Big afternoon stand is bookended by collapses against both new balls on topsy-turvy day in Cardiff
ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay23-May-2025Glamorgan were unable to make their mid-innings dominance of Middlesex count, as hundreds from Sam Northeast and Kiran Carlson were offset by the loss of seven wickets on a balanced day one at Sophia Gardens.The captain and vice-captain’s 228-run partnership lifted the hosts to 280 for 3 after three early wickets fell for 52, but they finished on 334 for 7 at the close with Toby Roland-Jones dependable as ever for Middlesex with 4 for 73.Northeast and Carlson both fell within 10 overs for 122 and 109 respectively to give Middlesex a chance to fight back with the new ball towards the end of the day, with Ryan Higgins also taking 3 for 44.Middlesex won the toss and elected to bowl on a green surface at Sophia Gardens with uncertainty of how the lush ground would play following heavy rainfall in south Wales for the first time this season.The visitors got off to a strong start with restrictions on runs initially before the series of plays and misses turned to wickets thanks to the experience and skillset of Middlesex veteran Roland-Jones.Marnus Labuschagne’s woes were improved on last week’s four runs across two innings but he still didn’t look comfortable. The Australian added 23, including a gifted four from a bizarre Luke Hollman overthrow on a certain dot ball.Glamorgan’s new pair combined their red- and white-ball captains, but the bowlers were still on top going into the second session with Northeast scoring cagily at first against a prominent attack which includes three Test internationals.As has been the case for this pair this season, Carlson eventually got his strokes to come together to increase the scoring rate, with typical Carlson backfoot punches and cuts, including against the novice Naavya Sharma in his second match. Meanwhile, Northeast churned out his runs, ambitious to beat his previous season best of 67 in 11 innings. Between them, they produced Glamorgan’s first unbroken session partnership of the season.The pair went at four an over for the afternoon, with a six from the captain moving him to 99 and Carlson surviving an edge evading slip’s head off Hollman on 96 before they both passed three figures.The new ball brought the change in fortune for the visitors in the final 16 overs of the day as the momentum shifted. Carlson was in disbelief to be given out in the 81st over and Tom Bevan following shortly afterwards in his first game of the season, in place for the absent student, Ben Kellaway.Higgins was soon in on the action, bowling Northeast for 122 as four wickets fell for 39 runs. Andy Gorvin was required to survive the night alongside Chris Cooke, who never looked fazed for his unbeaten 32.
Liverpool have been dealt a blow in their preparations for this week's Champions League clash with Eintracht Frankfurt, after the aircraft taking them to Germany was hit with a "technical issue", meaning that Arne Slot will not be able to conduct a press conference before the encounter in midweek. The Reds are aiming to break a streak of four successive defeats after their weekend loss to Manchester United at Anfield.
Travel disruption for Liverpool
Liverpool face Frankfurt on Wednesday and were set to fly to the German city on Tuesday, with head coach Slot to address the media in the early evening. However, due to "technical issues" with the aircraft, the flight was delayed, and the meeting between the manager and the media has been postponed. It will also likely affect the club's pre-match plans, although the club did train at their AXA base on Tuesday morning.
A statement from the Reds read: "Our pre-match press conference for the clash with Eintracht Frankfurt has been cancelled. A delay in the squad's scheduled flight out to Frankfurt, due to technical issues with the aircraft, means the briefing will now not be able to take place."
Advertisement(C)Getty ImagesReds in desperate need of a result
While the Reds did win their opening Champions League game, a 3-2 victory over Atletico Madrid, they were beaten by Galatasaray in their most recent European outing. They have also lost three Premier League games in a row, going down to Crystal Palace, Chelsea, and, most gallingly of all, United at Anfield. Slot has accepted that there is pressure on him, and pundit, and Liverpool legend, Jamie Carragher has urged the Dutchman to drop Mohamed Salah ahead of the encounter.
He said: "I don't think Salah should be like a Virgil van Dijk where it's like 'first name on the teamsheet'. Liverpool have got two away games – in the Champions League at Frankfurt and then they go to Brentford. I don't think Salah should start both of those games.
"He should always start at Anfield because Liverpool will be on top, around the edge of the box and more often than not he scores in those situations today. But I do think in the away games and helping your full-back, I don't think Salah should be starting every game right now, certainly away from home, with the form he's in."
He added: "Would he be OK with that? Probably not. But when you get to a certain age you have to understand that, especially when you're not playing well, where's your argument?
"It's different if you're banging in the goals and your manager makes a tactical decision and you're frustrated. I don't think Mo Salah's in any position to complain if he was left out of one of the next two away games."
Frankfurt in middling form
Frankfurt have also endured a difficult start to the season in Germany, winning three, losing three, and drawing one of their opening seven games. Their last European outing resulted in a thrashing, as they were beaten 5-1 by Atletico Madrid in Spain. They also recently lost 3-0 to Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga, meaning they are in dire need of a result, much like their opposition.
Liverpool have already been dealt a serious headache, with Ryan Gravenberch missing training before the midweek clash; it is unclear if the Dutchman will be able to slot into midfield once again for the Reds against their German opposition.
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Getty Images SportWhat now for Liverpool?
Liverpool have not lost five games in succession since the 1950s, and have not endured a run of four successive defeats since Brendan Rodgers was manager.
Slot has already spoken of the fact that he felt the Reds were hard done by against United, but he will be well aware of the need for three points on Wednesday.
He siad: "The result (is what went wrong). And the fact that we went 1-0 down so early. If you play United, with so many quality players they have – [and] brought in a few new ones this summer – and if they come to us in a low block, playing so many long balls, then the last thing you would want is going 1-0 down. Because that gives them even more belief. If you would have told me we are 1-0 down against a United team that played in the style they did, and you would have told me that we would create eight, nine, 10 open chances, then I would have said to you that I don't think that is possible. But it was possible.
"So, the second thing that went wrong is that from all the chances we got, we only scored one goal. I have said it in Holland many times and maybe I've said it here as well, it's almost impossible to win a big game of football – and Liverpool v United is a big game with so many quality players on the pitch – to win it with a negative set-piece balance. We conceded another one and that led to us losing the game."
A new report has shared how Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis now feels about his decision to sack Nuno Espírito Santo, with the Greek billionaire also said to be considering a surprise replacement for Ange Postecoglou.
Ange Postecoglou under serious Nottingham Forest pressure
A run of zero wins from his opening seven matches in charge at the City Ground, which includes five defeats, has plunged Postecoglou’s long-term Forest future into serious doubt.
Arsenal 3-0 Forest
Premier League
Swansea 3-2 Forest
Carabao Cup
Burnley 1-1 Forest
Premier League
Real Betis 2-2 Forest
Europa League
Forest 0-1 Sunderland
Premier League
Forest 2-3 FC Midtjylland
Europa League
Newcastle 2-0 Forest
Premier League
While Forest are yet to pull the plug on the Australian, despite credible media sources suggesting he could be sacked if Forest lose to Newcastle, Marinakis is not afraid to make a ruthless decision and call time on Postecoglou’s short reign if results continue in this manner (Sky Sports).
The former Tottenham boss, if he’s handed his P45 in the coming days, could become the shortest reigning Premier League manager in history.
Postecoglou already has an unwanted record, having made the worst start of any new Forest boss for 100 years, but the 60-year-old sent a defiant message about his struggles to make a good start at the City Ground.
In terms of who could replace Postecoglou if Marinakis decides to call time, it is believed that Oliver Glasner could emerge as a top candidate for the Forest job, and they have a long-standing interest in Fulham’s Marco Silva (The Mail).
The tacticians are both doing excellent jobs at their respective clubs with limited resources, so it’s hardly a surprise to see them mentioned, but it is now rumoured that Marinakis has another “shock” candidate in mind.
Nottingham Forest internally discuss Graham Potter as a replacement for Ange
That is according to TEAMtalk, who claim that former West Ham boss Graham Potter, who was sacked by the Hammers over a fortnight ago, is being considered.
The Englishman recorded the second-worst win percentage of any West Ham manager in Premier League history, behind only Avram Grant, who relegated the Hammers in 2011, yet his name has apparently come up behind-the-scenes.
9. Sam Allardyce
30.7%
10. Julen Lopetegui
30%
11. Gianfranco Zola
27.8%
12 Graham Potter
26.1%
13. Avram Grant
18.9%
via StatMuse
TT claim that Forest are internally discussing the possibility of appointing Potter, and Marinakis feels personally accountable for the club’s current situation after his bold move to axe Nuno.
The chief is said to be furious over Forest’s form and the state of affairs right now, with Marinakis “on the verge” of sacking Postecoglou.
Hiring Potter would be a very controversial move, to say the least, following his torrid time at the London Stadium.
Even if West Ham players were fans of the tactician and gave him their full backing (The Telegraph), it would arguably be yet another backwards step for the Tricky Trees.
Elsewhere, Marinakis was spotted in close proximity to Rafael Benitez last week, who’s keen on returning to England, and the Spaniard could be a much better option than Potter.
The option that stands out among all the rest, though, is Glasner.
That being said, even though his contract expires in 2026, it could be very difficult to convince the Austrian to move there mid-season amid Forest’s current predicament.
Newcastle United have stepped away from the action zone as the October international break takes the stage. But Newcastle are anything but idle, having appointed a new technical director in Ross Wilson from Nottingham Forest.
Wilson, 41, leaves the City Ground having overseen a rise from relegation candidates in the Premier League to European contenders, having finished seventh last year after heavy spending.
In the dugout, Eddie Howe is a meticulous man. He knows every nook and every cranny of his opponents’ half, having profiled each player and grasped their strengths and their weaknesses. Wilson has a personality apt to connect with the tactician’s own bearing.
Newcastle have earned their flowers for their fast rise in the years since PIF completed their club takeover, qualifying for the Champions League in two of the last three seasons and winning the Carabao Cup last year.
But Paul Mitchell left his post less than one year after Dan Ashworth departed, and there’s no denying the Magpies recruitment drive has been knocked somewhat out of kilter. That is now anticipated to change.
Ross Wilson's recruitment record
Before Nottingham Forest, it was Rangers. While in Scotland, it was Wilson who sat behind the desk when Steven Gerrard led the club to the Premiership title, still the Gers’ sole title success since 2011.
And after moving to the Premier League, his reputation has only grown, with Wilson considered a real coup for the Tynesiders and further evidence of the fall from stability at Forest.
According to the i Paper, it is understood that Newcastle will seek to reward Sandro Tonali, Sven Botman and Tino Livramento with new deals once the transfer specialist is instated.
One of Wilson’s biggest strengths is his ability to identify and sign first-team candidates who both align with the manager’s tactical vision and the club’s wider culture.
Though this summer was one of much upheaval at Newcastle, there’s no denying Howe has eased the loss of Alexander Isak to Liverpool with a range of impactful additions, Nick Woltemade and Malick Thiaw in particular shining across the early months of the season.
Still, the direction has been at times uncertain, business taking an almost fragmented quality. Wilson, in tandem with Howe, could change that, with some exciting potential options already being discussed.
Who Ross Wilson could sign at Newcastle
Wilson signed his fair share of first-team players at Nottingham Forest, having joined from Rangers in 2023. At the time, the Midlands side were embroiled in a relegation battle in the Premier League and had not yet parted with Steve Cooper and brought in Nuno Espirito Santo.
Forest now have their own issues, with Edu and Nuno’s conflict leading to a divorce which has left the club’s meteoric rise in tatters. Wilson played his part, though, and may now fancy a step-up to St. James’ Park.
Newcastle, for sure, have work to do if they wish to settle permanently alongside the Premier League elite. With Wilson and Howe working together, this could bear dividends, especially when considering Howe’s recent comments regarding Elliot Anderson, who was sold to the City Ground for about £35m in 2024 as the Toon scrambled to ease their PSR suffering.
Last week, the manager called Anderson, 22, a “precious” talent who he would “love” to welcome back to his boyhood club, and now Newcastle have landed Wilson, that potential lane of communication has very much stretched open.
It would be a costly one to engineer, to be sure, but now, it certainly seems a whole lot more likely.
And there’s more. Nick Pope is still performing at 33 years old, but he’s out of contract at the end of the season and a replacement might be required, even with Aaron Ramsdale having joined on loan in August.
James Trafford came within a whisker of signing for the Magpies this summer, and now that he’s on the fringes at Manchester City, he might recieve a call from Wilson down the line.
Manchester City'sJamesTraffordlooks dejected after the match
That should just about do it. Howe leads a complete and robust Newcastle side, but even though £55m was forked out for Forest’s Anthony Elanga this summer, there might be a desire to add another winger to the ranks.
And who better than Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo, who was very much on the club’s radar this summer? The Cherries fought off interest from many of the Premier League’s biggest hitters, with the Ghanaian forward signing a new contract at the club.
The vultures still circle, though, and Newcastle are among that kettle of suitors looking to strike a deal, having prepared a bid in the final weeks of the window. Liverpool are also keen, showing interest as recently as this week, and they have been met with demands of a £75m payment from the south coast club.
Semenyo would cost a pretty penny, alright, but there’s little question that he’d be a fantastic addition, having scored six goals and supplied three more across seven top-flight appearances this season.
We know already that Howe wanted to bring the prolific forward to the club, and now Wilson will help promote Howe’s vision.
GK
James Trafford
RB
Tino Livramento
CB
Malick Thiaw
CB
Sven Botman
LB
Lewis Hall
DM
Sandro Tonali
CM
Bruno Guimaraes
CM
Elliot Anderson
RW
Antoine Semenyo
LW
Anthony Gordon
ST
Nick Woltemade
It’s exciting to note that even with Isak having been sold this summer, Newcastle have a dynamic crop of players capable of hitting even loftier heights than were struck last season. But with the likes of Trafford and Anderson and Semenyo added to the fold, Newcastle would go from strength to strength.
One Premier League analyst has even claimed Semenyo is “one of the best players in the world”. These are the heights Newcastle must be striving for, and Wilson can make it happen.
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Bayer Leverkusen's Aleix Garcia has apologised to fans for his side's "humiliating" 7-2 Champions League defeat to Paris Saint-Germain and admitted he was "really angry" about his ill-timed shirt swap with the 2025 Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembele. The midfielder scored both of Leverkusen's goals in the rout, which coach Kasper Hjulmand called "painful".
Garcia apologises to 'incredible' fans
The loss marks the first defeat for new coach Hjulmand and leaves Leverkusen's European campaign in turmoil. The German side are 30th in the 36-team league phase, winless with just two points from three matches.
Despite netting a first-half penalty and a stunning long-range strike in the second half, Garcia was focused entirely on the team's collapse. He praised the home supporters who endured the defeat and pleaded for their continued backing.
"This hurts. I want to apologise to the fans. They were incredible," Garcia said. "It will be a tough night. The result is tough; we still have to improve a lot as a team. We have a lot of potential."
The Spaniard immediately turned his attention to the club's next fixture, adding: "We need them on Sunday to take another step forward."
Garcia was seen exchanging jerseys with PSG star Dembele after the final whistle, a move he acknowledged was awkward given the circumstances. He insisted the arrangement was made prior to kick-off, admitting he would not have requested it after such a heavy loss.
"Because I'm still really angry," Garcia said when asked about the swap. He assured that he had asked Dembele for the shirt before the match, stating: "After conceding seven goals, I might not have asked for it anymore."
Despite his anger at the result, Garcia hailed the French forward, who marked his 100th PSG appearance with a goal. "For me, he's the best. He plays right, left, inside, and outside. That's also why the jersey is 'something very special to me.'"
Sporting director Simon Rolfes, however, was less impressed, stating he was "pretty indifferent" to the exchange after the damaging result.
10-man Leverkusen capitulate in chaotic first half
The match descended into chaos after 33 minutes when Leverkusen captain Robert Andrich received a red card. While PSG were also reduced to 10 men when Illia Zabarnyi was sent off, the visitors capitalised on the instability.
PSG, who held 67 per cent possession and registered 22 shots, were ruthless. An early Willian Pacho own goal set the tone. Though Garcia equalised from the spot later one, Leverkusen conceded three goals in the final five minutes of the first-half as Desire Doue, scoring twice, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia effectively ended the contest before the break.
Nuno Mendes added a fifth five minutes after the restart before Garcia's second goal. Dembele, returning from a six-week injury, came off the bench to score in the 66th minute and and Vitinha completed the 7-2 rout with a late strike.
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Hjulmand feels 'a lot of pain' after first defeat
The result was a brutal first setback for manager Hjulmand. The Dane, who took over the Werkself earlier in the season after Erik ten Hag's sacking, was visibly affected by the scale of the defeat.
"We're feeling a lot of pain right now. These are big numbers. We're hurt," Hjulmand said. "We have to shake it off and look forward."
Like his midfielder, Hjulmand also thanked the home support: "Our fans were incredible. I hope we can give them something back on Sunday."
Aiden Markram and Temba Bavuma played key roles as SA won their first world title
Andrew McGlashan14-Jun-20253:35
Markram: ‘Important to keep Test cricket No.1 in SA’
Temba Bavuma heard the references as Australia tried to get into South Africa’s heads on the fourth day at Lord’s, but the ‘chokers’ tag can now be banished to history.When Bavuma and Aiden Markram resumed on day four needing 69 to win, the Australians reminded them that the job wasn’t done. The tension was palpable in the middle, especially when Bavuma edged Pat Cummins behind with 65 needed and Tristan Stubbs had his bail trimmed by a beauty from Mitchell Starc with the target 41 away.But in the end, there were no major alarms as Markram took them within touching distance of the target with an innings for the ages.Bavuma was quick to say how facing the current Australian team is a different experience than in the past – a clear reference to the infamous 2018 series – but that didn’t mean there weren’t a few words.Related
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“Playing against Australia is a bit different in the last couple of years,” he said. “They’re not as vocal out on the field. They’re still aggressive through their body language, through obviously their skill, but there’s not a lot of chatter.”Of course, the tag of us being chokers, that came about this morning. One of their players threw out the fact that we could lose our eight wickets in less than 60 runs. I definitely heard that.”Aiden kept using the [words] lock in after every over, let’s keep locking in. Let’s give them nothing. So yeah, not a lot of chatter, just one or two things that were, that were said.”1:53
Steyn on SA’s WTC win: ‘We saw the biggest of the biggest come through’
Australia stretched the game as long as they could and in the end were able to take the second new ball, but by then only 14 runs were needed and Markram dispatched the first delivery of it emphatically through midwicket.”It was kind of just draw it out as long as we can, try and for the pace bowlers, just try and go for two runs an over,” Cummins said. “[Nathan] Lyon was looking really likely and you never know, maybe some clouds come over, maybe a new ball does something different, just try to string it out as more and more nerves play into it as well.”Markram, who had been emotional when reaching his century on the third evening and referenced his own feelings when falling short in last year’s T20 World Cup, hoped talk of the past had been permanently put to bed.”It would be great to not have to hear it again, that’s for sure,” he said. “In terms of it motivating you, I mean, there’s always going to be external things that can motivate you, but it’s not your sole purpose for playing. To have got the job done and to literally have got the job done and to get rid of that is quite a big thing for this team.”Cummins was gracious in his assessment of Markram’s performance and South Africa overall after the frequent debates about their route to the final.”A few of us have played alongside him as well in IPL and [he’s] very well respected,” he said. “He’s a good man, Aidan. Unfortunately for us, he kind of made it look pretty easy out there and just built a big innings. We threw a fair bit at him, but [he] had an answer for everything.””Everyone has a slightly different route to make the final, but they absolutely deserved to make the final and showed why I think they’re very deserving champions.”
Mohamed Salah has been branded “greedy” and accused of “hating” Florian Wirtz after passing up the chance to tee up his team-mate for what would have been a first competitive Liverpool goal for the German playmaker. Said incident occurred during the closing stages of the Reds’ 5-1 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League – with the potential there for that result to have been even more emphatic.
Salah benched: Slot makes big selection call
Salah was named among the substitutes as Liverpool sought to snap a run of four successive losses. Arne Slot named big-money summer signings Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike in the same starting XI, meaning that somebody had to miss out in his attacking unit. Salah was only introduced in the 74th minute of the Reds’ latest European fixture.
That was enough time to fire in three shots on goal, with two of those on target, but end product has been in short supply for the legendary Egyptian forward of late. He has failed to hit the back of the net since helping Liverpool to a dramatic 3-2 victory over Atletico Madrid on September 17.
AdvertisementGettySalah accused of being selfish
He was clearly desperate to get in on the act against Eintracht, but that proved detrimental at times to those around him. Wirtz, who moved to Anfield for £116 million ($155m) in the last transfer window, is still waiting on opening his goal account for the Premier League title holders.
Salah opted against squaring for Wirtz in Liverpool’s 2-1 defeat to Manchester United, when the Germany international had a better angle for a shot, and ignored the 22-year-old again late on in Frankfurt. Rather than present his club colleague with a tap-in, Salah went for goal himself.
Fans react to Salah failing to tee up Wirtz
Wirtz was left visibly frustrated, as he clung onto the post, with Salah going on to hurry off the pitch after the final whistle. Liverpool supporters have been quick to ask questions of why Salah is being so selfish. @TheKopWatch posted on social media: “That’s so greedy from Salah, Wirtz is right there for his first goal ffs.” @CiebacT added: “Salah personally hates Flo, no other explanation.”
As that debate continued, @_bubblxs said: “Imagine how good we could be if Salah played WITH wirtz instead of against him.” On a similar theme, @SanchezKing13 chimed in with: “If I’m Wirtz I’m airing Salah and not passing him the ball for the next 8 games”. @LFCApproved went on to say of some lacklustre displays: “Salah has come on, thrown his arms about when it’s not passed to him, only thought about shooting and scoring for himself, never looked for a team-mate. Attitude looked poor.”
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GettyCarragher supports huge Salah call from Slot
Reds legend Jamie Carragher had suggested in the build-up to a clash with Eintracht that Salah should be taken out of the firing line. He told a television audience in the United States during CBS Sports’ coverage of Champions League action: “I spoke about that last night and obviously Arne was watching. Maybe he's got a dodgy box! Punditry isn't my full-time job… I've got a little side one where I speak to the Liverpool coaching staff.
“When Mo Salah isn't being the legendary Mo Salah, he gets treated like one of the other players, which is right. He's 33 years of age and Liverpool will have three games in six days. At the moment, if he isn't at his best, he shouldn't play three games in six days. There are other options there as well. We know Liverpool have spent a lot of money. Liverpool have got a big game at the weekend as well, so great decision, Arne.”
Thomas Frank’s appointment as Tottenham Hotspur boss generated huge excitement amongst the fanbase this summer, with the Dane having the chance to build on the Europa League triumph.
He spent seven years in charge of Brentford before his arrival, often relying upon talents such as Bryan Mbeumo to provide the goods within the final third across the capital.
The Cameroonian international thrived under Frank’s guidance in the Premier League, netting 20 times in the top-flight last season, subsequently making him one of the division’s hottest properties.
After the 51-year-old took charge of the Lilywhites, a real sense of excitement built at the prospect of the Dane bringing the 26-year-old with him in an attempt to sustain the recent European triumph.
However, despite interest in his signature, Mbeumo would move to Manchester United in a £71m transfer – a huge amount of money and potentially a slight overpay.
As a result, the new boss has had to rely on another summer addition and one player already on the books to try and provide the impact he desires within attacking areas.
Kudus & Johnson’s start to the 2025/26 season at Spurs
After missing out on Mbeumo’s signature, Spurs forked out £55m for the services of Mohammed Kudus from West Ham United to try and hand the manager his next version of the Cameroonian.
Such a deal may have been an expensive one, but it’s a transfer that has been worth every penny to date, with the Ghanaian already registering one goal and four assists in his first ten outings.
His first goal for the Lilywhites came in the recent triumph over Leeds United, subsequently highlighting his ability to pop up with crucial goals when the side need him most.
Kudus isn’t alone in falling into that category, with teammate Brennan Johnson also able to score key goals for the Lilywhites, as seen by his winner in the Europa League final last campaign.
Whilst he’s already scored three times across all competitions, the Welsh international has failed to start a single league game since the end of August and has rapidly fallen down the pecking order.
The 24-year-old will likely be disappointed with his lack of action, which has potentially been impacted by the arrival of Kudus during the recent transfer window.
Whilst both are hugely talented players, it remains to be seen if any can reach the levels produced by Mbeumo in recent times, but one other star already in the ranks could achieve such a feat, given the similarities in their careers.
The Spurs star who could be Frank’s next Mbeumo
Over the last couple of seasons, Spurs have splashed the cash to try and compete with teams around them, as seen by the respective deals to land Kudus and Johnson.
Around £400m has been spent in recent years to catapult the club to the needed success, with such spending undoubtedly helping them claim European glory back in May.
Various recruitment strategies have been in place over recent times, often signing a mixture of youth talent for the future, or players entering their prime and able to make an immediate impact.
However, players sometimes cross over both categories, as seen by the arrival of attacker Wilson Odobert from Burnley back in the summer of 2024.
A deal for the Frenchman certainly came out of nowhere, with the Lilywhites hierarchy paying £25m for his signature after the Clarets suffered relegation back to the Championship.
Whilst the 20-year-old has only made 30 appearances throughout the injury, he’s still managed to impress in North London and show glimpses of his potential and talents.
Odobert, who’s been dubbed “phenomenal” by one analyst, has already scored three times for the club, two of which came during their Europa League-winning campaign in 2024/25 – already highlighting his ability to produce the goods in key moments.
Whilst his goalscoring tally isn’t as impressive as Mbeumo’s, the similarities are there for everyone to see, with the Frenchman moving to England from Troyes.
The now Man Utd talent did the exact same upon his transfer to Brentford back in the summer of 2019 – subsequently needing time to make a huge impact in England.
Games played
16
Goals & assists
1
Pass accuracy
85%
Successful dribbles
1.3
Chances created
0.9
Shots taken
1.4
Touches in opposition box
4.1
Recoveries made
3.6
He struggled to register double figures in goals for each of his first three top-flight campaigns, but the Bees’ patience was certainly rewarded, as seen by his tallies and fee generated in recent times.
Odobert could do the exact same for the Lilywhites in the years ahead, with the club and fanbase needing to support the winger in his attempts for success in North London.
At just 20, he has bags of time to live up to the potential he arrived with, but it’s crucial that Frank works his magic once again to create another world-class attacker.
Spurs have signed an incredible "freak talent" who could be their new Bale
The sensational gem could become Tottenham Hotspur’s new Gareth Bale.
ByJack Salveson Holmes Oct 8, 2025
Should he get anywhere close to Mbeumo’s level, it would be a sensational piece of business and one that could help the Lilywhites sustain their recent success in Europe or even domestically.
IPL’s breakout star produces another fast-paced innings after Rocky Flintoff top-scores for England
ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay27-Jun-2025India U19 178 for 4 (Suryavanshi 48, Kundu 45*) beat England U19 174 (Flintoff 56, Mohammed 42) by six wicketsIndia’s 14-year-old sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi scored 48 from just 19 balls as India’s Under-19 side made short work of beating England in the first of five Youth ODIs at Hove.Suryavanshi, who became the youngest-ever century maker in men’s T20 when he hit 101 off 38 balls for Rajasthan Royals in the IPL earlier this year, made a startling debut to competitive cricket in England, putting on 71 in 7.3 overs with his captain, Ayush Mhatre as England were overwhelmed, losing by six wickets with 26 overs to spare.The young India side have made a memorable start to their tour of England. Three days earlier they had won another 50-over game, against a Young Lions Invitational XI at Loughborough, by 231 runs.Here, Suryavanshi was the star attraction, bludgeoning five sixes and three fours. Jack Home’s first over cost 21 runs as the left-hander top-edged his pull shot for six before driving over mid-on and pulling to cow corner for other sixes. But when slow left-armer Ralphie Albert came on Suryavanshi immediately skied to point.It was a different game after that, with India losing three more wickets before crossing the line, keeper Abhigyan Kundu leading the way with an unbeaten 45.England had been bowled out for a disappointing 174 in 42.2 overs, with only Rocky Flintoff (56) and Isaac Mohammed (42) reaching the 20 mark.There was a constant cloud cover and a green tinge to the pitch but it was India’s spinners, Mohamed Enaan and Kanishk Chouhan, who caused most problems, sharing five wickets and proving the most economical of the bowlers.England, who had chosen to bat, had started so positively, with Ben Dawkins and Isaac putting on an aggressive 39 for the fist wicket. The left-handed Isaac, one of two debutants in the team, along with French, was particularly exciting, pulling Henil Patel over square-leg for the first of his four sixes – there were also three fours in his 28-ball innings.The 17-year-old is related to England’s Moeen Ali and Worcestershire’s assistant head coach Kadeer Ali. He signed a three-year contract for Worcestershire from the Warwickshire Academy earlier this month.England lost their first wicket in the eighth over when Dawkins edged to first slip. But Isaac responded by striking Yudhajit Guha for successive sixes to bring up the 50 in the ninth over. Isaac then pulled Enaan over square-leg and out of the ground for another six. But three balls later he was caught at backward square-leg going for another big hit.Flintoff, the youngest player to score a century for the side, again looked in fine form. But his efforts were compromised by the constant fall of wickets at the other end. Ben Mayes looked in good touch when he drove through mid-on for four, but he was caught behind next ball to make it 80 for three and then captain Tom Rew was caught behind third ball.Flintoff, unsure whether to stick or twist, waited for some decent company but it didn’t arrive. Joe Moores and Albert fell cheaply to the off-spin of Chouhan and then Home was run out for five to make it 129 for seven. Flintoff was finally forced to hit out, and there were three sixes and three fours in his 90-ball innings before he was last out, going for another heave.
Marc Guehi’s dreams of a move to Real Madrid look dead in the water after the Crystal Palace captain’s wage and signing-on demands reportedly forced Los Blancos to walk away. The England international, who is out of contract in 2026 and refusing to extend, is now expected to stay in England, with Liverpool leading the race for his signature next summer, while Bayern Munich remain interested.
Real Madrid priced out of Guehi transfer race
Real Madrid look set to pull out of the race to sign Crystal Palace centre-back Guehi, with Spanish outlet AS reporting that his high wage and signing-on demands have made the transfer “virtually impossible.” The 25-year-old, who has just 18 months left on his current contract, is widely expected to leave Selhurst Park next summer after declining multiple renewal offers. The Eagles have already accepted that their captain intends to move on, but Real Madrid, who were keen to bring in a long-term defensive reinforcement, have been priced out.
Sources close to Los Blancos suggest that Real’s recruitment team were impressed with Guehi’s performances in the Premier League and on the international stage but were unwilling to match his financial expectations. Guehi’s camp had reportedly sought a significant pay rise and a multi-million-pound signing bonus, terms which exceeded the club’s internal wage structure. As a result, Real Madrid have turned their attention elsewhere, leaving Liverpool and Bayern Munich as the frontrunners for the England defender’s signature.
Guehi will be eligible to negotiate a pre-contract agreement with overseas clubs from January 2026, though several Premier League sides are expected to make renewed efforts to sign him before then. Liverpool, who came close to securing his services this past summer, are considered favourites to finalise a deal after Real’s withdrawal. However, Bayern Munich’s growing interest could yet complicate matters in what promises to be a major transfer battle.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportReal Madrid planning for the future
Real Madrid’s withdrawal from the race is less about Guehi’s ability and more about their evolving defensive strategy heading into 2026. The club is actively seeking to reinforce its backline amid a mounting injury crisis and long-term uncertainty surrounding key defenders Eder Militao, David Alaba and Antonio Rudiger. With all three battling recurring injuries or approaching the final year of their contracts, Madrid are under pressure to secure a new defensive leader for the next cycle.
Militao has endured back-to-back ACL tears across consecutive seasons, while Alaba’s fitness struggles have continued into 2025, limiting his availability. Rudiger remains consistent but turns 33 in 2026, prompting discussions about succession planning at the heart of Xabi Alonso’s defence. Real Madrid have therefore been scouring Europe for top-tier defenders available at reasonable prices or nearing the end of their contracts, a strategy that initially made Guehi appealing.
However, Guehi’s financial demands reportedly exceeded those of any existing Madrid defender, and the club hierarchy, led by Florentino Perez, has no intention of breaking its internal pay balance for a non-Galactico-level signing. With Guehi off the table, Los Blancos are now turning their attention to other long-term targets, including Bayern Munich’s Dayot Upamecano, Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konate, and Arsenal’s William Saliba, all of whom have been tracked by Madrid scouts in recent months.
(C)Getty ImagesGuehi's spectacular Liverpool transfer collapse
Guehi’s decision to pursue high wages comes against the backdrop of his failed transfer to Liverpool earlier this year, a saga that dominated the final hours of the 2025 summer window. Liverpool had agreed a £35 million (€40m) fee with Crystal Palace, including a sell-on clause, and the player even underwent parts of his medical ahead of a deadline day move to Anfield. However, the transfer collapsed at the last moment after Palace failed to secure a replacement, reportedly prompting manager Oliver Glasner to threaten resignation if the sale went ahead.
Palace’s first-choice target, Brighton’s Igor Julio, chose to join West Ham instead, leaving the Eagles without adequate cover and forcing chairman Steve Parish to pull the plug despite the deal sheet already being submitted. Guehi, who was said to be “devastated” by the decision, returned to training with the Eagles the following week but made clear his intent to move on when his contract expires. The breakdown of that move not only frustrated Liverpool but also alerted several European giants, with Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Inter all contacting his representatives soon after.
For Liverpool, the failed transfer represented a rare misstep in an otherwise calculated window, which saw them sign Alexander Isak, Hugo Ekitike, Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz, among many others. The Reds have maintained contact with Guehi’s camp since then, with sources suggesting that he remains their “priority target” to eventually succeed Van Dijk.
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What comes next?
With Real Madrid officially stepping away from the deal, the race for Guehi’s signature is now expected to intensify between Liverpool and Bayern Munich. Liverpool’s advantage lies in the player’s long-standing admiration for the club and his desire to remain in the Premier League, while Bayern are prepared to offer him a lucrative deal. Both clubs view Guehi as a leader capable of anchoring their defence for years to come.
For Crystal Palace, the priority is stability until the end of the season. The club remains resigned to losing their captain but are determined to keep him until his contract expires in 2026, believing his leadership and consistency are vital for their Premier League campaign.