Category Uncategorized

The ice beneath Ange Postecoglou has become even thinner, if that were even possible. Indeed, the end is surely nigh as far as his term at Tottenham Hotspur is concerned.

As Spurs lost 4-2 to Wolves on Sunday afternoon, it came as little surprise, truth be told. The errors that dominated the game were of little shock either.

Postecoglou has engineered some brilliant football since arriving at Spurs but the error-stricken performances from his players have been all too frequent now.

The Europa League may well still provide solace for the Aussie and his bunch of players but not even that feels like it will save him from the sack.

Indeed, the display at Wolves just about summed up their season.

An error-riddled display from Spurs (again)

Spurs can score goals; we know that under Ange. They did find the net twice on Sunday, netting through loanee Mathys Tel and substitute Richarlison. However, it was too little too late. The damage had already been done.

It all started early on when Rayan Ait-Nouri’s volley found the net. Guglielmo Vicaro’s punch from a Wolves free-kick didn’t go very far and as a result, was powered home by the left-back.

Vicario had a total nightmare between the sticks for Spurs, notably handed a 2/10 player rating by Football.London’s Alasdair Gold at full-time.

That wasn’t the goalkeeper’s only error. He nearly cost the visitors again just moments later. His pass out from the back didn’t find a teammate and Jorgen Stand Larsen somehow missed from a matter of yards out.

A comedy of errors continued later in the half when Vicario parried the ball into Djed Spence who bundled in an own goal.

The stopper wasn’t the only Spurs player at fault, far from it. Cristian Romero was caught in possession for the third goal, which allowed Ait-Nouri to tee up Stand Larsen. This time he did not miss.

Lucas Bergvall, usually so crisp and composed in possession, was then at fault for the fourth. Caught on the ball by Matheus Cunha, the Brazilian stole it away from him before racing away from Ben Davies and Romero to find the net.

Player ratings courtesy of Sofascore

Despite all of that, there were more underperformers in the Spurs camp.

Spurs have found their new Tanguy Ndombele

In July 2019, Spurs smashed their transfer record to bring £63m man Tanguy Ndombele to the club.

It was a landmark transfer and one that Daniel Levy hoped would take Spurs to new heights. While the Frenchman had his moments, he unfortunately flopped big time in the capital, leaving in June 2024 when his contract was cancelled. It was a huge waste of investment.

Ndombele’s time at Spurs

Season

Games

Goals

Assists

2019/20

29

2

4

2020/21

46

6

4

2021/22

16

2

1

Stats via Transfermarkt.

So, what went wrong? Well, speaking to the Athletic, one training ground source encapsulated it perfectly, stating: “Tanguy is the maverick of the team, he can do stuff that nobody else can do. Incredibly talented, incredible ability, just sometimes you just want to be like, ‘Tanguy you’re so good, just do the basics’.”

Perhaps guilty of doing too much, or in fact, being a little lazy, it was unsurprising that it never worked out for him at Spurs.

Now, in a slightly different sense, Postecoglou may have found the new version of Ndombele in Yves Bissouma. We’ll tell you why.

Writing at full-time, the aforementioned Gold handed the Malian midfielder a dismal 4/10 rating, suggesting that ‘sometimes he looks good on the ball, sometimes looks like it’s alien to him.’

Chalkboard

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

Expand Collapse

That could easily sum up Ndombele too. So gifted on the ball, there were moments when it looked as though he didn’t know how to kick a ball.

Bissouma didn’t arrive for quite as much as the Frenchman but he did move from Brighton with considerable hype attached to his name, joining in a £35m move.

Sadly, despite a few flashy moments, like Ndombele, it hasn’t quite happened for another big-money midfielder at Tottenham Hotspur.

He has been withdrawn at half-time on three occasions in the Premier League this term and was perhaps fortunate not to have the same fate on Sunday, instead dragged off after just 55 minutes.

Bissouma set the tone early on, booked inside the opening eight minutes of the game. From that moment onwards, he failed to offer Postecoglou’s side the protection they needed against a rampant Wolves.

Bissouma vs Wolves

Minutes played

55

Touches

49

Accurate passes

38/40 (95%)

Key passes

0

Shots on target

1

Shots off target

0

Crosses

0

Duels won

4/8

Possession lost

4x

Fouls

2

Tackles

3

Dribbles past

1

Stats via Sofascore.

He did complete 95% of his passes but only won 50% of his duels, failed to complete a key pass and gave away two fouls.

It was another average display from a man who looks like he should be sold in the summer. Spurs have plenty of exciting young players coming through in a similar area of the pitch, chiefly Bergvall and Archie Gray. They should be prioritising their minutes instead.

For the new Ndombele, his time at Spurs should surely be up in a few months time.

Related Spurs already have their very own Huijsen in monster 18-year-old defender

The incredibly exciting youngster will be a star for Spurs.

Posts ByJack Salveson Holmes Apr 11, 2025

The Australians know what they are in for at the MCG, but India may be a little shocked by what they see compared to what they remember

Alex Malcolm24-Dec-2024Pat Cummins and Andrew McDonald must have had flashbacks to their club cricket days as they walked to the middle of the MCG on Monday.With the exception of the MCG’s head curator Matt Page, there were no ground staff around, and the Test pitch was fully covered after some morning rain. Cummins and McDonald had to peel the covers back themselves to take a look at the strip. Their eyebrows might have gone up at seeing how green it looked, but they would not have been surprised.”It looks pretty similar to the previous few years,” McDonald said on Tuesday. “It’s going to be a big decision, though, come the day of the game. I think traditionally it’s been bowl-first, but with the heat around and it looks similar but probably a little bit better than what it has in previous years. So a decision for the captains to make at the toss, I think.”Related

India, Australia look to iron out flaws to edge ahead in high-octane series

Bumrah at one end, Ilford Seconds at the other?

Konstas is unfazed about making his Test debut at the MCG

Should India opt for bowling depth over batting insurance at the MCG?

While the Australians know what they are in for at the MCG, India may be shocked by what they see compared to what they remember.The MCG has been a home away from home for them in each of the last two Test tours. The Gabba will always hold a special place in Indian hearts, but the MCG has been the lifeblood of both series triumphs.In 2018-19, they came here having been rocked by a pace barrage in Perth. They batted first on a slightly less turgid surface than the one Alistair Cook made 244 on the previous year. But Cheteshwar Pujara batted for 11 hours as India racked up 443 for 7 in 169.4 overs before Jasprit Bumrah put on a masterclass of fast bowling as the surface began to go up and down.The blueprint was pretty similar two summers later. Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja thrived in slower conditions more akin to home than Australia. And after being bowled out for 36 in Adelaide, Ajinkya Rahane ground out a famous match-winning century.But the MCG has undergone a complete transformation since then under Page’s watch. The nadir of 2017 sparked a five-year plan to revitalise a drop-in square that had become one of the worst in Australia. The complete transformation of that plan did not take effect until 2021, when the last four of the new drop-in pitch trays were installed after India’s most recent visit.”We sat down seven years ago, after 2017, and discussed where we wanted to go as an organisation and what we wanted to be renowned for and that’s producing Test matches that are going to provide a thrilling contest,” Page said. “It gives the bowlers an opportunity at various points in the game, but it also gives the batters a chance if you play well. We then tried and played around with our grass lengths, our compaction levels, moisture levels, and that probably took us three years to where we wanted to get to, and then I would say the last two or three years, we’ve been quite consistent in what we’ve rolled out. We leave a bit more grass on them now than what we used to but it’s provided thrilling contests, and that’s what we want to do.”Since 2018-19, the MCG has had the lowest bowling average of the major venues in Australia at 26.57. Pace has dominated, averaging 24.50. But spin has averaged 35.24, the second lowest of all venues behind Perth, remarkably.For the 2021 Boxing Day Ashes Test, Page left 10mm of grass on the surface, having experimented with 12mm in a Sheffield Shield game earlier in the summer. Australia won inside seven sessions, with Scott Boland famously taking 6 for 7 and England losing by an innings despite Australia only scoring 267.

“I think both teams have got similar challenges at the moment – how do you find runs? Both bowling attacks have been on top, and I think this wicket potentially might offer the batters a little bit more in terms of the surface as the game draws on”Andrew McDonald

The following year, when South Africa arrived, Page trimmed it back to 6mm and produced a Test pitch where Cameron Green took 5 for 27 on the first day, David Warner made 200 on a 40-degree second day, Alex Carey plundered 111 on the third, and Nathan Lyon took three wickets on the fourth.Page rolled out a similar surface last year when Pakistan toured. The highest innings total in the match was 318, the lowest was 237. Cummins took ten for the match and Lyon bagged four in Pakistan’s first innings. Shaheen Shah Afridi and Mir Hamza took six wickets each across two innings and had Australia 16 for 4 in their second innings before Mitchell Marsh made 96. Pakistan reached 219 for 5 chasing just 317 to win in the fourth innings before collapsing to an extraordinary spell from Cummins.Some of India’s players have already seen the new MCG pitch. The Australia A vs India A game in early November was a rollicking affair where the seam bowlers held sway, much like they do in Shield matches at this venue. But it is arguable that KL Rahul’s two brief innings in that game and Nitish Kumar Reddy’s performance with bat and ball prepared both of them well for the Test series that has unfolded. Australia’s debutant Sam Konstas made 73 not out in that game and India are pondering whether to bring in Prasidh Krishna, who also took six wickets for India A.”It looks pretty similar to the previous few years,” Andrew McDonald said after he and Pat Cummins looked at the MCG pitch•AFP/Getty ImagesBut any fears that the Test pitch will be as lively as that are unfounded, according to Page, who does trim the grass according to the quality of bowling on show.”It probably won’t be as much seam in this as probably the Shield games,” Page said. “As you go to that next level, bowlers get a bit more out of it than in the Shield. So we tend to pull it back just that fraction for Test match cricket, because the quality of players goes up. But in terms of pace, bounce and the excitement, then we’re looking for exactly the same in all our long-format pitches.”What does that mean for this Boxing Day? Can India renew their love affair with the MCG pitch despite it being nothing like the flame they fell for the last two trips they had here?”I think both teams have got similar challenges at the moment,” McDonald said. “How do you find runs? Both bowling attacks have been on top, and I think this wicket potentially might offer the batters a little bit more in terms of the surface as the game draws on.”But I’m not a big believer in history repeating itself, so it starts afresh. Different groups, different challenges. We’ll go in with an open mind to what it looks like.”

England don’t play another ODI until September. Have they worked out their best XI yet?

Matt Roller07-Mar-20231. Jonny BairstowODI career: 95 caps, 3634 runs at 46.58, SR 104.12If fit, Bairstow is a shoo-in at the top of the order•Getty ImagesBairstow has only recently started running again after the freak injury he sustained six months ago, and its severity means that a seamless return to fitness and form should not be taken for granted. But if he is anywhere near his best when he returns, Bairstow is an automatic selection as England’s opener – not least in India, where his prowess against spin should come to the fore.2. Dawid MalanODI career: 18 caps, 769 runs at 54.92, SR 93.09Malan has made four centuries in his brief opportunity in the ODI side•Getty ImagesMalan has been the biggest beneficiary of England’s sporadic ODI winter, making three hundreds in nine appearances including a calculated, match-winning 114 not out in Mirpur last week. He will turn 36 before the start of the World Cup and has harnessed his extensive experience since making his England white-ball debut in 2017. As he did in T20Is, he has taken almost every opportunity he has been given in 50-over cricket, to the extent that he could even be marginally ahead of Jason Roy in the pecking order to open the batting.3. Joe RootODI career: 158 caps, 6207 runs at 50.05, SR 86.93Root has barely featured in ODI cricket since the 2019 World Cup final•Getty ImagesA victim of England’s relentless schedule, Root has only batted a dozen times in ODIs since the 2019 World Cup final, averaging 35.10 without scoring a hundred. But he remains an automatic selection when available, offering the perfect foil for England’s more destructive players while playing a high-tempo, low-risk game himself. Two months at the IPL with Rajasthan Royals should provide ideal preparation, whether or not he plays regularly.4. Jos Buttler (capt/wk)ODI career: 165 caps, 4647 runs at 41.49, SR 117.97Buttler could benefit from a move up the order for England’s World Cup defence•AFP/Getty ImagesAnother automatic selection, as captain and wicketkeeper. Buttler has generally batted at No. 5 in ODIs over the last four years, but England must ensure he has sufficient opportunity to influence every game they play at the World Cup, particularly in the knockout stages: unless they lose two early wickets, he should shuffle up to No. 4 in India.5. Harry BrookODI career: 3 caps, 86 runs at 28.66, SR 98.85Until his recent ODI debut, Brook hadn’t played a 50-over match since 2019•Getty ImagesBrook’s 50-over record hardly demands inclusion but he will be impossible to ignore. The three ODIs he played in South Africa were his only List A games, at any level, since May 2019, but his technique and style hardly alter between four-day and T20 cricket; the middle format should be ideally suited to him. He has thrived on slow, low pitches in Pakistan, and he will inevitably learn from two months at the IPL as a marquee signing for Sunrisers Hyderabad.6. Liam LivingstoneODI career: 12 caps, 250 runs at 31.25, SR 122.54; 6 wickets at 24.16, ER 5.80Livingstone slammed 66 off 22 balls against Netherlands last summer•Getty ImagesThe highlight of Livingstone’s fledgling ODI career to date is a 22-ball cameo against the Netherlands, but his versatility with bat and ball makes him an invaluable squad member. He has sometimes struggled to pace his innings, but batting at No. 6 in a 50-over game – especially in the final 10 overs, with five men out of the ring – is not far removed from the No. 4 T20 role he perfected for Punjab Kings in last year’s IPL.7. Moeen AliODI career: 129 caps, 2212 runs at 25.13, SR 99.46; 99 wickets at 49.89, ER 5.28Moeen’s record looks less impressive than it can feel when he comes good in his specific roles•Getty ImagesMoeen’s value to England’s white-ball set-up is often underestimated due to his underwhelming overall record. His batting and bowling averages are, respectively, lower and higher than he would like, but reflect the challenges of those roles: attacking early in his innings from No. 7, and bowling defensive offbreaks with only four fielders outside the inner ring. Throw in his role as Buttler’s vice-captain, and Moeen is a certain starter in India.8. Sam CurranODI career: 23 caps, 318 runs at 24.46, SR 96.36; 26 wickets at 36.38, ER 5.86Curran has seized his chances in a variety of roles, particularly with the ball•Gareth Copley/Getty ImagesCurran is difficult to leave out of an England white-ball team, whether 20 overs or 50. He has become increasingly adaptable, adept in the middle overs and at the death, and showed in the second ODI in Mirpur that he retains his potency when handed the new ball. Curran adds balance with his useful lower-order hitting, and should thrive in Indian conditions.9. Adil RashidODI career: 125 caps, 183 wickets at 32.20, ER 5.64Rashid remains England’s pre-eminent spinner despite the emergence of Rehan Ahmed•AP Photo/Aijaz RahiAfter a quiet 2022, Rashid was back at his best in Bangladesh, claiming eight cheap wickets to take home the Player of the Series award. Despite the emergence of Rehan Ahmed, there is no player whose absence England would feel more keenly in India; they must make sure to look after his troublesome shoulder throughout the summer.10. Jofra ArcherODI career: 21 caps, 42 wickets at 21.73, ER 4.80Archer was the decisive factor in England’s 2019 win, and he’ll be crucial to their title defence too•Getty ImagesArcher has taken 12 wickets in four ODIs since his comeback from injury, and has regularly breached the 90mph/145kph mark over the last two months. Careful management will be vital in 2023: he will lead Mumbai Indians’ attack at the IPL in Jasprit Bumrah’s likely absence, then could feature in the Ashes before the World Cup. England would love him to feature in both series, but need to ensure he has plenty in the tank when he arrives in India.11. Mark WoodODI career: 59 caps, 71 wickets at 37.88, ER 5.42Wood’s express pace will be vital on India’s wickets•Getty ImagesWood returned to England’s ODI set-up after a two-year absence in Bangladesh, and the sight of him charging in and slamming the ball into the pitch in Mirpur underlined his value to the side. As with Archer, Wood’s fitness record suggests he is unlikely to play every game across formats this summer; England need him in India more than they do in the Ashes, so his workload should be tailored accordingly.12. Jason RoyODI career: 116 caps, 4271 runs at 39.91, SR 105.53Roy is in a fallow run of form, but has produced centuries in each of England’s last two series•Gareth Copley/Getty ImagesRoy looked like a busted flush in the 2022 summer when he endured a run of form so wretched that he lost his place in England’s T20 World Cup squad. But he has re-stated his worthy credentials with hundreds against South Africa and Bangladesh this year and it will take another lean summer for him to miss out altogether. However, if Roy is likely to start on the bench behind Malan, England may consider bringing a more versatile player – like Will Jacks or Phil Salt – as their spare batter.13. Chris WoakesODI career: 112 caps, 1386 runs at 24.75, SR 89.82; 160 wickets at 30.23, ER 5.45Woakes may not play every game but would be a reliable bench presence•Getty ImagesThere is a justifiable case that Woakes has been England’s most reliable white-ball cricketer over the last eight years, and he is a certainty for the World Cup squad if fully fit. England will have to rotate their seamers across six or seven weeks in India; even in the event Woakes does start on the bench, he will doubtless play a role at some stage.14. Olly StoneODI career: 8 caps, 8 wickets at 39.62, ER 5.98Stone’s impact in the middle overs has been reminiscent of Liam Plunkett’s former role•Getty ImagesAnother player with scant 50-over experience, Stone impressed in the middle-overs enforcer role in South Africa and provides a point of difference with his high pace. He has been around England’s squads across formats – and continents – this winter, and could form part of a varied pace-bowling arsenal in India.15. Reece TopleyODI career: 22 caps, 33 wickets at 27.03, ER 5.29Despite his injury issues, Topley’s impact in limited-overs has been immense in recent months•Getty ImagesTopley struggled in South Africa and was not selected in Bangladesh – reportedly due to a minor niggle – but was England’s most prolific ODI wicket-taker in the 2022 home summer. His upcoming stint with Royal Challengers Bangalore will double as a two-month apprenticeship for white-ball bowling in India.ESPNcricinfo LtdNotable absenteesIt has been widely assumed that Ben Stokes will reverse his ODI retirement as soon as Buttler and Matthew Mott come calling later this year, but his long-standing knee complaint complicates matters. If available, he will come straight back into the squad, but Stokes may view the start of the English winter as the ideal opportunity to sort his injury out for good, then use the 2024 IPL to get himself ready for the subsequent T20 World Cup in the Caribbean and the US.Several batters remain in contention. Alex Hales could be floated in at the eleventh hour but has not played a 50-over match in four years; Phil Salt, Will Jacks and James Vince did little to further their cases in Bangladesh; Ben Duckett struggled in South Africa, but may find India’s pitches more suited to his methods; while Sam Billings has an impressive record but has still slipped down the pecking order since Mott’s appointment.Related

Bangladesh start as underdogs as world champions return to T20I fold after long gap

Billings: 'I've run the drinks for eight years. I just want to play cricket'

England are behind on their World Cup studies – but there's still plenty of time to cram

Yet another 'Shakib Al Hasan Day' rescues Bangladesh in distress

Shakib Al Hasan's all-round heroics lift Bangladesh to consolation win

Jacks’ versatility makes him the most likely player to provide another spin option – he could replace one of the spare seamers in the squad – while Rehan Ahmed and Liam Dawson are further alternatives. Matt Parkinson appears to have fallen out of contention altogether.David Willey, Brydon Carse and Saqib Mahmood are among the seamers who appear unlikely to form part of the squad at this stage despite recent ODI appearances, but could all mount strong cases over the next six months of short-form cricket.Verdict: Can England go back to back?England’s recent ODI form has been patchy, but reports of their demise in the format are exaggerated. Since lifting the World Cup at Lord’s in 2019, they have very rarely – if ever – fielded their full-strength side yet remain top of the ODI Super League, and have deep-seated trust in the squad that delivered the trophy four years ago.India will be favourites in October-November, looking to become the fourth successive host nation to win the 50-over World Cup, but England will not be too far behind. They are well-placed to achieve the minimum expectations of making it through the initial round-robin stage – at which point, they will suddenly be two wins away from defending their title.

India’s batting coach talks game-plans for T20s, and how and where strike rates matter in the shortest format

Nagraj Gollapudi09-Mar-20213:26

Vikram Rathour – ‘As far as we are winning games I’m okay with whatever strike rates batsmen have’

Having never played the format, how easy or difficult is it for you to be a coach in T20s. You do have experience as a coach in franchise cricket and in domestic cricket, having done that in the IPL and with Himachal Pradesh and Punjab?
See, I am not really teaching them how to play a cover drive or a pull shot. For me, the discussions are on game-plans, on decision making, on handling pressure, having the right temperament, or reading the situations well. And for that, whether I have played that game or not, I don’t think it is that important. That is my thinking.My job with them is (to help them with) what bowlers to pick, what areas to look to hit. And if they are doing certain things, what are their thoughts and why they are doing it – that is the area I focus on more actually.Related

• 'Indian team in great hands with Vikram Rathour' – domestic players on India's new batting coach

• The Rishabh Pant journey from 'fearless' to 'careless' and back

• Vikram Rathour, India's batting coach: 'Failure teaches you that nothing stops. That liberates you, actually'

Five T20Is against England. Which are the main questions you have jotted down for this series from the batting unit’s perspective?
The [T20] World Cup is in India, so I just want the batting unit to get settled basically. By the time we finish this series, we should know, ‘this is the team which is going to play the World Cup’. So hopefully that will happen in this series. I am already sure that there wouldn’t be too many changes anyway, because we are a pretty settled unit at the moment. But in case somebody loses form or somebody gets injured, as a batting unit you just want to get settled now.Isn’t there still a spot, the wicketkeeper-batsman, as a back-up to KL Rahul, still up for grabs?
KL has done really well as a wicketkeeper-batsman. He has been a superb cricketer, he has batted really well, he has kept reasonably well. Now Rishabh [Pant] (is) back in form and doing well, let’s see how it goes. Once this situation comes, what the team management is looking to do, that’ll happen on the day of the game and how this series goes.”KL has been a superb cricketer,” says Vikram Rathour.•Associated PressYou said game-plan is one thing you need to figure out. You are playing England, one of the best and most aggressive batting units – they bat deep and they play (hard) from ball one. India’s (batting) approach has been different with a top order comprising Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli. They all bat virtually in a similar style – they like to bat deep, their strike rates, too, are similar. How much of the ongoing strike rate debate do India need to adapt to?

You are looking to win a game. If you are chasing, strike rate doesn’t mean anything actually. You are looking to finish a game and chase a target – whether you do it in 10 overs or 20 overs, you are looking to win the game. Batting first, at times, yeah. If the conditions are good you need to be looking to put a par score on board. As far as our T20 (batting) is concerned we have been doing that pretty consistently. So I’m not really, really concerned; I mean as far as we are winning games and we are putting par scores and chasing targets, I’m okay with whatever strike rates they are going at.Can’t India afford to go (hard) from ball one, considering that you bat pretty deep?

Hmm…Yes. Somebody like Rohit has a very set game-plan and he has been extremely successful following that game-plan. So I would not really want him to change that. He is somebody who takes his time initially, gets set first, and then goes scores big. That has worked well for us. That has worked well for him. So I absolutely find no reason to change that at this point.

“I’m not really, really concerned; I mean as far as we are winning games and we are putting par scores and chasing targets, I’m okay with whatever strike rates they are going at.”Vikram Rathour

That’s Rohit. But I’m talking about the middle order, where you have Hardik Pandya and Rishabh Pant?

Yeah, that will depend. If both of them are playing and if you get a good start, so they are the guys who will go from ball one. Those are the guys who are capable of doing that. That’s the discussion we have been having: what the team requires at that point. If your team requires you to score 12 an over you should be able to do that, and if your team requires you to get 6 runs an over and win the game, you should be able to do that as well. So you need to be able to adapt to both situations, and that is what a good game-plan is.And equally be able to adapt with bating positions as well?

Batting plans, again, in T20, yes, depending on what kind of start of you have had, how many overs are left, so that is one format where you need to be very flexible with your batting plans or batting order. Anybody could be on at any point of time in the batting unit. That is the kind of mindset you need to have.

Leeds United have now made contact over signing a midfield star who’s been likened to Arsenal’s Martin Odegaard, according to recent reports.

Daniel Farke Leeds "preparing" for January window

There’s no rest for the wicked and Leeds’ clash against Liverpool at Elland Road represents another tough test for Daniel Farke’s side, who have already squared off against Manchester City and Chelsea this week.

On paper, the visit of the reigning champions should be a daunting task, but Liverpool’s crown has been snatched this season and the Reds find themselves in the middle of a disastrous defence. Leeds, meanwhile, just ran Man City close and swept past Chelsea in shocking fashion. Those at Elland Road couldn’t be facing Liverpool at a better time.

Victory over Slot’s side could take the Whites five points clear of the dropzone if results go their way in a crucial step towards survival as the festive fixtures arrive thick and fast.

Meanwhile, as things progress on the pitch, the 49ers are already “planning” ahead for the January transfer window, according to Farke. The Leeds boss told reporters earlier this week: “I have not one second to think about what could happen, it also depends on injuries and how the players deliver in these upcoming games.

“I spoke in the summer about what he might have liked to sign and this has not gone away, in the background we are preparing but now is not the time to speak about it.”

Leeds now prioritising £35m move to sign South American defender ahead of Juventus

He’d be one of their most expensive arrivals.

ByTom Cunningham Dec 5, 2025

On that front, names such as Nilson Angulo have emerged as reported targets. The impressive winger has been dubbed one of Europe’s standout wingers this season and would certainly inject some added spark to Farke’s frontline.

The same can be said for Jens Hjerto-Dahl. The midfielder has been likened to fellow Norway star Odegaard and now finds himself on the radar of those at Elland Road.

Leeds make contact over signing Jens Hjerto-Dahl

As reported by TeamTalk, Leeds have now made contact to sign Hjerto-Dahl in 2026, but face competition from Rangers, Brighton & Hove Albion and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The Tromso midfielder has built up an impressive reputation in Norway for his ability as a goalscoring box-crasher – scoring five goals in 35 games in all competitions this season – and could now get the chance to do that in the Premier League.

Described as “powerful” by scout Kai Watson, Hjerto-Dahl was likened to Odegaard when he was linked with a move to Brighton earlier this month and Leeds should go all out to land his signature.

The towering star certainly fits the physical profile of what’s needed in the Premier League these days, but it remains to be seen if clubs act as early as January.

Farke must unleash "wonderkid" who'd be perfect for Nmecha's new Leeds role

Leeds United have their eyes on a “fascinating” Brazilian forward in January after his name came up in “conversations with Red Bull”.

Leeds’ lack of goal threat in the Premier League

The Whites have struggled in front of goal so far in the Premier League, having the joint second-worst attack in the top-flight. Daniel Farke’s side have only scored 10 goals in 11 games, with bottom of the table Wolves the only team to score fewer (7).

The 49ers Enterprises didn’t exactly splash the cash in the final third over the summer either, with strikers Lukas Nmecha and Dominic Calvert-Lewin both joining on free transfers.

Noah Okafor

AC Milan

£18m

Anton Stach

Hoffenheim

£17.4m

Jaka Bijol

Udinese

£15m

Lucas Perri

Lyon

£13.9m

Sean Longstaff

Newcastle

£12m

Gabriel Gudmundsson

Lille

£10m

James Justin

Leicester City

£10m

Sebastiaan Bornauw

Wolfsburg

£5m

Louis Enahoro-Marcus

Liverpool

Undisclosed

Lukas Nmecha

Wolfsburg

Free

Dominic Calvert-Lewin

Everton

Free

Noah Okafor was the most expensive attacking addition from AC Milan, and he has been one of a few bright sparks for Leeds going forward this season.

Centre-back Joe Rodon is Leeds’ joint-top goalscorer so far with two goals, highlighting the fact that the Whites need more firepower in the second half of the season to help their push to avoid an immediate return to the Championship.

Leeds looked at and failed with a deadline day move for Fulham attacker Harry Wilson, and now a new attacking target has emerged.

Leeds keen on signing Jhon Jhon

According to reports from Leeds United News, Leeds are eyeing up a move for Jhon Jhon, a versatile attacker who plays for Red Bull Bragantino in the Brazilian Serie A.

Journalist Graeme Bailey called Jhon a “fascinating player” and said that his name “has come up in conversations with Red Bull”.

“He’s a fascinating player. Very interesting. A bit of an attacking midfielder, can play as a forward. His name has come up in conversations with Red Bull, and he’s within the Red Bull name. He’s a good age, good player. Ticks a lot of boxes.

“Leeds aren’t the only ones looking. He’s come up in conversations, and one I’d not heard before until recently.”

The 23-year-old previously played for Palmeiras, but it is with Red Bull Bragantino where has has gone from strength to strength.

Jhon now holds a career-high €9m Transfermarkt valuation and has scored 15 goals in 69 appearances for his current employers, registering 12 assists.

2025 has also been Jhon’s best ever year in front of goal, and for the right price, he could be an interesting addition for the Whites.

The 49ers will more than likely need more firepower than just Jhon, though, but by the looks of things, his name will be one to watch heading into 2026.

He called Bielsa a "genius": Leeds can hire "one of the best coaches ever"

Manchester United are now in pole position to complete the signing of Ajax youngster Jorthy Mokio, as they look to find a long-term replacement for the ageing Casemiro and exiled Kobbie Mainoo.

The futures of both Casemiro and Mainoo are key talking points at Old Trafford currently, with the Brazilian’s current contract expiring at the end of this season, at which point he will be 34 years of age.

In fairness, the Real Madrid legend has shown improved form this season, but Fabrizio Romano has claimed that a new deal is unlikely, especially on his current £350,000 wages, which make him United’s highest-paid player.

“Casemiro is working hard and is becoming once again in his career a crucial player for the manager. So, in this moment, he is really important for Ruben Amorim, but there will be a conversation about his contract because at the moment, the numbers of his contract, salary is way too high for Manchester United to extend that.

“Or they find a solution on the contract, and this is Casemiro and for Harry Maguire, or the player could leave on a free.

It looks increasingly likely that a replacement for Casemiro will need to be found next summer, especially with Ruben Amorim seemingly not fancying Mainoo in the role.

Man Utd "leading the chase" for Mokio

According to Caught Offside‘s Mark Brus, Manchester United are the front-runners to sign Mokio from Ajax, with the 17-year-old considered a prodigious talent at the heart of midfield.

“Manchester United are leading the chase for Jorthy Mokio. They are already working on a project that could offer Mokio guaranteed minutes and a clear development path.”

Mokio is a huge talent with so much to offer in the coming years, proving to be the latest great youngster to emerge from Ajax’s famous academy recently, and he should be the type of profile United are looking for in a player.

The defensive midfielder has already made 29 appearances for the Eredivisie giants, highlighting his maturity at such a young age, while scout Jacek Kulig has described him as a “special” player.

Mokio has also now been capped once at senior level by Belgium, and will hope to see his star rise further at next summer’s World Cup, but United should be looking to seal a deal for him before them, before the competition increases further for his signature.

Antoine Semenyo chooses between Man Utd and Liverpool

What a signing this could be…

1 ByHenry Jackson Nov 22, 2025 Wildcard Casemiro replacement: Man Utd star can "become a world class DM"

Free agent first baseman Pete Alonso remains unsigned as January hits its midway point, and the New York Mets are starting to explore other options at first base.

Four-time All-Star Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is set to become an unrestricted free agent in 2026, opening the possibility that the Toronto Blue Jays will deal him if they cannot reach a long-term agreement. Guerrero recently avoided arbitration with a $28.5 million agreement for the 2025 season, and is prepared to negotiate a long-term deal until the start of spring training.

SNY's Andy Martino reports that the Mets have been "checking in" with the Blue Jays about Guerrero's availability, but cautions that as of now a trade "remains in the realm of fantasy baseball."

New York made the signature move of this free agency period, signing slugger Juan Soto to a historic 15-year, $765 million deal. Owner Steve Cohen is not afraid to make a splash, and a deal for Guerrero would certainly fit the bill, but a reunion with Alonso seems more likely as a strong market for the 30-year-old first baseman has failed to develop.

Alonso has reportedly informed the team that he would be OK with a shorter three-year contract. Guerrero, 25, would likely demand a much more lucrative deal.

England will consider making changes to their bowling attack after a gruelling workload in their 336-run defeat to India, and have added Gus Atkinson to the squad for Thursday’s third Test at Lord’s after time out following a hamstring injury.England’s three frontline seamers – Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue and Chris Woakes – have all bowled between 77 and 82 overs in the first two Tests of the series. Atkinson joins Jofra Archer, Sam Cook and Jamie Overton as the alternative seam-bowling options in the 16-man squad for Lord’s, and the tight turnaround between Tests could prompt changes.”It’s no secret that we have spent some time in the field and bowled some overs in the first two games, and we’ll have to see how everyone pulls up over the next two days,” Ben Stokes said. “With it being a quick turnaround, there probably will be a decision we have to make given how everyone does pull up after this game.”Related

• England want pace and bounce at Lord's, Jofra Archer 'ready to go'

• Stokes' batting in focus as England count cost of Edgbaston errors

• McCullum admits England got the toss wrong

• Akash Deep ten-for seals statement win for India

• Shubman Gill: Akash bowled with so much heart

Archer has not played a Test match since February 2021, but bowled regularly during intervals at Edgbaston this week, and Brendon McCullum hinted he will make his comeback next week. “We’ll let this one settle, and when we get to [Lord’s] we’ll have a good think about it,” McCullum told the BBC’s .Asked about Archer’s availability, McCullum said, “He’s fit and ready to go. Obviously the other boys have had two Test matches on the spin now, so you’d anticipate you would make a change at some stage with the line-up, and Jofra is one we’ll look at.”Stokes added, “Everyone’s in consideration for the game at Lord’s.”England’s margin of defeat – 336 runs – was their third-heaviest since Stokes took over as captain on a full-time basis, but he insisted that it will not affect them moving forwards. “We’ve obviously had some unbelievable wins and some bad defeats,” he said. “I feel I’m quite good – and the team is – at staying level throughout those ups and downs.”That is so important in a series where we knew coming in that it wasn’t going to be easy… We have to wipe this one under the carpet as quickly as we can, because Lord’s day one will be coming around pretty quickly. We will have one or two days to get the bodies right and recover, and all of a sudden, we will be out there flipping the coin.”He also played down the significance of England’s inability to take 20 wickets at Edgbaston. “You do have to appreciate how well India played with the bat,” Stokes said. “[They were] obviously pretty favourable conditions if someone got in; two of our lads showed that this week… You are allowed to let your opposition play well, and they definitely did that.”

England squad for Lord’s Test against India

Ben Stokes (capt), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Sam Cook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jamie Smith (wk), Josh Tongue, Chris Woakes.

Roy Keane has accused Jamie Carragher of playing “games” with Arsenal after billing the Gunners as Premier League title favourites. Mikel Arteta’s side are trying to wrestle that crown away from Carragher’s former employers at Liverpool. Manchester United legend Keane expects the north London outfit to go well, but is wary of making too many bold predictions so early in the 2025-26 campaign.

• Arsenal chasing down Premier League & Champions League titles

  Carragher has never been shy when it comes to offering an opinion and has stated that he considers Arsenal to be front of the queue when it comes to a title coronation. Arteta’s troops have moved to the top of the table, opening up a three-point lead on the chasing pack and pulling four clear of defending champions Liverpool.

  The Gunners have also been faring admirably in Europe, picking up maximum points from three Champions League fixtures. Carragher is tipping them to be serious contenders in that competition as well, with major honours being chased down on domestic and continental fronts.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Keane responds to Carragher & prediction from Lionesses' legend

  Ex-Lionesses star Jill Scott told the podcast after hearing Carragher talk up Arsenal again while appearing on CBS Sports’ coverage of elite European competition: “Jamie said last night that Arsenal are favourites for the Champions League, well he put them as favourites.”

  Keane chipped back with: “Jamie plays games like that, doesn't he? He puts them favourites to put the pressure off Liverpool, a little bit, there's a little bit of that. But we all sit here and say, who's going to win the league and we're all going to say Arsenal now and that's putting pressure on them.”

  Scott responded by saying: “I'm still sticking with Chelsea.” That statement drew a puzzled response from Keane, who said: “Jill I'm serious now, do you drink alcohol in the morning? How do you think Chelsea can win the league, they gave up about 10 chances against Nottingham Forest by playing out from the back. You think they're better than Arsenal?” Scott retorted with: “You change your mind all the time.”

  Keane was not having that and reminded his fellow panelists of his pre-season prediction: “When did I change my mind, who did I say at the start of the season for the title? I said Arsenal.”

• Scary depth: Arsenal backed by Neville to pull clear

  Paul Scholes said when offering his assessment of Arsenal so far: “I don't think we've seen one great team this year. Arsenal are very good team but I've not seen one performance where I've thought, they're going to win the league this year, other than maybe Newcastle away.”

  Another United great with multiple Premier League titles to his name, Gary Neville, added when suggesting that Arsenal should be expecting to pull clear at the summit: “They've played United away, Man City, Liverpool away. They've played nearly everybody already and they're where they are. It is wrong to say this because it is ridiculous and we've all been in title races. If they don't win it from here… we've all predicted Arsenal to win the league right, we know it can go wrong.

  “If they don't win it from where the other teams are and the confident position they're in now… a lot can change but they're in a good place. It feels like the Newcastle game turned the corner.

  “It's not a putting pressure on them statement, they just must be thinking, ‘this is us, this year, we've got to win it’. When you can bring in [Myles] Lewis-Skelly for [Riccardo] Calafiori and Ben White, [Cristhian] Mosquera coming in with no drop off, it's looking scary.”

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images
  

  Arsenal fixtures: Next up for high-flying Gunners

  Keane ended the debate by saying: “We've got to be careful. We've got a responsibility saying stuff, two or three weeks ago, we see what happened to Liverpool. If Arsenal got a few injuries, things could change very quickly.”

  Arsenal are on a six-match winning run across all competitions, with their only defeat this season coming away at Liverpool in August. They will be back in action on Sunday when taking in a testing derby date with London neighbours Crystal Palace.