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Tottenham Hotspur are now leading the race to sign an “intelligent” midfielder from a Champions League club, having overtaken a number of their Premier League rivals in the race for his signature.

Spurs urged to reshuffle midfield amid lack of forward passes

Sky Sports analyst Nick Wright has recently called for Tottenham to reshuffle their midfield, off the back of the poor team performance in the 0-0 draw against AS Monaco in the Champions League, as well as the 2-1 defeat against Aston Villa.

Against the French side, Spurs’ midfield duo of Rodrigo Bentancur and Joao Palhinha directed just seven of their 58 combined passes forward, picking out Richarlison on three occasions and failing to provide substitute Randal Kolo Muani with the ball once.

The creativity problems were also on display against Villa, with the duo directing 15 of 79 passes forward, which indicates Thomas Frank needs to either reshuffle his midfield options or bring in a new player in January or the summer.

Tottenham join hectic race to sign £75k-p/w star who Redknapp called "tremendous"

The Lilywhites could beat Chelsea to the deal…

ByTom Cunningham Oct 26, 2025

According to a report from Record (via Sport Witness), Tottenham are now leading the race for Sporting CP midfielder Morten Hjulmand, who has attracted widespread interest from the Premier League, with the likes of Man United and Manchester City also keen.

Sporting are expecting offers for Hjulmand in the January transfer window, but it may take a huge offer to get a deal over the line, given that the Portugal club plan to stick to the €80m (£70m) release clause included in his current contract.

It is unclear whether the north Londoners are willing to make an approach this winter, and Sporting remain in a strong negotiating position, considering the midfielder is contracted until 2028, but there are plenty of signs he could be worth pursuing…

"Intelligent" Hjulmand could be exactly what Frank needs

As previously mentioned, Tottenham are having a hard time progressing the ball up the pitch, but the Sporting star is an extremely impressive passer of the ball, who has a tendency to advance the ball into more advanced areas.

Statistic

Average per 90 (past year)

Passes attempted

62.70 (87th percentile)

Pass completion %

90% (95th percentile)

Progressive passes

6.51 (83rd percentile)

The pass-master has also started to prove himself at the top level this season, receiving a 7.6 SofaScore match rating in his side’s 2-1 defeat against Marseille in the Champions League earlier this month, the highest of any Sporting player.

Not only does the Denmark international excel in possession of the ball, but he is also solid from a defensive point of view, according to scout Ben Mattinson, who said: “Hjulmand is a defensively intelligent midfielder who reads the game to a high level. He has great anticipation which allows him to read the oppositions next attacking moves.”

As such, Hjulmand could be the ideal addition to Frank’s squad, with the Tottenham manager clearly in need of different options in the engine room.

He delivered 16 dots in his four-over spell to produce the joint-most economical spell in the IPL at the Wankhede Stadium

ESPNcricinfo staff22-May-20251:51

Moody: Santner a nightmare on pitches like this   

Three wickets for 11 runs. An economy of 2.75. A total of 16 dot balls. These were Mitchell Santner’s returns for Mumbai Indians (MI) in match 63 of their IPL 2025 outing against Delhi Capitals (DC).It was also the most miserly figures by a spinner at the Wankhede Stadium in IPL history in yet another sublime performance for the left-arm spinner this season who now has an economy of 7.60 this season.Related

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After his spell put DC into a chokehold, Varun Aaron and Tom Moody couldn’t help but praise Santner in the post-match segment on ESPNcricinfo’s Time Out show.”The moment Will Jacks bowled, I was thinking if Will Jacks is going to turn the ball this much, Santner is just going to run rigs around the batsman,” Aaron said. “Santner is a quality bowler, just one of those underutilised bowlers, underutilised players at CSK, never really got a long run, but he’s just showing what he’s worth the moment he stepped into Mumbai Indians’ colours.”Ryan Rickelton stumps Ashutosh Sharma off Mitchell Santner’s bowling•BCCISantner dismissed Sameer Rizvi and Vipraj Nigam – DC’s top-two scorers on the night – before removing Ashutosh Sharma with a beautiful delivery that left him stumped. But it wasn’t just the uncharacteristically slow Wankhede surface that made Santner so dangerous, Moody added. His variations – sometimes very subtle – played a big part too.”And the beauty of Santner is that, on a surface like that, it’s not so much the turn is the threat, it’s the pitch being slow and his ability to change the arrival of the ball at different paces without the knowledge of the batsman. That’s what makes him lethal, his subtle change of pace without any real sign or cue for the batter is his key,” Moody said. “It’s not like he’s spun the odd one, but let’s face it, Mitchell is not a big turner of the ball, he’s never been a big turner of the ball, that’s why he’s never really grabbed hold of a Test cricket and run with it.”Yes, he had a good series here recently when New Zealand beat India in a three-Test-match series. But his real skill is that sort of change of pace and when you’ve got a slow surface, that’s a batting nightmare.”Aaron also pointed to Santner’s physical attributes that add another layer of deception: “his height and his angles, he really uses the crease well. Generally, when batsmen subconsciously see a tall bowler, they just think he’s going to fire every ball in. But he actually, like Tom says, uses his pace so well.”

While success hasn’t always followed, West Ham United have had some genuine world-beaters represent the club over the years.

For example, the likes of Bobby Moore and Geoff Hurst are more than just club legends; they are true icons of the English game.

Then, in the modern day, while he’s not quite matched their achievements, Jarrod Bowen is in with a real chance of being the club’s greatest ever Premier League player.

However, there is another man who might have an equal shout for that title: Dimitri Payet.

The Frenchman was utterly incredible during his time with the club, and in great news, Nuno Espírito Santo has someone in his current squad with shades of the midfielder in his game.

Payet's West Ham career

West Ham signed Payet from Marseille for a fee of around £10.7m, and while the move received little media attention at the time, it would soon be looked at as one of the best deals that summer.

It didn’t take long at all for the mercurial midfielder to make his mark, as on his debut, against Arsenal, he provided an assist for Cheikhou Kouyaté from a well-taken free-kick.

From that point onwards, the Saint-Pierre-born genius would continue to turn up for the Hammers, and by the end of the season, he had racked up a brilliant haul of 12 goals and 15 assists in 38 games, totalling 3223 minutes.

Unsurprisingly, such an incredible debut campaign for the club saw him named the Premier League Player of the Year at the 2016 London Football Awards, shortlisted for the PFA Players’ Player of the Year and named West Ham United Player of the Year.

Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end, and after telling the club he didn’t want to play for them anymore, he left for £25m in January.

Payet’s West Ham record

Appearances

60

Minutes

4981′

Goals

15

Assists

22

Points per Game

1.52

All Stats via Transfermarkt

It’s hard to overstate how brilliant Payet was to watch at West Ham, and while there isn’t anyone just like him in the current squad, there is someone with shades of him in their game.

West Ham's star with shades of Payet

Now, there are a number of players in this current West Ham side who could go on to do great things at the club, as Bowen already has.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

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However, when it comes to someone who has shades of Payet in their game, it’s hard to look past Crysencio Summerville and the potential he has.

It’s important to say the word potential, as it would be crazy to suggest that the former Leeds United star has reached the levels the Frenchman did at the club.

However, that is not the point, as this isn’t a comparison to say he will be as good as the 38-year-old; it’s to point out the elements of his game that feel Payet-esque.

One such element is his brilliant ability with the ball at his feet, specifically when it comes to dribbling and beating opponents.

This was on full display in his Man of the Match-winning display against Everton on Monday night, as the Dutchman was able to complete three of five dribbles, which was the most of anyone on the pitch, including Jack Grealish.

More than that, he utilises this ball-carrying ability to create numerous chances for his teammates, whether through winning fouls or outmanoeuvring opponents.

Summerville’s Scout Report

Statistics

Per 90

Percentile

SCA (Fouls Drawn)

0.52

Top 1%

Fouls Drawn

2.58

Top 3%

Penalty Kicks Won

0.10

Top 4%

Pass Completion % (Medium)

88.1%

Top 5%

SCA (Take-On)

0.72

Top 7%

GCA (Fouls Drawn)

0.10

Top 8%

All Stats via FBref

For example, FBref ranks him in the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers in Europe’s top five leagues for shot-creating actions coming from fouls won, the top 4% for penalties won, the top 7% for shot-creating actions coming from take-ons and more, all per 90.

Finally, while his output hasn’t been ideal since his move to East London, there is undoubtedly a star waiting to come out in the “unstoppable” game-changer, as dubbed by Statman Dave.

This was on show in his final campaign with Leeds, when he racked up 21 goals and ten assists in 49 games and won the Championship Player of the Year.

Ultimately, Summerville isn’t as talented as Payet, but with his ability on the ball and dynamism, there are certainly shades of the Frenchman in his game.

Related West Ham's "quiet leader" now resigned to quitting in January after Nuno decision

The Portuguese’s arrival is set to ignite an overhaul.

Posts ByEmilio Galantini Oct 1, 2025

MatériaMais Notícias

Há três anos que o dia 8 de agosto ganhou um novo significado para o palmeirense. Campeão Paulista diante do maior rival no Allianz Parque, o Palmeiras celebra hoje três anos do último título antes da chegada de Abel Ferreira no Brasil.

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+ O erro que o Palmeiras não pode cometer se quiser passar do Galo

Apesar das arquibancadas vazias e do sofrível futebol apresentado pela equipe de Vanderlei Luxemburgo, o título significou uma espécie de revanche da polêmica final do Paulista de 2018, vencida pelo Corinthians.

O título também marcou a primeira taça conquistada pelo Palmeiras diante do maior rival na sua nova casa e trouxe a confirmação de que o clube acertava em parar de investir milhões e milhões em contratações e focar em dar mais oportunidades para as crias de sua categoria base.

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Das crias que surgiram naquele campeonato, apenas Gabriel Menino segue no clube e três anos depois de surgir como uma promessa, se consolidou e conquistou diversas taças como protagonista, incluindo as duas dessa temporada.

Patrick de Paula, o grande nome daquela decisão, ao lado de Weverton, deixou o clube dois anos depois da conquista e hoje amarga a reserva do Botafogo.

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+ Copo Stanley a partir de R$120,00. Bebida gelada nos 90′ de jogo do Verdão!

Com a chegada de Abel, o Palmeiras conquistou mais duas taças do Paulista e ainda ficou com um vice estadual, em 2021.

Desde que o Allianz Parque foi inaugurado, em novembro de 2014, o Palmeiras já conquistou oito títulos em sua nova arena, sem contar as taças de categoria de base e também do feminino.

MatériaMais Notícias

Aos 15 anos, Fernandinho pode até ser jovem, mas conhece bem o gosto de ser campeão. O volante da categoria sub-15 do Palmeiras foi um dos destaques da Marveld Cup, na qual o Verdão bateu o Barcelona e levantou o caneco internacional, na Holanda, no último final de semana.

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+ Veja tabela e classificação da Libertadores-2023 clicando aqui

– O segredo é trabalho e disciplina. Sabíamos que seria desafiador jogar com as maiores equipes do mundo. Não existe nada melhor do que vencer títulos pelo Palmeiras. Ainda mais em uma competição de nível tão alto assim, em solo internacional – celebrou.

Titular do começo ao fim da competição, Fernandinho conta que o grupo não se abalou ao saber que enfrentaria tantos adversários de peso – mas se motivou mais ainda. Ele destaca que o grupo ficou mais forte quando viu o tamanho do desafio que era participar de um torneio com Manchester United, Ajax, PSV e, o agora vice-campeão, Barcelona.

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– Só posso agradecer a Deus por essa grande conquista. Só precisamos manter o foco, disciplina e fé que tudo dá certo. Só posso agradecer ao clube pela confiança e oportunidade que nos foram dadas – agradeceu.

Fernandinho e o sub-15 do Palmeiras voltam a campo para mais uma competição internacional já neste final de semana. Na Bélgica, o jogador vai disputar a Kevin De Bruyne Cup. Campeonato em que o Palmeiras vai enfrentar gigantes do futebol mundial como Bayern de Munique, PSG, Barcelona, Manchester City, Real Madrid, entre outros.

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Elisabeth Terland was at her clinical best on Thursday night to fire Manchester United into the Women's Champions League proper for the first time, her hat-trick haunting former side Brann and giving the Red Devils a 3-0 win which rendered last week's 1-0 loss in Bergen meaningless.

A lack of ruthlessness condemned Marc Skinner's side to defeat in Norway but there was no such concern in the home leg, with Terland scoring twice inside the first 13 minutes to ease the nerves and put United in total control early on. The first was a gift from Ingrid Stevenik, the Brann defender who scored the only goal in Bergen, but the second was all about Terland's quality header – and the equally brilliant corner delivery by Julia Zigiotti Olme.

It looked like a hat-trick was going to elude Terland, though. She hit the base of the post just before half time and then had a goal ruled out shortly after the resumption, though the call of a foul against her certainly looked harsh. No matter, as the Norwegian certainly wasn't going to give up and she got her reward just past the hour mark, when another excellent finish made it 3-0 and ensured United will be in Friday's league phase draw, ready to make their debut in the Women's Champions League proper for the first time next month.

GOAL rates Man Utd's players from Leigh Sports Village…

Getty Images SportGoalkeeper & Defence

Phallon Tullis-Joyce (6/10):

Had very little to do for the most part, but was assured on the ball and in collecting crosses.

Jayde Riviere (7/10):

Did plenty of good work at both ends of the pitch.

Maya Le Tissier (7/10):

Great on the ball and made one of the most crucial interventions any United defender needed to on the night, intercepting a good pass from Gaupset just before it put Eikeland through on goal.

Dominique Janssen (7/10):

Good in possession and positioned herself well to be relatively untroubled defensively.

Anna Sandberg (7/10):

Got forward plenty to be a real asset in attack. Covered well when needed, too.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportMidfield

Julia Zigiotti Olme (8/10):

Ran the show in midfield with a classy display.

Hinata Miyazawa (7/10):

Did a lot of work off the ball that can go under-appreciated but is so important.

Ella Toone (6/10):

Sometimes hesitated with her final decision but most of United's best attacking moves went through her in the first half.

Getty Images SportAttack

Jess Park (6/10):

Had some lively moments in another encouraging performance.

Elisabeth Terland (9/10):

Deadly in front of goal and fully deserving of her hat-trick.

Melvine Malard (6/10):

Quieter than most would've expected her to be, given her excellent form, but did cause Brann some problems still.

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Getty Images SportSubs & Manager

Gabby George (6/10):

Slotted in at left-back solidly as she builds her minutes back up after a knock.

Fridolina Rolfo (7/10):

A really lively introduction, with her nearly creating one goal and scoring another just minutes after being introduced.

Lisa Naalsund (N/A):

Injected energy into the game and filled in admirably at right-back as United saw the game out.

Rachel Williams (N/A):

Made her injury return in the final minutes, replacing Terland to allow the Norwegian to have the ovation she deserved, too.

Marc Skinner (7/10):

Didn't change much after what was actually a good performance in the first leg and his XI delivered the result he trusted them to. Subs injected new life into the game to squash any momentum for Brann.

تغلب فريق آرسنال على خصمه وست هام يونايتد بهدفين دون مقابل، بالدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز “البريميرليج”.

وحل وست هام ضيفًا على آرسنال اليوم السبت في الجولة السابعة للدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز موسم 2025-2026.

وتعرض قائد آرسنال مارتن أوديجارد للإصابة خلال اللقاء، وتوجه الطاقم الطبي لفحصه والاطمئنان على حالته، ثم استكمل اللقاء.

وتقدم آرسنال بهدف في الدقيقة 24 عن طريق بوكايو ساكا لكن لم يحتسب بداع التسلل، لتظل النتيجة تعادل سلبي.

ولم يتمكن أوديجارد من الاستمرار إثر إصابة في ركبته وقام ميكيل أرتيتا باستبداله ليشارك مارتن زوبميندي بديلاً له في الدقيقة 30.

وجاء هدف تقدم آرسنال عن طريق ديكلان رايس، بعد تمريرة بينية قابلها إيزي بتسديدة من داخل منطقة الجزاء وتصدى لها الحارس وارتدت الكرة وتابعها رايس وسدد في الدقيقة 38.

واحتسب حكم اللقاء ضربة جزاء لآرسنال بعد سقوط تيمبر في منطقة الجزاء، وتوجه بوكايو ساكا للتسديد وسجل بنجاح في الدقيقة 67.

حسمت المباراة بفوز آرسنال بهدفين دون مقابل، ليرفع رصيده إلى النقطة 16 في صدارة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، ويتوقف رصيد وست هام عند النقطة 4 في المركز قبل الأخير.

ويلاقي ليفربول نظيره تشيلسي في الجولة ذاتها مساء اليوم، وحال الفوز سيستعيد الصدارة من آرسنال. أهداف مباراة آرسنال ووست هام اليوم في الدوري الإنجليزي

Manchester United are now preparing an offer to sign an “incredible” £6.2 million Brazilian who wants to join the Red Devils, according to a new report.

Man Utd move on to new targets after finalising Mbeumo deal

The Red Devils have spent the last six to eight weeks working on a deal to sign Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford. They had seen two bids turned down for the Cameroon international, but on Friday it was confirmed that they had finally agreed a deal with the London side.

The forward underwent his medical at Carrington over the weekend, with pictures emerging of him wearing the club’s training kit, and now an official announcement is expected soon.

Now that United have wrapped up that deal, they are turning their attention to their next set of targets, and they include signing a goalkeeper and a striker. United have been linked with moves for Nicolas Jackson and Randal Kolo Muani most recently, but the Premier League side have also held internal discussions about signing Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig.

In fact, TEAMtalk report that United are set to intensify their efforts to sign Sesko, who is said to be valued at £67 million by the Bundesliga giants.

Man Utd now set to intensify move for 6'5 "menace" after 3 years of talks

He could arrive after Bryan Mbeumo…

2

By
Tom Cunningham

Jul 19, 2025

Meanwhile, signing a new goalkeeper is also considered a priority for United, and on Sunday, Fabrizio Romano reported that the Red Devils made initial contact to be informed on a deal for Senne Lammens, who currently plays for Royal Antwerp.

The 23-year-old is among the options on United’s list, but he is not their only target, as they are also looking at another name.

Man Utd preparing bid to sign John Victor

According to Goal Brasil, relayed by Sport Witness, Man United are now expected to make an offer in the coming days to sign John Victor from Botafogo.

The report states that United have been in contact with Victor’s entourage since December last year, and he is now considered their top target in their search for a new goalkeeper. It isn’t clear what United’s offer will be, but the 28-year-old does have a release clause worth €7.4 million, which is roughly £6.2 million, and that figure would need to be paid in full to bypass Botafogo.

It goes on to add that other Premier League teams have approached Victor’s agent in recent days, but the goalkeeper is prioritising a move to Old Trafford. However, a deal will only progress when United have made an offer.

John Victor’s Club World Cup stats
Apps	4
Starts	4
Goals conceded	3
Goals conceded per game	0.8
Saves made	13
Saves per game	3.3 (81%)
Passing accuracy per game	18.0 (65%)
Clean sheets	1
Clearances per game	2.8

The Red Devils are well stacked in the goalkeeper department, as they still have Andre Onana, Altay Bayindir, and Tom Heaton in their ranks. The latter pair played in their opening pre-season game against Leeds United over the weekend, but it remains unclear if Bayindir has a future at the club.

Onana has also been linked with a move away and is now dealing with a hamstring injury that could see him miss the start of the season, so Victor, who has been dubbed “incredible” by FIFA’s official media channels, could arrive and have a good chance of being the club’s number one.

كشف الدكتور أشرف عمر، أستاذ الكبد والجهاز الهضمي كلية طب القصر العيني ورئيس جمعية سرطان الكبد، موعد تعافي إمام عاشور لاعب الأهلي من فيروس A.

وقال الطبيب في تصريحات لبرنامج “لعبة والتانية” على “راديو ميجا إف إم”، مع كريم رمزي: “فيروس  A مثل فيروس الدم لا يسبب أي أزمات مزمنة على الكبد، ولكن أزمته أنه يسبب التهاب وارتفاع درجة الحرارة”.

طالع| طبيب كبد يكشف تفاصيل مثيرة حول مرض إمام عاشور.. ويحذر من انتكاسة خطيرة للاعب

وتابع أستاذ الكبد والجهاز الهضمي، أن خطورة الفيروس على كبار السن، إذ ينتقل عن طريق الطعام والشراب، وهو معد للغاية، ولكنه غير خطير.

وأضاف: “الفرق التي تسافر خارج مصر أكثر عرضة للإصابة بالفيروسات المعدية، لذلك لا بد من التطعيم بشكل جيد قبل السفر لا سيما إلى البلاد الإفريقية”.

واختتم: “إمام عاشور ممنوع تمامًا أن يبذل أي مجهود عضلي في الوقت الحالي، ويحتاج ما لا يقل عن 3 أسابيع من أجل التعافي بشكل تام ويكون جاهزًا للمباريات مع الأهلي”.

Nottingham Forest are working hard to secure new arrivals and could be given a helping hand by claiming a sizeable windfall from one of their first-team assets, according to reports.

Nottingham Forest remain in deadlock over Morgan Gibbs-White

Truthfully, nothing of note has changed in Morgan Gibbs-White’s precarious situation at Nottingham Forest after they threatened to take legal action against Tottenham Hotspur following the latter triggering the England international’s release clause.

While it remains to be seen whether the former Wolverhampton Wanderers man stays in the Midlands, the Tricky Trees have reportedly identified Aston Villa’s Jacob Ramsey as a replacement.

Everton and West Ham United are also interested in the midfielder, though Ben Jacobs has also confirmed that Bilal El Khannouss is another Nottingham Forest option.

Addressing their interest in the Leicester City playmaker, he stated: “It’s buying Forest time and in the time taken, Forest are looking at Morgan Gibbs-White replacements, which tells you they still think there’s a chance he could go to Spurs.

“Bilal El Khannouss, at Leicester, is one name to watch. He has a 26m euro relegation release clause, and Forest are one of at least three Premier League clubs that have expressed an interest in the Moroccan international.”

Related Dream Elanga replacement: Nottingham Forest in contact to sign £25m "menace"

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Posts ByJoe Nuttall Jul 15, 2025

Jair Cunha and Igor Jesus have arrived at the City Ground from Botafogo, albeit Nuno Espirito Santo has struggled to follow up on bringing in the duo as the marketspace becomes increasingly competitive.

Nevertheless, there is plenty of time left to secure new arrivals, offering optimism that he will eventually put together the components needed for Nottingham Forest to have a successful window, though he will also need to sell players to balance the books.

Botafogo agree deal to sign Nottingham Forest star Danilo

According to Globo Esporte, Botafogo have agreed to sign Nottingham Forest star Danilo and only the final details of a deal remain to be ironed out before his transfer back to Brazil is sealed.

An agreement is in place between all parties, and it is said that the value of his move equates to around £19 million. The former Palmeiras man will sign a four-year contract after negotiations accelerated due to Gregore’s departure to Al-Rayyan.

Danilo’s record at Nottingham Forest

Appearances

62

Goals

6

Assists

4

Labelled “wonderful” by Nuno after unfortunately breaking his ankle, the Salvador-born man has struggled to get back to his best form since and now appears set to reignite his career back in familiar surroundings.

It should be noted that he was initially hesistant to commit to Botafogo amid his association with their rivals, Palmeiras, but he is now ready to take the plunge under Davide Ancelotti’s stewarship.

Nottingham Forest may be losing a talented squad player, though his exit may offer up further funds to pursue reinforcements in the engine room once all documentation is signed and sealed.