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Over the years, Tottenham Hotspur supporters have had numerous opportunities to witness numerous elite-level forwards in their first-team squad in North London.

Harry Kane will undoubtedly be the first that springs to mind, after the Englishman netted a total of 280 goals during his decade-long spell as a regular starter.

His tally is the highest in the Lilywhites’ history, but he will no doubt have to hand a huge amount of credit to the direction of former teammate Heung-min Son.

The South Korean often featured alongside Kane in the final third, which saw the duo register 47 goals in the Premier League for one another – a tally making them the best pair in the division’s history.

However, Thomas Frank has been unable to call upon either of the aforementioned talents, with the Dane currently facing a struggle with the options at the top end of the pitch.

Spurs number nine struggles under Thomas Frank

Before a single ball was kicked in 2025/26, many of the Spurs supporters would have anticipated Dominic Solanke to be the club’s starting centre-forward under Frank.

However, it’s been a season to forget for the Englishman to date, with the 28-year-old massively struggling with an ankle issue – even going under the knife to fix the issue.

As a result, he’s been restricted to a total of just 31 league minutes to date, with his last senior appearances for the Lilywhites coming back in August.

Due to the injury issues of Solanke, Richarlison has been handed the responsibility of leading the line in recent months, with the Brazilian making a phenomenal start to the season.

He netted a double in the opening day victory over Burnley in North London, but he’s since only found the net twice in the following ten outings in England’s top-flight.

Prior to netting against Manchester United, the 28-year-old was on a run of ten games without a goal in all competitions, with his previous effort coming way back in the 2-2 draw with Brighton and Hove Albion in September.

His lack of form has allowed Randal Kolo Muani to have the opportunity to stake his claim at the top end of the pitch, with the PSG loanee starting in all of the last three outings, including in the meeting with United.

However, he’s also struggled to make the desired impact, with the Frenchman yet to find the back of the net in any of the eight games he’s played in under Frank.

Frank clearly needs to address the issue in such an area of the pitch, but elite-level talismen certainly don’t come cheap in the current climate – with the boss potentially wishing he had his own version of one other Premier League forward.

The Spurs star who is becoming their very own Haaland

Erling Haaland is a player who has constantly tormented countless backlines in the Premier League, often leaving supporters wishing they had a player of his calibre in their side.

The Norwegian international has registered a staggering record of 142 goals in his 160 appearances for Pep Guardiola’s men – cementing himself as one of Europe’s deadliest talismen.

He’s scored four goals in his seven appearances against the Lilywhites, often coming up with the goods and getting one over Spurs since his move to England.

This season alone, the 25-year-old has taken his goalscoring prowess to the next level, already finding the net on 21 occasions in just 18 appearances for the Citizens.

Should Spurs want to land their own version of Haaland, it would cost a small fortune in today’s market, with very few players able to replicate such levels.

However, Frank may already have a similar player in his ranks in the form of centre-back Micky van de Ven – a claim that may come as a surprise given the difference in position.

The Dutch international has been a key member of the Dane’s squad in 2025/26, featuring in every single Premier League and Champions League outing to date.

However, despite his defensive role, he’s thrived in attacking areas, as seen by his tally of six goals in 15 appearances – a tally which has made him the club’s top-goalscorer.

His latest strike came against FC Copenhagen on Tuesday night, with the 24-year-old running the entire length of the pitch before firing home expertly – just as Haaland would do at the Etihad.

Van de Ven’s performance led to one analyst dubbing him the “Haaland of centre-backs”, something which is surprisingly accurate given the Dutchman’s freakish pace and power.

The defender, who’s been labelled “world-class” by another analyst, clocked the fastest speed of any player in the division – which is similar to the Norwegian, with the forward having bags of pace despite his huge frame.

Micky van de Ven – stats in 2025/26

Statistics (per 90)

Tally

Games played

16

Goals scored

6

Pass accuracy

92%

Chances created

0.6

Tackles won

1.1

Aerials won

1.3

Dribble success

50%

Recoveries made

3.6

Stats via FotMob

His aerial ability has also made him a force to be reckoned with at both ends of the pitch, with his tally of 1.3 aerials won per 90 helping him score a double against Everton earlier this season.

Players like Van de Ven don’t come around very often, with the Lilywhites hierarchy conducting phenomenal business, landing the centre-back for just £40m.

His comparisons to Haaland in 2025/26 are there for all to see, with the Spurs star the closest thing Frank currently has to the Premier League’s leading goalscorer.

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Posts ByEthan Lamb Nov 6, 2025

As if Nuno Espírito Santo’s job at West Ham United isn’t already hard enough, he’s now been dealt a fresh injury blow.

Just before heading out on international duty, German forward Niclas Füllkrug reportedly tore his thigh while training with the East Londoners.

While it’s not clear when the 32-year-old will be back, it is clear that he won’t be available for at least a few Premier League games.

Fortunately, there are a few options Nuno can choose to solve this issue, including handing someone their first start for the side.

How West Ham can replace Fullkrug

The most apparent solution to Fullkrug’s injury, though the least inspiring, is to simply start Callum Wilson in his place.

Chalkboard

After all, the Englishman is an out-and-out striker with Premier League experience and has already scored a goal this season.

However, even though he’s scored, the former Newcastle United ace hasn’t looked particularly threatening or fit for the Hammers, and there is no guarantee he’ll score again since he only found the back of the net once in 22 games last season.

So with this in mind, it might make sense to move the far more prolific Jarrod Bowen back down the middle for a few weeks.

However, while this might not be the worst idea in the world, the Hammers’ incredible talisman can have a greater impact on proceedings and play to his strength when starting on the right.

Moreover, if he is down the middle, Nuno may have to throw the 19-year-old Luis Guilherme in at the deep end on the right, which doesn’t feel wise.

Finally, the manager could also potentially move Crysencio Summerville up top, as he looked a real threat in the game against Everton.

Yet, in doing this, Nuno would once again be significantly weakening his wide areas, as the Dutchman looks incredible out wide and is building a real understanding with El Hadji Malick Diouf.

How Nuno can fix West Ham's Fullkrug blow

While it seems there are significant drawbacks to every solution for Nuno, there is one last option he could try that may well prove to be the best: starting Callum Marshall.

Yes, with Fullkrug out of the picture and Wilson a less-than-inspiring stand-in, the manager should be bold and hand the academy gem his first competitive start for West Ham.

Granted, some might argue that the 20-year-old is still too young to be entrusted with a responsibility, but he already has a decent amount of experience for someone his age.

Appearances

46

Minutes

2841′

Goals

10

Assists

4

Goal Involvements per Match

0.30

Minutes per Goal Involvement

202.92′

For example, he spent last season on loan with League One side Huddersfield Town, scoring ten goals and providing four assists in 46 appearances, totalling 2841 minutes.

That comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 3.28 games, or every 202.92 minutes, and while that might not sound overly impressive, it’s important to remember it was his first proper season of regular first-team football.

Moreover, he clearly made a significant impact during his time with the Terriers as he was named the club’s Player of the Year for his efforts.

On top of looking good on loan last season, starting the “natural goalscorer,” as dubbed by former Huddersfield boss Michael Duff, would also allow Bowen and Summerville to remain on the wings.

In other words, the youngster’s inclusion in the team will see the rest of the attack continue to perform at its best, which could help him get his name on the scoresheet for the first time in claret and blue.

Ultimately, it would, of course, be something of a risk to start Marshall, but considering everything and the other options, it certainly seems like a risk worth taking for West Ham and Nuno.

West Ham make Toney decision after being offered different striker who "fits the bill"

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1 ByEmilio Galantini Oct 16, 2025

MatériaMais Notícias

Titular nos últimos dois jogos do São Paulo, Welington chegou a uma importante marca pelo clube do Morumbi. O lateral completou sua centésima atuação pelo Tricolor no empate contra o Botafogo, neste final de semana.

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Ao ser questionado sobre sua relação com o time, o jogador, que está desde 2004 no São Paulo, tratou como ‘a realização de um sonho’. Há oito anos defendendo a equipe, se referiu à marca alcançada como ‘privilégio’.

– Quando cheguei ao São Paulo, era apenas um garoto com muitos sonhos. O principal deles era ajudar a minha família. Já se passaram oito anos e muitas coisas aconteceram. Superei diversas dificuldades e aqui estou. Com muito esforço e dedicação, tive o prazer de jogar a minha centésima partida no sábado. Me sinto um cara muito privilegiado por defender esse time e fazer parte da história do São Paulo – disse.

+ Renove o seu estoque de camisas do Tricolor com o cupom LANCEFUT 10% OFF

– Espero seguir a minha trajetória aqui com muito respeito e profissionalismo e, quem sabe, alcançar 150, 200 e muito mais jogos pela equipe. Obrigado ao São Paulo e a todos os nossos torcedores – completou.

Mas os últimos dias não foram importante para Welington somente pela marca atingida pelo Tricolor. O lateral, pela primeira vez, foi convocado para defender a Seleção Brasileira sub-23. Ao longo de sua trajetória, o lateral já havia sido chamado para as seleções inferiores do país, mas nunca para a equipe olímpica.

Na semana passada, o treinador Ramon Menezes o incluiu na lista dos convocados para representar a equipe pré-olímpica, que realizará dois amistosos, contra o Marrocos, nos dias 7 e 11 de setembro, visando os Jogos Olímpicos de Paris, em 2024.

Welington destacou o acontecimento, agradecendo principalmente a seus companheiros de equipe e a comissão técnica que esteve envolvida.

– A primeira vez a gente nunca esquece, né? Já tinha sido convocado para as seleções de base, mas nunca para a sub-23. Isso significa que o trabalho está sendo bem feito e que a comissão técnica do professor Ramon Menezes tem acompanhado todos os jogos. Gostaria de agradecer aos meus companheiros de elenco, à nossa comissão e a todos os profissionais do São Paulo, que sempre me dão todo o suporte e são fundamentais para a evolução da minha carreira – disse.

Nos 100 jogos que fez pelo São Paulo, Welington marcou dois gols e distribuiu nove assistências. Nos últimos jogos do São Paulo, sem Caio, tem sido a principal opção para a lateral-esquerda.

Lancashire openers add 177 for first wicket to set up second win in a row

ESPNcricinfo staff31-May-2025

Lancashire 216 for 3 (Jennings 95, Wells 87) beat Notts Outlaws 169 (Henriques 60, Barnard 3-23) by 47 runsLancashire openers Keaton Jennings and Luke Wells shared 177 inside 16 overs – the highest ever partnership for any wicket in the Vitality Blast North Group – as Lightning beat Nottinghamshire Outlaws by 47 runs at Emirates Old Trafford.Having elected to bat, Jennings crashed 95 off 49 balls and Wells 87 off 50 as Lightning totalled 216 for three to set up a second straight win to start their campaign.The Outlaws, who replied with 169 all out, have now won one, lost one. Less than 24 hours earlier, they conceded 226 for five against the Bears at Trent Bridge but chased it easily.This target was achievable even on a used pitch. But Lancashire returned a polished bowling display including a superb debut three for 23 from four overs for left-arm spinner Charlie Barnard. Moises Henriques made 60 off 32 balls for Notts.Jennings and Wells shared 79 on the same pitch in victory over Worcestershire on Thursday, and the two left-handers excelled again.They hit six sixes apiece and were dominant down the ground against both seam and spin. The 13 sixes in the innings equalled a Lightning record.Jennings had actually been dropped off his first ball, getting a leading edge off the part-time spin of Matt Montgomery, who went one-handed diving to his right.Dillon Pennington, Daniel Sams and the left-arm spin of Liam Patterson-White all claimed a wicket apiece for the Outlaws, but Montgomery was the pick of their attack, returning nought for 20 from four overs of off-spin.Wells reached his fifty first off 34 balls shortly before Jennings got his second in as many games off 27 on Pride day at Emirates Old Trafford.They bettered the previous North Group record stand – 175 between openers Graeme Hick and Vikram Solanki for Worcestershire against Northamptonshire at Kidderminster in 2007.After Wells uppercut the pace of Pennington to short third man to end the partnership, Notts did well to drag things back. They could easily have been chasing more.Henriques took a superb leaping catch at backward point to help Patterson-White remove his fellow Australian Ashton Turner as two wickets fell in the last 15 balls of the innings.Bustling pacer Tom Aspinwall then struck twice in the third over of the Outlaws’ chase – 21 for two – as captain Joe Clarke drilled to cover and fellow opener Lyndon James was bowled.Jack Haynes and lead partner Henriques then settled things and advanced by sharing 61 inside six overs, the latter hoisting two big leg-side sixes in that time.But when Haynes cut 20-year-old Barnard, who took the new ball, to cover for his first T20 wicket on debut, Lancashire were ahead again at 82 for three in the ninth.Veteran Henriques reached a 21-ball fifty moments later, and you felt he had to be the match-winner.So when he was trapped lbw by Barnard, shortly followed by Sams bowled later in the 15th over, it felt like game over at 131 for six. It proved true.Like Barnard, Aspinwall was excellent with three for 26. So to was overseas off-spinner Chris Green with two for 28.

Tottenham Hotspur suffered from a lack of creativity during Saturday’s defeat against Bournemouth on home turf, losing 1-0 after such good work in claiming six points from six to get the Thomas Frank era off to a flyer in the Premier League.

The hunt for a playmaker worth their salt has dominated much of the Lilywhites’ transfer window, with Xavi Simons signed on but only after botched efforts for Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White and Eberechi Eze, who left Crystal Palace and joined Arsenal.

But the defeat against the Cherries, requiring more than an hour of action for a first shot on target, and Simons alone won’t provide the answer across the wide span of the campaign.

Mohammed Kudus has racked up a few assists already at this early point in his Tottenham career, but it’s not enough, and Daniel Levy looks ready to attack the market one last time and land a player with properties better suited to fixing this chink in the armour.

Spurs lining up D-day signing

Tottenham have what it takes to come on leaps and bounds this season, but much will depend on the coherence threaded through the first-team squad.

And without enough creative ammunition, Frank’s lofty ambitions might prove hard to hit. To put it another way, he could do with another impactful addition in the coming hours.

As per transfer insider Graeme Bailey, that man could be Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers, with Tottenham having made an enquiry to ascertain the potential of a last-gasp bid for the England international.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

The chances of the energetic attacking midfielder leaving are admittedly slim, but Tottenham may well pull it off if they offer a sum in the ballpark of £80m, the figure quoted as other clubs – including Liverpool – circle.

What Rogers would bring to Spurs

Aston Villa only signed Rogers from Middlesbrough in the Championship for £15m in January 2024, and already, the 23-year-old has established himself as one of the most dangerous players in the Premier League.

After all, he notched 30 goal involvements across all competitions last term, blending his prolific touch with such power and confidence when carrying the ball forward.

Might Spurs be set to land a stunning repeat of their one-time masterclass in winning the race for Dele Alli, who also had strong interest from Liverpool before leaving MK Dons in League One and joining Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham in a £5m package, aged 18.

The rest is history. While Dele’s career has sadly swerved down a dark path, he will always be remembered fondly down N17 for his incredible and prodigious emergence, with Pochettino actually saying back in 2017: “If he is not the best young player in Europe, he’s one of the best. Look at his age and his statistics, the potential is massive.”

Rogers doesn’t quite carry the same weight, but he’s still showcased immense potential under Unai Emery’s wing at Aston Villa.

Not just a prolific midfielder, Rogers is something of “a machine” when on the ball, as has been noted by The Athletic’s Jacob Tanswell. He won 4.7 duels per league match last year, as per Sofascore, and shifted from the centre to a more attacking berth with such gusto.

While he can play out on the flank, Rogers shares a further likeness with his countryman in that he is best utilised from the centre, with journalist Carl Anka actually remarking that he has a “Dele-esque” way about him in that regard.

Adding him to the ranks would strengthen Tottenham’s creative potential, to be sure, adding something that Kudus, for all his ability, doesn’t quite inject with the needed skill at this present moment. Indeed, last term, Kudus chalked up just nine goals and assists for the Hammers in all competitions, far fewer than Rogers’ haul of 30.

Kudus is a direct and dangerous winger, but he’s not the most effective of playmakers, and with James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski both sidelined, adding a player of Rogers’ profile to the mix could go a long way toward weaving together the kind of tactical harmony needed for Spurs to hit their targets and exceed them.

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5

By
Matt Dawson

Aug 31, 2025

كشفت تقارير صحفية أن أحد لاعبي فريق برشلونة سيوقع على عقد جديد، بشكل رسمي، يوم الأربعاء المقبل بعد توصل كافة الأطراف إلى اتفاق تام حول تلك الخطوة.

ويستعد برشلونة لخوض مباراة يوم السبت المقبل ضد جيرونا، في الجولة التاسعة من بطولة الدوري الإسباني، حيث يسعى لمصالحة جماهيره بعد السقوط أمام إشبيلية بأربعة أهداف لهدف في الجولة الماضية.

من جهة أخرى، ذكرت صحيفة “موندو ديبورتيفو” الإسبانية أن فرينكي دي يونج سيوقع على عقد جديد مع برشلونة، يوم الأربعاء المقبل، حيث سيكون ساريًا لمدة 4 سنوات أخرى، أي حتى 30 يونيو 2029.

اقرأ أيضًا.. مباريات برشلونة التي سيغيب عنها داني أولمو وموقفه من الكلاسيكو

وأوضحت أن راتب دي يونج للفترة المتبقية من الموسم الحالي سيكون حسب الاتفاق القديم، بينما سيبدأ راتبه الجديد بدءًا من 1 يوليو القادم أي مع بداية موسم 2026/27.

وأشارت إلى أن قيمة الشرط الجزائي في العقد الجديد لـ دي يونج سيبلغ 500 مليون يورو بدلًا من الحالي الذي يُقدر بـ400 مليون يورو.

وانضم دي يونج إلى برشلونة قادمًا من أياكس في 2019، ومن ثم فإن عقده الجديد سيجعله لاعبًا في الفريق لمدة عقد من الزمان.

Arsenal left it late to secure a 1-1 draw against Manchester City in the Premier League on Sunday, with Gabriel Martinelli coming off the bench to equalise in added time. The result leaves the Gunners five points adrift of early table-toppers and reigning champions Liverpool having won three, drawn one and lost one of their opening five matches this season.

With just under ten minutes on the clock, Arsenal went behind after a smooth City breakaway. Tijjani Reijnders led a counter attack right through the centre of the pitch, teeing up Erling Haaland to finish from close range.

The hosts scarcely troubled their visitors during the opening 45 minutes, and Mikel Arteta sought to make amends by bringing on Bukayo Saka and Eberechi Eze for the start of the second half. The latter forced Gianluigi Donnarumma into a save with a neat half-volley soon after coming on, much to the delight of a frustrated home crowd, while David Raya produced a low stop to keep out Haaland at the other end.

Heading into seven minutes of added time, there seemed little hope of Arsenal finding a leveller, but one move changed everything. Eze picked out the run of Gabriel Martinelli over the top, and the Brazilian produced a piece of magic to dink Donnarumma and snatch a point for the resilient Gunners.

GOAL rates Arsenal's players from the Emirates…

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Goalkeeper & Defence

  David Raya (6/10):

  Made a smart stop to keep out Haaland in the second half though had no chance getting to the Norwegian's opener.

  Jurrien Timber (5/10):

  Usually a lock-down defender, Timber will probably happy to see the back of the rejuvenated Jeremy Doku. Taken off for Martinelli late on with Arsenal chasing a goal.

  William Saliba (5/10):

  Made his first start on return from an injury sustained in last month's defeat at Liverpool, which may have explained why he was so tentative with his indecisive defending leading to City's early strike.

  Gabriel Magalhaes (5/10):

  Pushed high into the City half leaving Saliba hugely exposed for Haaland to break the deadlock.

  Riccardo Calafiori (6/10):

  One of Arsenal's most progressive players with his willingness to get forward, both overlapping down the line and underlapping inside.

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• AFP
  

  Midfield

  Martin Zubimendi (6/10):

  A calm head in the storm, getting his head up to keep possession ticking. Unfortunately, he was still second-best to compatriot Rodri in this department. Taken off for Mosquera in stoppage time at the end of the second half.

  Mikel Merino (5/10):

  Offered very little in the midfield battle and was withdrawn for Eze at the break.

  Declan Rice (5/10):

  So often has Rice come up trumps in these huge games for Arsenal that we now expect the outrageous from him in them. Alas, this was a quiet performance by his standards.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Attack

  Noni Madueke (6/10):

  Arsenal's brightest performer in what was a pretty turgid first half. Sacrificed at half-time for Saka.

  Viktor Gyokeres (3/10):

  Stuck out like a sore thumb in the worst way possible. Couldn't get the ball to stick to him, couldn't connect with his team-mates and fluffed his lines on the rare occasions he was within striking distance.

  Leandro Trossard (5/10):

  A surprise starter when the lineups were announced, and you'd have forgiven Arteta for hooking the Belgian. More of a source of inspiration in the second half, at least. Withdrawn for Nwaneri for the closing stages.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Subs & Manager

  Bukayo Saka (6/10):

  Introduced at the break for Madueke, marking his own comeback from injury. Gave the Gunners that initial shot in the arm as hoped but couldn't sustain that impact.

  Eberechi Eze (8/10):

  Dropped out of the starting lineup but was restored to the XI for the second half. Like Saka was positive to begin with, faded away, before blossoming again with an incredible assist for Martinelli.

  Gabriel Martinelli (8/10):

  Subbed on for Timber in hope of reproducing his heroics off the bench at Athletic Club on Tuesday, and there was an even more dramatic finale on this occasion. Excelling as a 'finisher' for this deep squad.

  Ethan Nwaneri (N/A):

  Brought on for Trossard for the last few minutes.

  Cristhian Mosquera (N/A):

  Came on in stoppage time for Zubimendi.

  Mikel Arteta (6/10):

  Got the starting lineup wrong with so many conservative choices, though did rectify this after only 45 minutes of football.

With Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall added to the ranks, Everton are starting to take shape as the 2025/26 campaign looms large.

David Moyes did a fine job last season, replacing Sean Dyche in January and steering the Toffees away from relegation danger and into the comfort of mid-table. They finished 13th in the Premier League, with pragmatic resilience and flashes of exciting attacking quality providing Goodison Park with a poignant but rousing send-off.

Now, this new chapter at the Hill Dickinson Stadium demands a grander vision, and Moyes is determined to emulate his previous success with Everton and West Ham United by driving this Blues team into European competition and restoring the club’s reputation.

After the first-team exodus at the end of last season, which was much needed, Everton need to make a series of further additions this month, with the market murmurings suggesting the Friedkin Group aren’t done in the middle of the park just yet.

Everton still chasing midfielders

Dewsbury-Hall is a fantastic midfielder, robust and reliable. However, Abdoulaye Doucoure’s exit in June calls for more quality in the centre.

The exciting Tyler Dibling has been withdrawn from first-team training at Southampton amid Everton talks. Moyes has already overseen two knocked-back bids for the attacking midfielder, 19, who can play centrally or out wide.

A more pragmatic profile would belong to Aston Villa’s John McGinn, with recent news suggesting Everton have seen an £18m offer rejected for the 30-year-old Scot.

Instead, TFG are ready to turn toward Sunderland’s Chris Rigg, with TEAMtalk revealing that Everton are exploring a move for the midfielder, who is among England’s sought-after teenagers.

The report states that Everton’s scouting team have urged caution, for the 18-year-old is priced at £40m and the Black Cats are under no pressure to sell. The Toffees will observe from afar across the campaign, ready to pounce.

What Chris Rigg would bring to Everton

Rigg might only be 18, but he’s already become a major player at the Stadium of Light, starting 36 Championship fixtures last season as Sunderland clawed their way back into the Premier League.

Though Dibling has proven himself at the top level, there’s little question that Rigg could explode into the limelight if afforded the opportunity, and he will, having engineered the promotion with his controlled, productive performances.

Among Dibling’s most striking strengths is his tactical fluency, able and impressive across any number of positions. Rigg shares this quality, maybe even more dynamic than his fellow prodigy.

Given that Rigg has yet to actually play out a match in England’s top flight, and he is still considered to be worth something in the region of £40m, much like Dibling, Everton might find that they could sign an even bigger talent in the versatile midfielder.

And he shares some of his young countryman’s ball-playing and -carrying properties too. Rigg wrapped up the 2024/25 Championship term ranked among the top 17% of positional peers for succcessful take-ons and the top 18% for passes into the penalty area, as per FBref, denoting both power and intuition when on the ball.

Hailed for his “phenomenal talent” by analyst Ben Mattinson, Rigg has what it takes to become a superstar in the Premier League, with the journalist continuing to say he’s “a technically gifted midfielder capable of moments of brilliance.”

With Everton opening talks with Manchester City for Jack Grealish, the need for a youngster such as Dibling is eased somewhat.

Should Rigg become available next summer, perhaps Moyes and co would be better off playing the long game.

He’d be Gueye 2.0: Everton closing in on move for "exciting" £22m star

Everton are looking for plenty more new signings this summer

By
Joe Nuttall

Aug 7, 2025

A classy half-century from Indian opener Yastika Bhatia powered the Melbourne Stars to a comprehensive seven-wicket WBBL win over Hobart Hurricanes.Nicola Carey and Chloe Tryon lifted Hurricanes to 133 for 7 batting first at Junction Oval on Sunday. But Stars were always on top in the run-chase, reaching their target comfortably with 13 balls to spare.Bhatia top-scored with 57 from 46 balls, the left-handed wicketkeeper-batter striking seven fours and one six in a superb knock. Meg Lanning and captain Annabel Sutherland also played important roles with the bat.”Meg really helped me when I was in the middle in the (power) surge,” Bhatia told . “She told me exactly what the bowlers were going to bowl, so it helped me out in the middle. Also, my family is here, so it’s a special moment for me.”Heather Graham removed both Stars openers, and Carey claimed the key wicket of Lanning.Marizanne Kapp and Kim Garth helped put the clamps on Hurricanes. Indian offspinner Deepti Sharma took 1 for 27 from four overs in her first Stars appearance.

Liverpool fans got a taste of their new signings in action across the past week, with pre-season friendlies carried out against Preston North End and Stoke City, the latter in a behind-closed-doors setting.

It was that 5-0 romp, however, that highlighted just how incredible a talent Florian Wirtz is, the playmaker all tricks and flicks and winged feet as he dictated play and showcased his astounding technical ability.

Signed from Bayer Leverkusen for an initial £100m fee which could stretch to a British-record £116m, the German, 22, has added so much talent and dynamism to Arne Slot’s dangerous frontline.

However, with Luis Diaz potentially off to Bayern Munich, Liverpool may need to bring in yet another attacking addition.

The latest on Liverpool's search for forwards

With Hugo Ekitike set to leave Eintracht Frankfurt and sign for Liverpool in a deal worth £79m, sporting director Richard Hughes has solved one of Slot’s biggest problems.

However, Diaz’s suspected sale to Bayern Munich, who are ready to return with a second offer, has opened the gates for a successor to come in.

A host of names have been bandied around, but the most ambitious has got to belong to Real Madrid’s Rodrygo, with transfer insider Graeme Bailey revealing that talks have been held between Liverpool and the player’s camp as they weigh up a marquee move.

Rodrygo, 24, is one of the world’s finest forwards, but he’s no longer all-important at Real Madrid, with Xabi Alonso open to his sale this summer.

In any case, the Brazilian forward won’t come cheap, with figures as high as £87m floating about.

What Rodrygo would bring to Liverpool

In 2024/25, Rodrygo didn’t suffer a poor season by any stretch, but there’s no question he left something to be desired, going 12 La Liga matches without a goal or an assist across the second half of the season.

Blame can in large part be apportioned to his consistent placement out on the right wing. The right-footed Rodrygo’s favoured position is on the left, where his goalscoring ability is best served.

Far more clinical on the left, the Los Blancos superstar bas proven himself to be a versatile asset, however, as the table below rubberstamps.

Rodrygo – Real Madrid Stats by Position (24/25)

Position

Apps

Goals

Assists

Right winger

31

8

5

Left winger

12

6

6

Centre-forward

10

0

0

Stats via Transfermarkt

In this way, he could emulate a former Liverpool great in Sadio Mane, who joined the club from Southampton for £34m in 2015 and went on to become one of the deadliest left-sided forwards of his generation.

Mane, now 33 and playing for Al-Nassr, played across the frontline for Saints, scoring nine goals and providing four assists across 21 matches as a right winger in 2015/16, right before his move to Merseyside.

His propensity for goals off the right was further underscored during his early days for Liverpool.

Mane was one of the best wingers in the Premier League, but in Rodrygo, Liverpool could hit the jackpot on a new star, named as a “world-class” player by his former teammate Luka Modric.

Given that the South American would be playing with a new lease of life in a role catered better to his distinct qualities, it might be worth forking out a significant sum once again on FSG’s part.

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