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New Tottenham Hotspur boss Thomas Frank will want to hit the ground running after being appointed following Ange Postecoglou’s dismissal from the role.

However, if he is to be a success during his spell in North London, he will have to do so without Bryan Mbeumo, with the Brentford star looking set to move to Manchester United.

The Lilywhites were linked with a move for the Cameroonian’s signature this window, but rejected a reunion with his former boss in favour of a move to Old Trafford.

Frank has since turned to Mohammed Kudus instead, costing a £55m from London rivals West Ham United this window, as he looks to add further quality to his frontline.

Despite the big-money addition, the hierarchy are still targeting added reinforcements in such a department, leading to numerous names being touted with a switch to North London.

The latest on Spurs’ hunt for new signings this summer

Ademola Lookman has been one player who’s emerged as a potential addition this summer, but it appears as though he’s set for a move elsewhere during the off-season.

The Nigerian international appears to be edging closer to a move across Italy to join Inter Milan, with a £40m transfer fee being touted for his services.

However, another name has emerged as a potential addition for Frank and the Lilywhites, with Liverpool’s Harvey Elliott being considered, according to journalist Sebastien Vidal.

He claims that Spurs are set to hold talks with the 22-year-old forward, who has been allowed to depart Anfield this window, leading to a £40m transfer fee being mooted.

Vidal also states that Newcastle United and Brighton are also showing interest in the youngster, who’s demanding regular first-team action upon any transfer away from Merseyside.

Why Spurs’ £40m target has shades of Mbeumo

There’s no denying that last campaign, Mbeumo was one of, if not the key reason, why Brentford performed so well in the Premier League last campaign.

The 25-year-old found the back of the net on 20 occasions, with only Alexander Isak, Erling Haaland and Mohamed Salah netting more than the forward in 2024/25.

After Frank’s appointment, many Lilywhites supporters would’ve been wishing that the forward moved to North London with him, but other targets are now being considered.

Kudus will undoubtedly be one player to try and be his next version of Mbeumo, but a deal for Elliott could also provide the manager with the depth he requires.

The English star has showcased in recent weeks that he’s capable of starring at the top-level, scoring five times at the U21 Euros, leading his nation to the title and winning the Player of the Tournament award.

Whilst he struggled for minutes in the Premier League last season, he also managed to demonstrate why he possesses similar qualities to the Brentford star.

He is also a left-footed star who likes to cut inside off the right-hand side and curl an effort into the top corner – something which could make him a hit with the Lilywhites supporters.

When comparing their respective stats from last season, Elliott has managed to outperform Mbeumo in numerous key areas, highlighting what a superb addition he would be.

The Liverpool ace, who’s been labelled “outrageous” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has registered a higher tally of progressive passes and passes into the final third per 90, highlighting the creative ability that he possesses with the ball at his feet.

Games played

18

38

Goals & assists

3

27

Progressive passes

10.7

3.7

Pass accuracy

82%

66%

Key passes made

2.4

1.8

Passes into final third

6.3

1.6

Take-on success

47%

46%

Carries into final third

2.7

1.8

He also made more key passes per 90, whilst achieving a higher take-on success rate, having the direct nature in attacking areas to cause concern for the opposition.

If he can add more goals to his game in the near future, he can certainly emulate the levels produced by the Cameroonian, potentially making a small fortune on any investment this window.

£40m would be a great deal for a young talent who has the perfect opportunity to kick on in his career, arguably being key to any success Frank could achieve during his spell in charge at Spurs.

He'd be perfect alongside Kudus: Spurs in talks for "remarkable" £40m star

Tottenham Hotspur have made a move for another Premier League talent this summer.

1 ByEthan Lamb Jul 17, 2025

In a summer full of frustration for Newcastle United, things could be about to get even worse with reports now suggesting that PIF could yet help deal them a major blow.

Howe delivers verdict on "difficult" summer

Those at St James’ Park have had plenty of ambition without reward so far this summer. Whilst they deserve praise for the signing of Anthony Elanga, other targets have come and gone elsewhere in what has become the frustrating trend of their transfer window.

The latest to do so looks set to be Hugo Ekitike. Although reports suggested that Newcastle had already submitted an opening bid for the Frenchman with a second on the way, Liverpool soon swooped in to steal a march on the Magpies. With concerns that the Reds would instead turn towards Alexander Isak if they missed out on the Frankfurt star, Newcastle dropped out of the race for his signature.

Eddie Howe, like all involved at St James’ Park, will be incredibly disappointed by how the summer transfer window has gone so far. He told reporters when asked about Newcastle’s business: “It was a difficult summer (to switch off) with everything going on behind the scenes.

“Obviously losing Paul (Mitchell) and all of the dynamics changing within (the club). The Sporting Director role is such a pivotal role at the club, so there was a lot (of work) to pick up.

“There has been a lot of work, transfer-wise, for very little incoming action, although we are delighted to get Anthony Elanga in, who has done very well in training so far. But a lot more work (is needed) behind the scenes in preparation for the new season.”

More clinical than Ekitike: Howe plotting Newcastle move to sign £75m+ star

Losing out on Ekitike could prove to be a blessing in disguise.

2 ByTom Cunningham Jul 19, 2025

After calling for more work to be done, Howe may not exactly get his wish, however. In fact, reports are now suggesting that PIF could even play a part in dealing Newcastle their biggest blow yet.

Saudi giants plotting shock Isak move

According to Sky’s Gianluca Di Marzio, Al-Hilal are now plotting a shock move to sign Isak from Newcastle this summer in what would see PIF work on a deal between two of their majority owned clubs. Led by Simone Inzaghi, the Saudi market is said to be “heating up” with Al-Hilal “considering a massive offer to convince both the club and the player.”

It’s an unexpected twist, to say the least, but the Magpies could now reportedly lose out to the rich owners that they entrusted with keeping the Swede in the first place.

Despite the fact that PIF own a majority stake in both clubs, there would reportedly be no issue regarding the regulations if Al-Hilal did sign Isak this summer. Having lost out on Ekitike to fend off any interest from Liverpool in Isak, it would now be the summer’s most shocking turn if the forward moved to the Saudi Pro League courtesy of PIF.

There’s no doubt that the Magpies would be losing one of, if not the, best striker in the Premier League or perhaps world football, who earned plenty of praise from Gary Neville last season.

The Manchester United legend and Sky Sports pundit said after Newcastle defeated the Red Devils: “You could really see the quality of his play and his movement tonight.

“He’s absolutely fantastic and he’s improving all the time. We know he can score goals, we know he can run, but also his hold-up play and his link with others has got better and better since he’s been at Newcastle.”

Eighth-wicket stand with Kalea Moore spearheads victory over Vipers

ECB Reporters Network14-Sep-2024The South East Stars are through to the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy final, after a thrilling fightback against the Southern Vipers in their semi-final at Beckenham.The Vipers had posted 220 for 9 from their 50 overs, Nancy Harman their top scorer with 38 and Tilly Corteen-Coleman taking 3 for 33 and the Stars looked dead and buried at 131 for 7 until a partnership of 90 from 86 balls between Alice Davidson-Richards and Kalea Moore turned the contest on its head.There were seven balls remaining when Davidson-Richards hit Alice Monagan for a single to send the Stars through to the final. Davidson-Richards, who was dropped on 31, finished on 90, while Moore was unbeaten on 52 and the Stars will now face the Sunrisers in Saturday’s final at Grace Road.The Vipers won the toss and chose to bat but lost Ella McCaughan in the third over for 2, caught behind off Corteen-Coleman.Rhianna Southby made a quickfire 20, but she swatted a bouncer from Alexa Stonehouse to Emma Jones and visibly remonstrated with the umpires before heading back to the pavilion.Phoebe Franklin then produced a superb forward diving catch at midwicket to get Naomi Dattani off Stonehouse for 9.Danni Gregory got Georgia Elwiss for 34 with a rank ball she pulled straight to Jones and Emily Windsor then tried to cut Gregory and was bowled for 30.Abi Norgrove was bowled by Kalea Moore for 25 before Nancy Harman and Alice Monaghan put on a useful 48 for the seventh wicket, although there was confusion at the end of the 36th over when the former hit a four and retained the strike. A single was also missed and as the scorers and analysts tried to work out what happened, Corteen-Coleman had Monaghan caught on the long-on boundary by Davidson-Richards for 26.The same duo removed Harman, this time as Davidson-Richards sprinted round the boundary, before Freya Davies was run out by Franklin off the last ball of the innings for 7, leaving Ava Lee unbeaten on 14.At the halfway point the Stars looked favourites but they lost Stonehouse for 10 when she skied Davies and Dattani took a steepling catch and Franklin then top-edged Davies and was snared by Lee for 7.Elwiss then took two wickets in as many balls when she sent Chloe Hill’s off stump flying then bowled Kira Chathli, leaving Aylish Cranstone to block out the hat-trick ball.The pivotal moment came when Davidson-Richards offered the simplest of caught-and-bowled chances to Lee and she was punching the air in anger when Lee somehow dropped her.When Cranstone was caught and bowled in the next over from the Beckenham End, by Rebecca Tyson for 27, the Stars were in trouble on 94 for 5 and things looked bleaker still for the hosts when Emma Jones drove Dattani to cover and was caught by Elwiss for 7.Priyanaz Chatterji was on 9 when Elwiss couldn’t cling on to a difficult return catch off her own bowling, but she couldn’t cash in as she drove Elwiss to Windsor having only added a single.Moore, however, re-injected some belief into the chase and kept the Stars ticking over at a run a ball until 18 were needed from the last three.Dattani bowled the 48th and it went for 14, effectively ending the contest and leaving Davidson-Richardson to hit the winning single.

Real Madrid were expecting Eduardo Camavinga to return from his injury setback against Real Sociedad this weekend, but he won't be a part of the squad.

Camavinga nearing full recover from ankle injuryWill not travel with Madrid squad to SociedadCould mark his return against Marseille next weekFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Eduardo Camavinga injury update: Return delayed for Real Madrid

Real Madrid will travel to the Anoeta for this weekend's La Liga clash against Real Sociedad without the services of Camavinga, who is currently recovering from an ankle injury he suffered in August. However, have revealed when the French midfielder could mark his return to the pitch.

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Camavinga was expected to be available from the start ahead of the commencement of La Liga last month, but suffered an ankle injury during training. While Los Blancos have full faith in the former Rennes prodigy's talent, the midfielder has become extremely injury-prone. Although he will most likely miss the clash against Real Sociedad, efforts are being made to ensure he completes full recovery in time for the Champions League opener against Marseille on September 16. Given Camavinga's recent fitness history, Madrid are being extremely cautious and are unwilling to rush his return. 

DID YOU KNOW?

Camavinga could make only 35 appearances across all competitions for Real Madrid last season. He suffered four different injuries in the 2024-25 campaign, forcing him to miss 33 games. This season, he has already missed the first three games. As surprising as it may seem, he is yet to play under new head coach Xabi Alonso.

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR REAL MADRID?

Madrid are currently leading the league with nine points from their first three games. They are tied with Athletic Club, the only other team to register maximum points in August. Alonso will hope his troops can maintain the early momentum against Sociedad on Saturday. 

England opener to move to Kia Oval for start of Tier 1 county competition

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Nov-2024Danni Wyatt-Hodge will play for Surrey in the new Women’s Tier 1 county competition next season, after transferring her allegiance from Hampshire-based Southern Vipers.Wyatt-Hodge, 33, is currently in action for Hobart Hurricanes in the Women’s Big Bash League, having recently featured in England’s T20 World Cup campaign in the UAE.Last summer, she represented Southern Vipers in the Charlotte Edwards Cup and Rachel Heyhoe Flint Trophy, as well as Southern Brave, who are also based in Southampton.However, she has chosen to make the move to Surrey for the 2025 season, where she will link up with England top-order team-mates Sophia Dunkley and Alice Capsey.”I am both excited and honoured to be joining Surrey,” Wyatt-Hodge said. “The club has an incredible history with a culture of success, which I want to contribute to.”I love playing at the Kia Oval and can’t wait to entertain the Surrey supporters. The South East Stars’ positive brand of cricket was an important factor in me joining the club and I’m looking forward to getting started!”Wyatt-Hodge has played 278 England matches since her debut in 2010, at the age of 19, scoring over 5,000 runs across the three formats. She’s England’s all-time leading run-scorer in women’s T20Is with 2,979 runs from 164 matches, at a strike-rate of 127.85.She made her county debut for Staffordshire at the age of 14, but has been based at the Utilita Bowl since 2020. She is also due to play for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in this year’s WPL, after making the move from UP Warriorz.”We are incredibly excited that Danni Wyatt-Hodge has agreed to commit to Surrey for the 2025 season,” Emma Calvert, Surrey’s Director of Women’s Cricket, said. “Danni’s career speaks for itself, and we believe she will add strength and depth on the field as well as adding to the team off the field.”After chatting to Danni it was clear to see that she will be an incredible fit for our new team. They style of cricket she plays is exactly how we want to go about our business, and I am excited to see what she achieves wearing the Three Feathers.”

West Bromwich Albion clinched an entertaining 3-2 victory in their final runout before the Championship season kicks off against Spanish visitors Rayo Vallecano.

Not much can often be dissected from these summer runouts, as the main priority will always be to get fitness into the legs, but Ryan Mason will hope his side can follow up this win with one or two more across the daunting opening matches in the league.

The 33-year-old will be equal parts nervous and excited as he embarks on his first proper season as a rookie head coach, with more new signings likely to be in the pipeline before September’s deadline to help Mason navigate these choppy waters.

Unfortunately, he won’t be able to convince Tottenham Hotspur prodigy Mikey Moore to move to the West Midlands, even with the bonus of Mason’s Spurs connections being on their side.

West Brom's failed pursuit of Mikey Moore

It looked nailed on that the 17-year-old attacker was going to be West Brom’s next statement capture, having already impressed the Baggies masses by signing Aune Heggebo for £4.7m from Brann, alongside ex-Liverpool centre-back Nat Phillips also catching the eye as a reinforcement defensively.

However, this deal is no longer one that is feasible to get over the line, with Scottish giants Rangers pipping the Baggies to the in-demand teenager’s signature over Mason’s men, amid a battle also once forming for his signature from Birmingham City.

This is a body blow to the second-tier outfit, with Moore no doubt ready to explode into life even more away from his limited senior chances back at Spurs, having previously collected a staggering 17 goals and 12 assists from just 22 U18 Premier League appearances in North London.

Of course, there is the worry that the teenage sensation will falter away from that Spurs bubble, as the Baggies now attempt to forget about any move falling through by looking to snap up this other exciting attacker instead.

West Brom can forget Moore by signing "sublime" star

Moore is the flavour of the month, but there’s no guarantee he would be an instant success story in the Championship, away from already bagging a senior goal at Spurs during a fleeting Europa League runout.

Instead, the Baggies could be better off going after an attacking star who already knows what it takes to excel at such a demanding level in the form of AFC Bournemouth forward David Brooks – a player who once cost the Cherries £11.5m back in 2018, having later been valued at £40m amid rival Premier League interest.

West Brom had previously been tipped to make a loan move for the former Sheffield United attacker this summer, but no such move came to fruition in the end, even as the deal hung in the balance at the advanced stages.

His eventual arrival onto the scene, if a move were to get back into motion, would allow for West Brom to forget about Moore in an instant, as the Welshman has more than shown his obvious class in the testing division previously.

AFC Bournemouth

39

6

6

Sheffield United

30

3

5

Southampton

17

2

5

The 17-year-old Ibrox-bound attacker, on the contrary, has never experienced what the testing terrain of the second tier is like, even if he does look ready for an opportunity in such a division.

Therefore, going after Brooks – especially on a loan basis – feels like a more savvy move on West Brom’s end over ruminating too much over losing out on Moore, particularly when you also consider the 28-year-old can play through the middle and on both wings, much like his young Gers counterpart.

His former Bournemouth boss, Eddie Howe, even labelled Brooks as a “sublime” talent when he was first cutting his teeth on the South Coast, with his standout stint in South Yorkshire in the EFL also leading to his ex-Sheffield United manager, Chris Wilder, describing him as “superb.”

Everything is pointing in the direction of this being a sterling move to pursue to bounce back from the disappointing news about Moore, as Brooks potentially attempts to be the spark yet again for a Championship side in their hunt for promotion glory.

West Brom submit bid for "talented" overseas starlet, they've had a reply

The Baggies are moving for talent in the window…

1 BySean Markus Clifford Jul 30, 2025

The INEOS hierarchy at Manchester United has been hellbent on avoiding the same mistakes as the previous regime, although there does appear to be a real sense of Deja Vu with regard to Jason Wilcox’s pursuit of a new centre-forward.

Rewind two years ago, with then-boss Erik ten Hag having identified Harry Kane as his primary striker target, albeit with United wary of engaging in protracted negotiations with Tottenham Hotspur chairman, Daniel Levy.

The ageing Englishman instead packed his bags for Germany, while the Old Trafford side went down the high-potential route. Despite reportedly being Ten Hag’s fifth-choice option at the time, in came a 20-year-old Rasmus Hojlund for an initial fee of £64m.

Season

Player

Goals

2024/25

Bruno Fernandes & Amad

8

2023/24

Bruno Fernandes & Rasmus Hojlund

10

2022/23

Marcus Rashford

17

2021/22

Cristiano Ronaldo

18

2020/21

Bruno Fernandes

18

2019/20

Marcus Rashford & Anthony Martial

17

2018/19

Paul Pogba

13

2017/18

Romelu Lukaku

16

2016/17

Zlatan Ibrahimovic

17

2015/16

Anthony Martial

11

2014/15

Wayne Rooney

12

2013/14

Wayne Rooney

17

2012/13

Robin van Persie

26

A player coveted by Paris Saint-Germain at the time, Hojlund had been earning rave reviews amid his promising displays in Atalanta, with then-boss Gian Piero Gasperini highlighting his electric pace that had ripped through Serie A defences.

We’d all seen the clips of the young Dane bursting into the box at breakneck speed. All dreamed of this ‘new Erling Haaland’ proving to be the next Scandinavian striking sensation on Premier League soil.

Overlooked, however, was the mere nine league goals he had scored in his solitary season in Bergamo, with such a gamble having yet to pay off for the Red Devils. The same mistake can’t happen again under Wilcox.

Latest on Man Utd's striker search

Speaking after scoring in the recent 4-1 victory over Bournemouth in the latest Premier League summer series clash, the 22-year-old – who had been linked with a move to Inter Milan earlier in the window – outlined his desire to “stay and fight for his spot, whatever happens”.

A bright start to pre-season has raised hopes that United’s number nine can kick on in 2025/26, although Hojlund might not get his own way, with reports indicating that he could be used as part of a deal to bring in a new striker.

Indeed, it has been claimed – including by The Athletic’s Laurie Whitwell – that a swap deal could be on the cards which would see the Denmark starlet head to RB Leipzig, with Benjamin Sesko moving in the opposite direction.

Transfer Focus

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

Additional reports, as per journalist Graeme Bailey, having indicated that there is an “internal confidence” at Old Trafford that a deal for Sesko will get over the line amid their ongoing talks, with the club currently going toe-to-toe with Newcastle United for his signature:

Reportedly valued at around £70m, Sesko – who has been the subject of a bid from Newcastle – is hot property amid two solid seasons in Germany. That said, doesn’t this all feel a little familiar?

Why Man Utd are risking a Hojlund repeat

For a brief moment, it looked like United’s decision to plump for Hojlund had paid off, following his destructive debut away to Arsenal in September 2023. Having endured an injury-hit start to life in Manchester, the towering left-footer announced himself in fine fashion, proving a real nuisance for Gabriel and William Saliba in the home defence.

That image of Casemiro grabbing the youngster by the jersey – a mark that he was to be the man to win the game for Ten Hag’s men – evoked that strong early impression, with Hojlund also subsequently making his mark by netting five times in six Champions League group stage outings, including a breathtaking brace at home to Galatasaray.

Such moments have indicated that there is a player in there somewhere, yet with 26 goals to his name in 95 appearances, this is an expensive risk that has yet to pay off, with TNT Sport commentator Darren Fletcher notably describing the misfiring marksman as perhaps the “most unlucky number nine Manchester United have ever had”.

But should his woes be a surprise? His only season in a top-five league had yielded only nine Serie A goals, having previously scored 17 goals in 53 games for Sturm Graz and FC Copenhagen combined. Thrusting him in as the leading striker was perhaps a step too far, too soon.

Sesko’s path has worryingly been rather similar to date, with the 22-year-old – who is actually younger than Hojlund – having spent two seasons in the Bundesliga, after previously scoring 29 times in 79 games for Austria side Red Bull Salzburg.

A player whom United turned down for a fee of around £2.5m back in 2019, the Slovenian has reached double figures for league goals in each of the last two campaigns, although he hasn’t exactly ripped it up with 13 and 14 goals, respectively.

Like Hojlund, at 6 foot 4 the in-demand striker is an eye-catching figure, having been described as a “monster” of a striker by analyst Ben Mattinson. His penchant for the spectacular will also have onlookers licking their lips – boasting a highlight reel of goals that any number nine would be proud of.

That said, in the view of The Athletic’s James Horncastle, speaking on the Libero podcast, there is a sense that he merely is a “highlights player”, with the respected journalist even quipping that he is akin to a ‘Slovenian Andy Carroll’ in that regard.

A scorer of great goals, but not exactly a great goalscorer then, with United again at a juncture where they are in need of a proven talent, rather than a player of undoubtedly exciting potential.

Like with Ten Hag and Kane two years ago, Ruben Amorim is said to have a preference for signing Premier League menace, Ollie Watkins. Perhaps listening to the Portuguese coach would be the right choice this time around?

Most important deal since Bruno: Man Utd make enquiry for "world-class" gem

Manchester United are set to make another key move within this summer’s transfer window.

1 ByEthan Lamb Aug 2, 2025

Whittam oversees a new body which will take over duties from the Cricket Discipline Commission

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Nov-2024Richard Whittam KC has been appointed chair of the Cricket Discipline Panel (CDP), a new independent tribunal which will take over from the Cricket Discipline Commission as the body to hear and adjudicate on regulatory breaches in English professional cricket and subsequent sanctions handed out.Whittam’s appointment, made by the ECB board for a four-year term, comes after an open recruitment process. The 64-year-old is a specialist regulatory and criminal barrister with a background in sport.After serving as a deputy high court judge between 2016 and 2022, Whittam was appointed as the Rugby Football Union’s Head of Independent Judiciary last year. He has chaired discipline, safeguarding and appeal panels in rugby union since 2014. Whittam is also a member of the Word Rugby and European Professional Club Rugby Judicial Panels.Whittam will be responsible for presiding over specific disciplinary cases, and appointing the other members of the CDP who possess an appropriate range of skills and diversity. Once they are in place, the panel will begin considering cases, taking over this role from the current CDC, which is chaired by Tim O’Gorman.The CDP’s function will be to consider cases brought before it by the Cricket Regulator, the body responsible for monitoring compliance with and enforcement of adherence to the game’s regulations on behalf of the ECB. Formed in 2023, the Cricket Regulator was a key recommendation from a damning report published by the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket (ICEC) in June of that year, detailing structural inequalities across race, gender and class in cricket in England and Wales.The majority of cases brought to the panel will relate to breaches of the ECB’s Professional Conduct Regulations, but will also include other regulations such as the Anti-Corruption code, Player and Match Officials’ Minimum Standards, Cricket Playing Conditions, Bowling Review Regulations, Pitch Regulations and Head Protector Regulations.Speaking on his appointment, Whittam said: “I am delighted to be appointed to this important role. It is vital to the integrity of cricket that the sport’s rules and regulations are upheld. As the first Chair of the CDP I look forward to getting the Panel up and running and ensuring that cases are dealt with promptly, in a fair, thorough and transparent manner.”ECB chair Richard Thompson said: “The independent Cricket Discipline Panel will play an important role in enforcing cricket’s regulations and dealing with any misconduct and regulatory breaches. Richard Whittam KC has an impressive background in law and sports discipline which makes him the ideal person to chair the Panel.”I’d like to pass on my sincere thanks to Tim O’Gorman and all the panel members from the Cricket Discipline Commission for the service they have given the game over many years. They have performed an important duty in enforcing cricket’s regulations, and I’m grateful for their continued service while the new Cricket Discipline Panel members are recruited.”

Harry Kane was pleased to get the "job done" against Andorra despite a sluggish performance from the Three Lions in World Cup qualifying. The 2-0 scoreline looked routine on paper, but the performance from Thomas Tuchel’s men was anything but inspiring. Still, the mission was accomplished, with the Three Lions now boasting four wins from four qualifiers in Group K.

England grind out dull win over AndorraKane pleased to get over the lineTuchel’s Lions march on to Serbia clashFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

It was a game crying out for flair, yet it took a stroke of luck to open the scoring. After 25 minutes, Andorran defender Christian García accidentally nodded Noni Madueke’s cross past his own goalkeeper, handing England the lead. 

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The home crowd had little to get excited about as the game ambled along at a pedestrian pace. It wasn’t until the 67th minute that the contest was finally killed off. Declan Rice, charging forward with purpose, met a pinpoint ball from Reece James and powered home a header to make it 2-0. From there, the outcome was never in doubt, but England’s play remained flat, with fans left wondering when Tuchel’s side will click into a higher gear.

TELL ME MORE

For Kane, the evening was significant for reasons beyond the scoreline. The striker won his 108th cap, moving level with England legend Bobby Moore. However, it was not a night where Kane could truly stamp his mark. Starved of service, the captain cut a frustrated figure for much of the contest. He did, however, produce one bright moment, a smart cut-back that deserved a finish from debutant Elliot Anderson, only for the midfielder’s shot to be denied.

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WHAT KANE SAID

After the match, Kane reflected positively, posting on X: “Good to be back out there in an England shirt. Job done at Villa Park, positive step forward in our World Cup qualifying campaign 🦁🦁🦁”.

Brisbane Heat are the defending champions while eyes will be on whether the Melbourne teams can rebound

Tristan Lavalette and Andrew McGlashan12-Dec-2024Adelaide Strikers(Tristan Lavalette)Captain Matt Short
Coach Tim Paine
Fixtures Click hereSquad* Fabian Allen, James Bazley, Cameron Boyce, Jordan Buckingham, Alex Carey, Brendan Doggett, Travis Head, Thomas Kelly, Chris Lynn, Harry Nielsen, Jamie Overton, Lloyd Pope, Ollie Pope, Alex Ross, D’Arcy Short, Matt Short, Henry Thornton, Jake WeatheraldHow they stack upStrikers struggled for consistency last season, but a stunning upset of Perth Scorchers at Optus Stadium in the knockout final has them believing they aren’t far off the pace. They had a significant off-field change with coach Jason Gillespie departing for Pakistan and replaced by former Test captain Tim Paine, who was an assistant with Strikers last season. For the second straight season will be without legspinner Rashid Khan, who opted to skip the tournament after missing last season with a back injury. Strikers pre-signed England Test batter Ollie Pope before retaining allrounder Jamie Overton with their platinum selection. They also selected West Indian Fabian Allen in a bid to strengthen their middle-order and spin stocks. South Australia quick Jordan Buckingham has effectively replaced Wes Agar, who was traded to Sydney Thunder.Player to watchMatt Short did not make the most of his opportunities at the top of the order in the ODI and T20I series against Pakistan as the Champions Trophy approaches. He will be aiming for another big BBL campaign after smashing 541 runs at 60 with a strike-rate of 153 last season to claim back-to-back BBL MVP awards. Short’s handy offspin, often used to start an innings, and strong leadership makes him Strikers’ talisman.Availability issuesChris Lynn will be available for the entire season having previously left early for the UAE league, while Pope will miss the early stages due to England’s current tour of New Zealand. Overton and Allen should be free throughout, while Test players Travis Head and Alex Carey may be available for three games at the backend of the regular season before they fly off to Sri Lanka.Can the defending champions back it up?•Cricket Australia/Getty ImagesBrisbane Heat(Tristan Lavalette)Captain Usman Khawaja
Coach Johan Botha
Fixtures Click hereSquad Tom Alsop, Xavier Bartlett, Max Bryant, Spencer Johnson, Usman Khawaja, Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan McSweeney, Colin Munro, Michael Neser, Jimmy Peirson, Will Prestwidge, Matthew Renshaw, Mitchell Swepson, Callum Vidler, Paul Walter, Jack Wildermuth, Jack WoodHow they stack upAs the defending champions, after a memorable finals campaign, Heat as expected have made few changes. Perhaps their most significant is off-field with Johan Botha replacing Wade Seccombe as coach. Heat did lose big-hitting Josh Brown, who starred in last season’s finals, to Renegades and Sam Billings to Thunder. But Colin Munro and left-handed allrounder Paul Walter, who became a fan favourite, will return. Heat drafted English Tom Alsop to specifically help provide middle-order depth and he can also take the gloves.Player to watchAfter a breakout season in 2022-23, Spencer Johnson was one of the very best bowlers in the BBL last season and a key in Heat’s triumph. He is now on the fringes of Australia’s white-ball teams and produced a maiden five-wicket haul in international career after destroying Pakistan last month at the SCG. His fiery left-arm bowling is particularly challenging on the bouncy Gabba surface, while his new ball partnership with seamer Xavier Bartlett often ignited Heat last season.Availability issuesOverseas players Munro, Walter and Alsop are available for the entire season. Test players Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne and Nathan McSweeney, who captained Heat to last season’s title, will have a window of availability in the backend of the regular season. They are likely to be part of the Sri Lanka tour, while spinners Matthew Kuhnemann and Mitchell Swepson could also be in the selection mix.Can Hobart Hurricanes break their BBL duck?•Getty ImagesHobart Hurricanes(Tristan Lavalette)Captain Nathan Ellis
Coach Jeff Vaughan
Fixtures Click hereSquad Iain Carlisle, Nikhil Chaudhary, Tim David, Paddy Dooley, Jake Doran, Nathan Ellis, Peter Hatzoglou, Shai Hope, Waqar Salamkheil, Caleb Jewell, Chris Jordan, Ben McDermott, Riley Meredith, Mitch Owen, Billy Stanlake, Matthew Wade, Charlie Wakim, Mac WrightHow they stack upApart from Melbourne Stars, Hurricanes are the only team without a BBL title and have missed the finals in three of the past four seasons. They have a familiar core, but their big addition is West Indies batter Shai Hope, who is hoped to strengthen a top-order that has misfired in previous seasons. Hurricanes selected Bangladesh legspinner Rishad Hossain with their third pick in the overseas draft, but he has since been ruled out of the entire tournament due to international commitments and the Bangladesh Premier League. Afghanistan left-arm wrist-spinner Waqar Salamkheil has been signed as an overseas replacement. English quick Chris Jordan returns as their direct overseas signing, while Indian Nikhil Chaudhary will be back after his powerful middle-order batting provided a bright spot for Hurricanes during a breakout last season.Player to watchTim David’s struggles mirrored Hurricanes’ woes last season after he finished with just 112 runs at a modest strike-rate – by his standards – of 134.94 from nine innings. There has been debate over the years on whether David should be moved up the order from his specialist role as a finisher, which he occupies for Australia, but he is likely to remain at No. 6 to start the season. David has gone off the boil at the international level ever since a subpar T20 World Cup and he had little impact against Pakistan in the recent T20I series. He will be keen for a big BBL campaign to ensure he remains firmly part of Australia’s T20 plans.Availability issuesHope will miss the early stages due to West Indies’ white-ball series against Bangladesh before being available for a block of matches until the ILT20, while Salamkheil can play the first six matches before he also departs for the Dubai league. Jordan along with Matthew Wade and legspinner Peter Hatzoglou will only leave for the ILT20 after the BBL. They are unlikely to have anyone in contention for the Sri Lanka tour.There will be plenty of eyes on Jacob Bethell during his short stay with Renegades•Getty ImagesMelbourne Renegades(Tristan Lavalette)Captain Will Sutherland
Coach Cameron White
Fixtures Click hereSquad Jacob Bethell, Josh Brown, Xavier Crone, Harry Dixon, Laurie Evans, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Marcus Harris, Mackenzie Harvey, Hassan Khan, Nathan Lyon, Fergus O’Neill, Kane Richardson, Tom Rogers, Gurinder Sandhu, Tim Seifert, Will Sutherland, Jon Wells, Adam ZampaHow they stack upAfter a disappointing seventh-placed finish last season, Renegades have overhauled their roster and transitioned after the retirements of stalwarts Aaron Finch and Shaun Marsh, while skipper Nic Maddinson moved to Thunder. Will Sutherland will take the captaincy reins, while Cameron White has replaced David Saker as coach. They went about replenishing the batting by selecting Laurie Evans, who last season was dynamic for Scorchers in the middle-order, with their platinum pick in the draft and signing Heat title-winning opener Josh Brown. Fresh off a couple of eye-catching innings during England’s Test tour of New Zealand, left-handed Jacob Bethell enters with a lot of expectation and adds firepower along with New Zealand wicketkeeper-batter Tim Seifert. Marcus Harris brings experience to the batting, while USA spin-bowling allrounder Hassan Khan was added as a replacement player. Completing Renegades’ overhaul, Thunder stalwart Gurinder Sandhu along with Xavier Crone and Fergus O’Neill have been recruited to strengthen their pace stocks.Player to watchWill Sutherland steps into shoes previously held by Maddinson and Finch but can lean on his experience captaining Victoria in the Sheffield Shield and the One-Day Cup, while he was also interim skipper of Renegades for four games last season. Sutherland is working his way back from a side strain, which has kept him on the sidelines since early November, and his form this season might dictate how the Renegades fare. His aggressive pace bowling and destructive batting at the death make him a potential match-winner. Having played a couple of ODIs last season, Sutherland is firmly on the radar of Australia’s hierarchy.Availability IssuesEvans will be available for around six games until the ILT20, while Bethell will likely be free to play a block of three or four games between international commitments. Nathan Lyon will have availability for a few games in January before heading off to the tour of Sri Lanka, while Seifert and opener Jake Fraser-McGurk will play the entire season before heading to the ILT20.Can Glenn Maxwell find his best form?•Getty ImagesMelbourne Stars(Tristan Lavalette)Captain Marcus Stoinis
Coach Peter Moores
Fixtures Click hereSquad Scott Boland, Hilton Cartwright, Joe Clarke, Brody Couch, Tom Curran, Ben Duckett, Sam Harper, Campbell Kellaway, Glenn Maxwell, Hamish McKenzie, Jon Merlo, Adam Milne, Usama Mir, Joel Paris, Tom Rogers, Peter Siddle, Mark Steketee, Marcus Stoinis, Doug Warren, Beau Webster.How they stack upThe high-profile Stars have never won a title and also failed to reach the finals over the past four seasons. They are hoping for a turnaround amid a significant leadership change with Glenn Maxwell handing over the captaincy reins to Marcus Stoinis. They lured allrounder Tom Curran from Sydney Sixers before selecting England opener Ben Duckett with the top pick in a draft selection that surprised some observers. Usama Mir was selected to bolster their spin options, but he will miss the first three matches of the season with New Zealand quick Adam Milne signed as a replacement.Player to watchAfter five seasons as captain, Glenn Maxwell can now purely focus on his batting and he’ll be keen to recapture his brilliant best following a modest T20 World Cup. He mostly struggled in the recent white-ball series against Pakistan although did rewind the clock with a 19-ball 43 in a rain-affected T20I match at the Gabba. But he suffered a hamstring injury in the final match in Hobart and faces a race against time to be fit for the season opener against Scorchers. If he is fit and firing this season then it could lift Stars up the ladder.Availability issuesDuckett will miss the opening three games of the BBL season as he completes his Test duties in New Zealand with Joe Clarke set for his second stint at Stars as a replacement. Duckett is also set to miss the backend of the season due to England’s white-ball tour of India. Scott Boland and allrounder Beau Webster may miss the early stages while part of Australia’s Test squad. Stoinis and Curran are available for the entire BBL season before flying off to leagues in South Africa and the UAE respectively.Josh Inglis could open the batting for Scorchers•Getty ImagesPerth Scorchers(Tristan Lavalette)Captain Ashton Turner
Coach Adam Voges
Fixtures Click hereSquad Ashton Agar, Finn Allen, Mahli Beardman, Jason Behrendorff, Cooper Connolly, Sam Fanning, Aaron Hardie, Nick Hobson, Matthew Hurst, Josh Inglis, Bryce Jackson, Keaton Jennings, Matt Kelly, Mitch Marsh, Lance Morris, Jhye Richardson, Matthew Spoors, Ashton Turner, Andrew TyeHow they stack upPerth Scorchers’, the BBL’s powerhouse, bid for a hat-trick of titles last season ended with a whimper after they were thrashed by Adelaide Strikers in a home knockout final. But as they eye a record-extending sixth title, Scorchers have backed their blueprint of continuity and sticking with a local core. There have been minimal changes, but they did recruit explosive New Zealand batter Finn Allen and he should address their issues at the top of the order which plagued them last season. Due to a salary cap squeeze, Scorchers were unable to retain Laurie Evans, who starred last season in the middle-order, but they got creative in trademark style and filled positions for need by drafting young English wicketkeeper-batter Matty Hurst and top-order batter Keaton Jennings. Scorchers are set to have some injury season injury issues, especially in the spin department with Cooper Connolly and Ashton Agar currently on the sidelines and so too skipper Ashton Turner, who bowls handy offspin. Quick Bryce Jackson, who has played three List A matches for WA, has been signed as a local replacement playerPlayer to watchIt’s been a whirlwind start to the season for wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis, who has captained Australia’s white-ball sides and been in the Test squad after being arguably the standout batter in domestic cricket. Even though he’s racked up plenty of miles crisscrossing the country recently, Inglis should be fresh heading into the BBL after watching on during the Test matches. Inglis has mostly batted in recent seasons for Scorchers at No. 4 or 5, where his prowess at facing spin can be well utilised, but he’s belted two T20I tons at No. 3 and is also well suited to opening. It might be tempting for Scorchers to use him as an opener after they had top-order struggles last season.Availability issuesSignificantly, overseas signings Allen, Hurst and Jennings have full availability. Test allrounder Mitchell Marsh is unlikely to figure this season, while Inglis could be in the frame for Australia’s tour of Sri Lanka. In a significant blow, allrounder Aaron Hardie could be out until Boxing Day as he recovers from a quad injury and then is likely to play as a specialist batter.Sean Abbott is one of a group of pace-bowling allrounders for Sydney Sixers•Cricket Australia/Getty ImagesSydney Sixers(Andrew McGlashan)Captain Moises Henriques
Coach Greg Shipperd
Fixtures Click hereSquad Sean Abbott, Jackson Bird, Jafer Chohan, Joel Davies, Ben Dwarshuis, Jack Edwards, Moises Henriques, Akeal Hosein, Daniel Hughes, Hayden Kerr, Ben Manenti, Todd Murphy, Kurtis Patterson, Mitch Perry, Josh Philippe, Jordan Silk, Steven Smith, James VinceHow they stack upContinuity continues to be the watch word for Sydney Sixers who put great stock behind the stability of their list. Akeal Hosein, the West Indies left-arm spinner, is a new face to them having been their pre-draft signing to fill gap left by the retired Steve O’Keefe. James Vince again returns as a consistent presence in the top order. Sixers also continued their theme of going left-field for their final overseas player by taking little-known English legspinner Jafer Chohan with their final draft pick. They will hope to get a few games out of Steven Smith between the India and Sri Lanka Test series in January while they are well served by domestic allrounders in Sean Abbott, Jack Edwards, Hayden Kerr and Ben Dwarshuis. The attack may be missing someone at the higher end of the pace bracket.Player to watchTodd Murphy becomes the senior domestic spinner in the side after the retirement of O’Keefe and it will be interesting to watch his T20 development after managing four wickets in nine matches last season but with a very impressive economy rate of 6.15 – the best of any bowler with more than 10 overs. He has put in some encouraging performances in the One-Day Cup this summer for Victoria. One of Murphy’s challenges could be maintaining his red-ball preparation if, as expected, he is part of the squad to tour Sri Lanka in late January.Availability issuesSmith will only have a small window between Test commitments but could get four games depending on when the squad flies to Sri Lanka. If Murphy also tours he would miss finals should Sixers qualify. Abbott may also be with the Test squad on occasions during the India series. Hosein will miss the first game then be available for the next six before leaving for the ILT20 while Vince also has a deal with that competition.David Warner’s availability is a big boost for Sydney Thunder•Getty ImagesSydney Thunder(Andrew McGlashan)Captain David Warner
Coach Trevor Bayliss
Fixtures Click hereSquad Wes Agar, Cameron Bancroft, Sam Billings, Ollie Davies, Lockie Ferguson, Matthew Gilkes, Chris Green, Liam Hatcher, Sam Konstas, Nic Maddinson, Nathan McAndrew, Sherfane Rutherford, William Salzmann, Daniel Sams, Jason Sangha, Tanveer Sangha, David WarnerHow they stack upIt feels like Thunder, under the guidance of new general manager Trent Copeland, have had a very good off-season. They have secured Sam Billings on a multi-year deal with full availability, have the hard-hitting left-hander Sherfane Rutherford in the middle order and the express pace of Lockie Ferguson for seven games. On the domestic front, Wes Agar has bolstered the fast-bowling attack. Meanwhile, David Warner is available for a full season for the first time and has been named captain after his leadership ban was overturned. They have also recruited Nic Maddinson although a broken finger has put his season in doubt. With offspinner Chris Green and legspinner Tanveer Sangha they would appear to have a lot of bases cover.Player to watchSam Konstas has been at the centre of a lot of conversations this season when he was among the contenders for a Test call-up, and since being overlooked has strung together some eye-catching innings. He has yet to make his T20 debut but the injury to Maddinson may create a vacancy at the top of the order. As ever with a young player, there will be a focus on how he transitions between formats but this generation barely breaks sweat at such challenges.Availability issuesRutherford and Ferguson both have ILT20 deals so will leave in time for that tournament. Warner is also bound for Dubai but will play the full BBL, including finals if Thunder qualify. On the domestic front, Thunder may escape any disruption from Australia calls unless Sangha or Konstas get an unlikely call-up for Sri Lanka.Squads all subject to change