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Thomas Frank is the latest man to be tasked with the responsibility of leading Tottenham Hotspur to potential Premier League glory – taking the reins from Ange Postecoglou during the off-season.

The Dane has already made a superb start to life as the Lilywhites boss, winning two of three league matches – including a sensational victory over Manchester City at the Etihad.

He will undoubtedly want to forget about the recent defeat to Bournemouth on home soil, losing his 100% start to life in the role as manager in North London.

The international break may be a blessing in disguise to the new boss, getting an added period to work with some of his players to fully get his ideology across to the squad.

However, there’s no denying the 51-year-old would’ve wanted to rely upon one player who caught the eye under his guidance at his previous job in charge of Brentford.

Bryan Mbeumo’s time under Frank at Brentford

During his seven-year stint in charge of Brentford, Frank managed to develop numerous top-level talents, including winger Bryan Mbeumo, who managed to take his career to the next level under his guidance.

The Cameroonian scored 70 times for the Bees in his 242 appearances for the club, with 20 of which came in the Premier League during the 2024/25 campaign.

Such a year was the best of his professional career, leading to huge rumours about his future during the recent summer transfer window – with the Lilywhites touted as a potential destination.

However, he decided to join Manchester United instead this summer, linking up with Ruben Amorim in a staggering £71m deal – already opening his account for the Red Devils in the recent clash with Burnley.

Frank will undoubtedly have wished that he could’ve secured a reunion with the 26-year-old this summer, but he also could’ve had his next version of the forward had the club kept hold of one talent.

The former Spurs player who could’ve been Frank’s next Mbeumo

Numerous players have caught the eye at Spurs over recent years, with many often cutting inside off either flank and striking dangerous efforts at goal.

Gareth Bale was arguably the best at doing so during his time in North London, often beating the opposition before finding the top corner with his left foot.

Such a skillset led to him scoring 71 times across his two spells as a first-team star – something which led to him leaving for Real Madrid in a £85m deal back in 2013.

However, another player who possessed a singular skill was winger Ivan Perišić, who joined the club in the summer of 2022, arriving on a free transfer under Antonio Conte after his release from Inter Milan at the end of the 2021/22 campaign.

The Croatian made 44 appearances during his first season at the club, notching one goal and 12 assists, but he would be unable to make such an impact during his second season in North London.

He would tear his ACL in the early stages of 2023/24, featuring in just six matches, before moving to Hajduk Split on a free transfer at the end of his contract in the summer of 2024.

Despite his lack of first-team action in North London, he did show glimpses of being able to create danger by cutting off the flank – able to find a teammate or even the back of the net.

The Croatian, who’s been labelled “incredible” by one analyst, may now be 36, but he’s continued to thrive in Europe, helping PSV Eindhoven win the Eredivisie last season – notching 16 goals and 10 assists – a tally higher than that of Mbeumo.

His two-footed ability has made him such a threat in the Dutch top-flight, potentially showcasing to the Lilywhites the mistake they made in allowing him to depart.

Perisic has had a superb career at the very top level, with credit needing to be directed his way, especially after recovering from his serious injury and producing some incredible goal contributions.

His unpredictable nature in forward areas is extremely similar to that of Mbeumo, which has seen Frank’s side miss out on possessing either of the talents due to their failures in the market.

Spurs struck gold signing "phenomenal" star who's worth more than Simons

Tottenham Hotspur have already conducted excellent business with the addition of one player.

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By
Ethan Lamb

Sep 2, 2025

U.S. international Haji Wright is back with the national team after being left out of the September squad, thanks to his strong recent form. The Coventry City forward sits among the Championship’s top scorers with eight goals. Yet U.S. icon Alexi Lalas cautions that club form – especially in England’s second tier – doesn’t always translate to international success.

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  Difficult to read Championship performances

  The FOX Sports analyst pointed to Josh Sargent as an example. Sargent started the season strongly with Norwich, being named the Championship's Player of the Month in August, but that form didn't translate to the national team as he struggled in his start against South Korea in September.

  “We saw what happened with Josh Sargent," Lalas said on his State of the Union podcast. "Now, Josh Sargent's on the outs when it comes to the national team, and he's struggling when it comes to the Championship with where Norwich is. So that's not a good thing for club or country when it comes to Josh Sargent. 

  "I’ve said for years and years, form is fallacy. It often is. Not always, but for the most part, it is."

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  Best options available?

  Yet, with the U.S. looking for a backup striker to Folarin Balogun as Ricardo Pepi is dealing with injury issues, the former U.S. defender believes Wright will get a fair shot to prove his value.

  "He will continue to at least get a look," Lalas said. "This is a wonderful vein of form that he's in."

  Lalas expects Pochettino to keep looking to England’s second division for striker options, given the lack of depth elsewhere. He pointed to Derby Country's Patrick Agyemang as another example.

  “It is still soccer that is being played in Europe. And therefore, that glaze can form over people's eyes and distort the actual quality of the player. But you know what, beggars can't be choosers here," Lalas said.

• Striker competition continues

  While several American forwards – including Wright, Sargent,  Pepi, and Balogun – have impressed at club level, none has firmly claimed their national team role. Balogun showed promise at the Copa América and again against Japan in September, while Pepi has flashed when healthy, scoring 13 goals in 33 caps.

  Agyemang has five goals in 12 appearances. Meanwhile, Wright and Sargent have combined for 10 goals in 46 appearances.

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  October matches ahead

  As the USMNT prepare for their October fixtures against Ecuador and Australia, manager Mauricio Pochettino will have another opportunity to evaluate Balogun, Wright, and Agyemang in those two matches.

Jamie Vardy will star in a new TV documentary, Danny Simpson has confirmed to GOAL during an exclusive interview, with the Leicester City legend embracing a new professional challenge in Italy. After linking up with Cremonese, a “great character” is being backed to entertain audiences alongside wife Rebekah – with Vardy’s remarkable career following a Hollywood script.

• Premier League title & England caps: Fairytale career

  A man that went on to win the Premier League title and 26 senior international caps for England was playing non-league football in 2012. Just four years later, he was hoisting the English top-flight title aloft while rewriting the record books as a fearsome No.9 on the grandest of stages.

  Vardy spent 13 memorable years with the Foxes, taking in 500 appearances and scoring 200 goals. He bowed out having suffered relegation into the Championship at the end of the 2024-25 campaign, but made it clear that boots would not be hung up at 38 years of age.

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  Reality TV: Vardy backed to deliver entertainment

  The enigmatic frontman now finds himself in Serie A, having linked up with an ambitious newly-promoted outfit, Cremonese, and will star in an upcoming documentary series that lifts the lid on his life in Italian football. His fairytale rise to the top of the game will also be covered.

  Asked about Vardy becoming a reality TV star, former Foxes team-mate Simpson – speaking in association with – told GOAL: “I know there is one [a documentary]. I know there is one coming but not sure when that will come out. He’ll be brilliant, great character. I know he has got a year, possibly two years – different lifestyle, different league, why not do it? Who would have said to him 10 years ago you will be finishing your career in Italy. It’s great for him and I hope he can do well for that team, get some goals and keep doing what he does.”

• Surprise call: No Premier League club took a punt on Vardy

  While looking forward to watching Vardy’s exploits in Italy, Simpson is surprised that nobody in the Premier League took a calculated gamble on a proven top-flight performer – with Manchester United having spent much of the summer in the market for another goalscorer.

  Ex-Red Devils academy graduate Simpson added: “I thought someone that is still scoring goals like that for a struggling Leicester team… It was the minutes that he played for me for Leicester, at his age. He wasn’t just coming off the bench for 20 minutes, he was playing full games, 80 minutes, leading the line as a skipper. You’ve got 20 minutes, Jamie Vardy coming off the bench, he’s not just going to run in behind anymore like he used to, he’s still got pace but he’s actually getting goals in the box – sniffing goals, headers, good finishes.

  “Very surprised that nobody took him and took a punt, knowing that he would get you, for me, 10 goals and again be a mentor to other players. You don’t have to be a coach, you can be a mentor as a team-mate. I was very surprised. I was pushing for United but that wasn’t meant to be. I’m surprised that didn’t happen.”

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  Vardy ready to silence any doubters

  Vardy is ready to silence any doubters in Italy, having told reporters when asked if he and fellow Serie A newcomers Kevin De Bruyne and Luka Modric still have the hunger to compete at the highest level: “You must be one of the doubters. You're one that I'll have to prove wrong. For me age is just a number. As long as my legs are doing exactly what they used to and still feel as fresh as they do then I will carry on. At the moment there are no signs of them slowing down so I'll keep going and I will be giving my all for this club.

  “I will learn Italian, but [for now] it is not a problem: football has its own language, with the ball. The main task is making sure we stay in the league, and that's how it was when I was at Leicester. It was never any, 'we are going to go for this', it was always, 'we need to stay in the league', that's the main thing. So all you do, you go out, you take each game one-by-one, give your all, what will be will be.”

  Vardy has taken in two appearances for Cremonese so far and is still waiting on his first goal. He has been nursing an untimely injury, which has limited his involvement, with documentary cameras set to offer an insight into how he overcomes any hurdles that are placed in his path.

Manchester United were swept aside by their neighbours in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon.

There’s no sugarcoating it: Ruben Amorim has some serious issues to overcome, and the whispers of yet another managerial change at Old Trafford are getting louder.

The Etihad Stadium is a tough ground for any club across the globe, and United have a good record on their rivals’ patch, but the manner of the 3-0 defeat to keep Amorim shackled to the lower levels of the Premier League has increased the pressure and then some. Chelsea, you will need no reminder, travel to the Theatre next weekend.

Benjamin Sesko blanked, but the blame cannot be placed solely upon the new striker, devoid of service and limited to seven touches. Sofascore record the Slovenian’s heat map to actually be rather deep, evidence of struggles within a barren final third.

But INEOS spent big on the 23-year-old goalscorer this summer, and the fact that thus far Amorim is failing to get a tune out of him and indeed the wider United system is hugely concerning.

Benjamin Sesko's performance vs City

Amorim doubled down post-match on his plan to maintain the tactical set-up which has proved such a troubling talking point over the turbulent duration of the Portuguese’s reign.

While Sesko was completely anonymous against Pep Guardiola’s outfit, he was indeed starved of support. Hemmed in United were not, but they were inefficient on the counter and struggled for purchase in the final third.

This was a tough maiden starting berth in the Premier League for a young and talented striker, one who opted for Old Trafford in spite of the vested interests of Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United last month.

Sesko wasn’t blameless. The former RB Leipzig man made a couple of heavy touches and should have made more of his chance against Gigi Donnarumma, chipping tamely toward the debutant goalkeeper.

Bought over from Germany for a £74m fee this summer to replace Rasmus Hojlund, there are perhaps concerns from some on the red side of Manchester that INEOS have just repeated the same mistake.

But it’s early days yet. And, in fact, there was another starting star on Sunday who might actually be shaping into Amorim’s next version of the Denmark centre-forward, who joined Napoli on loan before the transfer deadline several weeks back.

Amorim's new Hojlund at Man United

Without a doubt, Hojlund fell by the wayside at Manchester United. It was only two years ago that Erik ten Hag welcomed the young forward to England, signing him from Atalanta on a £72m deal.

The 22-year-old’s first term was solid if unspectacular, but he fell to a new low last year, ridiculed for his anonymity at number nine, scoring just four Premier League goals all season.

Sesko will be directly tied to his predecessor all year long, but it’s actually Patrick Dorgu who might be shaping into the new Hojlund.

Dorgu, 20, has been spun into a wing-back role in Amorim’s 3-5-2-1 formation, and it’s not working. For one, his crosses leave plenty to be desired, and he is proving ineffective despite operating within the exact tactical parameters Amorim demands of him.

To put that another way, the Danish wideman might not be the solution, which is rather damning given Amorim championed the £25m signing of the Lecce talent last January to help define the system he so firmly stresses will shape United for the duration of his tenure.

It wasn’t all bad in the derby; Dorgu was right in the thick of the action, but his crossing was woeful, and the Manchester Evening News branded him with a 4/10 match rating.

According to data platform Sofascore, Dorgu won 11 duels, created three key passes and won four tackles against Man City, but this wasn’t enough to disguise a pitiful attempt to inject creativity into Amorim’s ranks, with analyst Dharnish Iqbal remarking that he “hasn’t provided the crosses” despite being funnelled the ball with regularity.

Dorgu, let’s be clear, is a talented young player with the potential to succeed in the Premier League. Hojlund was the same, both arriving from Italian shores. But he seems to have taken on a talismanic role in Amorim’s system that he is unfit for, and so the Portuguese tactician falls ever closer toward the exit.

Given the seeming importance of Dorgu’s role – much like Hojlund’s limp displays last season came to the direct detriment of United’s wider system – it’s rather concerning that he doesn’t appear fit for the role, only completing one of five attempted dribbles against the Citizens as a further underscoring of that argument.

Sesko will often be scapegoated; this is the life of a forward. However, he’s a tall striker and won three aerial battles against City. Even so, Dorgu struggled to provide accurate crosses having been played into space, and that is an issue.

Hojlund, similarly, suffered more criticism than most last term, but he didn’t miss that many big chances, and United were culpable of a dried well of support toward the young man.

Dorgu has already shown this season an aptitude for the attacking side of the game, but so too has he proven himself unworthy of a nailed-on starting berth, and that is exactly what Amorim has entrusted him with, with this being the Dane’s third full 90 of the Premier League campaign already.

Might Amorim need to make an alteration? Wing-backs are instrumental in the manager’s machine working at full capacity, and so his reliance on Dorgu is understandable.

But it doesn’t appear to be working well enough, and if that is the case, and Amorim is unwilling to change, as has been his own declaration, then where do the Red Devils go from here?

Man Utd have two players to blame for Sesko's nightmare first start

Benjamin Sesko was an isolated figure during his first start for Manchester United.

By
Matt Dawson

Sep 15, 2025

Tottenham Hotspur were forced to settle for a point at the AMEX on Saturday when they were held to a 2-2 draw by Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League.

Thomas Frank’s side had beaten West Ham United and Villarreal in their last two matches without conceding a goal, but they were unable to add to those wins with a third successive victory.

A late own goal from Jan Paul van Hecke ensured that the Lilywhites did not come away from the match without anything to show for their efforts.

Despite it being a fairly disappointing result, as they were almost beaten and only picked up one point, there were some positive performances across the pitch.

One player who caught the eye with his display in the middle of the park was summer signing Joao Palhinha, who started in the number six position for Spurs.

It was his fourth start of the Premier League season since signing on loan from Bayern Munich, and it is already clear what kind of player the club have brought in.

Why Joao Palhinha is not the perfect player for Spurs

Palhinha is an out-and-out defensive midfielder. If you were told to list the attributes you would want in a pure defensive midfielder, he has all of them.

The Portugal international is tall, mobile, strong, wins tackles well, competes in the air, and covers gaps in midfield. All of the things that you would associate with a defensive-minded midfielder.

So far this season, per Sofascore, Palhinha has averaged 4.2 tackles and interceptions per game and won 65% of his ground duels and 54% of his aerial duels in the Premier League, which is evidence of his defensive strength in the middle of the park.

However, despite getting on the scoresheet against Manchester City, the former Fulham star does leave a bit to be desired with his use of the ball.

The best number six types in world football are not pure defensive midfielders, because they are expected to dictate play and be impactful in possession as part of a team that wants to win the biggest prizes.

As you can see in the table above, Palhinha falls well short as a progressive passer in comparison to some of the best defensive or deep-lying midfielders, whether they play as a number six or a number eight, across Europe.

This does not mean that the Portugal international is a bad player, by any means, but his lack of progressive play in possession may be why Bayern were willing to send him out on loan in the first place.

Palhinha may not be the perfect player, therefore, to deploy in matches when Spurs are expected to be the dominant force and need to break teams down, but may be ideal in the biggest games, like against Manchester City, when they need backs-against-the-wall defending.

Spurs did once have a promising young player, though, who had the potential to be a defensive monster like Palhinha, but with the progressive passing to make him the club’s own version of Declan Rice.

First Impressions

What did pundits and fans alike think about their new star signing when they arrived? Football FanCast’s ‘First Impressions’ series has everything you need.

Given what has happened to him in recent years, it may seem ridiculous to suggest, but Oliver Skipp could have been Tottenham’s own Rice in different circumstances.

Why Spurs may rue selling Oliver Skipp

The English number six came up through the youth ranks at Spurs and made a smattering of appearances for the first-team before going out on loan to Norwich City in the 2020/21 campaign.

Skipp played in 45 of Norwich’s 46 Championship matches that season, per Sofascore, and played a pivotal role in their promotion to the Premier League, winning the title in the process.

As you can see in the table above, the England U21 international provided quality as both a progressive passer and carrier, whilst also excelling defensively with his ability to make tackles and blocks in his own third.

After that season with the Canaries, former Spurs striker Paul Stewart claimed that he could be as effective as Rice, who was at West Ham United at the time and ranked well above Palhinha in the earlier table for progressive passes for Arsenal last season.

The pundit stated: “You know what, I’d like to see him do what Declan Rice does. I think he’s got that in him and I think he showed that at Norwich. The plaudits that have come out of East Anglia have been massive about Oliver Skipp. I think he can go on and be as effective as Declan Rice at West Ham.”

Unfortunately, Skipp only started 37 Premier League matches in the next three seasons combined, fewer league starts than he managed in one season with Norwich, which meant that the midfielder was unable to really hit his stride in North London.

Ange Postecoglou opted to part ways with the English midfielder in the summer of 2024, selling him to Leicester City, and that is a decision that they should regret.

Skipp has failed to impress with the Foxes, having been thrown into a season that ended in his club being relegated from the Premier League, but things could have been so different for him.

It is all hypothetical now, but what if the defensive midfielder had been given a real run of games to show what he could do after returning from that superb loan spell with Norwich? Maybe he would have become the club’s own version of Rice in the number six position, as a player who could progress play as well as disrupt it.

Instead of cashing in on him, Spurs could have given him a chance to nail down a place in the side and get his confidence back. Now, playing in the Championship, it seems like his career is heading in the wrong direction.

He's outperforming Kudus: Spurs' star was offloaded by Postecoglou for £0

Tottenham Hotspur may have made a mistake in allowing one former talent to depart the club for free.

By
Ethan Lamb

Sep 22, 2025

Manchester City's youth academy is one of the most productive talent factories in the world, although the reality is the vast majority of graduates end up having to seek their fortune away from the Etihad Stadium. Phil Foden is the pride and joy of City's youth system, but for many years he was the exception that proved the rule.

Exceptionally talented players like Cole Palmer have chosen to leave City in search of regular first-team football while the likes of Romeo Lavia, Jeremie Frimpong, Jadon Sancho, Morgan Rogers and Michael Olise departed without ever appearing for the senior side.

But in the last couple of years, a pathway – albeit a very narrow one – has opened up from the academy and into Pep Guardiola's squad. Rico Lewis is into his fourth season in the first-team ranks while Nico O'Reilly has established himself as a regular less than a year after making his competitive debut and recently signed a bumper new contract with the club and earned his first England call-up.

Now, another player, Divine Mukasa, is slowly forcing his way into Guardiola's plans after being fast-tracked into the team just one month after his 18th birthday. GOAL has everything you need to know about the creative midfielder who doing all he can to earn the coach's trust…

• Where it all began

  Mukasa was born in London to a Lithuanian mother and a father from Uganda. He enrolled in West Ham's academy when he was five years old and spent a decade there, forming part of an exciting generation of players who won the Under-18 Premier League South and FA Youth Cup double. Aged just 15 at the time, Mukasa scored in the title-clinching win over Arsenal befor the Hammers then outclassed the Gunners 5-1 in the Youth Cup final at the Emirates Stadium, although Mukasa was an unused substitute that day.

  After lifting the league title, Mukasa said: "We are a relentless team, and we will never sit off. We will always try to win, and we will always try to score goals. We have won the title today, but we are not finished yet."

  Mukasa, however, was about to finish his journey with the Irons. He spoke to Rangers and Newcastle that summer, but eventually decided to join City, one month after turning 16. He won his second FA Youth Cup in his first season, this time starting in the final as City rolled over Leeds United 4-0.

  However, it was not the smoothest of transitions, as he admitted to the : "The first six months were tough, especially with City playing such a different way and the high standards from the club. "t wasn't just me getting used to the club, it was the staff getting used to me, what my attributes are, trying to help me optimise them. It was a little bit tough, getting used to the system and adjusting it a little bit has helped as well.

  "It was that sense of freedom that I had at my previous club. I didn't get it at first, but that's natural. The coaches are used to having a set structure so I can't just come in and change that. It took some getting used to."

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  The big break

  Mukasa began to settle more in his second season at City as he started more often and took more responsibility. Fans subsequently began to sit up and take notice of him after he netted a hat-trick in a 7-1  trouncing of Newcastle in December 2024.

  The first goal in particular was impossible to ignore as Mukasa scored directly from kick-off. Newcastle had just given themselves a bit of hope by making the score 4-1, but Mukasa brought them right back down to earth with a single kick, leaving his opponents dumbstruck as he lobbed the ball downfield and high into the net.

  It wasn't the only demonstration of his innovation that day, as he scored his next goal by glancing the ball into the net with his chest. Mukasa's treble against the Magpies contributed to him ending the season with 17 goals and 25 assists in 37 age-group games, and his excellent campaign vindicated the youth team coaches' decision to keep him in the U18s for the majority of the season rather than promote him full-time to the U21s.

  "I was expected to dominate a bit more this season, help lead the team," he explained. "I think I've done that, It's been a good season. For my own confidence and relationship I've built with the managers, playing all the time has helped me a lot."

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  How it's going

  Mukasa was earmarked for the U21s this season, but he has effectively jumped up a level and gained first-team experience. He got the call to join Guardiola's side for their only pre-season friendly of the summer against Palermo and impressed in his short cameo, assisting Tijjani Reijnders' second goal in the 3-0 win with a classy flick.

  He continued to train regularly with the first team and featured on the bench for the Premier League games against Manchester United, Arsenal and Burnley, as well as Champions League clashes with Napoli and Monaco. Mukasa eventually made his competitive debut when he started City's Carabao Cup third round tie at Huddersfield Town in September.

  He produced an impressive performance, too, as Mukasa filled the centre-forward role usually reserved for Erling Haaland. He had never played up front before and revealed that Guardiola had told him to operate more as a false nine. In doing so, Mukasa laid the ball off for Phil Foden to score the first goal and led the line admirably as City walked all over their League One opponents.

  "Divine played unbelievable, he’s an incredibly top player in the pockets, he had two or three chances to score," gushed Guardiola.  "Divine is top, top. He has a sense of touch, quality with the ball, and he fought a lot. He played really well."

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  Biggest strengths

  While his strike rate is impressive, particularly for a midfielder, Mukasa's greatest quality is his technique, which makes him a brilliant dribbler as well as someone who can play line-splitting passes under pressure.

  "He is so brilliant on the ball. What he can do with the ball sometimes is unbelievable," City's U18 coach Oliver Reiss said. "It looks sometimes too easy for him, because of his quality. He's good with both feet, normally he's left-footed but then delivers to the corner with his right foot. So no problem, the way he's thinking, what he sees, it's incredible for me."

  'Confidence' is another word that crops up a lot in discussions around Mukasa, and it's easy to see why. You do not score from a kick-off if you are lacking in self-belief, after all!

A “talented” England international is now interested in completing a move to Aston Villa, should the Villans like the idea of bringing him in.

McGinn happy after "important" Aston Villa win

Unai Emery’s side got back to winning ways on Thursday evening, winning 1-0 at home to Bologna in the Europa League, courtesy of John McGinn’s strike.

Speaking after the game, the Scot was in positive spirits, as Villa look to build on the victory heading into Sunday’s Premier League clash with Fulham at Villa Park.

“It was important. We got a bit nervy towards the end. They play mental football, man-to-man, and it reminds me of (Marcelo) Bielsa when he was at Leeds. It’s tough and you need to be concentrating because they leave a few players up. You need to be clean going forward with the ball and I don’t think we were.

“I thought we were a little bit rusty going forward, but we created chances and we could have won by more. I thought we played better in the first half than the second, but the important thing was to get the win with a very important clean sheet with a good save from Marco at the end.”

New signings could be needed in January, or at least next summer, in order for Villa to keep improving, and they have now been linked with a move for a 10-cap England international.

England international "open" to Aston Villa move

Speaking to Football Insider, former scout Mick Brown claimed that Ruben Loftus-Cheek is “open” to joining Aston Villa from AC Milan, although no approach has been made for him.

“He’s always showed a lot of promise and at his best he can be excellent, but for me he’s never quite hit the levels people expected of him, even though he’s clearly got a lot of talent. Since his move to AC Milan, he’s done well, and Tuchel obviously sees something in him.

“The qualities he’s got could be an asset to a lot of sides, there’s no doubting that, it’s just about whether he’s going to perform consistently enough. There’s been some talk of a move to Aston Villa, but I’m not sure he’s the player they need right now, he might be better off somewhere else.

“I think it’s something he’s open to, he wants to come back to the Premier League, to compete and potentially put himself in the [England] manager’s thinking. I’m sure if Aston Villa came calling, it’s a move he’d like to make, but I am doubtful about whether they’d push for that one at the moment.”

Loftus-Cheek, thoguht to be valued at £17m, could be a shrewd signing by Villa, having been hailed as a “talented” player by Owen Hargreaves in the past, especially if he has the hunger to win his place back in the England squad before next summer’s World Cup.

Journalist reveals how Monchi leaving will impact Emery's Aston Villa future

A journalist has explained how the recent off-field issues at Villa could affect Unai Emery.

By
Dominic Lund

Sep 25, 2025

At 29, he is still young enough to enjoy three or four good years at Villa Park, and his pace and power in midfield areas could be a weapon for Emery, also adding depth in the middle of the park.

Alejandro Garnacho pulled out his trademark Manchester United celebration after scoring his maiden goal for Chelsea against Sunderland on Saturday. Garnacho, who joined the Blues on a permanent transfer from United in the last transfer window, took seven matches before scoring for the first time in a Chelsea shirt. Following the goal, the Argentine also emulated his idol Cristiano Ronaldo while celebrating.

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  Garnacho pulls out Man Utd celebration

  Garnacho featured in the Chelsea starting lineup for the third game in a row in the Premier League as he continued to adjust to the new conditions at Stamford Bridge. In the fourth minute of the match, Enzo Fernandez won the ball in his own half and fed Pedro Neto with a quick pass. Neto then sent a through ball towards Garnacho from the centre circle as the Argentine winger made a run from the left flank. 

  The youngster received the ball and made a run straight into the Sunderland box, before dodging past an opponent defender and finding the back of the net with a quality strike from a narrow angle. After scoring the goal, Garnacho, along with Neto, sat on the billboards to celebrate. He had earlier performed such a celebration in 2024, while at United, where Kobbie Mainoo and Rasmus Hojlund joined him on the advertising board. 

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  Garnacho emulated Ronaldo

  Before approaching the sideline and sitting on the advertising board, Garnacho had pointed towards the ground to celebrate his maiden Chelsea goal. Football fans have seen such a celebration performed by legendary Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo on numerous occasions in the past. Garnacho has been a lifelong fan of Ronaldo and he has often gone public to show his admiration of the Al-Nassr star. He even shared a dressing room with Ronaldo briefly in the 2022-23 campaign at Old Trafford. 

• Why did Garnacho leave Man Utd?

  After being put in Ruben Amorim's 'bomb squad' in the summer, Garnacho was determined to exit Old Trafford for a new experience elsewhere. He had a fallout with coach Amorim last season, which eventually cleared his way out of the club. The Blues signed him for £40m ($54m) from the Red Devils in the summer, but until Saturday, Garnacho had failed to live up to the expectations.

  Following his departure from Manchester, Garnacho recently opened up about his journey with United, as he told TNT Sports: "I’ve got nothing bad to say about my old club Manchester United, just bad moments in life. I’m very happy to be here now, play in this competition and get three points today.

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  Chelsea aim for three points

  Garnacho did hand Chelsea an early lead but they blew off the advantage within 18 minutes as Wilson Isidor restored parity in the match. Maresca will now have to rethink his tactics and take a more attacking approach in the second half to walk away with crucial three points. 

  After the Sunderland clash at home, the Blues are scheduled to take on Wolves in a Carabao Cup encounter on Wednesday before meeting Tottenham Hotspur in a key Premier League fixture on November 1.

Tottenham Hotspur have pulled off some eye-catching signings in their history, with Daniel Levy spending big in recent times.

However, Spurs have also missed out on bringing some world-class players to north London, with Eberechi Eze the latest Tottenham transfer to fall through. With a deal close to being finalised, fierce rivals Arsenal swept in and poached the attacking midfielder frim under Spurs’ nose.

Unfortunately, it hasn’t been just Eze. Tottenham have been pipped to the post or rejected by a plethora of legends, from Cristiano Ronaldo to Kylian Mbappe.

Tottenham's most expensive signings of all time

A detailed look at Spurs’ 10 most expensive signings of all time.

By
Charlie Smith

Sep 5, 2025

10 superstars Tottenham Hotspur nearly signed

10

Cristiano Ronaldo

Former Tottenham scout and player Ronny Rosenthal was urging the Spurs to sign Cristiano Ronaldo when he was coming through at Sporting CP.

However, Spurs didn’t listen, with Manchester United landing the Portuguese superstar for just over £12m in 2003.

9

Kylian Mbappe

Back in 2015, a teenage forward by the name of Kylian Mbappe impressed Spurs chiefs for Monaco during a Europa League clash against Tottenham.

Those in north London kept tabs on the Frenchman and were looking to bring him to the club, however, they quickly realised he was out of reach, with Mbappe instead choosing PSG.

8

Diego Maradona

Tottenham legend Teddy Sheringham had two spells with Spurs and once revealed that the club were in talks to sign Diego Maradona.

Ossie Ardiles managed Spurs in 1993-1994 and once told Sheringham he was looking to partner him in attack with Maradona.

7

Rivaldo

Levy missed out on signing Brazilian icon Rivaldo in 2002 when he was on the search for a new club after leaving Barcelona.

Manuel Auset, Rivaldo’s friend and lawyer, said that Spurs offered the then-30-year-old a move to the Premier League, but he instead chose AC Milan.

6

Eden Hazard

Now remembered as a Chelsea legend, Eden Hazard could quite easily have been a Tottenham player when leaving Lille in 2012.

Former Spurs coach Clive Allen admitted that the Belgian star was “keen to come to Tottenham” but instead chose to head to Stamford Bridge.

5

Bruno Fernandes

Mauricio Pochettino and Tottenham made a concrete effort to sign Bruno Fernandes from Sporting CP in 2019.

Fernandes, who eventually moved to England with Man Utd, once revealed he was “really angry” his move to Spurs fell through after being convinced to join by Pochettino.

4

Sadio Mane

Tottenham and Pochettino made Sadio Mane their top target in 2016, however, Spurs were outbid by Liverpool.

The Reds paid £34m for Mane who’d go on to become an Anfield legend, with Tottenham instead using the money that would have gone on the forward for midfielder Moussa Sissoko.

3

Virgil van Dijk

Tottenham had Virgil van Dijk on their shortlist of central defender targets back in 2015 when the Dutchman was still on the books of Celtic.

Instead of signing Van Dijk, though, Spurs brought in Toby Alderweireld from Atletico Madrid, with Van Dijk signing for Southampton the same year.

2

Jack Grealish

At one point, Tottenham thought they were on course to sign Jack Grealish from Aston Villa for just £25m.

Grealish wasn’t happy about the failed transfer to Spurs in 2018, however, three years later, he’d cost Manchester City a then-British record £100m.

1

Luis Diaz

Tottenham were in pole position and pushing to sign Luis Diaz from FC Porto in the 2022 January transfer window before Liverpool hijacked a transfer.

The Reds paid a guaranteed fee of £37.5m for the Colombia international, who would go on to win the Premier League at Anfield before being sold for a profit to Bayern Munich.

Fraizer Campbell has, during an exclusive interview with GOAL, billed the long-running GOAT debate which pitches Cristiano Ronaldo against eternal rival Lionel Messi as “sad”. The former Manchester United forward, who once worked alongside CR7 at Old Trafford, has urged supporters around the world to enjoy two all-time greats for as long as they are around.

• New contracts for Ronaldo & Messi in Saudi Pro League & MLS

  Neither is showing any sign of slowing down at present, with new contracts being committed to. Ronaldo has extended his deal at Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr through to the summer of 2027, while Messi is now tied to terms at MLS outfit Inter Miami through 2028.

  Two legends of the game are expected to grace next summer’s World Cup with Portugal and Argentina respectively, with their sights being set on the ultimate prize. Fans across the globe will be glued to that duel on American, Canadian and Mexican soil.

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  GOAT debate: Why Ronaldo vs Messi discussion is wrong

  Discussion as to who fills the No.1 spot on any all-time list will continue to rage, with Ronaldo and Messi having raised the bar of individual brilliance to never before seen heights. Campbell, though, is of the opinion that they should not be pitted against one another as they bring different qualities to the table.

  He is, however, intrigued to see whether Ronaldo can complete his medal collection by inspiring Portugal to a World Cup win. Campbell – speaking with GOAL via Casino.org, the popular resource known for helping Brits find the best online casinos in the UK – said when asked if landing a global crown would lift CR7 above Messi: “You have got an argument to say that.

  “For me, I enjoy both of them. I wouldn’t say either is better than the other. I love the way Messi plays and I love all that Ronaldo has achieved. For me they are two of the greatest players to ever do it. Sometimes I think it’s a bit sad how people put one against the other. It’s just two incredible guys. Enjoy them!”

• Different breeds: Ronaldo & Messi have never been alike

  Campbell is not the first to suggest that Ronaldo and Messi should be judged separately, rather than dumped into the same talent pool. Former Portugal and Barcelona star Deco has played alongside both and refuses to rank one above the other.

  He said: “Come on! They’re two different players. Cristiano was a pure winger in those early days – he used to get the ball and only think about dribbling past his opponents. He grew a lot as a player, becoming the competitive beast we’ve seen for so long. He has always been keen to develop in every way possible. Messi has always been a natural talent. He has adapted his game over time, but his way of moving has always been the same, so it’s hard to choose between one and the other. The ideal world would be to have both in my team – with them, you just pass them the ball and the rest is done!”

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  Goal & trophy targets: What next for Ronaldo & Messi?

  There is still plenty left for Ronaldo and Messi to achieve, even at the latter stages of their respective careers. CR7 has made no secret of the fact that he wants to reach 1,000 career goals and continues to move ever closer to hitting that target. It has also been suggested that he will extend his career long enough that opportunities to line up alongside eldest son Cristiano Junior present themselves.

  Messi, meanwhile, is in the process of trying to enhance his standing as the most decorated player in history. He has collected 46 trophies down the years, with Leagues Cup and Supporters’ Shield honours being added to that collection since moving to the United States in 2023. The Argentine icon is yet to lift the MLS Cup, but Inter Miami are back in the hunt for that prize and face a crucial playoff first round decider with Nashville at Chase Stadium on Saturday.