjoy further success over the coming years, and Spurs may have to watch ruefully on as he makes headway.
However, that poignancy will be tempered and then some by the emergence of Mason Melia, who has completed a transfer rising to £3m last season, slated to join in January after the completion of the Irish league campaign.
Having idolised Kane and made his professional debut as a 15-year-old, the rangy striker is establishing himself as quite the hot prospect, with his former youth coach Hughie Nolan remarking that “nothing has fazed him” as he has raised his level again and again over his formative years.
The Athletic’s Connor O’Neill said after the announcement that he’s “easily the best young talent I have seen in the League of Ireland”. Parrott left his homeland and signed for Spurs before he could make his senior bow, but Melia arguably has more hype around him, and still only 18, there is so much scope for growth.
Having already featured 98 times for St. Patrick’s Athletic, notching 25 goals and eight assists, Melia will provide an interesting dimension to a Tottenham side crying out for attacking inspiration. Richarlison and Dominic Solanke have not provided the answer, for differing but equally concerning reasons.
Mathys Tel is a young and talented striker, beginning to show signs of the talent that Tottenham saw when bringing him over from Bayern Munich, but the jury is very much out and there are questions relating to whether the 20-year-old has what it takes to lead the line in the Premier League.
Moreover, he has recently emerged as a transfer target for Roma in Serie A, the Italians viewing him as an alternative option to Manchester United as the winter transfer window draws near.
With Parrott doing so well at the moment, it’s inevitable that wistful gazes will be cast toward the Irishman as he establishes himself as one of Europe’s most underrated strikers.
But while there’s a romanticism about a potential deal in 2026, bringing him back home, there’s little need when Tottenham have already signed a more talented Irish striker in Melia, who is now just over a month away from heading down N17.
Frank’s ability to nurture young prospects is well known in England, and Tottenham’s wider embracing of their youth suggests that Melia has made the right choice in moving to the capital and choosing white. He might be a “hidden gem” at the moment, as said by analyst Ben Mattinson, but Melia will soon establish himself as a major player in the Premier League, notably described as “the Irish Alexander Isak” for his effortless strike of the ball.
Will he need a bit of time? It’s more than likely. But the teenager is an aggressive and mobile striker, willing to make runs and connect play while simultaneously keeping one eye on goal at all times.
His wealth of experience, despite his young age, suggests that Tottenham may well hit the jackpot with his addition to the ranks. Parrott might be the talk of the town in Ireland right now, but in Melia, the Londoners have signed a young forward with the capacity to outstrip his older countryman and seal his place among Spurs’ finest forwards of the modern age, something Parrott was unable to do before leaving for a small fee.
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