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Newcastle United are preparing for a return to the Champions League stage under Eddie Howe and could now be set to lodge a bid to complete a bargain deal on Tyneside, according to reports.

Newcastle United prepare for a summer of change

The Magpies sit at an advantage to some of their Premier League rivals when it comes to their financial health. However, PSR regulations could be a frustrating factor in their ability to solicit business.

Speaking about their potential activity, finance expert Kieran Maguire understands why the Magpies may feel short-changed by the rules and the course of action they have taken since falling into play.

He explained: “City, Chelsea and PSG got in before those rules changed. We now have clubs like Newcastle, Villa and Nottingham Forest, who are ambitious and aspirational. They want to move to the next level. The owners are willing to fund that move to the next level, but the cost control measures prevent them from doing so.

“It’s a function of time. Some clubs were on the right side of the divide when the rules were introduced, but we have since seen clubs become very frustrated.”

Either way, Howe is keen on strengthening his forward line having already signed youngster Antonio Cordero, and Porto forward Samu Aghehowa may be on his way to Newcastle amid his £82.5 million release clause.

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The Eagles could get a player in return.

By
Tom Cunningham

Jun 11, 2025

Central defender Evan Ndicka could also move to the North East from Roma if reports are to be believed in a swoop that would see a priority position strengthened for Howe.

Strength in depth is needed to adequately handle both domestic and European endeavours, so it won’t come as any surprise to hear that Newcastle are probing for another option that could add to their rearguard.

Newcastle open negotiations to sign Nordi Mukiele

Africa Foot claim Newcastle have opened negotiations to sign Nordi Mukiele from Paris Saint-Germain and have kicked things off with an offer in the region of £12.7 million for the France international.

The Champions League holders don’t see the 27-year-old as a major part of their future plans, which is reflected in the fact he spent the campaign on loan at Bayer Leverkusen and registered two goals and one assist in 24 matches.

Earning around £113,000 per week at his parent club, versatile defender Mukiele won 80% of his attempted tackles in the Bundesliga last term either in central defence or on the right-hand side of Xabi Alonso’s backline.

Now back at his parent club, he finds himself at a career crossroads amid Paris Saint-Germain’s excellent position in the world of football, but he will have plenty of interested suitors ready to offer him a new challenge, including Galatasaray, Fenerbahce, Besiktas, Everton, Aston Villa and Eintracht Frankfurt.

Newcastle are likely to be at the front of that queue due to their upward trajectory, meaning it is now over to Howe and company to push a deal through.

Nottingham Forest have Europa Conference League football to look forward to next term and are now progressing in their attempts to bring a highly-rated forward to the City Ground.

Nottingham Forest transfer targets as they prepare for Europe

It wasn’t to be for Nottingham Forest in their pursuit of Champions League football, though a place in Europe’s third-tier continental tournament could offer a realistic prospect of silverware next season.

West Ham United and Chelsea’s previous exploits in the Europa Conference League will offer Nuno Espirito Santo all the encouragement he needs, but the Portuguese boss knows signings will be necessary to balance their trophy bid with domestic endeavours.

According to reports, Nottingham Forest are interested in a permanent deal for Liverpool defender Jarell Quansah, though there could also be a possibility of a loan agreement in the eyes of former scout Mick Brown.

Manchester City’s Matheus Nunes is a surprise target for the Tricky Trees, lending credence to the notion that they will go all out this summer following an impressive Premier League campaign.

Intriguingly, Espirito Santo stopped short of confirming he would be in charge next term after his side missed out on Champions League qualification, stating: “We are in good place and now it’s time to reflect and focus on the future. This is not a moment to speak about me. It’s about the club.”

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They’re already thinking about the summer transfer window.

ByTom Cunningham May 22, 2025

Either way, there is plenty to be positive about on reflection. Nottingham Forest have shown they are a force that can compete with the best after conducting a mass overhaul across the last couple of years in the East Midlands.

Sparing no expense, the Tricky Trees are now advancing in their pursuit to sign a talented forward who has likened himself to Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr.

Nottingham Forest in advanced Igor Jesus talks after £18.5m offer

Per Fogao Net, Nottingham Forest have made an offer to sign Botafogo forward Igor Jesus for £18.5 million and talks are now believed to have progressed to an advanced stage.

Negotiations between all parties are moving along nicely, leaving the final decision down to the Brazil international, who has previously pointed out similarities between himself and countryman Vinicius Jr.

Igor Jesus statistics in 2025 – Serie A (Fotmob)

Shots

33

Shots on target

13

Completed dribbles

5

Dribble success

62.5%

Chances created

14

Duels won

62

Enjoying a bright start to the year, Jesus has netted seven goals and laid on a solitary assist in 23 appearances across all competitions for Brazil’s reigning top-flight champions.

Chris Wood has been a talismanic figure at the City Ground of late, though his age may work against him moving forward and securing an alternative option would make sense to bolster squad depth.

Now, it remains to be seen if Nottingham Forest can push a deal over the line as they look to build on an impressive campaign by keeping pace with contenders for European football in 2025/26.

Manchester City are thought to have made an offer for a “crazy” young talent, also receiving a reply, according to a fresh transfer claim.

Man City's Champions League hopes boosted with win over Crystal Palace

There is no question that this has been a season to forget for Pep Guardiola’s side, following a meek defence of their Premier League title, with age catching up with certain players and injuries to key figures not helping, especially the ACL damage suffered by Rodri.

That’s not to say that the campaign is dead in the water, however, with an FA Cup semi-final meeting with Nottingham Forest on the horizon and Champions League qualification still more than possible in the league, with the top five getting a place in Europe’s top club competition.

On Saturday afternoon, Guardiola’s men secured an important and impressive 5-2 victory at home to Crystal Palace, having initially gone 2-0 down in the first half. That result, coupled with Forest losing 1-0 to Everton at the City Ground, means City are now only two points behind Nuno Espirito Santo’s third-place team.

When the summer window arrives, the Citizens are expecting to bring in a host of new signings, in order to add some freshness to a squad that feels tired. While current stars will be required to be an instant hit at the Etihad, young players also need to be looked at, and an update has dropped regarding one talented starlet.

Man City table offer for "crazy" young player

According to The Star and reliable reporter Sheffield Wednesday reporter Joe Crann, Manchester City have seen an offer for Owls teenage attacker Caelan-Kole Cadamarteri turned down by the Championship club.

The 15-year-old is a top talent with a bright future in the game, with the Premier League champions seeing him as an exciting option to snap up. The bid in question is claimed to be a “seven-figure sum”, summing up his potential, however, it has been rejected.

Not many City fans will know much about Cadamarteri, which is understandable given his age, but he is a bright prospect who could develop further at the club’s elite academy that has spawned the likes of Phil Foden and Rico Lewis.

Related "Special" Man City star now willing to take pay cut to complete shock move

He could be one of many to leave.

Posts 1 ByTom Cunningham Apr 13, 2025

The young Wednesday striker, dubbed “crazy” for his recent rapid rise, has won two caps for England’s Under-16s and his self-confidence is outlined by the social media post from him below, having scored five goals in the same game for the Owls at youth team level over the weekend:

For now, City will have to weigh up whether they should improve their offer for Cadamarteri or not, but the Owls have made it perfectly clear how much they value him by turning down a hefty bid in the first place.

West Indies will look to him to anchor their batting against India’s spin challenge on his first tour of the country

Deivarayan Muthu01-Oct-2025Tagenarine Chanderpaul’s square-on stance, crouch at the crease, trigger movement, and his propensity to often mark his guard with the bail all indicate that he is cut from the same cloth as his father, Shivnarine Chanderpaul. And much like Shiv, Tagenarine can soak up balls and wear bowling attacks down.Since his debut in December 2022, Tagenarine has faced 1433 balls, scoring 560 runs in 19 innings at an average of 35. Among West Indies batters, only Kraigg Brathwaite has faced more balls (2376) albeit in twice as many innings (39) during this period. After West Indies dropped Brathwaite for the upcoming two-match Test series in India, Daren Sammy expects Chanderpaul to step into Brathwaite’s shoes. Following West Indies’ first training session in Ahmedabad, Sammy even likened Chanderpaul’s ability to get stuck in to his father’s and Rahul Dravid’s.Chanderpaul is coming off a stint with his father, but in T20 cricket in the USA, where Shiv was the coach of Orlando Galaxy in Minor League Cricket and Tagenarine was captain of the team. He’s cagey when asked about Shiv’s impact on his batting, but he hopes that their training sessions will help him acclimatise to the conditions in India.”About the [Indian] conditions, it’s a bit similar to some pitches back home,” he says. “But just trying and getting some training sessions in and trying to adapt as much as possible…Related

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“Some of the areas where I played in the US are a bit cooler, but some places are hot as well. Especially in Florida, it could get hot sometimes. It’s just about getting your rest in the evening. Try to get as much sleep and rest and get accustomed to that time change. It’s a different quality of bowling [in India]. For sure, you need to stay sharp and make the most out of the practice sessions to get ready for the game.”Having shaken off the jet lag, Chanderpaul is ready for the red-ball grind and is hopeful of fulfilling coach Sammy’s expectations on his first tour of India.”I’m not much of a flashy player,” Chanderpaul says. “So I just try to take my time and accumulate my runs with the odd boundary here and there. I think [batting time] goes with my [natural] game. But I also spend time batting balls at the nets and hope to replicate it [in a match].”Under Brian Lara’s mentorship, Chanderpaul scored an unbeaten 207 – his first Test hundred – against Zimbabwe in 2023•CWI MediaHis old-school batting owes also to his training sessions with his paternal grandfather and first coach, Khemraj, who too put Shiv through his paces when he was growing up in the village of Unity in Guyana.”Yeah, well, obviously when I was little, my dad would be on tour playing and then he lived in the US too. I grew up in Guyana,” Chanderpaul says. “In the afternoon after school, my granddad would throw balls at me when I was small. And then as I got bigger, he’d take me to the cricket club after school. So, yeah, I grew up practising with my granddad ever since.”I don’t think I was trained on the same cement strip that my father trained on () but granddad would always throw balls at me and he always wanted to hit the ball [along] the ground. So I guess that sort of shaped me into the player I’m today.”During his short career Chanderpaul has also had the opportunity to work with Brian Lara after receiving his maiden Test cap from him in Australia in 2022. Under Lara’s mentorship in 2023, in his third Test, Chanderpaul scored his maiden double-century, against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo.”He always tries and gives you ideas about bowlers you can score off and who you need to be defensive against and that sort of stuff,” Chanderpaul says of Lara. “So, [the conversations with him were] about picking your match-ups.”India, though, will not offer West Indies much breathing room. In the two Tests that Chanderpaul played against India in the Caribbean in 2023, he fell three times to the spin of R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. Ashwin’s dismissal of Chanderpaul in the first Test, in Roseau, was a flashback to his magic ball to Alastair Cook in the Edgbaston Test of 2018. While Ashwin has retired, Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel will pose a threat to Chanderpaul’s defensive technique in the Test series.West Indies dropped former captain Brathwaite and called Chanderpaul up for the India Tests in the hope of him helping see off their spin threat•Cricket Australia/Getty Images”India has a great bowling line-up,” he says. “So you can’t take them for granted. You’ve got to go out there and give them the respect and try and score when you can. In the first Test [in Roseau], I didn’t get too many runs. [In the] second Test, I batted some balls. Kind of threw it away in the first innings. But playing Ashwin and Jadeja… I can take some confidence from the second Test and do the right things going into this Test series.”Chanderpaul also had encouraging numbers on his first and only first-class tour of the subcontinent so far: in 2023 he scored 275 runs in five innings for West Indies A against Bangladesh A in Sylhet, including three half-centuries. Only Joshua Da Silva made more runs (300) than him during that unofficial three-match Test series in Bangladesh. “I had runs against two left-arm spinners and a few offspinners as well,” Chanderpaul says. “It was a fairly good tour for me. I had a few [good] scores. Hopefully I can try and get some runs in the series ahead.”What cues does he look for while facing spin? “You’ve got to try and pick the ball up from the hand, of course,” he says. “Then see what type of delivery and, yeah, where it fits and that sort of stuff. So you know, just try and get in the right positions early and see where you can turn it over and get off strike or pick up a boundary. I have the sweep but you’ve got to play what you see on the day.”It can be fiendishly difficult to pick left-arm wristspinner Kuldeep out of his hand, and Washington, who is now India’s frontline offspinner after Ashwin’s departure, can threaten both edges with turn and drift. West Indies’ presence in future World Test Championships (WTC) is looking uncertain, but there’s a sliver of hope that Chanderpaul’s staying power can make India’s attack dig deep and carry West Indies’ batting, like his father did back in the day.Despite the stint in Minor League T20s in the USA, Chanderpaul is yet to play top-flight T20 cricket, like his predecessor Brathwaite. Is featuring in the CPL somewhere in the back of his mind?”Who knows?” he laughs. “You’ve got to deal with what’s ahead of you right now.” And right now, that’s his first Test series in India.

Shreyanka Patil and Saika Ishaque both made the most of the chances they were given this series, while youngster Amanjot Kaur also joined in on the fun

Sruthi Ravindranath11-Dec-2023It was only a couple of days ago that India captain Harmanpreet Kaur spoke about keeping faith in the new faces in the team. Opportunities will be given, but their selection for next year’s T20 World Cup will also be about the execution, she said.And the new faces – Shreyanka Patil and Saika Ishaque – have made the most of the chances they’ve been given by playing a big part in India’s only win in the series. Youngster Amanjot Kaur joined in on the fun too, by not only bagging two wickets for 25 runs, but also taking the No.1-ranked T20I bowler Sophie Ecclestone on to seal the win for India in the third T20I on Sunday. Add to that her fielding efforts – she took a superb catch in the series – and you have a well-rounded player that India very much need in the format.Related

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“”The word roughly translates to ‘carefree’: that’s how Harmanpreet described Ishaque’s personality, at a press conference a day after the left-arm spinner made her India debut. Harmanpreet also indicated that’s how she was on the field as well, calling her a “character in the team who can bowl in any phase of the innings and get breakthroughs.”On Sunday, Ishaque made an impact as soon as she was handed the ball in the sixth over. After having Alice Capsey caught at extra cover on the very first ball she bowled, she returned in the 12th over and got the prized wicket of Amy Jones, also breaking a crucial stand in the process. She made Jones drag the sweep from outside off to have her caught at deep midwicket. To make things worse for England, Danielle Gibson failed to read Ishaque’s arm ball and was bowled the very next delivery trying to cut through the offside. The bit probably came in when she cheekily smiled whenever she conceded boundaries, probably knowing she’d eventually compensate with wickets. After all, she’d once famously quipped, “” [I’m a bowler. I’m here to take wickets].””Shreyanka was elated after her three wickets in four miserly overs. She capped off a dream year by making an impact in the series against England, following her superb WPL and Women’s CPL stint. She finished the A series between India and England with five wickets in three games and was then handed a debut in the T20Is.She took two big wickets of Heather Knight and Jones in the first game and finished as the Player of the Match in the third one on Sunday. An overall disciplined effort, where she bowled stump-to-stump lines and varied her trajectory, gave her three wickets to go with an economy of just 4.75. Those three wickets came in a span of seven deliveries which left England languishing at 78 for 6.””Amanjot Kaur creamed a couple of fours through covers to help India win•BCCIThat was India’s fielding coach Munish Bali heaping praise on Amanjot. The batting allrounder made her debut earlier this year against South Africa and has played nine T20Is so far, impressing instantly with a 41 not out off 28 in that game.After bagging two wickets to wrap up England’s innings for 126, She made her impact felt at an important point during the match, coming in when India had lost three quick wickets with 11 needing off 12. She broke the pressure with a cover drive and hit two more boundaries off the last two balls of the 19th over to complete the chase in style. Amanjot fits right in to make up for the lack of batting firepower in the lower order, which has been one of the issues for India in T20Is. And the fielding: be it the blinder to dismiss Alice Capsey in the second T20I having come in as a sub, or the neat take at short third to send Bess Heath back in the third, she seems to want to grab every chance she gets to make an impression. A stint in the WPL, where she will also be working closely with captain Harmanpreet and other experienced players, will only help her enhance her skillsets further.Saika Ishaque ran through the England middle order•ECB/Getty ImagesDespite the series loss, a few other positives also emerged for India. After a debacle in the second T20I where misjudgments with the bats cost them, India’s two senior batters Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues stepped up against England’s spinners on a tricky wicket. Mandhana used her feet well against spinners and targeted the quicker bowlers for boundaries and sixes, while Rodrigues used the sweep to good effect in her 33-ball stay. The loss in the second T20I, where they collapsed for 80, was an eye-opener for the side to focus on their game against spin. The game-time was important too for them to get going, Harmanpreet said at the post-match presentation.”Wicket was tricky,” Harmanpreet said. “Some balls, especially when offspinners were bowling, were turning and some were going straight. So sometimes you think which ball is going to turn and which is going to be straight. As a batting group, we just wanted to pick the bowlers, which ones we want to take charge. The left-right combination [of Rodrigues and Mandhana] also played a big role for us.”Another big boost has been the return of Renuka Singh, whose crucial wickets in the powerplay has given India a headstart in all three matches so far. India might not have got the result they wanted in the series, but the positives will give them a push forward in their prep for the 2024 T20 World Cup.

Fast and furious, he often pushed through pain with grit and determination to stay relevant in his injury-ridden career

Alex Malcolm22-Oct-2021Australia couldn’t believe their luck when they found James Pattinson. Another one. Another young fast bowler who could be a generational talent. Another stallion from the stable.A kid from Dandenong. The younger brother of England one-Test wonder Darren Pattinson. But James was a different beast altogether. Fast and furious with a V8 engine and with the heart of a lion. It seemed like he had shades of a young Peter Siddle but supercharged.He debuted in the same Test match as Mitchell Starc, just a fortnight after Pat Cummins, with Josh Hazlewood already in and around Australia’s limited-overs team.It was too good to be true – four express quicks that Australia could call on at any time in any combination to terrorise batters all around the world for the next decade.Related

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At 21, Pattinson tore through New Zealand on Test debut at the Gabba with a frightening ferocity. He took the first five wickets in the second innings including the scalps of Brendan McCullum, Martin Guptill, Kane Williamson, and Ross Taylor, claiming three in a single over. Fast late outswingers and searing bouncers were his calling card. He was the Player-of-the-Match on debut and Player-of-the-Series after claiming five-wicket hauls in his first two Tests. He was the Player-of-the-Match in his third Test against India on Boxing Day.But the attributes that made him so good were often too much for his body to handle. He broke down twice in 2012, his competitiveness getting the better of him in the famous Adelaide Test versus South Africa as he attempted to push through pain against advisement.He would more than make up for it in his next Test in India. In 30 overs of sheer will in Chennai, he took 5 for 96 while Australia conceded 572. Going wide of the crease and delivering missile-like inswingers at 145kph, he shattered the stumps of M Vijay, Virender Sehwag, Cheteshwar Pujara, and Ravindra Jadeja, and bounced out MS Dhoni on 224. But two Tests later, he was dropped as the youngest of the quartet caught up in ‘homeworkgate’.He bowled like a caged lion unleashed at his home away from home at Trent Bridge in the opening hour of the first Ashes Test a few months later. But again, his back gave way and forced him to miss six more months. It started a vicious cycle. He would get a stress fracture, recover from it, remodel his action to get back only to be asked by his nation to go all out again.It was the case in Cape Town in 2014. With the series and the world No. 1 Test ranking on the line, he wasn’t quite ready to return but was asked to push through. While the win was remembered for Ryan Harris’ heroics, team-mates fondly recall Pattinson’s efforts, bowling with express pace and complete disregard for his back and taking the crucial wicket of Hashim Amla in the second innings. Australia won the Test and celebrated claiming the mace. Pattinson’s reward was nine more months on the sidelines following another stress fracture.James Pattinson fought through pain in Australia’s famous win against South Africa in Cape Town in 2014•Getty ImagesHe played four Tests over the summer of 2015-16 but again broke down in New Zealand. The final straw came in 2017 when his back was so bad he made the brave decision to have radical spinal surgery. His surgeon, who had helped Shane Bond back to full fitness, thought it was the riskiest case he had worked on.Pattinson’s rehab took 18 months. There were days he couldn’t move, describing the procedure to have a steel rod inserted in his spine as feeling like someone had encased his lower back in concrete.But at the start of the 2018-19 Australian domestic season, he returned as a batter in grade cricket for Dandenong and second XI cricket for Victoria. He had an ambitious target to play in the 2019 Ashes.Sheer grit and determination and the ability to push through the pain barrier made that ambition a reality. He proved his worth with a stunning return in the 2019 Sheffield Shield final helping Victoria to the title.Pattinson batting at No.7 raised the possibility of him, Cummins, Hazlewood and Starc all playing together with Nathan Lyon in a five-man Test attack. But while current world Test champions New Zealand had no fear in playing their best four quicks together, Australia were never confident to do the same believing Pattinson could only bat at No. 7 in first-class cricket. The quartet never once played together, and Pattinson, Cummins and Hazlewood did only once, in the famous Headingley Test and save for one of the greatest innings of all-time from Ben Stokes, it might have been a masterstroke.Pattinson would play just two more Tests thereafter. A suspension for abuse in a Shield game cost him part of the 2019-20 summer, and a freak injury at home cost him a chance to be part of Australia’s series against India in 2020-21.The depths of lockdown in Melbourne over a two-year period undoubtedly expedited Pattinson’s decision to withdraw from the international game. Endless training in an indoor centre is no place for a lion. The V8 engine needed to be revved on the open road, and it needed to be revved with no fear of breaking down. He can play with complete freedom for Victoria in domestic cricket, whereas in a four-man attack for Australia, there are consequences if his body lets him down, and that seems a burden he no longer wants to carry.Pattinson has 302 first-class wickets at present, 92 more than Cummins. But he finishes with just 81 Test scalps from 21 appearances, less than half of Cummins’ current tally, while Starc has 255 having debuted in the same Test at the Gabba 10 years ago.It seems unjust for a bowler of Pattinson’s quality. But he finishes content and cut a happy and comfortable figure at Victoria training on Thursday.Australia fans will miss him dearly and ruefully. International batters won’t.

Thomas Frank’s start to life at Tottenham Hotspur has certainly been an impressive one, as seen by his side’s current Premier League standing in 2025/26.

The Lilywhites currently sit third in England’s top-flight, after losing just two of the first nine outings – even keeping four clean sheets during such a period.

His men have been just as impressive at the opposite end of the field, as seen by their tally of 17 goals in the first nine matches, with Mohammed Kudus having a huge bearing on such a record.

The Ghanaian has made an immediate impact after his £55m switch from West Ham United, subsequently registering one goal and four assists in the league to date.

However, despite his impressive start to life in North London, he may have a long way to go until he makes the list of the Lilywhites’ best additions within the last decade.

Spurs’ best additions over the last decade

Over the last few years, Spurs have made numerous high-profile additions to help the first-team squad mount a challenge for a Premier League title challenge.

Cristian Romero was brought into the club on loan in the summer of 2021, but would move to North London on a permanent basis 12 months later for a reported £42.5m.

Such a deal may have seemed to be an expensive one, but three years on, it could go down as one of the Lilywhites’ best over the last few years, given his impact in North London.

The Argentine has brought a needed steel to the club’s backline, racking up a total of 133 appearances across all competitions – even being named as part of the current leadership group.

However, Heung-min Son will no doubt take top spot for Spurs’ best addition in the last decade, with the South Korean exceeding all expectations during his spell in the Premier League.

The hierarchy paid £22m for his signature from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer of 2015, an absolute bargain given his total of 454 appearances in North London.

He would score on 173 occasions during his decade-long spell with the Lilywhites, with such a tally putting him fourth in the club’s all-time goalscoring charts.

From solo goals against Burnley and incredible long-range strikes against North London rivals Arsenal, he was capable of the spectacular and handing the fanbase moments to last a lifetime.

Son was even a part of the club’s Europa League-winning campaign in 2024/25, with such an achievement undoubtedly cementing his place as a Lilywhites icon.

The player who could be Frank’s answer to Son

After such success in Europe, Son decided to call time on his Spurs career, leaving in the recent transfer window to join MLS outfit LAFC in a deal worth a total of £20m.

The South Korean international left for a net loss of just £2m from the fee forked out for his signature – further highlighting the incredible business done by the Lilywhites hierarchy.

The decision meant that current boss Frank was unable to have the opportunity to work with the iconic forward, which has often left him without a settled left-winger.

Wilson Odobert, Brennan Johnson and Xavi Simons have all operated in such a position over the last few weeks – but none have managed to clinch the faith of the boss in the role.

However, that could change in the years ahead, with the club already having a superb young talent within their ranks in the form of teenager Hyeok-min Yang.

The 19-year-old joined the Lilywhites from Gangwon FC back in January, undoubtedly being brought into the club for the future years rather than the present.

It’s evident he already possesses bags of talent, with the youngster scoring 12 times in his 38 appearances for his homeland club, prior to his switch to England earlier this year.

However, in order to gain familiarity with the demands of English football, he’s been sent on various loans in the Championship – currently spending the 2025/26 campaign with Portsmouth.

Yang may only have featured in seven league outings to date, but he’s already made an immediate impact with Pompey, registering two goals and one assist in England’s second tier.

His impressive form on the South Coast has led to Korean analyst Jason Lee stating that the teenager is just “like Son Heung-min” – huge praise indeed given his compatriot’s achievements in North London.

Yang’s underlying stats at Fratton Park further indicate how impressive he’s been in 2025/26, with the winger ranking in the top 18% of players for goals per 90.

Other tallies such as 1.8 fouls won and 4.7 touches in the opposition per 90, showcase the danger he poses to the backlines in the Championship, even despite being just 19.

There’s no denying that he has a long road ahead of him before he makes an impact in North London, but there’s no disputing that he could be a real asset to the club in years to come.

Should he get anywhere near the levels produced by his compatriot in the Premier League, Yang will be a force to be reckoned with and potentially help catapult Frank’s men to yet more silverware in the near future.

Frank's next Toney: Paratici leading Spurs move for "one of the best STs"

Tottenham Hotspur are preparing a January move to land a new talisman for Thomas Frank.

By
Ethan Lamb

Oct 28, 2025

West Ham are closing in on a deal for one highly-rated Tottenham youngster after sporting director Mark Noble played a key role in the transfer, according to a new report.

West Ham take on Brighton after Man United draw

On the pitch, Nuno Espírito Santo’s side can take real encouragement from their 1-1 draw with Man United at Old Trafford.

West Ham demonstrated admirable resilience at Old Trafford, battling back from Diogo Dalot’s 58th minute opener to salvage a point through Soungoutou Magassa’s late equaliser.

The Malian midfielder opened his Premier League account with a composed finish seven minutes from time after substitute Andy Irving’s corner caused chaos in United’s penalty area, silencing the Theatre of Dreams.

While earning a point at United represents a creditable result, West Ham’s relegation concerns are still very much there.

The Hammers remain stranded in 18th with just 12 points from 14 games, with Nuno’s men having now conceded 28 goals this season, managing just three victories and failing to keep a clean sheet in their last 11 attempts across all competitions.

West Ham’s results in the Premier League so far

Sunderland 3-0 West Ham

West Ham 1-5 Chelsea

Nottingham Forest 0-3 West Ham

West Ham 0-3 Tottenham

West Ham 1-2 Crystal Palace

Everton 1-1 West Ham

Arsenal 2-0 West Ham

West Ham 0-2 Brentford

Leeds 2-1 West Ham

West Ham 3-1 Newcastle

West Ham 3-2 Burnley

Bournemouth 2-2 West Ham

West Ham 0-2 Liverpool

Man United 1-1 West Ham

Brighton now pose a tough test for them too.

Lucas Paqueta has returned following a one-match suspension for his red card against Liverpool, offering Nuno crucial midfield reinforcement. However, his Brazilian compatriot Igor Julio cannot feature against his parent club, while Crysencio Summerville remains doubtful with a persistent knock.

Lukasz Fabianski and Oliver Scarles are confirmed absentees.

Brighton present formidable opposition despite their own recent setback. Fabian Hurzeler’s side suffered a dramatic 4-3 home defeat against Aston Villa on Wednesday, surrendering a two-goal advantage as Unai Emery’s men scored four unanswered goals before Jan Paul van Hecke’s late consolation.

The Seagulls sit seventh, just two adrift of fourth-placed Chelsea, and maintain an exceptional home scoring record with at least two goals netted in each of their last six Amex Stadium fixtures.

Veteran striker Danny Welbeck should return after missing the Villa defeat, having scored six Premier League goals against West Ham throughout his career.

Away from the field, West Ham are believed to be eyeing a new striker in January, with Noble now also bolstering the club’s youth ranks with a rival sensation.

West Ham 'set to sign' Tottenham sensation Frankie Day

That is according to very reliable club insider ExWHUemployee, who has told his Patreon that West Ham are now ‘set to sign’ Tottenham starlet Frankie Day.

The 16-year-old, who plays as a striker, is said to be ‘prolific’ in his age group and Noble has personally been very involved in making the transfer happen.

Day is now poised to swap Tottenham for West Ham, with the deal seen as a ‘bit of a coup’ factoring in his potential.

As West Ham wait for the formalities to be completed, it will be very interesting to see what the future holds for Day in east London.

The Irons have been more focused on youthful recruitment these past few seasons, as evident by their recent signings of Mohamadou Kante, Mateus Fernandes and Magassa.

Their academy sides have shown great promise as well, with West Ham’s Under-23s completing a league and cup double in 2023 whilst finishing that campaign with 26 wins out of a possible 30 in all competitions.

Day could be at the perfect place to further his development, and there’s no doubt Noble will have emphasised that in talks with the teenager.

Three-time Cy Young winner and former National League MVP Clayton Kershaw is set to make his 2025 debut this Saturday against the Los Angeles Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said on Tuesday.

Kershaw is set to be activated from the 60-day injured list to make his first start of the season after missing most of the 2024 World Series campaign due to left knee and left toe injuries—both of which required surgery.

The 37-year-old made his fifth and final rehab start for Triple A Oklahoma City on Sunday. He threw 57 pitches across four innings and allowed two runs on two hits. He also walked two and struck out two.

Kershaw is preparing to embark on his 18th Major League season. He owns a 212-94 record and a career 2.50 ERA. He sits just 32 strikeouts away from 3,000 in his career, and would become the 20th player in MLB history to reach that mark.

Tottenham manager Thomas Frank has been urged to play a youngster who former Spurs right-back Pascal Chimbonda says is just like Mohammed Kudus.

Spurs head into next Sunday’s North London Derby at the Emirates Stadium with genuine hope that their star attacker will be fit to face Arsenal, though he missed their last two crucial matches and didn’t travel with the Ghana squad to face Japan and South Korea.

The 25-year-old, who started every Premier League game this season before his recent knock, has been one of Spurs’ most effective players, registering four Premier League assists and scoring his first goal for the club away to Leeds just before the last international break.

Kudus’ impact since arriving from West Ham in the summer has been transformative, and he’s established himself as the creative heartbeat of Tottenham’s attack. The forward’s absence was pretty evident in their 2-2 draw with Man United, where Spurs lacked the directness and spark that has made Kudus such a pivotal figure in Frank’s system.

The Lilywhites boss has been optimistic about his chances of featuring at Arsenal, though, telling the media that Kudus should be available for the clash.

With Tottenham already decimated by injuries to key players, Kudus’ potential return would be a massive boost. The winger’s excellent form before his knock makes him arguably Tottenham’s most important attacking player, and Frank will be desperate to have him available for a fixture where Spurs desperately need to end their Emirates hoodoo.

Tottenham absentee list

Problem

Estimated return date (subject to change)

Dejan Kulusevski

Knee

29/11/2025

James Maddison

ACL

01/06/2026

Radu Dragusin

Knee

22/11/2025

Ben Davies

Thigh

23/11/2025

Kota Takai

Ankle/Foot

23/11/2025

Mohammed Kudus

Knock

23/11/2025

Randal Kolo Muani

Jaw

23/11/2025

Yves Bissouma

Ankle/Foot

23/11/2025

Lucas Bergvall

Concussion

23/11/2025

Dominic Solanke

Ankle

23/11/2025

Archie Gray

Calf/Shin/Heel

23/11/2025

via Premier Injuries

According to WhoScored, no other player in the Premier League has averaged a greater number of completed dribbles per 90 than the ex-West Ham star this season, and he’s also the ninth-best performing player in the entire division overall.

Kudus could play a key role in breaking down a resolute Arsenal backline and the best defence in Europe’s top five leagues, but according to Chimbonda, Frank has another young, direct winger who could also provide that extra injection of threat.

Thomas Frank urged to play Wilson Odobert with Mohammed Kudus comparison made

Speaking to Spurs Web, the ex-Tottenham defender says Frank would have a lot more luck going forward if he started Wilson Odobert on the left-hand side more often.

The Frenchman was recently heralded for his ‘best performance in a Spurs shirt’ in their 4-0 rout of FC Copenhagen last week, and the winger bagged an assist against Man United after coming off the bench to replace the injured Randal Kolo Muani.

The 20-year-old contributed three goals during an injury-disrupted debut season, and enjoyed a memorable night against AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League Round of 16, where his double helped Spurs overturn a 1-0 deficit.

Brennan Johnson has struggled since being displaced from his preferred right-wing position by Kudus too, failing to replicate form which saw the Welshman finish last term as their top scorer.

With the likes of Kudus, Xavi Simons and Mathys Tel all competing with him for a starting spot, rotation is hardly a surprise, but Johnson has failed to impress off the left, and Odobert has started to feature more in that role in recent weeks.

Tel has showed promise in brief cameos, doing in five minutes what Richarlison failed to do in 84 against United. However, he remains inconsistent and relatively raw. Simons can also play on the left wing, but Spurs need the Dutchman to inspire in a more central attacking midfield role.

Odobert represents the best option to start against Arsenal on November 23, with his pace and directness potentially giving Jurrien Timber something to really think about.