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Heat prevailed and meet Renegades in a knockout final at Marvel Stadium on Sunday

Tristan Lavalette27-Jan-2023Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne emerged from T20 droughts with spectacular half-centuries before rain thwarted Sydney Thunder’s hopes of chasing down Brisbane Heat’s massive total in the BBL elimination final.Kicking off the finals series, Khawaja and Labuschagne combined for a 128-run partnership to power Heat to the highest ever total at the Sydney Showgrounds.Chasing 204, David Warner was in a belligerent mood with 36 off 20 balls to provide hope for Thunder before Sydney’s temperamental weather reared in the seventh over with the home side eight runs short under Duckworth-Lewis Stern calculations.Play was set to restart with Thunder facing a revised target of 90 runs off nine overs – they were already 52 for 1 after 6.5 – but the match was ultimately called off due to persistent rain.Heat prevailed and meet Melbourne Renegades in a knockout final at Marvel Stadium on Sunday, while Thunder’s see-saw of a season ended in disappointment.

Khawaja and Labuschagne smash Thunder

Khawaja’s impact for Heat since returning from Australia duty has mostly been through his captaincy, like when he helped guide inexperienced quick Spencer Johnson in high-pressure moments.He had only averaged 16 in six innings in a disappointing start for his new BBL franchise. But against his old team, who he powered to the title in 2016, Khawaja showed his liking for the big stage and put the foot down after the drinks break with an assault on spinners Chris Green and Usman Qadir. He was unstoppable with a slew of innovative strokes, including reverse sweeps, to devastating effect, but his best shot was a gorgeous straight six off Qadir.Khawaja fell short of a deserved century but his fluency seemed to rub off on Labuschagne, who had struggled with his timing as he played anchor before unleashing some inventive strokes of his own to notch his first BBL half-century in his 23rd innings.Labuschagne, who had averaged just 16 runs with a strike-rate of 104, hit his first six of the season when he clubbed seamer Daniel Sams over long-on in the final over. He repeated the dose three balls later to lift Heat past 200 before his 48-ball 73 ended on the penultimate delivery of the innings. Labuschagne proved a point to critics that his formidable longer format batting can translate into T20 cricket.

Pawson’s horror debut

Thunder were shorthanded without frontliner seamer Gurinder Sandhu, who injured his calf in his last game against Melbourne Stars. The 28-year-old Ross Pawson was thrown into the deep end with a debut in the elimination final.Nathan McAndrew’s struggles in the powerplay led to Pawson coming into the attack in the third over and he was immediately lined up. His first ball was carved through point for a boundary by Khawaja, who then smashed two short deliveries to the rope. A rattled Pawson then dished up a waist-high full toss to cap a 15-run first over in the BBL. He hoped his fortune might change when he returned in the 11th over but it only stirred the ruthlessness in Khawaja, who hit two sixes.Pawson, who had earned his call-up through solid form in local Sydney ranks, did show glimpses of rapid pace but just couldn’t get his length right and finished a tough initiation with 0 for 32 off two overs.

Warner starts fast before rain spoils the party

Unlike his mate Steven Smith, Warner had struggled in his long-awaited BBL return and averaged just 12.6 in five innings. But here, he started aggressively and took a liking to left-armer Johnson by smashing three boundaries in the fourth over. It was the best Warner had looked during this BBL season and he threatened to play a heroic knock before rain intervened to end Thunder’s season.

Leicester City have received transfer offers worth more than £4 million to sell one of their players before the deadline, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.

Leicester transfer news

It has been a quiet January transfer window for the Foxes so far, as while they have made one signing in Woyo Coulibaly, it has been quiet in terms of other potential arrivals. Leicester have just sold Tom Cannon to Sheffield United for a hefty price, so that could now allow the Premier League side to enter the transfer market.

Leicester City lining up new forward who's risen through the lower leagues

He could be a late addition to the ranks at the King Power Stadium.

By
Ben Browning

Jan 24, 2025

Ruud van Nistelrooy has revealed that they are looking at options to possibly strengthen the squad, saying: “We are looking at options within the possibility to strengthen the squad, and also this deal with Tom [Cannon] is part of that situation. So, we are addressing that and are looking at players to strengthen the team within the possibilities that are there at the moment.”

Cannon’s move to Bramall Lane has freed up money, and it’s been reported that Leicester have now made a move to sign Strahinja Pavlovic from AC Milan. The 6 foot 4 player is a defender by trade, and since joining Milan in the summer transfer window, he has struggled to make an impact. But given Leicester’s poor defensive performances, van Nistelrooy will hope Pavlovic’s potential arrival can help improve their defensive flaws.

Leicester receive £4m+ transfer offer to sell 23 y/o ace

As arrivals will be a priority for the Foxes, there could also be another departure on the cards, as Romano reports that Bundesliga side Hoffenheim have made ‘multiple offers’ for Leicester’s Luke Thomas.

Romano adds that those offers from the German side are believed to be around €5 million, which is £4.2m. However, those offers are yet to convince the Premier League side to sell the defender and as of yet are not willing to sanction a sale.

The 23-year-old came through the academy at the King Power Stadium and has played 90 times for the club’s first team in various competitions. However, he has only featured twice for the Foxes in the Premier League this season, 90 minutes against Brentford in November and 90 minutes against Aston Villa earlier this month under Van Nistelrooy. Thomas hasn’t featured for Leicester since, and with his contract up in 2026, a move this month could suit all parties.

Thomas has had recent loan spells with Sheffield United and Middlesbrough, but he has been unable to show it at Leicester, and that is despite him being a key performer under ex-manager Brendan Rodgers, who once labelled him “brilliant” after a Carabao Cup game against Liverpool.

Rodgers said: “I said to him afterwards that he was brilliant during the game. He’s developing so well. It’s another great experience for him. The atmosphere was great, as it always is at Anfield. It was a really good game. It was unfortunate for him to miss the penalty, but in the game he was exceptional. He’s a tough boy, and he will move on.”

Bayern Munich are preparing for the future beyond Harry Kane and have identified Hoffenheim’s in-form striker Fisnik Asllani as a potential long-term back-up. The 23-year-old Kosovo international, who has also attracted serious interest from Barcelona, has impressed with six goals in nine appearances this season, prompting Bayern to enquire about his release clause ahead of the summer.

• Bayern to rival Barcelona for Asllani’s signature

  According to Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, Bayern Munich have officially added Asllani to their shortlist as a possible back-up to Harry Kane from the 2026/27 season onwards. Sporting directors Max Eberl and Christoph Freund are said to be admirers of the young forward’s development and have already gathered information on his supposedly “manageable” release clause. With Asllani expected to leave Hoffenheim after the current campaign, Bayern are positioning themselves among several European clubs monitoring his situation closely.

  The Kosovo international has been one of the Bundesliga’s early success stories this season. He has scored six goals and registered two assists in nine appearances across all competitions, establishing himself as Hoffenheim’s most reliable finisher. His goalscoring form and sharp link-up play have made him one of Germany’s most-watched emerging strikers and Bayern’s interest reflects the club’s intent to plan beyond Kane’s peak years.

  While Kane remains untouchable as Bayern’s main striker, the Bavarians’ recruitment team is keen to ensure depth in the attacking department. Despite the Bundesliga champions being certain to permanently sign Nicolas Jackson next summer, Asllani is viewed as an ideal profile to provide competition and continuity in the years to come.

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  Bayern planning for life after Kane

  Bayern’s interest in Asllani fits a clear strategy of targeting young, Bundesliga-proven talent capable of stepping up to elite levels. Under the joint leadership of Eberl and Freund, the German champions have shifted toward sustainable succession planning, focusing on players who can grow under the system rather than relying solely on big-name signings. Identifying a young and technically gifted forward like Asllani signals a long-term approach, one that mirrors their investment in talents such as Jamal Musiala and Aleksandar Pavlovic.

  At just 23, Asllani combines pace, movement, and a sharp eye for goal with strong tactical discipline attributes that align with Bayern’s style under Vincent Kompany’s vision. His impressive performances for Hoffenheim have demonstrated not only his finishing quality but also his ability to press and create chances in transition, a skill set that makes him an appealing complement to Kane. Furthermore, his affordable release clause provides Bayern with a low-risk opportunity to secure a forward with considerable upside.

  However, Bayern are not alone in their pursuit. Barcelona have been closely following Asllani’s progress, and the player himself has previously described the Catalan giants as his “dream club.” With the Blaugrana and several other top European sides interested, Bayern will likely face strong competition for his signature, setting up one of next summer’s most intriguing transfer battles.

• Asllani helped by loan moves before Hoffenheim senior call-up

  Asllani’s rapid rise has been built on years of consistent progression through Germany’s football system. Born in Berlin in 2002, he spent his youth career at BFC Dynamo and Union Berlin, where he displayed elite scoring instincts, netting 23 goals in 23 appearances for Union’s U17s and 15 in 16 for their U19s. His prolific youth record earned him a move to Hoffenheim in 2020, where he initially played for the club’s reserve side, scoring 17 goals in 53 appearances in the Regionalliga Sudwest.

  After limited senior opportunities early on, Asllani’s breakthrough came through loan spells designed to accelerate his development. A short stint at Austria Wien in 2023 was followed by a standout season at SV Elversberg in the 2. Bundesliga, where he has now translated his potential into top-flight productivity.

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  Barcelona the ‘dream’ destination for Asllani

  Bayern Munich’s decision to track Asllani underscores their commitment to securing long-term stability in the No.9 position. While Kane remains central to the team’s ambitions, the club recognises the importance of preparing a capable successor or partner capable of easing the transition in future seasons.

  Barcelona’s involvement could complicate matters, given Asllani’s admiration for the Spanish club and their ongoing search for a young striker to potentially take over from Robert Lewandowski, who has been linked with an exit when his contract expires in the summer. The Catalans’ financial constraints, however, might give Bayern an advantage if they act decisively and match Hoffenheim’s release clause conditions. Asllani’s preference for a Champions League-level project aligns with both clubs’ profiles, leaving the decision likely to hinge on sporting guarantees and playing time.

Abhishek and Gill added 105 in just 59 balls as India chased down 172 with seven balls to spare

Sidharth Monga21-Sep-20251:45

Was Fakhar Zaman out or not out?

For about 10 overs, Pakistan threatened what has become rare in recent years, a memorable cricketing contest against India, but ran out of gas against the depth of India’s bowling. Still, 171 was the highest total Pakistan have ever posted batting first against India, but it ended up as all their defences against India have: in defeat, this time with seven balls to spare.Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill crushed the total without ever looking in trouble, starting with a six first ball and adding 105 for the first wicket in just 59 balls, making sure the middle order didn’t have too much to do when scoring became difficult against the older ball. Gill scored 47 off 28, and Abhishek, who had dropped Sahibzada Farhan in the first over of the match, carried on to 74 off 39, and left India just 49 to get off 46 when he was dismissed.Farhan went on to score a fifty to promise a contest but it felt like he had to play out of his skin to get there. He was also culpable in Pakistan’s slowdown, adding just 7 off 11 after reaching fifty as Pakistan went 39 legal deliveries without a boundary.Abhishek Sharma’s explosive innings contained six fours and five sixes•AFP/Getty Images

Even though the chase appeared a walk in the park, the simmering tensions between the sides rose to the surface on the odd occasion. India’s batters appeared to be extra mindful of reassuring each other as the players from the two sides engaged with each other for the first time in more than one-and-a-half matches.India remained the cooler of the sides: Farhan wielded his bat like a gun after reaching fifty, Abhishek blew kisses after reaching his. The celebrations were indicative of the effort taken to reach the respective milestones.

Bumrah’s costliest powerplay

Pakistan protected the struggling Saim Ayub from opening the innings, and it worked with Fakhar Zaman getting off to a flier, after which Farhan carried on. Pakistan raced away to their best powerplay against India, scoring 55 for 1. Jasprit Bumrah bowled three overs in the first six for the third straight match, and registered his costliest T20I powerplay: 34 runs.Sahibzada Farhan slowed down after getting Pakistan off to a quick start•AFP/Getty Images

Pakistan get over middle-overs muddle… just about

Coming into this match, the only teams in this Asia Cup slower than Pakistan in the middle overs were Oman and UAE. Pakistan had gone at under a run a ball, but this time they managed to hit three four sixes in overs 8-10, off Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy and Axar Patel. The fourth six brought up Farhan’s half-century.Having done the hard work, Pakistan slumped. The slide began against Shivam Dube, whose progress as a sixth bowler through this tournament will satisfy India immensely. Dube didn’t provide the batters any pace, stayed away from their swinging arc, and took out both Ayub and Farhan after they had put on 72 for the second wicket. The quality of Varun and Kuldeep then shone through, as they tied Pakistan down despite taking just one wicket between them. Faheem Ashraf’s unbeaten 20 off 8 added respectability to the score, but it always looked light.

Abhishek, Gill blitz through

It began looking even lighter when Abhishek hooked the first ball of the chase for a six. Gill and Abhishek laced the bowling, making full use of the new ball and whatever pace Shaheen Shah Afridi provided them. India’s 69 for 0 was the best powerplay of this Asia Cup, and India’s best against Pakistan.Abhishek kept clearing the infield while Gill kept finding the gaps, and all the while they made sure they stood together whenever a confrontation threatened to materialise. It eventually came to a head with Abhishek and Rauf in each other’s face after Gill pulled the latter for a four.Ashraf provided Pakistan the breakthrough with a ball that seamed in to bowl Gill immediately after he had taken treatment for cramps. Suryakumar Yadav then fell for a duck, but Abhishek kept striking the ball cleanly, taking down Abrar Ahmed, potentially Pakistan’s most threatening bowler. Even though Abrar finally got his wicket, Abhishek took him for 32 off 12 balls including four sixes.

Tilak labours through the last mile

India experienced a brief slowdown similar to Pakistan’s as Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma struggled to come to terms with the old ball not coming onto the bat. Samson managed just 13 off 17, but Tilak saw India through with sixes off Rauf and Afridi in the 18th and 19th overs.

Tottenham Hotspur’s final signing of the summer transfer window, striker Randal Kolo Muani on loan from PSG, is poised to make his imminent Premier League debut against West Ham on Saturday.

The Frenchman’s versatility will be invaluable for Thomas Frank, with Kolo Muani able to play on both the right and left-hand side, though it appears he’ll most likely be used as an alternative to centre-forwards Richarlison and Dominic Solanke.

The latter didn’t play in Spurs’ 1-0 defeat against Bournemouth prior to the international break due to a niggling ankle problem, and while Frank suggested that Solanke could be back this weekend, it is definitely wise to have another option up top considering Richarlison’s fitness issues last season.

Kolo Muani has played the vast majority of his 269 total senior appearances as a striker, and there is reason for supporters to be excited by his arrival.

During his best-ever campaign to date in 2022/2023, the 26-year-old racked up an impressive 23 goals and 17 assists in all competitions for Eintracht Frankfurt, and this stellar form earned him a £76.4 million move to Ligue 1 heavyweights PSG.

While it hasn’t worked out for him in the French capital, Kolo Muani’s head-turning loan move to Juventus last term, where he managed 10 goals and three assists in 22 outings, showcases a player of serious attacking quality.

On the international stage, Kolo Muani has always maintained the faith of Didier Deschamps, even amidst his PSG exile, with the forward bagging semi-final goals against Morocco at the 2022 World Cup and Spain in Euro 2024.

The former Nantes sensation has also been a long-time target for the Lilywhites. Tottenham attempted to agree a deal for Kolo Muani in January before his switch to Juve, and ex-Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou was personally pushing for him in the winter, according to club insider Paul O’Keefe.

Now, the Spurs recruitment team have got their man, but unfortunately for Frank, there is no option to buy Kolo Muani at the end of his loan spell if he manages to pull up trees in north London.

This is seen as quite an ‘un-Spurs like’ condition of the Kolo Muani deal, and pundit John Wenham has fired a warning to Tottenham over agreeing to a straight loan.

Tottenham sent Randal Kolo Muani warning as "frustrating" claim made

Speaking to Tottenham News, Wenham says thatTottenham are taking a “risk” by just signing Kolo Muani on a dry temporary deal, calling it a “frustrating” development and explaining that other sides could outbid them next year.

While there is an argument that Tottenham face not being able to hold on to Kolo Muani, the fact he’s arrived at N17 for essentially zero cost for the entire season is still a big boost for Frank.

Spurs need strength in depth if they’re to finish in the top four and contend for major trophies, and Kolo Muani is exactly the calibre of player to help them do this.

UAE coach Lalchand Rajput will be up against the team of his country of origin, whom he coached to the T20 World Cup truimph in 2007

Sidharth Monga09-Sep-20252:38

Best of Asia Cup feat. Kohli, Naseem, Rajapaksa and others

Big picture: It’s India against Lalchand Rajput’s UAE

It’s been a month and five days since the most lucrative banner in cricket took field. It is rare that India get such a long break from international cricket. They resume international cricket with a tournament that to the cynical mind exists so that other Asian boards can benefit from India’s economic heft and in turn support the BCCI in the boardroom. However, one mustn’t downplay the opportunity it gives to some of the smaller teams to play big-time opposition.Like UAE, India’s first opponents, who have played a full T20I tri- series since India last played international cricket. They came within a shot of upsetting Afghanistan even though they didn’t win a single match in the tournament. This is just the kind of tough cricket they needed before facing the best team in the world in a year in which their momentum of a bilateral series win against Bangladesh was thwarted by two defeats in ten days to Uganda in the Pearl of Africa series.Make no mistake, they are coming up against the reigning T20 world champions, who are not just the only team to have won every match in a T20 World Cup but one that has only got better since that campaign. India may have a small weakness in not having a specialist bowler who can hit sixes, but their specialist batting’s firepower and their specialist bowling’s uniqueness makes them strong contenders for being the best T20 empire ever created.Who else to know the powerhouse India have become than the UAE coach, Lalchand Rajput, who took India to their first T20 World Cup campaign when the superstars of the game were not even serious about the format? If Rajput and captain Muhammad Waseem can plot a win against India, it will be the upset of the year.

Form guide

India: WWLWW
UAE: LLLLL

In the spotlight: Shubman Gill and Simranjeet Singh

India’s Test captain Shubman Gill is making a comeback into the T20I team. Not just any comeback but one as a vice-captain, which suggests he will take his opening position. There can be an argument made that he never lost the place, he was asked to vacate it as he prepared for what was perceived as more important cricket at that time. Now he comes back as India get a little more serious about their combination in the lead-up to their world title defence early next year. And he comes back with form: 650 runs in the IPL at a strike rate of 155.87 while batting within himself.Fellow Punjabi, Ludhiana’s Simranjeet Singh bowled to Gill in the nets when the India Test captain was about 12 years old. Always on the fringes of Punjab and Kings XI Punjab, left-arm spinner Simranjeet was stranded in Dubai during the Covid-19 lockdown. He ended up staying back, coaching young cricketers, and now, at 35, will come up against Gill, who has just turned 26.10:21

Does Samson get a place in India’s starting XI?

Team news: Will Sanju Samson get a chance?

The big question for India is around Sanju Samson and the No. 8. If Gill takes the opening slot alongside Abhishek Sharma, does Samson bat at No. 3 or in the middle order or does he get to play at all? An ideal T20 combination won’t ask him to bat out of position or disrupt their Nos. 3 and 4, which should open the door for Jitesh Sharma to come back into the XI. Stranger things have happened, though, and there is a lot of popular backing for Samson.The other question for India is: do they play four specialist bowlers plus two allrounders and have no batting from No. 8 onwards or do they go three plus three? If they go four plus two, they could play both mystery spinners in Kuldeep Yadav Varun Chakravarthy, with Harshit Rana asked to do a batting job at No. 8. Three plus three will call for one of the spinners to be left out unless the pitch is a turner, which it doesn’t seem to be.India (possible): 1 Abhishek Sharma, 2 Shubman Gill, 3 Tilak Varma, 4 Suryakumar Yadav (capt), 5 Jitesh Sharma (wk), 6 Hardik Pandya, 7 Axar Patel, 8 Harshit Rana, 9 Kuldeep Yadav, 10 Jasprit Bumrah, 11 Varun ChakravarthyAlishan Sharafu, back to opening the innings during the tri-series after an experiment to space the big hitters out through the order, should continue doing so with captain Waseem. Asif Khan and wicketkeeper Rahul Chopra should form the rest of the core of the batting. Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Rohid and Haider Ali are the core of the bowling, with Simranjeet making an impression with figures of 4-0-24-1 in his only match this year.UAE (possible): 1 Muhammad Waseem (capt), 2 Alishan Sharafu, 3 Rahul Chopra (wk), 4 Asif Khan, 5 Muhammad Farooq, 6 Harshit Kaushik, 7 Muhammad Zohaib, 8 Muhammad Jawadullah/Saghir Khan, 9 Haider Ali, 10 Junaid Siddique, 11 Muhammad Rohid

Pitch and conditions

When India played in Dubai earlier in the year, in the ODI Champions Trophy, they unleashed four spinners on a used surface. The pitches are likely to be fresher and livelier for the Asia Cup, which might call for more balanced attacks and a second specialist fast bowler to partner Jasprit Bumrah. The oppressive heat at this time of the year will test the conditioning of both the sides.

Stats and trivia

• UAE have played India only once in T20Is, losing by nine wickets in the 2016 Asia Cup. They have also lost each of their three ODIs against India, the last of those in the 2015 World Cup.
• India hold a 24-3 win-loss record in T20Is since the start of the last T20 World Cup.

Manchester City are set to remain without Rodri for at least two more games, with Pep Guardiola delivering another injury update on the Spain international midfielder. Having missed most of last season with knee ligament damage, Rodri has struggled to recover full match fitness in 2025-26. He currently finds himself back on the treatment table with a muscle complaint.

• ACL damage & Club World Cup setback: Rodri struggling to stay fit

  Rodri suffered a devastating ACL injury in September 2024 that prevented him from forming part of a Premier League title defence at the Etihad Stadium – with that crown eventually being surrendered to Liverpool. More minor knocks were picked up when competing at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.

  City have always been aware of the need to handle Rodri with care, with the hope being that he could play his way towards full sharpness. Another setback was suffered, though, when lining up against Brentford. The 29-year-old midfielder was forced out of that contest inside the opening 20 minutes.

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  Rest for Rodri: No risks being taken on midfielder

  Rodri did not link up with the Spain squad during the October international break, with a window in which to rest and recover arriving at a good time for him. His latest injury, which is a hamstring problem, is not expected to keep the Ballon d’Or winner out for long.

  He did not, however, play any part in City’s return to domestic action against Everton – with Erling Haaland bagging another brace in that contest as Guardiola’s side picked up a 2-0 win. Rodri will not be rushed back into the fold, with the plan being to give him at least another week on the sidelines.

• Rodri injury update: What Guardiola has said

  That means no role will be filled in City’s upcoming Champions League clash with Villarreal on Tuesday or their Premier League trip to Aston Villa next Sunday. Quizzed on whether Rodri will be involved in those fixtures, Guardiola said: “I don’t think so. Aston Villa, I don’t think so either. It’s not long, but it’s muscular. We have to be careful. We tried many times to prevent another injury, but we have not been able to do that, so we will see.”

  Guardiola said after seeing Rodri hobble from the field against Brentford: “It’s muscular. Of course, I don't want to lose him [at all] because he is such an important player. We tried to take care of him, but it is what it is.”

  Rodri went on to tell Sky Sports when asked about the ailment that led to him seeing another Premier League outing cut short: “I felt a little bit in the hamstring – but it seems as though it's not that much. I stretched a bit, like in the final of the Euros [when he had to go off injured]. But the most important thing is it's not that big.”

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  World Cup & 2026-2 campaign: When will Rodri be back to his best?

  Guardiola has pointed out regularly that it will take well over 12 months for Rodri to recover the form that landed him a prestigious Golden Ball in 2024. It may not be until the 2026 World Cup, and into next season’s Premier League campaign, that the all-action midfielder is back to his very best.

  Guardiola has said, “Rodri has been and is an outstanding player. Everybody knows it. But I said to Rodri, and maybe he struggled to understand: it’s not about six months or seven months (after the injury). ‘Ah, (after) eight months I’ll play and be the Rodri of before’. No.

  "Rodri will be good at the World Cup with Spain. In the World Cup, it will be the best Rodri, and next season will be the best Rodri. This season will be how we handle it, step by step. It’s normal, it was one year on the massage table. The body changes, the rhythm changes. It’s a question of time. If he’s healthy and works with what he has to do, he will be back.”

  Rodri was a big miss for City last season, as they struggled for consistency across multiple competitions, but they are currently on an eight-match unbeaten run and have moved up to second in the Premier League table – three points adrift of leaders Arsenal through eight games.

Leeds United officially confirmed their latest arrival of the summer transfer window on Friday with the unveiling of Dominic Calvert-Lewin as their new centre-forward.

The former England international became a free agent last month when his contract at Everton expired, which has allowed the Whites to snap him up on a free transfer.

Calvert-Lewin has put pen to paper on a three-year contract at Elland Road, which means that he will be committed to the club even if they suffer relegation at the first time of asking.

The former Toffees marksman is set to compete with Joel Pirore and Lukas Nmecha for a place in the starting line-up, and could make his debut against his former club at Elland Road in the Premier League on Monday.

Daniel Farke has ‘lost’ two number nine options this summer, though, as he told Patrick Bamford that the veteran forward would not be a part of his plans, whilst Mateo Joseph is out on loan at Mallorca.

Despite bringing Nmecha and Calvert-Lewin in, Leeds may need to dip back into the market to sign another centre-forward before the end of the window.

Why Leeds need to sign another striker

It is no secret that the Whites will need to score plenty of goals this season to give themselves a chance of avoiding relegation from the Premier League, which makes the striker position particularly important.

However, Calvert-Lewin and Nmecha do not seem primed to arrive as prolific number nine options who are going to deliver consistent performances in front of goal in the top-flight, based on their form for their previous clubs.

Nmecha, for example, scored just seven goals in the Bundesliga in the 2023/24 and 2024/25 campaigns combined, per Transfermarkt, and missed 47 matches through injury in that time.

These statistics do not suggest that the former Wolfsburg man is likely to be Farke’s own Erling Haaland or Alexander Isak in the Premier League this season, as he struggled for goals and fitness in the last couple of campaigns.

As you can see in the table above, though, Calvert-Lewin also appears unlikely to be a prolific scorer for Leeds when you consider his output in front of goal and his disappointing finishing in recent years.

The English striker has underperformed against his xG in all nine of his seasons in the Premier League to date, and has not scored more than seven goals in a league campaign for four years.

Whilst he has scored some impressive goals, as shown in the clips above, Calvert-Lewin may not be the prolific scorer that the Whites may need to stay in the top-flight.

Leeds eyeing deal for Bundesliga striker

Supporters should, therefore, be pleased to read that the West Yorkshire outfit are reportedly eyeing up another option in that area of the pitch.

Transfer Focus

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

According to Kicker, Leeds United are lining up a potential move to sign Stuttgart centre-forward Ermedin Demirovic to bolster their options at the top end of the pitch.

The report claims that the Whites have a ‘desire’ to buy the 27-year-old marksman, despite the fact that they only signed Calvert-Lewin this week.

It adds that the Bosnia international is not happy with his current role at Stuttgart. Nick Woltemade and Deniz Undav are said to be ahead of him in the pecking order, which could lead to him pursuing a move away before the window slams shut.

Kicker also reveals that it will take a fee in the region of £35m to persuade Stuttgart to part ways with the striker, and it remains to be seen whether or not Leeds are willing to pay that much to bring him to Elland Road.

Why Leeds should sign Demirovic

As aforementioned, Calvert-Lewin and Nmecha, whilst they may prove to be huge successes at Elland Road, have not done enough in recent seasons to suggest that they will carry a significant goal threat for Farke.

This is why Leeds should be pushing to seal a deal for their latest transfer target, because he is an experienced, yet not over-the-hill, striker who could be the talismanic goalscorer they need to avoid the drop.

The former Augsburg marksman, who was dubbed a “special” talent by Stuttgart director Fabian Wohlgemuth, has an incredibly impressive fitness record in his career, with just two matches missed through injury according to Transfermarkt.

This suggests that Farke would be able to rely on him to play week-in-week-out, thanks to his durability, and the same cannot be said for the two other centre-forward arrivals this summer, as aforementioned.

Demirovic, most importantly, has proven himself to be a fantastic goalscorer in the German top-flight, and could provide a clinical presence in front of goal for the Whites.

As you can see in the table above, the Bosnian attacker has scored 30 goals and provided ten assists in the last seasons in the Bundesliga for Stuttgart and Augsburg combined.

Meanwhile, Calvert-Lewin, who has also missed 83 games through injury in this time, has only scored 15 goals in the last four Premier League seasons combined for Everton, per Transfermarkt, which suggests that Demirovic is way more prolific in front of goal, to put it lightly.

The £35m-rated star has also shown that he can finish chances at an efficient rate, outperforming his xG in both of those Bundesliga seasons, whilst the Englishman has consistently struggled to tuck away the high-quality chances that have been created for him.

Therefore, Demirovic could come in as an instant upgrade on Calvert-Lewin because he has a better fitness record, a significantly better goal record, and is a far more clinical finisher, having proven himself in one of Europe’s major leagues.

He’s Gnonto 2.0: Leeds exploring move to sign "electric" £13m forward

Leeds are not done signing attackers this summer

By
Joe Nuttall

Aug 15, 2025

This is why Leeds should be working to bring Demirovic over from Stuttgart before the summer transfer window slams shut at the start of next month, as he can offer way more to the team than Calvert-Lewin as the starting number nine.

Winning run comes to an end despite fifties from Maia Bouchier and Freya Kemp

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay25-Jul-2025Alice Davidson-Richards produced a game-changing fifty as Surrey ended Hampshire’s winning streak in a rain-curtailed Metrobank Women’s One Day Cup clash in Guildford.Freya Kemp’s 58 and Maia Bouchier’s 51 gave Hampshire a platform for a big score, but wickets at regular intervals, including three for Phoebe Franklin, restricted the visitors to 278.Surrey initially struggled to build regular partnerships but Davidson-Richards capitalised on a lengthy rain delay and smashed 62 to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat for Surrey.Having been sent in to bat, Hampshire got off to a positive start as openers Bouchier and Rhianna Southby capitalised on some erratic bowling from the Surrey quicks before Southby chopped on for 27.Bouchier anchored Hampshire’s innings well as she marshalled her side past 100 but then mistimed a flick straight to midwicket to fall for 51 as the run rate slowed.Surrey were sharp in the field throughout, as Ryana MacDonald-Gay produced two diving stops before substitute fielder Alexa Stonehouse took a reflex catch at midwicket to dismiss Georgia Adams as Hampshire slumped to 131 for 4.Abi Norgrove joined Kemp to bring about a revival and the two increased the tempo, cruising beyond 200 with a blend of big hitting and well-placed strokes before Norgrove was dismissed for 40.Kemp breezed past 50 and rotated the strike effectively with Nancy Harman until she was run out by Alice Monaghan for 58 attempting to take two on the boundary rider’s throw. But a flurry of wickets prevented Hampshire from fully attacking during the death overs and Surrey restricted the visitors to 278 all out.As dark clouds loomed over Guildford, Hampshire used the conditions to dismiss Kira Chathli early on for a duck but Bryony Smith and Alice Capsey counterattacked to make the most of the powerplay.The pair raced to 46 for 1 after seven overs before a brief shower forced the players off. Immediately after the resumption, Smith was dismissed for 24, having driven Perry straight to cover.Surrey began to settle once more but Freya Davies returned to the Hampshire attack and took the crucial wicket of Capsey for 47 thanks to Bouchier’s juggling take at midwicket.Hampshire continued to turn the screw as Ava Lee and Perry dismissed Paige Scholfield and Grace Harris, leaving the hosts 123 for 5 after 21 overs.Davidson-Richards and Danni Wyatt-Hodge kept the run rate manageable as they put together a meaningful partnership to steer Surrey to the drinks break.The rain showers that had persisted throughout the innings finally got too heavy, forcing the players off with Surrey 19 runs behind the DLS par score.After a lengthy delay, Surrey were set a revised target of 63 off 29 balls and their hopes looked over when Wyatt-Hodge holed out to cover. But Davidson-Richards and Monaghan took up the mantle, smashing a barrage of boundaries to chase down the target with two balls to spare.

Tottenham Hotspur have opened talks to sign Crystal Palace playmaker Eberechi Eze, as widely reported, and Spurs chairman Daniel Levy has a price in mind.

Fabrizio Romano was among the reliable media outlets to confirm Spurs’ negotiations for Eze in a separate deal to their pursuit of Man City winger Savinho, with supporters now poised for a potentially exciting end to the transfer window.

“Understand Tottenham are also back in talks for Eberechi Eze in separate deal from Savinho,” wrote Romano on X.

“Spurs trying again for Eze while they work on Savinho, following Maddison injury and Son exit. Eze keen but deal depends on Palace as release clause expired.”

Interestingly, other reliable media sources differ with Romano about Eze’s £68 million release clause.

According to both talkSPORT and Standard Sport, the buy-out currently remains active and won’t expire until this Friday – potentially giving Levy and co a window of opportunity to trigger it and make Eze a Spurs player.

In a further bit of good news for Thomas Frank, who is in dire need of another creative attacking player after James Maddison’s ACL rupture, Eze is reportedly becoming open to joining Tottenham before the transfer deadline on September 1.

It is important to note that Frank’s side face stiff competition from north London rivals Arsenal, who have been in pursuit of the 27-year-old for well over a month after holding consistent talks with his representatives (Fabrizio Romano).

However, Arsenal currently have to make sales first (The Telegraph), and that may be stopping them from making a formal bid for Eze.

Their hesitancy could hand Spurs an advantage in the race for Eze, especially considering Levy and technical director Johan Lange were ready to splash £60 million on Nottingham Forest’s number 10, Morgan Gibbs-White, over a month ago.

The price Tottenham want to pay for Eberechi Eze

According to reliable journalist Ben Jacobs, Tottenham have a minimum valuation for the England international and an ideal price they’re willing to pay, as Levy looks to strike a deal quickly.

Taking to X, Jacobs reports that Levy wants to pay a similar fee to their deal for winger Mohammed Kudus – around £55 million.

That being said, Palace have been clear in their demands to sell their star attacking asset.

Given Tottenham’s glaring need for another forward option, after losing Son Heung-min to LAFC, Maddison to injury and being forced to deal with Dejan Kulusevski’s continued absence, it is imperative that Levy pulls no punches here.

Eze appears set to cost a similar price to what they were more than prepared to pay for Gibbs-White, so the Lilywhites clearly have the necessary funds to meet Palace’s valuation.

He’d be worth every penny, too, having averaged more shots, key passes and successful take-ons per 90 than any other Palace player in the Premier League last term – all whilst racking up 14 goals and a further 11 assists in all competitions.

Eze can also play on the left-wing when required, and you can make a serious case that he’s exactly who Frank is crying out for.