Eddie Howe will manage only his second ever Tyne-Wear Derby on Sunday, as one of football’s most passionate rivalries has its latest instalment this weekend.

His only taste of this fierce clash to date was Newcastle United’s 3-0 triumph over Sunderland in the FA Cup in early 2024, with the Black Cats’ struggles in the Championship clear for all to see, as the Magpies ran out as routine winners.

Now, however, Regis Le Bris’ men sit above their arch rivals in the early Premier League table, as Howe prays his inconsistent side can get the better of the Black Cats on their own patch.

Newcastle’s clumsy performance on the road in the Champions League on Wednesday night won’t fill Howe with loads of confidence, either, with some changes in the offing presumably, off the back of the 2-2 draw away at Bayer Leverkusen.

Changes Howe could make ahead of Sunderland

Goalscoring hero Anthony Gordon would sum up the Toon’s frustrations aptly at the full-time whistle, as a late Alejandro Grimaldo equaliser rid Howe’s men of all three points in Europe’s standout competition.

Gordon won’t be fearful of his starting spot against Sunderland, having made it three games on the trot with a goal now against Leverkusen, but Joelinton will surely be axed for the crunch clash on Wearside, with the Brazilian limping off injured after winning just two duels all match.

Sandro Tonali will also be fearful that he could be surprisingly dropped, with the Italian looking uncharacteristically ropey on the ball at points against Kasper Hjulmand’s men.

It really was a night for Howe’s concrete first team personnel to slip up, as Malick Thiaw somehow avoided a red card for a rash first-half challenge, while Bruno Guimaraes inexplicably placed an effort past Aaron Ramsdale to hand the Bundesliga hosts a one-goal advantage.

Still, both of the underperformers mentioned certainly have enough credit in the bank this season to push these off performances to one side, with Guimaraes scoring this audacious effort last time out in the Premier League versus Burnley.

With a lively 5.4 duels won on average this season in the Premier League, too, as per Sofascore, Newcastle’s captain does feel as if he’s the perfect fit for such a full-blooded showdown, having further been branded the club’s “talisman” by pundit Michael Carrick in recent weeks.

Howe could even have a new Guimaraes in the making in his talented camp right now, with this rising star arguably worthy of a start against the Black Cats, alongside the much-loved South American.

Newcastle's "little diamond" can be Howe's next Guimaraes

The 48-year-old does have a lot of depth on his side now at St James’ Park, with Yoane Wissa’s return from injury gifting him another option up top, away from over-relying on summer recruit Nick Woltemade.

If he is unsure about starting Joelinton for the Tyne-Wear Derby, he could look to the depth at his disposal in the middle of the park by handing Lewis Miley just his fifth league start of the campaign, having been branded “special” when popping up with a goal from off the bench on Wednesday night by journalist Liam Kennedy.

The talented teenager became the club’s youngest goalscorer in the competition’s history, a feat he was made aware of after the game. “I didn’t really know that, to be honest, but it’s a great feeling being the youngest scorer. It’s a dream come true really, scoring my first goal in the Champions League. It couldn’t be better, really,” Miley told reporters after the game.

“I always used to score goals in the academy quite a lot, so I’ve tried to take that into my game in the first team. I just keep trying to get in the box as much as possible and I’ve got two goals in the last couple of weeks.”

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In the right place at the right time to direct Gordon’s cross home, it could be argued that Miley has the same difference-maker ability in his veins that Guimaraes also possesses, with the 19-year-old up to four goal contributions for the season, despite his limited starts.

His Brazilian counterpart is six ahead in the goal contribution leaderboard, albeit from far more regular involvement.

Miley’s numbers by season for Newcastle

Season

Games

Goals + Assists

25/26

17

2 + 2

24/25

19

2 + 0

23/24

23

1 + 4

22/23

1

0 + 0

Sourced by Transfermarkt

Moreover, Miley will believe he has what it takes to be a future captain of his boyhood club when Guimaraes hangs up his boots, with the number 67 never looking fazed by the demands of the senior game, ever since being gifted his senior debut at St James’ Park when just 17 years of age.

This ice-cold ability to perform – no matter the occasion – surely means he’ll be preparing to give it his all against Sunderland if given the first team call, with NBC Sports’ Robbie Earle once labelling him as a “little diamond” for his classy displays in competitions such as the Champions League.

Miley does feel as if he is in and around the first team picture for some time now, but he will want to take his game to another level shortly, to be considered worthy of the label of being the next Guimaraes.

Related Fewer touches than Ramsdale: Howe must drop Newcastle man who won 2 duels

Eddie Howe must now drop this Newcastle United star ahead of this weekend’s hotly anticipated Tyne-Wear Derby.

Posts 1 ByKelan Sarson 4 days ago

Liverpool are in an unfamiliar state of flux in the Premier League and Fabrizio Romano has now delivered a definitive update over Arne Slot’s future at Anfield.

The Reds have failed to build on their title win last campaign and suffered a heavy 3-0 loss at home to Nottingham Forest at the weekend, with several of their big hitters underperforming in a disastrous display against Sean Dyche’s men.

Of course, certain factors have made it difficult for Slot to enjoy the same success that he managed to achieve on Merseyside last season, albeit their summer transfer spend of over £400 million has meant plenty of criticism is being thrown their way after new additions failing to adapt to life at the club.

PSV Eindhoven await in what is set to be a crucial Champions League encounter, not only to keep the Reds on course for a top eight league phase finish, but also to alleviate growing noise surrounding his tenure with results flattering to deceive.

Ultimately, there has been a collective fall below usual standards at Liverpool that has been uncharacteristic to say the least. Not only do they sit in the bottom half of the Premier League, they are also 11 points behind in a title race that was anticipated to be tight from the outset by most in English football.

Form is temporary and class is permanent is a saying that many Reds fans hope will ring true over the coming weeks. Either way, their side now face the challenge of proving that is the case, especially given they have a heavy festive schedule to come that will require full use of a squad that look out of sorts.

Slot is in the firing line and some are seriously starting to question his credentials. Providing an update on his future, renowned journalist Romano has given an insight regarding what could happen next.

Fabrizio Romano delivers Arne Slot Liverpool update

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano has stated that despite Liverpool’s poor performances under Slot, he will be given time to turn their situation around and retains the full backing of the Anfield hierarchy.

He said: “Obviously, losing six of the last seven Premier League games is something not at Liverpool level. The results are unacceptable, Liverpool and everyone at the club knows that. At the same time, my information to answer many questions on our podcast Men In Blazers is that Liverpool at the moment are not activating any contact to replace Arne Slot.

“At this stage, the situation is still under control. It’s complicated, it’s difficult, it’s an emergency situation. Liverpool are internally discussing about this topic, the manager, the management, the staff, all have all together, been given some responsibility, of course, also to the players.

“It’s not just Arne Slot, it’s also the players. If you look at some of the games, it looks crazy how Liverpool players really can’t perform in some of these games at their usual level.

“But at this stage, I’m told that of course, Arne Slot knows that this situation must change as soon as possible, especially in the Premier League more than in the Champions League. In the Premier League is important for Liverpool to change this situation. As of now, Liverpool as a club, owners, management, still back the manager, support the manager and want to see different results as soon as possible.”

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Rumours may be swirling around his future, though it seems as if Liverpool are in no rush to make any rash decisions, with Slot likely still retaining plenty of credit in the bank from last season.

In a fluid situation, that may change if results are to continue on the same trajectory, but the former Feyenoord boss looks to be safe for now ahead of their double header against PSV and West Ham United.

The only thing better than watching a young player collect his first career hit? Watching his family watch the play unfold from the stands.

That's exactly what happened in the second inning of the Minnesota Twins' series opener against the Atlanta Braves on Friday night at Truist Park. Designated hitter Luke Keaschall, ranked as the No. 57 prospect in all of baseball by MLB Pipeline, was called up by the Twins on Thursday and made the most of his MLB debut one day later.

In his first career at-bat, Keaschall poked a line drive down the right-field line for his first career hit and RBI. He also stole second for his first career stolen base. When the Apple TV cameras panned to his family in the bleachers, they were standing up, hooting and hollering from their seats.

What a moment.

Keaschall was busy in his second plate appearance, too, ripping a double down the left field line and coming around to score on a sacrifice fly in the fourth.

Keaschall, the No. 49 pick by Minnesota in the 2023 draft, batted .297/.415/.470 over 147 games in the minor leagues before getting his call up to the Show. He's not wasting any time making a big difference at the plate to help turn around the Twins' sluggish start to the 2025 campaign.

Zinedine Zidane’s long-awaited comeback to management is finally taking shape with France preparing to appoint the former Real Madrid boss as their next head coach after Didier Deschamps steps down following the 2026 World Cup. The move is poised to end months of speculation and ignite fresh excitement around Les Bleus, who have recently faced criticism for lacking innovation.

Zidane’s return takes shape as France prepare for a new era

Zidane’s anticipated return to the sidelines may finally become reality. As reported by AS, France intend to appoint him as their next national team manager once Deschamps completes his final tournament at the 2026 World Cup. For months Zidane has hinted that he is ready to coach again, and France have been waiting for the right moment to bring him home.

The timing aligns with France’s need for renewal. Critics have increasingly lamented Deschamps’ recent handling of the squad, arguing that his approach has turned predictable, conservative and overly dependent on earlier experiments. Many felt the team had stopped evolving in key areas such as tactical flexibility, attacking variety and squad rotation.

Zidane’s arrival is therefore viewed as a chance to inject new flavour into a team rich with talent but in need of a fresh tactical lens. 

AdvertisementAFPDeschamps’ era

Deschamps’ contract is nearing its end, closing a monumental chapter in French football. Appointed in 2012 after Laurent Blanc, Deschamps took France to heights that cemented his legacy. He guided the nation to the Euro 2016 final, delivered World Cup glory in 2018, reached another World Cup final in 2022, and maintained consistent competitiveness throughout more than a decade in charge.

But his reign was not without low points. The round-of-16 exit at Euro 2020, tactical rigidity at times, selection decisions that raised eyebrows, and an increasingly repetitive approach left the impression that France were not fully maximising their extraordinary talent pool. 

Zidane’s resume signals a new direction for Les Blues

Recent years have seen a growing consensus among critics: France under Deschamps had become predictable. Analysts repeatedly pointed to the same issues — conservative game plans, slow in-game adjustments, and a reliance on ideas that once worked but no longer fit a squad bursting with dynamic, attack-minded talent. In several matches, France looked like a team playing within themselves, constrained rather than liberated.

Commentators argued that even with Kylian Mbappe, and emerging talents like Eduardo Camavinga and Warren Zaire-Emery, France often played with unnecessary caution, absorbing pressure instead of dictating games.

That is where Zidane’s profile stands in sharp contrast, as he won three Champions League titles in three seasons and a La Liga crown in Madrid.

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AFPWhy France will still miss Didier Deschamps

Even with the excitement surrounding Zidane’s expected arrival, France will deeply miss Deschamps. France will miss the unique personal bond Deschamps built inside the dressing room, a connection rooted in trust, continuity, and genuine care for his players. He wasn’t just a tactician; he was a stabilising force who understood how to manage personalities across generations. His reliance on experienced leaders like Hugo Lloris created a mentoring culture that helped young players settle quickly under the pressure of international football. 

Real Madrid’s preparations for their Champions League showdown with Liverpool have been dealt a blow after teenage sensation Franco Mastantuono has been ruled out indefinitely with pubalgia. The 18-year-old Argentine has been a key rotational player under Xabi Alonso, but his absence comes at a crucial point in Madrid’s campaign, forcing tactical adjustments ahead of their high-stakes European clash this Tuesday.

• Real Madrid confirm Mastantuono’s injury

  Madrid have officially confirmed that Mastantuono has been diagnosed with pubalgia, commonly known as a sports hernia. In a brief statement, the club said: “Following tests carried out today on our player Franco Mastantuono by the Real Madrid Medical Services, he has been diagnosed with pubalgia. His recovery will be monitored.”

  No recovery timeline was provided, meaning the 18-year-old is sidelined indefinitely. Mastantuono did not train with the squad ahead of the trip to Anfield, working instead inside Valdebebas Sports City under the supervision of the medical team.

  The injury is untimely for both the player and Madrid manager Alonso, who has relied on the Argentine teenager as part of his attacking rotations this season. Mastantuono has featured in 12 matches across all competitions, scoring once and assisting once, but has recently found himself in and out of the lineup due to the return of key players like Jude Bellingham and Eduardo Camavinga.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Atheltic Bilbao, Barcelona and now Real Madrid – all hit with pubalgia scare

  Pubalgia, also known as sports hernia, is a complex and often stubborn injury affecting the groin and lower abdominal area. It typically develops in athletes involved in high-intensity sports that demand rapid changes in direction, explosive sprints, and repetitive twisting.

  Unlike a standard muscle strain, pubalgia involves inflammation and imbalance where the abdominal and adductor muscles meet near the pelvis, making recovery unpredictable. It can take weeks or even months for players to regain full fitness, and recurrence is common if rehabilitation isn’t handled carefully.

  Across Europe, several young stars are battling the same issue. Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal, Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams, and Chelsea’s Cole Palmer are all facing similar injuries this season. In Williams’ case, the condition limited him to just 530 minutes of football this season and has also ruled him out of Bilbao's upcoming Champions League clash against Newcastle United. Each player’s treatment involves rest, physiotherapy, and strength conditioning, while surgery remains a last resort.

  For Mastantuono, Madrid’s medical staff are taking a cautious approach, prioritising long-term fitness over short-term availability.

• What adjustments will Alonso make in Mastantuono's absence?

  With Mastantuono ruled out, head coach Alonso must reconfigure his options ahead of the Champions League clash against Liverpool. The teenager’s ability to drift between midfield and the right flank provided tactical flexibility that will now need to be compensated for.

  Rodrygo is the most natural replacement on the right, offering experience, pace, and a proven record in Europe’s biggest games. Alternatively, Alonso could deploy Arda Guler, another young attacker capable of cutting inside to create central overloads.

  Eduardo Camavinga’s versatility also provides tactical depth; the Frenchman could operate in an advanced midfield role if Alonso seeks to maintain pressing intensity and defensive stability. Meanwhile, the absence of defenders Dani Carvajal, Antonio Rudiger, and David Alaba who are all recovering from injuries means Los Blancos' overall shape may have to adapt to ensure balance between defense and attack.

  Madrid trained at Valdebebas before flying to England, with Alonso opting against a session at Anfield. The manager will address the media upon arrival in Liverpool.

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  Madrid face setback in defining season

  For Mastantuono, this injury halts what was shaping into a breakthrough campaign. Since joining from River Plate this summer, he has impressed with his technical skill, vision, and maturity beyond his years as he quickly earned the trust of both fans and coaching staff.

  However, pubalgia is notoriously difficult to manage for developing players, especially those adjusting to the physical demands of elite European football. His long-term recovery will depend on how well his body responds to conservative treatment and strengthening programs. Teams have tried to numb down it's effect with players opting for a few games out and then joining full-session, but the issue tends to be chronic in nature and thus limited time off isn't the best solution as have been in the case of Yamal, who faced constant issue yet kept playing and is still managing it, Palmer was given six-weeks off after not able to overcome it in a short-period.

  For Los Blancos, the focus now turns to depth and adaptability. Alonso’s squad still boasts elite talent in midfield and attack, but the Argentine’s absence adds another layer of complexity to an already injury-hit roster.

US Soccer generated $263.7 million in revenue during 2025, a 37-percent increase over 2024 and the highest in eight years, according to the federation's annual financial report. The 2017 totals were tied to the hosting of the 2016 Copa America. The 2025 figures point to the buzz for next year's World Cup, with a majority of matches in the U.S.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Commercial momentum

  Another indicator of excitement toward the 2026 World Cup is the sponsorship element, as the USSF saw a 19-percent increase to $121.1 million. 

  The federation secured deals with The Home Depot, Bank of America, Henkel, Jim Beam and Haleon during its fiscal year. 

  However, it is worth noting USSF actually saw a decrease in its net profit, going down from $9.1 million in 2024 to $8.3 million this year.

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• Revenue by years

  U.S. Soccer financials, 2016–2025

  Fiscal year	Revenue ($)	Expenses ($)	Investment return ($)	Change in net assets ($)
  2016	125,301,588	109,809,361	-570,589	14,921,638
  2017	290,198,512	221,826,583	6,855,882	75,227,811
  2018	102,164,601	109,192,197	5,289,330	-1,738,266
  2019	108,660,552	131,804,573	6,035,122	-17,108,899
  2020	135,444,082	165,056,154	1,442,126	-28,169,946
  2021	61,223,417	73,704,217	12,479,092	-1,708
  2022	119,477,884	145,366,248	4,109,727	-21,778,637
  2023	147,147,798	187,937,461	1,321,306	-39,468,357
  2024	192,191,562	190,910,704	7,826,728	9,107,586
  2025	263,740,683	261,932,380	6,462,360	8,270,663

• Other sources of income

  Outside of sponsorship, USSF also drew a significant amount of revenue from philanthropic contributions, raising $50.3 million. The federation's $250M National Training Center project outside Atlanta has also spurred a sharp increase in fundraising activity.

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  Looking ahead

  November promises to be a busy month for US Soccer's two senior teams. Mauricio Pochettino's USMNT host friendlies against Paraguay on Nov. 15 and Uruguay on Nov. 18. Emma Hayes' USWNT will play Italy on Nov. 28, followed by a rematch against Le Azzurre on Dec. 1. 

India’s vice-captain Rishabh Pant has confirmed Shubman Gill will take the No. 4 position vacated by former captain and India’s fourth-highest run-getter in Test cricket, Virat Kohli. Pant said India are still deliberating over who will move to No. 3, the slot last occupied by Gill, who is the new captain after Rohit Sharma’s retirement.The options for No. 3 seem to be the returning Karun Nair and the uncapped B Sai Sudharsan, who is rated highly by experts. There might be room for both of them in the XI as India need to slot in another specialist batter after Pant at No. 5.At the moment, two days before the Test and with one training session to go, Nair looks like the favourite to take on the responsibility of batting against the new ball at No. 3. He batted at No. 3 for India against India A in the practice match they played behind closed doors. He was also at first slip in India’s slip catching practice, with KL Rahul, Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal making up the rest of the cordon in that order.Related

• Pant relishes 'senior' tag but also focuses on 'individual' game

• Buttler: Gill's captaincy 'a mix of Kohli and Rohit'

• England the next stop in Jaiswal's audacious journey

• Bumrah gave up thoughts of India Test captaincy because of 'workload'

• Dry Leeds could bring batters respite

Jaiswal and Rahul are set to reunite at the top after starting and ending the series in Australia as opening partners with Rohit taking back his place in the middle of the series. If Nair is indeed the No. 3, and given Ravindra Jadeja’s near certainty as the allrounder, that one remaining batting position could go to either Sudharsan or Nitish Kumar Reddy, who scored a century in Australia.The more important deliberations will be around the bowlers. Playing Reddy or Washington Sundar as the fifth bowler. The reluctance to pick a fifth bowler in Australia came under criticism as it was a departure from the successful Indian teams of the last six years, who prioritised taking 20 wickets over batting depth.The presence of Shardul Thakur, who can bat at No. 8 and give India some batting depth, could give India a fourth somewhat genuine seam-bowling option, but it wasn’t yet clear Thakur would be preferred to Reddy. The duo bowled long spells in India’s first training session at Headingley.Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj were all but certain to lead the pace attack. India called up Harshit Rana for this Test as cover for possible niggles to Siraj and Akash Deep, but both of them turned up fine and were fit to go. Akash, though, wasn’t a certainty as Prasidh Krishna’s high release and disconcerting bounce could be a point of difference India might be looking for. Unless they feel the unusually warm Headingley weather will turn over the weekend. In that case, Kuldeep Yadav could become a factor unless they choose the option of batting depth and go with Washington.

علق محمد أبو تريكة نجم الأهلي ومنتخب مصر السابق، على تصريحات لامين يامال نجم برشلونة، قبل لقاء الكلاسيكو الذي سيلعب على ملعب سانتياجو برنابيو، في الدوري الاسباني لكرة القدم.

وقال أبو تريكة عن تصريحات لامين خلال تواجده في استوديو “بي إن سبورت”: “أرى أنه يجب أن يبتعد لامين يامال عن بيكيه ونيمار، يجب أن يقتدي بميسي خارج وداخل الملعب”.

وأضاف عن نجم برشلونة: “لامين يامال يملك الموهبة، ولكن ما يثار حوله يتعلق بتصرفاته خارج الملعب، لازال صغير السن ويحتاج إلى من يوجه له تعليمات وتوجيهات، ليس هناك لاعب قادر على الوصول للكمال من سن الـ18 عامًا”.

اقرأ أيضاً.. لينكر ينهال بالمديح على لاعب برشلونة: المُفضل لي أكثر من ميسي.. ولا مثيل له

وأكد أبو تريكة: “الملعب هو من يعلمك ويوجهك إذا غاب من يقوم بذلك معك، اليوم هو قام بنقل الضغط عليه وعلى زملائه، رغم أن أفضل لغة للاعب كرة القدم هي الأقدام وليس الشفاه”.

وتذكر أبو تريكة مدرب منتخب مصر السابق، حسن شحاتة وهتاف جمهور الزمالك له: “كان الجمهور يهتف له حسن شحاتة يا معلم خلي الشبكة تتكلم، ليس اللسان ولكن الأقدام، وأرى أن لامين ليس في الفورمة لكي يتحدث بهذه الطريقة”.

ووجه أبو تريكة نصيحة إلى لامين يامال: “يجب أن يتعلم متى يتحدث وكيف يتحدث لأن ما قاله عن ريال مدريد بأنه فريق يسرق، غير لائق، يجب أن تتبع الرقي في التعامل واحترام المنافس”.

وختم: “كبار العالم ينتظرون المباراة والجميع يتحدث عن تصريحات لامين، نرغب في الحديث فقط عن كرة القدم لأن الفريقين يمتلكان إمكانيات كبيرة”.

يستعد الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي برشلونة لاستكمال استعداداته بعد الفوز على أولمبياكوس بسداسية مقابل هدف ضمن منافسات دوري أبطال أوروبا.

واكتسح برشلونة نظيره أولمبياكوس بسداسية مقابل هدف في المباراة التي جمعتهما ضمن منافسات الجولة الثالثة بمرحلة الدوري لبطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا.

اقرأ أيضًا | ترتيب دوري أبطال أوروبا بعد فوز برشلونة على أولمبياكوس

واستطاع رجال هانز فليك دك حصون الفريق اليوناني بسداسية مقابل هدف ليكون الاستعداد الأمثل والأخير للقاء الكلاسيكو في الدوري الإسباني المقرر إقامته الأحد المقبل.

ويحتل برشلونة المركز الثاني في جدول ترتيب الدوري الإسباني برصيد 22 نقطة، فيما يتصدر ريال مدريد الجدول برصيد 24 نقطة. موعد مباراة برشلونة القادمة بعد الفوز على أولمبياكوس في دوري أبطال أوروبا

ومن المقرر أن تكون مباراة برشلونة القادمة بعد الفوز على أولمبياكوس هي مواجهة ريال مدريد في كلاسيكو الدوري الإسباني” لا ليجا” يوم الأحد المقبل.

ويواجه برشلونة نظيره ريال مدريد في “كلاسيكو” الدوري الإسباني ولأول مرة بقيادة تشابي ألونسو، على ملعب “سانتياجو برنابيو”، في تمام الساعة السادسة والربع مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة ومكة المكرمة.

Whisper it quietly, but there are some promising signs at this early stage of the season for Tottenham Hotspur.

Whisper it quietly, because there have been false dawns before. But then, in Thomas Frank, Spurs have appointed a calculated and composed manager whose experience and success in the Premier League with Brentford speaks for itself.

Wins against Burnley and Manchester City have placed Tottenham in a good position for the league season ahead, and having kept clean sheets in both, a new degree of defensive solidity may have returned to the club.

But it hasn’t all been sunshine and rainbows. Tottenham lost James Maddison to an ACL injury during a pre-season clash against Newcastle United in July, and he is expected to be out for much of the campaign.

Moreover, efforts for a new number ten have thus far proved fruitless: Morgan Gibbs-White and Eberechi Eze both came close to one-way trips down N17, but alas, external forces have wreaked their will against Spurs’ plans.

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Could that happen once more with RB Leipzig playmaker Xavi Simons?

The latest on Xavi Simons to Spurs

Simons has been on Tottenham’s radar for a while, but much of the summer transfer window has pointed toward Chelsea being the team primed to sign the Netherlands international.

A talented playmaker, the 22-year-old has agitated to leave the Bundesliga club after last season’s struggles shut the door on any hopes of playing European football this season.

And while Chelsea remain interested, transfer reporter Fabrizio Romano revealed on X on Thursday that the 22-year-old has flown to London ahead of crunch talks with the respective outfits.

Recent rejections will be stamped fresh in the minds of the Lilywhite faithful, and given that Chelsea have been working on a move for many months, it would be worthwhile for chairman Daniel Levy to identify a fallback.

Luckily, he has, and this England international might even work out to be a better signing.

Spurs prepare offer for Simons alternative

According to Spanish newspaper AS – as translated by Sport Witness – Tottenham are preparing a late-window offer for Atletico Madrid midfielder Conor Gallagher, who has been pursued by the Londoners several times when Ange Postecoglou was at the helm.

However, several other Premier League clubs are interested too, with Crystal Palace, Aston Villa and West Ham United vying for the 26-year-old’s signature.

The Spaniards only welcomed Gallagher from Chelsea one year ago, but might be willing to talk business if their €40m (£35m) valuation is met.

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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Palace have already made an official approach, but the pointers suggest Tottenham are getting ready to do the same, with a bid set to be lodged ‘in the coming hours’.

What Conor Gallagher would bring to Spurs

Gallagher was fashioned in the furnaces of Chelsea’s Cobham youth academy, bringing to the Premier League a robust, athletic and durable playing style.

Gallagher made 95 appearances for Chelsea before being sold, actually featuring 135 times in the Premier League all told due to successful loan stints at Selhurst Park and with West Bromwich Albion.

There may well be a vested interest in Simons, but the diminutive star hasn’t actually played Premier League football before, whereas Gallagher has, with his ex-Chelsea teammate Moises Caicedo once hailing him being “like a machine”, adding so much energy and tenacity to the engine room.

He’s not quite so attack-minded as a player like Simons, but might his dynamism and multi-positional skill within the midfield game not prove worthwhile for Frank’s Tottenham?

Gallagher: Recent Prem Stats

Stats (* per game)

22/23

23/24

Matches (starts)

35 (18)

37 (37)

Goals

3

5

Assists

1

7

Pass completion

85%

92%

Big chances created

5

11

Key passes*

0.6

1.4

Dribbles*

0.7 (50%)

1.0 (68%)

Ball recoveries*

5.1

6.3

Tackles*

1.3

2.3

Duels (won)*

3.5 (45%)

5.7 (50%)

Stats via Sofascore

After all, there have been suggestions that Yves Bissouma and Rodrigo Bentancur might both leave the club before the market slams shut.

Simons is prolific, scoring 11 goals and providing eight assists across 33 matches in all competitions last season. Moreover, he boasts an interesting defensive profile. His aggressive personality on the pitch, plus a high success rate in the duel, often beating his man and coming out on top during tussles.

However, Gallagher is truly the complete package, and has showcased as much across several years in his homeland and a recent foray into La Liga, where time spent under Diego Simeone’s wing will have fashioned an even steelier base to his combative side.

FBref reveal that Brentford ranked 15th in the Premier League for average possession held (47.9%) last season, with an emphasis on transitional play and applied pressure on opponents.

Gallagher, who was viewed by Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca to have been at tactical odds with his ball-playing vision, may well thrive in an environment at Tottenham that is not reliant on having the ball every moment, for his athleticism, fitness levels and ability to cover ground could add an impactful dimension to the squad.

And it’s not like he can’t contribute from an offensive standpoint, with FBref’s data also revealing that Gallagher ranks among the top 12% of central midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for goal involvements per 90.

Given that Maddison will be desperate to return to form when he is given the green light after the New Year, it might be shrewder and more prudent for Tottenham to sign a profile like Gallagher’s, especially with Dejan Kulusevski also readying himself to return from a muscular injury sustained toward the backend of the 2024/25 campaign.

Simons, who can play centrally and out wide, would be a fantastic buy regardless, but Chelsea lurk in the background of that race, and when considering the myriad facets, Gallagher might better fit the bill.

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