All posts by h79snht.top

da casino： Newcastle United have finally clawed their way out of a mentally taxing summer transfer window that put a dampener on last season’s stunning successes under Eddie Howe’s wing.

da leao： Well, it certainly felt that way for much of the market, but the truth is that United have pieced together a talented squad despite the noise from Alexander Isak and, indeed, the last-gasp sale of the Sweden striker to Liverpool for a record-breaking £125m fee.

Now that the distractions of the transfer window are out of the way, Newcastle can work toward restoring their fluency and fizz, that special something that allowed Howe to engineer title triumph in the Carabao Cup and qualification in the Champions League.

For United have toiled thus far, claiming two points from three games in the Premier League and lacking their usual bite in the final third. Saturday’s goalless draw at Leeds United typified that fact, especially in the absence of the suspended Anthony Gordon (and, of course, Isak).

New strikers, anyone?

Newcastle's new strikers

On deadline day, Newcastle signed Yoane Wissa from Brentford for £50m. It had been in the works for a while, and the DR Congo international got his wish at the eleventh hour, bringing plenty of prolific Premier League experience to Howe’s squad.

The 28-year-old scored 19 league goals last season and will be expected to provide a reliable focal point at the front of Howe’s system, especially when flanked with so much robust creative quality.

But in Nick Woltemade, 23, the Magpies have what might be defined a more fitting and long-term Isak heir, the German having arrived from Stuttgart in a club-record £69m package, hailed by the likes of talent scout Jacek Kulig hailing him for his “unique profile”, standing at 6 foot 6 and yet with such deftness and skill on the ball.

Looking at how the two strikers compare, it’s clear that Newcastle have done shrewd work in replacing Isak with two contrasting profiles, each carrying strengths fit for a club of United’s stature.

League Stats 24/25 – Wissa vs Woltemade

Stats (*per game)

Wissa

Woltemade

Matches (starts)

35 (34)

28 (17)

Goals

19

12

Assists

4

2

Shots (on target)*

2.6 (1.2)

1.8 (0.9)

Big chances missed

17

11

Pass completion

79%

72%

Big chances created

3

8

Key passes*

0.8

1.3

Dribbles*

0.4

1.1

Ball recoveries*

2.3

1.9

Tackles + interceptions*

0.8

0.5

Duels (won)*

3.4

4.4

Data via Sofascore

However, neither will likely establish themselves as the standout from the off, not when Anthony Gordon knows that it is his time to step up now that Isak has left for pastures new.

Newcastle hit gold on Anthony Gordon

Gordon might not be in the good books right now, having served one match of a three-game suspension after challenging Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk with his studs up, but he’s one of Newcastle’s best players.

In fact, now that Isak has been sold and as the new boys settle in, he might consider himself to be Howe’s attacking talisman, having proven himself to be one of the deadliest in the Premier League already on Tyneside.

Hailed as a “relentless machine” by journalist Sripad, Gordon notched 22 goal involvements across the 2023/24 Premier League season, winning the club’s Player of the Year for his labours.

Indeed, Liverpool looked to sign the Three Lions winger last summer, and again this year, with recent reports on the matter suggesting that he had been valued in the ballpark of £100m.

Such is Gordon’s quality, with his price tag stretching above that of Wissa and Woltemade, talented players both, but perhaps not on his level.

Ultimately, Gordon is an imperfect forward, but one with so much quality and potential yet reached. He’s already worth a pretty penny, but his commitment to the cause cannot be questioned, and he might now be the cream of Howe’s attacking crop.

da realsbet： Wolverhampton Wanderers have spent big on a number of players over the years, with the Old Gold using their European links to full advantage.

da bet vitoria： The club have signed stars from the likes of Atletico Madrid, Barcelona and FC Porto, but who is Wolves’ record arrival? Here, we’ve taken a look at Wolves’ 10 most expensive signings.

Wolves’ most expensive signings of all time

Rank

Player

Fee

Signed from

Year

1

Matheus Cunha

£44m

Atletico Madrid

2023

2

Matheus Nunes

£38m

Sporting CP

2022

3

Fabio Silva

£35.6m

FC Porto

2020

4

Raul Jimenez

£30m

Benfica

2019

5

Nelson Semedo

£28m

Barcelona

2020

6

Goncalo Guedes

£27.5m

Valencia

2022

7

Tolu Arokodare

£24m

Genk

2025

8

Jorgen Strand Larsen

£23m

Celta Vigo

2025

9

Nathan Collins

£20.5m

Burnley

2022

10

Fer Lopez

£19m

Celta Vigo

2025

11

Andre

£18.5m

Fluminense

2024

=12

Jonny Otto

£18m

Atletico Madrid

2019

=12

Adama Traore

£18m

Middlesbrough

2018

14

Daniel Podence

£17m

Olympiacos

2020

15

Emmanuel Agbadou

£16.6m

Reims

2025

=16

Patrick Cutrone

£16m

AC Milan

2019

=16

Rui Patricio

£16m

Sporting CP

2018

=18

Joao Gomes

£15m

Flamengo

2023

=18

Sasa Kalajdzic

£15m

Stuttgart

2022

=18

Jhon Arias

£15m

Fluminense

2025

Here's a detailed look at Wolves' 10 most expensive signings… 10 Fer Lopez £19m from Celta Vigo

An attacking midfielder who can play out on the wing, Wolves won the race for Fer Lopez in 2025, spending £19m on his services from Celta Vigo.

Lopez, who was 21 when he put pen to paper on a five-year contract in the Midlands, will be looking to become a star at Molineux and the latest foreign star for the Old Gold.

9 Nathan Collins £20.5m from Burnley

Following Burnley’s relegation to the Championship in 2022, Wolves acted swiftly to secure the services of defender Nathan Collins in a transfer worth more than £20m.

However, Collins’ time at Molineux was short-lived, and 12 months after signing, the Irishman was sold to Brentford, at least for a small profit.

8 Jorgen Strand Larsen £23m from Celta Vigo

Jorgen Strand Larsen’s initial loan move at Wolves became permanent in 2025 for a reported fee of £23m.

The Old Gold quickly had the chance to make a huge profit on the Norwegian striker, with Newcastle making bids for his services the same summer. However, Wolves rejected those bids and kept hold of their star forward.

7 Tolu Arokodare £24m from Genk

Wolves’ deadline day signing in 2025 was forward Tolu Arokodare, who cost slightly more than Strand Larsen at £24m.

The 6ft 6in Nigeria international signed a four-year deal at Molineux after scoring freely in Belgium with Genk.

6 Goncalo Guedes £27.5m from Valencia

After coming through the books at Benfica, Goncalo Guedes played for PSG and Valencia before signing for Wolves in a £27.5m deal in 2022.

But as one of many Portuguese stars to arrive following the influence of super-agent Jorge Mendes, the versatile forward struggled to make an impact in the Midlands, and in 2025, was sold to Real Sociedad.

5 Nelson Semedo £28m from Barcelona

Right-back Nelson Semedo was a regular for Wolves after arriving from Barcelona in a £28m transfer in 2020.

The Portugal international was named club captain in December 2024, taking over from Mario Lemina. However, the defender left the club after his contract expired in 2025.

4 Raul Jimenez £30m from Benfica

Raul Jimenez was a big signing following Wolves’ promotion to the Premier League in 2018, and his loan move from Benfica was made permanent for £30m just 12 months later.

The Mexico international scored 57 goals for the club in 166 appearances before signing for Fulham in a £5.5m deal in 2023.

3 Fabio Silva £35.6m from FC Porto

A big-money signing that didn’t go to plan for Wolves was for forward Fabio Silva, who arrived for a then-club-record £35.6m fee at the age of just 18.

Silva’s time at Molineux saw him loaned out to Anderlecht, PSV, Rangers and Las Palmas, scoring just a handful of goals for the Old Gold before being sold to Borussia Dortmund.

2 Matheus Nunes £38m from Sporting CP

After starring with Sporting CP under Ruben Amorim and catching the eye of Pep Guardiola, it was Wolves who ended up signing Matheus Nunes for £38m in 2022.

The midfielder’s time at Molineux only lasted one season due to his impressive Premier League displays, with Guardiola and City taking him to the Etihad for more than £50m.

1 Matheus Cunha £44m from Atletico Madrid

Matheus Cunha is currently Wolves’ most expensive signing of all time, with the Brazilian striker costing £44m from Atletico Madrid.

He moved to Molineux initially on loan in January 2023 with a permanent deal being activated that summer. Cunha went on to star in a struggling Wolves side, and as a result, moved to Man Utd for more than £60m.

da pixbet： Derby County are in the hunt for a winger before the transfer deadline and John Eustace may be about to get his wish with so little time remaining in the window.

Derby County drop points late on at Ipswich Town

da esoccer bet： Despite a valiant effort from the Rams, Jack Clarke struck 16 minutes into injury time from the spot as Derby had to settle for a share of the spoils in an enthralling encounter at Portman Road.

Reviewing events, Eustace praised his side for their spirited display against a side who were only recently relegated from the top-flight, albeit he was frustrated with the end result.

He told BBC Sport: “Really, really disappointed to concede [the equaliser]. I think that’s a world record amount of time ever added to any game. I’ve never seen that amount of minutes before.

“The lads battled, worked their socks off and we deserved the three points. What an effort that was from a group of players who are going to grow throughout the season. I think there some really good signs for where we want to get to and I was really proud of the effort.”

Reports suggest Derby are in with a fighting chance of signing Ben Brereton Diaz from Southampton, which would help Eustace to realise his ambition of laying claim to another wide option before the window closes.

Chesterfield Town attacker Armando Dobra is also a target for the Rams, meaning there are plenty of plates spinning with the deadline drawing closer at Pride Park.

With that in mind, Eustace and his men are ready to offer a contract to an experienced winger who could be the key to unlocking defences in the Championship.

Derby County ready to offer contract to Patrick Roberts

According to Alan Nixon via his Patreon, relayed by Football League World, Derby are set to offer a three-year contract to Sunderland winger Patrick Roberts, who could fulfill Eustace’s wish to land a winger before the window closes.

Earning a solitary Premier League appearance against Burnley, the former Celtic loanee has also featured against Huddersfield Town in the EFL Cup and may now be available due to experiencing limited minutes.

Labelled “dynamic” by Regis Le Bris, Roberts created 65 chances in the Championship last term and played a major role in the Black Cats’ promotion from the second-tier, albeit he has fallen victim to their summer spending spree.

Derby could now look to capitalise on his availability, though it remains to be seen if other clubs come calling for the £12,500 per week earner over the coming hours.

Eustace has had a positive impact since arriving at Pride Park that will be a tempting draw for players, something that may play on Roberts’ mind when it comes to picking his next career challenge.

da bet nacional： West Ham United have experienced a nightmare start to life back in the Premier League.

da casino： Graham Potter’s job security is already on thin ice at the Hammers a mere two games into the brand new season, having had to watch his hopeless team lose 3-0 away at Sunderland on the opening day, only to then be humiliated back on their patch 5-1 by near London rivals Chelsea.

It doesn’t have to be all doom and gloom, however, with West Ham potentially able to restore some of their damaged pride by picking up some last-minute purchases in the transfer window to try and push them out of their malaise.

West Ham keep tabs on £20m star

Potter will look to be busy between now and September’s approaching deadline, knowing this could be make or break for his job in the long run.

Reports from Spain are indicating that the basement club are in talks over landing Barcelona youngster Hector Fort on loan, on top of AS Monaco’s Soungoutou Magassa also being on their radar, albeit with Nottingham Forest and Atalanta being placed alongside them in the race for the £15m midfielder.

Away from those named, the forlorn Irons are also in the hunt for an experienced Premier League attacker who could be available for as cheap as £20m.

Indeed, a report from Caught Offside reveals that West Ham are keeping tabs on Raheem Sterling’s developing situation at Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea, with Beskitas allegedly in the lead for the 30-year-old’s services, as the Turkish titans plan to send a delegation out to London shortly to seal a deal.

Still, not all hope will be lost, considering Caught Offside also state that the Blues number seven might prefer a London stay over a switch to the Super Lig, with Fulham also keeping an eye on the unfolding situation, alongside Potter and Co.

How Sterling can become the next Antonio

Despite Sterling’s missteps at both Chelsea and Arsenal in recent years, he could be the boost West Ham desire up top, with Potter potentially picking up the Hammers’ next version of Michail Antonio in the process.

The Premier League’s early relegation favourites waved goodbye to a whole host of experienced faces this summer, as the likes of Aaron Cresswell and Lukasz Fabianski departed the London Stadium.

The casualty that looks to have hurt the Hammers instantly is the loss of Antonio, though, with the loyal 35-year-old servant allowed to leave the building on a free transfer this summer.

Off the back of this decision, West Ham have only been able to carve out one big chance during their opening two league defeats, leading to former goalkeeper Robert Green bemoaning the lack of leaders in the dressing room after the sobering Blues loss.

With the Jamaican’s 83-goal tally gone, the Hammers are clearly in dire need of another seasoned head to try and get more out of a limp attack, which is where Sterling could come to the rescue if he can bounce back from disappointing stints elsewhere in London.

Sterling’s record by club

Club

Games

Goals + Assists

Man City

339

131 + 86

Liverpool

129

23 + 18

Chelsea

81

19 + 15

Arsenal

28

1 + 5

Sourced by Transfermarkt

It’s clear from the table above that Sterling can be a “world class” star on his day – as he was once lauded by ex-City teammate Frank Lampard – with a mammoth 174 goals up his sleeve playing for some of the Premier League’s elite clubs, with a further 124 assists also catching West Ham’s eye. Incredible, 123 of those goals have come in the top-flight.

The 82-time England international might not lead the line in the same imposing manner as Antonio, but his creativity and efforts down the right wing might just enable the Hammers to get out of some sticky situations and soar up the league, with the likes of Niclas Fullkrug perhaps able to put his shaky start to the campaign behind him, knowing he has the expertise of the 30-year-old by his side.

Further dubbed as “outstanding” by football pundit Paul Merson when showing off flashes of his excellence at Stamford Bridge, Sterling will hope he can show there’s life still in his legs at the London Stadium, much like Antonio did during the 2023/24 season with seven goals next to his name, before his unfortunate Hammers exit.

After all, Sterling’s former Three Lions boss in Gareth Southgate did once herald him as a “fighter”, with a hope he can become a bright spark for West Ham during some testing times, too, leading to a sharp rise up the table imminently.

da doce： Sunday afternoon’s draw with Crystal Palace was not how Chelsea wanted to kickstart their Premier League campaign.

da brwin： Enzo Maresca’s side were not terrible, but they were toothless, and in sharp contrast to his pre-season form, Joao Pedro was anonymous.

The Brazilian forward didn’t register a single shot on target or complete a single dribble during his 73 minutes of inaction and took 20 fewer touches than Robert Sanchez.

It was a seriously disappointing performance from a player we all know can do so much more, and therefore, fans should be delighted about reports linking them to someone who’d help make him more lethal.

Chelsea target perfect teammate for Pedro

As it is every year, this summer has been a busy one for Chelsea on the transfer front, as on top of selling a swathe of players they no longer wanted, the club have made a number of exciting additions to the side.

Transfer Focus

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

Expand Collapse

Jorrel Hato, for example, is looked at by many as one of the next great defenders, while Liam Delap and Jamie Gittens should bring more dynamism, and crucially, more goals to Maresca’s side.

Yet, with the window still open until next month, the West Londoners appear intent on adding even more talent to the squad, and are now eyeing someone who’d help make Pedro far more lethal.

At least that is according to a recent report from The Athletic, which has claimed Chelsea are still interested in Morgan Rogers.

The report has revealed that the England international is ‘highly rated at Stamford Bridge’ and that the board would like to bring in an attacking midfielder before the window closes.

A price is not mentioned in the story, but reports from earlier this summer claim that the Aston Villa star could cost as much as £100m, and while that is an outrageous sum of money, he might just be worth it, especially if he can help make Pedro more lethal.

Why Rogers would make Pedro more lethal

From watching him in the Club World Cup and pre-season, we know that Pedro is a fine finisher and someone you can trust to lead the line, so why was he so poor on Sunday?

Well, simply put, his teammates did not fashion enough chances for him, as while he certainly wasn’t at his best, the team collectively created just two big chances, which isn’t great when playing a mid-table side at home.

The good news here is that this is a problem Rogers can help with.

Rogers’ 24/25

Appearances

54

Minutes

4496′

Goals

14

Assists

16

Goal Involvements per Match

0.55

Minutes per Goal Involvement

149.86′

All Stats via Transfermarkt

For example, in his 54 appearances across all competitions last season, totalling 4496 minutes, the Halesowen-born “machine,” as dubbed by The Athletic’s Jacob, scored 14 goals and provided 16 assists.

That means the often “unstoppable” midfielder, as dubbed by former Liverpool defender turned pundit Jamie Carragher, was able to average a goal involvement every 1.8 games, or every 149.86 minutes.

In other words, the Englishman was a lean, mean output machine, and someone his teammates could rely upon to finish the chances they created, or more importantly for Pedro, depend on him to create an avalanche of chances for them.

Another significant advantage of the Villa ace is his versatility.

The dynamic 23-year-old is comfortable playing in midfield and on the wing, which should allow him to play more games for the Blues and develop a deeper understanding with the Brazilian poacher.

Ultimately, we know Pedro is a brilliant striker, but we also saw how anonymous he can be without the right service.

Therefore, Chelsea should be doing all they can to sign Rogers before the window slams shut, as, on top of his goal-scoring ability, he is an assist-making machine.

da realsbet： John Cena is one of the most recognisable names in the world, whether it be for his wrestling or acting.

da stake casino： A WWE icon, Cena is set to retire from the sports entertainment business at the end of 2025, more than 23 years on from making his Smackdown debut. The American has had 17 separate WWE championship reigns, more than any other wrestler in the history of the business.

John Cena’s WWE accomplishments

WWE Champion

14

WWE World Heavyweight Champion

3

WWE United States Championship

5

WWE Tag Team Championship

4

Money in the Bank winner

2012

Royal Rumble winner

2008, 2013

Due to his status, he has regularly been at the centre of numerous interviews away from the ring throughout his career, being asked questions not focused on wrestling.

Previously, when speaking to the BBC, Cena was quizzed on all things football, from his favourite player and Premier League team, to what role he would like if he was involved in the sport.

John Cena names Ronaldo the football 'GOAT'

When asked who his favourite player was, Cena chose Cristiano Ronaldo over Lionel Messi. The former Manchester United and Real Madrid star is still going strong in Saudi Arabia with Al-Nassr and is showing no signs of slowing up in front of goal.

Ronaldo, who was won five Ballon d’Or awards, holds the record for the most international appearances and international goals with Portugal.

John Cena names favourite Premier League team

When asked who his preferred team is in England, Cena name-checked Tottenham Hotspur, citing a time when he visited White Hart Lane back in 2008 during a tour of the UK with the WWE.

With Spurs seemingly Cena’s favourite team and Ronaldo his best-ever player, Cena was then asked where he would play if he was a footballer. Instead of giving a position, the wrestling star fancied himself on the sidelines.

“If I were to play myself, I would be on the bench because I have watched a few games, and it is a lot of running – I don’t run very well, or very far. I could maybe go in goal but there is a lot of pressure on the goalie, because the net is so big and the goalies are so small, so it is tough to block the shots. So, I think being an inspirational coach might be my best role.”

da betcris： Nottingham Forest have now identified an “incredible” Douglas Luiz alternative as their new “top” target, Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg has revealed.

Forest set out to bolster midfield options

da fezbet： Forest have already made a major statement of intent by keeping hold of attacking midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White, and Nuno is now keen to bolster his options in the engine room even further, having seemingly identified Juventus’ Luiz as a major target.

The Tricky Trees have already agreed personal terms with the former Aston Villa man, and they are thought to be leading the race for his signature, with sporting director Edu said to be driving the move, but there are some doubts surrounding the deal.

Juventus are reportedly reluctant to sanction a departure until they bring in a replacement, which means Nuno may have to wait until the end of August before he is able to add the Brazilian to his squad, and a different midfielder has now emerged as the first-choice option.

Related Nottingham Forest now on verge of signing £10m defender after making offer

The Tricky Trees are close to sealing an agreement for a full-back, a report has revealed.

Posts

That is according to an update from Plettenberg on X, who states RB Salzburg midfielder and captain Mads Bidstrup has now been identified as Nottingham Forest’s new “top” target.

Bidstrup remains contracted until 2028, which puts Salzburg in a strong negotiating position, and the Austrian club are thought to be holding out for around £17m, potentially making the central midfielder a relatively low-cost addition to Nuno’s squad.

Luiz, on the other hand, could set the Tricky Trees back £35m, but the ex-Villa star is already very experienced at Premier League level, having made 175 appearances in the competition.

Bidstrup could be "incredible" Luiz alternative

Indeed, the Juventus ace was very impressive during his previous stint in England, particularly impressing from an attacking point of view during his final two seasons at Villa Park.

Season

PL appearances

Goals

Assists

2022-23

37

6

6

2023-24

35

9

5

However, it would be a gamble for Forest to solely focus on signing the 27-year-old, given that he could very easily choose to go to a different club at the end of August, and there are signs the RB Salzburg midfielder could be a solid alternative.

Former RB Salzburg sporting director Christoph Freund has spoken very highly of the 24-year-old in the past, saying: “Mads has an incredible mentality and suits our playing style in Salzburg perfectly with his way of playing. He is very versatile too and can be used anywhere in midfield.

The Dane has been a regular starter for Salzburg ever since arriving at the club, making 30 league appearances last season, and he clearly has leadership abilities too, having already taken on the role of captain.

That said, there may be some concerns over the fact that Bidstrup is yet to prove himself in a major European league, having only really starred in Denmark and Austria, and Luiz is vastly more experienced at the top level, which could make the Juventus ace the better option.

da betano casino： Arsenal have long been linked with Real Madrid’s Rodrygo, with reports suggesting they’ve held initial talks on the player side dating all the way back to May.

Related Arsenal reach part £30m "agreement" to sign player who Arteta really wants

The Gunners are making progress.

Posts 2

da apostebet： Sky Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg backed up their discussions for the Brazilian too, amid sporting director Andrea Berta’s previous search for a winger, before they ultimately signed Noni Madueke from Chelsea.

However, Madueke’s arrival may not actually signal the end of Arsenal’s pursuit after all.

Arsenal transfer spending under Arteta (via Sky Sports)

Money on new signings

19/20 – winter

£0

20/21 – summer

£81.5m

20/21 – winter

£900k

21/22 – summer

£156.8m

21/22 – winter

£1.8m

22/23 – summer

£121.5m

22/23 – winter

£59m

23/24 – summer

£208m

23/24 – winter

£0

24/25 – summer

£101.5m

24/25 – winter

£0

25/26 – summer

£208m

While Arsenal are currently targeting Eberechi Eze, reliable journalist Ben Jacobs recently stated that Mikel Arteta’s side still have their eyes on Rodrygo alongside other forward targets like Rafael Leao and Anthony Gordon (talkSPORT), but it would require one of Gabriel Martinelli or Leandro Trossard leaving.

They may also face stiff competition for the 24-year-old, who’s reportedly yet to commit to the Bernabeu for next season.

This week, north London rivals Tottenham have been repeatedly linked with an audacious swoop for Rodrygo, while Liverpool reportedly remain contenders as well.

It’s a situation definitely worth monitoring from now until deadline day on September 1, with Fabrizio Romano confirming that the winger will decide his future imminently after barely featuring for Xabi Alonso at the Club World Cup.

The former Santos star is a wanted man elsewhere, but according to a new report, he isn’t the only Real star who’s popular in the Premier League.

Arsenal make £65m proposal for Aurelien Tchouameni via intermediary

Now, according to Defensa Central, a £65 million proposal for £210,000-per-week Real midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni has arrived from England via an intermediary.

Whilst not explicitly confirming Berta is responsible, Defensa theorise that this is most likely to have come from Arsenal, with the Premier League side apparently informing Real that they’re prepared to pay big.

However, Los Blancos immediately slammed the door shut, rejecting this approach with a blunt “we’re not interested, thank you.”

Real’s sporting directors made it crystal clear that Tchouaméni is untouchable this summer, with Alonso viewing the France international as a cornerstone for the upcoming season.

Tchouameni started every game under the Spaniard during their Club World Cup campaign, and he’ll likely be indispensable at Valdebebas once again next season, with Madrid insiders insisting no amount of money can pry him away.

The player himself has also made no secret of his desire to stay in Madrid long-term, so Arsenal’s work appears well and truly cut out for them here.

Tchouameni cost around £85 million to sign from Monaco in 2022, including add-ons, so if Real were to somehow pull a U-turn, it would likely take a fee north of this amount for them to even consider negotiating.

da prosport bet： Tottenham opened their Champions League account for the campaign with a 1-0 win over La Liga side Villarreal in north London on Tuesday night, with a calamitous own goal from goalkeeper Luiz Junior gifting Thomas Frank’s side a precious three points.

da realsbet： It was a tight, cagey affair, and Villarreal had chances of their own to level, including a late free-kick in a dangerous area, but former Arsenal flop Nicolas Pepe blazed it over the bar.

Tottenham vs Villarreal – best performers on the night

Match Rating

Micky van de Ven

7.4

Djed Spence

7.3

Rodrigo Bentancur

7.3

Mohammed Kudus

7.2

Santiago Mourino

7.1

via WhoScored

Pape Sarr also forced a low, outstretched save from Luiz on 30 minutes to keep the score at 1-0, and that’s how it stayed, with there being precious few highlights from the fairly uneventful victory — not that Frank is complaining too much as Spurs make it four wins from five in all competitions.

Midfielder Lucas Bergvall also continued his fine start to the season with a Man of the Match display against Villarreal, outshining the likes of Xavi Simons and Mohammed Kudus in what was another excellent performance.

It’s been an excellent start to life under the Dane, but Tottenham’s restructured boardroom – headed by CEO Vinai Vinkatesham and minus ex-chair Daniel Levy – will bear in mind that Ange Postecoglou made the best start by any other manager in Premier League history when he first joined the club in 2023.

However, with the form on display by some of his key men, especially defensively, the early signs are extremely promising.

Frank’s side have conceded just three goals in six games this season, including the UEFA Super Cup final, with Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero proving imperious at the back for Tottenham.

Jamie O'Hara says Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero "walk" into Real Madrid

Speaking on talkSPORT, pundit Jamie O’Hara has claimed that Romero and van de Ven are the best centre-back partnership in the world right now, going on to claim that both of them stroll into Xabi Alonso’s Real Madrid side.

The duo have been vital for Frank since he took over from Postecoglou, and the numbers speak for themselves.

Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero shining for Tottenham

Van de Ven complements Romero by offering strong aerial ability, searing pace and consistency in clearances and interceptions.

The Dutchman’s clean-sheet rate when fit and his ability to handle one-on-one duels have become key for Spurs. Romero, meanwhile, brings aggression, leadership, and experience, especially in big games.

In Postecoglou’s final season, they featured in 18 matches together, during which Tottenham conceded just 20 goals.

Together, what van de Ven lacks in experience, Romero makes up for with leadership and composure; and while the latter’s aggressive defending sometimes invites risk, the former helps cover for him. Their strengths balance each other out, and it is clear that the pair remaining fit will be crucial to Tottenham’s prospects this season.

da betcris： It’s exactly a month now until Sunderland’s exciting, yet daunting, Premier League season finally kicks into gear with West Ham United travelling to the Stadium of Light on the opening day.

da stake casino： There will be no Jobe Bellingham for Regis Le Bris to select, but that saddening exit has been more than softened by the number of incoming faces that have arrived on Wearside, with the ambitious Black Cats now up to six summer purchases after finalising a standout deal for Simon Adingra to enter the ranks for £18m.

Poaching the Ivorian from Brighton and Hove Albion will help boost Sunderland’s top-flight experience ahead of the challenging season to come, with more signings tipped to join the building who have recently called the elite division home.

Sunderland monitoring £30m midfielder

Indeed, whilst it is exhilarating to splash the cash on some foreign talents in the hope they come good, Le Bris will be aware that the Premier League is an unforgiving beast. Therefore, he will need players who have been in and around the division before to try and stave off relegation.

That’s where reported target Granit Xhaka might well come to the rescue in the middle of the park, with the ex-Arsenal star boasting a whopping 225 outings in the Premier League to date.

This is also where Bilal El Khannouss could join the ever-growing Black Cats camp and cause a stir, considering the Moroccan playmaker stood out last season for Leicester City near the bottom of the top-flight pile with his creativity and eye for goal.

According to Sky Sports journalist Rob Dorsett via X, Sunderland are monitoring developments involving the in-demand 21-year-old, with Mikel Arteta’s high-flying Arsenal also once noted as being an admirer of the £30m-rated ace, alongside what is described as ‘long-term’ interest from Le Bris and Co.

If all goes to plan and Sunderland are successful in this race, the Black Cats might well be about to pick up their next Jobe Bellingham, as the promising attacking midfielder attempts to reach the same levels as the now Borussia Dortmund superstar under Le Bris’ tutelage.

How El Khannouss could be Le Bris' next Jobe

Of course, Sunderland have already added several thrilling attacking signings to try and fill the void left behind by the 19-year-old’s high-profile departure, with the likes of £30m purchase Habib Diarra comfortably slotting in at the number ten spot if needed.

Yet, away from the much-loved Chris Rigg, there isn’t an instantly recognisable out-and-out number ten, which will be a concern, considering how impactful Bellingham was from this position during Sunderland’s promotion heroics.

In total, before packing his bags for a new Black and Yellow adventure, Bellingham would chip in with four goals and three assists in league action, with the strike above showing off his cool ability to fire home a sweet effort from distance, much like El Khannouss managed last season versus Tottenham Hotspur.

Whilst those numbers are not that mind-blowing in the grand scheme of things, even as he helped Sunderland return to the top-flight, Dortmund clearly saw a lot of promise in the teenage sensation as they attempt to try and mould him now into a potential world-class performer in Germany, with Sunderland thinking the exact same with their fresh target.

El Khannouss’ league numbers for Leicester (24/25)

Stat – per 90 mins*

El Khannouss

Games played

32

Goals scored

2

Assists

3

Touches*

42.5

Accurate passes*

24.0 (80%)

Big chances created

8

Stats by Sofascore

Analysing the numbers, El Khannouss managed to stand out as a bright spark last campaign, even as Leicester’s hopes of staying up fell to the wayside, with the 21-year-old going on to create an impressive eight chances in total, despite the Foxes only scoring a weak 33 strikes from 38 clashes.

In the right environment, El Khannouss’ game might be taken to that next level to the point where he’s in conversations to join the likes of Dortmund, with the Athletic’s Alexander Barker already labelling him as a “top talent” for the future.

Sunderland will just hope that if he does explode into life even more on Wearside, that he doesn’t desert the camp as quickly as Bellingham did, with El Khannouss perhaps one for the long-term if Le Bris’ men can consolidate their status as a top-flight side swiftly.

Related Bigger talent than Cresswell: Sunderland ready bid for "ice-cold" £24m star

Sunderland could add a star to their growing camp very soon, who is an even bigger talent than Charlie Cresswell.

Posts