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“Every game we play now is a big lead up opportunity. It’s about filling in the gaps with guys who have left.”

Firdose Moonda02-Dec-2025

Temba Bavuma played no part in the first ODI•AFP/Getty Images

Temba Bavuma will be back to lead South Africa’s ODI side as they seek to square the series in India but has not confirmed where he will bat while the team continues to tinker with top-order combinations.Bavuma missed the opening match with illness, where South Africa stuck to their new(ish) combination of Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton, with Quinton de Kock at No.3. With the series on the line, they may look to return to the more successful and experienced combination of de Kock and Bavuma at the top, especially given their record. While Markram and Rickelton have opened together in just seven innings, and scored 306 runs at 43.71, de Kock and Bavuma have been South Africa’s second-most prolific opening pair since 2016 with over 1,000 runs together from 19 innings at 56.42, and would appear the better choice.On the eve of match two, Bavuma was non-committal about where he stood in the line-up. “Where I fit in, generally being in that top three, I’m easy whichever way is best for the team, as long as I’m still contributing,” Bavuma said in Raipur, where he also had a long net session, confirming his return to health. “At the moment, it’s about creating depth. There is versatility in that guys who generally bat at the top of their order have used in the middle. In this team, a guy like Matthew Breetzke, who generally sees himself at the top in one-day cricket, but he’s doing that job more than well now at No.4 A guy like Tony (de Zorzi) – he’s getting that opportunity to bat at five.”Related

South Africa hope to cross the line in Raipur after Ranchi thriller

South Africa find reason for ODI optimism despite top-order tangles

In the absence of Heinrich Klaasen (retired), Tristan Stubbs (dropped) and David Miller (not in this ODI squad), South Africa have effectively created a top five out of five different opening batters with Dewald Brevis in at six. The only reserve batter is Rubin Hermann (also a top three batter for the bulk of his List A career) and Bavuma explained their reasoning for stacking the squad with top-order players.”Going back to South Africa, there’s always that element of batsmanship that you need. I know there’s a big craze about guys hitting sixes in the middle order, but you need a little bit of batsmanship. A guy like Tony, he has the characteristics.,” Bavuma said. “I guess now it’s just to keep putting on the performances to justify why he should do that.”De Zorzi has played 21 ODIs for South Africa, scored 688 runs and averages 36.21. He has a strike-rate below 100 and though he is strong against spin, is seen more as someone who can build an innings and rotate strike rather than a big-hitter. It’s that type of player South Africa think they will need, not only in the subcontinent but as they build their resources for the home ODI World Cup in 2027.The tournament is just less than two years away but South Africa will only play, according to the FTP, nine ODIs after this series, all at home. That could change especially as the FTP only runs to April 2027 and the World Cup will be held in October but the time to experiment is now, which is exactly what South Africa are doing.”Every game we play now is a big lead up opportunity. It’s about filling in the gaps with guys who have left,” Bavuma said. “Especially from a resource point of view, we want to make sure if we do have a situation where one of our main bowlers is out that we do have young guys to step in. We’re seeing guys like Nandre Burger, they are putting up their hands. So creating depth and then seeing where guys can be filling in those roles.”Bavuma feels Matthew Breetzke is pulling his weight and more at No.4•BCCI

With Kagiso Rabada out of the series. Burger led the attack in the first match with support from three other seamers: Ottneil Baartman, Corbin Bosch and Marco Jansen. South Africa also have Lungi Ngidi, who is certain to play a role at some stage, in the squad, but for now, seem to be leaning more towards allrounders. Bosch and Jansen were both crucial in South Africa’s attempt to chase 350 in Ranchi and could keep their places as the series goes on. Jansen, in particular, has had a coming of age tour of India, and has made himself central to South Africa’s XI in all formats. Expect to see much more of him in this series.”I don’t know where the rankings sit but I’m sure Marco Jansen in any one of those formats will definitely be in the top 10. His contributions with the bat, with the ball, sometimes even both, have been immense to our success. Marco is still a young guy but he’s had a lot of international cricket that is under his belt and he’s only growing into his own and he’s becoming a lot more comfortable in his skin.”Currently, Jansen, who scored 93 and took seven wickets in the Guwahati Test, is sixth on the ICC’s Test allrounder rankings but 35th on the ODI list. His returns in Ranchi, where he scored a 39-ball 70 and took 2 for 76, could be the start of his climb up the charts.

The Lewis family are attempting to usher in a new era post-Daniel Levy, with Tottenham’s owners confirming a £100 million cash injection into the club via ENIC this week.

Tottenham gifted £100m boost after Lewis family decision

Spurs announced the nine-figure windfall on Thursday morning, and it comes as yet another statement of intent from the Lewis family after forcing Levy’s resignation last month.

Since the long-serving former chair’s departure, the Lilywhites have officially rejected three expressions of takeover interest as well — snubbing Amanda Staveley’s PCP International Finance Limited and a consortium led by Dr Roger Kennedy and Wing-Fai Ng through Firehawk Holdings Limited last month.

They also rejected an approach from American tech entrepreneur and ex-DJ Brooklyn Earick, who has since confirmed that he won’t be making a formal offer for Tottenham’s majority shares via the London Stock Exchange (BBC).

The North Londoners are currently one of world football’s highest revenue generating clubs, and the aforementioned parties undoubtedly saw an opportunity to get involved in a growing project.

Real Madrid

£1.2 billion

Man City

£727 million

PSG

£700 million

Man United

£668 million

Bayern Munich

£664 million

FC Barcelona

£659.5 million

Arsenal

£621.5 million

Liverpool

£620 million

Tottenham Hotspur

£533 million

Chelsea

£474 million

However, the Lewis family have been crystal clear — Tottenham are not for sale, and they’re there to stay.

With CEO Vinai Venkatesham now taking a more prominent role in the day-to-day running of Spurs, the ex-Arsenal chief, technical director Johan Lange and manager Thomas Frank are currently formalising what they’ll need to drive success on the pitch moving forward.

According to reliable journalist Alasdair Gold, their decision to pump £100 million of new capital into the club is just the start of their financial backing, and more money is set to be made available in the near future.

One source close to the Lewis family has also dropped an exciting five-word message after their £100 million investment, stating “this is initial additional funding” — which is a clear signal that Spurs’ majority owners will continue to provide funds after this.

What ENIC's cash injection will actually be used for at Tottenham

Now, a report by Football Insider has shared what this first portion of finances will be used for at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

According to their information, Spurs are set to utilise this £100m bankroll to cover “day-to-day operations” at N17 without the need to borrow further.

Non-executive chairman Peter Charrington, who stepped into his role immediately after Levy’s resignation, and Venkatesham will decide which areas the money will be spent on strengthening.

The prospect of this money being reinvested into transfers and wages is possible, with Sky Sports reporter Kaveh Solhekol previously reporting the Lewis family’s plan to inject new capital as far back as last month.

Thus far, ENIC and the Lewis family are making good on their promises right after waving goodbye to Levy, and the club’s first transfer window beyond his exit will be a very intriguing one.

It is believed that Tottenham want a new winger and centre-back in January, with funds now made available to potentially attack the market.

da 888： It looks as though chairman Andrew Cavenagh was fully invested in hiring Danny Rohl as Rangers’ next manager when everyone thought Kevin Muscat would take charge at Ibrox.

Rangers make Rohl their new manager

da esoccer bet： Things have moved quickly over the past 24 hours or so, with Muscat’s talks with the Gers falling through when it looked as though he was the front-runner to come in as Russell Martin’s successor at Ibrox.

Rohl has been confirmed as Rangers’ next boss instead, with the German most recently in charge at Sheffield Wednesday, and once enjoying a coaching spell at Bayern Munich, working under legendary boss Hansi Flick.

The 36-year-old has constantly been mentioned as one of the favourites to take charge of the Gers, alongside Muscat and Steven Gerrard, with the latter another who decided not to take the job and enjoy a second stint at Ibrox.

After a dire start to the Scottish Premiership season, Rangers fans will be keeping their fingers crossed that Rohl is the right choice, and it looks as though he may have been the leading option for the Scottish giants all along, following a fresh claim.

Cavenagh held secret talks with Rohl during Muscat saga

According to reports, Cavenagh held talks with Rohl last week about becoming Rangers’ next manager, amid constant claims suggesting Muscat would be the man to come in. They did then back away from the discussions when the Australian became the leading target again, prior to his move collapsing.

Only time will tell whether the former Wednesday boss is the right choice for the Gers, but there is plenty to like about him from the off, as he likely prepares to take charge of his first game away to Brann in the Europa League on Thursday evening.

At just 36 years of age, he represents a young and long-term option for Rangers, rather than going with the safer bet of an older manager who knows about getting teams out of trouble rather than adopting an attractive playing style.

As mentioned, Rohl excelled at Wednesday, coming in when the Owls looked destined for relegation from the Championship in October 2023, only to turn their fortunes around and finish the 2023/24 campaign in 20th place.

Related Rohl won't like him: Rangers must drop Ibrox star with "big potential"

It’s unlikely Smith will persist with this Rangers underperformer.

Posts ByBen Gray Oct 20, 2025

Interestingly, it does look as though Muscat’s arrival at Rangers was never as concrete as reported by some, hence Cavenagh’s talks with Rohl last week, and hopefully, the German ends up being an inspired choice who gradually brings the glory days back to Ibrox as the months and years pass.

Lamine Yamal seemingly confirmed his plans to buy the €14 million (£12.5m) Barcelona mansion once owned by pop sensation Shakira & Gerard Pique through a social media post. In a now-viral photodump shared with his 14 million followers, the forward was pictured standing with his back to the camera, facing the spectacular modern property and its sparkling swimming pool.

• Yamal buys a luxury real estate

  Built in 2012, the estate originally consisted of three separate buildings spread across 3,800 square feet, featuring indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a private tennis court, and even a recording studio once used by Shakira herself.  When Shakira and Pique announced their split in 2022, the mansion was quickly put up for sale at €14 million (£12.5m). But despite global interest, it lingered on the market for over two years. One of the smaller residences was eventually sold separately, trimming the total price tag to €11 million (£9.5m), which is still enough to make most jaws drop. Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo had earlier claimed that Yamal has now swooped in to take the keys, reportedly planning to move in with his cousin and a close friend. The young star is also believed to be preparing major renovations and will be spending a significant sum to remodel the home to fit his own tastes and lifestyle. 

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Getting inside Yamal’s lavish new mansion

  It has been reported that there are six bedrooms and five bathrooms. The main house opens into a vast living space framed by glass walls that overlook the Mediterranean. The outdoor area boasts well-maintained lawns, a private poolside terrace, and a sleek lounge zone perfect for entertaining guests. It has been suggested that Yamal could transform Shakira’s old recording studio into a gaming room or personal cinema. The move into one of Catalonia’s most iconic properties comes just months after Yamal signed a blockbuster six-year contract with Barcelona in May. The deal reportedly nets him around €30 million (£26m) per season, which is an astonishing figure for a player still in his teens. That puts him among the highest-paid players in world football, potentially earning up to €180 million (£157m) by the time his contract runs its course. And the earnings don’t stop there. Thanks to his rising global profile and a string of lucrative endorsement deals, Forbes estimates Yamal’s total annual income could reach $43 million (£32m), which is enough to buy him a seat among the sport’s financial elite alongside Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Jude Bellingham.   

• Injury worries cloud the celebration

  Yet while the Instagram post painted a picture of glamour, things haven’t been entirely rosy for Yamal on the pitch. The youngster has been battling a groin injury, reportedly a form of pubalgia, which is a chronic and notoriously difficult-to-treat condition that has plagued several top players, including Lionel Messi. Reports from Spain claim Barca are worried the problem could become long-term if not handled carefully.    

  “Pubalgia is complicated," admitted Messi during an interview with Buenos Aires radio station back in 2019. “I suffer from it for a while now, I do little training and I can not play all the games. It is not a problem that can be solved overnight. I feel better now, but I still have not recovered and I still need treatment.”

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• AFP
  

  Barcelona’s battle to stay in the title race

  Despite the injury setback, Yamal remains central to Hansi Flick’s plans as Barcelona aim to chase down Real Madrid in the La Liga title race. He is expected to start as the German manager informed, "he’s fine. Some days he still feels a bit of pain, but he’s progressing well.” However, Pedri will be missing out as Flick also provided an update on the injury of the midfielder. "After the match in Madrid, he only had a minor discomfort, just fatigue, but when we checked it, we found the injury. We have to accept it. Hopefully, he’ll be back soon," he said. The Blaugranas currently sit five points behind their eternal rivals and will be desperate to keep the pressure on when they host Elche on Sunday.  

The offspinner believes starting games at 11.30am rather than 1.30pm would lead to fairer contests

ESPNcricinfo staff15-Jan-2023Should day-night matches in India begin earlier to minimise the impact of the dew factor? R Ashwin certainly thinks so. The India offspinner wants matches at the upcoming ODI World Cup, which will be played in India in October-November 2023, to begin at 11.30am – a full two hours earlier than the usual start of day-night ODI games in India.In a video on his YouTube channel, Ashwin took the example of India’s first ODI against Sri Lanka in Guwahati to suggest that dew gives chasing teams an undue advantage. Sent in to bat, India batted with deliberate urgency keeping the dew factor in mind and posted a total of 373. They eventually won by 67 runs, but Ashwin felt the margin of victory did not reflect their dominance on the day.Related

• Rohit Sharma in favour of early starts at 2023 World Cup

• How India's contenders are shaping up ahead of the World Cup

• Can Suryakumar crack ODIs ahead of the home World Cup?

• Kohli, Rohit, Gill and India's dew diligence

“India batted beautifully on a slow wicket and posted a score well above par. Still they ended up having to fight tooth and nail [to win],” he said. “The quality difference between the teams isn’t coming through – dew is narrowing that gap if you happen to lose the toss.”My suggestion – or rather my opinion – for the World Cup is to look at what venues we are playing in, and at what times. Why shouldn’t we start matches at 11.30am during the World Cup?”Day-night ODIs in India usually begin at 1.30pm, and extend well into the primetime television hours. While starting matches earlier may arguably lead to fairer contests, broadcasters may be against such a move given the potential risk of reduced viewership figures. Ashwin, though, suggested that fans would tune in to watch World Cup matches regardless of timing.”People will bring up television viewers and broadcasters, and say that people won’t latch on and watch at that time, but would they not latch on to World Cup matches?” he asked. “The recent T20 World Cup was also held in winter, prioritising the summer [for Australia’s home bilateral season]. It wasn’t the ideal scenario – T20 is a fast-paced game, how can you play it in winter? People will say that’s not the case in Australia, but still, we need to prioritise World Cups.”The ICC knows very well that there will be dew, so let’s advance the game, and if we start at 11.30am, the dew factor won’t come into the game, and why not? Won’t all cricket fans prioritise the World Cup and watch matches at 11.30?”As things stand, Ashwin suggested that teams around the world look at dew as one of the most significant factors in shaping day-night games in India.”ECB recently invited applications for the analyst’s position, and – I came to know this through some analysts I know – one of the important questions they asked was, ‘How big a factor is dew in Indian conditions in white-ball cricket?’ They’re looking to bring in the best analytical tools possible ahead of the 2023 World Cup, and they’ve asked all the pertinent questions, so you can see how crucial everyone in world cricket thinks the dew factor is in Indian conditions.”

Celtic are now pushing to sign a new defender this January, however there are question marks over whether he is a necessary signing for Brendan Rodgers.

Celtic set to splash the cash in January

Although they are top of the Scottish Premiership and have already secured one domestic trophy this season, Celtic are keen to strengthen this January, having identified targets in a number of different positions.

Ajax central midfielder Benjamin Tahirovic is said to be on the radar, having made it clear he wants to leave the Eredivisie side, with summer target Mahamadou Diawara also being considered in the same area of the pitch.

With Luis Palma now considering his future at Parkhead, Rodgers is keen to bring in a new winger, and the Hoops have also set their sights on Brondby attacker Mathias Kvistgaarden, who would be interested in a move away.

Rodgers is keen to strengthen his squad this January, in order to make sure his squads competes on all fronts this season.

Celtic pushing to sign Jonjoe Kenny

Celtic are now pushing to sign Hertha BSC’s Jonjoe Kenny according to Pete O’Rourke. The defender will be a familiar face, having spent a few months on loan at Parkhead back in 2021.

O’Rourke says Kenny’s previous spell at Celtic Park is considered a ‘disaster’, while Rodgers already has Alistair Johnson and Anthony Ralston to choose from at right-back, casting doubt over whether it would be a necessary signing.

Strengthening other areas of the pitch is likely to be more of a priority for Rodgers this winter, and the report questions why the board are seemingly pushing for a signing which is both unlikely and not massively beneficial.

Sky Sports: Celtic interested in signing versatile international midfielder

He was once described as “one of the biggest talents” ever seen in his position.

ByBarney Lane Dec 12, 2024

As mentioned in the report, the Englishman’s previous spell in Glasgow did not go exactly to plan, and he has since described his time with the Scottish champions as a “difficult period”. However, Hertha’s financial woes mean they may be willing to sell the 27-year-old for a fee of just £2m, so he would be a low-cost addition to the squad for Rodgers.

Furthermore, the former Everton man has found his feet again during his time with Hertha, albeit in the second tier of German football, ranking among their best-performing players in the league so far this season.

Over the past year, the full-back ranks in the 97th percentile for assists per 90, when compared to his positional peers, and the 88th percentile for clearances, highlighting his ability in both boxes.

That said, Kenny was less than impressive during his previous spell with Celtic, meaning he is unlikely to be a signing that wins over the fans, and Rodgers already has plenty of options to choose from at right-back.

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.

Tottenham’s summer signings	Price tag
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

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.

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.

Calvert-Lewin’s Premier League career
Season	xG	Goals
24/25	8.85	3
23/24	13.63	7
22/23	6.50	2
21/22	6.22	5
20/21	18.21	16
19/20	16.11	13
18/19	6.17	6
17/18	5.44	4
16/17	1.25	1
Stats via Understat

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.

Eremdin Demirovic (Bundesliga)	23/24	24/25
Appearances	33	34
Starts	33	20
xG	13.59	14.20
Goals	15	15
Minutes per goal	192	124
Conversion rate	19%	23%
Big chances created	8	5
Assists	9	1
Stats via Sofascore

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.

One thing’s for certain: Nottingham Forest certainly haven’t rested on their laurels this summer, having completed eight first-team signings after qualifying for Europe under Nuno Espirito Santo’s wing last season.

In spite of recent tensions threatening a schism at the City Ground, Nuno has built up a squad of immense quality, capable of challenging domestically and abroad. Many acquisitions have been made over the past few months in the quest for solidification on a higher rung of the European ladder.

Well, Forest may yet welcome another player to their backline, with competition sought for Ola Aina on the right side of the rearguard.

Forest's late search for a right-back

On Tuesday, The Athletic’s David Ornstein revealed that Nottingham Forest officials had compiled a four-man shortlist as a right-back is sought.

Top of that list: RB Leipzig’s Lutsharel Geertruida. However, at this late stage of the window, it’s crucial not to place all of your eggs in one basket, for a deal for the Dutchman might easily fall through.

As per journalist Fabrizio Romano, Forest have now agreed a deal for Juventus defender Nicolo Savona, with the move set to be completed for a fee in excess of €15m (£13m).

Transfer Focus

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

A medical is now scheduled to take place.

Why Forest want Nicolo Savona

Savona still features on the periphery at Juventus, having featured 40 times in total for the senior squad, and many further times for the development team.

But he’s shown a lot of promise over the past year, entrusted with a fixed role in the matchday squad, with talent scout Jacek Kulig drawing attention to his “interesting” profile, competent across central and wide defensive roles.

While Geertruida, 25, might have a bit more refinement about his game at the moment, there’s little question that he’s not leaps and bounds ahead of his Italian peer, who would be much cheaper and with room for growth besides.

Matches (starts)

28 (19)

24 (17)

Goals

2

1

Assists

1

0

Clean sheets

2

6

Touches*

45.0

54.3

Pass completion

91%

88%

Key passes*

0.6

0.5

Ball recoveries*

2.6

3.5

Dribbles*

0.2

0.3

Tackles + interceptions*

1.4

2.7

Clearances*

1.1

2.4

Duels (won)*

1.9 (50%)

2.5 (55%)

Errors made

0x

5x

Damning is the regularity of mistakes made by Geertruida in the Bundesliga. The Netherlands star has a range of exciting qualities, but this is concerning stuff.

Conversely, Savona made his way through the 2024/25 season without making a single error for Juventus, having featured nominally. He looks like he is blooming into a real star, perhaps in a similar fashion to the superstar that is Murillo.

Murillo, 23, is one of the most exciting defenders in the business, having played an instrumental role in Nottingham Forest’s success over the past couple of years.

Hailed as “one of the best defenders in the Premier League” by certain experts on Brazilian football, the South American star joined Forest from Brazilian club Corinthians in 2023 for a £15m fee, since featuring 77 times for his English outfit as they have gone from strength to strength in the Premier League.

Like Savona, his quality was clear from the off, having actually only played 27 senior matches in his homeland after breaking free from the constraints of academy football.

And now, Forest are reaping the rewards.

With Savona, they could hit the jackpot once again, landing an inexperienced, but top talent for a shrewd figure and growing them, organically, into a player fit for purpose at the top of the European game.

Bad news for Ndoye: Nottingham Forest "pushing" to sign "exciting" £35m gem

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ByKelan Sarson Aug 27, 2025

Southampton have now opened talks over a deal for a £12m Championship star, who could be brought in as a replacement for Mateus Fernandes, according to a report.

Fernandes' future remains up in the air

Unlike some other high-profile players, Fernandes has not downed tools in order to force a move this summer, featuring in the opening two Championship games, even though the Saints’ midfielder has been attracting serious interest from the Premier League.

Indeed, West Ham United have now submitted an offer for the 21-year-old, while there has also been interest from elsewhere, with the likes of Manchester United and Aston Villa also being named as potential suitors.

Given that the Hammers’ most recent offer was deemed unacceptable, it remains to be seen whether the Portuguese midfielder moves on this summer, but Will Still’s side have already made a move for a potential replacement.

That is according to a report from The Daily Mail, which states Southampton have now opened talks over a deal for Middlesbrough’s Finn Azaz, with an offer worth up to £12m currently under discussion.

The negotiations for Azaz got underway straight after West Ham made an offer for Fernandes, and given that the 24-year-old excels in both attacking and central midfield roles, it seems as though he is being targeted as a direct replacement for the youngster.

However, the need for Still to bring in a new attacker is also exacerbated by the interest in Tyler Dibling, with a number of Premier League clubs still keen on signing the young winger.

Azaz could be exciting replacement for Fernandes

Fernandes has featured in the Saints’ opening three games this season, most notably scoring the winner after starting and finishing a move against Northampton in the EFL Cup.

As such, Still will be disappointed if he loses an important player, but there are signs that Azaz could be a top-quality replacement, having received very high praise from former manager Michael Carrick last season.

Carrick said: “We know his quality, his eye for a pass and for finding spaces to create for others. He’s an intelligent player and he can score goals as well. He did so before he came here and it was one the reasons we bought him. He’s got the whole package really.”

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ByDominic Lund Aug 19, 2025

The Championship star was very impressive from an attacking point of view last term, chipping in with 23 goal contributions in 45 league outings for Boro, which suggests he would be very capable of slotting straight into Still’s promotion-chasing Southampton side.

Losing Fernandes would be tough to take, but it would not be a surprise if the starlet is eager to return to the Premier League, and Azaz could be the ideal replacement.