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Ange Postecoglou enjoyed the most glorious vindication as he lifted the Europa League after leading his Tottenham Hotspur side to victory against Manchester United, making good on a promise that was scoffed at by detractors when made.

However, there’s no detracting from the fact that Spurs have flattered to deceive this season, 17th in the Premier League with one match left to play, having been battered by injuries and consequent struggles for any measure of fluency.

Things need to change next season, and Daniel Levy will certainly be wrestling over the manager’s seat, with Postecoglou’s future uncertain in spite of his success in ending the club’s interminable trophy drought.

However, by doing so, the Aussie tactician has salvaged something special from this difficult year, placing Tottenham in next year’s Champions League group stage. By doing so, it’s opened the door for exciting signings to strengthen the squad.

Spurs favourites to seal statement signing

As per Spanish sources, Tottenham are the favourites to sign RB Leipzig’s Xavi Simons this summer after unlocking the door to Europe’s elite stage.

Leipzig failed to qualify for Europe this term and have thus informed Simons he will be allowed to leave, though they will demand €80m (£68m) for his release.

Liverpool had been in the running for the Dutchman but have moved to sign Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz instead, with the German side looking for a €150m (£126m) payment. However, the Lilywhites will feel that they can secure a signing every bit as impactful and for almost half the cost.

Why Spurs must sign Xavi Simons

Described as a “superstar” in the making by analyst Ben Mattinson, Simons left Paris Saint-Germain to make his name at Leipzig back in the summer of 2023, playing the coming campaign as a loanee before signing permanently in a €50m (£42m) deal.

Alternating between central attacking midfield and wider berths, he’s been an invariably prolific presence, posting 44 goal contributions from 76 matches in all competitions.

Described as a “game-changer” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Simons has the potency to make a stunning impression in Postecoglou’s Spurs squad, but he also has the strength and solidity to thrive in the wider lens of English football.

When looking at how he compares with Liverpool’s soon-to-be-signed superstar in the Bundesliga this year, you begin to see that Tottenham could bag themselves a winner here.

Bundesliga 24/25 – Xavi Simons vs Florian Wirtz
Stats (* per game)	Simons	Wirtz
Matches (starts)	25 (25)	31 (25)
Goals	10	10
Assists	7	12
Shots (on target)*	2.0 (0.9)	2.3 (1.3)
Touches*	68.0	73.4
Pass completion	83%	82%
Big chances created	12	17
Key passes	2.0	1.8
Dribbles*	1.3	2.6
Ball recoveries*	5.1	3.6
Tackles + interceptions*	1.6	1.3
Duels won*	5.4	5.2
Data via Sofascore

Honestly, there’s a case to be made that Simons has enjoyed the better Bundesliga campaign, marginally outperforming last year’s Player of the Season across many of the underlying metrics and proving he has what it takes to thrive in the Premier League, confident in the duel and precise with his passing.

This robust Netherlands star is exactly what Tottenham need, and though at £68m he’d prove their record signing, it would be money well spent for a team now with a unique opportunity to put the year’s issues in the past and turn toward a sustained period of success.

It would make quite the statement, retorting to Liverpool’s capture with their own version, one who could go punch-for-punch with the German in the Premier League.

Without question, Wirtz is one of the most exciting midfielders of his generation. Former Leverkusen striker Patrick Helmes has even said he’s “probably the best midfielder in the world.” However, his loyalties obviously lie with the Werkself.

If anything, Simons’ metrics simply highlight the calibre of player Postecoglou would be bringing into his ranks, ready to steer this Tottenham team toward an illustrious new era.

Spurs hit gold on "sensational" monster who's becoming their new Dembele

The impressive international could be a star for Spurs.

1

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

May 24, 2025

With Rangers’ season now, to all intents and purposes, completely over, attention has started to turn towards the summer.

On Thursday night, the Gers crashed out of the Europa League at the quarter-final stage, beaten 2-0 by Athletic Club Bilbao at San Mamés.

This confirmed that the Light Blues will end the season trophyless, not involved in this weekend’s Scottish Cup semi-finals, having been historically dumped out by Queen’s Park earlier in the competition.

Meantime, in the Scottish Premiership, the Gers are 15 points adrift of runaway leaders Celtic with 15 points to play for, and a goal difference that is 42 inferior; they’re not going to catch their rivals even if, rather jokingly, Kris Boyd said “the title race is still on”.

So now, it’s pretty much full focus on next summer; the squad needs a major overhaul and a new manager is required too, all of which, ideally, must be sorted out quickly, considering Rangers’ season will start early with a Champions League second qualifying round tie on 22/23 July.

This summer’s rebuild would certainly be easier had the Gers been able to hold onto their “big prospect” being compared to the SPFL’s best player.

Daizen Maeda's impact at Celtic

Given Daizen Maeda’s form for Celtic this season, the Japanese forward is an absolute shoo-in to win the PFA Scotland Players’ Player of the Year as well as the SFWA Footballer of the Year awards, to add to the Premiership golden boot he’s on course to collect too.

Maeda was on target during last weekend’s thumping of Kilmarnock, taking his tally to 31 for the season, four of which came in the Champions League.

He is therefore seeking to become only the third Celtic player this century to score 40 times in a single campaign, after Henrik Larsson in 2003/04 and Leigh Griffiths 12 years later, with six, or possibly seven, matches remaining in which to achieve this.

To date, Maeda has netted five times against Rangers, one of which came during December’s League Cup Final, before also converting the winning penalty as the Hoops hoisted aloft the trophy at Hampden. ​​​

Meantime, there is an ex-Rangers attacker being compared to Maeda, one that the Gers will surely rue letting go.

The ex-Rangers star impressing in the Champions League

Abdallah Sima only spent one season on loan at Rangers from Brighton & Hove Albion, namely the most recent campaign, but, during his 40 appearances for the Light Blues, he certainly impressed, with the table below outlining why.

Appearances

40

Minutes

2,662

Goals

16

Assists

2

Minutes per goal

166

Winning goals

5

Chances created

26

Shot accuracy

54.47%

The Senegalese international was Rangers’ third-highest scorer last season, behind only James Tavernier and Cyriel Dessers, but they were unable to keep hold of him.

Instead, Brighton decided to loan the 23-year-old out to Stade Brestois, for whom he’s scored 11 times in 35 appearances, particularly impressing during les Pirates’ debut Champions League campaign, on target against Sturm Graz before also scoring a brace against RB Salzburg.

Podcast host Dan Woffenden labels him a “big prospect”, with David Hutt of Breaking the Lines impressed by Sima’s ‘speed, strength, positional awareness [and] link-up play’, adding he possesses all the attributes of a ‘modern-day striker’.

Meantime, Andy Naylor and Mark Carey of the Athletic outline Sima’s ‘meteoric rise’, given that he was playing for Silon Táborsko in the Czech lower leagues as recently as 2020, now one of European football’s hottest properties, according to Nick Ames of the Guardian.

His current Transfermarkt valuation has skyrocketed to a career high of €10m (£9m) this season, which would make him the most valuable member of the current Rangers squad.

So, let’s assess how his Champions League statistics compare to those of Maeda.

Goals

3

35th

4

22nd

Goals per 90

0.53

28th

0.47

34th

Goals – xG

+0.5

126th

+1

54th

Shots

16

68th

15

83rd

Shots on target %

25%

241st

46.7%

76th

Shots per 90

2.83

42nd

1.78

119th

Goals per shot

0.19

72nd

0.27

29th

Shot-creating actions

12

266th

15

216th

Shot-creating action per 90

2.13

225th

1.78

264th

Progressive carries

113

458th

163

342nd

Touches in opp pen area

27

89th

29

78th

As the table outlines, looking at statistics from this season’s Champions League, Sima and Maeda are stylistically very similar – as has been noted by FBref – particularly when it comes to their numbers for shots, shot-creating actions and touches in the opposition penalty area.

What is certain is that this flailing Rangers side would certainly be stronger with Sima in it, and he has ultimately proved to be a major loss this season.

A European club now wants to make contact with a £230,000-a-week Manchester City player over a possible move this summer, according to a new report.

Kovacic confident Man City can achieve Champions League spot

The Blues had to settle for a point on Sunday afternoon against arch-rivals Manchester United, as neither side did enough to claim all three points. The Red Devils may believe they had the better of the chances as Pep Guardiola’s side struggled to gain control in the second half, but a draw was a just result.

Not just KDB: Man City must drop 4/10 star with fewer touches than Ederson

Manchester City played out a laboured 0-0 draw with arch rivals Manchester United at Old Trafford.

ByKelan Sarson Apr 6, 2025

The point for City leaves them in fifth spot on 52 points, a point behind Chelsea and five behind Nottingham Forest. But a Newcastle United win against Leicester City would see the Blues slip out of the top five.

Despite this, midfielder Mateo Kovacic is still confident that they can secure Champions League football for next season: “We always go for the win, but we also had to be careful not to lose it because we are in a battle for the Champions League, and we need points. We could have done more going forward and creating more, but it was tough with the small spaces. We move on to the next games.

“We have to have the same mindset for the Champions League [as going for the title] because it is important that Man City are in the competition next season.

“It will be tough until the end, because there are many teams that fight for the top four, and no game in the Premier League is easy. But we are confident that we can achieve it.”

Galatasaray want to sign Man City's İlkay Gündoğan

It is expected to be a busy summer at the Etihad after Kevin De Bruyne confirmed his departure, and according to Fanatik, relayed by Sport Witness, Galatasaray want to sign Man City’s Ilkay Gundogan this summer.

The German international rejoined the Blues last summer from Barcelona, signing a one-year deal with the option of a further 12 months. However, Gundogan is expected to leave the Etihad this summer, and the Turkish giants are keen on securing a deal.

It claims that Galatasaray’s president Dursun Özbek, as well as other leaders, are looking to use the help of their sponsors and bring Gundogan as well as his teammate Kevin De Bruyne to Turkey at the end of the season.

Galatasaray, 24 time league champions in Turkey, are now expected to make contact with the agent of Gundogan in the ‘coming days’ as they look to beat any other interested teams and sign the midfielder on a free transfer.

Apps

346

Goals

62

Assists

39

The 34-year-old, who earns £230,000 a week at the Etihad, has played 27 games in the Premier League this season, 19 of which he has started, but he has failed to have the same impact he had in front of goal in the season before he left. In fact, Gundogan’s age looks to have caught up to him, and therefore, it makes sense for Pep to consider letting the midfielder leave for a second time round.

Rana has repeatedly shut down some of the biggest hitters in the world and his spell in the IPL 2024 final only enhanced his reputation

Deivarayan Muthu27-May-20241:09

Moody: Difference between KKR and SRH became evident tonight

Mitchell Starc bowled arguably the ball of IPL 2024 in the final to hit the top of Abhishek Sharma’s off stump with a ripping outswinger. In the next over, Vaibhav Arora bowled an outswinger of his own to make Travis Head look silly. Harshit Rana’s dismissal of Nitish Kumar Reddy wasn’t as headline-grabbing, but it was deception at its best.In his very first over, Rana dug in three straight slower offcutters into the red-soil Chennai pitch. He found grip and bounce and bowled it so slow that it seemed more like an offbreak. Aiden Markram and Reddy were desperate to break free. Rana knew it and cranked the fourth ball up to 146kph. He got it to angle in towards off and straighten late off the seam. Reddy was beaten for pace, and could do nothing but nick it behind to the keeper.Slow. Slow. Slow. Frighteningly fast.Related

• Shreyas on final over: Told Harshit this was his time to 'become a hero'

• IPL 2024 trend – the high-impact emergence of the uncapped Indian player

• KKR's bowlers rip through SRH to win third IPL title

• The two Starora overs that defined the IPL final

Most other bowlers do it the other way. But there are some like Dwayne Bravo, Harshal Patel and now Rana who are bucking that T20 convention.Once the ball became older and the Chepauk track slower, Rana rolled out one cutter after another. Heinrich Klaasen was on a run-a-ball 16. He was desperate to get a move on now. But Rana denied him the pace and shifted his line even wider – possibly wider than a set of stumps outside off – to have him chopping on the next ball with a 116.4kph offcutter. Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) were 90 for 8 in 15 overs. Their last recognised batter was gone. Game over.Simon Helmot, SRH assistant coach,who has worked closely with Bravo in the CPL, delivered a glowing appraisal of Rana’s defensive skills.Harshit Rana showed his bowling chops in the IPL 2024 final•BCCI”He has some variations and I think his variation was his quicker ball and fuller ball,” Helmot said after KKR thumped SRH to win their third IPL title. “Obviously, he has those slower deliveries as well. No excuses but nothing certainly went right for us with the bat. I think Klaasy [Klaasen] playing the ball onto the stumps from wide outside off stump was probably something that didn’t go our way.”He seems to have the ability to adapt his bowling style depending on the conditions. Obviously, he’s well-versed with what the opposition are trying to do. Look, there’s a rich battery of fast bowlers here in India that are exciting, I think, and that’s what the IPL often to bring out – a lot of talent – which bodes well for the Indian cricket team and obviously we’ll be looking for lots of players like him when it comes to auction time next year .”In the first meeting between the two teams this season, Rana had similarly bested Klaasen with his slower cutter. The stakes weren’t as high as on Sunday, but still defending seven off five balls after having conceded a six to Klaasen in the first ball of the final over on a flat Eden Gardens pitch is no mean feat.The guy has been repeatedly shutting down some of the biggest hitters in the world. Against Lucknow Super Giants in Kolkata, Rana restricted Nicholas Pooran to 16 off 11 balls with cunning pace variations on wide lines from over the wicket.In all, Rana picked up 19 wickets in 13 games, the most by an uncapped Indian player and only Jasprit Bumrah (20), Varun Chakravarthy (21) and Harshal (24) have more wickets than him this IPL. The slower ball has been responsible for ten of Rana’s 19 wickets, according to ESPNcricinfo’s logs. The variations have particularly served him well in the middle overs (between seven and 16) where he has the best economy rate (7.88) among fast bowlers who have bowled at least 100 balls during the phase this season. It’s better than the likes of Pat Cummins (7.92), Harshal (8.96) and his own team-mate Andre Russell (10.31).1:20

How dominant were KKR this season?

What makes Rana so difficult to put away?”Oh! I haven’t had to face him . He’s learning his skills or he’s learning what his skills are capable of this IPL,” Starc said. “I obviously didn’t know him beforehand. So, he seems pretty confident in his abilities. He started the season having had to close out a game against the second-best team in the tournament. He’s bowled some tough overs and he’s had to bowl the last overs in some games and he’s taken a good amount of wickets throughout.”I think he’s certainly open to listening – whether it would be from Shreyas [Iyer] as captain or working around [with other bowlers at] training. He’s certainly got the ability and he’s only young. He’s going to get better and better the more he works at it. The variations in his pace or slower balls have worked a treat at certain stages as well.”Rana was just a net bowler with Gujarat Titans in 2022 before KKR brought him in as a replacement player in the same season after Nitish Rana, his Delhi team-mate in the domestic circuit at the time, had suggested his name to the team management. In two seasons, he has improved beyond sight.He is also a capable batter – he has a first-class hundred to his name and averages nearly 50 after nine innings – though KKR didn’t require his secondary skill this season. He is already part of the India A system and IPL success could well put him in contention for higher honours.

Epic final over against Surrey epitomises contribution of team’s pivotal personality

David Hopps14-Jul-2022Jordan Thompson’s rescue act in the last over of Yorkshire’s Vitality Blast quarter-final against Surrey not only secured a place in Finals Day, it also underlined what many people already knew: he is now the heartbeat of the Yorkshire side.What’s more, he has given his strongest indication yet that, like his team-mate Harry Brook, who has already committed his long-term future to the county, he wants to stay with Yorkshire as they try to negotiate the most turbulent period in the club’s history.”Like Brooky says, we are building a decent squad of players here and, as a Yorkshire lad, it would be great to play all my career at Headingley and hopefully win some silverware as well,” he said.Thompson has had quite a week or so. He defended five off the last over at the Kia Oval last Wednesday and when the county caravan moved on to Scarborough, he was awarded his county cap. “Number 189,” he says, still as proud as punch. “It will stick with me forever. It’s an absolute privilege.Beset by racism allegations for the past year, for Yorkshire the emphasis is on cricket again. Thompson, who plays that cricket in combative fashion with bat and ball, welcomes the chance to create a new narrative.”Last Wednesday night, the quarter-final was massive. It’s up there as the greatest day of my career, along with being capped, so everything is coming at once,” he says. “Now, playing the Roses game in the semi-final, hopefully we can turn them over and win the whole thing, but to get to Finals Day itself was the aim as a squad.That final over is worth a recap. “We probably thought it was out of our hands,” he says. “I don’t think there were many nerves. There was no pressure on me til the last ball. That last ball was the worst ball of the lot. It probably should have gone for six. I feel like I’m one of the senior players now, so it’s now on me to stand up in big situations.”He was faced by two powerful Surrey hitters, Laurie Evans and Jamie Overton, both in the 30s and on the verge of completing victory. A bouncer to Overton to pep things up a bit; two yorkers, allowing singles to each batter; a back-of-the-hand slower ball which ended with Overton being sent back and run out at the striker’s end, another full ball which saw Sunil Narine brilliantly caught at deep square by Will Fraine; and – the coup de grace – a wide half-volley with three to win, a swing and a miss by Gus Atkinson, and a futile bye taken with Yorkshire already celebrating.Thompson broke into the Yorkshire side as a first-change bowler batting at No. 7 or 8. This year, partly through necessity, he has been utilised as a new-ball bowler batting at nine. Ask him what his perfect role is and, emotionally, he wants both. He has a great appetite for the fray.”It’s hard to say. I’ll just do what I’m told. Batting 7 or 8 and opening the bowling for me is a perfect role. I feel like I’m growing year on year in different roles. Obviously, it’s about doing the job that suits the team best. Staying fit in the main thing.”Fitness, so far has rarely been a problem. It is that robustness that explains a lot of his appeal. He appears to be a bit of a throwback. He has attracted enough attention in the past year to get late deals at the Big Bash and the PSL, although he caught Covid soon after arriving in Pakistan which disrupted his tournament.Related

• Luke Wood returns to Edgbaston as Finals Day's Denominator

• Harry Brook brings scintillating form into Blast as Yorkshire make winning start

• Warwickshire squeeze home Blast quarter-final into Edgbaston's packed schedule

• Jordan Thompson applies nerveless finish as Yorkshire prevail in final-ball thriller

• Star turn on Lions debut leaves England feeling the need for Will Smeed

“The lads will take the mickey out of me because I am probably one of the unfittest in the team in terms of running stats and things like that,” he says. “Touch wood, I’m probably born with a body that can take high-impact force. I am built pretty strong, I’m not sure if I have strong bones or whatever. Maybe because I bowl a lot, I just get used to it.”That resilience makes him an excellent ambassador for Diabetes UK. He has Type 1 diabetes, and needs to take insulin injections to control his glucose levels, but energetic performances seem to define him.”I have to take care to control my glucose levels when I’m playing because running around and exercise actually makes your blood sugar levels drop. That’s why the lads will see me with a lot of Lucozades and Red Bulls and making sure I have the sugar to keep me going through the day. I test myself regularly. I often come off after a bowling spell if I feel a bit iffy. The umpires will know, and I’ll make sure that everything’s alright and then get myself back on again.”There was a lot of laughter in the Yorkshire dressing room when his T20 captain, David Willey, said in his post-match interview that Thompson “likes to call himself ‘The Big Show'” – a moniker adopted by the American professional wrestler, Paul Wight.”I’ve been thrown under the bus with that,” Thompson smiles. “I was actually named that three or four years ago by Jared Warner who is at Gloucestershire now. The lads think I have a bit of a swagger. I think I’m quite down to earth. I haven’t got a big ego but they do it to wind me up. I’d just say I’m a bit of a personality in the dressing room, but nothing too bad.”Is there another T20 big show left for Thompson in the Blast this season? We are about to find out.

He is a mighty fine bowler but the addition of a defensive skill could make him a world-class one

Karthik Krishnaswamy in Christchurch27-Feb-2020Batsmen don’t like to be beaten, but if you’re the captain, and one of your fast bowlers is making the ball do all sorts of things in the nets, you might get excited even if you’re at the receiving end.Virat Kohli was certainly excited when Mohammed Shami swerved two successive balls into him in the nets at the Hagley Oval. “Ravi !” he yelled out to his coach, who was stationed where an umpire would be. ” (it’s reversing like it does in India)!”The next one beat Kohli’s inside edge and hit his front pad, and Shami raised a celebratory arm in his follow-through, a wide grin on his face. This time, Kohli didn’t need words to express what he felt, and simply went “ohoho!”As excited as Kohli was, he wasn’t going to let Shami walk all over him. To his next ball, he stepped out of his crease and crashed a flat-bat drive through the covers.” (you’ve ruined it),” Shami said, referring to the condition of the ball.” (So what do I do)?” Kohli replied. ” (Just stand back and keep getting hit on the pad)?”Those three balls, crudely, encapsulated Shami the Test bowler. Fast, skillful, relentlessly attacking, forcing batsmen into gladiatorial contests. When he is on the go, every ball is an event. In Test matches in India, it’s a routine occurrence for a crowd quietened by a longish partnership to come to life abruptly when Shami comes into the attack and zips his first or second ball past the edge. The same thought flashes through every spectator’s mind. “Something could happen here.”And ball after ball, Shami is at the batsman, making him play, never letting him relax. One hits the seam and moves, one way or another; another kicks up out of nowhere; the next one skids through quicker than expected. Almost everything is within that narrow band from fourth stump to middle stump.Relentlessly attacking.But there are times when a fast bowler can’t attack relentlessly. Times when there isn’t much happening in the air or off the pitch. Times when he might have to station a short extra-cover and a short midwicket and simply bowl good length, on off stump, and wait for a mistake. Times when he might have to bowl wide outside off stump to a 7-2 field.While conditions away from Asia offer fast bowlers more assistance, and should, all other things being equal, allow them to attack much more, it isn’t always the case because, well, all other things aren’t always equal. In Asia, India usually play with two high-quality spinners who bowl a bulk of the overs, and a fast bowler can afford to bowl short, intense bursts of all-out attack. They can’t always bowl this way overseas, especially since their batsmen may not always give them the same sort of cushion of runs that they do at home.This is why Ishant Sharma is an indispensable member of India’s overseas bowling attacks, even if they can pick Umesh Yadav over him on a lot of their home pitches, if they want to.Sharma can bowl the boring overs. Shami, well, not so much.Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav and Ishant Sharma walk tall•BCCIThere were periods during New Zealand’s first innings at the Basin Reserve last week, for instance, when it might have helped India to have Shami bowl a boring over or two and help build some dot-ball pressure. But he kept attacking, sometimes with his lengths – there were a number of short balls to Tom Blundell, for instance, after he had been squared up by a couple of them early on – but mostly with his line, which was always intending to make the batsman play.Bowling an attacking line is a noble ambition, but it comes with a lower margin for error than a wider, defensive line. Get it slightly wrong, and you can bowl too straight and get picked off through the leg side, and if your line is right but your length is too full or too short, you can go for runs on both sides of the pitch, which is harder to set a field for.Shami didn’t bowl badly, as such, but he was well below his best, and went for nearly four an over. The effect of this was magnified by the circumstances: India had only made 165 in their first innings, and one more of their fast bowlers, Jasprit Bumrah, was also looking off-colour.Another bowler might have switched to a more defensive Plan B in those circumstances, but Shami largely kept bowling the same way. India may well have wanted him to keep bowling like that, of course, believing that quick wickets was their best way back into the match, and it’s a perfectly legitimate way of looking at things.But it’s also possible that Shami kept bowling in his usual way because it’s the only way he knows to bowl. He is certainly not shown too much evidence in his Test career so far that he is capable of bowling dry and playing the waiting game. It could be one reason for the disparity between his records in the first innings (not too flash) and the second innings (sensational).It remains to be seen what kind of spells Shami is required to deliver in Christchurch. But whether he is called on to bowl the boring overs or not, it’s one skill he could add to his CV to step up from being a mighty fine fast bowler to being a world-class one.

Barcelona's pursuit of Borussia Dortmund defender Nico Schlotterbeck has reportedly hit a stumbling block as the German international appears to favour a future move to Real Madrid or Bayern Munich, while internal doubts among the Catalan hierarchy have seen them hesitate to sanction a formal approach despite manager Hansi Flick's strong connection to the player.

• Why Barca are hesitating

  While the need for a left-sided central defender became all the more pertinent following uncertainty surrounding Ronald Araujo's fitness, Barcelona are reportedly not fully convinced that Schlotterbeck is the answer to their problems. According to reports from , although the Blaugrana have tracked the defender for some time, there are "mixed opinions" within the club's sporting department regarding his suitability for their high-line system.

  Manager Hansi Flick knows the centre-back intimately, having handed him his senior international debut during his time in charge of the German national team. However, despite this existing relationship, it is understood that Flick is not actively pushing the board to prioritise the signing. The club's scouts appreciate the defender's ball-playing ability, but concerns over his consistency at the elite level have led to a "wait and see" approach, meaning he is currently viewed as an option rather than a priority target for the upcoming windows.

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  Schlotterbeck 'gambling' on Madrid or Munich

  The hesitation from Catalonia may be mutual. The report suggests that the 26-year-old is "gambling" on a high-profile switch to either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich rather than a move to La Liga's reigning champions and current leaders. The defender is entering the prime of his career and is aware that both giants are likely to be in the market for defensive reinforcements in the summer of 2026.

  Madrid are facing a potential exodus at the back, with David Alaba out of contract and the long-term future of Antonio Rudiger still undefined. Schlotterbeck views himself as a potential successor in the Spanish capital. Meanwhile, Bayern remain a looming threat; the Bavarians are currently prioritising the renewal of Dayot Upamecano, but should those talks collapse, the Dortmund star has been identified as their primary alternative. This preference for Madrid or Munich has left Barcelona on the periphery of the race.

• Dortmund demand clarity by January

  The situation is causing increasing anxiety at Signal Iduna Park. Schlotterbeck's current deal expires in 2027, meaning he will enter the final 12 months of his contract next summer—a scenario Dortmund are desperate to avoid. The club have reportedly tabled a lucrative extension until 2030, which would see his salary rise to approximately €8 million per season, making him one of the highest earners in the squad.

  However, the player has so far refused to sign. Dortmund bosses have now reportedly set a soft deadline, demanding a clear decision from the defender by the end of January. They are unwilling to let the saga drag on into the spring, knowing that if he rejects the offer, they will be forced to sell him in the summer to recoup a significant transfer fee, rather than risking losing him for free a year later.

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  Liverpool lurking in the background

  While the player eyes a move to Spain or Bavaria, the Premier League remains a viable alternative. Liverpool have been credited with a long-standing interest in the defender as they continue to plan for life after Virgil van Dijk. The Reds are monitoring the contract standoff closely and could test Dortmund's resolve if it becomes clear that a renewal is off the table.

  For now, the ball is firmly in Schlotterbeck's court. He must decide whether to commit his prime years to Dortmund or force a move to one of Europe's elite. As for Barcelona, they appear content to keep their distance, exploring other targets unless the German international makes it clear that Catalonia is his destination of choice.

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Com superavit de R$ 62,7 milhões, o Corinthians divulgou o balancete financeiro referente a janeiro de 2024, primeiro mês de Augusto Melo na presidência do clube. O documento foi analisado por uma auditoria externa e recebeu aprovação dos órgãos internos do Timão.

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➡️ Tudo sobre o Timão agora no WhatsApp. Siga o nosso canal Lance! Corinthians

Apenas na venda dos direitos econômicos de jogadores, o Corinthians faturou R$108,18 milhões. O valor foi impulsionado pela transferência de Gabriel Moscardo ao PSG por 20 milhões de euros, cerca de R$ 100 milhões. O volante foi emprestado ao Timão até junho para concluir recuperação de lesão antes de ir ao clube francês.

Mesmo com superávit financeiro, as dívidas do Timão seguem alarmantes. De acordo com o balancete de janeiro, a dívida do clube está em R$ 910,3 milhões. O valor citado não inclui o financiamento relacionado à Neo Química Arena.

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➡️ Combinadona Lance! Betting! Fature mais de R$1300 com os clássicos da Copa do Nordeste!

VEJA AS RECEITAS DO CORINTHIANS NO FUTEBOL EM JANEIRO DE 2024

R$ 108,1 milhões com repasses de direitos federativos R$ 21, 9 milhões em direitos de transmissão de TVR$ 18,0 milhões em patrocínios e publicidadesR$ 7,3 milhões em arrecadações de jogosR$ 6,6 milhões em premiações, Fiel Torcedor e loterias

VEJA AS DESPESA DO CORINTHIANS NO FUTEBOL EM JANEIRO DE 2024

R$ 25,5 milhões em vendas e aquisição de atletasR$ 17,9 milhões em pessoalR$ 12,0 milhões em serviços de terceirosR$ 8,8 milhões em gerais e administrativosR$ 6,0 milhões em amortizações de direitos; R$ 2,4 milhões em futebol.

➡️ Veja tabela com datas e horários dos jogos do Timão na Sul-Americana

Tudo sobre

Corinthians

Newcastle squandered a wonderful opportunity to all-but seal their route to the Champions League knockout stages after a quick-fire double from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang sunk the Magpies 2-1 in Marseille. In-form Harvey Barnes opened the scoring in the sixth minute, but a dreadful error from Nick Pope just seconds into the second-half allowed Aubameyang to turn the game in the hosts' favour.

Eddie Howe's side came flying out the traps and almost opened the scoring after a couple of minutes, but Malick Thiaw had his header cleared off the line brilliantly by Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg. But the visitors only had a few moments to wait to break the deadlock after Sandro Tonali sprung the offside trap on the right of the box, and his cut-back found its way to the on-fire Barnes, who fired low into the corner.

While the opening stages were all about Howe’s side, the remainder of the first half were dominated by OM and goalkeeper Pope was called into action on a number of occasions as Roberto De Zerbi’s turned the screw. 

There was high drama right at the start of the second half as Aubameyang took control of the match. His first goal came courtesy of a rush of blood to the head from Pope, who raced miles out of his box, the former Arsenal forward won the foot race, poked it past the Magpies' goalkeeper and fired home from an acute angle. Two minutes later, the French side were in front and it was Aubameyang again, directing Timothy Weah’s cross high into the net in front of Pope to send the home crowd delirious. 

The victory was Marseille’s first against English opposition in 12 attempts, but for Howe’s side it was another disappointing away result, and they now face daunting matches against Bayer Leverkusen, PSV and Paris Saint-Germain before they can confirm their progress to the knockout phase.

GOAL rates Newcastle's players from the Orange Velodrome…

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Goalkeeper & Defence

  Nick Pope (4/10):

  Evening started so well for Pope, making two very good saves early in the first half. But what was he thinking for the equaliser? Came miles outside his box and was made to look foolish by Aubameyang's incredible finish. 

  Tino Livramento (6/10):

  Had a busy evening marshalling Greenwood and the overlapping runs of Weah. Looked tired coming off as he was replaced by Hall. 

  Malick Thiaw (7/10):

  Came very close to opening the scoring with just a couple of minutes on the clock, but his effort was cleared off the line. Had a very busy evening at the other end of the evening, made a number of important clearances. 

  Fabian Schar (6/10):

  Had his work cut out all evening as he blocked wave after wave of Marseille attacks. Was an imposing figure until he was subbed off on the hour mark. 

  Dan Burn (6/10):

  Came back into the side after suspension and he was kept on his toes all evening, attempting to halt the runs of Greenwood and Weah. Did well and hardly put a foot wrong. 

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  Midfield

  Bruno Guimaraes (7/10):

  A typical evening for the Brazilian, full of running and played with never-say-die guts for his side. But spent the vast majority of the match defending in his own half. 

  Sandro Tonali (6/10):

  Very productive evening and was the brains behind the opener for Barnes. Will be disappointed to have squandered a brilliant chance to double the lead in the 23rd minute as he fired straight at the keeper. 

  Joe Willock (5/10):

  Picked up an early yellow card after raising his arm towards Bakola and cut a frustrated throughout the evening as little of his positive efforts paid off. Highlighted by a tame shot on the edge of the box when he attempted to side foot it, when power was required. Replaced by Ramsey in the 72nd minute. 

• AFP
  

  Attack

  Jacob Murphy (6/10):

  Like many of the Newcastle players, Murphy looked very good in the first 10 minutes or so, but found the going tough as the hosts played their way back into the match. Hooked on the hour.

  Anthony Gordon (6/10):

  Brought back into the starting line-up after missing the last two games, but endured a relatively quiet evening and will be disappointed with his lack of decisive creative spark.

  Harvey Barnes (7/10):

  Bagged a couple against Man City last time out and was the initial hero here again. Stayed cool and calm to fire low past the 'keeper with a couple of minutes on the clock. 

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  Subs & Manager

  Lewis Miley (6/10):

  Played well and was called into action on a a number of occassions, making important blocks to help keep his side in the game. 

  Anthony Elanga (6/10):

  Full of running and had a couple of half-chances, but not enough time to influence the game. 

  Lewis Hall (5/10):

  Showed plenty of ambition to get forward into the Marseille box, but too few touches to make a major impact. 

  Jacob Ramsey (6/10):

  Brought on and immediately delivered driving runs through the heart of the Marseille midfield. Looked lively, but needed more time than he was given.

  Nick Woltemade (5/10):

  Was held back as Howe wanted to keep him fresh for the forthcoming Premier League challenges. Had very few touches when introduced to try and rescue the match for his side. 

  Eddie Howe (5/10):

  Rang the changes, but paid the price. Was in dreamland for the first 10 minutes and will rue sloppy mistakes which cost his side the chance to claim a crucial win. 

Southampton have been granted permission following a managerial application ahead of Championship action returning, it has been revealed.

Southampton fan pundit calls for “experienced” manager

The Saints and Sport Republic have taken their time in regards to appointing Will Still’s permanent successor after sacking him at the beginning of the month.

A number of bosses have been linked with the St Mary’s vacancy, but it is interim manager Tonda Eckert who has been catching the eye after back-to-back wins against QPR and Sheffield Wednesday prior to the international break.

There have been suggestions the 32-year-old is in line to receive the permanent Southampton manager job, however, the pressure is on Sport Republic after a number of failures in recent times. Southampton fan pundit Ray Hunt even stated that supporters “want to see an experienced manager” come in.

“Sport Republic have appointed five permanent mangers in their three full seasons in charge. During that period, they have overseen two relegations from the Premier League, and one promotion with their only success, Russell Martin, but failed to give him the tools needed to succeed in the top flight.

“Moving forward, fans will want to see an experienced manager, who’s widely respected with a clear structure. We cannot repeat mistakes from the past. It is a huge task they simply have to get right. Take your time, give Tonda time in that interim, but ultimately make the right decision. The fans won’t tolerate another failure.”

Meanwhile, it has been added that Eckert is set to get the next three Championship fixtures to increase his chances of landing the role.

Now, it has been revealed the lengths the Saints have had to go to for Eckert to be in the dugout over the coming weeks despite already being employed as U23 coach.

Southampton apply for new visa to keep Eckert in charge

According to Sport 1, ‘Southampton applied for a work visa for Eckert for the upcoming matches so they could continue working with him’. It is claimed that the Saints ‘already received this visa for the next few games – meaning Eckert can continue’.

Tonda Eckert’s coaching career

Role

Years

1.FC Koln U17

Assistant manager

2013-2016

RB Salzburg YL

Assistant manager

2016-2017

RB Leipzig YL

Assistant manager

2017-2019

FC Bayern U17

Assistant manager

2019-2020

Barnsley

Assistant manager

2020-2022

Genoa

Assistant manager

2022-2025

Southampton U23

Manager

2025

Southampton

Interim manager

2025 – present

Eckert had a different visa as U23 coach, with the situation labelled ‘complex’ as ‘England’s employment law is extremely complicated, especially in football’, with clubs needing to ‘provide detailed justifications to the authorities as to why they prefer a foreign coach to an English candidate’.

Should Eckert get another positive result at The Valley this weekend and then again at home to Leicetser City and away to Millwall, then the speculation surrounding him landing the job on a long-term basis will only increase.

Southampton told to appoint new manager over Eckert who "ticks every box"