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Surprise package Sunderland were undone by Raul Jimenez’s late winner as Fulham eased clear of the Premier League drop zone with a hard-earned 1-0 win at Craven Cottage.

In a game of plentiful good intentions but few clear-cut chances, the Black Cats – superbly marshalled by midfield anchor Granit Xhaka – looked like hanging on for a point in a West London monsoon.

But six minutes from time, 34-year-old Mexican striker Jimenez beat Sunderland defender Dan Ballard to substitute Samuel Chukwueze’s teasing cross to prod home his third goal of the campaign.

In the week when head coach Marco Silva was reportedly offered a new three-year contract, Fulham’s perseverance in testing conditions was just the tonic after a worrying start to the season.

Fortified by their tenacious 2-2 draw with leaders Arsenal which left them fourth, the Black Cats were determined to extend their unbeaten run to five games – but they were caught napping at the death.

Compact and committed, Sunderland’s five-man defence had weathered the storm as Fulham dominated the first 45 minutes.

Harry Wilson, confidence high after his hat-trick for Wales in the World Cup qualifying rout of North Macedonia, raced on to Sander Berge’s pass and curled his finish just wide.

Two minutes later, Kevin’s skimming effort from the edge of the box was parried by the diving Robin Roefs, who soon kept out the Brazilian winger’s header from Berge’s cross and the Norwegian midfielder’s low effort towards the bottom corner.

Ballard was booked for clattering into Wilson, but Sunderland’s occasional excursions into Fulham territory were rarely threatening.

When Bertrand Traore drove into the box and extended Bernd Leno, his finish lacked sufficient power to beat the home keeper, and the Sunderland bench were convinced Calvin Bassey thwarted the escaping Wilson Isidor’s breakaway with a foul – although referee Darren England did not agree.

Sunderland fuming at referee display vs Fulham

Every referee in the 2025/26 Premier League ranked

Who is the top official in England right now?

By
Charlie Smith

Nov 8, 2025

Many fans and media figures alike flocked to social media to criticise the referee, who was infamously on VAR duty when Liverpool’s Luis Diaz saw a perfectly good goal ruled out due to a miscommunication surrounding the offside check.

One fan said it was “one of the worst refereeing performances I’ve seen in a very long time” while media personality Chris Hughes lamented England’s “absolutely abysmal” display, claiming it “cost us” the game,

Popular Black Cats magazine A Love Supreme had the harshest verdict however, claiming the 39 year-old should be docked wages and not allowed back on a football pitch.

At the other end, Black Cats keeper Roefs was relieved to escape when his heavy touch almost gifted Josh King an opening.

Ten seconds into the second period, Enzo Le Fee’s angled drive fizzed just wide of Leno’s left-hand post as Sunderland showed more ambition.

But they lived dangerously when Wilson, the home side’s likeliest source of joy, dragged Fulham’s best opportunity wide from 18 yards after collecting Ryan Sessegnon’s pass midway through the second half.

Substitute Emile Smith Rowe’s fierce drive soared just wide as Fulham cranked up the pressure in search of a late winner.

And Reinildo Mandava’s last-ditch tackle to deny Wilson was typical of the Wearsiders’ determination to preserve the stalemate.

But just when they looked like escaping with a point, Jimenez dug deep to hand Fulham their fourth win of the season – all of them at home.

The Blaze 59 for 0 (S Bryce 33*) beat Essex 211 (Smale 41, Prendergast 3-43) by 35 runs (DLS) Orla Prendergast led the wickets charge as The Blaze won a rain-affected encounter with Essex at Chelmsford to book a home semi-final at Trent Bridge on Wednesday.Prendergast took 3 for 43, including a momentum shifting double strike to help bowl out the hosts for 211. Her efforts were ably supported by Lucy Higham’s 2 for 33 and some outstanding out-fielding, typified by Kathryn’s Bryce’s run-out of Ariana Dowse.Six of Essex’s batters reached double figures, but only Sophia Smale (41) got beyond 40, Jo Gardner making a run-a-ball 36. The pair added 52 for the seventh wicket after the hosts collapsed from 104 for 2 to 133 for 6.Blaze openers Sarah Bryce (33 not out) and Georgie Boyce had knocked 59 off the target in 11.2 overs when the weather closed in.Dowse and skipper Grace Scrivens gave the hosts a a solid start, the former caressing one through the covers and driving another square for four. Scrivens reached 16 before mishitting a half-tracker from opposite number Kirstie Gordon to square leg and a brilliant pick up and throw from Katherine Bryce ran out Dowse for 20.The response to the double setback was good with Lissy Macleod (30) and Lancashire loanee Liberty Heap (33) targeting the straight boundaries in a stand of 59 at almost a run a ball. Essex looked poised to push on, but Heath’s demise, top edging a short one from Prendergast to midwicket sparked a mid-innings slump.Flo Miller was another Prendergast victim and when Higham sent Macleod packing courtesy of a stunning caught and bowled, three wickets had fallen for six runs in 16 balls.Higham then bowled Amara Carr with a beauty, before Smale and Gardner rallied the home side’s flagging effort, the latter striking the ball powerfully back past the bowler in the mid-on/mid-off arc.But before they could entertain hopes of a score of 250, Prendergast splayed Gardner’s stumps and thereafter only Smale who was last out held up The Blaze for long.The bad weather was closing in by the time The Blaze began their reply, Sarah Bryce and Georgie Boyce immediately showing aggressive intent. Bryce hit Gray for the only six of the match while Boyce three times struck the ball firmly to the fence along the floor.By the time rain drove the players from the field enough overs had been completed to constitute a match and The Blaze were a mile ahead on the DLS and looking forward to a semi-final.

Glasgow Rangers will not win a trophy in the year of 2025. That was confirmed when they were beaten 3-1 at Hampden Park in the semi-finals of the League Cup on Sunday.

Danny Rohl had won his first two matches in the Scottish Premiership ahead of this last four clash with their Glasgow rivals, but he was unable to mastermind a third successive victory in all competitions.

The Light Blues did manage to get to extra time, despite being down to ten men, but two goals in extra time meant that they were knocked out of the competition.

Why Jack Butland did not cost Rangers the result

Some supporters or neutrals may want to point the finger at Jack Butland for the defeat, because he should have done better with the Callum McGregor shot that put Celtic 2-1 up.

The shot seemed to go through the former England international and down the middle of the goal, but he was unable to adjust and prevent it from finding the back of the net.

Despite that error, Butland did not cost the Light Blues the game because they were only in the match because of his impressive saves. Premier Sports TV pundit and former Hoops manager Neil Lennon even described his performance as “tremendous”.

The pick of his saves, arguably, was his fingertip stop to deny Callum Osmand’s brilliant header that looked destined for the bottom corner, whilst he also made several close-range stops in the initial 90 minutes.

A Rangers player who was worse than Butland in the game was young left-back Jayden Meghoma, and he may be on borrowed time in the starting line-up.

Why Jayden Meghoma may be on borrowed time

The Brentford loanee was caught out for the opening goal of the game when he allowed his man, Johnny Kenny, to get the jump on him from a corner.

Premier Sports TV pundit Michael Stewart noted on commentary that Meghoma “never recognises the danger”, which seems to be a fair comment when you consider that the full-back had a similar issue against Brann in Rohl’s first match.

The English defender allowed Jacob Lungi Sorensen to get the run and jump on him for a goal in that loss, which led Ally McCoist to describe his defending as “remarkable” and “diabolical”.

Meghoma was even worse than Butland against Celtic because there were several occasions where he did not recognise the danger, as Stewart put it, and put his side, and Butland, under pressure.

The teenage full-back’s performances for Rangers in the Scottish Premiership so far this season also do not suggest that he has what it takes to be the first-choice left-back moving beyond the January transfer window.

Appearances

7

Sofascore rating

6.56

Duel success rate

50%

Aerial duel success rate

25%

Tackles + interceptions per game

3.0

Error leading to shot

2

Possession lost per game

12.7x

Assists

1

As you can see in the table above, Meghoma only has one assist to his name to make up for the two errors leading to shots, and 12.7 times possession lost per game on average.

He has been questionable defensively, particularly from set-pieces, and has been wasteful in possession without creating much to make up for it, which is why Rohl should be looking to add an experienced left-back in January.

Meghoma is currently the only natural left-back in the first-team squad, as a result of the squad building by Kevin Thelwell and Russell Martin in the summer, and his underwhelming performances may convince Rohl to push for the club to bring another one in.

Therefore, the Rangers loanee’s place in the XI may be on borrowed time unless he can significantly improve his performance level over the next two months or so.

As bad as Aasgaard: Rohl must drop Rangers flop who was "so poor"

Danny Rohl must drop this Rangers flop who was as bad as Thelo Aasgaard at Hampden Park.

ByDan Emery Nov 2, 2025

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca privately wants to reinforce another key area of his squad in January, with the Blues eyeing a Serie A star as one potential target.

Enzo Maresca not satisfied with Chelsea team behind-the-scenes

The tactician is reportedly dissatisfied with his current squad, and feels that they’re still pretty weak in certain departments.

This is despite the fact they spent close to £300 million in the latest summer transfer window, with only Premier League champions Liverpool splashing more cash than the Blues on new recruits.

The Premier League’s biggest summer spenders
Team	Spent	Received	Net Spend
Liverpool	£415,000,000	£187,000,000	£228,000,000
Chelsea	£285,000,000	£288,000,000	-£3,000,000
Arsenal	£255,000,000	£9,000,000	£246,000,000
Newcastle	£250,000,000	£152,000,000	£98,000,000
Man Utd	£216,000,000	£68,000,000	£148,000,000
Nottm Forest	£205,000,000	£107,000,000	£98,000,000
Tottenham	£181,000,000	£36,000,000	£145,000,000
Sunderland	£162,000,000	£44,000,000	£118,000,000
Man City	£152,000,000	£53,000,000	£99,000,000
West Ham	£124,000,000	£55,000,000	£69,000,000
via BBC

However, while Chelsea did spend significantly, they failed to bring in a star centre-back — which they’re now paying dearly for.

Trevoh Chalobah (suspended), Levi Colwill, Wesley Fofana and Tosin Adarabioyo are all set to miss today’s clash with Liverpool at Stamford Bridge, leaving Maresca with little choice but to play Benoit Badiashile with left-back Jorrel Hato in the centre of defence, or opt for youngster Josh Acheampong.

Chelsea are set to try and sign a centre-back in January, with the club and board in agreement that should be the priority when the window reopens (Pete O’Rourke).

That being said, there are apparently more areas of the team which Maresca is currently unhappy with, and this has partly led to tension between Chelsea’s boss and the board.

Now, in another Substack update, Phillips has reported that Maresca also wants to sign another number nine.

Chelsea eye Dušan Vlahović as Enzo Maresca desires a new striker

Liam Delap will be out until November after picking up a hamstring injury at the beginning of the season, while Joao Pedro is arguably more suited to the number 10 position.

Question marks also surround whether Marc Guiu, who returned from a brief loan spell at Sunderland, can be realistically relied upon as a proven goal getter.

According to Phillips, Maresca certainly thinks that Chelsea could do with another centre-forward, and £373,000-per-week Juventus striker Dušan Vlahović remains on their shortlist after previously considering a move for the Serbian.

While Vlahovic would need to take a dramatic pay-cut to join Chelsea given their careful wage structure, there is reason to believe the 25-year-old could be a good option.

His contract expires in 2026, meaning Chelsea would be on to negotiate a cut-price January move, given the Old Lady would have very little negotiating room considering his deal runs out just months later.

Vlahovic has also scored over 110 senior goals across his career already despite still approaching his prime, including four in seven appearances this campaign, so the ex-Fiorentina star is a man bang in form.

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+ Já pensou em ser um gestor de futebol? Participe da nossa Masterclass com Felipe Ximenes e descubra oportunidades

Rogério fechou com o clube de Salvador até 2025 e terá missão difícil de tirar o Tricolor de Aço da briga contra o rebaixamento. Esse será o sétimo trabalho do técnico, que foi demitido do São Paulo em abril deste ano.

Na carreira, Rogério tem sete títulos, dentre eles um Campeonato Brasileiro conquistado em 2020 com o Flamengo. No futebol nordestino, o ex-goleiro ganhou uma Copa do Nordeste (2019), dois Cearenses (2019 e 2020) e um Brasileirão Série B (2018), todos com o Fortaleza.

England's Lionesses have yet another injury concern on their hands when it comes to their October fixtures after Jess Park was ruled out of Manchester United's final game before the international break. The winger has been in fine form since joining from Manchester City on deadline day but is now a doubt for her country's first game since Sarina Wiegman guided them to another European Championship triumph.

Why Park missed Man Utd's clash with Atletico Madrid

Park was expected to play an important role in United's second fixture of their first Women's Champions League campaign in the main portion of the competition, one which took them to Spain to take on Atletico Madrid on Thursday night. However, the 23-year-old was a surprise absentee from not only the Red Devils' XI but the entire squad, suffering from what the club later confirmed as concussion. She was not the only player missing either, with a back issue for Celin Bizet further reducing the attacking options for Marc Skinner, who guided United to a first win in this stage of the UWCL last week with a 1-0 victory over Valerenga. 

AdvertisementGetty ImagesWhen could Park be back for Man Utd and England?

It's unclear at this point how or when Park, who scored twice against Everton last weekend, picked up the issue and, as such, how long she could be sidelined. Players are required to go through a concussion protocol that often keeps them out of competitive action for a week, but it can be longer depending on the severity of the injury, the symptoms being suffered and how each individual responds to assessment. United do not have a fixture this coming weekend, meaning the next game on Park's individual schedule will be with England, when they face Brazil at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester on October 25.

England's depleted attack: Park adds to Lionesses' concerns around forwards

It would be a real blow for the Lionesses if Park was to miss out, too, as she had emerged as an obvious solution to some of the injury woes England are already facing for this camp. Both Lauren James and Lauren Hemp are unavailable this month, James due to an ankle problem she sustained during Euro 2025 and Hemp with an issue in the same area that was picked up in action for Manchester City last month, meaning Wiegman is a little light on wingers. Park, though, has been playing out wide since her move to United at the end of the summer transfer window and she has been playing very well there, standing out as one of the Red Devils' top performers through the first few weeks of the season.

That's not to say the Lionesses don't have other options. Beth Mead and Chloe Kelly are both in the England squad, as is the versatile Aggie Beever-Jones. However, the former pair have struggled for regular minutes at Arsenal so far this campaign while the latter has been predominantly playing as a central striker for Chelsea.

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Getty ImagesOther injury worries: Wiegman dealing with plenty of absentees

Wiegman is without other players this month, too. England captain Leah Williamson is still recovering from an injury she picked up at Euro 2025, with Arsenal hoping to have her back before Christmas, while Millie Bright has just lightened the options at centre-back a little more by announcing her international retirement. Fortunately, it is one of the most well-stocked areas in the Lionesses' squad, even with Millie Turner also sidelined and Wiegman, somewhat controversially, seeing Maya Le Tissier as an option at right-back rather than in the central role she excels in for Man Utd.

There is every chance Park is able to make a full recovery in time for the game against Brazil, however, granted there are no setbacks in the concussion assessment. That's what England and Wiegman will hope, anyway, as they prepare to test their mettle against the South American champions. If not, or if Park is back but not fit enough to start, there is at least a second game just three days later that she could be involved in, when the Lionesses welcome Australia to Derby County's Pride Park on October 28.

Everton’s 2025/26 season has begun with a mixture of promise and frustration.

The Toffees opened the Premier League campaign with a narrow 1-0 defeat at Leeds, a match played in a raucous Elland Road atmosphere.

They bounced back impressively at home, securing a 2-0 victory against Brighton to restore confidence among fans.

A thrilling 3-2 win at Molineux demonstrated their attacking potential, while a 0-0 draw at home to Aston Villa highlighted some inconsistency.

Most recently, Everton fell 2-1 to Liverpool in the Merseyside derby, underscoring the challenges of competing at the top level. David Moyes’ side currently sit 10th in the league and face struggling West Ham at Goodison Park in their next fixture on Monday.

The Toffees’ attacking setup, led by Jack Grealish, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, and Iliman Ndiaye, has shown flashes of creativity and menace, but the lack of a top striker has limited their output.

Everton’s recent 2-0 exit from the Carabao Cup to Wolves adds to the sense of disappointment.

Moyes may now be looking for solutions within his squad to spark a more effective attacking threat.

Beto's struggles since joining Everton

Beto, the towering 27-year-old striker, has become a focal point for debate among Everton fans.

The Portuguese forward joined the club from Udinese in 2023 for £25m, bringing with him a strong Serie A record and international experience.

Standing at 1.94m, Beto has made 60 Premier League appearances for Everton, scoring 11 goals, per Transfermarkt.

Last season, he found the net eight times in 20 appearances, showing glimpses of his potential. Despite these credentials, Beto has struggled to establish himself as the man to lead Everton’s frontline.

He has scored just once in the current campaign and has struggled to impose himself in key moments.

Statistically, his contributions show limitations compared to some of his peers. Last season, Beto averaged 0.88 progressive carries per 90, 0.94 progressive passes per 90, and 1.35 shots on target per 90, per FBref.

His progressive passing distance of 16.6 per 90 and shot-creating actions at 1.52 per 90 indicate a forward with a more limited impact on a team shifting towards a more possession-based approach.

These metrics reflect a player capable of contributing in certain areas but not providing the dynamic presence Everton require in modern attacking football.

With Moyes increasingly looking to implement a more possession-oriented, technically fluid approach, Beto may not be the ideal fit for leading the line.

Why Everton should unleash Thierno Barry

Enter Thierno Barry.

The French U21 international signed from Villareal this summer for £27.6m, and offers a contrasting profile to Beto.

The 6ft 5in striker scored 11 goals from an xG of 12.41 last season and registered four assists, per Sofascore, showcasing his ability to dominate the penalty area while contributing to team play.

Described as a “serious No.9 prospect” by analyst Ben Mattinson, Barry’s style has drawn comparisons to Dušan Vlahović and Ollie Watkins, blending physical presence with technical awareness.

Barry excels in aerial duels, ranking in the 87th percentile with 3.84 aerials won per 90, winning nearly two-thirds of the aerial contests in the penalty area, per FBref.

His ability to carry the ball forward is also notable, ranking in the 74th percentile for progressive carries per 90 (1.70), while completing 62% of his take-ons.

He can stretch defensive lines and create space for teammates, a trait Moyes will likely value in Everton’s evolving system.

Despite needing time to adapt to the Premier League, Barry has already made five appearances this season, logging 142 minutes.

Matches Played

5

Starts

1

Minutes

144

Progressive Carries

2

Progressive Passes

2

Compared to Beto, Barry’s 2024/25 stats indicate a player with greater overall influence: 20 goal involvements versus Beto’s 8, 1.71 progressive carries per 90 versus 0.88, 1.05 progressive passes per 90 versus 0.94, and higher involvement in shot-creating actions (1.78 per 90 compared to 1.52).

His progressive passing distance per 90 (21.2) also surpasses Beto’s 16.6, aligning with Moyes’ desire for a striker comfortable in possession-based play. Barry offers Everton the chance to implement a forward capable of linking play, finishing opportunities, and contributing to a more dynamic attacking structure.

As Moyes looks ahead to upcoming league fixtures, including the home clash with West Ham, deploying Barry over Beto, who should be ruthlessly dropped, could be the catalyst Everton need to maximise their offensive potential.

The Frenchman’s combination of physicality, technical skill, and aerial dominance marks him as the player to build around in attack, particularly in a team seeking to flourish in the Premier League.

علق مدحت عبد الهادي، لاعب الزمالك السابق، على تأهل منتخب مصر إلى بطولة كأس العالم 2026 المقامة في الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية وكندا والمكسيك.

وقال مدحت عبد الهادي، عبر قناة “MBC مصر 2”: “هذا ليس مستوى ولا شكل منتخب مصر، الهدف الرئيسي تحقق بتأهلنا إلى كأس العالم، ولكن علينا في الفترة المقبلة أن نركز على ما هو مطلوب من حسام حسن وجهازه الفني”.

طالع.. خاص | هل تنقل كأس أمم إفريقيا من المغرب؟.. وموقف مصر

وتابع: “المجموعة المتواجدة مع حلمي طولان مميزة وقوية جدًا، وأغلبهم شاركوا مع المنتخب الأول واحتكّوا بشكل قوي، أرى أنه يجب أن يكون هناك مزيج بين المنتخب الأول والثاني”.

وأتم: “منتخب مصر يحتاج إلى مهاجم قوي جدًا بجانب مصطفى محمد وأسامة فيصل، وعلى الجميع أن يكونوا داعمين لحسام حسن وجهازه المعاون في الفترة المقبلة، حتى يحقق هدفه، لا أن يقتصر الدعم على الكلام فقط”.

Arsenal had a sensational summer transfer window this year.

Andrea Berta and Co secured eight first-team players for Mikel Arteta, and dramatically improved the side with players like Eberechi Eze, Martin Zubimendi and Viktor Gyokeres.

Yet, there was one player many fans were hoping the club would pick up, a player they were heavily linked with, but didn’t end up signing in the end: Rodrygo.

Interestingly, a former Arsenal youngster sold by the legendary Arsène Wenger has actually been compared to the Brazilian, and could have been the Gunners’ own version of him.

The best youngster Arsenal let go too soon

While Arsenal have a proud history of bringing through young talent, as we’ve seen over the last year or so, they’ve also lost their fair share of future superstars, such as Eze.

The Gunners’ recent signing was released by the club as a teenager, but they weren’t the only ones who failed to see his talent.

Before being picked up by Queens Park Rangers, the Englishman was let go by Millwall, Fulham and Reading and then rejected by Bristol City and Sunderland.

Fortunately, he got his shot with the Hoops, where Crystal Palace spotted him, and then 40 goals and 28 assists in 169 games later, he returned to the Emirates for £68m.

Another youngster who has returned to N5 on multiple occasions, but donning the white of Tottenham Hotspur, was Harry Kane.

The club released the England captain at age 12 due to them not believing he was big enough to make it in the game – an opinion that would come back to haunt the club over and over again.

In all, the former academy gem has scored 15 goals and provided two assists in 21 games against his former side – talk about getting your own back.

Appearances

435

Goals

280

Assists

61

Goal Involvements per Match

0.78

However, while these two players were released by Arsenal as youngsters, the club went on to sell another future superstar for a pittance years later.

The star who could have been Arsenal's own Rodrygo

Wenger got so many things right during his time at Arsenal and made so many brilliant signings, but one of his mistakes was selling Serge Gnabry.

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.

The German international was sold to Werder Bremen in the summer of 2016 for just £5m and never looked back.

The game-changing winger hit the ground running, racking up 11 goals and two assists in 27 appearances, which was enough for Bayern Munich to splash £7m on him the following summer.

The German behemoths immediately sent the Stuttgart-born gem on loan to Hoffenheim for the 17/18 season, where he again showed why the Gunners had made a mistake, producing 18 goal involvements in just 27 games.

The “future legend,” as talent scout Jacek Kulig described him, finally got his chance in the Bayern first team the following year, and to say he grabbed it with both hands would be an understatement.

So far, the 52-capped international has made 289 appearances for FC Hollywood, in which he has scored 94 goals and provided 63 assists, resulting in an average of a goal or assist every 1.84 games.

So, it’s more than clear that the Gunners made a massive mistake in selling Gnabry all those years ago, but where does this comparison to Rodrygo come into things?

Well, according to FBref, the Real Madrid star was the fifth most similar attacking midfielder or winger to him in the Champions League last season.

We can gain a better understanding of how this conclusion was reached by examining some of the underlying numbers in which the pair rank closely.

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.54

0.48

Progressive Passes

4.10

3.92

Shots

2.61

2.57

Passing Accuracy

82.2%

85.1%

Carries

39.8

41.3

Carries into the Penalty Area

2.13

2.27

These include metrics such as non-penalty expected goals plus assists, passing accuracy, carries into the penalty area, shots, and more, all per 90.

In other words, the £312k-per-week German is an exceedingly dangerous winger who can create an abundance of chances for his teammates.

Ultimately, clubs are always going to let talents slip through their fingers, but losing Gnabry really has to sting for Arsenal, especially as he could have been their Rodrygo.

Arsenal hit gold on "world-class" star worth way more than Eze & Zubimendi

Arteta and Arsenal have hit the jackpot with this sensational star.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Sep 5, 2025

The attacking department at Tottenham Hotspur has been subject to somewhat of an overhaul this summer, especially after the departure of fan favourite Heung-min Son.

The South Korean departed in a £20m move to join MLS outfit LAFC, ending his Lilywhites career on a high after claiming the Europa League title at the end of last season.

However, it was an emotional departure, bringing an end to his decade-long stint in North London – a period that saw him amass over 400 appearances and become the club’s fourth-highest goalscorer in their history.

At 33, it was undoubtedly the right call to allow him to move on to pastures new, but it’s left a void in the forward area – something which Thomas Frank will want to fill before the end of the summer window.

Whilst Mohammed Kudus has already been added to such a department, the new boss has made it abundantly clear that he wants added reinforcements to help him in his quest to rise up the Premier League table in 2025/26.

Spurs preparing another big move after Eze

A deal for Eberechi Eze has been in the pipeline for numerous weeks now, but a deal seems to be edging closer to completion, after key moves were made by Daniel Levy.

It was reported that the Spurs owner held face-to-face talks with Steve Parish over a move for the Englishman, which has seen a verbal agreement of £55m plus £5m in add-ons be reached in recent days.

A deal for the 27-year-old could see the Lilywhites’ pursuit of a new number ten finally come to an end, subsequently turning their attention to Monaco star Magnhes Akliouche in an attempt to further strengthen the squad.

According to The Independent, Frank’s men have identified the winger as the latest attacking target this window, potentially pursuing a move for the 23-year-old before the September 1st deadline.

Their report claims that the Frenchman is seen as an alternative to Manchester City’s Savinho after the lack of progress on a deal for the Brazilian, with Akliouche a cheaper option, currently available for around a bargain fee of £43.5m.

Why Spurs’ latest target would be perfect alongside Eze

As previously mentioned, a deal for Eze appears to finally be edging towards its completion, in a deal that would be yet another excellent deal for Spurs this window.

The attacking midfielder was one of the most potent number 10s in the division last year, managing to register 26 combined goals and assists – subsequently firing the Eagles to FA Cup glory.

If he can replicate such numbers across the capital in 2025/26, it would be a signing that would go a long way to improving the options at Frank’s disposal – making the side a force to be reckoned with across all competitions.

Such a deal would also allow the Lilywhites to get one over their bitter North London rivals Arsenal, with the Gunners also previously interested in a move for the England international.

However, the prospect of Eze operating in Frank’s side is scary enough, not to mention the potential partnership he could strike up with Akliouche, should he too make the move to join the club.

He may be an unknown quantity to many, but the 23-year-old enjoyed a season to remember in his homeland last campaign, notching seven goals and 12 assists in all competitions.

His underlying stats were just as impressive, adding another dimension to the Lilywhites squad, offering another huge attacking threat in the hierarchy’s quest for added success in the near future.

Akliouche, who’s been labelled “exceptional” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, ranked in the 93rd percentile for touches in the opposition box and passes into the 18-yard box last campaign – highlighting his ability to create or be on the end of chances.

Such numbers would fit perfectly into the hands of Eze, who registered 12 assists last season, with the pair able to link up and improve their respective tallies in North London.

Games played

32

Goals & assists

15

Pass accuracy

82%

Progressive passes

6.5

Progressive carries

4.8

Touches in opposition box

5.4

Passes into the opposition box

2.4

Carries into final third

1.8

Take-on success

49%

Key passes made

1.9

The Monaco youngster also ranked in the 94th percentile for carries into the final third, whilst posting a 49% take-on success rate, subsequently able to get the ball into dangerous areas at any given opportunity.

His talents are further reflected in his progressive passes per 90 rate, averaging 5.5 per 90, with such tools able to find Eze – who will be required to make third-man runs in behind the striker within Frank’s current system.

Whilst both players would set the club back over £100m, they are additions that need to be made if the club are to build on their recent European triumph in 2024/25.

Both players are extremely technical, having the talent to get out of tight spaces and create endless opportunities, with Akliouche in particular being an exciting addition for the immediate and long-term future in North London.

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