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On a blustery Wellington day, an Antarctic chill blowing in with the southerly, New Zealand’s home advantage may have played a role in their victory. This is what Matt Henry thinks, after his 4 for 19 led the demolition of Sri Lanka’s batting order. Bowling first on a green pitch, New Zealand rolled Sri Lanka over for 178. And yet Sri Lanka’s seamers were unable to exert similar pressure, New Zealand winning by nine wickets, inside 27 overs.Though this is midsummer in New Zealand, the temperature was around 15 degrees Celsius in the morning. And as almost always at the Basin Reserve, there was an end at which the bowlers had to work against a substantial wind. New Zealand understood how to harness these conditions, Henry said.Related

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“It’s probably about understanding ends,” he said. “The wind plays a huge part here at the Basin. That’s the home advantage – knowing what it looks like to attack from both ends, and using the bounce that’s usually available here as well. Thankfully we were able to force some errors and take some wickets.”The first ten overs, at the end of which New Zealand had Sri Lanka 23 for 4, were the definitive period of this match. Henry claimed the first wicket – that of Pathum Nissanka – and Jacob Duffy and Nathan Smith also took wickets in their first spells.Jacob Duffy knocked over Kusal Mendis in the first powerplay•Getty Images

“The way we started with the ball, we were able to create pressure at both ends, and take wickets throughout, which is our key objective as a bowling group,” Henry said. “Any time you get the new ball you want to have an impact on the game. It’s nice to have that success, but you don’t have that without the guys doing the job at the other end as well. Starting with the new ball down-breeze, the way Duffy started and Smith as well – that’s how chances come as well. I thought it was a great team performance.”New Zealand also produced an outstanding fielding effort, with Mark Chapman in particular electric in the point region. The highlight of the fielding performance, however, was Mitchell Santner swooping on a ball from cover to fire in an underhand throw as he dived forward, to hit the single stump he had to aim at. This ran out Kamindu Mendis in the 10th over.”We pride ourselves on our fielding,” Henry said. “With these windy conditions, you can get lost out there. The engagement was brilliant, and we were taking our chances when they came. To have a run-out in the first 10 overs through Mitch Santner, with a great bit of fielding, it really puts a team under pressure and puts momentum in your favour. Little moments like that have a huge impact on the game.”Henry himself has entered a new phase in his career – one in which he makes all three New Zealand teams. For much of the last 10 years, he’d been in the shadows of the likes of Tim Southee, Trent Boult, and Neil Wagner. With all three now retired, Henry is the senior-most bowler around.”It’s great to have that continuity. Playing for New Zealand in all forms is something I’ve wanted to do. I’ve been involved with this group for 10 years now. I love playing for New Zealand.”And though playing all three formats could pose fresh challenges to a fast bowler’s body, Henry is unconcerned.”That’s the beauty of the strength and conditioning coach, who does a great job. We play all year round now, and it’s something that I’ve always done. I’ve played a lot of county cricket as well. It’s probably about understanding your body and how to stay fresh.”

تلقى نادي ليفربول، ضربة موجعة بين صفوفه، بعدما تعرض أحد لاعبي الفريق لإصابة خلال الأيام الماضية، بينما انطلقت فترة التوقف الدولي خلال شهر أكتوبر للتو.

ليفربول يعاني الأمرين خلال الفترة الأخيرة، حيث تعرض الريدز إلى خسارتين متتاليتين في بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، والتي شملت الهزيمة ضد تشيلسي بهدفين مقابل هدف واحد يوم السبت الماضي في ملعب ستامفورد بريدج، ومن قبلها خسر الريدز ضد كريستال بالاس 2-1 أيضًا الأسبوع الماضي.

ولم يسلم ليفربول من الهزائم في دوري أبطال أوروبا، حيث خسر الريدز ضد جالطة سراي بهدف دون رد يوم الثلاثاء الماضي، ضمن مرحلة الدوري من المسابقة الأوروبية.

اقرأ أيضًا .. لاعب مانشستر سيتي: محمد صلاح أصعب خصم واجهته مع ميسي وهالاند

وسوف يفقتد ليفربول إلى خدمات لاعب خط وسط ميدانه خلال الفترة المقبلة، وذلك بسبب الإصابة.

وأكد ليفربول في بيان عبر موقع النادي الرسمي، أن الاتحاد الياباني أعلن غياب إندو عن قائمة المنتخب والذي سوف يخوض مباراتين خلال فترة التوقف الدولي الحالي.

اليابان سوف تواجه نظيرتها باراجواي يوم الجمعة المقبل في لقاء ودي، وبعد ذلك سيلعب الساموراي ضد البرازيل يوم 14 أكتوبر المقبل وديًا أيضًا.

إندو كان قد شارك خلال الشوط الثاني من مواجهة ليفربول وتشيلسي، لكن ابن الـ32 عامًا لم يقدم من جهته الإضافة المطلوبة.

Glasgow Rangers return to competitive action again on Wednesday night when they travel to Greece to take on Panathinaikos in the second leg of their second round Champions League qualifier.

The Light Blues head to Greece with a 2-0 lead on aggregate after they beat them at Ibrox last week in Russell Martin’s first official match in charge of the club.

Goals from Findlay Curtis and Djeidi Gassama in the second half wrapped up the win for the Gers, as both wingers cut inside from the left to fire the ball into the back of the net from distance.

It was a first chance for Ibrox supporters to watch Gassama in action after his move from English Championship side Sheffield Wednesday, and he showed what he is about with his strike.

The French winger produced eight goals and one assist in all competitions for the Owls last season, which suggests that Rangers fans can expect him to provide more quality as a goalscorer this term.

However, the Light Blues may be in the market for further additions in the wide areas because they still lack creativity in those positions, as they look to find their new Ryan Kent.

Why Rangers need to find their next Ryan Kent

In the 2024/25 campaign, no Rangers attacking midfielder or winger provided more than five assists in the Scottish Premiership, and no player in any position racked up more than James Tavernier’s tally of seven assists.

This suggests that the Light Blues are in need of a winger who can consistently open up the opposition’s defence with passes and crosses to create high-quality chances for their teammates to find the back of the net.

The Gers did have a winger who had the quality to consistently provide assists from the flanks when they had Kent on their books between 2018 and 2023, particularly in his final few seasons at Ibrox.

22/23

44

3

10

21/22

46

3

19

20/21

52

13

14

19/20

33

8

4

18/19

43

6

9

As you can see in the table above, the English forward hit double figures for assists in his last three seasons with the club, and produced at least nine assists in four of his five years in Glasgow.

These statistics show that he was a consistent creative threat down the left wing for the Gers, although they also show that he was inconsistent as a goalscorer.

Rangers are now looking to add more creativity to their squad to improve the team, and a fresh report suggests that they are on the verge of landing their next version of Ryan Kent.

Rangers set to sign new winger

According to the Daily Record, the Premiership giants have agreed a deal with Go Ahead Eagles to sign winger Oliver Antman to bolster their squad.

The report claims that the Finland international is poised to become the latest addition to Martin’s team within the next 24 to 48 hours, with a possible debut to come against Motherwell in the Premiership on Saturday.

Transfer Focus

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

It adds that a fee of around £5m has been mentioned for the 23-year-old right-sided attacker, who is now set to agree personal terms before completing a medical and officially signing for the club.

The Daily Record explains that the two teams have made progress on a deal for the forward in recent days, and a fee has now been agreed to bring the Finnish whiz to Ibrox this summer.

It now appears to be only the finer details, including a medical and media duties, that need to be finalised before the Gers can officially announce Antman as their new hero.

Why Oliver Antman could be the new Ryan Kent for Rangers

Rangers could finally have their new Ryan Kent in the building once they get this deal over the line in the coming hours or days, as he is an incredibly creative forward.

Antman is not a like-for-like in comparison to the English forward, because he predominantly plays on the right rather than the left, but they share the same creative qualities.

The Finland international, who assisted a goal for his country against Scotland last year, enjoyed a stunning season with Go Ahead Eagles in the Eredivisie in the 2024/25 campaign, as he showcased his ability to create goals on a regular basis.

Like Kent, Antman struggled at times as a goalscorer. He only scored six goals from 6.99 xG in the Dutch top-flight, which shows that the winger was too wasteful in front of goal, but the £5m-rated star made up for that with his assists.

Starts

28

Goals

6

Key passes per game

1.6

Big chances created

16

xA

6.54

Assists

15

As you can see in the table above, the 23-year-old talent created a whopping 16 ‘big chances’ in 28 starts in the Eredivisie, which landed him 15 assists.

His tally of 15 assists in the league meant that he created more than double as many league goals for his side in comparison to Tavernier, who was the top creator for Rangers in the Premiership last term with seven.

This suggests that Antman, who was aptly described as a “creative” winger by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has the potential to be a Kent-esque figure on the flank for Rangers due to his ability to consistently create ‘big chances’ for his teammates to find the back of the net.

Of course, the young attacker is unproven in the Premiership and needs to show that he can do it in Scottish football, but his form for Go Ahead Eagles shows that the potential is there for him to be an incredibly creative presence out wide for Martin.

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ByDan Emery Jul 27, 2025

Hopefully, Rangers will wrap this deal up sooner rather than later and supporters will get the opportunity to see him in action for the first time on Saturday against Motherwell.

Fabrizio Romano says that Arsenal are about to sign yet another player this summer, with sporting director Andrea Berta remaining busy in the transfer market after an already-ambitious window.

Eze's dream CF: Arsenal in talks to sign £69m "monster" & it's not Gyokeres

Arsenal could still change their mind on Viktor Gyokeres.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jul 10, 2025

Mikel Arteta has already watched the Premier League title hopefuls confirm deals for Kepa Arrizabalaga, Martin Zubimendi and Christian Norgaard most recently.

19/20 – winter

£0

20/21 – summer

£81.5m

20/21 – winter

£900k

21/22 – summer

£156.8m

21/22 – winter

£1.8m

22/23 – summer

£121.5m

22/23 – winter

£59m

23/24 – summer

£208m

23/24 – winter

£0

24/25 – summer

£101.5m

24/25 – winter

£0

25/26 – summer

£75m

The Gunners announced Norgaard’s capture on Thursday for an initial fee of £10 million, which could rise to £15 million if add-ons are met, and he comes in to shore up Arteta’s midfield whilst replacing the departed Thomas Partey.

“We’re delighted to welcome Christian to Arsenal,” said Arteta about Norgaard’s arrival.

“He is an international player with a wealth of experience of the Premier League. He has proven leadership skills and a strong character which will be invaluable to our squad.

“He is a strong midfielder with excellent tactical awareness and versatility. He also has physical presence and intelligence which will give us added depth and balance. Christian will bring a lot to the group both on and off the pitch, and we’re excited to start working with him in this next chapter of his career. We welcome Christian and his family to Arsenal.”

Attention now swiftly turns to who will follow the Denmark international to N5.

Arsenal remain in ongoing talks to sign Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres as negotiations reach a very advanced stage, and it is believed the 27-year-old is now on strike as he attempts to force through his desired move to north London.

Meanwhile, Arsenal have also held talks with Eberechi Eze’s representatives, according to reliable media sources, and a potential deal for the England international playmaker is separate to their pursuit of Chelsea winger Noni Madueke.

Earlier this week, after agreeing personal terms with the 23-year-old, Arsenal opened formal talks with Chelsea over signing Madueke, and it now appears those negotiations have reached a swift conclusion.

Arsenal given green light to sign Noni Madueke with agreement reached

That is according to Romano and widespread reports, which claim that Arsenal have now reached a total agreement for Madueke, in a deal worth north of £50 million including add-ons.

Arteta’s side have been given the “green light” to sign the ex-PSV Eindhoven sensation, with Chelsea set to make a £20 million profit – two years after he joined them from the Eredivisie for around £30 million.

The forward, called a “machine” by members of the media, was also dubbed one of Chelsea’s “best players” by Enzo Maresca last season.

However, Madueke is now poised to become the latest in a long line of transfers between the west Londoners and Arsenal, which surely casts major doubt over the long-term futures of both Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard – especially if they also complete a deal for Eze.

Arsenal supporters have watched new sporting director Andrea Berta get to work on a flurry of statement transfer deals this summer, with Noni Madueke joining from Chelsea for around £52 million and defender Cristhian Mosquera travelling to London for a medical most recently (Standard Sport).

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ByEmilio Galantini Jul 17, 2025

The duo have joined Kepa Arrizabalaga, Martin Zubimendi and Christian Norgaard among Mikel Arteta’s crop of brand-new players ahead of what will be an all-important Premier League campaign, with Arsenal seeking to end their 21-year wait for a league title.

Madueke’s arrival, after he put pen to paper on a five-year contract at Arsenal on Wednesday (Fabrizio Romano), has raised eyebrows among supporters – but journalist Charles Watts says that Arteta was really pushing to make the deal happen.

19/20 – winter

£0

20/21 – summer

£81.5m

20/21 – winter

£900k

21/22 – summer

£156.8m

21/22 – winter

£1.8m

22/23 – summer

£121.5m

22/23 – winter

£59m

23/24 – summer

£208m

23/24 – winter

£0

24/25 – summer

£101.5m

24/25 – winter

£0

25/26 – summer

£140m

“I know Arsenal are very happy with the price they have paid,” Watts said to CaughtOffside.

“They believe it matches up well to what other players of Madueke’s profile have moved for this summer and are adamant that in a couple of years time people will look on it as an excellent piece of business.

“Mikel Arteta has really been pushing this deal, he believes Madueke can thrive in an environment like Arsenal’s and does not view him as a back-up. He is bringing him in to play a lot of games, whether that be on the right or on the left.”

Now, attention has fully turned to finalising a move for Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres after weeks of talks.

Arsenal have reached an agreement in principle to sign the Sweden international, who will put pen to paper on a five-year contract (The Athletic), but there’s a final round of negotiations happening right now over the add-ons and bonuses involved (The Guardian).

Gyokeres’ agent agreed to waive his fee to help make the transfer happen, and Berta is currently attempting to get him through the door in time for Arsenal’s pre-season tour of the Far East, which begins on Wednesday against AC Milan in Singapore.

Viktor Gyokeres wants to join Arsenal by Wednesday

That is according to Football Transfers, who also report that Arsenal are expecting a breakthrough in the discussions surrounding bonuses soon – which could take the transfer cost up to £69 million.

Gyokeres and Arsenal want him to join up with Arteta’s squad in time for their clash with Milan, and a medical is apparently scheduled to take place for him over the weekend, so all parties appear pretty confident this transfer will be completely finalised in imminent fashion.

The 27-year-old’s arrival would mark the end of Arsenal’s long search for a prolific number nine, and Gyokeres could well be a crucial factor in bridging the gap between Arsenal and English champions Liverpool.

The former Coventry City star is on the verge of returning to England after two years free-scoring in Portugal, with Gyokeres netting an outstanding 97 goals in 102 appearances.

Leeds United have a massive summer ahead of them in the coming months, with shrewd additions needed if the side are to survive the drop in the Premier League next season.

Daniel Farke has done a tremendous job leading the side back to the top-flight, but the real job starts now, with the German needing to keep the side in the division.

None of the last six sides to secure promotion back to such a division have been able to remain in it for longer than one season, highlighting the task on the Whites’ hands in 2025/26.

Whilst they secured the Championship title in 2024/25, multiple additions will be needed in key areas of the pitch this summer, with added depth and quality required if they are to buck the recent trend.

With the season less than two months away and with no additions made, the hierarchy need to start making moves to strengthen the first team squad, leading to countless names being thrown into the mix.

The latest on Leeds’ hunt for new additions this summer

All areas of the pitch have been subject to links for Leeds in the last couple of weeks, with Farke evidently plotting moves for numerous talents before the start of the season.

The likes of Fabio Silva, Douglas Luiz and Japhet Tanganga have all been mooted with moves to Yorkshire, but as of yet, no deals have edged closer for any of the aforementioned trio.

However, another name has entered the mix over the last couple of days, with Celtic centre-back Cameron Carter-Vickers firmly on their radar, according to 67 Hail Hail.

Their report claims that the Whites are battling Sunderland for the 27-year-old, with the Scottish side potentially holding out for a fee in the region of £25m for his signature.

It also states that the American could be tempted by a return to the Premier League, with the real expectation that he will leave Brendan Rodgers’ side before the end of the summer window.

Why Leeds’ £25m target would be a better option than Bijol

Over the last couple of days, Leeds have emerged as strong contenders to secure a deal for Udinese centre-back Jaka Bijol, with the Slovenian appearing a key target for Farke’s side.

The Whites have already had their first bid for the 26-year-old rejected, but remain in talks with the Serie A side over a move to land the defender ahead of the 2025/26.

It’s been reported that the first bid was in the region of £15m, but it remains to be seen how much the Italian side would be demanding to part ways with Bijol this window.

He’s been a key member of the side this campaign, featuring in all but four matches, highlighting his importance to the side and making it understandable that they don’t want to part ways with him this summer.

They should look past a move for the Slovenian and prioritise a deal for the Celtic star, offering a better defensive option ahead of their return to the Premier League.

However, when comparing his stats to those of Carter-Vickers this campaign, the American has massively outperformed him in numerous key areas, showcasing why the board needs to pursue a move for his signature.

The 27-year-old, who’s been labelled “the best centre-back outside the top five leagues” by Euro Expert, has completed more passes and made more progressive passes per 90 – showcasing his ability to play out from the back when needed.

How Carter-Vickers compares to Bijol in 2024/25
Statistics (per 90)	Carter-Vickers	Bijol
Games played	30	34
Minutes played	2618	2963
Pass accuracy	94%	83%
Progressive passes	4.8	2.3
Tackles won	1.6	1.3
% of tackles won	71%	52%
Aerials won	74%	67%
Stats via FBref

He’s also starred out of possession, winning more tackles per 90, and making more interceptions, having the talent without the ball, massively aiding their survival battle next season.

The former Spurs star has also won more aerial battles, having an impact at both ends of the pitch, potentially offering a set-piece threat within the final third.

Whilst he may be an expensive addition for the Whites this summer, his figures produced this campaign are examples of the talent he possesses – offering a better signing than Bijol.

Both players would massively improve the options currently in the first team squad, with Farke needing to work tirelessly in the coming months to secure Carter-Vickers’ signature.

He'd be Farke's own Jansson: Leeds preparing bid for "monstrous" talent

Leeds United are set to make a move for a star who could become a fan favourite at Elland Road.

2

By
Ethan Lamb

Jun 13, 2025

Arsenal have been told exactly what it will take for Benjamin Sesko to leave RB Leipzig this summer, as his agent speaks out about reports linking his client with a move away from the Red Bull Arena.

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2 ByEmilio Galantini Jun 19, 2025

Sesko has just finished a career-best Bundesliga campaign, bagging 21 goals in all competitions, but he couldn’t quite guide Leipzig to a European spot – with the Germans missing out on a place in the Conference League, Europa League and Champions League.

19/20 – winter

£0

20/21 – summer

£81.5m

20/21 – winter

£900k

21/22 – summer

£156.8m

21/22 – winter

£1.8m

22/23 – summer

£121.5m

22/23 – winter

£59m

23/24 – summer

£208m

23/24 – winter

£0

24/25 – summer

£101.5m

24/25 – winter

£0

It is the first time Leipzig haven’t qualified for Europe since their top-flight arrival in 2016, and this will surely get Sesko thinking about his immediate future as Arsenal reportedly circle to offer him a route out.

The Slovenia international is a top target for Gunners manager Mikel Arteta, who’s been chasing his signature for 12 months.

Arsenal had a proposal rejected for Sesko last summer, who instead put pen to paper on a contract extension to remain at Leipzig and further his development, with the north Londoners also having an attempt rebuffed in January (Ben Jacobs).

They’re now trying to make it ‘third-time-lucky’ with another move for Sesko, and “concrete talks” have been taking place since late May (Florian Plettenberg). However, as things stand, Sky Germany are reporting that Arsenal are unwilling to match Leipzig’s financial demands for the centre-forward.

With plenty of work still to do, the 22-year-old’s own representative, Elvis Basanovic, has now provided an update on his client’s future in an interview with GiveMeSport this week.

Arsenal told key transfer condition by Benjamin Sesko's agent

Speaking to GMS, Basanovic has revealed the key condition for Sesko to depart Leipzig before summer deadline day on September 1.

The agent claims he’ll only leave Leipzig for a “special” new destination, refusing to clarify whether Arsenal fall into this category. When asked if the plan for Sesko is to find a new club, Basanovic said: “Well, his numbers at his age compared to some strikers with already great careers at his age are confirming my words.

“He will move from RB Leipzig only when we recognise a special club, a special project with a special coach.”

More worryingly for Arteta, the intermediary even suggested that Sesko could stay at Leipzig for years if they deem it the right call.

“It can be next week, or next year, or in 3 years,” Basanovic continued.

“Even if there may be – or will be – a strong desire of the player to move to a certain club, we will never force or blackmail RB Leipzig. I believe this is not the right way, because the way you actually exit from the club shows your values. Values that you are bringing into a new club.

“I can understand in very big transfers, there are a lot of different interests, but no matter what, I believe in the football world ‘there’ should be more respect. So that’s why we do things in the right way, or we don’t do them. It’s very simple, even maybe in the media it looks very complicated.”

Even though there are four Premiership matches still to play, Rangers supporters’ focus is very much on their plans for the summer.

Sunday sees the final Old Firm of the season, with the Gers actually targeting a third successive victory over their fiercest rivals, although it hasn’t helped much, given that Celtic sit 17 points clear at the top, crowned champions last weekend.

If Rangers are going to bridge that gap over the summer, they’ll need to get their recruitment spot on, so could bringing a “massive talent” in on loan prove to be a smart move?

Arne Engels' impact this season

On deadline day last summer, as a replacement for Matt O’Riley, Celtic broke their transfer record to sign Arne Engels from Augsburg for a reported £11m.

So, has the Belgian proved to be good value for money this season?

Let’s have a look at the midfielder’s statistics to help decide.

Appearances

48

Minutes

3,017

Goals

10

Penalty goals

8

Assists

12

Big chances created

14

As the table outlines, Engels’ output this season is pretty impressive this season, albeit his goal-scoring numbers are somewhat inflated by the fact he has converted eight penalties.

Nevertheless, at 21-years-old, there’s still plenty of time for him to come good and, flipping it to Rangers, they simply cannot afford to spend £11m on a player, their record signing of the modern-era is the £7m paid to make Ryan Kent’s move permanent in 2019.

So, should the Gers utilise the loan market to add quality to their squad, with another ex-Liverpool youngster potentially available?

Rangers' midfield target

As outlined already this week, Rangers may have the chance to reignite their prior January interest in Bobby Clark, with the youngster in line for a loan exit from Red Bull Salzburg this summer.

The 20-year-old spent time in Birmingham, Newcastle and then Liverpool’s academies, making his breakthrough on Merseyside, appearing 14 times for the Reds’ first team, most notably winning the EFL Cup against Chelsea at Wembley.

Then, last summer, after Jürgen Klopp’s long-time assistant Pepijn Lijnders was appointed as Salzburg’s new manager, he convinced the Austrian Bundesliga side to pay £10m to secure his services, the third-biggest fee Salzburg have ever paid.

Fair to say, this has not worked out for anyone involved; Lijnders was sacked just before Christmas, while die Roten Bullen remain fourth in the table, on course for their lowest finish in two decades, set to enter the Conference League in the second qualifying round, having featured in the Champions League group phase in each of the last six seasons.

As a whole, this campaign has been a complete catastrophe for Salzburg, while it’s not gone much better for Clark personally.

Appearances

24

13th

Minutes

1,142

16th

UCL minutes

326

14th

Goals

1

=12th

Assists

2

=9th

Due to his lack of minutes, a report by Christoph Nister of Kronen Zeitung claims that the plan is for Clark to be loaned out next season, so should Rangers make a move?

Well, despite the fact it has not worked out for Clark in Austria, he is still a quality player.

Newcastle reporter Lee Ryder has hailed him as a “really exciting player”, Ciaran Varley of BBC Sport is impressed by his ‘fast footwork’ and eye for goal, while Caoimhe O’Neill of The Athletic described him as an “attacking midfielder” who “plays close to the striker” and “is very athletic”.

So, let’s analyse how he compares to the aforementioned Engels – with the pair noted as similar players in this season’s Champions League, as per FBref.

Non-penalty goals

31%

31%

Shots

23%

54%

Assists

28%

94%

Shot-creating actions

43%

70%

Pass completion

47%

4%

Progressive passes

32%

37%

Progressive carries

71%

52%

Successful take-ons

42%

36%

Tackles

83%

71%

Interceptions

24%

20%

Touches

68%

64%

As the table outlines, Clarke and Engels are stylistically very similar, with the Englishman actually coming out on top for a high proportion of these Champions League statistics this season, which is made all the more impressive by the fact that Salzburg were generally hopeless in that competition, losing seven of eight fixtures, finishing third-bottom.

Thus, Clark would certainly be worth Rangers taking a punt on, a move that the 20-year-old may find even more attractive, if a certain Steven Gerrard is re-appointed manager.

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ByBen Gray May 2, 2025

Tottenham Hotspur secured their place in the semi-final of the Europa League last night, with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Eintracht Frankfurt in Germany.

Dominic Solanke’s first-half penalty was enough for Ange Postecoglou’s side, securing a 2-1 aggregate win after the 1-1 draw in North London last Thursday.

The triumph sets up a last-four clash with Bodo Glimt, moving the Lilywhites one step closer to European glory and potentially putting a superb end to a dismal season.

It certainly was a night to remember, giving a generation of supporters a new high in their time supporting the club, aiming to reach a first European final since 2019.

However, despite the impressive victory, numerous players failed to deliver in Germany, potentially putting their place in the side at huge jeopardy going forward.

Spurs’ poor performers against Eintracht Frankfurt

Winger Mathys Tel has been an inconsistent player to say the least since his January loan move from Bayern Munich, with last night no different for the Frenchman.

The 19-year-old only completed one of the five dribbles he attempted, whilst finding a teammate on just 33% of the times he delivered the ball into the 18-yard box.

He wasn’t the only one who struggled, with Uruguayan midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur looking a shadow of his former self during the victory over Frankfurt.

He featured for the entirety of the contest, but only managed to win 17% of the ground duels he entered, along with getting dribbled past twice as he was unable to make a huge impact on proceedings.

Despite the showings of the aforementioned duo, one other player failed to impress, with boss Postecoglou desperately needing to drop him ahead of Monday’s game with Nottingham Forest.

The Spurs player who needs to be dropped after Frankfurt

Injuries at Spurs have left Postecoglou with limited options at numerous points of the season, undoubtedly having a huge impact on the club’s lowly league standing.

Such an occurrence has allowed numerous players to stake their claim for a regular starting role, taking advantage of an opportunity that often wouldn’t be thrown in their direction.

Lucas Bergvall is arguably the biggest example of the situation, now being a vital member of the side, featuring for the entirety of the win against Frankfurt last night.

However, despite his success, winger Brennan Johnson was unable to have a similar impact, once again struggling to provide a reason as to why the hierarchy paid £47.5m for his signature.

The Welshman featured for 85 minutes before being replaced by Kevin Danso, with Ange opting to see out the result and switch to a back five for the closing stages.

Such a change was inevitable, but the 23-year-old did himself no favours during his time on the pitch, completing just 69% of the passes he attempted, whilst losing possession six times.

He also lost 66% of the duels he entered against the German opposition, whilst managing just 22 touches – a tally less than that of goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, who registered 45.

Minutes played

85

Touches

22

Passes completed

11/16 (69%)

Duels lost

4/6 (66%)

Possession lost

6x

Shots taken

0

Dribbles completed

0

As a result of his showing last night, Johnson was handed a measly 6/10 match rating by the London Standard’s Dan Kilpatrick – highlighting how disappointing he was in the triumph.

Given his display, Ange simply has to drop the winger ahead of the clash with his former side, needing to give other players an opportunity to demonstrate their quality.

He’s struggled massively in recent weeks once again, potentially needing to be taken out of the firing line to recapture his early season form in North London.

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Surrey wicketkeeper opts to hone white-ball skills rather than be involved on tour of India

Matt Roller16-Jan-2024When England Lions line up against India A at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Wednesday, one player will be conspicuous by his absence. Jamie Smith hit a 71-ball century in the Lions’ most recent first-class match against Sri Lanka in the spring, but will be 1000 miles away from Ahmedabad preparing for the ILT20 in the UAE.Smith, a Surrey academy product, made his ODI debut in September and is widely considered to be a future England Test wicketkeeper. His record-breaking hundred for the Lions last year earned him rave reviews from Ian Bell, the Lions’ batting coach, and was enough to catch Ben Stokes’ eye while England were on tour in New Zealand.But rather than spending a second successive winter with the Lions, he has opted to fulfil a contract with Gulf Giants, where he will play under former England coach Andy Flower. It is a decision that many would interpret as a statement of priorities, but Smith himself is clear that it will help him achieve his ambition to be a three-format international cricketer.Related

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The ECB management are fully supportive. Smith spoke to Mo Bobat, the board’s departing performance director, before committing to the ILT20 and Rob Key, England’s managing director, is also on board. “It was a very open conversation between us,” Smith told ESPNcricinfo. “It wasn’t a case of ‘you can’t do this’ or ‘you have to do that’.”There’s always going to be a couple of conversations: my main goal is to play Test cricket for England and I don’t want to be blacklisted, but that was never the case and that was reassuring. I want to become a three-format player and I just felt at this time, I’ve probably had more experience in first-class cricket.”Smith has played more T20s (59) than first-class matches (50) but has not had a consistent role, batting everywhere from No. 1-9 in Surrey’s Blast side. “I’m a relative novice in terms of my T20 game,” he said. “I want to get more experience and a bit more exposure against quality overseas players, and expand my game that way.”The ECB were very supportive. I think they appreciate that I’ve spent a lot of time focusing on my red-ball stuff in the last few years. Last November, I was on the Lions camp in Dubai, had Christmas off then went over to Sri Lanka and was into the [county] season. There was no actual time spent practising any white-ball skills.”I was back into red-ball cricket, all the way through to the Blast and the schedule is so hectic. I finished our last Championship game [in May] and we were playing in the Blast straightaway. At the end of the year you always write down little things you want to explore and work on, but there just wasn’t actually any time I could dedicate to that.”

“I want to go out and be proactive in red-ball cricket, put people under pressure. In the past there has been a misconception that you’re only a white-ball player or a red-ball player. You have to look at the bigger picture”

But Smith believes that playing franchise cricket will not only help his T20 game. “I want to go out and be proactive in red-ball cricket anyway, and put people under pressure,” he said. “In the past there has been a misconception that you’re only a white-ball player or a red-ball player, you have to look at the bigger picture.”Whether you’re on a Lions tour or in a franchise competition, you’re still playing games of cricket against high-quality, experienced players and you’re still trying to better yourself. I’d say my T20 game is very similar to my red-ball game and to me, it’s just about batting and improving – whatever environment that is in.”Smith is also conscious that franchises can be fickle. “There’s a limited window when you can get picked up. There are two or three competitions going on at the same time in January and February, then you’ve got the PSL and then ultimately the IPL, which is another aspiration a bit further down the line.”Without putting your name in the hat, you see how people are nowadays: you can just get moved on. There’s so many players out there, and if you don’t start taking a few of these opportunities up then all of a sudden, they will pass you by and there’ll be other players that will go past you.”Smith had his most prolific Championship season in 2023 as Surrey won their second title in a row, averaging 40.88 with two hundreds from No. 4. “I’d had a few goes in the past and people told me, ‘you might struggle with the moving ball’ but this time I made it my own,” he said. “And we came away with another trophy.”He also thrived in his first full season of the Hundred, batting at No. 3 for Birmingham Phoenix after he was picked up for £50,000 in the draft. “They gave me so much confidence. My role was clear from the get-go: you’re not scared of failing because you know you’ll be given the opportunity.”But the highlight of Smith’s summer came at Trent Bridge in September, when he made his England debut as part of a second-string ODI squad that beat Ireland 1-0 in a rain-affected series. “It was an incredibly proud moment for me, and for my family,” he said. “It gave me a snippet of what is hopefully to come.”You want to play in all three formats but to tick off one, nobody can take that away from you.” The second and third ticks are unlikely to be too far away.