Ange Postecoglou could have been handed a major boost in his bid to overhaul the Tottenham squad this summer after it emerged that a top talent is open to a north London move.
Postecoglou eyeing Spurs reinforcements
After a disappointing end to their Premier League season, Tottenham will have to settle for Europa League football next season, and Postecoglou is keen to make changes in his ranks to cater for the added European football. The Spurs boss has already highlighted his desire to add to his attacking ranks this summer, while a new centre-back is also thought to be on the radar.
"It's no secret [we need a new attacker]. You saw the way we finished the season. We obviously lost Richy and Timo as well with injuries but we're fairly light in that area. We started last season with Manor [Solomon] and [Ivan] Perisic and we were quite healthy in that front third in terms of numbers, but as the year went on it became pretty evident that we need to bulk up.
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He’s had his moments in Lilywhite but this star must be ruthlessly ditched this summer.
ByAngus Sinclair May 26, 2024
"We're in Europe as well next year so we'll have more games and it's definitely an area of the park we'll need to strengthen. You always understand that things can change really quickly but we've got a plan in place that I'm really comfortable with in terms of incomings and outgoings. Whether that all comes together you just never know but having clarity about what we need to do I think helps the process."
Timo Werner's long-term future at the club remains unclear, while they have also been credited with an interest in Nottingham Forest winger Callum Hudson Odoi this summer, but a striker is also thought to be high on their wishlist with the likes of Santiago Gimenez and Benjamin Sesko under consideration.
Now, the club have been offered a boost to bring in a new star man to lead the line at Tottenham.
Toney ken on Tottenham move
That comes in the form of Brentford striker Ivan Toney, who Thomas Frank has already conceded is likely to leave the Bees this summer as he heads into the final year of his contract with the club.
Brentford striker Ivan Toney
It was thought that the Englishman would attract attention from London giants Arsenal and Chelsea, but they were put off by Brentford's hefty £100m demands in January and their interest has since cooled.
The striker, dubbed a "monster" by Frank for his ability to play through pain, is now likely to be available for far less than that proposed fee, and Tottenham News report that the Englishman would "jump at the chance" to move to Spurs, with his favoured move to Arsenal now off the table.
How Ivan Toney compares to Tottenham's current strikers 23/24
Ivan Toney
Richarlison
Heung-Min Son
Appearances
17
28
35
Goals
4
11
17
Mins per goal
362.5
135.5
172.6
Shots on target per 90
1.3
1.51
1.17
Aerial duels won %
47%
30.5%
23.8%
It remains to be seen whether Spurs will be able to make an offer that will satisfy Brentford's desire for a big sale, but a move for Toney would certainly bolster their frontline and allow Postecoglou's side to finally replace the focal point of their attack that they lost with Harry Kane's departure.
Celtic and Brendan Rodgers are eyeing up an audacious move for a free agent to kickstart their summer transfer business, it has been revealed.
Joe Hart saying goodbye to Celtic
Joe Hart will play his last game of professional football this weekend as Celtic take on Rangers in the Scottish Cup final. The ex-England goalkeeper revealed back in February that he would be hanging up his gloves at the end of the season, and could yet still crown his swansong with a domestic double in Celtic colours.
Joe Hart
Though his arrival was initially treated with scepticism, Hart quickly grew into a fan favourite at Celtic Park and was evidently emotional as his side lifted the Scottish Premiership trophy against St Mirren, bidding farewell to the Celtic supporters.
"Guys, I have never felt professionally that special before in my entire life. Myself, my family, from the bottom of my heart, I absolutely adore every single one of you, everyone associated with this football club.
“It’s such a special place. I was asked yesterday, how do you explain this to people? I don’t want to explain this to anyone, this is not a club that needs explaining, this is a club that speaks for itself.
“You guys are absolutely phenomenal. It’s part of you, you have made me feel so special and humble.
“I absolutely love it, thank you so much for having me."
The hunt to replace him is already well underway, with a whole host of shot-stoppers having been linked with the vacancy in Glasgow. Now though, a new name has entered the fray, and it may be the most ambitious target yet.
Celtic eye up free agent
That comes courtesy of The Daily Mail, who report that the Bhoys are throwing their hat in the ring for Koen Casteels, whose £66,000-per-week contract with Wolfsburg ends this summer.
Celtic working to seal early signing who'd be perfect for Rodgers
The Hoops have been linked with a deal to sign the colossus in the summer window.
ByDan Emery May 21, 2024
The left-footed goalkeeper is keen to move onto a new challenge after over 250 appearances for Wolfsburg, and has already held talks with Anderlecht over a potential return to Belgium. Celtic are keen too though, and can offer Champions League football to the Belgian international, something that the Pro League outfit cannot.
And The Mail claim that the Hoops have added Casteels "to a list of potential replacements" which also includes Asmir Begovic, Alex McCarthy and Ugurcan Cakir.
Casteels could be a different calibre of shot-stopper though, and such were his performances back in 2021 that he was compared to Manuel Neuer as the best goalkeeper in the German top flight by his then-manager Mark van Bommel.
"Koen has improved every year. He's moved up another level. With Manuel [Neuer] he’s the best goalkeeper in the Bundesliga," claimed the Dutch coach at the beginning of the 2021-22 season.
Koen Casteels vs Hart: by the numbers
2021-22
2022-23
2023-24
Joe Hart 23/24
Appearances
28
34
25
37
Save %
68.6%
70.1%
67.8%
70.1%
Saves per 90
2.71
2.97
3.12
1.68
Goals prevented
2
-1.1
-0.6
N/A
Clean sheets
10
12
4
13
In the years since his form has wavered slightly, but he is still a top shot-stopper and would be a mammoth addition to Celtic's ranks. However, he may need to take a paycut to make a move happen, with Celtic unlikely to be able to afford anything like the £66,000-a-week he took home in Wolfsburg.
Leeds United have a rich history and a devoted fanbase. After suffering relegation last season, the Whites have the chance to be promoted to the Premier League at the first time of asking, which is an exciting prospect for fans.
With just one Championship game remaining, the Whites are no longer in control of their promotion destiny, having handed Leicester City their tickets to the Premier League after being thumped by QPR on Friday night.
Their defeat in west London also means Ipswich have the opportunity to wrest control of the promotion battle heading into the final weekend. The Tractor Boys, who also have a game in hand on the Whites, can go three clear of Leeds with a win over Coventry in midweek. If Ipswich can grab four points from their final two matches, Daniel Farke's side will be consigned to the play-offs.
Of course, it's not the end of the world if the automatic promotion places end up being out of reach, but the scary thing about the play-offs is that it can be a lottery at times.
Let's take a look at how things could pan out for Leeds and what fans could expect…
Championship Table: Latest standings for the 2024/25 season
Latest English Football League Championship standings 2024/25.
ByStephan Georgiou Apr 22, 2025 Leeds United's 2022/23 season
The 2022/23 season for Leeds ended up being one to forget. However, there were some memorable moments along the way, which included beating Liverpool and Chelsea. Although, there were a fair few manager changes, as Jesse Marsch, Michael Skubala, Javi Gracia and Sam Allardyce all had their turns at the helm.
Leeds' late-season collapse was what did for them as they gave up three goals in 20 minutes against Arsenal, five in slightly over 30 minutes versus Crystal Palace at home, six in 55 minutes against Liverpool, and two in five minutes against Bournemouth. Leeds broke the Premier League record for the leakiest defence in a single month as they gave up 23 goals in April alone.
After defeating Nottingham Forest at home on 4th April, they should have gained newfound energy and confidence; instead, they took two of the next 27 points available, fired their manager, and let themselves get deeper into trouble.
They ended up finishing in 19th on 31 points for the season.
Leeds in 2023/24
Leeds United got off to a very slow start in the current Championship campaign, winning just one of their first five matches. They were sent crashing out of the Carabao Cup in the second round on penalties, as Salford City sailed through.
In the FA Cup, Leeds made it all the way to the fifth round and probably should have made it further if they put their chances away, but it was Chelsea who ran out as 3-2 winners at Stamford Bridge.
However, things were transformed since the slow start in the league, as the Whites made an incredible start to 2024, going on a 12-match unbeaten run, which included a nine-game win streak in the Championship.
Unfortunately, their run-in brought about some of their worst form of the season, and after just one win in their last five games, now risk missing out on automatic promotion ahead of next weekend's final-day clash against Southampton.
When Leeds United can get promoted to the Premier League
As mentioned, Leeds are firmly in the race for promotion from the Championship. The top two go up automatically to the Premier League, with teams placed 3rd-6th entering the play-offs.
Leeds' defeat to QPR has put the onus on Ipswich to seal their fate. With Leicester assured of a place in next season's Premier League, Ipswich will join them if they can earn four points from their last six available.
With the Tractor Boys dropping points away at Hull City last week, the race is guaranteed to go to the final day. However, Kieran McKenna's side need just a point from their upcoming trip to Coventry to be in control next weekend. The Tractor Boys host the all-but-relegated Huddersfield Town, while Leeds face the tougher assignment of Southampton at Elland Road, with the Saints now certain to finish outside the top two in fourth.
Put simply, if Ipswich win their games, they will be promoted this weekend. If they fail to do so, Leeds can pounce if they slip up on the final day.
Leeds United
Southampton (H)
If Ipswich win v Coventry: Win and Ipswich lose
If Ipswich draw v Coventry: Win and Ipswich lose or draw
If Ipswich lose v Coventry: Win and Ipswich don't win by 9+
Ipswich Town
Huddersfield (H)
If they win v Coventry: win or draw
If they draw v Coventry: win; draw and Leeds draw/lose; lose and Leeds lose
If they lose v Coventry: win and Leeds draw/lose; draw and Leeds lose
Championship play-offs 2024: Fixtures, ticket info, prize money & more
FFC looks forward to the 2023/24 Championship play-offs with all you need to know, including updated ticket information.
ByLuke Randall May 20, 2024 Leeds United's fixtures and standings
Pos
Team
Played
GD
Pts
Leicester
44
+47
94
Leeds
45
+39
90
Ipswich
44
+32
90
Southampton
45
+23
84
Norwich
45
+16
73
West Brom
45
+20
72
Leeds will definitely have their promotion dream on the line on Saturday afternoon, but will be helpless to entering the play-offs if rivals Ipswich can do their own job. Daniel Farke's Whites just have to better the Tractor Boys' result on the final day to return to the Premier League at the first attempt.
Date
Competition
Opposition
H/A
4th May
Championship
Southampton
H
Leeds United's results
Leeds' shocking result against QPR leaves promotion out of their hands, and having started the calendar year so well, their form since Easter has been horrendous for a side chasing promotion.
Having 90 points at this stage is by no means a terrible season, but they are set to miss out on automatic promotion bar a similarly catastrophic collapse from Ipswich. Looking back at some of their recent results, they will only have themselves to blame.
Date
Competition
Opposition
Result
26th April
Championship
QPR
L 0-4
22nd April
Championship
Middlesbrough
W 4-3
13th April
Championship
Blackburn
L 0-1
9th April
Championship
Sunderland
D 0-0
6th April
Championship
Coventry
L 1-2
Leeds United's top scorers in 2023/24
Leeds have been blessed with plenty of goalscoring options in the current campaign, with seven players on five goals or above in all competitions.
واصل الدولي المصري عمر مرموش لاعب آينتراخت فرانكفورت، التألق مع فريقه أمام بايرن ميونخ، في المباراة التي أقيمت بينهما اليوم الأحد، ضمن منافسات بطولة الدوري الألماني.
وتواجه بايرن ميونخ مع آينتراخت فرانكفورت، في إطار منافسات الجولة السادسة من عمر مواجهات بطولة الدوري الألماني “البوندسليجا”.
وتعادل فريق آينتراخت فرانكفورت أمام بايرن ميونخ، بنتيجة 3-3، ليظل عند النقطة 13 محتلًا المركز الثالث في ترتيب الدوري الألماني.
بينما فريق بايرن ميونخ، يتصدر ترتيب الدوري الألماني برصيد 14 نقطة، من الفوز في 4 مباريات والتعادل في مواجهتين.
مرموش لعب أساسيًا في المباراة حتي نهايته، حصل على تقييم 8.9 وهو الأعلى بين لاعبي الفريقين، بحسب شبكة “سوفا سكور”.
عمر مرموش استطاع أن يسجل هدف فريقه الأول أمام بايرن ميونخ في الدقيقة 23، من انطلاقه في ظهر دفاع الفريق البافاري، انفرد بمرمى الحارس مانويل نوير. هدف عمر مرموش الأول أمام بايرن ميونخ
وفي الدقيقة 35، ساهم عمر مرموش في تقديم تمريرة حاسمة لزميله هوجو إيكيتيكي ليسجل هدف آينتراخت فرانكفورت الثاني في اللقاء. هدف فرانكفورت الثاني في مرمي بايرن ميونخ أسيست عمر مرموش
وعاد مرموش من جديد في الدقائق الأخيرة من عمر اللقاء، وسجل هدف تعادل قاتل لفريقه، لتصبح النتيجة 3-3، بعدما سدد كرة متقنة من داخل منطقة الجزاء، بعدما وصلته تمريرة رائعة من زميله إيريك جونيور دينا. هدف عمر مرموش الثاني أمام بايرن ميونخ
وصل عمر مرموش بعد هدفي اليوم، إلى الهدف الثامن له، ليعزز صدارته في ترتيب هدافي الدوري الألماني، ويبتعد عن هاري كين مهاجم بايرن ميونخ بـ3 أهداف.
طالع.. فيديو | في الوقت القاتل.. عمر مرموش يُسجل هدف تعادل فرانكفورت أمام بايرن ميونخ مهارة رائعة من عمر مرموش في مباراة فرانكفورت وبايرن ميونخ
وكان لـ عمر مرموش تسديدتين على المرمى، كما نجح في مراوغتين من أصل 3، وقدم تمريرات صحيحة بنسبة 78%، ولمس الكرة 31 مرة.
وفاز مرموش في الالتحامات الأرضية مع المنافس، 7 مرات من أصل 12، وفقد الاستحواذ 11 مرة. ملخص لمسات عمر مرموش في مباراة آينتراخت فرانكفورت وبايرن ميونخ
سجل فريق الريان الهدف الأول أمام منافسه النصر في المباراة التي تجمع بينهما اليوم، ضمن منافسات دوري أبطال آسيا.
ويلعب فريق النصر ضد الريان، على ملعبه الأول بارك، في إطار مواجهة الجولة الثانية من عمر مرحلة المجموعات لبطولة دوري أبطال آسيا بنظامه الجديد.
وجاء الهدف الأول للنصر عن طريق ساديو ماني بالدقيقة 45، من كرة رأسية مميزة بعد تلقيه كرة عرضية من على حدود منطقة الجزاء.
ويواجه فريق النصر بقيادة كريستيانو رونالدو وساديو ماني، نظيره الريان الذي يضم بين صفوفه الدولي المصري محمود حسن تريزيجيه والمغربي أشرف بن شرقي.
وسجل كريستيانو رونالدو الهدف الثاني لصالح النصر في الدقيقة 76 من عمر المباراة، بعدما تلقى تمريرة سحرية داخل منطقة الجزاء صوبها بقدمه اليسرى مباشرة في المرمى.
طالع.. فيديو | رونالدو يسجل هدف النصر الثاني أمام الريان في دوري أبطال آسيا
وأحرز روجر جويديس الهدف الأول للريان، بعد تلقيه تمريرة أشرف بن شرقي الذي قاد هجمة مرتدة لصالح الفريق، بالدقيقة 87. هدف الريان الأول أمام النصر في دوري أبطال آسيا
في خطوةٍ مثيرة شغلت قلوب عشاق القلعة البيضاء، أعلن نادي الزمالك رسميًا عن تصميم قميصه الجديد الذي سيخوض به مواجهة قمة الكرة المصرية والإفريقية أمام الغريم التقليدي الأهلي في نهائي السوبر الإفريقي.
التصميم الجديد، الذي تم الكشف عنه في فيديو مبهر يضم نخبة من نجوم الفريق، يجمع بين الأصالة والحداثة في مزيج ساحر.
فقد حافظ القميص على الهوية التقليدية للزمالك بألوانه المميزة، مع إضافة لمسات عصرية مبتكرة تعكس روح العصر وتلبي أذواق الجماهير التي تتطلع دائمًا إلى الجديد والمميز.
التفاصيل الدقيقة واللمسات الفنية التي أضفيت على القميص الجديد حازت على إعجاب الجماهير التي ثمنت الجهد المبذول في تصميمه، مؤكدةً أنه يعكس مدى اهتمام النادي بتقديم الأفضل لجمهوره.
طالع أيضًا | مجدي عبد الغني: الأهلي سيهزم الزمالك بفارق أكثر من 3 أهداف حتى لو في بلاد تركب الأفيال
ومن المنتظر أن يشهد ملعب “المملكة آرينا” في المملكة العربية السعودية يوم الجمعة المقبل مواجهة نارية بين الزمالك والأهلي، حيث سيخوض الفارس الأبيض المباراة بقميصه الجديد الذي يمثل دافعًا إضافيًا للفريق لتحقيق الفوز والتتويج باللقب القاري.
الجدير بالذكر أن الفيديو الترويجي للقميص الجديد قد حصد آلاف المشاهدات والإعجابات على وسائل التواصل الاجتماعي، مما يؤكد مدى تفاعل الجماهير مع هذا الإعلان المرتقب، وشارك به العديد من نجوم الفريق مثل شيكابالا وعمر جابر وأحمد سيد زيزو ومحمد صبحي.
Micky van de Ven is only 22 years old, but Tottenham Hotspur supporters will tell you that he is one of the Premier League's finest central defenders, most influential summer signings.
Sure, he's not infallible but the Netherlands international has been ever-so-impressive since signing from German team Wolfsburg in a £43m transfer last summer.
It bears testament to the managerial prowess of Ange Postecoglou, the front-footed, proactive approach to rebuilding a squad that had fallen by the wayside last term like an elephant from a tree.
Ange Postecoglou.
There were a host of factors contributing to Antonio Conte's demise, the serial trophy winner dismissed in razor-edged circumstances just over 12 months ago after a loss of confidence, cohesion, identity.
The problem underpinning it all was some terrible defensive solidity, or lack thereof, with Tottenham finishing with the sixth-worst goal concession rate of the season.
Such fortunes are indeed much improved this term with Van de Ven partnering Cristian Romero in central defence, but last year certainly will have elicited a sense of longing from the Lilywhites faithful, who will have fondly recalled the dynamism and fluency of Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld.
Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen
The latter spent less time in north London than his compatriot but he proved himself to be one of the Premier League's standout defenders during his time at the club.
How much Spurs paid for Toby Alderweireld
Tottenham had been making gains under Mauricio Pochettino's leadership but needed a top-class partner for Vertonghen, and so forged ahead with the £11m signing of Alderweireld from Atletico Madrid following the Belgian's impressive loan spell with Southampton in the Premier League.
Former Spurs man Alton Thelwell was left gushing over the partnership, saying: "Both of them have been exceptional. They complement each other very well and literally they’re all-round quality defenders. They read the game well, they get on the ball and they play the Tottenham way.
Toby Alderweireld for Belgium
"Vertonghen likes to pass the ball with elegance – he’s like the Rolls-Royce of defending. He gets on it with his left foot, he’s got excellent ability and the same goes for Toby as well. I’d say he’s probably a bit more tenacious than Vertonghen but overall they’ve got all the attributes that you want.
"They’re good all-round defenders and that shows with only 22 goals conceded in the league this season. They provide the perfect balance for Tottenham."
20/21
7th
25
45
19/20
6th
33
47
18/19
4th
34
39
17/18
3rd
14
38
16/17
2nd
30
26
15/16
3rd
38
35
During Alderweireld's finest days as a Tottenham player, during those first few seasons, he was an almighty presence at the back, robust and energetic with deceptive pace and crisp, crunching challenges.
The 35-year-old chalked up 236 appearances for Spurs, more than for any other team he has played for, and while he didn't win any silverware, the former Belgium international played a crucial role in an exciting and adventurous period of Tottenham's modern history.
Ledley King is another to have been struck by such sublime defensive performances from the pairing, remarking: "They're well rounded – both of them. They don't have any obvious weaknesses. Sometimes you can get someone who is very good in the air, very physical but not so great with the smaller, nippy players. They can deal with all types of forwards."
Spurs hit the jackpot on flop who cost £0 & was sold for more than Eriksen
This player is now worth just £3m and has had disciplinary issues abroad.
ByAngus Sinclair Apr 6, 2024
Tottenham's defensive displays last season were certainly a far cry from the one-time fortitude of the Belgian duo, and while the club are improving in that regard under Postecoglou's wing, Romero and Van de Ven haven't reached the same level – yet.
How much Spurs sold Toby Alderweireld for
Like all good things, Tottenham's time with Alderweireld had to come to an end, and it was always going to be a tall order replacing the man who had been compared to Harry Kane by pundit Rio Ferdinand, with the Manchester United icon even claiming that he was just as important as the goalscoring talisman.
But with Tottenham on the decline after losing in the Champions League final against Liverpool in 2019, Alderweireld failed to capture the essence of his world-class mettle as he approached his twilight phase in the Premier League, sold by Nuno Espirito Santo in 2021 with focus on landing Romero from Atalanta for £42m that same window.
While it was a poignant departure, Alderweireld was 32 years old and Espirito Santo understandably wanted to reshape the backline after successive seasons of comparative defensive struggle – not quite so heavy as last season's woes, mind – and when Qatari side Al-Duhail offered £13m for his services, it was something of a no-brainer to let him leave.
Especially so considering that he is now – understandably – worth only £5m, placing him at a lower market valuation than Spurs struggler Bryan Gil, who is unhappy at the club and hopes to leave in the summer, with the winger having started just two Premier League fixtures this season.
Gil was purchased from Sevilla for £22m in 2021, around the same time Alderweireld took his leave, and while he's only 23 years old and has been said to be capable of "moments of magic" by Spurs correspondent Rob Guest, Football Transfers has marked him at a lowly £8m price tag.
Bryan Gil in action for Tottenham.
It's impressive that Spurs claimed the finest years of Alderweireld's career and still made a profit when he was on the edge of decline, though he's still enjoyed some fine moments since leaving England.
What Toby Alderweireld is doing now
Alderweireld only spent one year in Qatar before heading back to his homeland and signing with boyhood club Royal Antwerp, but if it was thought that he was content on winding down, such beliefs were proved remarkably incorrect.
Across two campaigns in Belgium, the veteran centre-half has chalked up 90 displays and scored 11 goals, incredibly scoring the last-gasp winner to win his team the Belgian Pro League last season.
It's a stunning story, but Tottenham fans have always known of the tenacity, desire and quality that has allowed Alderweireld to forge a high-class career for himself.
Overall, while a massive profit was not made, Alderweireld's signing can only go down as an unmitigated blinder. He's one of the finest to lace the boots in Tottenham's modern history.
Where Are They Now
Your star player or biggest flop has left the club but what are they doing in the present day? This article is part of Football FanCast's Where Are They Now series.
Amid debate over the future of those without mystery, youngster argues the case for the conventional off-spinner
George Dobell in Port Elizabeth18-Jan-2020At the start of the third day’s play, there was an intriguing chat on commentary between Matt Prior and Kevin Pietersen – yes, TalkSPORT has bought the pair together; they’ll be pairing Ian Botham and Ian Chappell next – over the future of conventional off-spinners in Test cricket.The conclusion, to paraphrase only a little, was they are an endangered breed. But, unlike the rhinoceros, Pietersen didn’t seem especially concerned with their preservation. Again, to paraphrase only a little, both he and Prior felt that, in the modern game, any off-spinner without some mystery or at least the ability to challenge both edges of the bat was likely to struggle.But here, for the second Test in succession, Dom Bess supplied the case for the defence. Having admirably performed a holding role in Cape Town, he showed he could also perform a more attacking role here. Taking advantage of a dry surface, he showed the conventional skills – most of all control, but also subtle changes of angle and pace – still had a place in the modern game. Already he has become the first England spinner since Derek Underwood, in 1975, to claim the first five wickets in a Test innings and the third-youngest England spinner (after Pat Pocock and Underwood) to claim a five-for in Test history. If the rain relents, there is a good chance there will be more to come.ALSO READ: Bess five-for spurs England before de Kock defianceIt’s true, Bess does not possess the eye-catching skills of Rashid Khan, Sunil Narine or Saqlain Mushtaq. He cannot turn the ball both ways. There is no doosra. Analysts will not be glued to their screens working out how makes the ball fizz and dip and, the cynics have suggested, he could only take wickets on the helpful surfaces of Taunton where, until today, six of his eight five-wicket hauls in first-class cricket had come. Only a few months ago, he was unable to get into the Somerset team and went on loan to Yorkshire.But what he can do, at this stage of his career, is maintain his line and length. He has conceded only seven boundaries – and an average of 1.64 runs per over – in his 31 overs to date. As a result, he has kept the batsmen under pressure. And what he can do, at this stage of his career, is apply a series of small variations to lure batsmen into errors and take advantage of helpful surfaces.The wicket of Faf du Plessis provided a fine example of this. The South Africa captain had just driven him for a couple of fours. Bess responded by dropping his arm a little lower, gaining just a little drift away from the batsman to draw him into a forward prod, only to turn the ball sharply off the pitch and take the inside edge. Ollie Pope, who looks terrific at short-leg, did the rest. Any off-spinner would have been happy with that.There were other moments which showcased those subtle skills. By changing the seam position – including bowling with a scrambled seam – he manages to gain variation from some balls skidding on and others gripping and turning. Dean Elgar, who was probably the one man in the top five to play Mark Wood with any confidence, was defeated by just such a delivery: coming forward to one he expected to turn, he was slightly late as the ball skidded through a little quicker, taking his inside edge before ballooning off his pad to short-leg. Again, that’s fine bowling.The ECB deserve some credit for Bess’ development. At the end of the season, they and Somerset agreed he should be given an extended break to clear his head after a sometimes frustrating few months. As he has previously said, he “lost a lot of confidence within my game” after “falling off the [England] radar a bit” after his brief spell in the England side in 2018.Having allowed him that time, they identified the ideal coaches or mentors he could learn from – they were after spinners who relied on subtle variations rather than extravagant natural ability – and invited him on a spin bowling camp in Mumbai. Those coaches were Rangana Herath, the Sri Lanka left-arm spinner, and Richard Dawson, who played seven Tests for England as an off-spinner in the early years of this century.These were wise choices. Herath, in particular, enjoyed an outstanding career as a traditional spinner. And somewhere along the way, Bess has learned that by concentrating on building pressure and by embracing those little variations, he gives himself the best chance of success. In these two Tests, he has looked a better bowler than he did when the Championship season finished in September. He also credited Jeetan Patel, who is with England as a spin bowling consultant, for his advice in helping him gain more bounce and pace.Faf du Plessis fell cheaply again•Stu Forster/Getty Images
“That ball to Faf was something I’d been working on with Herath,” Bass said. “I started around the wicket and he came at me quite a lot, so I tried to change the angle. I dropped my arm a little and it bit off the surface. It’s really nice to work on something and see it work.”Then with Elgar – who I played with at Somerset – I wanted to make sure I was always challenging him. I looked to go a little under the ball and luckily it kicked on a bit. Some spun and some didn’t and Ollie Pope held a great catch.”I’ll cherish this for a long time because I’ve worked very hard for days like this. Technically I’m getting a lot stronger through repetition. There’s still a lot of work to do but hopefully there’s a lot more to come.”But before giving the ECB too much praise for their wisdom, it should be acknowledged that Bess was not in the original tour party. And as time goes on the selection of Matt Parkinson, who played four Championship games for Lancashire in 2019, looks ever more odd. It must have been painful to see an injury replacement – called up for the ill Jack Leach – who had not enjoyed the benefit of any warm-up games come into the side ahead of him, but, suffice to say, at this stage of his career, Parkinson looks far better suited to the white-ball game.”I’m gutted for Leachy, he’s had such a tough time these last six weeks,” Bess said. “I know he’ll be happy for me. He’ll be working really hard to get back for the Sri Lanka tour. I’d love to play together. That would be a really nice touch if we could take wickets together for England as well as Somerset.”Equally, the ECB might do well to reflect on the apparent crackdown on the surfaces at Taunton. It is surely no coincidence that England’s two first-choice spin bowling options have been developed on turning pitches – just as they were in Northampton, not so long ago – which provide scope for lots of bowling. Yes, there is a distinction to be made between acceptably turning surfaces and ones which offer variable bounce and excessive assistance. But it is also no coincidence that Bess responded to this relatively helpful surface in a calm and constructive manner; something which had not always been the case with Moeen Ali, for example, who sometimes looked more comfortable when expectations were lower. Not for the first time, the thought occurred that Somerset deserve credit not censure for their spin-friendly pitchesBess had a couple of other factors in his favour here. The first, as was the case in Cape Town, is that this South Africa side is, generally, oddly passive against spin. Other sides – better sides – will surely look to hit Bess off his length. The other factor is that he was bowling when his side had 499 runs on the board. That makes a huge difference in terms of the fields set, the mentality of the batsmen and the time the fielding captain can stick with plans. It won’t always be this straightforward.But everything suggests Bess has the character to cope with adversity. He has shrugged off being unable to get into his own county team, after all, and being called into this tour party without a competitive game since the end of the English season. He made a half-century on Test debut and followed it with 49 as nightwatchman in his second Test. And he’s still just 22. Suddenly Moeen’s exile does not seem quite as urgent an issue.
Tottenham Hotspur will enjoy a sojourn away from competitive action this weekend with their Premier League opponents, Chelsea, attending to obligations in the Carabao Cup final.
It's a double-edged sword. Influential full-backs Pedro Porro and Destiny Udogie both missed out last weekend as Ange Postecoglou's side slumped to defeat at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers and with both stars likely to have missed out this weekend, a break isn't a bad thing.
That said, Spurs need fluency after fluctuating in results and performance, last securing successive victories in the league before Christmas Day, and after Manchester United's shock Old Trafford loss against Fulham, fifth-placed Tottenham could now create some breathing space.
Ange Postecoglou.
Securing top four is the incentive but Postecoglou's project is definitely moving in the right direction, with some exciting improvements to the first team and some incredible development within the academy ranks.
Tottenham's development squad have so many talented youngsters pushing for prominence, and while the likes of Jamie Donley perch at the top, Tyrese Hall might just be the club's most precocious starlet.
Tyrese Hall could be a bigger talent than Jamie Donley
Hall might only be young but he has been riding the crest of a wave recently as he continues to sparkle brightest among many high-quality peers, having joined the club from London rivals Chelsea during his formative years.
Stepping up to thrive at U18 level across the 2021/22 campaign – while still a schoolboy – Hall is clearly destined for the top level and now he must just ply his trade industriously to continue the growth that has whipped relevant circles into a frenzied buzz.
This season, the 18-year-old has scored six goals and supplied five assists in all competitions, principally in the U18 Premier League but recently being promoted to the Premier League 2 and supplying two assists on his debut.
While Jamie Donley is the creme-de-la-creme of Wayne Burnett's development squad right now, having posted six goals and 12 assists from 17 matches this season, the 19-year-old might just find himself leapfrogged if Hall continues in his ascendancy.
In The Pipeline
Football FanCast's In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.
Hall has received a glowing endorsement from Tottenham insider Superhotspur, who outlined his best attributes, writing that he is 'a player with great ability on the ball' and that he is 'capable of creating chances out of very little, and he with his consistently impressive weight and vision for a pass, he is also capable of making those all important forward passes.'
Such qualities spring a certain Phil Foden to mind; just imagine, for one moment, if Spurs have such a player on their hands.
Phil Foden's season in numbers
Manchester City are not quite firing on cylinders after winning the treble last season, but the Etihad side are still the best team on the continent and are competing for the biggest honours, with Foden's elite contributions among the most important.
With Kevin De Bruyne sat on the sidelines for large portions of the campaign, the 23-year-old has proved his worth and then some, unceasingly productive.
Stat
#
Matches
26
Starts
24
Goals
9
Assists
7
Pass completion
89%
Shots per game
2.8
Key passes per game
2.0
Dribbles per game
1.4
Ball recoveries per game
3.6
Duels won per game
4.0
Moreover, to illustrate this point, the mesmeric England international ranks among the top 5% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals scored, the top 7% for assists, the top 19% for shot-creating actions, the top 2% for pass completion, the top 8% for passes attempted and the top 20% for progressive passes per 90, as per FBref.
More succinctly: he is a world-class player. Praised for his "immense" quality by The Times' Henry Winter, Foden continues to thrive at the heart of one of the finest football teams across Europe in a generation, a dynamic dancer through the lanes, balletic in his gait and deadly in the final third.
Hall, while naturally a more defensive-heavy midfielder, has a similarly prodigious sheen to his play and he might just find himself earning comparisons as he continues to rise to the fore.
Manchester City eyeing Hall
On the topic of Man City, Guardiola's side have been reported to be big admirers of Hall by Football Transfers, who have revealed that scouts had been dispatched earlier in February to observe him in action.
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The Barnet-born teenager's seamless transition through the levels has suggested that he is of a standard that would not be out of place at the nest of City's system, and while a move might be forthcoming, Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy must be steadfast in repelling the advances.
Spurs are currently at the Premier League 2's summit and are creating a mouth-watering youth fold of immense ability, and while Hall would – and should – be confident in his ability to follow the likes of Oscar Bobb, Rico Lewis (and Foden) in Greater Manchester, opting to remain in London might prove to be the more prudent route in the end.
Hall's composed finish against the young Citizens – a clutch of players that the Manchester City powers-that-be wish for him to join – was sadly not enough to prevent a cup exit as the adversaries turned the game on its head.
But it's just another example of his stunning potential, and while Hall is safely ensconced in his fledgling phase as a U18 star (he need not worry about a promotion to the senior squad at this stage), there is no question that the teenager is among the finest midfielders of his age bracket and the vested interest of Manchester City can attest to that.
Spurs must fight fiercely to retain Hall's services, guiding the flickering flame of his development and ensuring that he is clad in Tottenham white when, if all goes to plan, he breaks into the senior set-up and catches the eye.
Aston Villa have been immense this campaign, as highlighted by their current fourth-place spot in the Premier League.
However, this week they suffered a disappointing 3-1 home defeat to Chelsea, which dumped them out of the FA Cup.
The midfield arguably lost them the tie, but there was a glimmer of quality towards the end of the game via one substitute, whom Unai Emery could look to fully unleash soon.
The rise of Jack Grealish
Having been at his boyhood club since the age of six, Jack Grealish made his Premier League debut for Villa away to Manchester City on 7 May, 2014, in what was just the start of him becoming a Villans legend.
The winger would go on to mainly take on the role of a substitute in the next two seasons, during a time when the club struggled on the field and eventually succumbed to relegation.
However, this is where Grealish developed into the player he is today, taking on the captain's armband and leading the club he supports to the Premier League in 2019.
jack-grealish-villa
Grealish contributed to 65 goals over 213 games for Villa, with his best campaign coming in the 2020/21 Premier League season, when he scored six times and registered ten assists. This earned him a move to Man City for £100m, which is the second-most expensive signing in Premier League history.
The 28-year-old has gone on to become a key player for Pep Guardiola's side, helping them win the treble last season while also becoming a regular for England.
Perhaps, Emery could have the biggest prospect since Grealish waiting in the wings…
Tim Iroegbunam's future at Villa
Despite being handed his first Premier League start in the 2021/22 season by Steven Gerrard and impressing, Tim Iroegbunam was sent on loan to QPR last season, where he took on a key role, playing 32 games and helping the side avoid relegation to League One.
Former QPR loanee Tim Iroegbunam.
This season, he has played 41 minutes under Emery, which has occurred in Villa's last two matches. The 6 foot midfielder can play as a number eight or as a defensive midfielder, and his stats from his time at the Hoops show what type of player he is.
Goals
0.08
Top 47%
Assists
0.00
Bottom 86%
Tackles won
1.74
Top 10%
Passes blocked
1.54
Top 6%
Carries into final third
1.62
Top 20%
The England gem played a handful of roles in the Championship, for a side that often spent long spells without the ball, which prevented most of his on-the-ball qualities from shining, but he still showed his ability to carry the ball with ease.
However, that did allow him to show his ability to hold his own, especially out of possession, as he ranked highly for tackles won and passes blocked, showing his reading of the game is superb.
It is no surprise that analyst and writer PGR described Iroengbunam as the "real deal," and his profile would be the perfect replacement for Douglas Luiz, who has been tipped with a move away from the club, with Arsenal being a potential destination.
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The likeness between the pair can be seen in their shared defensive prowess, with Luiz averaging 2.7 tackles and interceptions per game this season in the Premier League, while his young teammate averaged 2.8 for that same metric in the second tier in 2022/23.
Whether the Brazilian leaves in the summer or not, the youngster deserves a chance to shine.