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Chelsea have been on a tear this summer.

Enzo Maresca’s side stunned plenty of fans and pundits alike on the pitch by adding a Club World Cup title to their Conference League title and have been just as active off of it.

For example, the board have been able to shift a number of players they no longer wanted, like Noni Madueke and Kepa Arrizabalaga, while also bringing in several who could seriously improve the squad, like Joao Pedro and Jamie Gittens.

However, they aren’t done there, as they’ve been heavily linked with the mercurial Xavi Simons, and now it would appear as if they are closing in on another player who’d be a dream teammate for the Dutchman.

Chelsea target dream teammate for Simons

While Chelsea continue to be linked with a host of players this summer, one of the more prominent over the last week or so has been Simons.

Transfer Focus

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

Reports from earlier today even claimed that the Blues are actually closing in on a deal for the RB Leipzig ace, which could see him move for around £52m.

While that is no small sum of money, it does feel like fair value for a 22-year-old star who racked up 11 goals and eight assists in just 33 appearances last season.

Interestingly, in addition to signing the Amsterdam-born star, the West Londoners now also seem intent on bringing another player to the club who’d be a dream teammate for him.

At least that is according to a recent report from transfers expert Fabrizio Romano, who has reaffirmed that Chelsea are incredibly interested in Jorrel Hato, suggesting that he is ‘ready to accept personal terms’.

More than that, the Italian journalist has revealed that the Blues are in talks with Ajax and view the defender, who is keen on the move, as their “next top priority.”

Romano makes no mention of the fee required to sign the player, but stories from earlier this month claim it could be around £60m, and while that is a lot, it might be worth paying, especially as Hato could be a perfect teammate for Simons.

Why Hato would be a dream teammate for Simons

So, one of Simons considerable strengths is that he’s comfortable playing in the middle of the park as a ten, or out wide as a winger – and sometimes up top – so when it comes to forming a partnership with full-back, it would be incredibly beneficial if they could overlap and come inside depending on what is needed in that moment.

Fortunately, Hato is such an intelligent and gifted footballer that he can do just that.

While he prefers to come inside and invert, at least that’s what he does more often at Ajax; you can see his ability to overlap in his heat map from last season.

This ability to fulfil both roles without much bother will do two things.

Firstly, it will mean he can avoid getting in Simon’s way, depending on where he is on the pitch.

Secondly, it could also see him get more game time due to his adaptability, which in turn will allow him to develop a more effective partnership with the Leipzig star.

Away from their position, the reason they’d be great teammates at Chelsea is that the “exceptional” talent, as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, is also a part of the Dutch national team.

Therefore, they’ll have even more time than most to get a proper understanding of one another’s game.

Finally, while the 19-year-old wonderkid’s primary role will be to defend, he’s also shown an ability to create chances for his team, as in 33 league appearances last season, he racked up six assists to go with his two goals, which suggests he could provide a decent number of chances for the former PSV Eindhoven star to score.

Appearances

31

Starts

30

Minutes

2592′

Goals

2

Assists

6

Goal Involvements per Match

0.25

Minutes per Goal Involvement

324′

Points per Game

2.23

Ultimately, Simons looks like he’ll be a brilliant signing for Chelsea, but if the Conference League champions want to get even more out of him next season, signing Hato as well would be a good place to start.

Unofficial Chelsea swap deal possible as club open talks for Maresca outcast

It could be one in, one out at Stamford Bridge.

ByEmilio Galantini Jul 23, 2025

Will Celtic sign another Premier League superstar?

Kieran Tierney has already returned to Parkhead this summer, following in the footsteps of manager Brendan Rodgers and Jota, who’ve also both re-joined the club in recent times.

Now, could another boyhood Celtic fan fulfil his dreams of wearing the famous green and white hoops?

Celtic targeting another statement signing

According to a report by TEAMtalk, Celtic are ‘interested’ in signing Liverpool full-back Andy Robertson, while admitting that ‘financial constraints’ would prove to be a stumbling block.

The Scotland captain is widely expected to depart Merseyside this summer, with David Ornstein and Mario Cortegana of the Athletic documenting Atlético Madrid’s interest, given that the Reds are targeting Bournemouth’s Miloš Kerkez, who they view as an upgrade.

Robertson, who was in Celtic’s academy between the ages of nine and 15, has always been open about his desire to represent the Hoops one day, admitting that “Celtic was my life” growing up, adding that he’d “love to pull on the Celtic top and walk out at Parkhead” one day.

So, could this move really come to fruition this summer?

How Andy Robertson compares to Kieran Tierney

It is all change in terms of Celtic left-backs this summer.

Greg Taylor is highly likely to depart following the expiration of his contract. PAOK are the latest European club interested in securing his services, while it’s not yet clear if Jeffrey Schlupp will be staying, following a brief loan spell.

Meantime, Tierney has of course returned but, as has been an interminable debate surrounding the national team for nigh on a decade, is he better than Robertson?

Let’s attempt to find out.

Appearances

20

45

Minutes

447

3,320

Pass completion %

79.8%

83.0%

Interceptions

0.2

0.6

Tackles

0.5

1.2

Clearances

0.7

1.3

Ball recoveries

2.2

3.8

Ground duel success %

71%

50%

Touches

72.5

76.9

First things first, due to injuries and the fact he was not first-choice at Arsenal, Tierney played fewer than 500 minutes of club football this season, which does offer a very small sample size.

That caveat aside, Robertson’s per-90 statistics are still pretty much more impressive across the board.

When he was still Liverpool manager, Jürgen Klopp described Robertson as a “world-class left-back”, while José Enrique, a former incumbent of the Reds’ full-back spot, asserts that he has been “the best left-back in the world” for many years.

Now though, James Pearce and Mark Carey of the Athletic outline that the Scotland captain’s form ‘has come under intense scrutiny’ this season, while also asserting that he is far from ‘finished at the highest level’.

Robertson still ranked 17th in the Premier League this season for crosses into the penalty area, as well as 11th for crosses overall, according to FBref.com, an attribute that has been viewed as his superpower for many years.

Gillian Kasirye of Total Football Analysis claims that Robertson is ‘passed their peak’, but still has a lot to offer at the elite level, so could he really be tempted to make a move to Glasgow this summer?

Celtic may make shock bid to re-sign £10m star who Rodgers called "sublime"

Hoops supporters could absolutely love this.

1 ByHenry Jackson Jun 17, 2025

Invincibles beaten on home patch after collapsing in chase of 146

ECB Media02-Aug-2024

Nicholas Pooran’s unbeaten 65 off 41 gave Superchargers the edge•ECB via Getty Images

Nicholas Pooran was at it again, making his second big-hitting half-century in a row to secure back-to-back victories for Andrew Flintoff’s Northern Superchargers in the Hundred.In front of 24,160 expectant fans at the Kia Oval, Pooran ensured the theme of the day was Superchargers teams crashing the party – and clearing the boundary – after the women’s team won in an equally comprehensive manner earlier in the day.The two wins signalled the end of both Oval Invincibles sides’ 100% records, and left both men’s and women’s competitions wide open.Pooran’s 65 came from just 41 balls, with four mammoth sixes, and navigated a difficult start for his side to see Superchargers to 145 from their 100 balls. Pooran found it easier than most to find or clear the boundary, but Ollie Robinson’s 20 from 10 added some late impetus and gave the visitors a competitive total at the break.The Superchargers bowlers never let Invincibles get away in their chase, with Jordan Clark, Dillon Pennington and Matthew Potts all miserly up top. They received good support from their team-mates in the field, with Adam Hose and Mitchell Santner himself taking tidy catches in the deep.Santner was one of a trio of spinners, alongside Adil Rashid and Matt Short, who backed up the good work their seamers had started to give Invincibles nowhere to go in the middle of their innings.As the home team’s hopes began to fade, there was still time for Donovan Ferreira to pepper the spectators with five sixes in a 24-ball 49. The South African’s enterprising and entertaining knock briefly threatened to turn the game on its head before he was dismissed by Potts, but his was a lone hand – the only player to pass 20 in a chase that never really got into sixth gear.Meerkat Match Hero Pooran said: “For me it’s about being consistent with my mindset, and playing the situation of the game. In the past I’ve been in similar situations and just got out, but today I just felt like I had to respect the situation and just be there at the end.”Oval Invincibles bowled really well with the new ball; Spencer Johnson bowled really well. For me it was all about being there. As the innings prolonged for me, it felt like it got better, but in saying that it felt like if we could get anything over 130 then it was game on. And I just felt like we could only get there if we constructed the partnership or if I could stay till the end.”It’s brilliant. Getting back to back wins in a format like this is really important. Coming outside of our home venue too, coming here to the defending champions and getting a win is really important for us to continue growing as a group as well. We’re heading back to Headingley on Sunday and hopefully we can continue ticking the boxes and getting the right result.”

Ipswich Town have shown flashes of quality here and there this season in the Premier League, but that unfortunately hasn’t stopped the losses piling up next to their name.

For all the memorable victories against Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur, there have also been bleak defeats served up, with the Tractor Boys last tasting the unfamiliar sensation of a win way back at the start of April.

Therefore, relegation straight back down to the Championship hasn’t come as a great shock to Kieran McKenna’s men as they begin to now prepare for life without Liam Delap when readjusting to the second tier.

The latest on Delap's future at Ipswich

A lot of Ipswich’s brighter moments this season have come courtesy of the ex-Manchester City striker.

The Tractor Boys riskily went ahead with the signature of Delap last summer for £20m, which looked to be a steep amount at the time, considering he had never really gone on to make a name for himself in the senior fold at the Etihad.

But, the now potent Premier League proven attacker could move on for nearly double that amount – as his release clause stands at £30m if Ipswich were to be relegated – which would still be a bargain pick-up arguably when you take into account he has bagged a promising 12 league strikes in a relegation-doomed side.

Chelsea, Newcastle United, and Manchester United are all reportedly keen on landing the much-talked-about 22-year-old, with the Guardian even recently reporting that a £150k-per-week move has been thrust Delap’s way from Ruben Amorim’s men.

To add insult to injury, this isn’t the only demoralising sale Ipswich might well have to sign off on soon, with one of Delap’s teammates proving he’s ready to cut it in the Premier League long-term away from Portman Road.

Another important Ipswich star could leave

McKenna is a popular figure in and around the Tractor Boys, so he will be hopeful that he can keep his core group around for the tough challenge of immediately returning to the top-flight.

But, Leif Davis could soon join Delap out the exit door at the freshly relegated side, with a new report from TWTD suggesting Nuno Espirito Santo’s Nottingham Forest are keeping tabs on the expansive full-back ahead of the chaotic summer transfer window.

Whilst Davis hasn’t quite been at his consistent rampaging best in the big time for Ipswich, with only three assists mustered up from 31 league outings, this would be a huge hole to fill down the left flank if he were to go, considering his expertise when dropping down to the Championship.

Along the way to Ipswich clinching automatic promotion at the close of the dramatic 2023/24 campaign, the ex-Leeds United man would pick up an astounding 21 assists, with a high 2.9 key passes also averaged per league contest.

Games played

43

43

Goals scored

3

2

Assists

14

18

Touches*

62.0

65.3

Accurate passes*

25.6 (73%)

28.5 (79%)

Key passes*

3.1

2.9

Big chances created*

12

15

Total duels won*

4.5

4.0

Clean sheets

12

10

To lose this from the Tractor Boys’ attacking game back in the EFL would be disastrous, therefore, with the “sensational” full-back – as he’s been lauded in the past by football journalist Stuart Watson – arguably a harder star to replace than the prolific Delap, just for how effective he’s been at the level previously.

After all, Ipswich managed just fine without the clinical number 19 when Davis and Co. last soared into the Premier League, with Conor Chaplin, Nathan Broadhead, and many others chipping in with the strikes instead.

It will be intriguing to see if the Northern Irishman does end up relocating to the City Ground or any other pastures, therefore, with the loss of Davis, on top of Delap moving on, severely depleting Ipswich ahead of playing in the unforgiving Championship again.

Their new Chaplin: Ipswich looking to sign "ruthless" striker on a free

Ipswich Town will hope this new attacker can be as clinical as Conor Chaplin has been in the Championship.

ByKelan Sarson May 22, 2025

West Ham United manager Graham Potter is now driving a move for a “sensational” Premier League player, who is now very high on the list of summer targets, according to a report.

Potter staves off pressure with Old Trafford triumph

West Ham remained winless in the Premier League throughout March and April, which ramped up the pressure on Potter, with the manager hitting back at the media amid the intense scrutiny over his position as manager.

However, the Hammers boss managed to relieve some of the pressure with an impressive victory on the road on Sunday, picking up a 2-0 victory against Manchester United at Old Trafford courtesy of goals form Tomas Soucek and Jarrod Bowen.

The win moves the Irons up to 15th in the Premier League table, leapfrogging Man United and Tottenham Hotspur, but the poor results throughout the campaign suggest the manager will need to make major improvements to his squad in the summer window.

According to a report from Football Insider, Potter is particularly eager to strengthen between the sticks, with the manager keen on signing Southampton goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, who is now very high on West Ham’s shortlist.

New target: West Ham now preparing substantial offer to sign 45 G/A "beast"

The Hammers are willing to make a significant bid for a forward, who has been at the top of his game this season.

ByDominic Lund May 11, 2025

Alphonse Areola has been inconsistent this season, which means the Hammers are now looking to bring in a replacement for the Frenchman, and the £25m relegation release clause in Ramsdale’s Southampton contract makes him an attractive proposition.

However, there could be stiff competition for the goalkeeper’s signature, with Man United, Leeds United and Newcastle United also believed to be keen on a deal.

Ramsdale could be "sensational" signing for West Ham

Although they avoided the ignominy of recording the joint-lowest points total in Premier League history with a 0-0 draw against Manchester City last time out, it has been a terrible campaign for Southampton, whose relegation to the Championship was confirmed long ago.

That said, the Englishman cannot be blamed for his side’s extremely poor season, having put in some solid performances, recently recording a 9.3 SofaScore match rating after saving two penalties in his side’s 3-0 loss against Aston Villa.

With Potter well-known for a possession-based style, the manager may also be keen to bring in a goalkeeper comfortable with the ball at his feet, and the 26-year-old is placed in the 92nd percentile for touches per 90 over the past year, when compared to other goalkeepers.

Having also been lauded as “sensational” by journalist Dan George during his time with Arsenal, there are clear signs that Ramsdale could be a solid signing for West Ham this summer, and £25m feels like a reasonable fee for his services.

Wrexham are one of a host of EFL clubs interested in signing an “excellent” international player in the summer transfer window, according to a new claim.

Wrexham facing huge period in promotion battle

Phil Parkinson’s side find themselves right in the League One promotion mix heading into the final weeks of the season, as they look to make it an incredible three promotions in a row.

Wrexham have six games remaining in the league in 2024/25, and while they currently sit in second place behind runaway leaders Birmingham City, they only have a three-point advantage over third-place Wycombe Wanderers, who have a game in hand.

Next up for Parkinson’s men is the visit of Burton Albion on Saturday lunchtime, with their opponents languishing in 21st place and desperately battling to remain in League One for another season. A home win is a must, with Wycombe facing a trickier trip to Reading.

New signings will be needed for Wrexham this summer regardless of what league they are playing in next term, and a proven top-level player has now been linked with a move to The Racecourse Ground.

Wrexham want "excellent" Wales and Rangers star Tom Lawrence

According to an update from The Daily Mail, Wrexham are interested in signing Rangers midfielder Tom Lawrence on a free transfer this summer, with the 31-year-old born there before moving to Manchester United as an eight-year-old.

The League One outfit are far from alone in expressing a willingness to snap him up, however, with the likes of West Brom, Middlesbrough and Blackburn Rovers all mentioned, among others.

Lawrence would be an ambitious addition for Wrexham this summer, especially if they can get him for free, with his current Rangers deal expiring at the end of this season. At 31, he isn’t getting any younger, but he is still at a good age to come in and make an impact, having been lauded by David McAllum for his influence on young players at Ibrox.

“Tom was excellent around the group, sharing his experience, and we spoke before the game about that. That’s what some of these games are going to be about, when we get the odd occasion where a player, or two, drops down from the first-team squad to get important minutes.”

Derby County

185

37

25

Rangers

66

12

7

Ipswich Town

36

11

11

Blackburn Rovers

23

2

3

Yeovil Town

19

2

2

Cardiff City

14

0

1

Carlisle United

11

3

2

Rotherham United

6

1

1

Leicester City

4

0

0

Manchester United

1

0

0

Lawrence is a 23-cap Wales international, scoring three times for his country, so his pedigree is undeniable, and his versatility allows him to shine in central midfield, out wide and also as a centre forward.

Wrexham in League One: Latest standings, fixtures, results & key dates

FFC has all the latest Wrexham info as they seek promotion from League One, along with a look at the Red Dragons’ journey to where they are today.

ByStephan Georgiou Oct 8, 2024

The Welshman has huge experience in the EFL too, as well as making a total of 66 appearances for one of Britain’s biggest clubs in Rangers, so the idea of Wrexham signing him is hugely exciting.

They weren’t the only ones waving the flags of their country around as Mushfiqur Rahim scored 191

Mohammad Isam24-Aug-2024Mohammad Ismail and his family are sat in the Imran Khan enclosure, west of the Pavilion building at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. They are wearing Bangladesh jerseys and caps, with their umbrellas pulled down in the extreme heat. You could however see their smiles from underneath. There is a row of fans sitting with Bangladesh flags in their hands. There are more in the other stands, but interestingly not all of them are in the hands of Bangladeshis.Ismail works in the Bangladesh high commission in Islamabad. He is sitting with warrant officer Sarwar Uddin. They are among a handful of families who live in Islamabad and traveled to Rawalpindi for this game. Many work in the high commission, while some are posted here on private jobs. Presently, they are enjoying the Mushfiqur Rahim-Mehidy Hasan Miraz 196-run partnership for the seventh wicket. As soon as we settle down, Mushfiqur paddle sweeps Salman Ali Agha for his 17th boundary.A big cheer goes up in the stands, which is surprising because the rest of those sitting in this enclosure are Pakistanis. It is a genuine cheer. It is not in jest. When Mushfiqur reached his eleventh Test century, there was a huge cheer around the ground. It is a sign of a decent crowd that cheers for both sides and that has surprised Ismail and Sarwar.”Many Pakistanis have carried Bangladesh flags to the stadium this time, to my surprise,” Ismail said. “I haven’t been here for a long time but I can safely say that it is a first. When we watched Asia Cup matches in Lahore, we waved Bangladesh flags. This time you can see a lot of locals actually bringing Bangladesh flags for genuine support.”One of those locals, a youngster named Abdullah, said that Rawalpindi fans often bring flags and posters of visiting players to the grounds. He said that this time the support is genuine as they enjoy Bangladesh’s cricket. Abdullah said he also followed the student protests in Bangladesh in the last few weeks, which made him more interested about the country. Everyone wants to know about August 5 and how it will shape Bangladesh’s future.Pakistan’s interest in Bangladesh cricket isn’t new though. Hundreds of Pakistani cricketers have played in the Dhaka Premier League since the 1980s while many have also played in the BPL since 2012. A good performance in the first Test in Rawalpindi has the potential of bringing more Pakistani fans to the ground, and perhaps some more supporting Bangladesh too.

He can be particularly dominant against spin, is working to remedy his issues against the short ball, and has a sackful of recent runs to his name

Shashank Kishore09-Dec-202280, 54, 63, 44, 50, 113*, 28*, 80, 49, 24, 82.Following India’s 3-0 loss in South Africa this January, Shreyas Iyer has batted 11 times in ODIs. In this period, he has racked up six half-centuries and a career-best 113 not out at a strike rate of 92.63. In his most recent outing on a difficult Mirpur pitch that offered both turn and variable bounce, he made a high-quality 82 off 102 balls.Much of this consistency (refer to the sequence above) can be attributed to a sense of security he’s had in a second-string India XI, led by Shikhar Dhawan. Eight of these 11 knocks have come in games Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli haven’t played. In their absence, Iyer has either been an accumulator or an enforcer, depending on circumstances.In an ideal world, given the year he has had – he is the highest run-getter among Full Member players in ODI cricket so far – there should be no debates around Iyer’s spot in a full-strength side. But because of stifling competition in India’s middle order, Iyer has a constant tussle on his hands.However, his string of compelling performances have put him top of the list of contenders for now though, and raised hopes of Iyer being the No. 4 batter who could lend stability to the line-up – something India have yearned for since the previous 50-over World Cup in 2019.Related

• India's contenders for the 2023 ODI World Cup

• Blunt in the middle – India have a bowling problem to solve

• Bowler to all-round match-winner – Mehidy comes of age

• Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami likely to miss Bangladesh Test series

Iyer’s biggest strengths are his ability to score freely, and access different pockets of the ground. While others may be lacking in terms of their scoring rate against spin, Iyer has gained a reputation of being unstoppable against slow bowling. Among the reasons for that are his footwork and clarity.But there’s also this growing chorus over Iyer’s vulnerability against the short ball, and not without reason. It all started at the IPL, when he was repeatedly roughed up by bouncers. He was out to short-pitched deliveries four times, and the demons unleashed by it got him one other time when Umran Malik peppered him with some bouncers before dismantling his stumps with a searing yorker.In England, these struggles were exposed point blank with that famous Brendon McCullum’s go-for-his-throat gesture to his bowlers from the balcony. It’s an area that needs work, Iyer has acknowledged, and he is trying to find remedies behind the scenes; he has seldom lacked in effort and willingness to deal with the issue. That quality, in someone as flamboyant as Iyer, will make the team management happy.When it was known Iyer wasn’t going to be part of the travelling reserves to Australia for the 2022 T20 World Cup, he set up one-on-one sessions with Abhishek Nayar, the former Ranji Trophy-winning captain with Mumbai. Iyer and Nayar have developed a fantastic working relationship over the years. The core of these private sessions in Mumbai was to help improve his game against the short ball.Those who’ve watched Iyer closely would know about his propensity to back away to slash behind point or over cover. It’s one of his release shots against the short ball aimed at the body, one that looks terribly ugly when it doesn’t come off. The idea behind the private sessions was to explore more options, and give him enough time to put them into practice by making minor tweaks to his setup.Shreyas Iyer has been vulnerable against the short ball, but he’s been working on it of late•BCCI”The initial part was to understand why he wasn’t able to play the short ball well,” Nayar tells ESPNcricinfo. “We worked on the technical side and made a slight change in his initial movements. If you watch him closely, you will see small tactical and technical changes, like where he stands, how he stands. The distance between his feet and initial movements change. His feet are a lot wider in his setup, which has helped him play the pull. In New Zealand [in November], he was playing the short-arm pull a lot more.”We started working on it during the IPL but couldn’t address the issue since matches kept coming thick and fast. So, when he had this break, we worked on his technique, prior to the [domestic] Syed Mushtaq Ali T20s. Once he understood the nuances of why he wasn’t playing it well and why he’d get into a tangle, it was a lot easier to address it.”Lately, he’s had more success rather than fending or hitting over point or cover point like he did previously. Knowing him and what he’s done and his mindset towards attacking the problem, he’s not far away from pulling a 150kph bouncer for four or six. Is he there yet? He will be, very soon, but at 135-140 [kph], he’s very comfortable playing that. He’s worked really hard at it technically in terms of making those changes and understanding why he had those problems and what was affecting his short-ball game. If his numbers are so good with all these issues going around, once it’s sorted, he’ll evolve into something even more special.”For the record, since the IPL, Iyer has had a control percentage of 77 against short-of-a-length or short deliveries. The balls he’s been in control of have helped him score 134 runs at a strike rate of 97.10. Whether the technical changes now translate into a better record against the short ball, only time will tell.Looking at the bigger picture, Iyer will perhaps compete with Suryakumar Yadav, Sanju Samson and Deepak Hooda for one batting slot in the one-day middle order, if we assume that Rohit Sharma will open with one of Shikhar Dhawan or Shubman Gill, with Kohli at No. 3, followed by KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant and Hardik Pandya.Among those who could give Iyer serious competition, Hooda is the only one who offers some overs with the ball but has barely had any opportunities to present his case. Suryakumar’s case is compelling as well, but he can’t be judged without a fair run. While he did feature in the ODIs in New Zealand, he has been rested for Bangladesh tour. With coach Rahul Dravid stating the home season is likely to throw up opportunities to field an ideal first XI, the next few weeks could give us a peek into who India are tilting towards.It will not be surprising if that someone is Iyer, who has done everything he can to present a water-tight case to be the No. 4 India have wanted for so long.

According to Smart Stats Sam Curran’s efforts with the ball came at a time when the opposition had a higher chance to win.

ESPNcricinfo stats team19-Apr-20212:58

Stephen Fleming: Moeen Ali has been ‘instrumental’ in us getting big scores

One allrounder takes 3 for 7 and hits 26 off 20, while other takes 2 for 24 and tonks a 6-ball 13. Who would be your Player of the Match? The former? Well, that indeed was the official choice for the award in the game between Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals. That performance had come from Moeen Ali, and the latter, were Sam Curran’s stats in the match.However, ESPNcricinfo’s Smarts Stats rates that Curran’s impact on the match was higher than Ali’s. Smarts Stats not only takes into account the quality of the batters dismissed, but also the situation in which a bowler bowls, among other things, to arrive at an impact value for the bowling performance. The match situation is quantified and fed into the calculations through ESPNcricinfo’s Forecaster tool, according to which, Rajasthan Royals’ chances of winning the match were at their highest during the Powerplay. Curran sent down three overs during that period and took out Royals’ captain Sanju Samson, in addition to dismissing Manan Vohra. Curran’s two wickets were worth 3.04 Smart Wickets, including Samson’s wicket which was valued at 1.71.ESPNcricinfo LtdBut surely the wickets taken by Ali – of David Miller, Chris Morris and Riyan Parag – were bigger than those taken by Curran? That’s where the Smart Stats looks at the ‘context’. When Jos Buttler got out to Ravindra Jadeja in the 12th over, Royals were already facing an uphill task: they needed 102 runs off 54 deliveries. Historical data in major leagues and internationals between top teams pegs the win probability of the chasing team at 30%. Smart Stats further adjusts this win probability for the batting quality left and the bowling quality it is up against in the current match. It pegged Royals’ chances at only 19% at the start of the 12th over. By the time Ali took Miller’s wicket in the next over Royals’ chances of winning had dropped to single digits. Ali twin strike in his next over – that of Morris and Parag – came at a time when the match was lost, statistically at least, according to the Forecaster. That’s why Ali’s three wickets were worth only 1.85 Smart Wickets.Curran seemingly was less economical than Ali, but he bowled three over upfront, conceding only 12 runs from this first three overs. By the time he bowled his last over – an expensive one, off which he conceded 12 runs – Super Kings had already won the match. Overall, Curran’s impact with the ball earned him 66.7 impact points, while Ali’s earned 34.7 points.
Ali managed to bridge some gap through his efforts with the bat – his 26 runs were worth 31.7 impact points, while Curran’s cameo was worth 21.5 – but Curran’s exploits with the ball meant that he was the Smart Stats player of the match.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Tottenham have reportedly entered pole position to sign a “big striker” for manager Thomas Frank in January, coming amid reports that the unfit Dominic Solanke now faces an uncertain future at the club.

Thomas Frank unimpressed by Dominic Solanke at Tottenham

Spurs’ club-record signing has played just 49 minutes in all competitions so far this campaign, with a niggling ankle problem keeping him out of action since their 2-0 win at Man City in August.

His ankle issue required minor surgery and Frank has confirmed that the England striker could soon return to the field, having made decent progress in his recovery, but we can still only estimate when he will be fit and available for selection once again.

Dejan Kulusevski

Knee

22/11/2025

James Maddison

ACL

01/06/2026

Radu Dragusin

Knee

22/11/2025

Ben Davies

Thigh

23/11/2025

Yves Bissouma

Ankle/Foot

08/11/2025

Cristian Romero

Groin

01/11/2025

Destiny Udogie

Knee

08/11/2025

Dominic Solanke

Ankle

08/11/2025

via Premier Injuries

Fitness issues have been commonplace at Spurs since Solanke made the £65 million move from Bournemouth last year, and he hasn’t had a chance to showcase his worth to Frank just yet.

The 28-year-old finished 24/25 as Tottenham’s second-top goalscorer behind Brennan Johnson with 16 goals in all competitions, but a combination of knee, thigh and ankle problems limited his availability.

Interestingly, according to a report from Football Insider this week, Frank has already seen enough.

It is believed that Frank has been left unimpressed by Solanke and a January exit could be on the cards for him, as Tottenham’s manager decides that he wants a new striker to come in.

In the build up to the next transfer window, reports have suggested that Tottenham could bring Ivan Toney back to the Premier League on loan from Al-Ahli, with Frank’s ex-star at Brentford looking to battle his way back into Thomas Tuchel’s England squad.

Some media sources claim that Frank has personally contacted Toney about a temporary move to Spurs, but there are other options.

With his contract expiring in 2026, Spurs have also been touted as suitors for Juventus star Dušan Vlahović.

Tottenham "leading the race" to sign Juventus striker Dušan Vlahović

According to reliable Bundesliga journalist and Bayern Munich expert Christian Falk, there’s been an update, and one which suits the north Londoners down to the ground.

While Bayern were continuously linked, it is actually Tottenham who are “leading the race” to sign Vlahovic, as Falk tells Bayern Insider that Vincent Kompany’s side have now backed off.

The 25-year-old, who reportedly earns a whopping £375,000-per-week in Turin, has managed to score at least 14 goals per season since his magnificent breakout campaign at Fiorentina in 2020/2021.

Vlahovic can be a big-game player as well, with strikes coming in the Champions League against Borussia Dortmund and Man City over the last two seasons, as well as in crucial Serie A matches against the likes of Inter Milan.

On a free transfer or for a cut-price in January, Vlahovic could be a real coup, but he’ll almost certainly have to take a massive pay cut.