Tag Futebol

Sunderland aren’t going to rest on their laurels now that they’ve tasted success in the Premier League.

The hope will be that the Black Cats continue to punch above their weight and secure safety effortlessly, even if the 1-0 defeat away at Fulham last time out saw Regis Le Bris’ men return to league action, after the international break, looking rusty.

Still, with five impressive league wins already under their belt, the Wearside outfit have more than shown that they belong at the very top of English football.

To get over the line, though, and remain in a comfortable mid-table position, Sunderland could be prepared to flex their spending powers once more, as the January transfer window becomes the talk of the town.

The main incoming being hyped up at the moment is Matteo Guendouzi coming to the Stadium of Light, with Le Bris yet to rule out a statement deal.

Why Guendouzi would be a perfect signing

Once upon a time, Guendouzi worked under Le Bris at Lorient, before the French battler would seal a move to England with Arsenal.

While he wasn’t always showered with praise at the Gunners, he did bow out from his final Premier League season in North London with 4.9 duels won on average across 24 league outings, with more grit centrally perhaps what is required, alongside the likes of Granit Xhaka and Noah Sadiki.

Guendouzi has also matured now into a regular in Serie A with Lazio, away from his previous 57 Premier League appearances at the Emirates, with inviting deliveries such as this one last season, perfect for a commanding Daniel Ballard to latch onto.

In total, the Lazio number eight has six goals and ten assists for the Italian giants.

With an 89% pass accuracy also averaged this season in league action, on top of a high 4.3 ball recoveries being averaged, it’s clear that he won’t move back to England for cheap, as reports suggest that a fee around the £26m mark could do the job.

Sunderland won’t be put off too much, if their excessive summer spending is anything to go by, but a deal in the works for a new star-man might ultimately shove this fan favourite closer to the exit door.

Sunderland's "proper leader" could be on borrowed time

The strange side-effect of winning promotion is that several of the players who clinched Sunderland’s unbelievable return to the Premier League now aren’t quite cut out for the pressures of the big time.

Dan Neil has definitely experienced this first-hand this season so far, with the mega-money arrivals of the aforementioned Xhaka and Sadiki plummeting him down the pecking order, so much so that he has only managed a mere two minutes of action in the bright lights of the Premier League to date.

Staggeringly, if you turn the calendar just back to May, Neil was the memorable captain figure who lifted Sunderland’s jubilant playoff honours at Wembley.

In the regular season, too, the Stadium of Light prodigy also lined up for the Black Cats 44 times, with two goals and three assists coming his way.

Sunderland youngster Harrison Jones would even herald him as a “proper leader” for the club, with Neil rising the ranks to become his boyhood club’s captain figure.

On top of that, he also had admirers in the form of Everton in the bumper summer window, which might be a move he now regrets not accelerating into motion, as he begins to stare the exit door in the face more through lack of gametime than inspired performances.

Journalist James Copley summed it up well when he called him a “bit part” player recently, which is a far cry from his Wembley heroics.

Neil’s last minutes for his hometown club actually came for the U21s as he continues to be frozen out by Le Bris, and with his contract expiring next summer, it’s not a good omen at all for his long-term future at the Premier League newcomers.

Games played

200

Goals scored

12

Assists

20

Promotions

1x

Contract expiry date

June 2026

To make matters worse, if Guendouzi were to arrive, Neil would find himself even further down the Frenchman’s selection list, with the 23-year-old simply unable to compete with the wealth of top-flight experience the Lazio man has under his belt.

It will be intriguing to see if any club gambles on Neil’s services in January, with a cut-price deal potentially on the table for a Championship-experienced promotion winner, who is currently valued at around £7m by Transfermarkt.

If no one does come in for him, expect Sunderland to just run his contract down, particularly if Guendouzi is added to the ever-rising wage bill.

An Isidor repeat: Sunderland line up move to sign "special" £4.7m star

Sunderland could win their next Wilson Isidor by going after this star in January.

ByKelan Sarson Nov 24, 2025

Leeds United have made a major decision in their pursuit of AZ Alkmaar and Republic of Ireland striker Troy Parrott.

Parrott has made himself a national hero in Ireland in recent weeks, producing plenty of goalscoring heroics in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, scoring five times in two matches.

The 23-year-old scored the vital winner away to Hungary that booked his country’s place in the playoffs next years, with Ray Houghton waxing lyrical about his impact.

“In moments like that you are trying to find the right words to actually put across your feelings. As an ex-player, you know what’s at stake, you know what they’ve been through, you know that when you go through hard times you want to remember the good times even more, and it means so much to you.

“I understood it, that Troy was a young lad who came through and was going to be a sensational talent, went to Spurs as a kid, made his debut when he was 17 and had so much ahead of him, but it didn’t quite go the way everyone anticipated. He had to reinvent himself as a player, so to see the joy he had playing for his country and doing what he did, hopefully it will inspire the next generation of players.

Leeds have been linked with a move for Parrott, looking to bring him back to England, and there has now been a development regarding the situation.

Troy Parrott now moving up Leeds striker shortlist

According to a new report from talkSPORT‘s Alex Crook, Leeds now have Parrott “high on their list” of attacking options. Both the Whites and Wolves are “among the clubs” keen on snapping him up in 2026, with his current club demanding as much as £20m for his signature.

Parrott is the man of the moment, with his stock never higher in his career to date, and he could be a strong signing for Leeds, whether it be in the January transfer window or next summer.

Whites supporters will no doubt hope that it is the former, in order for the Irishman to help Daniel Farke’s side avoid relegation from the Premier League back to the Championship.

Parrott is far from a flash in the pan, having been highly-rated as a youngster and Tottenham, and being lauded by Alkaar head coach Maarten Martens.

Leeds in one of the biggest transfer battles of all time for England midfielder

He could add so much quality and bite to the midfield.

By
Henry Jackson

Nov 25, 2025

There is likely to be a battle for Parrott’s signature among Premier League clubs, but if Leeds can come out on top, it could prove to be an inspired piece of business, especially given the striker’s age.

Perfect for Parrott: Leeds could sack Farke for "world-class" 4-3-3 manager

Whilst long throws, set pieces and teams centred around physicality are back in fashion, a lot has changed in the Premier League since 1992. It’s now the richest league in the world, featuring some of the best players and managers in world football. It is the ultimate destination. But, how much has the table changed in that time?

FootballBlog has released a full ranking of the Premier League table from its very first season in 1992 up until the beginning of the recent November international break. The table includes deductions issued by the Premier League and has tallied the wins, draws and losses by teams over the last 33 years. A total of 51 teams have featured in the top flight over the last three decades, but only 20 can make the all-time standings.

Premier League table by transfer spend per point 2025/26

The top flight would look very different.

ByCharlie Smith Nov 14, 2025 20 West Bromwich Albion: 490 points

They may be languishing outside the top six in the Championship these days, but there was a time when an away trip to face West Bromwich Albion was a day of frustration for any top side. They sit 20th thanks to the fact that they haven’t returned to the top tier since 2021, but it’s hard to forget just how impressive they were at their best – finishing as high as eighth in the 2012/13 season. And who could forget the form of Romelu Lukaku during his time at the Hawthorns?

19 Bolton Wanderers: 575 points

Ever seen a player so good they named him twice? That was Jay-Jay Okocha. The former Bolton Wanderers star formed the most unlikely partnership with Sam Allardyce during the club’s impressive 11-year stay in the Premier League. Their best finish saw them reach as high as sixth in the 2004/05 season and there still exists the famous video of Allardyce attempting his best dance moves with his star midfielder in 2003.

18 Sunderland: 637 points

Sunderland have been back to where they belong this season and are even on course for their highest-ever Premier League finish. The Black Cats have fought their way back from the depths of League One and may yet get the chance to move up the all-time Premier League table by the time that May arrives. A club built on the memories of stunning Jermain Defoe volleys and Kevin Phillips’ goalscoring heroics could now be about to form their most historic campaign yet.

17 Middlesbrough: 661 points

This time next year, we could be welcoming Middlesbrough back to the Premier League for the first time since 2017. It was then that they welcomed the likes of Alvaro Negredo, only to struggle in front of goal when it wasn’t the forward finding the back of the net. It was the third time that they suffered relegation from the Premier League in their history and everyone around Riverside will be desperate to earn redemption almost a decade later.

16 Crystal Palace: 728 points

Whilst there is a running joke that Crystal Palace always end the season sat in 13th, the all-time table has them 16th and their form over the last year suggests that they could be destined for better things. From mid-table mediocrity, the Eagles have soared to become FA Cup winners, Community Shield winners and a side competing in European football. This is without doubt one of, if not the best Crystal Palace side in the club’s history.

15 Fulham: 804 points

Like Palace, Fulham have often been accused of ending their seasons sat in mid-table, but they won’t mind that. The Cottagers have become an established Premier League side once again under Marco Silva and have caused plenty of upsets on their way. Alas, it’s their time under Roy Hodgson that stands out the most, with the veteran manager taking the West London side all the way to the Europa League final in 2010. 15 years later, no one’s forgotten the stunning comeback victory against Juventus at Craven Cottage.

14 Leeds United: 831 points

Like Sunderland, Leeds United are back where they belong in the Premier League. The Whites are full of top flight history and still have their place on the all-time table after the success that they had in the early Premier League years. Their most successful campaign remains a third-place finish under David O’Leary in 2000 to bring Champions League football to Elland Road, as Harry Kewell, Mark Viduka and Alan Smith all starred.

13 Leicester City: 846 points

It’s still absurd, isn’t it? Leicester City: Premier League champions. It remains the most impressive achievement in English football history, as the Foxes took the fight to the big six and somehow came out on top in the 2015/16 campaign. We’re unlikely to see a repeat anytime soon, if ever. Even after they suffered relegation last season, it’s tough to think about the Premier League without picturing Claudio Ranieri’s title winners.

12 Blackburn Rovers: 970 points

It’s been over a decade since Blackburn Rovers were relegated from the Premier League and they remain one of the biggest sides yet to earn promotion back to the top flight. From winning the title in the 1994/95 campaign, Blackburn were relegated in the 1998/99 season and then once more in 2012. History, however, will tell the story of how Sir Kenny Dalglish, with Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton, took his side to glory in 95.

11 Southampton: 1,100 points

For a while, Southampton couldn’t get much wrong in the Premier League. They thrived under Mauricio Pochettino then hired Ronald Koeman to pick up where he left off. The Saints also quickly became Liverpool’s favourite club, with Sadio Mane, Dejan Lovren, Adam Lallana, Rickie Lambert and Virgil van Dijk all heading to Anfield for impressive fees. Although some will be quick to remember last season’s disaster, Southampton were once one of the best ball-playing teams outside the top six.

A rising star who has been called a “young Xabi Alonso” is “one to watch” in the upcoming transfer windows as Manchester United seek to reinforce their midfield.

Man Utd set to replace Casemiro in 2026

Casemiro has enjoyed some improved form of late, rolling back the years and playing an important role in the 2-1 win away to Liverpool. It looks almost certain that the Brazilian will depart United at the end of this season, however, with the 33-year-old out of contract at that point and unlikely to be offered an extension.

Despite showing flashes of his former self, the Real Madrid legend has been criticised heavily throughout his time at United, including by Jamie Carragher, who famously told him to “leave the football before the football leaves you”.

Assuming Casemiro does move on for a new challenge, a top-quality younger replacement will be needed, in terms of someone who can provide a similar level of expertise in front of the defence and give Ruben Amorim midfield balance, allowing Bruno Fernandes to shine.

Chelsea midfielder Andrey Santos has been linked with a move to United, with the 21-year-old reportedly wanting to emulate Casemiro’s career, while Benfica ace Florentino Luis has also been backed to come in once his loan spell at Burnley reaches its conclusion next summer.

Man Utd eyeing move for Bayern Munich star

According to Caught Offside‘s Mark Brus, Bayern Munich midfielder Aleksandar Pavlovic will be “one to watch” at Manchester United and Sir Jim Ratcliffe next summer, as they do not believe Manuel Ugarte is good enough to succeed Casemiro.

“United see Pavlovic as one option to replace Casemiro. Manuel Ugarte is also not seen as a long-term option. A move in January is unlikely, but he’ll be one to watch next summer.”

Ugarte makes £6,240,000-a-year at United, but this would certainly be a worthy upgrade – Pavlovic is an enormous talent who has already become a key man for one of the best teams in Europe at the age of just 21, already making 65 appearances for Bayern.

The German has even been compared to former Liverpool and Real Madrid star Alonso by Bayern president Herbert Hainer, which is high praise.

Whether Bayern are willing to let such a prized asset in Pavlovic leave the club in 2026 is certainly up for debate, though, so it won’t be easy for United to entice him to the club.

A return to Champions League football arguably feels like a must if the Red Devils are to have any chance of signing him, but it is clear why he would be a leading target to replace Casemiro.

The next Giggs: Man Utd's academy star is "already better than PL players"

Manchester United have yet another incredible young gem in the hands of Ruben Amorim.

ByEthan Lamb Oct 24, 2025

Pavlovic already plays with a level of maturity beyond his years, both in and out of possession, averaging 1.5 tackles per game and completing 95.2% of his passes in the Bundesliga so far this season.

Jonas Urbig has brushed aside any talk of anxiety over Manuel Neuer’s Bayern Munich future, insisting he is focused on developing under Vincent Kompany’s guidance. The 22-year-old goalkeeper will start against boyhood club Koln in the DFB-Pokal this week, determined to prove he belongs at Germany’s biggest club while learning from one of the best.

• 'I'm not worried about anything' – Urbig on Neuer and his future

  The 39-year-old Neuer's future remains uncertain, with many expecting him to retire at the end of the season when his contract expires. However, recent reports claim Bayern may open talks about a possible extension at the end of the year. Both the club and the veteran goalkeeper are reportedly open to continuing their iconic partnership for another 12 months, with the possibility of Neuer staying at the Allianz Arena until 2027.

  Urbig joined Bayern last winter as part of a long-term plan by the club to groom a successor for Neuer. While Sven Ulreich remains an able backup, Bayern’s coaching staff view Urbig as the natural heir to the No.1 jersey, whenever Neuer decides to step aside.

  The speculation around Neuer's future suggests he may have to wait even longer before he fully takes over as the undisputed No. 1, but the 22-year-old is not concerned. 

  “These are things I don't really concern myself with,” he told . “Because it's not my place to comment on the decisions Manu makes, or the club makes. I concentrate on the day-to-day work with Manu, the goalkeeping team, and the squad.”

  For Urbig, competition with one of football’s greatest ever goalkeepers is an opportunity, not a burden. “Our relationship is good; we work well together,” he added. “It’s important to me to emphasise that we have a good relationship within the entire goalkeeping team. Manuel and Sven simply have an incredible amount of experience, which I can learn a lot from.”

Advertisement

• AFP
  

  Urbig returns home for special cup clash

  It’s a homecoming like no other for the German prodigy Urbig, who will line up against his former club Koln in the second round of the DFB-Pokal this week. With Neuer suspended for the tie, Urbig will again take his place between the posts, a moment that carries personal and professional meaning in equal measure.

  After starring in Bayern’s 3-0 win at Borussia Monchengladbach, Urbig now heads into a midweek showdown at RheinEnergieStadion, where his footballing journey began. “I’m looking forward to the game, that’s for sure, even if I wasn’t specifically hoping for Koln as my opponent,” he told ahead of the clash. “I followed the draw completely neutrally.”

  The 22-year-old smiled broadly after the Gladbach win, calling it “a small derby victory” because of his past ties to Koln. “For me as a former Koln player, it was a small derby win today,” he said. Now, he’s eager to carry that energy into a match that could define his growing Bayern career.

• Kompany's influence and Urbig's development

  Urbig’s adaptation at Bayern has been swift, helped by the influence of boss Kompany, as the Belgian has already impressed many within the dressing room, and Urbig is no exception. “He’s a truly great coach and a great person,” the young keeper said. “You can tell he wants to make every player better. He takes everyone along, and everyone feels included.”

  Kompany’s new contract until 2029 signals Bayern’s belief in his project. For Urbig, it’s a perfect environment to grow under a coach who values unity and structure. “You can tell that he also has great experiences as a player and celebrated great successes at Manchester City. He has a very good connection with the team,” he explained.

  That trust has already translated into chances, as Kompany has rotated Neuer strategically this season, ensuring Urbig gains valuable game time in both the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal. His clean sheet against Gladbach showcased composure beyond his years, something Bayern see as key for the next generation of leadership at the club.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Urbig enjoying training with Harry Kane

  Urbig says he is thriving in Bavaria and says training alongside elite players like superstar Harry Kane and Jamal Musiala has given him a daily education in excellence.

  "Harry Kane is currently beating his own personal bests with his performance,” he noted. “We can learn a lot from that, how good and precise he is in finishing.”

  All eyes will now be on shot stopper as Bayern travel to Cologne to face his former team. “They have a good team, a good coach. We’re preparing very professionally because they will demand everything of us,” he said.

  Bayern have made a flawless start to the season under Kompany, winning all of their competitive games. But their DFB-Pokal form has lagged in recent years, the German champions have not lifted the trophy since 2020. As they aim to end that drought, Urbig could play a defining role in a campaign where every performance counts.

India play Pakistan on June 14 and Australia on June 28. The final is at Lord’s on July 5

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Jun-2025The 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup, scheduled from June 12 to July 5, will have Australia, South Africa, India, Pakistan and two qualifiers in Group 1, while Group 2 includes hosts England, defending champions New Zealand, West Indies, Sri Lanka and two more qualifiers. The semi-finals will be played at The Oval, while the final is scheduled at Lord’s.The 33-match tournament will take place across seven venues in England over 24 days. The tournament will have 12 teams, up from 10 in the previous edition in 2024. Apart from The Oval and Lord’s, matches will also be held at Old Trafford, Headingley, Southampton, Bristol and Edgbaston and will have three different start times: 10.30am, 2.30pm and 6.30pm local.The opening match will be played between England and Sri Lanka at Edgbaston on June 12. In a rematch of last edition’s semi-final, New Zealand begin their title defence against West Indies in Southampton on June 13 while Australia start their campaign against 2024 finalists South Africa on the same day in Manchester. India face Pakistan at Edgbaston on June 14.Other key Group 1 fixtures for India are against South Africa (June 21) in Manchester and Australia (June 28) at Lord’s. Pakistan take on South Africa (June 17) at Edgbaston and Australia (June 23) at Headingley. The Australia vs India fixture will be the final group-stage match of the competition.In Group 2, England will play matches across five venues, the most of any team. They take on West Indies (June 24) at Lord’s and New Zealand (June 27) at The Oval. Sri Lanka face New Zealand (June 16) in Southampton and West Indies (June 21) in Bristol.The top two teams from each group will make the semi-finals to be held on June 30 and July 2. The winners will meet for the title clash at Lord’s on July 5.Hosts England and the top five teams from the 2024 edition (Australia, India, New Zealand, South Africa and West Indies) qualified automatically for the edition. Pakistan and Sri Lanka, who were the two next highest-ranked teams on the ICC Women’s T20I rankings table on October 21 that year, made the cut too.The remaining four teams will come from the global qualifiers scheduled for early 2026. Bangladesh, Scotland, USA, Nepal and Thailand have already qualified for that ten-team competition. The Europe, Africa and East Asia-Pacific qualifiers are yet to be completed.

Tottenham Hotspur have a world-class stadium which cost £1bn and they’ve also splashed the cash on several new signings over the years. However, their wait for a first trophy since 2008 goes on.

Spurs have also brought in big transfer fees for a plethora of stars, dealing with some of Europe’s biggest clubs in the process – but who is the club’s record departure?

Here is a look at Tottenham Hotspur’s most expensive sales in their history, with the help of news reports and Transfermarkt, with a detailed look at the top 10.

Rank

Player

Fee

Sold to

Year

Harry Kane

£86.4m

Bayern Munich

2023

Gareth Bale

£85.3m

Real Madrid

2013

Kyle Walker

£50m

Man City

2017

Dimitar Berbatov

£30.75m

Man Utd

2008

Luka Modric

£30m

Real Madrid

2012

Steven Bergwijn

£26m

Ajax

2022

Oliver Skipp

£25m

Leicester

2024

Kieran Trippier

£20m

Atletico Madrid

2019

Heung-min Son

£20m

LAFC

2025

Robbie Keane

£19m

Liverpool

2008

Michael Carrick

£18.6m

Man Utd

2006

Emerson Royal

£18m

AC Milan

2024

Kevin Wimmer

£18m

Stoke City

2017

Christian Eriksen

£16.9m

Inter

2020

Nabil Bentaleb

£16m

Schalke

2017

Toby Alderweireld

£13m

Al-Duhail

2021

Juan Foyth

£13m

Villarreal

2021

Ryan Mason

£13m

Hull City

2016

Nacer Chadli

£13m

West Brom

2016

Kyle Walker-Peters

£12m

Southampton

2020

Andros Townsend

£12m

Newcastle

2016

Peter Crouch

£12m

Stoke

2011

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg

£12m

Marseille

2025

Here’s a detailed look at Spurs' top 10 sales… 10 Robbie Keane £19m to Liverpool, 2008

Robbie Keane was Spurs’ star player and captain back in 2008, so it was a real blow when Liverpool took him to Anfield for £19m. The transfer fee could have surpassed £20m, but we doubt the Irishman met the required add-ons.

Daniel Levy publicly spoke of their disappointment that Keane wanted a move away, but six months later, Keane was back at Tottenham on a permanent transfer after struggling to become a regular on Merseyside.

9 Heung-min Son £20m to LAFC, 2025

A Tottenham icon, Heung-min Son lifted Spurs’ first trophy in 17 years following the club’s Europa League triumph in 2025, but months later, the South Korea forward left north London for the MLS.

The attacker departed for LAFC in a deal worth £20m, with Son scoring 173 goals in 454 games for Spurs, proving to be worth every penny of the £22m Tottenham spent in 2015.

8 Kieran Trippier £20m to Atletico Madrid, 2019

Kieran Trippier’s final game for Tottenham came at Atletico Madrid’s Metropolitano Stadium in the 2019 Champions League final. It would end up being his new club home after Spurs sold him to Diego Simeone’s side for £20m that summer.

Trippier has since become a La Liga winner and returned to the Premier League with Newcastle United, where he helped them qualify for the Champions League.

7 Oliver Skipp £25m to Leicester City, 2024

After coming through the academy and making more than 100 first-team appearances, midfielder Oliver Skipp was sold by Spurs for a reported £25m in 2024.

Leicester City were happy to pay big for Skipp after winning promotion, with the player signing a five-year deal. For a player who didn’t quite reach his potential at Tottenham, it wasn’t the worst deal in the world.

6 Steven Bergwijn £26m to Ajax, 2022

Tottenham signed Steven Bergwijn in January 2020 in the hope that he’d further boost a very exciting attacking lineup under Jose Mourinho.

However, the Dutchman rarely started and wasn’t the attacking threat Spurs had invested in. Eight goals in 83 appearances isn’t exactly worth what they paid for him, so they did well to bring in a £26m fee in 2022.

5 Luka Modric £30m to Real Madrid, 2012

Luka Modric’s performances over a four-year period at White Hart Lane caught the eye of Real Madrid in 2012, who took the Croatia international to the Bernabeu in the summer of 2012 for £30m.

The midfielder went on to star in Spain and even won the Ballon d’Or in 2018, so the £30m fee is probably looked back on as a bargain for Madrid.

4 Dimitar Berbatov £30.75m to Man Utd, 2008

Stylish striker Dimitar Berbatov struck up a brilliant relationship with Robbie Keane in north London, with the former scoring 46 goals in 102 games.

Despite having Wayne Rooney, Carlos Tevez and Cristiano Ronaldo, Manchester United added Berbatov to their ranks in 2008, and he’d go on to win six honours with the Red Devils in four years following his £30.75m transfer from Spurs.

3 Kyle Walker £50m to Man City, 2017

Kyle Walker became the world’s most expensive defender when he joined Manchester City from Tottenham in 2017 for £50m, with the England international going on to win everything under Pep Guardiola at the Etihad.

Walker is arguably England’s greatest-ever right-back, but at the time, Tottenham had Kieran Trippier waiting in the wings, so were seemingly happy to cash in on him for such a large sum.

2 Gareth Bale £85.3m to Real Madrid, 2013

Gareth Bale followed Modric to Real Madrid in 2013 after starring in north London. The Wales international cost Real more than they had paid for Cristiano Ronaldo in 2009, with the transfer a world-record €100m (£85.3m) at the time.

Bale would go on to win 15 honours at the Bernabeu, including five Champions League titles. He scored 106 goals in 258 appearances in a Madrid shirt.

1 Harry Kane £86.4m to Bayern Munich, 2023

Topping the charts as Tottenham’s record departure is record goalscorer Harry Kane, who brought in £86.4m when he joined Bayern Munich in 2023.

The striker was linked with a Spurs exit on numerous occasions during his 13-year spell as a professional in north London, but it was the Bundesliga and Bayern that persuaded him to leave Tottenham. Kane, as expected, has gone on to continue to score for fun in Germany.

And then there were ten. IPL 2025, at this stage, has just ten players from England. There were 12, but Harry Brook and Brydon Carse (injury) have withdrawn. Feels different from previous years, doesn’t it? So, has the England players’ attitude towards the IPL changed? Are they not good enough anymore, and the IPL franchises are just not interested in them? Is it something else?”Rob Key, who is in charge back at the ECB, has basically tried to – and he’s fairly right – encouraged his players to play as much for England [as possible],” Nick Knight, the former England opener, said on ESPNcricinfo TimeOut. “They’ve got a five-Test series against India. They’ve got an Ashes to follow. They’ve got multi-format players, like Harry Brook and Mark Wood – they’re pretty well looked-after now. And they’re going to have to be looked after.”There’s a bit of that influence. So they perhaps don’t need to travel and play in all these leagues around the world. There are other leagues popping up as well. If you’re not going to get the full price [at the IPL auctions] that perhaps you might want to get, you might want to play in another league. So there are a number of these sort of factors flying around for some of these players.”Related

• Jonny Bairstow appointed Yorkshire captain for County Championship

• Jonny Bairstow: 'I'd be stupid not to push for England recall'

• Moeen: 'My skill as a bowler is that I think like a batter'

• Why Brook captaincy call could define Key- McCullum legacies

The ten players from England that are a part of IPL 2025 are Moeen Ali, Jofra Archer, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Liam Livingstone, Jamie Overton, Phil Salt and Reece Topley. Brook and Carse have opted out. Ben Duckett, it’s understood, was contacted by Delhi Capitals (DC) to be Brook’s replacement, but he chose to stay away.Compare this to IPL 2024, when there were 18 players from England divided among the ten teams. Some of them withdrew at various stages of the IPL, but that’s a significantly higher number than now.ESPNcricinfo’s Matt Roller suggested that some of the England players’ stocks have dwindled in recent years, possibly a reflection of their failures at ICC white-ball events of late. When the last mega auction was held, before IPL 2022, England were the defending 50-over World Cup winners and then won the T20 World Cup in 2022. They were in big demand.”Perhaps the stock of some of these players is not quite as high because of the ICC trophies, and the way some of these competitions globally have been going,” Knight said, agreeing to the point. “You know, you look at Sam Curran. Go back a couple of T20 [World Cups] back in Australia, he was the Player of the Tournament.3:45

Has England’s IPL love affair changed?

“And he goes into the IPL auction, gets an absolute full whack. So there are a number of factors that are combining to make a few players less [in demand] than you’d expect.”A bit of a chicken-and-egg situation, isn’t it? Did the England players get better at T20s by playing in the IPL, or did they come into the IPL because they were that good? And how does it work now?”A lot of people have benefitted from playing in the IPL, because a lot of them got better playing against spin, and also wickets that were slow,” Ambati Rayudu said. “We have seen the England side in India [for a white-ball series in January and February this year]. Somehow, they are just playing one-dimensional cricket, especially in the middle overs, and especially against spin. To go hard against spin, you also need skill. So where do you develop that? You develop that in the subcontinent, or on wickets such as these. So… it’s quite a Catch-22 situation.”

Tottenham have sent shockwaves through the footballing world by announcing that former chairman, Daniel Levy, has stepped down from his role overseeing club operations — 25 years after he took the reins from Sir Alan Sugar.

During his two-and-a-half-decade-long stay at Spurs, Levy transformed the club into a financial powerhouse off the field.

Real Madrid

£1.2 billion

Man City

£727 million

PSG

£700 million

Man United

£668 million

Bayern Munich

£664 million

FC Barcelona

£659.5 million

Arsenal

£621.5 million

Liverpool

£620 million

Tottenham Hotspur

£533 million

Chelsea

£474 million

Their state-of-the-art new stadium and training facilities are among the best in world football, with Levy deserving credit for departing N17 in a much more stable condition than he inherited.

However, on the field, it was a different story.

Levy attracted consistent criticism for his lack of spending compared to other members of the Premier League ‘big six’, and that is widely seen as a real factor in Tottenham only winning two major trophies during the 63-year-old’s tenure.

Levy was at the centre of mass protests, particularly last season, with ENIC taking the decision to part company despite the official statement reading that he left of his own accord.

This is backed up by other reliable media sources, with ENIC’s plan to get more involved at Tottenham essentially weakening Levy’s cast-iron grip on the club, according to insider Paul O’Keefe.

The brutal way Tottenham told Daniel Levy he'd be leaving

Now, according to The Times, it is believed that Levy was told he’d be stepping down from Tottenham in rather brutal fashion.

Indeed, as per their information, Spurs informed Levy of the decision just hours before the club publicly announced it.

Given just how big a role he’s played in making Tottenham a powerhouse away from the pitch, perhaps this wasn’t the most dignified of endings for Levy, despite his mixed reviews from supporters.

In any case, Spurs are adamant that a “new era” has begun after Levy’s departure, which comes months after the ex-chair’s statement that he wanted to win both the Premier League and Champions League.

Aiming to end their transfer window with a big midfield addition, Manchester United and INEOS have already reportedly set their sights on an alternative option to Carlos Baleba.

Latest on Man Utd's pursuit of Baleba

After falling to a club-record low in the Premier League and losing in the Europa League final at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur last season, not many expected Manchester United to be in a strong position to attract top stars this summer. The lure of the Theatre of Dreams remains strong, however, and INEOS have so far welcomed Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko to transform their attack.

Man Utd hatch plan to sign £120m star in Sancho swap deal, Amorim's pushing

The Red Devils are looking to sign an “exceptional” player…

ByDominic Lund Aug 14, 2025

They’re not stopping there, either. With Ruben Amorim’s attack finally sharpened, INEOS have reportedly shifted their attention towards United’s midfield and adding Carlos Baleba to an impressive summer of arrivals. Alas, as if often the case, Brighton & Hove Albion’s star won’t come cheap and initial reports have suggested that the midfielder will cost over £100m this month.

As things stand, that valuation is likely to be out of Manchester United’s range, but there is still one glimmer of hope to hold on to. Reports are also indicating that Baleba is keen on a move to Old Trafford even without the prospect of playing European football.

Whether INEOS can negotiate a way past Brighton’s hefty price tag will be the main obstacle between Baleba becoming a Manchester United player. It’s an obstacle that not many have got past before, with Chelsea paying bid for Moises Caicedo and Marc Cucurella in the past. Unlike the Blues, though, United may have no choice but to turn towards other targets.

Man Utd identify Stiller as Baleba alternative

According to The Boot Room, INESO and Manchester United are already eyeing Angelo Stiller as an alternative option to Baleba if they fail to reach Brighton’s valuation. The VfB Stuttgart midfielder has previously found himself on Liverpool’s radar and could now come back to haunt Manchester United’s rivals by completing a move to Old Trafford.

Minutes

2,741

2,661

Progressive Passes

289

118

Tackles Won

27

46

Ball Recoveries

140

197

A player who that analyst Ben Mattinson dubbed “complete”, it’s clear to see why Stiller is on United’s radar. In possession, his ability to progress play is an incredibly valuable trait, whilst his numbers off the ball aren’t too far off Baleba’s quality.

Given that he’s likely to be cheaper than the Brighton star, Manchester United should seriously consider a move for the German this month if a transfer for their top target fails to materialise. It is also worth noting that, as impressive as he already is, Stiller is likely to get even better at just 24 years old.