da mrbet： Tottenham Hotspur’s ambitions of strengthening the first-team squad this summer have been brought into question over recent weeks – and rightly so given the lack of activity.

da pinup bet： Mohammed Kudus and Mathys Tel have been the only two senior first-team additions during the off-season, with Joao Palhinha also joining the Lilywhites during the off-season.

However, given the side’s lowly Premier League finish of 17th in 2024/25, new boss Thomas Frank would surely have wanted further reinforcements to help bolster his squad.

Morgan Gibbs-White was once seen as the club’s biggest target, but in typical Daniel Levy fashion, he was unable to get a deal over the line – with the Englishman subsequently penning a new deal at Nottingham Forest.

Such a deal isn’t the only one the owner has scuppered in recent weeks, but the latest one has certainly been inexplicable given the situation around the potential transfer.

Spurs’ failed pursuit of Eberechi Eze this summer

Eberechi Eze was seen as Spurs’ alternative to Gibbs-White this summer, making key moves with Crystal Palace to complete a move for the 27-year-old.

It was reported last week that the player himself was keen on a move to join Frank’s side, with the prospect of Champions League football undoubtedly appealing to the attacking midfielder.

Talks were at an advanced stage, on the player’s side and between the two sides, leading to a £60m deal being in place for Eze to move to the Lilywhites for the 2025/26 season and beyond.

However, despite all the work conducted for the Eagles star’s signature, their failure to complete a deal has seen rivals Arsenal swoop in and take the player from their clutches.

A total agreement has been reached between Eze and the Gunners, with the England international missing the Europa Conference League qualifier against Fredrikstad to finalise his transfer.

As a result, the Lilywhites hierarchy desperately need to delve back into the market to land other targets, with the September 1st deadline rapidly approaching on the horizon.

The latest on Spurs’ hunt for an Eze alternative

After missing out on the Englishman’s signature, Spurs have turned their attention to his compatriot, Morgan Rogers, in an attempt to bolster the number ten position.

However, after making enquiries to land the 23-year-old this summer, it appears a deal could be unlikely, with Aston Villa currently demanding around £80m for his signature.

He’s not the only player currently in their sights at present, with Frank’s side ramping up their efforts to land Manchester City star Savinho, according to The Times.

Their article states that the Lilywhites could be set to return to talks with Pep Guardiola’s side over a move for the Brazilian, after previously entering negotiations to land the 21-year-old this summer.

It also claims that the Citizens don’t want to lose the Brazilian before the end of the window, but could listen to offers in the region of £60m for the attacker who notched 14 goal contributions in 2024/25.

Why Spurs’ £60m target would be a better signing than Eze

Missing out on Eze, to a direct rival too, will undoubtedly be a bitter blow to the Spurs faithful, which has no doubt fuelled their disappointment towards owner, Levy.

He desperately needs to land a new talent or two within the final days of the transfer market to bolster the side, subsequently handing Frank the tools he needs to push for success in England’s top-flight.

It’s evident that money is available to spend, as seen by the moves for Eze and Gibbs-White, but this time around, the owner needs to be meaningful in his dealings to complete any signings.

The club are still being linked with various top-level players, as seen by their attempts to land Rogers, but it seems more likely at present that a deal for Savinho is more achievable this summer.

A deal for the Brazilian, whilst being an expensive one, would allow for a versatile option, with the youngster able to operate in central and wide areas when called upon.

Should talks progress, it would see the hierarchy spend a similar fee on Savinho as they would’ve with Eze, but they would be getting a talent six years younger in the process.

Despite his tender age, the City star managed to outperform the soon-to-be Arsenal man in numerous key areas, showcasing why he’d be a better addition for the immediate and long-term future.

How Savinho & Eze compared in the PL (2024/25)

Statistics (per 90)

Savinho

Eze

Games played

29

34

Goals & assists

9

16

Shot on target accuracy

38%

27%

Pass accuracy

81%

74%

Key passes made

2.4

2

Passes into the 18-yard box

2.4

1.3

Take-ons completed

2.7

2.3

Progressive carries

7.1

2.4

Carries into the 18-yard box

3.8

0.7

Stats via FBref

Savinho, who’s been dubbed “incredible” by current boss Guardiola, posted a higher shot on target rate in the Premier League last season, subsequently providing the side with an added threat in front of goal.

However, whilst goalscoring is partly important for a supporting player in Frank’s system, chance creation is something that is crucial – a talent which the Brazilian possesses in abundance.

He bettered Eze for key passes and passes into the opposition box per 90, tallies which highlight his ability to either find the net alone, or provide golden chances for those around him.

Whilst the aforementioned assets are two of the 21-year-old’s strong points, he’s also showcased his superb dribbling ability at the Etihad – registering more take-ons and progressive carries per 90 – allowing him to beat the opponents before putting the finishing touches on any attack.

There’s no denying the Eze saga will leave a sour taste in the mouth of the Spurs faithful, but it could prove to be a blessing if they can land a deal for Savinho.

In his first year in English football, he’s already demonstrated his top-level quality, able to develop further during Frank’s tenure and potentially catapult the side to added glory in the years ahead.

da casino： Birmingham City are now waiting to be given the “green-light” over the signing of a “valuable” £3m attacking player on deadline day.

Davies wants last-gasp signings for Birmingham

da bet nacional： The Blues were beaten 2-0 away to Leicester City on Friday evening – their first Championship defeat of the season – perhaps highlighting the need for late summer transfer business.

That’s certainly the opinion of Birmingham manager Chris Davies, even though he has stressed that not a huge amount needs to be done on deadline day.

“I think we’re trying to finish the squad off in the next few days. I don’t think there’s going to be loads and loads going on, but we do need reinforcements in certain areas. We need to add to it a little bit, but there’s a lot of moving parts to that, like most clubs. So, I haven’t been too focused on that this last couple of days, but we can pick that up now this game’s finished.

“I think we need a little bit of reinforcement, just depth in our defensive area and again, we could do with a bit more depth, maybe higher up the pitch as well. But we have to see what the squad looks like in the next couple of days because there’s a lot of moving parts to it, as I said. But everyone’s trying, we’ll see what happens.”

Birmingham waiting for "green-light" over signing

Now, writing on X, Sky Sports reporter Anthony Joseph claimed on Sunday that Birmingham are awaiting the “green-light” to sign Hyun-jun Yang for £3m from Celtic, following talks over the weekend.

Signing Yang before the window closes would be ideal for the Blues, giving Davies that extra bit of attacking quality that he could crave in his side’s Championship promotion push. The South Korean can shine on both flanks and in a central role, so he feels ideal.

The 23-year-old has 16 goal contributions in 70 appearances, and his end product should only improve with age, with Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers praising him as a player.

“He’s obviously a young player still developing and adapting to the culture and everything about the game here and the size of the club. But he’s made a valuable contribution for us this season. When he’s been asked to play, he’s done well.”

Hopefully, a deal for Yang is agreed as soon as possible, potentially making him Birmingham’s final signing of a strong summer in the market.

da marjack bet： 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

da imperador bet： 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.

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.

da aposte e ganhe： England manager Thomas Tuchel has criticised the performance of two Arsenal players after his side’s unconvincing 2-0 victory over Andorra on Saturday night.

England one step closer to World Cup qualification after Andorra triumph

da winzada777： England extended their perfect record in their World Cup qualification group with a comfortable, but not particularly flashy 2-0 win against Andorra on Saturday night, courtesy of an own goal in the first half, before Declan Rice sealed all three points in the 67th minute.

Speaking after the match, Tuchel insisted he was happy with his side’s performance, although Roy Keane was a little more sceptical about the display.

Keane said: “I still think England fell back into their old ways tonight, certainly in the second half. Sideways, backwards passes.

“We saw their two goals, particularly the second one, just from a cross. They’ve got to cross it a bit more, don’t complicate the game. And I still think they go backwards too many times.”

While Tuchel was pleased with his side’s overall performance, despite Keane’s criticism, the German also insisted there is work to be done, with two Arsenal players failing to make the desired impact on proceedings.

Speaking after the match, the Three Lions boss said: “We missed the little moments to accelerate the game. Maybe Ebs had not his best day in the No 10 position. He trained so well. In the decision-making, struggled a little bit.

“The last pass from Noni was not clinical enough.”

Eze criticism warranted after disappointing performance

It is fair to say Eze didn’t exactly set the world alight against Andorra, touching the ball just 38 times throughout the match and failing to create any big chances. For context, Morgan Gibbs-White picked up 25 touches during his late cameo after replacing Eze in the 78th minute.

As such, criticism of the 27-year-old is perhaps warranted, but it is a little harsh to single out Madueke, given that the winger was one of England’s only bright sparks on the night, putting in the cross which led to Christian Garcia’s own goal in the first half.

Contrary to Eze, the Arsenal winger was also very much involved in the game, completing 46 of the 53 passes he attempted, while also completing two successful dribbles and winning five duels, although he did squander one big chance.

Mikel Arteta will need Madueke to continue his current performance levels for a little while longer too, given that Bukayo Saka is not expected to return until October, although it is feasible the 24-year-old could be available for selection later this month.

da dobrowin： Newcastle United might have left it until the 11th hour, but they did manage to sign both strikers they targeted in the summer transfer window. The first centre-forward the Magpies brought in was Nick Woltemade, who joined the club from German outfit Stuttgart for a club-record fee of £69m, including add-ons.

da bet7k： The other number nine signed by Eddie Howe’s side this summer was Brentford and DR Congo star Yoane Wissa. The striker only got his move through on deadline day after failing to turn up to Brentford training to force through a move. He was successful eventually and switched to St James’ Park for £55m.

However, the two strikers Newcastle actually wanted at their disposal this season were Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike.

Why Newcastle wanted Isak and Ekitike

There was one point in the summer when Newcastle fans were dreaming of both Isak and Ekitike donning that famous Black and White shirt at St James’ Park.

For much of the window, they insisted that Isak was not for sale and had made a bid to sign Ekitike.

As it happened, both players have ended up moving to Liverpool.

It will no doubt have been a move that stung the Newcastle faithful, especially since Isak made his desire to leave abundantly clear and Ekitike scored for the Reds up in the North East at the start of the season.

In terms of why Howe would have wanted both forwards in his squad this season, the answer is simple. They are clinical strikers who would have added plenty of goals to the side. Last season, Isak bagged 23 times in the Premier League, and Ekitike scored 15 Bundesliga goals.

In the end, Liverpool signed both players, making their attacking unit incredibly deadly. Newcastle fans can only dream of that pairing at St James’ Park, and whilst Wissa and Woltemade are excellent strikers, the Isak and Ekitike duo would have been a mouthwatering prospect.

In hindsight, Newcastle may wish they still had a former striker who was also incredibly clinical last term.

Newcastle may regret selling their own Isak & Ekitike

In recent seasons, the Magpies have sold players whom they may regret moving on, in hindsight. One of the best examples of that right now is Elliot Anderson, who has shone at Nottingham Forest and is now an England international.

Well, going back a bit further, Newcastle fans might wish they had kept hold of former striker Ayoze Perez. The Spaniard played in the North East for five seasons between 2014 and 2019, before departing for Leicester City for £30m at the end of the 208/19 season.

His record on Tyneside was certainly respectable. The Spain international played 195 games for the club, and scored 45 goals in that time, chipping in with 17 assists.

His best goalscoring campaign in the Premier League saw him score 12 goals in his final year.

Now 32 years of age, the striker plies his trade back in his home country and was a key man for Villarreal last season. He bagged 19 top-flight goals in La Liga and chipped in with two assists, in just 30 games.

In terms of his underlying stats, they show just how dangerous a centre-forward Perez has really become. For example, averaged 0.87 goals per game in La Liga last season, which ranks him in the top 7% of strikers.

Perez – La Liga stats 24/25

Stat (per 90)

Number

Percentile

Goals

0.87

93rd

Shots on target

1.42

89th

Goals per shot

0.25

96th

Goals per shot on target

0.61

94th

Expected goals

0.58xG

91st

Stats from FBref

To further contextualise those numbers, he outscored Ekitike last season and bagged just four goals fewer than Isak, with both players noted as statistically similar to him among those in their position in Europe, as per FBref.

Garth Crooks once described Perez as a “fox in the box”, and it is easy to see why, given how consistently he can find the back of the net.

Had Newcastle kept hold of Perez, then they may have been spared from the painful summer that consisted of losing out on key targets and having to sell their best player. In hindsight, Perez could have been the perfect option to solve their striking issues.

da dobrowin： Alexander Isak will not play football for Newcastle United again, but after scoring on his debut for the Magpies, club-record signing Nick Woltemade looks like he has the potential to make that frontal spot his own.

da 888： And Newcastle are up and running. The summer transfer window has been and gone, and nobody will be more delighted than Eddie Howe, whose side were rocked and rocked some more by the turbulence throughout, the Isak saga very much the crux of the issues that seeped into the opening games of the Premier League season.

But the Sweden striker has now gone, and for a British-record £125m fee at that.

However, in Woltemade and the proven goalscorer that is Yoane Wissa, unfortunately, injured for weeks with a knee injury before he could make his United debut on Saturday, Howe has restored the core of his formidable frontline.

Three points against Wolves gives Howe his first win of the campaign and a new platform from which to build on, putting behind him the frustrations of the summer transfer window.

Because the Tynesiders, for sure, have undergone some degree of change in the final third.

Newcastle's new-look frontline without Ekitike

Howe’s Newcastle system is greater than the sum of its parts. Isak was (is) a world-class striker, but he’s a Magpie no more, and Newcastle have responded by welcoming two new talents to the fold bearing skills enough to compensate for his sale.

Wissa’s debut will have to wait due to injury, but the former Brentford striker scored 19 Premier League goals last season, and he offers a proven touch that will likely retain, at least, the relative consistency of Isak’s presence in the final third.

But that’s not all. United needed a right winger in 2024 and had failed in a bid to sign Nottingham Forest star Anthony Elanga on transfer deadline day.

One year on, they got their man, signing the 24-year-old in a £55m package. Elanga hasn’t taken off at St. James’ Park yet, but he brings energy and speed and electricity to the team.

Newcastle have responded well to summer setbacks, adding these forwards to the ranks after missing out on other targets like Hugo Ekitike, now at Liverpool alongside Isak.

There was a time when a deal for Ekitike, 23, looked on, but when Liverpool hijacked the Toon’s move and added him to their ranks, it perhaps left many feeling more confident about Isak staying put.

But it wasn’t to be, and Liverpool got both. While Newcastle have repieced their attack together, there’s no denying the blow, and a less-known fact is that Liverpool also pipped the Toon to another talent this summer, one who could yet flower into a superstar.

How Newcastle missed out to Liverpool again

In August, Liverpool announced the signing of Giovanni Leoni from Serie A side Parma for an initial £26m fee, rising to £30m with add-ons.

An 18-year-old centre-back, Leoni is one for the future and the future is now. He’s extremely talented and considered to fall into the same bracket as Real Madrid’s Dean Huijsen, another summer target for Newcastle, albeit at an earlier stage in his development.

Leoni hasn’t made his debut for Liverpool yet, and so we cannot draw with any real accuracy the player’s current capacity to thrive in England for a top club. But we do know there was something akin to a goulmouth scramble for his signature, and that Newcastle would have loved to land the shot.

Already blooded as a member of the Italian national set-up, the powerful and tall teenager has been described as “one of the most complete teenage centre-backs in Europe” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, who also hailed him as “the future” of Italian football.

One that got away

The transfers that nearly happened but never did. This article is part of Football FanCast’s One That Got Away series.

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Look, for example, how the youngster fared against Malick Thiaw in Serie A last year. Thiaw, 24, signed for Howe’s side in a £35m deal last month, fee including add-ons.

Serie A 24/25 – Thiaw vs Leoni

Stats (* per game)

Thiaw

Leoni

Matches (starts)

22 (19)

17 (14)

Goals

0

1

Assists

0

0

Touches*

66.1

46.9

Pass completion

94%

89%

Key passes*

0.2

0.1

Ball recoveries*

3.0

2.0

Tackles + interceptions*

1.8

1.7

Clearances*

3.5

3.6

Duels (won)*

3.7 (59%)

2.5 (61%)

Errors made

1

1

All data via Sofascore

To have missed out on Ekitike was a blow, no doubt, but Newcastle responded by signing a similarly exciting up-and-comer in Woltemade for a similar price, and they’ve added Wissa besides.

Leoni, however, joins Liverpool for what could prove a shrewd fee indeed. But how firm was Newcastle’s interest?

Well, Parma CEO Federico Cherubini spoke after the transfer of rival intrigue in the defender, saying, “We rejected a higher offer from Newcastle for Leoni.” He then spoke of Leoni’s desire to push ahead with a move to Merseyside, insinuating a preference for Arne Slot’s project.

Newcastle have bounced back from their Ekitike rejection by signing two talented and contrasting strikers. Thiaw, too, has much to offer, but then he has also started no more than 19 league matches in any given season in Italy, routinely pegged back with injury issues.

Leoni, meanwhile, took to life on the senior stage with silky aplomb last season, and there’s a belief within inner FSG circles that Liverpool have signed one of the most exciting young defenders in the business, with TNT Sports commentator Adam Summerton remarking that he’s “going to be a star”.

Though the past few months have been tumultuous for those of a Magpie persuasion, it’s commendable that Howe and his team have knuckled down and welcomed a host of exciting signings to join a title-winning squad.

Isak might have gone, and Ekitike may play for Liverpool too, but Newcastle signed Woltemade and remain a force to be reckoned with.

That said, Leoni looks like a special talent indeed, and it’s a shame that he couldn’t be welcomed to St. James’ Park to help shape the future of this still-rising Newcastle side.

da pinnacle： Legendary manager Jose Mourinho picked his three greatest players in football history, choosing between modern-day icons Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

da jogodeouro： The Portuguese boss has worked with some world-class players during his managerial career, representing the home dugouts at Stamford Bridge, San Siro, Bernabeu and Old Trafford during his career.

As well as managing Chelsea, Inter Milan, Real Madrid and Manchester United, Mourinho has also won European trophies with FC Porto and AS Roma.

The ‘Special One’ has also had a lot to say during his career, producing some brilliant quotes over the last 20 years.

Mourinho was asked back in 2016 for his top three players of all time, and as to be expected, he didn’t shy away from giving an answer.

Jose Mourinho’s 3 greatest players in history 3 Pele Brazil

One of Mourinho’s three GOAT’s is World Cup hero Pele, who broke goalscoring records during his playing days.

A forward for the big occasion with Brazil, records say Pele scored 1,279 goals in 1,363 games, with more than 600 of those coming for Santos.

Pele’s World Cup stats

Games

14

Goals

12

World Cup titles

3

Talking after Pele passed away in 2022, Mourinho paid tribute to the Brazilian, calling an interaction with him as one of his “proudest moments”.

“In 2005 I received the BBC award directly from the king’s hands, and to this day it’s one of my proudest moments. I was so so happy to have him in Manchester where we had such a nice chat and nice time. Rest in peace, King Pele, and thinking of his loved ones. I am very sad.”

2 Diego Maradona Argentina

Also on Mourinho’s list is Diego Maradona, with the pair having a close relationship before the latter’s passing in 2020.

A classic number 10 who helped transform the game, the Argentine arguably single handedly won his country the World Cup in 1986. At club level, Maradona is best known for his time with Italian side Napoli but also played for Barcelona in the 1980s.

Diego Maradona’s Argentina stats

Games

84

Goals

32

Assists

27

World Cups won

1

Mourinho said Maradona would regularly call him and has vowed to continue the attacker’s legacy.

“I made sure that my son knows a lot about him, even being born after he was a player. I know my son will make sure when he is a father he will not let his kids forget. It was a bit similar with Di Stefano; I never saw him play football, but my dad made sure I knew a lot about him.”

1 Lionel Messi Argentina

Despite never working with Lionel Messi, coming up against him on numerous occasions during his time as Real Madrid manager, Mourinho has picked the Argentine over Cristiano Ronaldo.

Between 2010 and 2013, Mourinho and Madrid faced Barcelona and Messi 27 times but only won eight of those meetings against the Catalan giants.

Years Messi has won the Ballon d’Or

Club

2009

Barcelona

2010

Barcelona

2011

Barcelona

2012

Barcelona

2015

Barcelona

2019

Barcelona

2021

Barcelona

2023

Inter Miami

“One in particular? I don’t have a player I can tell you. Messi has never needed a coach. Who tells you ‘I coached Messi’? It’s absurd. Messi knows everything, he was born with everything. You can only say that I had the honour of having trained him.”

Mourinho’s reply when asked for his three best players was:

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