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Australian batter targets return in Sheffield Shield next month ahead of English season

ESPNcricinfo staff19-Feb-2025Cameron Bancroft expects to have fully recovered from his shoulder injury to captain Gloucestershire at the start of the 2025 County Championship season, and is targeting a return for Western Australia next month.Bancroft was involved in a sickening commission with Daniel Sams while fielding for Sydney Thunder in the BBL in January, and has revealed that he has suffered from a level of “trauma” since the injury. He has not played since after breaking his nose and shoulder, but is hoping to be back involved in the Sheffield Shield in March before heading over to England.Gloucestershire announced on Wednesday that he will captain their Championship side this year, stepping into the role after Graeme van Buuren stepped down at the end of last season. Bancroft told the club’s channels that he is recovering “pretty well” and “getting close” to full fitness.Related

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“The shoulder’s tracking alright. Obviously [there was] a little bit of trauma there to deal with and manage,” Bancroft said. “I’m definitely learning some things that I’ve seen a lot of other players experience. It takes time for the body to heal… I’m getting really close and looking forward to playing some cricket at the start of March.”Bancroft impressed across formats for Gloucestershire in 2024, scoring three Championship hundreds and finishing as their leading run-scorer as they won the T20 Blast. He is due back for the full season in 2025, and head coach Mark Alleyne said that his attitude last year made him the ideal choice as captain.”Cameron had an impressive year with us in 2024 and led by example in everything he did,” Alleyne said. “I love his dedication to preparation and his subsequent transference of that in the middle. His experience of playing Test match cricket and winning four-day titles gives him a broad base of experience which our players can feed off.”Gloucestershire finished second-bottom of Division Two last year, but Bancroft believes they can push for promotion. “We had great lessons last year,” he said. “We’ll draw on those lessons, keep working on our strengths and the things we’re really good at. If we can do that, we’re going to be a team that’s going to be really hard to beat and be really competitive.”

Looking to end the transfer window with a flourish of arrivals, Aston Villa have now reportedly agreed a deal to sign a midfield talent with a medical already scheduled to take place.

Who Aston Villa could sign before the deadline

Deadline day is just around the corner and, as such, the frantic search for late reinforcements has officially commenced. Aston Villa, part of that search, still have plenty of work to do and have reportedly launched an opening offer worth as much as £47m to sign Lucas Paqueta from West Ham United.

The Hammers have so far been adamant that the Brazilian is not for sale, however, and their reluctance to negotiate a loan with an obligation to buy may stand in the way of Paqueta’s late move to Villa Park.

Whilst PSR is still limiting their transfer activity, late sales could yet take place to free up some funds for the likes of Paqueta. Emiliano Martinez, for example, is still being linked with a move away from the club, as has been the case all summer long, and Manchester United could yet make a late attempt to secure his signature.

The Red Devils are primarily focused on signing Senne Lammens, but Villa themselves have also asked about the Royal Antwerp goalkeeper and could set off a Martinez domino effect by hijacking United’s move at the death.

Meanwhile, as that saga threatens to unfold, Villa have at least reportedly agreed a late deal to sign a midfield talent for Unai Emery.

Aston Villa set to sign Fletcher Boyd

According to Pete O’Rourke of Football Insider, Aston Villa have now agreed a deal to sign Fletcher Boyd from Aberdeen. The 17-year-old attacking midfielder is reportedly scheduled to undergo a medical at the club on Sunday before officially completing his move from the Scottish club.

One for the future, Boyd’s opportunities are likely to come with Villa’s youth sides rather than straight into Emery’s thinking. The pathway to the first-team is certainly one that he’ll have his eye on, however, having already experienced senior football at Aberdeen.

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After scoring on his debut for Aberdeen at just 16 years old last year, Boyd received impressive praise from former interim boss Peter Levin, who told reporters: “Just to get his debut is amazing but to score… wow, he will never forget that.

“The fans were unbelievable and for them to sing ‘Fletcher Boyd, he’s one of our own’ is a fairytale for him. Fletcher has been brilliant this season for the under-18s and they won the league the other day. He has contributed to more than 30 goals in the 18s and has just turned 16.”

Once again, McKennie is off to a rollercoaster start to the club season, but could that shift perceptions in a World Cup cycle?

Daylight Saving Time begins in March and ends in November. Somewhere in between, like clockwork, Weston McKennie is written off. You can't quite put a date on it but, year in and year out, it happens.

This year is no different. Reports are swirling that McKennie, once again, is falling out of Juventus' plans. Recent revelations, meanwhile, offered some insight as to why the midfielder may still have work to do on the road to the 2026 World Cup. Not surprising or unusual, mind you In fact, McKennie is the subject of these questions every fall.

And yet, every fall, McKennie plays his way out of it. Can he do it again?

Minutes have been thin so far at Juventus. His USMNT run, meanwhile, has been on hold since March's disastrous CONCACAF Nations League defeat. Just months out from a World Cup, McKennie seems to be on decent footing from a USMNT perspective, but things can change quickly if the midfielder doesn't play regular games in Turin.

USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino has stressed that prior achievements won't keep anyone in the team. If McKennie wants a roster spot, he has to earn it right now. So how does he do it?

By doing something that feels all too familiar: proving himself once again.

Getty ImagesJuventus situation

Stop us if you've heard this one before: McKennie isn't playing much at Juventus early in this season.

Despite serving as captain of the club at points, McKennie has had a curious start to the Serie A season. He started on the bench against both Parma and Genoa, playing just one minute late in each of the club's two Serie A games. 

Then, after starting in meaningful matches against both Inter and Borussia Dortmund, he returned to the bench against Hellas Verona.Normally, that wouldn't be anything too concerning. Early season games are notoriously chaotic as players find fitness and coaches fine-tune what tactics will look like.

Reports out of Italy, though, suggest that McKennie isn't quite in Igor Tudor's plans. He does not remain a key player in midfield, where Kephren Thuram and Manuel Locatelli are preferred. Additionally, the club has another oft-criticized midfielder, Teun Koopmeiners, also pushing for minutes.

McKennie, to his credit, has also played in that right-wingback role, where he previously competed with Tim Weah, but that spot now seemingly belongs to Joao Mario, who is making it his own early in the season. We've seen this before. This won't be the first time McKennie will have to earn his spot.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportRecent history

Last year, McKennie revealed what he walked back into when he arrived at Juventus for 2024-25 preseason. His parking spot was gone. So, too, was his locker. The message was clear: we don't want you anymore. This wasn't the first time Juventus had said exactly that, having previously loaned him to Leeds United in the middle of the 2022-23 season.

We know what happened next. McKennie, once again, became a key player for Juve, putting together the best season of his career. He scored five goals in all competitions, tied for a career high, with three of those goals coming in the Champions League. By the end of the season, he'd established himself as a mainstay and an occasional captain.

So what can McKennie learn from his past that could alter his Juventus future? Keep his head down and be patient. It's worked for him in the past, as his willingness to play all over the field ultimately won him the trust of several coaches. This one, Tudor, seemingly doesn't trust him fully yet. That can change with one or two good performances.

There is one difference this time, though. Per Tuttosport, McKennie has decided to see out the remainder of his contract with Juventus, having not signed an extension that seemed so likely just a few months ago. According to reports, Juventus' new leadership cancelled that extension, leading to a scenario in which McKennie's days at Juve could actually be numbered.

That won't impact his immediate future, so long as Juventus believes he gives them the best chance at winning. For a club such as Juve, desperate to return to the top of Italian soccer, winning trumps all. If McKennie can add to that, he'll play. If not, he won't. Simple as.

That decision, ultimately, has an impact on the USMNT as the World Cup roster comes into focus.

GettyUSMNT doubts?

It's been some time since we've seen McKennie in a USMNT shirt. Six months, in fact. He missed the Gold Cup due to Club World Cup commitments and was then left off of the September roster entirely. Mauricio Pochettino said it was because he knows what he has in McKennie. What does that mean going forward?

It's widely expected that McKennie will return to the USMNT this fall. He's too good not to. There are, however, questions, about his specific role, particularly in this new three-back system that only features two midfield spots. Tyler Adams is likely one of those, but is McKennie the other?

“Look, we know that Weston McKennie is not a perfect player,” former USMNT star Alexi Lalas said on his State of Union podcast. “We know that. I'm sure from a coaching perspective, Weston McKennie can be challenging, shall we say. But he's a gamer and he plays multiple positions and has consistently shown that he is valuable because of the fact that he is going to be there again, rarely hurt. So I'm going to knock on wood that that continues to happen."

The "challenging" part that Lalas referred to recently came to light. A report from FOX Sports revealed that McKennie came into pre-Copa America camp unfit and, despite the desires of his teammates, started all three games anyway. It's not the first time McKennie's dedication or professionalism have been a topi and, while he may or may not have seen it first hand, Pochettino is surely aware of it.

McKennie, then, is one of many players fighting for a spot at the World Cup.

"No one has a place for sure," Pochettino said. "That is my message, everyone needs to fight."

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GettyLooking ahead

The USMNT's October roster is set to be unveiled next week. It remains to be seen if McKennie is on it. Even before that, though, Juve face a crucial stretch of matches that will show who they really are this season. 

Up first is this weekend, as they take on Atalanta in Serie A. Then comes a Champions League visit to Villarreal for the Old Lady's second match of the competition, having drawn Borussia Dortmund in an eight-goal thriller in their first. 

Then, just before the international break, Juve host Milan in a clash of two of Italy's biggest and best clubs. All three matches will be massive tests. All three will be opportunities, too, for McKennie – should he see the field.

Those matches, too, could offer some insight into Tudor's thoughts on the midfielder. Perhaps he has been saving him for the big occasions, which would explain McKennie's starts against Dortmund and Inter. Perhaps he is now finding his fitness after a unique Club World Cup-hit summer. If that's the case, we'll find out soon enough.

This is seemingly a crucial stretch for McKennie, for club and country. Once again, he's a player with a point to prove and, if history is anything to go by, he certainly has the ability and mentality to do so. Will he? That's up to him.

CSK’s 12 possible overs of Ashwin, Noor and Jadeja could well decide the outcome with the RCB batters happier bashing pace than spin

Sidharth Monga27-Mar-20251:32

Pujara: Kohli should utilise powerplay to set the base for RCB

Big picture: CSK vs RCB, a one-sided but high-voltage rivalryThis should be a dream match for the hype machine. Two of the three teams that have created a ferociously loyal fanbase at the grounds and on the internet. They represent capital cities of neighbouring states that share a river, often acrimoniously; whose rulers traversed boundaries repeatedly before the borders as we know them came to exist; whose people now build their lives in each other’s states. Both states are given to hero-worshipping their film stars and politicians. Now they have accepted MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli for worship even though they are neither from there nor live there.It might still not matter to the ratings, but as cricket rivalry it needs Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to catch up. They are 11-22 against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) overall, and 1-8 in Chennai. The last time RCB beat CSK in Chennai was in 2008, the IPL’s first year. The last time these two sides faced each other, RCB were so ecstatic at winning and making it to the playoffs that they didn’t shake hands with the opposition. Cue more storylines.Related

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You see, the lack of cricketing closeness doesn’t really matter to the ratings when it comes to CSK and RCB. You expect CSK to start as overwhelming favourites in home conditions, which are ignoring the memo that asks for even higher scoring rates than the last year.CSK have put together Noor Ahmad, Ravindra Jadeja and R Ashwin; it is no surprise they put together a game where they completed a chase of 156 in the last over. RCB have built themselves up for higher scores, which showed in their emphatic chase of 175 in the tournament opener. But the Chennai conditions are going to be as big a challenge for them in IPL 2025 as any.New loyaltiesJosh Hazlewood’s last team in the IPL before the break last year was RCB, but for some reason, you picture him in yellow when you think of the IPL. Possibly because his reinvention as a limited-overs bowler began at CSK in 2020 and 2021. He has made a great start for RCB this year with figures of 4-0-22-2.2:56

Cricinformed: Kohli, Patidar and who? Spin trial awaits RCB at Chepauk

Team news and likely XIIsCSK love their allrounders, but it won’t take long for question marks to appear over Sam Curran if he doesn’t improve drastically from his start this year where he could bowl just one over and scored 4 off 9. This is in keeping with the dip in his form overall, which has resulted in his exit from the England team. As an overseas player, he keeps out Matheesha Pathirana, although a direct switch means Dhoni has to bat at No. 7, which CSK or Dhoni don’t quite fancy.Chennai Super Kings (probable): 1 Rachin Ravindra, 2 Ruturaj Gaikwad (capt), 3 Rahul Tripathi, 4 Deepak Hooda, 5 Shivam Dube, 6 Sam Curran, 7 Ravindra Jadeja, 8 MS Dhoni (wk), 9 R Ashwin, 10 Nathan Ellis, 11 Noor Ahmad, 12 Khaleel AhmedBhuvneshwar Kumar missed the previous game with a reported niggle. RCB will want him in if he is fit. They could think about legspinning allrounder Mohit Rathee or left-arm spinner Swapnil Singh if the pitch is expected to be heavily spin-friendly.Royal Challengers Bengaluru (probable): 1 Virat Kohli, 2 Phil Salt, 3 Rajat Patidar (capt), 4 Devdutt Padikkal/Mohit Rathee, 5 Liam Livingstone, 6 Jitesh Sharma (wk), 7 Tim David, 8 Krunal Pandya, 9 Rasikh Salam/Bhuvneshwar Kumar/Swapnil Singh, 10 Josh Hazlewood, 11 Yash Dayal, 12 Suyash SharmaBig questionHow do RCB handle the possible 12 overs of Noor, Ashwin and Jadeja? Mumbai Indians (MI) went 5 for 70 in 11 overs against them. Captain Rajat Patidar will be the key because around him are batters that can be shut down by slow bowlers.In the spotlight: Noor Ahmad vs Rajat PatidarThis is the contest that could direct the whole match. Noor Ahmad has started off beautifully for CSK with figures of 4-0-18-4 against MI. RCB are a team of pace-hitters. If Rajat Patidar can attack Noor, he can set the cat among the pigeons, which could even result in Jadeja not bowling out. If Patidar gets out early, CSK could choke RCB.Pitch and conditionsChennai is one of the venues that works in synergy with the franchise. So expect the conditions to continue helping the slower bowlers.1:12

Cricinformed: Patidar, a menace for spinners

Key stats Ashwin vs Kohli is a fascinating contest between two alphas of Indian cricket. You can see neither wants to lose: only one dismissal in 147 balls but a strike rate of only 123.12. Despite being a left-hand batter, Rachin Ravindra averages 11.63 and strikes at 120.75 against orthodox left-arm spin. That makes Krunal Pandya important.Next three fixturesCSK will travel to Guwahati on Saturday and play Rajasthan Royals (RR) on Sunday before they return home for Delhi Capitals (DC) and then travel to Mullanpur to play Punjab Kings (PBKS).RCB’s next match will be their first of the season at home, against Gujarat Titans (GT). Then MI at Wankhede Stadium and DC at home. Three high-voltage and potentially high-scoring matches to follow.

Lamine Yamal went out of his way to hype up his return to the Barcelona line-up for Wednesday night's Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys. The 18-year-old posted a clip on his Instagram account from the movie 'The Devil's Advocate' in which Al Pacino's character, John Milton, discusses the effects of pressure: "Some people, you squeeze 'em, they focus; others fold. Can you summon your talent at will? Can you deliver on a deadline? Can you sleep at night?"

Yamal then posted a picture of himself from Spain's Euro 2024 triumph, accompanied by the words: "Pressure? I'm back and the mission is back too." The mission in question was Barcelona's bid to prove themselves the best team in Europe – which Yamal's team-mate Pedri insisted they already were on the eve of the game against PSG.

Admittedly, there's nothing wrong with self-belief; on the contrary, it's absolutely essential at the highest level of sport. But there's a fine line between confidence and arrogance, and the problem with big talk is that it can make you look ridiculous if you don't back it up. Wednesday night was a perfect case in point.

Getty Images SportBarca's blistering start

One can certainly understand why Barca were in high spirits ahead of the visit of PSG.

After beating Real Madrid four times during last season's domestic treble triumph, they'd made an undefeated start to their Liga title defence, taking 19 points from a possible 21 to sit top of the table after seven rounds of action, while at the same time kicking off their Champions League campaign with an impressive 2-1 win over Newcastle at a raucous St. James' Park.

They'd also achieved all of this despite being shorn of the services of Yamal, their most wondrous attacking talent, for four matches in all competitions, so even accounting for the ongoing absences of Raphinha and goalkeeper Joan Garcia, Barca were in good condition going into the midweek match at Montjuic – unlike their opponents. 

AdvertisementGetty Images Sport'A great statement' from a depleted PSG

We knew well in advance that PSG would be without their captain (Marquinhos) and entire first-choice forward line (Ousmane Dembele, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Desire Doue) for the game in Catalonia. However, they also had to make do without key midfielder Joao Neves, who pulled out during the warm-up.

The net result was PSG taking to the field without six members of the starting line-up that destroyed Inter in last season's Champions League final: one by choice (Gigi Donnarumma) but five others through injury. 

Consequently, the feeling before kick-off was that Luis Enrique's side was there for the taking; that Barcelona had a glorious opportunity to make a serious statement of intent just two rounds into the new Champions League season. As Vitinha pointed out, though, it was PSG who sent a message to all of the pretenders to their throne.

"It happens sometimes," the Portuguese mused after his team came from behind to win 2-1 at Montjuic. "There are often statements made before matches, it can happen. But we don't give a damn. We don't care, we just want to play the match and we won, so we're happy about that.

"I'm proud of this team because it's happened several times before that we've turned a game around. But you had five players who normally start who aren't here, so you have some kids who play or come on and do very well. Then, other players who play less often came on and gave a great response.

"We were behind against one of the best teams in Europe away from home, and even then, you manage to come through in the second half and turn the game around. It's a great statement from our team."

For Barca, though, it was a dressing down.

Getty Images SportBarca unable to build on strong start

The Blaugrana are a scintillating sight in full flight. In fact, they're arguably an even more exciting side to watch than PSG because Hansi Flick's high-risk approach makes goals a guarantee.

It, thus, didn't come as a surprise to see them score for a club-record 45th game in a row, on Wednesday evening. They began the game brightly, too, and Yamal really did look like a man on a mission. 

Just three minutes into the game, he danced past three PSG players wide on the right flank, while he was also involved in the lead-up to the game's opening goal, which came courtesy of Ferran Torres, who tucked away a lovely first-time pass from Marcus Rashford 19 minutes in.

Barca didn't build on their strong start, though – or perhaps more accurately, they weren't allowed to, because the longer the half wore on, the stronger and indeed bolder PSG became.

As Flick conceded afterwards, despite the best efforts of Pedri and Frenkie de Jong, Vitinha & Co. took control of the contest from around the half-hour mark, and would never relinquish it.

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Getty Images SportMendes gets the better of Yamal again

Nuno Mendes winning his individual battle with Yamal was also key to PSG becoming the first team to win three consecutive games away to Barcelona. 

Just as he had during Portugal's Nations League win over Spain during the summer, the left-back frustrated the life out of the Ballon d'Or runner-up – so much so, in fact, that Yamal even tried to get the referee to give Mendes a second yellow card just after the hour mark, even though it was Fabian Ruiz who had felled the winger.

It was a classless show of weakness and reflective of the fact that Nuno was having a far bigger influence on the game – even from an offensive perspective.

Whereas Yamal failed to register either a goal or assist, Mendes created PSG's crucial equaliser just before the break with a stunning surge up the left wing and beautifully-weighted pass into the feet of goal-scorer Senny Mayulu.

Arsenal are now expected to rival Liverpool for the signature of an “elite” player, who Declan Rice is a big fan of.

Gunners lay down marker with victory against Nottingham Forest

The Gunners suffered an early setback in the Premier League title race at Anfield before the international break, with Liverpool emerging as 1-0 victors, but they got right back on track against Nottingham Forest at the Emirates Stadium.

A Martin Zubimendi brace either side of Viktor Gyokeres’ third goal of the season ensured the north Londoners picked up all three points, sending Mikel Arteta’s side back to the top of the Premier League table.

As expected, Arteta’s side have looked particularly impressive from a defensive point of view up to this point, with Dominik Szoboszlai’s arguably unstoppable free-kick the only goal they have conceded in the opening four games.

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He’s a future star…

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However, there has now been a suggestion that Arteta remains keen on strengthening his backline even further, with a report from The Boot Room revealing Arsenal are now expected to rival Liverpool for the signature of Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi.

Arne Slot’s side are still the favourites to sign Guehi, despite missing out on a £35m deal during the summer transfer window, but there could now be stiff competition for the centre-back’s signature, with a whole host of Europe’s top clubs, including Chelsea, also keen.

Transfer expert Graeme Bailey adds: “He is a fantastic person and everyone who meets him relays that fact – I was told by one high ranking Premier League executive that signing him is one of the ‘least risky’ transfers that anyone could do.

"Elite" Guehi would provide incredible depth for Arteta

Arteta is already blessed with a number of top-quality options at centre-back, with William Saliba and Gabriel forming a formidable partnership, which led to the Gunners boasting the best defensive record in the Premier League last season.

Having also signed Cristhian Mosquera in the summer transfer window, there are doubts over whether signing another defender is necessary, but the Crystal Palace star clearly has the ability to be a success at the Emirates Stadium.

Lauded as an “elite” centre-back by writer Eddie Gibbs, the 25-year-old is now an established England international, picking up 25 caps, with Statman Dave recently singing him out for praise for his performance in the 5-0 victory against Serbia.

The Englishman, who Rice is a big fan of, scored his first goal for the Three Lions in the thrashing, while he has also made a flying start to the season at club level, particularly impressing in a 3-0 victory against Aston Villa.

Guehi stats vs Villa

Number completed

Goals

1

Duels won

5

Clearances

5

Tackles

3

That said, it could be very difficult for Guehi to displace Saliba or Gabriel in the starting XI, so a move to Anfield could make more sense, especially if Ibrahima Konate doesn’t sign a new contract.

Karachi also confirmed Kane Williamson would be partially unavailable during this campaign

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Apr-2025Litton Das has been ruled out of the PSL after he sustained a blow to the thumb during training. Karachi Kings announced the Bangladesh wicketkeeper, who was drafted in the Silver Category this year, will be replaced by Australian wicketkeeper Ben McDermott.”Unfortunately, I couldn’t be part of this tournament, even though I was really looking forward to it,” Litton said in a statement on Karachi Kings’ website. “Life can be unpredictable – just my bad luck.”McDermott has never played in the PSL before but does have recent T20 form coming into the league. He was a member of the Hobart Hurricanes side that won its first BBL title earlier this year, getting his runs at a strike rate just under 145 in the tournament, including a cameo in the final.Related

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Meanwhile, Karachi also confirmed Kane Williamson would be partially unavailable during this campaign. Williamson is expected to join the Kings after the Karachi leg of the tournament ends on April 21, meaning he will miss the first five of his side’s games this tournament. He will be replaced for that period by Saad Baig, currently captain of Pakistan’s U19 side.Peshawar Zalmi also bolstered their ranks in the lead-up to their first game. Fast bowler Ihsanullah, who was ruled out for an extended period of time with a career-threating elbow injury which the PCB acknowledged was mishandled, makes his return to the league for the first time since 2023. He has been signed by Peshawar Zalmi, who play their first game against Quetta Gladiators on Saturday.

Tottenham Hotspur boss Thomas Frank is just months into his new job managing a big six Premier League side for the very first time, and it’ll take some weeks before the Dane fully knows his best team.

It’s been a fairly promising start for Frank since he took over from Ange Postecoglou, who’s now stepped into Nuno Espírito Santo’s shoes at Nottingham Forest.

They were unlucky to lose the UEFA Super Cup final to PSG after what was a brilliant overall performance, with Frank then leading Tottenham to two wins from their opening two Premier League games, including a stunning 2-0 win away to Man City.

Of course, they were brought right back down to Earth with their first domestic defeat of the season at home to Bournemouth, but Frank has the luxury of welcoming two high-profile signings for Spurs’ first game from internationals against West Ham.

Xavi Simons – who joined in a £52 million deal from RB Leipzig in the final days of the transfer window – and Randal Kolo Muani are both expected to make their debuts in the London derby on Saturday.

Mohammed Kudus

£55 million

Kota Takai

£5 million

Mathys Tel

£30 million

Joao Palhinha

Loan

Kevin Danso

£21 million

Xavi Simons

£52 million

Randal Kolo Muani

Loan

Their arrivals come as a much-needed boost for Frank, who is currently without James Maddison, Radu Dragusin, Dejan Kulusveski, Kota Takai, Dominic Solanke and Yves Bissouma through injury.

Dragusin is back in training after months out with an ACL problem, while Solanke’s ankle issue is subject to a late fitness test before Tottenham take on West Ham at the London Stadium.

It is unclear just how bad Bissouma’s injury really is, but according to various reports, the Mali international is out of Frank’s long-term plans regardless.

Bissouma was left out of their UEFA Super Cup squad due to disciplinary issues and turning up late to training, with the £100,000-per-week midfielder still yet to play a single competitive minute for Spurs since Frank joined.

The transfer windows in Turkey, Portugal and Mexico are still open, meaning that the 29-year-old could still secure a move away from N17, with Saudi clubs able to sign players until September 23.

Bissouma could leave Tottenham for Turkey or indeed Saudi in the coming days (GiveMeSport), and this is backed up by the likes of Sky Sports reporter Michael Bridge.

He was also left out of Tottenham’s 22-man Champions League squad, so the writing appears on the wall.

Yves Bissouma wants to leave Tottenham after fallout with Thomas Frank

According to Football Insider and journalist Pete O’Rourke, Bissouma wants to leave Tottenham after a fallout with Frank, and the Lilywhites will accept a suitable offer for him.

The prospect of regular first-team football could see him push for a move away with various windows still open, with O’Rourke expanding on this when speaking to the Inside Track podcast.

While Bissouma has been praised for his quality when fit and firing, having played a key role during Tottenham’s run to the Europa League final in May, his lack of punctuality and attitude appears to be becoming a problem.

It is best for all parties if the “underrated” ex-Brighton star finds a move elsewhere, and particularly for Spurs, as his contract is due to expire next year.

León confirmed Ignacio Ambriz as their new head coach after Eduardo Berizzo resigned Saturday morning in the wake of a 2-0 loss to Juárez. The Mexican manager begins his second spell with La Fiera, the club he guided to the Guardianes 2020 title. León, who are led by Colombian star James Rodriguez, are winless in four and sit 11th in the Apertura 2025 with 12 points.

Getty ImagesA familiar face returns

Ambriz returns to Liga MX after last managing Santos Laguna in the Apertura 2024, a campaign in which the Guerreros finished at the bottom of the standings with only 10 points. Despite having Rodriguez on their roster, Leon have scored just 10 goals and conceded 18. 

AdvertisementGetty Images SportPrevious success with Leon

This marks a homecoming for Ambriz, who guided León to the 2020 Guardianes title during his first tenure between 2018 and 2021. Over three seasons with the Esmeraldas, he recorded 61 wins, 23 draws and 29 losses in 113 matches, with his teams scoring 204 goals while conceding 136.

Ambriz’s second debut on the León sideline is set for Saturday, Oct. 4, when La Fiera will host league leaders Toluca on Matchday 12 of the Apertura 2025.

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After 11 rounds of the current tournament, León occupy 11th place in the table with 12 points, the product of three wins, three draws and five defeats.

The coaching change came swiftly after Berizzo’s departure, as the club immediately began searching for a replacement before settling on Ambriz. The Mexican coach now has less than a week to prepare his team for the crucial home clash against the high-flying Diablos Rojos.

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Rodríguez’s contract with León expires this December, and so far, there are no signs that the Mexican club plans to offer the Colombian a renewal.

Thomas Tuchel has told English players they can’t expect special treatment and must earn the right to play for Premier League clubs. The number of homegrown players has dipped alarmingly in recent years, but the Three Lions boss believes domestic clubs aren’t to blame as players must fight harder to earn a place in their team.

Steady decline of English players

The percentage of starters eligible for England this season has dropped to a record low of 23.2 per cent, which contrasts sharply with previous seasons under former boss Gareth Southgate, when it ranged from 30 per cent to 33 per cent. Before Southgate took the Three Lions hot seat the percentage of eligible players was above 38 per cent and when the Premier League first began in 1993 the number was a whopping 71 per cent.

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But boss Tuchel says that English players are not being overlooked, it is the clubs who are making the tough decisions: "It is competition. It is high level sport. The players have to fight their way to compete in the League. It is what it is. We have enough players to compete at a high level and they compete in the toughest League and they have to fight their way." And when asked if he's disappointed to see so few England players when he heads out on the road to watch matches, Tuchel added: "Yes, sometimes that happens. It is not frustrating. Of course I would love to see more English players. The more the better. But I come from club football and I know that no-one is holding anyone back. If anyone deserves to play, they will play so they have to fight for their place and I think they will. Quality will always find a way."

Wembley woe despite easy win

England secured a dominant 3-0 victory over Wales in a friendly at Wembley Stadium on Thursday. The win was another strong performance under Tuchel, who’s been building momentum towards the 2026 World Cup. The Three Lions took control of the match early, with goals coming quickly in the first half from Morgan Rogers, Ollie Watkins and a stunner from Bukayo Saka. Despite the convincing win, Tuchel caused controversy by criticising the atmosphere generated by the home crowd at Wembley, stating that he could primarily hear the travelling Welsh supporters.

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The build-up to England’s clash with Wales was dominated by key absences to the Three Lions squad. Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, Jack Grealish and Adam Wharton were all notable absentees. But Tuchel says there is plenty of time for them to return to the fold. Tuchel said: "The door is always open for anyone to jump in. Let's play a second game and then we decide. The nomination comes and then there is always an open door for top quality, top character. We are in October now so we go step-by-step. We can just acknowledge he (Morgan Rogers) did amazing, the team did amazing and he buys into that. He is a humble player. He is a physical player. And he is a very talented player, of course. And in a good way. We need more than just 11 at the moment."

And when asked if the team he selected to face Wales could play England’s opener at next summer World Cup, Tuchel said: "I am sorry but I don't follow that mindset. I am a football coach to coach the team that I nominate. And that is where my focus is. Let's cross the river when we are at the river. It does not help anyone if we think in bubbles about what can happen and about what cannot happen. We had the last one and a half days to influence the team and I am happy they responded in this way. I am a happy coach tonight. And on Saturday we keep on going."

England are next in action on Tuesday as the Three Lions face Latvia away from home. They will return to action in November, when they face Serbia at Wembley and Albania in Tirana.