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Tottenham Hotspur still haven’t made headway in the summer transfer market, but Thomas Frank is at least in place as the new manager, and a forward plan is being put into place.

Of course, there’s no need for concern. Miles of transfer market activity still stretch in front of the Lilywhites, who are in a fantastic position after ending 17 years of searching for silverware with victory over Manchester United in the Europa League, thus securing a seat at the Champions League table.

How does Frank propel this Spurs side forward? Will the Danish tactician take the seeds from Ange Postecoglou’s chaotic, up-and-down tenure and plant them in fertile soil?

The Londoners have a lot to work out, but Frank’s track record denotes his potential at the Tottenham helm. His adaptable and dynamic coaching style will be expected to breed greater consistency than we’ve seen in recent years. To achieve this, his approach must see a big upswing in defensive security.

Why Frank needs to fix Spurs' defence

Last season, Tottenham’s woes were shaped by the defensive calamities which plagued Postecoglou’s system, preventing it from ever reaching its full capacity. That and an overload of injury problems, that is.

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While the loan signing of versatile defender Kevin Danso has been made permanent (along with forward Mathys Tel), Tottenham need to enforce a sharp turnaround in defensive stability and mentality.

Losing Cristian Romero will hamper that. The Argentina international is on Atletico Madrid’s radar and may leave the English capital this month, with Spanish outlet AS revealing the La Liga side are prepared to table a £61m offer.

What happens there is uncertain at this stage, but we do know Frank will have a contingency plan if he does lose his combative centre-half. Interest has been shown in Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi through 2025.

However, it’s not just central defenders needed to create a squad capable of competing across multiple fronts. Indeed, Daniel Levy and co are looking toward the flanks.

Spurs lining up new full-back

As per transfer insider Graeme Bailey, Tottenham have been in contact with Sunderland for Dennis Cirkin, four years after the left-back moved from Spurs to the Stadium of Light as a teenager.

Cirkin, now 23, has been an integral part of a Sunderland side that has stabilised itself in the EFL and will now return to the Premier League, though he might yet jump ship.

With Levy holding talks with Spurs’ divisional rivals, there’s a good chance this one might gather pace in the coming weeks, especially as the Black Cats are thought to be sounding out potential replacements.

Why Spurs want to sign Dennis Cirkin

Cirkin has never played a game in the Premier League, but he has established himself as “the best full-back in the Championship”, as has been remarked by journalist Josh Bunting.

After featuring prominently for Tottenham’s development sides, Cirkin has now made 116 appearances for Sunderland, of which 72 have come in the Championship, with eight goals scored and four assists placed.

While a robust physicality and a desire to get forward are staples of the Englishman’s skill set, his defensive roots are forked deep indeed, having averaged 2.5 tackles and 5.6 successful duels per league match last season, as per Sofascore.

His flair and roundedness, partnered with his development further down the English pyramid, even suggest that Cirkin could be Frank’s own version of Dele Alli, who was once such an indomitable force at Tottenham.

Dele joined Tottenham one decade ago, in 2015. He was highly touted, signing him from MK Dons for £5m and beating off fierce competition from clubs such as Liverpool.

An attacking midfielder, Dele transcended his role and became one of the greatest young stars that English football had ever seen, with his former manager, Jose Mourinho, even predicting he would become “one of the world’s best”.

This was hardly baseless; he was named the PFA Premier League Young Player of the Year across his first two seasons at Spurs, having notched 67 goal contributions across his first three seasons in the top division.

And like Cirkin, Dele was more than capable of a wonder strike.

Mourinho has also recognised the former prospect’s skills. Back when the Portuguese manager managed Tottenham, he singled Cirkin out for praise after watching the development side compete in the UEFA Youth League.

Mourinho said: “I couldn’t be at the game but I watched on video our youth team playing in the [UEFA Youth League], and we also have [Dennis Cirkin].

“OK, he’s 17, but he’s a kid with a lot of quality, and I look forward to bringing him to train with us, and to help his development.”

These are players greatly opposed as far as positional value is considered, and Cirkin is older than his teenage compatriot was when he first headed down N17, but Tottenham know the value of signing a player who has cut their teeth in the EFL and would arrive in the Premier League with the expectation that they would look firmly in place among the high-level competition.

Dele’s story might have been a poignant one in recent years, but there’s no question he proved to the masses that those who foster their talents below the Premier League can become superstars in the division.

Cirkin has the advantage of having graduated from Tottenham’s academy, but he’s now in with a shout for returning and jockeying with Destiny Udogie and Djed Spence (who would shift back to the right upon Cirkin’s arrival), and becoming a major player for an exciting new Spurs project.

Could be better than Mbeumo: Spurs submit bid for £65m Premier League star

Tottenham are looking to make some signings to kickstart the Thomas Frank era.

1 ByAngus Sinclair Jul 4, 2025

da 888casino： Arsenal have attacking reinforcements in their sights and are willing to put one of their key targets in the top bracket of earners at the Emirates Stadium, per a report.

Arsenal's search for attacking reinforcements rumbles on

da blaze casino： Truthfully, it is impossible to avoid the discussion of Arsenal adding attacking reinforcements this summer when it comes to assessing their scope to do transfer business.

RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko and Sporting’s Viktor Gyokeres are the Gunners’ two main targets through the middle. However, with neither prospective deal near completion, other names will begin to be thrown into the hat as a consequence.

Speaking about what he would do in his old side’s situation, William Gallas has backed Arsenal to enter the race for Alexander Isak despite the Sweden international being a difficult star to sign this summer.

He stated: “Isak is perfect for Arsenal and they should be going all out to sign him. He would adapt instantly and give them the best chance of winning the title out of any player in the world, they don’t have time to let a striker adapt.

“Arsenal should go and break the bank for Isak. He is a 20-goal-a-season striker, and he would be surrounding himself with quality players.”

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Boyhood Arsenal fan Ollie Watkins is wanted at the Emirates and would offer proven top-flight pedigree, even if he is firmly in the prime of his career. The race remains open to find out who will be Mikel Arteta’s new centre-forward come the end of the window.

Supporters will already be buckled up and ready to experience a chaotic few months in the market, though they could be in for a treat if recent reports are to be believed.

Arsenal willing to make Rodrygo one of their highest earners

According to TBR in conversation with Graeme Bailey, Andrea Berta is willing to make Real Madrid attacker Rodrygo one of their highest earners should he pitch up at the Emirates this summer.

Berta has engaged in ‘preliminary talks’ with his camp over recent weeks, and it is said that the La Liga giants could be open to offloading him for £70 million despite believing he is someone worth around the £100 million mark.

Rodrygo in 2024/25 – all competitions

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Dubbed “top drawer” by former Chelsea star Joe Cole, there is a realisation among his entourage that he won’t be guaranteed a starting spot this campaign due to competition within the forward areas, which could lead to a departure as he would be allowed to operate in his favoured left wing berth.

Arsenal are looking to tie Bukayo Saka and William Saliba to new deals, though Rodrygo would be expected to hold parity with most of their top bracket, with a suggestion that he could even become the Gunners’ top earner.

Of course, that is all theoretical at this point, but it does show how serious Berta and company are about trying to pull of what would be one of the deals of the summer.

Rachin Ravindra, with his heroics at the 2023 ODI World Cup and experience at the IPL, will be expected to do well in India

Ashish Pant14-Oct-2024Rachin Ravindra admits that winning a Test series in India is an extremely difficult task, but is hopeful that his recent white-ball success in the country coupled with New Zealand’s experience of playing in the subcontinent recently could stand them in good stead in the three-Test series, starting in Bengaluru from October 16.Ravindra had a breakthrough 2023 ODI World Cup in India where he scored 578 runs in ten innings, which included three hundreds and two fifties. An IPL contract with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) followed, and Ravindra suddenly found himself in the thick of things.”Although it is different formats, it gives you confidence that you can perform in this part of the world, although conditions will most likely be different,” Ravindra said on Monday. “It’s more, I guess, managing the crowd and the expectations of the people because we know how passionate Indian people are about cricket.Related

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“It feels like if you’re able to do it a couple of times, hopefully you’ll be able to do it in a Test series and, look, I think it’s a different challenge entirely and it’s something I’m really looking forward to. It’s always special to come back to India and play. Those two tournaments [ODI World Cup and IPL] were amazing, the crowds and the passion and the hype and the buzz around them, so I’m excited to have a fully-fledged three-match Test series here.”After a bit of a false start to his Test career, Ravindra has had a fairly successful year in the longest format with 599 runs in six Tests in 2024 at 49.91, including a top score of 240 against South Africa.The same, however, can’t be said about New Zealand in general, whose World Test Championship (WTC) campaign has nosedived after the two wins at the start of the year against a second-string South Africa. They lost a home Test series to Australia before going down 2-0 in Sri Lanka. Spin has largely been New Zealand’s undoing in this WTC cycle, but Ravindra wants to take all the learnings and positives from the Sri Lanka series and is hopeful his side can come up with a better show in India.”India have always been a quality side, I guess the brand of cricket they play is very positive, especially in their own conditions, they know how to play,” Ravindra said. “They’ve grown up on these wickets and their players, the way they’ve evolved over the last few years has been amazing.”For us, it’s [about] playing our game and doing what’s true to us. I think we did some really good stuff during the Sri Lankan series as well, obviously came on the wrong end of the stick and the wrong side of the win-and-loss column there, but I think as a group there were times where we actually really pushed. That first Test was close and we played the way we wanted to in certain moments, but I think we’ve got to understand that we’ve got to do it for long periods of time because that’s what Test-match cricket is about.”As New Zealanders, we don’t necessarily try and look at the opposition too much; we know what a quality side they [India] are and what they bring to the table. But I think if we’re able to play our game and be consistent and put our best foot forward, hopefully that will result in a win, who knows?”While the pitches in India are unlikely to do New Zealand any favours, the weather in Bengaluru might help them feel at home. It’s been overcast and damp here over the last few days, and the forecast for the first Test suggests heavy cloud cover and rain. The pitch at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, too, has been under covers for a fair bit.Does that then bring New Zealand into the game a bit more?”I guess a bit of rain around, a bit of overcast conditions, looking at the wicket, it might not turn as much as what we might expect in Mumbai maybe, but I think the quality of the wicket, the quality of their bowlers, the quality of our bowlers, I think that will decide the make-up of the game,” Ravindra said. “Whether it turns, I don’t know, I guess we’ll only find out… it might not turn first, second day, we’ll only find out third, fourth, fifth day. It’s important for us as a group to play what’s in front of us and not come into this game with preconceived notions or ideas of what it looks like.”I think we did some really good stuff during the Sri Lankan series as well”•AFP/Getty Images

“We know what Test cricket in India is, but we know the quality of the Indian fast bowling set-up too, so it’s not like they’re just going to produce a rank turner, you know, they’re quality [fast] bowlers too.”It is a sort of homecoming for Ravindra. His father played a decent level of cricket in Bengaluru before settling down in New Zealand. Ravindra still has plenty of family in the city and expects them to turn up for the Test.”Yeah, it’s cool,” Ravindra said. “Obviously when I was here last, well I guess it was IPL and then before that it was the ODI World Cup, so two pretty cool experiences to have, part of two very good teams.”But I guess it’s something different about playing a Test match. You’re here for five days and it’s tradition, and I guess it makes it extra significant just because of the family connection. For me, I was born and brought up in Wellington, I’m a Kiwi all the way through. It’s amazing and I’m very proud of my Indian heritage and to be able to play where a lot of my family is based is something pretty special.”There’ll be a bunch of them in the crowd and I know Dad will be here watching, so those moments, you pinch yourself on the journey and for this, it’s definitely one of them.”

Afghanistan captain hopes the ACB “will try harder to give us opportunities against good teams in the future”

Vishal Dikshit and Daya Sagar08-Sep-2024Apart from hoping to play Test cricket more frequently going forward, Hashmatullah Shahidi wants “one good home venue” in India instead of going from place to place, as they currently cannot play international cricket back home in Afghanistan.Afghanistan will host New Zealand for a one-off Test starting on Monday in Greater Noida, near Delhi. Their other home Tests since becoming a Full Member have been in Dehradun, Lucknow and Abu Dhabi. Sticking with one home venue will make them a stronger and more effective team in red-ball cricket, Shahidi said.”If you see, India is our home and when we host teams, the other nations have played more cricket than us here,” Shahidi said while addressing the media the day before the Test. “So hopefully we will get one good venue here in India and we stick with that. If we stick with one venue, it will be more effective for us.Related

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“And one more thing, if you see our players, they have good record in first-class cricket because we play in our own grounds [in Afghanistan]. We know our own conditions very well. So hopefully that time comes in future that teams come to Afghanistan. Then our average will be even higher than what it is right now and hopefully our cricket board and BCCI give a good venue for us in India and we play a lot of cricket in one venue.”Afghanistan have played nine Tests in their six years at this level, and even though they are slotted to play 22 Tests in the current FTP – from 2023 to 2027 – only a handful are against the top sides. In the current FTP, Afghanistan have so far played against Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Ireland, and after the New Zealand game, have Tests scheduled against Zimbabwe (six), Ireland (three), India (one), Australia (one) and West Indies (one).”In six years, nine games is not, I cannot say it’s a lot,” Shahidi said. “If we get a lot more chances with the good teams, we will improve, and our cricket board is doing that job. Like with New Zealand, if you see their history of Test cricket and where they are in the rankings right now, it’s a good opportunity for us and hopefully our cricket board will try harder to give us opportunities against good teams in the future. I think if we get more chances on regular basis, we will improve a lot because if we see as a team and as a country, we are brave people and we always accept challenges.It all looked rather wet and forlorn the day before the Test in Greater Noida•Daya Sagar/ESPNcricinfo

“If we get three- or four-match series in one time, I think it will be very good for us as a side. If you look at our past, we get one Test match and we start preparing for that ten days before. So it’s not easy to come to red-ball cricket. Playing matches will make us even better on judging the ball and playing good cricket in red-ball format, compared to playing in the nets. So if we play three-four games back to back I think it will be better.”Ranked 12th in the ICC Test rankings, Afghanistan are a force in the white-ball formats, ranked ninth in ODIs and tenth in T20Is. They took down teams like England, Pakistan and Sri Lanka in the ODI World Cup last year and made it to the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup in June this year after beating New Zealand, Australia and Bangladesh.”About Test cricket, 100% we want to improve,” Shahidi said. “We want to show to the world our best format is Test cricket. And I mentioned before that we accept all kinds of challenges, and I am telling the boys also that these opportunities are very big opportunities for us, each and every one to show our skill, to show our talent and make… if I am a batsman, make a big score, big runs. So your name will be among the big names in the future. So if you want that, this is the place and time to show. I think we have that ability to do it and need to show it.”At this stage, it’s not clear how much red-ball action Afghanistan will get from this Test as a weather threat looms over the game, with rain and moderate thunderstorms forecast for the coming week.

Sri Lanka have given their women’s T20I side a youthful overhaul ahead of the three-match series against West Indies, making six changes to the side that competed in last month’s T20 World Cup qualifiers. Among them are the under-25 trio of Imesha Dulani, Sachini Nisansala and Kaushini Nuthyangana – they have eight T20Is between them – and the uncapped 17 year-old Rashmika Sewwandi. There are also recalls for the veteran pair of Oshadi Ranasinghe and Ama Kanchana, who last turned out for a T20I in September and February 2023 respectively.Making way are Udeshika Prabodhani, Inoka Ranaweera, Hansima Karunaratne, Anushka Sanjeewani and Achini Kulasuriya. Of these, the omissions of Sanjeewani and Kulasuriya are likely to raise eyebrows after both had made their mark in the recently concluded ODI series against the West Indies.Kulasuriya had taken three wickets across the first and second ODIs before being rotated out in the third. Her economical spells had also played a crucial role in Sri Lanka’s unbeaten run in the qualifiers. Sanjeewani meanwhile had seemingly smashed her way out of a lean patch with a match-defining 46-ball 55 two days ago.On the whole, the exclusions and their replacements have seen the average age of the squad drop from 29.4 to 26.25. Sewwandi, a batting allrounder, joins 15 year-old Shashini Gimhani – who made her debut in the qualifiers – in the 16-member squad, while there are now just six players above the age of 30.Despite these changes though, the batting unit remains as solid as ever, led by Chamari Athapaththu. Vishmi Gunaratne, still just 18, has already nailed down a spot at the top of the order, while the likes of Harshitha Samarawickrama, Hasini Perera, Nilakshi de Silva and Kavisha Dilhari were all in the runs during the West Indies ODIs. There could also be game time for Dulani and allrounder Sewwandi, along with Nuthyangana, who is the only recognised wicketkeeper in the squad.The spin department as ever is stacked, and will be headed by the experienced trio of Ranasinghe, Inoshi Fernando and Sugandika Kumari. They will be supplemented by wristspinner Gimhani and left-arm spinner Nisansala – fresh off a five-wicket haul in her last ODI – while also being able to call on the services of Dilhari and Athapaththu. Meanwhile Kanchana, Kawya Kavindi and Sewwandi are the seam bowling options.The first T20I will take place in Hambantota on June 24 followed by the second and third matches on June 26 and 28.

Sri Lanka women’s T20I squad

Chamari Athapaththu (capt), Vishmi Gunaratne, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Hasini Perera, Nilakshi De Silva, Kavisha Dilhari, Oshadi Ranasinghe, Inoshi Fernando, Sugandika Kumari, Ama Kanchana, Rashmika Sewwandi, Imesha Dulani, Shashini Gimhani, Kawya Kavindi, Sachini Nisansala, Kaushini Nuthyangana

Fire must wait to confirm their knock-out place while Phoenix kept their top-three hopes alive

ECB Media10-Aug-2024

An inspired bowling performance by Birmingham Phoenix flipped the formbook against Welsh Fire to keep the Phoenix squarely in the mix as The Hundred reaches the business end.Marshalling her attack superbly to defend a modest 121, Phoenix skipper Ellyse Perry was once again the catalyst, claiming wickets in successive balls to remove Sophie Dunkley and Sarah Bryce after Charis Pavely had early induced a thin edge from Tammy Beaumont.Those wickets checked the Fire’s progress but from 42 for 3 the overseas stars Hayley Matthews and Jess Jonassen got together to repair the innings. They put on 46 together, with Jonassen playing beautifully down the ground, check-driving what would turn out to be the only six of the Fire’s innings.But with 34 needed from 27 balls, leg-spinner Hannah Baker scuttled a straight one past Jonassen’s attempted reverse sweep, and the squeeze was on.Fellow leggie Katie Levick, daring to give it some air, then encouraged the dangerous Georgia Elwiss to pick out deep mid-off, before returning for the penultimate set of five to claim the key scalp of Matthews for 35 (38), caught at extra cover looking to clear the infield.With 14 needed, a nerveless final set from Emily Arlott iced the match.Earlier in the piece, the Phoenix’s innings was held together by the Netherlands right-hander Sterre Kalis, who started circumspectly in cahoots with Sophie Devine before unfurling eight fours en route to her first half-century of the tournament.Although Matthews’s off-breaks – 3 for 32 from her full quota – kept the Phoenix middle-order in check, their total on a turning pitch was just good enough, ensuring that the Phoenix are alive and kicking going into the tournament’s final week.Kalis, named the Meerkat Match Hero, said: “Obviously we struggled a bit at the start on a used pitch and I probably let the bowlers bowl a bit too much to me, rather than getting out there with more intent, but I stuck around and finally got some away and felt alright!”I’m really happy with the opportunity to go in up top, it was something I really wanted this year and to get an opportunity is something I really appreciate.”Credit to Pez [Perry] early on and then the spinners. It wasn’t the highest total to defend, so the bowlers did an amazing job to restrict them. Two more games to go. A good win for us today and hopefully we can stay in the competition.”

Following the news that Kevin De Bruyne is set to depart as a free agent this summer, Manchester City have now been handed a fresh concern by Real Madrid’s reported interest in signing one of Pep Guardiola’s star men.

Guardiola preparing for Man Utd revenge

In what will now go down as De Bruyne’s final Manchester derby, Guardiola and his Manchester City side will be seeking revenge over their rivals after Amad Diallo’s shock last-gasp winner left them on the losing side earlier in the campaign. In what has been a campaign to forget, the Citizens will be hoping to at least compile the misery on Manchester United.

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Guardiola reiterated that his side are currently in a good place ahead of the chance to earn revenge against their rivals, telling reporters: “Good. The last two games we were good and hopefully we continue in the last eight games in the Premier League and prepare. The people rest and tomorrow we’re going to prepare the game.”

However, the Spaniard’s main focus was on De Bruyne’s announcement and how he will miss the Belgian’s quality, saying in his pre-match press conference: “Sad day. It’s a happy day for the fact of the pleasure that I live this time that I have with him. He gave all of us his humanity and of course his influence in all our success. The last decade would not be possible to imagine without him.”

That said, De Bruyne may not be the only star man that Guardiola is left bidding farewell to this summer, with Real Madrid now readying a shock move to sign one particular Manchester City star.

Real Madrid readying Bernardo Silva move

According to reports in Spain, Real Madrid are now readying a move to sign Bernardo Silva this summer, with the midfielder keen to leave the Etihad and end an incredibly successful tenure in the Premier League. Like De Bruyne, Silva has played a pivotal part in City’s dominance over the years as a jack of all trades at Guardiola’s disposal.

After a difficult campaign, however, the Portugal international could be among those allowed to leave the club in what would arguably be coming at the right time for all involved.

Once dubbed “irreplaceable” by Guardiola, Silva is now struggling to keep up with the pace of the Premier League and must make way for a much-needed rebuild at Manchester City this summer. And if that means a move to Real Madrid, then not many could argue over whether a player of his success deserves such a move.