Tag Futebol

Tottenham Hotspur's resurgence under Ange Postecoglou has been nothing short of emphatic, and despite defeat against Chelsea last time out, there is plenty of reason to be optimistic down the N17.

The Premier League was not a happy place for Spurs last season, who collapsed under erstwhile manager Antonio Conte and languished to an eighth-placed finish, resulting in his dismissal in March – the fourth in as many years at the club – and convinced Harry Kane to leave for pastures new.

The club's record scorer joined Bayern Munich in August in what felt like a hammer blow right at the maiden stage of Postecoglou's reign, before the framework had even been drilled in, but any trepidation was dispelled as Spurs swiftly asserted themselves in the early stages of the season.

Indeed, after drawing away to Brentford in the opener, Postecoglou claimed his first victory with a convincing 2-0 win over Manchester United, starting a four-match winning streak that was halted during an impressive draw against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.

At present, Tottenham are perched in second place in the table, boasting 26 points from 11 matches and just one point behind imperious table-topper Manchester City, despite the recent defeat to the Blues.

Postecoglou will be delighted with the progress on the pitch but understands the importance of bolstering the squad and strengthening ahead of the dreaded business end.

It's understood that the defence will receive priority in January; this was the decision before £43m summer signing Micky van de Ven sustained a hamstring injury against the Blues, but now the requirement for backline reinforcements is only intensified.

Tottenham transfer targets – Lloyd Kelly

According to the Evening Standard, Van de Ven's injury has reignited Spurs' interest in Bournemouth star Lloyd Kelly, with the London club likely to throw the kitchen sink at sealing the deal.

However, Italian publication Tuttosport have recently revealed that Arsenal are actually leading the race for the 25-year-old at present, having taken an interest following AC Milan and Juventus' earmarking of the player.

Spurs had been pursuing Kelly last summer and had presented Bournemouth with a £20m offer, and though Kelly opted to stay, Postecoglou has not given up on his pursuit.

Kelly's contract at the Vitality Stadium is set to expire at the end of the season and there is no indication that the Englishman will renew terms, but Tottenham would be wise to bypass the competition and secure his services in January on a cut-price deal.

Lloyd Kelly's style of play

Once described as a "Rolls-Royce" of a defender by Jonathan Woodgate, Kelly has been an excellent signing on the south coast since joining from Bristol City in a £13m deal in 2019.

Having completed 124 games with Bournemouth, the £30k-per-week titan has been among the most important players at the club and played a key role in guiding the Cherries back to the Premier League following relegation and cementing a spot back in the top flight last season.

On top of his ball-playing skill, Kelly is a robust and energetic member of the backline, ranking among the top 1% of positional peers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for clearances and the top 15% for aerial wins per 90, as per FBref.

Predicted to become a "top, top player" by Eddie Howe, Kelly has the makings of a modern-day complete defender – he's comfortable in possession, elegant on the ball and staggering in his technique.

Kelly is left-footed too, which makes him the perfect player to fill in for Van de Ven in defence, while also providing cover for left-back Destiny Udogie when need be.

His time on the south coast has been vital in sculpting him into the kind of player worthy of attention from thriving outfits like Arsenal and Tottenham, but the timing feels apt for transfer, and by joining the Spurs fold he could emulate the career path of former teammate Nathan Ake somewhat, who now razes opponents with Manchester City.

How Lloyd Kelly compares to Nathan Ake

Kelly is clearly an impressive distributor of the ball, and because of this Tottenham could get their hands on the next version of Ake, who really cemented himself as an impressive Premier League player at Bournemouth.

Ake joined Manchester City from the Cherries for £41m in 2020, and while he initially struggled to establish form and fitness at the Etihad Stadium, playing just 13 times in his debut campaign, he is now an integral member of the squad and has chalked up 96 appearances, scoring nine goals and winning a wealth of silverware including three Premier League titles and the treble last year.

Hailed for his "exceptional" qualities by Pep Guardiola, Ake's transfer could be used as the blueprint to bring Kelly to London, with the startling similarities between the pair likely something that Postecoglou should take advantage of, given Ake's trajectory since leaving the Cherries.

Strengths

Weaknesses

Ball retention

Crossing

Passing

Discipline

*Sourced via WhoScored

As per FBref, the £160k-per-week star ranks among the top 16% of positional peers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals, the top 1% for pass completion, the top 6% for progressive passes, the top 4% for passes attempted and the top 9% for aerial wins per 90.

Evidently, he's a pretty decent passer, and given that he rotates in flux from central defence and out wide, Kelly could look to emulate his performances under Postecoglou's wing, who implements a similarly fluid, interchanging attacking system to Guardiola.

While Kelly might have been dissuaded from joining Tottenham in the summer – perhaps due to a lack of assurances regarding the regularity of his appearances from the outset – there is no question that Postecoglou's side now present a compelling offer.

With dynamism and passing aptitude on his side, the Bournemouth star could dazzle at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, playing an important role in both central and wide defence and deepening the club's backline.

He should take inspiration from his former teammate Ake and join a Premier League club competing at the forefront of the table, emulating the Dutchman and working his way up to be an instrumental member.

Leeds United never seem to make life easy for themselves, with the Yorkshire giants incredibly overcoming a two-goal deficit to clinch a stunning 3-2 victory away to Norwich City in the Championship this afternoon, with it proving a happy return to Carrow Road for manager Daniel Farke.

The one-time Canaries boss – who achieved two promotions with the club in the recent past – was likely fearing the worst initially as his new side went in two goals down at the break, although a thrilling second-half turnaround saw the Whites walk away with all three points.

That hard-fought victory has helped to maintain Leeds' place inside the playoff berths, with Farke's men having now won three successive league games, since the defeat away to Southampton at the end of last month.

Who impressed for Leeds vs Norwich?

After an initial sluggish opening, which saw Shane Duffy and Gabriel Sara get on the scoresheet for the hosts, an unfortunate own goal from the former helped to shift the momentum after the break, in what was an enthralling contest in Norfolk.

Despite having looked down and out at the interval, up stepped two-goal hero Crysencio Summerville to steer his side level before netting the game's deciding goal just minutes from time, with that having been just reward for a performance that also saw the Dutchman register six key passes as a marker of his attacking intent.

In truth, that showing from the 21-year-old helped to bail the rest of his teammates out of trouble, with things not clicking into gear for many of those in the away ranks, with Joel Piroe, for instance, having endured 'another difficult afternoon', as per Beren Cross, writing for LeedsLive.

Not only were Leeds initially blunt in an attacking sense, but as the half-time scoreline suggested, the defensive unit also appeared rather porous, with young Archie Gray having looked particularly "jaded" at right-back, as Cross noted on Twitter.

On the other flank, there was also another notable villain in the form of Sam Byram, with the experienced asset certainly not enjoying his Carrow Road homecoming.

How did Sam Byram play against Norwich?

The 30-year-old sealed his return to Elland Road this summer on a free transfer after spending the last four years on the books at Norwich, having since gone on to play a key role under Farke this season, making 11 appearances in all competitions.

The £25k-per-week dud will, however, likely be fearing for his place in the side moving forward following an abject display earlier today, with Cross stating that the one-time West Ham United man was simply "run ragged" in the first half especially.

Those woes were evidenced by the fact that the versatile full-back – who can also operate on the opposite side – won just two duels in total on the day as he failed to win the physical battle, having also been dribbled past once as a marker of his nervy display.

On the ball too, the Englishman was also rather erratic as he lost possession on seven occasions and failed to complete a single cross, with that lack of impact in the final third seeing him make just 45 touches – fewer than teammate Illan Meslier recorded in the sticks (48).

The player with the joint-worst match rating of any starting player for the away side (6.6/10) – as per Sofascore – it was no surprise to see Byram hooked late on as Farke sought to adopt a more attacking approach, with that tactical shift ultimately paying dividends to great effect.

The defender will then be a relieved man that his performance did not cost his side in the end, as he failed to show his former club just what they are missing.

Leeds United and the 49ers are looking to sign a “monster” new goalscorer in the summer transfer window, according to a recent report.

Leeds searching for new striker

The Whites look very much in control at the top of the Championship table and if it remains that way, then they will be back in the Premier League next season. That would see Leeds in the top flight for the first time since the 49ers took over, and it is expected that they would look to significantly invest in the squad as they try to stay in the Premier League for as long as possible.

Leeds now considering signing £5m Sunderland star and "interesting" striker

Leeds are beginning to put plans in place for next season and are keen on adding more firepower to their forward line.

By
Brett Worthington

Feb 19, 2025

Daniel Farke will want to strengthen a few areas of his team, but probably none more so than the forward line, as they are currently low on options and are heavily reliant on Joel Piroe. Patrick Bamford could be coming to the end of his time at the club and, therefore, a new number nine is needed.

It was reported by TEAMtalk this week that Leeds are interested in signing Wilson Isidor from Sunderland, as he’s been added to their shortlist following an excellent Championship campaign with the Black Cats. As well as Isidor, Leeds are also interested in Evann Guessand from Nice, as he’s scored nine goals in Ligue 1 this season.

The Yorkshire side still have Southampton’s Cameron Archer as a top target for the summer, but even if he arrives, they could still look to add a more defined number nine, given Archer can play anywhere across the front line.

49ers looking to sign £90k-p/w “monster” for Leeds

So as well as looking at Isidor and Guessand, according to TBR Football, Leeds are interested in signing Tammy Abraham in the summer, but face strong competition.

Abraham is currently on loan at AC Milan from Roma, but the deal being made into a permanent switch looks unlikely, as the Italian giants have just signed Santiago Gimenez. Therefore, Abraham could be made available for a transfer this summer and has his eyes on a move back to the Premier League.

Newcastle, Nottingham Forest, Fulham, Everton, West Ham and Leeds are all keen on the forward, but obviously the Whites would need to make sure they secure promotion to have a chance of signing the striker. Roma paid Chelsea £34 million back in August 2021, but it is unclear how much they would want now, as he is under contract until 2027.

Tammy Abraham’s 24/25 Serie A stats
Apps	20
Starts	9
Minutes per game	44
Goals	2
Shots per game (On target)	1.1 (0.6)
Big chances missed	10
Chance conversion	10%
Assists	2
Big chances created	3
Key passes per game	0.4

The 27-year-old, who currently earns €110k a week (£90k), described himself as a “monster” back in 2021, as he believed José Mourinho had turned him into one. Abraham has struggled to be that monster in Milan this season, but given he has 26 goals in 89 games in the Premier League, Leeds would love to add that level of top flight quality to their squad in the summer.

4:25

Manjrekar: RCB left the final overs to limited bowlers

Chennai Super Kings picked up their fifth victory through thunderous performances from two heroes – Ambati Rayudu and MS Dhoni – in an explosive performance. They made nearly half of the 206 target with the 17 sixes they hit at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.

Kohli fined for slow over rate

Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Virat Kohli has been fined INR 12 lakh (USD 18,000 approx) after his team maintained a slow over rate on Wednesday night against Chennai Super Kings. Kohli’s penalty was decided keeping in mind it was his team’s first over-rate offence of the season.

Super Kings survived an AB de Villiers onslaught to recover and chase just a little over 200 – it could’ve been much more. Then they slipped to 74 for 4 in nine overs, before coming back with blazing 101-run stand between Dhoni and Rayudu. Dwayne Bravo, then set it up for Dhoni to complete a win in his signature style – a six over long-on, thereabouts – to take them back to the top of the table.The sub-plot was a familiar one for Royal Challengers: they didn’t have the bowling to defend, again. They had seven bowling options on the night and their two best bowlers – Yuzvendra Chahal and Umesh Yadav – bowled out their overs for a combined 3 for 49. The two other spinners were given a combined four overs, the better bowler of their two allrounders – Colin de Grandhomme – didn’t have a bowl, and, yet again, a glaring lack of a death-overs plan resulted in an embarrassing collapse.The top does it again for RCBBy the time CSK had got into the third over after electing to bowl, Virat Kohli had figured out his method against the opening bowlers: short strides against Deepak Chahar’s swing and a few steps down at Shardul Thakur. He also exchanged notes with Quinton de Kock who aggressively kept gesturing about how Thakur’s knuckle ball was coming out.Thakur managed to pull it back momentarily with a quite remarkable feat – a wicket maiden off a T20 over faced by Kohli and de Villiers – but the bleeding wouldn’t stop. De Kock and de Villiers, together, put up 103 for the second wicket from there in under nine overs, starting with a 16-run punishment off three balls that took Harbhajan out for the rest of the innings.When the ball lost its shine, there did appear to be grip from the surface. But the South African duo weren’t averse to using their feet – de Villiers made 45 off his 68 runs against 17 balls of spin – to move laterally in the crease or down the pitch to open up the field. With their abilities to clear the ground in tow, that proved vital, because the spinners were forced into bowling faster than they should have been.Mighty fallThe next breakthrough, the wicket of de Kock in the 14th, also came in a maiden over. It might even have been a double-wicket maiden had CSK reviewed an lbw decision where Bravo got Corey Anderson on the back leg off a full toss. It didn’t do too much damage though as Imran Tahir claimed two: de Villiers – 68 off 30 – and Anderson, off consecutive deliveries.Suddenly, it was turning big. CSK could’ve had Mandeep Singh, but Dhoni failed to anticipate a spitting turner from Ravindra Jadeja and couldn’t get his hand on a stumping opportunity. What followed was a six over midwicket and a reverse-swept four to get Mandeep going. A missed opportunity and Royal Challengers looked like they would capitalise.But another collapse came. RCB lost seven wickets in the last five overs and played out two maiden overs in the innings. They didn’t have the bowling to afford such mishaps.How to lose a matchRCB had made the perfect start with the ball. Shane Watson, Suresh Raina and Sam Billings, who have all made winning contributions this season, were out inside seven overs and the pitch was allowing big turn. CSK seemed to have given them some help too, when they sent Jadeja ahead of Dhoni at No. 5. That move brought a 15-run fourth-wicket stand that consumed 16 balls.Umesh had bowled out his overs in a testing opening spell, though, and Chahal would be done in the 13th. The brutal effect of that reality in simple, numerical terms: CSK hit 12 sixes in 64 balls after Dhoni walked in.Rayudu didn’t exactly fly under the radar. Like he had against Sunrisers in Super Kings’ previous match, he dealt mainly in flat-batted shots. He was severe on Hyderabad Ranji team-mate Mohammed Siraj, and did not allow Washington Sundar a chance to settle.At the other end, Dhoni smashed the confidence out of Pawan Negi. Shortly after coming in to bat, he swatted the left-arm spinner over midwicket, and upon his return in the 14th, a visibly nervous Negi fired full ones flat into Dhoni’s arc. Two of RCB’s spinners had been neutralised on a spin-friendly surface.That was the beginning of an inevitable death-overs meltdown. With 70 required off 28 balls, Umesh put down a simple chance at extra cover that would have ended Rayudu’s innings. It was perhaps the only time Anderson’s plan of sliding cross-seam length balls across came close to working. By the end of that over, he was truly found out – Rayudu hit balls from the same line outside off over extra cover and then over midwicket.At 21 required off seven balls, even if Mohammed Siraj had completed the penultimate over without needing four attempts at the last ball, Anderson didn’t look like he would have defended the runs. The allrounder, had gone for 16 and 15 in his two overs before the last one, and conceded 17 runs off four balls to finish with figures of 3.4-0-58-0.De Grandhomme, brought into the XI on the night, did not feature in Kohli’s bowling plans. This meant that Royal Challengers would bowl their last six overs with two bowlers: a strategy scarcely seen in ODI cricket even, which shouldn’t have a place in T20 cricket. But it did have a place on the night. And it summed up why RCB’s economy in the death-overs this season – 13.29 – is the worst by any team in any edition of the IPL.

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details3:19

Voges: Cummins finds a way to pick crucial wickets

Aiden Markram owns his style of batting: languid, fluent and dominant. Against a bowling line-up that, save Pat Cummins, lacked penetration or oomph on a pitch offering sufficient seam movement, Markram stroked his way to his 152, his highest Test score, strengthening South Africa’s position in their bid for their first home series win against Australia since 1970.AB de Villiers owns not just his batting, but also the Wanderers. After walking out to raucous cheers, de Villiers was forced to put away his aggressive template by Australia’s probing accuracy either side of tea. Often de Villiers makes batting look considerably easier than it actually is. On Friday, he went the other way, struggling for timing. He diligently accumulated 20 in his first 70 balls before releasing his frustration against Nathan Lyon.Soon, his fluency made Australia gasp. Hard sweeps, elegant drives, delicately late cuts: the usual de Villiers range. His innings was another masterclass in scoring tough runs and his fifth 50-plus score of the series.Considering the events that unfolded over the past week, it was an unusually quiet day for Australia, literally and otherwise. The fallout of the ball-tampering chaos was at its worst on the fourth day of the Cape Town Test, and ensuing incidents seemed to have only worsened Australia’s morale in Johannesburg. In characteristic fashion, though, they fought back late in the evening to prevent South Africa from running away with the Test.Although they conceded 136 runs, Australia took four wickets in the final session. Just like in Durban, Markram was dismissed attempting a late cut after scoring a big hundred, a sign of fatigue in an otherwise glorious hundred. A thick edge off Cummins was snaffled by gully. Off the next ball, Faf du Plessis made an error of judgement, leaving a delivery that darted back in prodigiously, to be trapped in front.Late in the day, Chadd Sayers, on debut, provided Australia with their second double-wicket over of the evening. An inducker, shaping back in off the seam, caught de Villiers’ inside edge. Although he reviewed immediately, a discernible spike on Ultra Edge meant de Villiers was restricted to his third successive score in the 60s. Two balls later, nightwatchman Kagiso Rabada chipped to mid-off.However, the majority of the day was dominated by Markram. He was patient right through his innings, waiting for mistakes in length or line, particularly for width outside his off stump. A jaded Australian bowling line-up erred often: he scored 27 of his 53 runs before lunch, more than 50%, through point.Hitting that area was fraught with risk when Lyon bowled and extracted plenty of turn. Markram then showed off his straight-bat range, including a delectable drive through cover and an extended lofted drive over mid-on, for six.Australia’s plan at lunch may have been to bowl straighter, but that didn’t work either. Square on the leg side was a productive region, as Markram powerfully flicked the fast bowlers and deftly nudged Lyon. Together, Markram scored 125 of 152 runs, or more than 80%, square on both sides of the pitch.Dean Elgar made a scratchy 19 off 47 balls, during which he made two errors against Lyon. In his first over, he attempted to heave Lyon over midwicket, but didn’t account for atypically sharp turn on a first-day Wanderers pitch. The resulting skew off the outside half of his bat lobbed over cover. In Lyon’s next over, Elgar made the same mistake, looking to work the ball against the turn. This time, a leading edge carried to mid-off, Australia’s first wicket of the day.Australia’s only other wicket of the second session was of Hashim Amla. Batting on 27 off 80 balls, Amla wafted at a leaden-footed drive off Cummins, in the middle of Australia’s best spell of the day. An outswinger, moving in the air and after pitching, found the outside edge. Peter Handscomb, slotting into Steven Smith’s No. 4 and second slip positions, took a fine, two-handed catch to his right.

Akila Dananjaya celebrates a wicket on debut•Associated Press

Bangladesh plunged, Sri Lanka’s spinners soared and the Mirpur Test tore to its conclusion midway through day three, the visitors triumphing by 215 runs. Debutant Akila Dananjaya was prime destroyer. He scythed rapidly through the Bangladesh lower-middle order, taking 5 for 24 to make it eight wickets on debut – the best performance by a Sri Lankan on debut. The charge to victory was also sweet for Rangana Herath, who claimed 4 for 49 and in doing so, became the most successful left-arm bowler in Test history.After even Sri Lanka’s lower order had batted with a little mettle, the rate of Bangladesh’s demise in this Test will irk the hosts. Only four batsmen made it into double figures, and no one batted for longer than 51 deliveries. The pitch was as treacherous as ever, but chances were too freely given. Perhaps, chasing a highly improbable 339, and with little chance of saving the game, the futility of their situation contributed to their meekness. It took Sri Lanka fewer than 30 overs to clean the opposition up. This was Bangladesh’s first series defeat at home since 2015 – the absence of Shakib Al Hasan keenly felt.The selection of Dananjaya – out of all Sri Lanka’s teams until seven months ago, and considered a limited-overs specialist in any case – has proved to be a spectacular move in this Test. Though he bowled only 15 overs in the game (fewer than either of the senior spinners), the overspin he puts on the ball made him a menacing prospect. Repeatedly he had balls leap up off a length, and one such ball struck Liton Das in the glove, and was caught at short leg. Sabbir Rahman was also caught off his glove; Mahmudullah edged another Dananjaya delivery that jumped at him; and Mehidy Hasan nicked a straighter delivery. Wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella helped Dananjaya along to his maiden five-wicket haul. He pulled off a fast stumping of Abdur Razzak when the batsman had merely overbalanced. Dananjaya’s 8 for 44 comprise the best debut figures for a Sri Lanka bowler.While Dananjaya took care of the lower half of the Bangladesh batting order, Herath’s best work had come earlier on. One ball after he had been tonked for six by Imrul Kayes, he sent a slider at the batsman, and had him edging behind. Mominul Haque – again Bangladesh’s best batsman – was given a light working over, and eventually nicked Herath to Dickwella as well. The wicket that sealed the match was also Herath’s. Taijul Islam aimed a gigantic heave over cow corner, but Danushka Gunathilaka was at the boundary to take an outstanding overhead catch. Bangladesh had lost their last five wickets in the space of 33 balls.The visitors’ lead had been 312 even at the beginning of the day – much more than necessary, as it would turn out – but their batting in the first 50 minutes of the day was more indication that this Sri Lanka Test side is rediscovering a little of its old grit. Roshen Silva, the newest member of the top order, added 12 to his overnight score, while Suranga Lakmal, living a little more dangerously, struck boundaries to help swell Sri Lanka’s lead by 26. Only one Bangladesh partnership – the 46-run second-wicket association between Mominul and Kayes – was better than this 36-run stand between Roshen and Lakmal. That Chandika Hathurusingha, their coach only four months ago, helped plan their own downfall in this series, will of course sting.

Arsenal appear to be eyeing up a late move for Torino defender Perr Schuurs, however, the Gunners aren’t the only Premier League side keen on the player.

What’s the latest Arsenal transfer news?

Mikel Arteta and those at the Emirates have been relatively busy in the transfer market this summer, with four new players brought in at a cost of around £200m.

Declan Rice, Kai Havertz, Jurrien Timber and David Raya have all made the move to north London, however, Timber has already suffered a serious ACL injury and is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

As a result, the Gunners, and by extension sporting director Edu, could dip into the market once again for another defensive addition but may need to sell first. Reports have suggested that Arsenal are looking to raise £100m in player departures before the end of the window. Should they do that, it appears as if Schuurs is a new name on the club’s radar, with a fresh update emerging.

Football London relayed the latest news on Schuurs and a possible move to England in the last 48 hours, with top-flight rivals Tottenham and Liverpool also seemingly keen on the defender, who appears to be valued at £35m.

When it came to Arsenal, the report said:

“Arsenal have closely followed the progress of Perr Schuurs and could soon make a move to sign the defender, but first Mikel Arteta will have to make a key decision.”

Speaking about the club’s transfer plans at the back following Timber's injury, Fabrizio Romano has claimed:

“It’s important for Arsenal to decide if they want a new centre-back or full-back, because we know Timber can play both positions.

“Arsenal need to decide what the right signing will be, and they will only act if they are convinced they’ve found the right option, that’s always their strategy – I don’t see them spending crazy money.”

Who is Perr Schuurs?

Schuurs is 23 years of age and is an out-and-out centre-back who journalist Josh Bunting described as a “mountain" last year.

Sponsored by Nike, the player began his career in Fortuna Sittard’s academy before moving to Ajax in 2018. Schuurs went on to make 95 senior appearances for the Eredivisie giants and joined Torino last summer.

Read the latest Arsenal transfer news HERE…

He appears to be at the top of his game with a career-high €25m Transfermarkt valuation and during his time in Italy, Schuurs has turned out on 35 occasions.

Over the past 12 months, as per FBref, Schuurs has impressed in a number of areas. He ranks in the top 8% of centre-backs for long pass completion and assists per 90, while also placing in the top 20% for tackles. He hasn’t averaged an error per 90 either and is in the 83rd percentile for ball recoveries, so a move for Schuurs could be a shrewd one.

However, he appears to be limited when it comes to his versatility as he only plays as a centre-back, but by the looks of things, a move could be one to keep an eye on before the deadline.

Tottenham Hotspur could be set to bolster their centre-back ranks even further following the signing of Micky Van de Ven from Wolfsburg, amid reports that the Lilywhites are also interested in the Dutchman's compatriot – Perr Schuurs.

What's the latest on Schuurs to Tottenham?

Having wrapped up a £34.5m deal for Van de Ven on Tuesday, The Times are reporting that the north Londoners could also look to the Torino ace to help provide further depth and quality at the heart of the defence, provided that the club are able to move on their 'unwanted' figures in that role.

The piece suggests that the Serie A side are looking for a fee in the region of £28m if they are to part ways with the 23-year-old this summer, with 'several Premier League clubs' also showing an interest in the former Ajax man.

Read the latest Tottenham transfer news HERE…

With regard to who could be moved on to help supplement a deal for the 6 foot 3 ace, the report adds that Joe Rodon looks set to be on his way to Leeds United on loan, while Daniel Levy has seemingly been 'trying to sell' both Davinson Sanchez and Japhet Tanganga.

How good is Perr Schuurs?

While it may have been a second-string side that took to the field against Barcelona on Tuesday evening, the eventual 4-2 defeat to the La Liga giants will have further showcased the need for reinforcements in the centre of defence, with Eric Dier looking particularly 'shaky', according to football.london's Alasdair Gold.

As manager Ange Postecoglou himself admitted after that loss in Catalonia, there is a "potential" that the recent capture of Van de Ven will be followed by another centre-back before the window closes, with the aim no doubt to improve a defence that shipped 63 league goals last season.

The signing of Schuurs – who has been dubbed a "mountain" at the back by journalist Josh Bunting – could be a dream option as far as Postecoglou is concerned, having caught the eye as a result of his standout form in Italy in recent times.

While the former Netherlands U21 international has typically featured in a left-back centre-back berth in his career to date – as per The Times' Gary Jacob – the natural right-footer could slot in alongside the left-footed Van de Ven in the centre of defence, proving a potential perfect partner for his fellow countryman.

In Van de Ven, Postecoglou has found a rare gem due to the 22-year-old's "extreme speed" – as described by Wolfsburg’s managing director, Marcel Schäfer – with the one-time Volendam man also a true master at playing out from the back, as he ranks in the top 12% among his European peers for both progressive carries and successful take-ons per 90.

While also no slouch himself on the ball – as he ranks in the top 20% for successful take-ons per 90 – Schuurs could perhaps provide a more defensive-minded asset for the Lilywhites, showcased by the fact that he ranks in the top 20% for tackles made per 90, a greater record than that of the 6 foot 4 speedster (bottom 38%).

That ball-winning prowess is also seen by the fact that the Torino machine also averaged 2.6 tackles and interceptions per game in Italy's top-flight last season, with that again a better record than Van de Ven achieved in the Bundesliga (2.2 tackles and interceptions per game).

That would suggest that while the latter man can offer a composed presence on the ball as well as his remarkable recovery speed, Schuurs, by contrast, can be the defensive 'mountain' to help aid Tottenham's leaky backline.

Such a combination could well prove fruitful indeed…

Leeds United are now among the main contenders to sign West Ham United's Michail Antonio this summer, with the forward pushing hard for a move, according to recent report from Football Transfers.

Is Michail Antonio leaving West Ham this summer?

With just one year remaining on his West Ham contract, it now appears very likely that Antonio will leave this summer, and he has attracted the interest of a number of Premier League clubs, with TEAMtalk recently naming Wolverhampton Wanderers as potential suitors.

The Hammers are open to offers for the striker, who was in and out of David Moyes' starting XI last season, with Everton and Nottingham Forest also in the mix, following the collapse of his proposed move to Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq.

Read The Latest Leeds Transfer News HERE

According to a report from Football Transfers, the Jamaica international is now pushing hard for a move away this summer, and he has no shortage of suitors, with Leeds and Celtic among the main contenders for his signature.

After quite a poor season by his standards, scoring more goals in the Europa Conference League than he did in the top flight, a change of scenery is now on the cards for the 33-year-old, but he may not be available immediately.

Moyes is set to block any potential exit before a proper replacement is found, with the Hammers in dire need of new attacking options, after Gianluca Scamacca recently joined Atalanta in a deal worth £27m.

A small fee may be required to sign the London-born forward, given that he still has one year left on his contract, with the Whites keen to add him to their squad, having already lost some attacking talent during the summer transfer window.

Is Michail Antonio joining Leeds?

With a number of Premier League clubs vying for the West Ham star's signature, it may be difficult for Daniel Farke to win the race for his signature, although a move to Elland Road could be an attractive offer, as he is likely to get more game time in the Championship.

Last season, the former Nottingham Forest man demonstrated he still has what it takes to compete at a high level, weighing in with six goals for the Hammers en-route to their Europa Conference League triumph, which suggests he could be a top player at Championship level.

The veteran striker clearly knows where the back of the net is, but he also has a number of other key strengths, having been hailed by Premier League journalist Chris Williams, who said:

"Michail Antonio is a very clever player, reads defenders exceptionally well, then has the strength and power to take them on and cause mayhem. Brilliant player to watch."

Not only that, the £85k-per-week attacker is also extremely versatile, having featured at full-back, on both wings, and at striker throughout his career, which could make him a fantastic option for Farke.

Antonio could be a perfect signing for a team with aspirations of being promoted from the Championship, and Leeds should definitely pursue a deal for him once West Ham sign a replacement.

Sri Lanka’s stand-in captain aggravated a back injury during Sunday’s ODI against India in Pallekele

Andrew Fidel Fernando29-Aug-2017Stand-in captain Chamara Kapugedera’s has been ruled out of the remainder of ODI series after a medical examination. Kapugedera aggravated a back injury during the third ODI on Sunday. He had been nursing a stiff back before the third ODI, but had batted and fielded in that game. In his absence, Lasith Malinga will assume the captaincy, chief selector Sanath Jayasuriya has said.The stiffness in Kapugedera’s back had been mild in the approach to the third game, and had not prompted much concern. “He did have the issue in Kandy, but I think when he went into bat, it got worse,” manager Asanka Gurusinha said.Kapugedara becomes the fifth Sri Lanka batsman to become unavailable. Danushka Gunathilaka was ruled out with a shoulder strain (though there remains a small possibility he could recover in time for the next match), and Upul Tharanga had been suspended due to a slow over rate. Dinesh Chandimal, who was brought into the squad ahead of the third ODI, was ruled out with a fractured finger. Wicketkeeper-batsman Kusal Perera, and batting allrounder Asela Gunaratne had earlier also been ruled out of the series with injuries.Malinga has previously captained Sri Lanka’s T20 side, including in the final stages of the World T20 triumph in 2014.