Tottenham have thrusted themselves back into the market for a new playmaker, aiming to put their Eberechi Eze disaster behind them.

Spurs’ transfer plans were dealt a brutal blow after losing out on Eze in midweek, with Arsenal swooping in to hijack their deal on Wednesday night.

Daniel Levy earmarked the Crystal Palace star as their next marquee summer signing, a creative spark to soften the loss of Son Heung-min and cover for James Maddison’s devastating ACL injury. But just when it seemed they were in pole position, Arsenal made their move.

The Gunners opened talks with Palace and quickly accelerated negotiations. Eze, who bagged 14 goals and 11 assists in all competitions last season, agreed to the switch despite also shaking hands on personal terms with Thomas Frank’s side.

For Tottenham, it’s a gut punch. The club had identified Eze as the player to carry the creative burden, particularly after Maddison’s long-term setback left a gaping hole in the number 10 role.

Losing out on him to their north London rivals only rubs more salt in the wound, especially after weeks of groundwork laid behind the scenes.

Spurs are now left scrambling for alternatives, but there’s no hiding the frustration. Eze ticked every box: proven Premier League quality, versatility across the front line, and the confidence to deliver in big moments. His numbers at Palace speak volumes, but it’s his ability to glide past defenders and unlock stubborn backlines that Frank will miss most.

Whoever comes in Eze’s stead will be crucial, and there is someone who the Tottenham recruitment team seriously want to sign.

Tottenham think Morgan Rogers is the "perfect" Eberechi Eze alternative

Speaking on his YouTube channel after Eze’s move to Arsenal broke, Fabrizio Romano shared that their dream number 10 alternative is Aston Villa star Morgan Rogers.

The England winger, valued at around £80 million, bagged a sensational 14 goals and 16 assists in all competitions last term as Unai Emery’s key attacking star, and he has real admirers inside Spurs.

Romano says Tottenham view Rogers as the “perfect” candidate for their attacking midfield role, but as things stand, it’s an almost impossible deal to pull off.

He mentions other candidates in his video, like Southampton’s Tyler Dibling, but the prospect of an ambitious late move for Rogers is very tantalising, albeit unlikely.

Whilst last weekend’s performance against Arsenal showed plenty of promise despite defeat, Manchester United and INEOS are still reportedly discussing the chance to welcome a midfield reinforcement.

Man Utd line up new targets after Baleba price proves prohibitive

Having been told that Carlos Baleba is not for sale unless they reach a premium price this month, Manchester United have been left with no choice but to pivot towards other targets. With less than two weeks remaining until deadline day, however, it remains to be seen whether Ruben Amorim welcomes the last reinforcements that he needs to take his side back into European contention.

The two main weaknesses that the Red Devils must address lie in midfield and in goal. Of course. Baleba was earmarked to solve that midfield problem, but the Brighton & Hove Albion star is off the table for the time being. As such, targets such as Lucien Agoume have threatened to steal the headlines, with reports going as far as to say that the Sevilla star is now United’s priority target.

Meanwhile, Amorim’s goalkeeper problem was exposed for all to see against Arsenal. Choosing to go with Altay Bayindir over Andre Onana, who missed much of pre-season through injury, the Manchester United boss watched on as his second-choice flapped at Arsenal’s first corner of the game to hand them what proved to be the winning goal through Riccardo Calafiori.

It’s a problem that INEOS must solve before the end of the month with the likes of Gianluigi Donnarumma still on the market and available if they manage to leap ahead of rivals Manchester City in the race for his signature.

What’s more, alongside Donnarumma to solve their goalkeeper problem, reports are also now suggesting that Agoume isn’t the only Baleba alternative being discussed at Old Trafford this summer to hand Amorim a much-needed midfielder.

INEOS hold internal discussions about Angelo Stiller

According to Ben Jacobs and Sam Cohen, INEOS have now held “internal discussions” about signing Angelo Stiller from VfB Stuttgart this month. The German impressed in the Bundesliga last season and has since found himself on United’s radar as a result. And whilst talks are yet to be held between the two clubs, the Stuttgart star is potentially one to watch as deadline day approaches.

Described as a “complete and capable” midfielder by analyst Ben Mattinson, Manchester United could certainly do a lot worse than signing Stiller this summer.

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The German midfielder is unlikely to cost the same premium fee as Baleba, but would offer Amorim a similar upgrade on current options like Manuel Ugarte this season.

Whilst Spain did manage to return to their European throne last summer and are among the favourites to win the 2026 World Cup, it’ll take some doing to match the dominance that they enjoyed in the 2000s.

As Barcelona and Real Madrid battled it out for the club throne, it was Spain who benefitted on the international stage. Stars such as Sergio Ramos and Gerard Pique put their rivalries aside to put the very best to the sword and leave several countries in their wake. It was the era of the El Clasico at its best from September to May, but collective Spanish dominance from then onwards.

With Vincente Del Bosque in charge, the Spaniards defeated the Netherlands in last-gasp fashion to win the World Cup in the 2010 World Cup. They then thrashed Italy two years later to win Euro 2012 in their second-consecutive European Championship win after victory in 2008. And it was in that 2012 game that Xavi particularly starred.

The Barcelona legend was often at the centre of the beauty that was Spain’s side at their peak. He was their controller – the conductor of a side so capable of ending summers with the perfect crescendo – and without him, there may have been no World Cup and there may have been no European Championships. He was that influential.

Yet, even one of the best midfielders of all time had no choice but to admit that another star man is the most talented player in Spain’s history. Simply put, as good as Xavi was, another star stands tall as the best that the country has ever seen.

Xavi: Iniesta is Spain's "most talented" player ever

From Ronaldinho and Lionel Messi to Gerard Pique and Carles Puyol, Barcelona enjoyed some incredible combinations during their best years, but perhaps none as perfect as Xavi and Andres Iniesta. The Spanish duo were untouchable when together with Sergio Busquets and all three took that invincibility to the international stage.

As good as all three were, however, Xavi only had one answer when selecting Spain’s “most talented” player in history – claiming that Iniesta is the country’s true standout.

Whether the likes of Lamine Yamal eventually overtake Iniesta’s legacy is a debate for another time. Of course, if he does intend to do so, then he’ll need to find a way to beat the former midfielder’s iconic winning goal against the Netherlands in 2010. Over to you, Lamine.

Sunderland marked their return to the Premier League with a statement 3-0 win over West Ham. While some of the new signings, like Granit Xhaka, put in excellent performances, it was the players who got promoted that won them the game.

Following goals from Eliezer Mayenda, Daniel Ballard and Wilson Isidor, manager Regis Le Bris spoke about their significance to the team: “It’s really important for two reasons at least, the first one they showed they can step up today. We’ll see later, but today it was the case. At the same time, they are really important because they keep the identity of the club and the way we worked last season.”

One of the ways Sunderland were most impressive against West Ham was defensively, with the London side only managing shots that valued a total of 0.56 xG.

However, Le Bris is looking to strengthen his defensive unit even further as the club readies a second bid for their top centre-back target.

Sunderland is not giving up on signing Lucumí

Sunderland are planning to put in a second bid for Bologna centre-back Jhon Lucumí. Le Bris’s side previously placed a bid worth just over £24 million for the Colombian, which the Italian side rejected.

The bid that Sunderland placed was equal in value to the release clause that Lucumí’s contract previously held. This clause expired in mid-July, and the Black Cats are now expected to place a bid of higher value, according to Italian reports, via Sports Witness.

Bologna have already sold Lucumí’s centre-back partner, Sam Beukema, to Napoli this summer, and there are reports that because of this, the club see Lucumí as unsellable. The report goes on to say that Bologna are hoping to extend the defender’s contract, but as a “contract renewal appears complicated”, the Serie A side may be willing to let Lucumí go for a high enough bid.

On the personal side of the deal, Lucumí is reportedly “keen” on the move, and Sunderland already has a history with Lucumí’s agency, as he is with Wasserman, who also represent three current Sunderland players – Simon Moore, Dennis Cirkin and Dan Neil.

Why Sunderland might make Lucumí their club-record signing

Six of Sunderland’s top ten most expensive transfers have come in this window, and if they sign Lucumí, that number will rise to seven. The first bid they placed for the Colombian would have made him the club’s second most expensive player, and depending on the increase in value of the second bid, he could become the club’s record signing.

Last season, Lucumí stood out in Serie A as a ball-playing centre-back who excelled at stopping opposition counter-attacks. For Serie A centre-backs, he ranked in the top 9% for passes completed per 90 and accurate long balls per 90. Additionally, Lucumí averaged just over six ball recoveries per 90, which was in the top 4% of centre-backs. This means that when his side lost possession, he was often there to rectify the situation.

After the opening match, West Ham boss Graham Potter spoke about Sunderland’s performance and somewhat dismissively said, “It wasn’t a result – with the greatest respect – of Sunderland pushing us back and playing well. It was an action, a cross from 30 or 40 metres we should be happy to defend.”

While Sunderland didn’t dominate possession, only having 37% of it, they got the result from well-executed moments and hitting West Ham on the break.

Lucumí’s skill set will allow them to pull off this kind of result more often, as he is both accurate and progressive with the ball, allowing his team to counter quickly, and he specializes in stopping opposition counter-attacks, which will allow his team to exploit them in the transition of play.

New Zealand white-ball captain will play alongside Nathan Smith at The Oval

ESPNcricinfo staff05-Feb-2025Surrey have filled the main gap in their T20 squad with the signing of New Zealand’s Mitchell Santner for the majority of the Vitality Blast season. Santner is available for eight group-stage games and the knockouts in September, if Surrey qualify.Batting allrounders Dan Lawrence, Cameron Steel and Will Jacks were Surrey’s spin options in the Blast last year, but the addition of Santner brings them a frontline option with more than 200 appearances in the format. Surrey have been losing semi-finalists two years in a row, and have not won the trophy since its inaugural season back in 2003.Santner, who recently became New Zealand’s white-ball captain, will arrive in London after the IPL, where he is due to play for Mumbai Indians. He will miss the end of the group stages on international duty but should be available for the knockouts in September. He is also likely to feature in the Hundred again this year, having spent last season with Northern Superchargers.Related

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“I’m really looking forward to connecting with the players and coaching staff at Surrey,” Santner said. “I’ve heard quality things about the environment and have thoroughly enjoyed playing at the Kia Oval previously. I’ve been fortunate to play against many of the squad so it will be great to share the same changing room and play some entertaining cricket.”Alec Stewart, who remains involved with Surrey’s recruitment in his new role as a ‘high performance cricket advisor’, said: “Mitch will bring quality and experience to the Surrey side. He’s a proven international cricketer who plays T20 cricket all over the world and has built an excellent skillset.”Santner will play alongside his international team-mate Nathan Smith at The Oval, with Smith due to play in both the County Championship and the Blast from the start of May until the end of the season, around his New Zealand commitments.

Nottingham Forest have now submitted an offer for a defender who has “great speed”, with negotiations currently ongoing.

Business as usual at Forest despite Nuno uncertainty

Nuno speaking negatively about his relationship with Evangelos Marinakis has caused instability at Forest, and there have been suggestions that Ange Postecoglou could be brought in as a replacement for the 51-year-old.

However, there is said to be an air of business as usual at the City Ground, with Forest focusing on having a strong end to the summer transfer window, having already made major improvements to their squad.

One position in which the Tricky Trees are yet to strengthen, however, is full-back, and Nuno clearly feels more depth is required on both sides ahead of the upcoming Europa League campaign.

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Earlier this week, it was revealed that talks over a deal for Leicester City left-back Victor Kristiansen are progressing, and now Nuno’s side are looking to strengthen on the opposite flank too.

That is according to a report from Gazzetta dello Sport (via Sport Witness), which states Nottingham Forest have now submitted a €12m (£10m) offer for Juventus right-back Nicolo Savona, which was knocked back, with the Italian club looking for a total package worth up to €20m (£17m).

The Serie A side are open to a sale, with information from journalist Gianluca di Marzio also being relayed, who reports that negotiations between the two clubs are currently ongoing, and they are likely to meet somewhere in the middle.

Savona is being targeted as an alternative to Sevilla’s José Ángel Carmona, who has made it clear he would prefer to remain at his boyhood club, rather than moving to the Premier League this summer.

Carmona should remain Forest's number one target

The aforementioned report states Carmona could still change his mind about a move to the Premier League, which would be good news for Forest, given that he has vastly outperformed Savona from a defensive point of view over the past year.

Average per 90

Jose Angel Carmona

Nicolo Savona

Tackles

2.42

1.42

Interceptions

1.96

0.58

Blocks

1.22

0.75

Clearances

2.88

2.04

The Spaniard is also far more experienced at senior level, having made 96 appearances across spells with Sevilla, Getafe and Elche CF, while the Juventus defender has just 40 first-team appearances to his name.

Juventus boss Igor Tudor has praised his defender in the past, saying: “He is professional and has great football intelligence. He understands what is happening on the pitch, and he has great speed. So we’re talking about a player with so many skills.”

“He is a humble guy who listens to advice. These are things that may seem obvious, but they are not at all. He has those values ​​that are getting a bit lost, so they are precious now.”

However, Forest should work on changing Carmona’s mind before the transfer deadline, as there is every indication he would be a better signing than the Italian.

حلل باو فيكتور، مهاجم نادي برشلونة السابق وسبورتينج براجا الحالي، مشاكل الفريق الكتالوني خلال هذا الموسم وتراجع مستوى النادي الإسباني.

برشلونة تراجعت نتائجه بشكل ملحوظ خلال الفترة الأخيرة من هذا الموسم، حيث تعرض البلوجرانا إلى خساراتين متتاليتين، أمام باريس سان جيرمان في دوري أبطال أوروبا، ثم السقوط بأربعة أهداف مقابل هدف واحد أمام إشبيلية الأسبوع الماضي بالدوري الإسباني.

ورحل باو فيكتور عن صفوف نادي برشلونة خلال فترة الميركاتو الصيفي الأخير، حيث وقع مع براجا في عقد مدته خمس سنوات، مع خيار إعادة الشراء من جديد للنادي الكتالوني.

أقرأ أيضًا .. ناد أوروبي يهدد ريال مدريد في صفقة شلوتربيك

ويعتقد فيكتور في تصريحات لإذاعة “كادينا سير” أن كثرة الإصابات جعلت برشلونة يعاني، موضحًا أن البلوجرانا سيعود إلى الطريق الصحيح.

وقال فيكتور: ”برشلونة؟ أراهم يقدمون أداء جيدًا، في مباراتهم الأخيرة ضد إشبيلية لم يقدموا أفضل أداء لهم، ولكن هناك تحديات مثل مشكلة الملعب، لا أحد يعلم أي ملعب سيلعبون عليه وفي البداية، لعبوا ثلاث أو أربع مباريات خارج أرضهم”.

وأضاف فيكتور: ”لديهم العديد من الغيابات المهمة، ولكن عندما يكون الجميع مستعدًا لا أشك في أن برشلونة سيعود إلى ما كان عليه في الموسم الماضي، الصبر مطلوب”.

كما وجه فيكتور الشكر إلى مدرب نادي برشلونة، هانز فليك، على الدعم الذي قدمه له حيث أوضح المهاجم الشاب: ”أنا ممتن جدًا لفليك، لقد كان دائمًا يولي اهتمامًا كبيرًا لي”.

واختتم: “جاء لتشجيعي، عندما غادرت أكد لي أنه سيكون مهتمًا بمشاهدتي للغاية”.

Despite already welcoming Callum Wilson, West Ham United have now reportedly made contact to sign another striker target who’s keen on a move to the Premier League.

Hermansen: West Ham step "great" for career

Following a quiet start, West Ham’s summer is finally beginning to heat up. With around two weeks until deadline day arrives, the Hammers have now welcomed El Hadji Malick Diouf, Wilson, Kyle-Walker Peters, Daniel Cummings and, in their latest deal, Leicester City’s Mads Hermansen. The latter is a particularly impressive arrival and was full of anticipation after putting pen to paper.

Just how many of West Ham’s new arrivals feature in their opening day clash against Sunderland is now the big question. In a game against one of the three newly-promoted sides, the Hammers have the chance to lay down a marker against any potential relegation battle ahead of what needs to be a much improved campaign.

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Meanwhile, away from the pitch, the London club are still reportedly on the hunt for attacking reinforcements.

West Ham make contact to sign En-Nesyri

According to reports in Spain, West Ham have now opened talks to sign Youssef En-Nesyri from Fenerbahce this summer. The Turkish club reportedly value their forward at more than €40m (£35m), with negotiations now underway between themselves and the Hammers.

Of course, it’s not the first time that En-Nesyri has found himself on West Ham’s radar. Before he completed a move to Fenerbahce last season, the 28-year-old was targeted by the London club during his time at Sevilla, who won the Europa League with the Moroccan leading the line.

Now, after just one year in Turkey, En-Nesyri could finally be on his way to the Premier League and the London Stadium. As the numbers highlight too, West Ham’s interest should come as no surprise.

Minutes

2,001

370

Goals

20

0

Assists

4

0

Dubbed “exceptional” by Jose Mourinho, En-Nesyri is at the peak of his powers and would be an instant upgrade on an ageing, injury-prone Wilson.

For around £35m, the Fenerbahce star would prove to be an undeniable striker given how difficult it is to find 20-goal strikers at an affordable price in today’s market.

Nico O'Reilly said it is very "special" to sign a new long-term deal with Manchester City. The 20-year-old has been at the club since the age of eight and has become an important player in Pep Guardiola's first-team. Following him putting pen to paper on a deal until 2030, the versatile talent spoke about how important his mum has been in support of his football journey and career.

• The rise of O'Reilly at Man City

  O'Reilly joined City 12 years ago and in the 2022-23 campaign, he captained their Under-18 side to a third successive national title and ended the season by winning the Players' Player of the Year award. The youngster, who has played at left-back and in central midfield over the past year, made his senior City debut in the 2024 Community Shield and has since gone on to make 27 appearances, scoring five goals in the process. The England Under-20 international admitted that he wouldn't have got to this point without his mum, Holly.

  He told City's website on Friday, "I'm so happy, I feel really good to have signed this contract with this amazing club. It's made my family proud and yeah; it's an amazing day. My mum has been making sacrifices for me since I was a baby, and she has put her life into mine and I'm so happy she was able to do this and just hope one day I can pay her back. She's so proud and obviously she has to take a lot of credit as well because I wouldn't be here without her, so I'd like to say thank you to my mum."

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  New Man City contract for O'Reilly is very 'special'

  After signing this five-year deal, O'Reilly thanked the club, his family, manager Pep Guardiola, and more.

  He added, "This is a day I will never forget. I have been at City since the age of eight, and to have made it into the first team and have played matches is a dream come true. To be rewarded with a new contract really is special. I am really proud and so is my mum!

  "But in truth, this is just the beginning for me. I have come so far, but I want to keep pushing now, improving every day, and become the best player I can be. Here at City, with Pep as manager, I know I can do that. This is the best place for a footballer to be. I want to thank everyone who works in the Academy, all my teammates, Pep, the coaching staff and the City fans because without all those people supporting me along the way, none of this would have been possible for me."

• O'Reilly a shining example for Man City academy

  City's director of football, Hugo Viana, believes that the 6ft 4in player is a great role model for many other youth players dreaming of graduating to the club's first team. 

  He said: "Everyone at Manchester City is proud of our Academy, and Nico is a great example of why that is. Any young City player should look to Nico and learn from how he conducts himself on and off the pitch. If they do that, they won’t go far wrong.

  "He is technically assured, intelligent, and a brilliant reader of the game. His progress since stepping into the first team has been excellent, and we feel he has so much more to offer. He really does have huge potential. Nico is also a fantastic person. He is so focused on his football, which is what we want from our young players. I am delighted for him and his family, and we are looking forward to seeing him develop further in the coming years."

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  More to come from O'Reilly at Man City

  O'Reilly has made six appearances for City this season, four of which have been starts. He has his sights set on becoming a regular under Guardiola and it is clear he has no intention of just making up the numbers. 

  He said: "I'd just like to say thanks for all the support I've had so far, and there's a lot more to come. Hopefully, I can keep [our fans] happy, win games, win lots of trophies and we'll all be happy.

  "It's crazy how fast things have gone but I know my ability. I don't just want to be a squad player, I’m here to fight for my place and I want to be in the team week in, week out.  That's my aim and that's what I'm going to try and do. I think I've improved. Playing in big games in big stadiums and crowds, it's something you're not used to in the Academy.

  "The experience has helped me a lot and playing a new position, learning how to defend properly. It's all helped me massively. [My target is to] play as much as I can. I want to play every game, win trophies and titles, try and get an England call-up and make the squad in the summer. I've got a lot of goals this season and I'm going to try and achieve them."

Manchester United have secured their first signing of the summer, agreeing a pre-contract deal for highly-rated Colombian midfielder Cristian Orozco, who will officially join in July after he has turned 18. The club have also handed a trial to Senegal U17 captain Mouhamed Dabo, signalling their intent to reshape midfield options for both the present and future.

Man Utd to sign Orozco next summer

As per the , United have secured the services of 17-year-old Orozco from Fortaleza after his performances at youth international level caught the eye. The teenager helped Colombia reach the CONMEBOL U17 Championship final earlier this year. In a deal similar to the one that saw Paraguayan left-back Diego Leon recently join, he will move to Old Trafford once he turns 18 and is expected to begin in the youth setup before pushing for senior minutes.

AdvertisementRed Devils also set to hand trial to Senegal U17 captain

Alongside Orozco’s arrival, Senegal U17 captain Mouhamed Dabo has been given a trial with United. The Be Sport Academy talent is seen as a player with leadership qualities and potential to develop into a future first-team option. African scouting and recruitment efforts previously unearthed Malian midfielder Sekou Kone, who arrived in Manchester last year.

Getty Images SportAmorim wants to strengthen midfield depth

Ruben Amorim has been keen to add energy and depth to a midfield that has faltered this season. Manuel Ugarte and Kobbie Mainoo have struggled to consistently impose themselves, while Bruno Fernandes has often been moved out of his best attacking role. Casemiro’s recent red card against Chelsea and current suspension further underlined the need for reinforcements in squad depth.

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AFPMan Utd looking to build a young core under INEOS

Orozco will complete his move in July, with staff set to monitor his progress closely in the academy. Dabo, meanwhile, must impress during his trial period to earn a permanent contract. Both moves highlight United’s push to build a younger core under Amorim while planning beyond the current campaign.