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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.

Transfer Focus

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

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.

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.

ByAngus Sinclair Jul 15, 2025

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.

اقرأ أيضًا.. تفاصيل إصابة زيزو وإمام عاشور ومدة غيابهما عن الأهلي

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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A Spurs player could even go the other way.

ByEmilio Galantini Jun 6, 2025

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.

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.

Glasgow Rangers’ struggles this season can be attributed to a few factors. Philippe Clement clearly wasn’t the man to take the Ibrox side forward, and he failed to implement a tactical philosophy during his time in charge.

Additionally, the Gers’ performances against clubs they are expected to beat were poor, losing games against Aberdeen, Hibs, St Mirren and Motherwell, which knocked the club out of a Premiership title race.

At the time of writing, Rangers have conceded 38 goals in the league already. Indeed, this is the most the club have conceded since they won the league title during the 2020/21 campaign.

With three games left, this number could still increase. The defence has been a big part of the problem throughout the season. John Souttar has been a reliable option when fit, but he still makes the odd mistake, having made two errors leading to a shot and given away two penalties in the league this term, as per Sofascore.

Leon Balogun is arguably the finest centre-back at Ibrox, but he will be 37 by the start of next season.

Clement signed Robin Propper last summer as a replacement for Connor Goldson. With experience in the Eredivisie and being the captain of FC Twente, he was deemed to be a solid signing.

Unfortunately, it hasn’t quite worked out for him.

Why Rangers must sell Robin Propper

For a fee of just £1.5m, Propper made the move to Glasgow last August, but it soon became clear that the rough and tumble of the Scottish top flight would be a problem for him.

He struggled physically against teams that used big, bulking centre-forwards, with Propper being bullied off the ball on a constant basis, having admitted himself that he perhaps “underestimated” the Premiership.

Indeed, he ranks in the lowest 40% for duels won percentage per game (62.1%) in the Premiership while also ranking in the bottom 50% for interceptions per 90 (1.02).

It isn’t just domestically where Propper struggles. When compared to his peers in the Europa League, the Dutchman ranks in the bottom 75% for pass completion percentage (82.8%), progressive passes (2.08) and progressive carries (0.13).

On this evidence, Rangers should be looking to move him on this summer under new management, especially as they might be able to recoup nearly all that they paid.

Improving the defence will be a main priority for the new head coach when he arrives at Ibrox.

Hopefully, this means new arrivals will shortly be on their way to Glasgow.

Rangers search for a new defender

According to Foot Mercato, the Gers are expected to make a bid for Estoril defender Kevin Boma when the transfer window opens.

Boma has only been with his current club for a single season, but has impressed significantly to begin attracting interest from the continent.

FC Basel are keen on making an offer for the youngster, as are Bundesliga side Union Berlin, suggesting the Light Blues have plenty of competition for the centre-back.

Estoril value Boma at between €6m and €7m (£5.1 and £6m) should anyone attempt to make a bid for the player.

Much will depend on the money that is available to the new boss this summer, but there is no doubt that Boma fits the profile of what the club urgently require.

If a few players can be sold when the window opens, funds should be ready this summer.

Why Rangers must sign Kevin Boma

A year ago, Boma was playing in the French second tier with Rodez, making a total of 26 appearances for the club before moving to Portugal for a fee in the region of just £200k.

This certainly looks to have turned into a bargain for Estoril, especially considering they are set to make a lucrative profit on the defender.

Boma has featured 28 times for the club in all competitions, scoring once, and his performances have been impressive in the Portuguese top flight.

Comparing Kevin Boma & Robin Propper (Domestic stats only)
Metric (per90)	Boma	Propper
Tackles	1.7	1.7
Interceptions	1.5	0.8
Dribbled past	0.3	0.5
Clearances	4.1	4
Percentage of aerial duels won	67%	63%
Possession lost	6.5	8.7
Stats via Sofascore

Indeed, the 22-year-old ranks fourth in the first-team squad for accurate passes (34.7) and tackles (1.7) per game in the top flight, along with ranking third for clearances (4.1) and for interceptions (1.5) per match.

Boma’s physicality could be a huge asset for the club at the heart of the defence, especially as he wins 5.4 total duels per game – a success rate of 63% – in the league this season for Estoril.

Strong, quick and tall, all the qualities that the club require at the heart of the defence and Boma possesses them all.

Kai Watson, scout and analyst, profiled the defender amid the club’s recent interest in him, taking to X to say that “the 22-year-old is incredibly athletic and has caught the eye at Estoril this season.”

He may not be at his peak just yet, but with plenty of time to improve, Boma will continue to get better and better as time goes on.

Transfer Focus

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

On the surface, signing Propper looked like a wise move. One experienced centre-back came in to replace a player who had departed.

After a few months, it soon became clear that the Dutchman wasn’t up to the required standard for Rangers, yet Clement still persisted with him at the heart of his defence.

Changes must be made this summer, no matter how ruthless. This includes selling deadwood who are either not contributing enough or have missed too many matches through injury. In their place, young players with the capability to develop into sellable assets should arrive in Glasgow.

Boma is the ideal signing, despite the price tag. The 22-year-old has even been capped at international level by Togo, proving how impressive his displays have been this season.

First things first, the 49ers Enterprises must appoint a manager who can take the club back to the summit of Scottish football.

Forget about Cerny: Rangers could land the "next Sadio Mane" for just £1.7m

Rangers will need to sign a winger or two this summer

By
Ross Kilvington

May 10, 2025

Arne Slot has confirmed that he will rotate his Liverpool team in the Premier League this season (finally) after last weekend’s title triumph.

A host of players have been reduced to bit-part roles under the new management, but the Dutch coach has said that “a few players will come into the team” across the closing weeks of the campaign.

Harvey Elliott, Jarell Quansah and Federico Chiesa will be among those looking for starting berths, but at left-back, it’s more of an uncertain situation.

While Andy Robertson remains Liverpool’s first-choice option to partner Virgil van Dijk on the left side of the backline, his influence has waned this season, mistakes creeping in and attacking contributions heading out.

Several Reds stars are going to be playing for their futures over the final four fixtures, and Kostas Tsimikas is sure to be one of them, having only started seven top-flight games all term. However, four of those have come across seven recent outings.

Liverpool are in the market for a new left-back this summer, and one of the experienced duo is sure to be sold to make room for a fresh face. Milos Kerkez is at the top of the list of contenders.

Liverpool's interest in Milos Kerkez

According to The Times, Liverpool have placed Kerkez right at the top of their shortlist as FSG warm to the idea of signing a new left-back. However, Bournemouth want £45m for the 21-year-old and this is steep.

Described as a “machine” by Sky Sports’ Izzy Christensen, the Cherries defender has all the attributes to become one of Europe’s elite players, and so it’s hardly surprising that his outfit are ready to drive a hard bargain.

Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes was the man who brought Kerkez over to England, signing the Hungarian talent from AZ Alkmaar for £15.5m in July 2023 while he was the transfer operator at the Vitality Stadium.

This season, Kerkez has been a revelation in Andoni Iraola’s system, frightening in attack and secure in defence. His completeness and athleticism have seen him emerge as one of the best young full-backs in Europe.

At £45m, Liverpool will be sure to consider their options, especially with Manchester City and Real Madrid also keen. Hughes has already lined up a potential alternative, and he’s an exciting one at that.

Liverpool chasing new left-back

Kerkez seems to be the top target for the Anfield side, but Liverpool aren’t limited in their scope. Indeed, journalist Bence Bocsak has recently reported that the Premier League champions have been extensively scouting an alternative option.

The man in question is Maxim De Cuyper, with the Club Brugge star impressing Liverpool recruiters with his performances in the Champions League this year. Arsenal are also interested.

De Cuyper, 24, is an active defender with a gas tank that refuses to be depleted. With Robertson hoping to stick around for a few more years, this could be the perfect profile to challenge the Scotland captain for a starting berth, especially since he’s got a rumoured price tag of €25m (£21m).

Why Liverpool should De Cuyper

Firstly, these reports suggest that De Cuyper could be available for less than half the price of Kerkez, and when digging into their respective skill sets, it does look as if the Belgium international has the quality to make just as much of a positive impact in Slot’s team – if not more.

A fiercely creative defender, De Cuyper ranks among the top 19% of full-backs across divisions similar to the Belgian Pro League for assists, the top 1% for passes attempted and shot-creating actions and the top 4% for progressive passes per 90, as per FBref.

FBref have also recorded that De Cuyper’s Champions League performances this season put him alongside Trent Alexander-Arnold from a statistical standpoint, only reinforcing the argument that he would be a perfect fit in Slot’s squad.

When assessing De Cuyper against Kerkez, there’s a case to be made that his playmaking and roundedness make him a better fit than Kerkez, who is a fast-rising defender but a mite expensive at £45m.

The Club Brugge man has hit 11 goal contributions across all competitions this year, notably scoring against Aston Villa in the Champions League. Arsenal want him too, remember, so he’s doing something right.

Of course, the Premier League is objectively of a higher technical calibre than the Belgian Pro League, but the defender’s success in Europe’s elite competition emphasises his chances of hitting the ground running under Slot’s wing in England.

League Stats 24/25 – Maxim De Cuyper vs Milos Kerkez

Stats (* per game)

De Cuyper

Kerkez

Matches (starts)

34 (31)

34 (34)

Goals

3

2

Assists

5

5

Pass completion

83%

80%

Big chances created

22

7

Key passes*

2.5

1.0

Dribbles (%)*

0.5 (51%)

0.6 (57%)

Ball recoveries*

4.0

4.5

Tackles + interceptions*

2.3

2.6

Clearances*

2.0

2.8

Duels (%)*

3.6 (53%)

4.1 (53%)

Stats via Sofascore

It’s interesting that the Belgian should produce such scintillating playmaking numbers – furthering the argument that he’s Trent-like – with his underlying metrics across other areas also suggesting that he could be a more complete and effective left-back upgrade than Kerkez.

Harking back to Robertson, the 31-year-old has failed to register a single goal contribution in the Premier League this season, so it’s no wonder Slot and Hughes are determined to improve that area of the pitch. De Cuyper has the traits that suggest he is the perfect successor.

This isn’t to say that Kerkez is ineffective from a playmaking perspective; far from it, the Hungarian has showcased an exciting desire to advance attacking play on England’s south coast this term.

But De Cuyper has that special something that could charge Liverpool’s left lane to another level entirely. Is it any wonder that talent scout Jacek Kulig has described him as “one of the best left-backs currently playing outside the (Europe’s) top five leagues.”

Transfer Focus

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

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Liverpool need to find a way to stay ahead in creative metrics next season, especially if Alexander-Arnold leaves for pastures new in sunny Spain. Bringing in De Cuyper would be the perfect way to enforce this; he might even prove a better signing than Kerkez, and for a portion of the price.

Related Outscoring Isak: Liverpool scouting £25m "nuisance" who's just like Nunez

Liverpool are ready to go shopping for new forwards this summer.

Posts ByAngus Sinclair May 3, 2025

Leeds United are back in action in the Championship once again as they prepare to take on Luton Town at Kenilworth Road in the early kick-off this afternoon.

The Whites are looking to bounce back from successive 2-2 draws against Swansea and Queens Park Rangers either side of the international break.

Daniel Farke has already confirmed that there will be one change to his starting line-up for this clash with the Hatters, as Illan Meslier will be dropped to the bench in favour of Karl Darlow.

Why Daniel Farke is right to drop Illan Meslier

The German head coach looks to be making the sensible decision to take the French stopper out of the firing line, after he fumbled a cross for Swansea’s first goal last weekend.

Meslier has now made three errors that have directly led to goals for the opposition in the Championship this season, with the other two coming in away games against Sunderland and Hull.

The left-footed dud has also conceded 2.73 more goals than the average goalkeeper would be expected to based on the xG of the shots against him this term, which shows that he has underperformed as a shot-stopper whilst also being error-prone.

This is why Farke is right to drop him from the side to give Darlow, who has not made a single appearance in the league this season, a chance to shine between the sticks.

Chalkboard

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

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However, Meslier is not the only player who should be taken out of the team, as the former Norwich City head coach must also ruthlessly ditch Dan James.

Why Dan James should be dropped

The Wales international should be removed from the XI as well as the French flop after his disappointing performance against his former club last weekend.

James started on the right side of the attack at Elland Road for the 2-2 draw with the Swans and was not directly involved in either of the two goals that Leeds scored, as Wilfried Gnonto and Brenden Aaronson got on the scoresheet.

Vs Swansea

Dan James

Minutes

85

Touches

34

Pass accuracy

50% (8/16)

Shots

4

Goals

0

Key passes

1

Big chances created

0

Assists

0

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the former Manchester United man endured a torrid time against Swansea, completing just 50% of his passes and failing to make a significant impact at the top end of the pitch.

The £50k-per-week star has now gone four matches without a goal or an assist, and seven games without a goal, in the Championship, which is why Farke must ruthlessly take him out of the XI for this clash with Luton, given the other options he has at his disposal.

Gnonto scored one minute after coming on for James and the Italy U21 international, who has racked up six goals and five assists in the league, should be brought into the starting line-up this afternoon.

The Italian dynamo’s late goal against Swansea was more than the Welshman has contributed in his last four league outings, and Farke must, now, provide Gnonto with an opportunity to showcase his quality from the start.

Related Leeds thought they had "the new Van Dijk", but Farke sold him for just £2m

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Posts 1 ByEthan Lamb Apr 4, 2025

Therefore, Meslier is not the only player who should be dropped against the Hatters, and was not the only player who flopped against Swansea last time out.

A Manchester City star on £150,000-a-week is in a protective boot and set for an extended spell on the sidelines.

Pep Guardiola celebrates 1,000th game as manager in Man City win over Liverpool

Prior to the international break, Pep Guardiola took charge of his 1,000th game as a manager as his City side defeated Premier League rivals Liverpool 3-0.

Jeremy Doku was the star of the show on the pitch at the Etihad, rounding off his performance with a goal in the second half after first half strikes from Erling Haaland and Nico Gonzalez.

Talking after the win at the Etihad, Guardiola reflected on his managerial career, which began at Barcelona B in 2007.

“I think my period at Barcelona B is the foundation for many things. To realise that I was able to do it and learn a lot.

“I will never forget the guys in that first season. For me, it has been so special to make 1,000 games in front of my family and especially against Liverpool. I have a huge respect for that club.”

Over the last 18 years, Guardiola has won 716 games in charge and looks set to lead City in another title battle with league leaders Arsenal.

Pep Guardiola’s 1,000 games as a manager by numbers
Wins	716
Draws	156
Losses	128
Trophies	40
Goals scored	2,445
Goals conceded	813

However, he will have to do that for large parts of the season without one of his trusted midfielders.

Injury update on Man City’s Mateo Kovacic

According to reports relayed by Sport Witness, Mateo Kovacic underwent successful surgery last Friday on ‘calcifications’ that had grown in his heel.

The midfielder, who has made just one Premier League appearance all season following Achilles surgery in the summer, is now set to travel down to London next week to have stitches removed.

Now in a protective boot, a rehabilitation programme usually lasts four months, so Kovacic, on £150,000-a-week, will hopefully return by March as he looks to get minutes before the World Cup with Croatia.

De Zerbi in frame to become Man City manager as Guardiola exit timeline revealed

Pep Guardiola is the longest-serving manager in the Premier League, but his time at the Etihad Stadium could be coming to an end.

By
Dominic Lund

Nov 12, 2025

Between now and March, Man City currently have 22 games scheduled in all competitions plus the FA Cup third round tie that has yet to be drawn.

Croatia manager Zlatko Dalic is hoping to have Kovacic recovered in time for the World Cup next summer, recently saying: “I hope Kovacic won’t miss the World Cup. He has similar problems to those he had four or five months ago.

”We believe he’ll be with us at the World Cup. I’d like him to be back in March. It must be tough for him. The injury and the surgery are taking a psychological toll on him. I hope Kovacic gets through it all.”

Man City leading race for Rodrygo with Real Madrid future now in major doubt

يخوض منتخب عمان لكرة القدم مواجهة مهمة أمام نظيره الصومال، اليوم الأربعاء، في إطار مباريات الملحق المؤهل لمرحلة المجموعات من بطولة كأس العرب 2025.

وتقام المباراة بين عمان والصومال على ملعب جاسم بن حمد، في العاصمة القطرية الدوحة، حيث يسعى كلا المنتخبين لانتزاع بطاقة التأهل إلى نهائيات بطولة كأس العرب.

طالع|مواعيد مباريات فلسطين في كأس العرب 2025

وتستضيف قطر فعاليات بطولة كأس العرب 2025، خلال الفترة من 1 حتى 18 ديسمبر المقبل، وذلك بمشاركة 16 منتخبًا.

وتنطلق بطولة كأس العرب يوم الإثنين 1 ديسمبر المقبل بمواجهة منتخب تونس أمام نظيره منتخب سوريا. موعد مباراة عمان والصومال اليوم في كأس العرب

تقام المباراة اليوم الأربعاء الموافق 26 نوفمبر 2025، وتنطلق صافرة البداية في تمام الساعة الثالثة عصرا بتوقيت القاهرة، الساعة الرابعة عصرا بتوقيت والسعودية. القنوات الناقلة لمباراة عمان والصومال اليوم في كأس العرب

تنقل المباراة بين منتخبي عمان والصومال، عبر قناة “beIN SPORTS HD” بالإضافة إلى قناة “الكأس 1”.

ويُمكنكم متابعة أحداث مباريات اليوم لحظة بلحظة من مركز المباريات من هنــــا

Over the summer, Ange Postecoglou was relieved of his duties as manager of Tottenham Hotspur Football Club.

He had promised supporters that season three is always the best. Alas, Spurs fans swiftly saw him exit the club, replaced by Thomas Frank.

While Postecoglou had guided the Lilywhites to the Europa League, thus engineering plenty of credit in the bank, they did ultimately finish 17th in the Premier League.

A major trophy was won but their league form was inexcusable. The same could now be said of Spurs under Frank.

Things started off rosy but they have unravelled in recent months. It’s all beginning to become rather Ange, isn’t it? The lack of ability to create goal-scoring opportunities and play attractive football is not rubbing off well on supporters.

Spurs could replace Frank already

As of 30th November 2025, the Dane has only been in charge of Spurs for 171 days. Yet, after a matter of months, Frank is already feeling the heat.

A week ago, the north Londoners put in a drab performance against rivals Arsenal, conceding four in the process. A few days later, while they did look more threatening in attack, they shipped five against European champions PSG.

A defeat against two of the continent’s very best is hardly a surprise, but their 2-1 loss to Fulham only rubbed further salt in the wounds.

This has been a terrible week for Tottenham and it’s hardly a surprise that Fabio Paratici and Co have been told to earmark possible replacements.

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According to reports in Spain, one name to have emerged on the club’s shortlist is former Barcelona player and manager, Xavi.

While the Spaniard is also on the radar of Manchester United, it’s thought that the Spurs board are considering making a change in the dugout if things have not improved by the end of December. In that eventuality, they will look to speak with Xavi about the job.

It’s stated that Spurs and United see Xavi as ‘an ideal coach to lead a new phase’, largely thanks to the fact that he has ‘modern ideas’ and ‘believes in young players’.

Why Xavi would be perfect for Spurs

Spurs have been there and done it before with a big-name manager. Antonio Conte’s spell ended in tears, as did Jose Mourinho’s. He steered them to a League Cup final at Wembley but was remarkably sacked on the eve of that big game.

As a result, caution must be heeded here. Is Xavi really the best port of call? Fears that another Conte or Mourinho situation could play out are understandable.

Yet, the fact of the matter is that Spurs have tried everything now. The relatively untested route of Postecoglou did end with a trophy but his spell was incredibly topsy-turvy. They’ve also been there and done it with a Premier League-proven manager. Nuno Santo ended poorly and the Frank regime is hardly going well, is it?

It’s rather sad. Frank is a nice man. He’s likeable. The first few months saw something of a revival too. Postecoglou’s defence was a total mess but the former Brentford manager had sorted that out.

Across Tottenham’s first seven games under Frank’s stewardship, they kept five clean sheets. There was better organisation and defensively they were far more resolute. Job done, right? The biggest problem under Ange was fixed. Think again.

The honeymoon period is now over. Spurs have won just one of their last seven games in all competitions. Across that time, they have shipped 15 goals. It’s far from ideal.

Wins

5

1

Draws

1

1

Defeats

1

5

Goals scored

14

11

Goals conceded

3

15

Data excludes European Super Cup

So, why would Xavi represent an upgrade? Well, in the words of Barcelona president, Joan Laporta, the former midfielder is “the best manager in the world.”

Whether or not you agree with that sentiment, the experience he boasts is extraordinary. As a player, he won the World Cup, two European Championships, eight LaLiga titles and four Champions Leagues.

As a manager, he navigated Barca through choppy waters. Under financial pressure, the Spanish giants still won LaLiga and while they did spend big on the likes of Raphinha and Ferran Torres, a lot of the work done in the transfer market was bringing in players on a free transfer.

Xavi was also the boss who gave a certain Lamine Yamal his debut aged 15. He also handed a first-team debut to Fermin Lopez, now a regular in the Barca team and to centre-half Pau Cubarsi.

Speaking about the Spanish manager’s philosophy, Arsene Wenger once said: “Personally, I like Xavi, and I give him credit for having the courage to bring these young players on board. That’s the difficult thing. He believed in them and gave them a chance to play. It’s true that he didn’t win the league last season, but he did win it the season before that. So I think he did a good job.”

The fact of the matter is that the Spaniard trusts young players and this couldn’t be more perfect for a Spurs squad boasting some of the finest young talent around. Take the likes of Lucas Bergvall, Archie Gray, Luka Vuskovic and Luca Williams-Barnett as prime examples. The 45-year-old could be game-changing for players like that.

Born and bred in La Masia, it’s hardly a surprise that Xavi also favours attractive and possession-based football. Frank, on the other hand, does not.

Sure, Spurs were more organised during the opening months of the Frank regime but as manager of Tottenham, the fans expect to see exciting football too.

While the Londoners have enjoyed 53.8% of the ball this season, the sixth-best tally in the division, they have struggled big time with their creativity. Their 9.5 shots per game is the third-lowest tally in the entire Premier League. Only Wolves and Burnley are below them. Remarkably, they are also registering no through balls per game. No other team is worse in that regard.

As a consequence, they sit 16th in the league for expected goals, with a record of 14.33 xG.

To put some of those numbers into context, when Xavi won the league with Barca in 2022/23, they enjoyed the most possession in the league (64.8%), and had the second highest volume of shots per game (15.1).

While Xavi had a better team in his armoury, he is clearly a better tactical coach and the fact that he’s won some of football’s biggest honours puts him on a pedestal far above Frank.

He’s played under the likes of Pep Guardiola and Luis Enrique, he’s certainly been able to learn a thing or two. Spurs would certainly be better off should they seal the remarkable capture of Xavi heading into 2026.

As bad as Vicario: Frank must finally bin 5/10 Spurs flop after Fulham

Tottenham were condemned to a third defeat in six days as they were overcome by Fulham’s early flurry.

ByAngus Sinclair Nov 30, 2025

One year should be more than enough time to transmit your ideas to your squad and mould them to your way of playing. But Ruben Amorim's first anniversary as Manchester United coach against Everton felt like being back at square one, his players still no closer to working out how to beat mid-table Premier League opponents, even when playing against 10 men for more than 77 minutes.

Amorim was typically transparent and frank in his post-match assessment, laying out his frustration at his players for not getting up for the game and wanting to take advantage of Liverpool and Manchester City's defeats, ultimately admitting that Everton deserved to win. He was even envious of the Toffees' in-fighting which led to Idrissa Gueye being sent off for confronting Michael Keane as it showed that they cared, in contrast to the apathy his team seemed to embody. "I hope my players when they lose the ball, they fight each other,” he said.

He stopped short of properly criticising the players, stressing it was his responsibility "to explain to the players how to play in every situation of the game". But it was his rigid system that was really to blame for holding the team back when they needed to adapt to the dramatic change in circumstances brought about by Gueye's farcical red card and then Everton taking the lead, giving them license to sit in a low block for the rest of the game.

The game was a picture perfect example of why Amorim is doomed to fail unless he changes course and strays from his fixed 3-4-3 formation.

(C)Getty ImagesSystem exposed

It is one thing to have a fixed formation to work with on a day-to-day basis, and quite another to stick with it when there is a huge shift in dynamic caused by an early red card. United had benefitted from an early sending off for their opponents earlier this season when Robert Sanchez was dismissed in the fifth minute of Chelsea's visit to Old Trafford. The Red Devils responded to that incident by going for the jugular, although they were also helped by Enzo Maresca hauling off three attacking players soon after.

David Moyes, by contrast, made no changes after the red card, although he had been forced to replace the injured Seamus Coleman with Jake O'Brien a few minutes earlier. And yet despite being a man down in midfield, they managed to stifle United's threat in the middle of the park, with neither Casemiro nor Bruno Fernandes attempting a tackle in the first half. 

With the midfield blocked off, United tried to cause damage out wide and it was there that the limits of Amorim's system, especially with the personnel he has, were exposed. Patrick Dorgu couldn't create any danger down the left flank while Noussair Mazraoui only made one promising attacking move in the first half.

AdvertisementGettyWeak wing backs

Amorim's solution at half-time was to bring on Mason Mount and take off Mazraoui, who was at least getting forward, so that Amad Diallo could revert to his usual position of right-wing-back and make the most of his blossoming partnership with Bryan Mbeumo. United's left side remained blunt, though, and the coach eventually took off Dorgu. 

Amorim already had a seasoned attacking left-back on the pitch in Luke Shaw but rather than put the former England international in the position he has played all his life, he brought on the right-footed Diogo Dalot, who was ill-equipped to go round the outside. His only option was to go inside into midfield, where Everton were most comfortable.

It was a reminder of how United also struggled to break down Nottingham Forest earlier in the month with Dalot on the left flank, leading Jamie Carragher to say the Portuguese "can't beat a man, he's not going to play a clever pass, he's not going to get a cross in". In the end, United's best opportunity in the second half against Everton came when Shaw put a cross in for Joshua Zirkzee, whose header was denied by a fine save from Jordan Pickford.

Zirkzee's two headers in the second half were United's best efforts but they also smacked of desperation. Everton's defenders James Tarkowski and Keane were happy to deal with crosses all night, and United failed to ask enough questions of them with the ball on the floor. 

Getty 'Shaw not a centre-back'

"United were so pedestrian and so negative having gone to 10 men. You've got to flood forward, but they kept this three at the back," said a perplexed Gary Neville on . "Luke Shaw ambled forward. Luke Shaw is not a centre-back, Luke Shaw is a left-back who can go forward, and go forward well, and actually has a good left foot. 

"So you be the one who dominates and goes forward. He's just playing passes sideways, I thought Shaw was so disappointing. Bringing Dalot on that side and blocking that side off, Dorgu was having a tough night but putting Dalot on meant he was having to turn back on his right foot and play around. Dalot is not a left winger, he's finding himself as a left winger."

The Shaw situation summed up the problems with Amorim's system in a game like this. Here is a player who used to thrive on bombing forward and when that was what he needed to do, he stayed within the lane Amorim had drawn for him as centre-back.

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Getty Images SportNo plan against 10 men

Shaw wasn't the only one that didn't know what to do. "You have to adapt to the circumstances within the game," added Neville. "It looked like they hadn't planned how to play against 10 men. It's pretty damn obvious isn't it? You shift the ball quicker, you shift it from side to side, you switch play, you stretch the pitch and make it as big as possible, you make sure you literally run the other team ragged."

United were missing two key forwards in Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko, who they signed for a combined £136m ($178m). Amorim refused to use their absences as an excuse and he will have to get more accustomed to key players going missing when the Christmas fixture pile-up begins in December, and when Mazraoui, Amad and Mbeumo go off to the African Nations Cup. Amad and Mbeumo were the only players who could be proud of their performances against Everton and they will be huge losses. 

Every coach has to cope without key players, but most of them have the flexibility to tweak their system to suit the personnel they have at any given moment. That's where Amorim differs and it's now looking like a case of adapting or falling on his sword. The Portuguese has repeatedly said that he is more prepared to do the latter.