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Everton are now believed to be looking to bring in a “fantastic” manager to replace Sean Dyche as the Friedkin Group close in on a takeover from Farhad Moshiri.

Everton takeover latest

The Blues are still without a win in the Premier League this season, although Saturday’s 1-1 draw away to Leicester City did at least see them get their first point on the board. There was an element of disappointment about the result again however, considering Everton were leading through Iliman Ndiaye’s goal and because they were up against a team who were playing Championship football last term.

This terrible start to the campaign has understandably meant that there is huge pressure on Dyche to keep his job, with the Englishman seemingly losing admirers by the week among the Goodison Park faithful and a potential takeover sure to change his status as well.

On that note, it appears John Textor has taken too long trying to sell his stake at Crystal Palace, as it is now the Freidkin Group closing in on a deal, with reliable reporter Mark Douglas revealing on Monday that an Everton takeover is “very close” and Friedkin is plotting “significant” investment and an “immediate review of football operations” – something which may place Dyche’s position in danger.

Moyes favourite to be new Everton manager

A new report from Football Insider claims that Everton are now looking to bring David Moyes back to Goodison, should they decide that Dyche is no longer the right man for the job. The Scot is considered a “popular appointment” by both “the boardroom and the fans”, having enjoyed such an impressive stint in charge first time around, although it is unclear how much of that support is from the potential new investors.

Opinion may be divided among Everton fans when it comes to a Moyes return, with some no doubt happy about the potential for it happening, and others perhaps feeling that a younger option is needed. He enjoyed a good second spell at West Ham, not least because he won the UEFA Europa Conference League back in 2022/23, but has ironically struggled against Dyche in his career, barely averaging over a point per game against the 53 year-old and winning only 3 of 11 head to heads.

Legendary centre-back Martin Keown lauded him during his last stint with the Hammers, saying: “I think David Moyes deserves credit because you know he’s at the back end of his career but I think he’s getting ever-better. He’s actually showing improvements. Fantastic work they’re doing in Europe, and he seems to be relishing the battle right now.”

Moyes is known for adopting a 4-2-3-1 formation, and while not necessarily the most attack-minded manager around, he could arguably play better football than has been on show under Dyche, with entertainment value severely lacking under his management and only four goals scored in the league so far this season.

West Ham

230

1.53

West Ham

31

1.19

Sunderland

43

0.72

Real Sociedad

42

1.21

Man Utd

51

1.73

Everton

518

1.54

Preston North End

211

1.72

Moyes’ vast experience could help Everton get themselves out of this current hole, in a period where avoiding relegation from the Premier League this season is paramount ahead of the move to Bramley Moore Dock.

Glasgow Rangers manager Philippe Clement may have made a host of signings during the transfer window, but it is clear he missed out on several big targets too.

Albion Rrahmani was the notable name to slip through Clement’s grasp, as the striker looked like he could have made the move to Ibrox, but instead, it was Sparta Prague who were the beneficiaries.

The Belgian isn’t the only manager to see key targets failing to make the move to Scotland, moving elsewhere instead.

Steven Gerrard had several players in his sights during his spell, while Michael Beale eyed a couple of players who would have immediately improved the first-team squad.

One such player has just sealed a move to Paris Saint-Germain, signifying that the club clearly messed up majorly with regard to missing out on him.

Rangers wanted Willian Pacho in 2023

Back in January 2023, during the early stages of Beale’s reign at Ibrox, it was clear he was aiming to bolster his squad in order to catch Celtic in the title race.

According to reports in Belgium at the time (via the Daily Record), the Gers had sent scouts to monitor Royal Antwerp defender Willian Pacho, who had shone on the continent following his move from Ecuador just a year previously.

It wasn’t just Rangers who were keen, with AS Monaco showing plenty of interest in the youngster, but nothing materialised, and he joined Eintracht Frankfurt that summer, sealing a move to the Bundesliga.

Following a wonderful season in Germany, PSG came in for the centre-back, managing to bring him to France, and it was certainly a what-could-have-been moment for the Light Blues.

How Willian Pacho has performed since joining PSG

The French giants shelled out a staggering €45m (£38m) to sign the defender, who became the first-ever Ecuadorian in the club’s history in the process.

Dubbed as “absolutely world-class” by his manager at Frankfurt, Dino Toppmoller, Pacho clearly has all the required attributes to perform at the highest level.

Willian Pacho's stats for PSG this season (per 90)
Accurate passes	79.7
Tackles	1.7
Ball recoveries	3.7
Total duels won	3.7
Clearances	3.7
Touches	97.7
Via Sofascore

In the German top flight last term, Pacho ranked in the top 12% for ball recoveries per 90, while ranking in the top 13% for successful take-on percentage per 90, showcasing his abilities to win back the ball and take on opposition players regularly.

The centre-back has already begun to shine for PSG in Ligue 1, averaging a 95% pass success rate per game, while also winning 61% of his total duels and losing possession just 5.7 times per game.

These statistics are evidence of him settling into the French side with ease, and he could become one of their most important players this term.

Rangers clearly made a mistake by not bringing him to Ibrox when they had the chance back at the start of 2023, especially as he could have been available for a realistic transfer fee.

Now, Pacho is starring in one of the biggest teams in Europe with the chance to win the Champions League.

Rangers may rue selling "firework" who has outscored Danilo since leaving

Philippe Clement could perhaps use the services of a player who was sold by Beale…

By
Ross Kilvington

Sep 6, 2024

One Arsenal player is now said to be weighing up his options and considering a January exit from the Emirates, despite manager Mikel Arteta persuading him to remain during the summer window.

Players who Arsenal sold or loaned out in the summer

Goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, midfielder Mohamed Elneny, defender Cedric Soares, Portugal international Fabio Vieira, 24-year-old Albert Sambi Lokonga, left-back Nuno Tavares, winger Reiss Nelson and shot-stopper Karl Hein all departed the club over the summer, either on loan or permanently, and that's not even including sporting director Edu Gaspar's most headline-grabbing exit deals.

£120k-per-week Arsenal ace now top target for club in out-of-window deal

He’s the main priority on their agenda.

1 ByEmilio Galantini Sep 7, 2024

Striker Eddie Nketiah called time on his Arsenal career by making a £30 million move across London to Crystal Palace, as the forward looks to establish himself at Selhurst Park and hopefully work his way into the England set-up in time for the 2026 World Cup.

Before Nketiah's farewell, another Hale End academy graduate in midfielder Emile Smith Rowe signed for Fulham in what was a club-record potential £34 million deal for the Whites. The attacking duo will now be handed much more Premier League game time away from Arsenal, and it will be interesting to see where these moves will take their careers.

Tottenham (away)

September 15

Man City (away)

September 22

Leicester City (home)

September 28

Southampton (home)

October 5

Bournemouth (away)

October 19

Out-of-favour defender Kieran Tierney is also a rumoured top target for Istanbul Basaksehir, and with the Turkish transfer window open until September 13, the Scotsman could still make a move away for more guaranteed minutes – despite being surprisingly named in Arteta's Champions League squad.

Another player who was tipped to leave over the course of the window was Poland international defender Jakub Kiwior. The 24-year-old, who signed from Spezia in January 2023, made 20 top flight appearances under Arteta last term – scoring a goal and bagging three assists from left-back and featuring as a centre-half on occasion.

The ex-Serie A starlet put in some convincing displays at left-back, giving both Takehiro Tomiyasu and Oleksandr Zinchenko competition for the role, but Kiwior is by no means a guaranteed starter – especially after Riccardo Calafiori's arrival in the summer.

There were reports that Kiwior could've left after Calafiori joined Arsenal, but it is believed Arteta persuaded the player to stay in sit-down talks over his immediate future.

Kiwior considering January exit from Arsenal

That is according to The Boot Room, who also claim that Kiwior is considering a January exit from Arsenal.

Arteta and co convinced the Pole to remain until winter, but if he decides he wants to leave mid-season, TBR claim the north Londoners are ready to give the green-light for him to find a new home.

Kiwior, on £58,000-a-week, has interest from across the Premier League if he does opt to quit Arsenal, and a return to Italy may also be an option, as AC Milan, Inter Milan, Juventus, Roma and Bologna all made approaches in the summer.

“He has great potential,” said Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski in September 2022 when asked about his international team-mate.

"During the warm-up of the game with the Netherlands, I thought: ‘Who is this guy?’ Then, during the match, I saw that he is extraordinary.”

Following a hectic few weeks, Leeds United are reportedly set to sign yet another reinforcement for Daniel Farke's side, with a defensive reinforcement on his way.

Leeds transfer news

The Whites kicked off deadline day in style, welcoming Ao Tanaka in a deal reportedly worth €4m (£3m) from German side Fortuna Dusseldorf. The Japanese midfielder arrives hoping to become Farke's much-needed replacement for Glen Kamara and perhaps even Georginio Rutter, given his ability to pay both central and attacking midfield.

Expressing his delight at the move, Tanaka told Leeds' official website: “I am so excited and I am so happy to be here. I can control the game and make the assists and goals. I want to help the team.

"Of course, we want to go to the Premier League which is why I came here so I want to make a contribution for the team. Everyone says Leeds fans are amazing and the stadium atmosphere is amazing, so I can’t wait to play in front of the amazing supporters. I want to win in the stadium with so many supporters!”

Now, picking up where they left off, those at Elland Road are reportedly set to announce another arrival. According to Sky Sports' Tim Thornton via MOT Leeds News, Isaac Schmidt is on his way to complete a move to Leeds United, having enjoyed the perfect send-off for FC St Gallen on Thursday night, scoring the opening goal against Trabzonspor before his side secured victory on penalties.

Schmidt's versatility should be key

Now 24 years old, Schmidt could become an important part of Farke's squad. Naturally a left-back, the Swiss defender can also play defensive midfield and right-back, providing cover for Junior Firpo, Ethan Ampadu and Jayden Bogle in a move that will reportedly be worth just £4.6m – it could quickly prove to be a bargain this summer.

A player who also seemingly has an eye for goal based on his final Europa Conference League game, it's no surprise that Schmidt has been turned towards at Elland Road this summer, with Leeds in need of all the help they can get going forward after losing both Rutter and Summerville.

There's still time for more incomings too. Leeds have been linked to the likes of Rolland Sallai in recent weeks and he'd certainly be someone who'd round off their summer window with a bang. It remains to be seen whether the Hungarian will join both Tanaka and Schmidt on deadline day, however.

Championship record move: Leeds looked at signing amazing Hamer alternative

Leeds United reportedly attempted to get this top gem in through the door.

1 ByKelan Sarson Aug 30, 2024

So far, it's a case of so good for Leeds, who are reportedly set to steal the headlines for a second time in the final hours of the window.

An Everton attacker is now close to leaving the club in a deadline day exit, according to a fresh update regarding a move to another English club.

Everton transfer news

After a bleak start to the Premier League season for the Blues, supporters will be hoping to have something to shout about at the end of the summer transfer window.

It has been a solid summer in the market for Everton with the likes of Jake O'Brien, Iliman Ndiaye and Jesper Lindstrom among those who have come in, but given the nature of their respective 3-0 and 4-0 defeats to Brighton and Tottenham, further reinforcements are required.

Time is clearly running out for Sean Dyche in that respect, but one report has claimed that the Blues have been given the opportunity to complete the signing of Burnley midfielder Josh Brownhill for a cut-price amount. Tottenham Hotspur and Fulham are also seen as potential suitors, however, and the Englishman could be snapped up for just £5m.

Everton are also reportedly in negotiations to sign Rennes ace Lorenz Assignon, with the 24-year-old right-back someone who could add much-needed youth to a key area of the pitch where Ashley Young and Seamus Coleman are ageing figures. Now, a Goodison exit update has dropped regarding one figure, but it isn't Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

Everton attacker closing in on exit

According to Football Insider, Everton striker Francis Okoronkwo has agreed to join Salford City on loan for the entirety of the 2024/25 season, being given the green light to move on. The 19-year-old originally moved to Goodison Park from Sunderland in a £1m move back in 2021, but it looks as though a temporary move away this summer has been decided to be best for his development.

This makes complete sense for Okoronkwo more than anything, considering the teenager is unlikely to be deemed an important part of Dyche's plans this season, given his lack of experience. The Englishman is yet to make an appearance for Everton at senior level, despite joining the club three years ago, instead being limited to playing time for the Under-23s and Under-18s, making a combined 65 outings.

Okoronkwo has done well in that time, though, scoring 20 goals and registering eight assists, and he could grow further as a player at League Two side Salford, testing himself up against older players before returning to Goodison a better footballer than before.

Whether he has a long-term future at Everton remains to be seen, but now is the time for him to excel away from Merseyside and show that he can handle a different challenge.

Everton in talks to let a player who earns more than Branthwaite leave

The Toffees could part ways with the central defender before the deadline tonight.

ByDan Emery Aug 30, 2024

Assuming the move goes through, how Okoronkwo fares between now and the end of the season could determine whether the Blues feel he is worth persevering with or not. For that reason, the pressure on him to show that he is now capable of making the jump from youth to senior football for an extended period.

The quick bowler’s first delivery set the tone against South Africa in a superb powerplay display

Andrew McGlashan25-Oct-20213:30

Moody: Many don’t appreciate the quality Hazlewood brings

After all the talk about which of Australia’s Test match quicks would miss out in their T20 World Cup opener against South Africa, the trio of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins played together in the format for the first time.And for Hazlewood, his first spell – which read 2-1-1-2 inside the powerplay – was a performance that would not look out of place on the opening day against England at the Gabba in six weeks.Of the three quicks, Hazlewood is the one who has made the late surge into Australia’s T20 plans after finally being able to get a run of games in West Indies and Bangladesh before a successful stint with Chennai Super Kings.After discussions about how he needed to adapt to the T20 format, it was during that spell with Super Kings, where he worked with Stephen Fleming and Eric Simons, that Hazlewood was encouraged to utilise the strengths that make him such a fine bowler in Tests and ODIs.Related

Langer says Australia will be flexible in selections

Are Australia ready to unleash Hazlewood 2.0 at the T20 World Cup?

Hazlewood leads bowlers' show as Australia clinch nail-biter in opening Super 12s fixture

ESPNcricinfo’s data shows that during the IPL, his deliveries logged as length or short-of-a-good-length had a combined economy rate of 7.40. When he went full or short that ballooned out to 12.85.It could not have gone much better in Abu Dhabi. First delivery he found the edge of Rassie van der Dussen with a short-of-a-length delivery and then, having seen Quinton de Kock play on via his thigh pad, he kept Heinrich Klassen scoreless for five balls.”I’ve probably gone the opposite way now,” he said of his T20 thinking. “Chatting about how batters are probably expecting that you to change if you are hit for four or six. Think the wickets are a little different here as well, but it’s about keep doing the same thing and make them hit fours and sixes off your good deliveries – just above the stumps, a hard length. That seemed to work for the last few weeks in the IPL and again [against South Africa]. You have to weight it up and move forward with what works best.Josh Hazlewood removed Rassie van der Dussen with his first ball•ICC via Getty”Every game is different and that’s what I’ve learned over the last few weeks. It’s about getting everything in order at training and preparing yourself for anything, then summing it up as a bowling group once you are out there.”There was a glimpse of the alternative way things can go when Hazlewood bowled his last over, the 17th of the innings, which began with Aiden Markram swatting him over deep midwicket for six in what was the joint-most expensive over of the innings costing 12. Australia will also come up against batting line-ups with more confidence during the group stage.”You have to weigh up where the boundaries are bigger, who you are bowling at, so it’s about thinking on your feet and preparing for every situation,” Hazlewood said of still having the need to adjust. “There’s certainly a place for line and length then there’s times where it doesn’t work.”Having played their first game in the day time, Australia’s next two outings are evening matches against Sri Lanka and England in Dubai. Other teams have focused on the dew factor – England went as far as training with wet balls while Virat Kohli said it had a bit of an impact against Pakistan – but Hazlewood did not see it as being decisive.”The conditions don’t change a lot there. They probably change more at Sharjah and Abu Dhabi. The Dubai wicket maintains it pretty well. There might be a slight advantage in batting second.”

India opener talks about trusting the “process” after recording long-awaited first overseas ton

Nagraj Gollapudi04-Sep-20216:31

‘Spending time in the middle was the biggest takeaway for me in the four Test matches’

He would no doubt agree that his maiden overseas Test century carried a lot of “value”, but the most significant takeaway for Rohit Sharma from the fourth Test, in fact the first four Tests of the Pataudi Trophy, is the fact that he has managed to play out maximum time and maximum balls. That, Rohit said, has been the primary goal and the basis of his success as a Test opener, a journey that started in 2019.The 256 balls Rohit played in the second innings of the Oval Test was the third-most by an India opener this century in England, only behind Rahul Dravid and Murali Vijay. With another Test remaining in the series Rohit can eye the record of the most balls faced in a series by an India opener in England: currently, having faced 856 deliveries, he is third on the all-time list, behind Sunil Gavaskar (1979) and Vijay (2014).”Most pleasing thing was that I was able to play 250 balls,” Rohit said in the media briefing on Saturday. “If you look at all the Test matches [this series] I have nearly played 100 balls in every innings. That to me was a goal. The first goal was to play balls, see how I can stay on the pitch for as long as possible because we do know that things start to get easier when you spend time in the middle, when you see what the bowlers are doing and get the hang of it and get the feel of the entire situation. Spending time in the middle was the biggest takeaway for me in the four Test matches.”Right through this England trip, which started with the World Test Championship final in June against New Zealand, Rohit has looked the most settled India batter, threatening to convert the starts into something big. Rohit already had two half-centuries in seven innings against England, including 83 in the first dig at Lord’s. But he had to swallow his disappointment and applaud his opening partner KL Rahul, who notched a first-innings century, setting the tone for India’s memorable Lord’s victory.Here it was the turn of Rahul to stand alongside the packed Oval crowd after Rohit effortlessly lofted a six to bring up his century. While his celebrations were muted and restricted to just waving a bat, Rohit acknowledged it was a special innings. “It holds a lot of value. You are playing in testing conditions, against quality bowling line-up. Obviously when you do well against that you always feel good. I knew when I came here from the World Test Championship final, I knew I have to put in the best effort with bat however I can, whatever it takes – you know I don’t mind looking ugly at times with whatever I do with the bat as long as I get the job done for the team.”Cheteshwar Pujara congratulates Rohit Sharma on his century•AFP/Getty ImagesIn reality, Rohit the opener has been anything but ugly. He has shown far more discipline and patience and looked more confident than any other India batter. That has come from hours spent in training sessions where Rohit’s solitary focus has been to read lengths, leave balls and understand where his off stump is. That is what Rohit calls the process.”It is not just, you come here and get a hundred. It has never been like that,” he said. “It is a process and it takes time. We need to understand that. When you are playing overseas it is never easy. When I started opening I knew all those big scores are not going to just happen. There will be a process I will need to follow, keep ticking the small boxes and that’s something I did when I started opening batting.”When you play cricket all over the year, those little adjustments you should be able to make [are] based on the situation, based on the conditions, and [based on the] position of your batting as well. You can’t just come and play shots especially in a place like England. You need to understand situation of the game, certain type of bowlers, considering all that together, there were little adjustments that I had to make and I was happy to do it. It’s a good process. It is a very enjoyable process. Most importantly I trusted whatever I was doing. I knew the results will come, rewards will happen, but it might take time. It’s just that you need to be patient. I was very patient.”Related

How Rohit Sharma changed his game to the point of almost being unrecognisable

Rohit Sharma anchors India's day with classy century

Rohit Sharma walks the tightrope to his hundred

Stats – Rohit Sharma's first overseas Test century

It was on India’s tour of the West Indies in 2019 where the team management spoke for the first time about Rohit opening. Having struggled to find consistency as a middle-order batter, Rohit opened for the first time in the home series against South Africa. He made a stunning and memorable statement, recording twin centuries in his maiden appearance as a Test opener and bookended that South Africa series with a maiden Test double-century.Importantly, Rohit’s success and experience have contributed to India’s opening combinations withstanding new-ball pressure from the opposition, and that was also seen in the final two Tests of the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy where Rohit and Shubman Gill stayed solid in Sydney and Brisbane. Looking back at the South Africa series, Rohit agreed that personally he took that assignment as a “last opportunity”.”I wanted to think, in a way, this is it – I have to make good use of this opportunity and for that, whatever it takes, I have to do it. You need to bring a lot of stuff into your batting: most importantly discipline. That is something I focused on a lot, on [and] off the field. When you are in the nets discipline is something I wanted to bring into my batting, whether it is about leaving the ball, solid, tight defence and all of those things. When you play in these conditions, all those things matter.”That patience and discipline is what has kept Rohit hungry despite him taking 47 innings – the second-longest by an Indian – to make his first overseas century. “Getting a hundred, whether it is overseas or at home, it’s always a good feeling,” Rohit said. “That is what all batters try for: getting those big runs and making sure you always try and put the team in good position. [Getting an] overseas hundred was not on my mind. What I was focusing on was the process. If I follow the process, if I believe whatever I’m doing during my practice sessions, I know results will come, you will be rewarded. Sometimes things might not come easy and you need to put in the hard yards.”

Chelsea's 2024/25 Premier League season kicks off next month and the club still has plenty of time left in the summer transfer window to bolster the squad.

Enzo Maresca has already been able to bring in Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall from his former club Leicester City, whilst Omari Kellyman and Tosin Adarabioyo are among the other new additions.

The Italian head coach may want to make further signings to ensure that his team have the best possible chance of returning to the Champions League and competing for trophies.

He could secure a huge upgrade on current Blues forward Raheem Sterling by sealing a deal for one of the London side's reported transfer targets.

Chelsea's interest in Premier League wizard

At the end of last month, journalist Simon Phillips revealed that Newcastle United attacker Anthony Gordon emerged as a target for Chelsea.

The reporter added that the Blues have already held talks with the Magpies over a potential deal to bring the rapid flanker to Stamford Bridge before the end of the summer transfer window.

Football Insider have since claimed that fellow Premier League teams Liverpool and Manchester City have both registered an interest in the England international.

The outlet stated that Newcastle's asking price of an initial £75m plus add-ons has put off Arne Slot's Reds but it remains to be seen whether or not Chelsea would be willing to pay that kind of fee.

Why Chelsea should sign Anthony Gordon

Maresca should push ahead with a deal to sign Gordon from the Magpies because his performances in the top-flight last season suggest that he could be a huge upgrade on Sterling.

Both players are right-footed left-wingers who look to use their speed and dribbling skills to make things happen at the top end of the pitch for their respective sides.

Gordon, who was dubbed a "menace" by U23 scout Antonio Mango, looks to be able to make a greater impact in the final third with his ability to score and create goals.

Appearances

35

31

Goals

11

8

Assists

10

4

Big chances created

16

7

Key passes per game

1.6

1.0

As you can see in the table above, Gordon scored more goals, created more 'big chances, provided more assists, and made more key passes per game in comparison to Sterling.

The Newcastle star also ranked within the top 20% of attacking midfielders and wingers in the Premier League for shot-creating actions per 90 (4.45), whereas the Chelsea man averaged 3.87 per 90.

These statistics suggest that the England international would be a huge upgrade on the Blues dud due to his superior quality in the final third, as he could win more games for the club by providing big moments in front of goal.

The £75m-rated wizard is also six years younger than Sterling and this means that he has far more time to develop and improve over the years to come, which could make him a terrific long-term option for Maresca as well as a big upgrade for his team next season.

Chelsea have hit gold on ace who's worth more than Williams & Summerville

He’s had a hugely impressive first season at Stamford Bridge.

ByEthan Lamb Jul 18, 2024

What can we say about Harry Kane that hasn't already been said? The man is simply a marvel, even if some of his Euro 2024 displays left a lot to be desired.

Was some of the criticism for the former Spurs man warranted? Yes, yes it was. Was some of it rather harsh? You could argue that point too.

However, there is no doubting what has made him such an elite talent down the years. No player in Tottenham's history has scored more goals for the club than he. No player in England's history – there have been 1282 of them – have scored more than Kane for his country. Yeah, he's a pretty good player.

That said, without him, England and Spurs have managed to get by. It was Ollie Watkins' remarkable last-gasp strike against the Netherlands without Kane on the pitch that sent Gareth Southgate's men to the final of the European Championships.

Ranking the 10 best English football players ever

We have ranked the top 10 football players to play for the Three Lions.

1 ByLuke Randall Jun 16, 2024

Heung-min Son, with his haul of 17 goals in 31 league outings last season proved they didn't miss him too much during Ange Postecoglou's first campaign in charge.

That said, with Kane in tow, perhaps a Champions League berth would have been secured ahead of Aston Villa.

So, a new striker would certainly go down a treat this summer.

Spurs in the race to sign new goal machine

Tottenham have been one of the more active clubs in the Premier League over the last few weeks, notably welcoming Archie Gray to the club from Leeds.

But what is next on the club's agenda? Well, they're allegedly looking at a striker currently plying his trade in Ligue 1.

Indeed, according to Football Insider this weekend, Spurs have joined the race to sign Lille centre forward Jonathan David.

It's stated that if they were to bid a bargain £25m in an attempt to secure the Canadian's signature, it would be accepted.

Why is he so cheap? Well, as the report states, David is now entering the final year of his contract in France.

Postecoglou is said to be 'obsessed' with acquiring a new number 9 and the Canada international could well be his man.

Why David would be a good signing for Spurs

Described as "one of the best strikers in the world" by Canadian podcast host Tony Marinaro, that tells you all you need to know. Great, we can wrap this article up now, surely? Well, that would all be a little bit boring. Let's provide you with more insight.

As we said, Spurs didn't exactly struggle per se without Kane, but their options were limited. Son – who was given the captaincy – was often preferred in a central striking berth but that ultimately meant that Postecoglou's options on the flanks were not always too convincing.

Brennan Johnson did end the campaign well, registering three assists in his last four games but with five goals to his name across the entire campaign he wasn't bagging on a regular basis.

The same could be said for Timo Werner who only found the net on two occasions in 14 appearances. As for Dejan Kulusevski, he scored eight times. Decent but certainly not awe-inspiring.

So, by signing David, Ange could move Son into a menacing position out wide and add more goals to the squad.

Besides Kane, Spurs have struggled to find a striker who can score regularly. That's hardly a surprise considering the lack of game time they have had but it's not as though they've even had a strong rotation option.

Richarlison – who did bag 12 last season – only scored three in his debut term, Carlos Vinicius scored just one league goal in 2020/21 and in 2018/19, Fernando Llorente fired home eight goals.

Now, let's compare that to the tallies of David.

2023/24

47

26

2022/23

40

26

2021/22

49

19

2020/21

48

13

2019/20

40

23

2018/19

43

14

So, while the Lille sensation certainly isn't in the same bracket as Kane, who scored a jaw-dropping 44 times for Bayern last term, he is a great deal more prolific than any of the other centre-forwards Spurs have had at their disposal over the last six years or so.

If they could secure a deal for the £25m fee mooted, it would be phenomenal business, potentially handing Postecoglou his best striker yet.

Spurs confident of landing £20k-p/w "monster" who's like Watkins

The impressive striker has made it to the Euros final.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jul 12, 2024

The waiting is over

Andy Zaltzman25-Feb-2013The waiting is over. The World Twenty20 has begun. Cricketers from all corners of the globe have descended upon England, to test their skills against each other, and entertain the watching public.It was a tremendous shame that the opening ceremony had to be cancelled due to the rain – I guess the world will never know now what spectacular displays would have unfolded on the famous Lord’s turf. Congratulations are due, however, to David Morgan and the Duke of Kent for bravely pressing ahead with their welcoming speeches despite the conditions, ensuring that the tournament had the official launch it so richly deserved.Watching on my television, it was hard to tell whether the PA system conveyed their words audibly to the crowd at the ground – I do sincerely hope so, it would have been a shame for them to miss out. And how fortunate we are to live in an electronic age when microphones make such things possible.Despite the weather, Lord’s was looking a picture as always, the new floodlights successfully blending in with the striking mixture of old and new architecture that has become the old ground’s signature. I particularly like the Grandstand. It is functional but very elegant. You had to wonder whether Thomas Lord could possibly have imagined the opening match of an international Twenty20 tournament taking place on his ground bearing his name just 222 years after the first Lord’s came into existence.The famed drainage facilities at MCC head-quarters certainly proved their worth on such a wet day – a lesson to other grounds around the world. It would have been very disappointing if the opening game had had to be cancelled along with the opening ceremony. Fortunately, that did not happen. The ground staff must be complimented for their efforts to ensure the game went ahead.Both teams looked very smart in their clean and freshly ironed kit. And it must have been a real thrill for the umpires, Stephen James Davis of Australia and Ellawalakankanamge Asoka Ranjit De Silva from Sri Lanka, to officiate on such a high-profile match.On a global scale, the opening of the World Twenty20 might have been overshadowed by President Obama’s important speech in Cairo, and on a British scale, attention has been fixed on the apparent implosion of the Labour government. Nevertheless, it is exciting that, with the first game completed, the World Twenty20 is finally underway.I am sure there will be some excellent matches over the next couple of weeks.