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Prasidh continues to recover from a quadriceps injury

Shashank Kishore04-Sep-2024Ishan Kishan has been ruled out of the first round of Duleep Trophy with a groin injury. Sanju Samson has been named as his replacement in the India D squad.Kishan had sustained the injury during the Buchi Babu Tournament earlier this month in Tamil Nadu where he played two games for Jharkhand, his first set of multi-day games in over a year. India D will open their campaign against the Ruturaj Gaikwad-led India C, on September 5, in Anantapur.Allrounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, meanwhile, has been cleared to play and is available for selection for India B. Reddy, who had a sports hernia surgery in June after being withdrawn from India’s T20I squad to Zimbabwe, was initially included subject to fitness.Related

Duleep Trophy first round: illness rules Siraj and Malik out; Jadeja withdrawn

Suryakumar out of first round of Duleep Trophy with injury

Meanwhile, India A will be without fast bowler Prasidh Krishna, who continues to recover from a quadriceps injury. Prasidh has begun bowling at full tilt following a four-month rehab, but the National Cricket Academy trainers want to tread cautiously, given he has now been hampered with injury concerns for the better part of two seasons.Prasidh last played for India on the tour of South Africa in December-January, and he is believed to be nearing full match fitness. It’s likely he could yet play a part during the later rounds of the Duleep Trophy in the lead-up to the Ranji Trophy.Kishan and Prasidh’s absence adds to a growing list of top India players who have been ruled out of the tournament for different reasons. Earlier this week, Suryakumar Yadav’s comeback to first-class cricket had to be put on hold after he bruised his hand, also during the Buchi Babu tournament, playing for Mumbai in Coimbatore. A BCCI release said that the medical team is continuing to assess his injury, and that a further evaluation next week will determine his availability for the second round.Prior to that, the fast-bowling pair of Mohammed Siraj and Umran Malik had been pulled out because of dengue fever, while Ravindra Jadeja was withdrawn from the India B squad. Navdeep Saini was named Siraj’s replacement in India B, and Gourav Yadav, the Puducherry fast bowler, was called in to replace Umran for India C.The first round of the Duleep Trophy will be played in Anantapur and Bengaluru from September 5. It’s the only round where some of the top India Test players – including Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul and Kuldeep Yadav – will feature before they disperse to get ready for India’s Test season that begins against Bangladesh in Chennai from September 19.The Indian team is likely to assemble in Chennai on September 12 for a short preparatory camp in the lead-up to the series.

Clive Lloyd, the back-to-back World Cup winning captain of the West Indies, has been conferred the Order of the Caribbean Community (OCC). It is the region’s highest honour.Lloyd was the face of West Indies’ success in the late 1970s and the early 1980s. As a batter, he was hard-hitting, capable of scoring big runs in no time at all. As a tactician, he was astute and it was under his leadership that West Indies were crowned cricket’s first ever world champions. Lloyd spearheaded two decades of dominance. He was the first West Indian to 100 Tests. He captained them in 74 and lost only 12.Lloyd, 79, was conferred the OCC at the 47th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), held in Grenada on Sunday.Cricket West Indies president, Dr. Kishore Shallow, was at the ceremony and he said: “This honor is a fitting tribute to a man who has not only exemplified excellence on the cricket field but has also been an unwavering pillar of inspiration and leadership for the Caribbean and the world. Sir Clive’s contributions to cricket and his dedication to the development of the sport are truly unparalleled.”Sir Clive’s legacy is one that resonates deeply with every West Indian. His leadership, determination, and sportsmanship have set the standard for what it means to be a true champion. This recognition by CARICOM is a testament to his enduring impact on our region and the sport of cricket. We are honored to celebrate this moment with him.”Lloyd’s association with cricket continued even after the end of his playing career as a coach, selector and match referee. He has also worked as a civil servant for Guyana Ministry of Health and was knighted in 2019.

As Aston Villa look to go again in pursuit of Champions League qualification next season, those in the Midlands are now reportedly readying an offer to sign an attacking star that his club won’t be able to refuse.

Monchi: Martinez and Aston Villa "must continue"

Amid rumours that Emiliano Martinez is set to depart Aston Villa this summer following what looked like an emotional farewell to the home fans towards the end of the season, the club’s sporting director has had his say.

Speaking to Canal Sur Radio, Monchi spoke about Martinez’s potential goodbye, Rashford’s resurgence and how Marco Asensio also rediscovered his talent during his loan spell at Villa Park.

Aston Villa pushing to sign "world-class" £6m-a-year star who Emery loves

Talks have been held over the move.

ByHenry Jackson Jun 4, 2025

The Villa chief said: “The Premier League ended nine days ago, and we haven’t stopped. There’s no time to rest; a sporting director’s vacation is in September. We still haven’t come to terms with what happened at Old Trafford.

“Emery has been able to bring out the best in Rashford, and Unai is the number one for that. He’s a player with top-notch, elite ability. We haven’t lost hope, he has a significant connection with the club and Unai. The story between Dibu and Aston Villa must continue, that’s my wish. He’s happy and content, but I’m not in his head.

Aston Villa's president of football operations, Monchi.

“Asensio hasn’t lost his talent; he’s given us a lot, and he’s in our best interest. I’m focused on the present, and my present today is Aston Villa so Unai can have a competitive team. Unai Emery’s connection with Aston Villa runs deep. I see him as very involved, excited, and eager. He’s a work-obsessed person.”

It’s not just potential outgoings that Monchi is focusing on, however, with reports now suggesting that Aston Villa have already opened talks to sign a talented winger who could follow in Rashford’s path in the Midlands.

Aston Villa in talks to sign Geny Catamo

According to O Jogo, as relayed by Sport Witness, Aston Villa have now opened talks to sign Geny Catamo and are ready to offer Sporting Club an irresistible deal to secure the winger’s signature this summer.

Earlier reports suggested that the Villans are deliberating over paying €30m (£25m) to sign their target, but given that Catamo reportedly has a release clause worth as much as €60m (£50m), they may have to dig deeper into their finances to get a deal done in the coming months.

Minutes

1,911

1,422

Goals

5

6

Assists

2

3

Key Passes

28

28

A player who kept up with Rashford even as his form improved at Aston Villa, Catamo is only just getting started. At just 24 years old, the Sporting winger is about to enter the peak of his powers, making this summer the perfect time for those in the Midlands to make their move for the 33-cap Mozambique man.

Whether they’re in a position to meet their target’s £50m release clause without Champions League football is the big question, however. Villa’s PSR concerns are no secret these days and they could yet play a part in pursuit of Catamo this summer.

Manchester City would have been watching the Premier League results coming in on Saturday with glee, especially when Arsenal shockingly collapsed to a 2-1 defeat at home to AFC Bournemouth.

That surprise loss at the Emirates means Pep Guardiola’s men – off the back of downing Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-0 on Friday night – are only three points off matching the Gunners in second spot, meaning the rest of May could be a fight now to see who is second best to Arne Slot’s runaway Liverpool.

With an FA Cup trophy also potentially in their hands, this season, once written off as a misfire, might well have some positives after all, with some big buys in the summer boosting City’s chances of becoming Premier League title challengers again.

Man City close in on big-money target

Guardiola and Co have been linked to a whole host of names as the 2024/25 campaign begins to wind down, with the main face dominating conversation being Bayer Leverkusen superstar Florian Wirtz.

According to reports, Bayern Munich are also interested, meaning City would have to pursue alternative targets in the midfield areas, with the likes of Gabriel Sara also reportedly on their radar.

Transfer Focus

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

But, a different path could be explored by the serial winners shortly, with a new report by journalist Graeme Bailey revealing that long-standing City target Morgan Gibbs-White is contemplating his future at Nottingham Forest.

Both Liverpool and Newcastle United are also keen to add the 25-year-old attacking midfielder to their rosters, but it remains to be seen which club would be willing to splash out the mammoth £100m asking price to land the ex-Wolverhampton Wanderers man.

Whether or not City want to pay that price, according to Fabrizio Romano on Sunday, the Citizens are planning to advance their efforts to sign the Englishman soon.

After all, City have already seen what Gibbs-White is capable of when he assisted this sweet strike versus them back in March, with the potential here for the two-time England international to strike up a fierce relationship with Erling Haaland up top.

How Gibbs-White could get more out of Haaland

The Nordic goal machine does have his deficiencies when it comes to long spells out of the side with injury, but when he’s at the peak of his powers and purring in front of goal, there are few attackers better than the 24-year-old in world football.

Overall this season, Haaland finds himself on a blistering 30 strikes from 40 clashes, with 21 of those coming in the bread and butter of the Premier League, even when City have regularly found themselves off the boil.

Therefore, throwing in Gibbs-White to the mix could only work wonders for Haaland’s potency, with the 25-year-old actually bettering the likes of Kevin De Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan in terms of assists this season in the Premier League.

In the words of by football statistician Statman Dave, he has been a “magician” for the Tricky Trees, amassing nine assists in the league, with his equally impressive goal count of five strikes from 30 league games no doubt enhancing Guardiola’s men in the forward areas even more if a signature was reached.

While De Bruyne makes more key passes per game with two, Gibbs-White isn’t far behind with 1.5 in the Premier League this season. That’s a number that would rank him fourth in the City squad, ahead of other midfielders in the shape of Gundogan, Mateo Kovacic, Matheus Nunes and Rodri.

City’s top five PL providers of assists (24/25)
Player	Games played	Assists
1. Savinho	27	8
2. Kevin De Bruyne	25	7
3. Jeremy Doku	26	6
4. Matheus Nunes	24	5
5. Ilkay Gundogan	31	5
Stats by Sofascore

Evidently, City do need to freshen in the attacking midfield spots with De Bruyne heading for the exit door and Gundogan failing to find the back of the net in the league this season from 31 contests.

Therefore, Gibbs-White might be the transformative body City desire, with the £100m target also a potentially perfect teammate for Haaland to bounce off of to enable the goals to flow even more from their clinical number nine.

Man City sold arguably the "best forward in the world", now he's like Wirtz

Manchester City might have already sold their own Florian Wirtz when getting rid of this top attacker.

By
Kelan Sarson

May 3, 2025

Arsenal have communicated to the board of Real Madrid that they’re about to seal the deal for a “world-class” player, according to an intriguing report.

Arsenal's summer transfer plans ramp up amid Champions League campaign

On the field, Mikel Arteta has one clear focus after missing out on the Premier League crown to Liverpool – winning Arsenal their first ever Champions League title.

Arteta sold Arsenal gem for just £4m, now he's outscoring Isak & Sesko

The incredible poacher would have been useful for Arsenal this season.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Apr 28, 2025

The Gunners face Ligue 1 champions PSG over two historic European semi-final legs which could define their campaign, and Luis Enrique’s side come as a very tough obstacle they must overcome.

Bournemouth (home)

May 3rd

Liverpool (away)

May 11th

Newcastle United (home)

May 18th

Southampton (away)

May 25th

Arsenal will take encouragement from Aston Villa’s entertaining win against them in the last round at Villa Park, which proved they’re not unbeatable, with OGC Nice also ending the club’s unbeaten streak in the French top flight by clinching a surprise 3-1 win at the Parc des Princes last Friday.

The north Londoners already boast a victory against PSG this term, with Arsenal beating them 2-0 at the Emirates in October, so it is clear that Arteta’s side are in with a real chance of reaching their first Champions League final since 2006.

“I think prepare as well as you possibly can,” said Arteta on Arsenal’s excitement to face PSG over the two legs. “Make sure that your energy is balanced. Make sure that you’re understanding what you have to do. It’s time to express yourself out there and enjoy being a footballer and playing in one of the best stages that you can play in world football.”

New sporting director Andrea Berta, meanwhile, is working to prepare for his first summer transfer window in his new role.

Reports suggest Arsenal are looking to strengthen Arteta’s squad across the board, and could spend as much as £300 million doing so (GiveMeSport). One of their key transfer plans for the summer is signing a star new central midfield player, despite Arsenal recently opening talks with Thomas Partey over a contract extension.

Arsenal tell Real Madrid they've "practically finalised" Zubimendi deal

According to Cadena SER, Real Sociedad star Martin Zubimendi, who’s been targeted for a pre-summer deal since January (The Mail), is very nearly through the door.

Multiple reports last week, including from both David Ornstein and Marca reporter Juan Castro, indicated that there is real belief at Arsenal that they’re on the verge of sealing a deal for Zubimendi, with Cadena making another interesting claim.

The outlet shares news of Arsenal informing Real Madrid’s board that their signing of Zubmendi is “practically finalised”, with the Whites told that they may have to look elsewhere in pursuit of a new midfielder.

Premier League sides are apparently threatening to scupper their summer plans, with Chelsea also viewed as Real’s main competitors for Bournemouth’s Dean Huijsen, while it is believed Los Blancos may not have the financial firepower to compete with England’s elite.

It seems as if Zubimendi’s £51 million release clause will be triggered by Arsenal, and a wide array of media sources, including Cadena, suggest the Spain international will be Berta’s first major signing as director.

The “world-class” technician, as he was called by Kieran Tierney, has also been described as the “perfect” midfielder for Arsenal (Fabrizio Romano).

With Washington Sundar also contributing consistently through the Zimbabwe tour, India’s T20I future seems to brim with options

Deivarayan Muthu14-Jul-20243:43

Takeaways: India’s future bright as youngsters come good

Batters who can bowl have been on India’s T20I wishlist for a long time.While Hardik Pandya continues to be the only man in India who can do Hardik Pandya things, a new crop of batters who can bowl is emerging. In the fifth T20I against Zimbabwe in Harare, India’s top eight contained four players who could perform dual roles. Among the lot, Shivam Dube came away with the Player-of-the-Match award and Washington Sundar with the Player-of-the-Series award.With Ravindra Jadeja retiring from T20Is, Washington has now staked his claim for a full-time role in India’s side in the format. Dube, who bowled just one over each in IPL 2024 and the T20 World Cup that followed in the USA and the Caribbean, ended up bowling eight overs across three T20Is in Zimbabwe, and completed his full allotment of overs on Sunday.Related

• Rathour on India's transition: Needs to be done gradually, in a controlled manner

• After months of hell, Hardik Pandya rises again

• Washington beats the IPL blues with spell of old-school subtlety

• Samson, Dube, Mukesh star as India complete 4-1 series win

Dube claimed the wickets of Dion Myers and Johnathan Campbell to kill of Zimbabwe’s chase of 168. He kept digging the ball into a used Harare surface, and kept taking pace off to deny batters easy access to the boundaries. This after he had crashed 26 off 12 balls to help drag India towards 167.”It’s always a special thing for me as an allrounder to contribute in both the departments – bat and ball,” Dube said after the game. “So, it felt really good today to take some wickets.”India’s team management might have been even more pleased with Abhishek Sharma’s spell: 3-0-20-1. With the series already in the bag and with Abhishek extracting turn, bounce and grip, India could afford to give him an extended spell ahead of Washington or Tushar Deshpande. Abhishek had returned identical figures of 3-0-20-1 in the fourth T20I after taking some tap in the first three games. In that fourth T20I, he could have got another wicket had Ruturaj Gaikwad not dropped a fairly straightforward catch in the infield.Prior to his first international series, Abhishek had bowled both in the powerplay and middle overs in IPL 2024. In the second qualifier against Rajasthan Royals on a pitch in Chennai that turned appreciably more in the second innings, Abhishek picked up the wickets of Sanju Samson and Shimron Hetmyer while giving up just 24 runs in his four overs.Shivam Dube only bowled one over through the T20 World Cup but showed in Zimbabwe that he can cope with a bigger workload•Associated PressAbhishek then fine-tuned his bowling in the Sher-e-Punjab T20 league, where he was among the top ten wicket-takers. “A special mention to the coaches and Shubman [Gill] who actually believed [in me] after the first two matches [in Zimbabwe] because I didn’t bowl that much and I didn’t bowl well also,” Abhishek said after India won the series 4-1. “So, I thought that giving me the chance with the ball again… I’m always very grateful for that. I’ve been working really hard on my bowling. I knew if I’m going to get my [India] cap, I have to bowl for my team, so I was working on that.”Once India’s seniors return to the T20I team, there might not be room for Abhishek in the XI, but it’s always a healthy sign to see batters work actively on their secondary skill.Dube is also learning on the job as a T20 bowler and has added the back-of-the-hand slower variation to his standard offcutter. As for Washington, he is predominantly a bowler in white-ball cricket, but has been training behind the scenes to pack more power into his batting. At one point, he even had a stint with Apurva Desai, the former Gujarat batter who has also worked with Dinesh Karthik in the past.T20 cricket moves at a breathless pace. It leaves players behind unless they upgrade themselves. To keep up with that pace, New Zealand’s Glenn Phillips learnt offspin on the job to add to his power-hitting. England’s Liam Livingstone dipped into all-sorts spin to enhance his value as an allrounder. Namibia’s Gerhard Erasmus, who started as a batter, can now turn the ball both ways. His mystery spin helped him break into the ILT20 as an allrounder.It’s now refreshing to see India select and nurture such multi-dimensional players in T20 cricket. Not too long ago, India had five batters, none of whom could bowl, an allrounder, a wicketkeeper, and four specialist bowlers. And when Hardik was unavailable, they were left scrambling for balance. They turned a corner while winning the T20 World Cup, picking a side with three allrounders in Hardik, Jadeja and Axar Patel, apart from Dube who wasn’t called on that much with the ball.Despite the absence of Hardik, Axar and Nitish Kumar Reddy, the IPL’s newest all-round hero, in Zimbabwe, India coped excellently and provided a glimpse into a bright future.

ESPNcricinfo picks out eight players who pushed their case for integration within the India mix

Annesha Ghosh30-May-2022The 2022 edition of the Women’s T20 Challenge might have been its most pertinent one yet as far as helping chart a roadmap for India’s immediate future.A league-stage elimination in the ODI World Cup a month ago rounded off a forgettable year-long run for the national team in the 50-over format where they lost all bilateral ODI engagements before failing to make the knockouts of a world tournament for the first time in four tries. A packed T20I-heavy season now beckons.Related

• Jhulan Goswami not in squads for Sri Lanka tour, Jemimah Rodrigues back for T20Is

• Alana King: 'A lot of the girls are crying out for women's IPL'

• Sune Luus bats for expansion of T20 franchise cricket: 'Important to know different players and different conditions'

• Pooja Vastrakar once again proves she is the X-factor

• Deandra Dottin metamorphoses into a 3D force of nature on Supernovas' big night

A bilateral series against Sri Lanka, ahead of the Commonwealth Games in July-August, might materialise. A series against hosts England and the fifth edition of the Asia Cup T20, likely in October, then follows before ODI world champions Australia touch down for a series in December. The focus then shifts to the inaugural Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup and the senior world event in the same format to be played in January and February.With veterans Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami inching closer to the end of their storied careers and India needing options to fix their inconsistencies in all three departments, ESPNcricinfo picks eight players who made a mark during the Women’s T20 Challenge and have pushed their case for (re-)integration within the India mix.Jemimah Rodrigues has her eyes set on returning to the Indian team•BCCI

Jemimah Rodrigues

The disappointment over her curious World Cup omission behind her, Rodrigues made the right noises after her match-winning 44-ball 66 for Trailblazers in the Women’s T20 Challenge.”[…] the Commonwealth and the [T20] World Cup [are around the corner], so I definitely wanted to be in the best touch and the best form and it’s nice to score those runs. It gives you more confidence scoring runs and going back into the Indian team,” she said, having scored a 21-ball 24 in the previous game. That she adds immense value as a fielder is also relevant given that’s what T20I captain Harmanpreet Kaur is looking for.Taniya Bhatia has upped her T20 game•BCCI

Taniya Bhatia

For a player who doesn’t get picked to play for India anymore – and certainly not anywhere in the top-order, the opportunity to bat alongside the national captain and rescue her team in the Women’s T20 Challenge was something of a game-changer. And Bhatia responded with a 32-ball 36 against Velocity.Bhatia, who finished as Punjab’s leading run-getter in the 2021-22 domestic T20 season, has fallen down the pecking order in international cricket thanks in part to the mercurial (and accidental) rise of Richa Ghosh. But she remains a force to be reckoned with. Her diving take of Shafali Verma’s edge off Deandra Dottin in the final proved a telling blow given victory in the end came with a very small margin.”Given we have mostly T20Is line-up, I have tried to prepare accordingly since returning from the ODI World Cup,” Bhatia said after Supernovas’ title triumph. “With the bat, I was focused on playing what the situation demanded instead of worrying about what’s happened in the past or happening now on the outside.”Simran Bahadur picked up four wickets in two matches in the Women’s T20 challenge•BCCI

Simran Bahadur

India’s search for a pace-bowling allrounder had been a wild-goose chase until Pooja Vastrakar found a second wind on the tours of England and Australia last year. And Bahadur took her down during her 10-ball 20 in the death overs of a wildly see-sawing final game. A player capable of that kind of power against that kind of bowling in that kind of pressure deserves keeping an eye on.Bahadur, the Delhi allrounder who has one ODI and four T20I caps, was impressive with her lower-order hitting even in India A’s title-winning Senior Women’s One-Day Trophy campaign last December. In the Women’s T20 Challenge, she finished with four wickets in two matches, though her tally would have been almost double that had she and her Velocity team-mates not shelled their chances.S Meghana showed admirable footwork in a 47-ball 73•BCCI

S Meghana

In her only innings of the tournament, the Trailblazers opener showed what she might bring to the table as a regular in the T20I side. Her 47-ball 73 was a prime example of not only her range of shots but her footwork as well. Whether she was dancing down the track or using the depth of the crease, it was all perfectly timed.A prolific run-getter in domestic tournaments over the past two seasons, Meghana had made 4, 49, and 61 in her maiden ODI series, on the New Zealand tour, earlier this year. In the only T20I India have played in 2022 – which also marked her return to the shortest format for the first time in five years – she top-scored with a 30-ball 37. This fifty in the Women’s T20 Challenge should, one hopes, lead to more game time with India.Harleen Deol made a 19-ball 35 in Supernovas’ opening win in 2022•BCCI

Harleen Deol

India haven’t always been great with their approach to find new personnel. And even when they do find them, those players often go through a period where they have very little idea of what their role in the team actually is. Deol, for example. has been shunted up and down the T20 batting order all year; collateral as India ran through a slew of talent without ever really giving them the chance to settle.A consistent performer across the past three seasons of the Women’s T20 Challenge, Deol made a 19-ball 35 in Supernovas’ opening win in 2022. A gun fielder like Rodrigues, she took two catches in the opening fixture and was reliable with her ground fielding all through. As India transition into a new phase, having Deol in the batting line-up, or at least on the bench, might be worth a shot.Priya Punia showed improved intent in the Women’s T20 Challenge•BCCI

Priya Punia

The Delhi batter’s T20I debut in February 2019 raised eyebrows because, at the time, her game seemed more suited to ODIs. She scored 4, 4, and 1 in that series, against New Zealand, and never played the shortest format for India again.Now, in the Women’s T20 Challenge, Punia showed an improved boundary-hitting ability and intent to rotate strike. Her 20-ball 22 and 29-ball 28 were just the foil Dottin needed to do her thing, especially in the final. Punia’s two brilliant catches of Smriti Mandhana and Sophia Dunkley were also a sign of the work she may have put in on her overall game to improve her chances of an India recall.Kiran Navgire has issues with the short ball, but the rest of her game is very eye-catching•BCCI

Kiran Navgire

A 34-ball 69 or a 13-ball duck – what will you remember from the 27-year-old uncapped batter’s outings in the Women’s T20 Challenge?No matter the answer, two truths about Navgire, the highest run-getter in Indian domestic T20s this season, are beyond doubt. One, the raw power she showcased in a blistering fifty on debut in the Women’s T20 Challenge warrants exposure at the highest level. Two, she could be doubly dangerous once she works out her issues with the short ball.

Rashi Kanojiya

After what appears to be a gradual but decisive sidelining of Ekta Bisht, Rajeshwari Gayakwad and Radha Yadav are the only left-arm spinners of note still in selection contention. And with Radha going through a lean patch, there couldn’t have been a more opportune time for the Uttar Pradesh left-arm spinner Kanojia to take 4-0-22-0 on her Women’s T20 Challenge debut, for eventual champions Supernovas in the final.Whether that performance, clubbed with her impressive showings in domestic tournaments over the past year, translates into an India call-up, remains to be seen.

It is all change at Tottenham Hotspur at boardroom level.

Last month, it was announced that Daniel Levy was stepping down as the club’s executive chairman after a quarter of a century in the role.

Levy certainly divided opinion among Spurs supporters, but will, undeniably, forever be one of the most influential figures in the club’s history, overseeing the construction of the new training ground and stadium, catapulting the club into the ‘big six’, something that would have been fanciful a decade or so ago.

Now, Peter Charrington has succeeded him as non-executive chairman while Vinai Venkatesham, formerly of Arsenal, was appointed chief executive officer in April.

It will be interesting to see what these changes mean for Spurs going forward, while another noteworthy appointment, or should we say re-appointment, was made this week.

Fabio Paratici's Tottenham return

Earlier this week, it was confirmed that Fabio Paratici has returned to Tottenham Hotspur as sporting director.

He previously held the role between June 2021 and April 2023, before serving a 30-month ban from all footballing activities handed to him by FIFA, one of 11 Juventus executives punished in this way following the plusvalenze scandal, also given a suspended 18-month sentence.

Despite this, Sami Mokbel of BBC Sport believes his re-appointment is a major coup, considering his excellent reputation, boasting ‘one of the most extensive contacts books in the game’.

Paratici will be joint sporting director alongside Johan Lange, stating “I’m convinced that working in partner­ship with Johan we can build a special future for the club and our supporters.”

The table below documents all the players signed when Paratici was in situ the first time.

Paratici’s signings at Tottenham
Players	Fee	Spurs apps
Bryan Gil	£21.6m	43
Pape Matar Sarr	£14.6m	113
Emerson Royal	£25.8m	101
Rodrigo Bentancur	£15.9m	123
Cristian Romero	£42m	133
Dejan Kuluševski	£30m	146
Pierluigi Gollini	Loan	10
Clément Lenglet	Loan	35
Pedro Porro	£40m	116
Arnaut Danjuma	Loan	12
Fraser Forster	Free	34
Ivan Perišić	Free	50
Yves Bissouma	£25m	100
Djed Spence	£19m	51
Richarlison	£60m	101
Destiny Udogie	£15m	74
All info via Transfermarkt

As the table documents, many of Paratici’s Spurs signings made little impact in North London; looking at you Bryan Gil!

Others though remain key figures in Thomas Frank’s team to this day, including Richarlison, Cristian Romero, Destiny Udogie, Pape Matar Sarr, Rodrigo Bentancur, Destiny Udogie and more.

However, one in particular was infamously not wanted by then-manager Antonio Conte, but Paratici can feel truly vindicated by his decision to sign him.

Paratici's greatest transfer market triumph

Back in July 2022, Djed Spence joined Tottenham Hotspur for a reported fee of £19m.

The full-back had been an integral part of Nottingham Forest’s promotion-winning team during a very memorable loan spell from Middlesbrough, leading to Daniel Taylor of the Athletic describing him as the best loan player he’d ever seen at the City Ground.

Despite this, upon his arrival, manager Conte instantaneously labelled him an “investment of the club” and “not my signing”, which Spence later revealed “shattered my confidence”.

Thus, following loan stints at Stade Rennais, Leeds United and Genoa, he made his first start for Spurs away at Southampton last December, 881 days after signing for the club.

Well, since then, the 25-year-old has not looked back, starting 24 of Spurs’ last 30 Premier League fixtures, as well as both in the Champions League so far this season.

A hugely versatile asset, given that Spence has been deployed in both full-back positions, Ian Wright also describes him, at his best, as a “swashbuckling” presence. In the words of Harry Redknapp, he’s been a “revelation” in north London.

Meantime, current manager Frank asserted that Spence is “exceptionally good” is one-on-one defensive situations adding, “he’s a great type, can play both sides… big credit to Djed. He truly deserves it. It has been a tough”.

The Tottenham manager was referencing Spence’s international breakthrough, making his senior England debut against Serbia at Stadion Rajko Mitić last month, replacing Reece James for the final 20 minutes or so in Belgrade.

This month, Spence started both of England’s matches against Wales and Latvia, with Three Lions captain Harry Kane giving this emotional speech when presenting his team-mate with his maiden cap.

Given Thomas Tuchel’s dearth of left-back options, Myles Lewis-Skelly the other leading contender for that spot, it is far from inconceivable that Spence will be starting at the World Cup next year.

Back at Tottenham, his exponential improvement over the last 12 months is vindication for Paratici, who always believed in him, and proves that all it takes is the right environment for a player to thrive, one that clearly did not involve Conte.

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By
Ethan Lamb

Oct 17, 2025

MatériaMais Notícias

O Athletico e o Coritiba, que subiram da Série B para a Série A de 2026, foram reconhecidos como ‘patrimônio cultural imaterial’ do Paraná. A honra foi dada durante esta semana.

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➡️Siga o Lance! no WhatsApp e acompanhe em tempo real as principais notícias do esporte

Na quarta-feira (10), a Assembleia Legislativa do Paraná (Alep) aprovou, e o governador Ratinho Júnior (PSD) sancionou as Leis nº 22.897 e 22.901. Elas institutem o ‘Dia Estadual do Club Athletico Paranaense’ em 26 de março e ‘Dia Estadual do Coritiba Foot Ball Club’ em 12 de outubro, datas de fundações da dupla Atletiba.

Assim, os aniversários dos clubes passam integrar o Calendário Oficial de Evento. Além disso, o ato reconhece Athletico e Coritiba como patrimônios culturais, históricos e sociais do Estado.

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No caso rubro-negro, a proposta atualiza a grafia oficial do Athletico, alterada em 2018. A proposta foi feita pelos deputados Delegado Tito Barichello, Alexandre Curi e Luiz Claudio Romanelli. Já pelo lado alviverde, os políticos Anibelli Neto e Artagão Junior propuseram a homenagem.

Athletico e Coritiba se preparam para 2026

De volta à elite do futebol brasileiro, Athletico e Coritiba estão de férias e planejam a próxima temporada. Os dois clubes disputarão o Campeonato Paranaense, Copa do Brasil e Brasileirão no ano que vem.

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No comando, Odair Hellmann tem contrato com o Furacão até maio e trata da renovação. Já o Coxa mudou de Mozart para Fernando Seabra.

O elenco atleticano inicia treinos online em 24 de dezembro e inicia a pré-temporada no CT do Caju em 2 de janeiro de 2026, enquanto o grupo alviverde começa os trabalhos em 27 de dezembro, no CT da Graciosa. O Athletico disputará o estadual com o time sub-20, tendo alguns reforços do elenco principal, e o Coxa iniciará as duas primeiras rodadas com uma equipe sub-23 para o de cima assumir no terceiro.

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Manchester United have now reportedly set their sights on signing an impressive Ligue 1 defender, who has left their scouts blown away.

INEOS draw up 2026 transfer plan

To their credit, Man United got their summer transfer window fairly spot on. Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Senne Lammens all look like solid signings, whilst Benjamin has shown flashes of his true quality. And results proved before the international break that a turnaround under Ruben Amorim is still possible.

Even if Monday’s 1-0 loss against the 10 men of Everton brought them back down to reality, one defeat in their last five games represents much-needed improvement.

INEOS have never stopped backing their manager and recent reports have claimed that they’re ready to return to the transfer market to improve his squad even further in 2026.

The plan, according to the Express, is to sign two wing-backs and a midfielder next summer, with the likes of Elliot Anderson among their top targets.

The Nottingham Forest star has been one of the best players in the Premier League this season even as his side sacked Nuno Espirito Santo and then Ange Postecoglou before hiring Sean Dyche.

Thomas Tuchel has been impressed enough to grant Anderson a starting place next to Declan Rice in his England side, which is now his to lose ahead of the World Cup.

The unfortunate news for Man United is that his price will only increase if he enjoys a successful tournament, even though reports have already claimed he’ll cost them over £100m.

The midfielder is also not the only name on United’s shopping list. INEOS have also reportedly set their sights on signing Ligue 1 defender Jeremy Jacquet.

Man Utd plotting "bargain" Jeremy Jacquet move

According to Caught Offside, Man United are now plotting a move to sign Jacquet from Stade Rennais after the young defender impressed their scouts in France.

The Red Devils have reportedly joined Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, Crystal Palace in the race to sign the 20-year-old and it’s easy to see why.

Dubbed “imposing” by Como scout Ben Mattinson, Jacquet is reportedly available for as little as €30m (£26m), which Caught Offside’s Mark Brus described as a “bargain” deal.

Having already signed Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven in recent years, adding Jacquet to their ranks would complete Amorim’s back three for years to come.

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With Harry Maguire still yet to sign a new contract ahead too, the young centre-back may have the chance to come straight into Man United’s starting side next summer in an attempt to make an instant impact.

Worse than Bruno & Casemiro: Amorim can't start Man Utd duo together again