Tag Futebol

Daniel Levy has brought an end to his 25-year stay at Tottenham with the announcement of his resignation as executive chairman on Thursday – huge news which came completely out of nowhere.

Since taking over from Sir Alan Sugar in 2000, Levy oversaw the transformation of Spurs from a largely mid-table side in the late 1990s to one of the Premier League’s ‘big six’, but his running of the club was also marred by protests from supporters over a lack of success on the field.

The Lilywhites are now one of Europe’s most valuable clubs — boasting a state-of-the-art new stadium and training complex — with Tottenham also the ninth highest revenue-generating side in world football, according to the Deloitte Money League.

World Football’s highest revenue-generating clubs — 2025	Value
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
via Deloitte Money League

Off the pitch, Levy’s work deserves high praise, but just two major trophies in two and a half decades frustrated the fanbase.

The 63-year-old’s perceived lack of squad investment during his tenure also attracted fierce criticism, but ENIC’s decision to part company represents a “new era” for the north Londoners.

In the aftermath of Levy’s shock exit, questions are being asked about why this has happened now and so suddenly.

BBC journalist Sami Mokbel and other reliable media sources are reporting that the decision to part ways was ultimately taken out of Levy’s hands, with ENIC effectively pushing him out of the door.

Club insider Paul O’Keefe has also shared some intriguing bits of detail about the story.

ENIC plan "weakened" Daniel Levy's grip on Tottenham before resignation

Taking to X, Spurs in-the-know claims that ENIC’s plan to get properly involved — namely through Lewis’ kids Vivienne and Charlie — is said to have “weakened” Levy’s “vice-like grip” on Tottenham before he was forced out.

ENIC appear set for a more hands-on role in the wake of Levy’s departure, and in that sense, a new era certainly has begun at Tottenham.

Their controversial ownership hasn’t exactly been popular among Spurs supporters, but time will tell whether they manage to turn the tide when it comes to public perception.

For Levy, the ex-official and his family are still a beneficiary of ENIC, owning a near-30 per cent stake in the group, but his club involvement will now cease with immediate effect with no notice period (BBC).

Celtic left it late to bring in Kelechi Iheanacho on a free transfer and could be set to dip into the unattached market once again for another centre-forward.

Kelechi Iheanacho excited to work with Brendan Rodgers at Celtic

In a deal that has triggered plenty of discussion among Celtic supporters, Kelechi Iheanacho is now in the building at Parkhead and may well be in the frame to make his Scottish Premiership debut against Kilmarnock on Sunday.

Speaking to official club sources, the Nigeria forward signalled his excitement at being able to work with Brendan Rodgers again following their successful time together while at Leicester City.

He explained: “He’s been massively important in my career. He looked after me when I was in Leicester and gave me the opportunity to show my talent and help the team to win trophies.

“He’s a great manager and a great person. He’s got a good personality as well so I’m happy to play for him again. I’m happy to be a Celtic player and to play for this great club.”

Of course, Iheanacho’s unsuccessful loan spell at Middlesbrough has put the cat among the pigeons for some, given he netted once in 15 appearances while at the Sky Bet Championship outfit.

Nevertheless, his exploits in the Premier League at Manchester City and the Foxes illustrate what he is capable of, albeit Sevilla fans never got to see the best of him either before he was released to complete a move to Glasgow.

With Celtic short on options through the middle, recent developments suggest they could now enter the free agent market once again to bring in a renowned striker.

Celtic favourites to sign free agent Michail Antonio

According to a report from Claret & Hugh, Celtic are ‘favourites’ to sign former West Ham United striker Michail Antonio, who is a free agent after leaving the London Stadium under freedom of contract.

The Jamaica international, who shares the same agent as summer signing Jahmai Simpson-Pusey, has been using the Hammers’ facilities to keep himself fit over the last few months and his Premier League record speaks for itself; 68 goals and 38 assists in 268 matches.

Celtic may have their biggest talent since Doak in "lightning" 19-year-old

While Ben Doak continues to shine away from Celtic, the Hoops could have their own rising star to enjoy

ByRobbie Walls Sep 9, 2025

Failed moves for David Datro Fofana and Kasper Dolberg late in the window have left the door ajar for another striking arrival at Celtic, though anyone signed wouldn’t be able to take part in their Europa League campaign.

At 35 years of age, Antonio is someone that is definitely in the twilight of his career, even if he is still capable of performing at a high level if granted the platform.

Despite their interest in a deal, it would be harsh if Brendan Rodgers were to block opportunities for Johnny Kenny and Shin Yamada to claim more minutes, which may be a consideration that will need evaluation before the Bhoys make a decision on whether to move for the veteran forward.

Arsenal transfer chief Andrea Berta has delighted Gunners insiders with a “masterstroke” he’s pulled off behind-the-scenes, with the Italian continuing to impress after a phenomenal first summer transfer window at the club.

While Premier League rivals Liverpool are currently the favourites to retain their crown as champions of England, thanks to lavish spending of their own, there is still a long way to go until the final whistle blows on this campaign and Arsenal are likely to be their fierce direct rivals.

Arsenal’s confirmed summer signings

Price tag

Kepa Arrizabalaga

£5m

Martin Zubimendi

£60m

Christian Norgaard

£15m

Noni Madueke

£52m

Cristhian Mosquera

£13m

Viktor Gyokeres

£55m

Eberechi Eze

£67.5m

Piero Hincapie

Loan

Jamie Carragher, Theo Walcott, Gary Neville and Roy Keane took aim at Arsenal’s lack of creative urgency in the final third against Liverpool, but once their new summer arrivals are fully settled, you wouldn’t bet against the north Londoners finding their feet in this regard.

Viktor Gyokeres and Eberechi Eze, who bagged 68 goals and 24 assists in all competitions between them last season at Sporting CP and Crystal Palace respectively, were top Berta captures to seriously help them compete with Liverpool in attack.

Berta personally wanted Gyokeres over fellow long-time striker target Benjamin Sesko, who ultimately joined Man United, with the 53-year-old also winning the hearts of Arsenal supporters everywhere by hijacking Tottenham’s once-advanced deal for Eze.

With the title race now more competitive than ever, with Man City also reinforcing their ranks alongside big-spenders Chelsea, adding the likes of Eze and Gyokeres could be imperative in Arsenal’s quest to end their 20-plus-year-long wait for a domestic league crown.

The same can be said for their signing of defender Piero Hincapie on loan from Bayer Leverkusen, with Arsenal possessing an option to buy the centre-back for £45 million in 2026.

Hincapie, a key starter for Leverkusen under Xabi Alonso last term, was also a regular during their historic 2023/2024 double-winning season, where the Germans nearly went unbeaten for the entire campaign in all competitions – if not for their surprise Europa League final loss to Atalanta.

The 23-year-old possesses a wealth of proven top-level experience for his age, and it could well prove vital depending on the severity of William Saliba’s fresh ankle injury he picked up against Liverpool last weekend.

Andrea Berta praised for Piero Hincapie "masterstroke" at Arsenal

Journalist Graeme Bailey, speaking to TBR Football, has elaborated on Arsenal’s last-minute summer deal for the South American.

The reporter praised Berta for what could be an Arsenal “masterstroke” by signing Hincapie, and those within the club are apparently “delighted” as they expect the centre-back to have a special future.

It is worth noting Hincapie can play in multiple different positions across the defensive line as well, including as a full-back, so he could also cover for the likes of Ben White when required.

Tottenham Hotspur’s pursuit of Eberechi Eze this summer will be remembered for a long time, with the Lilywhites unable to complete a deal for his signature.

After missing out on Morgan Gibbs-White, in what was another infamous saga, the hierarchy turned their attention to the 27-year-old in an attempt to fill the void in the attacking midfield department.

Talks were said to be at an advanced stage for the England international, but a turn of events saw Thomas Frank’s side miss out – in explicable fashion too.

The player instead agreed a deal to join North London rivals Arsenal, leading to discontent shown by the Spurs faithful towards owner Daniel Levy over the last couple of weeks.

However, the owner has the chance to rectify such mistakes before the September 1st deadline, with other alternatives constantly being pursued in recent days.

The latest on Spurs’ hunt for an Eze alternative

In an attempt to soften the blow, Spurs have moved on to Eze’s compatriot Morgan Rogers, with Frank said to be a huge admirer of the Aston Villa star.

It’s been reported that the Lilywhites have been in negotiations with Unai Emery’s outfit over a deal for the 23-year-old talent, who could cost as much as £80m before Monday’s transfer deadline.

However, he’s not the only player currently in their sights, with RB Leipzig star Xavi Simons another attacking midfielder they’re currently considering, according to CaughtOffside.

Their report claims that Spurs have made an enquiry to land the Dutch international, despite Chelsea currently leading the race after agreeing personal terms with the player.

It also states the Lilywhites could pounce on the recent delay, making their own £60m hijack this summer, potentially swooping in after their recent contact with the Bundesliga outfit.

Why Spurs’ latest target is a bigger talent than Eze

There’s no denying that Eze would’ve been an excellent addition to the current Spurs side, with disappointment undoubtedly being felt amongst the fanbase as a result of his move to Arsenal.

Failing to complete a deal for the player is bad enough, but losing out to your main rivals would undoubtedly compound the misery currently being felt by the supporters.

However, if the side are to reach the next level under Frank, the hierarchy simply can’t rest on their laurels, needing to pursue other targets to help improve the squad.

Given the injuries to James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski, the need for a new option in such a department has become even more apparent – but they’re desperately running out of time for a deal.

A hijack of a move for Simons could be the perfect signing to help get the fanbase back on side, whilst also handing Frank the tools he needs to build on his 100% start in the Premier League.

When comparing his stats to those of Eze from the 2024/25 campaign, the former PSG star managed to massively outperform him in numerous key areas – which makes missing out on the Englishman a blessing in disguise.

Simons, who’s been dubbed “world-class” by Rafael Van der Vaart, posted a better goal and assist rate per 90 – whilst also achieving a better shot on target accuracy rate, with such a figure handing the club more of a clinical option in attacking areas.

How Simons & Eze compared throughout 2024/25

Statistics (per 90)

Simons

Eze

Games played

25

34

Goals & assists

16

16

Shot on target accuracy

46%

27%

Pass accuracy

79%

74%

Progressive passes

5.9

3.3

Passes into the final third

3.3

1.7

Key passes made

2.2

2.1

Progressive carries

3.6

2.4

Carries into the final third

3.1

1.6

Fouls won

2.3

1.7

Stats via FBref

Whilst such a component of his game isn’t vital, it’s certainly a bonus that could see the Lilywhites gain yet another goalscoring option to help the side in their quest for Premier League success.

However, creativity is massively needed in the number ten role, something which Simons would provide, given his tally of 2.2 key passes per 90 and 3.3 passes into the final third per 90 – with both tallies higher than those produced by Eze.

The Dutchman’s dominance is further demonstrated in his ability to procure more carries into the final third per 90, able to progress the play before putting the final touches on any attack – as seen by his aforementioned figures.

£60m would be another hefty figure forked out by the board, but it would be one that could be a bargain if he continues on his current trajectory and reaches his full potential.

It would also be a better signing than Eze, potentially allowing Frank’s side to get one over a rival and complete their own hijack after their previous defeat in the market.

Related Kudus will love him: £22m star is gearing up to accept Spurs' offer to join

Tottenham Hotspur appear to be making a move for another attacking midfielder this summer.

Posts 4 ByEthan Lamb Aug 26, 2025

Glasgow Celtic have enjoyed regular dominance in Scotland in recent years, with the Hoops’ shrewd signings playing a major role in that success.

Those at Parkhead aren’t known to splash the cash like other clubs across Europe but have become serial winners. The likes of Martin O’Neill, Neil Lennon, Ange Postecoglou and Brendan Rodgers have all spent money when allowed to do so, but who is Celtic’s most expensive signing of all time?

Celtic's most expensive sales of all time

Celtic have let some of their finest talents move for big money in the past.

ByCharlie Smith Oct 3, 2025

Here’s the top 10, with one player actually appearing on the list twice.

Rank

Player

Fee

Signed from

Year

Arne Engels

£11m

Augsburg

2024

Adam Idah

£9.5m

Norwich City

2024

Odsonne Edouard

£8m

PSG

2018

Jota

£8m

Rennes

2025

Christopher Jullien

£7m

Toulouse

2019

Jota

£6.5m

Benfica

2022

Auston Trusty

£6m

Sheffield United

2024

Cameron Carter-Vickers

£6m

Tottenham

2022

John Hartson

£6m

Coventry City

2001

Chris Sutton

£6m

Chelsea

2000

Celtic’s 10 most expensive signings in detail 10 Chris Sutton £6m from Chelsea

Now known for his role as a pundit and co-commentator, Chris Sutton was a goalscorer during his playing days and moved to Celtic Park in 2000.

The Englishman had starred for Norwich City and Blackburn Rovers before joining Chelsea in 1999, and after a 12-month stint at Stamford Bridge, headed to Scotland for £6m.

Sutton would score more than 80 goals in just under 200 appearances for the Hoops, winning eight major honours in Scotland.

9 John Hartson £6m from Coventry City

Sutton’s strike partner at Celtic was Welshman John Hartson, who also cost £6m a year later in 2001 from Coventry City.

A powerful centre-forward, Hartson actually made more appearances for Celtic than any other club he represented, outscoring Sutton in their Hoops careers. He won six major honours at Parkhead before being sold to West Brom in 2006.

8 Cameron Carter-Vickers £6m from Tottenham

After multiple loan spells away from Tottenham, Cameron Carter-Vickers found a permanent home at Parkhead in 2022 following a successful season with the Hoops a year before.

Celtic paid Tottenham £6m for the USA centre-back, who has gone from strength to strength in Glasgow and has since been linked with a mega-money transfer back to the Premier League.

7 Auston Trusty £6m from Sheffield United

Another American defender to join Celtic was Auston Trusty, who made the move in 2024 after Sheffield United’s relegation from the Premier League.

Trusty made 37 appearances in his first season as a Hoops player, winning two trophies. He’s under contract until 2029.

6 Jota £6.5m from Benfica

Portuguese winger Jota starred on loan at Celtic from Benfica in the 2021/22 season, and his transfer was made permanent for £6.5m at the end of the campaign.

The attacker would become a fan favourite and get even better a year later as the Hoops won the treble, however, he was then sold to Al Ittihad for a whopping £25m. More on Jota to come…

5 Christopher Jullien £7m from Toulouse

Towering centre-back Christopher Jullien became Celtic’s first summer signing in 2019, with Neil Lennon the manager to sign the French defender.

Unfortunately, Jullien suffered with injury during his time with the Hoops and was sold to Montpellier for a fraction of the fee in 2022.

4 Jota £8m from Rennes

After a failed time in Saudi Arabia, Jota was then sold to Rennes in France, but again struggled to hit the heights of his time at Celtic.

The Hoops were then in negotiations to sell Kyogo Furuhashi to the Ligue 1 side in 2025, and they used the money to bring Jota back to Parkhead in a deal worth £8m.

So, in total, Celtic have spent just under £15m on Jota in two transfers, while selling him once for £25m – good business.

3 Odsonne Edouard £8m from PSG

After starring on loan from Paris Saint-Germain in the 2017/18 season, Celtic made Odsonne Edouard’s transfer permanent for a then-club-record £8m fee.

The Hoops at the time described it as the “biggest transfer” in their history, with the French forward continuing to score goals for fun in Scotland. Celtic still made a healthy profit on Edouard, cashing in for £14m when Crystal Palace came in on deadline day in 2021.

Games

179

Goals

87

Assists

37

Minutes played

12,199

Trophies won

11

2 Adam Idah £9.5m from Norwich City

Another striker who cost big money after impressing on loan was Adam Idah. The Republic of Ireland international spent the second half of the 2023/24 campaign at Parkhead from Norwich City and scored some big goals for the Hoops, including a late winner in their Scottish Cup final against Rangers.

Celtic then spent £9.5m on Idah and handed him a five-year deal in Glasgow.

1 Arne Engels £11m from Augsburg

Top of the charts as Celtic’s most expensive signing of all time is midfielder Arne Engels. The Belgian joined in the same summer as Idah as the Hoops really splashed the cash in 2024.

Engels, who was only 20 when he signed, starred in his first season, winning the Scottish Premiership and Scottish League Cup.

Leeds United are preparing for a season in the Premier League and are looking to bolster their squad with new additions before the end of the summer transfer window.

Football Insider reported earlier this summer that the club are not planning to build their attack around Joel Piroe, who they have doubts over heading into a top-flight campaign.

That may be due to a lack of physicality, ahead of a relegation scrap. In the Championship, the Dutchman lost a whopping 73% of his duels and only won 0.7 aerial battles per game, which shows that opposition defenders found it too easy to get the better of him.

Given the step up in quality, Piroe may not have the time and space he needs to score the 19 goals he bagged in the second tier, which is why the physical side of his game will come more into focus.

Leeds remain keen on Premier League forward

This may be why the Championship champions are now reportedly looking at two Premier League centre-forward options who have a lot more to offer physically.

Transfer Focus

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

Speaking to LeedsUnitedNews, journalist Graeme Bailey has revealed that Everton number nine Beto, who was signed from Udinese for £26m in 2023, is still an option for the club this summer.

When asked about alternatives to Fulham forward Rodrigo Muniz, the reporter said: “From what I’m told, I still don’t think Beto’s completely off Leeds’ list and off the table.

“I still think Everton are looking at other strikers as well, so if they brought another one in, Beto might still be an option. I wouldn’t rule him out at all. He’s still on the radar and a work in progress still, even if he’s not Leeds’ first-choice.”

These comments from Bailey show that Leeds are working on Beto as an alternative to Muniz, and Daniel Farke could land his own version of Chris Wood if the club decide to pursue the Portuguese forward.

Why Beto could be Chris Wood 2.0 for Leeds

The New Zealand international, as shown in the graphic below, scored a stunning 44 goals in 88 games during his time at Elland Road before being sold to Burnley.

In the present day, Wood plays for Nottingham Forest in the Premier League and is coming off the back of a 20-goal haul for the Tricky Trees in the top-flight.

Even when he is not scoring goals, though, the 6 foot 3 marksman provides a strong physical presence in the centre-forward position, which is what Beto, 6 foot 4, has also proven in the division.

Appearances

36

30

Minutes played

2,976

1,541

Goals

20

8

Ground duel success rate

34%

38%

Aerial duel success rate

39%

49%

Duels won per game

3.5

5.2

Fouls won per game

0.7

0.8

As you can see in the table above, the Everton attacker may not have scored 20 goals in the league, but he did win his fair share of physical duels and averaged 5.2 duels won per game.

This suggests that he would be a big upgrade on Piroe from a physical perspective, providing the team with a better outlet when they need to alleviate pressure, as Farke’s own version of Chris Wood.

Beto, who reporter Paddy Boyland claimed was “thriving” in the Premier League earlier this year, also scored his eight goals from 7.86 xG in just 15 starts.

This suggests that he has the potential and quality to hit double figures for goals in the division as a fairly clinical finisher, if Leeds are prepared to make him their starting number nine.

Leeds meet £24.5m star's agents and now ready to trigger his release clause

The Whites could have an advantage in their race to sign a talented playmaker.

BySean Markus Clifford Aug 1, 2025

Therefore, Leeds could find their own version of Wood by signing Beto, as he is a powerful, towering, and traditional number nine who has proven that he can score goals in the Premier League, which could make him an ideal signing to fire the team to safety.

The former Pakistan captain also felt the PCB had been “unjust” on Shaheen Shah Afridi to remove him from the T20I captaincy

PTI and ESPNcricinfo staff13-Sep-2024Former Pakistan captain Moin Khan has said his son Azam’s confidence has taken a beating because of the inability of the Pakistan selectors and team management to give him a consistent run in the side.Moin took the example of the T20 World Cup earlier this year in the West Indies and the USA, Azam’s most recent appearance for Pakistan. Azam played only the opening match of Pakistan’s campaign, the Super-Over defeat to USA. He played as wicketkeeper-batter, and scored a first-ball duck. He was dropped thereafter, with Mohammad Rizwan, who played as a specialist batter against USA, taking back the keeper’s gloves.”I watched the entire World Cup and the matches leading up to it, and it seemed like Azam was the number one choice for wicketkeeping and batting,” Moin told . “Then suddenly, after just one match, the entire strategy was changed.”Pakistan exited the tournament at the first group stage itself, winning two games and losing to USA and India.”Azam wasn’t given a chance to keep wickets after one match and was dropped after getting out on the very first ball [against USA],” Moin said. “Any player can get out on the first ball, but here the tradition of developing players that used to exist is no longer there. Whether it’s the captain or the management, if they make such quick changes to players, how can we produce good players?”Azam has faced scrutiny right through his career for his fitness, and while Moin agreed with some of the criticism, he said his son was now working hard on that area.”I’m not saying that all the blame lies with the team management and the captain; Azam has his own shortcomings too,” Moin said. “He needs to make himself physically and mentally stronger, and follow the fitness routines of other sportsmen.”For the past month or so, I’ve noticed he’s been working hard to improve his fitness with his trainer Shehzar Mohammad, even taking him along to the Caribbean [Premier] League. I hope Azam has learned a lot from this experience.”‘Removing Shaheen from the captaincy was unjust’Moin expressed strong support for Shaheen Shah Afridi to be Pakistan’s white-ball captain. Shaheen had taken over as T20I captain – and was seen as a frontrunner for the ODI captaincy too – in the wake of Babar Azam’s resignation following the ODI World Cup in India last year. Shaheen’s tenure lasted just one series, however, with Babar reinstated in March.”Shaheen Afridi has the ability to lead the team and is highly liked by the players. He is an excellent choice for captaincy in T20s,” Moin said. “In white-ball cricket, I don’t see anyone else suitable for the role. Removing him from the captaincy was unjust.”Moin also advocated for one captain for all formats, and felt that constant leadership changes only stood to affect team performance.”Players may not listen to their captain if there are constant changes,” he said. “If the cricket board provides full support to the captain and assures them of a long-term responsibility, the team’s performance will improve.”

Speaking ahead of the Duleep Trophy opener, he also said that he hasn’t “reached his expectations” as a Test player yet

Himanshu Agrawal04-Sep-2024

Shubman Gill will lead India A in the Duleep Trophy•SLC

Shubman Gill has said working on his “defensive game” helped him turn his Test fortunes around against England earlier this year.Before heading into the home series against England, Gill’s average in Tests was 30.59. But batting at No. 3 across the five games, he hit 452 runs in nine innings, at an average of 56.50. That included two centuries and half-centuries each, as he overturned a run of low scores in the format. Returning to first-class cricket for the first time since then, Gill will be leading India A at the Duleep Trophy opener on Thursday.”I worked on my defence a little bit more, especially against the spinners,” Gill said at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, where his side will face India B in the Duleep Trophy. “Playing on turning tracks, if you are not able to have that confidence in your defence [then it disturbs your game]. If you’re playing on a turning track, you should be able to defend a lot more. [It is] then you play scoring shots.Related

Suryakumar out of first round of Duleep Trophy with injury

Test hopefuls jostle for limited slots as domestic season kicks off

Duleep Trophy first round: Injured Kishan ruled out, Samson named replacement

“And with more T20 [cricket], and playing on, I wouldn’t say flat tracks, but [on] batting-friendly tracks – [and] more in the white-ball [games] – I feel it takes away a little bit of your defensive game over a period of time. So that was my focus in the England series.”After scoring 104 in the second innings of the second Test against England in Visakhapatnam, he revealed he had asked the team management to push him down to No. 3 instead of playing as an opener, a position where he had batted 29 times.Despite the returns against England, Gill acknowledged that he is not quite there yet as a Test player, and that he intended to make up for it. India play ten Tests over the next four months, starting with two against Bangladesh from September 19.”Yes, definitely, I haven’t reached my expectations yet,” he said. “But we have ten Test matches ahead of us back-to-back. So hopefully after these ten Test matches, I will be able to meet my expectations.”Gill: As captain, ‘you should understand your players a lot more’Gill said that he never felt any “extra pressure” being part of the India leadership group, as the added responsibility required him to know more about his team-mates.Over the last few months, Gill has had plenty of leadership opportunities. That run started when he captained Gujarat Titans in the IPL after Hardik Pandya went back to Mumbai Indians. Gill then led India in five T20Is against Zimbabwe, after Rohit Sharma had retired from the format and several other senior players were rested.India reversed a 0-1 scoreline to beat the hosts 4-1, after which Gill had said that captaincy “brings out the best in me”. He was even named vice-captain for the T20Is and ODIs against Sri Lanka that followed.”My role as a batsman doesn’t really change,” Gill said. “Even if I am the captain or the vice-captain, the aim is to get runs and make my team win, [and] contribute in any way possible.”If you are the captain or the vice-captain, then you should be able to understand your players a lot more rather than when you are just a player. Sometimes, it happens that you have played with a lot of [these] players since childhood. You have played a lot of age-group cricket [together]. So, obviously, you are already connected, and so it is more fun to play with them.”And if you are enjoying your role in the captaincy, it is very important to lead with performance. So if you are getting all these things, then you enjoy everything.”

Despite losing their last five games of the regular Championship season, Sunderland are Premier League-bound once more after Wembley produced yet more drama in a play-off final.

Tommy Watson would break Sheffield United hearts right at the death to hand his hometown club a passage up to the big time, but all these jubilant celebrations will soon be met by the crashing fear of realism as Sunderland attempt to stay afloat in such a brutal division.

Already, however, the Wearside high-flyers have been active in the transfer market to try and boost their young squad, with Enzo Le Fee about to pen a permanent Stadium of Light contract.

Away from the standout loanee joining for good, there are a whole host of other rumours involving incomings that will please fans of Regis Le Bris’ underdogs.

Sunderland's growing list of transfer targets

Amazingly, Le Fee might not be the only statement addition in the centre of the park this summer.

The rumour mill continues to churn out the wild possibility of Jordan Henderson returning to his hometown roots, whilst another flashy buy in the midfield department could soon come in the form of Manchester United winger Amad Diallo.

Yet, away from Henderson and Amad’s names being tentatively linked, Sunderland could look to improve defensively this summer by shopping in Le Bris’s native France.

As per a new report from the Daily Mirror, that has been relayed by the Sunderland Echo, the AS Monaco ace is being looked at by the Black Cats as part of an ambitious summer rebuild, meaning the old guard in the building might be moved to one side for the likes of Singo to shine.

Transfer Focus

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

Indeed, any move for the £20m-rated defender could prove to be an upgrade on long-serving hero, Luke O’Nien.

How Singo compares to O'Nien

O’Nien’s appearance at the final whistle at Wembley tells you all you need to know about his warrior-like character as the veteran defender celebrated with his arm in a noticeable sling.

Whilst that grit and determination might well be of value to the Black Cats in such a demanding league, the strong 30-year-old could soon take a back seat for a fresh body to arrive in the form of Singo.

After all, whilst O’Nien can play both as a right-back or as a centre-back like Singo, it’s clear from the numbers below that the 23-year-old target is more accustomed to being a Premier League-level defender for Sunderland right now, over the long-standing Wearside servant.

Singo’s league numbers (24/25) vs O’Nien’s
Stat – per 90 mins*	Singo	O’Nien
Games played	27	48
Goals scored	1	3
Assists	2	1
Touches*	65.9	73.5
Accurate passes*	45.1 (87%)	52.7 (87%)
Big chances created	3	1
Ball recoveries*	5.1	3.4
Clearances*	4.0	3.9
Total duels won*	4.7	3.9
Clean sheets	7	16
Stats by Sofascore

Indeed, Singo has already shown he can cut it with the top dogs in Ligue 1 when amassing one goal and two assists when lining up either in the heart of defence or down the right flank last season.

But, away from solely offering Sunderland a new expansive option out from the back, he also possesses that same hunger and drive to battle like O’Nien, with the “monster” Ivorian – as he’s been labelled by football analyst Ben Mattinson – actually bettering his ex-Wycombe Wanderers counterpart in terms of clearances, ball recoveries and duels won throughout last season, even when plying his trade in a top league.

Also capable of pulling off an audacious flick like this one, everything is pointing in the direction that landing the “freak athlete” – as he’s been further noted by Mattinson – would be a worthwhile addition for Le Bris’ men ahead of Premier League action finally returning, with a sprinkle here and there of quality giving the Black Cats a hopeful fighting chance at survival.

Sunderland could soon sign their next Amad in "unplayable" EFL star

Sunderland could finally win their next Amad Diallo with this tricky attacker.

By
Kelan Sarson

May 29, 2025

Everton beat Fulham at Craven Cottage at the weekend to consolidate their position in mid-table. When David Moyes replaced Sean Dyche in January, the fear of relegation was a palpable thing indeed.

Trailing 1-0 when the fourth official displayed four minutes of stoppage time before the interval, Vitalii Mykolenko struck from outside the box and saw a wicked deflection get the better of Bernd Leno. Michael Keane and Beto struck in the second half to seal a fantastic win on the road.

Keane and Abdoulaye Doucoure (who assisted Mykolenko) are both out of contract next month but produced excellent performances to perhaps suggest they deserve a place at Bramley Moore next season.

However, not everyone facing an exit will have impressed the gaffer.

Everton's worst performers vs Fulham

Moyes knew when taking on the Everton job that he would face a deluge of contractual issues. The arrival of Angus Kinnear, Kevin Thelwell’s replacement in the directors box, makes that task less daunting, but it’s a big one nonetheless.

Keane and Doucoure might be getting on, taking a considerable portion of the wage bill besides, but they are still capable of adding depth and experience to a Blues side fighting for higher ground. However, Ashley Young, 39, is a spring chicken no more and proved that much on Saturday.

The right-back languished against the fleet feet of Alex Iwobi and Ryan Sessegnon, still showing off some creativity but being branded with a 5/10 match rating by The Liverpool ECHO, who echoed that sentiment.

Jack Harrison might be a decade younger, but he’s no less expendable. The loanee is about to complete his second year on Merseyside but has ebbed back on multiple occasions this season, with just one goal and one assist across 36 matches in 2024/25.

He too received a 5/10 score from the ECHO, struggling against a Fulham side that limited him to an houer on the field, hooked so that Moyes’ side could achieve more fluency and security in their game.

At least these players earned starting roles. There’s another whose afternoon was spent on the bench. Armando Broja has been unfortunate with injuries this year, but there’s no way Everton should be looking to turn his loan move into a permanent deal this summer.

Moyes must instantly ditch Armando Broja

Everton have been a day late and a dollar short too many times in the transfer market in recent years, with Broja’s signing reminiscent of the frustrating deals that never live up to the hype.

Admittedly, injuries have formed the crux of the 23-year-old’s struggles at Goodison Park this season, for he has only started four times in the Premier League and has failed to score across any competition.

Having been an unused substitute across the past two fixtures now that Dominic Calvert-Lewin is fit again, it’s clear Moyes does not value the Chelsea man all that highly.

Everton – 24/25

10

0

0

Fulham – 23/24

8

0

1

Chelsea – 23/24

13

1

1

Chelsea – 22/23

12

1

1

Southampton – 21/22

32

6

1

Broja left Stamford Bridge for Merseyside last summer on a one-year loan deal, with the option to make the move permanent for a £30m figure.

Given that the Albania international has scored just two Premier League goals across the past three seasons, Moyes would be unwise to authorise the transfer, especially when considering he hasn’t even hit the target across his 13 appearances as a Toffee, as per Sofascore, only yet to miss a big chance because he hasn’t been presented with one.

He might have been hailed as an “animal” by The Athletic’s Jacob Tanswell during his time with Southampton, that was a long time ago and he needs to do much more to restore that predatory instinct.

Ultimately, for £30m, Chelsea would be laughing after a third successive Premier League campaign with little success for the centre-forward.

Broja has the talent to make it work at the highest level, but Everton should turn their heads elsewhere.

Forget Beto: Everton starlet showed why he could be a future £100m star

Everton confidently beat Fulham 3-1 on the road courtesy of this top performer in attack.

ByKelan Sarson May 11, 2025