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Jewell, Came make half-centuries, but Olly Stone goes wicketless at start of loan spell

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay08-Sep-2025

Toby Roland-Jones claimed 6 for 77•Getty Images

Toby Roland-Jones led Middlesex’s fightback with his best Rothesay County Championship bowling figures of the season after promotion rivals Derbyshire had threatened to dominate with the bat on the opening day at Lord’s.Caleb Jewell and Harry Came both hit half-centuries as they forged a century partnership to give the visitors a strong platform at 124 for one before Roland-Jones struck back with four wickets in the space of 27 balls.The former Middlesex captain eventually finished with six for 77, while Ryan Higgins and Zafar Gohar shared the other four wickets evenly as Derbyshire, who began the day with a 24-point gap to second-placed Glamorgan, were bowled out for 283.In reply, Middlesex openers Sam Robson and Josh de Caires trimmed that deficit slightly prior to stumps, reaching 12 without loss.The Seaxes’ pace attack included two red-ball debutants in the shape of Olly Stone, signed on a short-term loan from Nottinghamshire, and 18-year-old Sebastian Morgan – yet there were slim pickings for either when the visitors won the toss and chose to bat on a benign surface.Higgins achieved the solitary breakthrough of the morning session, pinning Luis Reece in front of his stumps with a ball that nipped back down the slope, but Jewell and Came batted through to lunch largely untroubled.The Australian was quick to punish anything loose outside off stump, dispatching an early short ball from Roland-Jones to the cover fence before handing the same treatment to a Stone half-volley.Came settled in following an uncertain start, when Stone beat his outside edge a couple of times and began to take advantage of the short boundary on one side, keeping pace with his partner.It was Jewell who reached his half-century first, nudging a single from the opening ball of the afternoon session, while Came’s arrival at that landmark was more eye-catching as he pulled Stone into the Mound Stand for six.The pair extended their partnership to 105 before it was eventually broken by Higgins, returning for a second stint from the Nursery End and knocking back the left-hander’s off stump for 56.Derbyshire skipper Wayne Madsen, marking his 500th overall appearance in the county’s colours, was soon up and running with two quick fours off Higgins, but his side’s momentum was stemmed by a destructive spell from Roland-Jones.Came was first to go, caught behind off an inside edge for 64 and Brooke Guest was castled having misjudged the line before Roland-Jones got another delivery to rear back and trap former Middlesex man Martin Andersson leg before.Roland-Jones claimed the prize wicket of Madsen in identical fashion to leave Derbyshire apparently wilting at 177 for six, only for Anuj Dal and Zak Chappell to mount a recovery with their stand of 48.Dal eventually departed on the stroke of tea, succumbing to a thin edge off Gohar and the spinner also picked up the wicket of Chappell, but Ben Aitchison’s watchful 36 secured his side a batting bonus point.However, Roland-Jones wrapped up the innings by having both Aitchison and Jack Morley caught behind with the new ball and Middlesex successfully negotiated the day’s remaining seven overs without alarm.

Tottenham manager Thomas Frank has been forced to deal with a plethora of injuries since taking over from Ange Postecoglou, with the club’s bad luck in that regard continuing into this season.

Ex-chairman Daniel Levy got so frustrated with Spurs’ key player absences in 24/25 that he overhauled their medical department for the second year running last summer. Key sports science chiefs Adam Brett and Nick Davies were both shown the door before the start of this season, with Nick Stubbings following Frank from Brentford to join as medical lead.

The Lilywhites were minus Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero, Destiny Udogie and Guglielmo Vicario for large portions of last campaign, alongside many other key men, which undoubtedly played a role in Spurs’ finishing a lowly 17th in the Premier League table.

This season, they haven’t fared much better.

Soon after Frank was appointed to succeed Postecoglou, Spurs lost playmaker James Maddison to an ACL injury which will keep him out for most of 2025/2026, with the England international on an extensive list of absentees.

Dejan Kulusevski

Knee

22/11/2025

James Maddison

ACL

01/06/2026

Radu Dragusin

Knee

22/11/2025

Ben Davies

Thigh

23/11/2025

Kota Takai

Ankle/Foot

23/11/2025

Yves Bissouma

Ankle/Foot

23/11/2025

Lucas Bergvall

Concussion

23/11/2025

Dominic Solanke

Ankle

23/11/2025

Archie Gray

Calf/Shin/Heel

23/11/2025

via Premier Injuries

The likes of Romero, Wilson Odobert, Randal Kolo Muani and Destiny Udogie were also sidelined for periods recently until making their respective comebacks, so Frank will be desperate for this torrid luck to cease as he attempts to guide Tottenham to major silverware and a top four finish.

Luckily for Spurs, electrifying winger and star summer signing Mohammed Kudus is likely to return against Man United this weekend after the Ghanaian confirmed his knock is getting better.

Tottenham hit by injury blow as "promising" youngster Elijah Upson withdraws from England duty

Speaking to Tottenham News, pundit and academy expert John Wenham, who oversees the Lilywhites Rose account on X, says that Tottenham’s injury woes even stretch down to youth level.

Young defender Elijah Upson, who captains Spurs’ Under-18s, was forced to withdraw from the England Under-17s World Cup squad after suffering his own injury, which comes as a crying shame considering the club could have had five youth players representing them for the Three Lions.

The 17-year-old was recently handed a call-up to Tottenham’s Under-21 squad as well, playing the full 90 minutes and shutting out West Brom in a 1-0 win just over a month ago.

The injury comes as more of a blow to Upson’s personal development, with the versatile centre-back/right-back looking to make Johan Lange – who now oversees the academy as one of his many co-director responsibilities – stand up and take notice.

Liverpool are willing to once again break their transfer record in order to sign a player who can “do everything”, and he is seen as a replacement for Mohamed Salah.

Slot assesses another Liverpool defeat

The Premier League champions suffered their third defeat in a week on Saturday, losing 2-1 at Chelsea, with the Reds heading into the international break in worrying form.

Speaking after the game, Liverpool head coach Arne Slot offered an honest verdict, admitting there were still aspects of the performance that he liked.

“Another disappointing loss. That’s clear. Another game similar to the Palace game, although the game was completely different because the playing style of both teams are completely different. But not similar to the Palace game where in the first half I think we played not our best football but still were able to create three big chances.

“They’ve only had one and they’ve immediately scored it, which was completely different to the Palace game, where Palace created a lot of chances in the first half. And the second-half performance, like in Palace, I liked, we’ve created more than enough chances to score more than one goal – last week and today. I think there was a period of the game where I felt, ‘Now we’re going to win it.'”

Salah struggled badly once again, with the Liverpool legend in poor form, and a potential replacement for him has now been linked with a move to Anfield.

Liverpool willing to sign £130m Salah replacement

According to a report from Spain, Liverpool are preparing to pay £130m to sign Bayern Munich winger Michael Olise, breaking their transfer record again in the process, with the Reds seeing him as a replacement for Salah.

The Frenchman has grown into one of the best wingers in Europe currently, and Chelsea and Manchester City are also mentioned as options for him.

Writing Salah off feels far too premature, with the Egyptian simply not playing with his usual confidence, but at 33, it is clear that he can’t go on forever.

Finding a long-term successor to him at Liverpool has to be considered priority transfer business, and in Olise, the Reds could have the perfect option to take on the mantle.

The former Crystal Palace man can be a joy to watch, gliding in off the right wing onto his left foot, and he has been lauded by Bayern teammate Dayot Upamecano: “He’s a magician. His technical level is very high. He can do everything. He can score, set up, and even defend.”

Most importantly, Olise has substance as well as style, which will be needed to replace Salah, with four goals and assists apiece already coming his way for Bayern this season.

Arne Slot risked £70,000-a-week Liverpool star vs Chelsea, he's now injured

It didn’t go to plan for the Reds boss.

ByCharlie Smith Oct 5, 2025

At 23 years of age, he has so much time to improve, and while £130m is an enormous amount of money, Liverpool signing the Frenchman could be a masterstroke as the years pass.

Everton’s 2025/26 campaign has begun in quietly impressive fashion.

Under David Moyes, the Toffees look more disciplined, cohesive, and self-assured than they have in years.

The club sits eighth in the Premier League with three wins and eleven points, having beaten Wolves, Brighton, and most recently Crystal Palace, where a dramatic 93rd-minute winner from Jack Grealish ended the visitors’ 19-match unbeaten run.

It’s been a steady rise for a side that finished 13th last season after a late-season surge under Moyes.

The Scot has instilled the same resilience and structure that defined his first spell at Goodison Park, combining tactical discipline with freedom in attack.

Everton’s football has become more pragmatic, but it’s also more purposeful.

Moyes’ entire side seems revitalised – the pressing is sharper, transitions quicker, and confidence higher.

The upcoming trip to Manchester City will provide a true test of their progress, but the early signs suggest Everton have rediscovered an identity built on energy, hard work, and belief.

Grealish’s resurgence under Moyes

Few stories in the Premier League have been as satisfying as Grealish’s revival.

Once a peripheral figure at Manchester City – limited to just 721 minutes last season, starting only seven matches – the 30-year-old has looked reborn since trading sky blue for royal blue.

After struggling with hip and groin injuries that sidelined him for 17 games over the past two seasons, Grealish is finally playing with freedom again.

Under Moyes, he has been encouraged to express himself but with structure – the blend of tactical discipline and creative liberty that once made him one of Europe’s most sought-after wide players.

In just seven games for Everton this season, he has already registered one goal and four assists in 557 minutes – almost matching his entire output from last season.

Matches Played

7

Goals

1

Assists

1

Progressive Carries

69

Progressive Passes

52

Moyes’ trust has allowed him to thrive; Grealish is central to everything good about Everton’s attack, drifting infield to dictate tempo and combining effectively with Beto and new striker Thierno Barry.

The data reinforces his improvement.

In his most productive campaign – City’s treble-winning 2022/23 season – Grealish averaged 6.27 progressive carries, 4.39 progressive passes, and 4.55 shot-creating actions per 90 minutes.

This season, his numbers are trending in a similar direction, showing that he is once again influencing matches both creatively and through his ball progression.

His ball-carrying remains elite, with 42 carries and 33.9 touches in the attacking third per 90, while his 84.1% pass completion underlines how safely he maintains possession in high-pressure areas.

Add to that an increased work rate – 1.10 tackles and 0.75 blocks per 90 – and you have a player fully committed to Moyes’ philosophy.

Thomas Tuchel’s persistent England squad snubs might have stung, but Grealish’s response has been emphatic.

He looks sharp, decisive, and fit – a player rediscovering the joy of football.

For Moyes, he’s become the emotional core of a rejuvenated team; for Everton, he’s the statement signing that signals a new era of ambition.

Why Dewsbury-Hall could be a victim of Grealish's form

While all eyes are on Grealish’s renaissance, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall is quietly piecing together a redemption story of his own at Goodison Park – though his place in Everton’s best XI isn’t guaranteed.

The 27-year-old midfielder, who joined from Chelsea in the summer for £28m, has been one of Moyes’ success stories so far.

After a difficult spell at Stamford Bridge – where he was largely restricted to Conference League cameos and late Premier League substitutions, despite featuring in the Club World Cup final win over PSG – Dewsbury-Hall has rediscovered the confidence and control that once made him a “revelation” at Leicester, as per Brendan Rodgers.

He’s been impressive statistically, too: seven appearances in all competitions, one goal, one assist, and standout underlying numbers.

He ranks in the 74th percentile for pass completion (80.4%), 82nd percentile for progressive passes (5.46 per 90), and 87th percentile for tackles (1.90 per 90).

Defensively, he’s been immense – sitting in the 98th percentile for clearances (1.54 per 90) among midfielders.

Those figures underline his all-round profile: a player who can dictate tempo, carry through pressure, and win the ball back when required.

Yet, for all his efficiency and reliability, there’s a growing sense that Dewsbury-Hall may not be part of Everton’s most balanced attacking setup moving forward.

His partnership with Grealish has been a curious one – aesthetically pleasing at times, but frustrating in key moments.

Both players are ball-dominant, preferring to carry and create rather than shoot or make penetrative runs beyond the defence.

That overlap in style can sometimes slow Everton’s rhythm, particularly when facing deep or compact opposition.

Moyes has experimented with Iliman Ndiaye cutting in from the left and Tyler Dibling operating from the right, a combination that offers more directness and goal threat around Grealish, who’s thriving in a free role as a No.10.

In that setup, Dewsbury-Hall’s inclusion becomes less certain – not because of form, but because of fit.

Everton’s attack looked its most fluid when Ndiaye’s willingness to shoot complemented Grealish’s creativity, with Dibling stretching play on the opposite flank.

In that configuration, Moyes gains the verticality and unpredictability that Dewsbury-Hall and Grealish together sometimes lack.

There’s no questioning Dewsbury-Hall’s value – his tactical intelligence and work rate have been crucial in solidifying Everton’s midfield.

But as Moyes refines his system, he may have to decide between control and cutting edge.

For now, Dewsbury-Hall remains a key cog in the Toffees’ evolution, yet the competition for places — and Grealish’s growing influence — could soon push him from automatic starter to strategic option.

Everton star who's a "difficult watch" is on borrowed time due to Grealish

Everton boss Moyes may continue to reshape his side over the coming transfer windows.

ByAngus Sinclair Oct 16, 2025

Heading into Leeds United’s clash away at Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday, it felt as if it was a game the Whites couldn’t afford to slip up in as they attempted to get grumbling supporters back on side.

After all, the unwanted backdrop for the trip to Molineux was the fact that Leeds had only scored one goal all season long in Premier League action, with a last-minute loss away at Fulham also still very much stinging.

Thankfully, the demons of Craven Cottage were exorcised emphatically in the West Midlands, as a first-half flurry of goals handed Daniel Farke’s men a 3-1 win.

Already, some heroes are beginning to emerge, with Anton Stach’s wonderfully taken free-kick on the day already making him a firm favourite among the travelling Leeds contingent.

Stach and various other top performers at Wolves will hope they’re remembered in a similar light to Raphinha down the line, with the Brazilian still fondly remembered as a modern icon at Elland Road, before winning himself a bumper move to Barcelona.

Raphinha's memorable stay at Leeds

While Raphinha is now in regular Ballon d’Or conversations at the Camp Nou, he will still look back on his time in West Yorkshire as a proud career moment.

Indeed, without this switch to English shores, the sensational South American might never have been able to win himself such an illustrious move to Spain, with the 28-year-old going on to prove himself as a top-level talent for the Whites by constantly lighting up the demanding Premier League.

Across 67 games donning Leeds white, Raphinha would chip in with 17 goals and 12 assists, with his efforts during the 2021/22 season managing to help keep his precarious side afloat in the top division, per Transfermarkt.

Indeed, without his 11 strikes in Premier League action, Leeds might well have fallen through the trapdoor, with a vital strike on the final day away at Brentford securing a much-needed 2-1 victory to beat the drop.

Winning an all-important penalty on that day, too, alongside also throwing himself into three successful ground duels, Raphinha is further remembered for his non-stop commitment to the cause, away from just his obvious sublime qualities in attack.

One of Farke’s emerging stars from the Wolves win embodies this same spirit, arguably, with another hard-working, yet skilful winger catching the eye in a similar vein to the much-loved Brazilian, and it was not Stach.

Leeds have unearthed their next Raphinha

Various faces in Farke’s camp now have the potential to be the club’s next cherished legend in the same mould as Raphinha, with plenty of the German’s new signings entering the hustle and bustle of the English top-flight from Europe.

Amazingly, the 28-year-old attacker only cost Leeds £17m to obtain from Rennes back in 2020, with a similar bargain perhaps in the offing when considering Noah Okafor relocated from AC Milan to West Yorkshire himself for just £1m more at the £18m mark this summer.

Okafor’s numbers vs Wolves
Stat	Okafor
Minutes played	70
Goals scored	1
Assists	0
Touches	40
Accurate passes	6/14 (43%)
Successful dribbles	6/14
Total duels won	8/21
Stats by Sofascore

After struggling to get up to speed in his opening Premier League encounters, Okafor would – thankfully – spark into life on the road at Vitor Pereira’s Old Gold, with his calmly tucked away chance on the counter ending up being a game-clinching goal for his new side in the 3-1 win.

Now, Farke and Co. will hope the Swiss international can kick on and pick up more goals and even assists aplenty to be held in the same high regard as Raphinha, with Okafor hoping he can, too, be viewed as a dependable and exciting option on the left wing in the long term that regularly ensures survival is secured.

He should be able to settle, considering his past exploits in some tough European environments, with a mighty 81 goal contributions picked up in total playing in Austria, Italy and his native homeland, even seeing scout Jacek Kulig hail the 25-year-old as “incredibly prolific”.

With his Leeds duck now broken after three games, the goals will hopefully start flowing, as he potentially chases down Raphinha’s weighty 17 strikes in England.

Obviously, the hope will be that Okafor sticks it out at Leeds past the two seasons Raphinha managed.

But, if the “electric” forward, as described by talent scout Jacek Kulig, were to go on and be as jaw-dropping to watch as his South American counterpart, a big move might also arrive at the number 19’s door, whether Farke’s side likes it or not.

Not Okafor or Stach: Farke's 9/10 hero looked like "Leeds' best player"

This Leeds United star outshone both Noah Okafor and Anton Stach at Molineux.

By
Kelan Sarson

Sep 21, 2025

MatériaMais Notícias

Pela primeira vez desde que retornou ao Grêmio, o atacante Luan será opção válida para o técnico Renato Portaluppi no compromisso onde o Grêmio recebe o Fluminense, na Arena, pelo Campeonato Brasileiro. A partida em questão ocorre no próximo domingo (13), às 16h (de Brasília).

Apesar do fato representativo se for considerado que a última partida do jogador ocorreu ainda em novembro de 2022, quando defendia o Corinthians, a tendência é de que o atacante comece o duelo no banco de reservas e ganhe alguns minutos no compromisso de times separados apenas por um ponto na tabela. Enquanto os cariocas estão em terceiro lugar, com 31 unidades, o Imortal é o sexto, tendo 30 pontos.

>Já atualizou sua camisa de 2023? Confira os novos uniformes do Imortal!

Tanto pelo ritmo de jogo como considerando o histórico de lesões de Luan, especialmente quando se trata de fascite plantar (inflamação do tecido que liga o osso do calcanhar a ponta dos dedos), o Departamento Médico do Grêmio se mantém bastante cautelosa com a utilização dosada do atleta notoriamente identificado com o clube.

Não à toa, desde a entrevista coletiva que marcou seu retorno, o assunto ‘reestreia’ sempre foi tratado em tom de cuidado. Além disso, a previsão inicial é de que o jogador tenha plenas condições de jogar por um maior período de tempo somente no dia 27 de agosto. Na data em questão, o Grêmio recebe o Cruzeiro.

Essex Women’s head coach Andy Tennant believes the 21-year old can be a long-term success as England Women’s captain

Andrew Miller24-Mar-2025It might, from a distance, look like a wild punt on youth. But Grace Scrivens, England’s former Under-19 captain, is emerging as a contender to be Heather Knight’s long-term successor in the senior women’s team, after being named as captain for the T20I leg of England A’s multi-format tour of Australia.Scrivens, 21, will take charge for the first of three matches against Australia A at Hurstville Oval in Sydney on Wednesday, with Durham captain Hollie Armitage set to lead the 50-over team next week*. Even though she has yet to make her full England debut, Scrivens’ director of cricket at Essex, Andy Tennant, believes she could thrive in the role, just as Graeme Smith did when he was appointed as South Africa captain at a similarly young age back in 2003.”It reminds me back to when Michael Atherton was called the ‘Future England Captain’ when he was at Lancashire,” Tennant said. “That mantle has been placed on Grace’s head. Hopefully, one day, she will become the England captain. I think she would be a bloody good one. But we still need to remember, she’s still only 21.”England A’s tour has taken on heightened significance in the wake of a turbulent weekend for the women’s set-up. Earlier this year, England’s 16-0 points defeat in the Ashes prompted an extensive review by the ECB, and the upshot is now the departure of both the captain and head coach, Jon Lewis, who was sacked on Friday after just over two years in his role.The ECB had not initially named any captains for the seven-match tour, although Scrivens and Armitage, along with The Blaze’s Kirstie Gordon and the withdrawn Bryony Smith, were the only players in the multi-format squads with extensive leadership experience. Last season Scrivens led Sunrisers to victory in the final staging of the Rachael Heyhoe-Flint Trophy, while in 2023, she was named in the ICC’s team of the tournament after leading England to the final of the Under-19 World Cup in South Africa, where they lost to the favourites, India.Sunrisers have since moved their set-up across to Chelmsford, following Essex’s successful bid to be a Tier 1 professional women’s county. Speaking prior to Knight’s departure, Tennant – who has joined the club alongside 14 of last year’s 16-person squad – was unfazed about the speculation surrounding the team’s young leader.”One of the beauties of Grace as a leader is she recognises she’s young, she recognises she’s got a distance to go, but that in itself is so powerful, because she’s hungry to learn,” he said. “She’s hungry to get better. We’ve seen those leadership qualities in her, and we’re keen to help her grow with them.”Grace Scrivens holds the 2024 Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy aloft•Getty Images for Surrey CCCEngland have had just three full-time women’s captains since 2000 – Clare Connor, Charlotte Edwards and Knight – with the latter pair’s tenures spanning 11 and nine years respectively.Knight’s long stint has left alternatives within the current set-up thin on the ground. Nat Sciver-Brunt, her official vice-captain, does not appear to covet the role, while similar doubts surround other senior players, such as Amy Jones, Danni Wyatt-Hodge and Sophie Ecclestone. Tammy Beaumont, Welsh Fire’s captain, is a potential short-term appointment although, at 34, she is the same age as Knight, and is not currently a part of England’s T20I set-up.Scrivens herself has yet to make her senior England debut, although a step-up seems only a matter of time given her strong Under-19 record of 293 runs at 41.85. And if, ultimately, another long-term appointment is deemed to be the way to go for England, then Tennant is confident that she would be ready to grow with the role.”She feels to me a little bit like the English Graeme Smith,” Tennant said, referencing South Africa’s former captain who was appointed at the age of 22, after just eight previous Test appearances. He went on to captain his side in 109 Tests across 11 years, before retiring while still in the role in 2014.”She’s that feisty left-hander,” Tennant said. “She plays the game aggressively. She’s a scholar of the game. She loves it. So I think down the line, I’d love her to captain England, and I think she’d be very good at it.”England A’s preparations for the T20I series suffered a blow when Danielle Gibson, one of the squad’s more experienced players, was ruled out of the tour with a stress fracture of the back. She will fly home to undergo rehabilitation at Somerset, with Essex’s Eva Gray called up as a replacement.2pm GMT – This story was updated following the captaincy announcements and Gibson’s injury

Manchester City have now reached an agreement on personal terms with an “incredible” star, who has spoken to Pep Guardiola directly, according to a report.

Man City looking to hijack Premier League rivals

As we approach the final two weeks of the summer transfer window, Man City still remain keen to make multiple additions to their squad, and they are now looking to hijack a number of their Premier League rivals’ deals.

Despite bringing in Rayan Cherki as a replacement for Kevin De Bruyne earlier this summer, the Blues are still looking to sign a new attacking midfielder, and they have made contact over a deal for major Chelsea target Xavi Simons.

Not only that, but they have also joined the race for Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, who has been identified as a major target for Manchester United, and it now appears as though the Italian is set to leave this summer.

With widespread reports suggesting the 26-year-old is set to be available for just £43m, City have now upped the ante in their pursuit of the shot-stopper, and a report from L’Equipe has revealed they have reached an agreement on personal terms.

Luis Enrique has also confirmed the Italy international is no longer his number one, saying: “These are always difficult decisions to make, I can only say good things about Donnarumma, he is one of the best players in his position and he is even better as a person. But we were looking for a different profiile. It’s my decision, it’s the club’s.”

Having been left out of PSG’s upcoming UEFA Super Cup final against Tottenham Hotspur, the PSG goalkeeper is set to depart, and he has already held direct talks with Guardiola over a move to the Etihad Stadium.

Romano: Man City now open talks to sign £86m "dream target" who Pep loves

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By
Dominic Lund

Aug 12, 2025

"Incredible" Donnarumma could be Ederson upgrade

There have been suggestions that Guardiola has been growing fed up with some of Ederson’s performances, with the goalkeeper looking particularly poor in the Club World Cup exit at the hands of Al-Hilal, and the Italy captain could be an upgrade on the Brazilian.

Statman Dave suggested the former AC Milan star is among the best goalkeepers on the planet, after playing a major role in his PSG side progressing past Liverpool, Aston Villa and Arsenal to reach the Champions League final.

The PSG star has also been lauded as “incredible” by members of the media, and he has shipped an average of just 1.02 goals per 90 over the past year, which ranks him in the top 12% of goalkeepers in Europe’s top five leagues.

That said, Man City have already signed James Trafford this summer, and the young Englishman may be frustrated if City sign Donnarumma, given that it could severely hinder his chances of becoming the new first-choice goalkeeper.

Tottenham Hotspur are set to attempt a bid for Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze, with Lilywhites chiefs now holding an intriguing theory behind-the-scenes.

A move for the 27-year-old has been brought to the very forefront of Thomas Frank’s transfer plans, especially after the Dane lost star playmaker James Maddison.

Maddison is expected to miss a large portion of 2025/2026 after rupturing his ACL in a pre-season draw against Newcastle nearly two weeks ago, so Spurs’ glaring need for a new playmaker has now intensified.

Tottenham were already in the market for number 10 and failed with a once-very advanced move for Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White last month. Daniel Levy originally planned to head into the new season with both Maddison and Gibbs-White, but Frank’s now got neither at his disposal for their opening Premier League game of the season against Burnley on Saturday.

As Levy and technical director Johan Lange attempt to end the summer transfer window on a high, they’re set to make a formal bid for Eze to solve Tottenham’s shortage of attacking options.

“Tottenham are set to make a bid for Crystal Palace attacker Eberechi Eze,” wrote talkSPORT earlier this week.

“Spurs view the England attacker as a No.10 and their pursuit is separate to the club’s interest in Manchester City winger Savinho as a result.

“Spurs are hoping to move quickly and have been told by Eze’s camp terms will not be a problem. Eze is open to the move, and wants to both play Champions League football and ideally stay in London.”

A move for the England international, who bagged 14 goals and 11 assists in all competitions last season, is very much alive.

Eze’s £68 million release clause is believed to expire on Friday, but it is likely irrelevant, as Tottenham want to pay a similar fee to that of Mohammed Kudus – who they signed for around £55 million earlier in the window.

Tottenham hold behind-scenes Eberechi Eze theory amid Crystal Palace talks

This is backed up by TEAMtalk, who also report that Spurs are growing in confidence when it comes to potentially completing a deal.

The outlet states that Eze is likely to have already “played his last game for Palace”, with Levy and co working on a plan to make a “quick breakthrough” in negotiations to sign the ex-QPR star.

Tottenham also theorise that they’ve put together the frameworks of a deal for Eze which will satisfy Palace and chairman Steve Parish, even if there is a £13 million gap in valuation between the clubs right now.

Even if their initial approach for him gets snubbed, Spurs will follow up in quick fashion.

By all accounts, Eze is worth this late-window effort.

The Eagles superstar was, by some distance, their standout attacking asset last term – bagging 14 goals and 11 assists in all competitions – including the FA Cup-final winning strike against Man City.

His goal against City at Wembley ended Palace’s history-long wait for a major trophy, so Eze is absolutely no stranger to the big occasion.

If Levy is serious about winning the Premier League and Champions League, which he pledged was the case earlier this year, Eze is exactly the kind of primed, proven player that Tottenham need to be signing.

In a late flurry of deals, Nottingham Forest have now reportedly submitted an opening offer to sign a Bundesliga attacker for Nuno Espirito Santo.

Nottingham Forest agree Kalimuendo deal

Whilst it has been a steady summer at Forest, with their biggest deal arguably being Morgan Gibbs-White’s new contract, Nuno reiterated that there is still work that needs to be done.

The Forest boss told reporters: “Dealing with doubts is the worst thing you can have in football. We have doubts, who is going to be [here], when are they [new signings] going to come? All these things create doubts.

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Posts ByCallum Kemp Aug 15, 2025

“Not only me but in the club. What we want is game-by-game to have as many options as possible. Europe will come after, and for sure it will be better, but for now until that happens it is a major concern.

“The owner is aware, the club is aware, everyone is aware. Everybody knows the reality. This is a lost chance that we had as a group to do it.”

It seems as though Nuno is set to get an answer to his questions and the chance to ease his doubts, however. Following his strong words, Forest have reportedly agreed a deal to sign Arnaud Kalimuendo, whilst the likes of Omari Hutchinson and James McAtee also now look destined for the City Ground this month.

It’s a late-summer spending spree which may be far from done. Reports are now indicating that Forest have also submitted an opening bid to sign a Bundesliga talent.

Nottingham Forest submit Leweling offer

According to Sky Germany, Nottingham Forest submitted an opening bid to sign Jamie Leweling worth €25m (£22m) with add-ons.

VfB Stuttgart have rejected this first offer, and the German club reportedly have no intention of selling their star winger, but whether more interest from the Premier League changes that remains to be seen.

League stats 24/25

Anthony Elanga

Jamie Leweling

Minutes

2,501

1,663

Goals

6

11

Assists

2

2

Key Passes

50

25

Those at the City Ground are seemingly willing to take a chance on Leweling despite a relatively tough season last time out. Although a hamstring injury disrupted his campaign, the German would have been disappointed to end on just four goal involvements in the Bundesliga last time out.

On paper, the 24-year-old does not have the output levels to replace Anthony Elanga, who decided to swap the Midlands for Newcastle United earlier this summer.

Nonetheless, Leweling has still earned plenty of praise in Germany. Stuttgart sporting director Fabian Wohlgemuth told reporters: “Jamie featured in every Bundesliga match [last season], and that statistic alone shows just how important he is to the team.

“His commitment and willingness to work for the team make him a very valuable player for us. We also think that he has plenty of potential to develop further, and that’s why we decided to tie Jamie down to VfB on a long-term deal.”