In all, 17 contracts were handed out, including to players like Suzie Bates, Amelia Kerr and Lea Tahuhu
ESPNcricinfo staff18-Jun-2025Auckland left-arm seamer Bree Illing and Otago batter Bella James have been handed their first central contracts by New Zealand Cricket (NZC).The pair, who are currently touring England with New Zealand A, filled up the contract vacancies left by Hayley Jensen and Sophie Devine. While Jensen is recently retired, Devine has opted for a casual playing agreement, having announced her ODI retirement after the upcoming World Cup.Related
Devine to retire from ODIs after the World Cup
Illing, the 21-year-old swing bowler, made her ODI and T20I debut this summer against Sri Lanka and was also Auckland’s highest wicket-taker in domestic cricket last season with an average of 21. James’ contract comes after her batting contributions powered Otago to another Hallyburton Johnstone (HBJ) Shield title. She made her ODI and T20I debuts against Australia in December 2024 and March 2025 respectively.”Bree had an outstanding series against Sri Lanka. To show up the way she did against a world-class batter like Chamari Athapaththu shows she’s ready for international cricket,” New Zealand women’s head coach Ben Sawyer said. “Bella’s been a consistent performer at the domestic level and had a great debut series against Australia last year. She’s got the competencies that we believe will succeed at the international level.”The full list of central contracts, 17 in all, include batters Suzie Bates, Lauren Down, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Georgia Plimmer, Izzy Gaze and Polly Inglis, allrounders Amelia Kerr and Hannah Rowe, and bowlers Eden Carson, Fran Jonas, Jess Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Molly Penfold and Lea Tahuhu.
There was a bit of concern among some sections of the fanbase heading into this season because Leeds United head coach Daniel Farke does not have an impressive record in the Premier League.
He was relegated with Norwich City in the 2019/20 campaign before being sacked during his second attempt at managing in the division in the 2021/22 season with the Canaries.
However, the West Yorkshire outfit have picked up eight points from six matches in the Premier League this season, losing just two of their games, in what has been a very solid start to the campaign.
Farke’s side have been competitive in every game barring the 5-0 loss to Arsenal, who are title challengers, and were held to a 2-2 draw by Bournemouth on Saturday.
In that 2-2 draw with the Cherries, Leeds supporters were provided with a reminder of where the club went wrong the last time they were in the top-flight.
Tyler Adams lined up in central midfielder for the away side at Elland Road, a few years on from when he failed to replace Kalvin Phillips under Jesse Marsch.
Why Tyler Adams was a poor replacement for Kalvin Phillips
The Whites sold Phillips to Manchester City in the summer of 2022 after the England international had helped the team to stay in the Premier League for two years.
Jesse Marsch and Victor Orta decided to bring Adams in from RB Leipzig for a fee of £20m to replace what they had lost in the middle of the park, but he was a poor replacement for the Yorkshire-born star.
Adams offered bite in the middle of the park, averaging 5.2 tackles and interceptions per game (per Sofascore), in the Premier League for the Whites, which shows that he was combative and got around the pitch to disrupt the opposition.
The USA international, however, did not showcase the quality on the ball that made Phillips so special to Marcelo Bielsa and Marsch in his two seasons in the top-flight with the West Yorkshire outfit. That lack of quality played a part in the team’s relegation to the Championship in the 2022/23 campaign.
Premier League
Kalvin Phillips (20/21)
Tyler Adams (22/23)
Appearances
29
24
Goals
1
0
Big chances created
5
1
Assists
2
0
Possession lost per game
11.7
12.2
Tackles + interceptions per game
4.2
5.2
Ground duel success rate
53%
55%
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, Adams did not offer anywhere near as much to the team in possession as Phillips did at his best, losing the ball more frequently whilst creating way less.
These statistics show that Orta and Marsch failed in their attempts to replace Phillips in midfield in the summer of 2022, and the Whites were relegated from the Premier League, in part, because of that. Of course, losing Raphinha from that team did not help matters.
Fast-forward to the present day, Leeds look competitive in the middle of the park thanks to the recruitment work that was done in that area of the pitch during the summer transfer window.
German giant Anton Stach has caught the eye, having scored a stunning free-kick against Wolverhampton Wanderers, since his £17m move from Hoffenheim.
However, it is another Leeds United central midfielder who has emerged as Farke’s own version of Kalvin Phillips at Elland Road in the Premier League this season.
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Sean Longstaff joined the club from Premier League rivals Newcastle United for £12m to bolster their options in the middle of the park, and he has been an excellent addition on current evidence.
Why Sean Longstaff may be the new Kalvin Phillips
The English midfield star may be the new Phillips at Elland Road because, unlike Tyler Adams, he has the defensive and technical qualities to be a well-rounded and influential presence in and out of possession for Leeds.
Longstaff really announced himself to the Elland Road supporters, of course, with his strike in the 2-2 draw with Bournemouth in the Premier League on Saturday, finding the corner with an excellent strike, as shown in the clip below.
It has been his all-round play in midfield that has impressed the most, though, as Longstaff has also averaged 3.8 tackles and interceptions per game in the league for the Whites this season, per Sofascore.
That is 1.2 more tackles and interceptions per match than Stach has managed in midfield in the top-flight. This suggests that the former Newcastle man is closer to Phillips, from a defensive perspective, than the 6 foot 4 German is, as he covers plenty of ground to disrupt opposition attacks.
Longstaff, who was tipped to be an “unbelievable” player by Alan Shearer, has the quality on and off the ball to help Leeds in all phases. He can sit and be compact to stop teams playing through the Whites, but he can also play a killer pass in the final third when needed to spark attacks or break down low blocks.
Premier League
Kalvin Phillips (20/21)
Sean Longstaff (25/26)
Appearances
29
6
Goals
1
1
Big chances created
5
2
Key passes per game
1.2
1.3
Tackles and interceptions per game
4.2
3.8
Ground duel success rate
53%
55%
Aerial duel success rate
47%
71%
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, the £12m signing’s statistics in and out of possession so far this season make him very comparable to Phillips in his best season in the Premier League under Bielsa in the 2020/21 campaign.
1.3 key passes per game for Longstaff shows that he has a creative side to his game, whilst his assist for Joe Rodon on Saturday came from a corner, and that means that he adds value in the final third as well as being a combative and defensively strong operator.
Signing a player with bags of Premier League experience has turned out to be an incredibly shrewd move by the Whites, as he has been able to hit the ground running since his move to Elland Road.
He may not have been the most exciting signing when he arrived at the club in the summer transfer window, but Longstaff may well turn out to be the club’s next version of Kalvin Phillips.
Not just Longstaff: 7/10 Leeds star is now completely undroppable for Farke
Leeds drew 2-2 at home to Bournemouth on Saturday and this star made himself undroppable.
Celtic were on the hunt for a striker to bolster their forward line on deadline day but were rejected in their efforts to sign a former wonderkid.
Celtic sell Adam Idah to Swansea City
Adam Idah was called back to Glasgow despite agreeing a deal to join Swansea City initially, but he wasn’t involved in the 0-0 draw with Rangers at Ibrox and has now completed his move to the Championship.
Sky Sports journalist Anthony Joseph confirmed he was set to leave the club on X, highlighting that he underwent the second part of his medical and headed to Wales for a fee of £6 million plus £1 million in add-ons.
He stated on deadline day: “Celtic striker Adam Idah has completed the second part of his medical ahead of a £7m move to Swansea City. Idah has also finalised the paperwork on a long-term contract. It’s understood Celtic & Swansea have agreed an initial fee of £6m, plus more than £1m in add-ons.”
Leaving with 29 goals in 76 appearances, Idah will be remembered as someone who produced big moments on occasion, though he never looked convincing enough to claim the Bhoys’ number one striking jersey.
Responding with plans to improve their attack, Celtic made a late loan move for Crystal Palace winger Jesurun Rak-Sakyi, who was also wanted by Rangers, Leicester City and Lyon before the deadline.
If it didn’t need upgrading already, the Hoops’ blunt attack in a 0-0 draw with their rivals at Ibrox on Sunday in the Scottish Premiership failed to fire, leaving Brendan Rodgers desperate to secure reinforcements at the top area of the field.
Celtic made £10 million bid for Kasper Dolberg
According to Sportsboom, Celtic made a £10 million bid for Denmark international Kasper Dolberg, who emerged as their leading target before the deadline.
Rodgers was deemed to be a big fan of the player, but Ajax swooped in at the last minute to agree a deal, leaving the Scottish champions scrambling during the final hours of the window before landing Sebastian Tounekti, who is not an out and out forward.
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Dolberg scored 24 times in 45 appearances for Anderlecht last term and has started 2025/26 with five strikes in his first nine outings, which made him a leading target to lead the Bhoys’ line.
While at Ajax the first time, the Dutch champions rejected a bid worth over £43 million from AS Monaco for the forward, who burst onto the scene at the Johan Cruyff Arena and has previously been likened to Marco van Basten by Flemming Rasmussen.
Nevertheless, he has opted for a new challenge elsewhere, in a scenario that left Celtic picking up the pieces in the final hours of the window.
In a thrilling Serie A encounter, AC Milan edged out Napoli 2-1 at the San Siro, with Christian Pulisic and Alexis Saelemaekers putting Milan ahead before Kevin De Bruyne converted a penalty for Napoli. Despite the loss, De Bruyne shared a heartfelt message with Luka Modric, expressing admiration for the Croatian midfielder's exceptional talent.
Milan's resilient victory over Napoli
Milan secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Napoli at the San Siro, propelling them to the top of the Serie A standings. Christian Pulisic opened the scoring with an assist from Saelemaekers, and before the Belgian doubled the lead before half-time. Napoli's De Bruyne converted a penalty after Milan's Pervis Estupinan was sent off for a foul on Giovanni Di Lorenzo. Despite Napoli's late pressure, Milan held on to claim all three points.
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De Bruyne's shares heartfelt message to Modric
Following the match, De Bruyne took to Instagram to share a message with Modric, which said: "Everybody enjoys good football. Good to see you brate."
This gesture shows the mutual respect between the two midfield maestros. Despite the competitive nature of the match, De Bruyne's words are of nothing but admiration for Modric's exceptional skill and influence on the game.
De Bruyne's angry reaction to being subbed off
De Bruyne may have pulled Napoli back into the contest with his second-half penalty, but the Belgian’s night ended on a sour note. Coach Antonio Conte decided to substitute him in the closing stages, a move that visibly irked the midfielder. The ex-Manchester City player walked straight to the bench without acknowledging his manager, his frustration clear for all to see.
Conte later explained the change was a tactical one, aimed at injecting fresh energy into Napoli’s attack. He added that he hoped De Bruyne’s anger was directed at the result, not the decision.
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A season of high expectations from Serie A
The match between Milan and Napoli highlighted the high stakes in Serie A this season. With both teams vying for the top spot, both the teams have brought in experienced and young talents to rejuvenate the team. With Inter making it to the Champions League final last year, the expectations from the Serie A clubs are high this time as well.
Chelsea’s crisis deepened after their 3-1 defeat to Brighton, with footage emerging of Moises Caicedo appearing to lash out at Jan Paul Van Hecke in a post-match brawl at Stamford Bridge. The incident has reportedly drawn the FA’s attention, with possible sanctions looming over Enzo Maresca’s struggling side just as injuries and suspensions continue to pile up.
Caicedo's post-match brawl at Stamford Bridge
Tempers flared at Stamford Bridge following Chelsea’s 3-1 home loss to Brighton, as Caicedo appeared to strike former team-mate Van Hecke during a heated altercation. The Ecuadorian midfielder, already frustrated by his side’s collapse, confronted Yankuba Minteh before turning his anger on the Seagulls defender. The FA are expected to review the footage, with both clubs likely to face disciplinary action for failing to control their players.
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FA to take retrospective action against Caicedo?
Former Premier League referee Mark Halsey told Sun Sport that the FA will “look at it again” after VAR deemed the footage inconclusive. He believes both clubs could be charged, and retrospective action against Caicedo remains possible if clearer evidence emerges. The incident adds to a growing list of off-field distractions as pressure mounts on Maresca after another dismal home performance.
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Chelsea's on-field and off-field issues
This latest controversy comes at a time when Chelsea can ill afford more problems. Injuries to key players have left Maresca short of options, and a potential suspension for Caicedo would further weaken an already thin midfield. The defeat to Brighton underlined deep-rooted issues in recruitment and discipline, with the club once again struggling to balance talent and temperament.
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Caicedo could face suspension against Liverpool
Chelsea now face an anxious wait for the FA’s final verdict on Caicedo’s actions. Should the midfielder be banned, Maresca will be forced to shuffle his midfield once more ahead of a daunting clash with Liverpool. With fan frustration growing and results worsening, the Blues’ season threatens to spiral further out of control.
Gianluigi Donnarumma has paid tribute to "fantastic" Erling Haaland, revealing he has already built a strong relationship with his new Manchester City team-mate. The goalkeeper moved to City from Paris Saint-Germain in a £26 million (€30m/$35m) deal on transfer deadline day, replacing long-term No. 1 Ederson after the Brazil international joined Fenerbahce.
Donnarumma's dream debut with clean sheet against Man Utd
Donnarumma made the perfect start at City after keeping a clean sheet on his Premier League debut in the 3-0 win over rivals Manchester United on Sunday. The Italy international made an excellent save to deny Bryan Mbeumo in the second half and was immediately embraced by Haaland, whose second-half double helped seal the victory for Pep Guardiola's side.
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And now Donnarumma has opened up about the close relationship he and Haaland have been quick to forge, hailing the Norway international for playing a huge role in making him feel like he has been part of the City squad for "many years".
A new bromance: What Donnarumma had to say about Haaland
Speaking ahead of City's Champions League opener against Napoli on Thursday, Donnarumma said of Haaland: “Aside from being a fantastic player, one of the best in the world if not the best, he’s a fantastic person as well. That’s what makes him even better in a way, and I have an incredible relationship with him, he immediately welcomed me."
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Surplus to requirements at PSG but adored at Man City
The instant bond between Donnarumma and his new City team-mates completes a major turnaround in fortunes after the shot-stopper was frozen out at PSG this summer. After helping the French giants claim their first Champions League crown in the 5-0 victory over Inter in May, the former Milan shot-stopper was replaced between the sticks by Lucas Chevalier following his move from Lille.
After a tough preseason campaign, Everton are continuing to strengthen their squad in a bid to make the first campaign at the Hill Dickinson Stadium a memorable one. The Toffees have already brought in several new faces, including a new striker to replace Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Thierno Barry from Villarreal.
More recently, David Moyes has added Chelsea midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall to his squad. The Toffees have snapped up the Englishman on a £29m deal, albeit with that including £4m in add-ons.
Moyes’ side will seemingly add another midfielder, with the club working behind the scenes to add depth in the middle of the park.
Everton’s next midfield target
Dewsbury-Hall is not the only Premier League star that the Toffees are targeting. David Ornstein recently reported that they have opened discussions with Manchester City over a season-long loan move for Jack Grealish, with the Englishman looking set for an exit from the Etihad this summer after missing out on their recent Club World Cup exploits.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Elsewhere, meanwhile, the Merseysiders are still focusing on other targets at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
According to a recent report from Spanish newspaper El Mira, Everton are close to signing UD Almeria midfielder Dion Lopy. The Premier League side have readied a bid for the player and are willing to fork out around €25m (£22m).
UD Almeria's Dion Lopy in action against Jude Bellingham.
That figure is said to be an ‘irresistible amount’ for the Spanish side, with the report outlining ‘barring a drastic turn of events’, Lopy will ‘soon pack his bags’ in order to seal a move to Merseyside.
Why Lopy would be a good signing
At just 23 years of age, Lopy is already a full senior international, which is a testament to the quality he possesses. Described as one of many “exciting” Senegalese talents by analyst Ben Mattinson, Lopy has already garnered a strong reputation.
After breaking through the academy at French side Stades Reims, Lopy made 62 appearances for the club, grabbing two assists from midfield. From there, he made the move to Spain, joining Almeria, where he has become a key player.
Last term for the club in La Liga 2, the 23-year-old played 36 times, chipping in with one goal and three assists. He tended to operate from the base of midfield, although did push further forward at times, too.
Moyes would surely love for the potential new Everton midfield to become the second coming of Idrissa Gueye. The Toffees star, who is an international teammate of Lopy’s, was a key player last term in the final season at Goodison Park.
He helped keep his side in the Premier League and achieve a comfortable mid-table finish.
He played 37 times in the top flight last season, missing just one game against Leicester City at the start of the campaign.
Like Lopy did for Almeria, Gueye sat at the base of the midfield and showed just how good a ball-winner he is. His 133 tackles were the most in the top flight.
If Lopy can replicate what Gueye has done for the Merseysiders in midfield, then he would surely be a successful signing. When looking at the numbers via Sofascore, there is certainly reason to believe he can become as good of a ball winner in the Premier League as his Senegal teammate.
Last season, the 23-year-old made 78 tackles and 46 interceptions for Almeria in the league, averaging a combined 3.6 per 90 minutes. Compare that to Gueye’s stats, courtesy of Sofascore, and they stack up well, with the Everton number 27 making 133 tackles and 48 interceptions, a combined average of 5.3 each game.
Tackles
2.3
3.9
Interceptions
1.3
1.4
Aerial duels won
1.5
0.7
Key passes
0.8
0.6
Accurate long balls
3.8
2.3
Dribbles completed
0.4
0.5
Of course, Lopy still has some way to go before he matches, or nears, Gueye’s numbers from last season. However, he has all the tools to suggest he can replicate his impact in midfield and be the second coming of his compatriot.
Stade De Reims midfielder Dion Lopy.
After the deals for Dewsbury-Hall and Grealish are completed, signing Lopy could be Moyes’ next big focus to strengthen in the middle of the park, and buy a long-term replacement for Gueye.
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With the arrival of Florian Wirtz this summer, Liverpool’s lengthy midfield rebuild finally feels complete.
Ahead of Jurgen Klopp’s final campaign at Anfield, he saw the likes of Jordan Henderson and Fabinho head to Saudi Arabia, with Thiago Alcantara leaving on a free transfer.
Huge investment was made to bolster the midfield and even if they did miss out on the likes of Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia who both headed to Chelsea, Liverpool have been no worse for it.
Indeed, the trio of Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai, all bought in the summer of 2023, played a decisive factor in the Reds’ title triumph just a few months ago.
Mac Allister and Gravenberch were particularly strong last term, with the former nominated for the Premier League’s Player of the Season gong and the latter nominated for Young Player, an award he fought off the competition to win.
Still, despite the arrival of Wirtz, perhaps Arne Slot and Co are not content just yet.
Liverpool looking at signing another midfielder
It’s unlikely the Merseysiders will welcome too many more players to Anfield this summer with a colossal amount of business already complete or on the verge of being completed.
Wirtz arrived in a mega £116m deal, making him British football’s record transfer, while Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez has also penned terms. Next on the agenda is Hugo Ekitike, set to sign from Eintracht Frankfurt and possibly also Crystal Palace star, Marc Guehi.
Liverpool’s raid of Palace may not stop there with any of Selhurst Park’s star players taking their fancy.
Indeed, according to reports via The Mirror, they are interested in signing midfielder Adam Wharton.
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However, they are set to have to wait until next year with Wharton deciding to stay in London for another season amid interest from Tottenham Hotspur.
That said, Liverpool are in fact in pole position to sign the England international in a year’s time. They may, however, have to shell out a fee of £100m to bring him to the north west.
Why Adam Wharton could be Liverpool's very own Martin Zubimendi
A year ago, it looked like for all the world that Martin Zubimendi would be donning the red of Liverpool.
The Spaniard had held talks about moving to the Premier League but ultimately, a deal failed to come to fruition. It was a blow, admittedly, and to see him head to Arsenal this summer will have been a bitter pill to swallow.
Liverpool did a lot of work on signing the Spaniard, but so did the Gunners, who wrapped a deal worth around £60m a few weeks ago.
Zubimendi is one of the finest around, described by Spain manager Luis de la Fuente as “one of the best midfielders in the world” while European football expert, Sid Lowe, has noted that he “is just about as good a deep-lying midfielder there is in Europe, apart from maybe Rodri.”
So, Arsenal have strengthened well by bringing the 26-year-old to the Emirates Stadium, but Wharton is cut from a similar cloth.
A “generational talent” in the words of former Sky Sports employee Matthew Stanger, Wharton has actually already been compared to Zubimendi by analyst Raj Chohan. Writing for Premier League Panel, he suggested that as a “press-resistant passer” he is the type of player who should be playing next to Declan Rice in England’s midfield.
Considering Arsenal have picked a similar profile in the form of Zubimendi to sit next to him in 2025/26 and beyond, there’s a lot of rhyme and reason behind Chohan’s argument here.
Aged just 21, Wharton has the world at his feet and his ability to not just break up the play but dictate the tempo of a game from a deep-lying position doesn’t just evoke memories of Zubimendi but also the aforementioned Rodri.
Indeed, Manchester City reportedly earmarked both players as their ‘perfect’ Rodri replacement when the Spaniard suffered his ACL injury last season.
Pass success %
76%
84%
Key passes
1.78
0.58
Progressive passes
7.33
5.93
Tackles won
0.96
1.12
Interceptions
1.37
1.34
Blocks
0.75
1.28
Progressive carries
0.96
1.16
Ball recoveries
6.99
4.26
Analysing the data, we can see where the similarities lie, notably in the fact that they get through the same degree of defensive work across tackles and interceptions.
While Zubimendi is perhaps crisper with his passing, Wharton is actually better when it comes to recovering the ball and creating opportunities to score for his teammates.
Crystal Palace's Jean-Philippe Mateta, Adam Wharton, EberechiEzeand Marc Guehi
Of course, the Spaniard has been impressing over a longer time span, but by bringing the Eagles sensation to Anfield, whether it be this summer or next, they’d find their own version of Zubimendi, perhaps with a little more creativity and drive in the final third.
He's better than Ekitike: Liverpool chasing "monster" £60m Isak alternative
Liverpool are looking to sign a new number nine in the summer transfer window.
يسعى النادي الأهلي في الفترة المقبلة إلى إحداث طفرة كبيرة داخل قطاع الناشئين، في إطار خطط الإدارة لتجهيز جيل جديد قادر على تمثيل الفريق الأول والمنافسة بقوة محليًا وقاريًا.
ويواصل مجلس إدارة الأهلي العمل على تطوير البنية الفنية والإدارية للقطاع، من خلال الاستعانة بخبرات أجنبية قادرة على تطبيق أحدث الأساليب العالمية في تكوين اللاعبين.
وفي هذا السياق، أكد المدرب الهولندي آرت لانجلير على توليه رسميًا مهمة قيادة قطاع الناشئين داخل النادي الأهلي، مؤكدًا أنه وقع بالفعل على كل العقود الخاصة بالاتفاق مع القلعة الحمراء.
وأوضح لانجلير في تصريحات عبر بطولات: “سأعود إلى القاهرة مطلع شهر أكتوبر المقبل، من أجل مباشرة مهامي بشكل فعلي، بعدما أتمت كل الاتفاقات الرسمية مع مسؤولي الأهلي”.
وأشار المدرب الهولندي: “هناك مؤتمر صحفي سيعقد فور وصولي إلى مصر، للكشف عن تفاصيل التعاقد الجديد، بالإضافة إلى استعراض الخطط لتطوير قطاع الناشئين خلال المرحلة المقبلة”.
وأكد لانجلير: “العمل في الأهلي يعد فرصة فريدة لأي مدرب، نظرًا لقيمة النادي الكبيرة ومكانته التاريخية على المستويين المحلي والإفريقي، وأسعى لترك بصمة واضحة مع قطاع الناشئين”.
Tottenham Hotspur have now made a late approach to sign a Manchester United target, who has already agreed personal terms for a move to Old Trafford, according to a report.
Tottenham pursuing new signings as Frank deal advances
It is looking increasingly likely that Thomas Frank will be the man to replace Ange Postecoglou at N17, with reporter Ben Jacobs recently revealing the terms of the deal have now been agreed.
As such, Spurs’ transfer plans may be subject to change, in order to make sure they bring in players suited to Frank’s system, although the Dane is known to be more flexible than Ange, having used several different formations during his time with the Bees.
Regardless of who Daniel Levy ends up bringing in as the new manager, it is clear that a new goalscorer would be useful, given that Brennan Johnson’s tally of 11 goals in all competitions was the highest of any player last season.
Frank may also be keen to bring in a forward that he knows very well, and a report from Caught Offside has now revealed Tottenham have held talks over a deal for Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo, recently making contact with the Bees.
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Mbeumo has already agreed personal terms to join Man United this summer, and Old Trafford remains his favoured destination, but Spurs could throw a spanner in the works by getting involved in the transfer battle.
Brentford have already knocked back one offer from the Red Devils, but they could come back in with a new bid worth a total of £60m, so the north Londoners may need to move swiftly if they are going to hijack the deal.
"Deadly" Mbeumo could be exactly what Tottenham need
Despite making a success out of the season by winning the Europa League, the 2024-25 campaign was far from ideal for Tottenham, finishing 17th in the Premier League, and the lack of a consistent goalscorer was a real problem.
As such, the £45k-a-week Brentford star could be exactly what Spurs need, having scored 20 goals in 38 Premier League games last term, while also providing eight assists.
Scout Ben Mattinson singled out the 25-year-old for praise, describing him as “deadly”, while prospective new Tottenham boss Frank was also left impressed, hailing the Cameroonian as “unplayable” last December.
Brentford's BryanMbeumoreacts
It appears as though Mbeumo still has his heart set on a move to Old Trafford, but Spurs will be hoping that Frank can convince the forward to make the move to N17 instead.