During the last couple of years, Tottenham Hotspur have started to splash the cash in the transfer market to aid them in their quest for success in the Premier League.

In the last four years alone, the hierarchy have dropped over £400m on new additions, but not all the big-money additions have made the desired effect in North London.

Tanguy Ndombele is just one of the players who cost a pretty penny, with the Frenchman costing a reported £63m in 2019 – a deal that was then a club-record.

He was only able to rack up 91 appearances for the Lilywhites over a five-year period, before leaving on a free transfer last summer to move back to his homeland.

With the January window on the horizon, the board and Thomas Frank will need to keep such a deal in mind to prevent themselves from losing a huge chunk of their investment.

The latest on Spurs’ hunt for new additions this January

In recent weeks, Juventus defender Gleison Bremer has been one of the latest players touted with a move to join Spurs during the upcoming transfer window.

It’s been reported that Frank’s men are willing to fork out £35m for the Brazilian centre-back, as the board aim to add key depth and quality to the backline.

The Lilywhites have shipped 11 goals in their last three competitive outings, which could make the 28-year-old a viable option for the upcoming window.

However, the attacking department could also be subject to improvement, with Monaco star Maghnes Akliouche once again emerging on their radar after previously wanting to sign the forward in the summer.

According to Sacha Tavolieri, the Lilywhites are extremely keen on a deal to land the 23-year-old this winter, but a deal could cost the hierarchy a pretty penny.

The journalist has stated that the Ligue 1 side are currently demanding a fee in the region of €70m (£61m) for his signature, a deal that would be one of the most expensive in their history.

Why Spurs’ £61m target would be Simons 2.0

Spending big on a young attacker hasn’t been alien for Spurs in the last couple of months, with the board splashing a reported £52m on the signature of Xavi Simons last summer.

The Dutchman’s move generated huge excitement, with the hierarchy selecting the 22-year-old as the player to fill the void in the number ten role after James Maddison’s injury.

However, a couple of months on from his mammoth transfer, the youngster has struggled to hit the ground running, as seen by his tally of zero goals and just two assists to date.

Frank has also evidently been frustrated by the Dutchman’s lack of quality, with the manager leaving him on the substitutes bench in each of the last two outings.

A little ounce of leeway must be handed Simons’ way though, especially with the attacking midfielder often having to operate in a somewhat unnatural left-wing role in multiple of his starts.

However, the club could be about to land another version of the big-money talent this January, especially if they manage to complete a deal for Akliouche in the near future.

He’s been ranked as a similar player to Simons in the Champions League by FBref, with the pair even facing off against each other in the clash between the two sides in October.

When comparing the pair’s respective stats in such a campaign, the Frenchman has dominated the current Spurs star, which could hand Frank the attacking talent he’s craved in recent months.

Akliouche, who’s been dubbed “world-class” by one analyst, has achieved a higher tally of combined goals and assists in the Champions League at present.

He’s also completed more of the passes he’s attempted, with more of his efforts going into the final third – showcasing his creative nature when in possession.

The aforementioned tallies would undoubtedly hand Frank the big-money talent he’s been craving since taking the reins in North London during the off-season.

The Monaco star has also completed more take-ons per 90 in Europe this season, whilst achieving more carries into the final third per 90 – reaffirming his incredible ability with the ball at his feet.

£61m in today’s market for a player of Akliouche’s quality would be an excellent deal, with the 23-year-old having bags of time to reach the next level in his development.

As for Simons, the Frenchman’s potential move could push him down the pecking order further, but it could also provide him with the

needed kick to ignite his career in North London.

Romero upgrade: Spurs "ready to make" £35m bid for "world-class" defender

Tottenham Hotspur look set to make a huge January move for a new centre-back.

1

By
Ethan Lamb

Nov 28, 2025

From local tournaments to the IPL, Arya has climbed steadily. His focus now is on making his Ranji debut

Daya Sagar22-Aug-2025Priyansh Arya, IPL 2025’s breakout star, has had a busy few months. There’s been no time to dwell on the “what ifs.”A day after losing the IPL final to Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Ahmedabad, he was back in action in a local tournament in Delhi. Just two weeks later, he scored a century in the final, leading his team to the title at the DDCA Hot Weather Tournament.Now, at the Delhi Premier League (DPL) 2025, Arya has already notched up a century, tallying 267 runs in seven innings at a strike rate of 171.It was at this very tournament last year that his life changed in ways he couldn’t have imagined. His six sixes in an over and a chart-topping season caught the attention of multiple IPL franchises, leading to a INR 3.8 crore deal with Punjab Kings (PBKS).Related

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“Money beyond imagination for the son of two government school teachers,” he told ESPNcricinfo recently.Arya had a stunning debut IPL season – his 475 runs, the most by an uncapped batter in a debut season (surpassing Devdutt Padikkal’s 473 in 2020), came at a blistering strike rate of 179.24. His 43-ball 102 against Chennai Super Kings was the third-fastest century by an Indian in IPL history.But even as his white-ball stock continues to rise, Arya’s eyes are on the red ball. His next big goal? A Ranji Trophy debut.”I wanted to play red-ball cricket, but my debut couldn’t happen then,” he says. “I hope it will happen this year. I really want to play Ranji – I’ve said this before. I’m excited for the upcoming domestic season and I’m working on a few things… which I can’t tell you right now (laughs).”Upon his return to the DPL a year after setting the inaugural edition alight, Arya has gone from rookie to poster boy of the league. At DPL and team events, amid many big names, it’s Arya who often draws the most attention. But he remains modest about the spotlight.”See, changes have come,” he admits. “Now, wherever I go, people recognise me and want to click pictures. It feels good. But I’m not someone who roams around a lot – I like to stay by myself.”After playing in the IPL, I haven’t changed my technique, playing style, or mindset. But yes, I expect a lot more from myself now. For example, my DPL performance hasn’t been as good as I wanted it to be.

“I wanted to play red-ball cricket, but my debut couldn’t happen then. I hope it will happen this year”Arya eyes Ranji Trophy debut

“Still, I never let that overpower me. I always stay positive and keep faith in myself. I try not to let negative thoughts enter my mind – I just keep trying to improve. Like, I’ve gotten out early in a few matches. I feel I need to take more time at the crease.”This self-awareness and introspection stem from having worked alongside top professionals, including PBKS head coach Ricky Ponting. When Arya was signed, his spot in the XI wasn’t guaranteed. But standout performances in practice games and the pre-season camp forced the team’s hand. He ended the season playing every single match.”I understand my game very well,” he says. “When PBKS held their camp, Ponting sir clearly told me the practice matches had to be taken seriously, there were many talented players around.”In the beginning, the management found it tough to decide who to pick. But I scored runs in those matches and almost sealed my place. Even then, I wasn’t directly told I would definitely play – but you get hints.”On debut against Gujarat Titans, Arya smashed 47 off 23 balls against international stars like Mohammed Siraj, Kagiso Rabada, and Rashid Khan – proof that his DPL success was no fluke. In his fourth match, he brought up his maiden IPL century, hitting three consecutive sixes off Matheesha Pathirana. He didn’t spare R Ashwin either.Priyansh Arya attributed PBKS coach Ricky Ponting to his game awareness•Punjab Kings”In the IPL, I never found it difficult to face any bowler,” he says matter-of-factly. “I felt I could play all of them. The same bowlers who play in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy also play in the IPL.”Most are domestic players. A few international bowlers are there too, but even in Mushtaq Ali, India’s international bowlers play. So, I didn’t feel much difference. Anyway, cricket is the same everywhere.”Arya lights up when asked about his most memorable IPL moment. It wasn’t one of his many sixes, it was a six off Jasprit Bumrah.”Over fine leg,” he chuckles. “It was an important match for us to make the top two. MI had given us a target of 185. When I was going out to bat in the second innings, Shreyas (Iyer) came up to me and said, ‘If you want to be known as a big-match player, score in this match and show it.'”Arya made 62 off 35 to turbocharge PBKS’ chase and take them into the Qualifier 1. Though he seems to have moved on from PBKS’ loss the final, he still wonders if he could’ve done more.”We had reached the final after 11 years, and this was my very first IPL,” he says. “I could’ve contributed a little more to the team, but I couldn’t. That regret will stay until we win the final next time.”Arya understands that the fame and attention he enjoys today come on the back of his IPL success. He’s well aware of how, not too long ago, he was a struggling middle-order batter in Under-19s, unable to break into the Under-23 side because of stiff competition.So he pivoted to opening – just to find a spot – and ended up making that role his own, first for Delhi’s T20 team and now for PBKS.From DPL to IPL, he’s shown he can rise to the occasion by adapting, evolving, and delivering when it mattered. Now, with a Ranji Trophy debut in sight, he’s ready for a new challenge that demands the same quiet belief that’s carried him this far.

MatériaMais Notícias

O São Paulo venceu o Fluminense por 2 a 1, no Morumbis, pela sexta rodada do Brasileirão. Igor Vinícius (contra) abriu o placar para a equipe carioca, Bobadilla deixou tudo igual e Arboleda virou para os paulistas. O jogo ficou marcado por uma discussão entre Luciano e Fernando Diniz, em que o técnico acabou expulso.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasPalpites de HojePalpite: São Paulo x Barcelona SC – Copa Libertadores – 16/5/2024Palpites de Hoje16/05/2024Fora de CampoDaronco é detonado por jornalistas em São Paulo x Fluminense: ‘Adora protagonismo’Fora de Campo13/05/2024Futebol Nacional‘Você é muito burro’: Diniz briga com Luciano e é expulso em São Paulo x Fluminense; vejaFutebol Nacional13/05/2024

➡️ As melhores e mais variadas ofertas para o Brasileirão estão no Lance! Betting! Abra já a sua conta!

Com o resultado, o São Paulo soma dez pontos e está na quinta posição. Na zona do rebaixamento, o Fluminense é o 17º, com cinco pontos.

➡️ QUAIS SÃO OS PRÓXIMOS JOGOS DO SÃO PAULO E DO FLUMINENSE?

O próximo compromisso do São Paulo será na quinta-feira (16), contra o Barcelona (EQU), pela fase de grupos da Libertadores. O Fluminense recebe o Cerro Porteño (PAR), na mesma data, também pela competição continental.

➡️ Siga o Lance! São Paulo no WhatsApp e acompanhe todas as notícias do Tricolor

➡️ Tudo sobre o Tricolor agora no WhatsApp. Siga o nosso novo canal Lance! Fluminense

✅ FICHA TÉCNICA
SÃO PAULO 2 X 1 FLUMINENSE
6ª RODADA – SÉRIE A DO CAMPEONATO BRASILEIRO

🗓️ Data e horário: segunda-feira, 13 de maio de 2024, às 20h (de Brasília);
📍 Local: Morumbis, em São Paulo (SP);
⚽ Gols: Bobadilla e Arboleda (São Paulo); Igor Vinícius (GC – Fluminense)
🟨 Árbitro: Anderson Daronco (FIFA-RS);
🚩 Assistentes: Lucio Beiersdorf Flor (RS) e Tiago Augusto Kappes Diel (RS);
🖥️ VAR: Pablo Ramon Goncalves Pinheiro (FIFA-RN).

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➡️ Veja tabela com datas e horários de todos os jogos do Brasileirão

⚽ ESCALAÇÕES:

SÃO PAULO (Técnico: Luis Zubeldía)
Rafael; Igor Vinícius, Arboleda, Alan Franco e Patryck; Bobadilla, Alisson e Nestor; Luciano, Juan e André Silva.

FLUMINENSE (Técnico: Fernando Diniz)
Fábio; Marquinhos, Antônio Carlos, Manoel e Diogo Barbosa; Martinelli, Lima e Alexsande; Keno, Jhon Arias e Kauã Elias.

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Tudo sobre

FluminenseSão Paulo

حقق منتخب فلسطين الفوز على قطر، في المباراة التي أقيمت بينهما اليوم الإثنين، في افتتاح مشوارهما ببطولة كأس العرب 2025، بنتيجة هدف دون رد.

وتواجه منتخبا فلسطين وقطر، في إطار منافسات الجولة الأولى لمواجهات المجموعة الأولى من بطولة كأس العرب 2025 المقامة في قطر.

وبذلك، يتصدر منتخب فلسطين ترتيب المجموعة الأولى من بطولة كأس العرب بالتساوي مع منتخب سوريا الذي حقق الفوز أيضًا بهدف دون رد على تونس.

بطولة كأس العرب، تقام في قطر، بمشاركة 16 منتخبًا خلال الفترة من الأول من ديسمبر حتى 18 من الشهر نفسه.

طالع | مدرب تونس بعد الهزيمة أمام سوريا في كأس العرب: لعبوا على أخطاءنا ترتيب المجموعة الأولى في كأس العرب بعد انتهاء الجولة الأولى

1- منتخب فلسطين، 3 نقاط.

2- منتخب سوريا، 3 نقاط.

3- منتخب تونس، بدون نقاط.

4- منتخب قطر، بدون نقاط.

The Houston Astros' battery of Framber Valdez and César Salazar were not on the same page during Tuesday night's 7-1 loss to the New York Yankees, leading to a strange moment. In the top of the fifth inning and facing a bases-loaded situation, Salazar tried at the last moment to get his lefthanded pitcher to step off the rubber instead of delivering a pitch but his desperate motioning was ignored as Valdez continued his delivery. The offering resulted in a Trent Grisham grand slam that ultimately put the game out of reach.

The next Yankees hitter up was Anthony Volpe and Valdez delivered a straight pitch when his catcher was expecting something with some bend in it, which caused a dangerous situation.

Now, cross-ups are fairly common in baseball. Considering the circumstances, though, people were left to wonder if something unusual was happening.

Valdez made it clear that this miscommunication was not intentional.

"What happened with us, we just got crossed up," Valdez said in Spanish through an interpreter after the game. "I called for that pitch, I threw it and we got crossed up. We went down to the dugout and I excused myself with him and I said sorry to him and I take full responsibility for that."

"We were able to talk through it," he added. "We spoke after the game … at his locker and everything's good between us. It's just stuff that happens in baseball. But yeah, we talked through it and we're good."

Salazar said after the game that crowd noise led to the mix-up:

All's well that ends well and it's a good thing Salazar wasn't injured. The Astros seem bound for the playoffs and it will be important everyone's on the same page going forward.

If Mariners right fielder Luke Fraley has earned one calling card in his five-year Major League Baseball career, it's his ability to get hit by pitches.

In 2023, 2024 and 2025, Fraley was hit by 18, 20 and 10 pitches. His career total of 55 already ranks 45th among active players, and he's finished top 10 in the category in the American League each of the last three seasons.

On Thursday, however, he took his art form to a new level. With one out in the second inning of Seattle's game against the Angels, Los Angeles pitcher José Soriano struck Raley's kneecap so hard with a 98 mph fastball that Statcast picked up the blow.

Take a look at the data, pointed out here by Josh Kirshenbaum of MLB.com. The ball came off Raley's knee with a 34 mph exit velocity and traveled 57 feet; it even was assigned a 7% hit probability.

Amazingly, Raley not only stayed in the game but came around to score as the Mariners jumped out to a 4–0 lead through two innings.

The middle Curran brother talks about comparisons with Tom and Sam and representing the country where their father was born

Firdose Moonda20-May-2025″If they weren’t my brothers, we wouldn’t be having this conversation,” Ben Curran says. He’s only half-right.Perhaps if it wasn’t for Sam and Tom, who have made headlines for the last decade, ESPNcricinfo would not have requested to interview Ben ahead of Zimbabwe’s first Test in England in 22 years. But that’s not the only reason. Ben is playing for Zimbabwe, the country of his father Kevin’s birth, against England, the country of his and Sam’s birth and the place where his family have significant sporting connections.Kevin, who played 11 ODIs for Zimbabwe between 1983 and 1987, acquired English residency and played county cricket for Northamptonshire for eight years between 1991 and 1999. All three of his sons were born in that time: Tom in Cape Town, while Kevin was playing for Boland, and Ben and Sam in Northampton. By the year 2000, the family were all back in Zimbabwe, on the family farm halfway between Harare and Mutare, where Kevin began his coaching career. Initially, he was an assistant national coach, then had a stint in Namibia and at an academy before being given the main national job.Related

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The brothers were 9, 8 and 6 respectively when Kevin was put in charge of Zimbabwe as head coach, in 2004. It was a time of intense upheaval in the country, both politically and in sporting terms. That same year, the Currans’ farm was among those repossessed as part of Robert Mugabe’s land reform program and 13 of Zimbabwe’s white players staged a walkout over Heath Streak’s sacking as captain and a broader protest over quotas. The Currans survived both events, moved home and Kevin continued coaching, even when Zimbabwe took a self-imposed exile from Tests in 2006.Tom, Ben and Sam were too young to remember any of that in great detail but Ben knows that they were “always around cricket” and encouraged to enjoy it. “Whenever I see friends of my dad, they all tell me they remember me when I was knee-high. We were always there. He just wanted us to enjoy sport and if we wanted to work hard and practice a lot, he was there. He never said, ‘This is what you have to do’, it was up to us to decide if we wanted to go further.All three brothers were lured away from Zimbabwe by a scholarship from Wellington School in Surrey, where they stayed even after Kevin passed away unexpectedly in 2012. He never saw his sons play professionally but their mother, Sarah, has been a constant presence. Three years after Kevin’s death, Sam became the second-youngest player to represent Surrey in first-class cricket. Tom was already a regular in the team but Ben had to wait a little longer.”I didn’t have the immediate success my brothers did,” he says. “It took me until I was a couple of years out of school to get myself the opportunity to play on a professional level but everyone’s got their own path. It doesn’t really happen that quickly for a lot of people. If I take myself out of it, I know that if they weren’t my brothers, we wouldn’t be having the same conversation. There’s no timeline on anything and especially not in professional sport. Not everyone, not just in my family, but in general, has quick success. It just took me a little longer.”And unlike his brothers, Ben didn’t have his success at Surrey either but there was a synchronicity with where he ended up. At the age of 22, he was signed by Northants, the same team his father had played for. That had the potential to heighten the pressure on him even more but he didn’t let it. “As a professional, I distanced myself from the talk,” he says. “It was a lot easier to try and just focus on performing myself.”

“I definitely have an eye on the ODI World Cup. I’m playing in the 50-over side at the minute and I want to get myself into the T20 side. I actually played more T20 cricket in the UK. I definitely want to cement myself in all three sides”

Over the next four years, Ben played semi-regularly but did not have any breakout success. He averaged 25.82, never scored a hundred and, understandably, was never part of the national team conversation. Although eligible to play for England, without the numbers to back it up, he never seriously entertained the thought. “When I was playing county cricket, I was just trying to focus on performing there. I didn’t really think too far ahead about what may or may not come.”Then, in 2022, he lost his contract and decided to return home and try again. “It was a conscious decision I made to go back and I obviously had ambitions to represent Zimbabwe,” he says, aware of the challenges that would face him.”The pitches are a lot slower and with the Kookaburra ball, there’s not as much lateral movement, so it’s about getting used to that, so they might have ring fields instead of more fielders behind the bat and a lot of more dismissals might be in front of the bat. It was about realising that there might not be as many scoring options, but you’ve got to find a way.”In what may be as much of an indicator of the difference in standards between England and Zimbabwe as of Curran feeling more comfortable in a familiar environment, in his first season, he averaged 41.77 in Zimbabwe’s first-class competition and finished eighth on the run-charts. In his second summer, he was up to seventh and by the end of his third, Curran was the second-highest run-scorer in the Logan Cup, averaging 75.30, with three hundreds from seven matches.It was during the last of those that he was also selected for Zimbabwe and made his international debut at Harare Sports Club, in an ODI against Afghanistan last December. A Test appearance soon followed, in the Boxing Day match in Bulawayo. Now Ben is all but a regular and sees himself that way. “It feels like I’ve been playing for a lot longer than just [since] December,” he says.Curran scored a half-century on Test debut•Zimbabwe CricketIt helps that he has performed relatively well. In his first Test innings, Ben scored 68 and in his sixth ODI, he raised his bat in celebration of a century to a jubilant crowd, who showed him the appreciation every international dreams of.”What I have been trying to do is just stay really present and take it all in,” he says. “I remember when I was on about 90-odd and we were in a good position in the game and I looked at the grandstand and everyone was singing and cheering. That was a standout moment, and made me appreciate where I am and what I’m actually doing.”Zimbabwe won the match against Ireland by nine wickets and Ben was there at the end to seal a series victory that could become the building block for the 2027 ODI World Cup, which they are co-hosting. Zimbabwe have not played at a 50-over World Cup since 2015 – and have been through two heartbreaking qualifying campaigns which saw them miss out – and see 2027 as an opportunity to underline their importance among the game’s top nations. That includes being able to have some of the formats best players and Ben hopes to be among those, at least for Zimbabwe.”I definitely have an eye on the ODI World Cup. I’m playing in the 50-over side at the minute and I want to get myself into the T20 side. I actually played more T20 cricket in the UK. I definitely want to cement myself in all three sides.”He played 23 T20s for Northants and scored three fifties with a strike rate of 126.84 but has only played 12 in Zimbabwe, and none for the national side. Whether that changes as they look towards the T20 World Cup Qualifiers remains to be seen. For now, their focus is on Tests and they are due to play 11 this year – as many as Australia and more than anyone else – in the hope of forcing their case for a World Test Championship spot.A match against England, given its profile, puts the conversation centre stage and gives the players a brighter spotlight than usual. For Ben, it’s about that and much more. There’s a touch of sibling rivalry even though neither Tom nor Sam are playing. He expects both to be around the match and hopefully cheering for him. He also expects the comparisons to keep being made but is confident he is carving his own path in his own way. “I’m enjoying my cricket,” he says. “The environment, where the guys and the team are in a good place and really wanting to take Zimbabwe cricket forward. I feel as though the timing is right for me.”

After yet another international break, the Premier League returns this weekend, and Arsenal can continue their title charge.

Mikel Arteta’s side sit four points clear atop the table and will be desperate to make up for dropping points away to Sunderland last time out.

The Gunners weren’t necessarily poor at the Stadium of Light, but aside from a few players, they certainly weren’t at their best.

With that said, one of the starters who played well was Leandro Trossard, although if reports are to be believed, Arsenal might be set to sign someone who could be an upgrade on him.

Arsenal target Trossard upgrade

If you were to ask Arsenal fans who their best players have been this season, you would likely get a lot of the usual suspects, like Declan Rice, Gabriel Magalhães and Jurrien Timber.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

However, one player who has at least entered that conversation as of late is Trossard, who, unlike last year, is starting to influence games on a more regular basis.

For example, if he didn’t score that thunderbolt against the Black Cats, there is every chance the Gunners might’ve gone into the international break on the back of a defeat.

However, even though the Belgian has been a key contributor in the last month or so, the club appear keen on signing someone to compete with, or possibly replace him.

At least that is according to a recent report from Spain, which claims Arsenal have maintained their interest in Antoine Semenyo.

The report has revealed that, alongside the likes of Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool, the Gunners are vying for the Bournemouth star.

While the competition is far from ideal, the good news is that, according to another story from The Athletic, the Cherries star has a £65m release clause in his new contract, which will be active for part of January.

It could be a complicated transfer to get over the line, but given Semenyo’s immense talent, one worth fighting for, especially as he could be an upgrade on Trossard.

How Semenyo compares to Trossard

As they still produced the best defence in the league last season, Arsenal’s biggest problem, at least domestically, was their diminished goal threat.

Therefore, the first thing to compare between Trossard and Semenyo should be their output, as that is ultimately what a winger is judged on these days.

For his efforts so far this year, the Bournemouth star has scored six goals and provided three assists in 12 appearances, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.33 games, and helps to justify Chris Waddle’s claim that he’s currently “the best winger in the country.”

The Belgian, on the other hand, has racked up four goals and four assists in 14 appearances, which works out to a less impressive tally of a goal involvement every 1.75 games.

Unfortunately for the former Brighton & Hove Albion star, he still comes out as a distant second best when looking at their output last season.

For example, he produced 20 goal involvements in 56 games for a far better team, while the Cherries star produced as many goal involvements in just 42 games.

Okay, what about when you take a look under the hood, which winger has the better underlying numbers?

Expected G+As

0.46

0.36

Non-Penalty G+As

0.73

0.56

Progressive Passes

3.55

3.38

Progressive Carries

3.18

2.82

Shots on Target

1.09

0.56

Shot-Creating Actions

3.28

2.94

Goal-Creating Actions

0.64

0.28

Tackles Won

1.00

0.42

Successful Take-Ons

1.91

0.99

Unsurprisingly, it’s the Ghanaian international who once again emerges victorious, coming out on top in key metrics like expected goals plus assists, progressive passes and carries, successful take-ons, shot and goal-creating actions and more, all per 90.

Finally, there is also the simple fact that, at 25, the Bournemouth star has a lot more to offer compared to the 30-year-old, and would therefore be the smarter long-term option.

Ultimately, Trossard has been far better this season than last, but even so, it’s clear that Semenyo would be an upgrade on him, and therefore, Arsenal should go all out to sign the Cherries star in January.

Arsenal can forget Eze by unleashing the "biggest talent in England"

The sensational gem could be a huge star for England and Arsenal as he replaces Eze.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 18, 2025

Rain has followed New Zealand from Colombo to Navi Mumbai, compounding their problems, while India, after three successive defeats, are running out of opportunities as well

Sruthi Ravindranath22-Oct-20254:02

Preview: A knockout game for New Zealand

Big picture – Time and chances running outThe pressure on India is higher than ever. Three successive losses in matches they could have won, mounting criticism, and five games in, they are still tinkering with combinations. But they now return to Navi Mumbai, a venue many in the squad know well through T20Is and the WPL, needing just a win against New Zealand to reach the semi-finals.New Zealand haven’t had it easy either. Their last two matches were washed out, and qualification now requires them to win both remaining games, against India and England. It’s a tougher ask, but not beyond a side that just celebrated the first anniversary of their T20 World Cup win, where they beat India in the opening match. They have won 34 out of the 57 ODIs against India, including six of their last nine encounters since 2022.Related

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'Thanks for not saying I'm old' – Devine utterly chill ahead of make-it-or-break-it game against India

Muzumdar: Dropping Rodrigues against England 'one of the toughest decisions'

The biggest hurdle for India at the Women's World Cup

India's cracks threaten to bring down their whole World Cup

Their campaign this time started with heavy defeats to Australia and South Africa, before they bounced back against Bangladesh. But they remain over-reliant on Sophie Devine with the bat, and their thin spin attack – with just Amelia Kerr and Eden Carson – has had limited impact on slower pitches.India, on the other hand, have had different contributors in every game but haven’t settled on a clear first-choice XI. After four matches with five bowlers, they dropped Jemimah Rodrigues to play an extra bowler against England. The move did seem to work as England were kept to 288 for 8 after a strong start, but India’s batting faltered under pressure in the chase, which has been a familiar story. They will want to address that.The weather could, however, have a say. Devine called the washouts in Colombo “frustrating”, and the forecast for Thursday isn’t encouraging either. Rain hit Navi Mumbai for over two hours in the evening two days before the match, cancelling India’s training session. A washout, however, would favour India, considering New Zealand have a tougher opponent in England to face in their last game, and just haven’t been able to get any sort of momentum going.More than anything else, Sophie Devine will want New Zealand to get a full game to show what they have got•ICC/Getty Images

Form guideIndia LLLWW
New Zealand WLLWWIn the spotlight – Kranti Gaud and New Zealand’s openersAfter a promising start to the tournament, India’s young pacer Kranti Gaud has hit a bit of a bump. Her early spells, full of discipline and pinpoint yorkers, have been impressive, but her death bowling has come under the scanner. Against South Africa, she opened with a tidy 1 for 19 in five overs, only to concede 40 off her final four. She went wicketless in the last two games, conceding 73 runs off nine overs against Australia and 46 off eight against England. On a Navi Mumbai surface expected to be more batter-friendly, Gaud will need to recalibrate quickly if India are to keep New Zealand quiet.New Zealand are still waiting for their openers to turn up. Suzie Bates and Georgia Plimmer have endured a poor run – their partnership average of 10.66 is the second-worst among all teams this tournament. Bates followed two ducks with a 29 (run out) against Bangladesh, while Plimmer has managed just 35 runs across three games, struggling for fluency throughout. A more batting-friendly pitch probably awaits them at the DY Patil Stadium, where they will hope to give their side a strong start.Renuka Singh did well against England, but will she have to make way for Jemimah Rodrigues?•Getty Images

Team newsWill India revert to five bowlers for the crucial fixture? While their bowlers pulled things back well in the last ten overs against England, India might think they need the experience of Rodrigues at No. 5.India (possible): 1 Smriti Mandhana, 2 Pratika Rawal, 3 Harleen Deol, 4 Harmanpreet Kaur (capt), 5 Richa Ghosh (wk), 6 Amanjot Kaur, 7 Sneh Rana, 8 Deepti Sharma, 9 Renuka Singh/Jemimah Rodrigues, 10 Kranti Gaud, 11 Shree CharaniNew Zealand had kept their senior pacer Lea Tahuhu out tactically in the match against Sri Lanka, but brought her back in for the Pakistan game. They are likely to stay with the same XI.New Zealand (possible): 1 Suzie Bates, 2 Georgia Plimmer, 3 Amelia Kerr, 4 Sophie Devine (capt), 5 Brooke Halliday, 6 Maddy Green, 7 Isabella Gaze (wk), 8 Jess Kerr, 9 Rosemary Mair, 10 Eden Carson, 11 Lea TahuhuPitch and conditionsWhile the Navi Mumbai pitch didn’t seem to offer much for bowlers in the last match, Sri Lanka could post only 202 after opting to bat against Bangladesh. Chamari Athapaththu had said that there was some dew in the second half. There has been some unseasonal rain in Mumbai, and an interruption is likely on Thursday too. It’s expected to be hazy in the afternoon, with a chance of rain in the evening.Stats and trivia India have their poorest win-loss ratio for any team in ODI World Cups against New Zealand Bates is 67 runs away from becoming the second-leading run-scorer in ODIs. She needs 75 runs to complete 6000 runs in the format. Tahuhu will be playing her 200th international match. India have played eight T20Is at the DY Patil Stadium, winning four including one in a Super Over against Australia.

Leeds United are ready to sell a first-team player in the January transfer window, and there is now interest from a Champions League giant.

Pressure on Farke ahead of Leeds vs Aston Villa

Daniel Farke arguably appears to be the Premier League manager under the most pressure as club football prepares to make a return.

The Whites go into Sunday’s clash at home to Elland Road off the back of two disappointing away defeats to Brighton and Nottingham Forest.

Leeds’ upcoming fixtures

Date

Aston Villa (h)

November 23rd

Manchester City (a)

November 29th

Chelsea (h)

December 3rd

Liverpool (h)

December 6th

Brentford (a)

December 14th

Crystal Palace (h)

December 21st

Sunderland (a)

December 28th

Now just a point above the relegation zone, Farke insisted that his side aren’t panicking.

Leeds have already been linked with numerous managers to replace Farke in Yorkshire, including former RB Salzburg, Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig manager Marco Rose and ex-Tottenham and Nottingham Forest boss Ange Postecoglou, both of whom are currently out of work.

However, the 49ers Enterprises are ready to give Farke until January to turn things around, and in the winter transfer market, one player exit could materialise.

Inter Milan keen to sign Leeds goalkeeper Meslier

According to reports in Italy, relayed by Sport Witness, Inter Milan are interested in signing Illan Meslier in 2026.

Leeds are ready to sell the goalkeeper in the January transfer window with his contract up at the end of the season, however, Inter, as well as rivals AC Milan, have their eyes on a free transfer in the summer.

Both Milan sides have a good relationship with Meslier’s agent Pini Zahavi, who is looking to find the Frenchman a new permanent home with the goalkeeper failing to make an appearance for Leeds in 2025/26, being preferred to new signing Lucas Perri and Wales number one Karl Darlow.

Of course, should Meslier’s situation remain the same, he’ll be able to pen a pre-contract agreement with Inter or AC Milan in the New Year.

The 49ers may find it tough to recoup the £5m they spent on Meslier back in 2020, which is something that would’ve been hard to believe a few years ago when the ‘keeper was once valued at £50m at Elland Road.

Inter are currently joint-top of the Champions League group with four wins from a possible four, conceding just once during that time.

They have Yann Sommer (36), Raffaele Di Gennaro (32) and Josep Martinez (27) as their current goalkeeping options heading into 2026, and by the looks of it, Meslier could join or replace one of the trio.

Academy star who's never played a senior minute for Leeds could replace Bijol