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Nottingham Forest are now keen on signing a “complete” forward after watching him in action recently, but there will be plenty of competition for his signature from rival Premier League clubs, according to a report.

Forest planning for the summer

Forest are enjoying a remarkable season in the Premier League, surpassing all expectations and pushing for Champions League qualification, which may mean their most important task this summer will be keeping hold of their best players.

However, new targets are also being identified, with Nuno Espirito Santo seemingly particularly keen on strengthening in the attacking third, given that a number of forwards have been linked with moves to the City Ground.

Contact has been made over a deal for Corinthians striker Yuri Alberto, while the Tricky Trees are also eyeing a move for AS Roma’s Tammy Abraham, who is currently on loan at AC Milan.

£25k-p/w Nottingham Forest star being targeted by PL rivals with Murillo

One of the Tricky Trees’ best-performing players this season is now being targeted by a fellow Premier League club.

By
Dominic Lund

Feb 13, 2025

Matheus Cunha was also heavily linked with Forest in the January transfer window, and the Wolverhampton Wanderers star is not the only Brazilian on the list of targets.

According to a report from The Boot Room, Nottingham Forest are now keen on signing Marseille forward Luis Henrique, who has put in some impressive displays in Ligue 1 this season.

In light of Henrique’s performances in France, he has been tipped to receive a Brazil call-up, and he could also be in line for a move to the Premier League, with a number of clubs believed to be queuing up.

Newcastle United and Everton are also credited with an interest in the forward, with all three clubs watching him in action in recent weeks, so there could be plenty of competition for his signature this summer.

Henrique impressing for Marseille

Marseille boss Roberto De Zerbi is clearly very pleased with the Brazilian’s performances this season, having singled him out for praise earlier this month: “He is having a fantastic season. He shows us that he is a complete player, with or without the ball. In terms of finishing, he scores goals. He is young and has to be determined to keep improving. He is one of the most important players for OM.

As such, it may be difficult to prise the left-winger away from Marseille this summer, especially considering the French side are in a strong negotiating position, as he is under contract until the summer of 2028.

However, should the 23-year-old move to the City Ground, there is every indication he could be a fantastic signing, having amassed seven goals and four assists in Ligue 1 this term.

Nuno is not short on top-quality wide players, with Callum Hudson-Odoi and Anthony Elanga both enjoying impressive seasons.

However, if Forest qualify for Europe next season, they will need strength in depth, and Henrique’s performances for Marseille suggest he could be a solid addition to the squad.

Big Picture: Can Bangladesh spring a surprise?

The defending champions have been upset by Afghanistan. Australia haven’t looked like Australia of World Cups past. Pakistan seem lacking too. And the South African juggernaut fell apart against Netherlands. Of all the pre-tournament favourites, only India and New Zealand have played like favourites. The latter have made it four wins in four, and now India are looking to do the same, against Bangladesh in Pune.Bangladesh may have a favourable 3-1 ODI record against India in the last 12 months – most recently winning their Super Four encounter in the Asia Cup last month – but beating India in India is easier said than done.The hosts have played with plenty of main-character energy in their first three fixtures, scoring convincing victories against Australia, Afghanistan and Pakistan. They were tested to varying degrees in all those games – reduced to 2 for 3 in the chase against Australia; Afghanistan setting a target of 273; and Babar Azam and Mohammed Rizwan building a solid platform – but in the end it wasn’t even close.India’s outstanding bowling attack, led by Jasprit Bumrah, has taken 28 out of a possible 30 wickets so far, while they have lost only nine wickets in three chases and never more than four in a game. Rohit Sharma’s ultra-aggressive approach has been the highlight of their batting performances and he’s got another batting-friendly surface waiting for him in Pune.Related

• Chandika Hathurusinghe hoping World Cup upsets inspire Bangladesh against 'scary' India

• Rohit Sharma's bold new batting template has changed his ODI game – and India's

Bangladesh’s only win against India in the ODI World Cup was 16 years ago – in Trinidad in 2007. Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim were just starting their careers then, and they have played India three times on the biggest stage since, losing quite convincingly on each occasion.This Bangladesh squad has enough experience and young talent in their ranks to stretch India, but their current form isn’t promising. Mushfiqur has scored two fifties in three matches so far but the rest have struggled with consistency. Najmul Hossain Shanto and Litton Das had one good knock each. Rookie Tanzid Hasan hasn’t had much impact. Towhid Hridoy, who scored 500 runs before the World Cup this year, is batting lower than his usual No. 5 position. Mehidy Hasan Miraz also hasn’t been effective.Shakib suffered a quadriceps injury last week but could play – as per their coach, Bangladesh are awaiting results of a scan done on match eve before taking the final decision.* With Bangladesh looking to lengthen their batting by having Mahmudullah at No. 8, Mahedi Hasan and Nasum Ahmed, both of whom played a part in the Asia Cup win against India, are unlikely to make the XI.Whether Bangladesh runs India close or not could come down to how their fast bowlers fare. Mustafizur Rahman aside, the others have been off-colour. Shoriful Islam has been expensive at times and Taskin Ahmed is not the force he was earlier this year. If these three, or Hasan Mahmud and Tanzim Hasan, can fire it will give Bangladesh a stronger foothold in the contest.Kuldeep Yadav took eight wickets in a Test the last time he played Bangladesh•AFP/Getty Images

Form guide

India WWWLW (last five ODIs, most recent first)Bangladesh LLWLL

In the spotlight: Kuldeep Yadav and Najmul Hossain Shanto

Kuldeep Yadav has five wickets from three games and his economy of 3.9 in 30 overs is testament to the control he’s offered during the middle overs. He revealed recently that increasing his pace has allowed him to bowl better in the last 12 months. Bangladesh’s most recent memory of Kuldeep is his eight-wicket haul in the Chattogram Test late last year – India will be hoping for more of the same from him.After his unbeaten fifty against Afghanistan, Najmul Hossain Shanto‘s low scores against England and New Zealand have had an impact on Bangladesh’s top-order returns. His free-flowing batting has been a huge boost to Bangladesh in 2023 and they desperately need him back among the runs.

Team news: Bangladesh to gamble with extra bowler?

India are unlikely to change their winning combination. The small ground dimensions and flat pitch could mean that Shardul Thakur is likely to keep his spot ahead of R Ashwin.India (probable): 1 Rohit Sharma (capt), 2 Shubman Gill, 3 Virat Kohli, 4 Shreyas Iyer, 5 KL Rahul (wk), 6 Hardik Pandya, 7 Ravindra Jadeja, 8 Shardul Thakur, 9 Jasprit Bumrah, 10 Kuldeep Yadav, 11 Mohammed SirajIf Bangladesh can play Shakib, they will. They could be tempted to promote Mehidy Hasan Miraz to open with Litton and Mushfiqur could also bat higher in the order. The question is whether Bangladesh will look to strengthen their bowling by sacrificing some batting depth.Bangladesh (probable): 1 Tanzid Hasan, 2 Litton Das, 3 Najmul Hossain Shanto, 4 Shakib Al Hasan (capt), 5 Towhid Hridoy, 6 Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), 7 Mehidy Hasan Miraz, 8 Mahmudullah, 9 Taskin Ahmed, 10 Shoriful Islam, 11 Mustafizur Rahman

Pitch and conditions: High scores in Pune?

Since 2017, teams batting first have posted 300-plus totals in three out of five ODIs in Pune, though this will be the first international at this venue in nine months. There was some drizzle on the eve of the match but the forecast is for sunshine on match day.

Stats and trivia: A 25-year wait ends

• This is Bangladesh’s first ODI against India in India in 25 years. From those who played their previous ODI against India at the Wankhede in 1998, Minhajul Abedin is the current chief selector, Khaled Mahmud is the team director, and Athar Ali Khan is a TV commentator.
• Virat Kohli has an average 67.25 and strike rate of 101.25 in 15 ODIs against Bangladesh, with four centuries.
• Shakib, Taskin and Mustafizur all have five-wicket hauls against India in ODIs.

Quotes

“He had a good batting session yesterday. He did a bit of running between the wickets as well. We are waiting for the result of the scan we did today. We haven’t tried his bowling yet. We will assess him tomorrow morning, and make a decision. If he is not ready to play, we won’t risk it. If he is ready, there’s a chance of him playing tomorrow.”

“When you enter a World Cup, every team will pose you a challenge. So, from our perspective, I don’t think we’ll take anyone lightly.”

da bet sport： In January, interim sporting director Jason Ayto had the opportunity to boost Arsenal’s title challenge by signing a new striker.

da 888： Alexander Isak was linked but that move was impossible over the winter and will likely still be impossible come the summer.

Benjamin Sesko continues to be touted with a move and it was reported that the Gunners at one stage had agreed personal terms with Wolves’ Matheus Cunha.

So, by the time the deadline surpassed at the beginning of February, no deals were done.

Mikel Arteta subsequently hailed Kai Havertz for his fitness and availability, only for the German to suffer a season-ending hamstring injury, joining Gabriel Jesus on the sidelines until next term.

Therefore, it’s hardly a surprise that their title challenge is derailing. Arteta’s side may have a game in hand on league leaders Liverpool but the Reds are 15 points clear. The league is a foregone conclusion.

It’s safe to say the interim solution hasn’t gone well and that was abundantly clear against Manchester United on Sunday.

Mikel Merino’s performance in numbers vs Man Utd

Mikel Merino has done an admirable job since being forced into a makeshift forward role.

With news of Havertz’s cruel injury blow during their warm weather camp in Dubai, the Spaniard was ultimately promoted against Leicester.

Introduced as a second half substitute, Arsenal were drawing 0-0 away at the Foxes until Merino came up with the goods, scoring twice.

Since then has found the net in the Champions League against PSV but a lot of his general play has left much to be desired.

It’s difficult to get frustrated at the player himself, he’s not a natural forward, but it’s criminal that the Arsenal hierarchy left the club in a position where they don’t have a proper striker.

Sadly, Merino saved his worst performance as a forward for their trip to Old Trafford on Sunday.

He had one chance of note, pulling an effort wide from the edge of the area early in the first half but didn’t pull up many trees that moment aside.

Somehow lasting the full 90 minutes, the former Real Sociedad man trudged from the pitch having completed just 71% of his passes and not registering a single effort on target.

So, the experiment has to end, but what will that mean the attacking positions look like?

Well, it either involves pushing Leandro Trossard into a central role or playing the returning Gabriel Martinelli as the focal point.

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Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

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Yet, if Merino does remain up top as is expected, Trossard is the man who must be sacrificed for Martinelli.

Leandro Trossard’s performance in numbers vs Man Utd

Since signing for Arsenal in a bargain £27m deal, the Belgian has proven himself to be a valuable player.

Only Bukayo Saka scored more than Trossard’s haul of 17 last season but amid the Gunners’ teething problems in attack this time out, he has become a scapegoat.

The former Brighton man has still scored on six occasions and supplied a further seven assists but it’s not the Saka-like levels Arsenal require to get near a Liverpool team boasting Mo Salah.

Trossard is a fine player. He’s optimal as a sub or playing the best part of 60 minutes but in a demanding game like United, you need someone with a bit more life and a bit more vigour.

Unfortunately, that’s been left wanting throughout several of his recent appearances. He did find the net against PSV last time out but that was his first strike in nine games. The 30-year-old simply hasn’t been scoring the goals Arteta craves.

Like Merino, the winger’s performance this weekend was a concerning one. Handed a 4/10 match rating by GOAL, they stated that it was ‘one of those days where nothing really worked for him’. That just about sums up his recent form.

Trossard vs Man United

Minutes played

90

Touches

52

Accurate passes

29/35 (83%)

Shots on target

1

Shots off target

3

Successful dribbles

1/1

Big chances missed

1

Key passes

2

Accurate crosses

0/2

Duels won

4/8

Possession lost

12x

Fouls

2

Tackles

2

Stats via Sofascore.

There were several key moments in the game when Trossard should have done better too. Chief among them was giving away a “silly foul” – in the words of Arsenal podcaster Jamie Kent – which led to the free-kick from which Bruno Fernandes netted the opener.

He also missed a cutback in the second half, one of three efforts that were off target.

With Martinelli back, Ethan Nwaneri firing and Saka potentially set to step up his recovery after the international break, Trossard should be looking at a situation where he’s not in the starting lineup anymore. He simply isn’t good enough to be a regular starter.

Related He lost the ball 19x: Arteta got it wrong giving Arsenal star the full 90

Arsenal looked toothless in attack again as they drew 1-1 with Manchester United.

Posts 4 ByMatt Dawson Mar 9, 2025

Defending champions record third straight win despite Holden half-century

ECB Reporters Network06-Jun-2023Hampshire seamer John Turner starred with three wickets on his Vitality Blast debut as the defending champions recorded their third straight win, holding off rock-bottom Middlesex at Radlett.The 22-year-old captured the wicket of Middlesex captain Stephen Eskinazi with his first ball in the tournament, finishing with 3 for 30 as the Hawks successfully defended a modest total of 164 for 6.Max Holden’s first Blast half-century of the summer, with 53 from 31 balls, had given the Seaxes hope of finally breaking their duck in the South Group as he and Ryan Higgins (43 from 35) added 60 for the fourth wicket.But Hampshire’s death bowlers held their nerve to ensure the home side remain winless in the competition, equalling their longest losing start to a campaign of seven defeats in 2006 and 2009.Hampshire skipper James Vince, who had smashed a match-winning 88 not out in the sides’ first meeting of the tournament, missed out this time after driving Josh de Caires’ second ball tamely to mid-off.But Ben McDermott was soon into his stride, pummelling Blake Cullen for successive boundaries and dispatching both Tom Helm and de Caires over the fence as he and Toby Albert shared a partnership of 56 from 38.Luke Hollman’s tight three-over stint of 2 for 12 broke the stand, luring Albert into a mistimed reverse sweep and the leg-spinner also prised out the big-hitting McDermott, caught at long-off just short of his half-century.With Joe Weatherley and Aneurin Donald both holing out as de Caires recorded his best T20 figures of 2 for 34, the Hawks had lost three wickets for just 11 runs and they responded by shifting Chris Wood up the order to No.7.That move paid off as the quick hrashed 31 from 21 and he and Ross Whiteley, with an unbeaten 28 from 20, hauled Hampshire above 150 but Higgins, with four consecutive dot balls in the penultimate over, ensured they fell short of par.However, their total looked more than substantial after two overs of the Middlesex reply, with just two extras on the board and both openers back in the pavilion with ducks against their name.Eskinazi was caught miscuing a pull to midwicket off Turner’s first delivery and Joe Cracknell followed five balls later, leg before – but Holden and Pieter Malan kick-started the innings with a stand of 43 from 23.Malan, having advanced to 18 with two powerful leg-side blows off Wood, attempted to do the same against Nathan Ellis just before the end of the powerplay and was caught in the deep.Holden displayed a knack of picking out the gaps, carving Scott Currie to the cover boundary and clipping his next ball to leg for four more as Middlesex kept pace with the required run-rate.The left-hander brought up his 50 from 26 balls and Higgins was a more than capable foil in their partnership, bisecting the leg-side fielders perfectly to register successive fours off Wood.But Liam Dawson tilted the contest back in Hampshire’s favour, tempting Holden to top-edge a pull to short fine leg and Turner claimed his third wicket before Vince raced from mid-off and dived to pouch a skier from Higgins.Despite two boundaries by Martin Andersson to keep Middlesex in contention, a target of 15 from the final over proved too steep.

Premier League legend Sol Campbell has named his favourites to become the next invincibles – and it is not Mikel Arteta's side.

• Campbell names next invincibles
• Chooses rivals over Gunners
• Clear message to Arteta

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Campbell was part of Arsenal's 2004 invincible team and knows what it takes to win, so it might hurt Gunners fans to hear that he has named Liverpool as the most likely to replicate Arsene Wenger's side's achievement.

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• Getty Images
  

  WHAT CAMPBELL SAID

  Speaking to BetSelect, he said: "Never say never. It’s very, very hard, but I think it’s doable. If you look at the talent in that Liverpool squad now, they’d be the most likely for me to go on to be the next Invincibles."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Only one side have come close to matching Arsenal's famous achievement from 20 years ago – and it was the Reds themselves in 2018-19. They did not even win the league that term, losing out to Manchester City in that instance.

• J.LEAGUE
  

  WHAT NEXT?

  Liverpool will be looking to claim back-to-back Premier League titles under Arne Slot and would love to go one better than their 2019 side and finish the campaign unbeaten. They kick off their new season against Bournemouth on August 15.

Simple message brings devastating results as quick rips through Australia with 5 for 34

Vithushan Ehantharajah06-Jul-20230:32

Does Mark Wood think he can reach 100mph?

Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum are about simple, clear messaging. Cricket is a complicated enough sport, and English cricket a pressurised enough environment without introducing anything that may elicit doubt. Especially at a time when England need as few distractions as possible to overturn a 2-0 deficit.Ahead of this third Test at Headingley Chris Woakes, for instance, was told “you do you” before his first Test in 16 months and did exactly that. With his usual accuracy and nip off the pitch, the 34-year-old picked up three vital wickets in Marnus Labuschagne, Travis Head and centurion Mitch Marsh in Australia’s first innings.Mark Wood’s instructions were even clearer. Long before he had the ball in hand for the seventh over from the Pavilion End, even before he went to bed on Wednesday evening ahead of his first match of the English summer, and first Test since December 2022 in Pakistan, Stokes relayed a straightforward brief. Bowl rockets, don’t fret about the runs. A simple message brought devastating results as Wood ripped through Australia with 5 for 34.This was not just about wickets, even if they were pretty spectacular. Usman Khawaja lost his leg stump at the end of a four-over opening spell where no delivery dropped below 91mph. Then an entire tail was lopped off inside 16 balls to snuff Australia out for 263. Yet the real power and truest glory of Wood’s exploits today was the emotion he evoked.Related

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Australia hopeful Green absence will be brief

Undoubtedly, everyone here witnessed the best day of the series so far. So much of it was in keeping with the last 11 days’ play: just as either team looked like they were getting in front, the other pulled them right back. On balance, Australia have the ascendancy, leading by 195 after removing three of the host’s top order.Just as in England’s attack, the point of difference was a bloke charging in and slinging down such fire it made the heat emanating from the Western Terrace feel like a cool breeze. Wood was seen as the ideal weapon to unleash against Australia after the last few days of English discontent following the final exchanges at Lord’s. In the end, he was edge-of-your-seat distraction.Stokes used him in bursts: four overs then two before lunch, before three in the middle session and 2.4 at the end. For a player who has subsisted on those workloads this year, with a last competitive outing coming in the IPL on April 15 for Lucknow Super Giants against Punjab Kings, it was the only way he could be used. And Wood responded by bringing his best, averaging 90.7mph across his 11.4 overs and, moreover, covering for four dropped catches that allowed Australia to regroup from 85 for 4.It wasn’t all his own way, particularly in the middle session when Marsh swung him away in front of square for six. Though even that period had a whiff of showdown about it. As the Western Australian put it, an upbringing on fast Perth decks made him all too aware this was a moment where he had to sink or swim. Wood was the only bowler to drive him to such limits.Mark Wood blasted out Pat Cummins for a duck•Getty ImagesTo watch Wood anyway is to sense a bloke charging to the crease like this may be his last delivery. The ankle and elbow surgeries, and the other parts of the body fast bowlers break and rebreak for our entertainment will eventually overpower his spirit. But based on today’s efforts and outcome, we are not as close to that point as previously feared.The ferocity of his deliveries was such they did not simply rap glove (both of the batters and Jonny Bairstow) or crack timber (bats and stumps) but stripped the context of the moments in play with the brutality of flesh blasted off bone.A routine developed among those in the stands for every delivery from the 33-year-old’s first four overs. A look to the person to your left or right to make sure they saw it too and you weren’t dreaming, then a glance at the big screen to check the speed. The “whoops” and “ooohs” for each reading finally turned to meaningful roars when Khawaja’s leg stump was taken out emphatically with the final act of that spell.People often talk about how pace bowling was better in “their” day, as if the current generation are too weighed down by oat milk and the crippling weight of a world around them falling to bits to either purvey or appreciate this lost craft. The truth is, few cherish it more than those watching this generation of cricket. Partly because the game is slowly tearing itself apart. But mostly because, well, bowlers have never been quicker.A case in point: those initial four overs from Wood came at an average pace of 92.90, which slots it into No. 2 of the fastest spells in an English Test since 2006 (when accurate ball-tracking data was available). He has four of the top six in that category – Brett Lee has the third and fourth – all from a single Lord’s Test against India in 2021 in which Wood returned previous best home figures of 3 for 51. No. 1 was 93.41mph which Wood was on course to bettering before the last two deliveries in that sequence.Throw in the fact he also sent down the fastest four-over spell in T20 World Cup history in a group game against Afghanistan in 2022 and it is clear while the gap between appearances are frustrating, the upside is unrivalled. For a man from Ashington who grew up in a world of swing, seam and elbow grease, lusting for Ferrero Rocher and possessing what his closest friends describe as “noodle arms”, it is a remarkable feat of endurance above all else. When considering the greatest speedsters over the last 20 years, he must feature.Ultimately, being part of those conversations are what it is to be at this level of sport. But the man himself acknowledges his case is not as strong as others. When told his opening burst had set an Ashes record, bettering Brett Lee’s 92.4mph offering at Old Trafford in 2005, Wood cherished the feat and the company but understood where the true measure of worth lies: “I’d rather have his wickets.”The Australian’s 310 are unreachable, given Wood is still five away from triple figures. But Thursday represented an important step towards rectifying a peculiar quirk of being far more effective away from home.Considering the Dukes is an English bowler’s best friend, it has never quite taken to Wood’s charm. The previous 14 appearances at home left him with an average of 39.63, while his 49 overseas dismissals have come at 24.18, six lower than the career average of 30.57.Even with the love of Test cricket in this country, it still suffers from the usual issues of distance and timezones dictating relevance. Wood might have impressed on the previous Ashes tour with 17 wickets and an impressive 6 for 37 in the final Test at Hobart, but performing through the winter nights ring-fenced his brilliance from the broader conscience. It also did not help that it was a chastening and utterly forgettable campaign from an English perspective. Stuart Broad even tried to void it.As Wood strode off with the match ball for the first time in England, raising it for a fourth time in his career but first towards his mother, Angela, and father, Derek, it felt like we were witnessing a personal moment for an individual and public relief for the team.Mark Wood holds up the ball after claiming a magnificent five-wicket haul•Getty ImagesHaving taken the winning wicket at Trent Bridge in the 2015 Ashes – a photo of the Nathan Lyon dismissal takes pride of place in his home – he missed the entirety of 2019 after tearing his side in the World Cup final. An injury picked up during the last of his 10 overs before making it worse when he put in one of the worst dives in humankind as he attempted to cross the line at the nonstriker’s end for the winning run.He was desperate to play the first Test of this series at Edgbaston only for Stokes to decide to save him for the second. Then, in the lead-up to Lord’s, the right elbow operated on twice last year began swelling. With the extra week’s grace, he has put in what could prove to be his most impactful display for his country.England has always come first for Wood. So much so that when Lucknow were preparing for an IPL fixture against Chennai Super Kings, he was reluctant to reveal too much about how to combat two of their upcoming opponents, Stokes and Moeen Ali.Here at Leeds, he has done them a huge favour by, for now, covering up some shortcomings. Drops of Smith, Head (off Wood in his pre-lunch dart), Marsh and Carey are, at this juncture, not as terminal as England’s previous 13 missed chances across the first two defeats. And they managed to largely contain Australia – Marsh notwithstanding – despite being a bowler light after Ollie Robinson left the field midway through his 12th over with a back spasm.That’s the key thing about breathtaking pace. It strips context, enriches the game, lifts your team-mates, scares your opponents and, well, always gives you a fighting chance. Exactly what England need from here until this Ashes is over.

Throughout the years, Tottenham Hotspur supporters have been truly blessed with the chance to watch numerous elite-level attackers feature for the club.

Players such as Heung-min Son, Teddy Sheringham and Harry Kane all managed to make themselves club-legends in North London, with the latter breaking nearly every record in sight.

The 32-year-old currently sits at the top of the Lilywhites’ all-time scoring charts on 280, which saw 208 of his efforts come in the Premier League – with only Alan Shearer scoring more.

However, Spurs’ lack of success on the pitch ultimately led to his departure in 2023, which has left boss Thomas Frank unable to have the chance to work alongside the talisman.

He will no doubt want his own elite-level talent within the final third, potentially landing a player of that calibre during the upcoming January transfer window.

Spurs’ hunt for new attackers in January

Over the last couple of months, Spurs have been just one Premier League side linked with a potential deal for Porto star Sami Aghehowa in the winter window.

The Spaniard has been in tremendous goalscoring form during the early stages of 2025/26, as seen by his remarkable tally of 13 goals in his first 22 appearances across all competitions.

However, the Portuguese outfit don’t want to lose their star man anytime soon, subsequently slapping an €80m (£70m) asking price onto the 21-year-old’s head.

He’s not the only centre-forward in their sights ahead of the upcoming window, with Crystal Palace star Jean-Philippe Mateta another player being considered by Fabio Paratici.

According to one Spanish outlet, the Lilywhites are seriously considering tabling a bid for the Frenchman in January, as his contract talks at Selhurst Park look to have stalled in recent weeks.

It also states that the Eagles may be forced to offload the 28-year-old in the near future to avoid losing him for nothing, with his current deal set to expire in June 2027.

Why Spurs’ latest target would be Frank’s next Mbeumo

During Frank’s time in charge at Brentford before taking the Spurs job, he often had numerous top-level attackers at his disposal, which helped make the Bees an established top-flight club.

The Dane mainly relied on forward Bryan Mbeumo during the latter years of his spell at the GTEC, with the Cameroonian international providing a constant source of goals in the Premier League.

During the 2024/25 season, the 26-year-old netted a career-best 20 league goals, ending the campaign as just one of five players to achieve the feat in the division.

He no doubt thrived under the 52-year-old across the capital, so much so that the manager made a fierce attempt to land his signature after taking the reins in North London.

However, a reunion just wasn’t meant to be, as Mbeumo opted for a move to join Manchester United during the summer, subsequently leading Frank to hunt for a new talisman.

The likes of Mohammed Kudus and Richarlison have often provided the goods in attacking areas for Spurs this campaign, but Frank could get his new star forward with a move for Mateta this winter.

The Palace star has registered 30 goals in the last two full seasons in England’s top-flight, whilst already making huge waves during the first 15 games of the new campaign.

Mateta already has seven goals in 2025/26, but it’s his underlying stats from his outings at Selhurst Park that would make him Frank’s next star attacker in the capital.

The French international, who’s been dubbed “world-class” by one analyst, has registered 1.6 shots on target per 90 this season, which such a tally ranking him in the top 7% of all players in the league.

Jean-Philippe Mateta – PL stats in 25/26
Statistics (per 90)	Tally
Games played	15
Goals scored	7
Shots on target	1.6
Dribbles completed	53%
Crosses completed	75%
Aerials won	2.5
Touches in opposition box	4.1
Recoveries made	3.5
Stats via FotMob

Such a figure showcases his relentless nature in front of goal, handing the Spurs side the constant nuisance and goal threat they have lacked since Kane’s departure.

He’s also completed 53% of his attempted dribbles to date, whilst achieving a 75% cross completion rate – highlighting his all-round nature within the final third.

His biggest asset is his hold-up play, which could allow the Lilywhites to have the needed focal point they’ve craved, with the striker winning 2.5 aerials per 90 so far this season.

It could hand Frank the aerial presence needed to dominate in the 18-yard box, but also an option to help link the play and create intricate moves off a direct ball into the striker.

Whilst he operates in a different role to Mbeumo, the pair have both demonstrated their goalscoring prowess in recent times, with clinical goalscorers often hard to come by in the modern game.

Mateta could provide Frank with exactly what he wants in the January window, with such a move handing the Dane the perfect attacking option to kickstart his career in charge of the Lilywhites.

Their new Son: Spurs have held advanced talks to sign a future £100m player

Tottenham are looking to add fresh quality to their attacking flanks in 2026.

1

By
Angus Sinclair

3 days ago

Everton chiefs are now confident in their bid to sign a “menacing” forward who has a £34 million release clause, according to a new report.

David Moyes wants midfield reinforcements at Everton

Heading into the new stadium, it is clear to see that David Moyes is keen to put together a squad at Everton that can look up the table rather than over their shoulder. The Toffees are unlikely to have lots of money to spend this summer as like everyone else they dance around PSR, but Moyes will have no intentions of another relegation scrap.

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Strengthening his midfield appears to be high on the list, and that can be shown with their latest transfer targets. According to talkSPORT, Everton have returned to Wilfred Ndidi as a potential target this summer. The midfielder could cost Everton as little as £9 million, due to a release clause that has now been activated due to Leicester City suffering relegation.

As well as looking at Ndidi, the Toffees have reportedly registered their interest in signing James McAtee from Manchester City. The attacking midfielder is expected to leave the Etihad due to his lack of game time last season, and he could be available for around £25 million.

There is now a new name on their midfield list, and that is Raphael Onyedika from Club Brugge. Everton are said to be in pole position to sign him, with Club Brugge looking to get £25 million for his services.

Everton confident in their bid to sign Thierno Barry

But as much as Moyes wants a new midfielder, that may have to wait, as the Toffees focus on securing their top striker target. According to TBR Football, Everton are now ready to accelerate talks to sign Thierno Barry from Villarreal.

The Toffees’ interest in Barry emerged at the very start of the summer transfer window, but they have had to be patient when it comes to a transfer, as the forward has been away with France at the U21 Championships, only knocked out by Germany on Wednesday.

Despite interest from other teams across Europe, The Friedkin Group are confident they can sign Barry this summer. The forward’s representatives have already held talks with the Premier League side, and he is now open to the move. The fact that Barry has a £34 million release clause makes the deal easier to do, but the Toffees may even end up paying slightly more than that if they do the deal in installments.

Apps

35

Starts

25

Goals

11

xG

12.41

Total shots per game

2.1

Big chances missed

15

Chance conversion

15%

Assists

4

Big chances created

7

Barry, who has been dubbed “menacing” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, joined Villarreal in August 2024, and in his first full season, the striker scored 11 goals in 35 La Liga appearances.

His presence and ability to find the net have made him a target for Everton, who lacked a serious presence at the top end of the pitch last season and now look set to lose Dominic Calvert-Lewin at the end of this month.

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da imperador bet： A relação entre o mascote e um clube de futebol está ligada intrinsecamente. Ter uma representação que seja a ‘face’ do clube publicamente é crucial para um time vencedor, sobretudo por conectar diversos elos, como crianças, adultos e idosos. Não sendo diferente, o Vasco da Gama já teve representantes ao longo de sua história, mas afinal, qual a verdadeira mascote do Vasco?

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DON CORVO I, o vitorioso

A relação entre Don Corvo I e o Vasco da Gama teve início em 1947, quando dois chargistas inseriram o animal em um de seus desenhos sobre o clube. Criado por Álvaro do Nascimento Rodrigues, colunista do Jornal dos Sports, e ilustrado pelo chargista Otelo Caçador, a ave era constantemente vista na caravela cruzmaltina nas charges.  Na Europa, o corvo é sinônimo de azar e agouro, contudo, foi ”importante” para uma das fases mais vitoriosas do clube carioca, o ”Expresso da Vitória”, época a qual o Gigante da Colina conquistou títulos como o Campeonato Carioca de 1947, 1949, 1950 e 1952 e o Sul-Americano de 1948. Nesse meio tempo, surgiu a necessidade de uma representação emblemática para os times; e o Vasco já tinha um mascote, o Almirante, entretanto, o corvo já estava inserido na torcida o suficiente para ser mais adorado. Como não havia corvos no Brasil, a ave foi trazida de Portugal no fim de 1947, e chegou a visitar uma rádio e até ”falar”. A ideia morreu na década de 60, quando o animal faleceu e o Vasco entrou em uma seca de títulos. Após isso, o clube retornou para seu mascote original, o Almirante. 

ALMIRANTE, o mascote do Vasco

O Almirante é, oficialmente, o mascote do Vasco. Criado em 1944, pelo argentino Lorenzo Molas, o mascote é uma forma de homenagear o navegador português Vasco da Gama, que batizou o clube. Nas primeiras ilustrações, o indivíduo era caracterizado com feições marcantes, como seu bigode longo, ausência de cabelo e sobrepeso. A primeira charge foi ao ar no dia 30 de junho de 44, com o Almirante representando o vascaíno na proa de uma caravela com a cruz de cristo, e desde então, foi adotada rapidamente pela torcida do time e passou a figurar mais desenhos do autor. O mascote sempre era acompanhado de uma navegação portuguesa, sendo considerado um “verdadeiro lobo do mar, em sua caravela, sempre pronto a navegar e enfrentar todas as tormentas”, como diz o dono do Jornal dos Sports, característico da época. Tempos depois o clube o adotou como mascote oficial, devido a seu sucesso. No ano de 2012, o Almirante foi alterado, recebendo traços mais infantis, o que não foi aprovado, tanto que, em 2018, o mascote voltou para suas expressões sérias, recebendo o apelido de “Almirante Pistola”. 

BARBOSINHA, o infantil

O Barbosinha é a representação mais infantil que se tem no mascote do Vasco da Gama. O mascote é uma homenagem ao goleiro Barbosa, um dos maiores atletas da história do clube e do esporte. A ideia nasceu em 2020, quando o clube abriu uma votação para que os sócios do clube votassem no nome do novo mascote do Cruz-Maltino, o qual Barbosinha venceu a disputa e ganhou o cargo de mascote oficial, assim como o Almirante. Barbosa foi o goleiro do Expresso da Vitória, a fase mais vitoriosa do clube. O atleta disputou mais de 400 partidas pelo Gigante da Colina, entretanto, teve um marco em sua carreira, a copa de 1950, o qual sofreu o gol que o condenaria por muitos anos de sua vida. Barbosa sofreu um tento de Ghiggia, atacante uruguaio, na final da Copa, da qual o Brasil perdeu de 2 a 1. Em 7 de abril de 2000, o atleta faleceu em São Paulo, deixando um legado extremamente vasto para o esporte. Posteriormente, o CT do Vasco foi apelidado com seu nome, além do Mascote Barbosinha, que ganhou vida em uma tentativa de homenageá-lo. 

EDDIE, o força jovem

Por fim, o zumbi Eddie não é oficialmente um mascote oficial da instituição Vasco da Gama, contudo, é a representação da torcida organizada Força Jovem Vasco, a principal do time. Apesar de não ser vinculado diretamente ao time, o personagem é uma das principais imagens do time no exterior, devido ao sucesso da persona. Eddie é uma criação da banda de rock Iron Maiden, uma das mais famosas do mundo. O Vasco é o único time do mundo que pode utilizar imagens do grupo em suas ideias. E assim, criou o Zumbi Eddie como mascote do Vasco, mesmo de forma não oficial. A estranha relação começou em 1989, quando os torcedores passaram a usar Eddie como símbolo da FJV, utilizando-o em seus itens, como bandeiras e roupas. Em 2001, Janick Gers e o baixista Steve Harris foram convidados para assistir o jogo entre Vasco e São Caetano no Maracanã, na final da Copa João Havelange, antes de se apresentarem no Rock in Rio, festival musical do Rio de Janeiro. Desde então, a torcida e a banda criaram uma relação de amizade, sempre um prestigiando o outro, e Eddie tornou-se símbolo oficial da maior torcida organizada do clube. Os integrantes do clube, sempre que vêm ao país, são homenageados e vistos durante as partidas do Vasco. 

This promises to be a very busy summer for Rangers at Ibrox.

New manager of the Gers, Russell Martin, is going to want to oversee a mass-overhaul of his squad, with plenty of ins and outs expected in the coming weeks.

So, could the Light Blues be about to land the first signing of the Martin era?

Rangers targeting defensive reinforcements

Things are ramping up at Ibrox right now with a move for winger Kwame Poku reportedly set to be wrapped up.

However, that’s not the only deal edging closer to completion.

Indeed, according to a report in Spain, Rangers have reached an agreement with Bournemouth to sign Max Aarons on a season-long loan, adding that an agreement is “nearly finalised”.

The 25-year-old full-back burst onto the scene with Norwich City, making 213 appearances for the Canaries, 70 of which came in the Premier League, touted as the next big thing, almost joining Tottenham Hotspur for £15m when he was still a teenager.

This big move never came to fruition, moving to Bournemouth two summers ago, but making very little impact on the South Coast, thereby actually spending the second half of last season on loan at Valencia, albeit he featured only five times for los Che.

Nevertheless, still only 25, Aarons is a player with plenty of potential, so could have a big impact in Govan.

Why Max Aarons could be Rangers' next loan star

Rangers have had plenty of players arrive on loan and have had a big impact throughout history, as the table below outlines.

Černý

2024/25

52

Not set to return

Sima

2023/24

39

Did not return

Diomandé

2024

19

Made permanent £4.3m

Tillman

2022/23

43

Did not return

Hagi

2020

13

Made permanent £3.5m

Defoe

2019

20

Made permanent free

Ojo

2018/19

36

Did not return

Kent

2018/19

43

Made permanent £7.5m

Weiss

2010/11

35

Did not return

Diouf

2010/11

22

Did not return

Rangers have had plenty of loan players in recent seasons and throughout history, but few have had as big an impact as Ryan Kent, underlined by the fact his move from Liverpool was made permanent for £7.5m, a club record for modern times.

Kent would go on to make 218 appearances for the club, scoring 33 goals and providing 56 assists, winning the Premiership title and the Scottish Cup, a key figure in Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s team that reached the Europa League Final.

The winger now plys his trade in Major League Soccer for Seattle Sounders, starting the Rave Green’s Club World Cup opener against Botafogo last Sunday, preparing to take on Atlético Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain in the coming days.

So, why could Aarons be Rangers’ latest superstar loanee?

Well, writer Kai Watson labels him a “great athlete”, while Tom Quartly of Breaking the Lines believes the full-back offers ‘fluidity in both attacking and defensive phases’, claiming he has the talent to be one of English football’s ‘brightest stars’.

So, while Aarons hasn’t played a lot of football in recent years, he’s far from finished at 25 years old, and still has plenty left to offer.

What the arrival of a new right-back, who will surely have been guaranteed minutes, means for captain James Tavernier remains to be seen, but Aarons is surely just the first of many highly-rated Premier League or EFL players on their way to Ibrox this summer.

Tavernier didn’t particularly enjoy his best season at Ibrox, anyway, so this is certainly a deal worth getting over the line as Martin seeks to improve the squad.

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