Manchester City are constantly on the lookout for top talent and could now be set to pursue another exciting star who could arrive at the Etihad Stadium.
Man City looking to build Premier League title challenge
Despite Arsenal’s bold start to the season, Premier League fans would be naive to rule out the notion of Pep Guardiola taking his side to another title, and their tendency to kick on once the second period of the campaign kicks off will linger in the memory of their rivals.
Ultimately, January will be a decisive month as clubs look to recruit the missing pieces of their respective jigsaws to make the difference. Last year, the likes of Omar Marmoush were brought in to aid a top-four finish, and few would bet against another few shrewd additions to sharpen up their bid for silverware.
Peaks and troughs will happen between now and that point, meaning signings are needed to pick up the slack, and Manchester City are reportedly making enquiries to sign FC Koln winger Said El Mana, deemed to be one of Europe’s most direct wingers at this moment in time.
Guardiola is also personally keen on a move for Sporting midfielder Morten Hjulmand, though his side will need to fight off competition from Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur for the Denmark international.
Bernardo Silva and company have delivered countlessly over the years, though they will one day need to move on, leaving the Citizens with work to do in identifying long-term successors across key positions.
While that won’t be easy, their recruitment team are up there with the best around, and they may now be plotting a dramatic 2026 move for a star who could be a future dime at the Etihad Stadium.
Man City plot Lennart Karl move after scouting mission
According to CaughtOffside, Manchester City are plotting a potential move for Bayern Munich sensation Lennart Karl after sending scouts to watch him in action for the German giants.
The 17-year-old has shot to prominence and could command a transfer fee of just under £70 million, albeit Arsenal and Chelsea are also keeping close tabs on his situation.
Making 11 appearances this season, he has scored twice and delivered an assist against Hoffenheim and he appears to be thriving under the stewardship of Vincent Kompany, with Fotmob showing he has completed four dribbles so far in the German top-flight.
Earlier this year, Karl signed a new contract until the summer of 2028, meaning Bayern have leverage over his situation and could utilise their position to block any incoming offers.
With the summer looking the most likely time for a bidding war, the notion of ‘serious approaches’ from England could begin to take place, leaving the youngster with a huge decision in weighing up where best to continue his development.
Ultimately, his choice may boil down to game time. Manchester City are a breeding ground for elite talent, but they face stiff competition to push this one over the line.
Celtic manager Wilfried Nancy was left to rue missed chances after his team lost 2-1 to Hearts at Parkhead in the Scottish Premiership in his first game in the dugout.
Speaking after the match, in the clip below, the French boss blamed a lack of ruthlessness in front of goal and a lack of combination play in the final third after a bright first-half showing.
With the January transfer window just around the corner, the former MLS boss may already be thinking about the areas of his squad that he wants to improve ahead of the second half of the season.
Celtic plotting move to sign Premier League player
In fact, the Scottish Premiership champions are already looking at a possible move for a player who could be a dream first signing for Nancy at Parkhead.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
According to Football Insider, Celtic are plotting a move to sign Manchester City goalkeeper Stefan Ortega to be their long-term replacement for Kasper Schmeichel.
The report claims that the Hoops are looking at the £90k-per-week shot-stopper because he could be available with his contract expiring at the end of the season, which could make him an option in January for a cut-price fee or on a free next summer.
It adds that the Scottish giants are in the process of identifying a replacement for Schmeichel because the 38-year-old veteran’s deal is also due to expire next year.
Football Insider states that there are also immediate concerns about the Dane’s current performance levels, which is why Ortega could be a dream first signing for Nancy.
Why Celtic should sign Stefan Ortega in January
Instead of waiting to sign him on a free transfer in the summer, Celtic should push to land the Manchester City outcast on a cut-price deal in January, as he is currently behind both Gianluigi Donnarumma and James Trafford in the pecking order at The Etihad.
As Football Insider outlined, Schmeichel’s performance level has not been particularly high for the Hoops this season. Per FotMob, the experienced stopper has conceded 1.34 more goals than expected in the Premiership and 0.50 more than expected in the Europa League.
This suggests that the Denmark international has not been up to scratch as a shot-stopper in domestic or European action for Celtic, which is why signing the City goalkeeper immediately could be a shrewd move.
Ortega, who once left Guardiola on the floor with a save against Tottenham Hotspur, may only be a third-choice option in England, but he is playing for serial Premier League winners and has proven his quality in the English top-flight in seasons gone by.
Whilst Schmeichel has struggled as a shot-stopper for Celtic this season, the German star has largely been an excellent shot-stopper in the Premier League and the Bundesliga in the past five years.
25/26 (Premier League)
0
N/A
24/25 (Premier League)
13
-0.7
23/24 (Premier League)
7
+2.0
22/23 (Premier League)
3
+3.1
21/22 (Bundesliga)
33
+4.8
20/21 (Bundesliga)
34
+3.1
As you can see in the table above, the 33-year-old has conceded 12.3 fewer goals than expected across his top-flight career to date, which is an exceptional statistic that highlights how impressive his shot-stopping is.
Ortega, who was hailed as an “exceptional goalkeeper”, has shown that he can be a reliable shot-stopper at the top level, whilst journalist Pete O’Rourke noted that he is “very effective” with the ball and would “fit” the style that Nancy wants to implement at Parkhead.
His ability on the ball, which is a prerequisite to playing in goal in a Guardiola side, means that he will suit a team like Celtic, who are expected to dominate possession and play out from the back, making him a good stylistic fit for the club.
Ortega, though, also has, as evidenced by his statistics in Germany and England, the shot-stopping quality on top of that to ensure that the Hoops do not concede cheap goals with the few shots that they do give away.
Worse than Maeda: Nancy must drop Celtic flop who lost the ball 23 times
Celtic manager Wilfried Nancy must drop this flop who was even worse than Daizen Maeda against Hearts.
ByDan Emery Dec 8, 2025
Therefore, the board must back Nancy by making a move for Ortega in January, instead of the summer, because a player of his quality could immediately improve the team and improve their chances of enjoying a successful end to the 2025/26 campaign, making him a dream first signing.
The San Francisco Giants pulled off the biggest trade of the season so far by acquiring slugger Rafael Devers from the Boston Red Sox on Sunday evening, trading away pitchers Kyle Harrison, Jordan Hicks, Jose Bello and outfielder James Tibbs III. San Francisco will take on the remaining roughly $250 million of Dever's $313.5 million deal with Boston.
Following the trade, Giants president of baseball operations Buster Posey broke down how the blockbuster move came into place. Per Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area. Posey shared that he first reached out to Red Sox executive Craig Breslow a few weeks ago to talk about Devers.
Posey shared Monday on KNBR that he initially thought it was a low possibility the trade would come into place, but after he reached out, Giants general manager Zak Minasian remained in touch with the Red Sox about the trade. Posey and Breslow hammered out the final details, and as the trade approached, ownership got involved, with the Giants' owners agreeing to take on the remainder of Devers's massive deal to bring him to the Bay Area.
The trade notably took place in June, adding to the surprise of the move, but Posey said to KNBR that when he and Breslow became aligned on a deal, they didn't feel the need to wait around until closer to the trade deadline.
"We didn't need to wait around," Posey said. "Craig and I talked a lot about trying to make a good baseball deal. At that point there was no need to wait for another six weeks."
Posey also touched on the decision to acquire Devers, noting that it was tough to give up several talented pitchers and take on as large of a contract as Devers's.
"I believe the foundation to success is pitching and defense," Posey told KNBR. "We had to give up a promising young starter in Kyle Harrison, which is not an easy thing to do. Another big arm in Jordan Hicks and our first-round pick last year and another intriguing arm in Bello."
Ultimately though, the Giants didn't want to pass up the opportunity to acquire a batter like Devers, especially when it's been tough for them to sign great hitters in free agency.
"The bat is so special," Posey said Sunday of Devers, via Pavlovic. "It's just really hard to acquire this type of talent at this point of his career. We're obviously taking on a lot of money. We're giving up some pitching, we're giving up our first-round pick last year, so it didn't come without a cost. It felt like this was a chance to take a shot."
The Giants are thrilled about the addition of Devers, who will make his debut for San Francisco this week.
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.
Keown called Spurs star "embarrassing" in 2024, now they must "double" his wages
This Tottenham Hotspur star has turned his fortunes around after being called “embarrassing” last year.
Captain Harmanpreet believes “fearless cricket” is the reason for the team’s success in recent times
Vishal Dikshit11-Aug-20250:45
Harmanpreet on her 171*: ‘A lot of things changed in women’s cricket’
India’s senior duo of Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana is banking on the team’s recent form, collective confidence and their changed methods of preparation to “break the barrier” and lift India’s maiden ODI Women’s World Cup.The 2025 tournament, which features eight teams, will kick off on September 30, with India taking on Sri Lanka in the opening game. India failed to make the semi-finals of the last ODI World Cup, in 2022. Their best result at an ODI World Cup so far has been the runners-up place – twice, in 2005 and 2017, both times under Mithali Raj. They will hope to go one step further with home advantage and recent form on their side.”Playing in front of a home crowd, that is always special, and hopefully, this time we will give our 100% and try to break that barrier which all Indian fans and we are waiting for,” Harmanpreet said at an ICC event in Mumbai to start the 50-day countdown for the World Cup.India have had a good ODI year so far, having won nine of their 11 games. The results include a 3-0 whitewash of Ireland, a tri-series victory in Sri Lanka (also featuring South Africa), and most recently, a 2-1 series win in England, who are ranked second in ODIs.Related
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What are India’s confidence levels like right now heading into the World Cup? “To be honest, very high – because the amount of cricket we have played in the last couple of years, that has really given us a lot of confidence. And touchwood, the way we are playing [for] the last couple of years, we just want to continue with that. I think it is all about mindset and [the] fearless cricket we have been playing,” Harmanpreet said.The ODI series win against England also followed a 3-2 T20I series win – India’s first such win on English soil.”We were not surprised with the results [in England] because we knew the kind of preparation we have done,” Harmanpreet said. “We knew that we can do this easily. I think we have been working very hard for it, but I think at the same time, we kept things very simple, and we knew that we can easily win any series or any tournament. We were only talking about how we can win, how we can improve ourselves. So, for us, it was not like we have done something great. [The result] was because of our routines and we want to keep doing the same things, again and again.”Mandhana, the vice-captain in white-ball formats, said the recent team form was a result of their off-field preparations.”The amount of training we are doing and the efforts we are putting in our training camps, that is finally giving us a result and hopefully this World Cup will be very special for us,” she said. “In the last one-and-a-half month in UK, I just felt that a lot of things. Even off the field was very right about the team, in terms of how everyone came together and we, as a team, are really big on it in terms [of how] we are working hard here each day, day in, day out.1:37
Rodrigues’ memories of the 2017 World Cup as a 16-year-old
“For all the youngsters to come in… and I remember Kranti [Goud] taking six wickets [in the third ODI], I mean to watch her go was just amazing. So sometimes, the environment kind of really helps all of them.”Mandhana has had a dream run since last year, with a tally of 747 in 2024 (average 57.46) and 628 (average 57.09) this year, with a higher strike rate of 107.53 in 2025 compared to 95.15 in 2024. She has struck 12 sixes this year, the most for her in a calendar year, and she is also the highest scorer in ODIs in 2025.”I think more than my mindset, the work ethics have changed quite a lot in the last two or three years,” Mandhana said. “And because of that, there is a lot of calmness around how I want to go about my cricket. So that’s one thing which has changed massively. What happens in the field is a very secondary thing. Our primary job is to do the job. And not only for me – I think the whole team is heading into that direction, [where] we know where we actually have to work hard. So, we all are pretty clear with those sort of things. And that creates a lot of calmness.”I would say that in the last one-and-a-half-odd years, that’s been a massive change for me personally, and also, within the team.”The team’s recent change in regime and mindset has led to a winning streak this year•ICC/Getty ImagesIndia have another assignment before the World Cup – a three-match ODI series at home against defending champions and world No. 1 Australia, which will finish just ten days before the World Cup kicks off.”Well, whenever we play against Australia, that is always challenging because they are very competitive and you always have to know where you are standing, and what are the areas you need to improve [on] as a team,” Harmanpreet said. “I think right before the World Cup, that series is going to give us a lot of clarity, and hopefully along with that, we will play our best cricket, and I think the same momentum will continue before the World Cup.”Australia had, however, failed to make the final of the T20 World Cup last year, which New Zealand won. To see two teams apart from Australia in the final was a welcome change, Harmanpreet said.”Now every team has improved a lot,” she said. “You don’t know which team is going to be there in the top four. So, I think that is something which is really good because earlier, as Smriti said, they were very dominating. One team was always sure they are going to play in the finals. But right now, it’s always open, so it’s only about playing good cricket on that particular day and giving your best.”
Back in the Premier League after a long absence, Sunderland have wasted no time in trying to establish themselves as more than just relegation candidates.
In the summer, the club spent £141.5m – the second-highest spend by a promoted side in English football history, behind only Nottingham Forest in 2022.
That money brought in Habib Diarra (Strasbourg), Simon Adingra (Brighton), Chemsdine Talbi (Club Brugge), Noah Sadiki (Union SG), Granit Xhaka (Bayer Leverkusen), and Nordi Mukiele (PSG).
Such investment has been rewarded early.
With three wins from their opening fixtures, Sunderland sit fifth in the Premier League, a position even their most optimistic supporters could not have imagined at this stage.
The challenge ahead is sustaining that form, particularly with a trip to Old Trafford looming this weekend.
For all the headline arrivals, though – alongside the headline makers like three-goal hero, Wilson Isidor – it is perhaps the least expected of their summer deals that is proving to be the most significant.
Sunderland's previous £30m sensation
Sunderland fans know better than most the importance of having a goalkeeper who can make the difference at both club and international level.
Their academy produced Jordan Pickford, who emerged from a series of loans to displace Vito Mannone in 2016/17.
That season, Pickford was so impressive that he was nominated for the PFA Young Player of the Year Award, a rare honour for a keeper.
When Sunderland were relegated at the end of that campaign, Pickford became a prized asset.
Everton swooped with a £30m deal, which remains one of the most lucrative sales in the club’s history.
Since then, Pickford has made 325 appearances for Everton, keeping 91 clean sheets, and has established himself as England’s undisputed No.1 with 78 caps, producing defining moments in penalty shootouts at the World Cup and European Championships.
That legacy of homegrown excellence set the bar high for any future Sunderland keeper.
While most of the focus has been on flashy outfield signings this summer, it is the man between the posts who is beginning to capture the same kind of acclaim Pickford once did.
Sunderland's next £30m star in the making
Signed quietly from NEC Nijmegen for £9m, Robin Roefs has been nothing short of outstanding in his first Premier League season.
The 22-year-old Dutch youth international, with ten U21 caps to his name, has played every minute of Sunderland’s campaign so far – 540 minutes in total – and already has three clean sheets to his name.
Described by Andy Sixsmith as having had an “excellent start” to life at Sunderland – while being dubbed “absolutely awesome” by Kevin Phillips – Roefs has shown maturity beyond his years.
While he was at fault for a goal conceded against Aston Villa – palming a shot into the roof of his own net – his response since then has highlighted his resilience and temperament.
Statistically, he has been elite: a save percentage of 82.5% (99th percentile), a clean sheet rate of 50% (99th percentile), and a cross-stopping percentage of 10% (91st percentile).
A direct comparison with Pickford’s current numbers underlines the scale of his start, with the pair deemed to be statistically similar players, as per FBref.
Matches Played
6
6
Saves
18
11
Clean Sheets
3
2
Penalties Saved
1
1
Last season, Roefs averaged 3.0 saves per 90 minutes, compared to Pickford’s 1.83. His save percentage of 82.6% far outstrips Pickford’s 72.2%, and he has conceded just 0.67 goals per 90 against Pickford’s 1.0.
Even in clean sheet percentage, Roefs comes out on top—50% to 33.3%.
It is no surprise, then, that Roefs has also been likened in style to Barcelona’s Joan Garcia and Arsenal’s David Raya, as per Fbref, both keepers renowned for combining strong shot-stopping with modern distribution.
For Sunderland, having a player of that calibre between the sticks provides a foundation for their survival hopes and long-term ambitions.
Supporters may have expected their big-money forwards or high-profile midfield additions to steal the spotlight, with Isidor certainly flourishing despite the step up, but it is Robin Roefs who has been their standout.
Just as Pickford’s rise once brought Sunderland significant acclaim and financial reward, there is already a sense that Roefs could follow a similar path—both in terms of on-field impact and, in time, market value.
At only 22, Sunderland may already have unearthed their most important signing of the summer.
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Sunderland sealed the best signing of their summer when landing this remarkable star.
Back in the summer of 2024, very few Tottenham Hotspur supporters would have predicted the rise Djed Spence would endure in North London over the last 12 months.
He was signed by Antonio Conte in the summer of 2022, but it was a deal the Italian didn’t want – subsequently excluding him from his plans, restricting the right-back to just six first-team outings.
He was sent on three separate loans between 2022 and 2024, joining the likes of Stade Rennais, Leeds United and Genoa respectively – but he failed to deliver, leading to a permanent move away from the Lilywhites being mooted.
However, last season’s injury crisis handed him valuable minutes in the Premier League – subsequently ending up making a total of 35 appearances across all competitions in 2024/25.
At present, he’s a regular starter under Thomas Frank and is now a full England international – potentially taking the RB role from one other member in the squad.
Pedro Porro's lack of form for Spurs in 2025/26
After registering nine assists across all competitions last season, many Spurs fans will have been expecting Pedro Porro to kick on and reach the next level under Frank’s guidance.
However, the opening months of the season have been tricky for the Spaniard, with the full-back unable to match the expectations of the Lilywhites faithful in North London.
The 26-year-old may have started all but one league outing to date, but his underlying stats show how disappointing he’s been since the Dane took the reins in the off-season.
Porro currently ranks in just the 12th percentile for passes completed in the Premier League for 2025/26, highlighting his wasteful nature, which has seen him register just one assist.
The main asset of his game in recent times has been his ability to travel with the ball into dangerous areas and provide those in the box with the ammunition to find the back of the net.
However, the full-back has only completed 18% of his crosses in the Premier League to date, which ranks him in just the 40th percentile for full-backs at present.
Defensively, Porro has been just as lacklustre, winning just 4.2 duels per 90 and 1.2 tackles, with both figures putting him in the lower end of the table compared to other defenders.
His form will likely be a concern to Frank, with the Dane desperately needing to find an immediate solution to the problems facing him in the right-back area.
How Spurs can solve their Porro problem
Given the huge spending from the Spurs hierarchy in recent years, they will no doubt have huge expectations in Frank to guide the club up the league table in 2025/26.
After the first eight outings, the Lilywhites currently occupy eighth place, losing on just two occasions, but there’s no disputing the side could be in a much healthier position.
His men threw away a one-goal lead against Aston Villa in North London on Sunday, with such a result taking them just a couple of points off the summit had they held on.
The sheer volume of games that face the club this campaign will result in a serious rotation of players – with Archie Gray taking full advantage of his own opportunity on Tuesday.
Eyebrows were raised last summer when the board paid £40m for the 19-year-old’s signature – especially after he had just ended his only previous year as a professional with Leeds United the season prior.
Despite his tender age, he mirrored Spence in taking advantage of the injury crisis, subsequently making 46 appearances across all competitions – many of which were in an unfamiliar centre-back role.
However, despite his lack of action in his regular midfield role, he’s been hugely praised for his immediate impact in North London, with analyst Ben Mattinson dubbing him a “future £100m” talent.
Gray was handed his first Champions League start against Monaco earlier this week, operating in a left-back role, but once again showcasing his unbelievable quality.
The teenager won 100% of the tackles he entered, whilst also making four clearances and two interceptions – highlighting his incredible ability out of possession.
He was just as impressive with the ball at his feet, completing 90% of the passes he attempted, with three of which going into the final third, leading to him creating two chances in the process.
At just 19, there’s no denying Gray is a world-class talent with the world at his feet – but his versatility is one asset that could allow him to go one step further than most youngsters in the modern game.
He often featured at right-back during his time at boyhood club Leeds, with Frank desperately needing to utilise him in such a role going forward and drop Porro out of his immediate plans.
The Spaniard has been an excellent addition for the club, but it may be time for fresh blood to stake their claim for a regular starting role to help take the Lilywhites to the next level.
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The May 11 IPL match between Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Mumbai Indians (MI) *has been shifted from Dharamsala to Ahmedabad. The last-minute change is due to the escalation in tension across the India-Pakistan border.The MI game was PBKS’ last game of this year in Dharamsala, their second home venue. Last Sunday, in their first game of the season in Dharamsala, they comfortably defeated Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), and this evening they are scheduled to play Delhi Capitals (DC) in a crucial match there.MI were originally scheduled to be in Dharamsala today, but their travel plans were stalled after the IPL decided to have discussions on shifting the match.Gujarat Cricket Association (GCA) have accepted the IPL’s request to host the PBKS-MI game. GCA secretary Anil Patel suggested that MI were scheduled to land in Ahmedabad on Thursday evening.PBKS are currently third on the points table with 15 points from 11 games. MI are just one slot below, with 14 points from 12 games.To be certain of qualification, Punjab Kings (PBKS) need to win a couple of games and move up to 19 points. They can even go through with 15 points on NRR, but for that to happen, several other results will have to go their way. If they win each of their three remaining games, they’ll be assured of a top-two finish. Two of their three remaining games are against teams in the top five, which makes those results extremely vital for PBKS.MI have played six games in Ahmedabad in the IPL, winning just one. They have lost all their last five matches at the venue.
Tottenham boss Thomas Frank hailed Joao Palhinha’s role as emergency centre-half and opening goalscorer in the 3-0 Carabao Cup win over Doncaster.
Palhinha’s improvised strike, a Jay McGrath own goal and Brennan Johnson’s stoppage-time breakaway comfortably disposed of League One Rovers.
Frank hails Tottenham star Palhinha
On-loan Portuguese midfielder Palhinha, who picks £7m per year, wants to seal a permanent move to north London in 2026. He stepped into an injury-hit back-line while Archie Gray, often forced to play auxiliary centre-back under previous boss Ange Postecoglou, took his preferred midfield role.
“Archie can play centre-back and right-back but I see him as a midfielder and I like to see him there.”
Spurs would have scored more but for two remarkable air shots from Mathys Tel from only six yards out. Tel has yet to find the net since making a permanent switch to north London this summer but Frank said: “I don’t think he’s having a bad run.
“I think it was a step up in terms of performance. He got into good situations.”
"Goes under the radar" – Tottenham told "important" Frank star deserves far more credit
He goes largely unnoticed.
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Spurs went ahead in the 14th minute after Rovers goalkeeper Ian Lawlor missed his punch at a corner.
Sean Grehan headed the loose ball off the line but only as far as Palhinha, who hooked an overhead kick back over the defender and into an empty net.
Spurs doubled their lead three minutes later when Wilson Odobert raided down the left and sent in another low cross. Doncaster defender McGrath was unable to sort his feet out in time and succeeded only in bundling the ball into his own net.
Rovers almost pulled one back before the break when Owen Bailey’s Paolo Di Canio-style volley was tipped onto a post by Spurs keeper Antonin Kinsky.
That was the only moment of mild peril Spurs faced, however, and Frank was able to shuffle his pack by sending on Lucas Bergvall and Richarlison for the final 30 minutes as well as handing a late debut to 16-year-old Luca Williams-Barnett.
Johnson wrapped things up in stoppage time after being sent racing through on goal by Bergvall.
Rovers boss Grant McCann said: “I was disappointed with the goals we conceded.
“I don’t think we made it hard for them to score against us but in between that, especially in the second half, it was an excellent performance.”
Antoine Griezmann created history for Atletico Madrid on Tuesday in the Champions League during their 5-1 drubbing of Eintracht Frankfurt. After the game, head coach Diego Simeone was delighted with his performance and reserved special praise for the former France international. The Argentine expressed his gratitude to Griezmann and said that "talent has no age."
Griezmann creates history with Atletico Madrid
Griezmann created further history with Atletico on Tuesday as the "ageless" Frenchman brought up his 200th goal for the Spanish side, becoming the first player in Los Rojiblancos' history to reach the milestone. Simeone spoke highly of Griezmann after his team beat Frankfurt 5-1 in the Champions League on Tuesday to continue their red-hot winning streak.
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Simeone in awe of Griezmann
"I'm grateful to Antoine and his time at Atletico Madrid," Simeone told reporters after the game. "He's scored 200 goals, which is crazy. I remember when he arrived. He was a short winger on the left, and we invited him to play one-on-one and as an attacking midfielder, and he grew to become a world champion. He's always been a role model for his effort and work, and today he's received the thanks he deserves. We're grateful for everything he has given us and for everything he gives us and will continue to give us, because talent has no age."
Griezmann's reduced role after renewal
At the end of last season, there were rumours indicating that Griezmann's time at the Metropolitano was coming to an end. Despite not being an indispensable member of the starting XI, the 34-year-old decided to prolong his stay in the Spanish capital until 2027 after reports that he was leaning towards to a move to MLS side Los Angeles FC. This season, he has only managed 416 minutes in nine games so far. Indeed, Simeone has handed Griezmann a starting berth just four times, twice in the Champions League and as many times in La Liga.
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More history on its way to Griezmann?
It is clear that Griezmann will be used majorly in an impact role off the bench this season, with Simeone placing his bets on the likes of Julian Alvarez, Giacomo Raspadori and Alexander Sorloth in attack. However, the French playmaker will have a chance to create more history with Los Colchoneros this season. Indeed, he is currently seventh of the list of most appearances for Atleti. By the end of the season, he could become just the fourth player in Atleti history to play 500 games for the club, after legend Adelardo and current team-mates Koke and Jan Oblak.