Manchester City are constantly on the lookout for top talent and could now be set to pursue another exciting star who could arrive at the Etihad Stadium.

Man City looking to build Premier League title challenge

Despite Arsenal’s bold start to the season, Premier League fans would be naive to rule out the notion of Pep Guardiola taking his side to another title, and their tendency to kick on once the second period of the campaign kicks off will linger in the memory of their rivals.

Ultimately, January will be a decisive month as clubs look to recruit the missing pieces of their respective jigsaws to make the difference. Last year, the likes of Omar Marmoush were brought in to aid a top-four finish, and few would bet against another few shrewd additions to sharpen up their bid for silverware.

Peaks and troughs will happen between now and that point, meaning signings are needed to pick up the slack, and Manchester City are reportedly making enquiries to sign FC Koln winger Said El Mana, deemed to be one of Europe’s most direct wingers at this moment in time.

Guardiola is also personally keen on a move for Sporting midfielder Morten Hjulmand, though his side will need to fight off competition from Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur for the Denmark international.

Bernardo Silva and company have delivered countlessly over the years, though they will one day need to move on, leaving the Citizens with work to do in identifying long-term successors across key positions.

While that won’t be easy, their recruitment team are up there with the best around, and they may now be plotting a dramatic 2026 move for a star who could be a future dime at the Etihad Stadium.

Man City plot Lennart Karl move after scouting mission

According to CaughtOffside, Manchester City are plotting a potential move for Bayern Munich sensation Lennart Karl after sending scouts to watch him in action for the German giants.

The 17-year-old has shot to prominence and could command a transfer fee of just under £70 million, albeit Arsenal and Chelsea are also keeping close tabs on his situation.

Making 11 appearances this season, he has scored twice and delivered an assist against Hoffenheim and he appears to be thriving under the stewardship of Vincent Kompany, with Fotmob showing he has completed four dribbles so far in the German top-flight.

Earlier this year, Karl signed a new contract until the summer of 2028, meaning Bayern have leverage over his situation and could utilise their position to block any incoming offers.

With the summer looking the most likely time for a bidding war, the notion of ‘serious approaches’ from England could begin to take place, leaving the youngster with a huge decision in weighing up where best to continue his development.

Ultimately, his choice may boil down to game time. Manchester City are a breeding ground for elite talent, but they face stiff competition to push this one over the line.

Khurram Shahzad chimes in with dynamic six-for

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay23-Jul-2025

Khurram Shahzad claimed a six-wicket haul•Getty Images and Cricket Australia

Worcestershire 333 (Brookes 140, D’Oliveira 57) and 31 for 0 (Roderick 16*, Libby 15*) lead Warwickshire 184 (Smith 68, Webster 57, Shahzad 6-42) by 180 runsEthan Brookes’ dazzling century and Khurram Shahzad’s dynamic six-for left Worcestershire pressing for a much-needed Rothesay County Championship win over Warwickshire at Edgbaston.Brookes’ career-best 140 off 169 balls against the club that released him lifted Worcestershire’s first innings to 333 before Shahzad took 6 for 42 to send the home side all out for 184. Kai Smith struck 68 (100) and Beau Webster 57 (84) to narrowly avert the follow on but Worcestershire closed the second day on 31 without loss, 180 ahead.Bottom of Division One, Brett D’Oliveira’s side is strongly-placed to complete a victory that would open the survival race right up – and have nerves jangling at a few clubs above them.Worcestershire resumed on the second morning on 262 for 8 with Brookes on 80 and the 24-year-old showed no nerves en route to a poignant century at his former home ground. His century, warmly applauded by supporters of both teams, was reached with a six and he went on to strike eight sixes – the second most in an innings by a Worcestershire batter, behind only Graeme Hick’s 11 against Somerset at Taunton in 1988.Brookes and Adam Finch added 88 before the former fell at the end of a strange Dan Mousley over which included four off-side wides, two leg-side sixes, a dot ball and a wicket. Brookes eventually skied the spinner and, two balls later, Finch fell lbw to Tazeem Ali.Warwickshire’s top order was then blown away by Shahzad’s opening burst of 6-2-7-3. Rob Yates left one that knocked out off-stump, Mousley edged behind and Alex Davies dragged on a pull to bag a 25-ball duck.Shahzad had Zen Malik caught at first slip and when Ed Barnard offered Finch the simplest return catch in this fixture since John Cuffe dismissed Billy Quaife at Dudley in 1912, it was 66 for 5.Webster and Smith added 49 but the former’s attempt to bully debutant spinner Bertie Foreman backfired when he chipped to mid-off. After Corey Rocchiccioli pulled Shahzad to deep square and Bamber was lbw, Warwickshire’s last two wickets needed to find 31 to avoid the follow on.Smith calmly and capably ensured they did. He reached an 88-ball half-century with a six pulled off Ben Allison and showed a selectivity of stroke which some of his more experienced team-mates might seek to emulate in the second innings.The follow on avoided by one run, Smith nicked a waft at Finch and Olly Hannon-Dalby drove a full toss to extra cover four balls later. That left Worcestershire 17 overs batting and they quietly increased their advantage – and their chances of recording a first Championship win over Warwickshire in 22 attempts since 2000 and their first at Edgbaston since 1993.

MatériaMais Notícias

Juventude e Grêmio empataram por 0 a 0 na partida de ida da final do Campeonato Gaúcho, no Estádio Alfredo Jaconi, e a web detonou a atuação do árbitro Anderson Daronco na decisão do estadual.

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➡️ Siga o Lance! no WhatsApp e acompanhe em tempo real as principais notícias do esporte

Estou completamente decepcionado com quem me jurou que o Daronco era gremista.

— Grêmio Insider (@GremioInsider) March 30, 2024

O árbitro Anderson Daronco deu 40 faltas e distribuiu oito cartões no duelo entre Juventude e Grêmio durante os 90 minutos. O Imortal ficou na bronca com a arbitragem por um possível toque de mão fora da área do goleiro Gabriel Vasconcellos em lance com Diego Costa.

O Daronco é ex árbitro, só não quer se aposentar. pic.twitter.com/QTc42VZMhl

— Tato Caloghero (@Tatocm) March 30, 2024

➡️ Com R$50 no Lance! Betting, você fatura R$255 se apostar no 1 a 1 entre Santos x Palmeiras

Grêmio e Juventude voltam a se enfrentar no duelo decisivo no sábado (6), às 16h30. Antes do duelo, o Imortal enfrenta o The Strongest, fora de casa, pela primeira rodada da fase de grupos da Libertadores. A tendência é que Renato Gaúcho utilize reservas no duelo contra os bolivianos.

continua após a publicidade

VAKINHA PRA COMPRAR UM ÓCULOS PRO DARONCO.

Pelo visto a @OficialFGF tá sem grana, e o Daronco idem.

Bora pagar pra ele uma ida no oftalmologista e um óculos.

Ou não viu a mão fora da área ou é premeditado. pic.twitter.com/fUbJyrAr4c

— Lucas 🇪🇪🍊 (@lucasmarketeiro) March 30, 2024

➡️ Veja tabela com datas e horários do Paulistão

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Rebel United introduces players who prefer to swim against the tide, such as Barcelona and Spain legend Gerard Pique, who has achieved great significance beyond the pitch thanks to his Catalan pride and innovative spirit…

"It was the toughest game," said Gerard Pique after Barcelona's seemingly unremarkable 3-0 victory over Las Palmas in October 2017. That was because the match coincided with an all together more important event in the world-class defender's life. On that Sunday, Pique was thinking about something even more important to him: the referendum that was supposed to secure Catalunya's independence from Spain, in which Pique himself had cast his vote a few hours earlier.

"It was a tough day. I am and feel Catalan, today more than ever. I am proud of the behaviour of the people of Catalunya. Voting is a right that must be defended," said Pique through tears.

As a precaution, the match at Camp Nou was played behind closed doors, while outside dramatic scenes were unfolding as the Spanish police took violent action against what was deemed to be an illegal referendum.

Getty ImagesFace of a movement

Although around 90 percent of voters were in favour of independence, the autonomous community in the north-east of the country remained part of Spain because the nation's government did not recognise the result. For Pique, who calls himself not only a proud Catalan but also a Spaniard, this was a bitter outcome.

In the run-up to the referendum, the defensive giant had campaigned intensively to get as many people as possible to vote, increasingly becoming one of the faces of the Catalan independence movement. Pique, however, felt the painful consequences to his reputation immediately after the referendum.

During a public training session for the Spain national team in preparation for a World Cup qualifying match against Albania in early October 2017, the then-Barca star was not only booed by some spectators, but also insulted. 'Pique, get out' was written on one of the signs directed towards the defender, and after only about 20 minutes, the session had to be stopped because the atmosphere became so hostile.

AdvertisementGettyBetween two worlds

The previous day, Pique had tearfully offered his resignation to Spain coach Julen Lopetegui, who declined it, and the day after the training session was cut short, Pique appeared at a press conference to signal unity while emphasising that he had quickly dismissed thoughts of an early end to his career with La Roja.

"I've been playing for Spain for almost 10 years now. I'm not going to disappear through the back door," said the then-30-year-old while refusing to publicly take a stand on Catalunya's independence: "We footballers are global figures, we can't take sides. In this difficult political situation, dialogue is the only way forward, otherwise things will get even worse. Who cares how I react? I can and am allowed to have my opinion. Many want independence – many don't."

Nevertheless, Pique often found himself caught between two worlds in the national team environment. The tensions between the proud Barca icon and the stars of his counterparts from the Spanish capital ran too deep, and not just because of the well-known club rivalry between Barcelona and Real Madrid.

AFPKey to two dynasties

"Every victory against Real Madrid is symbolic," said Pique after a Clasico triumph in March 2019, and it was clear to everyone that he was also referring to the political tensions between the two clubs. He also endured a love-hate relationship with Blancos legend Sergio Ramos, as the pair came together for the national team despite being rivals at club level.

"I defend my colours, Pique defends his. And when we defend the same thing, we do it together. But don't expect me to hug him after a Clasico," Ramos once said of his international team-mate.

Although they obviously never got along particularly well, Pique and Ramos celebrated huge successes togther. They were fixtures in Spain's defence during the 2010 World Cup and 2012 European Championship titles, playing a decisive role in the Iberians' most successful era.

At club level, Pique, who grew up in Barca's famous La Masia academy, left the Blaugrana at the age of 17 to join Manchester United. But after failing to make his big breakthrough at Old Trafford, he returned to Barcelona in 2008 and became a cornerstone of their successful era under Pep Guardiola.

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Getty Images SportOff-field headlines

Pique combined resolute tackling, heading ability, outstanding positioning and elegance on the ball, thus setting the style for the ideal Spanish centre-back. However, even around the time of his first major tournament, the 2010 World Cup, he was also making headlines off the pitch.

After all, it was then that he laid the foundation for his long-term relationship with singer Shakira, with whom he has two children. The Colombian singer performed 'Waka Waka', the official song of the tournament in South Africa, and after meeting her during his brief appearance in the accompanying music video, Pique went on the offensive.

"I told her that we had to get to the final so that I could see her again – she performed at the final," the Spaniard later revealed .

Both plans worked out. Spain reached the final, where they crowned themselves world champions with a victory over the Netherlands, and Pique won Shakira's heart. Their relationship lasted 11 years before, in the summer of 2022, the couple announced their separation. Pique is alleged to have cheated on Shakira, and in the months following the break-up, a public mudslinging match took place.

Manager Enzo Maresca believes Chelsea’s loss of injured talisman Cole Palmer is equivalent to Manchester City and Liverpool facing life without star forwards Erling Haaland and Mohamed Salah. The Blues have not been able to call upon their main man since September, with his return from injury having now been delayed following a freak accident at home.

• Palmer was set to resume first-team training before freak incident

  Chelsea have been forced to cope without Palmer after he sustained a groin injury in the 2-1 loss at Manchester United on 20 September. The England international was set to resume first-team training this week, but his long-awaited return has been pushed back by an extra seven days after he stubbed his toe on a door.

  Palmer will subsequently miss Chelsea’s next three games – Saturday's trip to Burnley in the Premier League, Tuesday's home fixture against Barcelona in the Champions League and next weekend's league match at home to leaders Arsenal.

  Confirming the incident in his pre-match press conference ahead of the Burnley game, Maresca said: “He [Palmer] is probably not available for Saturday for sure, Barcelona for sure or Arsenal for sure.

  “Unfortunately, he had an accident at home where he hit his toe. It is nothing important, but he won't be back in the next week. I wake up many times during the night – I hit my head, my legs, my everything – so it can happen.”

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Maresca compares Palmer to Haaland & Salah as injury woes continue

  Palmer has become Chelsea’s leader since his arrival from City in 2023. The 23-year-old has scored 45 goals in 101 appearances for the west Londoners, winning both the Conference League and the FIFA Club World Cup.

  And such is Palmer’s influence on Chelsea that head coach Maresca has compared his absence to rivals City and Liverpool trying to win games without Haaland and Salah, who are also among the league’s best players.

  The Italian told the club’s official website: “I’m very proud because for us Cole is like [Erling] Haaland for [Manchester] City, like [Mohamed] Salah for Liverpool. If Haaland doesn’t play for City or Salah doesn’t play for Liverpool, they are not the same team.

  “So I’m very proud, but especially very proud of the players, because it is a difficult moment without Cole. They showed they are good players and they all want the best for this club.”

• Chelsea head coach will be able to call upon fit-again striker Delap

  One player Maresca will be able to turn to against Burnley is Liam Delap, who recently made his return from a hamstring injury in Chelsea’s 3-0 league win over struggling Wolves before the international break.

  Delap moved to Stamford Bridge from relegated Ipswich Town in the summer, scoring his first goal for his new side against Tunisian outfit Esperance Tunis in the Club World Cup in June. The 22-year-old is still looking for his first Chelsea goal in domestic football.

  “For sure Liam is part of our learning process,” Maresca said. “I know Liam very well from years ago and Liam is a fantastic player, especially when there are spaces to attack.

  “He struggles a little bit more when there is no space, in the way he is. So in games like Wolves and probably today, he is going to struggle a bit more because there is no space to attack.

  “Against teams that we can attack in behind with space he is a top player, he is fantastic. But in the same moment it is a learning process for him, how to play against these teams, how to be better, how we can help him to be better, to play against teams that wait for us and sit back.”

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  In-form Blues looking to close gap on leaders Arsenal in Burnley clash

  It remains to be seen whether Delap will start when Chelsea make the trip to Burnley on Saturday. Maresca’s side can move just three points behind Arsenal with a victory at Turf Moor, with Mikel Arteta’s Gunners set to renew hostilities with Tottenham in the north London derby at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.

  Chelsea have lost just once in their last five games in all competitions, against high-flying Sunderland on 25 October, having recorded wins over Tottenham and Wolves in the league. They also defeated Wolves in the Carabao Cup on 29 October, before drawing with Azerbaijani side Qarabag in the Champions League on 5 November.

He became the blueprint for every Indian cricketer, and changed not just results but mindsets

Greg Chappell12-May-20254:15

Kumble: Everyone knew if Kohli goes past 20, it’s going to be a big one

Virat Kohli’s retirement from Test cricket marks the end of a thunderous era – a reign forged in grit, fire, and audacity. It closes the chapter on the most transformative figure in Indian cricket since Sachin Tendulkar; perhaps Kohli even eclipses him in terms of cultural influence and psychological impact on India’s cricketing identity.Kohli, the incandescent heart of Indian cricket for over a decade, did not just score runs. He redefined expectations, challenged conventions, and symbolised the self-assured, unapologetic India of the 21st century. His departure leaves not only a statistical void but a seismic shift in energy – for there has never been another quite like him.There was a time when Indian cricket, particularly overseas, bore an air of respectful submission – playing with technical skill, yes, but often with psychological inferiority. That changed in stages. Sourav Ganguly gave Indian cricket a new spine. MS Dhoni brought ice-cold leadership and white-ball dominance. But Kohli? Kohli lit the fire. He tore the script and authored a new one, where India was not just competitive abroad but expected to win.Related

No cricket, no cry – white 'Virat 18' tribute lifts the gloom at wet Chinnaswamy

Pujara feels India 'need a couple of series' to figure out Kohli's replacement

Pujara: 'For Virat, Test cricket was the ultimate format'

Kohli and Test cricket gave each other their best

Virat Kohli retires from Test cricket

He was the most Australian non-Australian cricketer we’ve ever seen – a snarling warrior in whites, never giving an inch, always demanding more. Not just of his bowlers, his fielders or his opposition, but first and foremost, of himself.The two Test series that define Kohli’s legacy – and indeed his character – came in England and Australia, the most traditional arenas of cricketing greatness.In 2014, England exposed a glaring vulnerability. Anderson haunted him with late swing, and Kohli’s technique and mindset unravelled. But failure for Kohli was fertiliser. He didn’t complain. He rebuilt. He sought out his Under-19 coach Lalchand Rajput and worked obsessively to eliminate technical flaws. Tendulkar too lent advice. What emerged four years later was not just a better batter – it was a better man.His “>return to England in 2018 was the stuff of redemption mythology. In the opening Test, at Edgbaston, Kohli produced a sublime 149 – forged in defiance, patience, and mastery over conditions that once crippled him. The second-innings fifty was no less valuable. Across five Tests, he amassed 593 runs at 59.30, the leading run-scorer by a long stretch. The ghosts were not only exorcised, they were humiliated.If England was redemption, Australia in 2018-19 was a coronation. India had never won a Test series in Australia. Kohli, now captain, led a team that believed it could – and did. Though Cheteshwar Pujara was the hero statistically, Kohli’s 123 in Perth on a devilish pitch was an innings for the ages. It was Test cricket in its rawest form – discipline, fight, elegance, and grit. India won 2-1, and in doing so, buried decades of inferiority.

He trained not just his body but his imagination. Where others reacted, Kohli anticipated. He saw innings before they unfolded. He lived the pressure before it arrived

No Indian captain had ever marshalled a team to such commanding overseas dominance. And no batter since Tendulkar had so unequivocally ruled in every continent.Kohli’s greatest innings have been more than runs – they have been statements. His 141 in Adelaide in 2014, in his first Test as captain, chasing a monumental fourth-innings target, was an early blueprint. The 153 in Centurion (2018), the 200 in the West Indies in 2016, and the exquisite 254 not out at home against South Africa three years later, all told different stories of his abilities.He was a “feel” player, relying on immaculate timing rather than brute strength. Heavy bats didn’t interest him. Instead, he brought a two-handed, almost tennis-like aggression to slower pitches, making straight-batted drives look like power strokes from another dimension. He rarely needed innovation – no scoops or reverse sweeps. His genius lay in classical orthodoxy applied with gladiatorial will.2:10

Williamson: ‘Kohli had unrelenting drive to push the boundaries of Test cricket’

Kohli’s mental preparation was legendary. After every setback, whether personal or professional, he went away and returned harder, leaner, more complete. His father’s death during a Ranji match in 2006 remains a defining moment. He didn’t withdraw. He batted and scored 90 in a back-to-the-wall innings – because that’s what his father would have wanted.He spoke candidly in later years about visualising hostile conditions, hostile crowds and hostile spells before every overseas tour. He trained not just his body but his imagination. That is Kohli’s true superpower. Where others reacted, Kohli anticipated. He saw innings before they unfolded. He lived the pressure before it arrived.And in the cauldron of global scrutiny, with a billion people watching his every move, Kohli taught himself to breathe. As he once said: “If I focus on all that, I can’t breathe. I have to focus on what I can do.”Kohli burst onto the scene as a brash, chest-thumping U-19 World Cup-winning captain in 2008. Some wondered whether the strut outpaced the substance.The Australia series of 2014-15, Kohli first as captain, was one of his highest points. He made 692 runs at an average of over 86•Getty ImagesHe made mistakes, no doubt. But when the wake-up call came – particularly after a dip in discipline and lifestyle early in his career – he turned brutally honest with himself. He revamped everything: diet, training, mindset. In doing so, Kohli became the blueprint for the modern Indian cricketer – relentlessly professional, obsessively fit, and mentally ironclad.His evolution mirrored that of India itself – no longer content to play the supporting act. Confident, global, yet deeply connected to its roots. His global stardom ran parallel to the rise of the IPL, yet he never let the glitz distract from his Test ambitions. He made white-ball cricket his domain without sacrificing a drop of red-ball purity.Yes, Tendulkar was a genius. Yes, Dhoni was a master tactician and an ice-cold finisher. But in the grand reckoning of Indian cricket history, Kohli has been its most influential figure.Why? Because he changed not just results but mindsets.He demanded excellence. He made fast bowling India’s weapon. He brought the yo-yo test into the cultural lexicon. He backed his bowlers, he stood up to bullies, and he never played for second place. He wanted Test cricket to thrive and knew that for India to be respected, they needed to dominate the hardest format.With his emotions on display for the world to see, Kohli became an icon for an India that was not content to be a support act•Getty Images and Cricket AustraliaHis public defence of Steve Smith during the 2019 World Cup, when he urged Indian fans to stop booing, was a statesman’s act. The hot-headed kid had become cricket’s conscience.As Kohli exits the Test arena, he leaves behind not just a glittering record – over 9000 runs, 30 centuries, historic wins overseas – but a blueprint for how to play the game with heart, with hunger, and with unyielding pride.He was polarising, yes. But so is every revolutionary.He walked with a swagger, often spoke too loudly, always played too hard. And in doing so, he became the icon of an India no longer content to play supporting roles. He was a beacon to Indians everywhere, a cricketing colossus from the subcontinent striding across Lord’s, Adelaide, Centurion and Kolkata with the same fearless heartbeat.In every sense of the word, King Kohli reigned – and his influence will be felt long after the roar has faded.All hail the King. And thank you, Virat, for making us believe that domination and dignity could walk together.

Newcastle United could do with an injection of positivity after the November international break, having slumped their way down to 14th place in the Premier League after 11 matches.

Gone is the easy fluency of last season, and Eddie Howe has a task on his hands to rekindle the spark at the heart of his Tyneside squad.

While the impending return of Yoane Wissa from injury will add that extra dimension in attack, Howe will be concerned that this current international pause might inflict injury on one of his players in a similar fashion to when Wissa damaged his knee back in September, before he had even kicked a ball for the Toon.

No such bad news at the moment, though watching England defeat Serbia in their penultimate World Cup qualifier has issued a sombre reminder that PIF must do all that they can to bring Elliot Anderson back to St. James’ Park. How about that for an injection of positivity?

The latest on Newcastle's interest in Elliot Anderson

Anderson, 23, left Newcastle for Nottingham Forest in 2024, arriving at the City Ground after a fee in the region of £35m had been agreed.

How PIF must regret that PSR-influenced decision, with Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel recently hailing Anderson as being “one of the best midfielders in the Premier League” before his latest performance alongside Declan Rice, impressing as England claimed a professional 2-0 win.

So combative, cultured and composed in the middle of the park, the Tyneside-born talent never managed to spread his wings for his boyhood club, but he has made such impressive progress since leaving and forging his own path.

Howe, it should go without saying, would love nothing more than to bring Anderson back home, having expressed last month how the sale “didn’t sit right with me”, and intimating his desire to strike a transfer down the line.

It won’t be easy, though; far from it. Anderson’s all-encompassing qualities in the engine room have been picked up by some of the Premier League’s finest, with Arsenal and Manchester United among those looking to complete a deal for the £100m-rated midfielder.

Whether Newcastle manage to bring him back is anyone’s guess, but they must not let the same thing happen again, especially when there’s a new Geordie talent looking to break into the first team.

The Newcastle talent who could be bigger than Anderson

Newcastle will look for ways to bring Anderson back to St. James’ Park, but sadly there is no certainty that they will win the race for his signature.

That’s why they must prove they have learned from their blunder and ensure Sean Neave has a clear pathway from the academy to the first team.

The 18-year-old has been prolific right from the get-go this season, and his mature, confident displays are beginning to see a level of noise rise around him, with Howe sure to be considering handing him a professional breakthrough before long, should the right opportunity arrive.

While Neave hasn’t featured for the senior side yet, he was involved in Newcastle’s pre-season preparations this summer and is clearly viewed as having the potential to wedge his way into the fray.

Moreover, he was this week awarded an award during the annual Sport Newcastle ceremony for ’embodying the Newcastle spirit’, with Dan Burn taking the cake for the men’s team.

Though it’s a big leap from the world of development football to the major stage, Neave is nothing if not clinical, with an ease and accuracy in the final third that should lend itself to success in the Premier League for the seniors, albeit with physicality and maturity further elements that must be woven into the youngster’s game.

But given that he’s only just entered adulthood, there is every reason for United fans to get excited by this one. Magpie Media have already described him as “the best Geordie striker prospect in a long, long time”, after all.

If Neave reaches even the rim of what his potential suggests is possible, there’s every chance that Newcastle could have an even bigger talent than Anderson on their hands, and one who must not be allowed to leave for new pastures before being handed a shot at the big time.

Newcastle have already paid for that mistake, and they may pay more still if they succeed in re-signing Anderson. That would be a rousing transfer for the club, but one which would come at what could have been an avoidable financial cost.

Lighting surely won’t strike twice. Neave’s goalscoring efforts for the development teams underscore his quality and the importance of easing him into the first-team action under Howe’s wing.

Sean Neave – Career Stats so Far
Club/level	Apps	Goals (assists)
Newcastle U18	37	21 (7)
Newcastle U21	21	9 (4)
Newcastle YL	9	2 (1)
Newcastle	–	–
Data via Transfermarkt

With a brace netted against Burnley last week, Neave is finding his feet for the U21s, and it’s surely only a matter of time until he is unleashed in the Premier League, just searching for that extra steel in his physicality to prove he’s every bit as talented as Anderson, maybe even more so.

One of "Newcastle's best signings" under Howe is now on borrowed time

Newcastle’s need for change has gone beyond making tactical tweaks.

By
Angus Sinclair

Nov 14, 2025

The South Africa batter hopes to rejoin his county team-mates for Finals Day next Saturday between two T20Is

Matt Roller05-Sep-2025South Africa batter Matthew Breetzke has revealed that he prepared for his record-breaking ODI innings against England at Lord’s on Thursday by watching Northamptonshire’s dramatic win over Surrey in the T20 Blast quarter-finals on his iPad, and he hopes to rejoin his county team-mates for Finals Day next Saturday.On his return from a hamstring niggle, Breetzke top-scored with 85 in South Africa’s five-run win, a victory which clinched their first ODI series win in England since May 1998 – six months before he was born. He became the first man to reach 50 in each of his first five ODI innings and averages 92.60 in the format after previous scores of 150, 83, 57 and 88.”It’s a bit worrying: it can only go downhill for me,” Breetzke said, laughing, after South Africa’s win. “It’s been a special start, to be honest. I’ve played on some really good wickets, and I just hope and pray that it’ll continue to go the way it’s gone… To be honest, I was bleak not to get to a hundred, because it would’ve been cool to be on the [honours] board.”Related

• Breetzke stars as South Africa seal series in five-run thriller

• Breetzke and Stubbs stamp their middle-order authority as SA build to 2027

Breetzke added 147 for the fourth wicket with Tristan Stubbs, his fellow Grey High School alumnus, and said that he had thrived on the opportunity to bat with him. “I played a lot of cricket with [Stubbs] in my younger days… We have a really good relationship, so hopefully it can keep going the way it’s gone.”Breetzke has scored 863 runs for Northants across the last two T20 Blast seasons – and recently signed a new two-year, all-format contract with them – but missed Wednesday night’s quarter-final at The Oval, and watched from his hotel room as Ravi Bopara’s century inspired them to a shock seven-run victory over South Group winners Surrey.Blast Finals Day falls between the second and third T20Is of South Africa’s series against England next week but as things stand, Breetzke is not part of their squad. As a result, he is hoping to be involved at Edgbaston as one of their two overseas players – a sentiment echoed by Northants captain David Willey.”I’m not 100% sure, but I think I will be [available],” Breetzke said. “I love playing in England: the crowds and the energy they bring, there’s nothing better, I feed off it… I was watching [the quarter-final] in bed on my iPad there, on YouTube. It was nerve-wracking, but I’m really happy for the boys and looking forward to meeting them on Finals Day.”Breetzke said that South Africa would celebrate their series win with “a few drinks” before looking to seal a 3-0 sweep in Southampton on Sunday, and said that their triumph in June’s World Test Championship final had taken their confidence to a new level. “It starts at the top with Shukri Conrad… He’s very clear on what he wants and there’s no grey area.”Breetzke admitted experiencing some fatigue after a busy workload this year, but is conscious of the bigger picture. “It does get to you sometimes,” he said. “But for me, I just look at it like I’m so grateful to be playing a sport for a living. I just try to take every opportunity I get and try to make the most of it. It doesn’t last forever.”

Tottenham co-sporting director Fabio Paratici, who’s now responsible for securing the club’s biggest transfers, has been inadvertently told he can sign a “world-class” striker on loan in January after a Spurs phone call.

Paratici was re-appointed by Spurs CEO Vinai Venkatesham to work in tandem with Johan Lange as the Lilywhites’ ‘dealmaker’ (Sky Sports), and it is reported that the Italian could have some intriguing plans ahead of the winter window’s opening.

The north Londoners, according to reports, have set their sights on a new defender, winger and potentially a striker.

Thomas Frank is poised to welcome both Radu Dragusin and Dejan Kulusevski back from their long-term knee injuries in the near future, but given the club’s dire bad luck with first-team absentees in the last 12 months, it may be wise to shore up the depth across key positions.

Dejan Kulusevski

Knee

29/11/2025

James Maddison

ACL

01/06/2026

Radu Dragusin

Knee

22/11/2025

Ben Davies

Thigh

23/11/2025

Kota Takai

Ankle/Foot

23/11/2025

Mohammed Kudus

Knock

23/11/2025

Randal Kolo Muani

Jaw

23/11/2025

Yves Bissouma

Ankle/Foot

23/11/2025

Lucas Bergvall

Concussion

23/11/2025

Dominic Solanke

Ankle

23/11/2025

Archie Gray

Calf/Shin/Heel

23/11/2025

Cristian Romero

Other

23/11/2025

via Premier Injuries

This is particularly true going forward as Dominic Solanke’s fitness woes continue, with summer signing Randal Kolo Muani also back on the treatment table after fracturing his jaw against Man United last weekend.

Mathys Tel, meanwhile, was omitted from Frank’s 22-man Champions League squad due to homegrown quota issues, meaning that the Frenchman cannot take part in any European game until Spurs get the chance to submit a new squad for the knockout phase.

Richarlison has also been criticised for his underwhelming form this season, having scored just four in his last 18 appearances, and it is claimed that Frank views the Brazilian as an “expendable” member of his squad despite selecting him regularly (Football Insider).

The 28-year-old, whose contract expires in just under two years, could be sold to make room for ex-Brentford star Ivan Toney.

Toney is apparently Frank’s preferred target to come in and lead Tottenham’s attack, but there are other options, like Juventus newcomer Jonathan David.

Tottenham told they can sign Jonathan David on loan with option to buy

The Canada international free-scored for Lille in France but has found life very difficult in Serie A since his free transfer to Turin in the summer, and there are rumours that Spurs could swoop in and take David off their hands at the turn of the year.

According to Tuttosport, via Sport Witness, Spurs have made phone calls to ‘repeatedly enquire’ about David’s availability ahead of January.

What’s more, Paratici and the club have apparently been told that the 25-year-old may be allowed to leave on loan with an option to buy him outright in the summer – a deal which could make sense for Frank’s side.

David, who was branded a “world-class” marksman by former Canada boss Iain Hume, netted 109 goals in 232 appearances for Lille – including in some pretty tasty Champions League encounters during his final season at the Decathlon Arena.

The £189,000-per-week forward scored against European big-hitters Real Madrid, Atlético Madrid and Liverpool in the Champions League last season, which showcases his ability to perform at the very highest level, even if he’s struggled in Italy.

On a temporary deal with a view to making it permanent, depending on how David performs, Paratici and co stand to lose very little and potentially gain a reliable goalscorer.

Ross Taylor, the 41-year-old former New Zealand captain, will represent Samoa in the upcoming Asia-East Asia-Pacific T20 World Cup 2026 qualifier in Oman, which could help them qualify for the 2026 T20 World Cup. Taylor was named in the 15-man squad, to be led by Caleb Jasmat, on Friday.”Excited. It’s been a few months in the pipeline, but obviously the team just got announced today, so… exciting to represent the country of my mother’s birth,” Taylor told New Zealand Cricket in a chat. “I always wanted to give back to the Polynesian community in some sort of way. I always thought it would be more in a coaching and other avenues, I never thought I would play [for Samoa]. But as the opportunity arose, looking forward to getting out there and hopefully representing and doing my best for Samoa.”It’s the first time that Samoa are being to a qualifying tournament like this, in Oman. Nice for some other players, who have Samoan heritage and are being able to play for Samoa in this tournament and hopefully go as far as we can.”He is still New Zealand’s fifth-most prolific run-scorer in T20Is despite last playing a game in the format in November 2020.