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Tottenham boss Thomas Frank is believed to be privately unimpressed with summer signing Xavi Simons.

Simons’ arrival for £52 million in the summer window brought serious excitement with it, especially after James Maddison was ruled out for the majority of 2025/2026 with an ACL injury he sustained in pre-season.

With Dejan Kulusevski also still on the recovery trail from a knee problem, which forced him to miss Tottenham’s Europa League triumph, Simons was viewed as the answer to Frank’s shortage of creative options in the final third.

However, it has been a slow start for the Dutchman.

Thus far, Simons’ only goal contribution has come from a dead-ball situation, with the 22-year-old setting up Pape Sarr to head home from a corner away to West Ham in September.

This was during Simons’ Premier League debut for his new side, but since that glorious moment at the London Stadium, the ex-PSG sensation has largely struggled to make an impact.

His north London numbers are in stark contrast to his final campaign at Leipzig. Simons bagged 17 goal contributions in just 25 top flight outings, all while averaging a solid two shots on goal per 90 minutes.

Appearances

25

Minutes played

2,157

Goals

10

Assists

7

Bookings

5

Shots at goal per 90 minutes

2

Passing accuracy

82.9%

Average match rating

7.32

via WhoScored

Frank has repeatedly stood up for Simons when asked about his dwindling form by the media, with the Spurs head coach even making a comparison to Liverpool’s Florian Wirtz.

There have even been suggestions that Simons isn’t actually a playmaker at all, and Frank apparently needs to realise this sooner rather than later.

Perhaps the forward’s best position is out wide.

Simons played seven of his last 2025 Bundesliga matches for Leipzig on the left — a position which Frank has also utilised him.

The former La Masia gem was used as a winger against West Ham, Wolves, Everton and Villarreal in the Champions League, but again, he struggled to contribute in the final third.

How Thomas Frank really feels about Xavi Simons at Tottenham

In any case, he needs to start delivering sooner rather than later, with Dutch analyst Johan Derksen criticising the attacker on Vandaag Inside this week.

Derksen believes that Simons is “failing” at Tottenham and Frank is “unhappy” with his summer signing, going on to state that he lacks the speed and strength to succeed in England.

There is still plenty of time for the Netherlands international to adapt, and you can make a serious case that all the comments aimed his way are pretty harsh considering he only arrived a couple of months ago.

There is a settling in period for some foreign players, but the same cannot be said for Dominic Solanke.

According to other reports, Frank has seen enough of the experienced Premier League striker, despite Solanke playing just 49 minutes in total since the Dane arrived.

Thomas Frank makes Dominic Solanke decision with January exit possibility revealed Frank now unimpressed by £140k-p/w Tottenham star, may replace him in January

The Spurs boss doesn’t fancy one of his players, who Ange Postecoglou described as “fantastic.”

ByDominic Lund Oct 27, 2025

Happy Hump Day! One of the best things about summer is daytime baseball.  

If you can’t make it to the game, though, you can still get in on the action with some plus-money props today.   

Here are three pitcher props on the board with good value to consider.

Best MLB Prop Bets for Wednesday, June 26

Spencer Arrighetti over 6.5 K (+100)

Arrighetti’s season stats don’t look that impressive. He has a 6.36 ERA and 12.8% walk-rate.

However,  Arrghetti’s K-rate of 10.09 per nine  impressive,  and today, he gets a Colorado Rockies team that is striking out at a 25.5% clip vs. right-handed pitching (27th in MLB).

The Houston Astros will be looking to extend their win streak to seven today. If they win, they will be at .500 for the first time this season and will continue to gain on the Seattle Mariners in the AL West. 

I’m willing to bet Arrighetti gets the run support to pitch deep enough into this game to clear this mark. 

Nathan Eovaldi over 5.5 K (+115)

Texas Rangers starter Nathan Eovaldi has struck out six or more hitters in eight of 12 starts this year. 

The Milwaukee Brewers, his opponent on Wednesday, are in the middle of the pack with a 23.1% strikeout rate, but Eovaldi’s K-rate vs. this Brewers team is over 28%. 

Carlos Carrasco over 3.5 K (+100)

Carlos Carrasco is not a high K-rate pitcher, but he struck out seven Toronto Blue Jays — who have one of the league’s lowest K-rates — in his last start. 

The Baltimore Orioles have been rung up 21 times across the first two games of this series, and they averaged seven per game in the series vs. Houston. 

Carrasco has exceeded this mark in six of thirteen starts this season.  

Sunderland made a “decisive” move for a former Premier League player this summer, with the individual in question scoring a huge Champions League goal this week.

Le Bris ready for "tough" Aston Villa challenge

The Black Cats are back in league action on Sunday afternoon, welcoming Aston Villa to the Stadium of Light, as the hosts look to continue their good start to the season.

On the flip side, Villa haven’t got going at all yet, not even scoring a single Premier League goal in their opening four games, but Sunderland manager Regis Le Bris expects a “tough” challenge for his side this weekend.

“It’s important to take points where it’s possible. Sometimes you play well and you can deserve to win something but in the end you don’t because the Premier League is really tough. But in different games, it’s possible to win points so we did that. The efficiency and the quality of our game connected so we need to keep going.

“Another tough challenge at home. We will prepare this game properly. We have one week and I hope we will be at the level.”

It was a hugely productive summer transfer window for Sunderland, with so many new faces arriving, but a fresh claim suggests that they missed out on acquiring the signature of one player.

Sunderland missed out on Champions League ace

According to TuttoSport [via Sport Witness], Sunderland made a “decisive” move to sign Juventus defender Lloyd Kelly earlier in the summer, tabling an offer and looking to snap him up for £17.4m, bringing him in on loan with an obligation to buy.

The 26-year-old rejected the Black Cats advances, though, as well as Fenerbahce’s, staying put in Turin and scoring a dramatic equaliser in his side’s 4-4 draw at home to Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday evening.

Sunderland failing to sign Kelly is a shame, considering the Englishman is a proven player at the top level, making 64 appearances in the Premier League, as well as being able to shine at centre-back and left-back. Not only that, but Gary O’Neil showered him with praise during their time together at Bournemouth, having kept Mohamed Salah quiet in a game.

“I thought Lloyd was incredible. I think he had a 12-week ankle injury followed by a six-week calf injury. Didn’t have much time in between, and then came back today having not trained much, to play left back against one of the best wingers in the world. I thought he showed everything, the potential he has to be a top defender.”

Sunderland have signed a "genius" who's becoming their new Cattermole

Regis Le Bris could now have his very own Lee Cattermole in this Sunderland warrior.

ByKelan Sarson Sep 15, 2025

Kelly appears to be happy at Juventus, playing an important role in big games, but if the chance does arise for Sunderland to snap him up again in the near future, whether that be in January or next summer, they should look to strike a deal.

PBKS will play their next three matches at their second home Dharamsala as the race for the playoffs heats up

Sruthi Ravindranath03-May-20252:04

Jaffer: Shreyas is currently India’s best six-hitter

Big PictureFifty-plus games in, two teams have already been knocked out of IPL 2025 and one team is on the brink of elimination. Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), currently at fourth and sixth, are very much in contention for the playoffs and will aim to boost their chances on Sunday.A sweaty Shreyas Iyer turned up for the post-match presentation in hot-and-humid Chennai after the win against Chennai Super Kings in the previous game, but as the action heads to Dharamsala, PBKS’ second home ground, there’s hope for some respite from the heat. It is the venue where PBKS also had their pre-season camp, with head coach Ricky Ponting then highlighting the importance of getting a “feel of the ground” early. PBKS will play their next three games in Dharamsala and winning all three could seal a two-top finish for PBKS.Their Indian core – specifically the top three comprising Prabhsimran Singh, Priyansh Arya and Shreyas – has done the heavy lifting, exposing the gaping hole in the middle order, which has the second-worst strike-rate among all ten teams this season. They’ve also had a No. 4 roulette this season, using as many as five players in that position in ten games.LSG also have a similar problem. They’re top heavy, but the only difference is that they’ve been too dependent on their overseas batters. Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram and Nicholas Pooran have scored a combined 62.79% of their total runs this season. After walking in as low as No. 7 in the match against Delhi Capitals, captain Rishabh Pant pushed himself back up to No. 4 but he continues to struggle for form.For LSG, the situation isn’t dire yet, but a loss would push them behind in the race, considering there’s a four-point gap between the top-three and them already. They’ve lost three of their last four games, which has coincided with Pooran’s dip in form. They will be coming into this game feeling refreshed after a six-day break, with a few players heading to Dharamsala early, hoping for a turnaround.Form GuidePunjab Kings WLWWL (last five completed matches, most recent first)
Lucknow Super Giants LLWLWThe big questionAfter the win in Chennai, Ponting suggested that PBKS might tweak their combination depending on the conditions in Dharamsala. If there’s swing and seam movement on offer, they might be tempted to recall Xavier Bartlett.In the spotlight: Yuzvendra Chahal and Nicholas PooranIt’s been an IPL of two halves for Yuzvendra Chahal. After taking just two wickets in his first five matches at an economy rate of 11.1, he’s turned it around in style, picking up 11 wickets in the last four at an economy rate of 7.6. In the last match, he was kept away after bowling two overs in the first ten overs against CSK’s left-handers-heavy line-up, and was brought back to bowl the 19th over. He picked four wickets, including a hat-trick, and quashed CSK’s hopes of a 200-plus total. He will be key against the LSG line-up: he’s dismissed Pooran twice in seven innings and Pant thrice in 13 innings, with both striking at less than 145 against him.After an explosive start to the season where he made four fifties in six games, Nicholas Pooran has had average outings in his last four games. He’s been dominant against spin all season, striking at 264, while his team-mates have struggled, scoring at a combined strike-rate of just 127. He’s been dismissed by fast bowlers in his last four games, thrice by deliveries that have been angled in and once by Mitchell Starc’s slower short ball. LSG’s playoff hopes hinge on Pooran, whose form has been crucial in almost all of LSG’s wins this season.Marcus Stoinis has a chat with Xavier Bartlett during a training session•PTI

Team News and probable XIIsWith Glenn Maxwell out of rest of IPL 2025 with injury, PBKS played with just three overseas players in Marco Jansen, Azmat Omarzai and Josh Inglis against CSK, bringing the uncapped Suryansh Shedge into their team and leaving Marcus Stoinis out. Shedge was taken for 40 runs in his three overs and was out for 1 off 3 in the chase. If the conditions are conductive to swing, PBKS might recall Bartlett, who is a new-ball specialist.PBKS (probable XII): 1 Priyansh Arya, 2 Prabhsimran Singh, 3 Shreyas Iyer (capt), 4 Nehal Wadhera, 5 Shashank Singh, 6 Josh Inglis (wk), 7 Marco Jansen, 8 Suryansh Shedge, 9 Azmatullah Omarzai, 10 Harpreet Brar/Xavier Bartlett, 11 Yuzvendra Chahal, 12 Arshdeep SinghFast bowler Mayank Yadav returned to the LSG line-up against Mumbai Indians after a long injury break, with Shardul Thakur making way. He returned a slower bowler, bowling eight slower deliveries at Wankhede Stadium, the most he’s bowled in a single T20 match and finished with figures of 2 for 40. While LSG mentor Zaheer Khan indicated the team will keep his workload in mind, the long break after the last game will work well for Mayank.LSG (probable XII): 1 Aiden Markram, 2 Mitchell Marsh, 3 Nicholas Pooran, 4 Rishabh Pant (capt & wk), 5 Ayush Badoni, 6 David Miller 7 Abdul Samad, 8 Mayank Yadav, 9 Ravi Bishnoi, 10 Digvesh Rathi, 11 Avesh Khan, 12 Prince YadavStats that matterArshdeep Singh could be key against LSG’s openers: he has dismissed Aiden Markram four times in 13 meetings and has got Marsh out twice in four meetings.PBKS have lost all four matches they’ve played in Dharamsala since 2023.While Arya has been a force while batting first (299 runs at an average of 49.8 and strike rate of 214), he’s not been able to get going in chases, making just 47 runs in four games at 11.8 average.Irrespective of his inconsistent form, Shreyas will be happy to return to Dharamsala, a venue where he scored 73* and 74* in his last two games in 2022.Pitch and conditionsThe average first-innings score in Dharamsala in the last four IPL games since 2023 is 201. Teams have opted to bowl first in all four games and only once have gone on to win the match. While light showers are expected during the day, the temperature in the evening is forecast to be around 16 degrees Celsius.

While both Ollie Watkins and Morgan Rogers were victorious with England over the international break when facing off against Andorra and Serbia, the Three Lions duo will now be desperate for Aston Villa to kick into gear back in Premier League action.

After all, Unai Emery’s men remain winless in the hustle and bustle of the top-flight from their opening three clashes, with a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Crystal Palace last time out souring the mood even more at Villa Park before the break started.

Emery and Co. haven’t been served up the easiest fixture up next, either, as the out-of-form side now has the tough task of trying to thwart ex-star Jack Grealish, who has hit the ground running with some style, pulling on his new Everton blue.

Why Villa will need to stop Grealish

Grealish has been instrumental to all of Everton’s early-season successes to date, having been recognised by the Premier League after claiming the Player of the Month award for August.

Minus the Toffees’ opening weekend defeat to Leeds, the three-time Premier League winner has been key to David Moyes’ collecting two wins so far, with a sublime four assists coming his way against Brighton and Hove Albion and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

There might be some real regret on Villa’s end now that they didn’t try to capture their former boy wonder on a loan deal themselves, but if they are to stand a chance at sealing a result at the Hill Dickinson Stadium – away from rueing their decisions in the transfer market – they will have to keep the skilful playmaker quiet.

This will, of course, be easier said than done, with Villa also having to shackle the likes of Iliman Ndiaye and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall to try and pick up a positive result, with the Everton attackers noticeably thriving, while the forwards at Emery’s disposal routinely fluff their lines.

However, Villa could well spark into life if they gift this new signing a chance to impress on Merseyside, with Emery potentially stumbling upon his own Grealish by starting this exciting midfield talent.

Emery's very own Jack Grealish

Villa’s transfer window was a largely frustrating event.

Thankfully, neither Watkins nor Rogers would desert the building, but the Villans did have to say goodbye to homegrown ace Jacob Ramsey, who has now moved on to Newcastle United, owing to PSR-related issues needing to be resolved.

The mood in the West Midlands was lifted somewhat by both Jadon Sancho and Harvey Elliott joining the building on deadline day, with Elliott perhaps in line for a starting spot against the Toffees to be Emery’s own iteration of Grealish.

After all, it goes without saying that the versatile 22-year-old would be enthused by the prospect of making his debut against Everton, having faced off against the Toffees numerous times for Arne Slot’s Reds in some fiercely contested Merseyside Derbys.

AM

60

5 + 4

RW

38

4 + 3

CM

36

4 + 14

LW

7

1 + 0

Elliott – who could sign on a £35m deal next summer – might not be given the nod to start in his preferred central role, however, with both Youri Tielemans and John McGinn solid performers here last time out, even as Villa crashed to a 3-0 loss.

Instead, with Donyell Malen visibly struggling against the Eagles on the right wing – having only registered ten accurate passes and one successful dribble – this could be the spot handed to the England U21 regular, considering Elliott has lined up on this flank 38 times across his career to date.

Emery might well be taking direct inspiration from Moyes here, with the Scotsman placing Grealish down the left wing himself and getting insane results out of him, despite the 39-time England international often being deployed centrally as a number ten when still in the West Midlands.

With Elliott also being branded as an “outrageous” talent when collecting 35 goal contributions at Anfield by scout Jacek Kulig, it does feel as if a change of scenery could get even more out of the reserve Reds figure, particularly if he is starting week in week out, like Grealish is now experiencing.

Villa needs to get out of their slump quickly, with alterations such as bringing in their new number nine, perhaps working wonders in catching Everton off-guard on their own patch.

Kamara 2.0: Aston Villa sold a star who has a "higher ceiling" than Luiz

Aston Villa may wish they’d kept hold of one midfield talent who could even exceed Douglas Luiz

ByJoe Nuttall Sep 11, 2025

كشفت تقارير صحفية إنجليزية أن مانشستر سيتي يخطط لتقديم عرض كبير للفوز بمعركة قوية في سوق الانتقالات الصيفية وتعزيز صفوفه تحت قيادة بيب جوارديولا.

ووفقاً لما نقلته “مانشستر إيفنينج نيوز” البريطانية فإن مانشستر سيتي يخطط للتعاقد مع إليوت أندرسون نجم نوتينجهام فورست مقابل 75 مليون جنيه إسترليني.

ومن المتوقع أن يواجه بيب جوارديولا مدرب مانشستر سيتي منافسة شرسة مع تشيلسي لضم اللاعب، ويراقب المدرب الإسباني تطورات موقف أندرسون حيث يعد من أشد المعجبين به.

اقرأ أيضاً.. تعديل موعد مباراتين لـ مانشستر سيتي في الدوري الإنجليزي

ويعد أندرسون أحد أبرز أهداف بيب جوارديولا في سوق الانتقالات في حالة قرر تعزيز خط وسطه بنهاية الموسم خلال الصيف المقبل.

وكان نيكو جونزاليس قد واجه صعوبة في ترك بصمته في ملعب الاتحاد ولا تزال التساؤلات حول مستقبل رودري على المدى الطويل.

ويراقب ريال مدريد موقف رودري الفائز بالكرة الذهبية في وقت سابق وقد يشعر بالإغراء لاهتمام عملاق أوروبا، في حالة لم يوقع عقدًا جديدًا مع مانشستر سيتي.

جدير بالذكر أن أندرسون قد انتقل لصفوف نوتينجهام فورست في صفقة بلغت قيمتها 35 مليون جنيه إسترليني من صفوف نيوكاسل يونايتد في عام 2024، وكان اللاعب قد تمت دعوته لقائمة توماس توخيل مدرب منتخب إنجلترا في أغسطس الماضي.

Marc Guehi has reportedly set his heart on a surprise transfer away from Crystal Palace after the defender saw his deadline day move to Liverpool collapse. The England defender came within a whisker of joining the Reds on deadline day, only for Crystal Palace to pull the plug when they couldn’t land a replacement.

Guehi turns his back on Anfield

On September 1st, Guehi’s £35 million move to Anfield was all but agreed. Bags were nearly packed, and medical checks lined up. Then Palace, unwilling to leave themselves exposed, pulled the plug on the deal at the final moment. Rather than wait for another chance in England, Guehi has told his advisors that Real Madrid is where his heart lies, as revealed by . For the 25-year-old, the lure of La Liga and the chance to wear the white of Los Blancos outweighs anything Liverpool can put on the table.

AdvertisementGetty/GOALDouble whammy for the Reds

It isn’t just Guehi Liverpool have to worry about. Ibrahima Konate, one of their most reliable defenders, is running down his contract with no sign of renewal. Next summer, he can walk away for free, and Real Madrid are one of the clubs circling. That sets up the nightmare scenario: Madrid swooping for both Guehi and Konate, pairing them in Spain’s top flight while leaving the Reds short of options at the back.

Contract clock ticking for Palace

The Guehi situation is even more precarious for Palace. With his contract winding down, they face losing him for nothing next summer. From January, foreign clubs can approach him directly and seal a pre-contract agreement. Madrid’s prestige and history of snapping up the Premier League’s best will make them favourites to land his signature.

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GettyEndgame in Spain

The ball is firmly in Guehi's court, and unless Palace find a miracle way to convince him otherwise, he will be La Liga-bound next summer. 

The two players had come out of international retirement to play the T20 World Cup in 2024

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Dec-2024Imad Wasim and Mohammad Amir, who had both reversed their decisions to retire from international cricket to play the T20 World Cup earlier this year, have re-retired between yesterday and today. Imad said “this chapter comes to an end” on Friday, followed by Amir making public his “difficult decision” on Saturday.

To all fans & supporters:
After much thought and reflection, I have decided to retire from international cricket. Representing Pakistan on the world stage has been the greatest honor of my life, and every moment wearing the green jersey has been unforgettable.

Your unwavering…

— Imad Wasim (@simadwasim) December 13, 2024