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Chris Jordan left the field apparently concussed after a heavy fall attempting a catch

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay20-Jun-2025

Will Jacks’ scintillating 97 led Surrey to a fifth win in a row as they thrashed London neighbours Middlesex by 75 runs at the Kia Oval.The England allrounder, not required for Test duty against India, nevertheless reminded the selectors of his batting prowess, pummelling five sixes and 10 fours in a 56-ball masterclass. Noah Cornwell and Ryan Higgins were the pick of the Middlesex attack with two wickets apiece.Middlesex were never in it in reply, subsiding to 119 all out, New Zealand spinner Mitchell Santner taking 3-25.It was a sobering watch for new Seaxes head coach Dane Vilas, who will officially take charge ahead of the County Championship clash with Northamptonshire on Sunday.The one concern for the hosts was the loss of Chris Jordan, who left the field apparently concussed after a heavy fall attempting a catch.Jacks sent the opening ball of the match to the fence before the first of his five sixes came from a clip over long leg.That was the prelude to 22 off the last over of the powerplay bowled by youngster Naavya Sharma which took Jacks to 50 in only 24 balls.There was a brief pause for breath before an audacious golf-swing shot into the crowd at long-off and after being given a life when dropped by Cornwell at deep fine leg, another vicious pull over square leg off Tom Helm took him into the 90s.There would be no hundred as he holed out going for the century in the grand manner, one of three wickets in four balls for Helm but this was scintillating stuff.To Middlesex’s credit others came and went as the hosts didn’t make the most of being 66 without loss after the powerplay and 95 for 2 at halfway.Dom Sibley, dropped on 8 by Shah, reached 27 and Sam Curran 26 before both being caught and bowled by Cornwell, as the visitors chipped away, Ryan Higgins hitting the stumps twice in the final over.Kane Williamson, fresh from his 50 against Essex 24 hours earlier, ramped, paddled drove and cut Reece Topley for four boundaries in his second over to launch the chase, but the former New Zealand Test skipper fell in the next over, slapping Tom Curran straight to Jason Roy at cover.Max Holden picked up the baton with fours to long leg and third, but perished attempting to sweep Mitchell Santner over the long boundary, while Ben Geddes, returning to face his former county, survived two vehement appeals for catches behind later in the same over, but left without scoring in the next trying to go over extra cover.Stephen Eskinazi’s torturous innings of less than a run a ball ended when he was bowled by Santner and Joe Cracknell in his first game in the tournament this season quickly came and went.With the rate required now 14 an over Santner then bowled the dangerous Luke Hollman to claim his third wicket as Middlesex folded.

Big picture: Punjab Kings among frontrunners for playoffs

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) had a golden opportunity just ten days ago to steer their IPL 2025 campaign in the right direction. Chasing a modest 112 against Punjab Kings (PBKS), two points were there for the taking along with a potential net run rate boost. But in a stunning collapse, KKR folded for just 95. That blow was compounded by another heavy defeat, to Gujarat Titans (GT) on Monday. Both losses illustrated how out-of-form their middle and lower-middle order has been, and that has left their title defence hanging by a thread. Five wins in their remaining six games is their equation to be realistic playoff contenders.For PBKS, that dramatic win over KKR may have been the turning point of their season. With points shared in their home-and-away clashes against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), PBKS have five wins in eight games and now find themselves among the frontrunners in the race for the playoffs.Related

• Can KKR find a way out of their middle-order mess?

• Wadhera is making waves by being a T20 floater

PBKS need at least three wins from their remaining six fixtures to breathe easy. But history looms large: the playoffs have eluded them since 2014. The only thing missing in their game is middle-order stability, and that could be the difference between qualification, a top-four finish and a top-two push.The last two games between PBKS and KKR have seen the former produce the highest successful IPL chase and the lowest successful target defence. KKR, in contrast, are a side searching for answers. Eight players from their championship-winning squad still make up the core, but the spark that once defined them feels distant. Having enjoyed a 71% success at home in IPL 2024, their record at Eden Gardens is only 25% in 2025. On current form, PBKS hold the edge as their batting is in form, their bowlers have rhythm, something KKR are lacking, big time.

Form guide

Kolkata Knight Riders LLWLW (last five matches, most recent first)
Punjab Kings LWWLW

In the spotlight: Venkatesh Iyer and Yuzvendra Chahal

KKR have stood firmly behind Venkatesh Iyer ever since his breakout season. They retained him ahead of Shubman Gill before IPL 2022 and invested heavily in him at the IPL 2025 auction. But so far this season, Venkatesh’s three single-digit scores in six innings and a sluggish 14 off 19 against GT have highlighted his struggles. On Saturday, he faces another stern test in Marco Jansen, who has dismissed him three times in four innings, conceding just 14 runs at an average of 4.67. Can he push past a poor campaign and deliver when it matters most?Yuzvendra Chahal was the hero when PBKS had stunned KKR•BCCI

Yuzvendra Chahal has rediscovered his rhythm after a slow start to IPL 2025, claiming seven wickets in his last three outings. His standout performance came against KKR where he tore through their middle order with a decisive four-wicket haul. The key to Chahal’s resurgence has been a return to his strengths: tossing the ball up, using flight and dip, and trusting his variations to deceive batters. His revival has added real bite to the PBKS middle-overs attack.

Team news and probable XIIs

KKR’s bench strength is not strong, therefore no clear replacement is expected despite their two defeats in a row. Rahmanullah Gurbaz is expected to keep his place as opener, and the only question will be Moeen Ali, Spencer Johnson or Anrich Nortje for the fourth overseas spot.Kolkata Knight Riders 1 Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), 2 Sunil Narine, 3 Ajinkya Rahane (capt), 4 Venkatesh Iyer, 5 Angkrish Raghuvanshi, 6 Rinku Singh, 7 Andre Russell, 8 Ramandeep Singh, 9 Harshit Rana, 10 Anrich Nortje/Spencer Johnson, 11 Varun Chakravarthy, 12 Vaibhav Arora.3:13

Finch: Hard for Shreyas to be consistent with high-risk starts

None of Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell or Josh Inglis has been among the runs for PBKS. All three have had their chances and not impressed, but Maxwell’s offspin could make him a candidate to return to the XI in place of Stoinis with KKR enjoying a left-hander-heavy line-up.Punjab Kings 1 Priyansh Arya, 2 Prabhsimran Singh (wk), 3 Shreyas Iyer, 4 Josh Inglis, 5 Nehal Wadhera, 6 Marcus Stoinis/Glenn Maxwell, 7 Shashank Singh, 8 Harpreet Brar, 9 Marco Jansen, 10 Arshdeep Singh, 11 Xavier Bartlett, 12 Yuzvendra Chahal

The big question

KKR have the poorest average (19) for the first wicket in IPL 2025. With time running out, is it time to replace Narine at the top as well?

Pitch and conditions

Although conditions in Kolkata favour the chasing team with dew expected, their game against GT showed no such signs with Rashid Khan and Sai Kishore finding turn. This game will be played on the same pitch, and the team winning the toss could be tempted to bat first.

Stats and trivia

• Both teams have middle-order (Nos. 4 to 7) woes. While KKR’s average for those positions is the worst (20.47), PBKS are not too far at 23.90.
• Shreyas Iyer has had contrasting home and away campaigns this season. In four games apiece, Shreyas has averaged 119 at away venues but only 6.25 at home.
• Similarly, PBKS’ powerplay performances with bat and ball are vastly different. Thanks to Prabhsimran and Arya, their powerplay run rate of 10.67 is the best of all teams, however, their ten wickets with the ball in the first six overs is the joint-lowest.
• Since IPL 2022, KKR have lost all seven games when their spinners Narine and Varun have gone wicketless together. There were three such games in 2022, one in 2023 and three in 2025.

Quotes

“Yes definitely (we can make playoffs). If you look at history, even Mumbai had a bad start and now they’ve won four in a row and they’re flying. We need to have that same mindset. We’re halfway through, we have to win most of our games”
“If you look at Shreyas’ contribution since the Champions Trophy, not only has he become consistent against spin bowling but against fast bowling as well. He has shown the hunger and is ready to accept every challenge he comes across. He has done some hard work behind the scenes and that is showing.”

Hampshire worthy of rewards as defending champs’ stutter carries into second round

Vithushan Ehantharajah11-Apr-2025Hampshire 55 for 1 (Gubbins 23*, Worrall 1-14) trail Surrey 253 (Sibley 100*, Wheal 4-65) by 198 runsIt was just after 5pm at the Kia Oval, with Surrey nine down, having spent a gorgeous day at the Kia Oval scrapping against Hampshire, that the probable past and potential future of English Test cricket locked horns.Words were spoken. Bouncers bowled. Attempts to guide a boundary over third missed three times. Sonny Baker, just two weeks into his County Championship career, was fed up. He’d bowled well all day, each delivery at 85mph or above vindicating the ECB development contract handed to the 22-year-old in February. But with just one wicket to show for it, this was all a bit of a tease.Baker’s first wicket of this match was not Dom Sibley – a caught and bowled of Matthew Fisher instead – but it should have been. A brilliant three-over burst of short stuff had produced a rib-high fend from Sibley, on 54, which Toby Albert grassed at short leg. It would have given Albert a hand in four of the top six dismissals, having taken three smart grabs in the cordon.Two players bred in very different eras, with very different priorities, were now engaged in their own mini-session, with a Surrey innings there to finish off for good. And Sibley, the sole survivor, with a say on just how good.Related

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The 29-year old, 22 Test caps from a bygone age, has remained undimmed throughout his professional life. So it was no surprise that the sight of eight wickets falling at the other end elicited nothing other than the assumption of responsibility for what joy there was left to prise of Surrey’s homecoming in pursuit of a fourth straight County Championship title. And after engaging with Baker as the sun began setting towards Vauxhall, he set about his duty once more.A single was taken off the end of that over, digging out a well-guided yorker for a scampered single to midwicket. Baker took his cap in frustration, with little more he could have done. Sibley then smeared Brad Wheal over midwicket for six – the shorter side – before more diligent strike hogging to shield No.11 Dan Worrall. A loose wristy carve through backward point gave him a leg up to 97. Then more creeping before eventually pocketing the single that took him to a 23rd first-class century.The ovation was loud, those of the 5,639 through the gates on Friday that remained making themselves heard. Sibley skipped into a punch of the air, before removing his helmet and laying down his bat to face the dressing room and point one finger to the sky, and another to his temple.He need not have re-equipped himself. Just two deliveries later, Worrall was caught brilliantly at midwicket by Mark Stoneman to hand Wheal figures of 4 for 65 from 19.3 overs. Off Sibley went, 100* from 217 deliveries, the sixth time he has carried his bat in Championship cricket. Only Geoffrey Boycott (8) has done so more times since the Second World War.That it was the third against Hampshire – in 2017 and 2019 for Warwickshire – could have ramped up their disdain for him. But the bigger picture of dismissing the hosts for 253 inside 78 overs did them just fine.By stumps, Hampshire had chipped off 55, for the loss of just Fletcha Middleton. And beyond a few optimistic gasps, it was a relatively trouble free 16-over session. For all the positivity of a sun-soaked day in south London, not much of it belonged to those who call this home.That Wheal’s pace – allied with impressive command of length – and Kyle Abbott’s enduring class made a mess of Surrey’s international calibre top-half is nothing out of the ordinary. But Ollie Pope’s twitch outside off stump, Dan Lawrence’s cavalier driving and Ben Foakes’ misjudgement, playing on when focussing on consolidation, were familiar failings that put Surrey behind the game after the first session.Even Jamie Smith, the most productive outside of Sibley with 39, was found wanting, although his issue was being too respectful. Wheal’s short ball outside off deserved to be smoked, but Smith’s attempt to place rather than slap it into the stands at backward point counts as a misjudgement. Baker, lurking at deep backward point, pulled off a brilliant initial catch, before relaying to himself once he had confirmed his footing inside the boundary.It is easy and probably even a tad reductive to say these batters should have copied Sibley’s approach. By his own admission before the summer, Sibley’s tag as a blocker is not quite one he has to overcome. Rather, it is a “stigma” he is trying to break.The irony here is Sibley’s latest epic was a mix of speeds and shots – successful or otherwise. And even his own willingless to expand his game, which included a one-off appearance for Khulna Tigers in the Bangladesh Premier League in January, is set against a constant assessment of the situation in front of him.His two sixes among the 11 boundaries illustrate this perfectly. The first, off Liam Dawson, was an attempt to to jolt the left-arm spinner out of a groove. The second, off Wheal, with the onus on quick runs in the final stand. As it happens, he struck more than Chennai Super Kings managed in their Friday IPL blowout against Kolkata Knight Riders.Having escaped with a draw from Chelmsford last week, Surrey find themselves second best once more, albeit with plenty of time to twist this game back around. As worthy as the Hampshire bowlers were for their rewards on day one, the defending champions will be a little alarmed that their stutter has carried into the second round.

Arsenal have had a massive transfer window this summer, with the hierarchy backing Mikel Arteta to make the additions he craves to help his quest for Premier League glory.

The Gunners have already splashed over £200m on new additions, solving various issues within countless areas of the first-team squad at the Emirates.

Striker Viktor Gyokeres was signed in a £63m deal from Sporting CP, already making an immediate impact after meeting twice in the 5-0 victory over Leeds United in North London.

Martin Zubimendi has also been signed to help bolster the defensive midfield department, aiding Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard to lock down starting roles in such an area.

However, the backline has now been the latest part of the side to be subject to investment, with a move now edging ever closer to landing another big-money addition.

Arsenal’s deal to land Piero Hincapie this summer

Over the last couple of days, Arsenal have stepped up their pursuit of Bayer Leverkusen centre-back Piero Hincapie – with the defender edging closer to a move to join Arteta’s side.

The Gunners were battling North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur for his signature, but it appears they have won the race – just as they did with Eberechi Eze.

A deal for the 23-year-old to join the side on loan for the 2025/26 campaign has been agreed, with a package totalling £45m including a loan fee in place with the Bundesliga outfit.

The Ecuadorian international can operate in a full-back or centre-back role, with such a move adding needed depth and quality, asJakub Kiwior looks set to join Porto as a result.

However, despite the latest big-money transfer from Arteta, it’s his previous business that has worked wonders – leading to one player’s price tag soaring over recent months.

The Arsenal player who’s worth more than Hincapie

Despite finishing as runners-up in the Premier League in each of the last three years, Arsenal have made phenomenal progress under the guidance of Arteta.

The Spaniard will mark six years in the role in December, taking charge when the side were lingering in mid-table and going nowhere under Unai Emery.

William Saliba and Gabriel have both nailed down starting roles at the heart of the defence, joining from Saint-Étienne and Lille respectively – helping the club boast an incredible defensive record.

The Gunners have now had the best defensive record in England’s top-flight in each of the last two seasons – with the duo undoubtedly a key reason to achieving such a remarkable feat.

However, Jurrien Timber is another player who has also helped the side reach the levels they have over recent seasons – impressing massively since his move from Ajax back in the summer of 2023.

He missed the vast majority of his debut campaign due to an ACL injury suffered on the opening day, but he’s worked his way back into the side – now being Arteta’s starting right-back.

The Dutchman, who’s been labelled “incredible” by boss Arteta, has since racked up 53 appearances for the side, having a huge impact at both ends of the pitch.

The 24-year-old managed to score a double in the win over Arsenal last Saturday, taking his tally in the red shirt to four – an average of one goal every 13 matches.

As a result of his displays in North London, Timber is now valued at £47.6m by Transfermarkt – an increase of 40% of the £34m fee forked out for his signature two years ago.

Games played

30

Goals & assists

4

Pass accuracy

88%

Dribble success

50%

Tackle success rate

66%

Duels won

4.9

Recoveries made

3.5

Dribbled past

0.2

His subsequent value is also higher than the £45m fee forked out for Hincapie’s signature, with the club and pending new arrival hoping he can follow in a similar vein upon his switch to England.

The club have constantly conducted excellent business in the transfer market over recent seasons, with Timber one of the latest examples to thrive under the manager’s guidance.

If the hierarchy can keep producing similar profile additions going forward, there’s no reason why the club can’t finally end their two-decade wait for a Premier League title.

Arsenal could sign a bigger talent than Eze & Simons in £80m "machine"

Having snapped up Eberechi Eze, Arsenal’s £80m target would be a game-changing signing and better than Xavi Simons.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Aug 30, 2025

Harry Kane received an incredible apology from the German media after some corners of the press previously questioned his €100 million price tag. Kane took his goals tally to eight in four Bundesluga matches for the 2025-26 campaign on Saturday as he scored a hat-trick in Bayern's 4-1 win over Hoffenheim. The England captain has scored 98 goals in 103 appearances since moving from Tottenham in 2023.

• Questions from German press over €100m transfer

  At the time of his move from Tottenham to Munich, several journalists in Germany questioned Bayern's decision to splash a whopping €100m (£87m/$117m) on a 30-year-old player, who at that point had not won a single trophy in his professional career. However, Kane proved his doubters wrong as he is already nearing 100 goals for the Bavarian side in just over two years.

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  German journalist issues apology to 'Mr Kane'

  journalist Alfred Draxler wrote after Bayern's win at Hoffenheim: "I was one of those who viewed the €100m transfer from Tottenham to Bayern Munich in 2023 rather critically. I thought: too much money for a then 30-year-old who had never won a title. There are cheaper options. Niclas Fullkrug, for example, had scored 16 goals for Werder Bremen the previous season. 

  "[Kane is] never injured! That's not just luck. It speaks volume about strict discipline and hard training. I don't think Harry Kane is vacationing in a hotel where you have to reserve your lounger in the morning. If I ever meet him, I'd get up really early and put a towel on his lounger for him. I wouldn't do that for any English person!"

• Kane's ninth hat-trick for Bayern Munich

  Kane netted his ninth hat-trick for Bayern Munich against Hoffenheim and his second of this current season. He also has 70 Bundesliga goals to his name in just 67 appearances.

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  When will Kane play next?

  Kane will be back in action on September 26 as Vincent Kompany's Bayern take on Werder Bremen at home in the Bundesliga.

Up until yesterday, this summer was shaping up to be pretty much perfect for Chelsea.

Enzo Marsca’s side looked brilliant on the pitch, and the board were making excellent additions to the squad off of it.

However, it’s now been confirmed that Levi Colwill has suffered an ACL injury and will miss the majority of next season.

The only good news is that there is still time for the club to bring in a replacement, and while they’ve been linked with Marc Guehi in the past, reports suggest they are looking at someone else entirely.

Chelsea target Guehi alternative

Chelsea have been linked with Guehi for quite some time now, with serious reports touting him for a move back to the club as far back as last summer.

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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Those stories have remained fairly constant this summer as well, with some claiming that the Englishman could be available for a fee of around £43m.

However, while the Crystal Palace star could be a smart signing in the current circumstances, it now looks like the Blues are eyeing another international defender to replace Colwill.

At least that’s according to a recent report from Spain, which claims Chelsea are interested in Ronald Araujo.

The report has revealed that the Uruguayan defender is someone who has been discussed by the West Londoners and is now seen as ‘one of the main options’ to come in and strengthen the backline.

Interestingly, despite renewing his contract in January, the story claims that Barcelona would be willing to let the 26-year-old leave this summer for a fee of around €50m, which is about £43m.

While that’s still a lot of money, this feels like a transfer worth pursuing for Chelsea, especially as Araujo could be the perfect replacement for Colwill.

Why Araujo would be a great signing

So, there will be some of you out there who might make the point that Chelsea have only just signed Jorrel Hato, and so there is surely no need for another defender to come in and cover for Colwill.

However, while that is a fair point and we have no doubt the Ducthman will develop into a future superstar, he’s still just 19 years old and has no experience of playing in a top-five league.

Therefore, instead of placing an immense amount of pressure on the teenager and potentially hampering his long-term development, it makes far more sense to go out and sign a proven defender who has played at the highest level for some time now, someone like Araujo.

Araujo’s Barça record

Appearances

175

Starts

141

Minutes

12926′

Goals

10

Assists

7

Points per Game

2.15

La Liga Titles

2

Copa del Reys

2

Super Cups

2

All Stats via Transfermarkt

For example, the defensive “monster,” as dubbed by analyst Raj Chohan, has made 175 appearances for Barcelona, of which 141 have been starts, and he’s racked up a pretty good tally of ten goals and seven assists in those games.

Moreover, he’s helped the Catalans win two La Liga titles, two Copa del Reys and two Spanish Super Cups, so he would bring a real know-how to Stamford Bridge that’s been lacking in recent years.

On top of his impressive experience and record, the Rivera-born titan can also play as both a centre-back and a right-back, meaning he’d give Maresca some extra tactical flexibility.

Finally, the 6 foot 2 ace is more than just a defensive wall, as he’s got several seriously impressive attacking underlying numbers to his name.

According to FBref, he sits in the top 1% of centre-backs in Europe’s top five leagues for non-penalty goals and goals plus assists, the top 2% for goal-creating actions from shots, the top 4% for non-penalty expected goals and the top 9% for total progressive carrying distance, all per 90.

Ultimately, losing Colwill is a massive blow, but Chelsea can help mitigate that blow by going all out and signing Araujo this summer.

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Posts ByJack Salveson Holmes Aug 8, 2025

The Three Lions bored fans into leaving early against Andorra last time out while La Roja look like world-beaters once more after destroying Turkey

'A devastating symphony', said 'Spain ran Turkey over', crowed 'It's not possible to play football better than this,' was 's reaction; said it was 'Like watching a video game'. 

Contrast the justifiably gushing praise of the European Championship winners' latest performance with that of the team they beat in the final in Berlin little more than a year ago. 'Joyless' was ' verdict from England's drab win over Andorra; 'Turgid' was the description from the described the 2-0 victory as a 'trudge'; 'Dire' was the assessment in .

The difference in opponents was also stark. While not exactly world beaters, Turkey are ranked 27th in the world and reached the quarter-finals of Euro 2024. Andorra are ranked 174th in the world and have only won seven competitive matches in their history. Spain, it should be added, were playing in a hostile atmosphere on the road in Konya while England were at home, albeit not at Wembley but rather Villa Park.

Spain's exhibition on Sunday has solidified their status as favourites to win the 2026 World Cup, and while England are still third on that list, there is a chasm between the Three Lions and Luis de la Fuente's free-scoring side, as well as the other teams to beat such as France, Argentina and Portugal. That does not reflect well on Thomas Tuchel, who has been brought in on a short-term contract and at great expense with one mission only: to lead England to glory next July at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

To be fair to Tuchel, his team have not had to raise their game in any of their four World Cup qualifiers thus far and he has still managed a 100 percent record in competitive games. But now comes the first true test of his mettle, an intimidating game against Serbia in Belgrade, and his side better rise to the challenge.

• AFP
  

  Knowing the squad inside out

  The different trajectories Spain and England have taken since the Euros final call into question the Football Association's (FA) decision to appoint a hired gun from the outside such as Tuchel rather than a culture builder who knows the national game inside out, as La Roja have done with Luis de La Fuente. 

  The Spain coach's background is strikingly similar to those of both Tuchel's predecessor Gareth Southgate and interim boss Lee Carsley. De La Fuente has been working for the Spanish football federation since 2013, coaching the Under-19s, Under-21s and the Olympic team before taking the senior reins from Luis Enrique – initially to much criticism – after Spain had bombed out of the 2022 World Cup to Morocco in the last 16. 

  De La Fuente won the U19 European Championship in 2015 with a team containing current players Unai Simon, Rodri, and the hat-trick hero from the Turkey win, Mikel Merino, as well as Marco Asensio and Dani Ceballos. Four years later, he did the same with the U21s, with some overlap from his U19s team but also fresh faces who are now key players in his senior squad such as Dani Olmo, Fabian Ruiz and Mikel Oyarzabal (the scorer of the winner in the Euro 2024 final). 

  At the Olympics in Tokyo, Spain reached the final before losing to Brazil, and De la Fuente got to work with Marc Cucurella, Martin Zubimendi and Pedri, who all played their part in the drubbing of Turkey. And since leaving the youth set-up and becoming coach of the senior side, De La Fuente has continued to hand huge responsibility to young players such as Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams and Dean Huijsen, and has been rewarded for it, winning the 2023 Nations League before securing the Euros title.

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  Playing to win

  De La Fuente not only knows the players inside out, he is also extremely clear on the style of football Spain should be playing. That comes with 12 years working at the federation's headquarters, while Spain's style is so defined that he barely has to enforce it.

  He is mostly loyal to the positional play that was perfected by Vicente del Bosque's side that contained Xavi, Sergio Busquets and Andres Iniesta. The performance against Turkey, in particular the sublime second goal scored by Merino, was very reminiscent of the great Spain side that dominated world football between 2008 and 2012.

  And yet De la Fuente is not as dogmatic as previous coaches and is ready to adapt to circumstances. As he explained during Euro 2024: "My idea is to play games to win them, independently of how we play. There are times when you have to take the initiative and others when you have to know how to play with other resources."

  De La Fuente also differs from Del Bosque and Luis Aragones in choosing from a much larger pool than that iconic team, which was mostly comprised of players from Barcelona and Real Madrid. Eleven clubs were represented by the starting XI and substitutes on Sunday, from the usual suspects Barca and Madrid to Tottenham and Rayo Vallecano.

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  Strange call-ups

  Tuchel has taken a different approach, leaning more towards experienced players than the next generation. Yes, Myles Lewis-Skelley was a bold call-up earlier this year and Elliot Anderson made his debut against Andorra, but there have also been some strange inclusions such as Jordan Henderson, Marcus Rashford and, above all, the return of Ruben Loftus-Cheek. In other words, players whose best days are firmly in the past.

  The fact that Tuchel may only be around until the World Cup easily explains this short-term view, but it is counter-productive to England's long-term health as a footballing nation. His appointment effectively tore up everything that the FA looked to have been building towards under Southgate.

  Southgate had reached the end of the road for England after eight years in charge and he as much as anyone else wanted a break. But turning to Tuchel instead of Carsley sent out a message that all that matters is short-term glory, above all winning the World Cup. Going all the way in the United States, Mexico and Canada is of course what every fan wants as well. Children dream of lifting the World Cup, not of streamlined strategies at St George's Park.

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  Struggling to click

  However, the fact that England are struggling to click under Tuchel, nine months into his reign and in the middle of his third camp, is concerning. There is no sign of a clear style of play and it was telling that after the Andorra game he told journalists how important long balls and long throw-ins would be to his team at the World Cup.

  The coach is also not delivering on many of the promises he has made since he got the job. Before his opening game against Albania, Tuchel criticised England's performances for most of their run to the Euro 2024 final, lamenting the lack of identity.

  "Not last summer, no [they didn't have a clear playing style]. The identity, the clarity, the rhythm, the repetition of patterns, the freedom of players, the expression of players, the hunger [was missing]," he explained to . "They were more afraid to drop out of the tournament in my observation than having the excitement and hunger to win it. What has been missing is the people feel that that is the team to beat. That we arrive with a group to beat. That we know already when we arrive, once we qualify and arrive that everyone knows this is the team to beat."

Tottenham Hotspur recently splashed the cash to sign Mohammed Kudus from London and Premier League rivals West Ham United for a reported fee of £55m.

The 24-year-old star, who provided an assist in a friendly against Reading on Saturday, will be hoping to offer a big threat at the top end of the pitch for Thomas Frank’s side next season.

He will need to improve on his output from the 2024/25 campaign, though, as the Ghana international only managed five goals and three assists in 32 games as a winger or attacking midfielder for the Hammers. Kudus did produce 14 goals and six assists in all competitions in his first season in England, though, so it is more of an issue around consistency rather than quality.

Tottenham, meanwhile, are reportedly eyeing up a deal for another proven Premier League player who would be an even better signing than the £55m addition.

Spurs in talks to sign Premier League star

Whilst Kudus is somewhat of a gamble, given his unimpressive return in front of goal last term, Spurs are also eyeing a top-flight star who was superb last season and could come in to hit the ground running.

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According to Caught Offside, Tottenham Hotspur are willing to pay the full asking price for Bournemouth central defender Illya Zabarnyi to bolster their options at the back.

The report claims that the Lilywhites are already in talks to reach an agreement to sign the Ukraine international, and that they are prepared to pay what is required, which is said to be around £61m.

It adds that Paris Saint-Germain are also keen on the defender and have had multiple offers turned down by the Premier League side, as they have only offered up to around £52m.

Caught Offside reveals, though, that Zabarnyi favours a move to PSG and the French side are confident that they can complete a deal, which makes it a difficult one for Spurs to get over the line.

Why Spurs should sign Zabarnyi

Tottenham should continue to push to convince the centre-back to make the switch to London this summer, though, because he would be an even better signing than Kudus.

The club’s need for an extra body at the heart of the defence is obvious when you look at the time that Cristian Romero and Micky Van De Ven have missed in the last two seasons.

23/24 + 24/25 season

Zabarnyi

Romero

Van De Ven

Premier League appearances

73

51

40

Injuries

0

4

6

Days missed through injury

0

127

210

Games missed through injury (all comps)

0

30

48

Games missed through suspension

3

3

0

Stats via Transfermarkt

As you can see in the table above, Zabarnyi has not missed a single game through injury in his two seasons in the Premier League, which suggests that he would be the reliable centre-back option Frank is currently missing.

His performances in the top-flight last season also suggest that the Ukraine international has the quality to hit the ground running as an instant star for the Lilywhites.

Pundit Jamie Redknapp claimed that Zabarnyi, who was once described as a “complete” defender by Jacek Kulig, went “under the radar” with his performances, as the defender won 63% of his duels and made zero errors that led to goals in 36 starts in the division.

The 22-year-old colossus is a reliable, error-free, and dominant central defender who rarely gets injured and always delivers on the pitch, which is exactly what Spurs need at the back.

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This is why Zabarnyi, if Spurs can get a deal done, would be an even better signing than Kudus, who is coming off a disappointing season and may not hit the ground running as an instant star, as the Bournemouth gem could do based on his form last term.

Half-centuries from Sam Robson and Leus du Plooy gave Middlesex the upper hand on the second day of their Vitality County Championship game against Northamptonshire at Merchant Taylors’ School.Robson enhanced his impressive record at the Northwood venue, which includes four first-class centuries, by grinding out a vital 58 while Du Plooy hit an unbeaten 66 as the home side reached 250 for seven, a first-innings advantage of 43.However, Ben Sanderson kept Northamptonshire right in contention with figures of five for 58, regaining his status as Division Two’s leading wicket-taker after being briefly displaced by Middlesex captain Toby Roland-Jones.Northamptonshire were dismissed for 207, with Roland-Jones taking a season’s best of five for 49 – and the visitors’ hopes of restricting Middlesex to a lower total were not helped as Prithvi Shaw shelled a trio of slip catches.Sanderson and Lewis McManus, who had hauled Northamptonshire out of difficulties the previous evening, did enough to usher the visitors beyond the key landmark of 200 as they extended their partnership to 83.Sanderson unfurled a pair of classic drives to the boundary off Tom Helm and thoughts of a maiden first-class half-century must have entered the veteran seamer’s mind as he overtook McManus to reach 40.However, those thoughts were dashed when Henry Brookes bowled Sanderson around his legs and, although debutant Dom Leech cracked a cover boundary to raise the visitors’ 200, Roland-Jones quickly wrapped up the innings by capturing their last two wickets in three balls.In reply, Middlesex’s opening pair both survived close calls during the hour prior to lunch, although they made it to the interval unscathed on a surface with variable bounce and pace.With just a single to his name, Robson edged a rising delivery from Justin Broad through the slips, while Mark Stoneman offered a tricky slip chance off the same bowler and Shaw, going low to his left, was unable to hang on.Sanderson made the breakthrough soon after the resumption, getting the ball to swing and uprooting Stoneman’s off stump for 36, but Robson and Max Holden dug in for an afternoon of laborious progress.Robson cut the seamers with authority to keep the scoreboard moving and passed 50 from 118 balls with a sweet cover drive for four off leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal, whose change of ends then bore immediate fruit as he trapped Holden leg before.Northamptonshire might have removed Robson as well in the next over, with Shaw – who had also put down Holden – fumbling another opportunity, but Sanderson made amends immediately after tea with two wickets in as many deliveries.With Robson lbw to one that kept low and Stephen Eskinazi succumbing in identical fashion, Middlesex were suddenly wobbling at 129 for four but a bristling partnership of 72 between Du Plooy and Fernandes was exactly what they needed.Leech eventually brought the stand to an end with his first Northamptonshire wicket, having Fernandes taken at second slip, but Du Plooy remained to nudge his side into the lead with a crisp off-driven boundary.However, Sanderson returned with the new ball and promptly claimed two more wickets in quick succession, completing his third five-for of the summer before Roland-Jones launched a late flurry of boundary-hitting.He took two fours from successive Sanderson deliveries and had just cracked Broad to the fence to earn Middlesex a batting bonus point when the deteriorating light brought play to a close.

It’s all going on at Tottenham Hotspur this summer.

The North Londoners moved quickly to fire Ange Postecoglou earlier this month and then, in a relatively quick fashion, appointed Thomas Frank to lead the club into the next season.

However, that’s only the start of the business the North Londoners will be doing this season, as recent weeks have seen them linked to a plethora of talented players, from Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo to RB Leipzig’s Xavi Simons.

Yet, perhaps the most interesting and exciting link has been to Brentford star Bryan Mbeumo, even though his valuation is currently lower than that of a current Spurs star.

Why Spurs want Mbeumo

As things stand, it would appear as if Spurs and Manchester United are the two teams most interested in signing Mbeumo this summer, and while the fee required to do so is still in the air, Football Transfers has valued the Cameroon international at around €58m, which comes out to £49m.

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Now, that is still a lot of money, but it would be hard to make a genuine argument against him being worth that and more.

For example, in 42 appearances for the Bees this season, totalling 3577 minutes, the former Troyes gem scored 20 goals and provided nine assists.

That means the 25-year-old phenomenon managed to maintain an average of a goal involvement every 1.44 games, or every 123.34 minutes, which is undeniably sensational and the sort of output that would seriously help the North Londoners next year.

Furthermore, the Avallon-born monster is reasonably versatile, as while his primary and best position is off the right, he has spent a not-insignificant period playing up top and as a second striker during his time in the capital.

Finally, while there might be cheaper and more exciting options elsewhere in Europe, the 22-capped international is Premier League-proven and, therefore, should easily slot into the Tottenham squad next season.

However, he will have to hit the ground running to see his valuation surpass one of his potential new teammates.

The Spurs star worth more than Mbeumo

So, even though Spurs endured a diabolically poor domestic campaign this season, the club is still blessed with an abundance of talented players, like James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski and Micky Van de Ven.

However, in this context, the player in question is fellow right-winger Brennan Johnson, who, according to Football Transfers, is currently worth €66.5m, which converts to about £57m, or £8m more than Mbeumo’s valuation.

Now, that might sound like a lot to some of you, but the Welshman actually enjoyed a pretty impressive season with the North Londoners this year.

For example, he ended the campaign as the club’s top scorer, with 18 goals and seven assists in 51 appearances, totalling 3316 minutes, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.04 games, or every 132.64 minutes, which isn’t much worse than the Brentford star.

Moreover, he scored arguably the most important Tottenham goal in a generation in the Europa League Final last month.

On top of that, he stacks up reasonably well against the Cameroonian superstar when we take a look at their underlying numbers from this season.

For example, the 25-year-old comes out ahead in some metrics, such as progressive passes and carries, shots on target and shot and goal-creating actions per 90.

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.51

0.42

Non-Penalty G+As

0.61

0.58

Progressive Passes

2.69

3.72

Progressive Carries

2.21

3.43

Shots

2.13

2.08

Goals per Shot

0.23

0.18

Shots on Target

0.84

0.94

Goals per Shot on Target

0.58

0.41

Passing Accuracy

69.2%

66.1%

Shot-Creating Actions

1.72

3.80

Goal-Creating Actions

0.27

0.53

Tackles

1.42

1.29

Tackles Won

0.90

0.85

Blocks

0.97

0.69

However, the “frightening” former Nottingham Forest gem, as dubbed by content creator HLTCO, comes out ahead in just as many other areas, including expected and actual non-penalty goals plus assists, shots, goals per shot and shot on target, tackles and tackles won, blocks and more, all per 90.

Ultimately, Mbeumo might be the more exciting player at the moment, but Johnson fully deserves the valuation he has, and should the North Londoners get their hands on the Brentford star, there could be a fierce battle for that right-wing position next season.

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