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حسم منتخب العراق تأهله إلى الملحق العالمي المؤهل إلى نهائيات بطولة كأس العالم 2026، بعد تحقيقه الفوز اليوم الثلاثاء، على الإمارات.

ولعب منتخبا العراق والإمارات، في الملحق الآسيوي ضمن المرحلة النهائية المؤهلة إلى الملحق العالمي المؤهل إلى كأس العالم 2026.

وتأهل منتخب العراق على حساب الإمارات، بالفوز بنتيجة 3-2 في مجموع مباراتي الذهاب والإياب، حيث انتهت مواجهة الذهاب في الإمارات 1-1، ولقاء الإياب 2-1 للعراق. نظام الملحق العالمي المؤهل إلى كأس العالم 2026

المحلق العالمي المؤهل إلى كأس العالم 2026، يقام بين 6 منتخبات، منتخب من قارة إفريقيا ومنتخب من قارة آسيا ومنتخبان من قارة أمريكا الشمالية ومنتخب من قارة أمريكا الجنوبية ومنتخب من قارة أوقيانوسيا.

طالع | المنتخبات المتأهلة إلى الملحق العالمي المؤهل لـ كأس العالم 2026

ويقام الملحق العالمي المؤهل إلى كأس العالم 2026، في شهر مارس 2026، حيث ستلتقي الـ4 منتخبات الأقل تصنيفًا وجهًا لوجه، المتأهل منهما سيواجه المنتخبان الأعلى في التصنيف، ثم الفائز في تلك المباراتين الأخيرتين، يتأهل رسميًا إلى نهائيات كأس العالم. موعد قرعة الملحق العالمي المؤهل إلى كأس العالم 2026

وأعلن الاتحاد الدولي لكرة القدم “فيفا”، يوم الخميس المقبل، الموافق 20 نوفمبر، موعدًا لإقامة قرعة الملحق العالمي، لتحديد المواجهات.

ومن المقرر أن يصدر الاتحاد الدولي لكرة القدم “فيفا”، التصنيف الشهري غدًا الأربعاء 19 نوفمبر، لتحديد تصينف المنتخبات بناء عليه سيتحدد من سيلعب مباريات نصف النهائي ومن سيتواجد في النهائي مباشرة من بين الستة منتخبات المتواجدة في الملحق العالمي المؤهل لـ كأس العالم 2026. من يواجه العراق في الملحق العالمي المؤهل لـ كأس العالم 2026؟

وحل منتخب العراق، في المركز الثاني في تصنيف المنتخبات المشاركة في الملحق العالمي المؤهل إلى كأس العالم حيث حل في المركز 58 بينما منتخب كاليدونيا الجديدة (أوقيانوسيا) في 149 والكونغو الديمقراطية (قارة إفريقيا) 56 ومنتخب بوليفيا (قارة أمريكا الجنوبية) 76، وجامايكا (الكونكاكاف) 70 وسورينام (الكونكاكاف) 123.

وبالتالي سيتواجد منتخب العراق في المباراة النهائية مباشرة للتأهل منتظرًا الطرف الثاني والذي سيكون المتأهل من مباراة بوليفيا أمام سورينام.

Celtic are currently back in training and preparing to return to action in the Scottish Premiership with a trip to face Dundee away from home on Sunday.

The Hoops beat Motherwell 3-2 at Parkhead before the international break, thanks to a last-gasp winner from Daizen Maeda, and will be hoping to follow that up with another victory.

However, Brendan Rodgers may have some injury issues to contend with ahead of selecting his starting line-up to chase the three points against Dundee.

The latest Celtic team news before Dundee

Starting with the positive news, Alistair Johnston has returned to first-team training this week for the first time since he suffered a hamstring injury in August.

He was initially ruled out until November, per the Daily Record, but the Canada international is now in line for an early return against Dundee on Sunday.

There was more positive news out of the camp earlier this week when Sebastian Tounekti played for Tunisia against Namibia, having missed his country’s first match through injury.

Whilst the Tunisian whiz, who scored his first goal for the club against Partick Thistle, may be available for selection, Celtic’s right-sided winger may not be.

Daizen Maeda had to withdraw from international duty with Japan due to a foot issue, not playing a single minute in either match, and his injury has left Rodgers concerned, per Football Insider, ahead of Sunday.

How Celtic could replace Daizen Maeda

Football FanCast recently suggested that unleashing 18-year-old winger Rhys Dargie could be one way for the Hoops to replace Maeda if he is unavailable for selection against Dundee, because the output from the manager’s other options has left a lot to be desired.

Output from Celtic RWs
25/26 season (all competitions)	Appearances	Goals + assists
Daizen Maeda (first-team)	13	3 + 2
Michel-Ange Balikwisha (first-team)	6	0 + 2
Hyun-jun Yang (first-team)	8	1 + 0
James Forrest (first-team)	12	0 + 0
Stats via Transfermarkt

As you can see in the table above, Michel-Ange Balikwisha, Hyun-jun Yang, and James Forrest have struggled to deliver consistent quality in the final third.

If Rodgers does not want to bring in Dargie, as he has not featured in a matchday squad for the first team, he could solve his Maeda problem by unleashing Callum Osmand for the first time.

The summer signing from Fulham has made the bench for the senior side on two occasions, both against Kairat in the Champions League, which shows that he is in the manager’s thoughts.

Osmand is a centre-forward by trade, but he has played on the right wing before, per Transfermarkt, scoring two goals in one game. He was also hailed as “lightning quick” by Fulham expert Jack Kelly, which suggests that he has the mobility and speed to play out wide.

Callum Osmand’s U18 & U21 form for Fulham
Season	Appearances	Goals	Assists
24/25	22	11	4
23/24	29	21	6
22/23	21	11	2
21/22	1	0	0
Total	73	43	12
Stats via Transfermarkt

The 19-year-old attacker’s form for Fulham at youth level, as shown in the table above, shows that he has the potential to deliver quality in the final third, particularly as a goalscorer, which is what the Hoops are lacking.

Maeda is Celtic’s top scoring winger, with three goals, which is why it would be a blow to lose him for any number of games through injury, but Osmand is a young talent who could ease that blow.

The Wales U17 international has scored two goals in three Challenge Cup games for Celtic, per Transfermarkt, which also shows that he has carried his goalscoring form over to Scotland.

This Sunday could be the perfect opportunity to provide him with a chance to impress on the right wing, even if it is not his preferred position, with a first-team debut for the Hoops, if Maeda is unavailable.

Rodgers must sell Celtic flop who's now worth even less than Adam Idah

Celtic must sell this flop whose value has dropped millions and is now worth less than Adam Idah.

By
Dan Emery

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Osmand may be a more viable short-term option for Rodgers than Dargie, who does look like an exciting prospect, because of his first-team involvement earlier this season.

Whether it is Dargie or Osmand, who could both be intriguing options to call upon on the right wing, Celtic may have to do something different on the right flank if Maeda is out, due to how underwhelming their senior alternatives have been.

Hale End. It’s not quite La Masia but Arsenal’s academy system has very quickly become revered across the country.

While the Gunners have always had a habit of producing top young players, in the last decade it’s taken on a particular level of prominence.

From Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe to Ethan Nwaneri and Max Dowman, the conveyor belt of talent has consistently provided Mikel Arteta with some of the finest young talents in the country.

For Nwaneri and Dowman, the goal will be to follow in the footsteps of their predecessors and there is every chance they will.

The generational academy duo have become the two youngest players in Premier League history and the world is their oyster. They look ready to dominate English football for years to come.

1. Ethan Nwaneri

15 years, 5 months

2. Max Dowman

15 years, 7 months

3. Jeremy Monga

15 years, 8 months

4. Harvey Elliott

16 years, 1 month

5. Matthew Briggs

16 years, 2 months

While Nwaneri looks special, Dowman looks next level. He’s burst onto the scene at an almighty rate of knots and aged just 15, is already impacting Premier League games. It’s echoes of Lamine Yamal’s rise at Barcelona.

While Arsenal will hope they have another Yamal or Saka on their hands, expectations must be tempered, just as they had to be when the latter burst onto the scene under Unai Emery.

What happened when Saka burst onto the scene at Arsenal

Arsenal supporters don’t have much to thank Emery for but he was the manager who spotted Saka and gave him his first-team debut.

The date was 29th November 2018. The competition was the Europa League. The opposition were Vorskla Poltava. Saka appeared from the bench in a 3-0 win aged 17 years, two months and 24 hours. The rest, as they say, is history.

Just a few weeks later, Saka made his first start for Arsenal in a 1-0 Europa League victory over Qarabag. Then, in the New Year, he made his Premier League debut in a 4-1 win over Fulham on 19th January 2019.

GK – Emi Martinez

RB – Carl Jenkinson

CB – Sokratis

CB – Laurent Koscielny

LB – Ainsley Maitland-Niles

CM – Mo Elneny

CM – Joe Willock

CAM – Mesut Ozil

RW – Eddie Nketiah

LW – Bukayo Saka

CF – Alexandre Lacazette

At first, Saka appeared on the left wing but made a seamless transition across both flanks. It was from the right side that he scored his first senior goal.

While he should have scored in that game against Qarabag, firing at the goalkeeper from a matter of yards out, he did finally find the net nearly a year later.

The Europa League was a fine competition for Saka to develop in and it was on the continental stage that he scored in Arsenal colours for the first time, bagging in a 3-0 win over Frankfurt.

While the England international has now found a home on the right wing, much of the embryonic stages of his career played out at left back or left wing-back.

Indeed, he has played at left-back 21 times in his club career. During Arteta’s first match in charge of the club in December 2019, Saka was fielded in that position. He even made his England debut in that area of the pitch.

It’s rather remarkable, therefore, that he is now one of the best wingers in world football. Arsenal journalist Charles Watts even went as far as to say that the club’s number 7 was “the best right winger in the world” in 2023.

Now, in 2025, Saka has very much lived up to that billing, winning England’s Player of the Year on a couple of occasions and proving he is the man for the big occasion for club and country. He stepped up and scored at a vital moment at the Euros in 2024, netting against Switzerland and bagging inside the Bernabeu last season.

So in 2025, seven years after Arsenal’s best player burst onto the scene, where is the next Saka coming from?

Arsenal's next Saka has emerged from Hale End

Be it luck, be it the hard work of those behind the scenes at academy level, Hale End has had enormous success in recent years at producing players ready to be integrated into the first team.

Last term, Nwaneri featured on 37 occasions for the Arsenal senior side, scoring nine goals and supplying two assists. For a 17-year-old, it was a remarkable campaign.

However, the teenager is not the academy darling anymore. Dowman is the shiny new toy and he’s making his own impact.

While yet to score at senior level, the 15-year-old has showcased why he is rated so highly. He won a penalty against Newcastle in pre-season and won another spot-kick against Leeds in the 5-0 win at the beginning of the season. He did so by using his dazzling dribbling ability. Few in the game have as good close control of the ball as Dowman.

Yet, while both will naturally draw comparisons to Saka – being left-footed and playing off the right – it’s Myles Lewis-Skelly’s rise that evokes the strongest comparisons to his international colleague.

While many onlookers spent much of last season waxing lyrical about Nwaneri, it was actually Lewis-Skelly who enjoyed the brightest rise, quickly overtaking his good mate and becoming one of the first names on the teamsheet.

But, like Saka, he has emerged on the scene out of position and in the same role too.

Lewis-Skelly is a midfielder by trade and that is where the Gunners envisage his future. Yet, his development so far has been best served at left-back.

Standing in for an injured Riccardo Calafiori last term, the 18-year-old enjoyed a standout season, eventually being nominated for the PFA Young Player of the Season award.

While ill-discipline cost the youngster at times, being sent off on two occasions, he was particularly vital during the club’s run to the Champions League semi-finals.

Speaking on TNT during Arsenal’s win against Real Madrid in the Spanish capital, Premier League great Rio Ferdinand said: “I’m sorry, is Lewis-Skelly really 18? His date of birth is right, isn’t it? He looks so calm and so cool in and out of possession. Before the game he was on a call, just talking and chilling. He is special.”

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So, like Saka, he broke through at left-back despite it not being his natural position, and he’s got the composed, mature personality that his fellow Hale Ender possesses.

The problem for Lewis-Skelly, as Thomas Tuchel recently outlined, is his game time.

Last season was a special one for the teen, one that saw him also earn his first England caps. He even scored on his international debut. He’s an unbelievable talent, alright.

Yet, Arsenal’s squad is now stacked. Calafiori is fit again and the academy graduate is still awaiting his first Premier League start of the campaign.

Quizzed on whether Lewis-Skelly would be in next summer’s World Cup squad if he doesn’t play regularly, the Three Lions boss said: “Maybe it becomes a problem for him, yeah. To just be a good citizen in camp will not be enough over the course of a year.

“You have to perform at club level on a regular basis. In the last camp he got the credit, that I was convinced we have to take care of him and nominate him because we accelerated his career. It was our responsibility after we called him last season.”

We do have to remember that the Arsenal gem is still only 18. Even if he doesn’t make it to the World Cup next year, his time will no doubt come.

However, like Saka, it may not come at left-back. Arsenal’s sparkling number 7, the club’s poster boy, eventually made it on the right flank. He’s captained the club, he’s played 200 times in the Premier League, contributing 55 goals and 51 assists.

As club insider Hand of Arsenal once revealed, however, there is a belief that Lewis-Skelly could well be a “future captain” too, and he must now channel his inner Saka to get there.

A change of position to midfield will come at some point and it’s when that happens that he’ll get to really push on and explode. Just you wait.

He's just like Saka: Arsenal now have the "biggest talent in England"

The sensational gem could become as good as Saka at Arsenal.

1 ByJack Salveson Holmes Oct 10, 2025

Chelsea have received plenty of criticism – some justifiably – for their transfer policy over the last few years.

However, while the club have certainly made their fair share of poor signings, and perhaps even sold some players they shouldn’t have, they’ve also acquired some brilliant young talents.

The likes of Andrey Santos, Jorrel Hato and Estevao could all come good and lead the team to real success in the coming years.

The latter gem, in particular, is seen by many as a future superstar, but the club now looks to have secured the future of another youngster who could be just as good, if not better, and a future rival for Lamine Yamal.

Why Estevao coule be a world-beater

Chelsea beat a number of other top European sides to Estevao’s signature in the summer of 2024, but due to his age, the young Brazilian had to wait another year before joining up with Maresca’s squad.

The teenage sensation made good use of that time in his homeland, scoring 12 goals and providing five assists in 37 appearances for Palmeiras last season, which took his total output with the club to an impressive 27 goals and 15 assists in 83 appearances.

Since arriving on these shores, the Franca-born gem has wasted no time showing fans of English football just why he’s so highly rated and is seen as a “future Ballon d’Or winner” by respected analyst Ben Mattinson.

Appearances

83

Minutes

5610′

Goals

27

Assists

15

Goal Involvements per Match

0.50

Minutes per Goal Involvement

133.57′

For example, he proved a real threat when coming off the bench to make his Premier League debut against Crystal Palace in the Blues’ opening game of the season.

Then, just a couple of weeks later, he made his full debut for the club, starting against West Ham United and running their defence ragged.

The East Londoners just could not live with his brilliant close control, quick decision-making and turn of pace, which allowed him to provide his first assist of the campaign to Joao Pedro.

Since then, the youngster has continued to impress in bursts, with a particularly mercurial piece of dribbling getting Stamford Bridge on their feet against Benfica.

In all, it does feel like Estevao is destined to make it to the very top of the game, and now it looks like Chelsea have got their hands on another prospect who could not only rival him, but Yamal as well.

Chelsea's future Yamal rival

There is no sign of Chelsea slowing down their pursuit of some of the most exciting youngsters in world football, and the next gem everyone could be talking about is Dastan Satpayev.

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The Blues agreed a deal to sign the incredibly exciting prospect from the Kazakhstani side Kairat Almaty in February of this year for a fee of around €4m, which is about £3.5m.

However, as was the case with Estevao, he cannot join up with the squad until he is 18 years old, which will be next August.

The 17-year-old is in the news somewhat at the moment, as he has now made his Champions League debut, playing against Sporting CP and Real Madrid.

The youngster played a key role in the club, even making it into the competition proper, scoring three goals and providing one assist in the seven qualifying games, which saw them ultimately beat Celtic to make it.

There is an enormous amount of excitement over what the Almaty-born dynamo could achieve in the coming years, so much so that one scout labelled him “a future Ballon d’Or winner” and not only that, but “a future rival to Lamine Yamal.”

That might sound like too much pressure to put on a youngster’s shoulders, but he’s shown no signs of being even remotely fazed by senior football.

For example, in 30 appearances this season, totalling 2146 minutes, the “incredible” prospect, as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has scored eight goals and provided 13assists.

In other words, he has maintained an average of a goal involvement every 1.42 games, or every 102 minutes, despite only turning 17 in August.

Ultimately, there is a long and winding road ahead for Satpayev, but as things stand, he appears to be a future superstar, someone who could potentially push Estevao at Chelsea and possibly even rival Yamal for the biggest individual honours.

Chelsea sold a Gittens upgrade who's now playing "better than Saka"

Chelsea and Enzo Maresca made a big mistake.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Oct 2, 2025

Everton failed in their efforts to sign a player with a “huge future” right at the end of the summer transfer window, seeing an offer for his services turned down.

Rohl "really excited" about Everton move

The Blues managed to complete the signing of Freiburg midfielder Merlin Rohl on deadline day, adding in one more player talented player to David Moyes’ squad.

The German is clearly raring to get going at his new club once club football returns after the international break, speaking of his delight at his move to Everton after his switch was sealed.

“I’m really excited and full of joy to sign for Everton. It’s a big club, with great history and great fans. It’s the right time for me to join Everton. It feels like a shifting point for the Club. The future looks really good and I’m excited to be part of it.

“I’ve watched the evolution of the Club closely. With the manager and stadium, there are a lot of positives. “I just love to play football and can’t wait to play in front of such passionate fans in such a great stadium.”

It was a strong summer for Everton overall, with Jack Grealish and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall among the star additions, while Tyler Dibling is a player with a big future in the game. Now, it has been claimed that the Merseysiders missed out on signing another young star.

Everton failed with bid for future star

According to a report from reports in Spain [via Sport Witness], Everton submitted a last-gasp offer for Espanyol right-back Omar El Hilali, but were rebuffed in their efforts to snap him up before the window closed. Nottingham Forest, Wolves and Como were all in the same boat, but the £22m-rated defender ended up staying put at his current club.

It is a shame to see Everton fail to sign El Hilali, considering what an eye-catching young player he is, already making 90 appearances for Espanyol at the age of just 21.

He has also been capped at both Under-23 and Under-20 level for Morocco, while scout Jacek Kulig has tipped him to have a “huge future” in the game.

Hopefully, the chance still arises for Everton to go back in for El Hilali in the near future, whether that be in January or next summer, with the Moroccan a footballer who could add so much long-term quality to a position that has too often seen ageing players used there in recent years, from Seamus Coleman to Ashley Young.

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He could also provide good competition for Jake O’Brien, who has become a very solid right-back for the Blues, but is also a centre-back by trade.

Shammi Silva has been elected president of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) for a fourth consecutive term. He will hold the position for a two-year period from 2025-2027.This is also the third time Silva has secured the post uncontested, while the rest of his team has also been re-elected without contest.Jayantha Dharmadasa and Ravin Wickramaratne have been re-elected to the post of vice-president, while Sujeewa Godaliyadda, Chryshantha Kapuwatte and Lasantha Wickremasinghe remain as treasurer, assistant secretary and assistant treasurer, respectively.Only secretary Mohan de Silva, who resigned in November 2023, does not return. His post has been taken up by Bandula Dissanayake, the only new face in the executive committee. Kapuwatta had been acting Secretary since de Silva’s resignation.The end of Silva’s term in 2027 will mark eight years in charge, an eventuality made possible by a recent change in Sri Lanka’s sports law that allowed for officials to hold posts for up to two consecutive four-year terms.The most notable facet of this year’s election is that it’s the first one to be held since last December’s change to SLC’s constitution which saw the voting body reduced from 147 down to 60.

While they haven’t gone quite as big as they have in windows prior, it’s been a good summer of business for Chelsea so far this year.

The Blues have made a massive amount of money selling players deemed no longer good enough and replaced them with a host of exciting talents like Liam Delap, Joao Pedro and Jorrel Hato.

However, it would probably be fair to say that some fans were left a little disappointed by the club not signing Xavi Simons last week, and instead opting for Alejandro Garnacho.

However, those supporters might soon forget all about the new Tottenham Hotspur star, as Chelsea appear to be closing in on someone who’d be a significant upgrade.

Chelsea target Simons upgrade

According to a recent report from Si Phillips, as relayed by Caught Offside, Chelsea remain incredibly keen to sign Fermin Lopez before the window shuts.

Transfer Focus

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

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More than that, though, Phillips has revealed that, in recent hours, the Blues have received encouragement from the player’s camp, which indicates he may well inform Barcelona that he wants to leave.

While that would undoubtedly help grease the wheels of any potential deal, the deal would still be a costly one, with other reports from today claiming that the Catalan giants would want a fee of up to €90m to sell, which is approximately £78m.

While that is an enormous sum of money, Lopez is an extraordinary talent and may well be worth it, especially as he’s an upgrade on Simons.

How Lopez compares to Simons

Simons and Lopez are both relatively young attacking talents who can play and thrive either on the wing or in attacking midfield, which makes comparing them a pretty straightforward affair.

If we start with their output, it quickly becomes very apparent that the young Spaniard is the more dangerous player.

In 46 appearances, totalling just 2039 minutes, the “creative” star, as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, scored eight goals and provided ten assists.

That means he managed to average a goal involvement every 2.55 games, or every 113.27 minutes, which is undeniably impressive for someone his age.

On the other hand, the Flying Dutchman scored 11 goals and provided eight assists in 33 appearances, totalling 2763 minutes, for Leipzig.

Now, that does result in a better average of goal involvement every 1.73 games, but that was largely due to him making fewer appearances than the Barcelona star.

When you look at minutes played, his average shoots up to a far less impressive figure of a goal involvement every 145.42 minutes.

Things do not get much better for the Lilywhites’ new star when we examine their underlying numbers either.

Here, the “spectacular” Spaniard, as dubbed by former manager Xavi, comes out ahead in most relevant metrics such as expected and actual non-penalty goals plus assists, shots and shots on target, crosses into the penalty area, goal-creating actions, tackles won and more, all per 90.

Lopez vs Simons

Statistics

Lopez

Simons

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.71

0.47

Non-Penalty G+As

0.75

0.57

Progressive Passes

5.05

5.80

Progressive Passes Received

7.90

7.61

Progressive Carries

2.26

3.51

Shots

2.81

2.26

Shots on Target

1.14

0.92

Passing Accuracy

82.2%

78.1%

Key Passes

1.88

2.10

Passes into the Final Third

4.19

3.26

Crosses into the Penalty Area

0.32

0.22

Goal-Creating Actions

0.54

0.51

Tackles Won

1.32

0.83

Blocks

1.02

0.87

Successful Take-Ons

1.72

1.45

Carries into the Penalty Area

0.97

0.80

All League Stats via FBref for 24/25

In other words, the El Campillo-born maestro appears to be the more dangerous and creative outlet, while also being more willing and able to contribute to the defensive side of things.

Ultimately, Simons is certainly a talented player, but Lopez appears to be better in almost all metrics; therefore, Chelsea should do everything possible to sign him before the window closes.

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Posts ByKelan Sarson Sep 1, 2025

Tottenham Hotspur are once again navigating the transfer market with a sense of urgency after a summer of change.

The north London club, fresh off their first European trophy in over 40 years, are preparing for a Champions League campaign that promises both excitement and challenge.

However, their squad has been left short of creative midfield options following a series of departures and injuries.

The departure of Son Heung Min to LAFC marked the end of an era for Spurs, leaving a gap in attacking output that the club have been eager to fill.

Compounding this issue, James Maddison, who was expected to provide the creative spark in midfield, suffered a season-ending ACL injury in a pre-season match against Newcastle in South Korea.

Manager Thomas Frank now faces the dual challenge of maintaining Spurs’ attacking intensity while integrating new signings capable of thriving in the Premier League and on the European stage.

Spurs targeting top young talent

With Tottenham having invested heavily over the summer, including the £60m signing of Mohamed Kudus from West Ham and ongoing negotiations for Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze, the club are clearly intent on ensuring their squad can compete on multiple fronts.

The urgency is amplified by Maddison’s absence, which has created a pressing need for a technically gifted midfielder who can operate in various attacking positions and inject creativity into the team’s play.

Spurs are reportedly willing to enter the market again before the transfer window closes, aiming to secure a player capable of bridging the gap left by Maddison.

In recent days, reports from TEAMtalk have linked Tottenham with a move for highly-rated young midfielder Harvey Elliott.

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Described by former Liverpool striker Neil Mellor as a “special talent,” Spurs are ready to meet Liverpool’s valuation of around £40m for the 22-year-old, who has expressed enthusiasm about a move to north London following discussions with Thomas Frank.

The player’s profile has attracted interest from several clubs, with Crystal Palace reportedly viewing him as a potential replacement for Eze – should the Palace star depart for Spurs.

German side RB Leipzig have also been monitoring the situation after Liverpool’s depth in midfield has limited the youngster’s regular game time.

How Harvey Elliott compares to James Maddison

Statistics from the previous season illustrate why Tottenham are pursuing this deal.

The player featured 18 times in the Premier League, scoring once and contributing two assists.

He also made a significant impact in the Champions League, scoring three goals in five appearances, including a decisive winner in a 1-0 victory over PSG at the Parc des Princes.

His performances on the international stage, particularly in England’s back-to-back U21 European Championship wins, further underscore his potential to develop into a central figure for both club and country.

Spurs’ willingness to meet Liverpool’s demands reflects their determination to secure a player who can immediately contribute at a high level, mitigating the absence of Maddison and ensuring their Champions League campaign begins with strength and creativity in midfield.

The pursuit of this young midfielder appears to be a strategic attempt to fill the creative void left by the former Leicester star.

While Maddison, now 28, brought experience, vision, and a proven goal contribution record to Spurs, the prospective signing offers a dynamic and progressive style of play, with a profile that aligns closely with modern Premier League demands.

Comparisons have been drawn between Elliott and other top young talents such as Fermin Lopez and Dani Olmo at Barcelona, as well as Chelsea’s Cole Palmer.

His ability to operate on either flank, though most comfortable centrally, provides Frank with flexibility in attacking patterns and formation setups.

24/25

28

5

3

23/24

53

4

14

22/23

46

5

2

21/22

11

1

0

*20/21

1

0

1

19/20

8

0

1

Looking at the statistics, the differences between the two players are notable. The youngster averages 2.44 progressive carries per 90 compared to Maddison’s 2.24, and 10.7 progressive passes per 90 versus Maddison’s 8.16.

These metrics suggest a player capable of moving the ball forward effectively while actively involving teammates in attacking sequences.

His pass completion rate of 82.2% slightly edges Maddison’s 81.3%, while his progressive passing distance per 90 (247.8) is comparable to Maddison’s (250.1), indicating a similar ability to transition play from midfield to attacking positions.

Shot creation is another area where the young midfielder shows promise. With 4.48 shot-creating actions per 90, he is a consistent source of opportunities for his team, slightly higher than Maddison’s output.

Although still developing, his defensive contributions are also respectable, with interceptions and clearances per 90 ranking in the upper tiers for young Premier League midfielders.

What makes the player particularly appealing for Tottenham is his versatility.

He can function effectively in multiple attacking roles, whether on the flank or through the centre, offering Thomas Frank the tactical flexibility to adjust formations and strategies mid-game.

Given Spurs’ current European ambitions, having a midfielder capable of performing in high-stakes matches against elite continental opponents is crucial.

Additionally, the young midfielder’s career trajectory shows a pattern of success at youth and senior levels, both domestically and internationally.

He has demonstrated an ability to perform in high-pressure scenarios, such as Champions League fixtures against top-tier teams and in international tournaments with England’s U21 squad.

This experience is invaluable for a Spurs squad balancing domestic and European competitions, particularly with a new manager implementing a system that requires both technical proficiency and tactical understanding.

While Maddison brought experience and a track record of goal involvement, the new signing offers a blend of creativity, energy, and adaptability that could complement Tottenham’s evolving squad.

With ongoing negotiations progressing, Spurs appear committed to finalising a deal that strengthens the squad, provides cover for injuries, and injects fresh attacking impetus to a side preparing to make a mark in both the Premier League and the Champions League this season.

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Leeds United officially confirmed the signing of German central midfielder Anton Stach from Bundesliga outfit Hoffenheim as their latest arrival on Tuesday.

The 6 foot 4 enforcer becomes the club’s sixth signing of the summer transfer window after Sean Longstaff, Gabriel Gudmundsson, Jaka Bijol, Lukas Nmecha, and Sebastiaan Bornauw.

Stach, 26, made 3.7 tackles and interceptions per game across 30 outings in the Bundesliga last season, but has joined to compete in a bloated midfield set-up, with Ethan Ampadu, Ilia Gruev, Ao Tanaka, and Longstaff also at the club.

This means that he has not arrived as an essential signing, albeit he may well go on to be a huge success, and that is why the club’s interest in a new goalkeeper could be an even better signing.

Leeds in the race to sign new goalkeeper

It is no secret that Leeds need to improve their options between the sticks, after Illan Meslier was dropped towards the end of last season after he conceded 2.73 more goals than expected, based on xG, and made three errors that directly led to goals.

Transfer Focus

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According to Het Laatste Nieuws, as relayed by TEAMtalk, Leeds United are eyeing up a potential swoop to sign goalkeeper Senne Lammens from Royal Antwerp this summer.

The report claims that the Championship champions have emerged as serious contenders to sign the 23-year-old shot-stopper to bolster Daniel Farke’s squad for next season.

However, it adds that Manchester United are also interested in the Belgian star, who is valued at a fee of up to £17m by his club, which means that there could be significant competition for his signature.

Why Senne Lammens would be a big signing for Leeds

Lammens would be an even better signing than Stach for Leeds because he would arrive as a huge upgrade in a position that the club are currently desperately lacking in quality.

The latest Whites signing is part of a healthy group of quality midfield options, which means that he is not guaranteed to be a regular starter, but the Belgian goalkeeper would come straight in as Farke’s best goalkeeper.

Lammens, who saved four of the eight penalties he faced in the Pro League last season, produced outstanding performances for Royal Antwerp in the 2024/25 campaign, and could be a phenomenal signing for the club.

Appearances

40

39

Save percentage

77%

71%

Penalties saved

4/8

1/4

Goals prevented

+15.57

-2.73

Saves

173

65

Error led to goal

2

3

As you can see in the table above, the Belgian goalkeeper would come in as an unbelievable upgrade on Meslier if he can carry his form over to English football, as he prevented a ridiculous 15.57 goals based on the xG against him.

These statistics suggest that Lammens, whose shot-stopping numbers were hailed as “remarkable” by Statman Dave, would be a huge positive between the sticks for Leeds, as a goalkeeper who can make game-changing saves to keep his team in matches.

Whereas, Meslier has let Leeds down too many times with his inconsistent shot-stopping, which has led to him conceding more than the average goalkeeper would be expected to based on the quality of shots against him.

Therefore, Lammens would be a huge upgrade on what the Whites currently have in goal, and he would arrive as a crucial signing for Farke ahead of their attempt to avoid an instant relegation from the Premier League.

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That is why the Royal Antwerp stopper would be an even better signing than Stach for the Whites this summer, because he would solve a problem position for the club, whilst the midfielder is competing in an area of the pitch that Farke has plenty of quality in.

Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar and Yash Dayal are the three players likely to be retained by Royal Challengers Bengaluru ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction.RCB will lose at least INR 36 crore for retaining two capped players and one uncapped player, and will have three right-to-match options at the mega auction, which they can use to buy back one uncapped Indian player and two capped players, or three capped players.Some of the high-profile players not retained by RCB include their 2024 season’s captain Faf du Plessis, Mohammed Siraj, Glenn Maxwell and Cameron Green. RCB finished fourth in IPL 2024 and lost the Eliminator to Sunrisers Hyderabad.October 31 is the deadline by which the ten franchises have to submit their lists of retained players to the IPL. The teams have been allowed to retain up to six players ahead of the mega auction before the 2025 season, of which a maximum of five can be capped internationals and two can be uncapped players. While the IPL has set minimum deductions from the auction purse for each player retained – INR 18 crore for the first player, INR 14 crore for the second, INR 11 crore for the third, INR 18 crore for the fourth, INR 14 crore for the fifth, and INR 4 crore for an uncapped player – the franchises are free to pay more or less than those amounts to their retained players.