Big picture

Like one of those stifling work dinners there’s no getting out of, this Pakistan-Bangladesh series is to be endured rather than enjoyed. Initially meant to be three ODIs and as many T20Is, it was shortened to five T20I games, before the PSL encroached into its window and lopped off the two games in Faisalabad. Now, Pakistan will take on Bangladesh in three T20Is at the tail end of May and the start of June, midway through a heatwave, as two out-of-form T20 sides look to turn the corner.It’s less than 48 hours ago that the PSL concluded with a spectacular final at the Gaddafi Stadium, where these three games will all take place. Ticket prices have been slashed, and the start time has been pushed back by an extra half-hour to allow the relatively cooler evening conditions time to take hold.Pakistan begin yet another new era, though the frequency of these reboots likely stretches the meaning of that word to breaking point. Mike Hesson has been appointed the white-ball coach. Regarded as one of the game’s canniest thinkers with a stellar resume of leading teams to success behind him, you’d think his arrival represents an exciting new time in Pakistan cricket. A bit like when Gary Kirsten was appointed to the same position 12 months earlier.Related

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Pakistan are coming off a chastening 4-1 series loss to New Zealand in March, but have largely stuck to the same mentality, if not necessarily the personnel, for this tour. Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and Shaheen Shah Afridi are all absent. Saim Ayub and Fakhar Zaman return from injury, while Naseem Shah is also back. Meanwhile, performances in the PSL have seen Hasan Ali and Sahibzada Farhan called up to the squad.Bangladesh’s form isn’t much better. Last week, they fell to an ignominious series defeat to the UAE, who came from behind to inflict a 2-1 defeat. Head coach Phil Simmons insisted the mood remained upbeat despite that defeat, but complicating Bangladesh’s task in Pakistan is the absence of several first-choice players.Mustafizur Rahman, Soumya Sarkar and Taskin Ahmed are out injured, while Nahid Rana has opted out of the tour. They will, though, have the services of new fast bowling coach Shaun Tait, who previously served in that role with Pakistan.As with the later stages of the PSL, there will be no Hawkeye available during this series. The provider of the technology did not return to Pakistan once the PSL resumed, and the PCB has not deemed it cost-effective to arrange a replacement.

Form guide

Pakistan LLWLL (last five completed matches, most recent first)
Bangladesh LLWWW

In the spotlight

Saim Ayub is fully fit, but didn’t hit his stride properly during the PSL. Starting off with a trademark half-century for Peshawar Zalmi, he followed it up with six successive single-digit scores as his tournament ended with a whimper. Five months earlier, when he last played T20I cricket before an ankle injury doomed him to a spell on the sidelines, he was in irresistible form; his most recent T20I score is an unbeaten 57-ball 98 against South Africa at Centurion. Pakistan will hope he can pick up where he left that sort of form.Litton Das was named T20I captain recently•BCCI

All eyes will be on Litton Das, who oversaw Bangladesh’s 2-1 defeat against UAE last week. Litton is the newly appointed T20I captain after Najmul Hossain Shanto stood down from the position earlier in the year. Litton got the position on the back of his good leadership in the West Indies in December. However, his batting form remains suspect. He made 65 runs against the UAE, often looking uncertain with his role in the batting order. Litton may have to take the anchor role with the bigger hitters around them, while at the same time managing the bowling attack.Pakistan are coming off a series defeat against New Zealand•Getty Images

Team news

A side strain has ruled Mohammad Wasim Jnr out of the series, with Abbas Afridi named his replacement. With this being Hesson’s first squad, there are positions up for grabs in the batting order, while Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali and Faheem Ashraf are expected to make up the seam-bowling numbers.Pakistan: 1 Sahibzada Farhan/Mohammad Haris (wk) 2 Saim Ayub 3 Fakhar Zaman 4 Hasan Nawaz 5 Salman Ali Agha (capt) 6 Shadab Khan 7 Khushdil Shah 8 Faheem Ashraf 9 Haris Rauf 10 Hasan Ali 11 Abrar AhmedBangladesh have a limited pace attack so they will have to bring in at least two of their spinners into the XI. It might be a choice between vice captain Mahedi Hasan and Mehidy Hasan Miraz.Bangladesh (probable): 1 Tanzid Hasan, 2 Parvez Hossain Emon, 3 Litton Das (capt), 4 Towhid Hridoy, 5 Jaker Ali (wk), 6 Shamim Hossain, 7 Mehidy Hasan Miraz/Mahedi Hasan, 8 Rishad Hossain, 9 Tanzim Hasan, 10 Hasan Mahmud, 11 Shoriful Islam

Pitch and conditions

It remains hot and dry in Lahore, though an occasional evening breeze does make conditions around match time more bearable. If the PSL is any indicator, the surfaces should be conducive to high scores.

Stats and trivia

• Bangladesh have a woeful T20I record against Pakistan, winning 3 and losing 16 matches. They did, however, win the last time these two sides played, though it involved second-string sides at the Asian Games in Hangzhou.
• Shoriful Islam and Mahedi Hasan are one and two wickets away respectively from becoming the fourth and fifth Bangladeshi bowlers to take 50 T20I wickets
• Pakistan’s T20I record since the start of 2024 makes for grim reading. Excluding games against Ireland, Canada and Zimbabwe, they have won four of 23 T20Is in this period

Quotes

“Taskin and Fizz [Mustafizur] are key bowlers. But the young guys step up in their absence. They have a big opportunity to show their skills. We have a very good balanced side. We believe in our bowlers who are quite capable.”

Tottenham Hotspur have come on leaps and bounds over the last couple of years, as seen by some of the achievements on the field under various managers.

Ange Postecoglou may have been handed his marching orders over the summer window, but he managed to achieve something which various managers have failed to do in North London.

The Aussie claimed the Europa League title with a victory over fellow Premier League side Manchester United in Bilbao, subsequently ending the 17-year trophy drought.

However, it wasn’t enough to keep his job, with the 60-year-old replaced by Thomas Frank, with the Dane tasked with the responsibility of taking the Lilywhites to the next level.

Their ability to win the Europa League has allowed the club to feature in the Champions League, whilst also recruiting some top-level talent in the process.

How Spurs struck gold in Daniel Levy's final window

During the recent summer window, Frank made a beeline to improve his forward line, subsequently making a move to land Mohammed Kudus from rivals West Ham United.

The Ghanaian cost a reported £55m during the off-season, but he’s already shown glimpses of being a shrewd addition for the Lilywhites in 2025/26 and beyond.

He’s registered five assists in his first ten outings in North London, as per Transfermarkt, with the forward also getting off the mark during the recent 2-1 win over Leeds United, lashing home from just outside the box.

Kudus wasn’t the only big-money addition during the off-season, with the hierarchy also forking out £52m for the signature of attacking midfielder Xavi Simons from RB Leipzig.

A new number ten was on the agenda all summer long, subsequently landing the Dutchman after missing out on the likes of Eberechi Eze and Morgan Gibbs-White prior to his arrival.

The 22-year-old has so far made seven outings across all competitions, but unlike Kudus, he’s failed to find the net and has also only registered one assist in the process.

Despite the aforementioned additions, one other player in the first-team is rapidly becoming a better signing than the pair after establishing himself in Frank’s plans.

The Spurs star who’s becoming a better signing than Kudus & Simons

Over the last couple of years, Spurs haven’t been afraid to splash the cash to help them achieve their goals on the pitch, with the hierarchy spending well over £400m in the last three years.

Numerous areas of the pitch have been subject to investment, as seen by the additions within the final third, but the defensive unit has also been bolstered in recent years.

The partnership of Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero at the heart of the backline has already contributed to Frank’s side keeping five clean sheets in 2025/26 to date.

However, the middle of the park is arguably one of the most important, with Lucas Bergvall already making huge strides after the Dane took the reins during the off-season.

The Swede was an unknown quantity to many a little over 12 months ago, when the hierarchy forked out a fee in the region of £8.5m for his services from Djurgarden.

Yet, swiftly said to possess “a first touch like Modric” by the Athletic’s JJ Bull, at the age of just 18 when he moved to England, the midfielder made an immediate impact during his debut campaign – racking up 45 appearances across all competitions.

Whilst he’s primarily a deep-lying option, he managed to net his first goal for the club in the Carabao Cup semi-final over Liverpool – but it was unable to catapult the side to the final.

The 2025/26 campaign has seen the youngster go from strength to strength, already featuring in ten outings under Frank and leading to Squawka describing him as “incredible”.

Bergvall has already added to his goalscoring tally, netting his first English top-flight effort in the recent 3-0 triumph over West Ham at the London Stadium.

Games played

6

Goals & assists

2

Pass accuracy

84%

Dribble success

70%

Tackles won

2.2

Duels won

5.2

Recoveries made

3.9

Shots taken

1.5

His underlying stats this season are just as impressive, making 2.2 tackles per 90 and winning 5.2 duels per 90 – subsequently showcasing his excellent ability to regain possession for the side, before transferring the ball into attacking areas for the likes of Kudus and Simons.

The Swede has also achieved an 84% pass completion rate, whilst also completing 70% of the dribbles he’s attempted – arguably being the perfect box-to-box option at the heart of the team.

At just 19, it’s scary to think about how impressive Bergvall can become in the years ahead, especially if he continues on the trajectory he’s put himself on in recent months.

There’s no disputing that Kudus and Simons will be excellent additions in the near future, but the move for Bergvall was a bargain and one that could go down as one of the best in their history if he reaches his full potential.

It's not Kudus: Spurs talent could now steal the #10 shirt from Maddison

Tottenham Hotspur have a star who looks set for a huge future at the club in the years ahead.

ByEthan Lamb Oct 3, 2025

MatériaMais Notícias

Na Arena Fonte Nova, o Bahia não tomou conhecimento do Red Bull Bragantino e venceu por 4 a 0. em duelo válido pela 20ª rodada do Brasileirão. Com o triunfo, o Esquadrão de Aço aparece na 16ª posição, com 21 pontos. O Massa Bruta é o 6º, com 32 pontos. 

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CALENDÁRIO

Na próxima rodada, o Bahia mede forças contra o Botafogo, no Nilton Santos. Enquanto isso, o Bragantino vai atrás da recuperação contra o Cuiabá, em casa. 

+ Confira a classificação e a tabela do Brasileirão

O JOGO

O Bahia foi superior desde os minutos iniciais. Com marcação forte e sem dar respiro ao rival, o gol saiu aos oito minutos. Após bate-rebate dentro da área, Rezende chutou e venceu Cleiton, 1 a 0. 

O gol fez o Bragantino ir ao campo de ataque, mas o goleiro Marcos Felipe fez o seu papel. Em pelo menos duas vezes, o arqueiro do Bahia foi fundamental para segurar a vantagem. 

Aos 37 minutos, novamente com a bola parada, o Tricolor achou seu gol. Vitor Hugo subiu sozinho e desviou para o fundo da rede, 2 a 0.

Inconformado com a atuação na etapa inicial, Pedro Caixinha fez três mudanças no intervalo, mas o Bragantino não tinha inspiração. Por outro lado, o Esquadrão de Aço mantinha o ímpeto e aproveitava os contra-ataques. 

+ Federação atualiza posições de times brasileiros no ranking mundial de clubes

Exposto, o Braga sofreu mais um gol. Ademir invadiu a área e cruzou rasteiro para Mingotti entrar de carrinho e estufar as redes, 3 a 0. A vantagem poderia até ser maior, porém um chute de Thaciano explodiu no poste direito de Cleiton. 

Na reta final do confronto, o Esquadrão de Aço conseguiu ampliar o marcador. Gilberto cruzou e achou Cauly, que bateu de primeira e venceu Cleiton, 4 a 0.

BAHIA 4 X 0 RED BULL BRAGANTINO

Local: Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador (BA)

Data-Hora: 20/8/2023 – 16h

Árbitro: Arthur Gomes Rabelo (ES)

Auxiliares:Rodrigo Figueiredo Henrique Correa (FIFA-RJ)e Marcia Bezerra Lopes Caetano (RO)

VAR:Rodolpho Toski Marques (VAR-FIFA-PR)

Público/renda: pagantes/R$

Cartões amarelos: Kanu (BAH), Aderlan, Jadsom, Andrés Hurtado, Matheus Gonçalves (BGT)

Cartões vermelhos: –

Gols: Rezende (8’/1ºT) Vitor Hugo (37’/1ºT) Vinicius Mingotti (14’/2ºT) Cauly (38’/2ºT)

BAHIA:Marcos Felipe; Gilberto, Kanu, Vitor Hugo e Camilo Cándido (Matheus Bahia, aos 33/2ºT); Rezende (Acevedo, aos 16/2ºT), Thaciano e Cauly; Ademir (Everaldo, aos 19/2ºT), Vinicius Mingotti (Vitor Jacaré, aos 16/2ºT) e Rafael Ratão (Yago Felipe, aos 33/2ºT). Técnico: Renato Paiva.

BRAGANTINO: Cleiton; Aderlan (Andrés Hurtado, ao 0/2), Luan Patrick, Léo Ortiz (Lucas Rafael, ao 0/2) e Luan Cândido; Matheus Fernandes, Jadsom Silva e Gustavinho; Bruninho (Vitinho, ao 0/2), Thiago Borbas (Alerrandro, aos 16/2ºT) e Sorriso. Técnico: Pedro Caixinha.

Former England seamer named in 14-man squad for visit of Derbyshire to Old Trafford

ESPNcricinfo staff15-May-2025James Anderson is ready to make his professional comeback, ten months on from his final Test appearance against West Indies at Lord’s last year, after recovering from the calf injury that prevented his involvement in Lancashire’s first five Rothesay County Championship matches of the season.Anderson, who turns 43 in July, has been named in the club’s 14-man squad for their four-day clash with Derbyshire, and barring late setbacks, is expected to take his place in their final XI at Emirates Old Trafford on Friday morning.His inclusion is a timely boost for a club that sits rock-bottom of Division Two after a dreadful start to their campaign, which this week resulted in the resignation of Keaton Jennings as captain. Dale Benkenstein, the head coach, is hopeful that Anderson’s unrivalled experience will help to steer the side back to better fortunes.”We obviously get a bit of a boost with Jimmy Anderson being available,” Benkenstein told Lancs TV. “He’s worked so hard, and he’s an amazing professional at his age. And what he’s achieved, the work that he’s put in to get back and ready for this game, is amazing. So it’ll be fantastic to have him back in the team.”Anderson’s last appearance for Lancashire came in July, on the eve of his 188th and final Test, when he claimed first-innings figures of 7 for 35 against Nottinghamshire at Southport.Related

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“We know what he’s going to bring, but it is his first game back for a while,” Benkenstein said. “But that experience, you can’t have a more Lancashire through-and-through player. So to have that on the field is invaluable, as we have missed it over the beginning of the season. It’s great to have him back.”Since retiring with a national-record 704 Test wickets to his name, Anderson has been working as a bowling consultant with the England squad, but has stepped back from that role this summer, with New Zealand’s Tim Southee set to link up with the Test squad next week in a similar role.Anderson’s desire to keep playing was epitomised by his unsuccessful bids for selection at both the IPL auction and the Hundred draft. However, he has signed an multi-format deal for Lancashire, and if his body holds up, he is likely to play his first T20 match in more than a decade when the T20 Blast commences later this month.The Derbyshire match also promises to be Anderson’s first on-field appearance since he was knighted in Rishi Sunak’s resignation honours last month.His return will help to change the narrative for Lancashire, whose club hierarchy were moved to issue a public apology following their three-day defeat to Northamptonshire last week that left them rooted to the foot of the table.Since then, a new captain has been appointed – former Ashes rival Marcus Harris, whom Anderson dismissed twice in three Test appearances on the 2021-22 tour of Australia.Harris, however, has been a rare source of comfort for Lancashire this summer, scoring 749 runs at 83.22 including three hundreds.”Marcus is a very established cricketer and a very experienced person, and I feel like he understands where we are right now,” Benkenstein said. “I’m hoping that fresh pair of eyes gives us that spark we need.”As we all know, most Australians have that inner confidence. The way he is playing as well just helps.”A huge thank you to Keats,” Benkenstein added. “He’s one of the most amazing men you’ll ever meet. Having been a captain myself, you understand the pressures and the weight it has on you, especially in county cricket with the weight of cricket.”

It was a significant show of faith in Rio Ngumoha’s potential when Liverpool opted against directly replacing Luis Diaz this summer.

Diaz, 28, had been a steady source of positivity down the left flank for over three years on Merseyside, and he was instrumental in winning the Premier League last season, posting 17 goals and eight assists across all competitions.

But he and FSG had reached a contract dispute, and his openness to moving for new pastures saw Bayern Munich’s £65.5m offer accepted in August. He brought four major honours to Anfield.

Liverpool welcomed a wealth of talent to their ranks this summer, but they didn’t sign an out-and-out left winger. Partly, this was because of Cody Gakpo and £116m arrival Florian Wirtz’s ability to play out on the flank, but Ngumoha’s emergence also played a factor.

However, the up-and-down start to the season will have shown Arne Slot and sporting director Richard Hughes that perhaps that was a mistake. And if rumours are to be believed, the Reds hierarchy are considering rectifying that blunder.

Why Liverpool need a left winger

When Wirtz joined Liverpool in July, it was expected that he would settle in as one of the Premier League’s best players. That is still the anticipation, though his start to life in England has left much to be desired.

After assisting Hugo Ekitike on his debut in the Community Shield, the 22-year-old has since blanked across each of his eight appearances, lacking the quality and confidence in the crucial moments to make a difference.

That quality is in there, but Liverpool’s wider tactical struggles this term have exacerbated Wirtz’s slow start, with the attacking midfielder struggling to find his feet across central and wide berths.

While the German international can play out wide, this is not his most effective role, and with that in mind, Liverpool might want to sign a Diaz-like winger in 2026 to help balance the system out once again, perhaps raising Wirtz’s game concurrently.

And, according to Spanish sources, FSG are preparing an official €75m (£65m) offer for Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams, though the Basque outfit are holding out to see that their €90m (£78m) valuation is met.

Williams, 23, was reported by Fabrizio Romano this summer to be Arsenal’s “dream target”, but the Gunners failed to make a breakthrough and went down a different track.

Liverpool are aware of interest from other suitors and hope to close a deal swiftly, so keep a close eye on this one.

What Nico Williams would bring to Liverpool

A maverick of a winger, Williams rose to prominence for his performances at the 2024 European Championship with Spain, vital to the Iberian nation’s triumph, hailed for his “incredible” talent by Barcelona’s Pedri.

During that summer tournament, Spain were simply a cut above the rest, and Williams and Lamine Yamal drew so many plaudits for their electric performances, uncontainable.

The fast-footed talent has played 171 matches for Athletic Bilbao and earned 30 caps for Spain. For his club, he has posted 32 goals and assists apiece.

A groin injury has disrupted his start to the current campaign, but with a goal and two assists to his name already, the £276k-per-week ace is sure to hit form once fitness levels have been recovered.

Last season wasn’t one of seamless success for Williams, who only scored five times in La Liga, but he notched 14 goals across all competitions and showed through his underlying data his high-level ability. As per Sofascore, he completed 2.3 dribbles and won 4.9 duels on average each game.

It’s more than Williams operates in a similar way to Diaz, and thus could be an invaluable puzzle piece for Slot as the Dutch manager works on recalibrating his out-of-sorts Liverpool team.

You would hope that the Merseysiders’ struggles would have been combatted by the end of the campaign, but Williams could prove a long-term success and an upgrade on Wirtz down the left channel.

Florian Wirtz vs Nico Williams (past 12 months)

Stats (per 90)

Wirtz

Williams

Goals scored

0.29

0.34

Assists

0.35

0.23

Shots taken

2.59

2.48

Shot-creating actions

4.89

5.17

Touches (att pen)

5.21

5.13

Pass completion (%)

78.9

71.0

Progressive passes

6.33

3.22

Progressive carries

3.95

5.91

Successful take-ons

2.53

3.66

Ball recoveries

4.03

4.77

Data via FBref

Curiously, there are quite a few similarities between the respective players, even though stylistic differences are clear when observing them in action.

Both players are adept at taking on defenders, with staggering close control. Wirtz is artful on the ball. However, Williams is more of a relentless carrier, and that is something Slot’s side need to stretch lines and accommodate Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak in the centre.

In fact, he has been described in the past as a “world-class prospect” by journalist Zach Lowy, who went on to say that the “absolute menace” was proving a terror for Spanish defences across the 2023/24 campaign.

It’s clear that Wirtz is a talented footballer and that he could become one of the Premier League’s leading figures at Liverpool. But Liverpool need to sign a first-class winger to add width and energy to Slot’s flanks.

Williams is that man, with his “unpredictable” and “relentless” dribbling, as noted by analyst Ben Mattinson, bound to add a dimension to the Liverpool fold, especially when Mohamed Salah lacks his one-time athleticism on the alternate wing.

Is Williams a more technically talented footballer than Wirtz? Does his ceiling stretch higher than the German playmaker’s own? In both cases, probably not.

However, Liverpool haven’t looked quite right this season, and the Spaniard’s electric pace and Diaz-like qualities as a winger might prove the upgrade needed to restore the tactical equilibrium.

Related Their answer to Semenyo: Liverpool have a future "best winger in the world"

Liverpool have so much talent within Arne Slot’s squad.

Posts ByAngus Sinclair Oct 16, 2025

South Africa contemplated the need for captain Temba Bavuma to retire hurt on the third day at Lord’s after he suffered a hamstring injury early in his second innings. But with the urging of Aiden Markram, they opted not to disrupt a partnership that went on to carry them to the brink of the World Test Championship title.Bavuma was on 6, two overs before tea, when he pulled up with the hamstring injury which initially required lengthy treatment on the outfield before he made it through to the interval. He was clearly hampered when running between the wickets – which was one of the key factors the South Africa hierarchy discussed – but in the end, there were few alarms with the running, which even raised the question of whether Australia had pressurised Bavuma enough.”We had to make a big call whether he continues to bat and how it will affect his strokeplay, how that might affect Aiden’s rhythm,” Ashwell Prince, South Africa’s batting coach, said. “If twos are being turned into one [or] they can’t run the twos or the threes. Both of them were adamant that Temba was going to continue. He wanted to continue.Related

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“Aiden was adamant that the partnership is the key. Obviously, had [Tristan] Stubbs gone in, we would have still had Temba’s wicket intact, but you start a new partnership. They were feeling pretty good and they wanted to continue.”Aiden was well aware that he’ll have to curb his intensity just in terms of running between the wickets to allow Temba to ease his way through it.”By the close, the two were still unbeaten together with a stand of 143, with Markram having brought up a masterful century, although there was a question mark over how Bavuma would pull up after the night’s sleep and the body having cooled down. It was hard to see, however, a situation where South Africa’s captain wouldn’t emerge on the fourth morning.”Temba is tough,” Prince said. “Aiden has great respect for Temba. In fact, I think this team’s greatest strength is the unity that they have in this camp… they are well aware that South Africa have had much greater individual players, but they’ve got something special going on in that dressing room, and that sort of helps them to drag each other along.”But with the task not quite finished, Prince was reluctant to be drawn into discussing the wider narrative of what could unfold for Bavuma on Saturday. “He’s had to fight throughout his career, and this could be a defining moment for his career,” he said. “I believe it’s the biggest stage of in terms of Test cricket. Maybe I should answer the question after the game.”

Tottenham Hotspur defensive midfielder Joao Palhinha scored his third goal for the club in their 1-1 draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers at home on Saturday night.

The Portugal international rescued a point for his team with a cultured finish into the bottom corner from the edge of the box after a lay-off from Pape Matar Sarr, and it is safe to say that he enjoyed it.

Palhinha raced away to the corner, shirt ripped off, to celebrate with the Spurs fans, although some may argue that he should have taken the ball back to the halfway line to push for a winner in the final seconds.

The Portuguese ace has been a strong addition to the squad since his loan move from Bayern Munich in the summer, averaging 4.3 tackles and interceptions per game in the Premier League, per Sofascore.

Palhinha, who has won 65% of his duels in the top-flight this season, is a defensive enforcer at the base of the midfield, but he has added goals to his game in recent weeks.

Whilst he will hope to continue his fine form and go on to be remembered as a great midfielder for the club, he will never be the silky and elegant operator that Luka Modric was in the middle of the park.

Where Luka Modric ranks among Tottenham's all-time midfielders

Tottenham have had some terrific talents in midfield throughout their history. From the likes of Paul Gascoigne and Glen Hoddle to Christian Eriksen and Moussa Dembele.

In terms of what they achieved in their careers as a whole, Modric may well have the right to be called the best central midfielder to ever play for the club, even if his best performances came after he left North London.

The main reason for that is that he is the only central midfielder in the club’s history, whilst at Spurs or not, to have won the Ballon d’Or. In 2018, the Croatia international was crowned the best player in the world, six years after switching London for Madrid.

As you can see in the post above, the midfield maestro saw off competition from Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi, and Cristiano Ronaldo to win the award that year.

Modric is also the most decorated player in the history of Real Madrid, having won 28 trophies in 13 seasons before his move to AC Milan this summer.

It is not just his accomplishments for Real Madrid and Croatia that make him arguably the best midfielder in Tottenham history, though, as he also delivered 17 goals and 24 assists in 160 matches during his time in England, per Transfermarkt.

Modric was a wizard in the middle of the park for Spurs. He glided across the pitch and used his energy and quality to unpick defences and provide moments of magic for fans to enjoy.

Palhinha is not that kind of midfielder. He is more of a destroyer at the base of the midfield. However, Thomas Frank does have another star who could be the club’s next Modric in the making.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Before his exit from North London, former chairman Daniel Levy sanctioned the signing of attacking midfielder Xavi Simons from RB Leipzig for a fee of £51m. The early signs are that they may have found their next Modric.

Why Xavi Simons could be the next Luka Modric for Spurs

Unlike Palhinha, the Netherlands international is a silky and technical midfielder who is a joy to watch when he is at his best. Supporters have already had plenty of glimpses of that early on in his Spurs career, even if he has yet to score a goal.

When an attacking midfielder arrives for £51m with the reputation that Simons had, it is understandable for fans to expect goals and assists instantly. Particularly given that he produced 21 goals and 21 assists in two seasons with RB Leipzig, per Sofascore.

However, the 22-year-old star is finding his way into English football and within Thomas Frank’s system, which means that it is going to take time for him to show the very best of his ability.

Most of Simons’ outings in a Spurs shirt to date have come on the left flank, but it could be in a central midfield role where Frank is able to get the best out of him.

The Dutchman keeps wanting to drift inside to take the ball in central positions so that he can drive at the defence and make things tick in midfield, but then Destiny Udogie is left as the only player holding the width on the left.

His statistics in a left wing position also suggest that he would far better in the middle of the park, as he ranks highly among his positional peers in a host of statistics that you would expect a central-based player to excel in.

25/26 Premier League	Xavi Simons p90	Percentile rank vs wingers
xG	0.14	Top 48%
xA	0.19	Top 25%
Assists	0.51	Top 11%
Chances created	2.02	Top 7%
Accurate long passes	3.54	Top 3%
Long pass accuracy	77.8%	Top 13%
Successful dribbles	1.52	Top 30%
Successful passes	33.37	Top 20%
Stats via FotMob

As you can see in the table above, Simons has impressive output as a creative player and as a passer, whilst getting into goalscoring positions and dribbling past players are not two of his standout attributes.

This suggests that playing the Dutchman in the midfield three, possibly on the left, with a natural winger on the left for him to link up with could get the best out of the summer signing.

Simons was described as “tactically flexible” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, and Frank should make use of that flexibility by attempting to mould him into his own version of Modric.

The former Paris Saint-Germain starlet has the technical quality, elegance, creativity, and passing qualities to emulate the Croatian in North London, as another central midfielder who could be a joy to watch for supporters.

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He may not go on to win the Ballon d’Or, although you never know, but Simons has the potential to be a truly exciting player for Tottenham in the middle of the park, rather than out on the wing.

While Arsenal fans will have to wait another week to watch their team again, they did get to see Bukayo Saka shine on the international stage again on Thursday.

The Hale End icon started for England in a friendly against Wales, and made it quite clear that the right-wing position is his for club and country.

The Welsh could not handle him at all, and just 20 minutes into the game, he scored a sensational curling effort that was the best strike on the night.

Saka will undoubtedly have a significant role to play for England at the World Cup next year, but there is another Arsenal gem who could go on to be an even bigger national team star in the years to come.

The Arsenal players who could be at the World Cup

Sticking with Saka for a moment, and so long as he remains fit, it’s almost impossible to imagine England’s World Cup squad without him being in it next summer.

The 24-year-old has twice been named the nation’s Player of the Year, has already amassed 45 caps, in which he’s scored 21 goal involvements, and Thursday was just a reminder of how influential he can be at this level.

With that said, there will likely be a handful of Arsenal players who make it on the plane next year, chief among them being Declan Rice.

The £105m man won his 69th cap against Wales, and more crucially, wore the captain’s armband in Harry Kane’s absence.

Therefore, so long as he remains fit and keeps up his brilliant form for the rest of the season, he should not only be on the plane to Mexico, Canada and the USA, but in the starting lineup for every game.

Someone who should have little concern about making it on the plane, but whose place in the lineup is not guaranteed, is Eberechi Eze.

The former Crystal Palace star has just 13 senior caps to his name, but has become a constant in squads over the last couple of years and offers something from the middle of the park and out wide.

The final player from Mikel Arteta’s side who stands a realistic chance of making it to the World Cup, but could still miss out if he doesn’t start getting more gametime, is Myles Lewis-Skelly.

Thomas Tuchel has made it abundantly clear he rates the youngster, giving him his first start, in which he scored. However, with Riccardo Calafiori, the current first choice at the Emirates, he could see his place with the Three Lions going to someone else.

With all that said, there is another Arsenal gem who almost certainly won’t be going to the World Cup, but may well become one of England’s biggest stars in a few years.

The Arsenal gem destined to become an England superstar

Now, with all the players already mentioned, some of you might be thinking the gem in question is Ethan Nwaneri, and while he might also become a star for the national team, it’s not him.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Instead, the Arsenal gem who seems destined to become a superstar for England is, of course, Max Dowman.

The 15-year-old is one of the most talked-about academy prospects in the game right now, and for very good reason.

It feels more like a matter of when, not if, he’s starting week in, week out, in the Premier League and Champions League.

After all, while this all sounds somewhat hyperbolic, respected talent scout Jacek Kulig described the teenage gem as the “most exciting prospect” he had seen “since Lamine Yamal”, which is really saying something considering the Spaniard just finished second in the Ballon d’Or at 18 years old.

Appearances

23

Minutes

1945′

Goals

19

Assists

5

Goal Involvements per Match

1.04

Minutes per Goal Involvement

81.04′

It’s an opinion that doesn’t look too crazy when looking back at the youngster’s numbers from last season, either, as in 23 appearances, totalling 1945 minutes, he scored 19 times and provided five assists, which comes out to an average of 1.04 goal involvements per match, or one every 81.04 minutes.

Moreover, despite still being only 15 years old, the Chelmsford-born dynamo is already playing for England’s U19 side, having made three appearances and provided one assist.

During his time with the U17s, he scored five goals and provided three assists in 16 appearances, totalling 953 minutes.

Finally, if the incredible prospect had only played junior football up until this point, there would be an argument that everyone is getting a bit carried away. However, he has now played for the Gunners’ first team and looked brilliant.

For example, he won a penalty against Newcastle United in pre-season and then against Leeds United in the league a month later, which led to analyst Ben Mattinson claiming he “hasn’t even done his GCSE’s but he’s humiliating Premier League players.”

Ultimately, it might take a couple of years before he has a proper go in the senior side, but with how well he’s playing this year and with what those in the know are saying, there is every chance Dowman can become Arsenal’s greatest ever England player.

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GOAL US writers discuss the biggest USMNT developments as Mauricio Pochettino continues the build up to 2026 World Cup

It's time for a U.S. soccer check in. With the World Cup now less than eight months away, the national team is always simmering. There are stars playing for big sides in Europe, and plenty of action in domestic soccer, too.

Tim Weah has enjoyed a solid start to life at Marseille. Tanner Tessmann has gone from hipster pick to irrelevant to suddenly a key figure for Mauricio Pochettino's side. For those USMNT players in MLS, a few names that didn't figure to have a shot a few months ago might yet be in the national team picture next summer

GOAL US writers break down the biggest storylines in the national team in the latest edition of… The Rondo.

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  Which USMNT player has been most impressive in the Champions League?

  Tom Hindle: Hard to pick out anyone, really. It hasn't been the strongest campaign for the U.S. Perhaps Tim Weah, even if only because of Madrid goal.

  Ryan Tolmich: It's still a little early in the competition to make any sweeping proclamations , but yeah, it's clearly Weah's goal against Real Madrid. It's one of those moments that, just a few years ago, would have been impossible, but now seems almost commonplace. It's still very, very cool to see Americans competing with the world's biggest clubs and, in Weah's case, not just competing but making an impact – even if it came in a defeat.

  Alex Labidou: Weah’s goal at the Santiago Berbebanu still has to be the top. Yes, his stats haven’t jumped off the page since then, but he still became the first American to score against Real Madrid in their legendary building, so he gets the nod. In terms of games, PSV’s 6-2 win over Napoli this week has to be the biggest UCL upset of the season so far. And Ricardo Pepi scored and assisted in that one, albeit in a limited outing with the game already decided. Still impressive, though.

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  Which USMNT player has been most impressive in MLS?

  TH: There's been a fair few, as Mauricio Pochettino's MLS-laden squads have shown. Perhaps the standout, though, is Cristian Roldan, who has been wonderful for Seattle Sounders all season – and might just have played himself into the USMNT roster next summer. 

  RT: Depends on your definition of impressive, but Alex Freeman needs to be right up there. A year ago, he was a prospect in the Orlando City system. And now he's a potential World Cup inclusion who has established himself as one of the most dangerous weapons in MLS. He's just getting started, too, with Freeman set to attack defenses for as long as he's in the league.

  AL: Injuries have slowed him down, but Brian White’s first half of the season was spectacular. He, along with Sebastian Berhalter, is a big reason why Vancouver finished second in the West. For perspective: White scored 14 goals before July, and 10 more in April. His previous season-high was 15. A recurring hamstring injury has limited him in the second half of the season, and he was only able to play in 21 league games this year. But if he had played in at least 30 games, he might have reached the 25-goal mark (he finished with 16).

• Getty Images
  

  Who is the USMNT breakout player, on the club level?

  TH: Freeman. He's been excellent, and deserves the spot he will likely get in the U.S. side.

  RT: Berhalter. Just a few years ago, he thought about getting out of the game altogether. But after breaking through with Vancouver this season, he looks like a player that has a long career ahead. The son of former USMNT boss Gregg, Berhalter is tenacious and, in truth, a pretty damn good soccer player. He's a key reason the Whitecaps have been so good this season, and he's a player that many overlooked right up until they couldn't anymore.

  AL: Haji Wright has to be the choice. He’s shown glimpses, but he has never been able to put it all together like he has this season. Wright has the perfect physical tools for a striker – good speed and height – but he hasn't always been as precise as this year. He leads the Championship in scoring, and more importantly for U.S. fans, he brought that same form to the national team – scoring a brace against Australia.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Who impressed, and who disappointed, in the October camp?

  TH: Cristian Roldan truthers, unite! Pochettino called him the "perfect" midfielder, which really tells you all you need to know. On the flip side, Aidan Morris didn't exactly set the world alight. It would be surprising if he gets another chance.  

  RT: He didn't exactly dazzle, but Tessmann showed everything needed to be a USMNT midfielder. There are still some questions about who starts next to Tyler Adams in the center of the park, and Tessmann's performances did show that he might be the answer. Conversely, it was just disappointing to not see Cameron Carter-Vickers play, considering the race at centerback. And with the unfortunate news Friday that he will be sidelined for several months with an Achilles injury, that opportunity for 2026 could be over.

  AL: Wright is the easy answer, so let’s highlight another breakout player: Tessmann. The defensive midfielder has, at times, seemed an awkward fit under Pochettino, but the manager’s switch to a 3-4-2-1 formation has seemingly got the best out of the Lyon star. Tessmann’s stats won’t jump off the page, but he was key in stopping attacks and helping the U.S. build on counterattacks. As for disappointments, Morris wasn’t horrible, but he had some shaky moments against Ecuador. It's hard to see him overtaking others when this squad is fully healthy. And Carter-Vickers appeared to be falling out the race at centerback before the injury, so a very tough blow for the Celtic star.

Manchester United are in a tricky situation under Ruben Amorim, and a high-profile manager is now interested in taking over at Old Trafford.

Manchester United lacking focus amid Brentford defeat

Soon enough, the Red Devils’ defeat at Brentford will be cast to the back of collective minds at Old Trafford. However, their performance on the day epitomised the inconsistency in performances across the board at the Premier League giants.

Leaky at one end of the field and profligate at the other, Manchester United have fallen to 14th in the top-flight standings, something that has left Amorim under increasing pressure as he aims to turn the fortunes of his side around.

Matthijs De Ligt has admitted the Red Devils lacked concentration at key moments, something the Netherlands international and his teammates will be keen to sort out before the visit of Sunderland this weekend.

He told BBC Sport: “It’s always easy to look at the manager, but in the end the players on the pitch have to do it. The goals we conceded, the chances we conceded, are because of what? You guys (the media) always talk about the system, but it also has a lot to do with focus and concentration.

“If that’s lacking in key moments, it is going to make a difference. When you’re up against a Brentford team who play like they do, they will kill you.”

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Graham Potter has been earmarked as a surprise Manchester United candidate to succeed Amorim, as has Gareth Southgate, though there may be another high-profile name on the Old Trafford wishlist should they part ways with the Portuguese boss.

Romano: Xavi interested in Man Utd managerial job

Speaking on his YouTube channel, renowned journalist Fabrizio Romano has made it clear former Barcelona manager Xavi would go ‘immediately’ to Manchester United if INEOS follow through and make an approach.

He stated: “Xavi is studying the Premier League. Xavi is monitoring the Premier League, and Xavi would go immediately to Man United, even without European football – he would go immediately to the Premier League.”

Xavi won the La Liga title with Barcelona in 2023 alongside a Spanish Super Cup in the same year. His only other experience in management came at Al-Sadd, where he won the Qatar Stars League in 2021, the Qatar Cup twice, the Qatari Stars Cup, the Emir of Qatar Cup and the Sheikh Jassim Cup in 2019.

Favouring a 4-3-3 formation, the former La Liga legend enjoyed a magnificent career as a player, although he has been out of work since May 2024, having been replaced by Hansi Flick.

Clearly, the 45-year-old is someone who knows what it takes to win, though he did struggle towards the end of his Barcelona tenure and would be walking into an entirely different set of circumstances at Old Trafford.